2004 Ford Freestar Complaint Log

TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, RPMS BEGAN TO RACE,CAR SLOWED DOWN-NO WARNING. TOWED TO TRANSMISSION SHOP. TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY REMOVED AND REPLACED. TORQUE CONVERTER WAS STRIPPED OUT, NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE. TRANSMISSION FAILED 07/10 AT APPROX 110,000 MILES WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED OF APPROX. 45-50 MPH. HAD PREVIOUSLY HAD INTERMITTENT HESITATION, ATTEMPTED TROUBLE SHOOTING WHAT WAS THOUGHT TO BE ENGINE PERFORMANCE ISSUES (REPLACED SPARK PLUGS, FUEL INJECTORS, VARIOUS CONNECTIONS). VEHICLE CURRENTLY AT REPAIR FACILITY. *KB

NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS,JUST DRIVING DOWN 101 TOWARDS SAN FRANCISCO WITH MY 2004 FORD FREESTAR WITH MY CRUISE CONTROL ON WHEN SUDDENLY THE RPM'S RACED AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED COMPLETELY! NO DRIVE OR REVERSE IN ANY GEAR. LUCKILY I WAS IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE AND HAD REACHED THE TOP OF THE GRADE AND WAS TRAVELLING DOWN GRADE THROUGH THE WALDO TUNNEL. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. I HAD NOT HAD ANY TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, NO LOSS OF FLUID, NO SHIFTING ISSUES, NO SLUGGISHNESS. NO INCLINATION THERE WAS A PROBLEM, IT JUST FAILED. *TT

WHILE TRAVELING ON VERY BUSY HIGHWAY WITH THREE CHILDREN AND INFANT ABOARD, TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED. ALL DRIVE POWER SUDDENLY LOST.

THE PART OF THE FRAME THAT HOLDS MY FRONT PASSENGER STEERING AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY IN PLACE HAS FAILED. MY MECHANIC SAID IT'S THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM THAT THEY RECALLED FORD WINDSTAR VANS FOR - BUT SINCE MY VEHICLE IS A FORD FREESTAR VAN THERE'S NO RECALL? MY VAN IS NOW UNDRIVABLE! *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED IMMEDIATELY AFTER IT STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THERE WAS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE10033 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL POWER, TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM)) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

REAR WINDOW POPPED / SHATTERED WHILE PARKED. NO VANDALISM. CAR WAS RUNNING AND REAR DEFROSTER WAS ON. WEATHER WAS 60 DEGREES AND CLOUDY. *TR

JUST EXITED INTERSTATE, VAN SIMPLY STOPPED MOVING FORWARD, NEEDED TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION SPLINE, COST 1385.76 PLUS TOWING. FRONT WINDOW ALSO STOPPED WORKING, VARIOUS ELECTRIC PROBLEMS INCLUDING BATTERY DRAINING FOR NO REASON, LOCKS WORK SPORADICALLY, DAMP WEATHER CAUSES PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL, CHUGGING OF ENGINE ECT. *TR

MY 2004 FORD FREESTAR ENGINE LIGHT AND OTHER LIGHTS CAME ON, AND THE MINIVAN STARTED TO STALL, EACH TIME I WOULD HAVE TO RESTART AND DRIVE WITH HAZARDS ON TRYING TO GET HOME, IT BECAME DANGEROUS AND HAD TO TAKE MY CHANCE AND PULL OFF THE ROAD INTO A BUSINESS DRIVEWAY, AND LEAVE THE VAN. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK, THEY STIFFENED UP AS DID THE STEERING WHEEL. I WAS LUCKY I WASN'T IN AN ACCIDENT AS IT STARTED OUT OF THE BLUE. IT HAD BEEN SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR TWO DAYS AND THE WEATHER HAD BEEN RAINY FOR THOSE TWO DAYS, AND I THINK IT WAS CAUSED DUE TO SOME WATER LEAKAGE INTO THE TRANSMISSION AREA. I HAD A SIMILAR ISSUE A FEW YEARS AGO AND TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE VAN AND THEY SAID IT WAS A WATER GETTING INTO THE SYSTEM AND THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM AT THE TIME. NOW I AM BEING TOLD THAT I HAVE TO HAVE IT PUT ONTO A MACHINE AND PAY 85 DOLLARS TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. I KNOW THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THESE MINIVANS AND I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO FORK OUT A LOT OF MONEY TO GET IT FIXED WHEN IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE MODEL, AND FORD SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND ONE DAY SOMEONE WILL GET HURT OR WORSE FROM THIS. SOMEONE NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL SO THAT THESE CONCERNS ARE DEALT WITH!!! *TR

