NHTSA Complaint #10323895 — 2005 FORD FREESTAR

I BEGAN HAVING INTERMITTENT TROUBLE STARTING THE VAN IN FEB. 2010 DURING A RECORD SNOW WEEK. I CONTRIBUTED IT TO THE COLD WEATHER AND BAD CONDITIONS. IN MARCH THE PROBLEM CONTINUED VERY SPORADICALLY WITH NOT STARTING ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. ON MARCH 5TH THE VAN ENGINE CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. ON MARCH 7TH, WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MILES PER HOUR THE VAN CUT OUT 4 TIMES IN A 2 BLOCK PERIOD. WHEN THE ENGINE CUT OFF IT WOULD BE WITHOUT WARNING WITH LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE VAN WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE CENTER WHERE I WAS TOLD IT WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE. IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BY 121 MILES. FORD IS CURRENTLY REFUSING TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. I HAVE FOUND MULTIPLE OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME ISSUES ON THE MAKE AND MODEL. *TR