Ford Freestar power steering loss problems

Filed May 17, 2018 · Electrical · 175,000 miles · WY

Water dripped from the wiper blade cowl into the PCM, causing the vehicle to start, drive briefly, and then shut off while moving, causing loss of control of electrical components of the vehicle while driving on the highway. Steering became difficult. If this had happened at high speeds or with a lot of traffic around, it could have been extremely dangerous or deadly. The mechanic says this is a problem he sees with ford windstar vehicles. The mechanic stated the PCM was literally under water when he received the vehicle, despite the cause being a fairly typical rain storm, and drying out the PCM did not help, as the damage had already been done. This is a safety issue that, after searching online and speaking with mechanics, appears to be common. Ford needs to fix this issue before a vehicle loses control at high speeds.

Filed Aug 31, 2015 · Engine, Steering · 112,000 miles · PA

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford freestar. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the power steering failed intermittently without warning and the engine stalled. The vehicle became increasingly difficult to control. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 112,000. The VIN was not available.

Filed Sep 29, 2014 · Engine · 105,000 miles · NC

While driving at normal speed the engine shuts off. This has happened five times in the last week. When the engine shuts off there is no power steering, brakes, or control of the vehicle. The first time it happened, I was driving my family down the road at 60 MPH when the motor just died. I was able to pull the van off the side of the road and stop. I restarted the motor and it ran fine. When I got home I put the van in neutral, and revved the engine. It shut off again. My wife was driving and it happened to her with the children with her. She said she could not steer the van when it died. It scared her very badly. There is no check engine light, therefore there is no code to tell me what is wrong. The motor just shuts down without warning. If this happened at the wrong time it will result in a very bad traffic accident. I have research this problem online, and have found several ford freestar vans having the same problem. So this is not an isolated incident.

Filed Jul 29, 2014 · Brakes, Electrical · 78,000 miles · PA

I was traveling on a busy road last sunday. My van completely shut down with no warning. I had no power steering or power brakes and was almost rear-ended. Thank god I managed to get to the side of the road. I started it again and it happened again three more times. I had it towed to jim's auto service and they think it could be related to water leakage onto the computer. I called ford to ask about this and they said that they knew nothing about this but I found information about this problem all over the internet. I asked them how could my mechanic know about this and they didn't?! They told me to take it to a ford dealership. I am 60 years old and babysit my grandchildren full time and I am afraid to drive them in this vehicle! I also do not have the money for major repairs. I hung up with ford feeling frustrated since this could have been a fatal situation if I had been on the highway with my granddaughter.

Filed Jul 22, 2014 · Steering · NY

Steering knuckle-when driving going to make turns either way the steering gets hard,acts like there no power steering.was told to spray with wd40,did that makes it easer but you have to do it once a week.

Filed Jul 9, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · 153,000 miles · RI

This has happened several time over last year or so that I have owned this vehicle. When driving down highway and it starts to rain cars sputters and seems to loose power. Twice it has stalled on me going 55 miles an hour on highway and have had to try and coast to side of road in traffic with people beeping with loss of steering. Luckily both times after a few mins the vehicle started again and was able to make it home. Have changed wires and plugs, runs fines in dry weather but still stutters and tries to stall when its wet out or rains! Very dangerous and wont let wife take kids out when it rains in fear they will get stuck somewhere.

Filed Jun 24, 2014 · Electrical, Steering · 155,523 miles · OH

Coming into my parking lot, I lost power steering. It appears that I have a leak. But before this happened, I had some odd sounds happening and some other minor issues with the vehicle that at the time seemed unrelated. Then I lost my steering. I bought this vehicle used in '09, so I expected a few issues along the way. This is not the first major issue I have had, as I had to have the tranny recall issue repaired about a year or two ago. (what is it with ford thinking it is more cost efficient to allow people to get harmed than to fix a problem?!!! Unfortunately I have not had the income to buy a non-ford vehicle, but mark my words, when I do have the income, I will no longer be a ford driver.) not the first time that I have had to get recall work done either, I now have to get the rear seat fixed yet, but cannot drive it to the dealer to get it fixed because I don't have power steering! Ironic? Hhmmmm...I wonder. My car has been sitting since jan 6 2014. No money to fix it until now. Thanks ford -please note: said with sarcasm.

Filed May 26, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · NY

While driving through town at 30 miles per hour, engine stalled, lost power steering and speed control. The engine light came on and the transaxle light was blinking. Thank goodness I wasn't on the highway. *tr I believe one bad part had been replace with another as the torque converter part had been replaced and here it was doing the same thing all over again less than 1 year later. I figured I had no options, what could I do, had it towed. I just feel if they are using inadequate parts to replace bad parts the danger continues to apply and they should be held accountable.

Filed Feb 6, 2014 · Electrical, Steering · 72,843 miles · NJ

12/10/13 and 12/11/13 mini van stalled on the road while driving 25 miles per hour. No warning light before hand. Loss of power steering and engine. Was told that it was an air flow control. Drove car home from dealership and stalled on the road home. Pcm was replaced. 1/20/14 next two times car failed to start while in a parking lot or driveway. (was repaired) PCM was replaced again. 2/6/14 fourth stall was on an exit ramp of a major highway. Car was going 45 miles per hour and stalled. Loss of power steering and engine.

Filed Oct 23, 2013 · Steering · 131,000 miles · AR

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford freestar. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, there was a loss of power steering without warning. The steering wheel became extremely difficult to turn. In addition, the power steering fluid continuously leaked onto the ground even though the contact refilled the reservoir constantly. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 131,000.