Ford Freestar Complaints (2004)
1,227 consumer complaints on file.
- #10499681February 22, 2013STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS, STRUCTURE:BODY
SEVERE RUST ISSUES PLAGUE THE FRAME, JACK POINTS, AND REAR FRAME (SPARE TIRE STORAGE AREA). THE SPARE TIRE WHEEL LOOKS AS IF IT HAS NEVER HAD PAINT ON IT THERE IS SO MUCH RUST. WE JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE A FEW DAYS AGO AND ARE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THE FORD DEALER TO HOPEFULLY GET THE PROBLEM CORRECTED. WE DID NOT REALIZE THE SEVERE RUST ISSUES PRIOR TO PURCHASE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10499251February 19, 2013ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHEN THE VEHICLE IS WET THE SYSTEM SEEMS TO SHORT CIRCUIT ITSELF. IT CAUSES IT TO SHIMMY AND SHAKE AND IT WONT ACCELERATE. WE NOTICED IT SEVERAL TIMES AND TOOK IT IN WHERE WE WERE TOLD IT WAS THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR BUT AFTER HAVING IT REPLACED TWICE IT IS STILL HAVING THE ISSUE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS CONTIGUOUSLY ON AND IT BLINKS ERRATICALLY WHEN EVER ANY WATER IS PRESENT. I'VE BEEN TOLD THE SENSOR CAN GO FAULTY DO TO A COIL ISSUE ALLOWING WATER TO LEAK ON THINGS IT SHOULDN'T. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10498310February 15, 2013SEATS, STRUCTURE:BODY
AS STATED WITH OTHER 2004 FORD FREESTARS, REAR RUST ON DRIVERSIDE REAR, REAR SEAT WILL NOT LOCK BECAUSE THE SAFETY LOCK IS RUSTED AWAY, NOT SAFE TO ANY PASSENGER TO SIT THERE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10497927February 12, 2013ENGINE
I HAVE HAD THIS VAN 1 MONTH AND PAID $8000,ITS MY FIRST CAR PAYMENT,86,000 MILES AND I AM LOSING POWER AND THE WATER LIGHT IS COMING ON THE VAN IS JERKING WHEN DRIVING THIS,,I WANT TO LEARN ABOUT THE LEMON LAW IN MICHIGAN. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10497631February 10, 2013STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS, SEATS
THE PANEL THAT THE LATCH IS BOLTED TO WAS CORRODED AND CAME OF LEAVING NO PLACE FOR THE LATCH ON THE DRIVE'S SIDE TO ATTACH TO. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10496562February 6, 2013ENGINE
BASICALLY, WHEN IT'S WET OUTSIDE THE CAR DIES AFTER STARTING. THERE WILL BE A LOUD SCREECHING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THEN IT WILL JUST STUTTER AND STALL OUT. IT WILL START RIGHT BACK UP BUT THEN IT WILL DIE AGAIN. THIS WILL EVEN HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. IT SEEMS TO ONLY HAPPEN WHEN IT'S WET OUTSIDE SO FAR BUT WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT CAUSING IT AND THE DEALER IS NO HELP AT ALL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10496348February 4, 2013STRUCTURE:BODY, SEATS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, A LOUD GRINDING SOUND WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR TIRES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE WHEEL MOUNT AND WHEEL WELL WERE RUSTED. IN ADDITION, THE THIRD ROW LATCH FAILED AND THE SEATS WERE UNABLE TO STAY FOLDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE WHEEL WELL AND LATCHES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE DUE TO THE VEHICLE NOT BEING INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10496361February 4, 2013ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE COMPUTER MODULE AND THE COIL PACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR MORE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10493572January 20, 2013STRUCTURE:BODY
