116 of the 3,223 complaints filed about the Ford Freestar are about the braking system — 4% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2004.
116
Complaints
4%
Share of all complaints
5
Crashes
1
Fires
SERVICE BRAKES
DRIVING DOWN RD N IT FELT AS IF SOMEONE WAS PUSHING BREAK WHILE I WAS SMASHING GAS PEDAL . LOST ALL FIRE TO CAR WOULDN'T GO NO WHERE. I WAS ON A COUNTRY RD GOING UPHILL. IT SPOTS N SPUTTER N JERKS REAL HARD GOING UP HILL LIKE MY TRANSMISSION GOING BAD BUT MOTOR SOUNDS GOOD SO I HAVE NO CLUE..
NHTSA complaint #11344013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
THEIR IS 5 RECALLS ON MY VAN THAT I PULLED UP ON NHTSA AND THE FORD COMPANY IS SAYING THEIR IS ONLY ONE RECALL AND I'M HAVING SERIOUS ISSUES WITH THIS VAN AND I WAS DRIVING THIS VAN AND IT IS LOSING POWER WHEN DRIVING IT. I NEED UR HELP PLEASE. MY NUMBER IS (XXXXX) PLEASE LEAVE ME A MESSAGE SO I CAN CALL U BANK THANKS REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #11233431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK AND THE RPMS INCREASED TO 3,000. THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE GEAR SHIFTER INTO NEUTRAL AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 131,000.
NHTSA complaint #11113295 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
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.
NHTSA complaint #11084941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
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
NHTSA complaint #11081313 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
AS I WAS DRIVING MY CHILDREN TO THE BUS STOP ON DRY CITY STREET, I STARTED TO APPLY BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT DOWN QUICKLY TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CAR WOULD NOT COME TO A FULL STOP IMMEDIATELY. IT SEEMED LIKE IT FELT LIKE I WAS DRIVING ON AN ICE SHEET, UNABLE TO COME TO A FULL STOP QUICKLY. I HAVE GONE TO THREE PLACES FOR REPAIR. DIAGNOSTIC SCAN CODE B1342. THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIND ABS MODULE.
NHTSA complaint #11053726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000. ...UPDATED 10/11/16 *BF
NHTSA complaint #10891971 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
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
NHTSA complaint #10849857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
ABSLIGHT ON.
NHTSA complaint #10811740 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
I HAD RECEIVED A LETTER OF RECALL OF MY BACK ROW SEAT LATCH DO TO CORROSION. I HAD TAKEN MY VAN IN TO BE REPAIRED THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO ORDER THE PARTS WHICH TOOK 2 WEEKS UPON RETURNING THEY INFORMED ME THEY NEED ANOTHER PART THEY FORGOT TO ORDER SO I WAITED FOR MY CALL BACK AGAIN.. WITHIN 2 MONTHS TIME I RETURNED TO HAVE IT WORKED ON THAT IS WHEN THEY HAD TOLD ME IT HAD BEGUN TO CORRODE N THAT THEY COULDN'T INSTALL THE PARTS I ASKED THEM ABOUT THE SITUATION FURTHER & IF IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE THEY HAD SAID YES & HANDED ME MY KEYS SO UPON LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP I HAD STOPPED FOR FOOD ON MY WAY HOME I SMELT BURNT RUBBER THEN A THUDDING NOISE I HAD PULLED OVER TO CHECK IT OUT LUCKILY I WAS TO CLOSE TO A FAMILY MEMBERS HOUSE A PIECE HAD FALLEN OFF N WAS RUBBING ON MY TIRE MY TIRES HAD ALMOST CAUGHT FIRE WHEN LUCKILY I HAD GOTTEN THE BABY OUT BEFORE ANYTHING HAD HAPPENED THE NEXT DAY A MECHANIC HAD INFORMED ME A HOLE WAS BURNT THREW THE FLOOR WHERE THE WHEEL WELLS WERE N THE TIRES ALMOST CAUGHT FIRE HE SAID HE COULD WELD THE PARTS SO FRENCHIES FORD COULD FIX WHAT THEY HAD TO FIX .. THE NEXT DAY HE INFORMED ME HE HAD LOOKED UP THE PARTS N CAME ACROSS THIS WEBSITE STATING IT HAD BEEN RECALLED I HAD TOLD HIM WHAT HAPPENED & INFORMED ME TO TAKE LEGAL MATTERS DUE TO FAULTY PARTS . PLEASE DON'T ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELTS THE THOUGHT OF MY BABY BEING IN THE BACK SEAT WHILE IT COULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE IS TERRIFYING I WOULDN'T WANT TO HEAR OF IT HAPPENING TO ANOTHER UNDER THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES ESPECIALLY A CHILD . & NOW THAT THERE'S A HOLE IN THE FLOOR I'M UNCERTAIN WHAT TO DO I HAVEN'T DROVE IT SINCE & QUITE HONESTLY I'M AFRAID TO .. P.S IS THIS COVERED? WHOSE @ FAULT? WHAT CAN BE DONE?
