2004 FORD FREESTAR Electrical System Problems
119 complaints about Electrical System
High Severity Issue
This component has been associated with crashes, fires, or deaths.
This Problem Across All Years
All Electrical System Complaints (119)
The transmission is grinding and popping when shifting gears.Also it has started not moving when I shift it into drive and 3rd and 1st.When I drive it I have to put it in 1st gear and change up to drive and it grinds and pops when giving it gas to go.It comes to a crawl going up hills.Has a big loss of power.The trackshion control light comes on saying it's not working.The electrical is messing up the doors are opening up when they are not supposed to going down road.It tells me that different doors are open when there not keeping the lights on in the van running down the battery.
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.
Mileage: 160,000
PCM HAS ISSUES DO TO MOISTURE WHICH AFFECTS ELECTRICAL SLIPPING GEARS ABS SENSOR PROBLEM POWER STEERING ISSUES AND TCM AND THIS VEHICLE HAS ALL SAFETY PROBLEMS ACCORDING TO RECALLS NONE OF IT WAS FIXED BECAUSE FORD SAYS YOUR VIN NUMBER IS NOT ON LIST.
2004 FORD FREESTAR NOW.MILES 59000 PROBLEMS STARTED AROUND 45.000 MILES STARTED IN 2007 WITH BATTERY DEAD IF CAR STAT A MONTH STARTTED IN 2008 RIGHT AND LEFT LOW AND HIGH BEAM. HEAD LAMP CONNECTOR KEEP MELTING/ BURNING UP THE GROUND WIRE TRANSMISSION MAKING CLICKING NOISE IN FORWARD AND REVERSE TRANSMISSION FLUID IS DARK BROWN DOOR LOCK DONT ALWAYS UNLOCK OR LOCK ON SIDE DOOR LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE WING WINDOWS IN BACK OPEN. BUT DONT CLOSE ON LEFT AND RIGHT PROBLEMS ALL HAPPEN. IF STSTIONARY OR IN MOTION CITY STREET OR HIGHWAY I HAVE. TAKE PICKS LATER .NOT BY THE CAR AT THE MOMENT .
Mileage: 45,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CONTROL ARM WAS PROTRUDING THROUGH THE FRAME AND CREATED A HOLE. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 212,000. *BF CONSUMER STATED TRANSMISSION JUST STARTED TO SLIP AND MAKES A THUD SOMETIMES SLIPS BAD. CONSUMER HAS CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION OIL AND FILTERS.*JB
Mileage: 212,000
ALPR SYSTEM ON TELEPHONE POLES AND POLICE CARS ARE ATTACKING MY VEHICLE. ALREADY DESTROYED MY ABS BRAKE SYSTEM MODULE AND NOW WORKING ON MY STARTER MOTOR, BLOWER MOTOR, SPEED CONTROL AND ETC. SOME ATTACKS CAUSE LOUD BASE DRUM LIKE THUMPING ON MY DASHBOARD. OTHER ATTACKS LOCK MY GEARSHIFT LEVER IN PARK, UNLOCK MY DOORS. STOP MY SPEED CONTROL FROM WORKING, AND ETC. THESE ATTACKS HAVE BEEN ONGOING FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS. ALONG WITH THESE ATTACKS, POLICE CARS FREQUENTLY THREATEN ME WITH HEAD-ON COLLISIONS. THE THUMPING SCARES ME WHEN IT OCCURS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THESE ATTACKS OCCUR IN ALL MODES OF VEHICLE OPERATION AND WHEN PASSING ALPR TELEPHONE POLES AND POLICE CARS.
Mileage: 65,000
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
Mileage: 100,000
MY VAN HAS A PROBLEM WITH WATER, THAT IS WHEN IT RAINS THE VEHICLE STARTS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH SEVERAL COMPONENTS. (IE ENGINE MISFIRE, TRANSMISSION FAILS TO SHIFT PROPERLY, DOOR LOOKS REFUSE TO OPERATE PROPERLY, AMONG OTHER WEIRD THINGS) THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME IT RAINS. THE PROBLEM AS I HAVE BEING ABLE TO TRACE IT, IS THAT THE WATER THAT COMES OFF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND INTO THE PLASTIC THAT COVERS THE COWL AREA ( WHERE THE WIPERS ARE) DRIPS ON TO THE MAIN ELECTRIC WIRE HARNESS CONNECTION THAT COMES FROM THE INSIDE OF THE CAR AND CONNECTS TO THE ENGINE BAY WIRE HARNESS. AS THE WIRE HARNESS CONNECTOR GETS WET, THE VEHICLE STARTS ACTING UP. I TOOK THE VAN TO MY MECHANIC BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM, IT WAS DRY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER AND, TO MY SURPRISE, THEY KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT TOLD ME I HAD TO PAY THE REPAIR BECAUSE ITS COVERED ON A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB 06-14-10) BUT ITS NOT A RECALL. HOW CAN THIS NOT BE A RECALL WHEN THE VAN IS GOING ALONG WELL AND AS SOON AS IT STARTS RAINING, I START HAVING DRIVE ABILITY ISSUES, TRANSMISSIONS STARTS ACTING UP, ENGINE STARTS ACTING UP, SOME TIMES STALLS, IN GENERAL I HAVE A VEHICLE THAT APPEARS TO BE "ALLERGIC TO WATER." THIS ISSUE HAPPENS ANY TIME IT STARS RAINING HEAVILY WHETHER ON THE HIGHWAY OR CITY STREET OR MY DRIVEWAY FOR THAT MATTER, IF ITS RAINING I HAVE TO TAKE MY WIFE'S CAR BECAUSE IF NOT I KNOW WILL HAVE TO BE DEALING WITH AN UNCOOPERATIVE VEHICLE. PS. I PUT A DATE ON THE "WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN" FIELD BUT THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE.
Mileage: 85,000
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.
Mileage: 134,000
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.
Mileage: 135,000
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.
Mileage: 123,137
PROBLEM #1 THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT WORK . IT'S CONTROLL MODULE WAS REPLACED IT WORKED ONE TIME AND STOPPED WORKING AGAIN. PROBLEM #2 THE DRIVE AXLE BROKE IN TRAFFIC LUCKILY WE WERE STOPPING AND WERE ONLY GOING ABOUT 5 MPH. PROBLEM #3 TODAY AFTER A NIGHT OF HEAVY RAIN WHEN THE VAN WAS UNLOCKED THE RADIO CAME ON BEFORE THE KEY WAS EVEN IN THE IGNITION. WHICH BRINGS US TO PROBLEM #4 THE BIGGEST AND NO DOUBT MOST EXPENSIVE. THE VAN STARTED AND WAS RUNNING KIND OF SLUGGISH BUT RAN FINE IN REVERSE BUT IF YOU SHIFT TO DRIVE THE VAN SHUTS OFF. YOU CANNOT START IT IN NEUTRAL EITHER. I HAVE HAD 2 INDEPENDENT MECHANICS LOOK AT IT TODAY BOTH SAY IT IS THE TORQUE CONVERTER. I LOOKED IT UP AND THERE IS A RECALL BUT OF COURSE IT'S THE WEEKEND AND I CAN'T CALL TO SEE IF IT'S COVERED.
Mileage: 16,462
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
Mileage: 260,000
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
Mileage: 67,000
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.
Mileage: 120,000
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.
Mileage: 168,368
MY CAR HAS SPENT 10 DAYS AT FORD TO BE SERVICED AFTER HAVING THE SAFETY RECALL SERVICE FOR THE TORQUE CONVERTER PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEHAVING UNPREDICTABLY, SOMETIMES STALLING OUT WHILE IDLED, STALLING OUT WHILE IN MOTION, SOMETIMES IDLING WITH HIGH OR LOW RPMS. THE DEALERSHIP TOOK IT BACK IN TO CHECK THE TORQUE CONVERTER, THEY THEN SAID IT WASN'T THE TORQUE CONVERTER BUT THE THROTTLE BODY, THEY THEN CLEANED THAT AND SAID IT'S NOT THE THROTTLE BODY, IT'S THE PCM. THE PCM IS TAKING ON WATER FROM A FLAWED DESIGN OF THE ABOVE PCM WHERE WATER IS RETAINED AND EVENTUALLY LEAKS ON TO THE CONNECTOR. THIS OF COURSE IS NOT COVERED BY FORD, AND CAN COST UP TO $1200 TO REPLACE. THIS ISSUE CREATES A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SYMPTOMS MAKING IT HARD TO IDENTIFY THE ORIGIN OF THE PROBLEM. CAUSING EXTENDED STAYS FOR MAINTENANCE. THIS SHOULD BE RECTIFIED BY FORD AND NOT IT'S CUSTOMERS AS THERE'S NO WAY THIS FLAW CAN BE CAUSED BY USER ERROR, IT'S A DESIGN FLAW THAT SHOULD NOT EXIST.
Mileage: 83,000
2ND TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED. WAS DRIVING WHEN THE VAN STARTED BUCKING/SPUTTERING/SURGING. IT WOULD DIE AND THEN FIRE RIGHT BACK UP JUST TO DO IT ONCE AGAIN. SOAKED PCM CONNECTOR WAS TO BLAME BOTH TIMES. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW BY FORD AND NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF. I'M GLAD I WAS NOT ON THE INTERSTATE OR IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION.
Mileage: 154,970
I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS RAINING OUTSIDE AND AS I WAS DRIVING ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR JUST DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY NO WARNING ,NO NOTHING JUST DIED I ALMOST WAS REAR ENDED, I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID THE PCM IS NOT SEALED PROPERLY AND GOT WET AND FRIED OUT THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE THAT FORD WOULD SEE TONS OF THESE COMPLAINTS LIKE I HAVE SEEN ONLINE SAME PROBLEMS AND PUT PEOPLE LIVES AND THEIR CHILDREN'S LIVES IN DANGER WITH THIS POOR MANUFACTURING. WHAT CAN I DO ??? THANK YOU [XXX] VIN UNAVAILABLE INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR*JB
Mileage: 62
STARTED SPUTTERING, JERKING, AND STALLING PCM WAS WET CAUSING ALL KINDS OF HAVIC LOST POWER GOING INTO A TURN AND ALMOST WENT INTO A DITCH FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THIS ONGOING PROBLEM AND GET IT FIXED BEFORE SOMETHING MAJOR HAPPENS ALOT OF PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING AND FORD KNOWS IT IS THERE FAULT AND THEY HAVE A PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO TAKE CARE OF IT.
Mileage: 156,000
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.