WE WERE DRIVING EAST ON THE PA TURNPIKE JUST PAST HERSHEY EXIT AND THE VEHICLE WAS SET ON CRUISE AT 65MPH. ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE ENGINE WENT INTO A HIGH REV AND THE TACH SHOT UP TO 5000 RPM. I HIT THE BRAKE TO KILL THE CRUISE AND THEN STEPPED ON THE GAS AND IT JUST REVVED UP, AS I WAS CONTINUALLY LOSING SPEED. I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY,THANK GOD THERE WAS A PULLOVER SO I DIDN'T HAVE TO STAY ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I WAS DEAD IN THE WATER, NO FORWARD OR REVERSE AT ALL! NO WARNING IT JUST HAPPENED OUT OF NO WHERE. I WAS TAKING MY GIRLFRIEND TO HER DOCTOR APPOINT AT U OF PENN CHILDRENS HOSPITAL FOR HER DISEASE,SHE IS SEVERELY DISABLED AND WE NEED THE VAN FOR HER POWER WHEEL CHAIR. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED FORD WILL NOT OWN UP TO THE FAILURES IN THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION. THERE ARE COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE WEB ABOUT THIS MODEL AND IT'S FAILING TRANSMISSIONS AT 70 TO 80 K MILES. WE ARE BOTH DISABLED AND NOW HAVE NO TRANSPORTATION AND NO WAY TO PAY FOR A $2500-$3400 TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT!

2004 FORD FREESTAR TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITH NO ADVANCED WARNING (IE. NO TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, NO NOISE, NO SHAKING ETC...) ON EXPRESSWAY WITH WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN. DECELERATION IN TRAFFIC TRAVELING 65 MPH WITH NO BRAKE WARNING TO THOSE BEHIND US COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC!!! *TR

2004 FORD FREESTAR TRANSMISSIONS ARE FAULTY AND IT SHOULD BE THE MANUFATURERS RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THE PROBLEMS THEY CREATED. *TR

MY DAUGHTER'S BOYFRIEND WAS DRIVING OUR 2004 FORD FREESTAR HOME FROM HIS WORK ON INTERSTATE 70 YESTERDAY. HE HAD IT SET ON CRUISE AND SUDDENLY THE RPM SHOT UP TO MAX AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEING PROPELLED ANY LONGER. HE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OUT OF TRAFFIC AND STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE. WHEN HE DID IT, THE SHIFTER WOULD MOVE, BUT NO GEAR, INCLUDING REVERSE WOULD ENGAGE. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE VERY SAME ISSUE TODAY AND I'M JUST ADDING OURS TO THE LIST. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

OUR 2004 FORD FREESTAR LIMITED WITHOUT WARNING SUDDENLY LOST POWER IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN, AND THE ENGINE RPM RACED. WE WERE ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY, WHERE THE VEHICLE HAD NO FORWARD OR BACKWARDS POWER. WE WERE STUCK UNTIL A REPAIR GARAGE COULD BE REACHED AND ARRANGEMENTS MADE FOR RETRIEVAL. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE LOADED ON A TRAILER AND TOWED FROM THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE IS NOW AT THE REPAIR FACILITY AWAITING DISASSEMBLY AND DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE MOVED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V006000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER) AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT BECAUSE THE COMPONENT WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT, THEN HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED UNDER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

WHEN FILLING THE GAS TANK IT WILL KICK THE GAS BACK OUT THE FILLER HOLE - SPRAYING GAS A GOOD 3 FT. IN ORDER TO GET GAS INTO THE TANK YOU HAVE TO FILL VERY SLOW AND AFTER MANY TRIES AND NOZZLE SHUT OFFS YOU CAN FILL THE TANK. WHEN THIS SYMPTOM STARTED IT HAS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SPUTTER GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE PRESSURE BUILDS SO BAD IN THE TANK, IT IS SOMETIMES IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE THE GAS CAP DUE TO EXCESS PRESSURE BUILD UP. NOW WE HAVE TO LEAVE THE CAP ON LOOSELY SO PRESSURE WON'T BUILD UP, IRONICALLY THE GAS CAP INSTRUMENT LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON. *TR

