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Vans & Minivans Ford Freestar Ford Freestar Service Experiences
10 messages, Last post on Jul 12, 2008 at 6:59 AM
You are in the Ford Freestar Forum. Your Host is Karens
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I have a 2004 Ford Freestar with 28,000 miles on it. Among many problems I have had with the vehicle, the transmission died this past weekend on the way home from a family vacation (14 hours away, UGH!). The worst part of the story is that the vehicle was at the dealer (Bill Collins Ford in Louisville, KY) two months ago with a flashing transmission light and our complaint that on long trips the light goes on and there is rough shifting at highway speed...the dealer couldn't find anything or diagnose the problem and sent us back on our way. This is all documented. A follow up call to the service person at the dealer saying we were still having the problem went unanswered. I am wondering if others have had experience dealing with Ford customer service, dealership, etc. about a problem such as this. We are seeking reimbursement for the rental car that we drove home, the cost of shipping the vehicle from MA to KY, the extra night of hotel, etc. We don't have an extended service plan yet because we planned to buy it at the end of the 36,000 factory warranty period. While I would like to vent about this, I am also interested in advice on how best to handle.
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Replying to: robfred (Aug 09, 2006 5:43 pm) The flashing transmission light is clear sign something is wrong with the transmission. At least this is the warning signal that has been used on the Explorere for the past few years. |
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I own a 2004 Freestar, which I might add comes with a significant monthly payment. Reveiws stated a minivan with comfort and reliability like never before. After 3 years of run time, and less than 70,000 miles, the vehicle of "reliablity" turned into the vehicle of "liability"! In late October of 2007, I left the parking lot after work, engaged drive and made it another 50 feet before the van died as I continued to roll. Luckily at that time, I was only going 10 mph. After $100 tow bill, and nearly 9 days at the dealership, I was told that "Catastrophic" failure occured withitn the transmission body. That is hard for me to comprehend, when the van showed no indicator lights or hard shift patterns, even at the time of failure. Needless to say, the 3/36,000 had expired. So $3,000.00 and 12 working days later, I get the van back from the Ford dearlership. Four days later, same symptons. Only this time, I had my children in the vehicle with me at the time I was traveling at a rate of 35 mph through town. I regained control of the van without power steering or assisted braking. I immediately called the dealership, paid another tow bill, and waited 3 working days for a diagnosis. I was told that I had significant water damage to the PCN board located under the cawl panel (excuse the spelling). A transmission and a PCN board within four days! Come on, I don't buy that! But I did, and paid another $280.00 for a tube of silicone to be applied to the plastic housing that the board is mounted in. Dealership assured me that the board was fine, "here you go". Three months later, same symptoms. Only this time, I finally get a transmission indicator light on the dash. Tow bill number 3 later, and 7 working days, I was told that the board needs replaced. FINE!! The only saving grace I might have is that the Service Manager I demanded to get involved, admitted to me that Ford is issuing service bulletins on Freestar PCN failures due to the design of the hood and how body seems allow water to land directly on the PCN housing! After asking the manager what the PCN does for my van, he explained, among many other functions, that it controls transmission shifting through electrical buss cables. Did I really need the $3,000.00 transmission, or just the board that controls it???? Oh, I forgot to mention, at the time of this last failure, I was traveling 55 mph on a two lane highway, lost complete engine power, steering, and braking: then played "chicken" with a semi hauling silica sand. I'm guessing I would have lost that one and my children would have lost their dad! How much more has to happen before Ford admits complete failure of their design, stops putting peoples' lives at risk, and offers to make it right monetarily with those who have survived, and issues a world wide recall for those still at risk. If Ford wants to build an American made car and ask Americans to buy it, rather than a foreign made model, then they need to step up and protect the American consumer. I am so ready to go public with my travesty, if they won't protect my family in the family vehicle they made, then I will! Jason Nunnally 103 E Pike St Attica, IN 47918 |
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Replying to: jnunnally73 (Feb 16, 2008 10:04 am)
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Replying to: KarenS (Feb 18, 2008 10:43 am)
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Replying to: phishlover (Apr 20, 2008 6:46 pm) |
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Replying to: jnunnally73 (Feb 16, 2008 10:04 am) I hear there is another Freestar in the shop now...at least with them, they know what the problem is...and will build a "rain shield" for that car. |
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