NHTSA Complaint #10413964 — 2004 FORD FREESTAR

ON SUNDAY, JULY 17, 2011, I HAD JUST DRIVEN ONTO THE FREEWAY, AND WAS GETTING UP TO FREEWAY SPEEDS OF ABOUT 50, WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE VAN FELT LIKE IT WAS NOT WANTING TO ACCELERATE AND THE TRANSAXLE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CONTROL PANEL. THE VAN FELT LIKE IT WAS STUCK IN MUD AND DIDN'T WANT TO PICK UP SPEED, AND WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE, EVEN THE SLIGHTEST BIT, TO MAINTAIN MY SPEED ON THE BUSY FREEWAY, THE RPMS WENT WAY UP AND IT MADE A SQUEALING SOUND, SO I DIDN'T WANT TO PUSH IT. I LET THE VAN COAST AND GOT OFF THE FREEWAY AT THE NEXT EXIT. ONCE I WAS OFF THE FREEWAY, THE VAN WOULD DRIVE WITHOUT THE RPMS GOING UP, AS LONG AS I KEPT IT UNDER 35 MILES AN HOUR, AND DIDN'T HAVE TO ACCELERATE TO GO UP A HILL, SO I DROPPED OFF MY SON'S GIRLFRIEND AT HER HOUSE AND SLOWLY DROVE THE VAN BACK TO MY HOUSE AND PARKED IT. A QUICK SEARCH ON THE INTERNET PRODUCED DOZENS IF NOT HUNDREDS OF STORIES JUST LIKE THIS. THE COST TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION IS LIKELY TO BE AS MUCH AS THE TRADE-IN VALUE ON THE CAR SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT I'LL DO WITH THE VAN NOW. *KB