2004 FORD FREESTAR Suspension Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CONTROL ARM WAS PROTRUDING THROUGH THE FRAME AND CREATED A HOLE. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 212,000. *BF CONSUMER STATED TRANSMISSION JUST STARTED TO SLIP AND MAKES A THUD SOMETIMES SLIPS BAD. CONSUMER HAS CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION OIL AND FILTERS.*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE LEVER WAS HEAVY AND BECAME STUCK BEFORE SWITCHING INTO GEAR. SOMETIMES, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND MADE AN ABNORMAL WHINING SOUND. ALSO, THE AXLES MADE A CRUNCHING AND GRINDING SOUND WHENEVER THE VEHICLE MADE A TURN. THE TRANSAXLE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE MECHANIC DID NOT HAVE THE EQUIPMENT TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CBS AXLES NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 270,000. ..*BF CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE TRANSMISSION SHOP AND WAS TOLD THE SUDDEN POWER COULD BE TORQUE CONVERTER BUT NEEDS TO CHECKED. COMMON FAILED TRANSMISSION ERROR.*JB

PROBLEM #1 THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT WORK . IT'S CONTROLL MODULE WAS REPLACED IT WORKED ONE TIME AND STOPPED WORKING AGAIN. PROBLEM #2 THE DRIVE AXLE BROKE IN TRAFFIC LUCKILY WE WERE STOPPING AND WERE ONLY GOING ABOUT 5 MPH. PROBLEM #3 TODAY AFTER A NIGHT OF HEAVY RAIN WHEN THE VAN WAS UNLOCKED THE RADIO CAME ON BEFORE THE KEY WAS EVEN IN THE IGNITION. WHICH BRINGS US TO PROBLEM #4 THE BIGGEST AND NO DOUBT MOST EXPENSIVE. THE VAN STARTED AND WAS RUNNING KIND OF SLUGGISH BUT RAN FINE IN REVERSE BUT IF YOU SHIFT TO DRIVE THE VAN SHUTS OFF. YOU CANNOT START IT IN NEUTRAL EITHER. I HAVE HAD 2 INDEPENDENT MECHANICS LOOK AT IT TODAY BOTH SAY IT IS THE TORQUE CONVERTER. I LOOKED IT UP AND THERE IS A RECALL BUT OF COURSE IT'S THE WEEKEND AND I CAN'T CALL TO SEE...

THE FRONT SUBFRAME IS SEVERELY CORRODED. MECHANIC SAYS IT'S UNSAFE TO DRIVE. FORD RECALLED 425,000 1998-2003 FORD WINDSTARS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. IT DOESN'T APPEAR THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED.I DON'T WANT TO WAIT FOR IT TO FAIL BEFORE IT'S REPORTED AND I CAN'T, IN GOOD CONSCIENCE, SELL IT SOMEONE ELSE. IS THERE ANYTHING I DO TO RECTIFY THIS?

AS I PROCEEDED TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN,@ A PERMITTIBLE SPEED 25 M.P.H. I COULD HEAR NOISE EMANATING FROM THE RT. FRT. SIDE OF THE VEH. FUEL SYS. FURTHER CK'ING NEEDED. *TR

FIRST CRACK IN U SHAPED STEEL CHANNEL NOTICED WHEN I TOOK THIS VAN IN FOR OTHER RECALL REPAIRS AT YUCCA VALLEY FORD . THEY NOTIFIED ME AND I HAD IT WELDED . A FEW MONTHS LATER CRACK WAS BACK HAD IT REWELDED AND GUSSETS ADDED TO RESTRENGTHEN BOTH SIDES. LASTED SIX MONTHS TILL I TOOK TO TIRE SHOP TO HAVE FRONT END ALIGNED AND TWO NEW TIRES PUT ON. LEFT NEXT DAY FOR GIG BROKE ONE MILE FROM HOME JUST PAST THE WELD. THIS VAN HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CALIFORNIA CAR TO MY KNOWLEDGE. NO RUST. SAME REAR AXEL AS WINDSTAR. BAD DESIGN. VAN IS HEAVY LITTLE [XXX] STEEL CHANNEL TO HOLD ALL THAT WEIGHT IS STUPID. COULDN'T BELIEVE IT WAS BUILT THAT WAY. HOW COME NO RECALL FOR SAME AXEL DESIGN ON FREESTAR. PEOPLE APT TO DIE FROM THIS STUPID DESIGN. *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF...

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS SERVICING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WERE CRACKS ON THE REAR AXLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000. DJR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED THE STABILIZER ARM AND THE FRONT BRAKES BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR A STATE INSPECTION WHEN IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE BUSHINGS AROUND THE BALL JOINT WAS CRACKED AND THE BOLT FRACTURED WITHIN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. THE INSPECTOR ALSO INDICATED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 08/19/14*LJ UPDATED 08/24/2017*CT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WAS POSITIONED INWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BECAME COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

