2005 Ford Freestar: jerking or lurching

Filed May 12, 2025 · Transmission · MN

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestar. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission seized and remained in neutral. The vehicle jerked and shortly returned to normal functionality; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the gear shifter light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure became a recurring failure, and the contact parked the vehicle, and the vehicle was no longer driven. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 12V006000 (POWER TRAIN); however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Oct 26, 2020 · Transmission · 150,000 miles · NC

Tl* the contact called on behalf of his grandmother who owns a 2005 ford freestar. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the transmission temperature warning light illuminated as the vehicle lost motive power and began to jerk. The contact attempted to depress the accelerator pedal however, the vehicle failed to accelerate. A police officer assisted with pushing the vehicle to the shoulder of the roadway. The vehicle was turned off, restarted, and operated as intended. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact referenced the federal safety agency campaign number: 12v006000 (power train) as a possible solution however, the VIN was not included. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

Filed Jul 10, 2017 · Transmission · WI

On june 5th 2017 we hit a deer with our van on the drivers side. After the deer hit the van the deer spun around and went under the van. The van was driveable and there weren't any fluids leaking. On our way home that same night when you would get up to 60 miles per hour it would jerk really bad in the transmission. Well when we had the damage on the side of the van fixed we had them look at it. They couldn't find the problem then. We took it back to them again and it was getting worse. They figured out that it mow had a bad torque converter.

Filed Apr 24, 2017 · Transmission · 215,000 miles · IL

While driving the RPM would drop to zero and no power would go towards movement. Then RPM would suddenly jump to over 1500 causing my van to lurch and jump even while brake was applied. I was driving within the city, speed of 30 MPH.

Filed Mar 29, 2017 · Engine · 120,000 miles · MN

When it's raining or wet snow outside the van starts to chug. This causes the vehicle to have loss of power and it becomes jerky. The engine light starts to flash. It only does this when it's wet outside- it happens on the freeway, dirt roads, paved in town roads.... I'm sure it is the electrical box under the hood getting wet from a manufacture overlook- I've read this was an issue and because it hasn't caused a death it's not something ford has to fix? I have children and I will not allow my family to be a loss because of a manufacture issue. Ford should be paying for the fix.

Filed Sep 2, 2016 · Transmission · 220,000 miles · OH

In motion and in drive on state route 309 the vehicle suddenly and without warning lost all ability to move. We had myself, my husband, my three daughters (17, 10, and 1) plus our new born son in the vehicle. The vehicle had to be coasted to a near by gas station but not before being very close hit in the back by a semi truck. The vehicle was placed in park, then drive again to see if the vehicle would go into gear. The vehicle failed to go into gear. The other gears on the vehicle were tested only to confirm the vehicle would not go into any gear or move. At this time ford corperate had been contacted and they suggested we pay to have it towed to the nearest ford repair garage. (we has just got the vehicle back 4 days prior to the inability to move, to have a power train sensor they diagnosed as bad because the power train light had been blinking and the vehicle had been jerking when put into drive.) unable to have the vehicle towed to ford, due to lack of funds from the previous week, we had to push the vehicle home.

Filed Jul 18, 2016 · Acceleration, Engine · 120,000 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford freestar. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the front passenger side of the vehicle began to jerk and an unfamiliar warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the throttle body assembly would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

Filed Mar 13, 2015 · Engine, Transmission · 102,000 miles · WV

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford freestar. While driving 25 MPH, the vehicle jerked and a loud noise was heard near the front of the vehicle. In addition, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to accelerate as the rpms reduced. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The manufacturer was notified of the failures and stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under the federal safety agency campaign number: 12v006000 (power train). The failure mileage was 102,000.

Filed May 12, 2014 · Transmission · 100,000 miles · MI

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford freestar. The contact had experienced difficulty with the gears shifting intermittently and had heard a grinding noise multiple times. The contact stated while traveling 60 MPH, the vehicle had jerked violently and the transmission was slipping more than once. The vehicle was taken to a repair shop who diagnosed and replaced the torque converver. The vehilce was repaired and the failure recurred. The contact was included in 12v006000 (power train) but had been told more than once by the local dealer that the part was not available for the recall repair. The contact had experienced the failure multiple times while waiting for the part for the repair. Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford freestar. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle jerked violently. The failure was recurring. Additionally, the gear shifter would often become resistant when the contact was attempting to shift gears and the vehicle would exhibit an abnormal grinding noise. The vehicle was taken to a repair shop where the torque converter was replaced however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 12v006000 (power train) but was constantly told that the part was not available for the recall repair. The VIN was not available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed Apr 22, 2013 · Electrical · 80,000 miles · NJ

Don't have my VIN on me to share at this time. Also, the specific electrical problem is the PCM. On 4/4/2013, I was driving down the highway at about 45-50 MPH when my car 'died'. I lost all power - no brakes, steering, etc. Fortunately, none of my kids were in the car. The car was towed to the dealership that night. They said it was my cam sensor. Less than 5 days after picking up the car on 4/9 th car acted up again. (they kept the car for a recall unrelated to this). On 4/14 I was driving down the highway at about 70 MPH when the car started to jerk. Luckily I was close to home this time and after stopping several times was able to get the car in the driveway. My youngest daughter was in the car with me who is now afraid to get back in the car. The next morning I had it towed back to the dealership. A few days later they said it was my alternator. I was told they would credit me back the money I put out for the cam sensor. They put in the new alternator and test drove the car. Guess what - the car still jerked. The shop manager took it home with a computer hooked up to it. They could not find anything. They then put a call into the ford hotline. A week later they tell me it is the PCM. It got wet. Over $400 to fix and that is with a used part. Over $1200 if it is new. A quick internet search finds the PCM is a common issue with the freestar. Not sure when it will be recalled. I hope no one gets seriously injured before these complaints are taken seriously. I will say this is the last ford I will buy. I am not sure how to explain to my kids that the car is safe to drive when I don't believe it myself. I guess I will keep my receipt for when this is recalled so I can be reimbursed.

Filed Apr 8, 2013 · Electrical, Transmission · WI

First we had the transmission failure that was unsafe and had to pay for the repair ourselves then finally ford issued a tsb to repair and recovered our money. Along with that is the more dangerous situation of the van stopping jerking speeding up the driving on the road especially when it rains or even a slight mist. This need to addressed by the federal safety agency and pressure ford to repair this before they are sued for a death caused by the lack of attention to this highly safety related failure.

Filed Mar 12, 2013 · Transmission · MI

2005 ford freestar. Consumer writes in regards to recall notice of vehicle losing power while driving and after repairs problem still exists. *smd the consumer stated on january 13, 2013, he took the vehicle to the dealer, because it would regularly jerk forward and backward and then it would continue to move. Also, the vehicle would skip a cycle and would completely stop. On february 19, 2013, the consumer returned to the dealer, because the vehicle continued to exhibit the same symptoms. The dealer informed the consumer, the converter was replaced on the previous visit, and it had nothing to do with the current problem.