2004 Ford Freestar: misfire or rough idle

Filed Jan 17, 2018 · Electrical, Engine · 85,000 miles · GA

My van has a problem with water, that is when it rains the vehicle starts having problems with several components. (ie engine misfire, transmission fails to shift properly, door looks refuse to operate properly, among other weird things) this happens every time it rains. The problem as I have being able to trace it, is that the water that comes off the front windshield and into the plastic that covers the cowl area ( where the wipers are) drips on to the main electric wire harness connection that comes from the inside of the car and connects to the engine bay wire harness. As the wire harness connector gets wet, the vehicle starts acting up. I took the van to my mechanic but he was unable to find a problem, it was dry. I took the vehicle to a ford dealer and, to my surprise, they knew about the problem but told me I had to pay the repair because its covered on a technical service bulletin (tsb 06-14-10) but its not a recall. How can this not be a recall when the van is going along well and as soon as it starts raining, I start having drive ability issues, transmissions starts acting up, engine starts acting up, some times stalls, in general I have a vehicle that appears to be "allergic to water." this issue happens any time it stars raining heavily whether on the highway or city street or my driveway for that matter, if its raining I have to take my wife's car because if not I know will have to be dealing with an uncooperative vehicle. Ps. I put a date on the "when did this happen" field but this is an ongoing issue.

Filed Oct 4, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 95,000 miles · AL

After a rain van stalled in the middle of heavy traffic and would not restart.after several hours van would not start.I had van towed to a repair shop, PCM was replaced.@present headlights not working properly,air conditioning,horn,seat belt chimes not working at all.local dealership unable to repair.van continues to run rough.

Filed Aug 5, 2013 · Transmission · IN

In september 2012 I took my 2004 free star into ford dealership to have the torque converter replaced due to a recall. Now I get a transmission chatter. I took it once again into the dealership for a recall on the 3rd row seat and asked them after completing the recall if they would check out the chatter. They at first told me it was a misfire...that possibly the plugs and/or wires needed replaced. I obtained a cost for that and then asked them to complete the job. They called me back in an hour or so and told me that my problem was a much bigger problem. They said my transmission had water in it. My husband checked the fluid and yes it has a milky appearance. The dealership is the only ones who have removed my transmission when they done the torque converter recall the previous fall. Now I learn that there is some sort of seal in which water can seep into the transmission. What's up with that and why hasn't there been a recall on this seal.

Filed Apr 29, 2013 · Electrical · 187,000 miles · NJ

While driving to take my husband to work in the rain my wipers began to slowly lose power and slow down, then my radio shut off, my head lights began to turn off then off then they loss power, finally my dashboard began to have the oil light and ABS light and emergency brake light come on, then the battery light turned on I took it to a mechanic and they said it something electric and maybe the PCM I contacted ford and they said they have no recall for that and can't help me unless I want to pay out of pocket. My mechanic also said they have seen many other ford freestars with this problem as the van was made that the PCM is locatedwhere water comes in with rain and ruins them. We are afraid that an electric problem may cause a misfire and even a fire to the vehicle.this is my only vehicle I have and strongly depend on it since I am 6.5 months pregnant and have a 2 year old and am afraid of being stranded somewhere with him. Had I known that this car was so unreliable and irresponsible for their mistakes and un willing to help, I would of purchased a foreign car with better warranty and quality as well as better service.

Filed Feb 24, 2013 · Body, Electrical · 154,000 miles · KS

2004 ford freestar ses I changed the rear brakes on 1/20/2013 noticed the left rear wheel was rusting out. Today 2/24/2013 went to install a car sear & noticed the bench seat in the back was rocking slightly. The anchor point on the left rear is rusted out and moving. Upon inspection I noticed that I can see down to the ground where the anchor point has rusted out. I have had to replace numerous parts on this van over the last two years. To date I have replaced: 3 ignition coils, (this is the main problem whenever heavy rain or snow has happened and I start to throw misfire codes), 3 camshaft position sensors, 2 driver side window controls & motors, (the window doesn't want to work half the time so we leave it cracked open with the rain guards), an egr valve, and a clockspring. I have never had so many problems with this vehicle in such a short amount of time.

