Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
"Failure of the "Neutral to Drive Accumulator" causes hard shifts into a drive gear (R, OD, D, 1). from "N" or "P". This can become quite violent. Reason for this part's failure: Piston stuck, seals or springs—damaged, missing. Correction for this problem: Check for damage. Replace as required (located inside the transmission, recommended that a transmission shop do the repair, but a full rebuild of the transmission is NOT required).".....as per Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_AXOD_transmission#AX4N
I would recommend that you contact your Senators and Congresspeople and get NHTSA to do what they need to do. There is no doubt that this is a SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE and a MAJOR DEFECT that will get someone killed or serious injured. I do not believe that any of us who own or have owned these vehicles believe anything different otherwise we would not be so determined to get this issue resolved.
Let those responsible for correcting this problem hear you! Have Ford disclose the number of customer complaints, warranty repairs, secret warranty repairs, and recall and FIX this problem!
In the meantime, I would really like for everyone who wants to join me in a class action to contact me via my Email address which you can get from my profile on this website. I have several contacts already but, as we all know, the more, the better.
Jim Genovese
Annapolis, MD
Yes we also were hit by several tractor trailers trying to get off to the shoulder of the highway from going from 75 miles a hour (the posted speed limit) to no power.
Any info you can provide as I deal with this out of town dealer would be appreciated. AndreaDoria
Would you explain what you mean when you say that you were hit by several tractor trailers? Do you mean that you were personally hit by the trucks or the vehicle was hit by the trucks?
I was so afraid of this vehicle that I refused to drive it or ride in it. For those of you who have children, my heart goes out to you. This is a very sad situation.
The steering wheel shaking while braking has me thinking you should have the front rotors checked for warping. But the ABS & TC light would point me toward a bad wheel sensor.
Here's a very detailed answer I found when someone asked about how the Freestar Traction Control system worked.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080223203344AARoClk
Before having someone play around with the transmission, I would have the braking system looked at. Also I would keep monitoring the situation noting the exact conditions.
The dealer is quoting $3,500 to fix the Torque Converter/Transmission. Aftrer numerous calls to Ford Canada they agreed to pay 1/2 the cost. I am pushing for the full amount as it seems they knew about these issues. So far 1/2 the cost is all they'll go for...The dealer (Oakland Ford) doesn't want to do anything....
My wife was on the highway on-ramp when the transmission died. Same as the rest, the engine was running but the van would only rev and not (D) drive in gear. I've added my complaint to the NHTSA (#10288741) and Transport Canada websites. As well, I'll be sending a letter to the Vice President of Customer Service. If anyone has a suggestions on possible next steps, please let me know.
In the meantime, lets all hope for a recall... These vehicles are not safe and someone is going to be seriously rear-ended
I looked at the Canada Transport site, but could not find how many complaints they have had about the Freestar. If you can find out, I would appreciate getting a copy of the information since I am awaiting some from NHTSA. I believe that NHTSA is going to issue a recall on these vehicles soon because they are in the process of examining these failures. We need continue to educate those who can solve the issues the seriousness about the situation.
I have been able to find ten Technical Service Bulletins (TSB) issues on these vehicles. The TSBs are issued by the manufacture to avoid a recall, but these issues are too serious.
Needless to say, I spent yesterday car shopping. I'm just no longer comfortable with mine, especially since I always have my 4 year old with me.
Ford has stated to the NHTSA that there is a low report of failures, so if your transmission failed and you want Ford to take action on suspected defects - make sure to submit a NHTSA report at the www.safercar.gov site!
Below is an email I received from the NHTSA regarding the torque converter issues:
Dear Freestar/Monterey Owners,
This is xxxxxxxxx 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.
Ford is no different today that in the "Let 'em burn" days of the Pinto. Well, guess what Ford, you will not get away with putting my family and the rest of the families that put their trust in you by buying your, "Highest safety rating in it's class," Freestar in harms way and then walking away from us.
Anyone who is interested in joing a class action, PLEASE CONTACT ME, via my Email address which is readily available via my profile on this website. For now, all I need is your contact information. We will take it from there.
Jim Genovese
Annapolis, MD
I have been following the threads since our T.C. went out this summer...with my three youngest and my husband in the van, going 70 miles in four lanes during rush hour. My words will never express my anger at Ford. In our case they denied the issue as well. I actually had a manager at the local dealership tell me "Hey, We only sell em' ". Ford national also denied the issue.
We can't in good conscience sell it. We couldn't get what we owe for it anyhow and we can't afford a new one right now. So we are stuck. I would like replacement value for the van so that we can move on.
the irony of this is that one of the reasons that we bought this particular van was for the safety features...good rating and side air bags...No one is safe in these vans.
has anyone called the press?
Sue their pants off! We are in. I am unclear about how to get personal contact information to individuals who post on this site?
Jill
From their website "The Center for Auto Safety needs public complaints on vehicles to pursue recalls and make auto companies take responsibility for defects. Should you choose to submit a complaint, any personal information contained therein will be used to obtain remedies for the defects about which you complain. For example, we have used individual complaints in public petitions to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in order to obtain recalls of defective automobiles, such as the Ford Pinto for exploding gas tanks."
I believe that Ford will have to correct this. We still live in the country that states "for the people by the people". As our President has stated, "YES WE CAN."
