2004 Ford Freestar Complaint Log

DT: WHEN THE CONSUMER TRIED TO STOP THE CAR IT ACCELERATED/ KICKED IN, AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO TAKE THE CAR OUT OF GEAR TO GET IT TO STOP. THE CONSUMER HAD THE DEALERSHIP LOOK AT THE CAR 5 TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THERE WAS NO WAY THAT THEY COULD FIX IT. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING ON FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED FORD OR THE MANUFACTURER. *AK THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED AND FORD FIXED THE PROBLEM. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE ACCELERATOR KICKED IN. (THIS HAPPENED ON MANY OCCASIONS) *SC

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD INSTEAD OF STOPPING. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AS THE CONSUMER WAS IN REVERSE ON ONE OCCASION. THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM MAY BE INHERENT AND THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK *SC *JB

PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE SINCE 2005 WITH JERKING, SPUTTERING, ENGINE LOCKUP. TRANSMISSION LOCKS AND JERKS, AIRCONDITIONER STOPPED COOLING AND WON'T HOLD FREON. ELECTRICAL ISSUES ALSO......HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN! SEVERAL TRIP TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP, WAS TOLD "COULD NOT DIAGNOSE, BRING IT BACK IF IT DOES IT AGAIN, WE CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT". THE ISSUES ARE SPORADIC. DRIVES FINE ONE MINUTE, NEXT THING YOU KNOW YOU ARE STALLED ON BUSY HWY. NOT ENOUGH SPACE TO LIST "EXPENSIVE" PROBLEMS. EXTENDED WARRANTY? THAT'S A JOKE, WASTE OF $. SCARIEST ISSUE IS WHEN IT LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING. LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF STEERING, ACCELERATION, ETC. WAS STRANDED IN MIDDLE OF ROAD. HAVE DISABILITY, VERY SCARY & FRUSTRATING ESPECIALLY SINCE MY HUSBAND BOUGHT IT ONLY A YEAR OLD SO KIDS AND I WOULD HAVE A "SAFE" VEHICLE. DID NOT TAKE BACK TO DEALERSHIP SINCE THEY'D PROBABLY SAY " CAN'T DIAGNOSE". PURCHASED A REBUILT ENGINE HAD SMALL TOWN MECHANIC PUT IT IN. PROBLEMS STILL GOING ON. SINCE THERE ARE STILL SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL, AND NO AIR CONDITIONING, I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT MORE THAN 5 MILES. IT IS A VERY EXPENSIVE LAWN ORNAMENT. FYI, MY HUSBAND HAD JUST HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE IN HIS FORD VEHICLE A MONTH BEFORE MINE WENT OUT, HAD TO SELL HIS VACATION TIME FOR 2 YEARS IN A ROW JUST TO KEEP THOSE FORDS RUNNING FOR OUR FAMILY...HE'S A PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER. FORD SOLD BE ASHAMED. (DATES ARE APPROXIMATE, PAPERWORK PACKED UP FROM A MOVE....SORRY:-) ) *TR

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AN AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR PROBLEM. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND TOLD CONSUMER THAT THE SENSORS FOR THE DOOR WERE OPERATING PROPERLY. HOWEVER, THE PASSENGER INJURED HER SHOULDER AND LOWER ARM BECAUSE THE AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR DID NOT RETRACT WHEN HITTING AN OBJECT. *AK

BRAKES SQUEALING,AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON,ENGINE HSA ALOT OF PINGING HIOWAY SPEED 60 AND UP. *AK

AFTER SHIFTING THE GEAR INTO REVERSE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND LURCHED BACKWARDS. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO SLAM ON BRAKE, AND SWITCH OFF THE IGNITION SWITCH TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *AK AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED IT WORKED FINE. *TC

