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You have to ask for a hearing under Title 49 of the United States Code, Chapter 301, Motor Vehicle Safety, Part 557. This section covers the following: reasonably met its obligation to notify owners, purchasers, and dealers of a safety-related defect or failure to comply with safety standards or to remedy such defect or noncompliance. This part also establishes procedures for holding such a hearing. Application: Any interested person."
Under this provision, I was able to get them to open an investigation. If you go to the web page http://www.safercar.gov/ and search under the defect investigation by NHTSA action number DP09004 . Look at the document search and you will be able to read the PDF file. website: http://nhthqnwws112.odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/docservlet/Artemis/Public/Pursuits/20- 09/DP/INOA-DP09004-35346.pdf
"A Defect Petition will be opened to assess whether there is evidence to support opening a safety defect investigation concerning the alleged defect in the subject vehicles." Also, if you search google for the engineer, you can find his email address on one of the pages.
I personally lost five thousand dollars on that vehicle, but it was not worth the risk of being rear ended or being killed in that vehicle. You may want to look into the air bag situation. They may not employ if the vehicle does not have battery power for five to ten minutes. This makes it a much more dangerous situation because of the risks with these vehicles. If you have children, please get them out and safely away from the vehicle if you can.
One of the gears in the transmission has been struggling for several months. The check engine light, emission light, and check tires light have been coming regularly for a the past 6-9 months.
Recently we had our mechanic look at the vehicle. He said it was the transmission and it will be about $2500.00 - $3000.00 to repair. This is ludicris since the van has 49000 miles. We had the transmission fluid replaced recently hoping that would solve the problem. The mechanic said there was an unusually large amount of metal shavings in the transmission fluid reservoir. (There is a magnet in there to attract small metal shavings).
Who has $2500 - $3000 in this economy to throw away in vehicle repairs that shouldn't have been an issue in the first place...
What suggestions can you share with me since you are a couple months in to this process?
Best Regards,
Dominic Nagy - DNagy@TFPSInc.com
Jim Genovese
Annapolis, MD
Jim Genovese
Annapolis, MD
I recently had to pay to have a power steering fluid leak fixed which is another common problem with this vehicle. There was a recall on this problem but my "VIN was not included in the recall". The part to repair the vehicle was on national backorder and only after getting Ford Motor Company involved did I get my van fixed.
This van is a lemon and Ford needs to admit it.
Wouldn't you know I have 1 payment left on it! I think they do this on purpose!
Very Disappointed in Pennsylvania
If there is a hearing please let me know and I will be glad to take the time off of work if it will get my van repaired.
Lisa Hatchel
Ford Motor Company called me yesterday after I emailed them and asked me what I wanted them to do. I told them that I wanted them to admit that they had a problem with the Freestar. I asked them if it was my transmission what would they be willing to do. They gave me a scripted answer of "Until it is diagnosed by a Ford Dealership we cannot give you any information". She was very offended when I asked if she could go beyond her scripted message.
So I guess I will have the van towed to the nearest Ford Dealership, have it diagnosed and then call Ford back to see what they are going to do about it.
I will keep you posted.
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/
All of the information we have that is responsive to your request is available on the agency's website at www.nhtsa.dot.gov as follows: For consumer complaints, go to the website given above. At the top of the page, click on "Vehicle/Equipment" and proceed as follows: Under "Quick Clicks," click on "Recalls, Defects and Complaints Databases." Click on the radio knob to the left of the word "Vehicle." Click on "Search Selected Type," to get to the next screen. Use the "drill down" search method in the middle of the screen, to select the year vehicle to be searched. Follow the directions to obtain the information you seek.
For recall information, go to the website given above. At the top of the page, click on "Vehicle/Equipment" and proceed as follows: Under "Browse Topics, click on "Recalls/Defects," Under "Related Links" on the right, click on "View All Equipment Recalls,"Under "Recalls, "click on "Search for a Recall." Click on the radio knob to the left of the word "Vehicle." Click on "Search Selected Type," to get the next screen. Use the "drill down" search method in the middle of the screen, to select the year vehicle to be searched. Follow the directions to obtain the information you seek.
I am sending an appeal because this does not provide any information in regards to NHTSA's responsibility or Ford's to report defects in motor vehicles.
