Model year record

2004 Ford Freestar

4 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 1,602 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 13V081000

Seats

Component: Seats
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 196,667
Reported to NHTSA: 2013-03-07
Owners notified: 2013-03-28

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

In the event that the vehicle is crashed into from the rear, an unlatched seat may increase the risk of personal injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install new third row seat latch striker mounting brackets, free of charge. The recall began on March 28, 2013. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332.

Recall campaignNHTSA 12V006000

Power train: automatic transmission

Component: Power train: automatic transmission
Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected: 206,452
Reported to NHTSA: 2012-01-09
Owners notified: 2012-06-29

Defect description

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

Safety risk

THIS CONDITION RESULTS IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER WITH NO WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 9, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.

Recall campaignNHTSA 04V446000

Wheels: hub

Component: Wheels: hub
Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected: 34,013
Reported to NHTSA: 2004-09-13
Owners notified: 2004-09-20

Defect description

CERTAIN MINIVANS MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITH FRONT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES THAT WERE NOT HEAT TREATED CORRECTLY. THIS CONDITION MAY LEAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL CRACKS IN THE HUB.

Safety risk

IF THE CRACKS WERE TO PROGRESS, THIS COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN WHEEL SEPARATION. WHEEL SEPARATION MAY LEAD TO LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, AND POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT HUB, ROTORS, AND WHEEL BEARINGS. THE RECALL BEGAN SEPTEMBER 20, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Recall campaignNHTSA 03V457000

Steering: hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections

Component: Steering: hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections
Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected: 23,996
Reported to NHTSA: 2003-11-06
Owners notified: 2003-11-10

Defect description

ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, THE POWER STEERING LOW-PRESSURE LINE MAY NOT BE FULLY SEATED AT THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR.

Safety risk

IF THIS LINE BECOMES DISCONNECTED, IT MAY CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR FLUID TO COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, WHICH COULD RESULT IN SMOKE OR FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE POWER STEERING LOW-PRESSURE LINE TO ENSURE THAT IT IS SEATED PROPERLY AT THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 10, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Power train: automatic transmission	495	79,000 mi
Power train	312	104,000 mi
Electrical system	115	95,000 mi
Seats	84	116,542 mi
Engine	69	100,000 mi
Structure: body	62	115,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: torque converter	50	70,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling	34	82,000 mi
Vehicle speed control	29	100,553 mi
Unknown or other	26	98,400 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic	22	44,000 mi
Steering	22	90,000 mi
Structure	18	105,000 mi
Suspension	18	120,000 mi
Wheels	17	88,584 mi
Fuel system, gasoline	13	88,842 mi
Service brakes	11	75,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor	10	36,600 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)	8	50,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine	8	78,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads	8	36,600 mi
Wheels: hub	8	47,550 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	7	81,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch	7	11,000 mi
Power train: driveline	7	64,000 mi
Structure: frame and members: underbody shields	7	118,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages	6	102,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper	6	22,651 mi
Air bags	5	48,500 mi
Power train: manual transmission	5	40,000 mi
Seat belts	5	84,000 mi
Visibility	5	92,032 mi
Visibility: glass, side/rear	5	92,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/TECM)	4	103,000 mi
Structure: body: door	4	74,000 mi
Traction control system	4	50,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: cruise control	4	5,388 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system	3	84,000 mi
Equipment	3	13,000 mi
Exterior lighting	3	45,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	3	23,000 mi
Suspension: front: wheel bearing	3	37,000 mi
Tires	3	50,000 mi
Air bags: frontal	2	126 mi
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module	2	8 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system	2	72,000 mi
Equipment: mechanical: accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift	2	113,000 mi
Power train: axle assembly	2	2,200 mi
Seats: mid/rear assembly	2	90,000 mi
Steering: hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections	2	44,000 mi
Steering: linkages: tie rod assembly	2	7,100 mi
Structure: body: door: hinge and attachments	2	500 mi
Suspension: front	2	35,000 mi
Suspension: rear	2	64,000 mi
Back over prevention: warnings	1	—
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel	1	58,502 mi
Electrical system: ignition	1	47,278 mi
Electrical system: wiring	1	41,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers	1	78,830 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control	1	4,510 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: gas recirculation valve (EGR valve)	1	47,278 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner	1	47,278 mi
Equipment: electrical	1	—
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery	1	—
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	1	—
Fuel system, other: fuel injection system	1	84,100 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: hatchback/liftgate: lock	1	100,000 mi
Parking brake	1	—
Seat belts: rear/other	1	22,961 mi
Seats: front assembly: recliner	1	29,456 mi
Service brakes, air	1	102,000 mi
Service brakes, air: antilock	1	1,650 mi
Service brakes, air: disc	1	9,000 mi
Service brakes, air: disc: caliper	1	9,000 mi
Service brakes, air: disc: pads	1	9,000 mi
Service brakes, air: disc: rotor	1	45,400 mi
Service brakes, electric	1	84,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components	1	30,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder	1	55,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages	1	—
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist	1	—
Steering: hydraulic power assist system	1	7,500 mi
Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate	1	91,000 mi
Structure: frame and members	1	144,000 mi
Suspension: front: control arm: lower arm	1	76,000 mi
Suspension: front: hub	1	90,000 mi
Suspension: front: stabilizer bar	1	120,000 mi
Tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems	1	87,421 mi
Tires: tread/belt	1	10,000 mi
Tires: valve	1	55,800 mi
Visibility/wiper	1	94,000 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls	1	105,000 mi
Visibility: rear window wiper/washer	1	78,830 mi
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices: interior	1	—
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: linkages	1	35,500 mi
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor	1	5,300 mi

The 2005 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.