Transmission 2nd and 3rd gear slipping.
2004 Ford Freestar transmission complaints
Page 24 of 30: complaints 671 to 700 of 851, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Late last night, my family and I were driving home when my 2004 ford freestar went from 45 MPH to 0 MPH. It would not go into gear. My husband and I sat on the side of road at 1 a.m. With our three small children waiting for a cab. From what I have read, this is a common occurrence. Please do something about this. I can only thank god my husband was driving and knew what was going on. Had it been me, I may have panicked causing an accident.
Transmission failed. After reading a lot of post this is a issue that ford knows about and will not do anything about. I took it to the local ford dealer and was told I needed to flush my fluid. I did and it was still acting up and they said they could find nothing wrong. A couple of moths later the transmission went out. I was able to drive it to the shop and the guy said he was surprised it was even driving the way it was. Fluid was full of metal and had water in it. They question if the ford dealer even did the flush because it was so bad.
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford freestar. While at a stop light and proceeding to accelerate, the vehicle failed to gain speed. In addition, the vehicle drove into reverse without being in the reverse position. After switching into the drive position, the contact managed to get the vehicle to move forward. He did not notice any lights illuminated or warnings prior to the failures. The vehicle was taken to a local repair shop and the mechanic stated that the power train control module was failing due to water damage to the system. The vehicle was repaired at the cost of $186. The following day, the check engine light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that the transmission temperature sensor was failing. The vehicle was repaired at the cost of $507.84. One month later, the wiper washer motor failed. The contact repaired the vehicle himself at the cost of $100. The manufacturer stated that no compensation would be provided because the vehicle was out of warranty. The failure mileage was 52,000 and current mileage was 53,000.**mileage is 5,300, smch 8-10-09 updated 8/24/09 *cn water entered the PCM. There were 2 codes on the vehicle that could not be cleared; which was the transmission fluid temperature sensor and the output shaft sensor. It was determined the tft sensor was bad. Water entered into a module that should have been sealed at the factory. The water may have shorted out the sensor and module. Water may also have entered the wiper motor which caused it to malfunction. Updated 08/26/09
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford freestar. While driving 45 MPH, the rpms increased without warning and the transmission failed. The contact managed to place the vehicle into neutral and coasted to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and they stated that the torque converter failed. The estimated cost for repair was $1,800. The manufacturer would not assist. The contact will have the vehicle repaired. The current and failure mileages were 60,500.
I'm a single mom of 4 children and one on the way. I am considered a high risk pregnancy. I bought a minivan from the malloy dealership in manassas a little over a month ago. A couple days after I bought it I took it back up to the dealership because of a problem with hesitation in the van and one of the doors as well as the window. I had also told them about the crack in the windshield and a strap on the backseat that was broken. The comment I received from one of their sales managers was if I wanted a new vehicle I should have bought a new one. I took the van back up there again for hesitation and the man said that he found nothing wrong with the van, they checked the spark plugs. Today I took the van back up there because of the hesitation, miss in the transmission or wherever the problem is coming from. I had went shopping for a trip me and my kids were to be taking in 2 weeks to west virginia, the van kept hesitating, shook and then locked up on me. The steering wheel locked up to where I barely got it off the highway. My kids were screaming and myself and my mother were scared to pieces. I gave these people cash for my vehicle, so I paid it off when I purchased it. I should not have to worry about me and my families safety in my vehicle, but am afraid to take it even 3 miles down the street. They are saying they found nothing wrong with it, but the van kept acting up today all the way home from the dealership. I don't know what else to do about this situation, I even had to replace the windshield that was cracked when I bought the van. I used my money I had received from a settlement from being permanently injured on my job almost 2 years ago. Please is there something you can do to help? I wanted to take my kids on their first vacation ever but am so afraid to drive the van that I just paid over $8000 for that is a piece of junk. I am out my money and the vehicle is unsafe to drive myself and my children around in. The dealership has been no help.
2004 ford freestar, 70,983 miles, regularly serviced. I was stopped at a stop sign, went to accelerate and the van went about 30 feet and the transmission failed, then engine revved as if it were in neutral. There was no power or engagement of the transmission in either forward gears or reverse. There was no prior warning/signs of potential issues with the transmission or drive train. Fortunately, I was able to coast to a sidestreet and put my family out of harms way.
