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Ford Freestar Transmission Problems

1900 messages,  Last post on Jun 14, 2013 at 12:47 PM

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


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Messages Page 123 of 191

#1214 of 1900 transmission and engine by bonnie30

May 10, 2010 (9:21 am)

hello every1 i just call the ford company this afternoon and told them problem with my 2005 freestar i told them i had nothing but problem with it i told them they need to put a recall on this vehicles befor some1 get hurt or kill please everyone with problems please call 1-800-392-3673 im getting tired having to put my van n the shop every couple of month i have change all the spark plug every 3000 i have the oil change and transmission evry 60000 i have complete update my vechles and maintance when needed but still haveing problem let all get together and start calling thanks every1 let fight back please tell them shirley sent u all there to call

#1215 of 1900 Re: transmission and engine [bonnie30] by jgenovese

May 10, 2010 (7:01 pm)

Replying to: bonnie30 (May 10, 2010 9:21 am)
Bonnie,
Calling Ford is like spitting into the wind. I have been at it for 2 and 1/2 years trying to get them to do the right thing or be held accountable. You need to report your situation to NHTSA and also to the Center for Auto Safety, both via their websites. These are the organizations that can do the most for us. NHTSA is the goverment agency that is SUPPOSED to be looking out for us and the Center for Auto Safety is a reputable and credible private sector organization that can be very influential in these matters. Also, you could and should contact your local media outlets, print, radio, and television, as well as the Attorney General for your state. Finally, spread the word to EVERYONE you know or meet that drives a Freestar or a Mercury Monteray which is the sister vehicle to the Freestar and is marketed by Mercury.
 
Jim Genovese
Annapolis, MD

#1216 of 1900 Well, this is no fun... by occupant1

May 17, 2010 (5:04 am)

I was hoping the 95-98 Windstar and 99-03 Windstar transmission problems had been licked by the time the Freestar came out. I just looked at a nice one, too, 2005 model, 132K on it, $3200 cash. Maybe I should avoid the Ford vans altogether, which is not what I was hoping to do...
 
I could always take a page from my own vehicle history. I had a 1991 Aerostar in which I replaced every single major mechanical component except for the 3.0L engine. First was a transmission. Then a radiator. Then the battery/starter. Then I tried to fix the fuel mileage problem. I changed the cap/rotor/plugs/wires/O2 sensors/filters/valve cover gaskets, retorqued the rockers, replaced every inch of vacuum hose, swapped ignition modules, and "seafoamed" it with B-12. I did the most complete tuneup I could ever imagine and still could't do over 15-16mpg in highway driving. Then the heater core failed. Then the steering rack began dumping fluid out a crack in the case. Then the driveshaft flew off at city speeds and I had to replace both U-joints to put it back in. Then the exhaust fell off. And I'm in Texas, exhaust doesn't rust here, this broke off from the age of the rubber hangers! Finally when the AC stopped blowing cold up front did I sell the van. The whole time I owned it I had to start it from under the hood with a screwdriver. The ignition switch was replaced twice, it would work for a week or so, then it wouldn't. The subsequent owner installed a big red START button on the dash. And yes, he had to replace the starter again because his kids kept hitting the button. Even his wife said, "what's this, honey?" and hit it while driving down the highway.
 
I think I spent about $4400 over 18 months on that van PLUS the value of the 270K mile 1995 Century I even traded for it (the dealer's asking price on the van was $1100, so we'll go with that and call it $5500 total). Sold it for a mere $750 after advertising it for six months straight on CL at varying prices as high as $1800 and as low as $900.
 
I have a feeling buying another Ford minivan would cause the same money pit syndrome as my Aerostar, nicknamed "The Van Of Questionable Mechanical Integrity", gave me back then. Which is sad. I've ridden in some Freestars as taxicabs. They were very comfortable. I drove a 1999 Windstar as a taxi in Dallas in 2002. I loved it! But evidently they don't hold up.
 
Has anyone been able to go 200K in a Freestar in normal/severe driving without a major transmission failure?

#1217 of 1900 Re: Well, this is no fun... [occupant1] by kkalbfleisch

May 17, 2010 (5:11 am)

Replying to: occupant1 (May 17, 2010 5:04 am)
There is a reason why your able to buy a 2005 with 132K for only $3200. The person just wants to get rid of it. The transmission problems with these Freestars is completely unacceptable!! If I were you, I wouldn't buy it.

#1218 of 1900 Re: Well, this is no fun... [kkalbfleisch] by bonnie30

May 17, 2010 (5:50 am)

Replying to: kkalbfleisch (May 17, 2010 5:11 am)
far as i no i would run from it it will give u nothing but headachei had my freestar less then 2 years it been n the shop more then my driveway i had everything completely tune up oil change every 3000 keep up with everything i have put more money and this dam vehicle and it still not running right now we going to put 2 new cv shaft to see if it is causing the shaking.. i just talk to my sister-n-law the other day and she just got town and chreler and she said she had nothing wrong with it i was thinking about getting rid of this and getting another model good luck if u consider buying it.. please keep n touch and let me no how it run if u consider buying it

#1219 of 1900 Re: Well, this is no fun... [occupant1] by nadineb

May 18, 2010 (9:14 am)

Replying to: occupant1 (May 17, 2010 5:04 am)
If you are looking for advise on whether to purchase this van, my advice would be to totally avoid this vehicle. I know that my vehicle would have gotten me or someone in my family killed. Any vehicle that preforms in this matter could be potentially deadly. If you have a family, I would not recommend this vehicle. Think about being rear ended in the vehicle, and the harm that it could do to those you love.
 
Jim has been attempting to fix a wrong for years because he knows and I believe has seen a number of auto accidents and the damage they leave behind. I personally can not comprehend this outrageous, neglectful, criminal, behavior on the part of Ford Motor Company or NHTSA. Is the fox (Ford Motor Company) watching the automotive henhouse (NHTSA)?

#1220 of 1900 Re: Well, this is no fun... [nadineb] by shocked1

May 18, 2010 (4:18 pm)

Replying to: nadineb (May 18, 2010 9:14 am)
NO, I will NEVER own another FORD!!!!!!!!!! Simply cause they DON'T STAND BEHIND THEIR JUNK!!!!!! The 2004 FREESTAR VAN is nothing but a death trap And, once you buy one you're stuck with it for life.. NHTSA, POLITICS, NO ONE cares. Or they would force FORD to recall their trash!!!!!!!!!! Ive replaced 1 tranny, and will go out again, & I have the brake's problem also.But, as I said, who cares?
                                            FORD MOTOR CO. SUKS!!!!!!!

#1221 of 1900 Re: I have just became part of the club. [anabel] by jgenovese

May 19, 2010 (5:06 am)

Replying to: anabel (May 07, 2010 8:52 am)
Sorry for the delayed response. To my knowledge, the affected model years are, at least, 2004-2006. This vehicle was marketed as the Windstar prior to 2004 and was last manufactured and sold as a 2007. Additionally, I do beieve that some 2007's are already experiencing the same defect. (Plesae review the previous 1000 or so posts on this forum to verify this, however.
 
The flyers are an excellent idea. Any way we can get the word out to potential victims of this defect. Keep spreading the word and stay safe!
 
Jim Genovese
Anapolis, MD

#1222 of 1900 04 Monterey trouble, now traded in by ehwilli

May 19, 2010 (7:04 am)

Hi folks,
 
Sorry for the long post. I'm a long-time lurker and want to share my story before I unsubscribe from this thread. I've followed this discussion for a long time and prayed on many occasions that my 04 Monterey w/73K miles would not put my family at risk. Then on a 3 hour drive to the beach 2 weeks ago my RPMs shot up, van lost forward momentum and white steam was everywhere. The transmission warning light came on and I just knew we had lost our transmission.
 
As we sat on the side of the road and discussed our options, we checked the GPS to find the closest exit and mechanic. It was 6 miles away so we decided to start the van and see if we could get it that far. We prayed that we could at least get our children safely off the side of the highway and that God would provide a way for us to continue our vacation.
 
The van started up fine and there were no warning lights or anything. I put the van into drive, slowly stepped on the accelerator....and we started moving. My wife and I prayed (we are a Christian family) silently for the 6 miles it took to get to the exit. The transmission was slipping just a bit but otherwise everything seemed ok. Rather than stop we thought we'd see if we could get to the next town. Although the tranny clearly had issues and was slipping and jerking now and again we made it another 80 miles to the beach. As we drove we talked about how amazing God is that he can fix transmissions, that there is no way we should be moving down the road!
 
While at the beach I took the van to an Aamco and the only problem they could find was a blown pan gasket. They did say the new fluid went in very slowly and were not sure why and to keep an eye on it. So we spent $150 on a fluid, filter and gasket change that needed done soon anyway. As we drove the 200 miles back home we stopped a couple times to let the transmission cool. It was a stressful drive but we made it home.
 
The local transmission shop took the van for a drive with a inflight recorder hooked up and they said the torque converter was not locking up. They also said the fluid going in slowly was due to the transmission running hot and soot clogging up the vent. The estimate for repairs was around $1000 but they weren't sure what they'd find once they were inside. They could not take our van until the following week so we drove home in hopes it would last that long.
 
We decided that since the van is in running condition we should try to trade it in for the book value minus expected repair costs. We disclosed the transmission issues to the dealer and got offered $5000 for the van, exactly what I had expected. Hard to believe that's all it's worth, but no price can be put on my family's safety. We've prayed with our children giving thanks for how this turned out and that our van will be repaired and not cause trouble for it's future owners.
 
FYI the new minivan market is small and the options stink. We did not want to buy used because of the prevalent transmission issues with so many vans. The new Sienna has been cheapened and getting less than stellar consumer reviews, the Odyssey is still plagued with tranny issues (and Honda thinks way too much of themselves for me) and the Sedona just wasn't a fit for us. So we are now the owners of 2010 Chrysler Town & Country with a 5yr/100k mile powertrain warranty, and as much as I hate extended warranties I might just buy one...still not sure on that.
 
Sorry for the long story but I felt led to share how God carried us through this journey. I will continue to pray for Freestar and Monterey owners that your families stay safe in these vehicles and that financially you are able to handle whatever problems may come.
 
God bless,
Ted

#1223 of 1900 Re: 04 Monterey trouble, now traded in [ehwilli] by bobbijo

May 19, 2010 (8:34 am)

Replying to: ehwilli (May 19, 2010 7:04 am)
Prayers got our family to a safe spot in our 2004 Freestar 3 times during a long trip. We were going through some windy, isolated, and unfamiliar areas & had little choice but to pray hard & keep going. (& I should add that each of the 3 unplanned pull overs were in beautiful places that we would have never otherwise noticed & our 3 little boys never even realized anything was wrong--they just thought that Mommy & Daddy were making some cool extra stops!) This trip was before I found out about the PCM issue & we couldn't figure out the problem since the warning lights were not consistent & went away after we took a break. Our torque convertors final breath was in the safest place possible--our driveway. I know that God keeps a hand on so many tiny things that we never even realize & I am glad to know that He kept your family safe too. Now I pray that our rebuilt torque convertor will get us through until the loan is paid for & that Ford & the government work this out before it is too late! I have tried to focus on the blessings that have come out of this mess & not the anger that I have towards the irresponsibility on Ford's part!

Messages Page 123 of 191

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