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Comments
Thanks for the post. The information provided by your friend is intriguing and speaks volumes about why Ford is struggling in the marketplace. Apparently, the bottom line is that they obviously think customers are dispensible. I guess that is why Toyota is now #1 in the US. My reaction as a business owner, and I have owned a business, would be to reach out to my unhappy customer and see if the relationship can be salvaged. Knowing that a current customer is a potential repeat customer and a source for referrals, (not to mention that I don't have to spend 1 penny in advertising to reach a current customer), I recognize the value of the current customer relationship. Wasn't this taught in business 101? The executives at Ford need to fire whoever is responsible for this misguided policy or Ford will never recover. In the meantime, keep the faith. Together, we will hold Ford accountable.
2 Things; First, it is amazing that you said that. I actually prefaced my whole conversation with those nitwits by stating that I was a loyal Ford customer and wished to continue to be. I further stated to them that, if the situation was resolved to my satisfaction that, not only would I continue to be a loyalist, but that I would also continue refering everybody I know to Ford. Still, they wrote me off and "drove me away." Now, I intend to be a thorn in their side until they step up and do the right thing. It is a shame too, because I told them all I would settle for 50% of the repair and they would have gotten the work! Second, I feel for you regarding the Neon paperwork. I am happy my wife read your post because she is always on me about keeping meticulous records and keeping them FOREVER. You never know when something is going to become useful again. Stay tuned to this forum. There is more to come.
Jim Genovese
Annapolis, MD
I couldn't have said it better myself. I have been buying Fords for over 20 years and my family had been buying Fords for 40 years until this experience. Instead of retaining a customer for life, Ford has not only lost a customer but has also gained an adversary like none thay have had before. It has become my mission in life to keep beating this drum until these vans get recalled. Livers are literally at stake.With regards to Acura, my neighbor relayed the same story to us when she heard about our Freestar. Her daughter's transmission went out in her Acura and they replaced it - no questions asked. That is why Acura has a fiercly loyal customer base and they don't take it for granted like Ford does. I know of many Acura owners beside my neighbor who would never buy anything else.
Jim Genovese
Annapolis, MD
Jim Genovese
Annapolis, MD
First, when I'm driving down the road, the automatic sliding door unlatches and the lights come on and the dash shows the door being adjar. I was told by my service team at the dealership that it was impossible. I have had the problem since 2006 and they just tell me that they can not duplicate the problem, even though I have taken it in and they have seen it happen on 2 occasions! I finally came to the conclusion (at the end of my warranty) that they have been treating me like the "crazy lady". I did take it to another dealership and I hope they fixed it, they did at least treat me with true compassion and seemed very interested in fixing the problem! When I talked to the Ford Rep, it was like talking to a brick wall!!!!!! Pretty much a waste of time.
Second, when I'm driving down the road around 45 mph my van seems to "jerk" for a quick second. It does not happen all the time. Could this be signs of the transmission going bad????
I am an active duty Soldier stationed in Germany. I bought a new 2004 Freestar SEL in July 2004 from a dealer in Mississippi and then shipped it to Germany when I was stationed here. Transmission went out on the German Autobahn in Sep 2007 (34,000 miles). Had it towed to one of the few Ford dealers here in Germany that are authorized to do warranty work on American spec Fords who quoted me a price of 5800 Euros (approx $8000) to replace, since it was out of warranty by 2 months. So far, not much differenent than everyone else's story.
I decided to give the Ford Customer Relationship Center a call and beg for a little compassion and mercy given the circumstances. After explaining my problem, the rep said since I was located in Germany, they could not help me and said I had to call the CRC in Germany (I knew right away, this was not correct since I knew they would tell me they only service German made Fords, but I called anyway...and got that response). So, after calling the US CRC back and talking to 5 different people (supposed next higher, but most likely the guy/gal in the next cubicle), everyone said they couldn't even take my complaint because I was not in the US.
