2005 Ford Freestar: harsh or hard shifting

Filed Feb 18, 2015 · Electrical, Transmission · 101,000 miles · VA

In 06/2014 my van transmission light came on then went out. I thought it was nothing as time progress I notice that my van was slow and hard shifting. I took it to the nearest transmission auto shop and they told me it was my internal transmission failing. I put it in the shop and the repair cost 1200.00 to fix. It got it out worked fine for a few days then started back slow and hard shifting again. Took it back to mechanic they said they don't see anything wrong with it. I did this several and had no luck with it. 08/2014 I started having more noticeable electrical problems like dash board lights come on now and then radio resets it self sometimes it wont work at not even the dvd player. The doors wont lock alarm goes off when it wants to and power sliding wont close. So I only drove the van around time limiting my trips contacted ford no help there. Then winter comes in all of sudden my van works great dash board lights working dvd and radio working fine most importantly my van transmission was shifting properly but then on warmer days it starts to act up again.on 02/16/20015 my children and I was on our way to get groceries for the winter storm that was coming,the lost power and died luckily was close to home that I could pull over start it again and make it home safely. Then today it will not start up at all. Im a single mother of five young daughters and my oldest daughter and I are both disabled. We depend on this vehicle to get back and forth to our doctors appt. Im planning have a mechanic check my PCM and to see if its water damage. But I've notice several fellow ford owners are going through similar problems. I don't know why ford not willing to own up to their life threatening mistakes.

Filed May 21, 2013 · Transmission · 100,050 miles · NY

I became aware of other customer complaints about the transmission/PCM related concerns in 2011 when experiencing a vibration when shifting from 2nd to 3rd (it seemed) and researched my vehicle and possible related concerns. I also discussed with a local dealer and I followed a dealers recommendation by having my transmission fluid changed as recommended to ford specs. The vibration seemed to calm somewhat. Around this same time I noticed my cruise control would work only off and on at different speeds and times. No check engine light ever came on. I sent my an email to ford of canada at which time I was advised that a torque converter recall was coming and that I should contact the dealer. I was advised to wait for the formal recall which I received and booked my recall and it was completed in approximately late 2012. I also had another recall done for a seat concern just in may 2013. While driving to the us may 19th 2013 at 100km/hr my vehicles cruise was acting suspicious (hard shift up) and I disengaged it for this reason. I then noticed my vehicle was at 3000rpms so seemed to be stuck in 3rd gear or something. It then failed (was like I was in neutral) and I was barely able to get off at an exit and had to push my vehicle into a spot at a service station. I was very concerned for my safety and my family at this time. I was in total shock that there was no real warning and if I know if I was in the fast lane I hate to think of the end result. I checked the dipstick for the tranny and there seemed to be enough fluid however slight amounts of smoke came from the dipstick reservoir. No signs of leaking below the vehicle whatsoever. It was towed to a ford dealer and I was left with no real option other than replace the tranny for $3200. My home dealer in canada was closed for the holiday.

Filed Feb 3, 2012 · Engine, Transmission · 80,005 miles · WA

Wife was driving home from work when the van just suddenly stalled. She was traveling at 35 MPH when she lost all power. She then tried restarting the van and it started but when she tried to put it into gear the engine RPM's raced, then slammed into gear and then stalling again. The van was undriveable. She was able to get to the side of the road just feet before she would have been stranded on a narrow two lane bridge that is heavily traveled the logging and dump trucks. Had it towed to the repair shop for repairs. While doing research online about the issue I was surprised to find so many other have had the same issue possibly caused by water in the PCM module. The next morning I contacted the repair shop and advised them of my findings. Sure enough they where able to find the service bulletins from ford about the issue 7 pages long. Several hours and $240 later the repair shop called and said the van was fixed and the could not believe the amount of water that came our when the sensor was removed. I cannot believe that ford has not submitted a recall on this issue.

Filed Jan 11, 2012 · Transmission, Visibility · 74,000 miles · AL

First failure was the torque converter - I was at a stop light and as the light turned green I proceeded into the intersection when the vehicle clunked and responded as if it were in neutral. I had enough momentum to coast to the shoulder. Replacement cost including labor was $600 second failure is the windshield wipers are intermittent. Failure occurs in the rain of course. Wiper will speed up then slow down then not work at all. It just happened today so I have not had it troubleshoot yet. 1/11/12 75,674 miles.

Filed Sep 18, 2009 · Transmission · 77,565 miles · NM

There were no symptoms leading up to the failure of the transmission on my 2005 ford freestar, it simply stopped working. At first I thought it was water in my fuel due to the recent rains in albuquerque, nm and the fact I had just put 15 gallons of gas in the vehicle the night before. At the time of the failure the van would not fully engage into drive, it moved forward slowly and would not engage reverse, after restarting it went into drive and I proceeded down my street, it seemed like it was going to be ok and then it stalled, I restarted it went forward about 20 yards and it died again, and again, this process brought me back to my driveway where it sits until I can get the money together to have the torque converter replaced, which is what I was told had failed, this bothers me because it was no surprise to the mechanics or the dealership that I had talked with. The van has 77,565 miles and was purchased used last year, I still owe over $10,000.00 dollars and have no other vehicles to drive while this clunker is broke down.

Filed Dec 20, 2008 · Transmission · 95,000 miles · TX

2005 ford freestar van. 95k miles. Transmission went out with no warning traveling at 50 MPH on the freeway. Up until this point, everything was fine except we'd have to wait for the tranny to engage longer than normal before applying gas: forward or reverse. If we didn't, there'd be a surge accompanied by a loud clunk.