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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 74 of 189

#731 of 1889 NHTSA Action Number : PE09033 by oilandwater

Aug 20, 2009 (1:25 pm)

From National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the US Department of Transportation
  
Dear Freestar/Monterey Owners,
  
This is Emily Reichard again with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the US Department of Transportation. As some of you may already know, an investigation has opened on the 2004-2005 Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey vehicles for transmission failure. This can be viewed on our website at www.safercar.gov under investigation #PE09-033. After this week I will no longer be in this office and my e-mail will be phased out. Therefore, if you have any other responses or questions, please contact principal investigator Stephen McHenry . Thank you so much for all of your time and information. Have a great day.
  
NHTSA Action Number : PE09033 NHTSA Recall Campaign Number : N/A
Make / Models : Model/Build Years:
     FORD / FREESTAR 2004-2005
   
     MERCURY / MONTEREY 2004-2005
   
Manufacturer : FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Component :
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
   
Date Investigation Opened : July 15, 2009
Date Investigation Closed : Open
Summary:
 ODI HAS RECEIVED 178 COMPLAINTS ALLEGING THAT AN INTERNAL FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION CREATED A SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER IN MODEL YEAR 2004 THROUGH 2005 FORD FREESTAR AND MERCURY MONTEREY VEHICLES. SIXTY-FIVE (65) COMPLAINANTS WHO PROVIDED SPECIFIC INFORMATION TO ODI REGARDING THE FAILURE MODE OF THE TRANSMISSION IDENTIFIED THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND/OR THE TORQUE CONVERTER OUTPUT SHAFT AS THE FAILED SUBSYSTEM/COMPONENT. FOR THE LATTER, THE ALLEGATIONS INDICATE THAT THE SHAFT SPLINES FAILED SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, RESULTING IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF VEHICLE PROPULSION DUE TO THE ENGINE POWER BECOMING DISCONNECTED FROM THE DRIVETRAIN. A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION HAS BEEN OPENED TO ASSESS THE SCOPE, FREQUENCY, AND POTENTIAL SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT.

#732 of 1889 Re: Yet another Freestar failed xmission story [jouziel] by momx6

Aug 20, 2009 (2:39 pm)

Replying to: jouziel (Aug 11, 2009 6:25 am)
Has anyone else had any trouble after the transmission repair? My cruise control is now only working intermittently since I got my van back a week and a half ago.
Jill

#733 of 1889 Another broken transmission.... by ihatefords1

Aug 20, 2009 (5:19 pm)

Well, our van was bought in August of 2006 and now, in August 2009, the transmission has gone. The van is at the dealership and they told us the internal planetary gear has disintergrated. Great. The van only has 45,000 miles. We have always performed all the necessary oil changes and whatnot. This was so unexpected. Now the dealership is stating that they have to contact Ford and will let us know the price. I am like, what the heck? We purchased the extended warranty, even more than a powertrain and now they are saying they may not cover it? Very unhappy with Ford right now and I truly wish the van would just go away.

#734 of 1889 Re: Another broken transmission.... [ihatefords1] by upsetatford

Aug 21, 2009 (4:00 pm)

Replying to: ihatefords1 (Aug 20, 2009 5:19 pm)
Please join the ranks of us and file a complaint with the NHTSA. If we get enough complaints submitted I believe this will really open their eyes even more. I have filed mine and they want to see the diagnostic sheet from Ford. We have asked for it and they said they would fax it to us. They did fax it, but its a parts order sheet listing how much the torque converter is and transmission fluid exchange, basically what it was going to cost to have it repaired. So, I have to call them AGAIN.

#735 of 1889 Cost for repair... by upsetatford

Aug 21, 2009 (4:05 pm)

On another note, we called around to see if we could find a better price to get the van repaired. CarX said they would do the repaire for $896 and some change. Ford was going to charge use about $1300. We called Ford back with the info and that we were going to have someone else do the repair. They immediately dropped thier price to the same amount, but said they would not offer a warranty. Well CarX also had a warranty.
 
If you are having a problem with your van please file a complaint with NHTSA so we can overload them reports. Let's see how long Ford will sit on their hands once they get some real pressure.

#736 of 1889 Transmission Woes! by mwirt

Aug 25, 2009 (5:31 pm)

Hello everybody!
Our 2004 Freestar (79k miles) came to a rolling stop today, making a load whining sound (similar to low fluid in a power steering pump) from the trans. The ESP Warranty ended at 75k miles.
 
Beginning at 55k miles, it became slow in engaging from Reverse to Drive and occasionally shuttered. A local dealership found nothing wrong and after servicing it, gave it a clean bill of health. Slow shifting started again and now, we're stuck. A local trans technician experienced in rebuilding these beasts diagnosed it as likely the planetary unit(?). Isn't it considered a clunker now???

#737 of 1889 Re: Transmission Woes! [mwirt] by nadineb

Aug 26, 2009 (9:37 am)

Replying to: mwirt (Aug 25, 2009 5:31 pm)
I think they were a clunker the day they came off the assembly line.
 
Hope you file a complaint with NHTSA.
Good luck.

#738 of 1889 JUNKS by shocked1

Aug 27, 2009 (9:45 pm)

Sure they were junk in the factory!!!!! They didn't make the tranny large enough for the engines, we were told. I tell everyone driving a FREESTAR, to turn complaints into NHTSA. I also get ill when I see children in them. COME ON FORD..... FESS UP... YOU MADE A DEADLY MISTAKE..... FIX IT FAIRLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#739 of 1889 Re: JUNKS [shocked1] by nadineb

Aug 28, 2009 (7:26 am)

Replying to: shocked1 (Aug 27, 2009 9:45 pm)
I believe that NHTSA also needs to take responsibility along with Ford in getting these vehicles recalled, repaired, or off the roads. NHTSA has a duty to gather the information from Ford so hello, federal government, do your job!
 
I totally agree that children should not be in these vehicles. For that matter, anyone riding in these vehicles are at an unacceptable risk for their safety and others on the roadways around them.
 
I will never own another Ford. Wonder why the "Cash for Clunkers" program had 41% foreign vehicles sold through the incentive. I believe that Ford will fail soon if they keep this kind of business practice.

#740 of 1889 Familiar Story by disappointed26

Aug 28, 2009 (2:03 pm)

Just last night in a small town between Cedar Rapids, Ia and Iowa City my wife was picking up our 2 year od from our sitter after work when I got the call,”Our van just died!” When she explained the symptoms I immediately knew it was the transmission and because the vehicle was going 55 mph when it lost all drive train power I knew it had to be the spline b/c had it been anything else she wouldn’t have lost power until after coming to a complete stop. My step father, whom has his own garage, thankfully towed our 05’ Freestar with 85,000 miles on it to a small town transmission expert that again confirmed my suspicion of the spline. He is keeping all parts for me and will be willing to provide me with a signed affidavit. Please let me know where I should forward this material to so that we can help others that have purchased this vehicle.

Messages Page 74 of 189

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