Problems · by component
2004 Ford Freestar engine problems
69 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2004 Ford Freestar cite engine, 6% of all 1,227 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
69
6% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
What owners say about the engine
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I have a 2004 Ford freestar van and I was driving down the road and I went to pass another vehicle and I push the gas and I heard some crunchy noise is and then nothing no power at all no gears nothing I was dead in the water so I had to get out of the van and push it to the side of the road didn't have reverse didn't have drive didn't have third second or first no gears at all the transmission failed me I could have been in a very bad accident and hurt it just came out of nowhere there was no signs of anything wrong with the van and then this happens.”
“Conducía mi vehículo y la trasmisión quedó en neutro en una entrada y no pude estacionarme Y no volvió arrancar Solo coje la reversa I was driving my vehicle and the transmission was neutral in a driveway and I couldn't park And did not start again Just take the reverse”
“The contact owns a 2004 Ford Freestar. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle began to stall. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and drive to his destination. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that the computer needed to be dried off. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The contact stated he had experienced the failure several times. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.”
“TORQUE CONVERTOR DEFECTIVE IN SIMILAR FORD FREESTAR MODELS EDDY'S FORD DEALERSHIP SOLD RECALL VEHICLE AS IS AGAINST STATE & FEDERAL LAWS AND LIED TO DISABLED VETERANS ABOUT REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE TORQUE CONVERTER AFTER DISCOVERY OF RECALL CAUSED PISTON HOLE ENGINE BLOCK AND TRANSMISSION DAMAGE CUTTING OUT NEAR DANGEROUS BRIDGE INTERSECTION.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND STALLED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, AND WAITED A COUPLE OF MINUTES. ONCE RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE RAN FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE MINUTES BEFORE THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.”
“MY 2004 FREESTAR OVERHEATS AFTER 70 MPH. REPLACED THERMOSTAT AND FANS. DOES THIS WITH AC TURNED OFF. I TURN TO HEAT ON TO COOL IT DONE. I DROVE 2100 MILES WITH WINDOWS DOWN. THIS HAPPENS ON THE HIGHWAY AND GOING UP LONG STEEP GRADE.”
Showing 6 of 69 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.