How many of us will ever purchase another Ford? I use to defend them. If they do not take action to correct this, I will never buy another Ford, nor will I stay silent if anyone in my family buys one.
Tell everyone you meet about your experience with the Freestar and Montery. Let them be the judge of Ford.
Justice will prevail.
I believe with all my heart that something will be done to right this situation. You've been a strong advocate for so many of us on this list.
Thanks.
File another with the Better Business Bureau.
Then, read what rights you have under Title 49 of the US Code, and DEMANDthem! You can have a hearing through the Secretary of Transportation, but you have to ask for one. Write your senators, congresspersons, and attorney general.
Did it rain before this happened?
You have just become a member of the Club from Hell. Welcome and sorry you are here!
NHTSA Action Number : DP09004 NHTSA Recall Campaign Number : N/A
Make / Models : Model/Build Years:
FORD / FREESTAR 2004
FORD / FREESTAR CONVERSION 2004
Manufacturer : FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Component :
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM)
Date Investigation Opened : June 4, 2009
Date Investigation Closed : Open
Summary:
ON MAY 6, 2009, NHTSA RECEIVED A REQUEST FOR "A HEARING THROUGH TITLE 49 OF THE UNITED STATES CODE, CHAPTER 301, MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY, PART 557." THE REQUEST WAS IN REFERENCE TO VEHICLE OWNER COMPLAINT, 10266067, FILED WITH NHTSA ON APRIL 20, 2009, WHICH DESCRIBED A PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALL IN A MODEL YEAR (MY) 2004 FORD FREESTAR MINIVAN DUE TO WATER ENTERING THE PCM. PART 557 OF TITLE 49 OF THE CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, ESTABLISHES PROCEDURES FOR HOLDING A HEARING TO DETERMINE WHETHER A MANUFACTURER HAS REASONABLY MET ITS OBLIGATION TO NOTIFY OWNERS OF A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT. BECAUSE A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED REGARDING THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN MY 2004 FORD FREESTAR VEHICLES, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION IS INTERPRETING THE REQUEST AS A DEFECT PETITION UNDER PART 552 OF TITLE 49 OF THE CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS. A DEFECT PETITION HAS BEEN OPENED TO ASSESS WHETHER THERE IS EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT OPENING A SAFETY DEFECT INVESTIGATION CONCERNING THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.
Still would like to know if it was raining or had rained when people have problems.
My husband will not have a foreign vehicle in our driveway, but if the American manufactures keep building these "junk" vehicles, we may not have any choice.
Writing President Obama is a good thing to do. I wrote to the White House, but did not receive any response. Got a canned form letter from Biden's office. He was my Senator, I worked on his campaign, and many people in my family made contributions to his campaign. Really disappointed with the letter, but the more people who hear our voices, the better.
"http://www.autosafety.org/fileacomplaint<a href="
The information will get to the right people for the right purposes.
First, I think we need to let NHTSA do their work. There are two investigations underway so they will have their engineers look at these transmissions, and make a determination. They have the power to make Ford issue the recall.
You could take Ford to court yourself and sue them. I think that we should all file claims at one time, and make them send all those lawyer to all the different states to defend these claims. How funny would that be? More funny, how much money would it cost them?
Each state has a different amount of time that you can file a claim. In my state, it is three years. I still have about two and half years left. I do not intend to wait that long, but you also have to have all your ducks line up in a row to win the fight. In the end, I believe that we all want to see the problem corrected.
In the meantime, follow Nadine's advice and file complaints/reports with the organizations/government agencies that she lists. Also, contact all of your representatives in Congress, your local attorney general, any consumer advocate group you can think of, and, of course, your local media outlets.
I am 100% in agreement with Nadine that something, wether it is a recall or a class action, will happen soon. Keep the faith, spread the word about these vans, especially to other families who drive them and who may not know about this potentially deadly defect, and stay tuned to this website!
Jim Genovese
Annapolis, MD
Basically for a defect investigation the NHTSA receives the safety concerns from consumers (us with failed transmissions!) and compiles them and other questions into a document request of Ford. You can view all the questions and most of the public responses Ford offers the NHTSA. I am going to summarize here, please read it for yourself. But among one of them is under a routine inspection of failed parts Ford analyzed the torque converter spine shaft and found it was basically not heat-treated correctly. Someone obviously dropped the ball there - They didn't make that many of this type of van so my guess when they go to rebuild the transmission they go and find a new torque converter spline shaft - not one off the shelf from 2003, so odds are the replacement is heat-treated correctly and won't leave your loved ones on the side of the highway during rush hour with an infant in the back seat like the non heat-treated torque shafts. Sorry for the snark.
If you read closer into the docs that Ford submitted to the NHTSA you can find that Ford admits to only testing a small sample of 2% of failed parts to analyze the reason for failure. I understand that. But what is really funny is the dealership and Ford service department relationship. Read the reply from Ford to the NHTSA and you can find that Ford basically doesn't read what the dealer wrote under the suspected cause of failure or shop notes. I think it must be some type of corporation litigious firewall. As a company that makes them a bit indifferent to parts failures- they basically don't want to know why the part failed, if they did they would be reading what dealers/customers reports when their vehicles are breaking down and getting fixed. If you really wanted to be on top of quality control you would leverage that relationship with the dealer- because they could gather information on how to make the vehicles better.
My 2 cents.