I was driving on pa turnpike and without warning van stopped moving. Loss power to move forward or backward. Very scary! almost struck in rear by tractor trailer. Had to sit on turnpike with 3 children in van and wait for a flatbed to bring us to safety. Found out that there was to be recall on my vehicle. The recall letters were due to be mailed out in the 2nd quarter of 2012 (I never received one, and I am an original owner). Ford is recalling van due to the torque converter output shaft failing, resulting in sudden loss of power. I am now understanding that prior vans that have had a replacement part have also failed for a second time. I am very scared about diving this van again.

- Media, PA, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Mercury Monterey. The contact stated that while driving 25 mph the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the contact's personal mechanic and the transmission was replaced. Several months later while driving 25 mph, a child passenger noticed that they could see the roadway from the third row seat. Upon investigation, the contact noticed that the vehicle had rust along the driver and passenger sides of the frame where the third row seat was connected. Two months later the vehicle would not start and was towed to the contact's personal mechanic but the failure had not been diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 138,306 and the current mileage was 173,476.

- Marysville, OH, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Mercury Monterey. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in the recall associated with NHTSA campaign id number 12V006000 (power train: Automatic transmission: Torque converter). An authorized dealer was notified and stated that the necessary parts would not be available until June 2012. The contact felt that this was an unreasonable time frame for a part that could ruin the transmission to become available. The failure mileage was 120,000.

- Camarillo, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Mercury monetary with 70000 miles. While entering the freeway the vehicle was slow to accelerate from 0 to any speeds, which almost caused a crash. The contact also stated that the vehicle would have trouble shifting into gears. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure and told the contact that the torque converter was under recall, 12V006000 power train:automatic transmission:torque converter had to completely fail before they would make repairs. The vehicle was not repaired.

- Acton, MA, USA

Powertrain: Front wheel bearings went out (squeeling sound) in 2006 with 8K miles on vehicle. A tsb was out for that issue and the wheel bearings(2) were replaced. The front bearings went out again in 2009 at about 27K miles. The vehicle was covered by a Ford esp. The dealer said that they couldn't hear the noise - the noise would come and go - so no repair was done at that time. I have the repair order stating "no problem found". now at 35K miles the bearing noise has become much worse and much more frequent but now the warranty is over and it will cost about $700 to repair. What kind of poorly made bearings are these? body: In 2009 I noticed rust at the left rear wheel well area and it is now coming through the left quarter panel. There is also rust at the right rear wheel well area although it has not gone through the right quarter panel. Left and right front doors also rusting at the bottom facing the passenger compartment.

- Hickory Hills, IL, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Mercury Monterey. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign I.D. number: 12V006000 (power train:automatic transmission:torque converter) and took the vehicle to a dealer for recall repairs. The dealer did not replace the torque converter as stated in the recall, and advised the contact that the torque converter did not need to be replaced. Later, the contact was driving 60 mph when the vehicle stalled due to the transmission not providing power to the power train. The contact called the manufacturer and inquired about the incomplete recall repair. The manufacturer advised the contact that the vehicle would need to be taken back to the dealer for diagnostic testing at the contact's expense. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 192,000.

- Cedar Hill, TX, USA

Lost of power while under way(engine was running). The vehicle will not engage into gear. No codes. Dealer replaced torque converter fixed problem. Part # 685fpls. Recall # 12V0060000 Ford recall # 11S25. Notified dealer will be submitting reimbursement in the second quarter of 2012.

- Tallahassee, FL, USA

Engine began to miss at 65+ miles per hour. After looking at the PCM and seeing water in it car was fixed as per Ford's tsb. Now car will stall out at random. Dealer does not know what is wrong with the car. Car stalls in reverse, and drive without warning. It is dangerous to drive.

- Wading River, NY, USA

On 2/24/2012 I was merging into highway traffic. The transaxles light came on and the van had difficulty shifting from what I thought was 2nd gear in to 3rd, just below 60 mph and at about 5500 RPM. I found this odd, so I eased off of the gas. Tried to accelerate again while the light was flashing and it would still not shift. After pulling off the highway at an exit. I turned off the car and restarted it. The light disappeared. I drove away with out incident. I proceeded to pick up my child and then went to fill my gas tank about 2 miles away. When I hit just over 40mph the light came on again. While filling up on gas I read about a potential recall on this particular model's torque converter, so I went immediately to my local Ford dealer. He was aware of the potential recall (even though consumers weren't informed), and reiterated something I had read about the part not being available until the 2nd quarter. We agreed that I would have my car there on Monday morning for a closer look. Monday came and the service associate called. He explained that they could not recreate my problem in a road test. He said there was an error code in the computer's memory, but the code was not related to the torque converter. From here, I guess they drained the transmission fluid and said that there was water in it. He told me that they would have to either repair my transmission (@$4000) or replace mine with a with a rebuilt one (@$3200). Mind you, the van only has less than 43,000 miles on it. I was told by an independent mechanic that the $4000 price is to scare you into being more comfortable with the $3200 price., but that both prices sounded steep. In the end, I bought the rebuilt transmission anyway, because it had a 3 year unlimited mileage warranty that the independent mechanic could not provide. Since then I've read about a water /transmission issue that NHTSA is investigation.

- Wall, NJ, USA

Splines related to the torque converter located in the automatic transmission sheared off unexpectedly while driving. Transmission had to be completely rebuilt due to debris that circulated throughout the system. In addition to that, while the transmission was being rebuilt it was determined that water had also been entering the transmission and contaminating the fluid which is believed to have caused the adhesive on the bands to deteriorate and break apart.

- Rochester, MN, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Mercury Monterey. The contact was driving 65 mph when the rpms increased and the vehicle began to decelerate independently without warning. The vehicle was towed to an auto shop where the mechanic inspected the vehicle and informed the contact that the transmission failed and would need replacing. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 90,000.

- Lock Haven, PA, USA

(2008)driving our 2004 mrcury Monterey, I tried to accelerate from a stop light and got just enough to push us into the intersection and drift across; after that the vehicle would not move. We were told the torque converter had been stripped and needed to be replaced. It is now 2011, while driving on a freeway my wife started seeing smoke and pulled over. Now we are told the torque converter overheated and blew the seals and has to be rebuilt. Something in this model seems to be destroying transmissions and this in not an inexpensive past time.

- Mesquite, TX, USA

Accelerating away from traffic signal, vehicle accelerated normally up to 20-25mph and then transmission totally failed. No warning, no symptoms.

- Margate, FL, USA

While going down the highway with no warning van will not accelerate, [engine revs up but not move] was able to coast to a stop along a busy freeway, had to have van towed.

- Middle Point, OH, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Mercury Monterey. The contact stated that the vehicle would intermittently jerk and stall while driving at various speeds above 30 mph. Upon restart, the vehicle would operate as normal. The contact also stated that upon examining the vehicle, he noticed that water was penetrating the power train control module and corroding various components. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered no further assistance. The failure mileage was 118,000.

- Sugar Creek, MO, USA

It is a well cared for 2004 that all of a sudden started to have a little shake when accelerating. Once I got up past 50-55ish it almost went away. I assumed I had a wheel out of balance so when I had it in for an oil change a few days later, I had them do a rotation and balance. That really didn't fix anything and it got worse. If I was accelerating up hill(which I have to do a lot since I live at the bottom of a hill) then it was like I was driving over hundreds of broomsticks that someone had lay across the road. I took it to a shop (not my usual one, but it was very close to home) to see what they thought. They looked and said cv shaft. When I was able to get it into my regular shop two days later, they looked at it and said 'found transaxle output shaft bearing on right side axle very loose causing excessive movement with right axle.' He said the right axle was basically loose where it attached to the transmission. They said they would have to research if it was actually a bushing or a bearing in order to tell me the repair cost. Monday morning I get a call saying basically I need a new transmission. Now the vibration isn't as bad, but is still there. It also feels like it is wanting to take off while I am driving at a constant speed. Not chugging out, but like all of a sudden it gets a little surge of power then stops. Almost as if someone else is tapping on the gas pedal, then letting off. This happens whether I am using the cruise control or not.

- Gilbert, MN, USA

Our family of five was traveling in the middle lane of a three-lane highway with the cruise control set at 60 mph. We encountered a hill and -'' without warning -'' the vehicle tachometer violently increased RPM and we began to slow down. Fortunately the traffic was light and despite the road construction, there was a shoulder to safely pull onto. While we are grateful that there was no accident and that everybody escaped any harm (especially our three kids in car seats), I would hate to think about what could have happened during "''rush hour"' with a tractor trailer behind me.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

First occurrence at 43K miles. Traveling at about 40 mph on main road when engine speed increased and vehicle drifted powerless to the side of the road. Examination by Ford advised bad trans, first time they'd seen the problem. Not covered under extended warranty. Estimated repair - $3500. Took vehicle to aamco - initial estimate $2000 but once opened up advised that full rebuild was required due to extensive metal fragment penetration throughout system. Cost - $3500. On 6/2/11 was traveling at 35mph on local road. On accelerating after a right turn, the entire vehicle shuddered and the engine speed increased. Vehicle drifted powerless to the side of the road again - roughly 40K miles on rebuilt transmission (83K total vehicle miles). In checking transmission fluid level, there appeared to be water in the system. Towed to Ford dealer, advised that this was not a normal occurrence and they didn't see if often. Advised that, based on age and mileage of vehicle, transmission should just be replaced. Estimated cost - $3500. Vehicle is now on second transmission at less than 85K miles.

- Potomac Falls, VA, USA

2004 Mercury Monterey van. Transmission warning light appeared blinking and could smell burning transmission fluid while driving up a canyon road. Stopped car off road and shut down. Waited 25 minutes to allow transmission to cool. Noticed some spill of fluid on road. Headed back down canyon road but only traveled 5 miles down when warning light came back on. After traveling less than 1/2 mile, van came to uphill climb and slowed down to a complete stall. No room or safe place to pull car over so coasted car backward hoping no other car would be approaching. Reached lowest part of road and pulled backward into private drive. Car never would engage again after waiting over 40 minutes. Had owner of property tow the van home which took over one hour down through dangerous canyon road. As it happened over labor day weekend, no place to drop van off for services. Car engine operating but transmission not engaging in any drive gears.

- Eastlake, CO, USA

I have a 2004 Mercury Monterey wit 71,000 miles on it. I was driving home from church vbs June 24 at 10 pm with my kids going 55 mph when the rpms started revving up. I ended up in a really bad place that could've been fatal. We were in a curve on a high traffic road with a about a 3ft ditch beside us and I was not able to pull off the road. The only thing that saved us was my husband was still at the church and was able to get to us with some friends from church and helped tow the van to our house. There was no warning just stopped moving and rpms revving up. I have 4 kids and just paid a huge down payment on this van so I have no money to fix it. Ford is not standing behind their product. I have had two Chevrolet in the past that didn't experience transmission problems until after 250,000 miles. Please help!

- Chadbourn, NC, USA