I PURCHASED A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. WITHIN 1 YEAR AFTER PURCHASE, I HEARD GRINDING NOISES FROM THE REAR BRAKES. THE BRAKES WOULD ALSO "SQUEAL" WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. IN 2007, I HAD THE REAR ROTORS REPLACED BY A DEALSHIP BECAUSE OF GOUGING AND PITTING THAT THEY FELT WAS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I HAD 29,600 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME. NOW, FROM THE DAY I DROVE IT HOME FROM BEING REPAIRED, I WOULD HAVE THE SAME SQUEALING AND GRINDING NOISES. I TOOK THE VAN IN TO HAVE THE BRAKES INSPECTED AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ROTORS OR EXTREMELY GROUND DOWN DUE TO EXCESSIVE PITTING AND GOUGING. I NOW HAVE 50,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND ONLY 20,000 MILES ON THESE ROTORS. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT REPLACE THEM AT NO CHARGE BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND SAID THAT THIS IS DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO REPLACE THE REAR BRAKES EVERY 20,000 MILES OR SO. I HAVE FOLLOWED UP WITH FORD CORPORATE AND THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM OR TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR
2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WE WERE DRIVING EASTBOUND ON HIGHWAY 26 IN THE STATE OF OREGON. WE WERE DRIVING UP THE HILL WHEN THERE WAS A ODD SOUND, THEN THE RPM OF THE VEHICLE WENT OVER 3000. WE WERE ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OFF THE HIGH WAY BARELY PAST THE WHITE LINE. I LET OFF THE BRAKE AND TRIED TO DRIVE THE RPM REVVED BUT THE CAR DRIFTED BACKWARDS. WE PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND THEN TRIED AGAIN IN 1, 3 AND DRIVE AND AGAIN SAME RESULT. WE DRIFTED THE CAR BACKWARDS FURTHER OFF THE ROAD AND CONTACTED A TOW. IF WE WERE NOT LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE HAD NO TRAFFIC BEHIND US AND HAVE A LARGE ENOUGH SIDE BAR ON THE ROAD WE WOULD HAVE LIKELY BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR