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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 146 of 190

#1445 of 1889 Re: Please read [fordcustsrvc] by doodleallday

Mar 22, 2011 (4:45 pm)

Replying to: fordcustsrvc (Mar 22, 2011 6:32 am)
I have written Ford Motor Co. 4 times. After the 3rd time they wrote me and said they would not be communicating with me any more as my 2005 Freestar was out of warranty. I have written to NHTSA and Center for Auto Safety several times as well. I was told that Ford would have to initiate the recall. When my transmission went out I was on a busy interstate passing an 18-wheeler. Luckily I had the good sense to let my van coast to the side of the road. Thank goodness I was not hit and could maneuver my van to safety. I cannot afford a new vehicle so must pray each day I have to drive my van that I will return safely home. With hundreds of Freestar owners posting on this website I cannot imagine that Ford Motor Co. can sit back and do nothing - this defect is a tragedy waiting to happen. I hope that all at Ford will be able to look at themselves and sleep well at night when a death occurs as a result of a faulty transmission failing without any warning. I want to warn every Freestar and Mercury Monterey owner about this defect. I love my van but I am afraid this is my last Ford product.

#1446 of 1889 Freestar,Freestar ,Freestar by ihatemy04frstr

Mar 22, 2011 (8:23 pm)

This is starting to be getting ridiculous with this Freestar. Last week I went to my mechanic and he said he can't find anything wrong with the steering. Wanted my mechanic to just check it out- maybe I was just looking for something else to go wrong and was overexadderating. When you turn the steering wheel right to left-left to right I felt something abnormal. Today I realized I was not looking for something else to go wrong with this damn car- there is definitely something wrong. And also when I turn, I lose the steering just a little bit but has gotten worse so it has to go back in the shop AGAIN.
 
#### I am 37 and have loved my fords have never had any problems. - 94 aerostar with 180,000+ miles a 96 ford windstar with 170,000+ 97 f150 with about 88,000+ 00' Lincoln navigator with over 100,000 and 2002 ford e350 super duty oh and I had a 82 ford mustang gt.
 
Oh wait; I forgot to mention about my 04 Freestar that I own
 
Not one of them did I have any problems like I have have with Freestar.
 
I would love to get rid of this ford but I owe a lot more than it's worth especially after putting a new transmission in the damn thing.
 
I have a 2 and a 4 year old.........I will own ford if anything happens to my kids.

#1447 of 1889 Re: Warranty on replacement tranny [transtroubled] by 72stick

Mar 24, 2011 (5:45 pm)

Replying to: transtroubled (Mar 22, 2011 7:02 am)
Seni and all,
 
It is a sad day when Ford doesn’t want to admit there’s an issue with their torque converter in the 2005 Freestar. Their own documentation to the NHTSA shows they knew about the issues. The documentation by NHTSA is very compelling. The poor storage and shipping of the converter drive plates along with the poor welding techniques and sloppy assembly line installation all contributed to the short input-shaft spline life.
 
We own a 2005 Freestar and the transmission failed on March 11, 2011. Thankfully, the wife was not hurt while maneuvering off to the side of the road traveling by herself in the daylight with time to make a phone call for help before dark. The night before, we were returned home from ST Louis. That was a 4 hour drive. Had it failed on the hwy or Interstate at night, the story might have had a different ending.
 
I didn’t have my cell phone with me when she broke down, so I didn’t find out about the problem till just before dark. I had 30 minutes of daylight; just enough time to take a car dolly and retrieve the van. I used a come-a-long hooked to my truck to wench it on the dolly. Lucky for me I’m an old mechanic and I’ve retrieved many broken down cars before, although it’s been many years since I’ve done it.
 
When I got it home I started it up and checked the tranny oil level. It was overfull, and with the engine up to operating temp, the tranny oil was still cold. The high oil level and low oil temperature indicated to me that the transmission oil pump wasn’t turning. I fired up the home computer and WOW, was I surprised to see so many problems with the Freestar torque converter.
 
The next Monday I called my friend at the local community college Votech School. He’s an instructor in their Mechanical Power Technology department. He used to be a Ford mechanic and told me he knew exactly what’s wrong with the Freestar. I asked him if he wanted to take a crack at fixing the van. He just finished teaching the transmission class last month, but talked the school into letting the students fix our van for real world practical experience. They only charge for the new parts installed to fix the problem and only ask for a donation to the school. Fair as fair can be. He’s class started working on the van today and promised to take lots of pictures as it is taken a part.
 
Seni & Ford, are you reading this? You have missed a big opportunity! Instead of burying your collective heads in the sand and paying the big $ to your lawyers to defend the company, you could have said – Hey, we don’t admit there’s a defect but for the vans out of warranty we’ll donate the parts to your local vocational technology school and let them get some real world experience fixing the problem; A WIN- WIN proposition for all involved. The students get the experience they need to succeed in the work place and the van owners get their van fixed at a fraction on the cost. Is something like this even possible in today’s litigious society? When I was a young man, this would have been a no brainer.

#1448 of 1889 Wisconsin Class Action? by momx6

Mar 24, 2011 (9:01 pm)

I have been following this thread for years since the transmission on our 2004 Ford Freestar went out, at highway speed, on a four lane highway, during rush hour, with my four young children in the van...Lucky for us no one was injured.
 
I have seen a number of postings that reference class action suits in other states but have not seen anything about Wisconsin. Has anyone initiated a suit here? Is anyone interested?
 
Jill

#1449 of 1889 Re: Please read [fordcustsrvc] by momx6

Mar 24, 2011 (9:15 pm)

Replying to: fordcustsrvc (Mar 22, 2011 6:32 am)
Seni,
 
REALLY! This is your reply to years and years of complaints? This is your response to putting my family in danger when Ford knew that there was an issue with these vans! REALLY…THIS IS THE BEST THAT YOU AND FORD CAN DO? SHAME ON YOU!
 
With much disgust,
 
A terrified mother of six and lifelong Ford owner (who will never buy a Ford again)

#1450 of 1889 Re: Warranty on replacement tranny [72stick] by unfordunately

Mar 25, 2011 (11:52 am)

Replying to: 72stick (Mar 24, 2011 5:45 pm)
72stick,
 
In your response, you refer to the documentation that Ford supplied to the NHTSA. I have not been able to get any information from the NHTSA about the investigation beyond their request to Ford from Nov 2010. Could you tell me how you got it, or, better yet, where I can find it?
 
To all who are reading,
 
I am also a lifelong Ford owner. I can say with certainty that if I do not receive at a minimum full reimbursement for my expenses for both times my torque converter failed, I will never buy another Ford. This is completely irresponsible of Ford. I'm furious!
 
I am interested in a lawsuit, but am unfamiliar with the process. I live in NH. Does it need to be done by state, or can we combine nationally? If anyone is initiating, count me in.

#1451 of 1889 Re: Warranty on replacement tranny [unfordunately] by 72stick

Mar 25, 2011 (1:31 pm)

Replying to: unfordunately (Mar 25, 2011 11:52 am)
You have to go to Safercar.gov,
-then vehicle owners,
-defect investigations,
-search.
 
You'll then drill down by selecting:
-type,
-then model year,
-then make,
-then model, and finally
-component.
 
One of the selections is power train:
-Automatic transmission: torque converter
 
Use that selection, but don't put a check in the check box for ....see full summary.....
It takes way too long.
 
Finally, you'll see search results and a couple of records displayed.
Click on the document search button at the bottom of the record.
 
You'll see a file matrix and just click on the files and start reading.
Some are just engineering results but the good stuff is in there somewhere.
 
Start from this link:
 
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/defect/results.cfm
 
Good luck!

#1452 of 1889 Warning-Now I understand. by nadineb

Mar 26, 2011 (10:05 am)

OK. I could not figure out why a Ford Customer Service Rep. was posting, but after searching the complaints on NHTSA, now I know. Read below.
 
A car jack, part number 3F2Z17080AB, that comes standard with 2004 Ford Freestar Minivans, bent while supporting the van causing the vehicle to fall, crush and kill the owner that was under the vehicle doing repairs in the right front wheel well.

#1453 of 1889 Re: Please read [fordcustsrvc] by nadineb

Mar 26, 2011 (10:41 am)

Replying to: fordcustsrvc (Mar 22, 2011 6:32 am)
Why did you post on this site?

#1454 of 1889 Facebook by nadineb

Mar 26, 2011 (11:03 am)

Join the Recall Ford Freestars page on Facebook.

Messages Page 146 of 190

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