Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2006 record →
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN AND THEN STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,744.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,486.
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.
DRIVING ON A 2 LANE ROAD STARTED UP THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN. DROVE APPROX. .5 MILES UP HILL. WITHOUT WARNING THE ENGINE REV'ED. VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER TO THE WHEELS. ENGINE RUNNING FINE, NO ABNORMAL NOISES. VEHICLE SLOWED QUICKLY DUE TO UPHILL GRADE. VEHICLES BEHIND ME, INCLUDING SEVERAL LARGE TRACTOR-TRAILERS HAD SWERVE INTO THE ON-COMING LANE DUE TO NO SHOULDER. THANKFULLY THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC COMING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN. THERE COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN A FATAL ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS FAILURE.... JUST HAPPENED TO BE NO TRAFFIC COMING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN IN THE ON-COMING LANE. BLOCKED ONE LANE OF TRAFFIC ON A STEEP GRADE FOR OVER AN HOUR WAITING ON A TOW TRUCK. TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED. SENT DEBRIS INTO THE TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE NEEDS TORQUE CONVERTER AND TRANSMISSION REPLACED.... I HAVE SEEN MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME COMPLAINT... PLEASE NHTSA HELP US... *TR
I HAVE A BATTERY LIGHT THAT KEEPS COMING ON EVEN AFTER REPLACING THE ALTERNATOR TWICE AND BATTERY TWICE. THE LIGHT STILL KEEPS COMING ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF.THERE I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND EVERYTHING IS FLASHING AND THEN IT STALLS. I HAVE HAD BOTH BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR CHECKED AND THEY ARE FINE. WIRING HAS BEEN CHECKED AND NOTHING SEEMS TO WORK. ALSO I HAVE REPLACED THE BREAKS ON THE CAR TWICE AND I STILL GET A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHEN I GO TO STOP. FORD NEEDS TO FIX THESE VEHICLES. I HAVE READ IN MANY FORUMS THAT PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIRS AND AFTER SPENDING A BUNCH OF MONEY TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM IT STILL IS NOT FIXED. I NEED MY VEHICLE TO RUN RIGHT WITHOUT HAVING TO DUMP MONEY INTO IT ALL THE TIME AND I KEEP UP WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE BUT THIS IS ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT AND THIS IS RIDICULOUS! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
THE FORD FREESTAR WAS EXITING THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT LOST ALL POWER WITHOUT WARNING WHILE COMING DOWN THE OFF-RAMP. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. THE MINI VAN WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF THE ROAD AND INTO AN AUTO SHOP PARKING LOT THAT HAPPENED TO BE THERE. APPEARS TO BE ANOTHER TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE. *TR
STARTED OUT OF AN INTERSECTION AND VAN STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. NO FORWARD OR REVERSE GEAR. TRANSMISSION GONE. WHEN I HAD A NEW ONE PUT IN AFTER $4000.00 BILL THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE ONE HE REPLACED WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL ONE. SO THIS MAKES THE SECOND TRANSMISSION FAILURE FOR THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE DRIVEN FORDS ALL MY LIFE AND HAVE NEVER HAD A TRANSMISSION TO GO OUT. IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH I MIGHT HAVE BEEN KILLED. FORD SHOULD BE WILLING TO REPLACE THESE TRANSMISSIONS OR REIMBURSE THEIR CUSTOMERS FOR SUCH SHODDY TRANSMISSIONS. *TR
WHILE DRIVING 60 DOWN 2 LANE ROAD WITH FAMILY OF FOUR, LIGHT IN DISTANCE WAS RED SO I STARTED TO BRAKE. QUICKLY LIGHT TURNED GREEN SO I TRIED TO ACCELERATE BUT RPMS SHOT UP WITHOUT SPEED GOING UP. TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY DISABLED. WILL NOT EVEN GO INTO PARK. ALL THIS WITH NO WARNING. I BARELY MADE IT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. I THINK IT'S CLEAR THIS IS YET ANOTHER 06 FORD FREESTAR TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE. *TR