With so many complaints, you would think that NHTSA would have done something a long time ago.
I cannot send the parts to the torque converter to NHTSA because they need it for a core but I am going to take a picture of the part and send that to them. Hopefully we can get some action from the NHTSA. The more complaints filed the better we will be.
In my opinion, you need to demand a hearing for them to open an investigation. I know that someone else on the list has received an email from NHTSA, please keep us posted as to what they are doing. Also, please ask for the hearing.
--------------------------------------------
Defect Investigations Summary
Make: FORD
Model: FREESTAR CONVERSION
Year: 2004
NHTSA Action Number: DP09004
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.
NHTSA has asked me to send them my tranny parts and I am going to do that. Anything can help. However, until they get 10,000's of complaints there is probably nothing they can do.
There is only hope.
This is a good website for law -http://www.lawserver.com
A petition filed under this part should be addressed and submitted to: Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. Each petition filed under this part must--
(a) Be written in the English or Spanish language;
(b) Have, preceding its text, the word ``Petition'';
(c) Contain a brief statement concerning the alleged failure of a manufacturer to meet reasonably his obligation to notify or remedy;
(d) Contain a brief summary of the data, views, or arguments that the petitioner wishes to present in a hearing on whether or not a manufacturer has reasonably met his obligations to notify or remedy;
(e) Specifically request a hearing.
I like the Ranger too. So maybe it will be a stick if I get one? Then you can buy a new clutch.
We have a 2004 Ford Freestar Limited Edition. What a wonderful van this has been, if it wasn't for the transmission. On February of this year 2009, we broke down in Aransas Pass, Texas. We have three children 6, 4, and 3 and it is not easy getting towing help and transfers as well as hotel stay for 5 people without big problems. We had the van towed to Corpus Christi, Texas to an AAMCO Transmission Shop there about 40 miles away. The van at this point has 84, 000 miles. We needed a rebuild. Cost of $2,700.00 for rebuild. $225.00 for the towing. $150.00 for hotel and $700.00 for a rental van for almost 4 weeks of waiting for our vehicle. We are from Austin, Texas. Very expensive weekend beach trip.
We broke down again on July 4th, 2009 of all the days of the year to break down it had to be a holiday in the Mojave Desert, North of Baker, CA with three children. It was 112 on the console temperature gauge on our van. Very dangerous conditions out in the middle of nowhere waiting for a tow truck for 6 hours. Trying to find one that didn't charge $1,000 for the tow to Las Vegas, NV 112 miles away was a challenge too. Happy to have had phone and internet signal on my cell out there, Thank You AT&T. Tow was to once again, AAMCO for service that would be under warranty from them. There was a stipulation in small print about warranty not being covered after 12,000 miles from date of service, which was 4 months ago. Our van now has 94,000 miles. They repaired it and told me sometimes the parts are defective. What a joke. No product quality control????
We are selling and don't want to be stuck out in the cold with three kids again. This is indeed a very dangerous situation with this particular Ford transmission. At least being stranded like that with kids. No warnings of any kind. Not even an occasional slip. Just a smooth quiet ride until it desides to give up. Too Bad. Nice vehicle body.
It's been almost a year since the failure. Also would be interested in hearing from people who have had problem since having there transmissions replaced.
Mary Quinn
Do I just need to get on a list of some type to be advised? :confuse:
Thank you,
Anabel
:sick:
:sick: :lemon: :lemon: Over150 people have filed complaints about the free star transmission. The D.O.T. has been in contact with me about the transmission failure and is sending me a mailing label so I can send them the torque converter and out put shaft. I’m guessing they’ll be inspecting them? The free star transmission problem has now gone from just people complaining to a preliminary investigation and information should be available on the Nhtsa.dot.gov website (Now or soon)
Transmission failure with out warning is the problem because of a piece breaking off in the transmission running threw and tearing it up (can’t remember what piece it was)
Just start sending Info and making complaints on the above website and hope we can force ford to make a recall.
MAYBE we can get some of our money back ??????????????????????
The risk of being injured in one of these vehicles is so great. Ford has the responsibility to correct this situation, and their lack of action in these vehicles is criminal.
Thanks for your reply.
Anabel
How many more before something happens? Anybody want to start an over/under?? :mad:
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.