Mileage: 157,000
HAD THE TORQUE RECALL DONE LAST AUGUST BY A LOCAL DEALERSHIP, AND WHILE ACCELERATING YESTERDAY I LOST ALL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE STALLED, TRANSMISSION IS NOW SHOT AND THE PCM IS DAMAGED FROM THE MOISTURE EVEN THOUGH I HAD COMPLETED THE TSB THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED ME OF. SEVERAL SENSORS KEPT FAILING RANDOMLY, AND WOULD ONLY LAST ABOUT A MONTH. *TR
Mileage: 148,000
STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND THE VAN WOULD NOT MOVE. NO GEARS WORKED. COUPLE DAYS LATER, IT DROVE FINE. COUPLE DAYS LATER NO GEARS AGAIN. (AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL IN 2012) NOW WON'T START AND DASHBOARD GOES CRAZY AFTER THE KEY IS OUT. WITH ALL THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND THE WET PCM PROBLEMS, I CAN'T BELIEVE FORD DOESN'T HAVE TO RECALL THESE VAN BECAUSE OF THE PCM!! THIS VEHICLE IS A HAZARD TO DRIVE. *TR
Mileage: 173,000
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 55 MPH MY VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD DRASTICALLY AND THEN STALLED. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD COASTING AS I WAS IN THE OUTSIDE LANE. I COULD RESTART THE CAR BUT ONLY GO 50-100 FEET AND IT WOULD STALL AGAIN. I MANAGED TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD INTO A PARKING LOT AND FOUND OUT THE CAR WOULDN'T GO INTO REVERSE. ALTHOUGH I COULD GO FORWARD. I AM NOW BEING TOLD THAT THERE WAS A TORQUE CONVERTER RECALL FOR THIS YEAR AND MAKE OF CAR BUT NOT FOR MY VEHICLE. I AM BEING TOLD THE TRANSMISSION WILL NEED REBUILT AND BE AT A COST OF 3000-3900 DOLLARS. THE CAR HAS APPROX. 102,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS TOLD BY THE TRANSMISSION SHOP THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR EVEN IF THEY ARE REPAIRED THEY TEND TO HAVE PROBLEMS AGAIN. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT IT HAD SNOWED A LARGE VOLUME THAT DAY AND THERE WAS A LOT OF WATER ON THE ROADWAY. *TR
Mileage: 102,000
PCM GETS WET AND CAUSES ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS! SHOULD BE A RECALL! CAN CAUSE VEHICLE TO JUST STOP WHILE DRIVING, SHORTS OUT THINGS. TURNS LIGHTS, RADIO, ETC ON EVEN WHEN VAN NOT ON. PROBLEMS WITH STARTING WHEN IT RAINS. CD PLAYER AND CRUISE CONTROL NO LONGER WORK, DID THE PCM FRY THEM TOO?? DANGEROUS ACCIDENTS COULD HAPPEN AND I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE IT BUT IT IS ONLY VEHICLE I HAVE. PLEASE HELP GET A RECALL!! *TR
Mileage: 125,000
CAR DIED IN HEAVER RAIN ON MAJOR ROAD. ALL LIGHTS LITE ON DASHBOARD. PROBLEM WAS WATER INTRUSION ON ECM. REPAIR COST $957.26. FORD DEALER IN LEVITTOWN CLAIM THE FOLLOWED TSP ON PROBLEM 18 MONTHS LATER SAME PROBLEM WATER DAMAGE ON ECM. REPAIR COST THIS TIME $2695.97. CLAIM THERE WAS NO TSP ON PROBLEM. HAD TO SHOW THEM THE TSP AND THEY STILL ARE NOT FOLLOWING IT. *TR
Mileage: 54,115
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
Mileage: 95,000
MESSAGE CENTER DIMS AS TO BE UNREADABLE DURING DAYLIGHT DRIVING, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO READ WARNINGS OR MILEAGE REMAINING OR SERVICE NEEDS. *TR
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH MY KIDS IN THIS CAN, AND IT SUDDENLY STALLED.IT HAPPENED REPEATEDLY EVERY TIME IT SNOWED OR RAINED. IT WILL ALSO NOT WANT TO ACCELERATE AND JERKS OR HESITATES AS YOU ARE DRIVING. THIS CAN IS DANGEROUS!! FORD NEEDS TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY AND GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED! *TR
Mileage: 85,000
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
Mileage: 78,000
WE REPLACED THE TORQUE CONVERTER ABOUT A YEAR AGO, ON OUR OWN; WE WERE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE RECALL ON THAT PART. THE VAN STARTED TO EXHIBIT SAME ISSUES A FEW WEEKS LATER. WE WENT TO THE DEALER WHERE WE LEARNED OF THE TORQUE CONVERTER RECALL. DEALER STATED THAT THIS TIME, IT WAS A BAD TRANSMISSION, HE INFORMED US THAT DUE TO US PAYING OUT OF OUR OWN POCKET FOR THE TORQUE CONVERTER, HE WOULD TAKE THAT MONEY OFF OF THE PRICE OF REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION; WE HAD ISSUES WITH THAT DEAL. NOW, ABOUT A YEAR LATER, THE VAN WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. WE TOOK IT TO A DEALER WHO GAVE US A HARD TIME WITH THE THREE YEAR WARRANTY WHICH CAME ALONG WITH THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION; THE VAN WAS AT THE DEALER FOR OVER TWO WEEKS. ONCE WE AGREED TO PAY OUT OF OUR OWN POCKET, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE WIRING BETWEEN COMPUTER AND TRANSMISSION WAS DIRTY; THEY STATED THAT IT WAS NOW FIXED. NOW THREE WEEKS LATER, SAME ISSUE; WE TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO FOUND WATER IN THE COMPUTER. *TR
Mileage: 110,000
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.
IN GOOD WEATHER WITHOUT WARNING THE ENGINE STALLED IN TRAFFIC. RESTARTED, BUT THE ENGINE RAN EXTREMELY ROUGH. ALSO THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. MANAGED TO GET TO A INDEPENDENT SERVICE SHOP. THERE THE TECHNICIAN FOUND WATER IN THE PCM. DRIED OUT PCM AND CAR RAN FINE. THEN THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON. NOW THEY FOUND WATER IN THE TRANSMISSION CONNECTOR. TWO WEEKS LATER THE CAR WOULD OFTEN NOT START, AND WHEN IT DID THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. ON OUR THIRD VISIT THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR (TPS). ONE WEEK LATER SAME SYMPTOMS, THIS TIME TPS AND MASS AIRFLOW SENSORS HAVE FAILED. THE PROBLEMS ARE ALL RELATED TO THE WET PCM! RECALL THIS CAR, NOW!!!!! *TR
Mileage: 180,000
RPM'S SURGE, LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING, ALREADY HAD RECALLS DONE AND STILL HAVING PROBLEMS, TRANS AXLE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN DOING HIGHWAY SPEEDS., I THINK THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND WHERE THE MAIN COMPUTER IS LOCATED. THE MAIN COMPUTER IS RIGHT BENEATH THE AWNING FOR THE WIPER ASSEMBLY...LOTS OF POTENTIAL WATER DAMAGE AND MANY UNHAPPY CUSTOMERS. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A FAMILY VEHICLE AND IT IS MORE LIKE DRIVING A TICKING TIME BOMB. I WOULD HATE TO BE ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE VEHICLE JUST SUDDENLY STOP. NOT GOOD FORD!!! NOT GOOD! *TR
Mileage: 165,000
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
Mileage: 50,000
IN NOVEMBER OF 2013, OUR 2004 FORD FREESTAR QUIT WORKING. YES, WE HAD THE TORQUE CONVERTER RECALLED AND PUT ON BACK WHEN THEY HAD THAT RECALL. NOVEMBER WAS THE FIRST TIME WE HAD THIS HAPPEN TO OUR CAR. IT WAS RAINING, AND OUR CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR, IT QUIT WORKING. WHAT MADE THIS BAD IS THAT IT WAS ON THE FREEWAY! MY HUSBAND PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL, BUT WE STILL DID NOT HAVE STEERING CAPABILITIES AND MANAGED TO GET US OVER TO THE SHOULDER. WE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP THEN STATED THAT MANY PEOPLE WERE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRONICS GETTING WET, SO HE DRIED IT, THEN LET IT SET FOR A COUPLE DAYS AND CAULKED IT. WE THOUGHT THAT WOULD END THOSE PROBLEMS. NOT. (NOTE: THIS HAD COST US 450.00) THEN LESS THAN 2 MONTHS, THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENS, ONLY THIS TIME WE ARE STUCK IN A SHOPPING CENTER AND COULD NOT GET OUR CAR INTO GEAR AGAIN. WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO WHICH THEY REPLIED THAT WE NEEDED A NEW ELECTRIC MODULE. HOW MUCH? $1500.00!!! IN LESS THAN 2 MONTHS, WE SPENT ALMOST 2,000.00! THIS WAS DONE IN FEBRUARY. HERE IT IS NOW APRIL AND GUESS WHAT? THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM IS TAKING PLACE AGAIN!! WE ARE NOT ALONE, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE FACING THE SAME PROBLEMS WE HAVE HAD, LOOK AROUND AT THE BOARDS ONLINE AND YOU WILL SEE THAT EVERYONE HAS THE SAME ISSUES!! SOME INVESTIGATIONS NEED TO BE OPENED OR REOPENED AS THIS IS NOT RESOLVED AND LAWSUITS WILL BE FILED IF SOMEONE GETS HURT. *JS
Mileage: 90,000
PCM MODULE GOT WATER IN IT. HAD IT REPLACED BY DEALER, CHARGED 765.02. NOW 14 MONTHS LATER CAR BACK IN DEALER FOR SAME ISSUE AND THEIR ONE YEAR SERVICE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. ABOUT READY TO SPEND ANOTHER 800.00 TO FIX. OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW, NO QUESTION ABOUT IT. *TR
Mileage: 127,761
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
Mileage: 127,102
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
Mileage: 100,000
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
