Ford Freestar Complaints (2004)

1,227 consumer complaints on file.

#10269912May 26, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WE HAVE A 2004 FORD FREESTAR THAT THE TRANSMISSION DIED ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO WARNING AND NO INDICATION THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPAIR. THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THANKFULLY, MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER WITHOUT GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT. I'M NOT SO SURE IF I WAS DRIVING I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MANEUVER AS WELL AS HIM. WE HAVE HEARD THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER 2004 & 2005 FREESTARS AND BELIEVE THEY ARE DEFECTIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269987May 26, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT MOVE IN ANY GEAR. I PURCHASE THIS 2004 FORD FREESTAR BRAND NEW ON 9/25/2004. THE CAR HAS 48,351 MILES. NEVER HAD ANY FAILURES BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. THE TRANSMISSION WAS GOT MESSED UP. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I HAVE WARRANTY. I AM A BIT CONCERN BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION WITH A FORD SWAP. THE OTHER TRANSMISSION HAS 78,863 MILES. WHAT SHOULD I DO IN THIS CASE BECAUSE I MAINLY DRIVE THE FAMILY IN THIS VEHICLE? THE REPLACED TRANSMISSION SOUNDS VERY FORCEFUL WHEN DRIVEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269371May 19, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE ISSUE I AM HAVING IS WITH A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. I WAS DRIVING ON I35E, IN ST PAUL, MN, AT ABOUT 70-75 MPH WHEN WITHOUT WARNING THE TRANSMISSION QUIT. I WOULD PUSH THE PEDAL AND THE ENGINE WOULD REV UP, BUT THE VAN DIDN'T MOVE. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE AND HAD TO MOVE OVER TO THE NEXT OFF RAMP, WHILE THE VAN WAS SLOWING DOWN. WE WERE ALMOST REARENDED TWICE WHILE TRYING TO MOVE OVER. I WAS DRIVING AND HAD MY 2 KIDS AND MY WIFE (WHO WAS PREGNANT AT THE TIME) IN THE VAN WITH ME. IT HAPPENED IN MARCH, SO IT WAS STILL COLD OUT. I HAD THIS VAN FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS NOW, AND NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WITH IT. I STILL LIKE THE VAN AND AM STILL A FORD GUY. I AM JUST DISAPPOINTED WITH THE FACT THAT THEY WON'T RESOLVE THE ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268178May 8, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2004 FORD FREESTAR WITH ONLY 60,000 KM'S FAILED ON A BUSY IOWA INTERSTATE ON OUR TRIP TO FLORIDA. I HAD TO PUSH THE VAN BY HAND TO GET IT TO THE EXIT LANE WITH VEHICLES PASSING BY AT FULL INTERSTATE SPEEDS. IT WAS FORTUNATE FOR MY WIFE AND I THAT THIS INCIDENT DID NOT END IN A TRAGEDY. THE VAN WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REMOVED AND SENT TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP. A NEW TORQUE CONVERTER WAS INSTALLED AND AFTER A 2 DAY DELAY WE WERE BACK ON THE ROAD. WHEN I RETURNED BACK TO CANADA I CONTACTED FORD CANADA IN AN EFFORT TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE $1,500.00 CANADIAN THAT I SPENT FOR REPAIRS. FORD CANADA REFUSED TO HONOR THE CLAIM FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS. THE REPAIR WAS NOT DONE BY A FORD DEALER AND I FAILED TO HAVE THE 50,000 KM INSPECTION PERFORMED ON THIS VEHICLE. WHEN I CHECKED THE INTERNET I FIND THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS A BAD HISTORY OF FAILURE DUE TO FAULTY TORQUE CONVERTERS. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT I AM SURE FORD IS FULLY AWARE OF. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP THAT REPAIRED THIS TRANSMISSION FOR ME USED UPGRADED PARTS AS THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM ON MANY OF THE 2004 FREESTARS. THE WARRANTY ON THE REPAIRED TRANSMISSION IS NOW FROM ANOTHER PARTS PROVIDER. I BELIEVE THAT IF I HAD THIS VEHICLE REPAIRED AT A FORD DEALER THEY WOULD HAVE INSTALLED THE SAME REPLACEMENT PARTS THAT FAILED PREMATURELY ON THIS VAN. I KNOW THAT I AM IN A NO WIN BATTLE WITH FORD. WHAT DOES BOTHER ME IS HOW UNCONCERNED FORD IS TOWARDS THEIR CUSTOMERS. DURING MY DISCUSSION WITH THE FORD SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE THERE WAS NEVER ANY TYPE OF AN EXPRESSED APOLOGY FOR THE STRESS MY WIFE AND I EXPERIENCED DURING THIS INCIDENT. THIS WILL BE MY LAST FORD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268228May 8, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A THUMPING NOISE. THE TRANSMISSION SWITCHED INTO NEUTRAL AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED MOVING. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AND THEY WERE NOT PERFORMING ANY REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES WHEN THEY REACH 35,000 MILES AND ABOVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267777May 5, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2004 FORD FREESTAR EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH CRUISE CONTROL THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE SYMPTOMS OF FORD'S "SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SYSTEM" RECALL. CRUISE CONTROL INTERMITTENTLY WORKS WHICH IS A SYMPTOM THAT LED TO FIRES IN FORD'S RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267571May 2, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2004 FORD FREESTAR TRANSMISSION JUST DIED WITH NO WARNING AFTER READING A LITTLE INTO IT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHERS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM IS FORD DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. MY WIFE AND I NEED HELP WITH THIS IF WE CANT GET THIS RESOLVED WITH FORD WE CANT WORK AND THAT WOULD PUT US AND OUR TWO KIDS ON THE STREET PLEASE HELP, THANK YOU! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267245April 29, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE TRYING TO GET OUT OF A SHOPPING MALL PARKING LOT, THE VAN SUDDENLY FELT LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. I CHECKED THE GEAR SHIFT NEEDLE AND IT WAS ON DRIVE. AS THE VAN SLOWLY ROLLS THROUGH THE LOT I TRIED THE REVERSE GEAR AND NOTHING HAPPENED. NONE OF THE GEARS WERE WORKING. I HAD THE VAN TOWED FROM RANDOLPH, NJ TO MY MECHANIC IN EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ. MECHANIC DETERMINED THE PROBLEM TO BE THE TRANSMISSION...I NEED A NEW ONE. IT WILL COST ME ABOUT $3200. I STILL OWE MONEY ON THIS PURCHASE. THE VALUE AS OF TODAY IS LESS THAN WHAT I OWE. IT'S A GOOD THING THIS HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT INSTEAD OF THE ROAD/HIGHWAY. I HAD MY 2 KIDS WITH ME PLUS 3 OTHER CHILDREN. HOW MANY MORE INCIDENTS AND COMPLAINTS LIKE THIS NEED TO HAPPEN BEFORE SOMEONE REALIZES THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS MODEL FROM FORD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267065April 28, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON MY 2004 FORD FREESTAR FAILED SUDDENLY ON FRIDAY, APRIL 24 ON A BUSY CITY STREET. I WAS LEFT WITH TWO GEARS: NEUTRAL AND PARK. AFTER A NEAR COLLISION WITH A CAR SWERVING TO AVOID MY STALLED CAR, I ASKED THE POLICE FOR HELP IN ALERTING TRAFFIC UNTIL I COULD GET TOWED. THE MINIVAN HAD ABOUT 67000 MILES, WITH NO PRIOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. MY FORD DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAILURE OF SOME MAJOR INTERNAL PARTS IN THE TRANSMISSION. MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY DENIED MY CLAIM BECAUSE I HAD NOT CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, EVEN THOUGH THE FORD SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE GUIDE INDICATED THAT ONLY A FLUID LEVEL CHECK WAS REQUIRED. THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS WAS ABOUT $ 2500. IT IS APPARENT TO ME THAT THIS FAILURE HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH WHETHER THE FLUID WAS CHANGED OR