2004 Ford Freestar problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train:automatic Transmission (464) · Power Train (273) · Structure:body (58)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Ford Freestar model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
1,089 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (2)
Seats 2013-03-07 · campaign 13V081000 · 196,667 vehicles
Defect: Ford is recalling certain model year 2004-2007 Freestar and Mercury Monterey vehicles manufactured from March 24, 2003, through November 7, 2006, equipped with a third row seat and originally sold in, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. The third row stowable s
Risk: In the event that the vehicle is crashed into from the rear, an unlatched seat may increase the risk of personal injury.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install new third row seat latch striker mounting brackets, free of charge. The recall began on March 28, 2013. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332.
Power Train:automatic Transmission 2012-01-09 · campaign 12V006000 · 206,452 vehicles
Defect: FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AND 2005 FORD FREESTAR AND MERCURY MONTEREY VEHICLES. THE TORQUE CONVERTER OUTPUT SHAFT MAY FAIL.
Risk: THIS CONDITION RESULTS IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER WITH NO WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 9, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.
Service bulletins (64)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe 2016-09-21 · SSM 46085 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the powertrain control/emissions diagnosis (pc/ed) manual has been revised for diagnosing electronic throttle bodies (etbs). the etc_act and etc_dsd pids should not used to diagnose possible etb concerns. the ids has a limited refresh rate when reading these pids and cannot display quickly enough to
Seats:mid/Rear Assembly 2016-04-21 · TSB160069 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
safety recall 13s01 - corrosion on sheet metal that supports 3rd row seat latch strikeers - requests for recall service action
Seats 2016-04-21 · 16-0069 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
for 2004-2007 freestar or monterey vehicles safety recall 13s01 has been issued for vehicles that are operated in high corrosion areas for an extended period, where the sheet metal that supports the folding 3rd row seat latch strikers could experience corrosion and may compromise the mounting point
Seats 2014-09-09 · TSB-14-0166 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ford/mercury: safety recall regarding sheet metal support for folding 3rd row seat latch strikers can experience corrosion and will compromise mounting point causing seat to move. model 2004-07 freestar, monterey. *pe
Seats:mid/Rear Assembly 2014-08-11 · TSB-14-0144 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ford/mercury: sheet metal supporting folding 3rd row seat latch strikers will experience corrosion and compromise mounting point for forward portion of 3rd row seat, if vehicle is operated in high corrosion areas for extended period. model 2004-2007 freestar, monterey. *pe
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine 2007-06-25 · 071011 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
advanced traction control system - short duration activation. *kb
Showing the 6 most recent of 64 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-07-11 · Power Train · 104,000 mi“the contact owns a 2004 ford freestar. the contact stated while driving at approximately 40 mph, the vehicle stalled. there was no warning light illuminated. the vehicle was towed to the residence. an independent mechanic diagnosed that the torque converter and the transmission needed to be replaced. the contact related the failure to an unknown n…”
2025-07-07 · Power Train“flashing! with gear around it and car will not operate correctly i.e. no power very slow acceleration and lacking ability to change gears. …”
2024-08-27 · Power Train“i have a 2004 ford freestar van and i was driving down the road and i went to pass another vehicle and i push the gas and i heard some crunchy noise is and then nothing no power at all no gears nothing i was dead in the water so i had to get out of the van and push it to the side of the road didn't have reverse didn't have drive didn't have third s…”
2024-03-18 · Power Train“my son was driving down rt 81 when the transmission stopped working your vehicle was running fine but would not go had to drift off the highway she avoid getting hit i had to tow the van home we’re it’s still parked …”
2023-10-03 · Power Train · 250,000 mi“the contact owns a 2004 ford freestar. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds the vehicle would not properly accelerate and would hesitate to accelerate and the check engine warning light would remain illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission torque converter was faulty and needed …”
2023-02-16 · Engine“conducía mi vehículo y la trasmisión quedó en neutro en una entrada y no pude estacionarme y no volvió arrancar solo coje la reversa i was driving my vehicle and the transmission was neutral in a driveway and i couldn't park and did not start again just take the reverse…”
2023-01-18 · Power Train“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 sa…”
2022-08-08 · Unknown Or Other“i just purchased the vehicle used and recently discovered there was a recall on these vehicles. the vehicle i purchased keeps stalling and is not getting any power. i’ve had the vehicle checked by the car lot and they say there is nothing wrong.. the vehicle died out on me already twice while i was driving.…”
2022-04-05 · Power Train · 158,000 mi“the contact owns a 2004 ford freestar. the contact stated while driving approximately 55 mph, the vehicle started losing motive power. the contact depressed the accelerator and the vehicle continued to slow as the rpm was rising. the contact did not notice any warning lights illuminated. the contact pulled safely off the road and turned the vehicle…”
2022-03-01 · Power Train“transmission slip , leaks , loosing ofpower, shakes from 45 mph to 55 mph , mechanic shop says it is the torque converter that is malfunction.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.