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.
Seven and a half years ago the trans was rebuilt because of torque convertor failure. This time I was driving out of town, gave it a little gas and lost power to the wheels. No warning. Had it towed to the trans shop. On inspection the trans had burned up due to low oil pressure. $4000 to rebuild. That's $7000+ in eight years for transmissions.
- smokey447, Valparaiso, IN, US
I was just driving along and lost all power to the wheels. It was like it was in neutral. Transmission shop rebuilt trans, $3000. Ford later had a recall for the torque convertor, I was reimbursed $1800.
- smokey447, Valparaiso, IN, US
Had the torque converter replaced due to recall at 53,692 miles in 2014. Two years and 12,000 miles later the car fails while driving to work. Dealer said it would cost $1300 to open it up to diagnose and up to $3000 if it was the transmission. Van is only worth $2300. Guess I'll donate it to charity and NEVER buy another FORD.
- dionca, Clovis, CA, US
This is the second 2005 Ford Freestar 4.6L V6 vehicle that I have had. First one, the transmission went out at around 110,000 and left me stranded on the side of the highway, until I could have someone pick me up. This one, I bought used with around 58,000 miles at 10 years old, and purchased the extended warranty for as far out as I could. Today, because I have been having issues with it, had new tires put on the front, and an alignment, a couple days ago... I still have a horrible noise coming from the front end, and louder on the drivers side. I had to replace the left front wheel bearing at around 60,000. Thought it was maybe going out again. Had a mechanic friend who does a lot of my normal vehicle work, take a look at it, before I took it back into the tire shop. We determined the noise is coming from the transmission case, and he told me that it is going out. I called about my extended warranty, only to find out that it had expired 8,000 miles ago.
This appears to be a regular issue with the 2005 Ford Freestar vehicles, with the transmission going out. This will be the second one that I will have had to replace. Thankfully the first one was covered under an independent warranty. Ford needs to stand behind the transmission, as it is obviously an issue. I happen to like my Ford vehicle, and it fits my business plans, but having mechanical issues all the time is starting to make me decide to look elsewhere to do business.
PS Our local Ford Dealership (Bill Summers Ford in North Platte, NE) is a joke when it comes to repairs. I have had to self diagnose, and repeatedly take my vehicle in to them to get an issue fixed to satisfaction.
- ksucat79, North Platte, NE, US
i BOUGHT THE VAN ON JUNE 1, 2015. two weeks later the transmission went out. I paid cash
the ford dealer would not do anything. so i had to come up the cash to get it fixed and towed. it took a
while about a month to fix.
- garytmartin9ms, Lumberton, MS, US
transmission failure started slipping just after 150000 kms. we had it repaired and then the entire transmission blew 50000 kms later
- Candace M., Maple Ridge, British Columbia, canada
I recently took my 2005 Ford Freestar into our local Ford Dealership here in Martinsburg WV for torque converter recall. I was told this would take a day to a day and a half at most but it ended up taking a whole week. This is just the first of my issues. Following I have discovered that when they put my vehicle back together that they gorilla torqued and most likely stripped my oil pan plug as we are unable to remove it as of yet. They left my vehicle with little to no oil in it before returning it to me, and yesterday on my way back from Huntsville Alabama for the holidays my vehicle at stop position, gears will not catch until engine is in full throttle and then I release the gas.
I found this out in Southern Virginia with over 300 miles to travel at the end of a holiday weekend. I made it home as in higher gears the vehicle continues without fail. How long this will last I am unsure. Taking vehicle in for estimate on Wednesday. Refuse to go back to Ford Dealership for fear they will screw it up even more!!!
Extremely Frustrated!!!!!
- Brian O., MARTINSBURG, WV, US
Took my Freestar to Ford Cross Roads in Wake Forest NC to have the Torque Converter replaced because of a recall and now my transmission needs to be replaced. What a racket Ford has going. This is just the beginning of my complaints about the treatment of loyal Ford customers.
- Perry K., Wake Forest, NC, US
I have seen that this is a common problem with this vehicle.
- Rick S., Sandusky, US
This has been a nightmare, been without a car for several months in 2013 and now 2015 in Feb. the same thing is happening again. Just got back from the Ford place, cost another 600 dollars and it's still not right. I have spent 7000 dollars on this van and I don't know if the transmission will work today or not. All my years of owning a car, I have never had nothing like this.
- hughes alabama, Notasulga, AL, US
Was backing out of driveway and stopped to put car in drive, no movement only the engine revving Was stuck blocking the street. Luckily its a dead-end and no one needed to get by. had a neighbor who is a mechanic look and he finally believed me about the problem. We had to use a tow rope to get the car to the side of the road, still no reverse or drive. Decided to get lunch and then deal with the problem. Well 2 hours went by and decided before I call tow truck to try again. Guess what it moved! Had already got my wife's car to drive so used that car to drive to dealer and see what could be done. Set up for them to have it for the week starting on Monday. Drove it a few miles over the week end no problem and then left with them.
They tried it several times over the week and could not duplicate.
They said no codes shown and that next is to pull the power control module at my cost of $140+/-.
Will drive till no go and have it towed to them but not sure that checking the box will fix anything since if its that then how much for new one...?
