NHTSA Complaint #10415445 — 2004 FORD FREESTAR

I HAD DRIVEN 20 MILES TO DO SOME SHOPPING WITH MY HUSBAND AND FATHER. WHEN WE GOT BACK IN THE CAR AND STARTED IT EVERYTHING WORKED UNTIL I TOOK IT OUT OF PARK AND INTO REVERSE. IT WOULDN'T MOVE. I TRIED DRIVE AND IT WOULDN'T MOVE. I CALLED AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE LOCAL FORD GARAGE. THE NEXT DAY THEY SAID IT WAS THE SPLINES IN THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THE NEXT DAY THEY SAID THE OIL PUMP HAD FROZEN UP. WHEN THEY CALLED TO SAY IT WAS READY THEY SAID THE ABS INDICATOR WAS ON...HAD IT DONE IT BEFORE? NO..JUST THE TIRE RESET INDICATOR. I PICKED UP THE CAR AND THE ABS LIGHT WAS STILL ON AND BRAKES FELT STRANGE. INFORMED THEM THAT IT HAD NEVER COME ON SO MUST HAVE HAPPENED THERE. THEY SAID TO BRING IT BACK MONDAY. WHEN I RETURNED HOME I PUT THE VAN IN PARK AND IT ROLLED BACKWARDS AGAIN AND THE BRAKE WOULDN'T HOLD. I GOT IT STOPPED AND PULLED EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND CALLED THEM. THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE CHECKED ON MONDAY. ON THE WAY BACK TO THE DEALER I STOPPED FOR GAS AND I HAD ACTUALLY GOTTEN OUT OF THE CAR AND IT ROLLED AWAY ON ITS OWN. A WITNESS WATCHED ME CHASE IT. I TOLD THE DEALER. WHEN THEY CALLED THEY SAID IT WAS THE PARKING PAWLS AND WAS OK NOW, BUT THE SENSOR IN THE HUB OF THE RIGHT WHEEL WAS MALFUNCTIONING. WHEN I PICKED IT UP TODAY WITH MY NEIGHBOR AND GOT TO HER DRIVEWAY IT ROLLED BACKWARDS WHEN I PUT IT IN PARK AND SHE WAS ALMOST KNOCKED OVER BY THE DOOR. IT DID THE SAME IN MY DRIVE AGAIN SO I CALLED AND THEY SAID TO BRING IT BACK. WE TESTED IT BOTH BACK AND FORWARD ON INCLINES AND IT ROLLED AND EVEN IN THE DEALER'S PARKING LOT. THE MANAGER WITNESSED IT AND JUMPED IN AND IT DID IT FOR HIM. HE TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE UP A HILL AND IT WOULDN'T DO IT BUT BACK IN THE LOT HE GOT IT TO ROLL AGAIN. I DON'T KNOW IF OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. THEY REPLACED TORQUE CONVERTER, VALVE BODY, SHAFT AND TEFLON SEALS. THEY ADJUSTED SHIFT CABLE. THIS IS COMMON FOR THIS VEHICLE AND A RECALL IS IN ORDER. LIVES COULD HAVE BEEN LOST AND PROPERTY DAMAGED. *TR