OCTOBER 2004 - LESS THAN 500 MILES ON VAN - BRAKES WENT OUT. TRACKLIGHT CAME ON. VAN WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED SENSOR ON IT. RAKES HAVE GONE OUT AGAIN - CARRIED BACK TO SAME DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. BRAKES WOULD GO DOWN, AFRAID WOULD NOT STOP, AND WOULD FINALLY CATCH AFTER PUMPING REPEATEDLY. PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING MARCH 2005 - CARRIED VAN TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP. MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING AND WAS REPLACED. BRAKES GONE OUT AGAIN. CARRIED TO DEALERSHIP APRIL 1, 2005 TO LEAVE AND CHECK. THEY DROVE VAN ALL WEEKEND AS PERSONAL VEHICLE (WITHOUT PERMISSION), PUT 500 MILES ON VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON A SLIGHT INCLINE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC CLAIMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. *AK

OUR VAN ONLY HAS 2200 MILES, HOWEVER WHILE PERFORMING A U-TURN THE VEHICLES FRONT AXLE BROKE. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE AXLE BUT COULD NOT FIND ANY CAUSE. *AK

WHEN BRAKING, THE CONSUMER WOULD HEAR A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE ROTOR. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.

THE CONSUMER TAPPED THE BRAKE TO STOP AND THE LEFT REAR BRAKE LOCKED UP. IT WAS LATER DETRERMINED THAT THE LEFT INNER PAD HAD WORN UNEVENLY. *AK *NM

MY LEFT INNER BRAKE PAD FELL APART AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.. MY LEFT BRAKE WAS LOCKED UP ON INNER SIDE. DEALER PUT NEW PADS AND FIXED ROTOR ON MY 2004 FREESTAR. ALSO EXCESSIVE FRONT BRAKE NOISE AND SQUEAL . *AK

ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO OUR 2004 FORD FREESTAR HAD THE WATER GETTING INTO THE PCM. MY MECHANIC SAID THEY NEW ABOUT A SERVICE NOTICE/ALERT, WHATEVER YOU MIGHT CALL IT, STATING THAT FORD KNEW THIS WAS AND ISSUE AND THAT IT WAS NOT A RECALL. THEY ACTUALLY POURED WATER OUT OF THE MODULE. HE STATED THAT IT DID NOT DRIP OUT, IT "POURED OUT". HE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE WATER WAS GETTING IN BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND HOOD. HE SHOWED ME THE SPOT. IT TOOK THEM 5 DAYS TO DRY OUT THE PCM AND THEY SEALED IT, THE BEST THEY COULD. SUNDAY, JULY 3RD, THE "SPROCKET WITH AN EXCLAMATION POINT" LIGHT CAME ON IN THE BOTTOM LEFT CORNER OF THE DASH AS I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM CHURCH WITH MY WIFE AND FOUR CHILDREN...12, 8, 6, AND 1. THEN THE TRANSMISSION JUST DISENGAGED. WE WERE STRANDED ON ONE OF THE BUSIER ROADS IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK. WE CALLED A FRIEND TO TAKE MY WIFE AND FAMILY HOME. MY WIFE GOT OUR 1998 PICKUP AND BROUGHT IT BACK AND WE TOWED THE VAN TO OUR SHOP. I CALLED TODAY, AND THEY HAVE NOT STARTED WORKING ON IT YET, BUT NOW I KNOW WHAT IT IS!!! WE WERE SUPPOSED TO LEAVE FOR VACATION FROM JULY 8TH THROUGH JULY 17TH IN VIRGINIA. MY KIDS WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO SPENDING THE WEEK WITH THEIR GRANDMOTHER FOR THE WEEK. I CAN TAKE A BROKEN DOWN CAR, BUT NOT MY FAMILY BEING PUT IN DANGER AND MY CHILDREN BEING CRUSHED FOR THE LOSS OF A VACATION TO THEIR GRANDMOTHERS. I WILL FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA, AS YOU SUGGEST. I DOUBT FORD WILL DO ANYTHING. UNFORTUNATELY OUR 1998 PICKUP IS A FORD WITH A LEAKING BREAK LINE IN THE RIGHT REAR. I WAS JUST ABOUT TO PUT IT IN THE SHOP. NO MORE FORDS FOR ME. "FOUND ON ROAD DEAD" TRULY FITS MY OPINION OF FORD NOW. *TR

