While driving our 2005 ford freestar home from greenwich, ct to wilton, cton I-95 the van suddenly lost speed. The rpms were still up but the speed decreased to 20mph. My wife was able to make it to the ford dealership they informed her that we needed a new transmission. As the van has only 42,000 miles on it and there was no hint of transmission problems before this incident, this surprised us. It is out of warranty and will cost approx. $3500. As of this posting, the work has not been completed by the dealer. I have since discovered that this is a relatively common problem for ford freestars and there mercury cousins.
2005 Ford Freestar transmission complaints
Page 22 of 24: complaints 611 to 640 of 677, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Tl*the contact owns a 2005 ford freestar. While driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle did not respond when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The engine revved excessively high. The driver managed to pull the vehicle over and called roadside assistance. The vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop for inspection and the technician stated that the automatic transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle is currently being repaired. The failure and current mileages were 68,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 2005 ford freestar. While driving 65 MPH, the transmission failed on the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a repair shop and the ford manufacturer stated that there were no recalls. The failure mileage was 82,000. Updated 07/28/09. *lj the consumer stated the problem was with the splines in the torque converter. Updated 07/30/09
My complaint is regarding the transmission in my ford freestar. I commute to work daily, and one morning while on the highway my vehicle stalled. Luckily, the traffic was not heavy at the time but I was still upset about this incident. My transmission is gone. I am a single mother making payments on a vehicle that is currently sitting in my driveway because I can not afford to repair the transmission. I am grateful my children were not in the vehicle with me at the time my vehicle decided to die in the middle of the highway. I have researched this issue online and have found that I am one of many who have difficulties with their vehicle giving out on them while driving due to the transmission and PCM. The main reason I am lodging this complaint is in hopes that maybe if enough people complain about this issue, then maybe a recall would be issued. I am sure I am not the first and nor will I be the last to complain about ford's freestar.
Tl*the contact owns a 2005 ford freestar. While driving 67 MPH with the cruise control activated, the amp displayed 6,000. The contact pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road and had it towed to the dealer. The dealer stated that the input shaft failed and caused the torque converter to fail as well. The dealer replaced the transmission with a rebuilt transmission at the cost of $3,609.14. The manufacturer stated that the warranty expired in november of 2007; therefore, they would not assist. The failure and current mileages were 35,850.
Twice our 2005 ford freestar experienced water leakage through the cowl grill on the hood. After heavy rain in march 2008, the first of several breakdowns and fix attempts occurred, resulting in 3 months out of service, and replacements of the wiring harness, the PCM computer, several other computers and sensors, and the entire transmission, equaling nearly $5,000 in tow, rental car, and repair bills--some of which the dealership talked my insurance to pay for as a "water damage claim." in between, we've had multiple electrical system problems and breakdowns, and then this past march 2009, also during heavy rain, the car experienced the water damage breakdown. This time the water only ruined the PCM computer, but the dealership refused to honor the repairs that were less than 12 months old and we took it to a private licensed repair technician. He found the technical service bulletin online that described the known water leakage problem in some 2005 freestar models and did the recommended fix twice. In his opinion and in the geico insurance adjusters opinion, this is a serious problem that ford needs to address. This time we had no coverage for the damage and were out of a vehicle for two months and out of pocket over $3,000. I've begged ford's corporate offices to take the vehicle back and just let me out of the financing but they refuse due to the number of miles. Also, the attorney general's lemon law office said there were too many miles. In addition to these problems, in 90,000 miles, I've had to replace the rotors now four times because they are warping dangerously. The pads are ok, but the rotors are continually warping and it costs $800 each time to have the brakes fixed.
Was driving down the street in my 2005 ford freestar van when I had to stop and put the vehicle in park to get out and check on something in the back. When I attempted to put the van back in drive, the only gear that was working was neutral. With no warning the transmission went out. We were fortunate we were not driving down the road at the time.
Transmission failure with no notice. Highway speeds on I-65 RPM's go up speed goes down. Coast on I 65 to a stop and call tow truck. Vehicle does not go f or rev and gears. Transmission is dead. Transmission gives no warning prior to total failure.
We were driving home from vacation with family in our 2005 ford freestar when the transmission failed. Fortunately we were not on the interstate when it happened because we were driving down the highway when, all of a sudden, it was like the gas peddle was unplugged. We had to push it out of the road. Drive nor reverse worked. Had to have towed. The torque converter was replaced at a large cost after the large cost to get home in a cab and then a rental car.
