10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 116,225 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
While on main highway traveling 55 mph transmission stopped working. Engine was running but when attempt to accelerate nothing happened, making for a very hazardous condition. Ford was notified of recall and sent letter in March 2012, saying condition would be completed by end of 2nd quarter of 2012, but they have not even started.
- Smithtown, NY, USA
Was stopped at stop sign gave it gas to turn left loss power engine was running. Almost got hit by oncoming traffic was able to coast down hill no power in transmission. Checked fluid ok. Tried to put in reverse and drive nothing pushed to side of road. Very dangerous situation.
- Steubenville, OH, USA
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestar. The contact stated that while driving 55 mph, the vehicle stalled and would not shift into drive or reverse. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who replaced the torque converter, the banner kit, and various other components. The torque converter was replaced at least three times. The manufacturer was notified and would not offer any assistance because the contact installed aftermarket products. The failure mileage was 110,000 and the current mileage was 120,000.
- Swansea, MA, USA
ABS warning lamp comes on, as well as the powertrain malfunction warning lamp, speedometer fails to register.......was told at local Ford dealership that PCM/ cluster would have to be replaced at a cost of $800-$1200.....when problem began would do this upon cranking, and has gotten to the point that vehicle now has this happen while driving. Transaxle light is also illuminating.....which just discovered may be due to problems that are already covered in another recall.......very disappointed in our choice in this vehicle. After investigating this problem see that the design flaws in this vehicle should not be ignored, these system failures are of no fault of the owners and cause great safety concerns to the owners and passengers who have to depend on these vehicles on a daily basis.
- Chatsworth, GA, USA
Vehicle lost power while driving through a residential area going up a hill. I was able to coast backwards into a parking position -- vehicle would not go in forward or reverse. Vehicle had to be towed and transmission replaced.
- Orange, VA, USA
The vehicle first lost power at 50 mph beginning 12/12/2011. The vehicle would not accelerate above 50 mph. Two mechanics checked the vehicle and suspected a transmission torque converter problem or an ignition system coil firing problem. There was no other indication of a transmission problem so I had the ignition coil, wires and plugs replaced at a cost of $780 on 1/13/2012. The vehicle remained drivable with that service. On 2/24/2012 I was driving in normal in-town traffic. During a right hand turn in heavy traffic I lost all forward and reverse power in the transmission. I could not control the vehicle's forward or reverse power. This occurred in heavy traffic with no shoulder or driveway available. I was stranded in the right hand lane of traffic. I felt extremely unsafe, turned on the vehicle's hazard flashers and left the vehicle because I was concerned it would be hit and cause an accident, until the tow truck arrived. I had the vehicle towed to the shop which performed the earlier ignition repair who informed me the problem was an internal transmission problem they could not service. I then had the vehicle towed to a heavy mechanical shop which recommended a rebuilt transmission at a cost of $3,200. I then had the vehicle towed to a transmission shop which rebuilt the transmission on 2/24-4/1/2012 at a cost of $2,142. I received the safety recall notice 11S25 / NHTSA recall 12V-006 from Ford dated March 2012 on 4/2/2012, mailed on 3/29/2012. In addition to the danger and cost this defect caused me, I am unsure if the replacement transmission torque converter is any better than the original transmission torque converter, since Ford states in the safety recall notice that replacement parts are not currently available.
- Cape Coral, FL, USA
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestar. The contact stated that while driving on the highway, the vehicle emitted a loud noise. A local mechanic diagnosed that the vehicle would need a new transmission. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 106,000. The VIN was unavailable.
- Powhatan, VA, USA
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestar. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer for repairs under NHTSA campaign id number: 12V006000. The contact was then informed by the dealer that that the vehicle could not be repaired because the parts needed for repairs were not readily available and would not become available until June 2012. The contact was not pleased with the time expectancy of having the recall defect repaired. The contact had not experienced a failure. The current mileage was 80,000.
- Des Plains, IL, USA
On September 21, 2011 I noticed that my 2005 Ford Freestar was hesitating when I pulled out of a parking spot in front of my home. I was able to get to my final destination, a local supermarket, without incident but could tell that the car was not shifting gears as smoothly as I was accustomed to. On the return trip home, upon merging onto the expressway I typically take, my Freestar's engine began to sputter then immediately shut down. All power to the engine was lost. Power steering was lost as well making the car impossible to maneuver. The electrical system completely shut down and I was forced to come to a complete stop, shift into park and reengage the ignition. From that point on, until I arrived home, the Freestar would not shift beyond second gear. If I made an attempt to accelerate, again the engine would sputter and all power to the engine, power steering and electrical systems would shut down completely. I managed to get home that day by stopping and restarting my Freestar what I can only estimate to be 50 to 75 times. The most harrowing part of this experience was the lost of power and control without warning. Prior to this day, I had never experienced anything remotely like this with the Freestar, and then from one day to the next, I was helpless on the expressway expecting a fatal collision with an unsuspecting driver.
