Ford Freestar Complaints

2,533 consumer complaints on file.

#10256142January 23, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILURE - 2004 FORD FREESTAR WITH 53,000 MILES - TRANSMISSION FAILED WITH NO PRIOR INDICATION OF A PROBLEM - THE VEHICLE IS IN OTHERWISE EXCELLENT CONDITION WITH NO EXCESSIVE ROAD WEAR (ONE DRIVER) EXCELLENT MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. I'M LEAD T BELIEVE THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS AWARE OF EARLY TRANSMISSION FAILURE PROBLEMS YET SEEMS TO BE UNWILLING TO MAKE ANY CORRECTIONS TO SAID PROBLEMS OR MAKE ANY CONCESSIONS TO CONSUMERS WITH VEHICLE TRANSMISSION REPAIRS. I.E. EXTEND MILEAGE WARRANTY OR MONETARY COMPENSATION FOR EARLY REPAIRS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255804January 21, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CAR STOPS WORKING FOR A SECOND WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY IN THE WINTER TIME, USUALLY SNOW. IT AS IF SOMETHING MISSES AND CAR IS ABOUT TO STALL OUT BUT CATCHES ITSELF AND BEGINS TO WORK AGAIN. USUALLY HAPPENS IN SPURTS BUT ONLY IN THE WINTER MONTHS. HAPPENS EVERY WINTER FOR PASSED 3 YEARS. PCM AND MASS AIR FLOW SENSORS REPLACED TWICE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255870January 21, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TORQUE CONVERTER WENT BAD AND TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE HAS 66,000 MILES AND IS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER FOR WARRANTY. I ALSO HAVE HAS A CONTINUOUS NOISE IN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL, TRAC LIGHT ALWAYS COME ON AND NO FINDS A PROBLEM, THE REAR DOOR OPENS AT TIMES WHEN THE FRONT DOOR IS CLOSED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255479January 18, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY WIFE DRIVES THE VAN. NO LONG DISTANCE DRIVING. SHE WAS GOING TO PICK UP OUR SON FROM SCHOOL WHEN THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED. NO WARNING, NO SLIPPAGE OR SQUEALING. JUST STOPPED WORKING. AS A RESULT I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. I ALSO HAD TO INTERRUPT A FAMILY MEMBER TO GO GET MY SON FROM SCHOOL ON A VERY COLD WINTER DAY. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION FIXED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC. FINAL COST WAS $3098 NOT INCLUDING CAR RENTAL FOR THE 8 DAYS IT TOOK TO GET THE WORK DONE. VERY UPSETTING. MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET YET NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET. I WOULD LIKE SOME KIND OF RESTITUTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255491January 18, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHEN FILLING VAN WITH GASOLINE, GAS SHOT BACK OUT, HITTING PERSON IN FACE AND ARMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255138January 15, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255070January 14, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND PLACED THE GEAR SHIFTER INTO DRIVE. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV AND THE TRANSMISSION IMMEDIATELY LOCKED UP. THE CONTACT HAD TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLY FAILED, WHICH WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES. THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL FAILURES RELATING TO THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BE REBUILT OR REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254429January 9, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2005 FORD FREESTART. AT 50000 MILES, THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED CAUSING THE VAN TO NOT MOVE WHEN THE SHIFTER WAS TAKEN TO DRIVE OR REVERSE. THE VAN WOULD NOT GO, BUT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. AT THE TIME OF FAILURE, THE VAN HAD BEEN DRIVEN APPROX 1 HR EARLIER TO A STORE, THEN ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE HOME AND WOULD NOT MOVE. THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION PRIOR, JUST SUDDEN FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254310January 8, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2004 FORD FREESTAR MINI-VAN ON 12/31/2008, I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH AND THE TRANSMISSION QUIT, RPMS WENT VERY HIGH, SINCE I WAS PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. OF COURSE IT WAS NEW YEARS EVE, SO IT COULD NOT BE LOOKED AT UNTIL JAN 2, 2008. I ONLY HAD ABOUT 42,000 MILES, SO NOT MUCH PASSED THE WARRANTY. I HAD IT TOWED TO LENAWEE TRANSMISSION IN ADRIAN, MICHIGAN SINCE THAT WERE I WAS OUT OF TOWN VISITING MY MOTHER. IT COSTS $1,200 TO GET THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND PUMP TO THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. LT MENTIONED THAT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH FORD FREESTAR MINIVANS. NOW GUESS WHAT THE TRANSMISSION IS STARTING TO SLIP AGAIN AND I AM GOING TO GET IT CHECKED ON JAN. 10, 2009. I CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER TRANSMISSION REPAIR FOR THIS VAN. I HAVE SENT THREE EMAILS TO WHITMAN FORD IN TEMPERANCE, MI