2004 Ford Freestar suspension problems

“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”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE LEVER WAS HEAVY AND BECAME STUCK BEFORE SWITCHING INTO GEAR. SOMETIMES, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND MADE AN ABNORMAL WHINING SOUND. ALSO, THE AXLES MADE A CRUNCHING AND GRINDING SOUND WHENEVER THE VEHICLE MADE A TURN. THE TRANSAXLE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE MECHANIC DID NOT HAVE THE EQUIPMENT TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CBS AXLES NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 270,000. ..*BF CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE TRANSMISSION SHOP AND WAS TOLD THE SUDDEN POWER COULD BE TORQUE CONVERTER BUT NEEDS TO CHECKED. COMMON FAILED TRANSMISSION ERROR.*JB”

“PROBLEM #1 THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT WORK . IT'S CONTROLL MODULE WAS REPLACED IT WORKED ONE TIME AND STOPPED WORKING AGAIN. PROBLEM #2 THE DRIVE AXLE BROKE IN TRAFFIC LUCKILY WE WERE STOPPING AND WERE ONLY GOING ABOUT 5 MPH. PROBLEM #3 TODAY AFTER A NIGHT OF HEAVY RAIN WHEN THE VAN WAS UNLOCKED THE RADIO CAME ON BEFORE THE KEY WAS EVEN IN THE IGNITION. WHICH BRINGS US TO PROBLEM #4 THE BIGGEST AND NO DOUBT MOST EXPENSIVE. THE VAN STARTED AND WAS RUNNING KIND OF SLUGGISH BUT RAN FINE IN REVERSE BUT IF YOU SHIFT TO DRIVE THE VAN SHUTS OFF. YOU CANNOT START IT IN NEUTRAL EITHER. I HAVE HAD 2 INDEPENDENT MECHANICS LOOK AT IT TODAY BOTH SAY IT IS THE TORQUE CONVERTER. I LOOKED IT UP AND THERE IS A RECALL BUT OF COURSE IT'S THE WEEKEND AND I CAN'T CALL TO SEE IF IT'S COVERED.”

“THE FRONT SUBFRAME IS SEVERELY CORRODED. MECHANIC SAYS IT'S UNSAFE TO DRIVE. FORD RECALLED 425,000 1998-2003 FORD WINDSTARS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. IT DOESN'T APPEAR THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED.I DON'T WANT TO WAIT FOR IT TO FAIL BEFORE IT'S REPORTED AND I CAN'T, IN GOOD CONSCIENCE, SELL IT SOMEONE ELSE. IS THERE ANYTHING I DO TO RECTIFY THIS?”

“AS I PROCEEDED TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN,@ A PERMITTIBLE SPEED 25 M.P.H. I COULD HEAR NOISE EMANATING FROM THE RT. FRT. SIDE OF THE VEH. FUEL SYS. FURTHER CK'ING NEEDED. *TR”

“FIRST CRACK IN U SHAPED STEEL CHANNEL NOTICED WHEN I TOOK THIS VAN IN FOR OTHER RECALL REPAIRS AT YUCCA VALLEY FORD . THEY NOTIFIED ME AND I HAD IT WELDED . A FEW MONTHS LATER CRACK WAS BACK HAD IT REWELDED AND GUSSETS ADDED TO RESTRENGTHEN BOTH SIDES. LASTED SIX MONTHS TILL I TOOK TO TIRE SHOP TO HAVE FRONT END ALIGNED AND TWO NEW TIRES PUT ON. LEFT NEXT DAY FOR GIG BROKE ONE MILE FROM HOME JUST PAST THE WELD. THIS VAN HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CALIFORNIA CAR TO MY KNOWLEDGE. NO RUST. SAME REAR AXEL AS WINDSTAR. BAD DESIGN. VAN IS HEAVY LITTLE [XXX] STEEL CHANNEL TO HOLD ALL THAT WEIGHT IS STUPID. COULDN'T BELIEVE IT WAS BUILT THAT WAY. HOW COME NO RECALL FOR SAME AXEL DESIGN ON FREESTAR. PEOPLE APT TO DIE FROM THIS STUPID DESIGN. *TR *TR”