2004 Ford Freestar Problems

Above Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2004 Ford Freestar.

< older2005
Complaints
1,600
Crashes
25
Fires
17
Injuries
29
Fatalities
1
Recalls
2

Worst 2004 Ford Freestar Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1495 complaints

Automatic Transmission

Avg mileage:83,516 mi
Crash-related:3
Fires:2
#2310 complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

Avg mileage:111,028 mi
Crash-related:3
Fires:5
#3115 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:98,438 mi
Crash-related:2
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2004 Ford Freestar.

Automatic Transmission
495
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
2
Avg Miles
83,516
Transmission / Drivetrain
310
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
5
Avg Miles
111,028
Electrical Faults
115
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
98,438
Seat-Related Issues
84
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
122,631
Engine Problems
69
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
2
Avg Miles
109,105
Body Structure
62
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
117,121
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter
50
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
74,429
Engine & Cooling
34
complaints
Crashes
Fires
3
Avg Miles
83,697
Unintended Acceleration
29
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
102,921
Hydraulic Brakes
22
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
47,448
Steering Defects
22
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
97,801
Structural Problems
18
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
104,905
Suspension Failures
18
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
142,797
Wheel Issues
17
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
90,719
Gasoline Fuel System
13
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
102,838
Brakes
11
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
110,660
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
40,118
Electronic Stability Control
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
72,214
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
68,597
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
31,139
Wheels:Hub
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
46,936
Fuel System
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
93,984
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
39,200
Driveline
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
73,920
Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
107,440
Latches / Locks
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
91,000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
29,522
Airbags
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
67,381
Manual Transmission
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
54,850

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2004 Ford Freestar. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2004 Ford Freestar

2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~403,119 vehicles.

13V081000Seats
~196,667 affected

Ford is recalling certain model year 2004-2007 Freestar and Mercury Monterey vehicles manufactured from March 24, 2003, through November 7, 2006, equipped with a third row seat and originally sold in, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. The third row stowable seat can experience corrosion and structural degradation at the seat anchor mechanism mounted to the rear wheel wells. As a result of the corrosion, the third row seat may not fully latch into its seating position.

12V006000Automatic Transmission · Power Train:automatic Transmission:torque Converter
~206,452 affected

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AND 2005 FORD FREESTAR AND MERCURY MONTEREY VEHICLES. THE TORQUE CONVERTER OUTPUT SHAFT MAY FAIL.

Other Ford Freestar Years

2004 Ford Freestar — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2004 Ford Freestar reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 2004 Ford Freestar has 1,600 NHTSA complaints, 25 crash-related, and 2 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Automatic Transmission with 495 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2004 Ford Freestar?
Top reported problems: Automatic Transmission (495 complaints, avg 83,516 mi); Transmission / Drivetrain (310 complaints, avg 111,028 mi); Electrical Faults (115 complaints, avg 98,438 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2004 Ford Freestar?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 95,250 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2004 Ford Freestar?
NHTSA complaints for the 2004 Ford Freestar include 25 crash-related reports, 17 fire reports, 29 injuries, and 1 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2004 Ford Freestar have any recalls?
Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 403,119 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2004 Ford Freestar?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Ford Freestar reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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