2004 Ford FREESTAR problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,227 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
86,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 1,091 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 495 of 1,227 complaints (40.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 754 | 61.5% |
| Engine operation | 146 | 11.9% |
| Braking behavior | 110 | 9.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 59 | 4.8% |
| Steering behavior | 54 | 4.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 14 | 1.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 495 |
| Power Train | 310 |
| Electrical System | 115 |
| Seats | 84 |
| Engine | 69 |
| Structure:Body | 62 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter | 50 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 34 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 495; Power Train: 310; Electrical System: 115; Seats: 84; Engine: 69; Structure:Body: 62; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter: 50; Engine And Engine Cooling: 34
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 47 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 100 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 232 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 321 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 280 |
| 150,000 and above | 111 |
Under 25,000: 47; 25,000 to 49,999: 100; 50,000 to 74,999: 232; 75,000 to 99,999: 321; 100,000 to 149,999: 280; 150,000 and above: 111
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (321). 136 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 16 |
| 2005 | 28 |
| 2006 | 15 |
| 2007 | 35 |
| 2008 | 103 |
| 2009 | 171 |
| 2010 | 193 |
| 2011 | 170 |
| 2012 | 177 |
| 2013 | 107 |
| 2014 | 50 |
| 2015 | 38 |
| 2016 | 32 |
| 2017 | 31 |
| 2018 | 18 |
| 2019 | 19 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2004: 16; 2005: 28; 2006: 15; 2007: 35; 2008: 103; 2009: 171; 2010: 193; 2011: 170; 2012: 177; 2013: 107; 2014: 50; 2015: 38; 2016: 32; 2017: 31; 2018: 18; 2019: 19; 2020: 7; 2021: 7; 2022: 3; 2023: 3; 2024: 2; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 754 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 146 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 110 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10097704 · 2004-12-08 (December 8, 2004)
AFTER SHIFTING THE GEAR INTO REVERSE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND LURCHED BACKWARDS. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO SLAM ON BRAKE, AND SWITCH OFF THE IGNITION SWITCH TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *AK AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED IT WORKED FINE. *TC
Owner-reported narrative. 43,820 miles reported. Look up ODI 10097704 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10127656 · 2005-07-06 (July 6, 2005)
WE WERE TRAVELLING FROM PIGEON FORGE, TN TO GREENSBORO, NC THROUGH ASHVILLE, NC ON I-40. WHEN WE REACHED THE VICINITY OF GREENSBORO WE NOTICED WHILE TRYING TO PASS A TRUCK ON A SLIGHT UPGRADE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO GET POWER TO THE ROAD. THE ENGINE WOULD EVENTUALLY "CATCH" AND WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT ANOTHER 8 MILES TO OUR DESTINATION. AFTER SITTING FOR SEVERAL HOURS WE STARTED THE CAR AGAIN AND THE SAME PROBLEMS OCCURED (ENGINE REVVING BUT TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT CATCH). WE MANAGED TO DRIVE THE VAN TO BOB DUNN FORD IN GREENSBORO WHERE I…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,939 miles reported. Look up ODI 10127656 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10120030 · 2005-05-05 (May 5, 2005)
I WAS GOING 35 MPH, MADE A LEFT TURN AND CAME TO A STOP AND THEN THE CAR STALLED. PUT IT IN PARK AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. TWO DAYS LATER, I REVERSED OUT OF MY GARAGE, WENT FORWARD ABOUT 10 FEET AND CAME TO A STOP, TWO SECONDS LATER THE CAR STALLED. PUT IT IN PARK AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,510 miles reported. Look up ODI 10120030 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10213617 · 2008-01-03 (January 3, 2008)