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
RECALL #13S01, TOOK VAN IN FOR RECALL ITEM TO BE FIXED, FORD DEALERSHIP TOLD ME I HAD TO PAY FOR THE PARTS TO FIX UNDER RECALL. CALLED FORD AND THEY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER THEY SPOKE WITH THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THE CORROSION WAS TOO SEVERE TO BE FIXED UNDER RECALL. I WAS GIVEN NO EXPLANATION AND WAS TOLD CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
I HAVE MY 2 GRANDCHILDREN WHO HAVE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY. I BOUGHT THIS VAN TO GET THEM TO DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS, ETC WITH WHEEL CHAIR. I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME AND STOPPED AT THE LIGHT. AS SOON AS THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I PROCEEDED THOUGH THE INTERSECTION AND THE VEHICLE JUST STOPPED. THE VEHICLE JUST WOULD NOT MOVE. I HAD CHILDREN IN THIS VAN AND WAS ALMOST HIT BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION IN THIS VEHICLE. WHY WOULD FORD NOT STEP UP AND DO A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES. WHEN WILL SOMEONE TAKE NOTICE THAT THIS COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED A ACCIDENT, HURTING INNOCENT CHILDREN. THESE VANS ARE MOSTLY USED AS A FAMILY VAN. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO GET HURT FOR SOMEONE TO DO SOMETHING? THE VAN IS NOT FIXED YET AND I AM STILL MAKING PAYMENTS. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO FIX IT. *TR
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH MY FIVE CHILDREN IN THE CAR THE CARSON WE LOST POWER AND I HAD TO SAY TRY MY BEST TO SAFELY COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS NOT ABLE TO GET COMPLETELY OUT OF THE WAY BEFORE THE CAR STOPPED AND WOULDN'T MOVE. WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR WALK THROUGH A FIELD A9 YEAR OLD 10 YEAR OLD 6 YEAR OLD TWO YEAR OLD AND AN 8 MONTH OLD. THERE ARE RECALLS ON ALL OTHER URS EXCEPT THIS ONE EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE THE SAME ENGINE AND FAILING PARTS. TORQUE CONVERTER!!! MY KIDS WERE AFRAID AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO US. IT WILL COST US MONEY WE DON'T HAVE TO FIX THIS CAR, WITH THE FAULTY PART. WE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *TR
I HAD AN OIL CHANGE ON 9/13/2014 & ASKED THEM TO ROTATE MY TIRES AT MIDAS AT 8016 W. HILLSBOROUGH AVE. TAMPA, FL 33615, PHONE NUMBER: 813-886-1177. THEY SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T ROTATE THE TIRES BECAUSE THEY HAD DRY ROT ON THEM. THIS PROMPTED ME TO LOCATE THE RECEIPT I PURCHASED THESE 4 TIRES NEW AT THE SAME MIDAS LOCATION, THEY WERE PURCHASED ON 02/20/2010 WHEN THIS VEHICLE HAD 44,368 MILES ON IT. ALSO I LOOKED AT EACH TIRE TO FIND THE DATE THE TIRES WERE MANUFACTURED & TO MY SURPRISE IT WAS COVERED WITH A RUBBER SEAL ON EACH TIRE. I SENT VARIOUS EMAIL TO MIDAS' CUSTOMER SERVICE ALONG WITH THE COPY OF THE RECEIPT AND PICTURES OF THE TIRES SHOWING THE RUBBER SEAL. I HAVE READ EVEN ON YOUR WEBSITE THAT IT IS AGAINST THE LAW TO COVER THE MANUFACTURED DATE ON TIRES. CAN MIDAS BE FINED FOR THIS AND I THINK THEY OWE ME ANOTHER SET OF 4 TIRES BECAUSE OF THAT? I WILL ENCLOSE ATTACHMENTS OF THE RECEIPT AND PICTURES OF THE TIRES WHEN I RECEIVE AN EMAIL BACK FROM YOU. *TR
THE VEHICLE, WITHOUT WARNING, SHUT DOWN WHILE IN MID-DRIVE (50+ MPH). WE WERE FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO SAFELY COAST OUT OF HARMS WAY. IT STARTED BACK UP BUT CONTINUED TO DO THIS MANY MORE TIMES UNTIL WE FINALLY GOT THE VAN HOME. THE FORD DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED IT WAS A BAD TRANSMISSION. MORE SPECIFICALLY, THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED AND A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE 04 AND 05 MODELS. UNFORTUNATELY NOT FOR THE 2006. *TR
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.
SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER TO WHEELS @ 114,000 MILES; FORD DEALER: "YOU NEED TO PURCHASE A REBUILT TRANSMISSION" THIS IS THE TORQUE CONVERTER AS KNOWN TO NHTSA; DEMANDED FORD REFUND, REFUSED. SECOND FORD REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION WARRANTY NOT BEING HONORED WITH FAILURE @ 93,000. FORD DEALER: "REPLACED FUSE, TORQUE CONVERTER SHUDDER; YOUR VAN HAS OVER 200,000 MILES ON IT!!" SIGNIFICANT TRANSMISSION VIBRATION WITH STEERING SHUDDER, RE-DIAGNOSED JANUARY 10, 2014; CONTINUATION OF 93,000 FAILURE AND CLAIMED REPAIR. PCM FAILED AT APROX. 85,000 MILES; POWER STEERING LEAKS YEAR AFTER PURCHASE @ 53,000 ORIGINAL MILES. FORD DEALER REFUSES REPAIR/REFUND. ALL DOCUMENTS IN POSSESSION. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
GOING DOWN A SMALL HILL AND WAS PICKING UP SPEED, LET OFF THE GAS PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN. STARTING UP THE NEXT HILL AND WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS PUSHED I ENDED UP GOING BACKWARD AND THERE WERE 4 VEHICLES RIGHT BEHIND ME. THEY ALL WERE STOPPING AND EACH TURNED IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION NOT TO HIT THE OTHER PERSON IN FRONT OF THEM. IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE IF I HAD TAKEN THE INTERSTATE. THIS HAPPENED AT ABOUT 6 A.M. SO THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF TRAFFIC LIKE THERE IS AT 7 A.M. IN THE MORNING. BUT IF I HAD NOT FORGOTTEN MY BILLFOLD, THIS WOULD HAPPENED AT A VERY HIGH TRAFFIC TIME OF DAY WHEN I WOULD HAVE BEEN GOING HOME. *TR
POWER TRAIN JUST WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR ROADWAY. NO WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH, NO INDICATION OF SLIPPING, HARD SHIFTS, OR SKIPPING OF GEARS. I JUST LEFT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND IT STARTED TO GO IN A FORWARD MOTION, I CAME OFF THE GAS FOR A SECOND OR TWO PRESSED ON THE GAS AND THE RPM'S SHOT UP AND NO POWER TO THE POWER TRAIN. I HAD TO CROSS OVER THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC TO SAFETY. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION TORQUE CONVERTER SHAFT FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN PROVIDED WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
WHOLE AIRBAG AREA HAS A THICK STICKY FEELING OVER THE COVER. WON'T CLEAN OFF. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V006000 (POWER TRAIN). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,791. UPDATED 12/2/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL. IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. IT COASTED TO THE PARKING SPOT. UPDATED 5/7/2015 *JS
I PURCHASED 4 TIRES FROM MIDAS ON 03/2010 & WHEN I JUST HAD AN OIL CHANGE ON 09/2014, THEY SAID AT MIDAS THAT THEY COULDN'T ROTATE THE TIRES BECAUSE THEY HAD DRY ROT. I TRIED TO FIND THE MANUFACTURED DATE ON THE TIRES AND DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS COVERED WITH A RUBBER SEAL ON ALL 4 TIRES. MY RECEIPT SHOWS THAT THEY WERE MANUFACTURED IN 2008, WHICH IS 2 YEARS BEFORE I PURCHASED THEM. IS THIS LEGAL FOR THEM TO CONCEAL THE MANUFACTURED DATES? AND IS IT LEGAL FOR MIDAS TO SELL ME 2 YEAR OLD TIRES? IF MY RECEIPT IS CORRECT OR THEY COULD HAVE BEEN OLDER THAN THAT. *TR
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A COUNTRY ROAD AND HAD JUST DROPPED MY KIDS OFF THANK GOODNESS. NOTHING SEEMED TO BE WRONG WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE REVVED HIGH. I WAS TRY'N TO LOOK TO SEE WHAT WAS GO'N ON WHEN I WRECKED INTO THE DITCH ABOUT 60MPH. OUT OF NOWHERE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WAS STUCK N A DITCH AND NO ONE TO HELP. *TR
