2005 Ford Freestar: loss of power steering

Filed May 17, 2018 · Electrical · 175,000 miles · WY

Water dripped from the wiper blade cowl into the PCM, causing the vehicle to start, drive briefly, and then shut off while moving, causing loss of control of electrical components of the vehicle while driving on the highway. Steering became difficult. If this had happened at high speeds or with a lot of traffic around, it could have been extremely dangerous or deadly. The mechanic says this is a problem he sees with ford windstar vehicles. The mechanic stated the PCM was literally under water when he received the vehicle, despite the cause being a fairly typical rain storm, and drying out the PCM did not help, as the damage had already been done. This is a safety issue that, after searching online and speaking with mechanics, appears to be common. Ford needs to fix this issue before a vehicle loses control at high speeds.

Filed Aug 31, 2015 · Engine, Steering · 112,000 miles · PA

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford freestar. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the power steering failed intermittently without warning and the engine stalled. The vehicle became increasingly difficult to control. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 112,000. The VIN was not available.

Filed Sep 29, 2014 · Engine · 105,000 miles · NC

While driving at normal speed the engine shuts off. This has happened five times in the last week. When the engine shuts off there is no power steering, brakes, or control of the vehicle. The first time it happened, I was driving my family down the road at 60 MPH when the motor just died. I was able to pull the van off the side of the road and stop. I restarted the motor and it ran fine. When I got home I put the van in neutral, and revved the engine. It shut off again. My wife was driving and it happened to her with the children with her. She said she could not steer the van when it died. It scared her very badly. There is no check engine light, therefore there is no code to tell me what is wrong. The motor just shuts down without warning. If this happened at the wrong time it will result in a very bad traffic accident. I have research this problem online, and have found several ford freestar vans having the same problem. So this is not an isolated incident.

Filed Jul 9, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · 153,000 miles · RI

This has happened several time over last year or so that I have owned this vehicle. When driving down highway and it starts to rain cars sputters and seems to loose power. Twice it has stalled on me going 55 miles an hour on highway and have had to try and coast to side of road in traffic with people beeping with loss of steering. Luckily both times after a few mins the vehicle started again and was able to make it home. Have changed wires and plugs, runs fines in dry weather but still stutters and tries to stall when its wet out or rains! Very dangerous and wont let wife take kids out when it rains in fear they will get stuck somewhere.

Filed Jun 24, 2014 · Electrical, Steering · 155,523 miles · OH

Coming into my parking lot, I lost power steering. It appears that I have a leak. But before this happened, I had some odd sounds happening and some other minor issues with the vehicle that at the time seemed unrelated. Then I lost my steering. I bought this vehicle used in '09, so I expected a few issues along the way. This is not the first major issue I have had, as I had to have the tranny recall issue repaired about a year or two ago. (what is it with ford thinking it is more cost efficient to allow people to get harmed than to fix a problem?!!! Unfortunately I have not had the income to buy a non-ford vehicle, but mark my words, when I do have the income, I will no longer be a ford driver.) not the first time that I have had to get recall work done either, I now have to get the rear seat fixed yet, but cannot drive it to the dealer to get it fixed because I don't have power steering! Ironic? Hhmmmm...I wonder. My car has been sitting since jan 6 2014. No money to fix it until now. Thanks ford -please note: said with sarcasm.

Filed May 26, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · NY

While driving through town at 30 miles per hour, engine stalled, lost power steering and speed control. The engine light came on and the transaxle light was blinking. Thank goodness I wasn't on the highway. *tr I believe one bad part had been replace with another as the torque converter part had been replaced and here it was doing the same thing all over again less than 1 year later. I figured I had no options, what could I do, had it towed. I just feel if they are using inadequate parts to replace bad parts the danger continues to apply and they should be held accountable.

Filed Oct 23, 2013 · Steering · 131,000 miles · AR

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford freestar. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, there was a loss of power steering without warning. The steering wheel became extremely difficult to turn. In addition, the power steering fluid continuously leaked onto the ground even though the contact refilled the reservoir constantly. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 131,000.

Filed Jul 9, 2013 · Acceleration, Body · 82,049 miles · MD

While merging onto route 50 off 628 the car died. I drifted onto side of road, but in park and restarted it. Took exit off 50 at 450 and car stopped again. Put in park at red light, started up again and drove down riva road. Car stopped 4 more times before getting to my residence, each time engine stopping, no power steering and no brakes. Called koons ford annapolis and had the car towed there the next day (since the incident occurred on a sunday). They kept the car for 1 week and could not confirm or duplicate any of the conditions. Possibly PCM but not sure.they found one error while driving it , but the computer could not find it. Paid for diagnostic test. Car has been running fine until 7/6/13 when exactly the same thing happened. Took back to ford and 2 days later was told it was the PCM. Could not say how long it would take to get a new one as ford does not have them it stock, but for $1300.00 could place the order. Found a ford tech blog that describes exactly what every one is going through and how to fix it. Water is leaking under the cowl and shorting out the PCM. There needs to be a recall on this before some one dies.

Filed Jan 13, 2012 · Engine · 64,276 miles · DE

My engine lost power as my van was shifting from first to second gear. After shifting into neutral, I could restart the van, but every time I reached the shifting point between first and second gear, the engine would cut completely out, thereby losing power steering and brakes. Also, the reverse gear operates only intermittently. I took the van to a transmission specialist within five miles from my home because it would only operate in first gear, and was told the torque converter needed to be replaced. The repair is going to cost $2,436.05. I am attempting to seek assistance from ford, as the repair was started the day the recall was issued. So far, I do not have written confirmation from them that my vehicle is included in the recall, and they have not agreed to pay for the repair.

Filed May 23, 2011 · Transmission · 130,000 miles · OH

2005 ford freestar 3.9l 130,000 mile. While driving down major state route with my 6 year old in the car my engine just stopped, lost power steering, brakes but was able to pull over on side of road. Had to wait two hours for a tow truck to come. After shop inspected, they found the PCM was full of water and had to be replaced. Due to the complete loss of power this could have caused a tragic accident if my son and I would not have been able to get off the road.

Filed Jan 7, 2011 · Steering · 61,000 miles · NY

Lost power steering on my 2005 ford free star.

Filed Apr 5, 2010 · Engine · 75,121 miles · MD

I began having intermittent trouble starting the van in feb. 2010 during a record snow week. I contributed it to the cold weather and bad conditions. In march the problem continued very sporadically with not starting on the first attempt. On march 5th the van engine cut off while driving. On march 7th, while driving about 30 miles per hour the van cut out 4 times in a 2 block period. When the engine cut off it would be without warning with loss of power steering. The van was taken to a service center where I was told it would need a new engine. It was out of warranty by 121 miles. Ford is currently refusing to replace the engine. I have found multiple other complaints for the same issues on the make and model.