VEHICLE FELT LIKE THERE WAS A FLAT TIRE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. SLOWED DOWN, HEARD A LOUD BANG AND PULLED OFF THE ROAD WITH A SKIDDING STOP. UPON INSPECTION, FOUND THAT THE A-FRAM HAD DROPPED OUT OF THE COLLAR OF THE TIE ROD. *AK

THE POWER SLIDING DOOR, UPON OPENING THE DOOR, AND DEPRESSING THE ELECTRICAL BUTTON TO CLOSE THE DOOR IT WILL NOT STOP. IT CONTINUES TO CLOSE UNTIL YOU ARE CAUGHT IN THE DOOR.*AK

THE AUTOMATIC SLIDING SENSOR FAILED. AS A RESULT, A SIX YEAR OLD CHILD WAS CAUGHT BETWEEN THE DOORS. THE CHILD SUSTAINED BRUISES ON BOTH KNEES. *AK

THIS IS A GENERAL COMPLIANT ABOUT MY 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE PROBLEMS STARTED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER DRIVING THE CAR AWAY FROM THE DEALER. 1. I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT AND THE RUBBER COVER FELL OFF OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. 2. THE NEXT THING WAS THE KEYLESS REMOTE WORKED ABOUT 50% OF THE TIME TO OPEN THE PASSENGER DOORS. 3. THEN AFTER ABOUT THE FIRST 500 MILES OF DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATED IN MY HANDS WHEN COMING TO A STOP. 4. ALSO WHEN DRIVING THERE WERE SEVERAL ANNOYING SOUNDS. 5 FINALLY, AND THIS IS THE MOST ANNOYING OF ALL, I CAN'T RUN THE HEATER IN THE COLD WEATHER BECAUSE EXCESSIVE HOT AIR COMES FROM THE DEFROST VENTS EVEN THOUGH I HAVE THE CONTROL SET TO 'FLOOR VENTS' ONLY. NOW WHAT HAS THE FORD DEALERS DONE ABOUT THE PROBLEMS? 1. I REPLACED THE RUBBER COVER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. 2. THE DEALERS REFUSE TO FIX THE KEYLESS REMOTE PROBLEM. THEY CLAIM IT IS WORKING FINE EVEN THOUGH I TOOK IT TO INDEPENDENT ALARM TECH WHO TOLD ME THE 'UNLOCK ALL' RECEIVER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. 3. THE OSCILLATION OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE STOPPING WAS ' FIXED' BY ONE DEALER BY GRINDING DOWN A WARPED BRAKE ROTOR. THIS REPAIR, WHICH I OBJECTED TO FORD NOT REPLACING THE ROTOR WITH A NEW ROTOR, ONLY LASTED A FEW THOUSAND MILES AND THE PROBLEM RECURRED. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO REPLACED THE BAD ROTOR. 4. ONE OF THE ANNOYING SOUNDS WAS FIXED BY ONE DEALER BUT NOT ALL OF THE SOUNDS. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALER AND ALL WERE FIXED. 5. THE DEALERS REFUSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM OF EXCESSIVE HOT AIR COMING FROM THE DEFROST VENT. I HAVE TO DUCT TAPE OVER THE DEFROST VENT TO BE ABLE RUN THE HEATER. THEN I HAVE TO PULL THE DUCT TAPE AWAY IF THE WINDSHIELD FOGS OVER INSIDE THE CAR. IN GENERAL I THINK THE QUALITY OF THIS CAR IS THE WORST THAT I HAVE EVER OWNED AND I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL NEW CARS IN MY ALMOST 70 YEARS OF AGE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ALSO, DOORS WILL OPEN SUDDENLY. MANUFACTURER STATED THE VEHICLE'S DEFECTS DO NOT WARRANTY A NEW VEHICLE.*AK