ENGINE RUNNING AND VEHICLE MOVING. ALL OF A SUDDEN RPMS GO UP TO 3000+ AND VEHICLE IS COASTING. NO POWER TO DRIVE WHEELS. COASTED TO A SAFE PLACE. LUCKILY, WE WEREN'T ON THE INTERSTATE YET. VEHICLE ACTED AS IN NEUTRAL. NO MOVEMENT IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. HAD IT TOWED TO MECHANIC AND HE IS 99% SURE THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER IS THE PROBLEM. 2004 AND 2005 HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. MAYBE FORD SHOULD INCLUDE THE 2006'S? BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE NEW AND HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM. HAVE HAD ONLY FORDS SINCE 1987, AND NO PROBLEMS WITH ANY OF THEM. MIGHT BE RETHINKING MY NEXT PURCHASE. *TR
ACCELERATING FROM STOP LIGHT, ACCELERATION STOPPED WHILE ENGINE CONTINUED AT SAME RPM. NO PRIOR INDICATION OF POTENTIAL PROBLEM. CAR ROLLED TO A STOP IN CENTER LANE OF ROAD. PUT ON FLASHERS, PUT CAR IN PARK (CAR STARTED TO ROLL) AND ENGAGED PARKING BRAKE. POLICE AND TOW TRUCK CALLED. PUSHED CAR OUT OF TRAFFIC LANE. VERY FORTUNATE THIS OCCURRED DURING A LIGHT TRAFFIC TIME OR A REAR END COLLISION TO MY CAR COULD HAVE RESULTED. CAR TOWED TO DEALER FOR EVALUATION AND REPAIR. DEALER DIAGNOSED TORQUE CONVERTER OR TRANSMISSION FAILURE. TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACED. *TR
STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN PULLED OFF AND VAN ACTED LIKE IT WENT INTO NEUTRAL GAVE IT GAS ALL IT DOES IS THE RPMS GO UP THE VAN DOES NOT MOVE. IT WILL NOT MOVE IN ANY GEAR. IT GAVE US NO WARNING IT WAS WORKING JUST FINE.VERY DISAPPOINTED. *TR
WATER INTRUSION FROM THE COWL SHORTED OUT THE PCM AND LED TO PREMATURE FAILURE OF TORQUE CONVERTER. FORD HAD A TSB ON THE WATER ISSUE BUT NEVER RECALLED AND NOW THAT HAS LED ME TO HAVING BIG MONEY SPENT ON REPAIRS THAT I FEEL FORD SHOULD CORRECT AND PAY FOR! *TR
ACCELERATED AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN WITHIN A WALMART PARKING LOT AND AFTER ABOUT FIFTEEN FEET THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND THE RPM'S WENT UP WITH NO PROPULSION. ALLOWED VEHICLE TO STOP THEN PUSHED IN A PARKING SPACE. THERE WAS NEVER ANY INDICATION THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD FAIL VIA WARNING LIGHT NOR WAS THERE A NOISE/BANG/CLUNK ETC ASSOCIATED. VEHICLE JUST STOPPED ACCELERATING. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO SHOP AND THEY SAID THERE WERE NO CODES INDICATING THE FAILURE AND A TRANSMISSION REBUILD WOULD BE IN ORDER FOR $2000. *TR
THE ENTIRE UNIT THAT LOCKS THE 3RD ROW SEAT CAME LOOSE FROM THE WHEEL WELL DUE TO CORROSION. I LOOKED UP THE RECALL INFORMATION, AND THERE IS A RECALL FOR MY VAN MAKE AND MODEL YEAR, BUT DUE TO THE FACT THAT I BOUGHT THIS VAN NEW IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY, AND HAVE LIVED IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY EVER SINCE, FORD HAS DECIDED THAT THE RECALL DOES NOT APPLY TO ME, ALTHOUGH CLEARLY, IT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAS HAPPENED UNDER THE RECALL. NORTHERN KENTUCKY BORDERS OHIO, AND OHIO VEHICLES ARE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT THE RECALL IS BY STATE, AND FORD IS CHOOSING TO LET THIS SAFETY HAZARD GO. *JS
WE WERE DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE WITH MY FAMILY (2 CHILDREN - 9MOS AND 3 YEARS OLD) IN THE BACK SEAT AND OUT OF NO WHERE THE VAN WILL NOT GO FORWARD AND WILL NOT GO BACK. IT WAS LIKE IT WAS SIMPLY THROWN INTO NEUTRAL. WE HAD TO WAIT OVER AN HOUR ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH MY SMALL CHILDREN TO GET A TOW TRUCK AS WELL AS WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO COME GET US! THE VAN WAS DRIVING JUST FINE, NO ISSUES, NO WARNING THE TRANSMISSION JUST FAILED. *TR
