2004 Ford Freestar: water leaks into the cabin

Filed Mar 15, 2019 · Transmission · 157,000 miles · ID

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford freestar. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle lost acceleration and did not move. Also, the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that water entered the transmission. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact also mentioned that the vehicle was repaired 45 days earlier by the same independent mechanic for coolant leaking into the transmission. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 157,000.

Filed May 4, 2017 · Body, Seats · IN

Im having many issues with my vehicle. The worst one is the passive security system that has stranded me in many areas because it refuses to start. I have tried many things including replacing transponder keys and the transceiver but I still am getting the flashing red security light. Im scared to drive this thing in the winter due to the possibility of getting stranded in cold temperatures. Also this vehicle lets water leak in everywhere causing severe rust and mold issues. One of the floor supports of the drivers seat is close to being rusted through and the other ones are on their way out. The body is severely rusted and im not sure how much longer this thing will be safe to drive.

Filed Jul 29, 2014 · Brakes, Electrical · 78,000 miles · PA

I was traveling on a busy road last sunday. My van completely shut down with no warning. I had no power steering or power brakes and was almost rear-ended. Thank god I managed to get to the side of the road. I started it again and it happened again three more times. I had it towed to jim's auto service and they think it could be related to water leakage onto the computer. I called ford to ask about this and they said that they knew nothing about this but I found information about this problem all over the internet. I asked them how could my mechanic know about this and they didn't?! They told me to take it to a ford dealership. I am 60 years old and babysit my grandchildren full time and I am afraid to drive them in this vehicle! I also do not have the money for major repairs. I hung up with ford feeling frustrated since this could have been a fatal situation if I had been on the highway with my granddaughter.

Filed Aug 18, 2013 · Engine, Fuel system · 52,490 miles · NJ

Van started running poorly suddenly, then would not run at all. After shutting down and allowing cool down time, restarted van and it would not go into gear. Ran well in park or neutral, but shifting into any gear would "clunk" and the engine would immediately quit. After 5 days of troubleshooting, traced trouble to engine PCM after reading in on-line forums about it. Found PCM wet and pins on PCM and contacts on wire harness corroded and green due to water leaking past cowl-to-body seal. The PCM connector is not sealed, so if water does drip on it, it is dripping directly onto back side of the contacts and ford did release a tsb about this issue but not a recall. Tsb says to remove some plugs from body (my van is severely rusted in one of those 2 spots), seal around clips that hold plastic cowl to body with silicone sealant and add additional weather stripping on the outer edges of cowl to try to prevent water. I had to replace my PCM. Had my wife been on the highway when this happened, there would have most certainly been an accident or injury.

Filed Apr 21, 2013 · Electrical · 166,000 miles · MI

As I see this is a very common problem with all model year freestar vans. Water leaks onto the PCM and shorts out then your van won't run or if it does not very well. Mine won't start and gives all kinds of random mil codes. Was diagnosed with water in PCM. Plain and simple ford needs to issue a recall for this because all the vans have it or will get it.

Filed Apr 3, 2013 · Body, Electrical · MI

The latch on the rear of the van has rusted closed on three separate occassions. It is presently rusted shut and the back hatch doesnt open as a result. There is a recall on the third row seat due to water leakage from the rear tire well. This has to be related as the carpet throughout the van gets wet. Even the front drivers seat where it attaches to the floor is soaked, posibly leaking from front tire well.and all the way down the interior of the car to the third row. There is also a short in the dash lights due to water leaking into the dash area. The car radio stays on when it feel like it and you have to hit the drivers window button for the radio to shut off otherwise it drains the battery and the car will not start. The car was at the electrical shop a year ago and could not find the problem.

Filed Jan 9, 2013 · Transmission · 150,000 miles · KY

I had my van in park while I dropped my kids off to the sitter..came back out the van had died..I tried to start and it would not even turn. Though maybe battery..put a knew one in and still nothing. Had to have towed to a shop and they said it was the PCM where it was corroded due to water leaking in. A total of a little over $1200 for part and labor. Very lucky I was parked and not driving at the time when the vehicle died. This part needs to be recalled. There is a flaw in the design that is allowing water to get into the PCM and causing it to go bad. There have been numerous complaints about the same part with other owners.

Filed Oct 15, 2012 · Body, Seats · 153,850 miles · IN

The left rear seat anchor has detached from the body due to excessive rust in the rear quarter panel by the left rear wheel well. The third seat is no longer usable and there is a hole through the body that lets air and water into the passenger compartment. The right side wheel well area shows rust as well but the seat anchor has not yet detached from the quarter panel. Two ford dealers have said they are not aware of this problem occurring and do not know if it can be fixed. My concern is safety while driving the vehicle, noise and water entering the passenger compartment, and the loss of use of the third seat. This vehicle is too young and useful to be scrapped.

Filed Jul 13, 2012 · Electrical, Engine · 81,000 miles · MI

Had powertrain symptoms related to ford tsb 06-14-10, for engine/transmission driveablity. Had vehicle towed because I had no reverse & forward engagement, and high idle in neutral. Ford dealer, fixed transaxle per safety recall 11s25, and tsb 06-14-10, for water entering the PCM. Dealer returned our vehicle on july 10th, everything appeared okay. One july 11th, the van began have shift issues, and then stall going down the road at 20-25mph. If the PCM is damaged from water, then why don't they require replacement in the tsb. This is a serious safety issued, especially at 70mph on a freeway. This tsb should be reconsidered as a safety recall. How many people should be injured or killed due to this condition? One is to many!

Filed Jan 11, 2012 · Transmission · 151,000 miles · KY

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford freestar. The contact was driving approximately 45 MPH when the vehicle began to jerk violently with the illumination of the battery and engine warning indicators. The engine suddenly staled and restarted with the continuous illumination of the engine warning indicator. The similar failure recurred and the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who stated the power train control module would need to be replaced as a result to water leakage. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 151,000. The VIN was unavailable.

Filed Nov 2, 2011 · Body, Visibility · 105,000 miles · OH

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.

Filed Jun 25, 2011 · Electrical · 46,800 miles · MA

My 2004 ford freestar engine light and other lights came on, and the minivan started to stall, each time I would have to restart and drive with hazards on trying to get home, it became dangerous and had to take my chance and pull off the road into a business driveway, and leave the van. The brakes would not work, they stiffened up as did the steering wheel. I was lucky I wasn't in an accident as it started out of the blue. It had been sitting in my driveway for two days and the weather had been rainy for those two days, and I think it was caused due to some water leakage into the transmission area. I had a similar issue a few years ago and took it to the ford dealer where I bought the van and they said it was a water getting into the system and they fixed the problem at the time. Now I am being told that I have to have it put onto a machine and pay 85 dollars to have it checked out. I know this is an issue with these minivans and I don't feel I should have to fork out a lot of money to get it fixed when it is a problem with the model, and ford should do something about it. It is a safety issue and one day someone will get hurt or worse from this. Someone needs to issue a recall so that these concerns are dealt with!!!