2005 Ford Freestar complaints

MY 2005 FORD FREESTAR'S TRANSMISSION FAILED ON 09 FEB 2008. I WAS DRIVING 55MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY RPMS SPIKED WITH NO LOAD ON THE ENGINE. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WENT INTO A NEUTRAL STATE AND I STEERED THE VAN AND COASTED OFF THE ROAD, THERE WERE NO SIGNS THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS HAVING ANY PROBLEMS. I HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP, 50 MILES AWAY. THE VAN HAS 66K MILES. IF THIS INCIDENT HAD OF HAPPENED ON THE INTERSTATE, BRIDGE OR IN SOME OTHER BUSY LOCATION, I'M SURE THIS WOULD HAVE CAUSED SOME INJURIES. *TR

TURNED OFF OF HIGHWAY TRIED TO ACCELERATE WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING IN ANY GEAR. NO WARNING, NO LIGHTS CAME ON, JUST STOPPED. HAD IT TOWED TURNED OUT TO BE TORQUE CONVERTER COST US $1100 TO FIX. *TR

2005 FORD FREESTAR TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 60K MILES NO WARNING JUST QUIT. *TR

PURCHASED VEHICLE IN USED CONDITION LIC. AUTO DEALER 06/07. 10/07 VEHICLE BEGAN TO "DRINK" POWER STEERING FLUID; RESEVOIR DRY/ REFILL/ DRY ETC.., 12/07 VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD POP DURING TURNING; MOVING IN BOTH FORWARD & REVERSE DIRECTIONS AND ALSO SIMILAR NOISE WHEN BREAKS WERE APPLIED ABOVE 20 MPH. TROUBLE SHOOTING AND PHYSICAL INVESTIGATION OF LOGICAL CAUSES REVEALED PROBABLE CRACK IN "RACK" PORTION OF RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM. REPAIR IS SCHEDULED FOR 02/01 ABSOLUTE FAILURE MAY RESULT IN CRASH DUE TO WHEEL SEPARATION WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. NATURE OF SEPARATION MIGHT RESULT IN VEHICLE FLIPPING. *TR

WIFE WAS TAKING KIDS TO KARATE, WENT TO PULL OUT FROM INTERSECTION AND ALL OF SUDDEN VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE, IT WOULD ROLL BUT HAD NO POWER IN ANY GEAR. ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BUT LUCKILY DID NOT. HAD VAN TOWED TO CARSON FORD WHO REPLACED TORQUE CONVERTER FOR $1200. *TR

OUR 2005 FORD FREESTAR HAS ONLY 46,000 MILES ON IT. DECEMBER 23, 2007, TWO DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS, THE TRANSMISSION/TRANSAXLE INDICATOR LIGHT COME ON AS THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED SUDDENLY AT 55MPH. WE TOOK TO THE THRELKELD FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE SHIFTING SOLENOIDS HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR $1,012.00. *TR

MY CAR SHOWED NO SIGNS OF ANYTHING WRONG..NOT EVEN A LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD CAME ON. I WAS DOING ABOUT 40MPH AND IT WAS AS IF SOMEONE THREW ME INTO NEUTRAL AND THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE IN EITHER DIRECTION AT ALL. *TR

ON DEC 15,2007 MY PREGNANT WIFE AND 3 CHILDREN WERE GOING SHOPPING. AS THEY WERE DRIVING UP A INCLINE THE VEHICLE JUST STARTED RACING AS IN NEUTRAL. MY WIFE PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AS BEST SHE COULD DUE TO A LOW SHOULDER,STILL IN THE ROAD. SHE REMOVED THE KIDS AND BROUGHT THEM UP AN EMBANKMENT SO IF THE VEHICLE WAS HIT THEY WOULD BE SAFE. A FRIEND TOWED US TO A LEVEL SPOT AND I CHECKED THE LINKAGE AND FLUID LEVELS. THERE APPEARS TO BE NO PROBLEM WITH EITHER AND THERE WAS NO SIGN THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. THE TRANSMISSION JUST QUIT AND UPON RESEARCHING I FOUND OUT THAT THIS ISN'T AN ISOLATED PROBLEM AND THAT I'M NOT ALONE. IF THIS HAPPENED AT A BUSIER TIME I THINK IT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL BECAUSE OF THE LARGER INCREASED TRAFFIC. PLEASE HELP AS THIS IS ARE PRIMARY VEHICLE AND MY WIFE IS DUE IN MARCH. *TR

