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Ford Freestar Transmission Problems

1889 messages,  Last post on May 07, 2013 at 10:10 AM

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What is this discussion about? Ford Freestar, Mercury Monterey, Transmission, Van


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Messages Page 13 of 190

#118 of 1889 I Can't Believe It! by ktaylor43077

Jan 07, 2008 (11:49 am)

As I read all of your posts it makes me sick. We bought our 2005 Ford Freestar in February 2006. We haven't really had much trouble with it until two days before Christmas this year. It has 46,000 miles on it and the transmission indicator light came on. Ofcourse we had no idea what it meant until we looked in the book and discovered there was a problem with the transaxle. This shocked me because the mileage was still very low to be having these kind of problems. We took it to our local Ford dealership and they ofcourse asked me had we had the transmission serviced at 30,000 miles. We did not because I know some people who never have their transmission serviced and never have a problem. To make a long story short it is going to cost me over $1,000 to have the shifting solenoids replaced. As I read your posts I realize that the problem had nothing to do with us not having it serviced. I am reporting my complaint today. What address should I send my complain to Ford?

#119 of 1889 Just talked to Va Attorney General's Office by cowboys59

Jan 07, 2008 (1:47 pm)

Hello,
I just talked to the Virginia Attorney General's Office and they are sending me the form to get this thing going. The guy in the AG's office was very familiar with Ford's horrible customer service record. He had not heard of this particular problem yet but he is getting ready to look into it.
I called back to Tysons Ford and all of the sudden the really nice guy "Adam" has an incredible attitude. I asked him how I knew the problem was the torque converter since I know nothing about cars and transmissions. Basically he told me how great the extended warranty was and that the reason nothing would be paid for was that I screwed up by not getting the transmission flushed at 30,000 miles. He said he has never run across this problem before with any Ford transmission. How does a class action suit get started? I can tell that I am going to need power in numbers to get this situation corrected. Anyone with any knowledge on where to go next please let me know. I do not intend to pay these crooks a penny.

#120 of 1889 Re: Help us or join us to sue Ford Motor Company! [jgenovese] by cowboys59

Jan 07, 2008 (2:10 pm)

Replying to: jgenovese (Dec 06, 2007 7:04 pm)
I will help you do this! I have posted a couple of messages on this board. I am getting so screwed. I would love to get a class action suit started. Count me in! Please feel free to respond to me and we can get this going asap.

#121 of 1889 Check Your Maintenance Manual by sunburn

Jan 07, 2008 (5:43 pm)

For those that have had transmission problems and Ford doesn't want to pay for them because you didn't do your 30K mile transmission service, check the scheduled maintenance booklet that came with your van. In mine (2004 model year) it lists the tranmission models that require service at 30K mile intervals, the AX4N transmission in the Freestar/Monterey is NOT one of them. Of course, Ford and their dealers know the average person doesn't have a clue what transmission model is in their vehicle. If this is a misprint, then Ford should have mailed out a new maintenance booklet to all the owners. Just another piece of ammunition to use in the battle....

#122 of 1889 Re: I Can't Believe It! [ktaylor43077] by jgenovese

Jan 07, 2008 (8:47 pm)

Replying to: ktaylor43077 (Jan 07, 2008 11:49 am)
You need to start by calling Ford at their, get this, "Customer Relationship Center." The number is in your manual. Don't expect much though because the whole thing is a scam. The people who answer the phone are just call takers who pretend to care about your problem and read from a script, trying to lull you into complacency. It got so bad that I begged them to put down the script and talk to me like the intelligent adult human being that I am. It was no use. They deny that they are scripted and when you ask to speak to a supervisor, they lie and tell you that one is not available but that they will call you back within 2 days. The idea behind this tactic is that they know that the average person can't sit around and wait 2 days before they can have their car fixed and will have to just bite the bullet and pay for the repair. My advise to you is to report your failure to NHTSA via their website. When you do, make sure you put as much information in there as possible. Also, make sure you request that a recall be issued. That way, if someone should get killed driving one of these things, they can't lie and say they didn't know about it. Also, contact your local Office of the Attorney General. I believe Ford is intentionally and knowingly misleading it's cutomers. This amounts to fraud and, if someone does get killed, could rise to criminally negligent homicide. Also, the excuse that you didn't have it serviced at 30K is BOGUS. This service is recommended, not required, and would not have prevented the failures that are occurring-period. It is just another roadblock that Ford has built into their system to distance themselves from the problem that they have know has existed for years. In fact, if you did have the service done, they would make you go through the transmission fluid manufacturer for coverage! Good luck getting reimbursed that way! Also, to add insult to injury, they actually do pay some people. One family, as recently as late November, 2007, got OVER $3K!!!! There is no rhyme or reason to it. It is totally arbitrary. One way or another, DON'T LET IT DROP! There is strength in numbers and great power now that we have the internet as is indicated by the posts on this site alone. Wait until you see the NHTSA website. It will literally give you the chills - especially since they have been aware of this problem for so long and still have not issued a recall. We have got to keep up the pressure on Ford and NHTSA. I am ready and willing to join a class action lawsuit. My own individual suit is on hold until my local AG has completed their investigation. Hopefully, when they are done, Ford will step up and do the right thing and legal action won't be necessary. I'm not holding my breath for that though.

