2006 Ford Freestar: check engine light

Filed Oct 10, 2023 · Transmission · 137,000 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2006 Ford Freestar. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost significant motive power before briefly hesitating and jerking. After restarting the vehicle, it returned to normal functionality, but the failure had since become a regular occurrence. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the federal safety agency hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 137,000.

Filed Apr 13, 2015 · Engine · 110,000 miles · WI

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 ford freestar. While driving at 45 MPH, the vehicle stalled and the check engine light illuminated. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The dealer stated that the sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 110,000.

Filed Mar 6, 2015 · Engine, Transmission · 95,000 miles · IL

I went through an automatic car wash around 315pm. The van was driving fine up to this point. Immediately after I left the carwash, the van started acting like it was going to stall out and the engine light was blinking. I've had one other situation like this with this van when we went away for a weekend and it rained a lot where we were staying. The van acted like it was going to stall but we had no idea why. I went online to see if anyone else had problems with their van that was attributed to water. I was shocked to see how many others have had the same thing happen. I also found an investigation that stated there is a defect and it's a safety concern but that they weren't going to issue any recalls at this time because there haven't been enough complaints. The diagnosis from the ford dealership is as follows-water has leaked into the PCM. They would need to clean that out and seal it so water can't leak into it anymore. Water has also leaked into my spark plugs and corroded them. They would need to replace the spark plugs and wiring. Water has also leaked into my fuel lines so they want to clean out my fuel line. All of this for over $700.00. When I contacted ford motors because this happened due to a manufacturing defect, they told me that they can't help me because there aren't any recalls. I can't say I'm surprised by that since they haven't taken responsibility for this defect with others and don't sound like they ever will. I'm not paying ford to fix it because this isn't normal wear and tear and it's not caused by anything that I have done. I'm going to take my chances with the vehicle while I try to pursue this another way. I no longer feel safe in my van and will not be transporting my children in it until something is done about this issue.

Filed Jan 16, 2015 · Transmission · 113,000 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 ford freestar. While driving at 25 MPH, the transmission would not engage into gear and the service engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The mechanic diagnosed that the torque converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 113,000.

Filed Jun 24, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 100,000 miles · PA

I was driving down the road in the rain and the engine light came on. Then the vehicle started to sputter and acted like it was going to stall out. It felt like I was going to lose power but I was able to make it home. Then the next day the sun was out and the car seemed to run fine. This happened to me several more times over the next few months. I started to notice a pattern of it only happening when it was raining outside. Otherwise, the vehicle ran fine in good weather. I realized water was getting into the engine somehow. Our mechanic thought it was a problem with the spark plugs at first. Then it kept happening so we had it in the shop again. Water was found to be leaking into the powertrain control module. I started to research the problem on the internet and found several customers complaining about the same problem with their vehicles. Apparently it is a well known defect in the manufacturing of this vehicle. I feel ford should take action and recall these cars before someone gets tragically injured from their minivan losing power on a busy highway.

Filed Nov 12, 2013 · Engine, Transmission · 136,000 miles · GA

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 ford freestar. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled unexpectedly as the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact also mentioned that when the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle would not accelerate and would stall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 136,000.

Filed Sep 30, 2013 · Transmission · 76,000 miles · ME

I reported to the dealer I bought the vehicle from the 2nd week I owned it that there was a wrench light on and it was flashing.they told me to come to the store and they would look at it,they discovered a solenoid had blown and they replaced it.they told me it was fixed but if it were to come back on that I should get back to them.the light would come on and off randomly,sometimes weekly,other times bi weekly and I called them each and every time.they sent me to a garage in biddeford that only replaced a spark plug and they called it good.I have been driving the van this way since june and despite the fact that the problem was brought to their attention,it now remains unresolved.I went to drive it 2 days ago,wrench light was on when I left,on the way home,the wrench light and engine light were on and it wouldn't shift.I couldn't go above 40 and prayed to make it home.I have no money for another car and would love to get a resolution to this soon.I am in a severe time crunch and can't afford not to have a car.

Filed Aug 9, 2013 · Transmission · 100,000 miles · PA · fire

I was driving on a highway in my ford freestar 2006 and the minivan seized, I lost control of the vehicle. The brakes were not working properly and I had drifted off onto the side of the highway were the grass and a few turns helped slow down my vehicle. I had to immediately jump out of the vehicle because there was smoke coming from the engine, but the vehicle would not stop. When the vehicle finally stopped, I jumped out and an ambulance assisted putting out the fire. The engine light went on about 2 minutes before this occurred, giving me no warning signs. I found out it was the transmission. It was replaced under warranty. In 2011, the same thing occurred, engine and car completely failed. When I took it in - it was the transmission again. I had to buy another transmission in less than a year. Ford was not willing to assist me or talk to me about it. I called several times complaining about safety and the possible accidents it could have caused. None the less, in 2012, the transmission went again. Thank goodness it was covered under warranty. Same thing, car completely seized while driving again. It was the transmission again!! Three years of getting a transmission - something is wrong and noone is doing anything about it. My transmission light went off again - I am afraid to even drive it to the dealer. This is ridiculous - who is helping the consumer and protecting them against this? My kids are not allowed in the vehicle now in case the car seizes on the way to the dealer.

Filed Jul 1, 2013 · Electrical, Engine · 32,000 miles · PA

After heavy rain the van began to misfire and shake. Check engine light came on. 2 days later it went out after drying off.

Filed Jun 10, 2013 · Transmission · 116,000 miles · MI

I was driving approximately 25 MPH on a side street when the car lost power to the power train. The check engine light came on before losing power. The engine did not stall and as I pressed the accelerator, I could hear the engine revving. It was if the car was in neutral. I steered the car to the side of the road and stopped it. I turned it off and restarted it to see if I could get it to operate in gear. Again, the card turned over but there was no power in drive or reverse.

Filed Aug 29, 2012 · Engine, Transmission · 85,000 miles · PA · fire

I was driving approximately 45 MPH on busy highway, my ford freestar would no longer accelerate. Looking in the rear view mirror, there was smoke coming from my vehicle. The engine light came on after I noticed the smoke, then my thermostat went all the way from c to hot in a split second. No warning, car smoking and my brakes and gas was not working. I tried to pull over safely and get out of the vehicle quickly. My van was engulfed with smoke, an ambulance pulled over to assist me. The car fire was put out and towed to a ford dealer. It was my transmission that blew. It was covered by warranty and fixed. I was told it was a bad transmission. One year and two weeks later, my ford freestar was not shifting gears, I was getting stuck, in reverse. When I shift to drive, it does not go forward. My car had to be towed again to the same ford dealer. I was told my transmission was filled with water and the 1 year warranty I purchased the year before was shorted by two weeks. Ford would not honor my warranty due to it being over by 2 weeks time frame. So, I then purchased another transmission with another warranty. Now in 2012, a year later, my transmission that I purchased last year is doing the same thing, getting stuck in gears, when I accelerate, my freestar jumps. Every time it rains, this car stalls. When I took to my mechanic, he says this is a horrible car. Poorly made and it should have been recalled. Apparently it stalls in the rain due to the sealing from ford? Why and how is this possible? This vehicle is a horrible safety problem. I am fortunate my children were not with me in the first car fire. When is ford or the safety council going to investigate this car? So in my vehicle, ford thinks there is nothing wrong with their customer having to replace a transmission 3 years in a row. No safety warnings or engine light warnings at all.

Filed May 26, 2012 · Electrical, Engine · 61,000 miles · IA

Driving down road city street (25 MPH speed limit) on way home. Not raining outside. Temperature was about 85 degrees. Very high humidity. As approached intersection the vehicle suddenly shut itself off. Complete loss of power, power steering, and power breaking. Wife had trouble pulling over, but because were only going 20 MPH at that point, we managed to pull over and stop car. We were only 2 blocks from home, so we restarted engine (which turned on without trouble) and drove home slowly (now with the check-engine light on). Dangerous situation, as it is incredibly difficult to control the vehicle without power steering or braking. If we had taken the interstate home instead of the way we went, we could have been driving at 70 MPH onto an off ramp when it shut off. Very dangerous indeed.