NHTSA Complaint #11063264 — 2004 FORD FREESTAR

MY VAN HAS A PROBLEM WITH WATER, THAT IS WHEN IT RAINS THE VEHICLE STARTS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH SEVERAL COMPONENTS. (IE ENGINE MISFIRE, TRANSMISSION FAILS TO SHIFT PROPERLY, DOOR LOOKS REFUSE TO OPERATE PROPERLY, AMONG OTHER WEIRD THINGS) THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME IT RAINS. THE PROBLEM AS I HAVE BEING ABLE TO TRACE IT, IS THAT THE WATER THAT COMES OFF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND INTO THE PLASTIC THAT COVERS THE COWL AREA ( WHERE THE WIPERS ARE) DRIPS ON TO THE MAIN ELECTRIC WIRE HARNESS CONNECTION THAT COMES FROM THE INSIDE OF THE CAR AND CONNECTS TO THE ENGINE BAY WIRE HARNESS. AS THE WIRE HARNESS CONNECTOR GETS WET, THE VEHICLE STARTS ACTING UP. I TOOK THE VAN TO MY MECHANIC BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM, IT WAS DRY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER AND, TO MY SURPRISE, THEY KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT TOLD ME I HAD TO PAY THE REPAIR BECAUSE ITS COVERED ON A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB 06-14-10) BUT ITS NOT A RECALL. HOW CAN THIS NOT BE A RECALL WHEN THE VAN IS GOING ALONG WELL AND AS SOON AS IT STARTS RAINING, I START HAVING DRIVE ABILITY ISSUES, TRANSMISSIONS STARTS ACTING UP, ENGINE STARTS ACTING UP, SOME TIMES STALLS, IN GENERAL I HAVE A VEHICLE THAT APPEARS TO BE "ALLERGIC TO WATER." THIS ISSUE HAPPENS ANY TIME IT STARS RAINING HEAVILY WHETHER ON THE HIGHWAY OR CITY STREET OR MY DRIVEWAY FOR THAT MATTER, IF ITS RAINING I HAVE TO TAKE MY WIFE'S CAR BECAUSE IF NOT I KNOW WILL HAVE TO BE DEALING WITH AN UNCOOPERATIVE VEHICLE. PS. I PUT A DATE ON THE "WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN" FIELD BUT THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE.