NHTSA Complaint #10810770 — 2007 FORD FREESTAR

WHEN I TOUCHED THE TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFT ONE MORNING, THE CAR BEGAN ROLLING DOWN MY DRIVEWAY & ROLLED INTO THE STREET. I HAD A HARD TIME STOPPING THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS NOT YET RUNNING & THE POWER BRAKES WERE NOT ON. THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER WOULD NOT HOLD IN PARK OR ANY OF THE OTHER GEARS. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP. WHEN I TOLD THE MECHANIC WHAT HAD HAPPENED, HE SAID IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION TORQUE CONVERTER & SAID, "THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE." "I HAVE REPLACED HUNDREDS OF THEM OVER THE YEARS. OTHER INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOPS HAVE SAID THE SAME THING. WHEN I ASKED THE CLERK AT THE LOCAL FORD DEALER PARTS DEPT., THEY WOULD NOT TELL ME HOW MANY OF THE TORQUE CONVERTERS THEY HAVE REPLACED. NOR COULD I GET ANY INFORMATION FROM THEIR TRANSMISSION REPAIR MECHANICS. MY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DID SHOW ME THE DEFECTIVE PART OF MY TRANSMISSION & DEMONSTRATED HOW THE SPLINE IN THE CONVERTER HAD WORN OUT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT PROPER HEAT TREATED FOR PROPER HARDENING & THUS THE PART MALFUNCTIONED. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE PUMP SHAFT GEAR WHICH INSERTS ITSELF IN THE SPLINE DOES NOT HAVE THIS MALFUNCTION. THEREFORE, ANY TRANSMISSION MECHANIC OR LAYMEN CAN ONLY COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THIS PART #06050700015 IS A DEFECTIVE PART & SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. THIS MALFUNCTION IS CORRECTED WITH AN AFTER-MARKET PART. I HAD TO PAY $1200 TO HAVE THIS DEFECTIVE PART REMOVED & REPLACED. YOU CAN IMAGINE THE HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS DOLLARS FORD OWNER ALL OVER THE COUNTRY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THIS DEFECTIVE PART. I HAVE SPOKEN TO TWO FORD MOTOR CO. CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRS. & THEY SAY, "THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT." I ALSO WROTE A REGISTERED LETTER TO FORD MOTOR CO. CORPORATE OFFICE & RECEIVED A MAIL REPLY WITH THE SAME RESPONSE. INITIALLY I WAS ONLY ASKING FORD MO. TO COMPENSATE ME $250. FOR THE DEFECTIVE PART & NOT THE $1200.