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.
2005 Ford Freestar. Consumer writes in regards to transmission failure recall notice. The consumer stated in November 2010, the transmission failed, with no symptoms of failure. The transmission was replaced. In August 2012, the torque converter was replaced. The consumer believed only the torque converter should have been replaced in 2010, and not the entire transmission. The consumer is seeking reimbursement for the transmission.
2005 Freestar. Consumer writes in regards to torque converter failure while driving on the highway. The consumer stated it cost $ $2,552.53 to install a re-built transmission/torque converter. The consumer stated he received a recall letter in the mail, stating he may be eligible for a refund for his out of pocket expenses. The consumer contacted the dealer about the refund and was informed the maximum amount available to cover the repair bill was less than $ 1,500. Recall # 12V006000
2005 Ford Freestar. Consumer writes in regards to failed transmission. Recall 12V006000. The consumer stated he received a denial letter from Ford regarding a request for reimbursement. Ford stated in the letter, that their records indicated a refund had already been processed for the repair. The consumer stated no refund was ever issued to him. In December 2011, the vehicle broke down. The consumer had the vehicle towed and a diagnosis revealed the transmission needed to be re-built at a cost of $3,000. The consumer paid $525 for the removal of the transmission, partially dismantling it, in order to diagnose the problem and re-mounting of the transmission into the vehicle. The consumer is seeking reimbursement for the removal, diagnosis, towing and tax on the vehicle.
When driving down the road the van will suddenly lose all forward momentum and drift momentarily until it will just as suddenly resume forward momentum and continue like normal. When this happens, the rpms drop off like the vehicle is stalling or fuel starved (however it has no hesitation like its running out of gas) no warning lights come on and there is no pattern to when or how it happens. However, the problem has been getting progressively worse and now it is noticed that it has a higher tendency to do it when it is raining or there is high humidity. It does it at all speeds from 25mph to 70mph. Ford dealership has looked at the van and could not get it to reproduce the problem when they had it. However, they stated this does not sound like a torque converter problem addressed under safety recall notice 11S25/ NHTSA recall 12V-006. This is a very dangerous problem and has almost caused several accidents as I have no warning the problem is getting ready to happen and have no way to notify other motorist of my sudden and quick deceleration.
Cas asks this letter and the 92 complaints attached hereto be placed in the docket of EA09-016 and that Ford be ordered to recall all 2004-05 Ford Freestar, and Mercury monterey vans for defective transmissions.
- Washington, DC, USA
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Driving at 65 mph and auto starts coasting. Engine will rev, transmission has dis-engaged and will not re-engage. This is apparently a very common failure with this model. Transmission is out, no warning or noise; just gone. So many reported transmission failures, one has to wonder why there has been no recalls issued.
Upon a stop or when attempting to reverse, the car lunges for no apparent reason. I view this as dangerous, as this has occurred several times, either when in a parking lot with pedestrians behind me entering store or when I am at a stop light and pedestrians are in a crosswalk. After researching this issue, I see that this is a problem that other people are having as well, concerning a "throttle body" component on the Ford freestyle from years 2005 and up. I feel that this should be seriously investigated before someone is seriously injured or killed through no fault of the car owner, but in fact, the vehicle and the maker of the vehicle.
Moisture damage to powertrain control module (computer system). Vehicle would not idle, transmission would not shift, and erratic electronics resulting in multiple warning lights to go on and off. Fortunately, I was in a parking lot, however, this could have resulted in catastrophic failure if I was driving on an interstate. Repair shop stated that they have seen this same problem. I have to have a new computer installed and the vehicle is only 6 years old.
2005 Ford Freestar SE has approx. 70,000 miles bought it for a retail of 9,400 dollars and 4 months later the transmission goes out (in March of 2011). Thank god it my wife and kid didn't get into a crash on the highway with it. We just recently took it back to the dealership to look at it again because it won't run in gear and they said its the torque convertor. So we took it back to where we got it repaired and they say theres water in the transmission. This was the worst 9,400 dollars ive ever spent! we havent even had this car for 9 months and it been in the shop 50% of the time besides the out of pocket money cost. How can Ford sell such a piece of crap?
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestar. The contact was driving 65 mph when the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the transmission was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 86,000.
I have a 2005 Ford Freestar with 61000 miles on it and I have had no problems no sounds no nothing and today on my way home on the highway it just stopped moving like I was in neutral but I was in drive. I had to pull over immediately as there were several large trucks coming up behind me. I barely got it out of the way. I was not able to find a spot to kind of get out of the way then I would not be here today.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestar. The contact stated was driving 20 mph when the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who performed a diagnostic that located the failure at the transmission and advised the transmission be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted and advised that they would contact the dealer on the contact's behalf. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 93,000.
