Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Ford Freestar submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 413 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 413, in the owner's own words
The torque converter output shaft fail, sudden loss of motive power with no warning. Takes too long for the shifts, stay on one shift for too long and wont change shift unless the driver stop accelerating. My vehicle seems to have the torque malfunction.
After stopping at a traffic light in my 2005 Ford Freestar the vehicle would not go forward. I had to be pushed to the side of the road until a tow truck arrived. However, after the vehicle was towed to my home I discovered that it would go in Reverse with no problem, but when put into Drive would slowly pull forward if on level ground. After speaking with a transmission repair shop I was informed that I had a faulty torque converter and that the 2004-2005 Ford Freestars with this problem were being recalled. Also, my third row seat will not properly latch.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE GEAR SHIFTER DID NOT RESPOND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V006000 (POWER TRAIN). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V006000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 127,000.
2005 FORD FREESTAR. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED IN NOVEMBER 2010, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, WITH NO SYMPTOMS OF FAILURE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. IN AUGUST 2012, THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED ONLY THE TORQUE CONVERTER SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN 2010, AND NOT THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE TRANSMISSION.
2005 FORD FREESTAR. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECALL NOTICE OF VEHICLE LOSING POWER WHILE DRIVING AND AFTER REPAIRS PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ON JANUARY 13, 2013, HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BECAUSE IT WOULD REGULARLY JERK FORWARD AND BACKWARD AND THEN IT WOULD CONTINUE TO MOVE. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WOULD SKIP A CYCLE AND WOULD COMPLETELY STOP. ON FEBRUARY 19, 2013, THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO EXHIBIT THE SAME SYMPTOMS. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE CONVERTER WAS REPLACED ON THE PREVIOUS VISIT, AND IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CURRENT PROBLEM.
2005 FORD FREESTAR. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING. RECALL NOTICE SUBMITTED. *SMD WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, TO HAVE THE RECALL PERFORMED, SHE WAS INFORMED THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE AND FORDS POLICY WAS NOT TO REPLACE THE PART, UNTIL IT ACTUALLY FAILED. ONCE IT FAILED, THE DEALER WOULD THEN ORDER THE PART AND IT WOULD TAKE THREE DAYS TO RECEIVE IT. RECALL# 12V006000.
2005 FREESTAR. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED IT COST $ 2,552.53 TO INSTALL A RE-BUILT TRANSMISSION/TORQUE CONVERTER. THE CONSUMER STATED HE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN THE MAIL, STATING HE MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR A REFUND FOR HIS OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER ABOUT THE REFUND AND WAS INFORMED THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT AVAILABLE TO COVER THE REPAIR BILL WAS LESS THAN $ 1,500. RECALL # 12V006000
2005 FORD FREESTAR. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FAILED TRANSMISSION. RECALL 12V006000. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE RECEIVED A DENIAL LETTER FROM FORD REGARDING A REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT. FORD STATED IN THE LETTER, THAT THEIR RECORDS INDICATED A REFUND HAD ALREADY BEEN PROCESSED FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONSUMER STATED NO REFUND WAS EVER ISSUED TO HIM. IN DECEMBER 2011, THE VEHICLE BROKE DOWN. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AND A DIAGNOSIS REVEALED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE RE-BUILT AT A COST OF $3,000. THE CONSUMER PAID $525 FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE TRANSMISSION, PARTIALLY DISMANTLING IT, IN ORDER TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND RE-MOUNTING OF THE TRANSMISSION INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REMOVAL, DIAGNOSIS, TOWING AND TAX ON THE VEHICLE.
