While driving on busy highway rt 76 near akron ohio my 2004 ford freestar which only had 79,279 miles began losing speed and black smoke was coming out the back and engulfed the entire van which had my 2 children and wife in. We managed to pull off to the side of highway and called for tow , we had to replace the transmission at a cost of $3,002.07 dollars and wait a week for repair to bec completed. I had van at preston ford dealership in sharon pa previously because transaxle light would sometimes come on after driving more than 20 miles but it would go off after turned off and restarted. Dealership was not able to determine the cause.
2004 Ford Freestar transmission complaints
Page 18 of 30: complaints 491 to 520 of 851, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Was entering the freeway attempting to accelerate to 70 MPH when the vehicle suddenly lost drive power. Engine was running, pressing the pedal would cause the RPM's to increase, but with no power. Had to pull over to the side of the road going 40mph while traffic behind me was oncoming at 70mph+. Had vehicle towed to mechanic where it was determined that the torque converter had failed, there was no internal oil pressure in the transmission and that a transmission replacement was required. Paid $3,000+ to replace transmission on a vehicle with about 100,000 miles. A quick google search for "freestar transmission failure" comes up with numerous results of the torque converter failing right around 100,000 miles. The mechanic I took it to made the comment that this happens with about every freestar he's worked on and it's in input shaft that fails on this specific transmission.
I have a 2004 ford freestar with 57,000 miles on it. After driving on the thruway and paying a toll the car just started to roll and not go into gear. Luckily I was able to get to the side of the road. I had my two children in the car with me. There was no warning at all that there was anything wrong with my vehicle. I was an hour away from home. I had to have my van towed to the dealer where I am waiting to hear how much the torque converter is going to be to fix.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford freestar. While driving at approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle lost power and stalled. The vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop where the contact was informed the transmission would need to be replaced. The transmission was replaced. The failure recurred eight times after repairs. At each failure, the vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop where the computer would be reset. After the 4th failure, the mechanic found water in the PCM and it was replaced. The failure mileage was 113,000 and the current mileage was 114,000. Updated 12/02/10 *bf updated 12/08/10
2004 freestar with a 4.2 liter engine. Transmission failed without warning ie dashboard light, noises, etc. Failure applied to all forward gears as well as reverse. The engine would rev when gas applied but no pull whatsoever. This happened at 39k while the vehicle was still under warrant and again at 112 k.
While driving home from a family wedding at 10:00 at night, in the pouring rain, on a dark, busy main road, the transmission of my 2004 ford freestar gave out with no warning. This left us, with our two year old stranded at the side of the road until help came. I am just glad we were not on the highway traveling at 65 MPH as we had been moments before this happened. After doing some research on this, I am disgusted at the number of people that the same exact thing has happened to. Even once I get this van fixed (which will not be right away because we have two children and cannot afford to fix it right now, yet we will have to continue to make payments on a van we can't drive) I will never feel safe again. If this is a known problem, which, from what I understand the federal safety agency is investigating, it needs to be rectified now!
My wife was driving our 2004 ford freestar with 62000 miles on it when it all of a sudden stopped going forward. I towed it to a transmission shop and they replaced the torque converter for $2200. According to the forums and consumers digest this has been a continual failure with these vehicles. Are you going to wait until someone gets killed before putting pressure on ford to recall these vehicles.
2004 ford freestar sudden loss of power while pulling into traffic. Appears to be related to power train failure. Car would not move forward or backward under its own power after the failure although the engine continued to run.
Driving to an appointment when the transmission failed unexpectedly. Fortunately, I was not driving very fast, and the brakes worked. The repair facility sent a tow truck to pick up the van. The transmission and torque converter will have to be replaced.
My wife was driving down the highway at appx 60 MPH. The engine suddenly, without warning, revved the rpms and lost power to the wheels. She coasted the van to the shoulder and called for help. The transmission would not engage into any gear, it would only rev. Checked fluid and it was fine. Luckily, no one was injured and cars were able to swerve around her as she took the shoulder. Had van towed to shop who told us transmission is shot. Options are: new transmission will cost $2800, rebuilding the old will cost $1700. Van is a 2004 ford freestar with only 75,000 miles.
Our 2004 ford freestar transmission failed while driving down the road at 45 MPH. Luckily we were able to 'coast' to the side of the road without getting hit by traffic. Apparent torque converter failure. We need tc and transmission replaced at an estimated $3000 for the repair.
I have a 2004 ford freestar and without notice the transmission suddenly stopped working while driving. A mechanic evaluated the problem and found the torque converter had failed. The mechanic had to remove the transmission and replaced the torque converter.
2004 ford freestar transmission going with less that 56000 miles on van ...my wife was driving on a main road when the transmission just stopped working... In research this problem is happening due to cheap material used in the torque converters.
This weekend, we were driving the 2004 ford freestar (w/ about 75,000 miles), and the transmission completely failed without warning. We were able to coast to the side of the road safely, but this could have been very dangerous if there had been more traffic. The car had its annual safety inspection less than a month earlier, and no problems were found.
04 ford freestar 80, 000 miles lost tranny going up hill state rt 14 coming out of washingtonville in ohio. Van just stopped on a busy 55mph highway two lanes. Had to back down 500 ft or so and swing into a driveway where I called a tow truck.van had no for. Or rev. Gears at all! If my wife was driving the van I don't think she could have backed down the hill with on coming traffic coming at her.she would have just sat on the side of the hill and waited 1 1/2 hr for the tow truck. I was told that the torque converters go out at anytime with out any warning. And ford knows about the problem and has not informed owners that it could happen at anytime at any speed. Not a safe thing to have happen!