NHTSA complaint #10734670 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
I HAVE A BATTERY LIGHT THAT KEEPS COMING ON EVEN AFTER REPLACING THE ALTERNATOR TWICE AND BATTERY TWICE. THE LIGHT STILL KEEPS COMING ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF.THERE I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND EVERYTHING IS FLASHING AND THEN IT STALLS. I HAVE HAD BOTH BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR CHECKED AND THEY ARE FINE. WIRING HAS BEEN CHECKED AND NOTHING SEEMS TO WORK. ALSO I HAVE REPLACED THE BREAKS ON THE CAR TWICE AND I STILL GET A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHEN I GO TO STOP. FORD NEEDS TO FIX THESE VEHICLES. I HAVE READ IN MANY FORUMS THAT PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIRS AND AFTER SPENDING A BUNCH OF MONEY TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM IT STILL IS NOT FIXED. I NEED MY VEHICLE TO RUN RIGHT WITHOUT HAVING TO DUMP MONEY INTO IT ALL THE TIME AND I KEEP UP WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE BUT THIS IS ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT AND THIS IS RIDICULOUS!
NHTSA complaint #10701818 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A COUNTRY ROAD AND HAD JUST DROPPED MY KIDS OFF THANK GOODNESS. NOTHING SEEMED TO BE WRONG WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE REVVED HIGH. I WAS TRY'N TO LOOK TO SEE WHAT WAS GO'N ON WHEN I WRECKED INTO THE DITCH ABOUT 60MPH. OUT OF NOWHERE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WAS STUCK N A DITCH AND NO ONE TO HELP.
NHTSA complaint #10631724 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
VEHICLE CONTROL CENTER STATES ABS IS NOT FUNCTIONING. TRACTION CONTROL NOT FUNCTIONING. CRUISE CONTROL WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. ALARM SYSTEM TRIGGERS INTERMITTENTLY. ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL FAILURE CAUSES VEHICLE TO BE DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. DEALERSHIP STATES IS COMMON ISSUE AND THERE IS A TSB ON THE ISSUE. REQUIRES ABS MODULE AND HCU MODULE.
NHTSA complaint #10629850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
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.
NHTSA complaint #10617160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT HUB, ROTORS, AND WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
NHTSA complaint #10595728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
SOME TIMES WHILE BACKING UP THE CAR WOULD LURCH. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WOULD SUDDENLY ACCELERATE WHILE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED OREVEN JUST BY IT SELF. SOMETIMES THE CAR WAS HAVING PROBLEMS ACCELERATING FROM A STOP.
