Problems · by component

2004 Ford Freestar engine and engine cooling problems

49 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2004 Ford Freestar cite engine and engine cooling, 4% of all 1,227 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
49
4% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BACK SEAT NEAR THE REAR WHEEL WELL BECAME DETACHED AND THE CONTACT SMELLED AN EXHAUST ODOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V081000 (SEATS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 168,867.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 25, 2018Engine and engine cooling, SeatsODI 11142642
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING WOULD NOT COOL THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER ADDED FREON, BUT IT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE COMPRESSOR WAS OPERATING PROPERLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING DID NOT SEEM TO TRULY START WORKING UNTIL THE VEHICLE SPEED WAS AT 40 MPH AND ABOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED.THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 14, 2013Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemODI 10519764
“WHEN THE VEHICLE IS WET THE SYSTEM SEEMS TO SHORT CIRCUIT ITSELF. IT CAUSES IT TO SHIMMY AND SHAKE AND IT WONT ACCELERATE. WE NOTICED IT SEVERAL TIMES AND TOOK IT IN WHERE WE WERE TOLD IT WAS THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR BUT AFTER HAVING IT REPLACED TWICE IT IS STILL HAVING THE ISSUE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS CONTIGUOUSLY ON AND IT BLINKS ERRATICALLY WHEN EVER ANY WATER IS PRESENT. I'VE BEEN TOLD THE SENSOR CAN GO FAULTY DO TO A COIL ISSUE ALLOWING WATER TO LEAK ON THINGS IT SHOULDN'T. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 19, 2013Engine and engine coolingODI 10499251
“THE CAR WAS DRIVING FINE ALL OF A SUDDEN THE FREESTAR LOST POWER, I WAS DOING T MOST 40 MPH BECAUSE IT WAS DURING RUSH HOUR ON THE I15 HWY BY HESPERIA EVERYTHING WAS FINE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR LOST POWER AND BEGAN TO FEEL LIKE IT WAS LOOSING POWER AND THEN I SAW IT GO FROM FORTY TO SLOWER MPG AND I HAD MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AS SOON AS I COULD AND THERE WAS SMOKE AND THEN THERE WAS FIRE MY 1CAR WAS BURNT A TOTAL LOSS MY DAUGHTER AND I BARELY ESCAPED WITH OUR LIVES MINUTES BEFORE THE VAN EXPLODED SOMEONE HAD PUT US IN HER CAR AND DROVE US FORWARD SAVING OUR LIVES WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED I WALKED BACK TO MY CAR AND THE FIRE HAD EXPANDED FAR PAST WHERE ME AND MY DAUGHTER WERE STANDING. MY DAUGHTER IS STILL TRAUMATIZED BY THE EXPERIENCE AND SO AM I. WE WOULD OF BEEN SEVERELY BURNT OR DIED WHEN THE CAR EXPLODED AND EVERYTHING CAUGHT ON FIRE PAST THE SPOT MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE STANDING THE FIREMEN COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT THE FIRE HAD BEEN SO EXTENSIVE. WE LOST EVERYTHING MY DAUGHTER LOVED, ALL HER MOST PRECIOUS MATERIAL THINGS WE WENT FROM DRIVING ON A HAPPY TRIP TO THE REALIZATION WE COULD OF DIED BY THE FIRE. IF THE…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 27, 2012Engine and engine coolingFire reportedODI 10482413
“MANY ISSUES WITH THE VAN & THEY CONTINUE. PURCHASED FROM 1 PREVIOUS OWNER, JAN '09 AROUND 60K MAY 2010, 74K MILES- REPLACED SPARK PLUGS & WIRES, FUEL SYSTEM CLEANER: ROUGH IDLE $432.23 DEC 2010, 83K MILES - REPLACED FRONT AXLE & SWAY BAR LINKS: $822.89 APRIL 2011, ? MILES, - REPLACED PLUGS & WIRES, COIL PACK: ROUGH IDLE $700.85 JAN 2012, 100K MILES - REPLACED PVC EVAP HOSE, R&R FUEL FILTER, FUEL INJECTOR CLEANER: ROUGH IDLE $228.40 AUG 15 2012, 106K MILES - RECALL, TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACED: COSTING ME $162.14 TO REPLACE SEALS & TRANSMISSION FILTER AUG 16 2012, 106K MILES - REPLACED EGR VALVE: ROUGH IDLE & ENGINE LIGHT ON AFTER RECALL FIX $135.95 (DEALERSHIP WAS KIND ENOUGH TO ONLY CHARGE FOR LABOR) AUG 31, 2012, 107K MILES - ENGINE IS STILL RUNNING ROUGH, PIERCING NOISE WHILE DRIVING, SOMETIMES IT GOES AWAY WHEN I AM TURNING. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 31, 2012Suspension, Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline, Power trainODI 10473157
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY COAST TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED HOME BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED IN ADDITION TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER, NOR HAD IT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 90,000. UPDATED 04/27/12*LJ THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, THE TRANSMISSION COULD NOT BE LOOKED AT, UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 04/27/12”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 5, 2012Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10454257

Showing 6 of 49 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.