There are 55 stored owner reports matching the electrical system leading-label group for the 2004 Ford Freestar in our NHTSA-sourced dataset. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Loaded 50 of 55 matching reports. This is a limited sample of up to 50 reports, ordered by incident date when available, not the complete group. The list controls page through the loaded reports only.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)I READ THE RECALLS FOR 2004 FORD FREE STAR TRANSMISSIONS AND MY VAN WITHOUT WARNING JUST QUIT WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I COULD GET IT TO START BACK UP FOR A SECOND TO MOVE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT IT WOULDN'T START AFTER THAT.
THE INDIANA ALPR TRACKING SYSTEM CAUSES ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS INCLUDING THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM AND VARIOUS OTHER UNKNOWN MALFUNCTIONS. THE ABS MODULE HAS FAILED ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLE AND THE ALPR ATTACKS CONTINUE. THESE ALPR ATTACKS ARE INITIATED BY ELECTRICAL APPARATUS ON TOP OF TELEPHNE POLES AND ON POLICE CARS. THESE ATTACKS CAN BE HEARD BY SUDDEN UNEXPECTED LOUD THUMPING ON MY DASHBOARD WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IN ADDITION TO THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. THESE ATTACKS OCCUR BOTH IN MOTION AND WHEN STATIONARY. THE THUMPING IS EXPECIALLY SURPRISING IN TRAFFIC AND COULD EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. PLUS, I DO NOT HAVE ABS PROTECTION ON SLICK ROADS
EVERYTIME I STOP AT EITHER A STOPLIGHT OR STOP SIGN IT STALLS OUT. THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN GOES BACK OFF. I AM ABLE TO RESTART IT BACK UP AND CONTINUE IT ON. I HAVE HAD THE ELECTRICAL COMPUTER FIXED AND HAD A FULL TUNE UP DONE AND IT STILL STALLS OUT.
LIKE MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ON THE FORD FREESTAR, I HAVE TO ADD MY COMPLAINT REGARDING MY 2004 FORD FREESTAR. FIRST OF ALL, WHEN I BOUGHT MY VAN USED ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO, I DID RESEARCH ON IT, AND LEARNED ABOUT THE ISSUE OF WATER GETTING INTO THE PCM. SO I TOOK THE VAN TO A FORD DEALERSHIP - CAMPBELL FORD IN NILES MICHIGAN - AND ONE OF THEIR MECHANICS DRIED AND SEALED THE PCM, ALONG WITH THE AREA AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD THAT IS PRONE TO LEAK. THAT WAS TWO YEARS AGO (THIS VAN ALSO HAD THE TORQUE CONVERTER WORK DONE BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER). SO HERE'S THE PROBLEM I'M HAVING NOW: WHEN DRIVING, OCCASIONALLY FOR NO APPARENT REASON, MY RADIO GOES DEAD, NO TIME, NO DISPLAY, NO MUSIC, AND THEN THE BRAKE AND ABS LIGHT APPEAR ON THE DASH, ALONG WITH THE BATTERY LIGHT AND AIRBAG LIGHT. THIS LASTS FOR A FEW SECONDS, AND THEN EVERYTHING RETURNS TO NORMAL (SOMETIMES THE BATTERY LIGHT STAYS ON PERMANENTLY). WHEN THIS HAPPENS I LOSE NO POWER AND THE VAN DRIVES LIKE NORMAL. THAT MIGHT OCCUR 4 - 5 TIMES / OUTING. I REPLACED THE BATTERY A FEW DAYS AGO AND THIS HAS MADE NO DIFFERENCE.