ON RETURNING HOME FROM AN ERRAND IN OUR 2006 FREESTAR, MY SON ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE GEAR INTO DRIVE, BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE INTO FORWARD, NOR BACKWARDS IN REVERSE GEAR. THIS OCCURRED SUDDENLY WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CAR WAS THEN TOWED TO PORTER FORD IN NEWARK, DELAWARE AND IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THE TRANSMISSION SIMPLY FAILED. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, I FOUND THIS TO BE A VERY COMMON CHARACTERISTIC OF 4F50N TRANSMISSION FAILURES AND THERE ARE AN ABUNDANCE OF PUBLISHED COMPLAINTS. HAD OUR TRANSMISSION FAILED IN A TUNNEL OR ON BRIDGE, IT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC POSSIBLY TRIGGERING A MAJOR PILE UP. CLEARLY SUCH A FAILURE PRESENTS A RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY. IN 2012 FORD MOTOR COMPANY SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT AFFECTING THE 2004 AND 2005 FREESTAR (NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA09016). IT IS REGARDING A DEFECT IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE 4F50N TRANSMISSION. THIS SAME TRANSMISSION IS ALSO IN 2006 AND 2007. WHY IS THIS ACTION NOT EXTENDED TO OTHER VEHICLES WITH THIS DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION? *TR
I HAVE A 2006 FORD FREESTAR. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WITH MY THREE CHILDREN IN THE BACK DRIVING ABOUT 75 MPH, STARTED TO GO UPHILL AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VAN ACTED LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL AND WOULDN'T GO WHEN I GAVE IT GAS. THE INTERSTATE WAS EXTREMELY PACKED AND I'M SITTING IN A VAN WITH MY KIDS AGES 3-12 AND MY VAN IS ALMOST STOPPING. IT WAS VERY HARD TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD AND IT WAS VERY SCARY! I WAS ABOUT 2 HOURS FROM HOME WITH NO MONEY FOR A TOW TRUCK, SO I TURNED IT OFF AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES, AND STARTED IT BACK UP. IT WAS STILL JERKING AND NOT CATCHING GEARS ON THE WAY HOME. WAS ABOUT 20 MINUTES AWAY FROM HOME WHEN THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON AND IT STARTED DOING IT AGAIN. MADE IT HOME, GOT ONLINE AND STARTED LOOKING UP WHAT MIGHT BE WRONG AND FOUND HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VAN. IT IS THE TORQUE CONVERTER GOING OUT. FORD HAS A RECALL ON THE 2004 AND 2005, AND EVEN THOUGHT THE TRANSMISSIONS ARE THE SAME AND THE ISSUE IS THE SAME, THEY WON'T DO A RECALL ON THE 2006. IS IT GOING TO TAKE SOMEONE GETTING KILLED FOR THEM TPO ISSUE A RECALL???? *TR
ENGINE IDLE RPM SURGE . *TR
WHILE OUT OF TOWN ON AN EXTENDED BUSINESS TRIP, MY OLDER KIDS USED OUR 2006 FREESTAR TO GET AROUND TOWN. ON JUNE 22, 2014, MY SON DROPPED OFF HIS SISTER ACROSS TOWN AND WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE GEAR INTO DRIVE, VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO FORWARD NOR BACKWARDS IN REVERSE GEAR, IT WAS SIMPLY STUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.THIS OCCURRED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CAR WAS THEN TOWED TO A FORD DEALER AND THEY STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, I FOUND THIS PROBLEM IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE FOR THIS TRANSMISSION AND THERE ARE AN ABUNDANCE OF PUBLISHED COMPLAINTS. HAD OUR TRANSMISSION FAILED IN A TUNNEL OR ON A BRIDGE, IT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC POSSIBLY TRIGGERING A MAJOR PILE UP. THIS TRANSMISSION IS A POTENTIAL DEATH TRAP. IN 2012 FORD MOTOR COMPANY SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT AFFECTING THE 2004 AND 2005 FREESTAR AND MONTEREY MINIVANS (NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA09016). IT IS REGARDING A DEFECT IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE 4F50N TRANSMISSION. HOWEVER 2006 AND 2007 ALSO HAS THIS SAME TRANSMISSION. WHY IS THIS ACTION NOT EXTENDED TO THESE NEWER MODELS? *TR
