NHTSA Complaint #10542747 — 2004 FORD FREESTYLE

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE TORQUE CONVERTER ON MY VEHICLE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE TORQUE CONVERTER ON AUGUST, 22, 2012. I NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE BEFORE BUT WHEN I BROUGHT IT HOME I BEGAN TO NOTICE A BUMP WHEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE. I THOUGHT THIS MIGHT SMOOTH OUT OVER TIME. THREE MONTHS LATER I NOTICED A SHUDDER AT FIFTY FIVE MILES PER HOUR AND THE TACHOMETER WOULD RISE ABOUT TWO HUNDRED RPMS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC, WHO WAS A FORD MECHANIC FOR ABOUT TWENTY YEARS BEFORE HE OPENED HIS OWN SHOP AND HE SAID THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE TORQUE CONVERTER. FORD SERVICE REP. TOLD ME THAT SINCE IT HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR THAT I HAD THE TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACED I HAVE TO PAY FOR ALL PARTS AND LABOR. THE VAN HAS 119,000 MILES ON IT AND I'M HOPING IT WILL LAST ANOTHER SIX MONTHS SO I CAN TRADE IT IN. BUT IF THE DEALERS FIGURE OUT THAT THESE VEHICLES ARE GOING TO COST THEM MORE THAN THEY'RE WORTH I PROBABLY WONT GET MUCH OF A TRADE IN VALUE. *TR