14 of the
1,600 complaints about the 2004 Ford Freestar are about the
doors, latches and locks — 1% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
57,000 miles.
F
14
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
5
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Latch
750.0%
Latches/Locks/Linkages
642.9%
Lock
17.1%
What owners said
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
at 120,000 milesEL Paso, TX
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
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.
NHTSA complaint #10763618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,000 milesRodchester, NY
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HATCH DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN MANUALLY. THE HATCH BUTTON THAT OPENED THE DOOR WOULD ONLY OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. A PRIVATE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR LOCKING DEVICES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS COMPLETED ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
NHTSA complaint #10587396 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lebanon, ME
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
BACKDOOR WON'T UNLOCK AND NOW DOOR WON'T CLOSE OR LOCK.
NHTSA complaint #10535549 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wyandotte, MI
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
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.
NHTSA complaint #10505524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Davenport, IA
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
LETTER FROM SENATOR GRASSLEY ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT PROBLEM WITH THE LOCKING MECHANISM FOR REAR SEAT OF HIS 2004 FORD FREESTAR *TGW THE LOCKING MECHANISM FOR THE REAR SEAT RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE.
NHTSA complaint #10424850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 114,000 milesHawthorn Woods, IL
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE IN A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN A COLLISION OR ROAD HAZARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. LATER, THE REAR CARGO DOOR LATCH BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.
NHTSA complaint #10418161 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 57,000 milesOakdale, NY
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
2004 FORD WINDSTAR INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH DRIVER'S SIDE PASSENGER DOOR AUTOMATIC RETRACTION FEATURE. AUTOMATIC DOOR WILL START TO CLOSE OR OPEN WHEN PASSENGERS ARE ENTERING OR EXITING VEHICLE AND WILL NOT RETRACT. ONCE DOOR OPEN WITH-OUT WARNING WHILE VEHICLE IN MOTION.
NHTSA complaint #10392691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 102,000 milesFT. Meade, MD
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
BOUGHT VAN IN JUNE 2007 NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE. REPLACED BATTERY WITHIN 2 MONTHS OF PURCHASE. REPLACE O2 SENSORS 3 TIMES AND NEED DONE AGAIN. REPLACED TRANSMISSION, RADIATOR, EGR VALVE, BRAKES 4 TIMES, TIE ROD 2 TIMES, CALIBERS 2 TIMES, ROTORS 3 TIMES, FUEL LINE, YOU NAME IT, WE HAVE HAD TO FIX IT. NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. WE HAVE SPENT CLOSE TO 8K SINCE FEB 2008 ON THIS VEHICLE AND WE CAN NOT GET FORD TO HELP US AT ALL. NOW THE AXLES NEED REPLACED AS WELL AS SENSORS AGAIN. THE DVD PLAYER QUIT WORKING AFTER 4 MONTHS, DRIVER SIDE HEATED SEATS QUIT WORKING AFTER 4 MONTHS. BACK PASSENGER DOOR SOMETIMES WON'T OPEN OR UNLOCK AND SOMETIMES IT WON'T CLOSE WHEN YOU TRY TO CLOSE IT. THIS VEHICLE HAS PUT MY FAMILY IN SERIOUS HARM AND WE ALMOST GOT INTO MAJOR ACCIDENT DO TO MOST OF THE ISSUES IE TRANSMISSION STALLED ON INTERSTATE AND HAD NO WARNING AT ALL. WORST VEHICLE OF ALL TIMES. I CAN NOT TRADE IN BECASUE I OWE OVER 11K ON THIS PIECE OF CRAP. FORD NEEDS TO REFUND ME ALL OF MY MONEY AND SUFFERING AS WELL. I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT SUING THEM FOR DAMAGES AND SELLING THIS CRAP TO US ESPECIALLY WITH 3 SMALL CHILDREN AND HAVING TO TRAVEL TO SEE FAMILY DUE TO HUSBAND BEING A MARINE AND ALWAYS BEING DEPLOYED. ALMOST MISSED SEEING MY GRANDPA FOR THE LAST TIME BEFORE HE DID BACK IN SEPT BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION. THIS VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE OFF OF THE ROADS FOREVER. ALL OF THEM. EVERYONE THAT WE KNOW THAT HAS THESE VEHICLES HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS AS US.
NHTSA complaint #10322154 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 52,000 milesMarietta, GA
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MECHANISM FOR THE REAR DOOR HANDLE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DOOR HANDLE CAME OFF IN HER HAND WHEN SHE WAS OPENING THE LATCH. FORD IS NOT REPAIRING THE FAILURE UNDER WARRANTY, ALTHOUGH THE CONTACT SIGNED UP FOR THE MOST EXPENSIVE COVERAGE. SHE FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE HER THREE YEAR OLD CHILD CAN OPEN THE DOOR. THE PARTS HAVE BEEN ON BACK ORDER FOR TWO MONTHS. THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR HAVE JUST ARRIVED AT THE DEALER. THE REPAIR WILL COST BETWEEN $500 TO $1,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.