So, thinking how I was going to have the van taken to the strip yard at this point, the German Ford Dealer service rep suggested I calll a guy he knew at the US Military Car Sales here in Germany to see if he could help. (If you don't know, US Military Car Sales is a program around the world at US bases that allow Service Members to purchase American made cars overseas..usually no sales taxes). Since I didn't buy the van through them, I thought it was a long shot, but didn't have anything to lose, so I did. Less than a minute into the phone call to the rep of hearing the brief explanation of my situation, he said, and I quote, "NO PROBLEM, LET ME MAKE A PHONE CALL TO FORD IN THE STATES AND THEY WILL FIX IT, WITH YOU ONLY PAYING A SMALL DEDUCTIBLE, PROBABLY LESS THAN A $100). Then he took my information, made a call, and within two days, he called me back and said he received an email from Ford with all the information and approval to fix the transmission at cost. That day, Ford had a new transmission already being shipped from the states direct to the dealer and my van was fixed in a day, once the parts arrived. It did cost me a little more than expected....$300. I asked the rep (I don't want to give his name) for a copy of the email, but he told me he was not allowed to give me a copy or the name of the person at Ford he coordinated with, it had to be someone pretty high up (makes you want to go HMMMMMMMMM).
Bottom line, I'm glad I got it fixed, but it was like a bad foreign spy movie with all the secret, back room negotiations and cloak and dagger stuff to get it down. So, instead of Ford just practicing good customer relations and helping me directly, I had to get lucky and stumble on the secret passage to the promised land! It also seems to point to the fact that Ford knows about the problem. The CRC is a flippin Joke, along with Ford in general.....sad to say, I've always been a Ford man, never again.
Nothing surprises me anymore with these cowards at Ford. The story about your door is very sad. I bet they would get right on it if someone fell out and was killed as a result. Oh, wait a minute, this is Ford we are talking about. If that happened, they would find away to blame it on you and bury their collective corrupt heads in the sand even further. What's next? Is the roof going to blow off while we are driving down the road? As for the momentary jerk you are feeling, it sounds exactly like the torque converter getting ready to fail all together. Imagine the splines on the part in your torqueconverter that will fail are like the cogs on a set of gears that are designed to mesh together as the assembly turns. If 1 or 2 of them started to round off, the gears would slip slightly. As time went by, the cogs would wear down even more and the uneveness in the motion caused by the original 1 or 2 would cause the whole assembly to move in a way that would cause the remaning cogs to be ever so slightly mis- aligned. This, in turn, would cause those cogs to wear in a premature and detrimental way. Eventually, enough of or all of the cogs will either break off all together or become so worn and mishapen that they would no longer be able to stay engaged and the whole assembly would cease to operate. I would recommend that you get your van to a reputable shop and have a qualified transmission technician dissassemble it and inspect it. At the end of the day, this willbe costly but it could literally save your life. If your transmission fails on the freeway while a semi is barreling down on you, the possibilities are pretty scary. I think the peace of mind you will get will be worth the cost. Let us know what you decide to do and how it goes.
Jim Genovese
Annapolis, MD
First, let me say Thank You for serving your country. We really do appreciate it. Second, we are happy that your story had a happy ending. Third, your story proves my assertion that their is a systematic and organized movement at Ford to defraud and mislead the owners of the Freestar vans. Your story illustrates that in a very clear and convincing way. The bottom line is; there should be no hoops to jump through, no disparate treatment, no cloak and dagger, secret handshake nonesense. Ford should simply step up and fix the problem they have KNOWINGLY CREATED for the rest of us who are left holding the bag with these defective vans. I wish you would divuldge the name of the rep that helped you out. Perhaps he is in a position to influence Ford to do the right thing. Stay safe!
Jim Genovese
Annapolis, MD
Has anybody’s car with this problem been successfully fixed and at what cost?
ps is too many people that have the same problem, must be something that we all can do any idea? count with me.
