NHTSA Complaint #11096500 — 2005 FORD FREESTAR

WATER DRIPPED FROM THE WIPER BLADE COWL INTO THE PCM, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO START, DRIVE BRIEFLY, AND THEN SHUT OFF WHILE MOVING, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEEDS OR WITH A LOT OF TRAFFIC AROUND, IT COULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS OR DEADLY. THE MECHANIC SAYS THIS IS A PROBLEM HE SEES WITH FORD WINDSTAR VEHICLES. THE MECHANIC STATED THE PCM WAS LITERALLY UNDER WATER WHEN HE RECEIVED THE VEHICLE, DESPITE THE CAUSE BEING A FAIRLY TYPICAL RAIN STORM, AND DRYING OUT THE PCM DID NOT HELP, AS THE DAMAGE HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT, AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE AND SPEAKING WITH MECHANICS, APPEARS TO BE COMMON. FORD NEEDS TO FIX THIS ISSUE BEFORE A VEHICLE LOSES CONTROL AT HIGH SPEEDS.