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Ford Freestyle CVT Transmissions

207 messages,  Last post on Dec 03, 2009 at 1:19 PM

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#7 of 207 Re: Lemon [vicenac] by murphy4 Jul 05, 2006 (2:40 pm)
Replying to: volfangary (Jul 02, 2006 9:54 am) We finally were able to meet with the VP of our Ford Dealer on Monday (07/03). Without any hesitation he said apologized and said he will be contacting Ford about a buyback on our behalf.   We just heard from him again today and he confirm that the paperwork should be coming through by Friday. It has been 35 days since we dropped off our car and it looks like it will be finally over.   Good luck to others who are having issues. The CVT is causing Ford problems because dealers are not up to speed on them and parts are not available. Beware. Replies to this message: vicenac (Jul 10, 2006 1:54 pm)
#8 of 207 :lemon: and sunshine! by vicenac Jul 10, 2006 (1:54 pm)
Replying to: murphy4 (Jul 05, 2006 2:40 pm) Good news everybody! After all kind of weird things with my car I averaged 11.7 MPG - city driving. The CVT is defective, but runs. At the slightest touch of the accelerator pedal the car jolts into motion and feels zippy. I filled the tank and headed off to Big Bear Lake. I drove an 2005 4 cyl Accord behind our FWD FS driven by my wife. The road goes uphill and it is very twisty. I could barely keep up with my wife in this Accord. I watched my FS going into turns very fast and barely tilt while the Accord, at the same speed, complained and threatened to go off the road!!! At one point after a quick stop I watched my FS going away while the accord struggled at 6.000 RPM to keep up but did not succeed. At the end of the climb my wife looked like a happy kid at the end of rollercoaster ride. She said - "this car is glued to the road! And I barely touched the accelerator". At the end of the downhill trip the combined MPG was 18.6.   I called the dealership and they said that the buy back process has begun. It looks like they are going to buy back to avoid a law suit. In the sunny California there is no arbitration process. If the car meets some conditions – it’s a buyback! They said it is going to take about 2 months, at which point they'll give me a 2007.
#9 of 207 CVT end in sight: by buckwheat Jul 31, 2006 (8:49 am)
From the last paragraph of 7/31/06 Automotive News:   "Ford is dropping the continuously variable transmission offered in the Ford Freestyle, Five Hundred and Mercury Montego at the end of the 2007 model year." Replies to this message: saabturboid (Jul 31, 2006 9:54 am) rwolsonn (Jul 31, 2006 3:21 pm) passat_2002 (Jul 31, 2006 3:32 pm) buckwheat (Aug 01, 2006 7:14 am) blue05 (Aug 01, 2006 8:12 am) and 2 more...
#10 of 207 Re: CVT end in sight: [buckwheat] by saabturboid Jul 31, 2006 (9:54 am)
Replying to: buckwheat (Jul 31, 2006 8:49 am) That is very sad news. Nissan is expanding their CVT models and advertising which is creating a greater awareness of the benefits of the CVT transmission. Ford should also be doing this rather than jumping ship.   I find it a dumb move by Ford that just as awareness of the CVT is gaining momentum with the general public they decide to drop it. They really need to re-think the closing of the Batavia transmission plant. It seems they are tripping over dollars to save pennies.   - Chad
#11 of 207 Re: CVT end in sight: [buckwheat] by rwolsonn Jul 31, 2006 (3:21 pm)
Replying to: buckwheat (Jul 31, 2006 8:49 am) Definitely sad news. I considered purchasing a new FS to replace my Explorer, but decided not to make the purchase because I had read about the plant closing. I didn't want to buy a car and run into problems getting parts.   BTW, second Explorer and no problems. I'll turn 60k in a couple of weeks. I wanted to FS because I do a lot of kayaking and frankly, tired of lifting boats onto a higher roof line.
#12 of 207 Re: CVT end in sight: [buckwheat] by passat_2002 Jul 31, 2006 (3:32 pm)