I bought my 2005 Freestar used at a non Ford dealership in August of 2006. On the way home we noticed a shutter. At first we thought it was the road and never driving a van thought it was just it's reaction to the road. About a week later we were on a new road and it did it again. I noticed a pattern, when the van reached a certian rpm it would shutter so I took it in the shop since it was still covered under the warn. They said it was the torc converter they replaced it and a few days later I got it back. That very day it started again. This began a process that resulted my taking the van in over and over sometimes not getting the van back for up to 2 months at a time. The first year of ownership my minivan was in my drive for what totaled 3 months, the loaner Tarus was in it more. It also included multiple torc converters, rebuilt transmissions, and 2 NEW TRANSMISSIONS, a reventing of the transmission, and 1 will not start because the repair allowed water in the tranny cilinoid (spelling) During this mess I asked if I continued to drive this vechile with the shutter what would happen. I was told nothing. That it is just a inconvenance. Well it started again but my Aunt died back home in Mississippi so I had to have my van for the trip from Kansas. I get back and was paying bills around town, by now I knew the schedule of the techs and the tranny guy wouldn't be in til Monday and this was Friday, and the tranny made a grinding noise and my transaxile light and check engine light came on. I called Ford last Friday after I dropped it off and said I wanted to talk about a buy back, seeing that I have given them 22 times to fix the issue and it is obvious that there is no fixing it. Yesterday I got a call that they would rather keep repairing the issue. I am to pick up the van today and forgive my doubting but I just don't want to, I know that it is going to do it as soon as I pick it up and have to turn around.
Since Kansas has no lemon laws for Used cars I have to go to the Better Buisness Bureau (spelling again) and have them abertrate a deal. If I do get my case accepted I will still not get the loan completely paid off since they take off mileage. I owe like 13K on it and with the mileage gone I will still owe 3K. As with 75% of the nation times are hard and I can't be without a car but I can't afford another let alone paying for one that would not be in my driveway. :lemon: :lemon: please forgive the gramar and spelling...........
Do you think that since I have records of that service and the Extended Warranty that it will be covered??? Please help!!! It is at the dealer right now and I have not given them approval to take it out yet cause I do not have the money. HELP PLEASE!!!!!!!!!! :sick: :sick: :sick: :lemon:
I also had the back rotars go out at 24K which cost me $1000!!!!!!!!! Front brakes were 1/8" worn.... Back brakes were shot... front wheel drive car!!! WTF!!!
Good luck with your battle with Ford. Unfortunately, I doubt Ford will stand behind their product. And they wonder why the company is fighting to stay alive.
I wish you were in MD where we do have a lemon law and your dealer would have to buy the van back. Since you are not however, my advice to you would be to pursue your claim with the BBB and if that gets you some financial relief-take it and cut your losses. You are right, times are tough everywhere. we are paying $1000.00 a month just to put gas in our vehicles! You can't put a price on your safety though and your van is unsafe for you and your family. Keep us posted on your progress.
Jim Genovese
Annapolis, MD
I have 2004 Ford Freestar. Around Christmas last year it started acting up. Almost acted like it wasn't getting gas. I stopped a couple different times while the check engine light was on & got different codes. It ran fine for a while, & then would act up. Of course, it would never act up for the mechanic. I finally managed to call my (Goodyear) mechanic & long time friend while it was making that ungodly high pitch noise some of you spoke of. He immediately said it was the "crank shaft sensor". We replaced it ($200). All seemed well. Almost a year later, it started it again. We assumed it was the same part? But he adjusted it, it seemed to do the trick. Had trouble again. They did a full diagnosic scan. Goodyear referred it to a transmission specialist because they were stumped. The transmission shop replaced "sensor trans oil temp axode" & "temp sensor to transmission". That seemed to do the trick. I got it back on a Wednesday, that Saturday it acted up. It would not take off in drive. We had to manually shift it & baby it home. The next day it ran fine & has ran fine for about a month. I leave for work tonight & can not get it to move in reverse! I am struggling to make the payments on this thing & still have many more to go. I can not afford repairs. I am at a loss of what to do?
I hope you all have the good luck that I did.
Jim Genovese
Annapolis, MD
Their first statement to me was that it was the torque converter. However, after further investigating, they told me that the CAMSHAFT SYNCHRONIZER and CAMSHAFT BEARINGS needed replacing, adding that the problem was showing up through the transmission, but it wasn't a transmission problem. Cost to me for this repair will be around $700.
I will be picking the van up shortly. I'm wondering if Ford has finally realized where the problem originates, or is this just a snipe hunt that I've gotten dragged into.
What MORE information do you need? I have a LEMON that is broke down & I would LIKE for someone to tell me what is wrong with it!!! I am assuming this is was an automated response & a live person never bothered to read that I am VERY upset!
well... then I did get an automated response saying they received my e-mail & that someone would respond within 2 days.