Mileage: 120,000
STOP RUNNING SOMETIME WOULD START,THEN WOULDN'T START,TOOK TO A SHOP THEY SAID LOOK AT IT BEEN SUBMERGED OR UNDER WATER,AT ECLT PLUG WHERE,WET WITH WATER,SAID IT WOOD NEED NEW WIRING HARNESS, POSSIBLE COMPUTER BOX..AT COST OF $1200-1500 PART AND THEN THERE LABOR..HERE IN KENAI ALASKA..GOT TO FIXER IF I WANT TO DO THIS...I BOUGHT THIS USED HERE CAME UP FROM THE SOUTH ,ARIZONA, DONE CAR FAX ALL GOOD. *TR
Mileage: 80,000
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
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
RECENTLY HAD THE TRANSMISSION TORQUE CONVERTER CHANGED UNDER RECALL. TODAY IT WAS RUNNING ROUGH, AND WOULD STALL OUT. IT WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AS I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AT THE TIME. IT SEEMS THAT THIS PROBLEM. HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME CAR. *TR
Mileage: 105,000
WHILE DRIVING MY SON TO SCHOOL, VEHICLE STALLED AT 45 MPH AND ENGINE DIED. GOT VEHICLE STARTED AGAIN, DIED AGAIN, MANAGED TO GET VEHICLE BACK HOME. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN HAPPENING INTERMITTENTLY EVER SINCE WITH NO WARNING ENGINE WILL DIE WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY A MECHANIC THAT THIS IS DUE TO THE PCM GETTING WET REPEATEDLY. AFTER RESEARCHING ISSUE ON-LINE, THIS APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN ISSUE THAT FORD SHOULD ADDRESS IMMEDIATELY BEFORE IT RESULTS IN A FATALITY. *TR
Mileage: 98,000
HI I AM [XXX] WAS OUT FRIDAY AT ABOUT 5.30 WHEN MY 2004 FREE STAR VAN STARTED ACTING UP IT CUT OFF 3 TIME RIGHT AT A LIGHT THIS IS [XXX] JUST GOT THE VAN 6 MOS AGO FOR 9,300 AT A FORD DEALER IN LEXINGTON NC .MAYBE GOING TO QUIT BUYING FORD ECT CAR VAN WHAT EVER HAD TO CALL MY DAD TO COME HELP ME THE VAN WOULD NOT RUN OR START BECAUSE OF THE PCM BOX HAD WATER ON IN IT .NOW FORD DON'T WANT TO DO A [XXX] THING BUT MAKE ME PAY MORE MONEY JUST GOT THE VAN FOR 9,300 NOW GOT TO PAY 1,2600 AT A FORD DEALER IN WHITEVILLE NC I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY BUT MY DAD AND BOTHER IS GOING TO PAY FOR IT TO GET FIX THIS TIME MAYBE SALE THE [XXX] 2004 FREE STAR VAN SOON I DON'T WANT TO BUT IF I DON'T SALE IT MAY HAPPEN AGAIN TO ME .FORD NEED TO RECALL THIS [XXX]NOW BEFORE SOMEONE GET KILLED I WHEN DOWN THE ROAD AND COULD NOT CONTROL MY VAN AND NOW I HAVE BRAKES WENT OUT TO ?????LOOK FORD SEND ME MY MONEY BACK 1,12200 TO ME IN WHITEVILLE NC 2872 TO [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Mileage: 62,000
MY VAN WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE , WHEN IT FINALLY DID IT KEPT DYING . TOOK TO FORD DEALERSHIP THE PROBLEM WAS THE COMPUTER BRAIN COST 1100. 2DAYS LATER THE EXACT SAME THING. THE PROBLEM IS SUDDEN LEAVING U STRANDED WITH NO WARNINGS. *TR
Mileage: 146,000
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
Mileage: 187,000
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
Mileage: 166,000
HAD THE RECALL WORK DONE ON THE TORQUE CONVERTER END OF AUGUST BEGINNING OF SEPTEMBER 2012, UPON RETURN OF VEHICLE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. LAST THURSDAY APRIL 4 THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER WHILE GOING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. FRIDAY DID THE SAME THING 3 TIMES IN LESS THAN 20 MINUTES OF DRIVING. REPLACED ALTERNATOR, BELT TENSIONER AND BELT. MECHANIC ASKED WHAT IT DID, THEN SAID IT MIGHT BE THE TORQUE CONVERTER. HE CHECKED POWER STEERING, AND WATER PUMP THEY ARE FINE. NOT SURE HOW A PART LESS THAN YEAR OLD COULD GO BAD. WHEN MY VEHICLE WENT IN FOR RECALL WAS PERFECTLY FINE, SINCE IT'S RETURN IS HAS BEEN RUNNING HORRIBLE AND NOTHING SEEMS TO REALLY FIX IT. *TR
Mileage: 100,000
THE LATCH ON THE REAR OF THE VAN HAS RUSTED CLOSED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASSIONS. IT IS PRESENTLY RUSTED SHUT AND THE BACK HATCH DOESNT OPEN AS A RESULT. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE THIRD ROW SEAT DUE TO WATER LEAKAGE FROM THE REAR TIRE WELL. THIS HAS TO BE RELATED AS THE CARPET THROUGHOUT THE VAN GETS WET. EVEN THE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE FLOOR IS SOAKED, POSIBLY LEAKING FROM FRONT TIRE WELL.AND ALL THE WAY DOWN THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR TO THE THIRD ROW. THERE IS ALSO A SHORT IN THE DASH LIGHTS DUE TO WATER LEAKING INTO THE DASH AREA. THE CAR RADIO STAYS ON WHEN IT FEEL LIKE IT AND YOU HAVE TO HIT THE DRIVERS WINDOW BUTTON FOR THE RADIO TO SHUT OFF OTHERWISE IT DRAINS THE BATTERY AND THE CAR WILL NOT START. THE CAR WAS AT THE ELECTRICAL SHOP A YEAR AGO AND COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. *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
Mileage: 100,000
I AM WRITING ABOUT THIS 12/8/11 INCIDENT TODAY, BECAUSE THIS HAPPENED TO ME AGAIN! ON 3/14/13 (I WILL ENTER A SEPARATE COMPLAINT THE 3/14/13 EVENT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS ONE IS REGISTERED). IN BOTH CASES, THE ENTIRE COMPUTER BRAIN HAD TO BE REPLACED, EACH TIME COSTING OVER $1,000. 12/8/11 INCIDENT: WHILE DRIVING, I FOUND THE GAS PEDAL WAS NOT RESPONDING TO ACCELERATION. A SYMBOL LIT UP ON THE DASHBOARD. HAVING EXPERIENCED A TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE 8 MONTHS BEFORE (SAFERCAR.GOV ODI NO.: 10397445), I WORRIED THAT THIS MIGHT BE TRANSMISSION RELATED AGAIN. I WAS LOSING MOVEMENT, BUT THE ENGINE STILL RAN, AND COASTED INTO A VACANT LOT. WHILE WAITING FOR A TOW, I FOUND THAT I COULD SOMETIMES DRIVE FORWARD OR REVERSE A BIT (A FEW FEET), BUT SOMETIMES I COULD NOT. THE MECHANIC HAD TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER BRAIN. HE BOUGHT THE PART FROM MEDFORD FORD, IN NEW JERSEY. I CAN LOCATE THE EXACT COST OF THE REPAIR AT A LATER TIME, BUT IT WAS APPROXIMATELY $1,000. I HAD NO SIGNIFICANT SYMPTOMS AHEAD OF TIME, WHICH WOULD LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT I WAS ABOUT TO BREAK DOWN. I HAVE TOTALLY BROKEN DOWN 5 TIMES IN THIS VEHICLE, EACH FOR MAJOR REPAIRS. *TR
Mileage: 87,000
OUR 2004 FORD FREESTAR STALLED, AND THEN SURGED AFTER ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. THE NEXT DAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WE TOOK IT TO A LOCAL FORD DEALER, CAPITAL CITY FORD IN INDIANAPOLIS, WHO IN INDICATED THE CODE WAS FOR A FUEL PUMP PROBLEM. WE PAID OVER $800 TO HAVE THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED ON DECEMBER 27TH. IN LATE FEBRUARY THE VAN BEGAN TO STALL AND SURGE AGAIN. WE SUSPECTED THE SAME PROBLEM. IT CONTINUED TO DO THIS OFF AND ON FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS AND ON MARCH 8TH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE SAME FORD DEALER AND THEY SAID THE INITIAL CODE WAS FOR THE SAME ERROR, BUT WHEN ANOTHER MECHANIC/TECHNICIAN CHECKED THE CODE IT CAME UP WITH A DIFFERENT PROBLEM. WE WERE ADVISED THAT THE THERE WAS "MOISTURE" GETTING INTO THE PCM CAUSING THE PROBLEM AND NOT ONLY WAS IT CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL, BUT WAS GIVING WRONG ERROR CODES. THE REPLACEMENT OF THE PCM WAS ESTIMATED TO BE A +$1,000 COST. WE WERE ADVISED THAT IT "SEEMED TO BE" A DESIGN FLAW IN THE LOCATION OF THE PCM IN THAT IT IS IN LINE WITH THE WATERFLOW FROM THE WINDSHIELD. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET ON THIS ISSUE, IT APPEARS IT IS A LONG-STANDING ISSUE WITH MANY OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE AND EVEN WITH REPLACEMENT OF THE PCM THE PROBLEM WILL HAPPEN AGAIN DUE TO THE DESIGN FLAW. THE SAFETY RISK RELATED TO ENGINE STALLS DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE PCM IS UNACCEPTABLE. THE FAILURE OF THE DEALERSHIP TO IDENTIFY THIS WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM AND CHARGE US FOR A REPAIR (FUEL PUMP) THAT WAS UNNECESSARY IS UNCONSCIONABLE. *TR
Mileage: 153,500
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM) VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL THE PCM SHORTED OUT BECAUSE IT GOT WET THROUGH THE COVER OF THE HOOD. THIS APPEARS TO BE A RELATIVELY WIDE-SPREAD PROBLEM AND IF NOT ADDRESSED AND REPAIRED CORRECTLY, IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR
Mileage: 103,000
CPSC#I1320440. 2004 FORD FREESTAR. CONSUMER STATED AFTER DRIVING THE CAR IN THE RAIN, A FEW DAYS AFTERWARDS THE VEHICLE SPURTS AND SHAKES VIOLENTLY. *LN THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND FLASH. THE VEHICLE ALSO JUMPED WHEN ACCELERATING AND VIBRATED WHILE AT A STOP. THE CONSUMER STATED AS SOON AS SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE IN THE RAIN, THE PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED WHILE IN PARK.
