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Comments
Sign me One Fed-Up Mom!
My name is Seni with Ford Customer Service. I see that many of you are experiencing similar issues with your Freestar. Please keep in mind that Ford and the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) work together to proactively identify areas of concern through investigation of consumer and dealer feedback. During an investigation Ford co-operates fully with NHTSA. Ford does not speculate on the outcome of any current investigation or future actions. Due to our rigorous safety standards and constant testing, not all issues result in recall or Customer Satisfaction Programs. If a program is announced on a specific component, Ford will notify you by mail. Should you receive a letter we suggest you contact your selling dealer as soon as possible to schedule an appointment.
Please log onto www.FordOwner.com, at your convenience, to check for any possible recalls on your VIN specific Freestar. If you prefer to contact the Customer Relations Center, you may do so by calling 800-392-3673.
Kind Regards,
Seni
Ford Customer Service Division
Barry
We are replacing the entire computer module now. This vehicle is just packed with defects, it would be better for Ford to bite the bullet and pay for a lot of these repairs. It's gotten ridiculous.
Maybe the class action lawsuit currently in action is preventing that.
#### 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.
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.
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
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! :mad:
With much disgust,
A terrified mother of six and lifelong Ford owner (who will never buy a Ford again)
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.
-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! :surprise:
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.
I see that there is a lot of information from Ford for the initial PE09033. That was closed in Nov 2010, at which time EA09016 was opened and remains open. The last document I see is the ODI's request to Ford for data in Nov 2010.
Is there anything more recent? Ford was requested to respond by Jan 2011. Does anybody know if they did?
Thanks,
~B
Regards.
1. Rebuild existing transmission for $2200;
2. Install after-market transmission by Precision Auto Parts with a 2 year parts/labor warranty for $2600 or;
3. Get a genuine Ford transmission with a three year parts/labor warranty for $3150.
Since the car is an '04 with 60,000 miles on it, and I don't trust the Ford transmission anyway, I decided to hedge and go with the Precision Auto Parts transmission.
Any thoughts?
Is there a definitively better replacement tranny out there?
I believe that you will find it very interesting to read about Ford through an employees perspective.
Thanks, Brenda
thanks!
I've got a Freestar 2004 - 4.2 l and the transmission went last August. I was at 150,000 kms approx. Cost me $2500. Lucky for me that the transmission shop has a one year / 30,000km guarantee. I need ti send a letter of **** to Ford Canada...What a piece of junk this van !
Phil
I need to contact Ford and give then **** !
Don't ever buy a used one !
P. Vidori