Ford Freestar Complaints (2004)

1,227 consumer complaints on file.

#10227783May 14, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I'D LIKE TO ADD MY COMPLAINT TO THE LIST OF UNHAPPY FORD CONSUMERS WHO'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIR TRANSMISSIONS ON THE FORD FREESTAR MINIVANS. I HAVE A 2004 FORD FREESTAR AND IT HAS A LITTLE OVER 44,000 MILES ON IT. WE WERE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY WE HAD NO POWER TO GO ANYWHERE, THE RPM INDICATOR WOULD MOVE UP BUT WE HAD NO POWER, IT BASICALLY DIED. WE HAD NO FORWARD OR REVERSE, WE WERE JUST COASTING WITH NO POWER. LUCKILY WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALL A TOW TRUCK. TOOK IT TO THE FORD GARAGE AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE TORQUE CONVERTER THAT WENT OUT. WE HAD IT FIXED AND THANKFULLY IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY YET. I KNOW YOU'VE HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE FORD FREESTAR VANS...COME ON PEOPLE DO SOMETHING BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. WE HAD NO POWER TO GO ANYWHERE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227524May 12, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MECHANISM FOR THE REAR DOOR HANDLE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DOOR HANDLE CAME OFF IN HER HAND WHEN SHE WAS OPENING THE LATCH. FORD IS NOT REPAIRING THE FAILURE UNDER WARRANTY, ALTHOUGH THE CONTACT SIGNED UP FOR THE MOST EXPENSIVE COVERAGE. SHE FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE HER THREE YEAR OLD CHILD CAN OPEN THE DOOR. THE PARTS HAVE BEEN ON BACK ORDER FOR TWO MONTHS. THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR HAVE JUST ARRIVED AT THE DEALER. THE REPAIR WILL COST BETWEEN $500 TO $1,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10226990May 8, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2004 FORD FREESTAR (MINIVAN). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10226968May 7, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY(RTE 422 -OHIO) IN MODERATE TO HEAVY TRAFFIC. STOPPED FOR A SCHOOL BUS AND THE CARS MADE A POP THEN WOULD NOT GO FORWARD OR REVERSE. HAD TO BE TOWED , TOOK TWO HOURS AND CAUSED SOME TRAFFIC CONGESTION. TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10226851May 6, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE AND THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL LIGHTING FLASHED. THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF A FEW MINUTES LATER AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT WATER PENETRATED THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR AREA AND CAUSED THE MAIN COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM TO FAIL. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE GAS LINE HAD TO BE BLOWN OUT, AND THE SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY INVESTIGATION CONCLUDED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A PRODUCT DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER ACKNOWLEDGED RECEIVING THE CONTACT'S WRITTEN COMPLAINT; HOWEVER, THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE $1,200 REPAIR COST THAT THE CONTACT HAD TO PAY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,502.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10226356May 1, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 47,000 MILES OF USE. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AT REQUIRED MILEAGE BY DEALER. TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP STATES THAT FAILURE MAY BE TORQUE CONVERTER. COST TO CONFIRM WILL BE $350.00. REPAIR WILL BE ADDITIONAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225819April 27, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MRS. ATTEE WAS STARTING OUR FORD FREESTAR, WHEN SHE HEARD A CLICKING NOISE AND NOTICED WHAT SHE THOUGHT WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. SHE(MRS. ATTEE) THEN OPENED THE HOOD TO FIND A SMALL FLAME COMING FROM THE ENGINE, SHE PROCEED TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. WITHIN 5 MINUTES THE VAN 'S ENGINE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED IT WAS TO LATE, THE FIRE HAD ALREADY DONE ITS DAMAGE(TOTALED). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225701April 25, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2004 FORD FREESTAR TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING. TOWED TO FORD DEALERSHIP AND NEEDED TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACED BECAUSE OF FAILED SPLINE. INSPECTION OF SPLINE SHOWED IT WAS WORN AWAY YET OTHER GEARS REMAINED IN GOOD SHAPE. REVIEW OF INTERNET COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM WERE NUMEROUS. SOME OF THE FAILURES WERE WITH CHILDREN IN VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ON BUSY HIGHWAYS. FORTUNATELY MY TRANSMISSION FAILURE WAS ON A EMPTY COUNTRY ROAD I JUST COASTED TO A STOP ( I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 10 MPH AT THE TIME ) WITHOUT INCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225562April 24, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
IN NOV, 2007 MY 7 YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER STARTED TO EXIT THE BACK PASSENGER VAN DOOR. THE DOOR OPENED AND SHE WAS ABOUT HALF WAY OUT THE DOOR WHEN IT STARTED TO CLOSE ON HER. MY HUSBAND HAD ALREADY GOT OUT OF THE VAN AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE DOOR FROM CLOSING ON HER. IT DID NOT AUTOMATICALLY STOP AND GO BACK ON CONTACT. THEN IN DEC MY SISTER-IN-LAW WAS ALSO STARTING TO EXIT THE VAN FROM THE SAME DOOR AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO HER. THE DOOR OPENED, HESITATED AND THEN STARTED TO CLOSE ON HER. ON APRIL 6, 2008 MY 80+ MOTHER OPENED THE REAR PASSENGER VAN DOOR AND STARTED TO ENTER THE VAN. THE DOOR STARTED CLOSING ON HER. HER LEFT FOOT WAS ALREADY IN THE VAN AND THE DOOR CLOSURE CAUSED HER TO FALL BACKWARDS ONTO THE PAVEMENT. HER LEFT FOOT WAS TANGLED UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT. HER COUSIN WAS ALREADY SEATED ON THE OTHER SIDE AND WAS ABLE TO GET THE DOOR STOPPED BEFORE IT HURT HER LEG ANY WORSE. SHE HAD LANDED ON HER LOWER BACK AND WAS SORE, STIFF AND UNABLE TO SIT COMFORTABLY FOR ABOUT A WEEK. I MADE AN APPT WITH THE LOCAL FORD DEALER TO SEE IF THEY COULD FIND A PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT IN, THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I TOLD THEM IT WAS INTERMITTENT,MOST OF THE TIME IT WORKED. WHEN I PICKED THE VAN UP I HAD THE SERVICE MANAGER WALK OUT WITH ME, AND I SHOWED HIM HOW WE OPENED THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE AND THE DOOR OPENED AND IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO CLOSE. THE SERVICE GROUP WAS TESTING IT BY USING THE BUTTONS ON THE REMOTE. THEY TESTED THE VAN AGAIN AND FOUND CODES OF B2589, B2592 AND B2594 IN THE COMPUTER FOR THE SLIDING DOORS. THEY THEN FOUND THE LATCH AND SENSOR ASSEMBLY WERE STICKING AND SHORTED OUT. THEY TOLD US THEY FOUND THE CODES IN BOTH DOORS, EVEN THOUGH WE HADN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE SLIDING DOOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE ONLY WAY TO "FIX" THE PROBLEM WAS TO REPLACE BOTH SIDES REAR SLIDING DOOR CABLES AND LATCH ASSEMBLIES. THIS IS FOR A 2004 FREESTAR VAN WITH ONLY 10,072 MILES! IT COST US $736.41 TO HAVE THIS FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10225157April 20, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VERY DANGEROUS! BOUGHT A NEW 2004 FORD FREESTAR MINI VAN ON JAN. 22. OF 2005 LEFTOVER . I HAVE 35,000 MILES ON IT. DRIVING HOME WITH MY FAMILY ON THE HEAVILY TRAFFIC LONG ISLAND EXPRESSWAY I 495 AT APPROX 10:30 IN THE EVENING. NO WARNING THE TRANSMISSION DIES. NO POWER AT ALL. I COAST TO THE RIGHT LANE AND WITH NO SHOULDER WHERE I WAS I JUST PRAYED I WOULD NOT GET PLOWED INTO THE REAR WITH MY TWO BOYS AGE 5 AND 10 SLEEPING. THIS WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. AFTER READING THE FORUMS ON THE INTERNET I FIND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. CHECK OUT THIS LINK WHICH IS ONE OF A FEW I HAVE FOUND... HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWMORECOMMENTS_REVIEW_77118_1.HTML WHAT RECOURSE DO I HAVE AND WHY ISN'T FORD MADE TO REDESIGN / REPAIR THIS DEFICIENCY IN THEIR DESIGN. SOME FAMILY WILL GET INJURED IF NOT KILLED. THESE VANS WERE DESIGNED FOR FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN. VERY DISAPPOINTED AND CONCERNED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10224986April 19, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILS AND CAR STALLS IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD. THE FORD DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPLACED THE PCM, WIRING HARNESS, AND MULTIPLE SENSORS, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THE CAUSE APPEARS TO BE FLOODING OF PCM, RELATED WIRING, AND ATTACHED SENSORS DUE TO DESIGN DEFECT. FORD TSB EXISTS ON THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10224443April 14, 2008
STRUCTURE
2004 FORD FREESTAR, BACK LIFTGATE. A DESIGN FLAW ALLOWS RAINWATER OR WATER FROM A CAR WASHING) TO SEEP IN, ACCUMULATE, AND PUDDLE ALL AROUND THE LATCH MECHANISM OF THE BACK LIFT GATE. THIS CAUSES IT TO FREEZE ON ICY DAYS WHICH CAUSES DIFFICULTY OPENING OR CLOSING THE BACK LIFTGATE. EVENTUALLY, THE LATCH MECHANISM RUSTS OUT COMPLETELY AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222959March 31, 2008
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
TRAVELING IN A 2004 FORD FREESTAR ON I-69 FROM INDIANAPOLIS TO FT WAYNE AT 65MPH. SPOTTED RAIN SHOWERS IN AREA. ACTIVATE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON HIGH. DRIVERS SIDE WIPER DETACHES FROM ASSEMBLY AND ENTANGLES WITH PASSENGER SIDE WIPER. EMERGENCY EXIT FROM RIGHT-HAND LANE ONTO SHOULDER LANE. FASTENER NUT FOUND LOOSE ON WIPER ATTACHMENT KNURL. ALIGN WIPER AND TIGHTENED FASTENER FINGER TIGHT. WIPER ASSEMBLY REMAINED ACCEPTABLE CLEAR VISION AT INTERMITTENT CONDITION FOR REMAINDER OF TRAVEL. WIPER ASSEMBLY HAD SEEN ELEVATED SNOW LOAD/REMOVAL 2 DAYS PRIOR TO EVENT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO FORD DEALERSHIP AND FOUND THAT PASSENGER SIDE WIPER ASSEMBLY ARM ALSO LOOSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222053March 23, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE TRANSMISSION WENT ON MY 2004 FORD FREESTAR VAN WITH NO WARNING SIGNS WHILE DRIVING. (CAR ONLY HAD 74,000). I HAVE READ ONLINE AND THERE ARE MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THESE SAME VANS THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.. VANS ARE PRIMARILY PURCHASED TO TRANSPORT KIDS AND THIS SHOULD BE A NUMBER ONE REASON FORD SHOULD HAVE A RECALL TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE ANYONE HAS A DANGEROUS ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221403March 17, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
IN OCT. MY TWO YEAR OLD AND I WERE IN A LEFT LANE ON THE EXPRESSWAY IN FLINT DURING RUSH HOUR WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. SOMEHOW I MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CARS WERE SWERVING AROUND US. PEOPLE HELPING ME PUSH THE CAR SAID THEY CAN'T BELIEVE WE WEREN'T HIT. IT WAS TERRIFYING. THE CAR ONLY HAD 79,000 MILES. THIS WAS JUST THE BEGINNING OF OUR JOURNEY. WE ALREADY HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE BACK TAILGATE (A DESIGN FLAW I'M TOLD), SLIDING DOORS TO THE POWER STEERING. AFTER A COUPLE MONTHS BECAUSE OF ARRANGING FUNDING AND GETTING A NEW TRANS THE CAR WAS BACK. I DROVE MY HUSBANDS LEASE ON MY 4 DAYS 50 MILE EACH WAY A WEEK COMMUTE PUTTING US WAY OVER THE MILES ON HIS LEASE. 