2004 FORD FREESTAR SES I CHANGED THE REAR BRAKES ON 1/20/2013 NOTICED THE LEFT REAR WHEEL WAS RUSTING OUT. TODAY 2/24/2013 WENT TO INSTALL A CAR SEAR & NOTICED THE BENCH SEAT IN THE BACK WAS ROCKING SLIGHTLY. THE ANCHOR POINT ON THE LEFT REAR IS RUSTED OUT AND MOVING. UPON INSPECTION I NOTICED THAT I CAN SEE DOWN TO THE GROUND WHERE THE ANCHOR POINT HAS RUSTED OUT. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE NUMEROUS PARTS ON THIS VAN OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. TO DATE I HAVE REPLACED: 3 IGNITION COILS, (THIS IS THE MAIN PROBLEM WHENEVER HEAVY RAIN OR SNOW HAS HAPPENED AND I START TO THROW MISFIRE CODES), 3 CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSORS, 2 DRIVER SIDE WINDOW CONTROLS & MOTORS, (THE WINDOW DOESN'T WANT TO WORK HALF THE TIME SO WE LEAVE IT CRACKED OPEN WITH THE RAIN GUARDS), AN EGR VALVE, AND A CLOCKSPRING. I HAVE NEVER HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE IN SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. *TR
Mileage: 154,000
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
Mileage: 117,000
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
Mileage: 130,600
HAVING THIS PROBLEM 4 DAYS IN A ROW, ENGINE QUITS AT ANY SPEED LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES, CAR WILL SPEED UP WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR BEING MOVED, FORD SAID WATER IN THE COMPUTER COULD COST 1,000 TO 1,500. CHECKED ON MY COMPUTER FOUND PAGE AFTER PAGE OF THE SAME COMPLAINT AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM!! HAS ANYBODY BEEN KILLED YET? WHEN IS THE N.T.S.B GOING TO ACT. *TR
Mileage: 81,000
THE MIRRORS WILL ONLY MOVE DOWN AND IN (TOWARD THE VEHICLE). NOW THE ALARM STARTS BLARING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. CD PLAYER COMES ON AT WILL. AFTER READING THROUGH THE FORUMS, APPEARS MY A/C THAT QUIT IN APRIL 2011 COULD BE CONNECTED TO THE OTHER ISSUES AND THE FACT THAT THE SIDE DOORS CONTINUALLY OPEN AT WILL EVEN WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY FIXED THE DOORS AND CAN NO LONGER FIND AN ISSUE SINCE THEY CAN NOT RECREATE THE ISSUES WITH THE DOORS OR CD PLAYER. THESE ELECTRICAL ISSUES ARE A POTENTIAL HAZARD WHILE DRIVING. WHEN FORD SAYS THAT YOU SHOULD NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THEN THEY KNOW THERE IS AN ISSUE AND SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE TO PROVIDE ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION. EVEN THE MEASLY REFUND/RECALL REPAIR WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER DOES NOT FIX THE ENTIRE ISSUE. *TR
Mileage: 85,000
VEHICLE SHUT OFF GOING DOWN THE ROAD AT SLOW SPEED AFTER MAKING LOUD SQUEAKY SOUND. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MANY OCCASIONS SINCE THEN AND TODAY 11/01/2012 IT BECAME MORE SEVERE. MY WIFE ATTEMPTED TO GO TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AROUND AUGUST/SEPTEMBER DESCRIBING THE PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEMS DESCRIBED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WERE ABLE TO DO. THE VEHICLE IS VERY UNSAFE AND I HAVE CALLED THE FORD HOTLINE BECAUSE OF THE RECALL, THE VOICE CLAIMS THAT THE VEHICLE IS STILL SAFE BECAUSE THE STEERING REMAINS FUNCTIONAL, THIS IS NOT THE CASE FOR MY VEHICLE. AFTER, ONE OF THE MANY "INCIDENTS", OFTEN THE VAN WILL LOSE COMPLETE POWER AND THE POWER STEERING WILL DISENGAGE AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN EVEN FOR A LARGE MALE. WE BOUGHT THE VAN AS A FAMILY VEHICLE, AS MOST DO, WHICH MAKES IT EVEN MORE PROBLEMATIC AND DISTURBING. I AM DISGUSTED WITH FORD FOR THEIR NEGLIGENCE. *TR
Mileage: 127,000
AFTER A MAJOR RAIN STORM, TRIED TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULD START, BUT WOULD QUICKLY STALL. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED. DID NOT HAVE REVERSE GEAR. GARAGE TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. DID HAVE A RECALL NOTICE TO REPLACE A FAULTY TORQUE CONVERTER, BUT DIED BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO GET SCHEDULED. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM STARTED WITH THE PCM BOARD GETTING WET. TOWED TO A FORD GARAGE FOR REPAIRS. HOPING THAT I GET TREATED FAIRLY. I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD PAY FOR ENTIRE REPAIR BILL - NEW TRANSMISSION AND NEW PCM BOARD - AFTER ALL THEIR FAULTY PARTS WERE THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE! NOT ABLE TO 'POPULATE' ABOVE "AFFECTED PARTS". *TR
Mileage: 88,000
AT 147000 MILES, I NEEDED A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REBUILD. THIS COST ME $2800 DUE TO THE FACT THAT THERE WERE ADDITIONAL PARTS NOT COMMON TO A STANDARD REBUILD. THIS WAS SEPT. 2011. IN JANUARY, I AM ABLE TO NOTE ONLINE THAT THERE IS A TORQUE CONVERTER RECALL FOR THIS MODEL. I CALL FORD, I'M TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO UNTIL THE RECALL IS OFFICIALLY RELEASED IN THE 2ND QUARTER. WAIT UNTIL 2ND QUARTER, NO NOTICE IN THE MAIL. I CALL FORD IN AUGUST AND TELL THEM THIS, I AM TOLD THAT FORD WILL FIX THE CAR, IT WILL TAKE APPROX. 4 DAYS AND THAT NO RENTAL CAR IS AVAILABLE DURING THIS PERIOD. IF I SUFFER A TOTAL LOSS, MAYBE. BASICALLY, I HAVE TO BE STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN BEFORE I CAN GET ANY HELP WITH THEIR ISSUE. AFTER REBUILD, I START HAVING ISSUES WITH CYLINDER 3 MISFIRE. I REPLACE ALL PLUGS AND WIRES, STILL A CYLINDER 3 MISFIRE AS WELL AS OVERHEATING AND EGR VALVE. REPLACE EGR VALVE, COMPLETE RADIATOR CHANGE, COIL PACK, STILL ISSUES WITH MISFIRING AND OVERHEATING. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS COULD BE A COMPUTER ISSUE, HOWEVER FORD FAILS TO REALIZE THIS AND THEREFORE WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL. NOT THAT WOULD HELP SINCE IF THEY TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP TO FIX IT, I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET TO WORK IN THE INTERIM. *TR
Mileage: 165,000
VAN WON'T START THOUGHT IT WAS FUEL PUMP HAD IT TOWED & REPLACED COST $500 VAN STARTS THEN SHUTS OFF MECHANIC SAID PCM MALFUNCTION DEALER SHOULD FIX IT! HELP FORD STAND BY THERE VEHICLE! COMPLAIN. *TR
Mileage: 107,812
THE ELECTRICAL HAS BEEN WIGGY EVER SINCE --JUST AFTER THE FACTORY WARRANTY RAN OUT. THIS INCLUDES: BACK-UP SAFETY SENSORS STOPPED WORKING, HEATED DRIVERS SEAT STOPPED WORKING(PASSENGER STILL WORKS), THE STEREO SYSTEM DOESN'T HAVE ALL OF IT'S FUNCTIONS, PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON, VAN VERY NOISY WHEN BACKING UP--WE CALL IT THE MOOSE. HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AND THEN WE GET RE-CALL NOTICE! AND, IT STILL DOESN'T FEEL 100% STILL WAITING FOR A REFUND(?) BRAKES ARE SQUISHY--EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENT OF FRONT END EVERYTHING! SIDE ELECTRIC DOORS WILL SOMETIMES OPEN AND CLOSE SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL WE JUST HAVE TO MANUALLY FORCE THEM TO STAY CLOSED. *TR
VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING. THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES AND THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. THERE WAS NO WARNING BEFORE THE POWER FAILURE. VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE STARTED UP AFTER POWER FAILURE. THE SAME EVENING, STARTING UP THE VEHICLE, THE IDLE WAS ROUGH AND THE POWER FAILED IN ABOUT 1 MINUTE. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A FORD DEALER THE NEXT MORNING AND THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND NO ENGINE CODES WERE PRESENT. ABOUT 1 WEEK LATER, AFTER A RAIN STORM, THE POWER FAILED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH. IT WAS POSSIBLE TO START THE VEHICLE AFTER THE POWER FAILURE. A FORD DEALER LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AFTER THE LATEST POWER FAILURE AND COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THERE WERE NO ENGINE CODES. IN APRIL 2010, I EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR PROBLEM WHICH WAS CAUSED BY WATER GETTING INTO THE PCM. WITHIN A MONTH IN 2010, THE PCM WAS REPLACED TWICE. *TR
Mileage: 105,000
