Rear 3rd row seat latch is completely rusted through making the rear seat completely unsafe and unusable. Could cause serious injuries in a accident if rust goes undetected, vehicle is kept in garages and well maintained. *tr updated 05/31/12
2004 Ford Freestar body complaints
Page 4 of 4: complaints 71 to 94 of 94, newest first, as owners wrote them.
1) we now have transmission failure. The cost to repair equals most of the vehicle's value. 2) driver-side passenger door closes and opens again continually. We get out and do that manually. 3) with foot off accelerator, going down hills, the freestar transmission has "chugged" for a couple of years now, reproduce-able at dealer last year but they could not find cause (we ran out of money letting them study it).... We now know these things are all related. Research online shows other owners have found wet PCM to be promulgating cause for door sensors and the cause for premature failure of transmission due to damage caused by PCM over time. To put PCM below windshield, without proper waterproof housing, this is a design error that causes very, very expensive damage and repairs that will be required again, without PCM being touched. Dealers repair damage (not cause) under warranty, but most of us are now out of warranty. We've only got 74000 very well-cared for miles. Problem is the vehicle is now not drivable; transmission is shot. Ford refuses to make good for us. The schedule recall for the trans axle will be our next repair, but it won't replace the transmission! See: http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.f0fb94a!make=ford&model=freestar&ed_makeindex=.f0fb94a.
Left rear seat no longer latches making it unsafe. The seat no longer latches because latch that was fastened to the left rear wheel well has rusted completely off the wheel well.
Noticed inside carpet was wet on the rear left side, removed the inside rear wheel panel and found the third row seat latch had completely rusted through to the outside of the car allowing water to enter the cab space and now the third row seat is unsafe due to the seat not being able to latch.
When making a right turn with a full load (my wife, 2 kids, my parents and I) a vibration occurred in the left rear wheel well. I couldn't find the problem myself so I took the van to the ford dealer the next day and they diagnosed that there was rusting in the left rear wheel well which caused friction against the tire when turning right with a full load. The service manager at the ford dealer recommended that I do not drive the vehicle and replace the vehicle as it was too dangerous to drive. I was not planning to sell the van for scrap after 5.5 years and I couldn't morally sell a car that I wouldn't feel safe driving with my own family. I took the van to a body shop and they recommended a specialty shop. The specialty shop identified the problem as a panel that was not sealed well which caused premature rusting. They were able to cut out the area and replace that part of the wheel well. I see this as a very serious safety hazard that I hope others don't encounter. If I had not taken care of this problem immediately the tire could have been damaged while turning right with a full load and caused a serious rollover accident. I was not happy with the ford service manager's advice of buying a new car versus helping me fix the problem. I felt it was important to file a safety complaint as the result of this type of premature wear on a vehicle could turn out to be tragic for someone.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford freestar. The contact stated that the vehicle would stall without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and a cover was placed over the computer to keep water from getting entering and damaging the computer but the repair did not correct the failure. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the dealer added sealant to the cover that was protecting the computer. The VIN was not available. The current mileage was 103,000 and the failure mileage was unknown. Updated 03/27/12*lj the consumer stated the computer is located directly under the windshield, allowing water to drip on the computer.
Tl - the contact owns a 2004 ford freestar. The contact stated that the hook that held the rear driver side convertible bench seat in place was completely corroded. The contact mentioned that the damage was so severe that it rusted through the body of the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was no longer under warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 137,000. Kmj
Paint peeling off roof and hood ,looks like they used two different primers.
Upon opening the folding third row seat, the bottom latch failed to engage with the seat. Further inspection showed that the entire latch panel had rusted away from the body of the car and was sitting in the wheel well. There is now a hole in the side of the van and the third row seat is unusable. At 7 years old, this level of rust is very premature.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford freestar. While the vehicle was parked the contact lowered the third row seating to the floor when he noticed the safety latch attached to the rear wheel wells was corroded from the inside out and were fractured. The contact stated the third row seat could not be used because it would be unsafe in the event of a rear end collision. The dealer was made aware of the failure and refused to inspect the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 92,300. Updated 12/20/11*lj updated 01/19/12
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford freestar. The contact stated that water had entered and remained in the rear cargo area. The contact inspected the vehicle and found corrosion in the rear fender well and the third row seat latch. The rear panel was not installed correctly and caused water to penetrate the cargo area. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 105,000. Updated 11/25/11 *bf the consumer stated that it became evident, while troubleshooting, the failure of the rear passenger side vent window motor. The water leaks have been corrected and the structural integrity of the fender and seat latch has been restored. Updated 06/06/12 *js the consumer discovered that was entering the rear of the vehicle in three separate areas. Inside the rear wheel well on the passenger side, in which a re-enforcing plat was improperly installed. Gasp across the top trailing edge allowed water to get in behind the panel. Water was also entering the vehicle along the rear seam where the inner fender attached to the floor pan. The factory installed seam sealer had failed. Water was penetrating through cracks in the rear roof seam located at the outside trailing edge of the roof seam that served as the rain gutter.