2004 FORD FREESTAR TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITH 93,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION JUST STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING ON I-895, A MAJOR INTERSTATE THROUGH BALTIMORE, MD. THE VAN HAD TO BE ABANDONED, BUT CAUSED TWO OTHER ACCIDENTS WHILE WE WAITED FOR A TOW TRUCK. THIS SERIOUSLY PUT MY FAMILY AND THE SAFETY OTHERS IN JEOPARDY. *TR

I HAVE 2004 FORD FREESTAR VAN & HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT SUDDENLY LOOSING POWER AND LOSS OF ACCELERATION. I HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 68,000 MILES AND VAN SEEMED TO RUN FINE FOR WHILE THEN ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO WITH 109,000 MILES I WAS LEAVING WORK AFTER LATE SHIFT AT HOSPITAL & VAN WOULD NOT GET ANY POWER OR ACCELERATE. I WAS LEFT STRANDED IN DOWNTOWN AREA THAT IS KNOWN FOR CRIME AND HOMELESS. I WAS ABLE TO GET RIDE HOME & HAD VAN TOWED, AFTER OVER $300 VAN WAS RUNNING AGAIN. I WAS ON WAY TO WORK ON 6-5-2011 & SAME THING HAPPENED TO VAN, NO POWER OR ACCEL, LATE IN EVENING ,WOMAN BY MYSELF ON STREET WHERE MANY HOODLUMS FREQUENT. I WAS VERY FEARFUL OF MY SAFETY. I WAS ABLE TO GET TOW FROM AAA & RIDE TO WORK. I'M STILL WITHOUT MY VAN AFTER 2 WEEKS. THE MECHANIC WHO ORIGINALLY FIXED IT CAN'T GET IT TO KEEP RUNNING AGAIN NOW, SOME DEFECT IN VAN IS APPARENTLY CAUSING COIL PACKS TO GO BAD AND MELTING FUSES INTO FUSE BOX, THIS IS SOMEHOW MAKING COMPUTER SYSTEM MALFUNCTION & SENDING VARIOUS ERROR CODES THAT CLEAR WHEN FUSES ARE REPLACED BUT FUSES AREN'T ABLE TO BE MAINTAINED AND CONTINUE TO BLOW AND MELT INTO FUSE BOX REPEATING CYCLE, THEREFORE VAN IS NOT DRIVABLE AT THIS TIME. IT HAS BEEN SENT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO IS CURRENTLY TRYING TO FIX IT. I WORK ABOUT 30 MILES FROM MY HOME, I HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN THAT I HAVE TO TAKE PLACES, & HAVE TO DRIVE TO GET TO ANY STORES FOR FOOD &/OR SUPPLIES. I AM FEARFUL IF MY VAN IS FIXED THAT IT WILL BREAK DOWN AGAIN & I WON'T BE AS LUCKY AS THE LAST FEW TIMES AND ME &/OR MY FAMILY WILL BE INJURED IN ACCIDENT OR WORSE. I HOPE THIS INFORMATION IS HELPFUL .THANK YOU. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO A STOP BEFORE BEING TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

LETTER FROM SENATOR GRAHAM ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN HIS 2004 FORD FREESTAR *TGW

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN FIRST STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE GEAR SHIFTER WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE OWNER WHO DISCOVERED THAT THE FAILURE COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR HAD IT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THIS FAILURE WITH HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,700.

