9.0
really awful- Typical Repair Cost:
- $2,420
- Average Mileage:
- 98,600 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 77 complaints
Most common solutions:
- replace transmission (34 reports)
- not sure (22 reports)
- torque converter input shaft splines stripped.trans replaced (8 reports)
- recalled torque converter (5 reports)
- we had to replace the entire trans-axle system in the van (3 reports)
- http://news.consumerreports.org/safety/2012/01/recall-ford-f (2 reports)
This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Ford dealer.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
FORD WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU. Please call 1 800 392 3673 with your VIN #. With enough complants, ford will issue a recall.
- dogmatix2651081, Harrisburg, PA, US
After having a transmission failure in September, it is needless to say that we were shocked the same EXACT thing was to occur again. Complete loss of power with absolutely no warning. The transmission was just replaced months ago and it has already failed us. We go back to get the vehicle taken care of, only to find out that we are 7 days past the warranty. We pay full price to fix it anyways, and it takes almost 3 weeks if not more. When we finally go and pick up the vehicle, it moves several feet, jolts and loses all power again! The manager tries to convince us the vehicle was fine, after he turned it on and sat for a minute without engine shut off. We tell him something is wrong but he assures us it's fine. We pull out, travel about 50 feet, and of course, it dies again. We were left another 3 weeks without the van to use, a total of over a month and a half, and ended up shelling out over $4,000 between September's transmission failure and January's. We are extremely upset at the transmission quality of the vehicles, but far more upset with the fact that Ford has yet to acknowledge this as a serious problem that must be recalled. It is leaving countless people in dangerous situations and continually robbing us of our money. I only hope Ford recalls these vehicles and give us, the customers, what we have lost due to trusting these defected vans.
- Brandon S., Ocala, FL, US
Our Ford Freestar did exactly what the many complaints over this vehicle say. The vehicle suddenly jolts a breath of power and then power is lost completely, as if it were set to neutral. Luckily it was just down the street from the house and not in the dangerous situation it could have been. After several weeks and 1,800 dollars later, our van was now with a refurbished transmission from AAMCO. For a vehicle under 70,000 miles, this is unacceptable and extremely frustrating.
- Brandon S., Ocala, FL, US
i am very disappointed with ford i always have ford vehicles but the free star 2005 is too much as a problem,first it was the computer and now is the transmission.it stop running without no sing my son went to the store and in his way back he have to walk.
- Romerys P., Orlando, FL, US
My daughter was driving down the street came to a stop sign and was pulling off to continue and the van just stop moving in the middle of a busy street she is just 16 years old and just got her license and she was so scared that she had done something wrong she said it gave no warning signs it just stopped and now we are out of a car and I just started back to work after being layed off for 2 yrs.
- clcooley3, Harrisburg, PA, US
I would have NEVER bought this car if I had known what would happen with the ENTIRE trans-axle system. The reviews that I read in 2007, when we bought the car, said NOTHING about these problems. It just DIED at a stoplight, thank GOD that we were NOT on a highway. I had my THREE kids in the car, all under the age of 6. I was able to coast into a gas station @ the corner. .but the WHAT IF'S have still gone through my mind. I was quoted prices from 6,000 all the way to 1500. We paid - taxes and everything 1700 to have it rebuilt. I was OUTRAGED at the NO WARNING, NOTHING!!! I would NOT recommend this car to ANYONE. I will not be purchasing another Ford van!
- mcross, Greensboro, NC, US
We "were" an all Ford family. Can imagine a car company not providing a warranty for a transmission with 63,000 miles. I missed the part in the commercial where they mentioned the shoddy, cheap transmissions they put into the Ford Windstar's. Judging from the dozens of complaints at low mileage, I doubt it is "driver error." Ford, you have lost me personally and the Ford commercial fleet that I have for my business.
- Derrick M., Orlando, FL, US
THIS IS NOT A SAFE VEHICLE FOR A FAMILY
Same as you have already heard about in other complaints, my transmission stopped working with no warning there was anything wrong!!!! my van was running just fine when I pulled on to the highway and NOTHING:( lucky for us we were not going 65 nor were the other cars on this road! someone helped push my van from the middle of the road, this was very scary as I had all three of my girls with one who is just 6months and the other is two!!! all three of my children would have been seriously injured or even killed when this happened would it have been a different time different place, when you are driving your vehicle you don't expect this to happen and even though I give my self plenty of time when crossing intersections I will always be paranoid now of this happening:( this incident has got me very pissed off and so thankful at the same time I,m not sure what to think I have every intention on contacting ford to see what they have to say, THIS IS NOT A SAFE VEHICLE FOR A FAMILY**
Update from Mar 3, 2011:
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I TO GET THIS PART RECALLED!!!!!!!!!!!
