Ford Freestar Complaints

2,533 consumer complaints on file.

#10384072February 22, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE,AND I HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM OCCUR TWICE. THE FIRST TIME WAS AT ~30K MILES ON A LOCAL ROAD. THE SECOND WAS AT ~65K MILES ON THE INTERSTATE. BOTH TIMES I WAS ON A GENTLY INCREASING SLOPE AND SUDDENLY LOST DRIVE POWER. IN THE FIRST CASE, I DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH SPEED (~25 MPH AT FAILURE) AND THUS TIME TO REACT TO GET THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE POSITION. I WAS FORCED TO GLIDE BACKWARD DOWN THE SLOPE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IN THE SECOND CASE, I HAD ENOUGH SPEED (~70 MPH AT FAILURE) AND THE EXPERIENCE FROM THE FIRST TIME TO GET THE VEHICLE SAFELY TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE BEFORE LOSING MOMENTUM. BOTH EXPERIENCES WERE VERY DISCOMFORTING, AS I WAS CARRYING TWO YOUNG CHILDREN. THE SECOND TIME WAS ESPECIALLY UNSETTLING BECAUSE IT WAS AT NIGHT ON THE INTERSTATE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINTER, NOT TO MENTION THAT IT WAS SECOND TIME WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS. IN BOTH CASES, ALL OTHER ENGINE FUNCTIONS APPEARED TO OPERATE NORMALLY. IN BOTH CASES THERE WAS NEITHER FORWARD NOR REVERSE POWER. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD THIS VEHICLE REPAIRED AND MAINTAINED AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT NEW. FOR THE FIRST FAILURE, THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE SPLINES HAD BEEN STRIPPED OFF. THE SECOND FAILURE HAPPENED ONLY A WEEK AGO, SO IT IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP BEING REPAIRED. THE DIAGNOSIS IS THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER SPLINES WERE AGAIN STRIPPED AND ALSO THAT THE PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10383374February 20, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2005 FORD FREESTAR 62,665 MILES. TRANSMISSION WENT WHILE DRIVING WITH NO WARNING. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS REPAIR WILL COST BETWEEN $2500 AND $3500 DOLLARS U.S. LOST ALL POWER CONTROL TO THE VEHICLE. GOING UP HILL STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS ONLY OPTION WAS TO STOP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10383399February 20, 2011
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
#1398 OF 1400 ANOTHER TRAN FAILS "DEATH TRAP" BY ALTON5 FEB 20, 2011 (1:31 PM) I HAVE A 2004 FREESTAR AND WAS TRAVELING ON A 5 LINE FREEWAY WHEN ALL THE SUDDEN THE TRAN LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR LOST ALL POWER EVEN THE POWER STEERING. I WAS IN THE INSIDE LANE AND HAD TO COAST TO TRY AND MAKE IT OFF THE HIGHWAY CUTTING OFF TRAFFIC. I HAD MY 3 KIDS IN THE CAR AND WAS TERRIFIED AS WE ALMOST GOT SLAMMED IN TO TWICE SINCE I WAS COASTING AT 30 AND THE TRAFFIC WAS GOING 70. ONCE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I TRIED TO START THE VAN AND NOTHING WORKED. HAD TO WALK WITH MY 3 GIRLS 2 MIKES ALONG SIDE THE HIGHWAY "AGAINST THE LAW" TO GET TO A PAY PHONE AND CALL AAA. HAD THE VAN TOWED TO A SHOP AND IT WILL COST ME $3000 TO FIX. FORD- SHAME ON YOU! YOU HAVE PUT A BIG BURDEN ON MY FAMILY AND PUT OUR LIVES AT RISK!!! - [XXX] PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10383139February 17, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FORD FREESTAR 2007, TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE PUMP WENT OUT AND THE VEHICLE JUST STOPPED GOING, NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, AND VERY COSTLY 1269.99. ALOT OF OWNERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10383149February 17, 2011
STEERING
POWER STEERING HOSE LEAKING AND CAUSING SMOKE AND LOSS OF TURNING POWER. POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKS OUT OF THE LOW PRESSURE LINE AND ON TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. CORRECTED IN FEBRUARY 2011 BY REPLACING THE RACK AND PINION, POWER STEERING PUMP AND LOW PRESSURE HOSE TO THE COOLER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10383697February 15, 2011
VISIBILITY, POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WATER LEAKAGE THROUGH THE LEFT WINDSHIELD WIPER COWLING CAUSED OUR POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE TO GO BAD. THIS REPAIR IS COSTING US ALMOST $1,000.00 DOLLARS TO FIX. UPON RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET WE HAVE COME TO REALIZATION THAT THIS IS A VERY PROLIFIC PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF VAN. JUST FOR THEM TO GET THE PART IS GOING TO TAKE A MONTH. THAT SHOWS YOU JUST HOW PROLIFIC IT IS. FORD IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS FAULTY COWLING THAT LEAKS DIRECTLY ON TO THE PCM EVEN THOUGH TENS OF THOUSANDS OR MORE PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO HAVE THIS PART REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES COSTING THEM THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKETS. THERE NEEDS TO BE A GOVERNMENT FORCED RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES CAUSE IT'S APPARENT THAT FORD IS NOT GOING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FAULTY EQUIPMENT DESIGN