Drivers side front door will not close. Exercised all locks open and closed multiple times, but door will not latch closed. Major safety issue.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford freestar. The contact stated that the side panel that held the back seat bracket was corroded. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who verified the failure and stated that the panel needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 97,500 and the current mileage was 98,600.
The part of the frame that holds my front passenger steering and wheel assembly in place has failed. My mechanic said it's the exact same problem that they recalled ford windstar vans for - but since my vehicle is a ford freestar van there's no recall? My van is now undrivable!
Ltr on behalf of concern the safety of her 2004 ford freestar re the rusting of the 3rd row seats anchoring latch system; reply attn kay rash/davenport district office *tgw the consumer was informed it was not cost effective to fix the vehicle.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford freestar. The contact stated while attempting to latch the third row rear seat, the latch failed due to severe corrosion on the floor panel and attachments. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who inspected the vehicle and advised that the vehicle was unsafe to be driven. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure and current mileage was 113,000. Updated 06/01/11*lj updated 1/24/2012 *ln
2004 ford freestar. S10 appropriate handling - letter to the president from consumer re vehicle hazards due to major defects (full document not imaged). *nj the check engine light illuminated. The codes were for a cmp sensor and AC pressure sensor. The power train control module needed to be replaced due to water intrusion. The vehicle would stall while driving on the highway. The consumer stated there were no problems with the vehicle until a water leak occurred. *jb updated *jb 08/26/10 updated 11/10/10*jb the consumer stated after the third repair, the dealership stated they could not adjust the hood latch down enough to prevent water from blowing in from the front of the vehicle. The consumer believed the problem was a safety issue and not a customer satisfaction issue. Updated 07/26/11 updated 08/23/11
The paint on my 2004 ford freestar van is bubbling and peeling off of the roof of the vehicle.
In nov, 2007 my 7 year old granddaughter started to exit the back passenger van door. The door opened and she was about half way out the door when it started to close on her. My husband had already got out of the van and was able to stop the door from closing on her. It did not automatically stop and go back on contact. Then in dec my sister-in-law was also starting to exit the van from the same door and the same thing happened to her. The door opened, hesitated and then started to close on her. On april 6, 2008 my 80+ mother opened the rear passenger van door and started to enter the van. The door started closing on her. Her left foot was already in the van and the door closure caused her to fall backwards onto the pavement. Her left foot was tangled under the passenger seat. Her cousin was already seated on the other side and was able to get the door stopped before it hurt her leg any worse. She had landed on her lower back and was sore, stiff and unable to sit comfortably for about a week. I made an appt with the local ford dealer to see if they could find a problem. The first time I took it in, they could not duplicate the problem. I told them it was intermittent,most of the time it worked. When I picked the van up I had the service manager walk out with me, and I showed him how we opened the door from the outside and the door opened and immediately started to close. The service group was testing it by using the buttons on the remote. They tested the van again and found codes of b2589, b2592 and b2594 in the computer for the sliding doors. They then found the latch and sensor assembly were sticking and shorted out. They told us they found the codes in both doors, even though we hadn't had any problems with the sliding door on the drivers side. The only way to "fix" the problem was to replace both sides rear sliding door cables and latch assemblies. This is for a 2004 freestar van with only 10,072 miles! It cost us $736.41 to have this fixed.
2004 ford freestar, back liftgate. A design flaw allows rainwater or water from a car washing) to seep in, accumulate, and puddle all around the latch mechanism of the back lift gate. This causes it to freeze on icy days which causes difficulty opening or closing the back liftgate. Eventually, the latch mechanism rusts out completely and has to be replaced. This is an obvious design flaw.
Van without warning stopped moving and engine cut off. This is a follow up from our christmas adventure. Got it towed to dealer and after 2 days of "looking into the problem" told me that water leaked in from under dash(it had not rained or snowed for days- roads weren't even wet) and got the computer wet an caused it to malfunction. Sealed leak and $250 later sent us on our way. Fast forward 2weeks and our van is back in the shop again for the same problems. Come on now, enough is enough!!!!! Recall this problem before people get killed!!!!!
We just purchased a 2004 ford freestar. I am 67 and went to get out of the back door and the driver accidentally pushed the button to close the door.it crushed my leg, as there is no way to stop the door. There are no safety switches. Everyone in the car tried to help and the door would not go back. This would have killed a child or my 89 year old mother. There needs to be a recall. My husband has size 14 shoes and when he tried to get out the same door, his knee almost hit the door closing button...and he was watching out for the problem.
The power sliding door, upon opening the door, and depressing the electrical button to close the door it will not stop. It continues to close until you are caught in the door.
Plastic molding along the running boards broke off. As a result, the sliding door malfunctioned, locking occupants inside vehicle.
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