2005 FORD FREESTAR. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO LOSING CONTROL OF THE FORWARD MANEUVERING *TGW THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED AND ACCORDING TO THE WEBSITE, HE SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED TWO OWNER NOTIFICATIONS LETTERS. HOWEVER, HE NEVER RECEIVED ANY CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING RECALL # 12V006000. *JB
RECEIVED A RECALL 11S25/NHTSA RECALL 12V006000 LAST MARCH AND FORD SEEMS TO BE DRAGGING THEIR FEET. I CONTACTED THEM THREE TIMES AND THEY WAVED ME OFF. MY WIFE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. THANK YOU ..UPDATED 09-19-12 *BF
2005 FORD FREESTAR. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPLACEMENT OF TORQUE CONVERTER IN COMPLIANCE WITH SAFETY RECALL *TGW
AS I WAS DRIVING, THE VEHICLE (2005 FORD FREESTAR) BEGIN TO JERK AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS CONSTANTLY DISENGAGING AND REENGAGING. ALSO, THE RPMS WOULD ESCALATE DURING THIS PROBLEM. AFTER ABOUT SIX JERKS, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER TO THE WHEELS. I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. I WAITED FOR A FEW MINUTES AND I STARTED THE VEHICLE UP AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. THE VEHICLE STILL JERKS. I LOOKED UP THE PROBLEM WITH A MECHANIC AND THE DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER READOUT STATED IT WAS THE TORQUE CONVERTER OUTPUT SHAFT SPEED SENSOR. I LOOKED THE INFORMATION UP ONLINE AND DISCOVERED IT WAS INVOLVED WITH A RECALL. THIS RECALL (#12V006000) WAS SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED ON MY VEHICLE A MONTH AGO. I CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID THAT THE RECALL WAS ALREADY PERFORMED AND THEY CAN NOT DO ANYTHING ELSE. *TR
2005 FORD FREESTAR. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SAFETY RECALL 11S25/12V006000 *TGW THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE FAILURE OF THE TORQUE CONVERTER THAT FAILED PRIOR TO A RECALL BEING ISSUED.
LAST MAY I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY FORD FREESTAR 2005 WHEN I WAS LEAVING A HIGHWAY, I STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THEN ACCELERATED, ONLY TO HEAR THE ENGINE ACCELERATING BUT THE CAR STAYING STILL. IN MARCH 2012 I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD COMPANY, WHERE I WAS INFORMED OF A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 11S25/NHTSA RECALL 12V-006. I VISITED TWO AGENCIES TO REPORT THE PROBLEM, IN ONE THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER AND DOING THAT IT WILL COST ME $100.00. IN THE SECOND, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY PARTS TO SATISFIED THE SAFETY RECALL. WHAT CAN I DO?, CAN YOU COULD HELP ME TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM? THANKS. *JB
VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER ON I 95 IN SC DUE TO TORQUE CONVERTER. IT WAS TOWED TO FORD DEALERSHIP, WE RENTED A CAR TO DRIVE HOME TO NC, OVER 350 MILES AWAY. FINALLY AFTER 5 WEEKS, OUR VEHICLE IS NOW READY TO BE PICKED UP. HOWEVER, IT NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION, DUE TO METAL FLAKES IN THE TRANSMISSION. IT SEEMS EVERY CAR THAT HAS THIS PROBLEM WITH A FAILED TORQUE CONVERTER NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION DUE TO THE METAL FLAKES. READING THE BLOGS, TRANSMISSION SPECIALISTS ARE SAYING THAT THESE METAL FLAKES ARE FROM THE TORQUE CONVERTER WHICH IS HOUSED IN THE TRANSMISSION. FORD'S RECALL LETTERS WERE NOT SENT IN A TIMELY MANNER, WE HAD ONLY BEEN GONE FOR A WEEK ON A TRIP TO FL AND WHEN WE GOT HOME & PICKED UP THE MAIL, THERE WAS A RECALL LETTER. WE SURELY NEVER WOULD HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE ON A TRIP HAD WE KNOWN THIS WAS POSSIBLE. FORD REFUSES TO PAY FOR ANYTHING. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE RESEARCH DONE AS FAR AS THE TORQUE CONVERTER AFFECTING THE TRANSMISSIONS. THANK YOU. *JS
WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE VAN WILL SUDDENLY LOSE ALL FORWARD MOMENTUM AND DRIFT MOMENTARILY UNTIL IT WILL JUST AS SUDDENLY RESUME FORWARD MOMENTUM AND CONTINUE LIKE NORMAL. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE RPMS DROP OFF LIKE THE VEHICLE IS STALLING OR FUEL STARVED (HOWEVER IT HAS NO HESITATION LIKE ITS RUNNING OUT OF GAS) NO WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AND THERE IS NO PATTERN TO WHEN OR HOW IT HAPPENS. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND NOW IT IS NOTICED THAT IT HAS A HIGHER TENDENCY TO DO IT WHEN IT IS RAINING OR THERE IS HIGH HUMIDITY. IT DOES IT AT ALL SPEEDS FROM 25MPH TO 70MPH. FORD DEALERSHIP HAS LOOKED AT THE VAN AND COULD NOT GET IT TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM WHEN THEY HAD IT. HOWEVER, THEY STATED THIS DOES NOT SOUND LIKE A TORQUE CONVERTER PROBLEM ADDRESSED UNDER SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 11S25/ NHTSA RECALL 12V-006. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND HAS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS AS I HAVE NO WARNING THE PROBLEM IS GETTING READY TO HAPPEN AND HAVE NO WAY TO NOTIFY OTHER MOTORIST OF MY SUDDEN AND QUICK DECELERATION. *TR
ON APR 2, MY HUSBAND AND I WERE RETURNING FROM FL TO OUR HOME IN NC. APPROX. 26 MILES INTO SC HEADING N ON I 95 OUR VAN LOST FORWARD POWER. WE WERE ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER, GET A TOW TRUCK AND HAVE THE VAN DELIVERED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. WE RENTED A CAR TO GET HOME (350 MILES AWAY). WE HAD ONLY BEEN GONE FOR A WEEK, WHEN THE MAIL WAS PICKED UP, THERE WAS A RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD ABOUT THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THIS WAS A VERY SCARY SITUATION AND A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD. ALSO, FYI, IT SEEMS THAT ALL VANS THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM ALSO HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THOUGH FORD SAYS THE CONVERTER IS NOT THE CAUSE - YEAH RIGHT...THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO PARTS AVAILABLE, OUR VAN WILL BE IN SC FOR OVER A MONTH, AND WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OTHER COSTS, TOWING, CAR RENTAL, AND RETURNING 350 MILES TO RETRIEVE IT, THEN DRIVING 350 MILES HOME. THIS IS ALSO RIDICULOUS AS THIS IS GOING TO COST US CLOSE TO 4000.00. PLEASE WARN FREESTAR OWNERS NOT TO DRIVE THIS VAN, AS IT IS NOT A CASE OF IF, BUT WHEN THIS PART WILL FAIL. AND ALSO, THE RECALL NOTICE CERTAINLY WAS NOT SENT IN A TIMELY MANNER. *TR
2005 FORD FREESTAR. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE BROKE DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY RELATED TO TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER RECALL ISSUES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CUT OFF AND PROCEEDED TO COAST. SHE MANAGED TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER IT WOULD COST $ 1,300 TO TAKE THE TRANSMISSION APART TO DETERMINE IF THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL. *JB
DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON A TWO HOUR TRIP AND EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN BUT BRIEF LOSS OF ACCELERATION, SPEED IMMEDIATELY DROPPED BY 15 MPH, WHICH WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A SEVERE JERK. THE OCCURRED TWO MORE TIMES DURING THE TRIP AT HIGH SPEEDS AND SUBSEQUENTLY CONTINUED TO OCCUR THE FOLLOWING DAYS DURING NORMAL NEIGHBORHOOD DRIVING CONDITIONS (20 ? 40 MPH). I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO A FORD DEALER TO BE CHECKED OUT AS I THOUGHT THIS COULD BE RELATED TO THE RECENTLY ANNOUNCED TORQUE CONVERTER OUTPUT SHAFT RECALL (RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11S25). THE DEALER HAS DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM TO BE RELATED TO WATER INTRUSION INTO THE PCM HOUSING. UNFORTUNATELY THIS APPEARS TO BE COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FREESTAR. *JS
