NHTSA Complaint #10263998 — 2004 FORD FREESTAR

PURCHASED A FORD FREESTAR IN 2004. LAST JULY ,I NOTICED PUDDLES OF OIL IN MY DRIVEWAY AND A KICK IN THE WHEEL WHEN TURNING. PROCEEDED TO MY MECHANIC,ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS,AND FOUND OUT THAT IT HAD TO BE FIXED IMMEDIATELY. IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE RACK AND PINION. I CHECKED THE RECALL LIST WITH NHTSA AND FOUND THAT FORD RECALLED APPROXIMATELY 34,000 CARS WITH THE PROBLEM. THE REPORT INDICATED THAT THE LINKING FLUID GOOD CAUSE SMOKE. MY VIN NUMBER DID NOT MATCH THE RECALL LIST. JUST RECENTLY(MARCH,2009),I STARTED HEARING SCREECHING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE CAR. IT WOULD SUBSIDE WHEN GOING AROUND CURBS ETC..TURNING THE WHEEL SLIGHTLY -WOULD ELIMINATE THE SOUND. AGAIN,I CHECKED RECALLS AND FOUND RECALLS FOR HUB PROBLEMS. IF NOT FIXED THE WHEEL ATTACHED TO THE AXLE WOULD CAUSED STEERING DIFFICULTY AND A POSSIBLE CRASH. CHECKED RECALL VIN NUMBER AND IT DID NOT MATCH. CONTACTED FORD PROBLEM BUREAU AND REGISTERED A COMPLAINT. I HAVE PRESENTLY 23,500 MILES. I HAVE REGISTERED A COMPLAINT WITH THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION. I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE OTHER 2004 FORD FREESTARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN FOR FEAR OF AN IMMEDIATE MECHANICAL BREAK DOWN. FORD SHOULD STEP FORWARD AND CORRECT THE SITUATION FOR THOSE OWNERS WHO HAVE SPENT MONEY TO REPAIR THE PROBLEMS. I CANNOT SELL THE VEHICLE. HOW CAN I IMPOSITION OTHERS!I 'M GLAD THERE WASN'T A NEGATIVE OCCURRENCE WHERE INJURIES EXISTED. AS A SENIOR CITIZEN,COST OF CONTINUOUS REPAIRS AND THE SAFETY ISSUE PREVAILS. *TR