THERE HAVE BEEN RANDOM ELECTRICAL OCCURRENCES HAPPENING TO MY VEHICLE. WHILE THE VEHICLE IS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AT NIGHT, THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD COME ON. I WENT OUT TO TURN THEM OFF AND DISCOVERED THAT THE GPS SCREEN AND RADIO WERE ALSO ON. THIS IS WITHOUT THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION. I FOUND OUT THAT A LOT OF 2004 FORD FREESTAR OWNERS WERE HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES, AND AFTER SPENDING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON REPAIR ATTEMPTS IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT WATER IN THE PCM IS THE ISSUE. THIS MAKE/MODEL'S PCM IS LOCATED IN LINE WITH THE WATERFLOW FROM THE WINDSHIELD. WHEN IT RAINS, THE WATER WILL MAKE ITS WAY PAST THE PLASTIC, SUN WARPED COWLING AND SOAKS THE PCM. I HAVE HAD THE PCM REMOVED, AND SEVERAL TEASPOONS OF WATER DRAINED OUT OF THE PCM. I HAVE DONE THIS SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THE FIRST ELECTRICAL ISSUES STARTED. EVERY TIME WATER WOULD GET IN THE PCM A DIFFERENT ELECTRICAL ISSUE WOULD OCCUR, LIKE ELECTRIC WINDOWS NOT WORKING, DOOR LOCKS NOT WORKING, AND THE LAST ISSUE WAS EVERYTHING WOULD WORK, BUT THE VAN WOULD NOT DRIVE SMOOTHLY, HAD SUDDEN POWER SURGES AND THEN LOSS OF POWER, AND AT NIGHT, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED, THE BATTERY WOULD BE DEAD THE NEXT MORNING, THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. I JUST HAD MY PCM REPLACED AT A FORD DEALERSHIP YESTERDAY. I DROVE THE VAN HOME, AND A FEW HOURS LATER, AFTER WASHING MY VAN, I TRIED TO START IT, ALL THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON BUT NO ENGINE TURN OVER. I THOUGHT THE BATTERY MIGHT NEED REPLACED SINCE IT SAT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, SO I BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY. ALL THE DASH LIGHTS WILL COME ON, BUT NO ENGINE TURN OVER AT ALL. THIS IS A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW FROM FORD MOTOR, AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OWNERS THAT ARE SPENDING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED. EVEN IF I DO ACTUALLY GET MY VAN RUNNING, I FEEL IT IS NOT SAFE OR RELIABLE ENOUGH FOR ME TO DRIVE IT. *TR
Mileage: 72,400
HAD POWERTRAIN SYMPTOMS RELATED TO FORD TSB 06-14-10, FOR ENGINE/TRANSMISSION DRIVEABLITY. HAD VEHICLE TOWED BECAUSE I HAD NO REVERSE & FORWARD ENGAGEMENT, AND HIGH IDLE IN NEUTRAL. FORD DEALER, FIXED TRANSAXLE PER SAFETY RECALL 11S25, AND TSB 06-14-10, FOR WATER ENTERING THE PCM. DEALER RETURNED OUR VEHICLE ON JULY 10TH, EVERYTHING APPEARED OKAY. ONE JULY 11TH, THE VAN BEGAN HAVE SHIFT ISSUES, AND THEN STALL GOING DOWN THE ROAD AT 20-25MPH. IF THE PCM IS DAMAGED FROM WATER, THEN WHY DON'T THEY REQUIRE REPLACEMENT IN THE TSB. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUED, ESPECIALLY AT 70MPH ON A FREEWAY. THIS TSB SHOULD BE RECONSIDERED AS A SAFETY RECALL. HOW MANY PEOPLE SHOULD BE INJURED OR KILLED DUE TO THIS CONDITION? ONE IS TO MANY! *TR
Mileage: 81,000
UPON EXITING THE FREEWAY ONTO SECONDARY STREET THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT COMPLETELY. WE LOST ALL DRIVING FUNCTION, POWER STEERING ETC IN AN INSTANT. LUCKILY IT WAS LATER IN THE EVENING AND NOT MUCH TRAFFIC WAS BEHIND US AS THIS ROAD IS TYPICALLY VERY CONGESTED. WE WERE ABLE TO GLIDE INTO A TURN LANE AND OFF OF THE MAIN ROAD. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND HAD TO BE TOWED. LOCAL FORD DEALER CONCLUDED THE PCM SHORTED OUT AND THERE WAS A BLOWN IGNITION COIL. WE HAD CAR TOWED FOR SECOND OPINION AS WE COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT AT 40,000 MILES THE ENTIRE COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS THE ENGINE WOULD SHORT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. OUR REGULAR AUTO SHOP AGREED THAT THE PCM HAD SHORTED CAUSING IGNITION COIL TO FAIL AND BOTH HAD TO BE REPLACED RESULTING IN $1200 IN FEES/SERVICES AND A WEEK WITHOUT OUR VEHICLE SINCE THE PART (ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE SHOP) SHOULD NEVER GO BAD AND THEY DON'T KEEP THEM IN STOCK. WE FEEL AS IF FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR FAULTY MANUFACTURING AS WE DID NOTHING TO AID IN THE FAILING OF THIS PART AND MINIMAL MILEAGE/ WEAR AND TEAR HAS OCCURRED TO THE VEHICLE. WE WERE MERELY A FAMILY DRIVING HOME (WITH TWO TODDLERS) FROM A FATHER'S DAY DINNER WHO ENDED UP AT SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK WHEN OUR VAN JUST STOPPED MOVING, THANK GOODNESS FOR THE SLOW TRAFFIC FLOW THAT EVENING! *TR
Mileage: 42,442
I LEFT WORK, GOT 3 PARKING SPOTS AWAY, LOST STEERING, BRAKES AND GAS. ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. TRANSAXLE LIGHT CAME ON, SHUT OFF VAN, TRIED AGAIN AND IT DROVE MAYBE A FEW FEET AND IT WAS AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. ENGINE LIGHT, BATTERY LIGHT AND OIL LIGHT CAME ON. SHUT IT DOWN TRIED AGAIN, DROVE ABOUT 10 FEET AND IT DIED. HAD IT TOWED TO VIP WHO HAD NO ANSWERS, TOWED TO FORD WHO SAID IT THERE WAS WATER IN THE PCM. THEY DRIED IT OUT AND SAID GIVE IT A GO. GOT IT HOME DROVE IT ONE DAY AND THE NEXT(AFTER RAINING) IT WOULD NOT MOVE OUT OF DRIVEWAY. IT WOULD GO INTO GEAR BUT HITTING THE GAS WAS AGAIN LIKE IN NEUTRAL. IT WOULD MOVE MAYBE A FEW INCHES AND THEN NO LONGER. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND THE VAN BUCKED SOME. TOWED TO FORD AGAIN AND THEY SAID IT IS DEFIANTLY WATER GETTING IN THE PCM. I HAVE BEEN SEARCHING ONLINE AND I SEE MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I AM WORRIED BECAUSE THERE IS ANOTHER RECALL COMING IN A MONTH OR SO FOR THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN THAT RELY ON THAT VAN. I CAN'T TRADE IT IN CAUSE THEY ARE ONLY WILL TO GIVE US $1000 WHEN WE OWE 6. WE ARE WITHOUT VEHICLE AGAIN, WITH MY HUSBAND AND I HAVING JOBS AND TWO KIDS. I FEEL UNSAFE IN MY VAN, EVEN IF WE ARE TO GET IT FIXED, WE HAVE TO HOPE THE TORQUE CONVERTER DOES NOT GO WHILE WE ARE DRIVING BEFORE THE RECALL. *JB
Mileage: 78,000
DRIVING AND BATTERY LIGHT, ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT ALL ILLUMINATED. NO ISSUES WITH BRAKING. REPLACED PCM IN NOV 2011 FOR SIMILAR ISSUE. CAR AT DEALER FOR A WEEK SO FAR AND INDICATE NEEDS AN ALTERNATOR (MAYBE) AND PCM. MULTIPLE PCM ISSUES REPORTED ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL. TSBS, ETC. WHEN IS ACTION GOING TO BE TAKEN. DEALER INDICATES PART IS ON BACK ORDER FROM FORD. PLEASE TAKE SOME ACTION THIS IS IN ADDITION TO A TORQUE CONVERTER ISSUE ALREADY UNDER RECALL. THE PCM CONTROLS EVERYTHING AND COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS CAR TO FAIL AND HURT SOMEONE. *TR
Mileage: 36,000
POWER CONTROL MODUAL (PCM) GETS WET DUE TO POOR DESIGN AND TRANSMISSION FAILS TO WORK. *TR
Mileage: 25,000
ABS WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN SOMETIMES IT GOES OUT. IS ABS SYSTEM NOT WORKING PROPERLY OR ELECTRICAL? *TR
Mileage: 115,000
PCM WET AND ENGINE WILL DIE WHEN UNDER LOAD. TURN ON POWER OPTION WILL CAUSE THE ENGINE TO DIE. *TR
Mileage: 97,000
WATER KEEPS GETTING INTO THE PCM. COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. VAN WILL STALL OUT, NOT HAVE POWER IN DRIVE OR REVERSE, AND ANYTHING ELECTRICAL ACTS UP. *TR
Mileage: 92,241
ISSUES NOTICED WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS WITHIN A YEAR OF PURCHASING BRAND NEW VEHICLE. DEALERSHIPS NEVER FOUND ANYTHING WRONG. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER. RADIO WOULD GO OUT, ALL LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD WOULD GO OUT ETC. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY'D ALL COME BACK ON AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED. NOTICED MOSTLY DURING RAINY AND HUMID DAYS. THEN ONCE IN A WHILE VAN WOULD CHUG AND ACT DOGGY. IN DECEMBER 2008, WHILE DRIVING DOWN A BUSY CITY STREET, VAN JUST STOPPED "DRIVING" AND WOULD REV. DIDN'T HAVE MONEY TO FIX UNTIL APRIL OF 2009 SO IT SAT IN OUR DRIVEWAY. HAD IT TOWED TO TRANSMISSION SHOP AFTER CALLING FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS DOUBLE THE COST FOR THEM TO FIX. TRANSMISSION SHOP TOLD ME THAT THE SPLINES STRIPPED OFF THE TORQUE CONVERTER CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. REPAIR COST FOR TRANNY REBUILD #1: $1,830.97. SHORTLY AFTER, THE A/C STOPPED WORKING (SUMMER 2009). REPLACED CONDENSER FOR PRICE OF PARTS AS NEIGHBOR WHO'S A TECHNICIAN PROVIDED FREE LABOR. VAN RAN OKAY FOR ABOUT A YEAR. THEN IN SUMMER 2010, STARTED RUNNING SLUGGISHLY AGAIN AND STILL HAD ISSUES WITH POWER LOSS (AS STATED IN BEGINNING). FOUND INFO ONLINE ABOUT EVERYONE HAVING ISSUES WITH PCM SO REPLACED THAT AS WELL FOR $500. WORKED FOR A COUPLE MONTHS BUT THEN IN DECEMBER 2010 VAN STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH POWER LOSS AGAIN AND CHUGGING. LITTLE DID I KNOW, THIS WAS THE START OF THE TRANNY BEGINNING TO FAIL AGAIN! JULY 2, 2011 TRANNY FAILED AGAIN. DOING 50MPH IN ROAD CONSTRUCTION ZONE. AGAIN, TOLD BY TRANSMISSION SHOP (DIFFERENT SHOP AS WE WERE 9.5HRS FROM HOME), THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED AGAIN AND TRANNY NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. COST TO REBUILD TRANNY #2: $1,850.00. STILL HAVING ISSUES WITH SLUGGISHNESS, THINKING WATER GETTING INTO PC STILL. TIRE PRESSURE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN ON FOR YEARS, HAVING ISSUES WITH SLIDING DOORS, BACK UP SENSORS, A/C ETC. I'M TIRED OF THIS LEMON!!!!! *TR
Mileage: 88,584
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, SHE WOULD OCCASIONALLY BECOME LOCKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE OR LOCKED OUT OF THE VEHICLE BY THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO SPORADICALLY FAIL TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TRANS RECEIVER WAS REPLACED AND THE COMPUTER WAS UPDATED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 135,000.
