Overview & Reviews

The Freestar is an all-new minivan that replaces Ford's aged Windstar. Recognizing the increased competition in this segment, the company has incorporated must-haves like a fold-flat third-row seat, rear DVD entertainment system and a power liftgate, while adding new items like side curtain airbags that cover all three rows of seating and an available large-displacement V6 for hauling heavy loads.

• Plenty of safety and convenience features, sharp interior design, torquey V6 engines.

• Unimpressive fuel economy numbers, less horsepower than top competitors.

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 145.00

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  195000 miles and still alive. - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By Zach - December 6 - 9:32 pm

  I have a 4.2 l sel that is almost ready to roll 200k. I read the reviews on the transmission mine is original at 200k. I had the tranny flushed every 50k miles and done maintnance and here we are. The van has been exceptional. So if you take care of your car and do maintnance your car will take care of you. This van has a lot of negative reviews but has been great for me and my family. Im willing to bank i will get my freestar over 250k and will report back when I do. Outstanding vehicle.

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  Transmission for the 3rd time, 99,000 miles - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By haringbastos - April 11 - 10:51 pm

  I wish I never bought this van... Transmission failed 3 times!!!. Driving 65 miles per hour then all of a sudden fail. Always in the shop every month for something. Good looking van but it is actually junk and scary to use.

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  One of the best Ford products Ive owned - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By chilcutt - March 16 - 10:04 pm

  Been a ford man my whole life. Never owned a van till now. Bought a 2004 Freestar over a month ago. Got a good deal had 178,XXX miles on it yet drives like it has 10 miles on it. I did have to put new brakes and rotors on the front. And replace the drivers side CV axle. This is very minimal repair for a vehicle with that many miles on it. The trans runs very smooth and it is the original, I must have gotten lucky after reading the reviews and knowing very well about Fords trans problems. I love it. I havent even used all the features this van has yet. The previous owner had to keep it in a garage, its rust free and I live in MI. Good looking and a pleasure to drive.

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  Ford KNOWS the transmission SUCKS! - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By glowmomnmy - December 30 - 9:54 pm

  This is a dangerous, nightmarish, horrid and horrible vehicle. Broke down yesterday in the middle of a major highway intersection- slipped out of gear and would not get back in gear. Took 20 minutes and a lot of praying to pull it off the road. Its in the shop AGAIN- just had to replace the tranny less than 2 years ago at less than 60k miles and replaced cam shaft sensor as well just a year ago. There is a class action lawsuit out because of the trannys- but like most of my fellow co-owners, who among us has the $$$ to get the lawyers Ford has at its beck-and-call. There was no warning- just accelerated through intersection and it stopped- the motor was still on, but no gear! SCARY!!!

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  Recent Purchase, WARNING DO NOT BUY! - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By amcrowe - October 24 - 3:50 am

  While driving home, my driver side window quit working. The buttons on my radio quit working, although it randomly kept trying to reprogram "preset 2". Finally, at 65mph on a busy road, I rapidly lost all acceleration. Almost exactly like many of you have explained with the erratic RPM. I flushed the transmission fluid, hoped that it was a fluke. Fixed a loose connection on the driver side door, got the window working again. The radio was still acting up, but feeling confident I hopped into my ‘NEW’ van only to have it NOT START AT ALL. [violative content deleted]

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  Waste of money - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By cwiley4l - June 2 - 6:16 am

  I will never buy another Ford. My transmission went out @ 76,000 miles. Cost almost 3K at the dealer to replace. My trac control light goes off and on at will. now I have a check engine light on.. God only knows what that is ... will find out today. Im so frustrated and for the actual cost of the van and to have all these repairs.. ridiculous. There should be a recall on the transmission. Oh and I need to mention.. when Im driving now, it sounds like whales singing. Im fed up.

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  buyer beware - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By jessica2004 - May 2 - 8:56 pm

  my husband and I just bought our freestar 5 months ago and have had nothing but bad luck. had it in the shop within the first 3000 miles of owning it 4 times. the steering wheel shakes all the time, the transaxle light keeps coming on, new coil pak, 2 new crank shaft sensors, 2 new high speed output sensors and only 54000 miles on it. I didnt mention that it had a new transmission in it when we bought and we didnt realize it and by the way it has 59000 on it now and just had it towed to ford dealership this morning......needs new transmission AGAIN!!!!!!!! Do not buy this vehicle it is a money pit and a major lemon for the ford company. Every freestar needs to be recalled!!!

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  Transmission Out at 97,000 miles - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By jayman1201 - December 13 - 12:23 pm

  Bought this thing in 06 with 67,000 miles on it. 1 year after purchase the AC went out. In 08 coming home from my sisters wedding in Canada, the transmission went out. Torque converter broke apart and screwed the Transmission. On 2nd one now and the 4th gear is shot in that. Worst vehicle ever. Ford should have had a recall notice on the transmission. Too common a problem not to address.

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  Transmission - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By Arlington - November 22 - 2:00 am

  I had a little over 92,000 miles on the van and the transmission went out. A list of problems was wrong with it for one is the torque converter. got it back and the EGR Valve went out.

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  Multiple Problems - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By minivanmom - October 25 - 2:00 am

  Bought the 04 freestar used in Oct 09 with 54k miles. Within 3 weeks of having it, the traction control light went on -- it goes on and off at will, mostly it is on all the time. This last summer, the AC went out. Had to get a new AC compressor for $600 dollars ... it was changed and the AC only worked in the front of the van, just blew hot air in the back. Mechanic tried to find the problem and changed the orifice tube, which was full of debris ... still no ac in the back. He said that there is likely debris throughout the entire system and would need an entire overhaul to repair the ac in the back. This weekend the transmission failed and it will cost $2500 to repair. DO NOT BUY ONE