NHTSA Complaint #10406053 — 2004 FORD FREESTAR

WHILE DRIVING WITH OUR TWO DAUGHTERS IN THE CAR ON MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, MY WIFE WAS 30 MILES FROM HOME, MADE A RIGHT TURN AT AN INTERSECTION AND CAR JUST STOPPED DRIVING. VEHICLE ENGINE REMAINED RUNNING BUT UNABLE TO MAKE THE CAR DRIVE. WAITED TWO HOURS FOR AAA TO SHOW UP AND TOW HER TO A GARAGE. THREE DAYS LATER WE WERE TOLD THAT THE GARAGE COULD NOT FIX THE VAN BECAUSE IT WAS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE AND THEY WERE NOT A TRANSMISSION SHOP. CALLED AAA AGAIN TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED 30 MILES TO OUR LOCAL SHOP. I WAS AWARE TO NOT BRING IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT FIXED BECAUSE THEY WILL PUT THE SAME BAD PART IN THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN AND WOULD HAVE ANOTHER FAILURE. REBUILT TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED WITH BETTER TORQUE CONVERTER THAN A FORD DEALERSHIP WOULD PUT IN. REBUILT TRANSMISSION HAS A 4 YEAR/100,000 MILE GUARANTEE. I HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THE ONGOING TORQUE CONVERTER ISSUES WITH THESE VANS AND HAD EXPECTED THIS ONE TO BREAK AS WELL. I SENT AN EMAIL TO NHTSA LAST YEAR WITH MY CONCERNS AND GOT NO RESPONSE FROM THEM. THIS VAN HAD 80000 MILES ON IT. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED WITH FORD. LUCKILY NOONE HAS BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED IN THESE BREAK DOWNS BUT IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. THERE HAS BEEN A SERIOUS FAILURE OF OVERSIGHT INTO FORD MOTOR COMPANY BY NHTSA NOT TO MAKE FORD RECALL THESE VEHICLES CONSIDERING THERE HAS BEEN SO MANY WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. *TR