CarComplaints.com Notes: The Freestar was introduced in 2004, but it was essentially just a rebranded Windstar. While there was a redesign of the interior and exterior, the Freestar still inherited some of the design flaws of its predecessor.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
110,952 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Freestar. The contact stated that the vehicle's third row rear seat was unattached to the anchor. The contact stated that the VIN was excluded from NHTSA campaign number: 13V081000 (seats). The manufacturer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown. MA 10/5
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Freestar. After inspecting the vehicle, the contact discovered that the third row seat brackets were corroded. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the seat brackets were corroded and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to be serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 13V081000 (seats) but the dealer declined to perform the repair due to excessive corrosion. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 200,000.
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Freestar. The contact stated that the third row seat anchor fractured due to corrosion. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 13V081000 (seats). The failure mileage was 80,000.
The left anchor of our third row seat has detached from the wheel well, and the seat will not latch to the floor. This problem is covered in Ford recall campaign 13S01, but we live in Virginia, right over the state line from Maryland. Our section of Virginia oversalts the road, so we face the same issue as those affected by the recall. We would like Ford to cover our repairs the same as those North of us.
Once again, Ford refuses to acknowledge their vehicle defects. Our third row rear seat will not lock in place. The floor latch is corroded and broken and our children can no longer safely ride in our only vehicle. Ford recalled many other Freestars for this exact same problem but refuses to include our vehicle despite the similarities. Our vehicle has now broken down on us numerous times due to power train issues (later recalled), transmission issues (later recalled), and now this safety issue. I am extremely disappointed that they continue to disregard safety for their customers.
- West Palm Beach, FL, USA
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The contact owns a 2004 Ford Freestar. The contact stated that the third row seat failed to latch into its seating position. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who stated that the third row seat latch mounting bracket needed to be replaced. NHTSA recall campaign number 13V081000 (seats) was referenced. The manufacturer stated that they would not repair the vehicle under the recall because the vehicle was more than five years old. The approximate failure mileage was 68,068.
I have a 2004 Ford Freestar that has this exact problem 13V081000. I called the dealer and since I'm in Kansas they will not take care of the repairs. I have photos and this is exactly what is described in the recall. My back seat cannot lock forward. This is a safety issue. Can you please help.
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Freestar. The contact stated that she received a notification of NHTSA campaign number: 13V081000 (seats) and was concerned for her safety because the dealer stated that the parts were no longer available and in order to repair the vehicle, they would need to either use parts from a different manufacturer or permanently remove the rear seat. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 147,000.
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Freestar. The contact stated while driving 20 mph, the third seat anchor point broke sending the seat forward. The contact stated that after inspecting the vehicle he noticed that the failure was due to corrosion. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 13V081000 (seats). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 82,000.
2004 Ford Freestar. Consumer writes in regards to wheel well rusting recall notice. The consumer stated rust developed on the driver's side door in 2010, at the time the vehicle was purchased, the consumer bought amor protection for rust. The consumer put in a claim, and the vehicle was repaired. However, one year later, the rust returned, only this time, the consumer was denied a second claim. A couple of years later, the third seat bracket fell apart. The consumer received a recall about the wheel well rusting. The consumer made an appointment at the dealer. The dealer informed the consumer, as they were cutting away at the rust. It was discovered the frame was also rusting, and it was dangerous to drive the vehicle, or to even try and fix the rust problem.
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Freestar. The contact stated that while attempting to have the vehicle repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 13V081000 (seats), it was determined that the rear wheel wells were corroded due to water penetration and were unable to support the recall remedy. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The consumer stated the rear latch 3rd row seat fell off, due to it rubbing against the rear tire.
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Freestar. The contact stated that there was a gaping hole in the rear wheel well, causing the third road striker and latch to fracture. The failure prevented the third row seat from locking into place. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 13V081000 (seats) however, the technician notified the owner that the water damage caused mold and corrosion to form in the quarter panel, seat belts, left third road seat and the carpet. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not offer any assistance since the additional repairs were not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 87,000 and the current mileage was 88,000.
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Freestar. The contact stated that water was building up in the wheel well brackets for the third row seats. As a result, the seat exhibited rust and corrosion. In addition, the rear seat anchor plate was completely detached from the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, who advised the contact that the vehicle was not included in any recalls. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 144,000.
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 happy with this vehicle otherwise. (there are no other prices rusting or falling off obviously).
As stated with other 2004 Ford Freestars, rear rust on driverside rear, rear seat will not lock because the safety lock is rusted away, not safe to any passenger to sit there.
The contact owns a 2004 Freestar. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 mph, a loud grinding sound was heard coming from the rear tires. The contact also stated that the wheel mount and wheel well were rusted. In addition, the third row latch failed and the seats were unable to stay folded. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostics. The technician stated that the wheel well and latches needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not offer any further assistance due to the vehicle not being included in any recalls. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage and current mileage was 140,000.
The left rear 3rd row seat anchor plate, mounted normally to the left rear inner wheelhouse as an integrated part of the wheelhouse, has rusted around the plate edges and the entire plate is separating from the wheelhouse assembly. Currently it is rusted thru on the left, right, and bottom edges of the mounting plate, remaining attached only along its top edge. This is letting road moisture into the interior regions of the van, soiling carpet and jute, causing odor and possible mold development. The 3rd row seat can no longer be safely attached.
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Freestar. The contact stated that the left side of the rear seat was not bolted to the floor. The plate that was holding the seat in place was covered with rust and disconnected leaving a hole near the left rear wheel well which caused the seat to move. The plate on the right side of the seat was also covered with rust, but had not broken away from the structure of the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 119,000 and the current mileage was 119,300. Updated 02/26/13 the consumer stated the manufacturer was contacted but, offered no assistance. The vehicle was beyond its 5yrs corrosion warranty.updated 03/1/2013
I own 2004 Ford Freestar. While attempting to latch the third row rear seat, the latch failed due to severe corrosion on the floor panel, side panel and attachments which holds the third seat latch bracket the third row seat latch bracket slides out and extrudes to rear driver side wheel which is very dangerous and can burst the rear driver side tire while running car. I am entering this complaint in relation to other complaints that have been filed. There is a defect investigation taking place (EA12003 and PE11039) for this issue already. I attempted to put my 3rd row seat back up and lock it into place. On the drive side I noticed that it would not lock into place. After further review, I know noticed that the whole latch had broken off because of rusted panel. The whole plate rusted thru.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Taylorsville, KY, USA