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Ford Freestyle CVT Transmissions

422 messages,  Last post on Jun 12, 2013 at 5:38 PM

You are in the Ford Freestyle Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Freestyle, Transmission, SUV

Messages Page 20 of 43

#191 of 422 Re: Need new transmission at 23k miles [sully320] by coldcranker

Jul 17, 2009 (1:01 pm)

Replying to: sully320 (Jul 16, 2009 8:08 pm)
The warranty booklet for a particular model year says it all. I did hear that '07 model years got a longer powertrain warranty, if memory serves me, something Ford did to assuage fears of CVT risk from buyers. My '05 only had a 3-year one, but don't know about '06 models that mike_nyc has.
 
Warranty booklets for model years 2005-2006-2007 Freestyles are available at: Warranty Booklets in PDF downloadable format -- click here. .. I noticed the longer powertrain (engine/tranny) warranty was introduced in the '07, but not '05-'06 as I'd thought.

#192 of 422 Re: Transmission problems [kid532] by danielpierre

Aug 30, 2009 (11:46 am)

Replying to: kid532 (Jun 22, 2009 3:44 pm)
It should not cost you $ 6,300 to replace the transmission. I just had mine replaced for a flat fee of $ 5,000.00. One dealer told me that the cost including labor, parts and of course let's not forget the oil is $ 5,550.00. Another dealer would do it for $ 5,150.00. Who can you trust these days. I contacted Ford in order to get some input on price and they instructed me that the I just contact an authorized dealer. When talking to the two dealers they tell me that the quoted price is according to "the book" from Frod. Mind you I have purchased (12) Lincoln Mercuries over the past 18 years and Ford could care less. I can assure you this is my last Ford purchase which stands for Fix-Or-Replair-Daily. I hear that Honda & Toyota, even if you are out of warranty will replace the tranny at no charge! Good luck on your repair efforts. The only consolation is that the rebuilt transmissio they will put into our car will come with a 100,000 mile warranty.

#193 of 422 Re: Transmission problems [danielpierre] by bellaspop

Sep 02, 2009 (2:14 am)

Replying to: danielpierre (Aug 30, 2009 11:46 am)
Hi,
 
I went through this October, 05 Freestyle SEL. The saving grace for me came when I needed to renew my auto insurance policy. I noticed (in February!) I had something called "mechanical breakdown" coverage with a $200.00 deductible. I did look over my policy at the time of the breakdown but somehow I over looked it - possibly because I didn't really know what I was looking for. The repair had already been made - incidentally the original quote was about $5200.00 and when I balked I was put on hold and then told it would cost me $4800.00 out the door. The happy ending for me was even though i filed a claim after the repair was made my insurance company (Geico) reimbursed me - and didn't even take the $200 deductible.
 
Check your auto policy - there may be some relief there.
 
Good Luck

#194 of 422 Megatronic Valve Body - CVT by dave_o

Sep 14, 2009 (10:45 am)

Just some additional fuel to the fire...
 
We're three payments away from being out of car debt on a 2006 Freestyle. It is almost four years old with 59,000 miles. We have gotten the "idiot" wrench and check engine lights to come on. This has happened not more than ten times. The warning lights go away once the car is turned off, which made it difficult to follow up on. The last few times the car's CVT seemed to slip into neutral when travelling at 60-70 mph. RPMs soar and vehicle cannot keep speed. This caught our attention.
 
Took it into dealer... One hour later, we get the good news bad news. Good news is that the whole transmission does not have to be replaced for $5000. Bad news is that it will be $1700. This was delivered as if we needed a $30 oil change.
 
Decided to take it to another dealer to get a 2nd opinion. This dealer is where we have bought cars for last 30 years (probably 25+ cars), but now has new ownership. After three hours, same diagnosis, but delivered better from service department. So, I decide to talk to sales to see what I could get on a trade in. I told sales about the CVT diagnosis and to make me a great offer (as this could be the last Ford that I ever buy brand new). Sales came back with $2500 (net of my last three payments). Needless to say, I blew a gasket! I looked the sales guy in the eye and said why should I buy another Ford product? After four years of paying off my Freestyle, I am left with $2500. There was a long period of silence. He said that I should have bought the extended warranty! Ya think...
 
Keeping my fingers crossed, but car has driven well since. Any advice out there?

#195 of 422 Re: Megatronic Valve Body - CVT [dave_o] by tim156

Sep 14, 2009 (1:08 pm)

Replying to: dave_o (Sep 14, 2009 10:45 am)
If you've been happy with the car pay the $1700 and keep it. Things break. It's a bummer when the expensive things break.

#196 of 422 Re: Megatronic Valve Body - CVT [dave_o] by coldcranker

Sep 14, 2009 (2:54 pm)

Replying to: dave_o (Sep 14, 2009 10:45 am)
Quick correction: "Megatronic" should be spelled "mechatronic". Also, keep in mind that the wrench light, also called "MFIL" or "engine light" by some, saves the malfunction codes inside the car's internal engine computer when you turn the car off, so a history is available to your mechanic even though the light might not appear any more.
 
My vote: Keep the car. Fix it for $1700. Cars do break. Consumer Reports says our Freestyles fail less often than the average. The $2500 offer for your car was intended to be a starting negotiation for your car, since the sales team is in business to make as much money as possible. The actual worth of your Freestyle is somewhere around $13,000, U.S. dollars.

#197 of 422 Re: Megatronic Valve Body - CVT [coldcranker] by dave_o

Sep 14, 2009 (3:40 pm)

Replying to: coldcranker (Sep 14, 2009 2:54 pm)
Thanks. I should negotiate the most miles/years with the CVT fix. One dealership offered one year/12,000 miles. Do you think that I could get more one the warranty of their work? Do you think that when I pay off the car, Ford may send me an extended warranty offer that I should buy?
 
Thanks again.

#198 of 422 Re: Megatronic Valve Body - CVT [dave_o] by bobw3

Sep 28, 2009 (11:39 am)

Replying to: dave_o (Sep 14, 2009 10:45 am)
If I were you I'd just pay the $1700 and then if you otherwise satisfied with the car then keep it. If not, you should be able to sell it privately for about $10,000. You'll always get ripped off during a trade.
 
Also, I'm not sure what you paid for the Freestyle initially, but if you paid $28,000 you can think of the $1700 as an initial cost, so would it have been worth $29,700 for the car?
 
And if you paid $1200 for an extended warranty to get the repair for free, you're still only out the difference or about $500.
 
Not that this will help much, but something to think about. My case is just the opposite.

#199 of 422 Transmission...gone by pam39

Oct 19, 2009 (3:14 pm)

I have a 2007 freestyle FWD - Year 1, replace tires, replace rear brakes - all special order! Now, i need a new transmission - $5,600, out of warranty. I will never buy another Ford again.

#200 of 422 Re: Ford Freestyle CVT Transmissions [steve_] by tassds70503

Oct 22, 2009 (5:41 pm)

Replying to: Stever@Edmunds (Jul 13, 2006 11:24 am)
i have a 2005 awd freestyle. I had the transmission fluid changed at 106,000 miles. Turns out the shop that did it used mercron 5 fluid not the "special fluid" that the dealer now tells me they should have used. now my transmission is slipping and i am being told i need a new transmission. The shop that did the flush says the fluid they used is correct. The dealer says only the kind specially made for cvt can be used. who is correct?

Messages Page 20 of 43

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