WHILE DRIVING WITH OUR TWO DAUGHTERS IN THE CAR ON MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, MY WIFE WAS 30 MILES FROM HOME, MADE A RIGHT TURN AT AN INTERSECTION AND CAR JUST STOPPED DRIVING. VEHICLE ENGINE REMAINED RUNNING BUT UNABLE TO MAKE THE CAR DRIVE. WAITED TWO HOURS FOR AAA TO SHOW UP AND TOW HER TO A GARAGE. THREE DAYS LATER WE WERE TOLD THAT THE GARAGE COULD NOT FIX THE VAN BECAUSE IT WAS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE AND THEY WERE NOT A TRANSMISSION SHOP. CALLED AAA AGAIN TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED 30 MILES TO OUR LOCAL SHOP. I WAS AWARE TO NOT BRING IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT FIXED BECAUSE THEY WILL PUT THE SAME BAD PART IN THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN AND WOULD HAVE ANOTHER FAILURE. REBUILT TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED WITH BETTER TORQUE CONVERTER THAN A FORD DEALERSHIP WOULD PUT IN. REBUILT TRANSMISSION HAS A 4 YEAR/100,000 MILE GUARANTEE. I HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THE ONGOING TORQUE CONVERTER ISSUES WITH THESE VANS AND HAD EXPECTED THIS ONE TO BREAK AS WELL. I SENT AN EMAIL TO NHTSA LAST YEAR WITH MY CONCERNS AND GOT NO RESPONSE FROM THEM. THIS VAN HAD 80000 MILES ON IT. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED WITH FORD. LUCKILY NOONE HAS BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED IN THESE BREAK DOWNS BUT IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. THERE HAS BEEN A SERIOUS FAILURE OF OVERSIGHT INTO FORD MOTOR COMPANY BY NHTSA NOT TO MAKE FORD RECALL THESE VEHICLES CONSIDERING THERE HAS BEEN SO MANY WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. *TR

A FEW MONTHS AGO MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE FELT LIKE IT WANTED TO STALL OUT, THE COMPUTER AT THE SHOP SAID THAT THERE WAS A MISFIRE, REPLACED SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES, LIGHT WENT OUT, 2 DAYS LATER LIGHT BACK ON SAME THING, SHOP COULD FIND NOTHING ELSE WRONG WITH THE VAN, WE THEN WENT TO ANOTHER SHOP WHO AFTER HAVING IT FOR A WEEK AND NOT BEING ABLE TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM SAID IT WAS AN OXYGEN SENSOR, PAID $460 TO HAVE THIS REPLACED, VAN RAN GREAT FOR 3 DAYS THEN LGHT BACK ON AND SAME THING, WITHIN 2 DAYS THE LIGHT WENT BACK OFF, THIS HAPPENED ON AND OFF FOR MONTHS THEN FINALLY 3 WEEKS AGO WHILE TURNING A CORNER, THE VAN JUST DIED AND LOST POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION, UNABLE TO GO INTO REVERSE OR ANYTHING WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VAN LONG ENOUGH TO GET OUT OF INTERSECTION THEN IT DIED AGAIN AND WAS ABLE TO COAST TO SIDE OF ROAD BUT WAS UNABLE TO PUT VAN IN REVERSE, MY NORMAL MECHANIC COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM THE COMPUTER KEPT READING DIFFERENT ERROR CODES , HE THEN TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER, WHERE THEY HAVE NOW HAD IT FOR 3 WEEKS AND ARE UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT, THEY DID ADMIT THAT THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE PCM GETTING WET BUT THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT, IT IS NOW RUNNING, GOING INTO REVERSE AND NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT (AT THIS TIME). I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS COULD LEAD TO EVENTUAL TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AS WELL, SO NOW I HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT DRIVING IT AT ALL, BECAUSE NOONE CAN FIX IT, SO IT WILL EVENTUALLY DO IT AGAIN??? *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH OUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,000. UPDATED 10/12/11*LJ UPDATED 10/24/11

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE DROPPED OUT OF GEAR AND LOSS ACCELERATION. IT WOULD NOT GO BACK INTO GEAR. *KB

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.

STARTED FREESTAR AND RIGHT AWAY SPUTTERING AND DIDN'T WANT TO ACCELERATE WHEN GIVEN GAS, WOULD STALL BUT START BACK UP AND DO THE SAME THING WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE, SPUTTER AND STALL OUT AND LOSE POWER. FIRST SHOP SAYS ITS THE TRANSMISSION, HAD IT TOWED TO ANOTHER SHOP FOR 2ND OPINION AND CURRENTLY WAITING ON THEIR WORD. *TR