REGARDING THIS VAN WHERE I PURCHASED IT AND DID NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE. THANKS*TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254110January 7, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD WITH 39K MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. CAR WOULD NO LONGER DRIVE. COMPLETELY LOST THE ABILITY TO SHIFT OR DO ANYTHING. BROUGHT CAR TO A STOP AT A LIGHT AND IT WOULD NO LONGER OPERATE. I TOOK IT TO FORD DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS A SERIOUS TRANSMISSION FAILURE. FORD SAYS WARRANTY RAN OUT AT 36K MILES AND COST TO REPAIR IS ESTIMATED AT OVER $3,000. SEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS BY FORD FREESTAR OWNERS. MY RESEARCH SHOWS A CLEAR PATTERN OF CONSISTENT TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE. THIS POINTS TO A DEFECT BY THE MANUFACTURER AND FLIES IN THE FACE OF NORMAL CONSUMER EXPECTATIONS THAT WHEN YOU BUY A BRAND NEW CAR, ITS TRANSMISSION SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 30 OR 40 THOUSAND MILES! I WAS ALSO SHOCKED TO FIND THAT NHTSA HAS NOT YET INITIATED AN INVESTIGATION DESPITE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FILED WITH THE AGENCY ITSELF. I THEN CALLED NHTSA TO ASK WHAT IT TAKES TO START AN INVESTIGATION. I ASSUME THAT THE AGENCY HAS A TYPICAL STANDARD OR SET OF GUIDELINES THAT IT FOLLOWS TO DETERMINE WHETHER AN INVESTIGATION IS CALLED FOR, BUT NO ONE AT NHTSA WOULD GIVE ME THAT INFORMATION OR WOULD DIRECT ME TO ANYONE ELSE AT THE AGENCY WHO COULD PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION. ESSENTIALLY, I WAS TOLD "JUST FILE A COMPLAINT" AND GO AWAY. NO OTHER HELP WAS AVAILABLE TO ME AS A CONSUMER AND A TAXPAYER. I'M DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE PROCESS AND I HOPE THAT THE STEP OF FILING THE COMPLAINT MAKES THE AGENCY MORE RESPONSIVE THAN IT HAS BEEN SO FAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253882January 5, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING. SHE WAS BRAKING AROUND A SLIGHT TURN. WHEN SHE WENT TO PRESS THE GAS PEDAL TO CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD NOTHING HAPPENED. SHE COULD NO LONGER GO FORWARD. THIS OCCURRED WITH NO WARNING. THANKFULLY SHE WAS NOT CROSSING AN INTERSECTION. SHE HAD BOTH OF OUR CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME AND LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT. WE THEN HAD TO HAVE OUR VEHICLE TOWED. WE FOUND OUT THAT OUR 2004 FORD FREESTAR TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253731January 4, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING OFF THE INTERSTATE ONTO AN EXIT RAMP, THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING. THE ENGINE REVVED AS I CAME TO THE STOP SIGN, AND WHEN I TRIED TO GO AGAIN, THE VAN WOULD NOT MOVE. IT ACTED LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL -- IT WOULD NOT GO EITHER FORWARD OR BACK. A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED AND THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE SHOP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS TRANSMISSION FAILURE, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. THE VAN WAS JUST 255 MILES PAST THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, AND FORD WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253690January 3, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, MY 2004 FORD FREESTAR HAD A COMPLETE AND SUDDEN TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE RPM'S SHOT UP AND IT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VAN WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY GEAR; THE ENGINE WOULD JUST REV. THERE WAS NO PRE-WARNING OF THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253529January 2, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON MY 2004 FORD FREESTYLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING. I WAS ONLY ADULT THE CAR WITH MY THREE CHILDREN AND THE CAR STOPPED ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253434January 1, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE PARKING MY 2004 FORD FREESTAR MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING, I WAS IN BUSY DOWNTOWN TRAFFIC AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE, THIS PUT ME IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION OF HAVING TO PUSH MY VAN ON A BUSY ROAD. IT WAS LATER TOWED AND NOW WE ARE IN NEED OF A TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253357December 31, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRAVELING NORTH ON I-75 IN MICHIGAN, OUR VAN LOST ALL GEARS AT 50-60 MPH WITH NO WARNING OR NOISE. BY THE GRACE OF GOD, THE VAN WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE ON A DOWNHILL STRETCH OF ROAD AND WE COASTED TO THE SHOULDER. THE ENGINE WOULD REV AND THERE WAS POWER, BUT NO GEARS. WE WERE GOING SKIING FOR THE WEEKEND AND WERE ABOUT 2 1/2 HOURS AWAY FROM HOME. WE WERE ABLE TO GET A WRECKER (AFTER SITTING IN THE VAN FOR 1 1/2 HOURS WITH 2 YOUNGER CHILDREN) AND TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. AFTER LOOKING AT THE CAR, THE SERVICE REP SAID THE TORQUE CONVERTER SHAFT WAS STRIPPED AND WOULD BE ABOUT $1700 TO REPAIR. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT NO ONE WAS HURT AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS WERE TRAVELING WITH US TO TAKE THE CHILDREN WHILE WE RODE IN THE WRECKER. THIS IS DEFECT IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253367December 31, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ON CHRISTMAS, MY HUSBAND, 3 YEAR OLD AND I WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY TO VISIT FAMILY AN HOUR AWAY. 20 MINUTES INTO THE TRIP WE DECIDED TO STOP AT A GAS STATION TO GET A SNACK FOR MY SON, BUT ONCE WE PULLED OFF WE REALIZED IT WAS CLOSED. WHILE HEADING FOR THE DRIVE TO GET BACK TO THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY JUST REVVED, NOT SENDING ANY POWER TO THE GAS PEDAL IN EITHER DRIVE OR REVERSE. THE CAR DIRECTLY BEHIND US LUCKILY AVOIDED REAR-ENDING US. AS WE WERE STRANDED IN A DRIVEWAY WITH CURBS ON EITHER SIDE, WE HAD TO GET OUT AND DIVERT SEVERAL OTHERS TO BACK AWAY AND USE A DIFFERENT DRIVE. ANOTHER VAN HAD TO PHYSICALLY PUSH US BACK DOWN THE DRIVE INTO THE METER PARKING LOT SO WE WERE OUT OF THE WAY OF MORE TRAFFIC. WE THEN HAD TO CALL MY FATHER (INTERRUPTING HIS CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION) WHO LIVES 40 MINUTES AWAY TO PICK US UP AND DRIVE US BACK TO OUR HOUSE SO WE COULD SWITCH TO OUR OTHER CAR. WE ENDED UP GETTING TO OUR CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION OVER 2 HOURS LATE, AND HAD TO ENTERTAIN A CONFUSED AND TIRED 3 YEAR OLD DURING THAT ENTIRE TIME! OVERALL, WE'RE THANKFUL THAT WE DECIDED TO PULL OFF THE FREEWAY OR ELSE IT WOULD HAVE BLOWN WHILE WE WERE DRIVING 70 MPH--AND WHO KNOWS WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED. OUR FREESTAR IS ONLY AT 69,000 MILES, AND WILL NEED A NEW TORQUE CONVERTER AND REBUILT TRANSMISSION, ESTIMATED AT $2200, PLUS TOWING FEES. SINCE THIS HAPPENED OVER THE HOLIDAYS, WHEN GARAGES ARE CLOSED FOR MANY DAYS, WE ALSO HAVE TO PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR FOR 2-3 DAYS UNTIL OUR VAN IS DONE NEXT WEEK. WHEN MY HUSBAND INITIALLY TALKED WITH OUR FORD DEALER ON 12/26, THE SERVICE GUY ADMITTED THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON WITH THIS MODEL. WHEN I CALLED THE SAME PLACE TODAY (12/31), SOMEONE ELSE TOLD ME CURTLY THAT HE IS "NOT AWARE THAT THERE ARE A HIGH NUMBER OF VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM." HE SAID THAT THE CORP. WON'T DO ANYTHING FOR A CAR WITH "THIS KIND OF MILEAGE" SINCE WE DON'T HAVE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. WE'RE FRUSTRATED THAT THIS HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO HAPPEN SO OFTEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253278December 30, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE TRAVELING IN OUR 2004 FORD FREESTAR MINIVAN AT 70 MPH THIS PAST SUNDAY ON I-95 N IN VIRGINIA, THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY LET GO WITH NO WARNING. VEHICLE MILEAGE IS 66K. WE WERE 1 HOUR INTO DAY 2 OF OUR RETURN HOME TO BOSTON AFTER SPENDING CHRISTMAS WEEK WITH RELATIVES IN FLORIDA. WE WERE ON FAIRLY FLAT TERRAIN WHEN I HEARD A HIGH PITCHED WHINE. I LOOKED DOWN AT THE TACHOMETER AND REALIZED THE ENGINE WAS REVVING TO 6,000+. I THOUGHT MAYBE IT HAD SIMPLY SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR, SO I LET OFF THE GAS, SLIPPED IT INTO 3RD, THEN 2ND. NOTHING. I COASTED ACROSS 2 LANES TO GET TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE. MYSELF, MY WIFE AND THREE CHILDREN WAITED FOR 1 HOUR FOR A TOW TRUCK. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR BUT IT WAS ON A BUSY, CURVED SECTION OF THE HIGHWAY. WE ALL RODE IN THE TOW TRUCK AND SPENT THE NIGHT IN FREDERICKSBURG WAITING FOR A MECHANIC MONDAY MORNING. WE GOT HOME IN A RENTAL CAR LAST NIGHT . REPAIRS WILL BE $2,500+ PLUS THE COST OF THE RENTAL CAR AND EXTRA HOTEL STAY. THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE TORQUE CONVERTER THAT FAILED, AND THAT SEVERAL FORDS HAVE HAD THAT SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252858December 26, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, WITH NO WARNING THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING .THIS REQUIRED A REBUILT DONE COSTING $2,100 ..OUT OF WARRANTY AT 41,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252548December 22, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 7 YEAR OLD AND I PULLED OUT OF A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT ONTO A BUSY ROAD AND THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY DIED WITH NO WARNING. UP TO THIS POINT HAD NO TROUBLE. I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY COAST US INTO THE TURNING LANE BEFORE BEING HIT FROM BEHIND. THE REPAIR WORK HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED AT THIS TIME. I WAS INFORMED A PIECE IN THE TRANSMISSION IS BROKEN, AND THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THE COST OF REPAIRS WILL BE 3500. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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