Mileage: 135,000
WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY, AT ABOUT 35 MPH, MY 2004 FORD FREESTAR DIED. I WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO A SIDE STREET WITHOUT POWER. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT IT RAN ROUGHLY FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND THEN BEHAVED NORMALLY UNTIL TWO DAYS LATER WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN ANY GEAR. I THOUGHT IT WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME AND THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID IT WAS BEHAVING LIKE THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER. APPARENTLY HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. EXAMINATION OF THE COMPUTER (PCM) AND THE ATTACHMENT PLUG SHOWED SIGNIFICANT WATER ENTRY. WATER ACTUALLY RAN OUT OF THE PLUG AND THERE WAS WATER IN THE PCM ENCLOSURE. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF DRYING TIME, THE PCM WAS PUT BACK INTO THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE RAN NORMALLY. FORD HAS ISSUED A TSB THAT COVERS THE PROBLEM OF WATER GETTING INTO THE PCM AND CABLE, SO I AM SURE IT IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. I BELIEVE THAT IF THE VEHICLE IS ALLOWED TO SET IDLE FOR A NUMBER OF DAYS, THE PCM WILL DRY OUT BY ITSELF AND THEN RUN NORMALLY UNTIL THE NEXT RAIN STORM. NO DOUBT, MANY TRANSMISSIONS HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN ERROR, AND THE PROBLEM REOCCURS WHEN THE PCM AGAIN GETS WET. LOSS OF POWER ON THE HIGHWAY MEANS NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES, WHICH CAN LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE LOCATION OF THE PCM LENDS ITSELF TO WATER ENTRY AND APPEARS TO ME TO BE A DESIGN DEFECT THAT FORD SHOULD ADDRESS MORE FORCEFULLY THAN JUST TO ISSUE A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. *TR
Mileage: 84,560
2004 FORD FREESTAR. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLES DRIVES ROUGH, STATING VEHICLE ACCELERATES AND DECELERATES ON ITS OWN *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD SLOW DOWN AND THEN SPEED UP WITH RAPID JERKING. THE CONSUMER HAD THE EGR REPLACED AT A COST OF $289.97. ALSO, THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR, IGNITION COIL AND MAIN COMPUTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB
Mileage: 47,278
2004 FORD FREESTAR. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLES DRIVES ROUGH, STATING VEHICLE ACCELERATES AND DECELERATES ON ITS OWN *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD SLOW DOWN AND THEN SPEED UP WITH RAPID JERKING. THE CONSUMER HAD THE EGR REPLACED AT A COST OF $289.97. ALSO, THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR, IGNITION COIL AND MAIN COMPUTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB
Mileage: 47,278
WE BOUGHT OUR 2004 FREESTAR NEW. WIFE NOW IS UNABLE TO DRIVE IT DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. IT STALLS, MISSES, AND BUCKS WHILE DRIVING. IT IS MUCH WORSE AFTER RAIN. WE HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY WANT TO DO A TUNE-UP. TOOK TO LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE SAYS THAT THERE IS WATER IN PCM. HAVE LOCATED HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS IN FORUMS. VERY EXPENSIVE FIX AND IT LOOKS AS THOUGH MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD FIXED SEVERAL TIMES. *TR
Mileage: 120,000
DROVE VEHICLE TO STORE, WENT IN TO DO SHOPPING CAME OUT TO LEAVE VEHICLE WOULD START BUT WOULDN'T ACCELERATE. TWO DAYS BEFORE INCIDENT IT HAD BEEN RAINING IN GRAND JUNCTION COLORADO. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO FORD AND WAS TOLD TODAY THAT THE PMC IS FULL OF WATER! IT'S GOING TO COST ME OVER 1500.00 TO FIX THIS! WHAT WOULD OF HAPPENED HAD IT DECIDED TO GO OUT AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH MY TWO KIDS IN THE CAR? OR WHEN RUSHING MY SEVERE ASTHMATIC TO HOSPITAL? *TR
Mileage: 56,655
THIS HAS BEEN ON AN ON GOING PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW (THIS IS THE 4TH TIME FORD SERVICED THE VEHICLE). AFTER A RAIN STORM MY FREESTAR DOES NOT START OR WILL START & STALL. TODAY, AFTER RAINING ALL NIGHT, I WAS DRIVING MY 3 KIDS TO SCHOOL APX 0800HRS, AS I WAS TURNING ONTO ROCHELLE AVE FROM CHESTNUT ST IN ROCHELLE PARK, NJ THE VEHICLE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION WITH LOSS OF ALL POWER INCLUDING THE BRAKES WHICH CAUSED ME TO ROLL INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. LUCKILY THE GARBAGE TRUCK WAS ABLE TO STOP BEFORE HITTING MY VEHICLE. I HAVE FOUND THAT YOU HAD AN OPEN CASE UNDER ID NUMBER PE10033 THE PCM HAS BEEN CHANGED 3 TIMES AND REPAIRED ONCE, ON THE FOLLOWING DATES AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS: 5/13/2010 ALL AMERICAN FORD, 520 RIVER STREET, HACKENSACK, NJ 3/19/2011, 12/13/2011 & 1/13/2012 ALL AMERICAN FORD, 375 RT 17 SOUTH, PARAMUS, NJ ON ALL THESE OCCASIONS IT WAS WATER FROM RAIN THAT EFFECTED THE PCM.
Mileage: 61,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.
Mileage: 111,000
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH AND MY VAN STARTING CUTTING OUT REALLY BAD AND DIED. I WAS A MILE FROM ANYWHERE I GOT IT TO A SAFE PLACE EVENTUALLY AND THEN COULD NO LONGER START THE VAN. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER ALREADY ONCE. IT WAS RAINING HEAVILY SO I KNOW IT IS THE COMPUTER BECAUSE THE MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE COMPUTER 3 MONTHS AGO SAID THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE 2004 FORD FREESTAR. EVERY TIME IT RAINS I HAVE TROUBLE WITH MY CAR. IT WAS RAINING LAST NIGHT SO I KNOW WATER HAS ONCE AGAIN GOTTEN INTO MY COMPUTER. WHEN IS THERE EVER GOING TO BE A RECALL ON THIS. I AM A SINGLE MOM OF 4 KIDS AND FEEL LIKE FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS VEHICLE. I CAN'T AFFORD TO JUST GO OUT AND BUY A NEW VEHICLE BECAUSE FORD MESSED UP. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 4 YEARS NOW AND IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP OR BROKE DOWN FOR AT LEAST 2 YEARS OF THIS TIME FOR THE SAME ISSUES. *TR
Mileage: 120,000
IT STARTED WITH MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WORKING ERRATICALLY. SIMULTANEOUSLY, THE BUTTONS ON MY RADIO QUIT WORKING, ALTHOUGH IT RANDOMLY KEPT TRYING TO REPROGRAM "PRESET 2". WITHOUT WARNING, AT 65MPH ON A BUSY ROAD, I ABRUPTLY LOST POWER AND COULD NOT MAINTAIN SPEED OR ACCELERATE. I ALSO EXPERIENCED ERRATIC RPM. CURRENTLY VEHICLE WILL CHRONICALLY NOT START DUE TO POWER FAILURE, EVEN THOUGH BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND ARE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED LOSS OF ACCELERATION AND ERRATIC RPM IS DANGEROUS. I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE I FEAR FOR MY SAFETY. *TR
Mileage: 119,494
TRANSMISSION ISSUES HAD TO BE REPLACE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF. I HAVE READ MANY REPORTS ONLINE ABOUT ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE 2004 FORD FREESTAR, SENSOR LIGHT ISSUES, TRACKING LIGHT ISSUES. NO WARNING TRANSMISSION JUST DIED 200 MILES FROM HOME. *TR
Mileage: 88,000
THE VAN BEGAN TO JERK AND LOSE POWER. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PCM WAS WET. I CONTACTED THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VAN AND LEARNED ABOUT THE SERVICE BULLETIN. I EMAILED FORD AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL AND I WOULD NEED TO FIX THIS ISSUE MYSELF. *TR
Mileage: 66,000
THE MAIN ENGINE COMPUTER (ECM, PCM, AKA EEC) CONSTANTLY GETS WET DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW. WATER DRIPS DOWN ON THE COMPUTER AND WILL CAUSE THE ENGINE JUST TO DIE WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS CAUSES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION! *TT
Mileage: 105,000
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
Mileage: 100,553
MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ON A 4 LANE HWY IN PENSACOLA, FL WHEN MY 2004 FORD FREESTAR SUDDENLY STOPPED PULLING. NO FORWARD, NO BACKWARDS, NEUTRAL, NOTHING AND THE RPMS WENT EXTREMELY HIGH. ZERO WARNINGS, AND IN HEAVY RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. IT IS ONLY DUE TO MY HUSBANDS RACE CAR DRIVING EXPERIENCE AND QUICK REACTION TIME THAT HE WAS IMMEDIATELY ABLE TO GET THE VAN ON THE SIDE OF THE HWY. MY HUSBAND AND OUR TWO BOYS THANKFULLY WERE SAFE BUT THEY WERE STRANDED IN INTENSE FLORIDA HEAT. I HAVE HAD A LEAN FUEL, VARIOUS ELECTRICAL, COIL PACK AND PCM ISSUES SINCE I GOT THE VAN JUNE 2007. THE FORD DEALERSHIP, AND THE EASTERNS DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED THE VAN FROM, COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEMS. WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, EASTERNS WORKED ON IT BUT NONE OF THE ISSUES WERE EVER ABLE TO BE FIXED. I CHOOSE THE FREESTAR FOR ITS SAFETY FEATURES SO I KNEW I HAD A SAFE WAY TO TRANSPORT MY CHILDREN. THIS IS NO LONGER THE CASE, I DO NOT TRUST FORD TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS AND I WILL NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD. *KB
Mileage: 78,000
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
Mileage: 70,458
TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING. THANKFULLY WE WERE NOT ON THE HIGHWAY. NO GRINDING OR SLIPPING, THE ENGINE JUST REVVED AND WOULD VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. HAD 3 CHILDREN IN THE CAR AT THE TIME. VERY DANGEROUS TO TRUST THIS CAR. GOT THE CAR TO A PARKING LOT, NOW IT HAS BEEN TOWED TO A MECHANIC TO BE CHECKED OUT. WE PREVIOUSLY HAD PROBLEMS WITH SOMETHING IN THE IGNITION OR SOMETHING WHERE THE CAR WOULD JUST SPUTTER AND DIE WHILE DRIVING. REPLACED DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR, BUT PASSENGER SIDE DOES NOT WORK EITHER. PLEASE GET THESE OFF THE ROAD! *TR
Mileage: 86,211
REAR WINDOW POPPED / SHATTERED WHILE PARKED. NO VANDALISM. CAR WAS RUNNING AND REAR DEFROSTER WAS ON. WEATHER WAS 60 DEGREES AND CLOUDY. *TR
Mileage: 110,000
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
Mileage: 46,800
I TO OWN A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. I NEVER HAD ANY TROUBLE WITH THE VAN UNTIL FEBUARY 2011. I WAS PULLING OUT IN AN INTERSECTION THE VAN STARTED TO GO BUT DECIDED NOT TO. I TRIED TO PUT THE VAN IN REVERSE TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC AND IT WOULDN'T GO. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT DECIDED TO GO IN A BIG HURRY SQUEALING TIRES. I WAS PRETTY HAPPY THERE WASN'T ANOTHER CAR AT THE STOP SIGN WAITING TO GET OUT. I FINALLY GOT THE VAN HOME AND IT WOULDN'T STAY RUNNING. WE TOWED IT OVER TO A LOCAL DEALER. HE FINALLY LOOKED AT THE COMPUTER AND DUMPED WATER OUT OF IT. HE HAD CALLED THE FORD DEALER PARTS DEPARTMENT AND THEY TOLD HIM IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FREESTAR VANS. I ENDED UP TAKING IT TO THE SAME FORD DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THIS PROBLEM. THEY PUT A NEW COMPUTER IN IT AND A WIRING HARNESS. $1,800.00 DOLLARS OF WORK. THEY TEST DROVE IT AND IT THREW 2 MORE SENSORS. THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER 500.00 TO FIX THAT AND THEY WOULDN'T GUARANTEE THAT IF I FIXED THAT IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN ON ANOTHER SENSOR. APPARENTLY THE WATER FROM THE COMPUTER AND DOWN THE WIRING HARNESS AND FOLLOWED DOWN TO THE SENSORS AND CORRODED MOST OF THEM. THEY SUGGESTED I JUST HURRY AND GET RID OF MY VAN. OF COURSE, AFTER I PAY THEM THE 1,800.00. I CALLED FORD, THE MANAGER AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE REALLY SORRY BUT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO HELP ME. I PAID 26,000.00 FOR THIS VAN AND I HAD IT FOR 7 YEARS AND FORD JUST BASICALLY SAID GET RID OF IT. I HAVE THE VAN BACK WITH THE 2 SENSORS STILL BAD IT RUNS ALRIGHT NOW BUT THEY SAID IT WOULDN'T FOR LONG. *TR
Mileage: 91,000
THIS IS THE SECOND ISSUE I HAVE HAD WITH WATER GETTING INTO THE PCM(COMPUTER). THE FIRST OCCURRENCE (03/10) I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS ADVISES PER THE OBDB SCAN CODES THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED AN OVERHAUL. I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP THAT I HAD JUST PULLED THE CAR OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND HAD NO REVERSE AND HAD SLIPPAGE IN OTHER GEARS, IT WAS RAINING VERY HEAVILY THAT DAY- I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP IF IT COULD BE AN ISSUE OF MOISTURE GETTING INTO PCM(COMPUTER), THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THAT WAS NOT THE ISSUE. I THEN HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A REPUTABLE TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP, THERE I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS THE THIRD TO FREESTAR TO HAVE BEEN BROUGHT IN WITH AN ISSUE OF WATER GETTING INTO THE PCM(COMPUTER). THE OWNER OF THE TRANSMISSION SHOP WAS ABLE TO LET THE PCM DRY OUT FOR THREE DAYS AND REINSTALL WITH NO TRANSMISSION ISSUES. THE SECOND EVENT (04/11) HAPPENED AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF RAIN; WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAYED THE FOLLOWING LIGHTS: CHECK ENGINE, BRAKES, ABS, FUEL, BATTERY, AND TRANS AXLE LIGHT. THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, AND I HAD THE CAR TOWED BACK TO MY MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL PUMP MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE TRANS AXLE LIGHT WAS STILL APPEARING INTERMITTENTLY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO TRANSMISSION SHOP FOR SECOND TIME, AND THROUGH CAREFUL TROUBLE ISOLATION, THEY DETERMINED THAT THE PCU WAS TELLING THE TORQUE CONVERTER TO SHIFT INTO FOURTH GEAR WHILE COMING TO A STOP. THEY ALLOWED THE PCU TO DRY OUT, BUT THEN DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION MODULE HAD SHORTED OUT AND THAT IT NEED TO BE BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP TO REPROGRAM PCU. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHO STATED THAT THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY MOISTURE/WATER ISSUES WITH FREESTARS AND I ADVISED THEM THAT I AM FILING A COMPLAINT NHTSA AND WILL ALSO FORWARD LETTER TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY.