- seawind, Portland, ME, US
happened again! Backed the car up about 2 car lengths after snow storm to clean up the driveway. left the car running for 15-30 minutes. Got back in to move back and the car and again had no forward or reverse. Waited a 3 hours and started the engine and had reverse and drive. Drove the car around no problem
- seawind, Portland, ME, US
My 2005 Freestar started to shudder REALLY BAD. Had the computer changed, that did not stop it. I took it to Mr. Transmission, he said that the torque converter was the problem and that there was a recall in 2012 because of it being unsafe. When the Ford dealership ran my VIN they said that it was not covered. I phoned Ford recall he said all he could do is send a statement to the engineers he was just reading or going through his usual speech.
I started asking questions from people around me if they had a vehicle the same as mine. Found someone with the EXACT YEAR MAKE MODEL AND PROBLEM and it was fixed. I do not know why mine was not fixed when others were? I do not know where to go to get answers this is EXTREMELY unfair.
- Louise L., Flesherton, Ontario, canada
Driving down i75..detroit...about 60 mph...all of a sudden without warning trans goes out...stuck in detroit....so i called ford service for a tow and they told me to tow it myself..money out of my pocket for their recall...my father worked at fords for 35 yrs...my stepdad 40 yrs..father in law 35 yrs..i currently am going on my 20 yr..and my wife 19 yrs...at ford motor co...these people don't give a f%ck about anything except that monthly car payment...my next new vehicle or used will prob be a honda or chevy.....f*ck it!!
- timmer, Washington, MI, US
tool the van in for a recall on the torque convertor and was told I need a new transmission, sounds like cause and effect to me , torque convertor fingers break ( little pieces ) follow the fluid in to the transmission, presto new transmission needed. Ford should fix this problem to, I don;'t hot rod the car , no young drivers, . I called 1-800-565-3673 and filed a consumer complaint with Ford. Let see what happens next.
Update from Oct 15, 2013: I have been informed that it is Internal Transmission Failure, price quoted to repair is $2500.00. Ford refuses to own this problem even through they know it is caused by the torque convertor failure.
- Patti C., Odessa, TX, US
LESS THAN 1500 MILES AFTER RECALL WAS DONE WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE JUST RACED WHILE DRIVING. I THOUGHT IT WAS A BELT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. FORD CALLED ME BACK IN 2 HOURS AND SAID I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND I WAS COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. AFTER CALLING EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS AND BEING TOLD THEY WERE WORKING ON IT, I GET A CALL AFTER 2 FULL WEEKS TELLING ME THERE WAS WATER IN THE TRANSMISSION AND I'M NOT COVERED. AFTER READING ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION TROUBLE IN THE 2005 FORD FREESTAR THIS SEEM LIKE A TOTAL SCAM. WHAT CAN I DO AS I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR THIS EXPENSIVE FIX. I JUST NOTIFIED THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AND WILL SEE IF THEY CAN HELP. I'M 5 YEARS OLD AND HAD FORDS ALL MY LIFE BUT I WILL NEVER HAVE ANOTHER ONE.
- stevecicio, Staten Island, NY, US
HI 2005 ford freestar just guit moving, no drive forward or backwards. motor run fine needed to be towed 125 miles that suck ford sucks at the shop now .had to get a rental car
- Phil A., Phx, AZ, US
I had a recall on the '05 Freestar transmission torque converter. It supposedly took 3 DAYS to fix. I got it back that night (Wed) and then went to work the next day (Thurs). When I went to go home the transmission goes out. It was only driven about 40 miles. It now will not go forward or reverse. They claim that the clutch has gone out. The clutch is connected to the gears that makes the transmission work. So, what I don't get is, if I got a completely repaired car on Wed, why would it suddenly brake down the very next day?!?!?
- Amy W., Lebanon, IN, US
We had just purchased the van, in Feb 2011 , with payments for two years. First vehicle that we ever bought off a lot.
In April 2011 the van lost power, and had to be pulled over immediately. The van started, but wouldn't go into any gears. Several mechanics said it was the transmission and quoted $2000 to $3000 to fix without even looking at the vehicle, and that it would take at least a week to fix. We towed our van home and the tow truck driver gave us a company to call that handles just transmissions, he also told us it didn't sound like the transmission, especially with the low mileage. We called the co. and towed the van an hour away, he said that the Freestar has a computer sensor that is faulty, The sensor is under $100.00 but getting at it is difficult so labor costs are high. All said and done $1400.00.
I received a call back from Ford for certain problems wrong with the Freestar, not sure if this is covered. Ford said they would send the forms out but I still don't have them. All-in-all this van is costing us 8000.00. First time I ever bought a Ford, wont buy one again.
I still have the van , and it is now running fine, can't get rid of it , I still have 1 and 1/2 years left to pay. I don't work{medical} my husband works for minimum wage, this Wiped us out financially, in fact we had to move in with my daughter. The repair had to be paid by borrowing more money. My next vehicle is going to be a scooter, no insurance, low cost, no regulations,no test., cheap.
- Shelley A., Leamington, Ontario, Canada
Was driving doing 60 mph saw a sprocket light up on the dash and the car seemed to be slipping in and out of gear when I exited the freeway I had no momentum or power. and of course I was 300 miles from my home and tow fees and time spent just to get it home well that wasn't fun. And I have no rev. no drive in first or second but if someone pushes the car 20 mph it will catch 3rd gear and drive .
- Andrew B., Sacramento, CA, US