2005 FORD FREESTAR VAN WENT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 55MPH ONCE IT STOPPED IT WOULD NOT MOVE. ONLY HAS 38500 MI. DEALER SAYS IT NEEDS NEW TORQUE CONVERTER FOR ONLY $1200-$1500 AND IT'S OUT OF WARR. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND OUT I WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH PROBLEMS. IT'S LESS THAN 3YR OLD BUT 2500MI OVER WARR. NOW I KNOW WHY EVERYBODY IS BUYING FOREIGN CARS. *TR

TRANSMISSION BROKE @ 50,000 MILES WITHOUT WARNING. I JUST BOUGHT THIS VAN 8 MONTHS AGO, AND NOW IM MAKING PAYMENTS ON A VAN I CANNOT DRIVE. *TR

I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION. (WHICH I DO EVERY 5K, THIS WAS AT ABOUT 40K). REAR DRIVER BRAKE PADS WERE DOWN TO 10%, ALL OTHERS WERE FINE. WHEN REPLACING PADS, THE MECHANIC FOUND BRAKE FLUID HAD LEAKED INTO THE CALIPER, CAUSING IT TO FAIL. THE CALIPER FAILURE CAUSED OVERHEATING AND DRAGGING OF THE CERAMIC BRAKE PAD ON THE ROTOR, CUTTING A HUGE GROOVE INTO ROTOR, WHICH NEGATED ANY CHANCE OF MACHINING. THE CALIPERS, ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS ALL REQUIRED REPLACEMENT WITH LESS THAN 40K MILES ON THE CAR... BIG $$$$. THIS FAILURE SEEMED PRE-MATURE, AND WAS UNUSUAL EVEN TO A SERVICE MANAGER WITH MANY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. (HE SUGGESTED THAT FORD SHOULD BE NOTIFIED, WHICH THEY WERE, TODAY, 11/26/2007). *TR

2005 FORD FREESTAR GRINDING BEGAN BACK BRAKES HAVE HAD VAN MAINTAIN AT DEALERSHIP SINCE GOT NEVER HAD REPORT BRAKES NEED REPLACED AS NOISE INCREASED AT 42,068 MILES TOOK BACK TO DEALERSHIP FOUND BACK BRAKE AND ROTORS NEED REPLACED BUT NOT FRONT BRAKE THIS GOOD THIS IS A FWD VEHICLE FRONT BRAKES SHOULD GO FIRST FORD REPLACED ROTORS AND PADS WANTED 475.00 BUT AFTER POINTING OUT NEVER ADV ANY PROBLEM FINAL PRICE PAID 332.01 AFTER CHECKING MAINTENANCE HISTORY IN COMPUTER CHECKING INTERNET MULTI PROBLEM BACK BRAKES HAVE CONTACT CORP FORD WILL NOT ASSIST OR RECALL ISSUE AT MOMENT THIS IS HUGE SAFETY PROBLEM ORIGINAL BACK BRAKES ARE DEFECTIVE. *JB

AT APPROXIMATELY 28,000 MILES WE HEARD A TERRIBLE SQUEALING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF OUR 2005 FORD FREESTAR MINIVAN AND AFTER VISUAL INSPECTION THE BRAKE PAD ON THE DRIVER'S REAR WAS WORN TO NOTHING. IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VAN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY INFORMED US THAT IT WAS NORMAL WEAR AND WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY OUR WARRANTY. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION BY OUR PERSONAL MECHANIC WE WERE INFORMED THE CALIPER WAS STICKING AND CUT INTO THE ROTOR. HE PUT A SET OF BRAKE PADS ON SO WE COULD DRIVE IT BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, SUNSET FORD, IN GRAVOIS. WE WERE TOLD SINCE WE DID NOT USE MOTOCRAFT THE REPAIRS WOULD NOT BE COVERED. NOW AT 50,000 MILES THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND THE VAN NEEDS ANOTHER SET OF BRAKES AND ROTORS. *TR

AT APPROX. 33,000 MILES STARTED EXPEIENCING BRAKING PROBLEMS- SOFT PEDAL, REQUIRING EXCESS PRESSSURE TO STOP SAFELY. OCCASIONAL INSTANCES OF ACCELERATION WHILE BRAKING BECAUSE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDAL WERE AT SAME HEIGHT. A NARROW ACCELERATION MISS DROVE ME TO MY SERVICE SHOP WHERE I ASKED THEM TO CHECK OUT THE BRAKES. THE PADS & ROTORS WERE IN FINE SHAPE. BUT THE MASTER CYLINDER PROVED TO BE BAD. IT TOOK 4 REPLACEMENT CYLINDERS FROM LOCAL DEALERS TO GET ONE THAT FIT AND FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. NOW AT 54,000 MILES THE PEDAL IS AGAIN SOFT AND BRAKING IS GETTING HARDER EACH DAY. VISUAL INSPECTION OF PADS AND ROTORS SHOW PLENTY OF USEFUL LIFE REMAINING. SINCE WHEN IS 30,000 MILES AN ACCEPTABLE AVERAGE LIFE FOR A MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER?

WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW FROM THE DEALER IN SEPTEMBER 2005. IN THE WINTER OF 05-06, THE DOORS MALFUNCTIONED ON REPEATED OCCASIONS. WE HAD OVER 3 INSTANCES WHERE THE EXTREME COLD WOULD CAUSE THE AUTOMATIC DOOR FEATURE TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE DOORS RANDOMLY, EVEN WHILE THE CAR WAS IN TRANSIT. THERE WAS ONE INSTANCE IN WHERE BOTH SIDE PASSENGER DOORS OPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, EVEN THOUGH THE DOORS HAD BEEN LOCKED WHEN WE CHECKED THEM. WE ALSO HAD AN INSTANCE IN WHERE THE REAR DOOR OPENED IN OUR FRIEND'S DRIVEWAY AT NIGHT, WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WENT BELOW 0. WE FOUND THE ONLY WAY TO GUARANTEE THE DOORS STAY CLOSED IN THE WINTER IS TO DISENGAGE THE AUTOMATIC DOOR OPENER FEATURE. WE BROUGHT THE CAR TO OUR DEALER AND WE WERE TOLD THEY COULD FIND NO ISSUE WITH THE CAR. IN EARLY 2007, NEW JERSEY EXPERIENCED A COLD SPELL WHICH RESULTED IN BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES. IT WAS AT THIS TIME THAT WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS GETTING SOMETHING OUT OF THE BACK OF THE VAN, THE HYDRAULIC FEATURE FAILED AND SLAMMED THE DOOR ON HIS HEAD. HE DID NOT SUFFER LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES, BUT DID GET BUMPED AND BRUISED. WE CONTACTED THE DEALER, BECAUSE IN 2006 THE HYDRAULICS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A RECALL AND WE DID SO, AND THE DEALER HAD US BRING THE CAR IN FOR SERVICING AGAIN. ONCE THE SYSTEM WAS REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME, WE WERE TOLD BY FORD THAT WITH EXTREME TEMPERATURE CHANGE, THIS ISSUE CAN OCCUR YEAR AFTER YEAR AND THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT. I FIND THIS TERRIBLE CONSIDERING I

AFTER READING A COMPLAINT ON YOUR SITE FROM ANOTHER CONCERNED CONSUMER, I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION THE ISSUES THAT ARE RECURRING WITH OUR MINIVAN. OUR AUTOMATIC DOORS DO NOT STOP CLOSING ONCE AN OBJECT IS PLACED IN THEIR WAY. THIS HAS RESULTED IN A NUMBER OF BUMPS, BRUISES, AND SCARES. WE ARE FORCED TO PUSH OUR CHILDREN OUT OF THE WAY IF THEY ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE "DOOR CLOSE" BUTTON ON THE DOOR, BECAUSE I AM PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO STOP THE DOOR FROM CLOSING, AND MY HUSBAND, WHO IS A 230 LBS. FORMER BODY BUILDER HAS TO PHYSICALLY JAM THE DOOR BACK OPEN TO PREVENT IT FROM CLOSING. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THERE IS A SAFETY FEATURE IN PLACE TO PREVENT IT FROM CLOSING ON SOMEONE AND CAUSING INJURY. EVEN THE SALESPERSON WAS UNABLE TO GET THE DOOR TO STOP CLOSING ON HIM. WE SENT THE CAR TO THE SERVICE CENTER FOR FIXING AND WE WERE TOLD THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE DOOR. AGAIN, I READ THIS SAME COMPLAINT FROM ANOTHER CONCERNED MOTHER AND CONSUMER ON YOUR SITE, AND I FEEL THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO IMMEDIATELY. I AM CERTAIN THIS ISSUE COULD INJURE SOMEONE SIGNIFICANTLY, IF IT HASN'T ALREADY. *TR