Transmission failure. Fluid levels were ok but overheated and stopped working properly. Cost $3800 to repair at a dishonest shop in poughkeepsie, new york.
There were no events leading up to the failure. The transmission of our 2004 ford freestar minivan traveling at highway speed 65 MPH, during rush hour with three young children inside, simply disengaged. The engine continued to run but the van wouldn't engage in any gear. This had never happened before, and the consequence is that the care in not running. The van is currently in the repair shop and we are looking at repair costs between 2 and $3,000.
We were 500 from home when our 2004 ford freestar had to be pushed off of a highway. With no warning, it would not move..right in the middle of the roadway it was like we slipped into neutral forever ...had to have it towed from the roadside.. After two weeks we're still waiting to hear how much the torque converter/transmission repair will cost.
I own a 2004 ford freestar minivan. I was stopped at a stop sign and when I stepped on the gas, the van went approx. 30 feet before the engine revved up and the van wouldn't go any further. I had just gotten off of the freeway right before this happened. This could have been disastrous if it would have happened on the freeway. It would not engage in any gear at all. I had it towed to the nearest ford dealer and was told that the torque converter had to be replaced. I only had 65,200 miles on it and I just had the transmission fluid changed at 62,000 miles. I looked on-line about this and I found alot of other complaints for this exact same problem on these vans. How many complaints do you guys have to receive before you realize this van is a lemon and a danger to it's owners? Ford should be made to put out a recall on these vans. Ford is ripping people off right and left and they should have to pay for their defective vehicles.
We have a 2004 ford freestar with 69,000 miles and the transmission suddenly stopped working with no warning. We were driving down the road at 35mph and then the motor started to rev hi. Pulled to the side of the road and tried all the gears and there was nothing.
Transmission started popping hard going out of first gear. Then at times it would stick and not change up. Finally in june when I went to accelerate it shifted into neutral. The only way to get it home was to turn it off and the transmission would reset but every time any stress is put on the transmission it goes into neutral. Mechanic says this is a common occurrence with the 2004 freestar.
Transmission failure. After I had completed a u turn I put the van gear back into drive and the van would not move. I made sure that I had it in the right gear and it was but still no movement.
Transmission went out without any warning on my 2004 ford freestar with only 91,000 miles on it leaving my wife and three kids stranded on the side of a busy interstate.
2004 ford freestar stopped dead in the middle of the road with me (9mths pregnant) and my son. Had to have towed to repair shop to find out that the torque converter is stripped in the transmission and must be replaced.
Two transmission failures without warnings in our 2004 ford freestar. No accidents just exhaustion and sunburns due to 112*f in the mojave desert for 6 hours of waiting for tow truck to tow 5 family members to closest transmission repair place.
I have a 2004 ford freestar van and this vehicle continues to stall unexpectedly even after a certified rebuilt transmission was installed by a ford dealer 2 1/2 months ago. It continues to happen and the dealer said they can not find the problem after having the vehicle for over a week. This vehicle has stalled out at least 5 different times I.e., from a start to a go and/or just in a cruise mode going down the highway. It is certainly a safety risk because you never know when it will occur again and whether or not you can get it to a shoulder of the road to exit traffic. I have been on several websites and have seen numerous consumer complaints about this kind of ford freestar model defect I.e., unexpectedly stalling out. The vehicle did it again today and it is unsafe. I recommend a recall for this defect.
Have had no problems with the van and had no warnings. The van was driven approximately 25 minutes on a major interstate and all of the sudden the driver tried to accelerate and nothing happened. The car stayed running however it would not move. The van needed to be towed to a garage where it was discovered the transmission went. The van was under 100,000 mi and it was well taken care of. If you do some googling you will find many other owners with freestars from 30,000 to 100,000 mi that had the exact same thing happen. This should not happen, I have to pay close to 3,000 to have a new one, I have to pay for towing, and on top of this I am a teacher who doesn't get paid during the summer so now I need to find someone willing to give me money I don't have to fix this. Ford says they are sorry it happened but cant help me. This should have been recalled way before this happened to me.