BACK SEAT WOULDN'T LATCH. FOUND ROTTEN WHEEL WELL DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION AND LATCH FELL OUT ALONG WITH A PIECE OF THE WHEEL WELL. NOW, THERE IS A HOLE WHERE THE LATCH WAS AND THE REAR SEAT IS UNSAFE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO LATCH TO HOLD IT IN PLACE. I HAVE THREE KIDS SO NOW THEIR LIFE IS IN JEOPARDY AND THE VAN ISN'T EVEN 10 YEARS OLD. WE'VE HAD SO MANY ISSUES WITH THIS VAN. ALSO, THE COMPUTER HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WATER DAMAGE. WE WERE TOLD CHEVY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM OF WATER COMING RIGHT DOWN ONTO THE COMPUTER AND THEY DESIGNED A PART FOR IT, BUT NOT FORD. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10493589January 20, 2013POWER TRAIN
AFTE RPARKING VAN NOSE IN,ATTEMPTED TO REVERSE WITH NO RESPONSE FROM VEHICLE AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO BACK UP WAS FINALLY ABLE TO REVERSE VERY SLOWLY WITH MINIMAL POWER. WHEN PLACED IN DRIVE TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AT ACCELERATION TO MOVE FORWARD. TRANSMISSION FLUID CHECKED BY MYSELF AND ADVANCE AUTO PARTS EMPLOYEE AND FOUND TO BE AT PROPER FLUID LEVEL.DROVE VEHICLE 30 MILES WHEN IT CUT OFF COMPLETELY,WAS ABLE TO GET VEHICLE TO SIDE OF ROAD(IT WAS RAINING HEAVILY AND FOGGY AS WELL). WAS AGAIN ABLE TO GET VAN GOING AND MADE IT ANOTHER 15 MILES BEFORE IT CUT OFF ON ME AGAIN AND WAS AGAIN DIFFICULT TO TAKE OFF AND REQUIRED ONCE AGAIN MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO GET IT MOVING. FINALLY MADE IT ANOTHER 5 MILES HOME AND PARKED VEHICLE. HAD RECEIVED NOTICE 2 MONTHS EARLIER FROM FORD RE A RECALL RELATED TO TORQUE CONVERTER. MECHANIC AT MAGIC CITY FORD IN ROANOKE,VA. SAID PROBLEM WITH MY TRANSMISSION HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH TORQUE CONVERTER WITHOUT DRIVING OR WORKING ON VEHICLE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10493470January 18, 2013STRUCTURE:BODY, SEATS
THE LEFT REAR 3RD ROW SEAT ANCHOR PLATE, MOUNTED NORMALLY TO THE LEFT REAR INNER WHEELHOUSE AS AN INTEGRATED PART OF THE WHEELHOUSE, HAS RUSTED AROUND THE PLATE EDGES AND THE ENTIRE PLATE IS SEPARATING FROM THE WHEELHOUSE ASSEMBLY. CURRENTLY IT IS RUSTED THRU ON THE LEFT , RIGHT, AND BOTTOM EDGES OF THE MOUNTING PLATE, REMAINING ATTACHED ONLY ALONG ITS TOP EDGE. THIS IS LETTING ROAD MOISTURE INTO THE INTERIOR REGIONS OF THE VAN, SOILING CARPET AND JUTE, CAUSING ODOR AND POSSIBLE MOLD DEVELOPMENT. THE 3RD ROW SEAT CAN NO LONGER BE SAFELY ATTACHED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10492885January 14, 2013POWER TRAIN
CAR LURCHED FORWARD AT A STOP. AFTER THAT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. FURTHER DIAGNOSES BY FORD INDICATED TRANSMISSION WAS DAMAGED. THIS IS 5 MONTHS AFTER TORQUE CONVERTER WAS REPLACED AS PART OF A RECALL. OBVIOUSLY TRANSMISSION WAS DAMAGED DUE TO FAULTY TORQUE CONVERTER. LOTS OF PEOPLE ON-LINE REPORTING SIMILAR INCIDENTS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10492220January 11, 2013SEATS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LEFT SIDE OF THE REAR SEAT WAS NOT BOLTED TO THE FLOOR. THE PLATE THAT WAS HOLDING THE SEAT IN PLACE WAS COVERED WITH RUST AND DISCONNECTED LEAVING A HOLE NEAR THE LEFT REAR WHEEL WELL WHICH CAUSED THE SEAT TO MOVE. THE PLATE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SEAT WAS ALSO COVERED WITH RUST, BUT HAD NOT BROKEN AWAY FROM THE STRUCTURE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 