Reply to Bornloser,
You might ask your dealer to check with Ford. Surely these recall repairs are entered in Fords computer system. In case any future owner would wonder about my 2004 Freestar, after having the recall repair work done I placed the repair order in the owners manual packet in the glove box so any future owner can reference it.

Note: After the repair the transmission not only shifted super smooth, but my average gas mileage went up by .2 mpg so there must have been some slippage in the torque converter besides the spline problem. Overall I am very happy with the results.

 

Just call your local Ford dealer service department (all Ford dealers have access to the information) and give them the vehicle VIN number. They will be able to validate if the work was done or not.

If the work was not done, you can then ask them to schedule an appointment to have it done. They will have to do the work as it is a safety recall. It will most likely be a 2 day job and they are not obliged to provide a courtesy vehicle during the work, so you will have to organize your own means of transport if you need it during those 2 days.

Good luck!

 

I just bought a 2004 Ford Freestar not knowing that the torque convertor was out. I bought the van AS IS 2 days ago. Is this recall still good for this vehicle? I know that the van was manufactured in Oakville. I didnt get the transmission light on until after I purchased and signed the paperwork.

 

You have to call your local ford dealership with your VIN number to find out if it's been done yet. If not, then it's covered.

There may be a cost to you for a part of the exhaust if it breaks (I think that's what it was) as Ford sometimes will not cover that, but sometimes they do (as it was covered for my van); they also gave me a loaner at zero cost including for gas for the time it was being repaired (about 24 hours total).

If the recall was already completed, and the light is on, it's probably unrelated and a repair that will likely be at your cost.

 

I follow a YouTube channel that some of you may know called "Eric the car guy" and he just posted a video titled "Torque Converters Explained" which was really helpful making me understand the situation with our Van. I thought others would be interested in viewing the video as well, so here's the link.

 

Im obviously not taking the van to the ford dealership where I bought the van because they said that van wasnt covered and ran the VIN number...they of course did not show me the screen where they ran it...that specifif FORD dealership is full of a bunch of ripp off artists...I ran the VIN number on the FORD site and that recall did not show up under my VIN...crazy...Maybe its not posted, and is part of a claim..I dont know...Im mad and feel ripped off by the ford dealership...

 

You know, the way the recall was posted (at least on the technician level) is the same as ever it was; that is anything that breaks that is required to be removed to acess the part should be covered under the recall. The exhaust is the most likely culprit, though I'd seen enough of the subframe bolts breaking to qualify, also.
But there is a caveat here. Ford dropped the labor from something like 6 or so hours to just over 4. This was due to changes in the way that the trans. was removed, which was supposed to make it easier. Therefore, not everything that broke was covered, or was put off on the customer, tech, or dealership; and that's fine for Ford, as they don't care because it saves them money.
One thing that stinks is that the engine is being help up by a support bar, the subframe is swung out of the way, and then the trans. is removed. Great if it works, but what happens if something falls, slips, or breaks? Don't ask me, I quit a while ago. Great for me, but God bless all the techs that got stuck with this stinker of a recall.
Also, this wasn't the higest quality transmission that Ford made; it was basically designed in the early 80's, and was slightly revised to carry on into the early 2000's. They had their problems (slow reverse engagment was one), but I think everyone is much happier that they've gone to the great transmission graveyard in the sky.
However, I DID make a ton of money off them.

 

2006 & 2007 Models are not included..Even though we are having the same problem.

 

Thats a shame that the 06 and 07 aren't covered. My guess is they didn't sell enough of them to have a large enough group fail and the owners complain. Ford should've just included them in the recall.
Same for the new recall on the salt/rust related seat belt bolt failures. I live in the South but travel up north and my van is subjected to salted roads. It's silly to exclude vehicles in the southern USA. What if in the future I or a new owner lives in the Northeast? Tough luck, I guess?