Mileage: 88,842
REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH MOISTURE/RAIN GETTING INTO PCM(COMPUTER). CAR IS BACK AT TRANSMISSION SHOP AGAIN DUE TO CAR STALLING DURING BRAKING. I HAVE HAD FUEL PUMP/MODULE REPLACED IN ERROR, DUE TO FALSE CHECK ENGINE CODES DUE TO MOISTURE/RAIN GETTING INTO PCM, OWNER OF TRANSMISSION SAID ISSUE IS WITH WATER IN PCM CAUSING TORQUE CONVERTER TO ENGAGE DURING BRAKING. *TR
Mileage: 88,820
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING WHEN DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART SPORADICALLY OR THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO START INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT THE KEY BEING IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT WATER HAD ENTERED THE COMPUTER CORRODED THE SYSTEM WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CONFIRMED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD MOST RECUR WHEN THERE WAS RAINY WEATHER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 87,000.
Mileage: 87,000
WHILE DRIVING THE TRACTION CONTROL DISINGAGES FOR NO APPARANT REASON. ALSO THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL BE WORKING FINE AND AFTER THE TRACTION CONTROL DISINAGES THE CRUISE CONTROL ALSO STOPS THEN SOMETIMES AFTER YOU PRESS RESUME IT REINGAGES AND SOMETIMES IN DOESEN'T IF YOU SHUT OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT THE TRACTION CONTROL LIIGHT GOES OFF AGAIN. IT MAY COME ON AGAIN A FEW MILES LATER OR IT MAY NOT PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE INTERMITTTENT SAME WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL. THERE ARE ALSO TIMES THAT THE RADIO CONTROLS IN THE STEERING WHEEL WORK FINE OTHER TIMES IF YOU PRESS THE VOLUME CONTROL IT WILL CHANGE THE STATIONS. VAN PURCHASED IN JULY OF 2010 PROBLEM BAGAN SOMETIME IN OCTOBER OF 2010. *TR
Mileage: 48,000
WHEN DRIVING OUR VAN IT STARTED TO JERK AND THE ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. IT THEN STALLED OUT ON US. IT WAS RAINING THAT DAY AND IT CONTINUED TO DO THIS. THE NEXT DAY WHEN THE RAIN STOPPED IT QUIT AND RAN FINE, BUT STARTED AGAIN THE MINUTE WE HIT ANY MOISTURE. THE COMPUTER IN THE VAN ALSO STARTED SENDING ERROR MESSAGES CONSTANTLY, CHECK BRAKE FLUID, CHECK OIL, CHECK REAR BRAKE LIGHTS, CHECK TRACTION CONTROL, CHECK DOORS AND SO ON WHEN THESE THINGS WERE CHECKED THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THEM. THE ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUED TO FLASH SO WE HAD SOMEONE LOOK AT IT AND FIX IT. THEY TOLD US THE COIL PAK WAS BAD AND REPLACED IT FOR US. THE VAN RAN FINE FOR 1 WEEK AND THEN THIS STARTED AGAIN. SO WHEN I WENT ONLINE TO DO SOME RESEARCH ON THIS I FOUND A SITE ON TOPIX, COMPLAINTS ABOUT FORD FREESTAR THAT HAD 100'S OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VAN. ALOT OF PEOPLE WERE HAVING THE SAME PROMBLEMS AND THEY TOOK IT TO GARAGES WHERE THEY SAID IT IS A DESIGN FLAW BY FORD THAT WATER GETS UP UNDER THE ENGINE INTO THE PCM (COMPUTER) SHORTS IT OUT AND THEN EVENTUALLY MESSES UP THE COIL. WE CONTINUE TO HAVE ALL THESE PROBLEMS WITH THE VAN, IT STALLS OUT ON ME IN RAIN OR ANY MOISTURE. I HAVE HAD THE VAN STALL WHILE TURNING ONTO A ROAD AND MY VAN BE STUCK ACROSS THE ROAD RIGHT ABOVE A DANGEROUS CURVE WITH MY YOUNGEST CHILD AND I ALONE IN THE VEHICLE.
Mileage: 95,000
2004 FORD FREESTAR ENGINE CONTROL MODULE COMPUTER DIE @ ABOUT 80000 MILES TRANMISSION FAIL AT ABOUT 65000 MILES DEFECTIVE OE CONFORMAL COATING IS REMOVED FROM THE ENTIRE ECM BOARD INCLUDING UNDERNEATH CHIPS AND REPLACED WITH UPGRADED CONFORMAL COATING; CORRECTS AN OE DESIGN FLAW AND ENSURE CHIPS WILL NOT LIFT FROM THE BOARD CAUSING THE UNIT TO FAIL. *TR
Mileage: 65,000
WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN THE VAN STARTED TO JERK AND CUT OUT. STALLING ON OCCASION. WE HAD THE COIL PACK REPLACED AND THIS REPAIR LASTED FOR 1 WEEK THEN IT STARTED ALL OVER AGAIN. WHEN IT IS DRY OUTSIDE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON BUT THE VAN DRIVES FINE. AS SOON AS IT STARTS TO RAIN OR WE HIT ANY MOISTURE OR MUD PUDDLE THE VAN STARTS JERKING AGAIN AND SOMETIMES BACK FIRES OR EVEN STALLS OUT WHILE DRIVING AND HAS TO BE RESTARTED. WE HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT ALOT OF 2004 FREESTAR OWNERS ARE HAVING THAT THE PCM OR COMPUTER GETS WET AND CAUSES THIS PROBLEM DUE TO A FLAW IN THE DESIGN. *TR
Mileage: 95,000
I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED IN 2008. WHEN TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 60-70 MPH THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY JERK AS IF IT'S TURNED OFF AND BACK ON. THIS OCCURS 2-3 TIMES ON EVERY HIGHWAY TRIP OF 15-20 MILES. THIS ALSO HAPPENS ON SHORTER TRIPS 2-3 TIMES A WEEK. WHEN I START THE VEHICLE THE RADIO AUTOMATICALLY TURNS ON AND RESETS THE STATIONS AND DIGITAL CLOCK. THE BATTERY SEEMS TO HAVE TROUBLE KEEPING A CHARGE. OVERNIGHT THE BATTERY MAY WEAKEN AND THE VEHICLE WILL FAIL TO START. AFTER THE FAILED START ALL THE NEEDLES ON THE CONTROL PANEL DIALS WILL VIBRATE AND CREATE A "CLICKING/TICKING" NOISE WHICH ENDS AFTER 3-6 SECONDS. SUBSEQUENTLY, A JUMP-START IS REQUIRED TO START THE VEHICLE. I CANNOT AFFORD EXPENSIVE DIAGNOSTICS SO I SIMPLY KEEP JUMPER CABLES HANDY AND PLAN AROUND TRIPS THAT MAY LEAVE US STRANDED WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. I HAVE MAINTAINED ROUTINE SERVICE LIKE OIL/FLUID CHANGES AND HAVE NOT HAD ANY REPORTS ON A DEFECTIVE BATTERY. ALL INDICATIONS POINT TO A DEFECTIVE PCM (POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE). I'VE DONE SOME PERSONAL RESEARCH AND FOUND THIS TO BE AN UNDERLYING PROBLEM FOR MANY ISSUES AFFECTING THE 2004 FORD FREESTAR MINIVANS. THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. DUE TO THE PROJECTED COST ESTIMATES OF MORE THAN $1000 TO DIAGNOSE AND RESOLVE, I CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE A MECHANIC WORK ON IT. *TR
Mileage: 65,000
WE RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2004 FORD FREESTAR AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT. LET IT BE CLEAR FROM THE START THAT I AM IN FACT A FORD GUY! BUT WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS AND I AM TO THE POINT WHERE I DO NOT KNOW IF I WILL PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD. SO A WEEK AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION + COMPUTER WENT OUT. MY WIFE TRIED STARTING IT AND IT WOULD NOT GO ANYWHERE. I TOWED IT TO MACKE FORD AND HAD THEM FIX IT. PAID $3800 FOR THEM TO FIX THESE TWO THINGS. A WEEK LATER IT RAINED EXTREMELY HARD AND THE VAN FAILED ON MY WIFE AS SHE WAS DRIVING AND WAS LUCKILY ON A GRAVEL ROAD WITH NO ONE AROUND HER. SHE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A COMPLETE STOP BUT AGAIN THE VAN WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE. HAD IT TOWED TO MACKE FORD IN COON RAPIDS, IA AGAIN AND THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A BAD PCM. I MADE IT CLEAR TO THE SERVICE DEPT THAT I THOUGHT WATER WAS GETTING INTO THE PCM COMPARTMENT DUE TO OTHER PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS ON THE INTERNET AND THE FACT THAT IT HAD RAINED EXTREMELY HARD THAT MORNING. THEY DID NOT THINK THIS WAS THE CASE AND PUT ANOTHER PCM IN AND SENT THE OTHER ONE BACK TO FORD AS THEY THOUGHT THEY RECEIVED A BAD PCM. TOOK IT HOME AND THE NEXT MORNING IT WOULD NOT START AND THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. TESTED AND FOUND THAT THE RADIO WAS TURNING ON BY ITSELF AND DRAINING THE BATTERY...EVEN W/OUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. MACKE TRIED FIXING IT FOR THE NEXT 2 MONTHS AND EVEN AFTER DENYING WATER WAS GETTING INTO IT..FINALLY CALLED AND SAID THEY FOUND WATER IN THE PCM COMPARTMENT AND IT WAS A FORD ENGINEERING PROBLEM. THEY WANTED ME TO PAY FOR THE COMPUTER THIS TIME SINCE FORD WOULD NOT COVER THE WATER DAMAGE!! ANOTHER 700.00. WITH ALL THE INTERNET COMPLAINTS ABOUT THERE ABOUT WATER GETTING INTO THE COMPUTER THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND OUR MONEY RETURNED! *TR
Mileage: 95,000
PURCHASED THIS 2004 FORD FREESTAR 6 MONTHS AGO WITH 98,000 MILES ON IT FROM OAK MOTORS ON W. 3TH STREET IN INDIANAPOLIS. EVERY TIME IT RAINS, THE VEHICLE STOPPED ON ME. FINALLY, I SUGGESTED THAT THIS DEALERSHIP TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AS THE SELLING DEALERSHIP DID NOT KNOW HOW. I ALSO SUGGESTED MY FEAR IN GOING THROUGH A CAR WASH. THE FORD DEALER TAKES THE CAR THROUGH A CAR WASH AND DETERMINES IT IS THE #1 AND #3 COIL PACK, PLUGS AND WIRES. WHILE TRYING TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK IN FOR THE REPAIR AFTER HAGGLING WITH THE SELLING DEALER ABOUT WHO SHOULD PAY, THE VEHICLE DEMONSTRATED WHAT SEEMED LIKE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE SELLING DEALERSHIP TODAY TOLD ME THAT A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST INFORMED THEM TODAY THAT IT IS NOT A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM BUT THEY THINK IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE VAN'S COMPUTER SYSTEM. IT WILL NOT GO FORWARD OR BACKWARDS BUT IT IS NOT A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. ALSO, EVERY TIME IT RAINS, THE BREAKS SQUEAK BUT WHEN THE WEATHER IS DRY, BREAKS DEMONSTRATE NO PROBLEM. ALMOST PHANTOM PROBLEMS. PLEASE HELP. ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE LESS THAN 30 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE DATE OF 9/31/2009.
