NHTSA Complaint #10224127 — 2005 FORD FREESTYLE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. ON MARCH 30, 2008, WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES DROPPED TO ZERO. APPROXIMATELY 1/3 OF A MILE LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED, BUT THE GAUGES RETURNED BACK TO NORMAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOR THE THIRD TIME A SHORT WHILE LATER AND THE WRENCH LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HAVE THE OIL CHECKED AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO ERROR CODE. APPROXIMATELY THREE DAYS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SERVICE CENTER, BUT THEY FOUND NO FAILURES. ON APRIL 9, 2008, THE FAILURE RECURRED FOR THE FIFTH TIME AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK. AFTERWARDS, EVERY RED WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MILEAGE DIAL BEGAN MOVING SPORADICALLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY COULD STILL NOT FIND ANY FAILURES. THEY FINALLY CONCLUDED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, ENGINE SIZE, NUMBER OF CYLINDERS, AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.