WHEN USING THE HEADLINER-MOUNTED DVD SYSTEM SCREEN, VISIBILITY THROUGH THE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS COMPLETELY OBSCURED. WHEN REPORTED TO FORD AS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE, I WAS TOLD VIA MY DEALER THAT THE FORD ENGINEERS SAID TO USE MY SIDE VIEW MIRRORS. THIS SEEMS HIGHLY INADEQUATE WHEN THE VAN IS SOLD BASED ON ITS ENHANCED SAFETY FEATURES. THIS WAS NOT AN ISSUE WITH THE WINDSTAR, AND IN MY OPINION, IS A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW THAT WILL CAUSE ACCIDENTS DUE TO INADEQUATE VISIBILITY. *LA

THE 2004 FORD FREESTAR MINIVAN HAS TWO SAFETY ISSUES. UNFORTUNATELY, THE FIRST AFFECTED A FAMILY MEMBER. I E-MAILED FORD QUITE SOME TIME AGO AND THERE HAS BEEN NO FOLLOW-UP RESPONSE. THE PASSENGER DOOR LOCK AUTOMATICALLY LOCKS (RETRACTS) ONCE THE VEHICLE BEGINS MOTION AND SUCKED IN A FAMILY MEMBERS SKIN ON THE MIDDLE OF THE LOWER ARM AS THE RIGHT PASSENGER'S ARM RESTED ON THE RIGHT DOOR THAT WAS MADE FOR THE PURPOSE OF SERVING AS AN ARMREST. INSTANTLY MY MOTHER'S ARM WAS BRUISED AND SHE IS NOT A LARGE PERSON...THIS WAS NOT AN ISSUE OF EXTRA BODY MASS. SIMPLY PUT, HER SKIN WAS SUCKED INTO THE LOCK PULL WHEN IT AUTOMATICALLY RETRACTED. IN ADDITION, IF A PASSENGER RESTS HIS/HER ARM ON THIS ARMREST-DESIGNED DOOR WITH FINGERS BETWEEN THE REST AND THE WINDOW WHERE THERE IS A WELL OF SPACE, AND THE DRIVER HAPPENS TO PUT DOWN THE PASSENGER WINDOW, THE PASSENGER'S FINGERS CAN BE SUCKED DOWN WITH THE WINDOW. *AK

PLASTIC MOLDING ALONG THE RUNNING BOARDS BROKE OFF. AS A RESULT, THE SLIDING DOOR MALFUNCTIONED, LOCKING OCCUPANTS INSIDE VEHICLE. *AK

WHEN USING THE HEADLINER-MOUNTED DVD SYSTEM SCREEN, VISIBILITY THROUGH THE REARVIEW MIRROR IS VERY LIMITED (PRETTY MUCH, THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR CAN'T BE USED AT ALL). *AK

WAS DRIVING MY 2004 FORD MINI VAN FREESTAR WHEN TRANSMISSION JUST UP AND QUIT WORKING. *TR

2004 FORD FREESTAR WITH NO REAR DOOR SENSORS. CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE REAR SLIDING DOOR SHOULD HAVE SENSORS ON THE REAR OF THE DOOR. *KB THE CONSUMER'S SON WALKED TOWARDS THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. HER SON GRABBED THE BACK EDGE OF THE DOOR, WHICH ULTIMATELY CLOSED ON HIS FINGERS. THE CONSUMER'S SON SUFFERED BRUISED AND SWOLLEN FINGERS. *JB

CONSUMER'S 2004 FORD FREESTAR HAS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER BACKING UP, HE PLACED THE GEAR IN DRIVE AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO NOISE OF ANY TYPE THAT EVEN SUGGESTED THERE WAS A PROBLEM. *JB

AIR BAG LIGHT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND WILL NOT TURN OFF. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE PARTS TO FIX THE FRONT AIR BAGS WERE ON BACK ORDER. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE FRONT AIR BAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY SINCE THE WARNING INDICATOR WAS ON. *AK THE PART CAME IN AND THE DEALER REPLACED IT YET THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *NM