NHTSA Complaint #10498465 — 2005 FORD FREESTAR

THE VEHICLE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH MY WIFE DRIVING AND TWO CHILDREN IN THE CAR. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED, MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE OUT OF HARMS WAY. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN SO MUCH WORSE HAD SHE BEEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC OR MERGING ON TO THE INTERSTATE. THE PROBLEM IS THE PCM MODULE HAS BEEN GETTING WET, FORD KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND EVEN CREATED A SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT IT. AT THE VERY, VERY LEAST I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT FORD WOULD HAVE CONTACTED THE VEHICLE OWNERS TO MAKE THEM AWARE THAT A SERIOUS ISSUE LIKE THIS EXISTED. THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO HAVE GRAVE CONSEQUENCES FOR INNOCENT FAMILIES OWNING THESE VEHICLES. IT IS MY OPINION THAT VANS IN PARTICULAR SHOULD BE SCRUTINIZED A LITTLE MORE CLOSELY DUE TO THEIR INTENDED AUDIENCE, SOCCER MOMS HAULING AROUND THE MOST VALUABLE POSSESSION OF THAT FAMILY, THEIR CHILDREN. IT IS BEYOND ME HOW AUTOMAKERS CAN PUT UNSAFE VEHICLES LIKE THIS ON THE ROAD AND THEY ARE NOT FORCED TO REPAIR ISSUES LIKE THESE WHEN THE OWNERS AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE AT RISK. THIS IS MY SECOND BUT SEPARATE COMPLAINT I LODGED AGAINST FORD ABOUT THIS VEHICLE. THE FIRST ONE WAS IN 2008 OR 2009 WHEN THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, LEAVING THE VEHICLE LIFELESS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE DEEMED UNSAFE FOR THE ROADS AND FORD SHOULD BE FORCED TO HAVE A FAIR BUY BACK PROGRAM FOR THESE VEHICLES. *TR