Automatic Transmission problems of the 2004 Ford Freestar - part 1

The contact owns 2004 Ford Freestar. As the contact was driving, the vehicle decelerated without warning. The contact had received notification of NHTSA campaign id number: 12v006000 (power train:automatic transmission) and called the local dealer to secure an appointment. The dealer advised the contact that the parts needed to make the repairs would not become available until later in the year. The manufacturer was not contacted and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 149,565. Updated 05/03/lj.

Today (8-9-11) while entering I-95 sb at GA exit 107, I was in the excelleration lane to blend with traffic when my 2004 Ford Freestar completely lost all forward power and speed. The engine runs fine and went to idol. I was almost struck by a tractor trailer, trying to coast onto the shoulder. I/ve been advised that Ford's 2004 Freestar has a 'troque converter' problem (by the tow driver) and it simply stops providing forward movement without warning. Additionally this vehicle does not provide any power-door 'auto-stop' when an obstruction in in the open door. (it brused my arm trying to close and the passenger had to help pull the door back).

I passed avehicle going home from work7/20/2011,I just got back on my side of road, when I lost all power, like the transmission slammed into neutral. The vehicle I just passed al most hit me in the back inn,because I could not get off the road.

On Sunday, July 17, 2011, I had just driven onto the freeway, and was getting up to freeway speeds of about 50, when I noticed that the van felt like it was not wanting to accelerate and the transaxle light started flashing on the left side of the controls panel. The van felt like it was stuck in mud and didn’t want to pick up speed, and when I tried to accelerate, even the slightest bit, to maintain my speed on the busy freeway, the rpms went way up and it made a squealing sound, so I didn’t want to push it. I let the van coast and got off the freeway at the next exit. Once I was off the freeway, the van would drive without the rpms going up, as long as I kept it under 35 miles an hour, and didn’t have to accelerate to go up a hill, so I dropped off my son’s girlfriend at her house and slowly drove the van back to my house and parked it. A quick search on the internet produced dozens if not hundreds of stories just like this. The cost to fix the transmission is likely to be as much as the trade-in value on the car so i’m not sure what i’ll do with the van now.

Vehicle lost transmission power in the while traveling in the middle of the road with no prior warning signs. Able to move it out the road before causing a crash. Currently at shop waiting to be repaired.

2004 Ford Freestar transmissions are faulty and it should be the manufaturers responsibility to fix the problems they created.

Our 2004 Ford Freestar limited without warning suddenly lost power in heavy traffic. The vehicle started to slow down, and the engine rpm raced. We were able to coast to the side of the roadway, where the vehicle had no forward or backwards power. We were stuck until a repair garage could be reached and arrangements made for retrieval. The vehicle had to be loaded on a trailer and towed from the side of the roadway. The vehicle is now at the repair facility awaiting disassembly and diagnosis of the failure.

My daughter's boyfriend was driving our 2004 Ford Freestar home from his work on interstate 70 yesterday. He had it set on cruise and suddenly the rpm shot up to max and the vehicle was not being propelled any longer. He immediately pulled out of traffic and stopped on the side of the interstate. When he did it, the shifter would move, but no gear, including reverse would engage. I have read many complaints of the very same issue today and I'm just adding ours to the list. Thanks, greg allen.

Tl-the contact owns a 2004 Ford Freestar. The contact stated that when starting the vehicle and trying to put it in gear, but the gears won't shift. The vehicle was inspected by the owner and found out that it might be their transmission. The vehicle has not been inspected by a dealer nor been repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000. Tb.

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Freestar. The contact stated while driving 20 mph the vehicle stalled with out any warning. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not offer any assistance. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 52,000 and the current mileage was 54,000.

Started Freestar and right away sputtering and didnt want to accelerate when given gas, would stall but start back up and do the same thing when trying to accelerate, sputter and stall out and lose power. First shop says its the transmission, had it towed to another shop for 2nd opinion and currantly waiting on their word.

While driving approx 40 on a suburban road car began to sruge forward and I found it would not accelerate past 40 and then not at all. Then it surge again and drove for a bit and repeated the cycle. I had my toddler in the car and was almost to the sitters so I slowly made it near their home when I got stuck at a light. While stopped it began to violently shake and the battery light was flashing. It also began to smell as if something was burning. It shook a little longer and died. It started back up after a few tries and I was abel to drop her off and get it to the shop. I bought this used 3 months ago and have already replaced all door contacts, the wiring in the steering column, all wiring in the heating system, the rear power windows, the horn and other small things. Now this. I will never buy another Ford and want something done about this monstrosity Ford put out on the road.

Failure of transmission. I had my transmission overhauled 35,000 miles ago on my Ford Freestar and now I'm going to have to do it again or replace it entirely. I've noticed online that many others havfe had the same problem with the same year and model as mine.

Transmissionfailer 2004 Freestar.

We were driving eastbound on highway 26 in the state of oregon. We were driving up the hill when there was a odd sound, then the rpm of the vehicle went over 3000. We were able to pull the vehicle off the high way barely past the white line. I let off the brake and tried to drive the rpm revved but the car drifted backwards. We put the vehicle in park and then tried again in 1, 3 and drive and again same result. We drifted the car backwards further off the road and contacted a tow. If we were not lucky enough to have had no traffic behind us and have a large enough side bar on the road we would have likely been in an accident.

2004 Ford Freestar sel traveling @ 60 mph. As I was proceeding up a hill, I noticed that the rpms were increasing but the car was not accelerating. I tried to moved to the shoulder but the car slowed to a stop before I could get completely off the road. After rolling it off the roadway, my husband who was following us arrived. After several attempts to shift into different gears it was apparent there nothing happening in the transmission. We are getting the transmission repaired/rebuilt as we speak. Mileage, 104,000.