119,300. UPDATED 02/26/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT, OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS BEYOND ITS 5YRS CORROSION WARRANTY.UPDATED 03/1/2013 *JS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10491938January 9, 2013POWER TRAIN, ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE PCM INTERNAL COMPUTER IS CRASHED AND CAUSE THE VEH TO RUN POORLY AND NOT START, DRAINED BATTER, ETC - THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH A LOT OF 2004 FREESTARS AS I READ ONLINE AND WAS TOLD TO SUBMIT THE INFO SO THAT MAYBE THEY WILL DO A RECALL AND GET THIS FIXED. THANK GOD IT DID NOT HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10492061January 9, 2013POWER TRAIN
I HAD MY VAN IN PARK WHILE I DROPPED MY KIDS OFF TO THE SITTER..CAME BACK OUT THE VAN HAD DIED..I TRIED TO START AND IT WOULD NOT EVEN TURN. THOUGH MAYBE BATTERY..PUT A KNEW ONE IN AND STILL NOTHING. HAD TO HAVE TOWED TO A SHOP AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE PCM WHERE IT WAS CORRODED DUE TO WATER LEAKING IN. A TOTAL OF A LITTLE OVER $1200 FOR PART AND LABOR. VERY LUCKY I WAS PARKED AND NOT DRIVING AT THE TIME WHEN THE VEHICLE DIED. THIS PART NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. THERE IS A FLAW IN THE DESIGN THAT IS ALLOWING WATER TO GET INTO THE PCM AND CAUSING IT TO GO BAD. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PART WITH OTHER OWNERS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10491495January 4, 2013SEATS, STRUCTURE:BODY
I OWN 2004 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LATCH THE THIRD ROW REAR SEAT, THE LATCH FAILED DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION ON THE FLOOR PANEL ,SIDE PANEL AND ATTACHMENTS WHICH HOLDS THE THIRD SEAT LATCH BRACKET THE THIRD ROW SEAT LATCH BRACKET SLIDES OUT AND EXTRUDES TO REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS AND CAN BURST THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE WHILE RUNNING CAR. I AM ENTERING THIS COMPLAINT IN RELATION TO OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED. THERE IS A DEFECT INVESTIGATION TAKING PLACE (EA12003 AND PE11039) FOR THIS ISSUE ALREADY. I ATTEMPTED TO PUT MY 3RD ROW SEAT BACK UP AND LOCK IT INTO PLACE. ON THE DRIVE SIDE I NOTICED THAT IT WOULD NOT LOCK INTO PLACE. AFTER FURTHER REVIEW, I KNOW NOTICED THAT THE WHOLE LATCH HAD BROKEN OFF BECAUSE OF RUSTED PANEL. THE WHOLE PLATE RUSTED THRU . *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10490802January 2, 2013POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED AND REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V006000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10490641January 1, 2013SEATS
THE DRIVER-SIDE WALL BRACKET THAT LOCKS THE THIRD ROW SEAT INTO THE UPRIGHT (USABLE) POSITION IS LOOSE. IT APPEARS THAT IT IS WELDED TO THE INNER SHELL SHEET METAL OF THE VEHICLE AND THAT THE INNER SHELL AROUND THE BRACKET HAS RUSTED SUFFICIENTLY TO CAUSE THE BRACKET TO BE LOOSE. WE HAVE DISCONTINUED USE OF THE BACK SEAT, FEARING INSUFFICIENT PROTECTION DURING A POTENTIAL CRASH. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10490663January 1, 2013SEATS, POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