I have now recieved the bill for repairs it looks like it will cost up to 2700 to fix it was the torque converter in the transmission, however when I called ford motor company they can not pay for it bacause they have not recieved enough complaints to them "directly", they informed me that they do not look up these sites and that YOU MUST CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673!!!!! they also informed me when there were enough complaints that they would with reciets repay for the fix because it would then be RECALLED!! PLEASE CALL 1-800-392-3673 SO THIS WILL HAPPEN SOON it took me about 10 mins. Please also make sure your vehicle is in there system!!! we wouldn't want them to screw us over again it only took a min for them to have the information just have your vin# ready and there ya go please call I would love to have my money back wouldn't you ,I,m also trying to reach as many people as I can to inform them on how to get this recalled so please if you could help by putting this info on other sites as well as this one:)
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!TO GET THIS PART RECALLED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- mommy-of-3, Escanaba, MI, US
without any known abuse to the vehicle, I feel that 66,000 miles is far too few to necessitate full transmission replacement...furthermore, I feel ford motor company should be held accountable for at least partial reimbursement...this would be the fair & equitable solution...not to mention the many hours that were wasted on this problem...
- groves, Hooksett, NH, US
Known problem in US and Canada. Local dealer tried to say they knew nothing of it....3 other vans in the there with the exact same issue as mine. NHTSA is investigating this issue. Shaft from converter to trans made out of material that is too soft and poor fit resulting in strippage of splines. Initial cost was $5500. I bitched. Got it down to $3800 and Ford would do nothing but dealer helped as much as they could since i bought it there. Even tried to say it was a maintenance issue until i pointed out that the trans had not even made it to the specified mileage for its initial service. Sad to say the least. Wont purchase another Ford. Lots of people say it. I mean it. I have owned 3 Fords and the best Ford themselves would say is tough crap. Guess what? I really have bought my last Ford product.
- George B., Middletown, OH, US
Transmission went out without any warnings. Will never buy another Ford or recommend them
- dearixon, California, MO, US
At 10:30 pm on a Friday evening my van without warning at 70 mph on I-75 the transmission goes out!!! My wife and my son in harms way.
I thought the worst thing about this car was a leaking steering fluid assembly. Nope, the transmission tops it off. NEVER, NEVER again another FORD Van. I had to replace 2 transmissions on previous FORD Windstar. I had 2 F-150s never a problem and that why i gave FORD Freestar a chance.
Never again. FORD Vans do not have my families trust.
- Greg M., Dearborn, MI, US
I dont even know what to say. My transmission just went with absoluteley no warning whatsoever. There was no shoulder leaving me in the middle of the highway with two kiddos and two toddlers. I would expect more consideration from ford. They obviously know about the problem, I just wish they would start the recall before someone gets seriously hurt. You'd think they would have learned a bit from the problems toyota has faced for the same reasons.
- annamhire66, Lexington, OK, US
This is our second Ford mini-van to suffer complete failure within 5 years of its purchase. I will never purchase a ford product again. I tried to buy American it cost me....
Mean while my 97 Acura Rl, purchased used is running strong with 245k miles.
This transmission problem is dangerous, and I doubt they will fix anything until more people get killed.
- Robert B., Cincinnati, OH, US
Just like so many others I've read about on the net.....Our 2005 Ford Freestar's transmission has apparently gone out without any warning. To make things worse, my wife and 3 kids were in the van by themselves when it happened, at night, in the fog, and with no way to contact anyone for help. They were coming home from a movie, driving down the highway, when all of a sudden, the van jolted and lost forward motion. My wife was fortunately close to an offramp exit where she was able to safely drift to a stop. This really couldn't have come at a worse time. Our other vehicle, another Ford, has over two-hundred thousand miles on it......no telling how much longer it will run. And I was laid off of my job over two months ago. We have no money coming in, besides unemployment and no where near the money in the bank, that it would take to pay for a new transmission. Life is sometimes, awfully interesting!
- Phillip C., McLoud, OK, US
My wife was driving during rush hour traffic. Turned a busy corner and continued to go up the hill on boulevard, suddenly the engine acted as if it were slammed into neutral, car lost all acceleration, she was able to coast to shoulder through busy traffic. I cannot believe this is as common with 2004/2005Freestars as the online forums make it appear, and Ford and the NHTSA have done nothing to alert owners. This is extremely dangerous. If the trans would have gone out 60 seconds earlier, my wife was turning a corner and would have been t-boned by oncoming traffic.
WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL, OR, AT THE VERY LEAST, AN ALERT SENT TO ALL FREESTAR OWNERS? Not to mention the quote to replace with a REFURBISHED transmission is $2,798.90. We have been solely Ford drivers for almost 20 years. No more. The next used car will be something OTHER THAN A FORD. The known danger Ford is putting Freestar drivers in, is inexcuseable. I plan to make it our mission to tell everyone we know that Ford has chosen to leave owners in the dark about this danger.
- Charles A., Overland Park, KS, US
As many others I have read I was driving down an open highway going about 60mph with no warning at all my rpms jumped and I lost all forward motion. I was able to roll safely to the side of the road. I bought this vehicle for the safety of my family. I had just had the normal maintence done on the car four days ago. They had put my car on a diagnositcs system and NOTHING came up about my transmission!! I would have known about this problem if FORD would have recalled this!! I am greatful my two young children weren't with me as this happened, had I been in traffic this could have caused serious problems. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WILL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN!!!!!
- shadoe, Ray City, GA, US