Ford Freestar Complaints (2004)

1,227 consumer complaints on file.

#10402227May 20, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO RESPOND. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10401472May 18, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2004 FREESTAR VAN GOING DOWN ROAD AT 60 MILES AND CAR LOST POWER TRANSMISSION FAILED. NOW WE NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION BECAUSE FORD BUILT A FAULTY DESIGN AND WON'T RECALL THEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10401224May 17, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING APPROX 40 ON A SUBURBAN ROAD CAR BEGAN TO SURGE FORWARD AND I FOUND IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 40 AND THEN NOT AT ALL. THEN IT SURGE AGAIN AND DROVE FOR A BIT AND REPEATED THE CYCLE. I HAD MY TODDLER IN THE CAR AND WAS ALMOST TO THE SITTERS SO I SLOWLY MADE IT NEAR THEIR HOME WHEN I GOT STUCK AT A LIGHT. WHILE STOPPED IT BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE AND THE BATTERY LIGHT WAS FLASHING. IT ALSO BEGAN TO SMELL AS IF SOMETHING WAS BURNING. IT SHOOK A LITTLE LONGER AND DIED. IT STARTED BACK UP AFTER A FEW TRIES AND I WAS ABLE TO DROP HER OFF AND GET IT TO THE SHOP. I BOUGHT THIS USED 3 MONTHS AGO AND HAVE ALREADY REPLACED ALL DOOR CONTACTS, THE WIRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN, ALL WIRING IN THE HEATING SYSTEM, THE REAR POWER WINDOWS, THE HORN AND OTHER SMALL THINGS. NOW THIS. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD AND WANT SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS MONSTROSITY FORD PUT OUT ON THE ROAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10401898May 16, 2011
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, POWER TRAIN
DRIVING DOWN RURAL HIGHWAY, SUDDEN LOSS OF DRIVE ABILITY TO VEHICLE, VEHICLE COASTED TO STOP ON SHOULDER OF HIGHWAY. ENGINE STILL HAD POWER. TOWED VAN TO FORD DEALERSHIP, RESULT OF DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR: TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE TO TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR. DAMAGE REQUIRED NEW COMPONENTS TO BE INSTALLED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10401672May 12, 2011
POWER TRAIN
WHILE TURNING LEFT IN A BUSY INTERSECTION, THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER. WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL, THE ENGINE REVVED, BUT WOULD NOT ENGAGE. I COASTED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD AND I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK. I TRIED ALL GEARS AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST REPAIR SHOP, THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A FAILED TRANSMISSION. THE MECHANIC PUT IN A NEW TURBINE SHAFT, PUMP ASSEMBLY, PRESSURE REGULATING SOLENOID AND REPLACED THE TORQUE CONVERTER, TRANSMISSION FILTER AND FLUIDS. IT WAS A $1900.00 REPAIR. SEVERAL AUTO MECHANICS I SPOKE WITH WERE WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THIS SEEMED UNUSUAL TO ME. THEY ALL SAID THAT THIS IS A WIDELY KNOWN PROBLEM WITH FORD FREESTARS AT ABOUT 80,000 MILES. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY. IT DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE. I BEGAN RESEARCHING. AFTER READING SEVERAL AUTO BLOGS AND MESSAGE BOARDS, I LEARNED THAT NHTSA HAD OPENED A INVESTIGATION INTO THIS POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION DEFECT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10399896May 10, 2011
STRUCTURE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LATCH THE THIRD ROW REAR SEAT, THE LATCH FAILED DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION ON THE FLOOR PANEL AND ATTACHMENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000. UPDATED 06/01/11*LJ UPDATED 1/24/2012 *LN *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10399376May 6, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 88,000 MILES. THIS IS APPARENTLY A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES AND THERE IS A CLASS ACTION PENDING. NO INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEM THEN SUDDENLY THE CAR WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR AND IS DEAD IN THE WATER EVEN THOUGH ENGINE IS RUNNING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10399384May 6, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I TO OWN A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. I NEVER HAD ANY TROUBLE WITH THE VAN UNTIL FEBUARY 2011. I WAS PULLING OUT IN AN INTERSECTION THE VAN STARTED TO GO BUT DECIDED NOT TO. I TRIED TO PUT THE VAN IN REVERSE TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC AND IT WOULDN'T GO. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT DECIDED TO GO IN A BIG HURRY SQUEALING TIRES. I WAS PRETTY HAPPY THERE WASN'T ANOTHER CAR AT THE STOP SIGN WAITING TO GET OUT. I FINALLY GOT THE VAN HOME AND IT WOULDN'T STAY RUNNING. WE TOWED IT OVER TO A LOCAL DEALER. HE FINALLY LOOKED AT THE COMPUTER AND DUMPED WATER OUT OF IT. HE HAD CALLED THE FORD DEALER PARTS DEPARTMENT AND THEY TOLD HIM IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FREESTAR VANS. I ENDED UP TAKING IT TO THE SAME FORD DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THIS PROBLEM. THEY PUT A NEW COMPUTER IN IT AND A WIRING HARNESS. $1,800.00 DOLLARS OF WORK. THEY TEST DROVE IT AND IT THREW 2 MORE SENSORS. THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER 500.00 TO FIX THAT AND THEY WOULDN'T GUARANTEE THAT IF I FIXED THAT IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN ON ANOTHER SENSOR. APPARENTLY THE WATER FROM THE COMPUTER AND DOWN THE WIRING HARNESS AND FOLLOWED DOWN TO THE SENSORS AND CORRODED MOST OF THEM. THEY SUGGESTED I JUST HURRY AND GET RID OF MY VAN. OF COURSE, AFTER I PAY THEM THE 1,800.00. I CALLED FORD, THE MANAGER AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE REALLY SORRY BUT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO HELP ME. I PAID 26,000.00 FOR THIS VAN AND I HAD IT FOR 7 YEARS AND FORD JUST BASICALLY SAID GET RID OF IT. I HAVE THE VAN BACK WITH THE 2 SENSORS STILL BAD IT RUNS ALRIGHT NOW BUT THEY SAID IT WOULDN'T FOR LONG. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10399263May 5, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DRIVING A FORD 2004 FREESTAR 113K MILES NO PREVIOUS TRANSMISSION ISSUE. BACKED CAR OUT OF DRIVEWAY, LOST GEARS WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE. COULD NOT RECOVER GEAR. NO SLIPPING GEARS OR OTHER SYMPTOM PRIOR TO FAILURE. NO PRIOR HISTORY OF TRANSMISSION RELATED PROBLEMS AT ALL. TOWED TO MECHANICS SHOP, RECOMMENDED REPLACE TRANSMISSION. REPLACED WITH USED TRANS, $1800. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10399014May 2, 2011
POWER TRAIN
I WAS TRAVELING ON THE NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE, HEADING NORTH BOUND IN THE MIDDLE LANE. I FELT A SUDDEN THUMP AND THEN NOTICE THE MINI VAN STARTED TO REV UP TO 4500 - 5000 RPM, WHICH IT HAS NEVER DONE. I PULL TO THE EMERGENCY PULL OFF. THE CAR WOULD TURN ON AND SHIFT HOWEVER, IT WOULD NOT MOVE IN FORWARD OR REVERSE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10398943April 27, 2011
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION. THE ENGINE WOULD REV WHEN GAS PEDAL PUSHED, BUT WOULD NOT GAIN MOMENTUM. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS, NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND NO NOISES. NONE OF THE GEARS WOULD WORK. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE BANDS INSIDE THE TORQUE CONVERTER HAD SHREDDED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10397971April 26, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2004 FORD FREESTAR SEL TRAVELING @ 60 MPH. AS I WAS PROCEEDING UP A HILL, I NOTICED THAT THE RPMS WERE INCREASING BUT THE CAR WAS NOT ACCELERATING. I TRIED TO MOVED TO THE SHOULDER BUT THE CAR SLOWED TO A STOP BEFORE I COULD GET COMPLETELY OFF THE ROAD. AFTER ROLLING IT OFF THE ROADWAY, MY HUSBAND WHO WAS FOLLOWING US ARRIVED. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO SHIFT INTO DIFFERENT GEARS IT WAS APPARENT THERE NOTHING HAPPENING IN THE TRANSMISSION. WE ARE GETTING THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED/REBUILT AS WE SPEAK. MILEAGE, 104,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10397445April 25, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2004 FORD FREESTAR SUDDENLY WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OR MAINTAIN SPEED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WAS ABLE TO COAST A FEW FEET TO A SAFE PLACE TO LEAVE THE CAR. THE CAR WAS RUNNING, BUT WOULD NOT MOVE IN ANY GEAR. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR BEFORE THEN. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, I DID HEAR A SOUND LASTING MAYBE 5 SECONDS, A BIT LIKE HISSING. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIR GUY TOLD ME THE INPUT SHAFT TO THE TRANSMISSION SNAPPED. THE COST TO REPAIR IS ESTIMATED AT $3,200. THIS OCCURRED ON APRIL 24, 2011. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10397418April 25, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WE WERE DRIVING EASTBOUND ON HIGHWAY 26 IN THE STATE OF OREGON. WE WERE DRIVING UP THE HILL WHEN THERE WAS A ODD SOUND, THEN THE RPM OF THE VEHICLE WENT OVER 3000. WE WERE ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OFF THE HIGH WAY BARELY PAST THE WHITE LINE. I LET OFF THE BRAKE AND TRIED TO DRIVE THE RPM REVVED BUT THE CAR DRIFTED BACKWARDS. WE PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND THEN TRIED AGAIN IN 1, 3 AND DRIVE AND AGAIN SAME RESULT. WE DRIFTED THE CAR BACKWARDS FURTHER OFF THE ROAD AND CONTACTED A TOW. IF WE WERE NOT LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE HAD NO TRAFFIC BEHIND US AND HAVE A LARGE ENOUGH SIDE BAR ON THE ROAD WE WOULD HAVE LIKELY BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10397245April 24, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (55MPH). TOTAL LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER. AFTER COASTING TO A STOP I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE CAR TO MOVE IN ANY GEAR (DRIVE, REVERSE, 1, 2, ETC.) *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10397763April 22, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THIS IS THE SECOND ISSUE I HAVE HAD WITH WATER GETTING INTO THE PCM(COMPUTER). THE FIRST OCCURRENCE (03/10) I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS ADVISES PER THE OBDB SCAN CODES THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED AN OVERHAUL. I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP THAT I HAD JUST PULLED THE CAR OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND HAD NO REVERSE AND HAD SLIPPAGE IN OTHER GEARS, IT WAS RAINING VERY HEAVILY THAT DAY- I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP IF IT COULD BE AN ISSUE OF MOISTURE GETTING INTO PCM(COMPUTER), THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THAT WAS NOT THE ISSUE. I THEN HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A REPUTABLE TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP, THERE I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS THE THIRD TO FREESTAR TO HAVE BEEN BROUGHT IN WITH AN ISSUE OF WATER GETTING INTO THE PCM(COMPUTER). THE OWNER OF THE TRANSMISSION SHOP WAS ABLE TO LET THE PCM DRY OUT FOR THREE DAYS AND REINSTALL WITH NO TRANSMISSION ISSUES. THE SECOND EVENT (04/11) HAPPENED AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF RAIN; WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAYED THE FOLLOWING LIGHTS: CHECK ENGINE, BRAKES, ABS, FUEL, BATTERY, AND TRANS AXLE LIGHT. THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, AND I HAD THE CAR TOWED BACK TO MY MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL PUMP MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE TRANS AXLE LIGHT WAS STILL APPEARING INTERMITTENTLY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO TRANSMISSION SHOP FOR SECOND TIME, AND THROUGH CAREFUL TROUBLE ISOLATION, THEY DETERMINED THAT THE PCU WAS TELLING THE TORQUE CONVERTER TO SHIFT INTO FOURTH GEAR WHILE COMING TO A STOP. THEY ALLOWED THE PCU TO DRY OUT, BUT THEN DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION MODULE HAD SHORTED OUT AND THAT IT NEED TO BE BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP TO REPROGRAM PCU. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHO STATED THAT THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY MOISTURE/WATER ISSUES WITH FREESTARS AND I ADVISED THEM THAT I AM FILING A COMPLAINT NHTSA AND WILL ALSO FORWARD LETTER TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10396798April 19, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND SHE COULDN'T ACCELERATE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL PRIOR OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE DRIVER THEN COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED HER THAT IT MIGHT BE THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE BUT THEY ADVISED HER THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 70,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10395721April 13, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE TRANSMISSION JUST SUDDENLY WENT OUT. IT WAS LIKE THE VEHICLE WAS STUCK IN NEUTRAL. I HAVE NO POWER TO THE WHEELS; FORWARD OR REVERSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10395739April 13, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH MOISTURE/RAIN GETTING INTO PCM(COMPUTER). CAR IS BACK AT TRANSMISSION SHOP AGAIN DUE TO CAR STALLING DURING BRAKING. I HAVE HAD FUEL PUMP/MODULE REPLACED IN ERROR, DUE TO FALSE CHECK ENGINE CODES DUE TO MOISTURE/RAIN GETTING INTO PCM, OWNER OF TRANSMISSION SAID ISSUE IS WITH WATER IN PCM CAUSING TORQUE CONVERTER TO ENGAGE DURING BRAKING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10393733March 30, 2011
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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