2005 FORD FREESTAR Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED AND REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V006000 (POWER TRAIN). HOWEVER, AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND STALLED SPORADICALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT PRIOR TO THE RECALL REPAIR HE HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN FOUND THAT THE PCM WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000. *TR

AFTER RAIN ALL NIGHT ON WED.6/4/2013 WENT TO TAKE VAN TO PITTSBURGH STARTED HESITATING AND VIBRATING WHILE ON HIGHWAY COULD NOT SPEED UP AND TRIED TO GET IN SLOW LANE LOT OF TRAFFIC ALMOST COLLISION . TRIED TO GO UP SMALL HILL NO POWER VIBRATING TRYING TO STALL, TURNED OFF WOULDN'T STARTFOR 15 MINUTES VERY SCARY. LOOKED ONLINE BULLETIN FOR PCM GETS WET AND CAUSES THIS,SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. *TR

I BECAME AWARE OF OTHER CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION/PCM RELATED CONCERNS IN 2011 WHEN EXPERIENCING A VIBRATION WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD (IT SEEMED) AND RESEARCHED MY VEHICLE AND POSSIBLE RELATED CONCERNS. I ALSO DISCUSSED WITH A LOCAL DEALER AND I FOLLOWED A DEALERS RECOMMENDATION BY HAVING MY TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED AS RECOMMENDED TO FORD SPECS. THE VIBRATION SEEMED TO CALM SOMEWHAT. AROUND THIS SAME TIME I NOTICED MY CRUISE CONTROL WOULD WORK ONLY OFF AND ON AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND TIMES. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT EVER CAME ON. I SENT MY AN EMAIL TO FORD OF CANADA AT WHICH TIME I WAS ADVISED THAT A TORQUE CONVERTER RECALL WAS COMING AND THAT I SHOULD CONTACT THE DEALER. I WAS ADVISED TO WAIT FOR THE FORMAL RECALL WHICH I RECEIVED AND BOOKED MY RECALL AND IT WAS COMPLETED IN APPROXIMATELY LATE 2012. I ALSO HAD ANOTHER RECALL DONE FOR A SEAT CONCERN JUST IN MAY 2013. WHILE DRIVING TO THE US MAY 19TH 2013 AT 100KM/HR MY VEHICLES CRUISE WAS ACTING SUSPICIOUS (HARD SHIFT UP) AND I DISENGAGED IT FOR THIS REASON. I THEN NOTICED MY VEHICLE WAS AT 3000RPMS SO SEEMED TO BE STUCK IN 3RD GEAR OR SOMETHING. IT THEN FAILED (WAS LIKE I WAS IN NEUTRAL) AND I WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET OFF AT AN EXIT AND HAD TO PUSH MY VEHICLE INTO A SPOT AT A SERVICE STATION. I WAS VERY CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AND MY FAMILY AT THIS TIME. I WAS IN TOTAL SHOCK THAT THERE WAS NO REAL WARNING AND IF I KNOW IF I WAS IN THE FAST LANE I HATE TO THINK OF THE END RESULT. I CHECKED THE DIPSTICK FOR THE TRANNY AND THERE SEEMED TO BE ENOUGH FLUID HOWEVER SLIGHT AMOUNTS OF SMOKE CAME FROM THE DIPSTICK RESERVOIR. NO SIGNS OF LEAKING BELOW THE VEHICLE WHATSOEVER. IT WAS TOWED TO A FORD DEALER AND I WAS LEFT WITH NO REAL OPTION OTHER THAN REPLACE THE TRANNY FOR $3200. MY HOME DEALER IN CANADA WAS CLOSED FOR THE HOLIDAY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V006000 (POWER TRAIN) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000. *TR

THE CAR WOULD START THEN STALL. I WOULD BE DRIVING AND IT WOULD JUST SLOW DOWN LIKE NO GAS GETTING INTO ENGINE AND STALL OUT . I TOOK IT TO FORD DEALER (CREST FORD CENTERLINE MICHIGAN) THEY RAN IT ON A SCOPE. TOLD ME I NEEDED TURBINE SHAFT SPEED SENSOR. THEY REPLACED IT AND CALLED TO SAY MY VEHICLE WAS FINE AND READY TO GO. I PICKED UP CAR ON MONDAY EVENING AND ON WEDNESDAY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER. CAR WOULD START BUT WOULD NOT DRIVE. FORD COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM AND FINALLY I CALLED A FRIEND TO ASK FOR A SOLUTION. BECAUSE OF ALL THE ISSUES WITH THE PCM AND HIS EXPERTISE I CALLED MY FORD ADVISOR [XXX] AND TOLD HIM TO CHECK THE PCM FOR WATER DAMAGE. HE CALLED ME BACK SHORTLY AND SAID THEY FOUND THE WATER DAMAGE. THIS IS A VAN MADE VERY WRONG WITH A DESIGN SO THAT YOUR WINDSHIELD LETS WATER FLOW ONTO THE COWL AND THEN DAMAGES THE BRAIN FOR THE CAR. I NOW HAVE TO PAY 1000.00 TO FIX A MISTAKE FORD MOTOR CREATED. THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR EVERYONE WHO OWNS THIS VEHICLE. I HOPE FORD FIXES IT ON A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. I FEEL AS A CONSUMER I SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO GO FIGURE OUT WHATS WRONG WITH MY CAR ON MY OWN. FORD MECHANICS SHOULD KNOW AND BE EXPERIENCED. THIS WILL BE MY LAST FORD WITH THE WAY THEY HANDLE THEIR CARS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH WHEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING LOST ALL POWER. COASTED TO STOP AND HAD NO GEARS FORWARD OR REVERSE. NO PRIOR NOISES, WARNING LIGHTS OR ANY INDICATION OF PROBLEMS. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. HAD I BEEN PASSING IT COULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC. TORQUE CONVERTER IS COVERED UNDER RECALL BUT DEALERSHIP I HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO STATED FROM THEIR DIAGNOSTICS AND DISCUSSIONS WITH FACTORY THE PROBLEM WAS NOT THE TORQUE CONVERTER. I AM HAVING THEM INSTALL REBUILT TRANSMISSION FOR $4,185. THERE ARE MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON VARIOUS WEBSITES, INCLUDING THIS ONE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE RPM IN THE TACHOMETER FLUCTUATED RAPIDLY AND THE ENGINE REVVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE RECALL REPAIR FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 12V006000 (POWER TRAIN: TORQUE CONVERTER MALFUNCTIONS) WAS PERFORMED. THE FAILURE RECURRED EVERY TIME THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

