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BrakesPart report

2004 Ford Freestar Brakes Problems

Complaints
59about this part
Share
5%of 1,227 total for the year
Median mileage
44,986miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 59 complaints about the brakes of the 2004 Ford Freestar, 5% of the 1,227 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 44,986 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Driving down rd n it felt as if someone was pushing break while I was smashing gas pedal . Lost all fire to car wouldn't go no where. I was on a country rd going uphill. It spots n sputter n jerks real hard going up hill like my transmission going bad but motor sounds good so I have no clue..”

NHTSA complaint #11344013, filed 2020-08, 230,000 miles

“The 2004 Freestar is shorting out all the sensors are shorting out u took it to be put on machine and it cane back with 17 sensors malfunction going on and it's the only vechele I own and I've googled the problem and I see 100000 other people are having the same problem what should I do I might be driving down the road and the vraje sensor is going and I can't stop I'm not rich I cantvgo buy another van please help me”

NHTSA complaint #10849857, filed 2016-03, 260,000 miles

“Alpr system on telephone poles and police cars are attacking my vehicle. Already destroyed my ABS brake system module and now working on my starter motor, blower motor, speed control and etc. Some attacks cause loud base drum like thumping on my dashboard. Other attacks lock my gearshift lever in park, unlock my doors. Stop my speed control from working, and etc. These attacks have been ongoing for about 4 years. Along with these attacks, police cars frequently threaten me with head-on collisions. The thumping scares me when it occurs in heavy traffic and could cause an accident. …”

NHTSA complaint #11084941, filed 2018-04, 65,000 miles

“A rear brake caliper stuck which caused the brake pad to grind down to zero pad and into my rotor. I had to have the pads and rotors replaced due to the failure of the caliper. The caliper is a covered part under the warranty. The dealer and Ford refuses to cover the resulting damage to the rotors even though the warranty clearly states that it would do so. I want reimbursed for my repair.”

NHTSA complaint #10144325, filed 2005-12, 44,973 miles

“We own a 2004 Freestar that has had the transmission replaced in feb 2008 with less than 43,000 miles on it. In july 2008 we spend $450 on repairing part of the breaking system, and this week the van would not go into reverse and did not have any pull to it when it finally did after several attempts. Once I got out of the parking space, I got an estimate of a block and onto a busy highway, only to have the van stall on me, almost causing a wreck. …”

NHTSA complaint #10252316, filed 2008-12, 44,000 miles

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Brakes: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
200712%
2006103%
2005283%
2004595%

Other parts of the 2004 Ford Freestar

Transmission and drivetrain
851 complaints
Electrical system
118 complaints
Body and structure
94 complaints
Seats
86 complaints
Engine
69 complaints
Engine cooling
49 complaints
Vehicle speed control
33 complaints
Other or unknown
29 complaints
Steering
27 complaints
Suspension
25 complaints
Wheels
25 complaints
Fuel system
23 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2004 Ford Freestar

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology