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.
Driving my Freestar and it suddenly lost power. Engine still running, will not go in forward or reverse. Only neutral or park. This happened in a rural 2-lane road in Kentucky. No way to get on the shoulder of the road. After getting it towed to a dealer after they had closed for the weekend. Had to get a rental car. To get back home to Michigan. Monday the dealer called the torque converter had stripped it's splines cost $1379.85 for the torque converter, two seals, fluid, a screen and a trans insulator with labor. Rental car from enterprise $420.76 towing $95 gas for the extra trip to Kentucky and back $70 not only were we lucky we did not cause an accident by this failure. But we were able to get a tow truck within an hour. The vehicle had 85,625 miles on it. Not covered under warranty even though I had purchased and extended warranty. It only went to 72,000 miles.
The minivan has been described by the dealership with transmission failure. The proposed remedy is to completely replace the transmission. We were returning home after driving approximately 1/2 hour at freeway speeds. After exiting the freeway we proceeded to an intersection and stopped at a red traffic signal. When the light turned green and the brake was released and gas pedal pressed, the engine accelerated but the car did not move. We tried all the gears and the car would not move although the engine appeared to be running normally. We feel fortunate that this failure happened at a stop and not at freeway speeds and that the vehicles behind us at the traffic signal did not plow into our rear end. Prior to this incident occurring we had intermittent occasions with the "check engine" light coming on, and then going off. We often were always able to clear the problem by tightening the gas cap while the car was running, which is a common cause for the light to turn on. The vehicle was purchased used from a Ford dealer about 17 months prior to the incident. During that time we noticed occasions of bursts of acceleration when driving at highway speeds. I spoke with the dealer who assured us this was normal. Since the incident, I have come to find out there are thousands of posts on the internet regarding identical problems on the 2005 Ford Freestar, yet no action has been taken. While we came out of this incident safely, I can see how it would cause tragic accidents to occur. In the end, we have an estimate of $4000 for the repair (1/3 of the price we paid for the vehicle after driving the car less than 6000 miles and having it serviced meticulously in the interim). Our household is struggling financially, and we do not have resources for this kind of repair. While we are happy to be uninjured, the economic impact of the flawed transmission is devastating.
My wife was driving (35 mph) our 3 kids to the doctor's office and the Freestar suddenly had the engine rev and lose all power to the drive train. She was very lucky to coast to the shoulder with the road being narrow, winding and relatively busy. This could have been a disaster if she had still been on the nearby 3 lane highway at rush hour. Towed to herb chamber Ford dealer and showed them the NHTSA action number for this investigation, they acted as if the printout was invisible. Charged me $209 to diagnose problem without even pulling the pan off, two options were to put in a rebuilt transmission for $3400, or rebuild for ~$2800. Went to an independent transmission specialist, confirmed that it was the torque converter and fixed for $2000. Very disturbed that such a major malfunction could happen at 67,319 miles, this could have caused a potentially fatal accident had it happened on one of our local highways.
Was driving vehicle on highway speedometer started to move rapidly in highway traffic, car stopped abruptly almost have a mac truck slam into the rear, transmission wouldn't go into drive or reverse. Had transmission redone at authorized transmission, 1,800 dollars notified Ford corporate they blew me off stated my warranty expired. October 2011 same issue happened again just paid van off bought brand new in July of 2005 this car cost me enough for 6 years and no recall please help Ford could have cost me and my family our lives is it worth dyeing over a mistake. Jesus.....
The van would not shift into gears. It had to be towed to Ford dealership service center. They said transmission is burnt (they couldn't figure out what caused it) and need to replace the entire transmission which would cost $3300. The van has been serviced regularly at local Ford dealership oil changes, check ups etc.. and it has less than 60K miles. And now they are telling me I have to replace the entire transmission suddenly" I researched this issue online and there are countless people filing complaints and claims and law suits with this transmission issue. I can't believe Ford makes transmission that doesn't even last 60K miles and they want customers to pay for the replacement" there should have been a recall or some kind of warranty cover for this. It's a nonsense! never buying Ford ever again.
- Cherry Hill, NJ, USA
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I was driving home from work at 11:00pm and turned the corner. Lost power, the RPM's went up and the van went nowhere. No warning it just went out. Had to have it towed the next morning to a dealer, said my transmission needed to be replaced costing $3500. Said nothing about problems with the Freestar torque converter. Read all the pages on complaints about the van, and had it towed to a transmission specialist. Now waiting for parts on backorder.
Numerous problems with this vehicle. Transmission went out, replaced it and still having original problem. After exiting highway and coming to complete stop, transmission will whine out in 1st gear, will not shift unless you stop accelerating. Alarm system went off and would not stop, lights would not shut off unless you disconnect the battery. Consistent problems with drivers side ventilation system (heat blowing cold, air blowing hot). Airbag warning light on. Pass warranty, to tired to keep putting money into this vehicle.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestar. The contact was driving 70 mph when the transmission failed. The vehicle was merged to the side of the shoulder and was towed to her home. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer and the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 140,000.
My wife was driving down a main highway, when her Ford Freestar lost all power from the transmission. She coasted to the side of the roadway. She tried to put the vehicle in any gear and all that would move was the RPM gauge. Her and my son were left stranded on the side of the roadway. The vehicle had to be towed to a mechanic shop, who told us that the the vehicle would have to have a new transmission and that it would cost us about $3000. This vehicle has been well taken care of since we bought it new. The vehicle only has 70,000 miles on it and should not be having the transmission replaced. It appears from everything I have learned that this a common problem with this year model. My question is, why hasn't a recall been issued on this problem? not only am I out a tow bill and the cost of a transmission, my family was left stranded on the side of the roadway. This should not have happened.
On 9/8/11 I went to get in my car to leave from work and my car would not move. It would crank but when I put it into gear it would not move. After two days of trying to get a tow truck small enough to get into the parking garage at work, my car was towed to a car shop. The car shop told me ther was something wrong with the transmission and they couldn't fix it. They had transmission shop come pick up the car by tow truck on 9/12/11 and I was told by the tranmission shop it was the torque converter. After looking online I noticed that this is happening to a lot of people that have this same model car. Ford is not doing anything about this. This car need to be recall as this is very dangerous. The transmission shop told me that it would be $1500 to repair this issue. There are people all over the U.S. that are having the same issue with the 2005 Ford Freestar. I will never buy another Ford again. Why isn't Ford taking responsible for these defective parts (torque converters) they are putting in these vechles. Do someone have to get seriously hurt before they decide to do something about this. I noticed that there is a class action lawsuit pending for this torque converter issue. I advise you all if you have experienced the same problem to complain and join suit. This is ridiculous.
While driving in traffic the van just slipped out of gear. Hitting the gas only made the engine rev up. I coasted to a stop. The van would still start and run but would not go into drive or reverse. The gear shift moves but nothing happens. After having it towed we replaced the transmission sensor but it did not fix the issue. Do not know what to do at this point.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestar. While driving 55 mph, the contact stated the vehicle stalled on the highway. The dealer diagnosed that the torque converter failed. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified, but denied any assistance with repairs to the vehicle. The failure mileage was 32,432 and the current mileage was 114,000.
I was driving down the road and my transmission went out. I know that there are thousands of people who have had this problem and some of them after already having it replaced before. Ford should be forced to issue a recall!!!
Bought this van used at 43,000 miles in 2010, ,,concerned because transmission had been rebuilt...bought extended warranty for 12 month/12,000 miles...had trouble in Dec. 2010 took to dealer...they replaced sensor....warranty went out in Feb. 2011....had to rebuild transmission in 7/2011 3rd transmission...$1300 my expense....today the check transaxle light came on again!!!....called the Ford company....so_O_O_O sorry!!! can't do anything for you....53,000 miles.
Vehicle suddenly lost forward motion on a busy street with no shoulder. Coasted to stop with engine running. Put on flashers, but vehicles had to swerve to go around the van. Vehicle would not move in drive or reverse.
My 2005 Ford Freestar has stop driving.it starts but when I shift into gears the car does nothing. It won't drive or go in reverse. I had a mechanic look at it and they said water got into the PCM. And would cost about $1200 to fix.I have notice many other 2005 Ford Freestars with the same problem. Many have repaired the problem out of pocket because Ford won't pay for the problem.we didn't design the vechile so why is it we have to pay for the problem.I was lucky that I was pulling into my house when my car cut off.but many other stories with the same water on the PCM problem have been on highways or busy streets when their car dies so is Ford waiting for someone or a group of people to die in order to recall this problem and take resposibility and repair it so the consumer don't have to pay with thier money or thier lives.I swear had I known that Ford has ignored serious lifethreating problem like the water on the PCM or transmission problem I would have never gotten a van from Ford or any vehicle from them. Ford clearly stands for found on road dead and soon its not going to be just the vehicle but someone life as well if they drive a Ford.and Ford doesn't give a crap.
Transmission failed while driving. Car had to be stopped in the middle of the road and towed to the dealer who advised new transmission needed. Past problems with this vehicle include computer chip replaced after getting it home from dealer brand new. Also both power steering hoses failed.
My van shuddered today on the middle of the highway with my two boys in tow- had to cross over to get to the side of the road for safety. Have already replaced transmission, have a faulty erg valve, the ac compressor is going out and we had to replace the cam sensor. Now have a powertrain alarm- have to go back to the mechanic to see what exactly it is... already sank over $3500 just on fixing it's many issues. Why has this not been recalled"?? is Ford waiting for folks to die like Toyota did before they admit and correct the errors"
On interstate going 70mph with cruise control on when instantly engine started racing then immediately stopped. The engine was still on but the van would not move. We had to push it out of the highway. The engine would start, but it would not engage into any gear. It went from cruising at 70mph to a dead stop, without any warning, within seconds. We had five children in a van with us.....we could have all been killed. We have since found out that many similar complaints have been made on this type of vehicle, however, Ford has not warned anyone.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Trenton, MI, USA