I HAD MY VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP ON A RECALL FOR THE THIRD ROW LATCH/CORROSION ISSUE. WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THE REPAIR, THE SERVICE DEPT. FOUND MASSIVE UNDERCARRIAGE CORROSION, IN WHICH OTHER PARTS OF MY CAR WERE DISINTEGRATING & FALLING APART, SUCH AS THE STARTER AND THE ENGINE MOUNTS, AS WELL AS PARTS OF MY EXHAUST SYSTEM. WHILE MY CAR WAS ON THE PREMISES THERE WERE ALSO TWO OTHER FREESTARS WITH SIMILAR AMOUNTS OF MASSIVE CORROSION ON THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE, PARTICULARLY ALL OF THE DOORS. MY VEHICLE IS ONLY 9 YEARS OLD AND HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND SHOULD NOT LOOK 20 YEARS OLD WITH THE CORROSION THAT IT HAS ACCUMULATED. I ALSO HAVE A LARGE, VISIBLE CRACK IN MY WHEEL WELL IN THE REAR PASSENGER AREA CAUSED BY CORROSION AND MY VEHICLE MAY NOT PASS INSPECTION. I HAVE BEEN IN...

BOUGHT THIS VAN AT 37106 MILES. VAN SERVICED FOR STEERING RACK, STRUTS, SWAYBAR LINKS AND SPRINGS AT APPROX 68000 MILES. THE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TWICE. SPENT OVER $2000. MILES NOW ARE 70015 AND STEERING PROBLEMS HAVE RESURFACED. I HAD A DODGE CARAVAN THAT GAVE ME OVER 86000 MILES WITH MINIMAL REPAIRS. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE A FORD PRODUCT AGAIN. *TR

THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME THAT IS DESCRIBED IN EA12003. THE ATTACHING BRACKET FOR THE REAR SEAT FELL OUT WHILE THE SEAT WAS FOLDED INTO THE FLOOR. IT BECAME LODGED IN THE INNER PORTION OF THE REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEEDS, SOMEBODY COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN KILLED, BY THE REAR WHEEL BECOMING RESTRICTED OR THIS HEAVY PLATE BOUNCING DOWN THE ROAD AT ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE BRACKET IS A U BRACKET ATTACHED TO A PLATE THAT IS WELDED FLUSH TO COMPRISE PART OF THE WHEEL WELL. TO TEMPORARILY KEEP FROM LOSING THE BRACKET, I HELD THE BRACKET IN PLACE WHILE SETTING THE SEATS UPRIGHT AGAIN SO THAT THE SEAT ITSELF IS HOLDING THE BRACKET IN. THERE IS NOW WATER FROM THE ROAD GETTING UP INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. I HOPE THAT FORD ISSUES A RECALL OR OFFERS A BOLT ON REPLACEMENT SOON. I'VE BEEN MOSTLY...

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. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND AXLE HAD SUDDENLY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. NO ONE WAS INJURED DURING THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 87,308. UPDATED 05/10/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE RIGHT TIRE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF HIS VEHICLE SIMPLY COLLAPSED. THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AS THE FRONT SIDE DROPPED GOUGING THE HUB CAP AND THE METAL WHEEL INTO THE ASPHALT LEAVING A NARROW STRIP IN BETWEEN MY WHEEL AND THE ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS DOUBLE PARKED. HIS VEHICLE CONTINUED TO GOUGE THE ASPHALT AND THEN STOPPED. THE COLLAPSED TIRE DID RUB THE LEFT LOWER SIDE SPORT TRIM OF THE OTHER VEHICLE WHICH LEFT BLACK RUBBER MARKS ON THE DOUBLE...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE IN A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN A COLLISION OR ROAD HAZARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. LATER, THE REAR CARGO DOOR LATCH BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

I HAVE A HIGH PITCH NOISE COMING FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF MY VAN CHECK THE BRAKES THEY ARE FINE THE PROBLEM IS BAD WHEEL BEARING [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR

EXPERIENCED A VERY LOUD SQUEALING NOISE THAT APPEARED TO BE COMING FROM THE FRONT WHEELS - THIS USUALLY OCCURRED AT SPEEDS >60 MPH. WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT, THE NOISE WOULD CEASE. WHEN THE WHEELS WERE STRAIGHTENED AGAIN, THE NOISE WOULD CONTINUE. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WITH NO ISSUES FOUND. I HAD SUGGESTED AT THAT TIME THAT THE PROBLEM APPEARED TO BE FRONT WHEEL BEARING RELATED OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE - NO ISSUES FOUND WITH THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK 2 MONTHS LATER - REPORTED THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR THE BEARINGS TO BE REPLACED (AND SOME OTHER NON-SPECIFIC WORK WITH THE HUBS). THIS IS LISTED IN THE RECALL SECTION FOR THIS VEHICLE AS A KNOWN ISSUE SINCE 2004!! WHY WAS THIS NOT TAKEN CARE OF PREVIOUSLY UNDER A RECALL AND WHY DID...

CLICKING NOISE ONCE GAS PEDAL WAS TOUCHED-DEALER STATED WAS FRONT END CONTROL ARM PROBLEM-VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE -COULD CAUSE CRASH OR EVEN DEATH-THEY REPAIR BOTH CONTROL ARMS AND PERFORMED WHEEL ALIGNMENT-INTERNET SITE SHOWED RECALL BEEN SENT TO CUSTOMER CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM, I NEVER RECEIVED RECALL NOTIFICATION. I OWN A 2004 FORD FREESTAR THAT AT THIS TIME IT HAS 14,000 MILES ON IT. *JB