I RETURNED FROM A CROSS COUNTRY TRIP AND HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF MY 2005 FORD FREESTAR. TO INVESTIGATE I REMOVED THE WHEELS AND FOUND THE PASSENGER REAR ROTOR AND DISC PAD WERE METAL TO METAL. I CHECKED THE OTHER WHEELS, THEY SHOWED NO SIGNS OF DAMAGE, PADS STILL HAD A LOT OF MATERIAL REMAINING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO CRAIG FORD, IN CRAIG, COLORADO FOR REPAIRS. AT FIRST I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A DEFECTIVE BRAKE CALIPER AND THAT WARRANTY WOULD COVER THE CALIPER, ROTOR AND PADS. HOWEVER I WAS TOLD LATER THAT THE CALIPER WAS NOT DEFECTIVE AND THAT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TOTAL REPAIR COSTS. NOTE, I HAD LESS THAN 30,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE BRAKE FAILURE. I HAD TO PAY FOR THE NEW ROTOR FOR THE PASSENGER REAR, REAR PADS AND TURNING THE DRIVER REAR ROTOR WHICH I WAS TOLD IS A NORMAL PROCEDURE FOR E REAR BREAK JOB; I WAS NOT CHARGED FOR A CALIPER SO I PRESUME CRAIG FORD REUSED THE CALIPER. SINCE WORK WAS BEING DONE ON THE REAR, AND I WAS HAVING TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS, I INSTRUCTED CRAIG FORD TO DO A COMPLETE BRAKE JOB REPLACING PADS AND TURNING ROTORS ON THE FRONT AS WELL SO THAT I WOULD BE STARTING AGAIN WITH 100% NEW BRAKES ON ALL 4 WHEELS. WHEN I PICKED THE VEHICLE UP, I WAS ADVISED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER, ROB SOVINE, THAT HE CHECKED AND THERE APPEARED TO BE A NUMBER OF INCIDENTS OF 2005 FORD FREESTAR PASSENGER REAR BRAKES WEARING PREMATURELY, WITH NO KNOW REASON FOR THIS PROBLEM; AND THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL OR SERVICE BULLETIN REGA

WHEN ACCELERATING AT ABOUT 1800-2000 RPM, THE TACHOMETER MAKES A NOISE SINCE DAY ONE. *NM

POWER STEERING STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE. ON INSPECTION, POWER STEERING FLUID CONTAINER WAS BONE DRY. FILLED IT UP. THE NEXT DAY, THE SAME THING. HAVE BEEN HAVING TO REFILL EVERY 3 TO 5 DAYS. PUMP IS WORKING. CANNOT DETERMINE WHERE LEAK IS. *JB

REPEATED SPONGY BRAKE PEDAL..SOMETIMES GOES TO FLOOR ON SUDDEN BRAKING. RANDOM 'SQUEAL AND SQUEAK' FROM FRONT BRAKES. ACCORDING TO SERVICE MGR. AT ORANGE FORD-LINCOLN IN ORANGE, TEXAS, THIS IS COMMON SINCE ASBESTOS WAS REMOVED FROM PADS ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO. VERY IRRITATING AND DANGEROUS. *JB

I WAS DRIVING THROUGH A CONSTRUCTION ZONE; LANE SHIFTED ONTO THE SHOULDER. TRAFFIC WAS DENSE, BUT MOVING AT NEAR NORMAL SPEEDS. VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME BRAKED ABRUPTLY AS WE HIT THE RUMBLE STRIP. MY VEHICLE SHOOK DRAMATICALLY; AS I TIPPED IN TO ACCELERATE, I DISCOVERED THE VEHICLE HAD DIED (STALLED). I RESTARTED ON THE FLY BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL. HAD I NOT DONE SO, MY VEHICLE WOULD HAVE COME TO A STOP IN DENSE, FAIRLY HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC--EXPOSING ME AND MY FAMILY TO A POTENTIAL HIGH SPEED REAR IMPACT. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE CONTACT AT AN ESTIMATED SPEED OF 40-45MPH. THIS RESULTED IN THE CONTACT REAR ENDING A VEHICLE. THERE WERE THREE OCCUPANTS IN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE, THE DRIVER; THE CONTACT WHO WAS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, AND AN OCCUPANT IN THE REAR SEAT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. DURING THE ACCIDENT THE SEAT BELT WEBBING SPOOLED, ALLOWING THE OCCUPANTS TO MOVE FORWARD. AS A RESULT, THE SEATBELTS DID NOT LOCK CAUSING INJURIES TO ALL OCCUPANTS. THE DRIVER MADE CONTACT WITH EITHER THE STEERING WHEEL OR THE CORNER OF THE DOOR CAUSING A NECK SPRAIN. THE PASSENGER'S RIGHT SHOULDER MADE CONTACT WITH THE DASHBOARD CAUSING INJURY. THE REAR PASSENGER RECEIVED BRUISING TO THE TOE. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE, ALL SEATS WERE OBSERVED IN THE RECLINED POSITION. ALL OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR OBSERVATION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING YARD AND LATER RETURNED TO THE RENTAL AGENCY.

