2006 Ford Freestar: stuck in gear or won't shift

Filed Feb 9, 2024 · Transmission · KY

My Ford Freestar without warning or anything just wouldn’t go after stopping at a stop sign. It was like it was stuck in neutral. But it was in drive. In 2003 and 2004 there was a recall on the transmission. My van is a 2005 but the transmission was manufactured in 2004. Which is one of the years that was recalled so why is my 2005 Ford Freestar van not one of the ones under that recall. Is it cause it’s a 2005 cause the transmission was manufactured in 2004. I almost got hit by semi truck when this happen. Please recall this van. Please help!!! [XXX] Bless you all. Thanks, [XXX] Family INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Oct 12, 2023 · Transmission · 85,000 miles · TN

The contact owns a 2006 Ford Freestar. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost all motive power and would not shift to any gear other than park. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related it to a possible recall but was unable to provide details. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the federal safety agency hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 85,000.

Filed Jun 30, 2020 · Engine, Transmission · 160,000 miles · WI

My 2006 ford free star, lost it gears in the middle of driving on a busy hwy. I was reversing out of a drive way on to the hwy and went to go into d and it would not move it would only go into first gear. I think this a major safety issue and ford should be held accountable for it poor design. Me and my children could of been hurt or even worse killed. The hwy is 65 MPH an I'm stuck across the two lanes. Because the van wont shift. I looked online and this happens a lot with this make and model. And it not the first time I have lost power well driving on the hwy in this van due to poor design.

Filed Jan 16, 2018 · Transmission · 112,500 miles · ID

Just like with the 2004-2005 ford freestar recall in the year 2012 (recall number 11s25), our 2006 freestar suddenly lost power with no warning while we were accelerating with the transmission in drive. We were lucky enough to be on a side street with not much traffic and have enough speed to safely pull over, but we had no power in any gear we chose, as if the transmission was stuck in neutral. If we were going slower, had traffic behind us, or no safe place to pull over, we might have been rear-ended. The way the vehicle behaved, it seems to be the torque converter shaft and/or torque converter, just like the problem in the 2004-2005 freestar models which had the recall in the year 2012 (recall number 11s25).

Filed Nov 21, 2013 · Transmission · 120,000 miles · CA

The vehicle would do 35 or 40 MPH and would not shift gear. Took vehicle to two automotive repair shops to find out the issue. Had the torque converter replaced along with transmission gaskets and seals. The 3rd gear shift solenoid was also replaced and vehicle still does the same thing. Took it to the ford dealership and they told me that they know there's a problem and what it is (without even looking at the vehicle), but my vehicle does not fall under the recall notice. I am asking that the recall be extended to include the 2006 model ford freestar and not limited to the 2004-2005 model year as ford has not corrected the manufacturer issue in regard to the power train performance.

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 Sep 6, 2013 · Transmission · 135,000 miles · WV

My children and I were returning from a trip to and were driving through kentucky on the interstate. While we were going up a hill the car just started to rev as though it were stuck in neutral. I tried lower gears and finally we were able to move of the freeway and on to the side. Thankfully we were all okay. After leaving it in a different state from which we live and having the torque converter repaired, we were able to return and drive it home. Approximately 4 and a half months later, I am driving home from a night class on road that does not have great lighting and going up a hill the same thing happens. This time it is towed to a local shop and we are told that it will cost us $2400 to put in a new transmission. From what I can see here by other complaints and other web-sites, this is a common problem, that ford knows about. I am really disappointed. Until this happened the first time, this was a great vehicle. I would not be so upset, if we had not just had this problem repaired such a short time ago and if it were not so over abundant in these and other vehicles.

Filed Jul 18, 2013 · Transmission · 10,670 miles · PA

The same as everyone else. The van does not shift from first to second gear. If it does shift, it is a very hard shift. Some times need to back off on gas so it shifts. Once in second gear, van runs good. Reverse is sporadic as well. Some times it wants to. Sometimes not so much. Changed transmission filter. Did not correct the situation. Did some research to see if anyone else has had issues like I am having to find out that there are many people with the same issue. I have noticed that there was a recall for the same make and model but previous 2 years. Not sure why this year has not had a recall to fix the torque converter, but I am hoping that there will be a recall soon.... It is obvious that there is an issue that needs to be resolved....

Filed Nov 21, 2012 · Transmission · 81,000 miles · KS

My wife was driving home from work when she turned onto a side street, the van lost all power and the wouldn't go into gear. After researching the problem I came across alot of people with this same problem with there 2006 freestar. I also found out that the 2004 and 2005 freestar had recalls for this same problem. Could someone please look into this.

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 Aug 26, 2012 · Transmission · 78,331 miles · OH

I was driving down a city street, stopped at a light, when it turned green I pushed on the pedal gently (someone was in front of me) and it made a huge jerk and clank clank clank. It then started to go. At this point it had the "powertrain malfunction light on". I drove it to ford and the car wouldn't go into reverse at all and wouldn't drive with out jerking. It also wouldn't go back in neutral when the key was turned on. No warning, drove fine before this.

Filed Apr 6, 2012 · Electrical, Fuel system · 128,000 miles · NY

The first failure was when I was driving down the road doing just over 55 MPH, all of a sudden the van died an I coasted to the side of the road. After several failed attempts to restart the van it finally started and stayed running. I eventually made it home without incident. Had it checked and was told it possibly had an electrical failure but change the fuel filter in case it was an issue with fuel getting to the engine. So we did. It ran fine after that until about 3 months later. We took it to run errands with no problem and returned home. Went to run to the grocery store and the van would not go into gear. It would start ok but not move, wouldn't go into drive or reverse. Thankfully it was at home when it happened and not going down the road like the first time when I had all 3 kids with me. Had it towed to a garage where they found metal shavings in the torque converter. Had a new one put in and it ran fine for about 2 weeks. Then we found cracks in the coil packs and hd those replaced along with all spark plugs. Not sure if that is relevant to the torque problem. Spent $940.00 to fix the torque converter and another $240.00 to fix coil packs and spark plugs. The torque converter is a recall on the '04 and '05 and the same needs to be done with the '06's.