- Brooklyn, NY, USA
Was driving around 30mph then the RPM's went up to 5000 let off gas RPM slowley went down..2nd time it happened took it in they said it was a sensor "fixed" it...the 3rd time was going threw an intersection died on me in middle of intersection almost got smashed by oncoming traffic with my kids in the van...had it towed they could not find anything wrong....4th or 5th time was going to work got of highway rpms went up to 5000 and the van wont go no wheres now...no reverse no drive just sits there sounding like [xxx]they way Ford made it...now waiting on them to tell me whats wrong with it.... information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
- Rensselaer, NY, USA
I have a 2005 Ford Freestar minivan that just turned 59,983 miles on it. Have had not issues with transmission and it had been driving just fine. Drove it all day Saturday with no issues - then on Sunday morning, when I went to take my daughter to work the car would not move when engaging it in reverse, drive etc. No warning at all... the transmission just went. Had it towed to my mechanic and he said it was the transmission and he advised me to look up to see if there were any recalls and sure enough there is. I had to pay to have it towed again to a family members house where it had been sitting as I don't have the $$$ to fix it. I am no happy with Ford. I will never purchase another Ford after this car. I just put close to $600 for 4 brand new tires in November - I hope these haven't been ruined! a family member recently found this site. I have been using a family members car to get to work, kids to school etc. Not happy at all with this situation!
- Salem, MA, USA
My wife and daughter were driving down interstate when the torque converter went out, losing the ability to maintain any speed. Torque converter went out and transmission as well. Now Ford only wants to replace the torque converter.
- Murfreesboro, TN, USA
While been stop waiting in a red light the motor feels like accelerated (RPM increase too high by itself) then reduced to normal and then (when light turns green) the car do not respond to accelerator. The car do not move, do not react to the pedal. You can select reverse, drive L1, L2 or any other option, but it do not react to anyone (just parking status was enable). The car was stuck so we need to get towed to home.
- Bayamon, PR, USA
Driving home from the gas station when suddenly the van stopped accelerating. We were going approximately 25 mph at the time. We were at a very busy intersection so we had to get out of the way quickly but the van would not go into gear. Any gear for that matter. We pushed the van out of the way because the intersection is high in traffic especially with 18 wheelers. The transmission fluid level was where it should have been. We couldn't get the van going so we had to get it towed home. We had no prior problems with the van going in or out of gear before this incident.
- San Antonio , TX, USA
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestar. While driving approximately 45 mph, the vehicle began to jerk and decelerate abnormally. The vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic who advised the contact that the torque converter would have to be replaced. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign id number: 12V006000 (power train:automatic transmission:torque converter) but was advised by the manufacturer that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 86,000.
- Hinesville, GA, USA
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestar. The contact stated that the torque converter was replaced twice by the dealer for a recurring failure. The contact was experiencing the failure again and the vehicle would not accelerate of drive in reverse. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign id number: 12V006000 (power train: Automatic transmission) but was advised by the dealer that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired for the most recent failure. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 81,000 and the current mileage was unknown.
- Sumbury , OH, USA
My family and I pulled out onto a busy street, at an intersection and a highway and as I got ready to make a right turn, the car would not move forward. There were cars blowing and a kind police officer came up to the car and asked us what was going on. As we explained, he told us that he would push us out of the road. After pushing us out of the road, he left and we had to call our insurance company to get a tow, which took about 3 to 4 hours to get there. Not to mention, I had to find a way for my family to get home. The car seemed as if it was in neutral but wasn't. it started but just would not move. To make matters worse, it is our only form of transportation and no way to get around.
- Houston, TX, USA
Stopped at stop sign, tried to go. Vehicle would not go, now have no gears foward or reverse, lost power without any warning.
- Chillicothe, OH, USA
Lost all power to wheels, engine runs fine, no warning noises etc. No transmission noise/ fluid like new. More than likely the torque converter shaft failed... I am a certified faa aircraft mechanic & have performed all routine maintenance on this van since new. Almost rear ended by semi truck while coasting to a stop.
- Vassalboro, ME, USA
- Selma, NC, USA