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. *TR
AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN, I ACCELERATED TO PROCEED, AND AS MY VEHICLE STARTED TO GO IT JUST AS QUICKLY DIED. WITH TRAFFIC BEHIND ME AND COMING AT ME FROM THE LEFT AND RIGHT, I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH THAT THOSE CARS WERE ABLE TO STOP IN TIME AND NOT BROADSIDE ME OR REAR END ME, AND I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. LONG STORY SHORT, IT WAS THE TORQUE CONVERTER! I SEE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 04 AND 05 MODELS BUT NOT THE 2006. HAVING RESEARCHED THOROUGHLY ONLINE FOR THIS PROBLEM, CLEARLY, MINE IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, AS THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER 2006 FORD FREESTAR OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE BETWEEN 120K AND 150K MILES, COMPLAINTS STATED IN MANY FORD FORUMS AND OTHER INTERNET VENUES. OF THE 75+ I READ, ABOUT 50% HAD REGISTERED A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE IN THE 06 FREESTARS WITH NHTSA. CLEARLY, FORD NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM IN THE 2006 AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ MY INFO AND COMPLAINT?? AND FOR YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE. *TR
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY ON A CURVE WE LOST ALL POWER TO THE WHEELS. THE ENGINE WOULD REV BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT. WE ENDED UP COASTING TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THIS CAUSED SEVERAL CARS BEHIND US TO LOCK U THEIR BRAKES AND TWO OF THEM COLLIDED. WE WERE LUCKY IN THAT A NICE PERSON HAD A TOW STRAP AND PULLED US OUT OF THE ROAD AND TO THE OFF RAMP. MY WIFE AND I AND OUR 4 YEAR OLD SON WAS IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME AND WE ALL COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED US THAT THE 2004 AND 2005 FREESTARS HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR THE TORQUE CONVERTER SPLINES WHICH WILL STRIP AND CAUSE LOSS OF POWER. OUR VEHICLE HOWEVER HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED AND IN ADDITION TO ALMOST DYING WE PAID $1918.32 TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED! AND WE WERE WITHOUT A CAR FOR ALMOST A MONTH. THIS DEFECT IS GOING TO KILL SOMEONE IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME! I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT GETS FIXED IN THE EARLIER MODELS BUT THE OWNERS OF THE 2006 ARE STUCK WITH THE POSSIBLE DEATH TRAP. *TR
I WAS DRIVING WITH MY WIFE AND 4 SMALL CHILDREN. WE HAD JUST CROSSED A 4 LANE HIGHWAY, AND JUST CRESTED A HILL, WHEN I IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER. THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE TACHOMETER SHOT UP. WE WERE ON A SMALL 2 LANE HIGHWAY WITH A VERY SMALL SHOULDER. IT WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, AS VEHICLES WERE COMING OVER THE HILL, AND WE WERE STILL SLIGHTLY ON THE ROAD. I HAD IT TOWED TO A SHOP, AND THEY EXPLAINED IT WAS THE TORQUE CONVERTER. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED THAT FORD RECALLED THE TORQUE CONVERTER IN THE 2004 & 2005 FORD FREESTARS DUE TO SAFETY. I ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE 2006 FREESTARS USED THE SAME TORQUE CONVERTER. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE SAME TORQUE CONVERTER USED IN THE 2004, 2005 & 2006, BUT THE 2006 IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I CALLED FORD AND THE "CUSTOMER SERVICE REPS" WERE EXTREMELY UNHELPFUL AND RUDE. THEY COULDN'T EXPLAIN TO ME THE WHY THIS WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, AND WHEN SHE COULDN'T ANSWER ME, SHE HUNG UP ON ME. UNBELIEVABLE. *TR
