NHTSA Complaint #10279229 — 2004 FORD FREESTAR

I'M A SINGLE MOM OF 4 CHILDREN AND ONE ON THE WAY. I AM CONSIDERED A HIGH RISK PREGNANCY. I BOUGHT A MINIVAN FROM THE MALLOY DEALERSHIP IN MANASSAS A LITTLE OVER A MONTH AGO. A COUPLE DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT IT I TOOK IT BACK UP TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF A PROBLEM WITH HESITATION IN THE VAN AND ONE OF THE DOORS AS WELL AS THE WINDOW. I HAD ALSO TOLD THEM ABOUT THE CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD AND A STRAP ON THE BACKSEAT THAT WAS BROKEN. THE COMMENT I RECEIVED FROM ONE OF THEIR SALES MANAGERS WAS IF I WANTED A NEW VEHICLE I SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT A NEW ONE. I TOOK THE VAN BACK UP THERE AGAIN FOR HESITATION AND THE MAN SAID THAT HE FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VAN, THEY CHECKED THE SPARK PLUGS. TODAY I TOOK THE VAN BACK UP THERE BECAUSE OF THE HESITATION, MISS IN THE TRANSMISSION OR WHEREVER THE PROBLEM IS COMING FROM. I HAD WENT SHOPPING FOR A TRIP ME AND MY KIDS WERE TO BE TAKING IN 2 WEEKS TO WEST VIRGINIA, THE VAN KEPT HESITATING, SHOOK AND THEN LOCKED UP ON ME. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP TO WHERE I BARELY GOT IT OFF THE HIGHWAY. MY KIDS WERE SCREAMING AND MYSELF AND MY MOTHER WERE SCARED TO PIECES. I GAVE THESE PEOPLE CASH FOR MY VEHICLE, SO I PAID IT OFF WHEN I PURCHASED IT. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ME AND MY FAMILIES SAFETY IN MY VEHICLE, BUT AM AFRAID TO TAKE IT EVEN 3 MILES DOWN THE STREET. THEY ARE SAYING THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT, BUT THE VAN KEPT ACTING UP TODAY ALL THE WAY HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO ABOUT THIS SITUATION, I EVEN HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD THAT WAS CRACKED WHEN I BOUGHT THE VAN. I USED MY MONEY I HAD RECEIVED FROM A SETTLEMENT FROM BEING PERMANENTLY INJURED ON MY JOB ALMOST 2 YEARS AGO. PLEASE IS THERE SOMETHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP? I WANTED TO TAKE MY KIDS ON THEIR FIRST VACATION EVER BUT AM SO AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VAN THAT I JUST PAID OVER $8000 FOR THAT IS A PIECE OF JUNK. I AM OUT MY MONEY AND THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE MYSELF AND MY CHILDREN AROUND IN. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NO HELP. *TR