Problems · by component
2004 Ford Freestar electrical system problems
118 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2004 Ford Freestar cite electrical system, 10% of all 1,227 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
118
10% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
What owners say about the electrical system
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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 saying it's not working.The electrical is messing up the doors are opening up when they are not supposed to going down road.It tells me that different doors are open when there not keeping the lights on in the van running down the battery.”
“I READ THE RECALLS FOR 2004 FORD FREE STAR TRANSMISSIONS AND MY VAN WITHOUT WARNING JUST QUIT WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I COULD GET IT TO START BACK UP FOR A SECOND TO MOVE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT IT WOULDN'T START AFTER THAT.”
“PCM HAS ISSUES DO TO MOISTURE WHICH AFFECTS ELECTRICAL SLIPPING GEARS ABS SENSOR PROBLEM POWER STEERING ISSUES AND TCM AND THIS VEHICLE HAS ALL SAFETY PROBLEMS ACCORDING TO RECALLS NONE OF IT WAS FIXED BECAUSE FORD SAYS YOUR VIN NUMBER IS NOT ON LIST.”
“2004 FORD FREESTAR NOW.MILES 59000 PROBLEMS STARTED AROUND 45.000 MILES STARTED IN 2007 WITH BATTERY DEAD IF CAR STAT A MONTH STARTTED IN 2008 RIGHT AND LEFT LOW AND HIGH BEAM. HEAD LAMP CONNECTOR KEEP MELTING/ BURNING UP THE GROUND WIRE TRANSMISSION MAKING CLICKING NOISE IN FORWARD AND REVERSE TRANSMISSION FLUID IS DARK BROWN DOOR LOCK DONT ALWAYS UNLOCK OR LOCK ON SIDE DOOR LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE WING WINDOWS IN BACK OPEN. BUT DONT CLOSE ON LEFT AND RIGHT PROBLEMS ALL HAPPEN. IF STSTIONARY OR IN MOTION CITY STREET OR HIGHWAY I HAVE. TAKE PICKS LATER .NOT BY THE CAR AT THE MOMENT .”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CONTROL ARM WAS PROTRUDING THROUGH THE FRAME AND CREATED A HOLE. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 212,000. *BF CONSUMER STATED TRANSMISSION JUST STARTED TO SLIP AND MAKES A THUD SOMETIMES SLIPS BAD. CONSUMER HAS CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION OIL AND FILTERS.*JB”
“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.”
Showing 6 of 118 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.