Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford freestar. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH with the cruise control activated, the cruise control failed to disengage. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis where it was advised to the contact that the cruise control switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the problem persisted. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.
2004 Ford Freestar acceleration complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 33 of 33, newest first, as owners wrote them.
While my husband was on his way home from work he came upon a red light. When the light turned green again he attempted to accelerate but the van would not move. He turned the ignition off and then on again and the van still would not move. All of this occurred without any warning, no lights flashing or any kind of unusual sounds. After having it towed to the dealer we purchased the vehicle from we were told that the van had an electrical problem that needed to be handled at the ford dealer. Now what I have been told is that the electronic computer module was the problem and needed to be replaced. This repair cost us $1200 dollars after having the van for just under five months. We are paying close to $13,000 for this van and were not able to drive it safely for at least six months without repair. Someone should protect the consumer a little better than they are. This is devastating for my family considering this is our first vehicle and we are still inexperienced with the was dealers prey on their potential customers, ford should be ashamed of how they treat the people who are the one's who keep them in business. I think people should take a stand to refrain from purchasing ford vehicles until they take consumer safety seriously. There should also be a law which states that any used car dealer disclose recall information to the potential buyer before a contract is entered into. The type of problem that we have could have ended in serious injury or death had this happened on the highway.
Power train:automatic transmission:control module (TCM, PCM) vehicle speed control the PCM shorted out because it got wet through the cover of the hood. This appears to be a relatively wide-spread problem and if not addressed and repaired correctly, it could happen again.
Returning from a 'dump run', I noticed the plastic cover for the 3rd row passenger seat, driver side, had been dislodged and was lying on the floor. I went to reconnect it and I found the latch 'floating'. It was no longer part of the vehicle. I could see out through the wheel well. After further inspection, I saw that the welded plate, that should be part of the van was no longer attached. I haven't looked at the tire for damage, yet. This is a design and manufacturing error, as the latch bracket used to secure the passenger seat in place, needs to be a permanent part of the vehicle. The van isn't too old, and should last many more years/miles and for this piece to come loose, is a safety issue as well as a quality issue. I'm afraid to take it to the local ford dealer for fear of being gouged on the cost to repair, which should be at ford's cost. If this was a pick up truck with exposure to the elements all the time, I could see a rust issue. This vehicle is lightly used and garaged nightly, so it shouldn't happen - ever. The other comments on this page are all similar to my experience with this part. Right now, I'm using a strap to hold the piece in place, stretching to the latch on the passenger side. Comment: this van has had too many quality issues since we purchased it in 2006 - torque converter replaced, driver seat heater replaced, transmission replaced, cruise control switch mech. Replaced, ignition replaced.
Having this problem 4 days in a row, engine quits at any speed loss of steering and brakes, car will speed up without the accelerator being moved, ford said water in the computer could cost 1,000 to 1,500. Checked on my computer found page after page of the same complaint and ford motor company refuses to fix the problem!! Has anybody been killed yet? When is the n.t.s.b going to act.
Last thursday around 3:00pm I was driving 55 MPH in the highway when suddenly I heard a strange whinning noise every time I tried to accelerate the car. After a few seconds, I realized that the car was slowing down in the middle of the highway so I immediately drove all the way to the emergency lane with the momentum that the car had left. The car was not responding to the shifting gears but the engine was running and the signals were working. Later I found out that it was the transmission. But what I thought was strange was that it never gave me a warning. That was a scary experience with fully loaded trucks going over 70mph next to my van, which was shaking with their speed. I thought that was my end.
I purchased this vehicle in 2009. Had it in the shop 3 times in the first year for suspected transmission problems while under dealer warranty. Each time I was told there was no issue and the tranny was strong. Have had issues since the beginning. During a recent trip to the grocery store the transmission seemed to slip out of gear with top speeds reaching 23 MPH. Luckily I was able to make it home. Parked the van. Next morning when I went to start it, it wouldn't even turn over. I put a new battery in it and it ran. Continued transmission problems. I took it back to the ford dealer and was told I needed a new transmission to the tune of $3500. They didn't even inspect it. I was told there was a recall but mine needed more than the torque converter so I would be responsible. This is crazy. Ford needs to fix these vans. I still owe on this vehicle. How am I supposed to continue making payments as well as dump another $3500 into the transmission? What is going to go out next on it?
I was driving on the highway and began to exit when the car alerted to "check traction." it started to make a loud noise, then began to decelerate and no matter if I pressed on the accelerator the car began to slow down until it eventually stopped. I was able to get myself to a safe area before it lost its ability to drive. I had it towed and was told by the auto repair person that it was my transmission.
It started with my driver side window working erratically. Simultaneously, the buttons on my radio quit working, although it randomly kept trying to reprogram "preset 2". Without warning, at 65mph on a busy road, I abruptly lost power and could not maintain speed or accelerate. I also experienced erratic RPM. Currently vehicle will chronically not start due to power failure, even though battery and alternator have been checked and are functioning properly. The sudden and unexpected loss of acceleration and erratic RPM is dangerous. I am unable to drive this vehicle because I fear for my safety.
I was driving down the road and the vehicle dropped out of gear and loss acceleration. It would not go back into gear.