Transmission just dropped out of gear while driving down the road. This is the second time in 15 months. This will cost another $1500. Please help.
Transmission failure at 71,817 miles. Transmission has no forward or reverse. Complete transmission failure after great service and maintenance.
As with alot of freestar 2005 owners...the transmission failed at 50,000 miles. No hint of failure...just pulled up to stop sign and would not move when traffic was clear. My wife and another couple had to push the car across the intersection too reach a safe haven. Lucky that other cars traveling on that road gave the pushers the right of way and nobody was injured. It was a very bad situation to be in. Ford needs to address this as my cost is over $3500.00 to replace the transmission that should have lasted much, much longer.
Tl*the contact owns a 2005 ford freestar. While driving various speeds, the vehicle does not go into gear and the RPM's go up and down. When driving more than 15 MPH, the vehicle begins to jerk. When driving more than 20 MPH, the interior lighting illuminates and the vehicle stalls. The vehicle was towed to an auto body shop, but they could not locate the cause of the failure after approximately four diagnostic tests. Currently, the vehicle is still at the repair shop. The first three repairs were at the contact's expense, but the failure still persists. The failure mileage was 20,710 and current mileage was 20,986. Updated 05/05/09 *bf updated 05/06/09
Tl*the contact owns a 2005 ford freestar. While driving 10 MPH, the vehicle changed gears and automatically shifted into neutral without the gears being moved. The contact attempted to place the vehicle into drive, but was unsuccessful. She then placed the vehicle into reverse and was able to move the vehicle to a secure location away from the road. The vehicle failed completely and lost total power. The vehicle was towed to a local repair shop and the technician stated that the transmission failed. The vehicle was repaired at the cost of $3,600. The contact is in the process of notifying the manufacturer. The failure and current mileages were 94,000.
The transmission on this vehicle has given out twice. From information posted by other owners, this is a common problem with this vehicle. I was in the middle of traffic when the gears disengaged and the transmission failed. I had to maneuver the car out of the way of traffic. I nearly got into an accident, because I was not able to accelerate properly.
On my way to work the transaxle light began blinking. The vehicle was taken to the dealership where purchased. Was told that a part having to do with the transmission and torque converter was bad. At first was told if we could we should get out of the vehicle now. We can not afford another vehicle!! This vehicle is only 4 years old. We are the only owners. Prior to purchase the vehicle was a rental vehicle for a dealership (we presume it was the dealership we purchased it from) while it has 93000 miles we take care of our vehicles! The transmission was repaired less than 10 months ago, now we are experiencing problems with the same thing. Ford needs to do something to make it right for their customers and take care of these problems. We have had older vehicles with less problems. We have experienced: liftgate problems, coil problems and transmission problems x2.
Slowed to stop at traffic light, prior to coming to a complete stop, the light changed and when I accelerated nothing happen. In the middle of traffic I was able to glide into a gas station. Luckily traffic was just beginning to move. Could have been very dangerous!! Vehicle was towed to dealership where we purchased. Caused thousands to only replace some parts of the transmission!! *tr duplicate to 10262197*smch
With no warning our 2005 ford freestar van transmission failed (mileage 63,146). Car was driven ~25 miles to workplace. Started car to return home and nothing happened when car was put in gear. Received quote stating transmission has internal problems and must be replaced. Price of quote was $3506.00 - repairs have not been made at this time. Found local garage that rebuilds transmissions. Currently, in the process of towing to local garage. Waiting for 2nd quote on rebuild. After searching forums / websites I have found an alarming number of identical incidents with the freestar minivan. I am hoping the federal safety agency will take action against ford motors as soon as possible before someone is seriously injured because of this design failure.
I was simply driving down the road slowed down to enter the town when to put foot back on the gas pedal and nothing but the engine revving up, transmission went out. There was nothing that happened before it happened. The transmission oil looks fine and it is not locked up it is just like every gear other than park is neutral. There are several people that is having the same problem.