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Freestar. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 mph, the vehicle suddenly stalled and she couldn't accelerate. There were no warning lights on the instrumental panel prior or after the failure. The driver then coasted to the side of the highway. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who advised her that it might be the transmission. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance but they advised her that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The failure and current mileages were approximately 70,000. The VIN was unavailable.

2004 Ford Freestar transmission has gone out again. Second transmission trans was replaced by Ford just after we bought it. This is the second time it has left us stranded.

Had transmission fixed in Jan 2010 and my transmission just went out again March 10 2011. . . I have had nothng but problems with this vehicle ranging from broken motor mounts, tranny, a/c, radiator, spark plugs 02 sensors and so forth. This is the 5th time I have reported on here. Please do something before it kills more people. On top of this, I was driging and the dvd player fell out of the ceiling landing on my child's legs causing bruises.

Was travelling in the vehicle and all of a sudden lost all power to the trnsmission. Was very concerning as it occurred in traffic at highway speeds.

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Freestar. The contact stated that when trying to accelerate from a stop, the vehicle did not move. The contact shifted into a lower gear which allowed the vehicle to accelerate slowly but the failure occurred again. The vehicle moved fine in reverse but not in the drive position. The vehicle had not been inspected or repaired. The failure mileage was 134,250.

I own a 2004 Ford Freestar. On Wednesday, Jan. 26,2011, I try to move my van in my garage, found the engine started normally, but the van cannot move. . The gear looked not functional at all. The van would not move forward as well. I had my mechanic to take a look, and he informed me that the transmission went on our van. He suggested that we have it towed to the Ford dealership where we purchased it. So, this is what we plan to do. The van only has around 83, 000 miles on it!! I undertand, after doing lots of research, that this is a common problem with this make and model, and I am infuriated that we will have to cover the expense associated with the repairs! unexceptable! shame on Ford! I will never purchase another Ford vehicle again.

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Freestar. While driving 45 mph the vehicle began to hesitate as if were running out of gasoline. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or a local mechanic for the failure. The vehicle was no longer under warranty. The failure began on January 25, 2011. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure and current mileages were 126,000.

Was driving home from school with my husband and son. Approximate speed was 40 mph while pressing gas slightly to go up small incline motor revved as if it was in neutral. Van had no power to move, not even reverse. Had to had towed. Mechanic states pump in transmission is out and transmission is completely gone. There was no warning or anything. It was 12 degrees outside when we were stranded. After reading other complaints my story sounds the same as everyone else's. The costs not counting labor to fix will be approximately $2500. 00. Almost equal to what we owe. Very frustrated with Ford- this needs to be looked into.

Ford Freestar 2004- going down hwy, engine suddenly rev'd loudly then we had no gears whatso ever. The engine was running fine but couldnt propel the vehicle. Mecanic told us this is a re-occuring problem with this make/model.

My wife was driving 2004 Freestar van when just pass a intersection when tramission went out, she is ok but, had to replace converter in trammission cost $838. 34 only 72925 milles on van this should not have happen , I think Ford should recall this van.

2004 Freestar- traveling down road when car's engine just started revving and car would not go forward or backwards- had to call tow truck to tow us to shop. This could have been even worse if would have happened on highway, or in bad weather- as my husband is disabled unable to walk very well!!! car did not have alot of mileage for this to have happened- very disappointed will cost us over $2000 to get repaired- very difficult on a fixed income. Have owned many Ford vehicles and have never had anything like this happen. Always felt a Ford was a very dependable vehicle- questioning that now!.

I own a 2004 Ford Freestar. On Wednesday, December 22, 2010 I proceeded to back my van into my garage after running errands for the day and after backing up about a foot, the vehicle ceased movement. It would not move forward as well. I had my local mechanic stop by my home to take a look, and he informed my husband and I that the transmission went on our van. He suggested that we have it towed to the Ford dealership where we purchased it. So, this is what we plan to do. The van only has around 60, 000 miles on it!! I understand, after doing lots of research, that this is a common problem with this make and model, and I am infuriated that my husband and I will have to cover the expense associated with the repairs! unacceptable! shame on Ford! I will never purchase another Ford vehicle again.

2004 Ford Freestar transmission died at 48,100 miles. I was driving and all of a sudden there was a loss of motive power. The engine was running with absolutely no acceleration. I almost got hit by a car because the Mini van stop moving at an intersection. Had the 2004 Ford Freestar checked and there was water in the transmission. No rain, no flood. Only very cold weather. $4000 to fix and extended warranty don't want to cover.

My wife was driving our 2004 Freestar down a busy road and she said it made a revving noise and then would not move. She coasted to the side of the road and the van would run but not move. We had to have it towed. She had kids in the car.

Traveling east on interstate 80 toward lake tahoe, about 70 miles from home. Rpms suddenly increased while losing forward propulsion and speed. Pulled over and much smoke was coming from under engine. Myself, wife & 2 children in vehicle. Luckily we have aaa and were rescued. We are original owners on this regularly, and well maintained 2004 Freestar - and it has only 61,000 miles! expect $3,000+ bill to fix transmission.

Transmission went out without any warning! less than 70,000 miles.

Transmission in 2004 Ford Freestar failed without warning in freeway traffic endangering my self and my young grandchildren. Ford is aware of transmission defects and is choosing not to remedy the problem. This is presenting a danger to the driver/passengers of said vehicle and the other drivers on the road.

Transmission went 82,000 miles for Freestar 2004 cost for new transmission $2400 which I paid.

Our 2004 Ford Freestar's transmission locked up while driving and we lost forward acceleration. The vehicle has 100,213 miles on it.