Replying to: buckwheat (Jul 31, 2006 8:49 am) The development of the CVT at Ford was begun in the late 90's during the Jac Nasser era at Ford. Mr. Nasser was shown the door in Oct. 2001. The CVT he was responsible for developing didn't actually make it into any vehicles here in America until the fall of "04 when it appeared in the Freestyle and Ford 500. Despite it's technical superiority over a conventional automatic transmission, it's future was sealed by it's cost of production. It's a luxury item that Ford simply cannot afford any longer. The new 6-speed trany that was co-developed by Ford and GM is going to be the future at Ford for the forseeable future. I'm sure we'll see it in the '08 Freestyle. None of this takes anything away from the CVT itself. It's a wondrous transmission in my book.. and I will miss it greatly when I buy/lease my Fire-Engine red '08 Freestyle. Replies to this message: buckwheat (Aug 01, 2006 7:14 am) blue05 (Aug 01, 2006 8:12 am) buckwheat (Aug 01, 2006 9:21 am) passat_2002 (Aug 01, 2006 9:47 am)
#13 of 207 Re: CVT end in sight: [passat_2002] by buckwheat Aug 01, 2006 (7:14 am)
Replying to: passat_2002 (Jul 31, 2006 3:32 pm) Fords CVT is made here in the US in Batavia, Ohio. Production started about 3 yrs ago originally via joint venture with ZF Friedchshafen that goes back about 7+ yrs ago and which was bought out by Ford in late Feb. 2004. That makes Ford the sole maker of the current CVT known as the CFT30 found in the Freestyle/Five Hundred/Montego. Multiple manufacturing delays caused the project to be delayed they originally intended to ship there first CVT in 2001. The problem with the CVT is as engines produce more HP and torque (primarily torque) that is where the problems arise. At present the 3.0L produces 207 lbs of torque. The 3.5L produces 250 lbs of torque. The current CVT can not handle an increase in torque and is made to operate under 258lbs. anything approaching that number would be operating at its max and therfore not conducive to longevity. Does that mean Ford can't make a CVT to handle the torque, from what I have read yes they can, but that brings on a whole slew of other considerations including additional expense, weight, the current CVT weighs about 7 lbs. more than an auto tranny. Ford has had some problems with the CVT and from what I have read they believe their new 6 speed Auto tranny joint venture with GM is the way forward. The Nissan Murano is probably one of the better known CVT operated but it also is not without problems.   The full Autmotive News article can be found here; buckwheat, "What about the future of Ford Inc??" #1625, 31 Jul 2006 9:36 am Replies to this message: blue05 (Aug 01, 2006 8:12 am) buckwheat (Aug 01, 2006 9:21 am) passat_2002 (Aug 01, 2006 9:47 am)
#14 of 207 Re: CVT end in sight: [buckwheat] by blue05 Aug 01, 2006 (8:12 am)
Replying to: buckwheat (Aug 01, 2006 7:14 am) You said that the CVT was made in the U.S. I'm wandering why my parts content information sheet on my 05 stated that the transmission was made in Germany . It also noted that part contents does not include final assembly . Are the 06 CVT's made in the U.S ? Replies to this message: buckwheat (Aug 01, 2006 9:21 am) passat_2002 (Aug 01, 2006 9:47 am)
#15 of 207 Re: CVT end in sight: [blue05] by buckwheat Aug 01, 2006 (9:21 am)
Replying to: blue05 (Aug 01, 2006 8:12 am) It is possible that in the early days of the joint venture some parts made for the CFT30 by ZF Friedchshafen were made in Germany but ZF's contribution was mainly CVT technology & design. What I said is "Fords CVT is made here in the US." That particular joint venture with ZF Friedchshafen has been dissolved, but Ford maintains other ventures with them.. My uderstanding is Fords Batavia plant, which is scheduled to close in 2008, is the maker of current Ford CVT's.
#16 of 207 Re: CVT end in sight: [blue05] by passat_2002 Aug 01, 2006 (9:47 am)
Replying to: blue05 (Aug 01, 2006 8:12 am) As far as I know, all CVT transmissions for the Freestyle/500 since day one have been assembled in Batavia, Ohio. Some of it's parts, however, come from Germany. The stainless steel belt (by far the most expensive single part) comes from Germany . If 51% of the content cost comes from Germany.. then they gotta say it's from Germany. But it's made in the Buckeye state.

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