NHTSA Complaint #10501429 — 2007 FORD FREESTYLE

AFTER ENDURING A SUMMER FILLED WITH THE TYPICAL SURGING ISSUE, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED MAKING A LIGHT GRINDING SOUND IN PARK AND NEUTRAL. COME DECEMBER 2012, I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD CONCERNING THE THROTTLE BODY ISSUE, AND IN JANUARY 2013 TOOK IT IN FOR THE RECALL SERVICE. ABOUT A WEEK LATER, THE CVT TRANSMISSION'S GRINDING NOISE HAD GOTTEN WORSE, SO I TOOK IT INTO THE FORD DEALER HERE IN TOWN AND THEY SAID I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION TO THE TUNE OF OVER $6000. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I DO NOT HAVE $6000 TO PUT INTO A 6 YEAR OLD CAR THAT I STILL OWE $8000 ON (BOUGHT IT IN 2010). I'VE HAD TIRES LAST LONGER THAN THIS TRANSMISSION, WHICH IS CURRENTLY AT 62,000 MILES. UNTHINKABLE THAT FORD HAS PRODUCED SUCH A FLAWED MAJOR COMPONENT LIKE A TRANSMISSION, AND NOT STOOD BEHIND IT, OR SUPPLIES PARTS FOR IT. I AM LIVID, AND AFTER OWNING FORDS FOR OVER 30 YEARS I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I WILL GET NEXT. I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF, AND THIS FREESTYLE IS INDEED A LEMON. THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, AND THE COST TO REPAIR IS NOT IN LINE WITH THE TAURUS X OF 2008 WHICH THEY INTRODUCED A TRANSMISSION THAT ACTUALLY WORKED. *TR