Was driving around 30mph then the RPM's went up to 5000 let off gas RPM slowley went down..2nd time it happened took it in they said it was a sensor "fixed" it...the 3rd time was going threw an intersection died on me in middle of intersection almost got smashed by oncoming traffic with my kids in the van...had it towed they could not find anything wrong....4th or 5th time was going to work got of highway rpms went up to 5000 and the van wont go no wheres now...no reverse no drive just sits there sounding like [xxx]they way ford made it...now waiting on them to tell me whats wrong with it.... Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
2005 Ford Freestar transmission complaints
Page 8 of 24: complaints 191 to 220 of 677, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I have a 2005 ford freestar minivan that just turned 59,983 miles on it. Have had not issues with transmission and it had been driving just fine. Drove it all day saturday with no issues - then on sunday morning, when I went to take my daughter to work the car would not move when engaging it in reverse, drive etc. No warning at all... The transmission just went. Had it towed to my mechanic and he said it was the transmission and he advised me to look up to see if there were any recalls and sure enough there is. I had to pay to have it towed again to a family members house where it had been sitting as I don't have the $$$ to fix it. I am no happy with ford. I will never purchase another ford after this car. I just put close to $600 for 4 brand new tires in november - I hope these haven't been ruined! A family member recently found this site. I have been using a family members car to get to work, kids to school etc. Not happy at all with this situation!
My wife and daughter were driving down interstate when the torque converter went out, losing the ability to maintain any speed. Torque converter went out and transmission as well. Now ford only wants to replace the torque converter.
Driving approximately 65 MPH on a two hour trip and experienced a sudden but brief loss of acceleration, speed immediately dropped by 15 MPH, which was accompanied by a severe jerk. The occurred two more times during the trip at high speeds and subsequently continued to occur the following days during normal neighborhood driving conditions (20 ? 40 MPH). I have taken the car to a ford dealer to be checked out as I thought this could be related to the recently announced torque converter output shaft recall (recall campaign number: 11s25). The dealer has diagnosed the problem to be related to water intrusion into the PCM housing. Unfortunately this appears to be common problem with the ford freestar.
I started my van and tried to back out of my parking spot and it would not go anywhere. I turned off the engine, sat for about 5 min and then tried again. This time it backed up, I was able to pull up to the street and when I went to pull out, it sputtered and stalled. I had it towed to a transmission place and they said that it wasn't the transmission, it was the PCM. I had it towed to the dealership and told them it was the PCM. They insisted on running a diagnostic because it couldn't be the PCM, they have never seen that before. They found out it was the PCM and now I have to pay for a diagnostic that wasn't necessary. I have to pay for a design flaw that caused the problem to be fixed and pay to have the PCM replaced. The transmission shop that diagnosed the problem did not charge me anything for his work. My extended warranty company is paying half of the repair even though it isn't a covered repair and yet ford will not waive or cover any of the problem that is their design flaw. Why are customers not informed of tsb's that could have prevented the problem? I am very lucky this happened in the parking lot instead of on the highway. This problem could have been fixed with a tube of silicone. Why was the tsb not completed before the vehicle was sold to me as a used vehicle in may 2011? Is there a recall to fix this problem in the works? Is there a class action lawsuit I can join? Is there anything being done to fix this problem before someone dies? *tr
While been stop waiting in a red light the motor feels like accelerated (RPM increase too high by itself) then reduced to normal and then (when light turns green) the car do not respond to accelerator. The car do not move, do not react to the pedal. You can select reverse, drive l1, l2 or any other option, but it do not react to anyone (just parking status was enable). The car was stuck so we need to get towed to home.
Driving home from the gas station when suddenly the van stopped accelerating. We were going approximately 25 MPH at the time. We were at a very busy intersection so we had to get out of the way quickly but the van would not go into gear. Any gear for that matter. We pushed the van out of the way because the intersection is high in traffic especially with 18 wheelers. The transmission fluid level was where it should have been. We couldn't get the van going so we had to get it towed home. We had no prior problems with the van going in or out of gear before this incident.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford freestar. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle began to jerk and decelerate abnormally. The vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic who advised the contact that the torque converter would have to be replaced. The contact referenced the federal safety agency campaign id number: 12v006000 (power train:automatic transmission:torque converter) but was advised by the manufacturer that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 86,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford freestar. The contact stated that the torque converter was replaced twice by the dealer for a recurring failure. The contact was experiencing the failure again and the vehicle would not accelerate of drive in reverse. The contact referenced the federal safety agency campaign id number: 12v006000 (power train: automatic transmission) but was advised by the dealer that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired for the most recent failure. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 81,000 and the current mileage was unknown.