I HAVE HAD MY VAN BACK FOR THREE DAYS SINCE HAVING THE RECALL REPAIRS DONE ON THE TORQUE (WHICH I FILLED A COMPLAINT ABOUT AFTER BEING TOLD MINE WASN'T RECALLED BY THE DEALERSHIP, WHICH IT ACTUALLY WAS) AND SEATS. IT HAS BEEN RAINING HEAVILY FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS HERE. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, AND COMING TO YET ANOTHER STOP SIGN, MY VAN STALLS OUT AND COMPLETELY DIES WITH NO WARNING. I HAD NO CONTROL OVER BRAKES, STEERING WHEEL, NOTHING. MY HUSBAND COMES AND GETS ME, OUR DAUGHTER, AND THE VAN. THE VAN STARTED RIGHT UP WHEN HE GOT THERE AFTER APPROXIMATELY 15 MIN AFTER I HAD REPEATEDLY TRIED TO GET IT START WITH NO SUCCESS. WE LET IT IDLE FOR A BIT BECAUSE HE THINKS I'M CRAZY, AND IT DIES AGAIN. SAME PROBLEM WITH IT GETTING IT TO START. COME TO FIND OUT, THE COMPUTER AND PCM ARE GETTING WET, CAUSING TOTAL POWER FAILURE... UGH! IS THERE ANYTHING ON THIS VAN THAT WAS MADE RIGHT?! VERY DANGEROUS VAN! *TR

DON'T HAVE MY VIN ON ME TO SHARE AT THIS TIME. ALSO, THE SPECIFIC ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IS THE PCM. ON 4/4/2013, I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 45-50 MPH WHEN MY CAR 'DIED'. I LOST ALL POWER - NO BRAKES, STEERING, ETC. FORTUNATELY, NONE OF MY KIDS WERE IN THE CAR. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT NIGHT. THEY SAID IT WAS MY CAM SENSOR. LESS THAN 5 DAYS AFTER PICKING UP THE CAR ON 4/9 TH CAR ACTED UP AGAIN. (THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR A RECALL UNRELATED TO THIS). ON 4/14 I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 70 MPH WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO JERK. LUCKILY I WAS CLOSE TO HOME THIS TIME AND AFTER STOPPING SEVERAL TIMES WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY. MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER WAS IN THE CAR WITH ME WHO IS NOW AFRAID TO GET BACK IN THE CAR. THE NEXT MORNING I HAD IT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. A FEW DAYS LATER THEY SAID IT WAS MY ALTERNATOR. I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD CREDIT ME BACK THE MONEY I PUT OUT FOR THE CAM SENSOR. THEY PUT IN THE NEW ALTERNATOR AND TEST DROVE THE CAR. GUESS WHAT - THE CAR STILL JERKED. THE SHOP MANAGER TOOK IT HOME WITH A COMPUTER HOOKED UP TO IT. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. THEY THEN PUT A CALL INTO THE FORD HOTLINE. A WEEK LATER THEY TELL ME IT IS THE PCM. IT GOT WET. OVER $400 TO FIX AND THAT IS WITH A USED PART. OVER $1200 IF IT IS NEW. A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH FINDS THE PCM IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE FREESTAR. NOT SURE WHEN IT WILL BE RECALLED. I HOPE NO ONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED BEFORE THESE COMPLAINTS ARE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. I WILL SAY THIS IS THE LAST FORD I WILL BUY. I AM NOT SURE HOW TO EXPLAIN TO MY KIDS THAT THE CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE WHEN I DON'T BELIEVE IT MYSELF. I GUESS I WILL KEEP MY RECEIPT FOR WHEN THIS IS RECALLED SO I CAN BE REIMBURSED. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR, THE SAME AS ANY OTHER DAY. I CAME TO A STOP LIGHT AND MY CAR WOULDN'T GO, AS IF I HAD IT IN NEUTRAL. THERE WAS SOME VIBRATION AND IT WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN MY CAR. I NEARLY HIT A BUSINESS THAT WAS ON THE CORNER OF THE TURN. THEN, IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN, JUST TO SOON QUIT WORKING AGAIN. I HAD MY MECHANIC LOOK AT IT TO DISCOVER IT WAS THE TORQUE. I AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUES AS THE OTHER FORD FREESTARS THAT WERE RECALLED, BUT MINE SPECIFIC VAN WAS NOT FOR SOME REASON BUT SHOWING THE EXACT SAME ISSUES AS THE RECALLED ONES. *TR