RETURNING FROM A 'DUMP RUN', I NOTICED THE PLASTIC COVER FOR THE 3RD ROW PASSENGER SEAT, DRIVER SIDE, HAD BEEN DISLODGED AND WAS LYING ON THE FLOOR. I WENT TO RECONNECT IT AND I FOUND THE LATCH 'FLOATING'. IT WAS NO LONGER PART OF THE VEHICLE. I COULD SEE OUT THROUGH THE WHEEL WELL. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION, I SAW THAT THE WELDED PLATE, THAT SHOULD BE PART OF THE VAN WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED. I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THE TIRE FOR DAMAGE, YET. THIS IS A DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING ERROR, AS THE LATCH BRACKET USED TO SECURE THE PASSENGER SEAT IN PLACE, NEEDS TO BE A PERMANENT PART OF THE VEHICLE. THE VAN ISN'T TOO OLD, AND SHOULD LAST MANY MORE YEARS/MILES AND FOR THIS PIECE TO COME LOOSE, IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL AS A QUALITY ISSUE. I'M AFRAID TO TAKE IT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER FOR FEAR OF BEING GOUGED ON THE COST TO REPAIR, WHICH SHOULD BE AT FORD'S COST. IF THIS WAS A PICK UP TRUCK WITH EXPOSURE TO THE ELEMENTS ALL THE TIME, I COULD SEE A RUST ISSUE. THIS VEHICLE IS LIGHTLY USED AND GARAGED NIGHTLY, SO IT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN - EVER. THE OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS PAGE ARE ALL SIMILAR TO MY EXPERIENCE WITH THIS PART. RIGHT NOW, I'M USING A STRAP TO HOLD THE PIECE IN PLACE, STRETCHING TO THE LATCH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. COMMENT: THIS VAN HAS HAD TOO MANY QUALITY ISSUES SINCE WE PURCHASED IT IN 2006 - TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACED, DRIVER SEAT HEATER REPLACED, TRANSMISSION REPLACED, CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH MECH. REPLACED, IGNITION REPLACED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10490515December 30, 2012SEATS, STRUCTURE:BODY
DURING STS TIRE SERVICING, MECHANIC SHOWED ME A LARGE SECTION OF STRUCTURAL STEEL HANGING FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WELL AND A MICHELIN TIRE THAT CONTAINED ABRASIVE RIPPING CAUSED BY THE SECTION OF STEEL THAT HAD BEEN DANGLING AND RUBBING AGAINST THE TIRE. THE LARGE SECTION OF STEEL CONTAINED AN ANCHOR AT THE CENTER WHICH WAS MANUFACTURED TO HOLD THE THIRD ROW ROW IN PLACE. THIS STEEL PLATE WITH THE ANCHOR FOR HOLDING THE THIRD ROW SEAT IN PLACE IS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WHICH ALLOWED THE WELDS HOLDING IT IN PLACE TO FAIL CREATING DANGERS OF: UNSECURED SEATING, HOLE EXPOSING PASSENGERS TO EXTERIOR OF VEHICLE AND MOVING PARTS, OPENING FOR RODENTS OR OTHER DANGERS TO ENTER VEHICLE, KNOWLEDGE OF PRIOR MAY CAUSE FEAR AND PANIC OF DRIVER OR PASSENGERS WHICH MAY CAUSE ACCIDENT OR MENTAL ANGUISE. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO SMITH FORD DEALERSHIP IN WASHINGTON, N.J. REQUESTING AN INSPECTION AND WARRANTY REPAIR OF THE ABOVE STATED STRUCTURAL STEEL. SMITH FORD INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND SAID THAT THE MANUFACTURING DEFECT WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED BY FORD AND THAT FORD DOES NOT ACCEPT FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM WAS THE RESULT OF A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. REPORTED THIS TO FORD HEADQUARTERS ON NOVEMBER 30, 2012 AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE DEALERSHIP WAS CORRECT IN STATING THAT FORD WILL NOT REPAIR THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM. MY WIFE IS INCREASINGLY HAVING TERRIFYING VISIONS OF MICE JUMPING ON HER WHILE DRIVING, HAVING SNAKES CRAWLING INTO THE CAR, RAIN SNOW MUD ETC ENTERING VEHICLE, OR HAVING THE CHILDREN PUT THEIR HANDS OR OTHER THINGS INTO THE HOLE IN THE VEHICLE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0