2004 ford freestar 87k. Just had egr valve replaced due to a code that said it was bad. Took van for a test drive after replacing valve. Proceeding down the road, car was running like it was brand new again, accelerated and then the RPM went high like it was in neutral and the van quit pulling. Had to coast off the road, and walk in the dark call for help. Very dangerous, minivans are for women who carry children!!!. Ford needs to look into this issue. The same exact thing happened to my friends 2004 freestar and it was the torque converter. Many people have also written reviews online about the same problem. I will find out if it is the torque converter tomorrow.
I have a 2004 ford freestar and the tranny went out. It only has 80,000 miles.
I have a 2004 ford freestar with 85,000 miles. I was driving 65 miles an hour down interstate 485 in charlotte, nc and all of a sudden my vehicle just started losing speed. The transmission was not engaging. I was able to make it to the shoulder of the road. I have contacted my mechanic and he said that the transmission was bad.
Car just won't go!! Mechanic says its the transmission. I only have 73,000 miles on it.
Took family to pittsburgh zoo. Just started through tunnel and the van had no power and then just stopped in the middle of the tunnel. Wouldn't change into any gears or move..an all of a sudden event..had daughter who is handicapped in van with us..was a very scary thing being stuck in the tunnel.
With no warning, the van began running rough and the RPM's would increase but the speed would not. Ford dealership diagnosed loss of 3rd gear, problem with valve body & solenoid. No financial help from either dealership or ford. (no warranty) took van to transmission specialist, diagnosis: water from radiator leaked into transmission (manufacturers defect?) it will need new transmission and possibly radiator. Repairs have not yet been made.
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.
While driving on a two lane road at 35 MPH my 2004 ford freestar without any warning suddenly acted like it shifted into neutral. Luckily I was able to pull down a side road and into a parking lot where I found that the van would not go into any gear forward or reverse. I called for help and was able to pull the van back to my home where it sits today waiting to figure out how to get it fixed. This event happened at around 6:00 in the evening. The van was driven earlier around town and on the highway at highway speeds with no problems at all. It scares me to death to think what might have happened if my wife or teenage daughter (who only has her temps and was driving the van earlier at those highway speeds) had been driving and couldn't get off the road. I have been reading on the internet that this is not an isolated incident. There are a lot and I mean a lot of people who having the exact same transmission problem. This is a tragedy waiting to happen. Like I said this happened without any warning. If this would have happened on a crowded city street or a busy rush hour traffic highway we would have been powerless to do anything but try to coast the car as best we could to a safe place without getting killed! It also would have been unsafe for anyone else on the road who was trying to avoid hitting us! I work for this car company and will be in contact with them on monday to try and find some answers. I just wanted to file my complaint with you and have it on the record. We were very very lucky! Thank you.
While driving on a main road, my 2004 ford freestar transmission failed. As in all the other reports there was no warning whatsoever. Park engages however no other gear does. Vehicle is at transmission shop as I write this. Ford states there is no issue, and because I am out of the extended warranty by 5,000 miles there is nothing they can do for me.
On may 16, 2009 I was leaving houston in heavy saturday afternoon traffic. I was driving my 2004 freestar in the number one lane at the 65 MPH speed limit when suddenly, with no warning,I was in neutral with the engine revving. For several heart stopping minutes I couldn't get cars to let me over to the shoulder, and, by the time they did, I was barely coasting. I was able to immediately exit and rolled to a stop on the access road. I discovered the car wouldn't engage in any gear. After an hour and a half wait for a tow truck in 95 degree weather, it was towed to the nearest ford dealer. The vehicle was in the shop for a week. The service advisor reported that the torque converter pump shaft splines had stripped and had taken out the transmission. The repair bill came to $3493.71. The rental car costs to get me home to waco, texas and back after the car was repaired $466.90. When I picked up my van, I talked with the service manager, showing him the myriad complaints to the federal safety agency about the same problem in the 2004 freestar. Although he was sympathetic, he was also non committal about the issue. I asked him if the rebuilt transmission had the same torque converter as the original. He said "yes" that they could only replace parts with the parts that were indicated for that specific vehicle. I am a 65 year old woman and had another senior friend and two dogs with me when the car died. The very real threat of being hit on a busy highway following a problem like this was scary enough, but the realization that it could have happened an hour later on a two lane road while passing a semi almost did me in.
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford freestar. The contact noticed that the gears would not shift forward or backwards. She took the vehicle to a transmission specialist and they replaced the torque converter at the cost of $1,040. The manufacturer did not assist. The failure and current mileages were 70,000.
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