NHTSA Complaint #10430197 — 2006 FORD FREESTAR

I AM EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2006 FORD FREESTAR WHEN IT BECOMES WET. IF I GO THROUGH A CAR WASH OR DRIVE IN INCLEMENT WEATHER THE ENGINE LIGHT STARTS FLASHING AND THE ENGINE POWER STARTS BECOMING ERRATIC, BUCKING AND HESITATING. WHEN THIS FIRST STARTED HAPPENING I WOULD HAVE TO LET THE VAN SIT FOR A FEW HOURS AND THEN IT WOULD RUN FINE. THE LAST FEW TIMES IT HAS HAPPENED IT IS TAKING DAYS FOR THE MOTOR TO GET BACK TO NORMAL. I HAVE HAD IT AT A SHOP, THEY GAVE IT A TUNE UP. THE PROBLEM RECURRED AND TOOK IT TO A FORD CERTIFIED DEALERSHIP AND THEY RAN DIAGNOSTICS, CHARGED ME $100 AND TOLD ME I NEEDED A TUNE UP WHICH I JUST HAD DONE. TOOK IT BACK TO THE SHOP THAT DID THE TUNE UP AND THEY REPLACED THE EGR VALVES TO THE TUNE OF $700. RAN THE CAR THROUGH THE CAR WASH AND PROBLEM RECURS, THEY HAVE NOW REMOVED THE PCM MODULE LOOKING FOR MOISTURE WHICH THEY DID NOT FIND, ANOTHER $100. $900 LATER I AM STILL STRUGGLING WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND NOBODY HAS ANY ANSWERS. UPON READING MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE ON THE WEB I AM NOW REPORTING IT TO YOU. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THIS AND MAKE IT RIGHT. IT'S EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER AND START LOSING POWER TO YOUR CAR! WE ARE NOW HEADING IN TO THE WET WINTER MONTHS AND I'M SCARED TO DEATH TO DRIVE MY VAN. *TR