WHEN FUEL TANK IS AT OR BELOW 1/4 TANK AND VAN IS PARKED ON A STEEP INCLINE, VEHICLE WILL NOT START UNTIL IT IS PLACED ON A LEVEL SURFACE. *JB

BRAKE PEDAL WHEN PUSHED HARD GOES TO THE FLOOR. BRAKE PEDAL WHEN PRESSED NORMAL HAS A SPONGY FEEL TO IT. ALMOST RAN INTO THE BACK END OF A CAR THAT WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN BECAUSE I WAS EXPECTING THE VEHICLE TO STOP WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED UNTIL I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL HARD. VEHICLE MAKES HORRENDOUS NOISE "POPPING SOUND" WHEN THE ABS SYSTEM IS ENGAGED. THIS POPPING SOUND HAPPENS EVERY TIME BETWEEN 30 -45 MILES PER HOUR DURING A "HARD' BRAKE SITUATION. THESE INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER ON 3 OCCASIONS BUT THE DEALER SAID THE ABS SYSTEM AND BRAKES CHECKED OUT OK ACCORDING TO FORD'S SPECIFICATIONS. *JB

AIR BAG LIGHT INDICATING THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT STAYED ON. DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED THAT THE LIGHT COULD COME ON IF I WERE USING AN AFTERMARKET CELL PHONE CHARGER WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. FORD ISSUED AN ALERT TO DEALERSHIPS THAT STATED SAME. I WAS MADE TO GO OUT AND BUY REPLACEMENT CHARGERS WHILE THE DEALERSHIP INVESTIGATED THE PROBLEM USING MY CAR CHARGERS TO EXPERIMENT. AFTER PICKING UP THE VEHICLE THE LIGHT HAD NOT COME BACK ON. I WAS TOLD THE FORD INSTRUCTED THEM TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER LOCATED NEAR THE RADIO. I AM STILL SHOCKED TO HEAR THAT A CELL PHONE CHARGER COULD CAUSE AN AIRBAG TO NOT DEPLOY. FORD ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS VEHICLE GIVEN THE SERIOUS NATURE OF THE FAILURE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS AT 55 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTIONED. THE WIPERS PERMANENTLY STOPPED WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WAS DEFECTIVE. UPDATED 2/24/2006 - THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THERE WAS NO GREASE IN THE BEARING FITTINGS. *NM

I BOUGHT A 2005 FORD FREESTAR USED WITH 25000 MILES ON IT. THREE WEEKS LATER THE GAS CAP LIGHT CAME ON A DAY AFTER THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, WHEN THE VAN WAS LOOKED AT THE CHARCOAL CANISTER WAS CRACKED IN THE FRONT. I WAS TOLD SOMETHING HIT IT AND IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. HE SHOWED IT TO ME AND OTHER THAN THE HOLE IN THE FRONT THERE WAS NO SIGN OF ANY DAMAGE NOT A SCRATCH. I CALLED FORD AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD NOT DO ANY THING TO HELP. MY POINT TO THEM WAS IF SOMETHING CAN HIT THE CANISTER AND CRACK IT BUT NOT EVEN SCRATCH THE PAINT ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VAN THAN IT MUST BE IN A BAD PLACE. I CAN NOT REPLACE IT EVERY THREE WEEKS AT $500 A TIME. THE OLD PART WILL BE AVAILABLE WHEN I CAN REPLACE THE OLD ONE I DO HAVE PICTURES OF IT IN PLACE. *JB

DT: CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT VIBRATION PROBLEMS. THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED AND VEHICLE SHUTTERED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE DAYS AFTER PURCHASING IT. THE DEALERSHIP KEPT THE CAR FOR 5 DAYS AND COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THE DEALER CHANGED THE ROTORS TWICE AND CHANGED THE TIRES. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, AND THE DEALERSHIP HAD THE CAR FOR 17 DAYS. THE FORD REPRESENTATIVE CAME TO THE DEALERSHIP AND PUT THE VEHICLE ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE AND THE FORD REPRESENTATIVE SEEMED TO THINK THAT WAS THE TIRES. CONSUMER WAS SUPPOSE TO PICK UP THE CAR BUT WAS HESITANT BECAUSE OF THE TIRE PROBLEM. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THERE WERE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME PROBLEM. *AK