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

FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION. I HAD MY TRANSMISSION OVERHAULED 35,000 MILES AGO ON MY FORD FREESTAR AND NOW I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN OR REPLACE IT ENTIRELY. I'VE NOTICED ONLINE THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL AS MINE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING WOULD NOT COOL THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER ADDED FREON, BUT IT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE COMPRESSOR WAS OPERATING PROPERLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING DID NOT SEEM TO TRULY START WORKING UNTIL THE VEHICLE SPEED WAS AT 40 MPH AND ABOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED.THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000. *TR

DRIVER WAS AT A FULL STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT PREPARING TO MAKE A LEFT-HAND TURN ONTO A MAJOR 4-LANE DIVIDED HIGHWAY. ONCE THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, THE DRIVER ACCELERATED FROM FULL STOP TO ABOUT 10-15 MPH AND PUT THE VEHICLE INTO A LEFT-HAND TURN. AFTER THE INITIAL ACCELERATION, DRIVER COASTED THROUGH THE ACTUAL TURN. COMING OUT OF THE TURN INTO THE STRAIGHTAWAY, THE DRIVER PRESSED DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR TO CONTINUE ACCELERATING INTO THE TRAVEL LANES OF THE 4-LANE DIVIDED HIGHWAY. NO RESPONSE FROM THE VEHICLE OTHER THAN HEARING THE ENGINE REV HIGHER WITH DEPRESSION OF THE GAS PEDAL. NO ACCELERATION, NO FORWARD MOMENTUM OTHER THAN THE VEHICLE COASTING. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO COAST SAFELY TO A STOP ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. WHEN TRYING TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, DRIVER NOTED THAT THE SHIFTING GEARS DID NOT RESULT IN ANY DETECTABLE GEAR SHIFT NOISE OR VIBRATION, EVEN WHEN GOING TO PARK OR REVERESE. PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL ONLY RESULTED IN REVVING THE ENGINE - THIS WAS TRUE FOR ALL GEAR POSITIONS, INCLUDING REVERSE. NO ACCELERATION WAS NOTED AT ALL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. DEALERSHIP INVESTIGATED AND NOTED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. WHEN SPEAKING TO THE SERVICE REP IT WAS MENTIONED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER HAD FAILED AND THERE WERE BROKEN OFF METAL PARTS IN THE COLLECTION PAN OF THE CASE. THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. IT IS FORTUNATE THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED IN A CONTROLLED INTERSECTION ON A CLEAR ROAD WITHOUT APPROACHING TRAFFIC. WITH NO ABILITY TO ACCELERATE, THE DRIVER ONLY HAD A SMALL AMOUNT OF FORWARD MOMENTUM TO WORK WITH TO CLEAR THE TRAVEL LANES SAFELY. IF THIS FAILURE OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE OUTCOME WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AS POSITIVE.

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

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

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

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.

TRANSMISSION FAILURE 2004 FREESTAR. *TR

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

LTR ON BEHALF OF CONCERN THE SAFETY OF HER 2004 FORD FREESTAR RE THE RUSTING OF THE 3RD ROW SEATS ANCHORING LATCH SYSTEM; REPLY ATTN KAY RASH/DAVENPORT DISTRICT OFFICE *TGW THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WAS NOT COST EFFECTIVE TO FIX THE VEHICLE. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHILE DRIVING OUT OF A PARKING LOT SHE PUT THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FORTY FIVE DAYS AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE DONE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000. UPDATED 07/08/11 *BF THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE TORQUE CONVERTER IN THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TWO WEEKS LATER, THERE WAS A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THE ENGINE JUST REVVED. IT WAS DETERMINED IT WAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS BEFORE. UPDATED 09/01/11*JB

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

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

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

DRIVING ON THE TOLLWAY WHEN SUDDENLY THE VAN'S RPM REVVED UP BUT THE VAN WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY GEAR. THE VAN WAS TOWED THREE TIMES BECAUSE OF THE EASTER HOLIDAY. WE WERE TOLD BY FORD THAT THE TRANSMISSION IMPLODED. 0 WE HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. *TR

