NHTSA lists 1,227 complaints for the 2004 Ford Freestar, 16 of them mention a crash and 14 mention a fire. 17 complaints mention an injury, with 21 injuries and 1 deaths reported.
Data build 2026-10-08.
NHTSA lists this vehicle as FORD FREESTAR.
Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.
Recalls
See new recalls and investigations this week.
4 recalls.
Date: 2013-03-07. Systems: SEATS.
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, Rho (excerpt)
Consequence: In the event that the vehicle is crashed into from the rear, an unlatched seat may increase the risk of personal injury. (excerpt)
Remedy: 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. (excerpt)
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Date: 2012-01-09. Systems: POWER TRAIN.
Defect: FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AND 2005 FORD FREESTAR AND MERCURY MONTEREY VEHICLES. THE TORQUE CONVERTER OUTPUT SHAFT MAY FAIL.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION RESULTS IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER WITH NO WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: 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.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Date: 2004-09-13. Systems: WHEELS.
Defect: CERTAIN MINIVANS MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITH FRONT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES THAT WERE NOT HEAT TREATED CORRECTLY. THIS CONDITION MAY LEAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL CRACKS IN THE HUB.
Consequence: IF THE CRACKS WERE TO PROGRESS, THIS COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN WHEEL SEPARATION. WHEEL SEPARATION MAY LEAD TO LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, AND POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT HUB, ROTORS, AND WHEEL BEARINGS. THE RECALL BEGAN SEPTEMBER 20, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Date: 2003-11-06. Systems: STEERING.
Defect: ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, THE POWER STEERING LOW-PRESSURE LINE MAY NOT BE FULLY SEATED AT THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR.
Consequence: IF THIS LINE BECOMES DISCONNECTED, IT MAY CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR FLUID TO COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, WHICH COULD RESULT IN SMOKE OR FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE POWER STEERING LOW-PRESSURE LINE TO ENSURE THAT IT IS SEATED PROPERLY AT THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 10, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Investigations
8 investigations; 0 open.
EQ12010
Opened: 2012-09-28. Closed: 2012-12-31.
Stabilus Rear Liftgate Struts Failing
Please see the attached closing resume summary.It has been attached to this document as a PDF.
Systems: STRUCTURE.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
EA12003
Opened: 2012-04-23. Closed: 2013-05-02.
Corrosion of Third-Row Seat Attachment
Ford is conducting a safety recall to repair the third-row seat's latch mechanisms in approximately 196,667 model year (MY) 2004 through 2007 Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey vehicles (see NHTSA recall 13V-081 for more details).The recall covers vehicles originally sold, or currently registered, in the salt belt states or high corrosion areas of the United States: Connecticut, Delaware, the Dist
Systems: SEATS, STRUCTURE.
Linked campaign numbers: 13V081000.
PE11039
Opened: 2011-12-21. Closed: 2012-04-27.
Corrosion of Third-Row Seat Attachment
ODI has received 18 complaints on the subject vehicles from the salt belt states that allege severe corrosion at the rear wheel wells.Additionally, ODI identified 4 similar reports from Ford's response to the investigation.Ford submitted a total of 10 reports to ODI (6 of 10 Ford reports are duplicates of ODI reports).The complaints indicated difficulty or inability to latch the rear seat as some
Systems: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, SEATS, STRUCTURE.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
PE11033
Opened: 2011-09-13. Closed: 2012-12-07.
Service Jack Failure
The subject vehicles (SV) are all automatic transmission, front wheel drive vehicles with hand actuated mechanical park brakes. The investigation focused on allegations that the service jack failed and caused the vehicles to fall. The subject scissors-type jack appears to fail at the slotted hinge joints where the jack screw is located (bends at mid-point). The failures occur while the jack is in
Systems: EQUIPMENT.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
PE10033
Opened: 2010-08-23. Closed: 2011-07-15.
Engine Stalling
The subject vehicles suffered from a design issue whereby water could run down onto the cowling under the hood and located in the area of the windshield wipers and then drip onto a computer module, the Powertrain Control Module (PCM), which could be manifested in a variety of symptoms depending on which part of the circuit board became wet or which of the connector pins shorted out.In addition to
Systems: POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
EA09016
Opened: 2009-11-10. Closed: 2012-02-02.
Transmission Torque Converter Failure
On January 4, 2012 Ford Motor Company submitted a Defect Information Report (NHTSA Recall No. 12V-006) to NHTSA regarding a defect in the performance of the transmission torque converter for approximately 205,896 Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey vehicles.The supplier of the torque converter manufactured converters containing a pump shaft spline that did not consistently meet the specified heat t
Systems: POWER TRAIN.
Linked campaign numbers: 12V006000.
PE09033
Opened: 2009-07-15. Closed: 2009-11-17.
TORQUE CONVERTER OUTPUT SHAFT FAILURE
ODI HAS RECEIVED 227 OWNER COMPLAINTS ALLEGING A SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER DUE TO AN INTERNAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.OF THOSE COMPLAINTS, 124 CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE TORQUE CONVERTER OUTPUT SHAFT SPLINES STRIPPING CAUSING A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER TO THE DRIVETRAIN.THE REMAINING 103 COMPLAINTS EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER BUT THE SPECIFIC INTERNAL FAILURE
Systems: POWER TRAIN.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
DP09004
Opened: 2009-06-04. Closed: 2010-09-07.
Engine stalling
On May 6, 2009, NHTSA received a request for a hearing through Title 49 of the United States Code, Chapter 301, Motor Vehicle Safety, Part 557. the request was in reference to vehicle owner complaint, 10266067, filed with NHTSA on April 20, 2009, which described a problem with engine stall in a model year (MY) 2004 Ford Freestar minivan due to water entering the PCM.Part 557 of Title 49 of the Cod
Systems: POWER TRAIN.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
Manufacturer communications
64 manufacturer communications.
Communications by system| System | Count |
|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 16 |
|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 7 |
|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 6 |
|---|
| SEATS | 6 |
|---|
| VISIBILITY | 6 |
|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 4 |
|---|
| EQUIPMENT | 4 |
|---|
| STEERING | 3 |
|---|
10109070
Date: 2016-09-21. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
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
10183770
Date: 2016-04-21. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SEATS.
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
10205034
Date: 2016-04-21. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SEATS.
Safety recall 13S01 - Corrosion on sheet metal that supports 3rd row seat latch strikeers - requests for recall service action
10058103
Date: 2014-09-09. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT, EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY, SEATS.
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
10056468
Date: 2014-08-11. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY, SEATS.
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
10019067
Date: 2006-01-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.
REAR CLIMATE CONTROL NOISES - SERVICE TIP. *TT
10018071
Date: 2005-09-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: AIR BAGS.
RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE B2296 - SERVICE TIP. *TT
10014138
Date: 2005-06-07. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SEAT BELTS.
SAFETY BELT RETRACTION SPEED. *TT
10017923
Date: 2005-06-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
SERVICE WIRING HARNESS REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES - SERVICE TIPS. *TT
10014704
Date: 2005-03-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STEERING.
STEERING WHEEL. *EH