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FORRESTER. SHE IS RENTING THIS VAN, AND WHILE SHE WAS BENDING DOWN IN THE MIDDLE SEAT IN THE MIDDLE ROW SHE ALMOST GOT HER HEAD CRUSHED WHEN SHE MOVED THE LATCH. THE BACK SUPPORT CAME TUMBLING DOWN AND HER HEAD GOT CAUGHT IN BETWEEN. THIS COULD BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THERE WAS SO MUCH FORCE, AND IF SOMEONE WAS PLAYING WITH THE LATCH, A WHOEVER WAS IN THE NEXT SEAT WOULD BE HURT. CONTACT WAS GOING TO RETURN THE VAN TO THE RENTAL PLACE. *AK

UNDER NORMAL BRAKING BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL HEIGHT IS EQUAL TO GAS PEDAL HEIGHT. UNDER HEAVY BRAKING BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL HEIGHT IS BELOW GAS PEDAL HEIGHT. THIS MAY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE UNDER BRAKING. UPDATED 11/28/2005 - *NM

DT: ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO THE BRAKES FAILED. WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IT SIMPLY WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. IT DID SLOW DOWN BUT AS DRIVER PROGRESSED THE BRAKE SHOE HUNG TO THE ROTOR AND MADE A CLICKING SOUND AS THOUGH THEY WERE STILL APPLIED. AFTERWARDS CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AND TOOK VEHICLE IN. THE TECHNICIAN STATED IT WAS A ROTOR PROBLEM. THE DEALER GRINDED RUST OR " LOT ROT" OFF THE ROTORS AND PLACED THEM BACK ON THE VEHICLE. TWO DAYS AGO HOWEVER THE SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED AGAIN WITH THE BRAKE PADS STICKING TO THE ROTOR AND THE CLICKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE IS BACK AT THE DEALER WHO SAYS THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED MANUFACTURER. *NM

HEADLIGHT BEAM PATTERN IS TERRIBLE. NO SEEING DISTANCE ON LOW BEAM AND THE HIGH BEAM PATTERN HAS A LARGE AMOUNT OF LIGHT RIGHT DOWN IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, WHERE IT DOES NO GOOD.*AK

SUSPENSION SHOOK AT 60 MPH, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY OWNER.*AK THE VEHICLE VIBRATES AND SHAKES AFTER HITTING BUMPS. VIBRATION CAUSES HEAD RESTS TO EXTEND AT TIMES. *TC

THE ELECTRIC SLIDING DOOR WILL OPEN ABOUT A FOOT, AND IT WILL STICK. THE BRAKES ARE LIKE SPONGES. CONSUMER STATES HE HAS TO COMPLETELY DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR BEFORE THE VEHICLE WILL STOP. CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD THREE TIMES FOR THESE ISSUES. *AK

3 YEAR OLD CHILD WAS GETTING OUT OF FREESTAR AND LEANED INTO THE SWITCH TO CLOSE THE DOOR; DOOR BEGAN TO CLOSE ON CHILD. AS I WAS REACHING IN THE DOOR I WAS KNOCKED DOWN AND THE DOOR CONTINUED TO CLOSE ON MY BODY BRUISING MY SHOULDER AND HIP AREA. I HAD TO USE ALL MY STRENGTH TO PUSH THE DOOR BACK. IT TAKES EXCESSIVE FORCE TO MAKE TO THE DOOR RETRACT WHILE SOMETHING IS IN ITS WAY. THE VAN WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE SEVERAL ADVISORS TOLD ME THAT THE DOOR IS OPERATING PROPERLY AND THAT IT WOULD NOT CAUSE SERIOUS HARM TO AN INDIVIDUAL ONLY BRUISING. *NM

CONSUMER STATES WHEN VEHICLE IS RUNNING EXCESSIVELY, AND THERE ARE EXCESSIVE FUEL LEAKS. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THE VEHICLE WILL CATCH ON FIRE. *AK WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE CONSUMER NOTICED A SMELL OF FUEL. THE CONSUMER FOUND A LEAK COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPE THEN TO THE GROUND IN LARGE AMOUNTS. *TC