NHTSA Complaint #10447659 — 2004 FORD FREESTAR

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 2009. HAD IT IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES IN THE FIRST YEAR FOR SUSPECTED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WHILE UNDER DEALER WARRANTY. EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO ISSUE AND THE TRANNY WAS STRONG. HAVE HAD ISSUES SINCE THE BEGINNING. DURING A RECENT TRIP TO THE GROCERY STORE THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO SLIP OUT OF GEAR WITH TOP SPEEDS REACHING 23 MPH. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME. PARKED THE VAN. NEXT MORNING WHEN I WENT TO START IT, IT WOULDN'T EVEN TURN OVER. I PUT A NEW BATTERY IN IT AND IT RAN. CONTINUED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION TO THE TUNE OF $3500. THEY DIDN'T EVEN INSPECT IT. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL BUT MINE NEEDED MORE THAN THE TORQUE CONVERTER SO I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE. THIS IS CRAZY. FORD NEEDS TO FIX THESE VANS. I STILL OWE ON THIS VEHICLE. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO CONTINUE MAKING PAYMENTS AS WELL AS DUMP ANOTHER $3500 INTO THE TRANSMISSION? WHAT IS GOING TO GO OUT NEXT ON IT? *TR