THIS VEHICLE I RECEIVED NUMEROUS RECALLS AND HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. WHEN IT WOULD RAIN AND GET CAR WASH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WOULD MALFUNCTION AND CAUSE ENGINE NOT TO RUN PROPERLY AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON. IN APRIL OF 2016 ENGINE WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND CAUSED ME TO GET IN ACCIDENT. THIS VEHICLE HAS SINCE BEEN IMPOUNDED AND LOAN COMPANY SANTANDER TRYING TO BILL ME FOR REMAINDER OF LOAN AND NOW CAUSING MAJOR CREDIT ISSUES. I WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE COVERED BY FORD/CARMAX FOR SELLING MY FAMILY AN UNSAFE VEHICLE WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN CRITICAL INJURY OR WORSE.
THE 2004 FREESTAR IS SHORTING OUT ALL THE SENSORS ARE SHORTING OUT U TOOK IT TO BE PUT ON MACHINE AND IT CANE BACK WITH 17 SENSORS MALFUNCTION GOING ON AND IT'S THE ONLY VECHELE I OWN AND I'VE GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND I SEE 100000 OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WHAT SHOULD I DO I MIGHT BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE VRAJE SENSOR IS GOING AND I CAN'T STOP I'M NOT RICH I CANTVGO BUY ANOTHER VAN PLEASE HELP ME
THE POWER CONTROL MODULE (PCM) GETS WET . THE CAR WILL THEN EXHIBIT VARIOUS FAILURES INCLUDING ENGINE STOP, TRANSMISSION FAILURE TO ENGAGE, ENGINE CODE INDICATORS. THIS CAN HAPPEN WHEN STATIONARY (TRANSMISSION WON'T ENGAGE ) OR IN MOTION( ENGINE WILL SHUT OFF ABOVE CERTAIN SPEEDS, MAY BE 35-45MILES PER HOUR) OR THE TRANSMISSION WILL BEGIN SLIPPING. FORD HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL BULLETIN TSB 06-14-10 ON THIS ISSUE
WHILE DRIVING MY 4 CHILDREN ALL BUT ONE IN A CAR SEAT, MY CAR JUST DIED WITHOUT WARNING, MY CAR STARTING ROLLING BACKWARDS BEFORE I HAD EVEN REALIZED IT SHUT DOWN. IN PANIC I GOT THE CAR STOPPED AND PUT INTO PARK AND GOT HAZARDS ON AND THEN TRIED STARTING CAR AND IT FIRED RIGHT BACK UP. I BROUGHT IT TO MECHANIC TO BE TOLD ITS THE AIR FILTER, CHANGED THAT THEN GOT TOLD ITS THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, REPLACED THAT THEN WAS TOLD THAT'S NOT IT. FINALLY SOMEONE SAID ITS THE PCM!! NO ONE CAN DO IT BUT FORD SO I CALLED FORD, FORD SAYS THAT CANNOT DO IT!! GO FIGURE, SO I AM NOW SCRAMBLING FOR THE MONEY AND FOR THE PARTS AND FOR THE MECHANIC TO FIX THIS. AND FROM WHAT I CAN FOLLOW FROM THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ITS NOT JUST ME THIS HAPPENING TO OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THIS IS A FAULTY MAKE AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TO COME OUT OF THE CUSTOMERS POCKET ANYMORE. FORD SHOULD PICK UP THE PIECES.
