Ford Freestar fire or smoke problems

Filed Feb 27, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · TX · fire

The alternator caught on fire and burned alternator wring harness.

Filed Feb 6, 2017 · Engine · 122,000 miles · NJ · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford freestar. While the vehicle was stationary, the engine caught fire without warning. A police report was filed. The fire department extinguished the fire. There were no injuries sustained. The manufacturer was not made aware of the fire. The failure mileage was 122,000.

Filed Jul 17, 2015 · Body, Brakes · NY · fire · 1 injury

I had received a letter of recall of my back row seat latch do to corrosion. I had taken my van in to be repaired they informed me that they would have to order the parts which took 2 weeks upon returning they informed me they need another part they forgot to order so I waited for my call back again.. Within 2 months time I returned to have it worked on that is when they had told me it had begun to corrode n that they couldn't install the parts I asked them about the situation further & if it was safe to drive they had said yes & handed me my keys so upon leaving the dealership I had stopped for food on my way home I smelt burnt rubber then a thudding noise I had pulled over to check it out luckily I was to close to a family members house a piece had fallen off n was rubbing on my tire my tires had almost caught fire when luckily I had gotten the baby out before anything had happened the next day a mechanic had informed me a hole was burnt threw the floor where the wheel wells were n the tires almost caught fire he said he could weld the parts so frenchies ford could fix what they had to fix .. The next day he informed me he had looked up the parts n came across this website stating it had been recalled I had told him what happened & informed me to take legal matters due to faulty parts . Please don't allow this to happen to anyone elts the thought of my baby being in the back seat while it could have caught fire is terrifying I wouldn't want to hear of it happening to another under the same circumstances especially a child . & now that there's a hole in the floor I'm uncertain what to do I haven't drove it since & quite honestly I'm afraid to .. P.s is this covered? Whose @ fault? What can be done?

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 Jun 23, 2013 · Transmission · 70,000 miles · OH

I am having transmission issues with high revving, soft shifting and what feels like slipping. And then today when I drove the van there was smoke coming out from under the dash board along with the other issues. After doing some research on line it seems as though it is the control module and as it gets wet things start to go wrong with the van. The design is faulty and needs to be fixed as water gets into the module and the connector. I have included a video link from youtube for you to look over regarding this problem and how bad design is leading to all these small complaints and problems. I am taking the van to my local dealer or shop to see if this could be the cause of my problems. This is the youtube video link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhjevbmuxjw

Filed May 21, 2013 · Transmission · 100,050 miles · NY

I became aware of other customer complaints about the transmission/PCM related concerns in 2011 when experiencing a vibration when shifting from 2nd to 3rd (it seemed) and researched my vehicle and possible related concerns. I also discussed with a local dealer and I followed a dealers recommendation by having my transmission fluid changed as recommended to ford specs. The vibration seemed to calm somewhat. Around this same time I noticed my cruise control would work only off and on at different speeds and times. No check engine light ever came on. I sent my an email to ford of canada at which time I was advised that a torque converter recall was coming and that I should contact the dealer. I was advised to wait for the formal recall which I received and booked my recall and it was completed in approximately late 2012. I also had another recall done for a seat concern just in may 2013. While driving to the us may 19th 2013 at 100km/hr my vehicles cruise was acting suspicious (hard shift up) and I disengaged it for this reason. I then noticed my vehicle was at 3000rpms so seemed to be stuck in 3rd gear or something. It then failed (was like I was in neutral) and I was barely able to get off at an exit and had to push my vehicle into a spot at a service station. I was very concerned for my safety and my family at this time. I was in total shock that there was no real warning and if I know if I was in the fast lane I hate to think of the end result. I checked the dipstick for the tranny and there seemed to be enough fluid however slight amounts of smoke came from the dipstick reservoir. No signs of leaking below the vehicle whatsoever. It was towed to a ford dealer and I was left with no real option other than replace the tranny for $3200. My home dealer in canada was closed for the holiday.

Filed Nov 13, 2012 · Transmission · 85,000 miles · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 ford freestar. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH the vehicle stopped accelerating however the engine was still running. The contact smelled burning fluids. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for diagnosis and the contact was informed that the transmission, torque converter and shaft had failed and would need to be rebuilt. The vehicle was repaired. Afterward he was informed of a recall under the federal safety agency campaign id number: 12v006000 (power train:automatic transmission). The manufacturer was notified but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 85,000 and the current mileage was 106,000. ..updated 01/30/13 *bf the consumer stated the vehicle ws repaired. The consumer was advised the defective transmission is the same as those included in the recall. Updated 2/1/2013

Filed Oct 27, 2012 · Engine · 87,000 miles · CA · fire

The car was driving fine all of a sudden the freestar lost power, I was doing t most 40 MPH because it was during rush hour on the i15 hwy by hesperia everything was fine and all of a sudden my car lost power and began to feel like it was loosing power and then I saw it go from forty to slower mpg and I had my foot on the accelerator I immediately pulled over as soon as I could and there was smoke and then there was fire my 1car was burnt a total loss my daughter and I barely escaped with our lives minutes before the van exploded someone had put us in her car and drove us forward saving our lives when the fire department arrived I walked back to my car and the fire had expanded far past where me and my daughter were standing. My daughter is still traumatized by the experience and so am I. We would of been severely burnt or died when the car exploded and everything caught on fire past the spot my daughter and I were standing the firemen could not believe that the fire had been so extensive. We lost everything my daughter loved, all her most precious material things we went from driving on a happy trip to the realization we could of died by the fire. If the passerby would not had put us in her car and drove us to safety.

Filed Oct 27, 2012 · Engine · 87,000 miles · CA · fire

The car was driving fine all of a sudden the freestar lost power, I was doing t most 40 MPH because it was during rush hour on the i15 hwy by hesperia everything was fine and all of a sudden my car lost power and began to feel like it was loosing power and then I saw it go from forty to slower mpg and I had my foot on the accelerator I immediately pulled over as soon as I could and there was smoke and then there was fire my 1car was burnt a total loss my daughter and I barely escaped with our lives minutes before the van exploded someone had put us in her car and drove us forward saving our lives when the fire department arrived I walked back to my car and the fire had expanded far past where me and my daughter were standing. My daughter is still traumatized by the experience and so am I. We would of been severely burnt or died when the car exploded and everything caught on fire past the spot my daughter and I were standing the firemen could not believe that the fire had been so extensive. We lost everything my daughter loved, all her most precious material things we went from driving on a happy trip to the realization we could of died by the fire. If the passerby would not had put us in her car and drove us to safety.

Filed Sep 4, 2012 · Transmission · 86,000 miles · NY · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford freestar. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH smoke emitted into the vehicle. The contact was able to maneuver to the shoulder when she noticed that flames were coming from under the vehicle right before it was completely engulf in flames. The police and fire department were contacted. The dealer was contacted who stated that the failure might had been cause by the torque converter and offered no assistance. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who filed a report and did not offer any further assistance. The failure and current mileage was 86,000.