Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2004 Ford Freestar
NHTSA data on file today
The 2004 Ford Freestar has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1,227 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #13V081000 Corrosion of Third Row Seat Attachment NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #12V006000 TORQUE CONVERTER MALFUNCTIONS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E056000 FUEL LEAK/FIRE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V446000 FORD/HUBS, ROTORS, WHEEL BEARINGS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V457000 FORD/POWER STEERING LINE NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Power Train 851 complaints
- Electrical System 118 complaints
- Structure 94 complaints
- Seats 86 complaints
- Engine 69 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 49 complaints
Of the 1,227 complaints on file, 16 report a crash and 14 a fire; across all 1,227 complaints, owners report 21 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$10,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2004 Ford Freestar has a below-average rating due to significant issues with its power train, particularly the automatic transmission, leading to frequent complaints and recalls. Recalls impacting the seats, steering, and wheels further raise ownership concerns.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| automatic transmission | 80,000–120,000 miles | $1,200–$3,000 | very common |
| electrical system | 70,000–100,000 miles | $300–$1,000 | common |
| seats | 50,000–90,000 miles | $150–$500 | common |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes every 5,000 miles
- Tire rotations every 10,000 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 2 years
- Transmission fluid change every 60,000 miles
- Coolant system check annually
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Unusual transmission noises
- Loss of power steering
- Seat latch failures
- Frequent electrical issues
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2004 Ford Freestar at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.