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.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestar equipped with summit premium plus 2 tires, sizes 235/60/16. The contact stated that over time the steel belt detached from all of the tires at different times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician was unable to determine what caused the failure to occur. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The tires were replaced. The VIN and the dot number were not available. The failure mileage was 90,000 and the current mileage was 109,000. The tires mileage was 10,000.
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.
On my 2005 Ford Freestar van, I have had to tire blowouts due to failed valve stems. The first occurred in July,2006---the next in Sept.of 2007. Both happened when I was traveling at high speed on Florida turnpike. The tire store (Goodyear) denied any liability as it was the valve that failed. The Ford dealer also denied it. I just saw an article on line about defective chinese made valve stems and thought my problems might be related to them. My valve stems were the original ones on my vehicle.
I have had recurring problems with my automatic rear doors. The door on the driver side does not always close properly and when I back up the door ajar light comes on. The passenger rear door does not open with the overhead button all the time, it does not seem to unlock. I have had it in the shop several times (at least 6 or more) and most of the time they say they can't duplicate the problem even though they have seen the door not close properly before. They ordered parts and said it was "fixed" but I'm still having the problem and again they say they can not duplicate the problem. I have explained to them that my toddler sits in the seat behind me and it is dangerous when I'm backing out and the door opens!!!! the dealership said they have contacted Ford and they have not had any reports of this kind of problem, however I have found several complaints over the internet. My other problem, that they also say they can't duplicate, is that when I'm driving about 45 mph on a dry surface that the van starts jerking. They told me my tires need rotating, I told them I knew that was not the cause and not to rotate the tires. About 1 month later I replaced 2 of the tires and had the front tires rotated to the back and the new tires put on the front and again, I was driving down the road about 45 mph and the van started jerking again. My son was in the car and thought the van was about to fall apart.
Consumer complained about vibration problems. The steering wheel vibrated and vehicle shuttered. Consumer took vehicle to the dealership three days after purchasing it. The dealership kept the car for 5 days and could not figure out what the problem was. The dealer changed the rotors twice and changed the tires. Consumer took the vehicle back to the dealer, and the dealership had the car for 17 days. The Ford representative came to the dealership and put the vehicle on the diagnostic machine and the Ford representative seemed to think that was the tires. Consumer was suppose to pick up the car but was hesitant because of the tire problem. Consumer noticed that there were other complaints on this same problem.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Leesville, LA, USA