2004 ford freestar RPM's 3000 at idle. Diagnosed as water intrusion in original PCM (powertrain control module) in april of 2011. Water intrusion occurred on replacement PCM as well within 3 months because rain kit per service bulletin ( # tsb-06-14-10) was not installed at the ford dealer. Second incident occurred with the replacement (new) PCM on 9/8/11. On 9/8/11 vehicle stalled out while in traffic. Replacement PCM diagnosed as water intrusion as well by different ford. Second dealer noted rain kit had not been installed by 1st dealer when new PCM was put in. Second dealer installed kit, but vehicle stalled out in traffic once again on 9/17/11. Replacement (new) PCM had been contaminated prior to rain kit installation. Vehicle is now at the ford dealer (that installed tsb rain kit) for 3rd PCM unit. Contact was made with the original dealer that installed the replacement PCM as well as ford warranty department, and as of this date of 9/23/11 neither has accepted responsibility for failure to install the recommended tsb rain kit that caused the replacement (new) PCM failure. We were very fortunate that no one was hurt during the 2 incidents when the vehicle stalled out while in traffic. We will continue to pursue action to make the first ford dealer / ford motor company financially responsible for neglecting to install the rain kit per fords service bulletin upon installation of the first new PCM unit.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford freestar. The contact stated the vehicle suddenly stalled immediately after it stopped. The vehicle was towed to the contacts home. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. There was an open investigation under the federal safety agency action number: pe10033 (vehicle speed control power, train:automatic transmission control module (TCM, PCM)) that may be related to the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 116,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford freestar. The contact stated that while driving uphill approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle became resistant to the contacts attempts to accelerate. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer where they contact was informed that the torque converter would need to be replaced. The torque converter was replaced. Approximately six months later, the failure recurred while the contact was attempting to accelerate from a traffic stop. As the vehicle began to increase in speed to 25 MPH, it then stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to the contacts residence and was not examined for the cause of failure or repaired. The failure mileage was 78,000 and the current mileage was 80,000.
Traveling on interstate 95 with cruise control on at 79mph in heavy traffic as was end of thanksgiving holiday and engine revved and could not control speed-no forward motion when attempting to accelerate. Turned on the hazard lights and coasted to side of road. No warning or lights on dashboard to indicate any trouble just unable to accelerate. Towed and informed that torque converter the issue and may be additional problems-at this time attempting to find parts(new or refurbished).
Engine stalling, electrical problems, traction control system disengages, and cruise control will not engage. All problems are intermittent and occur during or after rain. Problems linked to PCM water intrusion. Today entire electrical system failure.
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford freestar. While driving approximately 70 MPH with the cruise control activated, the engine began to rev excessively high. The contact deactivated the cruise control and depressed the accelerator pedal, but there was no response. The vehicle was coasted to the side of the road. There were no warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. Roadside assistance was called to the scene and the vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer for diagnostic testing. They stated that the transmission intake shaft was cracked. The transmission was replaced. The failure and current mileages were 103,000. Updated 08/04/09 *bf updated 08/05/09.
2004 ford freestar experiencing problems with cruise control that is consistent with the symptoms of ford's "speed control deactivation system" recall. Cruise control intermittently works which is a symptom that LED to fires in ford's recall.
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford freestar. While driving approximately 35 MPH on normal road conditions, the idle speed increased and the vehicle accelerated unexpectedly. Suddenly, the vehicle stalled. The engine restarted and resumed normal operation. In addition, the vehicle failed to operate intermittently when shifted into reverse. The engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel and remained lit until the engine was turned off. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for inspection and they stated that water was leaking from the front windshield, which damaged the computerized system. The vehicle was repaired. On a separate occasion, the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and independent mechanic for identical failures. The vehicle is in the process of being repaired. The failure and current mileages were 58,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford freestar. While driving between 55-60 MPH, the throttle became stuck and the cruise control would not disengage. As a result, the vehicle failed to stop. The contact struck a guard rail, which caused over $5,000 in damages. This is the second time that this failure occurred. The dealer could not find any failures with the vehicle. The current mileage was 58,000 and failure mileage was 26,000. Updated 11/24/08 *cn updated 11/26/08.
Driving with cruise control on in a 2004 ford freestar. Tap brake to release cruise control. Once I was ready to accelerate again, I tried to push the gas pedal. However the gas pedal was all the way to the floor and I had a loss of acceleration power. I could not accelerate and had to pull off the highway. Once the car was inspected, it was found that a plastic clip came off of the gas pedal. Vehicle was taken in for repairs. An entire throttle panel was order to fix the problem.
2004 freestar will not shift out of park and cruise control is hard to disengage. *ts initially this was an intermittent problem but recently it had been more frequent. This problem only occurred during very damp and/or cool weather. The dealer was unable to determine if this was an electrical or brake problem.
Driver was operating a 2004 ford freestar van on 9/20/05. This vehicle is equipped with a transmitter, receiver style cruise control. He was behind a dump truck when suddenly his cruise control activated, which caused sudden acceleration, almost causing him to rear end the truck. The cruise control transmitter was removed from this van several months ago. I feel another motorist activated their cruise control, which activated our company's van cruise control. How many frequency codes did ford use with this dangerous set up for cruise control?
Dt: when the consumer tried to stop the car it accelerated/ kicked in, and the consumer had to take the car out of gear to get it to stop. The consumer had the dealership look at the car 5 times. The dealership said that they could not duplicate the problem, there was no way that they could fix it. This has been ongoing on for about 6 months. The consumer has not contacted ford or the manufacturer. *ak the air bag light had illuminated and ford fixed the problem. On another occasion, while driving in traffic, the consumer applied the brakes but the accelerator kicked in. (this happened on many occasions)
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