4 WEEKS LATER THE LIGHT WAS ON AND THE TRANS SHOP HAD IT FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS WHILE THEY KEPT REPLACING PARTS TO GET IT WORKING. WE GOT IT BACK AND WITHIN A MONTH HAD IT BACK IN FOR SERVICE. MY SON AND I SPENT THE DAY AT THE SHOP. THE LIGHT WAS BACK ON WITHIN A MONTH. ON 6/21/07 WE DROPPED IT OFF. WE GOT IT BACK THE END OF AUGUST. THE TRANS SHOP GOT FORD INVOLVED AND THE TRANS SHOP REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE TORQUE CONVERTER, WHICH I READ COMPLAINTS ABOUT, WAS ONE OF THE THINGS REPLACED - I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES. I CONTACTED FORD LONG BEFORE THIS AND GOT NOWHERE WITH THEM. WE GOT THE CAR BACK AND A MONTH LATER THE LIGHT CAME ON. THE TRANS SHOP DECIDED TO START OVER AND GET ANOTHER COMPLETE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACE IT. THEY ORDERED IT AND THE VAN WENT IN AGAIN FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS. FOR THE LAST TWO MONTHS WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS. FORD ABSOLUTELY, 100%, HAS NOT STOOD BEHIND THIS VEHICLE. IT'S A MIRACLE MY SON AND I WEREN'T INJURED OR KILLED WHEN IT FIRST WENT OUT. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. I WAS SURPRISED WHEN I SAW ON EDMUNDS ALL THE PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE I WANTED A SAFE AND RELIABLE CAR FOR MY CHILD. WHAT A JOKE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220984March 12, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:PADS, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:CALIPER, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC
EXCESSIVE FRONT BRAKE NOISE. SOMETIMES ACCOMPANIED BY A GRINDING NOISE. I CAN NOT BEGIN TO DESCRIBE HOW LOUD THIS IS. IT IS NOT EVEN NEAR THE LEVEL OF NORMAL BRAKE SQUEALING. DEALERSHIP REPORTS THAT NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THERE HAS GOT TO BE SOME TYPE OF DEFECT IN THE WORKMANSHIP OF THIS BRAKING SYSTEM AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. THIS HAS BEEN ON GOING SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220733March 10, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
MY 04 FREESTAR JUST STOPPED NO WARNING NOTHING JUST STOP WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY DAUGHTER TO THE DOCTOR MY SON IN LAW HAD TO TAKE OFF WORK AND TOW ME HOME I CANT AFFORD TO HAVE IT FIXED I LIVE ON A DISABILITY AND BARELY MAKE MY BILLS THEN I READ ON THE INTERNET THAT HUNDREDS OF THE SAME VEHICLES ARE DOING THE SAME THING I CAN BET THAT IT IS MY TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER WHEN I CAN GET IT FIXED FORD NEEDS TO MAKE THIS RIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219952March 3, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO A STOP. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON. THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 61,300.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219269February 27, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, WHEELS:HUB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE RPM'S CONSTANTLY ACCELERATED TO 2,000. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS GEARS AND THE RPM FLUCTUATES BETWEEN 25,000-35,000. THERE IS ALSO SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF POWER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE; HOWEVER, THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE WHEEL HUBS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TWO WEEKS LATER. THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL APRIL OF 2008, BUT THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE IN THE INTERIM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,550 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,600.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217984February 13, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2004 FORD FREESTAR STOPPED GOING FORWARDS OR BACKWARDS. HAD IT TOWED AND IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION WITH LESS THAN 30,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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