2004 FORD FREESTAR VAN WITH 32,593 MILES ON ODOMETER WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A FLAT, STRAIGHT, STRETCH OF HIGHWAY AT A CONSTANT 60 MPH WHEN DRIVER EXPERIENCED SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. DRIVER DANGEROUSLY MANEUVERED OUT OF TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAY, BUT COULD ONLY COAST AND SOON DISCOVERED THERE WERE NO GEARS WORKING IN THE TRANSMISSION, NO DRIVE, NO REVERSE, NO LOW GEARS....NO ABILITY TO MOVE VAN AT ALL! WAITED FOR TWO HOURS FOR A TOW TRUCK ON A COLD MINNESOTA WINTER NIGHT IN DECEMBER. CAR WAS TOWED TO FORD DEALER. WAS INITIALLY TOLD BY SERVICE ADVISOR THAT O…
Owner-reported narrative. 32,593 miles reported. Look up ODI 10213617 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10082628 · 2004-07-25 (July 25, 2004)
MY LEFT INNER BRAKE PAD FELL APART AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.. MY LEFT BRAKE WAS LOCKED UP ON INNER SIDE. DEALER PUT NEW PADS AND FIXED ROTOR ON MY 2004 FREESTAR. ALSO EXCESSIVE FRONT BRAKE NOISE AND SQUEAL . *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10082628 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10083255 · 2004-08-20 (August 20, 2004)
THE CONSUMER TAPPED THE BRAKE TO STOP AND THE LEFT REAR BRAKE LOCKED UP. IT WAS LATER DETRERMINED THAT THE LEFT INNER PAD HAD WORN UNEVENLY. *AK *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10083255 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10108937 · 2005-01-26 (January 26, 2005)
THE POWER SLIDING DOOR, UPON OPENING THE DOOR, AND DEPRESSING THE ELECTRICAL BUTTON TO CLOSE THE DOOR IT WILL NOT STOP. IT CONTINUES TO CLOSE UNTIL YOU ARE CAUGHT IN THE DOOR.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10108937 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10148695 · 2006-01-23 (January 23, 2006)
2004 FREESTAR WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK AND CRUISE CONTROL IS HARD TO DISENGAGE. *TS INITIALLY THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM BUT RECENTLY IT HAD BEEN MORE FREQUENT. THIS PROBLEM ONLY OCCURRED DURING VERY DAMP AND/OR COOL WEATHER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE IF THIS WAS AN ELECTRICAL OR BRAKE PROBLEM. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10148695 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10074283 · 2004-05-26 (May 26, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 7,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074283 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10153621 · 2006-03-24 (March 24, 2006)
EXPERIENCED A VERY LOUD SQUEALING NOISE THAT APPEARED TO BE COMING FROM THE FRONT WHEELS - THIS USUALLY OCCURRED AT SPEEDS >60 MPH. WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT, THE NOISE WOULD CEASE. WHEN THE WHEELS WERE STRAIGHTENED AGAIN, THE NOISE WOULD CONTINUE. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WITH NO ISSUES FOUND. I HAD SUGGESTED AT THAT TIME THAT THE PROBLEM APPEARED TO BE FRONT WHEEL BEARING RELATED OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE - NO ISSUES FOUND WITH THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK …
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10153621 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10290550 · 2009-11-02 (November 2, 2009)
I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS FUELING MY 2004 FREESTAR AFTER I BEGAN DRIVING ON GRAVEL ROADS HERE IN CENTRAL MISSOURI. THE TANK VENT KEPT GETTING CLOGGED UP AND WHEN I TRIED TO FILL FUEL TANK, PRESSURE WOULD BUILD IN TANK CAUSING FUEL TO COME SPRAYING OUT OF FILL SPOUT. I HAD GAS SPRAYED ON HANDS AND CLOTHING REPEATEDLY. I FINALLY HAD A MECHANIC REROUTE FUEL VENT LINE TO AIR INTAKE IN MOTOR COMPARTMENT. NOW I NO LONGER HAVE TROUBLE. IT COST ME ABOUT $ 250 TO HAVE THIS DONE. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS A FLAW IN DESIGN. MY MECHANICS INLAWS HAVE THE EXA…
Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10290550 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10299547 · 2010-01-12 (January 12, 2010)
I OWN A 2004 FORD FREESTYLE MINI VAN. WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING THE VAN CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP IN TRAFFIC AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT AN ACCIDENT WAS BARELY AVOIDED. I HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AND THAT IT WAS UNUSUAL TO HAVE A TRANSMISSION FAIL IN A VEHICLE WITH UNDER 100,000 MILES. HE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT HE HAD SEEN THIS HAPPEN IN MANY OTHER 2004 FREESTYLE VANS. THE MECHANIC NOTED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO THE FUEL PUMP WORKING INCORRECTL…
Owner-reported narrative. 100,839 miles reported. Look up ODI 10299547 at NHTSA ↗