Is the 2004 Ford Freestar a bad year?
1,226 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 851.
Consider selling
Half of all transmission complaints about the 2004 Ford Freestar were filed between 68k and 109k miles. You're at 85,000 miles.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2004 Freestar owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 85,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 851 (69%) | 68k–109k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| SeatsSTANDS OUT | 86 (7%) | 92k–148k miles · ahead | — |
| Electrical system | 118 (10%) | 74k–122k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 110 (9%) | 78k–126k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Body structure | 94 (8%) | 85k–143k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed control | 33 (3%) | 78k–118k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 27 (2%) | 57k–117k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Suspension | 25 (2%) | 37k–141k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Wheels | 25 (2%) | 35k–104k miles · around this mileage | Wheel bearing / hub assembly replacement (one wheel) $230–$750 |
| Fuel system | 23 (2%) | 57k–126k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Brakes | 59 (5%) | 28k–78k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 16 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Equipment | 15 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Latches and locks | 14 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 85,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 1,226 complaints: 16 mention a crash · 13 mention a fire · 17 report an injury · 7 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Jul 2025.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
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.
1. There was no prior warning 2. After normal highway driving, I came to a complete stop. I attempted to put the vehicle in reverse but the vehicle would not shift.
I have 2004 Ford freestar van & have been having problems with it suddenly loosing power and loss of acceleration.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 85,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2004 Ford Freestar: 5
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. In the event that the vehicle is crashed into from the rear, an unlatched seat may increase the risk of personal injury.
The torque converter output shaft may fail. This condition results in a sudden loss of motive power with no warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
Certain aftermarket fuel filters sold under the purolator brand name, p/n F65277, shipped from january 16 through june 2, 2006, for use on the above listed passenger vehicles. Failure of this connection could lead to fuel spillage and, in the presence of an ignition source, a fire could occur.
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. 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.
On certain minivans, the power steering low-pressure line may not be fully seated at the rack and pinion steering gear. 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.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Ford: 5
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2004 Ford Freestar. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
NHTSA defect investigations: 8
Stabilus Rear Liftgate Struts Failing
Corrosion of Third-Row Seat Attachment
Corrosion of Third-Row Seat Attachment
Service Jack Failure
Engine Stalling
Neighbouring years
2005 Freestar: 885 complaints, consider selling.
Every Ford Freestar year
2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · All Freestar years side by side
Other Ford models: Ford 500 · Ford Bronco · Ford Bronco Sport · Ford C-Max · Ford Contour · Ford Crown Victoria · Ford E-150 · Ford E-250 · Ford E-350 · Ford E-450 · Ford EcoSport · Ford Edge · Ford Escape · Ford Escape Hybrid · Ford Escort · Ford Excursion · Ford Expedition · Ford Explorer · Ford Explorer Sport · Ford Explorer Sport Trac · Ford F SD · Ford F-150 · Ford F-150 Hybrid · Ford F-150 Lightning BEV · Ford F-250 SD · Ford F-350 SD · Ford F-450 SD · Ford F-550 SD · Ford Fiesta · Ford Five Hundred · Ford Flex · Ford Focus · Ford Focus Electric · Ford Ford · Ford Freestyle · Ford Fusion · Ford Fusion Energi · Ford Fusion Hybrid · Ford Maverick · Ford Maverick Hybrid · Ford Mustang · Ford Mustang GT · Ford Mustang Mach-E · Ford Ranger · Ford Taurus · Ford Taurus X · Ford Thunderbird · Ford Transit · Ford Transit Connect · Ford Windstar. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2004 Ford Freestar a bad year?
1,226 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 851. At 85,000 miles the tool says: Consider selling. Half of all transmission complaints about the 2004 Ford Freestar were filed between 68k and 109k miles. You're at 85,000 miles.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Ford Freestar?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (851), seats (86), electrical system (118), engine (110), body structure (94). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 68k–109k miles.
How many recalls does the 2004 Ford Freestar have?
5 recall campaigns list this model year: Seats (NHTSA 13V-081), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 12V-006), Fuel system (NHTSA 06E056000), Wheels (NHTSA 04V-446) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.