I have the same problem that everyone else is complaining about. Driving along at 30 mph. All of a sudden complete power loss and revving. Towed the vehicle to the mechanic and also stated I needed a new torque converter. Mileage only 66,600. Seems to be an ongoing problem with this vehicle!
Have a 2005 Ford Freestar with 64000 miles on it. While driving down a highway with my husband and 5 children in the car, it just revved up without warning and started to slow down. No drive, reverse, low... nothing. The transmission just took a vacation. Lucky aaa was close by and got the car towed to our home and our family home safe. The next morning we decided to go out and try to start it again and see if anything changed. Now the car not only has no transmission but the car wont even turn over. Everything else works. Its not the battery, which is new. Have had regular maintenance on it and not had many problems until now, . have a call into Ford right now waiting for a tech to call me back with options. Seeing so many people with the exact same issue, seems to me Ford should be taking care of this issue.
2005 Ford Freestar 36,000 miles was driving home on surface road along a 2 mile straight away vehicle bucked, (surged and slowed) while driving 40 miles an hour put it in neutral and revved the engine just fine put it back into gear and it drove about another mile did it again... same response on my part and was able to limp it back to my house which was 3 miles from original place of the problem. I parked it and after a short google of the problem found hundreds after hundreds of people with the same problem. I've not repaired it yet.pending finding out what my options are.
The transmission in my 2005 Ford Freestar stopped working without wringing or prior indication that something was wrong. My wife backed out of the drive and then put the van in drive and it would not move forward. Also tried reverse and it no longer works either. This needs to be a recall based on what I am reviewing on several web sites. This type of repair (that could have been avoided with a better design) is costing approximately $2500 for each vehicle - with some owners experiencing this issue multiple times!
I had taken my 2005 Ford Freestar van to be checked for a problem with the transmission because it wasn't shifting properly. Then later I had taken it to a Ford dealer for the check engine light to be diagnosed - they claimed that it couldn't be diagnosed because it didn't write the code properly. Transmission still not shifting properly. A month later the transaxle light came on, the engine wasn't running properly and in the rain the check engine light would blink on and off. I took it to a transmission specialist who actually took the time with the van to diagnose it. He had to let the engine warm up long enough for the lights to start coming on. Then he diagnosed the problem to be the 2nd gear in the transmission. Once the transmission was removed he said that it couldn't be fixed so I had to install a new transmission - $2700 later and had to borrow a vehicle from family to go on vacation. I also had to replace the air compressor for the air conditioner - $500 later but now it seems to be giving me problems again. I have had numerous issues with the tires - they don't hold air because of the rims that don't allow them to properly seal. I had the dealer put on the last set of tires and told them to fix the issue - so far I haven't had an issue. But for 60000 miles I have had issues.
Trans went out 10/09 with 69613 ml. Had it repaired. Said it had something to do with the torque converter. On 2/11, 88K ml on van, 18K ml on rebuilt trans, it went out again. I was lucky, both times it quit when my wife was in the drive way so no one was hurt. I haven't had it repaired as yet, still deciding if it is worth having it repaired a 2nd time if it is not going to be safe/dependable. Now I here the case is closed! the subject vehicles suffered from a design issue whereby water could run down onto the cowling and then drip on the (PCM), which could be manifested in a variety of symptoms. In addition to causing an engine to stall, it could also cause the trans to shift poorly, have erratic power, an inability to shift the vehicle into either forward or reverse, and cause higher idle RPM in park. During this investigation ODI was concerned with the effect of the engine stalling or a drastic and sudden loss of power either of which may create a safety risk. In reviewing the actual number of these types of incidents, collectively referred to here as engine stalls, the number was found to be below what would be considered a defect trend. Accordingly this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency will continue to monitor complaints and other information relating to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles and take further action in the future if warranted. Edt you mean to tell me NHTSA doesn't find a drastic and sudden loss of the trans to create a safety risk. Driving on the interstate or pulling into a busy intersection and the trans suddenly quits, no way to move out of harms way. There are over 1500 messages on edmunds.com, telling the same story, but that's not being looked into. I sincerely hope the Agency will continue to monitor complaints and information relating to the defect and take further action in the future because it is warranted.
I have 05 Ford Freestar with only 66K miles, and transmission failed. I had 6 kids with me going camping. Our plan failed because of this I have to tow it about 600 miles. I don't drive it since than because it is to expensive to repair. Will never buy found on road dead again.
Complete loss of movement power on I-85 S about 20 miles North of atlanta, ga. Had vehicle towed to mall of Georgia Ford in sugar hill, ga. Diagnosed as complete transmission failure. No injury or accident caused by failure. I understand this is a common failure for Freestars in model years 2004 and 2005.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Newport, NH, USA