DIFFERENT THINGS ARE HAPPENING. MY VAN IDLES AT A HIGHER RPM. MY VAN DOESNT WANT TO CRANK ON THE FIRST TURN OF THE KEY. MY VAN IS POSSIBLY MISS-FIRING. MY FRONT WIPER MOTOR HAS STOPPED. MY ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED. NOW MY BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON BUT THEN MAY GO OFF. MY CAR SHUTS OFF WHEN IDLES, MY BATTERY LIGHT IS ON. NOTHING BUT THE ENGINE CRANKED, BUT BATTERY LIGHT IS ON. MY BATTERY WAS REPLACED WITH IN 6 MONTHS BEFORE THIS. SOMETIMES THE SIDE DOORS DECIDE TO OPEN WHEN BUTTON IS PUSHED AND SOMETIMES THEY DO NOT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH WATER GETTING INTO THE PCM. WATER SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET INTO THIS AREA. THERE IS NOT TIME FRAME AS TO HOW LONG THIS HAS BEEN DAMAGED, BUT IT IS A PROBLEM. IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED. WHEN RESEARCHING THE INTERNET I FIND THAT THIS IS ALMOST EVERYONE'S ANSWER TO THEIR PROBLEM, I FEEL THAT IT IS AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS SOME ATTENTION FROM FORD TO RECOGNIZE AGAIN. YES SOMETIMES THESE PROBLEMS CAN BE DUE TO SOMETHING ELSE BUT WHEN ALL OF THE OTHER ITEMS HAVE BEEN FIXED OR REPLACED AND IT CONTINUES THEN IT IS A PROBLEM.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DOOR LATCH WAS LOOSE. THE LATCH REQUIRED READJUSTMENT IN ORDER TO CONNECT THE LATCH. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE PLASTIC PIECE ON THE REAR SEAT LEVER FRACTURED AND THE BOTTOM LATCH WAS USED AS A TEMPORARY OPTION TO LIFT THE SEAT UP AND DOWN. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW ALSO FAILED TO OPEN AND CLOSE. THE MOTOR FOR THE WINDOW REGULATOR WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE WINDOW ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE STILL WOULD NOT OPEN AND CLOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
I WAS TRAVELING ON A BUSY ROAD LAST SUNDAY. MY VAN COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WITH NO WARNING. I HAD NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES AND WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED. THANK GOD I MANAGED TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I STARTED IT AGAIN AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN THREE MORE TIMES. I HAD IT TOWED TO JIM'S AUTO SERVICE AND THEY THINK IT COULD BE RELATED TO WATER LEAKAGE ONTO THE COMPUTER. I CALLED FORD TO ASK ABOUT THIS AND THEY SAID THAT THEY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THIS BUT I FOUND INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ALL OVER THE INTERNET. I ASKED THEM HOW COULD MY MECHANIC KNOW ABOUT THIS AND THEY DIDN'T?! THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. I AM 60 YEARS OLD AND BABYSIT MY GRANDCHILDREN FULL TIME AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THEM IN THIS VEHICLE! I ALSO DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY FOR MAJOR REPAIRS. I HUNG UP WITH FORD FEELING FRUSTRATED SINCE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL SITUATION IF I HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY GRANDDAUGHTER. *JS
AFTER A RAIN VAN STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF HEAVY TRAFFIC AND WOULD NOT RESTART.AFTER SEVERAL HOURS VAN WOULD NOT START.I HAD VAN TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, PCM WAS REPLACED.@PRESENT HEADLIGHTS NOT WORKING PROPERLY,AIR CONDITIONING,HORN,SEAT BELT CHIMES NOT WORKING AT ALL.LOCAL DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO REPAIR.VAN CONTINUES TO RUN ROUGH. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRANS AXLE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IMMEDIATELY AFTER, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS NOT ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
