NHTSA Complaint #10410780 — 2004 FORD FREESTAR

ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO OUR 2004 FORD FREESTAR HAD THE WATER GETTING INTO THE PCM. MY MECHANIC SAID THEY NEW ABOUT A SERVICE NOTICE/ALERT, WHATEVER YOU MIGHT CALL IT, STATING THAT FORD KNEW THIS WAS AND ISSUE AND THAT IT WAS NOT A RECALL. THEY ACTUALLY POURED WATER OUT OF THE MODULE. HE STATED THAT IT DID NOT DRIP OUT, IT "POURED OUT". HE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE WATER WAS GETTING IN BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND HOOD. HE SHOWED ME THE SPOT. IT TOOK THEM 5 DAYS TO DRY OUT THE PCM AND THEY SEALED IT, THE BEST THEY COULD. SUNDAY, JULY 3RD, THE "SPROCKET WITH AN EXCLAMATION POINT" LIGHT CAME ON IN THE BOTTOM LEFT CORNER OF THE DASH AS I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM CHURCH WITH MY WIFE AND FOUR CHILDREN...12, 8, 6, AND 1. THEN THE TRANSMISSION JUST DISENGAGED. WE WERE STRANDED ON ONE OF THE BUSIER ROADS IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK. WE CALLED A FRIEND TO TAKE MY WIFE AND FAMILY HOME. MY WIFE GOT OUR 1998 PICKUP AND BROUGHT IT BACK AND WE TOWED THE VAN TO OUR SHOP. I CALLED TODAY, AND THEY HAVE NOT STARTED WORKING ON IT YET, BUT NOW I KNOW WHAT IT IS!!! WE WERE SUPPOSED TO LEAVE FOR VACATION FROM JULY 8TH THROUGH JULY 17TH IN VIRGINIA. MY KIDS WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO SPENDING THE WEEK WITH THEIR GRANDMOTHER FOR THE WEEK. I CAN TAKE A BROKEN DOWN CAR, BUT NOT MY FAMILY BEING PUT IN DANGER AND MY CHILDREN BEING CRUSHED FOR THE LOSS OF A VACATION TO THEIR GRANDMOTHERS. I WILL FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA, AS YOU SUGGEST. I DOUBT FORD WILL DO ANYTHING. UNFORTUNATELY OUR 1998 PICKUP IS A FORD WITH A LEAKING BREAK LINE IN THE RIGHT REAR. I WAS JUST ABOUT TO PUT IT IN THE SHOP. NO MORE FORDS FOR ME. "FOUND ON ROAD DEAD" TRULY FITS MY OPINION OF FORD NOW. *TR