Filed Sep 21, 2012 · Electrical, Engine · 165,000 miles · MD

At 147000 miles, I needed a complete transmission rebuild. This cost me $2800 due to the fact that there were additional parts not common to a standard rebuild. This was sept. 2011. In january, I am able to note online that there is a torque converter recall for this model. I call ford, I'm told there is nothing they can do until the recall is officially released in the 2nd quarter. Wait until 2nd quarter, no notice in the mail. I call ford in august and tell them this, I am told that ford will fix the car, it will take approx. 4 days and that no rental car is available during this period. If I suffer a total loss, maybe. Basically, I have to be stranded on the side of the road with my two young children before I can get any help with their issue. After rebuild, I start having issues with cylinder 3 misfire. I replace all plugs and wires, still a cylinder 3 misfire as well as overheating and egr valve. Replace egr valve, complete radiator change, coil pack, still issues with misfiring and overheating. I understand that this could be a computer issue, however ford fails to realize this and therefore will not issue a recall. Not that would help since if they took it into the shop to fix it, I would not be able to get to work in the interim.

Filed Aug 31, 2012 · Engine, Fuel system · 74,212 miles · WV

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.

Filed Sep 27, 2011 · Transmission · 80,000 miles · FL

Engine misfires, will not go into gear, nor move, sometimes driveing down the road engine will shut off, ford dealer told us the transmission was bad, I took van to another repair shop, they found water in the PCM, replaced PCM, cost 1300 dollars, and still have same problem every time it rains.

Filed Aug 31, 2011 · Transmission · MA

I purchased a used 2004 ford freestar in february of 2010. The van ran fine for the first 90 days. As soon as it hit 100 days, my check engine light went on and the van has been repair 3 times since then, misfired cylinder, replaced fuel injector. Now the mechanic told me that the transmission needs to be replace and this will cost more that the van is worth. I know that I am not the only freestar owner to have such problems and cannot believe ford has not taken steps to rectify these issues. I will never purchase a ford vehicle again.

Filed Jun 20, 2011 · 78,500 miles · OH

A few months ago my check engine light came on and vehicle felt like it wanted to stall out, the computer at the shop said that there was a misfire, replaced spark plugs and wires, light went out, 2 days later light back on same thing, shop could find nothing else wrong with the van, we then went to another shop who after having it for a week and not being able to figure out the problem said it was an oxygen sensor, paid $460 to have this replaced, van ran great for 3 days then lght back on and same thing, within 2 days the light went back off, this happened on and off for months then finally 3 weeks ago while turning a corner, the van just died and lost power in the middle of an intersection, unable to go into reverse or anything was able to restart the van long enough to get out of intersection then it died again and was able to coast to side of road but was unable to put van in reverse, my normal mechanic could not figure out the problem the computer kept reading different error codes , he then took it to the local dealer, where they have now had it for 3 weeks and are unable to find anything wrong with it, they did admit that they have been having problems with the PCM getting wet but they cannot find anything wrong with it, it is now running, going into reverse and no check engine light (at this time). I was also told that this could lead to eventual transmission problems as well, so now I have to worry about driving it at all, because noone can fix it, so it will eventually do it again???

Filed Oct 22, 2010 · Transmission · 104,000 miles · IL

Van suddenly lost transmission power when accelerating. No warning lights, no nothing. Turned a corner accelerated and then slowly slowed to complete stop. No gears not even reverse. Van has run rough in rain for a while. Have had it tuned up to no avail. Narrowly avoided being rear ended when this happened.

Filed Nov 3, 2009 · Engine, Transmission · 78,000 miles · IL

After a day of family festivities, 2 1/2 hours away from home, I packed my husband, two daughters, son-in-law , granddaughter and myself into my 2004 ford freestar van. I was driving down a very rural two lane road, in total darkness when it started. I was leaving a very very small town and accelerated from 30 to 55. Everything was fine until I reached 62 MPH. The van seemed to misfire and lunged. Everyone asked was it was. I had let off the gas a bit and tried not to go over 60. As we continued, the van lunged again, but now I was only going 55, and then again and again, going slower and slower. My husband assumed I had a problem with the gasoline and told me to blow it out but I told him when I pushed on the gas, there was no response. The check engine light went on and then it got bad. I could see headlights coming up in my rear view mirror. I thought about pulling off to the side, but as the van started to loose power, I realized that there was no shoulder and that there was a ravine. I was pumping the gas pedal and the van would intermittently respond by lunging forward and then pausing, just like a bucking bronco. The movement was so thrusting it woke up my granddaughter from a sound sleep. I managed to put my flashers on but I couldn't get off the road. I realized that I needed to make it to the next town, as being stranded in that area would be very dangerous for anyone getting out of the vehicle or anyone being left behind in the vehicle. I am amazed that no one got killed because the van would totally loose power and shut off. I was dropping to neutral to restart it, only to have the same thing happen again, pumping the gas, making it a little way and then the engine losing power. This happened four or five times until I made it into the next town, where I drove down hill with no engine, steering or brakes, and coasted into a gas station. It would not go into reverse and was left 2 hours from home, awaiting arrangements to picked up.