DRIVING SOUTH ON I 75,RETURNING FROM A WEEK'S VACATION, IN MEDIUM SATURDAY TRAFFIC THE CAR STARTED TO ACT UP. LIGHTS, WARNING LIGHTS, GAUGES, EVEN THE TEMPERATURE AND COMPASS STARTED FLASHING AND GOING ON AND OFF. THERE WAS AN EXIT A MILE AHEAD WHEN THE ENGINE DIED, RIGHT IN FRONT OF A SEMI. I HAD TO SWERVE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO NARROWLY AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER THAT. I HAD TO ARRANGE A TOW AND WAS LEFT STRANDED FOR FIVE DAYS. THE FORD DEALER UP NORTH COULD NOT GET THE PART FOR THREE WEEKS. NOW IT'S AT A FORD DEALER HERE, BY DETROIT, FOR OVER A WEEK. THEY SAID IT WILL COST OVER ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE PCM. LOOKING ON LINE I SEE ALL THE COMPLAINTS AND REPAIRS REPORTED ABOUT THIS CAR, AND YOU ARE DOING NOTHING?? AFTER SEEING THE PCM AND THE REPAIRS TO FIX THE PROBLEM YOU HAVE TO WONDER WHY THE BRAIN OF THE CAR IS IN A SPOT WHERE IT CAN GET WET, AND WHY THERE ARE HOLES IN THE TOP TO LET WATER IN? HOW MANY PROBLEMS, ACCIDENTS,OR DEATHS DO THERE HAVE TO BE TO START A RECALL???? *TR
ALMOST EVERY TIME WE START THE VAN, THE ODOMETER HAS ALL DASHES THROUGH THE READING AND THE SPEEDOMETER WILL NOT WORK. AFTER RESTARTING THE VAN SOMETIMES SEVERAL TIMES IT FIXES ITSELF. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. I HAVE BEEN SEEING A LOT OF INFORMATION IN FORUMS ABOUT WATER GETTING ON THE PCM DUE TO A MANUFACTURE ERROR, BUT HAVE NOT SEEN A RECALL FOR THE ISSUE. AFTER REMOVAL OF THE AIR [XXX] TO DO MINOR MAINTENANCE TO THE VEHICLE WATER IS ABLE TO SEEP PASS A MISPLACED SPOT WELD AND DRIP ON TOP OF THE PCM UNIT. DAMAGE TO THE UNIT CAUSES SEVERAL ISSUES INCLUDING THE PROBLEM I AM FACING WITH MY VAN. *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
WAS DRIVING WITH CRUISE CONTROL AND VEHICLE STARTED LURCHING WHILE DRIVING. WHILE IN PARK RPMS GO UP AND DOWN. FEEL LIKE VEHICLE IS STRUGGLING. HAD RECALL ISSUE TAKEN CARE OF LAST MONTH. DOORS ALSO LOCK WHEN THEY WANT TO AND SOMETIMES WINDOWS DON'T WORK. ALWAYS HAPPENS AFTER RAIN. *TR
WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS ON HIS WAY HOME FROM WORK HE CAME UPON A RED LIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AGAIN HE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE BUT THE VAN WOULD NOT MOVE. HE TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN AND THE VAN STILL WOULD NOT MOVE. ALL OF THIS OCCURRED WITHOUT ANY WARNING, NO LIGHTS FLASHING OR ANY KIND OF UNUSUAL SOUNDS. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM WE WERE TOLD THAT THE VAN HAD AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT NEEDED TO BE HANDLED AT THE FORD DEALER. NOW WHAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD IS THAT THE ELECTRONIC COMPUTER MODULE WAS THE PROBLEM AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS REPAIR COST US $1200 DOLLARS AFTER HAVING THE VAN FOR JUST UNDER FIVE MONTHS. WE ARE PAYING CLOSE TO $13,000 FOR THIS VAN AND WERE NOT ABLE TO DRIVE IT SAFELY FOR AT LEAST SIX MONTHS WITHOUT REPAIR. SOMEONE SHOULD PROTECT THE CONSUMER A LITTLE BETTER THAN THEY ARE. THIS IS DEVASTATING FOR MY FAMILY CONSIDERING THIS IS OUR FIRST VEHICLE AND WE ARE STILL INEXPERIENCED WITH THE WAS DEALERS PREY ON THEIR POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS, FORD SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF HOW THEY TREAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THE ONE'S WHO KEEP THEM IN BUSINESS. I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD TAKE A STAND TO REFRAIN FROM PURCHASING FORD VEHICLES UNTIL THEY TAKE CONSUMER SAFETY SERIOUSLY. THERE SHOULD ALSO BE A LAW WHICH STATES THAT ANY USED CAR DEALER DISCLOSE RECALL INFORMATION TO THE POTENTIAL BUYER BEFORE A CONTRACT IS ENTERED INTO. THE TYPE OF PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE COULD HAVE ENDED IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH HAD THIS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR
WHILE DRIVING TO TAKE MY HUSBAND TO WORK IN THE RAIN MY WIPERS BEGAN TO SLOWLY LOSE POWER AND SLOW DOWN, THEN MY RADIO SHUT OFF, MY HEAD LIGHTS BEGAN TO TURN OFF THEN OFF THEN THEY LOSS POWER, FINALLY MY DASHBOARD BEGAN TO HAVE THE OIL LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT AND EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT COME ON, THEN THE BATTERY LIGHT TURNED ON I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY SAID IT SOMETHING ELECTRIC AND MAYBE THE PCM I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE NO RECALL FOR THAT AND CAN'T HELP ME UNLESS I WANT TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. MY MECHANIC ALSO SAID THEY HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER FORD FREESTARS WITH THIS PROBLEM AS THE VAN WAS MADE THAT THE PCM IS LOCATEDWHERE WATER COMES IN WITH RAIN AND RUINS THEM. WE ARE AFRAID THAT AN ELECTRIC PROBLEM MAY CAUSE A MISFIRE AND EVEN A FIRE TO THE VEHICLE.THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE I HAVE AND STRONGLY DEPEND ON IT SINCE I AM 6.5 MONTHS PREGNANT AND HAVE A 2 YEAR OLD AND AM AFRAID OF BEING STRANDED SOMEWHERE WITH HIM. HAD I KNOWN THAT THIS CAR WAS SO UNRELIABLE AND IRRESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR MISTAKES AND UN WILLING TO HELP, I WOULD OF PURCHASED A FOREIGN CAR WITH BETTER WARRANTY AND QUALITY AS WELL AS BETTER SERVICE. *TR
AS I SEE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL MODEL YEAR FREESTAR VANS. WATER LEAKS ONTO THE PCM AND SHORTS OUT THEN YOUR VAN WON'T RUN OR IF IT DOES NOT VERY WELL. MINE WON'T START AND GIVES ALL KINDS OF RANDOM MIL CODES. WAS DIAGNOSED WITH WATER IN PCM. PLAIN AND SIMPLE FORD NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS BECAUSE ALL THE VANS HAVE IT OR WILL GET IT. *TR
I DROVE MY CAR TO WORK IN THE MORNING. AT 2PM, I TRIED TO DRIVE, BUT COULD NOT. THE CAR STARTED, BUT I COULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD. I HAD NO SYMPTOMS THAT A PROBLEM WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN BEFORE THIS. WHEN THE TOW GUY CAME, HE MOVED THE CAR BY HAND WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT A TINY BIT SOMETIMES FORWARD AND SOMETIMES BACK, BUT SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL. WE TOWED IT TO MEDFORD FORD WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING A WHOLE NEW COMPUTER BRAIN. THEY SAID THERE WAS "MOISTURE" ON THE COMPUTER. THE ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR IS $1,042 PLUS TAX. I TOLD THEM WE HAD THE BRAIN REPLACED 15 MONTHS AGO (ON 12/8/11); THEY SAID THERE IS ONLY A WARRANTY FOR 12 MONTHS. THEY SAID THAT THIS VEHICLE IS "NOTORIOUS" FOR THIS PROBLEM. SEE MY REGISTERED COMPLAINT ON THE 12/8/11 INCIDENT (SAFERCAR.GOV ODI NO.: 10503670). I HAVE TOTALLY BROKEN DOWN IN THIS VEHICLE 5 TIMES, EACH FOR MAJOR REPAIRS. (SEE ALSO, MY SAFERCAR.GOV ODI NO.: 10397445 FOR MY EXPERIENCE WITH TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE.) *TR
Showing 1-20 of 50 loaded complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
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Vehicle import recorded: Sep 14, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.