SOME TIMES WHILE BACKING UP THE CAR WOULD LURCH. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WOULD SUDDENLY ACCELERATE WHILE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED OREVEN JUST BY IT SELF. SOMETIMES THE CAR WAS HAVING PROBLEMS ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ACCELERATION POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
I WAS TRAVELLING ON INTERSTATE WHEN THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER WITH OUT ANY WARNING. SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER TO THE DRIVETRAIN INCREASED THE RISK OF AN ACCDENT. *TR
AS I WAS PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC THEN ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE ALL OF A SUDDEN JUST WOULDN'T MOVE ALMOST HIT BY SEVERAL CARS N HAVING 5KIDS PLUS NOW A PREMIE DUE IN A FEW WEEKS DUE TO HIGH RISK IT IS A HUGE ISSUE! DUE TO THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE & BEING A FORD OWNER SINCE 16 YRS OLD AS WELL AS WORKING FOR THEM THIS IS AN EVEN BIGGER ISSUE FOR ME!! *TT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND THEY STATED 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 140,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
WHEN IT RAINS IT STARTS SHAKING AND SMELLS LIKE IT'S BURNING. IT DOES IT EVERY TIME IT RAINS AND IT'S GETTING WORSE. IT TAKES LONGER TO DRY AND TO RECOVER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND THE MIL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000.
MY FAMILY HAD STOPPED TO LET PEDESTRIANS CROSS AND WHEN MY HUSBAND PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL DOWN TO ACCELERATE BUT IT DID NOT IN GAUGE THE DRIVE. THE VAN ACTED AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. THE ONLY GEAR THAT WORKED WAS REVERSE. I LOOKED ON-LINE TO FIND THAT THE FREESTAR '04 AND '05 WHERE BOTH RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND ISSUE A RECALL. MY FAMILY( 4 CHILDREN ALL UNDER 5 YEARS OLD) WAS LUCKY THAT IT HAPPENED IN A SAFE AREA. WE WHERE ON OUR WAY HOME WHICH REQUIRES US TO USE THE FREEWAY. I THANK GOD WE WHERE NOT ON THE FREEWAY, IT COULD HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENT OUT COME. *TR
WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF I5 NORTH HEADING HOME FROM A FAMILY VACATION WHEN WE SUDDENLY LOST POWER.NO WARNING SOUNDS,LIGHTS OR ANYTHING .ONE MINUTE WE WERE DRIVING ALONG ,THE NEXT I WAS HANGING OUT THE PASSENGER WINDOW( MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING) WAVING OFF ONCOMING TRAFFIC TO LET US COAST TO THE SIDE.WE HAVE ENDURED $ 20000 IN REPAIRS ( AND COUNTING) ,750.00 IN HOTEL BILLS ( AND COUNTING BECAUSE WE ARE STILL HERE!) AS FOR FORD SAYING ,IT'S NOT A SAFETY ISSUE' ,WE COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN KILLED.MY 2 KIDS WERE IN THE CAR,THE HAIR ON MY ARM STOOD UP WHEN I THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED THANKS TO FORDS CRAPPY WORKMANSHIP.THERE IS NO WAY THEY DON'T KNOW THIS PROBLEM EXISTS.I WILL NEVER BUY FORD AGAIN. *TR
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
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