TWICE OUR 2005 FORD FREESTAR EXPERIENCED WATER LEAKAGE THROUGH THE COWL GRILL ON THE HOOD. AFTER HEAVY RAIN IN MARCH 2008, THE FIRST OF SEVERAL BREAKDOWNS AND FIX ATTEMPTS OCCURRED, RESULTING IN 3 MONTHS OUT OF SERVICE, AND REPLACEMENTS OF THE WIRING HARNESS, THE PCM COMPUTER, SEVERAL OTHER COMPUTERS AND SENSORS, AND THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION, EQUALING NEARLY $5,000 IN TOW, RENTAL CAR, AND REPAIR BILLS--SOME OF WHICH THE DEALERSHIP TALKED MY INSURANCE TO PAY FOR AS A "WATER DAMAGE CLAIM." IN BETWEEN, WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEMS AND BREAKDOWNS, AND THEN THIS PAST MARCH 2009, ALSO DURING HEAVY RAIN, THE CAR EXPERIENCED THE WATER DAMAGE BREAKDOWN. THIS TIME THE WATER ONLY RUINED THE PCM COMPUTER, BUT THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO HONOR THE REPAIRS THAT WERE LESS THAN 12 MONTHS OLD AND WE TOOK IT TO A PRIVATE LICENSED REPAIR TECHNICIAN. HE FOUND THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ONLINE THAT DESCRIBED THE KNOWN WATER LEAKAGE PROBLEM IN SOME 2005 FREESTAR MODELS AND DID THE RECOMMENDED FIX TWICE. IN HIS OPINION AND IN THE GEICO INSURANCE ADJUSTERS OPINION, THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT FORD NEEDS TO ADDRESS. THIS TIME WE HAD NO COVERAGE FOR THE DAMAGE AND WERE OUT OF A VEHICLE FOR TWO MONTHS AND OUT OF POCKET OVER $3,000. I'VE BEGGED FORD'S CORPORATE OFFICES TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK AND JUST LET ME OUT OF THE FINANCING BUT THEY REFUSE DUE TO THE NUMBER OF MILES. ALSO, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S LEMON LAW OFFICE SAID THERE WERE TOO MANY MILES. IN ADDITION TO THESE PROBLEMS, IN 90,000 MILES, I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE ROTORS NOW FOUR TIMES BECAUSE THEY ARE WARPING DANGEROUSLY. THE PADS ARE OK, BUT THE ROTORS ARE CONTINUALLY WARPING AND IT COSTS $800 EACH TIME TO HAVE THE BRAKES FIXED. *TR
2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING IN REVERSE AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH INTO A PARKING SPACE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL ENGAGED WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LUNGE UNEXPECTEDLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SPORADICALLY WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED. THE VEHICLE RECENTLY STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RESUMED AS NORMAL. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND THEY RECOMMENDED THE VEHICLE BE DIAGNOSED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THERE WAS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION RELATED TO THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE10033 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL; POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: CONTROL MODULE/TCM,). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