Yesterday I had called the dealership too. The service department was very short "uh-huh" was all that was ever answered. Then he asked if I would like to make an appointment. I told him I would have to figure out how to get it there since I can't drive it. They were so nice as to give me a great rate of only $85+ tax to do the computer diagnostic this time!!!
They still haven't finished working on it, but I'll let you know if I experience any more problems.
Jim Genovese
Annapolis, MD
Sue
West Palm Beach, FL
After getting the camshaft synchronizer replaced, we continue to have "shuddering" problems. After removing the transmission pan, metal shavings were found. Rather than tear apart the transmission, the Ford dealer has ordered a new transmission to be installed. This is the second New transmission installed in less than one year.
In regards to brakes... I also replaced my rear brake rotors after I discovered that the right-rear caliper was frozen. This was done at 50,000 miles, but who knows how long it needed replacing. This did not cost me $1,000, as I did all the work myself. But, it was when the van was only ONE YEAR OLD. Being a newly-introduced vehicle, I had a heck of a time locating replacement parts. I think my total outlay was less than $200 for new caliper, rotors and pads. Not covered under warrenty because mileage was already 50,000 miles.
Thanks.
We have a 2004 which we bought used. It had almost 100,000 miles on it. We just replaced the transmission.
Thanks.
Jim Genovese
Annapolis, MD
Did read that article at corporateabuse.net and it was perfect but we still need someone to do something for us. Ford is well aware of this problem and worst of all is still getting away with it..at our expense. We need someone to hear us and help, maybe this article will be a start. Thanks.
Happy to see that you are still engaged in this issue. If there is one thing that I have learned in many years of experience with the legal system, especially issues such as this, it is that these things take alot of time to unfold. This is part of the reason that Ford rolled the dice and took the approach that they did with this nightmare. It is the classic David v. Goliath scenario. They know that your battle as the consumer is uphill and that you as an individual are limited in your resources of both time and money. They also know that most people will be content to just take their abuse and move on, whatever the reasons might be. (Fear, intimidation, lack of knowledge of the legal system, etc.,). What they apparently have taken for granted is the awesome power of the internet and the ability that it gives us to communicate and pool our resources and knowledge. Afterall, how else would we all have ever "met" eachother. What we can't do is forget or give up. As I have stated many times before, our case is like a brick wall. Every bit of information, every report to NHTSA, every report to the Center for Auto Safety, every post on this website, the article on corporateabuse.net, is another brick in that wall. Conversely, every person on the inside at Ford who developes a concience and comes forward with information is our ability to dismantle the wall that Ford has built to protect themselves from people like us. I believe that, as each day goes by and as Ford continues to struggle in the marketplace and lay off workers, that the odds of a former employee coming forward to help us get better and better. If you recall, in a previous post, someone knew of someone who worked at the Customer Relationship Center and provided some insight into how that sham works. It is just a matter of time before Ford will be held accountable and exposed for the bad actors that they are. (Remember the Explorer rollover case?) Unfortunately, someone had to be killed in one of those crashes before Ford was called out on it. Hopefully no one will have to lose their life when another Freestar/Monteray transmission fails for this situation to be resolved. In the meantime, keep the faith, spread the word, and NEVER GIVE UP!!!
Jim Genovese
Annapolis, MD
I posted several months ago that we had had our transmission replaced again in December and so far it was working good. Guess what - it's going in again tomorrow. It's doing something a little different this time - making noise when the acceleration stops - but according to the guys at our shop - it's the trans. This car is an absolute disaster. I was reading postings about the tires and doors and found them very interesting. I have been driving cars for about 30 years and I have had a tire problem twice in all that time. I have taken this car in more times than I can count for leaking where the light comes on. Also, we had the power door parts replaced before the warrantly was up because of numerous problems with them. Since the warranty the doors act up about once every two weeks. No wonder Ford only made this product for a couple of years. What a mess this car is. I have already filed the complaints. I just can't believe Ford is not standing behind their product at all.
Maybe we will eventually get Ford to have to do the right thing. They are obviously not going to do this without being forced to.
Good luck.
Kelly Lilly
Sterling, VA