#123 of 1889 Re: 2004 Freestar died at 44,500 miles [jennifersmith] by jgenovese

Jan 07, 2008 (9:01 pm)

Replying to: jennifersmith (Jan 07, 2008 9:21 am)
First, thank goodness nobody got injured. This is a nightmare waiting to happen. Second, thank you for following up with NHTSA. We cannot let them off of the hook either. Nobody should have to pay for these repairs. This is a problem that has been known to Ford for some time now. If your dealership told you that they know nothing about it, they are lying to you. A recall needs to be issued TODAY before another scenario like yours plays out with a less favorable outcome. The fact of the matter is, it could already have happened and we just know about it. I am researching this angle. It is going to take a while though. Stay tuned to this forum. In the meantime, contact your local Office of the Attorney General and report your experience to them. In my opinion, this shaping up to be a clear cut case of fraud on the part of Ford and it needs to be investigated as such. Also, contact your local media, radio, television, and print. Most stations, networks, and newspapers have a consumer advocacy reporter that might take an interest in your story. We have got to keep this story going and keep the momentum and pressure against Ford and NHTSA going as well.

#124 of 1889 Re: Help us or join us to sue Ford Motor Company! [cowboys59] by jgenovese

Jan 07, 2008 (9:07 pm)

Replying to: cowboys59 (Jan 07, 2008 2:10 pm)
I am working on it on my end. In the meantime, any tips, advice, support from the others in this forum are appreciated. Also, keep up the pressure on Ford and NHTSA and keep us updated on your case.

#125 of 1889 Re: Just talked to Va Attorney General's Office [cowboys59] by jgenovese

Jan 07, 2008 (9:17 pm)

Replying to: cowboys59 (Jan 07, 2008 1:47 pm)
"Adam" is lying to you. He is trained to lie to you. Ask any transmission shop owner who is not beholden to Ford about this transmission and the answer will be the same - THIS IS VERY COMMON, WELL KNOWN, AND WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. Believe me, Ford knows about it. They have known about it for years. Also, the 30K mile transmission fluid flush and fill excuse is a non-starter. First, the service is recommended, not required and second, it would not have prevented the failure - period. It is just a clever scam by Ford to distance themselves from the problem and trick you into letting them off of the hook for the cost of the new transmission. Your are right. There is strength in numbers and the power of the internet is immense. Keep us posted on your progress with Virginia AG.

#126 of 1889 More info by cowboys59

Jan 07, 2008 (10:13 pm)

I found another website to go to lodge a complaint. www.autosafety.org
They also have a place to check off on your complaint if you would be interested in a class action lawsuit. Although they are located in Washington DC they seem to be less polically driven than NHTSA.
I am going to talk to a couple of friends tomorrow (attorneys) regarding who to speak to about getting our own class action lawsuit going.
Hell hath no fury like a stay-at-home mom with extra time on her hands whose sole means of transportation is being screwed with.
Thanks to all of you for all your invaluable input. I have learned more about transmissions and Ford in the past 48 hours than I ever thought I would need to know. Now let's all just keep it going!

#127 of 1889 2005 Ford Freestar by boydo

Jan 08, 2008 (12:08 am)

I'm a father of 4 with a stay at home wife. The second week in December of 2007 my transmission went out on my Freestar while i was at work. I had 49,000 miles on it and I got it brand new in 2005. I didn't know what to do so i had my uncle (who is a mechanic) look at it and he told me I would need a new transmission. It was so close to Christmas so I didn't have the money to pay for a new tranny so he found me a used transmission for 850 dollars. It was from a used freestar. So he went online to try and find a transmission repair guide and he came across this forum. Now hes skeptic to replace my transmission because the used tranny has 20 k miles and it might go out at 40 k. So here I am making payments on a van i haven't been able to drive in 2 months and after reading all of your stories that are just like mine in that the transmission just goes out without warning it makes me sick to my stomach. I hope they do a recall on these and i would love to help in making that happen.

Messages Page 13 of 190

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