ON THEIR OWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381716February 12, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DRIVING AT 55MPH, TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY DISENGAGED. TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE AFTER STOPPING. NO FLUID LEAKS, HIGH AMOUNT METAL FLAKES IN FLUID, HIGH FLUID LEVEL (NOT CIRCULATING) ALSO SUDDEN AND SLIGHT WHINING NOISE FROM TRANS AS WELL. TORQUE CONVERTER, OR PUMP HAS GONE BAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381121February 8, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF OUR 2004 FORD FREESTAR, THE VEHICLE CEASED MOVEMENT DUE TO A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, REQUIRING REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION AT APPROXIMATELY 75,000 MILES. THE MAINTENANCE GARAGE (A FORD DEALER) COULD NOT DETERMINE THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, BUT NOTED THE PRESENCE OF A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF METAL SHAVINGS WITHIN THE FLUID EVACUATED FROM THE FAILED TRANSMISSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381161February 8, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2004 FORD FREESTAR TRANSMISSION FAILED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381211February 8, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
STALLING OUT OF NOWHERE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381225February 8, 2011
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2006 FREESTAR SEL IN 2008. I PURCHASED IT USED AT 57000 KM MILEAGE (CANADA). ABOUT A YEAR AFTER, A RECURRING ISSUE WAS THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL COMES ON WITHOUT WARNING EVEN AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE NET EFFECT IS THAT IT QUICKLY LIMITS THE SPEED TO ABOUT 40 KPH. ONCE, DRIVING AT 100 KPH, IT CAME ON AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. I GOT THE TXN FIXED BUT IT STILL OCCURS OCCASIONALLY/RANDOMLY. I GOT IN TOUCH WITH FORD CANADA AND THEY DENY THERE IS SUCH A PROBLEM. HOWEVER, A SEARCH OF THE INTERNET FOUND SEVERAL OWNERS OF FREESTAR WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER BUT THEY CANNOT FIND A PROBLEM. ONE REFERENCE QUOTED A FORD SERVICE BULLETIN THAT REFERS TO THE PROBLEM AS A NUISANCE BUT NOT A SAFETY CONCERN. I AND OTHERS DO NOT AGREE. SEE LINK HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2006/FORD/FREESTAR/TRACTION_CONTROL_SYSTEM/PROBLEM.ASPX I AM ALSO SENDING THIS TO THE CANADIAN MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION. I THINK THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE WHICH COULD HAVE ENDED UP IN A SERIOUS CRASH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381002February 7, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO A LOWER GEAR WHICH ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE SLOWLY BUT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE MOVED FINE IN REVERSE BUT NOT IN THE DRIVE POSITION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,250.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380851February 5, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
IN 2006 I PURCHASED A 2005 FORD FREESTAR VAN USED WITH 23,000 MILES ON IT, AND IN 2007 THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED SUDDENLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE 2007 TRANSMISSION REPAIR COST ME APPROX. $3600. TODAY 02/05/11, I WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPFH ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY(BOTH LANES GOING ONE WAY) WHEN MY VAN STOPPED ACCELERATING WITHOUT WARNING. I NEARLY WAS STRUCK BY AN 18 WHEELER IN TRAFFIC AS I ATTEMPTED TO SAFELY GET OFF THE ROA, I WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THIS IS TWICE A TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED IN THIS VEHICLE! NHTSA PLEASE DO SOMETHING TO FORCE FORD MOTOR CO. TO BE HONEST ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS THEY PUT IN THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE , BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED - PERHAPS PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY DIED BECAUSE OF THIS. PLEASE HELP ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380854February 5, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING THE TRACTION CONTROL DISINGAGES FOR NO APPARANT REASON. ALSO THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL BE WORKING FINE AND AFTER THE TRACTION CONTROL DISINAGES THE CRUISE CONTROL ALSO STOPS THEN SOMETIMES AFTER YOU PRESS RESUME IT REINGAGES AND SOMETIMES IN DOESEN'T IF YOU SHUT OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT THE TRACTION CONTROL LIIGHT GOES OFF AGAIN. IT MAY COME ON AGAIN A FEW MILES LATER OR IT MAY NOT PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE INTERMITTTENT SAME WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL. THERE ARE ALSO TIMES THAT THE RADIO CONTROLS IN THE STEERING WHEEL WORK FINE OTHER TIMES IF YOU PRESS THE VOLUME CONTROL IT WILL CHANGE THE STATIONS. VAN PURCHASED IN JULY OF 2010 PROBLEM BAGAN SOMETIME IN OCTOBER OF 2010. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380057February 3, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE VEHICLE QUIT MOVING IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WHILE TRYING TO TURN LEFT. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT. THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND OCCURRED AT 61,000 MILES. WHY IS THIS PROBLEM NOT BEING ADDRESSED BY FORD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379920February 2, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FEBRUARY 1, 2011. 2005 FREESTAR, 110,000MILES. AS I WAS DRIVING 45MPH ON PARKWAY I ACCELERATED INTO MIDDLE LANE WHEN WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I HIT THE GAS, TACHOMETER REVVED BUT NO RESPONSE. I QUICKLY COASTED TO SHOULDER AND MANAGED TO AVOID GETTING HIT! AFTER PUTTING VAN IN PARK, I TRIED CHANGING GEARS BUT VAN WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. NO WARNING SIGNALS AT ALL! NOT EVEN A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. HAD VAN TOWED TO SHOP. STILL TROUBLESHOOTING FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379634January 31, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 04 FORD FREESTAR THAT CONTINUES TO HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IT STARTED EARLY AROUND 40K. FMC SERVICE STATED 'JUST A LEAK'. REPEAT COMPLAINTS EQUALED 'NOTHING FOUND, ETC, ETC'. BEGINNING LAST YEAR IT WOULD LOSE POWER AND BACKFIRE WHILE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND ALMOST CAUSED MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER TO BE BROADSIDED WHEN SHE TRIED TO PULL OUT IN TRAFFIC AND THE VAN DID NOT GO FORWARD. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP AND NOT ENGAGE TO SECOND GEAR. I TOOK IT TO AAMCO AND PAID $1800 TO HAVE IT FIXED. THEY SAID THEY HAD TO BASICALLY REPLACE EVERYTHING. NOW, A YEAR LATER AND IT IS DOING IT AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME BY NOT ENGAGING INTO SECOND GEAR, IT CAUSED A PERSON BEHIND ME TO GET HIT IN THE REAR BECAUSE HE THOUGHT I WOULD TURN AS A NORMAL CAR WOULD, BUT I COULDN'T ACCELERATE DUE TO THE TRANS. ADDITIONALLY NOW IT WILL SHUDDER, SHAKE AND LOSE POWER AT 40 TO 50 MPH. IT IS NOT EVEN DRIVABLE AS I TRIED TO GO OUT TO THE STORE TODAY AND IT MADE TERRIBLE NOISES AND SHOOK LIKE CRAZY WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE. TRIED TO GO UP MY DRIVEWAY AND IT SHOOK EVEN HARDER AND MADE TERRIBLE GRINDING NOISES IN DRIVE, 3RD AND 1ST GEAR. DOES NOT MATTER WHAT POSITION THE SHIFTER IS IN, IT HAS PROBLEMS. LOOKED AT THE DIP STICK FOR THE TRANS AND IT IS RUSTED SHOWING THAT OBVIOUSLY NOW SOME TYPE OF WATER IS IN THE SYSTEM TOO. I AM DISABLED AND ON A DISABILITY INCOME AND DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDS TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED AGAIN. FORD WILL DO NOTHING FOR IT UNLESS OF COURSE I WANT TO PAY TO HAVE IT REBUILT AT $4000. THIS VAN IS A DANGER TO ALL ON THE ROAD AND LUCKILY NO ONE HAS BEEN KILLED AS A RESULT OF IT NOT PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC AS IT SHOULD. PLEASE FORCE FORD TO BUY BACK THESE VANS AND REFUND THE EXPENSES OF PEOPLE WHO HAD TO PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED. FOR ME, IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS GOING TO BE A DOUBLE TROUBLE PROBLEM. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO, I KNOW IT WILL JUST BREAK DOWN AGAIN IF I DO HAVE IT FIXED. THE VAN NEEDS TO BE TAKEN TO A JUNK YARD AND CRUSHED TO SAVE LIVES. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10379651January 31, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED AT 78 MPH UP A HILL, WHEN SUDDENLY, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO DECELERATE QUICKLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY WITH NO ACCELERATION BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION HAD JUST SEEMED TO DISENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION PUMP AND TORQUE CONVERTER HAD LITERALLY SHEARED OFF WITHOUT CAUSE. UPDATED 3/11/11 *CN UPDATED 04/29/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380482January 31, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
FAILED COMPONENT #1: 8/9/10 - TRANSMISSION FAILED - REPLACED TRANSMISSION - $1,732.32, FAILED COMPONENT #2: 10/9/10 - REMOVE AND REPLACE ALTERNATOR - $442.00. FAILED ON ROUTE 95 SOUTH CT HEADED TO NJ, BATTERY FAILED, ALTERNATOR FAILED, POWER SURGE, POWER LOST, COASTED TO A SAFE PLACE OFF OF EXIT WHERE I WAS STRANDED WITH 2 CHILDREN LATE AT NIGHT. HAD TO GET TOWED AND FIXED, STAYED OVER NIGHT IN SEEDY PART OF CITY. FAILED COMPONENT #3: 11/1/10 - REMOVE AND REPLACE ALTERNATOR - $297.68, FAILED ON ROUTE 113 AGAIN, POWER SURGE AND POWER FAILED, ALTERNATOR DIED, LOST POWER AND MANAGED TO GET HOME A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD, HAD TO GET TOWED TO SHOP, NEW BATTERY FAILED AS WELL. HAD IT IN THE SHOP FOR ALMOST 2 WEEKS TOTAL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379745January 31, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED; THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CONTACT HAD AN OIL CHANGE AND THE VEHICLE SERVICED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 108,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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