NHTSA complaint #10587890 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP AT ELKHORN/WATT. I WAS HIT BY THE BACK WITH A FORD FREESTAR VAN, 1 ADULT DRIVING WITH 2 KIDS IN THE BACK. I GOT OUT OF MY CAR WALKED HALF TO THE BACK AND TOLD HIM TO PULL OVER AT MCDONALD'S. WE WAVED AND SHAKE HIS HEAD. I WOULD ASSUME HE WAS GOING TO PULL OVER. GREEN LIGHT HIT, CARS STARTED TO MOVE AND I TURNED ON MY BLINKER AND GO OVER TO THE MIDDLE LANE. FORD VAN DRIVER KEPT DRIVING, I NOTICED HE WASN'T GETTING OVER SO I GOT BACK INTO THE FAST LANE AND FOLLOWED HIM. FORD VAN AT THAT POINT RAN A RED LIGHT, I WAITED UNTIL LIGHT TURNED GREEN WHICH WAS A SECOND LATER. DROVE THRU RESIDENTIAL AREA, BLOWING OFF STOP SIGNS. (X4). I WAS HONKING MY HORN TO GET HIS ATTENTION AND WAVING HIM DOWN TO PULL OVER. NO RESPONSE. FORD VAN DROVE ALL THE WAY HOME. I PARKED RIGHT BEHIND HIM IN A DRIVE WAY, SO HE COULD GET OUT. WHEN I GOT OUT OF MY CAR, HE WAS YELLING AT THE KIDS TO RUN INSIDE. I WALKED UP TO HIM AT THE POINT AND SAID YOU HIT ME AND I ASKED YOU TO STOP AT THE MCDONALD'S AND YOU KEPT DRIVING. HE KEPT YELLING AT ME SAYING HE DIDN'T HIT ME THAT HE HAD TO SLAM ON HIS BRAKES. WOULDN'T GIVE ME INSURANCE CARD CAUSE HE SAID THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO REPORT. I TOLD HIM THAT WAS NOT THE POINT, HE RAN FROM AN ACCIDENT WITH KIDS IN THE CAR. HE WOULDN'T GIVE ME HIS INS CARD UNTIL I TOLD HIM I WAS CALLING THE POLICE. MY CONCERNS: RAN FROM THE ACCIDENT RAN THRU A RED LIGHT / STOP SIGNS (WITH KIDS IN CAR) NOT SURE IF HE HAS CURRENT DRIVER LICENSES. INSURANCE CARD SHOWS EXPIRED DID HE GET CONFUSED ON BRAKE/GAS? IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO? I DRIVE THAT STREET EVERYDAY, I DON'T KNOW IF HE SHOULD BE DRIVING. I DON'T KNOW HIS AGE 80? I JUST KNOW I WOULDN'T WANT HIM DRIVING BEHIND ME AGAIN. I KNOW THE KIDS FELT THE HIT. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10576756 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FRONT WHEELS WOULD EXHIBIT A LOUD, ABNORMAL NOISE. THE NOISE WAS MOST PROMINENT WHEN THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ROTORS AND HUB ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
NHTSA complaint #10548156 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING THE DRIVEWAY AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE ODOMETER FAILED TO TRACK SPEED AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE SPEED SENSOR AND BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.
NHTSA complaint #10534471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 MILES AND HOUR WHEN I TURNED AND WENT UP A SLIGHT INCLINE...ENGINE SPUTTERED A BIT THEN I TURNED INTO PARKING LOT, HEARD A LOUD NOISE LIKE ENGINE REVVING UP AND THEN IT JUST DIED. LOST ALL CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND LUCKILY COASTED TO A SPOT WHERE NO CARS WERE. I LET IT SIT FOR A MOMENT, STARTED BACK UP AND IT WAS REVVING UP AGAIN AND RPM'S WERE GOING UP DRASTICALLY. TRIED TO PUT IN REVERSE AND IT WOULD NOT GO, SHIFTED TO PARK AGAIN AND IT REVVED BACK UP. TURNED OFF LET SIT AGAIN...THEN STARTED, WAS ABLE TO REVERSE BUT WITH LOUD NOISE AND REVVING OF RPM'S. DRIVE A SMALL AMOUNT AND IT DIED AGAIN AND WOULD NOT START BACK. HAD PCM REPLACED ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO. NOT SURE OF PROBLEM. STILL WAITING TO GET IT TOWED.
NHTSA complaint #10531673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.