10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 2 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 2 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 74,695 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
My 2005 Ford Freestar (which was purchased new) transmission went out without no warning. The vehicle can tell you when the tires are low and everything else but no warning light on the transmission. Left us stranded.
- California, MO, USA
While driving my 2005 Ford Freestar mini-van, the vehicle suddenly and instantly lost power and coasted to a stop. The engine continued to run, but the transmission would not engage in any gear. In order to correct the problem, I had to purchase another transmission. I purchased a transmission from an "after-market" parts manufacturer, as it was slightly less expensive than a new transmission from Ford and was warranted, while Ford's was not.
- Slidell, LA, USA
I drive a 2005 Ford Freestar and on Sept. 29 2010 while on the interstate the transmission (or something similar) quit working. No symptoms or warnings beforehand. I checked the transmission fluid, and it was full. I was able to safely maneuver to the shoulder of the road and have it towed. Nothing has been done to correct the failure just yet but I am pretty sure a new (or refurbished) transmission will need to be put into the van.
- Hermitage, TN, USA
2005 Freestar 4.2 after normal start up the transmission did not engage into gear. Transmission shop has the vehicle and is still providing repair estimate. No problems or indication prior. Maintenance completed regularly.
- Winnipeg, 00, USA
Loss of locomotive power, Ford Freestar 2005. Vehicle was parked, when started, would not move.
- Ocala, FL, USA
Driving on highway at approximately 70 miles per hour when without warning the engine had no torque (transmission failed). The engine and other systems in the car were not affected, but the car lost the ability to move forward (or backward) on its own. This happened on a busy highway at night and made for some serious safety concerns.
- Harrison, OH, USA
While driving over a bridge at night with my two kids in my 2005 Ford Freestar my vehicle's transmission stopped working without any warning, rendering my vehicle powerless and in a very dangerous situation.
- Staten Island, NY, USA
On Feb. 8, 2010 about 9:30 pm I was returning home. Without warning, the forward motion of my vehicle stopped, tho' the engine was running. I was able to pull over to the side of the 2-way road and called for help. The next day, the mechanic determined that probably the torque converter had failed. The transmission shop agreed and replaced the converter in my 2005 Ford Freestar SE vehicle.
- Greeneville, TN, USA
While my wife was driving home from miami on I-95 with my 3 kids in the car, when all of a sudden the car started slowing down and when she would accelerate, the rpms would just go off the chart and the car was not moving. She had to pull over to the side of the road. We had it towed and was told it was the torque converter. We took it to three more places and it was the same diagnostic. The cost was between $1200-2500 to fix. This is the third major problem in months that we had. First it was the alternator, then the ac unit stopped working and now the torque converter. We have had this car for less than a year. We are in the process of getting it fixed.
- Orange Park, FL, USA
Drove my 2005 Ford Freestar van home and parked it. Got in a few hours later and it would not go into any gear. After doing research on the internet, I found out about the torque converter on these vans. I called a local transmission shop and he said he was very familiar with this problem. Towed the van to his shop and sure enough, had to have the torque converter replaced. The mechanic stated that my van was the 7th or 8th that he had replaced just this year (2010). He stated each one had the same problem, it was stripped. He thinks Ford should do a recall because this is ridiculous. I agree. Evidently Ford Motor Company knew something was wrong with these transmissions since they no longer put these in their vehicles. I have two small children and am scared this could happen again, only this time while the van is moving. Something should be done about this.
- Yantis, TX, USA
Our 2005 Ford Freestar lost power to the drivetrain on August, 17, 2010 due to a problem with the torque converter. The vehicle had to be pushed by police (during rush hour) into a nearby parking lot. It was subsequently towed to the dealership where it has been for a week to receive repairs. There was no prior indication of any sort that a problem existed. The engine would rev but there was no forward or reverse power to the wheels. Ford has been very resistant to help with any financial aid for the repairs because Ford says the car is out of warranty. No one in the vehicle was injured when the incident occurred. The disabled vehicle caused a traffic jam until the police arrived to help.
- Troy, MI, USA
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestar. While driving approximately 70 mph, the contact stated the transmission became inoperative without warning. When pressure was applied to the accelerator pedal there was no power response. The vehicle was coasted to the side of the road and then towed to a safe location. The VIN was unavailable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 86,000.
- North Port, FL, USA
I was driving out of a parking lot around 1:00 pm and the car just stopped moving but the engine kept running. Then the car stopped in the middle of the road so I had to call a tow truck.
- Charlestown, IN, USA
While driving up an inclined freeway at approximately 70 mph, the vehicle lost a the ability to accelerate. At the same time, the RPM's went up as I attempted to gain speed. I put the hazard light on to safely get the right side of the freeway did not hear or smell anything prior to the failure. Call for a tow truck.
- Fairfield, CA, USA
The transmission on my 2005 Ford Freestar went out at over 50 mph with no previous warnings and no shoulder to pull onto.
- Lexington, OK, USA
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestar. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph the vehicle lost power. There were no warning signs. The vehicle was towed to a local repair shop where the transmission was replaced along with the torque converter. Ford was notified and stated that there were no recalls and the vehicle could repaired at the owners expense. The current and failure mileages were approximately 51,000.
- Des Moines , IA, USA
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestar. The contact stated that the driver was operating the vehicle approximately 65 mph, the vehicle suddenly lost power. She coasted to the side of the road. The vehicle would not move forward or backwards. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership where the contact was told that the transmission had probably stripped gears and caused the failure. The vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint. The contact had not spoken with the manufacturer at the time of the complaint. The current and failure mileages were approximately 84,700.
- Cambridge, WI, USA
I was driving on a major road during morning traffic when the transmission went. I was in the left lane with a large truck behind me. I immediately put on my flashers and the truck passed me on the right. I was lucky there wasn't more cars after the truck and that I was going down hill and was able to coast over to the shoulder. The van stopped right under a sign that said no stopping or standing. If I had been on a major highway this could have been a horrible accident. I had no prior warning that something was wrong with the van. People could get killed in a situation like this. Updated 11/03/11. Updated 12/22/11.
- Bloomfield, NJ, USA
On Saturday, 7 Aug, my wife and 2 kids where returning from a county fair concert at 11:30pm. While cruising in our 2005 Ford Freestar, on the highway at 70mph, the car lost transmission engagement. Up to this point we have had kept up on regular maintenance visits and never had any warning that transmission problems were lurking. We had the vehicle towed to our local for dealer and have been informed the "transmission is shot". our van has 59,100 miles on it.
- Centennial, CO, USA
- Seneca Falls, NY, USA