I STARTED MY VAN AND TRIED TO BACK OUT OF MY PARKING SPOT AND IT WOULD NOT GO ANYWHERE. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, SAT FOR ABOUT 5 MIN AND THEN TRIED AGAIN. THIS TIME IT BACKED UP, I WAS ABLE TO PULL UP TO THE STREET AND WHEN I WENT TO PULL OUT, IT SPUTTERED AND STALLED. I HAD IT TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION PLACE AND THEY SAID THAT IT WASN'T THE TRANSMISSION, IT WAS THE PCM. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM IT WAS THE PCM. THEY INSISTED ON RUNNING A DIAGNOSTIC BECAUSE IT COULDN'T BE THE PCM, THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THAT BEFORE. THEY FOUND OUT IT WAS THE PCM AND NOW I HAVE TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC THAT WASN'T NECESSARY. I HAVE TO PAY FOR A DESIGN FLAW THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM TO BE FIXED AND PAY TO HAVE THE PCM REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP THAT DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM DID NOT CHARGE ME ANYTHING FOR HIS WORK. MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY IS PAYING HALF OF THE REPAIR EVEN THOUGH IT ISN'T A COVERED REPAIR AND YET FORD WILL NOT WAIVE OR COVER ANY OF THE PROBLEM THAT IS THEIR DESIGN FLAW. WHY ARE CUSTOMERS NOT INFORMED OF TSB'S THAT COULD HAVE PREVENTED THE PROBLEM? I AM VERY LUCKY THIS HAPPENED IN THE PARKING LOT INSTEAD OF ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN FIXED WITH A TUBE OF SILICONE. WHY WAS THE TSB NOT COMPLETED BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD TO ME AS A USED VEHICLE IN MAY 2011? IS THERE A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM IN THE WORKS? IS THERE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT I CAN JOIN? IS THERE ANYTHING BEING DONE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE DIES? *TR *JS
I HAVE NOT YET HAD AN INCIDENT BUT FORD NEEDS TO PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR! MY 2005 FREESTAR IS A DEATH BUCKET! BECAUSE OF THE TORQUE CONVERTER PROBLEM AND RECALL, MY VEHICLE COULD LOSE POWER IN A DEADLY SITUATION!
WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK WHEN THE VAN JUST SUDDENLY STALLED. SHE WAS TRAVELING AT 35 MPH WHEN SHE LOST ALL POWER. SHE THEN TRIED RESTARTING THE VAN AND IT STARTED BUT WHEN SHE TRIED TO PUT IT INTO GEAR THE ENGINE RPM'S RACED, THEN SLAMMED INTO GEAR AND THEN STALLING AGAIN. THE VAN WAS UNDRIVEABLE. SHE WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD JUST FEET BEFORE SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED ON A NARROW TWO LANE BRIDGE THAT IS HEAVILY TRAVELED THE LOGGING AND DUMP TRUCKS. HAD IT TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP FOR REPAIRS. WHILE DOING RESEARCH ONLINE ABOUT THE ISSUE I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND SO MANY OTHER HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE POSSIBLY CAUSED BY WATER IN THE PCM MODULE. THE NEXT MORNING I CONTACTED THE REPAIR SHOP AND ADVISED THEM OF MY FINDINGS. SURE ENOUGH THEY WHERE ABLE TO FIND THE SERVICE BULLETINS FROM FORD ABOUT THE ISSUE 7 PAGES LONG. SEVERAL HOURS AND $240 LATER THE REPAIR SHOP CALLED AND SAID THE VAN WAS FIXED AND THE COULD NOT BELIEVE THE AMOUNT OF WATER THAT CAME OUR WHEN THE SENSOR WAS REMOVED. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT FORD HAS NOT SUBMITTED A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. *KB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE FROM A STOP. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL DURING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED BECAUSE THE NECESSARY PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 90,463.
DRIVING AT 65 MPH AND AUTO STARTS COASTING. ENGINE WILL REV, TRANSMISSION HAS DIS-ENGAGED AND WILL NOT RE-ENGAGE. THIS IS APPARENTLY A VERY COMMON FAILURE WITH THIS MODEL. TRANSMISSION IS OUT, NO WARNING OR NOISE; JUST GONE. SO MANY REPORTED TRANSMISSION FAILURES, ONE HAS TO WONDER WHY THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALLS ISSUED. *KB
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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