NHTSA Complaint #10396756 — 2005 FORD FREESTAR

VEHICLE WAS OPERATING IN NORMAL MANNER IN TRAFFIC. SUDDENLY ALL DRIVE POWER TO THE WHEELS WAS LOST. THERE WAS NO WARNING AT ALL FROM A SOUND TO ANY SHUDDER FROM THE VEHICLE. SUDDEN LOSS OF PROPULSION VERY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC MOVING 50 MPH. ENGINE NEVER STALLED OR DIED. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER VEHICLE FROM FAST LANE TO A PARKING LOT ENTRANCE AND STOP VEHICLE. ENGINE RUNS FINE, BRAKES NO ISSUE; HOWEVER, THE VAN WILL NOT MOVE IN ANY GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION NEVER ENGAGES WHILE SHIFTING ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO FLUID LEAKAGE OR SMOKE FROM THE TRANSMISSION. VAN WAS TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR FACILITY. TORQUE CONVERTER AND PUMP WERE REPLACED. TOTAL CHARGES OF ABOUT $1000 FOR THE WORK. SERVICE MANAGER AT BILL COLLINS FORD DENIED KNOWING OF ANY ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION. WHILE I WAS TALKING TO HIM TWO CUSTOMERS ARRIVED TO PICK UP VEHICLE WITH EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM AND SIMILAR OCCURRENCE OF LOSS OF POWER IN TRAFFIC. HIS EXPLANATION WAS COINCIDENCE, YET THIS TORQUE CONVERTER / TRANSMISSION IS STOCKED AT A MUCH HIGHER THAN NORMAL LEVEL IN THE PARTS DEPARTMENT DUE TO HIGH DEMAND PER THE SERVICE DESK TECH. *TR