My family and I pulled out onto a busy street, at an intersection and a highway and as I got ready to make a right turn, the car would not move forward. There were cars blowing and a kind police officer came up to the car and asked us what was going on. As we explained, he told us that he would push us out of the road. After pushing us out of the road, he left and we had to call our insurance company to get a tow, which took about 3 to 4 hours to get there. Not to mention, I had to find a way for my family to get home. The car seemed as if it was in neutral but wasn't. It started but just would not move. To make matters worse, it is our only form of transportation and no way to get around.
Stopped at stop sign,tried to go. Vehicle would not go, now have no gears foward or reverse ,lost power without any warning.
Lost all power to wheels, engine runs fine, no warning noises etc. No transmission noise/ fluid like new. More than likely the torque converter shaft failed... I am a certified faa aircraft mechanic & have performed all routine maintenance on this van since new. Almost rear ended by semi truck while coasting to a stop.
I have not yet had an incident but ford needs to pay for a rental car! My 2005 freestar is a death bucket! Because of the torque converter problem and recall, my vehicle could lose power in a deadly situation!
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford freestar. The contact stated that while attempting to shift into reverse, the vehicle lost all power and would not move. The vehicle was later towed to an independent mechanic where they advised him that the torque converter failed and the transmission would need replacing. The transmission was replaced. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000. The VIN was unavailable.
After a rain storm my van experiences problems with the power control module. The transmission will not operate correctly. This is the third time this has taken place and always associated with a rain storm. This time the engine will not start.
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford freestar. The contact stated that the vehicle would not accelerate from a stop. No warning lights illuminated on the instrumental panel during the failure. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer, where they diagnosed that the torque converter malfunctioned. The vehicle could not be repaired because the necessary parts were not available. The failure and current mileages were 90,463.
Driving straight down highway at 65 MPH. Transmission simply went out with no warning. Would not move in low to drive or reverse. So far diagnosis is torque converter. Not very happy...I see ford has had this complaint from 2004 on up. They need recall on all vehicles with this type tranmission / torque converter.
While I was on the highway with my four children in the van and while I was on the highway my vehicle lost power, I could not accelerate the vehicle. There was no warning whatsoever. There was no where to pull off the road safely to get myself and my children out of the way of traffic.
Pcm (power train control module) has gotten wet and causes car to not drive. Lose power. Not start. Lunge, lurch forward. Won't engage in drive or reverse. I have replaced PCM 6 times. Broke down 5 times. Had van towed 5 times. Left van at repair shop for months at a time to diagnose problem. Finally moved the PCM to the inside of van so that it won't be effected by water. Ford has refused to acknowledge problem despite a tsb being issued. Furthermore, I replaced the transmission and a recall has been issued but ford will not review my receipts for the transmission until letters go out. Total stonewalling by ford.
11//23/2010. Transmission failed and vehicle lost forward momentum going up hill. Pulled over to side of road and applied parking brake to prevent vehicle from moving rearward. Vehicle towed to nearest ford dealer : cross roads ford in carey nc. Replaced transmiision due to failed transmission output shaft. 10/24/2011 - torque converter failed, replaxced torque converter. 11/08/2011 - transmission failed again - replaced transmission assy.
On december 27, 2001, I was pulling out of my driveway when I lost power. I couldn't go forward or backward. My husband came out to see what the problem was. He didn't understand why it would do that. We called ferrario ford. No answer, just an answer machine. I took our truck and drove to the dealership. They told me to call a tow company, but they couldn't get it in until the next week. Well, it sat there for a week and when the machanic called he said it was moisture. He dried it out and then called and said he had to do a flush. A few days later he called and said he would have to check the torque box and it would be a seven hour job. The next call was "it was the radiator had a crack in it". Then it was the transmission. He already has us at $1820. We said no. Then I find out that there is a recall. My husband when and talked to them. At first they said they didn't know anything about it. Another guy said yes. My husband talked to ford in michigan. Turns out to no avail as to what has already been done. When I bring it home tomarrow it will sit in the drive way with a sign that says "lemon" no more fords for this family.
While driving down the freeway with the van full of 5 children it all of a sudden lost all transmission power. Everything else worked fine in the vehicle, but it had no power. Gas pedal to the floor and nothing. The vehicle was safely maneuvered off the freeway and the children safely removed from the vehicle and onto a service road which ran beside the freeway- until the towtruck driver could respond and tow the vehicle.
In december 2010 I was at a stop light, when I went to accelerate the car wouldn't move. Had it towed to a transmission shop and they rebuilt it. It has gone back 3 times due to continuing of problem and the check engine light keeps coming on after they turn it off. Since last visit, now the air bag light is on, check engine light is on and the horn no longer works when pushed but it occasionally has gone off for no reason. Still have problems accelerating, is sluggish, and makes a horrible noise. It needs to be smogged but will not pass due to these issues.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford freestar. The contact stated that when driving at low speeds and attempting a left turn, she heard a loud noise and the vehicle would no longer accelerate. The vehicle was towed to her home and was not inspected by a dealer nor repaired. The failure and the current mileages were approximately 141,900.
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.
My wife was driving home from work and while on the highway the car started to slow down and would not accelerate any longer. The van was acting as if it was in neutral.....she slowed to a stop in the breakdown lane and called aaa for a tow truck. The repair shop believes that it is the torque converter at a minimum.
9/2007 my husband, myself, and our 5 children were driving to my mothers house and out of the blue the van just stopped accelerating. We had the van towed to the dealership that we bought it. They told us that we needed a new transmission at 41,000 miles (just out of warranty) $2000 oop!! We had the trans replaced and are now 12/2011 having the same issue again. (just over 90,00 miles) we owe 2000$ on the van and the cost of repairs are over that. This has to be a safety issue..children in car + car randomly stopping!! I just don't understand how a van bought new off the lot can be on its 3rd transmission on less then 100,000 miles. We will never buy a ford again and after doing a lot of research I have found 1000"s of owners with the same issues...its a shame ford will continue to allow customers to pay for their faulty products!
Ford fix it ford fix it I was driving in a wilderness area in texas and I just got through the area and had to have a emergency gall bladder surgery I was dropped off in my van at the hospital it broke down 4 minutes later in the hospital parking lot..if this happened in the wilderness area and a dead zone for phone I could have died the van stopped working while driving!
February 2010- van lurched forward then failed to shift into gear. Less than 65000 miles on vehicle. Turned out to be transmission failure- ford stated it would cost $3100 to fix. Got it fixed at a local repair shop for $1800. Mechanic stated he sees this often with this year of freestars. In february 2011, car started having powertrain issues, skipping and slipping gear. Diagnosed as cam shaft sensor failure. Cost was over $400 to fix. Stated water was getting into the cam shaft. In july 2011, car had issues in rain- again, water in cam shaft. Mechanic drained it and it appeared to be better. December 29th, 2011 van lurched forward and would not go into gear. Was traveling 65mph and had no warning. Was stuck on busy highway in the middle of crosslane. Mechanic stated the transmission was dead at 130,000 miles- after only having had the last one for less than two years. We consumers bought these freestars in good faith that we would have a safe, reliable vehicle. Ford has failed to deliver. I have found several other freestar consumers stating the same complaints on websites nationwide. Ford claims "no record of failure" because they overcharge on their repairs so we end up going to local shops for fixes- I doubt they bother logging it since we won't pay them to fix it! After coasting the car into an abandoned lot, I was stuck. There was a shed that was clearly used by drug addicts (clothes, trash, needles, etc inside.) the company should stand by their vehicles- I believe if they drove these vans they would know how terrified I and other freestar drivers are to even think about the "what-if's" that could have occurred because of their transmission failures. I am stuck because I would never risk driving the vehicle again but cannot sell it because it could put someone else in danger. My childrens' lives far outweigh the dollar amount left on the loan of this junk!
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