Transmission torque converter failed.

- Shoreham, NY, USA

#1398 of 1400 another tran fails "death trap" by alton5 Feb 20, 2011 (1:31 pm) I have a 2004 Freestar and was traveling on a 5 line freeway when all the sudden the tran light came on. The car lost all power even the power steering. I was in the inside lane and had to coast to try and make it off the highway cutting off traffic. I had my 3 kids in the car and was terrified as we almost got slammed in to twice since I was coasting at 30 and the traffic was going 70. Once on the side of the road I tried to start the van and nothing worked. Had to walk with my 3 girls 2 mikes along side the highway "against the law" to get to a pay phone and call aaa. Had the van towed to a shop and it will cost me $3000 to fix. Ford- shame on you! you have put a big burden on my family and put our lives at risk!!! - [xxx] parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Flower Mound, TX, USA

I replaced the torque converter at 80,000 miles in July of 2008. The cost was $1,600. I was driving down a main street in our city at around 40 mph when the car just acted like it was in neutral. I had my 7, 6 and 3 year old children in the van along with my niece and nephew and my mother. We were lucky to coast into an apartment complex drive (blocking it) and waited over an hour on the hottest day of the year for a tow. Now, 2 years and only 40,000 miles later, we are replacing it again. We yelled and screamed and got the price down to $1,200, but we shouldn't have to pay one cent for this. Ford should be accountable for ripping people off.

- Kansas City, MO, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Freestar. The contact started the ignition and placed the gear shifter into drive. The engine began to rev and the transmission immediately locked up. The contact had to make several attempts before the vehicle would operate. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician repaired the vehicle. In addition, the rear brake assembly failed, which was not covered under the warranty. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for repairs. On a separate occasion, the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for identical failures. The vehicle also experienced electrical failures relating to the exterior lighting. The technician recommended that the transmission be rebuilt or replaced. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure mileage was 250 and current mileage was 52,000.

- Fort Meade, MD, USA

2004 Ford Freestar. Backing out of the drive-way I put the van in park and left it idle in the street to see if I accidently ran over a gabage can. While standing outside of the van talking to my husband I notice the van was in reverse. I tried to get back into the van and I fell out of the van trapped between the frame and the door of the van. While still rolling I could hear my bones breaking. I suffered 2 broken ribs and nerve and muscle damage - to this day I am still not totally healed and I have been in the emergency room twice. I have notified Ford. They will not call me only have written me a letter. When I call the customer service they will not release any phone numbers to me. I have have responded and had not return reply. Luckly my husband was able to stop the vehicle before it hit a neighbors house. In addition the van turned before running me over. When you take you foot off the brake while in reverse the van immediately roll backwards. There is no way I could gotten out of the van while in reverse. I feel there was either a false park or the van gear was stuck between park and reverse and the slightest movement cause the van to slip back to reverse. The vehicle has been inspected by the Ford dealership.

- Seven Hills, OH, USA