Mileage: 98,700
FOR THE FIRST 16 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP MY FORD 2004 FREESTAR SEL WAS IN THE SHOP 15 TIMES FOR ELECTRICAL FAILURES. EVEN THE DEALERSHIP TRIED TO GET THE VAN RETURNED UNDER THE LEMON LAW AND FORD REFUSED. I HAD ALSO COMPLAINED ABOUT VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AND TOLD ALL WAS NORMAL UNTIL I DEMANDED THEY CHECK THE FRONT BRAKE AND THEN WAS TOLD THEY WERE BAD. AT ABOUT 65,000 MILES MY TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING WENT OUT. I WAS JUST LEAVING THE INTERSECTION AND FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT REAR ENDED. NOW JUST LAST MONTH, DECEMBER 2009 IT WAS DISCOVERED MY RIGHT REAR BRAKE CALIBER HAS BEEN DRAGGING FOR SOME TIME AS THE INSIDE BRAKE PAD WAS WORN DOWN TO THE METAL. LEFT SIDE WAS FINE. *TR
Mileage: 100
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACE, FORD SAID IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW. *TR
Mileage: 30,000
VEHICLE PURCHASED USED WITH 62,000 MILES IN MAY 2006. FREQUENT & RANDOM DASH WARNING LIGHTS COMING ON & OFF FOR NO REASON--INCLUDING TRANSAXLE, BRAKE, EMISSIONS SYSTEM LIGHT, ETC. RADIO WILL TURN ON & OFF WITHOUT THE KEYS IN THE VEHICLE. MECHANIC SAYS THAT THERE WAS SOME MOISTURE IN PCM & THAT PCM DOES NOT LOOK ORIGINAL. VEHICLE HAS LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING SEVERAL TIMES & THEN 'RECOVERED' WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS ON. TRANSMISSION 'WENT' IN DRIVEWAY WITHOUT WARNING. NEEDED APPROX. $1500.00 IN REPAIRS TO TRANSMISSION. MECHANIC SAYS FAILING PART INCLUDES PUMP SHAFT & VEINS. ALSO RECONDITIONED PUMP SLIDE & SEALS. *TR
Mileage: 135,000
ENGINE STALLING, ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM DISENGAGES, AND CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT ENGAGE. ALL PROBLEMS ARE INTERMITTENT AND OCCUR DURING OR AFTER RAIN. PROBLEMS LINKED TO PCM WATER INTRUSION. TODAY ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. *TR
Mileage: 70,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE IDLE SPEED INCREASED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY WHEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT WATER WAS LEAKING FROM THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, WHICH DAMAGED THE COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 58,000.
Mileage: 58,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND PLACED THE GEAR SHIFTER INTO DRIVE. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV AND THE TRANSMISSION IMMEDIATELY LOCKED UP. THE CONTACT HAD TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLY FAILED, WHICH WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES. THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL FAILURES RELATING TO THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BE REBUILT OR REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000.
Mileage: 250
WE OWN A 2004 FREESTAR THAT HAS HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED IN FEB 2008 WITH LESS THAN 43,000 MILES ON IT. IN JULY 2008 WE SPEND $450 ON REPAIRING PART OF THE BREAKING SYSTEM, AND THIS WEEK THE VAN WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE AND DID NOT HAVE ANY PULL TO IT WHEN IT FINALLY DID AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. ONCE I GOT OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE, I GOT AN ESTIMATE OF A BLOCK AND ONTO A BUSY HIGHWAY, ONLY TO HAVE THE VAN STALL ON ME, ALMOST CAUSING A WRECK. THE DEALERSHIP AND FORD PAID FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO BE REPLACED, WE PAID FOR THE CALIPER, DRUM, ROTOR, AND BREAK PAD TO BE REPLACED ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE BRAKE. WHEN HAVING THE VAN CHECKED OUT THIS WEEK, WE WERE TOLD YESTERDAY THAT THEY DID DIAGNOSTICS ON IT, AND THE ONLY THING THAT CAME BACK WAS A CAM SENSOR AND THAT THERE WAS PROBABLY MOISTURE INVOLVED THAT WOULD CAUSE THE STALLING. NOTHING WAS REPAIRED, AND THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN, ESP DURING THE WINTER MONTHS, WHEN WINTER DRIVING IS ALREADY DANGEROUS. THERE IS ALSO AN ISSUE WITH THE TRACK CONTROL. IT WORKS MOST OF THE TIME BUT NOT ALL OF THE TIME. THE LIGHT COMES ON AT LEAST 2 TIME PER MONTH. THE REASON CAN'T BE FOUND FOR IT. FORD NEEDS TO BE MADE TO DO RECALLS ON THESE VANS FOR THE SAFETY OF THE OWNERS. *TR
Mileage: 44,000
I CAN NOT BELIEVER THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THE FORD FREESTAR'S MALFUNCTION! THERE ARE 430 MESSAGES ON EDMUNDS.COM ALONE ON THE ONE SUBJECT, BUT YET NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT. IF WE WANT THE WORKERS IN THE U.S. CAR INDUSTRY TO HAVE JOBS, THEN THEY SHOULD RESOLVE THE ISSUES AND MAKE THEIR CUSTOMERS HAPPY!! *TR
Mileage: 100,000
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.
Mileage: 58,502
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2004 FORD FREESTAR'S TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 79,000 MILES WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH AND GOING UP A HILL, THE ENGINE REVVED, AND THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T ACCELERATE AT THE NORMAL SPEED, BUT SHE DID GET TO THE TOP OF THE HILL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN ,BUT ONCE SHE GOT TO THE TOP OF THE HILL THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SOME MEN PUSHED HER TO SIDE THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT STATED SHE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED OR REWORKED ON. SHE WAS STILL UNDER THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY BUT HAD EXCEEDED THE MILES UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, FILED A COMPLAINT AND WAS GIVEN CASE# 0417400577. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78830 ,AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79000.*AK THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE LINING AND CIRCUIT BREAKER WERE REPLACED, THE REAR WIPER WAS LOOSE. UPDATED 04/12/07. *JB
Mileage: 78,830
WIFE'S VAN. REPORTED THAT IN COLD WEATHER IT WOULD START HARD. RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING TO WORK IT BUCKED SEVERAL TIMES. WAS ABLE TO GET TO WORK. INFORMED ME OF THE PROBLEM WHERE I WENT TO CHECK VAN. IT WOULDN'T START AFTER 5 ATTEMPTS, THEN IT STARTED UP BUT WAS A HARD START. AT THE SAME TIME CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. DECIDED TO TOW IT TO DEALER. FLAT BED CAME BUT COULDN'T GET TO VAN. TO ASSIST IN POSITIONING VAN FOR FLATBED; VAN STARTED ON FIRST TRY BUT NOW WHEN IT WAS PUT INTO GEAR, IT DIDN'T MOVE. EITHER FORWARD OR REVERSE. WE PUSHED IT INTO POSITION. TOOK TO DEALER WHERE NOW IT WENT INTO GEAR TO OFFLOAD IT FROM FLAT BED. DEALER STATED WHEN THEY DEPRESSED THE BRAKE, ALL DASH LIGHTS LIT UP. STATED IT WAS A DEAD SHORT THEY HAD TO TRACE THE WIRING. RECEIVED CALL 2 DAYS LATER, DEALER TELLING ME THEY HAVE TO DROP THE TRANSMISSION. WHICH THEY DID, I SAW IT ON A STAND, STRIPPED OF ALL INNER COMPONENTS. WAS TOLD SINCE IT'S UNDER WARRANTY (26,000 MILES), THEY ARE GOING TO REPLACE EVERYTHING THAT LOOKS REMOTELY WRONG. BEEN A WEEK AND STILL WAITING FOR ANSWERS. *JB
Mileage: 26,200
UPON LEAVING THE INTERSTATE AND COMING INTO TOWN (APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE ) MY VEHICLE MADE A SLIGHT NOISE, I LOOKED AT MY GAUGES WITH NO INDICATORS ON I PROCEEDED INTO MY DRIVEWAY WHERE MY VAN BEGAN TO ERUPT INTO FLAMES WITHIN MOMENTS THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS ENGULFED WITH 12 FT. FLAMES I CALLED THE FIRE DEPT WHO EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES, I NARROWLY ESCAPED THE VAN. *JB
Mileage: 41,000