2004 ford freestar. The transmission just went out all of a sudden. I was driving down the road and all of a sudden the gas wouldn't move the car, it just kept revving up. This is the first problem ever and I love my car, but this is ridiculous.
2004 ford freestar. Going down the road and the van ran fine but could not go any more. Had to get towed and find it is the transmission and will be at least 1600 dollars to fix. No warning or slipping or anything and I see on the forums that ford is having way too much trouble with these vans. What are we to do for there problem. It is crippling families like ours with big bills.
While backing from a parking space, with no warning, my van just stop moving. I could not move back or go forward. Mechanic explained that there was a major failure in the torque converter. When he drop the transmission oil pan it was full of metal shavings. We had to purchase a new transmission.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford freestar. The contact stated while driving uphill at speeds of 15 MPH, the vehicle became stuck in neutral. The dealer advised the failure was due to transmission fluid contamination. The transmission fluid solenoids and fuel pump were replaced. The failure recurred within one year and the contact was unable to shift the gear shift selector in drive or reverse. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where they again, found transmission fluid contamination and the exact repairs were performed from the previous year. The failure did not persist however; the contact was concerned that the failure would recur. The failure mileage was 80,000 and the current mileage was 106,050.
Tl- the contact owns a 2004 ford free start. He experience transmission failure three times. Once while driving up hill at 15mph the gear stuck in neutral, one a year later the the gear will not change into drive, or reverse. The vehicle was towed to the garage twice. The diagnose located the transmission oil contaminated. The garage replaced the transmission fluid, solenoids, and the gas pump. The repair corrected the failure; however he feels that he could experience the failure again. The failure mileage was 80,000 and the current mileage was 106,050. Li
My 2004 freestar suddenly quit running last week. There was very little forward power and no reverse power. It also began sitting and sputtering terribly and would not start. I made it to the edge of traffic. It had been wet and rainy all week. Now that the weather is dry the van starts. This is an ongoing issue. I have already replaced the transmission once.
My 11year old son was with me when I was driving my 2004 ford freestar minivan on a interstate road at 40 miles an hour perfectly fine, when I went to accelerate on the gas pedal and nothing happen I pressed the pedal to the floor and the minivan would not accelerate there was no warning on the dash board, no warning sound, nothing to warn me that this would happen, I glided to a safe area and tried different gears and it wouldn't go in any gear. I had it in the dealer 4 days before this happen they didn't say anything was wrong. I had it towed to a ford dealer, it turns out it was the torque converter-power train-automatic transmission, my minivan had 76,000 miles on it for the dealer fix it for $1,500 as I read on the internet this has happen a lot. I don't feel this van had that many miles on it for a transmission to fail and fail with out warning, my son and I could have been seriously hurt or died, it was very scary dangerous not being able to accelerate to get off the road out of other cars way.
The transmission just gave out. No prior symptoms or warning. I was driving with my foot on the gas and the car felt like it went into neutral. Good thing I wasn't on the highway because what is more dangerous than the brake not working is the gas not working when you are going on the highway.
Transmission failed at 80 MPH in the middle of I-85 in atlanta, ga. The car was hauled garage in laurencville, ga where a new transmission was installed at great expense. The old transmission was left at nobody's garage in laurenceville, ga.
Vehicle stopped in middle of road. Engine revved and would not go into gear, forward or reverse. Had to have towed home. Mechanic says its the torque converter. We previously had the transmission rebuilt back in 2008 when it went out.
I have a 2004 ford freestar. I recently had my transmission replaced at 89,900 miles. We were on the highway at night time with an 8 year old and 7 year old when the vehicle just started stopping. There no warning lights that came on for the transmission no signs. The rpms would go high / vehicle went would barely move. It was awful.
2004 ford freestar - transmission went out without any warning - I was turning a corner and heard a loud noise - the check transaxle light came on and I could not get the car to move - took to auto garage and they said they would have to replace but that they have seen this over and over with the 04 freestar. This went out in the middle of an intersection on a busy street with my 3 kids in the car. This is a dangerous problem that ford should address!
2004 ford freestar: vehicle would not go into reverse on march 26 and also had problems going forward. Vehicle would not go over 20 MPH. Did not drive vehicle after this event and had towed to ford dealer on april 6. Pcm was replaced. Picked car up on april 19. Delay in pickup due to vacation. A week later (april 26), same problem returned after driving a total of about 110 miles. While driving in traffic, vehicle dropped to under 20 MPH without warning. Vehicle failed at a busy intersection. This was a frightening experience and there was a child in the car. Pcm was replaced a second time. Picked up repaired vehicle at ford dealer on may 1 and on the way home from ford dealer, drove vehicle 18 miles, when vehicle failed again. Vehicle shut down in traffic, no power steering or brakes available, barely missed hitting a house. Vehicle towed back to ford dealer for 3rd time. Vehicle would not go in reverse when unloaded from tow truck. We were fortunate that no one got hurt in either of these incidents and we are very concerned that we will not be so fortunate the next time. We are afraid to drive this car.
I have a 2004 ford freestar. We are the original owners and just yesterday the transmission went out. We were driving and all of a sudden the car would not shift into gear. Our van has 40,000 miles on it. I've been reading that this is a common problem with these vans and hope that ford will do something about it.
2004 ford freestar, going down road fine, engine rev, speed declined and would not move. Transmission locked due to bad torque converter. Had to replace transmission.
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