2005 ford freestar sel - 90,000 miles - transmission stopped working with no warning. No prior problems whatsoever. Parked car, ran errand, came back & cranked - would go into gear but not move. Had towed to ford dealership who says it needs a new torque converter, for $2100 - which I don't have! Apparently this is a problem with the ford freestar and ford refuses to acknowledge it. Browsing the numerous complaints listed on this site alone, I cannot believe that the federal safety agency is also not investigating.
Purchased a 2005 freestar new from a local dealer and has been driven approximately 54,200 miles to date. All maintenance performed was by the dealer with whom we purchased the vehicle. My wife garaged the van as usual. The next morning the transmission would not engage. I contacted the dealer to have the vehicle towed and have the problem diagnosed. I was informed that a transmission fluid pump shaft broke apart requiring the transmission to be pulled for major repairs. We are extremely upset that a vehicle only 3.5 years old with less than 55,000 miles would require such major drive train repairs. We believe that there must have been an issue with this part at the time of installation. Either the part had some type of defect or was installed improperly to cause this type of damage to a transmission with such low mileage.
I own a 2005 ford freestar with just over 60,000 miles on it. I was driving home from work one evening when all the sudden the transmission went out with no warning at all. I have read on numerous sites that I am by far not the only ford owner this has happened to.
Transmission stop working on i75 in rush hour traffic almost hit by large truck this is was a defect with transmission on a 2005 ford freestar vehicle no. I called ford they will not admit there is a problem with this vehicle the service manager said they have over 200 of these problems .
The torque converter in our 2005 ford freestar has gone out at 43,000 miles and now at 86,000 miles.
I have a 2005 ford freestart. At 50000 miles, the torque converter failed causing the van to not move when the shifter was taken to drive or reverse. The van would not go, but the engine was running. At the time of failure, the van had been driven approx 1 hr earlier to a store, then attempted to drive home and would not move. There was no problem with the transmission prior, just sudden failure.
Car is only 3 years old with 39k miles on it. The transmission failed while driving on a city street. Car would no longer drive. Completely lost the ability to shift or do anything. Brought car to a stop at a light and it would no longer operate. I took it to ford dealer and they said it was a serious transmission failure. Ford says warranty ran out at 36k miles and cost to repair is estimated at over $3,000. Searched on the internet and found numerous other complaints by ford freestar owners. My research shows a clear pattern of consistent transmission failure at relatively low mileage. This points to a defect by the manufacturer and flies in the face of normal consumer expectations that when you buy a brand new car, its transmission should last longer than 30 or 40 thousand miles! I was also shocked to find that the federal safety agency has not yet initiated an investigation despite numerous complaints filed with the agency itself. I then called the federal safety agency to ask what it takes to start an investigation. I assume that the agency has a typical standard or set of guidelines that it follows to determine whether an investigation is called for, but no one at the federal safety agency would give me that information or would direct me to anyone else at the agency who could provide that information. Essentially, I was told "just file a complaint" and go away. No other help was available to me as a consumer and a taxpayer. I'm deeply disappointed with the process and I hope that the step of filing the complaint makes the agency more responsive than it has been so far.
Traveling north on I-75 in michigan, our van lost all gears at 50-60 MPH with no warning or noise. By the grace of god, the van was in the right lane on a downhill stretch of road and we coasted to the shoulder. The engine would rev and there was power, but no gears. We were going skiing for the weekend and were about 2 1/2 hours away from home. We were able to get a wrecker (after sitting in the van for 1 1/2 hours with 2 younger children) and towed to the nearest dealership. After looking at the car, the service rep said the torque converter shaft was stripped and would be about $1700 to repair. We were fortunate that no one was hurt and other family members were traveling with us to take the children while we rode in the wrecker. This is defect is definitely a safety hazard!
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.
Yesterday, 12/7/08, I pulled out of a parking space, switched gear from reverse to forward and applied gas. Other than revving of engine, nothing happened. It would not engage any gears. I had the vehicle towed to a repair shop today and they referred me to a transmission shop. I contacted the ford dealership where I purchased the vehicle and they were unable to help as the vehicle was out of warranty. 2005 ford freestar transmission failure at 51,000 miles (december 7, 2008) should be recognized as failure of reasonable assurance of functionality of vehicle.
Tl*the contact owns a 2005 ford freestar. While driving 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled, but the engine continued to run. The vehicle was towed to an auto repair shop and they stated that the transmission failed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the transmission has failed completely. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure and current mileages were 58,000.
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