NOT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267098April 28, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WE HAVE A 2004 FORD FREESTAR VAN. ON SUNDAY, APR. 26, 2009, WHILE DRIVING HOME, THE TRANSMISSION BLEW. LUCKILY, WE WERE ABLE TO GET ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. THE VAN WILL REQUIRE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF OVER $3000. THIS VAN HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT. FORD WILL NOT COVER ANY PART OF THE REPLACEMENT. I HAVE FOUND THAT MANY, MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE. IS FORD WAITING FOR PEOPLE TO GET KILLED IN THIS VEHICLE? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267128April 28, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN ROUTE 15 FROM PA INTO MD IN OUR 2004 FREESTAR. AS SHE WAS TRAVELING AT 55-60 MILES AN HOUR, THE VAN SUDDENLY SEEMED AS IF IT WENT INTO NEUTRAL. SHE WAS ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE BIRM AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION,WITH OUT ANY WARNING, FAILED. THE VAN HAD TO BE TOWED AS IT WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. IT COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10266533April 23, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WAS TRAVELING FROM NEW JERSEY TO SOUTH CAROLINA AND STOPPED IN STANTON,VA. APPROX 400 MILES FROM HOME.AFTER GETTING FUEL,THE VAN WOULD NOT ACCELERATE IN FORWARD OR REVERSE. HAD VAN TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACING AT A COST OF $3000. THE VAN ONLY HAD 62K MILES ON IT AND IS MAINTAINED REGULARLY. THE FLUID WAS CHANGED AT 37K MILES AS PER FORD RECOMMENDATION. DID NOT HAVE ANY PRIOR WARNING UP TO THAT POINT OF ANY PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10266416April 22, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2004 FORD FREESTAR SUDDENLY WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD. I HAVE TAKEN EXCELLENT CARE OF THIS VEHICLE AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG. IT JUST SUDDENLY WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR, EVEN THOUGH I HAD JUST DRIVEN IT 15 MIN. BEFORE WITH NO PROBLEM! I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE FREESTARS AND OTHER FORD VEHICLES AND HOPE THAT A RECALL WILL BE ISSUED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10266067April 20, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, VISIBILITY, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE IDLE SPEED INCREASED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY WHEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT WATER WAS LEAKING FROM THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, WHICH DAMAGED THE COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 58,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10266160April 20, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK, AND WITHOUT WARNING, MY CAR WENT INTO NEUTRAL. I WAS ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND WAS LUCKY I DIDN'T GET REAR-ENDED. I DIDN'T HAVE ANY WARNING SIGNS! THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS EVEN FULL. I WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO THE MEDIAN, BUT MY CAR WAS OVER 50 MILES AWAY FROM HOME. TOWING IT IS GOING COST ME ABOUT $200. I AM SO FRUSTRATED! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265685April 16, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING ON STRAIGHT AND LEVEL HIGHWAY AT @ 50 MPH EXPERIENCED SUDDEN TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN 2004 FORD FREESTAR; BASIC SYMPTOM WAS SENSE THAT TRANSMISSION WAS SUDDENLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. AFTER PULLING OFF HIGHWAY AND COMING TO FULL STOP WAS UNABLE TO GET TRANSMISSION TO RESPOND IN ANY GEAR SETTING. WAS REQUIRED TO CALL A TOW TRUCK; REPAIR REQUIRED FULL TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265096April 13, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AT FREEWAY SPEEDS OF 60 MPH, TRANSAXLE LIGHT BEGINS TO FLASH ON AND OFF ON MY 2004 FORD FREESTAR. FORD SERVICE TOLD ME THAT IF THE LIGHT ONLY FLASHES AND DOES NOT REMAIN LIT, DON'T BOTHER BRINGING IT IN BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM. ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER OF ACCELERATION. RPMS INCREASED TO 4,000 BUT VEHICLE FORWARD MOTION SLOWED TO A STOP. BOTH OCCASIONS WERE ON THE INTERSTATE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265027April 12, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2004 FORD FREESTAR DROPPED INTO NEUTRAL . TOWED IT TO FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY TRANSMISSION WAS GONE. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND IT SEEMS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION THAT FORD IS USING IN THESE FREESTARS. THERE ARE TO SMALL AND THE VAINS ON THE TORQUE CONVERTERS ARE SHEARING OFF, DUE TO THE STRAIN ON THEM. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS NOT BEING INVESTIGATE BY NHTSA. THIS A LEGAL COMPLAINT AND IT SEEMS THAT YOU ALL ARE JUST CLOSING YOUR EYES TO THE MATTER. IT SHOULDN'T TAKE SOMEONE GETTING KILLED BEFORE IT IS INVESTIGATED, BUT I GUESS THAT IS WHAT YOU ALL ARE WAITING FOR. I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FILED ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. I HOPE NHTSA IS NOT BEING BOUGHT OFF BY THE CAR MANUFACTURERS . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10263998April 2, 2009
WHEELS, STEERING
PURCHASED A FORD FREESTAR IN 2004. LAST JULY ,I NOTICED PUDDLES OF OIL IN MY DRIVEWAY AND A KICK IN THE WHEEL WHEN TURNING. PROCEEDED TO MY MECHANIC,ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS,AND FOUND OUT THAT IT HAD TO BE FIXED IMMEDIATELY. IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE RACK AND PINION. I CHECKED THE RECALL LIST WITH NHTSA AND FOUND THAT FORD RECALLED APPROXIMATELY 34,000 CARS WITH THE PROBLEM. THE REPORT INDICATED THAT THE LINKING FLUID GOOD CAUSE SMOKE. MY VIN NUMBER DID NOT MATCH THE RECALL LIST. JUST RECENTLY(MARCH,2009),I STARTED HEARING SCREECHING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE CAR. IT WOULD SUBSIDE WHEN GOING AROUND CURBS ETC..TURNING THE WHEEL SLIGHTLY -WOULD ELIMINATE THE SOUND. AGAIN,I CHECKED RECALLS AND FOUND RECALLS FOR HUB PROBLEMS. IF NOT FIXED THE WHEEL ATTACHED TO THE AXLE WOULD CAUSED STEERING DIFFICULTY AND A POSSIBLE CRASH. CHECKED RECALL VIN NUMBER AND IT DID NOT MATCH. CONTACTED FORD PROBLEM BUREAU AND REGISTERED A COMPLAINT. I HAVE PRESENTLY 23,500 MILES. I HAVE REGISTERED A COMPLAINT WITH THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION. I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE OTHER 2004 FORD FREESTARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN FOR FEAR OF AN IMMEDIATE MECHANICAL BREAK DOWN. FORD SHOULD STEP FORWARD AND CORRECT THE SITUATION FOR THOSE OWNERS WHO HAVE SPENT MONEY TO REPAIR THE PROBLEMS. I CANNOT SELL THE VEHICLE. HOW CAN I IMPOSITION OTHERS!I 'M GLAD THERE WASN'T A NEGATIVE OCCURRENCE WHERE INJURIES EXISTED. AS A SENIOR CITIZEN,COST OF CONTINUOUS REPAIRS AND THE SAFETY ISSUE PREVAILS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10263539March 29, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2004 FORD FREESTAR VAN WITH ABOUT 75,000 MILES ON IT STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 55MPH. THE CAR DID NOT DIE BUT IT JUST WOULD NOT DRIVE AND STARTED MAKING A WINING SOUND. THERE WAS NO WARNING, NO LIGHT ON THE DASH. IT JUST STOPPED. HAD I BEEN IN TRAFFIC OR ON THE INTERSTATE, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. FORD WILL NOT PAY FOR THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE WARRANTY IS OUT, BUT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE DRIVING A FREESTAR WITH THIS PROBLEM. I BELIEVE A RECALL IS NEEDED ON FORD FREESTAR VANS MADE IN 2004. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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