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

POWER TRAIN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. MY WIFE WHILE DRIVING WITH CHILDREN ON A SECONDARY HIGHWAY LOST FORWARD MOTION WHILE TRAVELING UP A HILL. WAS LUCKY SHE WAS ABLE TO BRAKE AND STEER OFF HIGHWAY AND NO VEHICLES BEHIND HER. IT HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE EVER SINCE. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A GERMAN FORD DEALERSHIP THAT QUOTED US A $10,000 DOLLAR REPAIR TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. FOUND A REPUTABLE TRANSMISSION SHOP THAT REPAIRED IT FOR ABOUT $4,000, BUT NOW THE VEHICLE HAD MULTIPLE ERROR CODES, (TRANSAXLE, AND CHECK ENGINE LITE). REPLACED MULTIPLE SENSORS TRYING TO SOLVE PROBLEM AND BOUNCED BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION SHOP AND A DIFFERENT FORD DEALERSHIP THAT GUARANTEED THEY COULD FIX AND REPAIR ANY PROBLEM ON AN AMERICAN FORD. THOUGHT I HAD A POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROBLEM AFFECTED BECAUSE OF THE TSB (06-14-10). I WAS ASSURED THIS WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. IN BETWEEN THIS, FORD ISSUED THE RECALL (NHTSA ID 12V006000, ACTION NUMBER EA09016, RECALL NUMBER 11S25). MY VEHICLE HAD TO SIT FROM JANUARY-JULY 2012 WAITING ON THE RECALL TO BE ISSUED ON MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE. AFTER REPLACING THE TORQUE CONVERTER UNDER THE RECALL, THE GERMAN FORD DEALERSHIP STILL HAD THE TRANSAXLE LITE COME BACK ON, SO REPLACED A SENSOR. FOLLOWING THIS WORK, THE OIL PRESSURE LITE CAME ON. THE GERMAN FORD DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE SENSOR. NOW THE VEHICLE WILL NOT EVEN START. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO BE TEST DRIVEN TO DETERMINE IF THE TRANSMISSION IS GOOD OR NOT, AND THE GERMAN FORD DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO DO ADDITIONAL WORK ON THE VEHICLE. THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG ANDMY VEHICLE CONTINUES TO JUST SIT THERE. I HAVE NOT HAD THIS VEHICLE OPERATIONAL FOR ALMOST 19 MONTHS. *TR

2004 FORD FREESTAR RPM'S 3000 AT IDLE. DIAGNOSED AS WATER INTRUSION IN ORIGINAL PCM (POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE) IN APRIL OF 2011. WATER INTRUSION OCCURRED ON REPLACEMENT PCM AS WELL WITHIN 3 MONTHS BECAUSE RAIN KIT PER SERVICE BULLETIN ( # TSB-06-14-10) WAS NOT INSTALLED AT THE FORD DEALER. SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED WITH THE REPLACEMENT (NEW) PCM ON 9/8/11. ON 9/8/11 VEHICLE STALLED OUT WHILE IN TRAFFIC. REPLACEMENT PCM DIAGNOSED AS WATER INTRUSION AS WELL BY DIFFERENT FORD. SECOND DEALER NOTED RAIN KIT HAD NOT BEEN INSTALLED BY 1ST DEALER WHEN NEW PCM WAS PUT IN. SECOND DEALER INSTALLED KIT, BUT VEHICLE STALLED OUT IN TRAFFIC ONCE AGAIN ON 9/17/11. REPLACEMENT (NEW) PCM HAD BEEN CONTAMINATED PRIOR TO RAIN KIT INSTALLATION. VEHICLE IS NOW AT THE FORD DEALER (THAT INSTALLED TSB RAIN KIT) FOR 3RD PCM UNIT. CONTACT WAS MADE WITH THE ORIGINAL DEALER THAT INSTALLED THE REPLACEMENT PCM AS WELL AS FORD WARRANTY DEPARTMENT, AND AS OF THIS DATE OF 9/23/11 NEITHER HAS ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR FAILURE TO INSTALL THE RECOMMENDED TSB RAIN KIT THAT CAUSED THE REPLACEMENT (NEW) PCM FAILURE. WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE THAT NO ONE WAS HURT DURING THE 2 INCIDENTS WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT WHILE IN TRAFFIC. WE WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE ACTION TO MAKE THE FIRST FORD DEALER / FORD MOTOR COMPANY FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR NEGLECTING TO INSTALL THE RAIN KIT PER FORDS SERVICE BULLETIN UPON INSTALLATION OF THE FIRST NEW PCM UNIT. *TR

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.

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.