NHTSA complaint #10227524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 9,000 milesSheldon, MO1 injured
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
IN NOV, 2007 MY 7 YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER STARTED TO EXIT THE BACK PASSENGER VAN DOOR. THE DOOR OPENED AND SHE WAS ABOUT HALF WAY OUT THE DOOR WHEN IT STARTED TO CLOSE ON HER. MY HUSBAND HAD ALREADY GOT OUT OF THE VAN AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE DOOR FROM CLOSING ON HER. IT DID NOT AUTOMATICALLY STOP AND GO BACK ON CONTACT. THEN IN DEC MY SISTER-IN-LAW WAS ALSO STARTING TO EXIT THE VAN FROM THE SAME DOOR AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO HER. THE DOOR OPENED, HESITATED AND THEN STARTED TO CLOSE ON HER. ON APRIL 6, 2008 MY 80+ MOTHER OPENED THE REAR PASSENGER VAN DOOR AND STARTED TO ENTER THE VAN. THE DOOR STARTED CLOSING ON HER. HER LEFT FOOT WAS ALREADY IN THE VAN AND THE DOOR CLOSURE CAUSED HER TO FALL BACKWARDS ONTO THE PAVEMENT. HER LEFT FOOT WAS TANGLED UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT. HER COUSIN WAS ALREADY SEATED ON THE OTHER SIDE AND WAS ABLE TO GET THE DOOR STOPPED BEFORE IT HURT HER LEG ANY WORSE. SHE HAD LANDED ON HER LOWER BACK AND WAS SORE, STIFF AND UNABLE TO SIT COMFORTABLY FOR ABOUT A WEEK. I MADE AN APPT WITH THE LOCAL FORD DEALER TO SEE IF THEY COULD FIND A PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT IN, THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I TOLD THEM IT WAS INTERMITTENT,MOST OF THE TIME IT WORKED. WHEN I PICKED THE VAN UP I HAD THE SERVICE MANAGER WALK OUT WITH ME, AND I SHOWED HIM HOW WE OPENED THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE AND THE DOOR OPENED AND IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO CLOSE. THE SERVICE GROUP WAS TESTING IT BY USING THE BUTTONS ON THE REMOTE. THEY TESTED THE VAN AGAIN AND FOUND CODES OF B2589, B2592 AND B2594 IN THE COMPUTER FOR THE SLIDING DOORS. THEY THEN FOUND THE LATCH AND SENSOR ASSEMBLY WERE STICKING AND SHORTED OUT. THEY TOLD US THEY FOUND THE CODES IN BOTH DOORS, EVEN THOUGH WE HADN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE SLIDING DOOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE ONLY WAY TO "FIX" THE PROBLEM WAS TO REPLACE BOTH SIDES REAR SLIDING DOOR CABLES AND LATCH ASSEMBLIES. THIS IS FOR A 2004 FREESTAR VAN WITH ONLY 10,072 MILES! IT COST US $736.41 TO HAVE THIS FIXED.
NHTSA complaint #10225562 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
OAK Park, MI1 injured
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
2004 FORD FREESTAR WITH NO REAR DOOR SENSORS. CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE REAR SLIDING DOOR SHOULD HAVE SENSORS ON THE REAR OF THE DOOR. *KB THE CONSUMER'S SON WALKED TOWARDS THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. HER SON GRABBED THE BACK EDGE OF THE DOOR, WHICH ULTIMATELY CLOSED ON HIS FINGERS. THE CONSUMER'S SON SUFFERED BRUISED AND SWOLLEN FINGERS.
NHTSA complaint #10206106 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 11,000 milesMechanicsville, VA1 injured
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AN AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR PROBLEM. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND TOLD CONSUMER THAT THE SENSORS FOR THE DOOR WERE OPERATING PROPERLY. HOWEVER, THE PASSENGER INJURED HER SHOULDER AND LOWER ARM BECAUSE THE AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR DID NOT RETRACT WHEN HITTING AN OBJECT.
NHTSA complaint #10107032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Norwalk, CT1 injured
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
THE 2004 FORD FREESTAR MINIVAN HAS TWO SAFETY ISSUES. UNFORTUNATELY, THE FIRST AFFECTED A FAMILY MEMBER. I E-MAILED FORD QUITE SOME TIME AGO AND THERE HAS BEEN NO FOLLOW-UP RESPONSE. THE PASSENGER DOOR LOCK AUTOMATICALLY LOCKS (RETRACTS) ONCE THE VEHICLE BEGINS MOTION AND SUCKED IN A FAMILY MEMBERS SKIN ON THE MIDDLE OF THE LOWER ARM AS THE RIGHT PASSENGER'S ARM RESTED ON THE RIGHT DOOR THAT WAS MADE FOR THE PURPOSE OF SERVING AS AN ARMREST. INSTANTLY MY MOTHER'S ARM WAS BRUISED AND SHE IS NOT A LARGE PERSON...THIS WAS NOT AN ISSUE OF EXTRA BODY MASS. SIMPLY PUT, HER SKIN WAS SUCKED INTO THE LOCK PULL WHEN IT AUTOMATICALLY RETRACTED. IN ADDITION, IF A PASSENGER RESTS HIS/HER ARM ON THIS ARMREST-DESIGNED DOOR WITH FINGERS BETWEEN THE REST AND THE WINDOW WHERE THERE IS A WELL OF SPACE, AND THE DRIVER HAPPENS TO PUT DOWN THE PASSENGER WINDOW, THE PASSENGER'S FINGERS CAN BE SUCKED DOWN WITH THE WINDOW.
NHTSA complaint #10082631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 4,000 milesHerculaneum, MO1 injured
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
THE AUTOMATIC SLIDING SENSOR FAILED. AS A RESULT, A SIX YEAR OLD CHILD WAS CAUGHT BETWEEN THE DOORS. THE CHILD SUSTAINED BRUISES ON BOTH KNEES.
NHTSA complaint #10079434 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.