2004 Ford Freestar

MY FAMILY INCLUDING 3 SMALL CHILDREN WERE IN THE VAN TRAVELLING HOME AND MY HUSBAND WAS IN A MINOR (30 MPH) HEAD ON COLLISION WITH ONLY DAMAGE TO THE LEFT FRONT END. A FEW MINUTES FOLLOWING THE COLLISION THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, WITHIN TEN MINUTES THE ENTIRE FRONT HALF OF THE VEHICLE WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. EVERYBODY WE HAVE TALKED TO HAS SAID THERE IS NO REASON THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO THE COLLISION.

THIS VEHICLE I RECEIVED NUMEROUS RECALLS AND HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. WHEN IT WOULD RAIN AND GET CAR WASH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WOULD MALFUNCTION AND CAUSE ENGINE NOT TO RUN PROPERLY AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON. IN APRIL OF 2016 ENGINE WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND CAUSED ME TO GET IN ACCIDENT. THIS VEHICLE HAS SINCE BEEN IMPOUNDED AND LOAN COMPANY SANTANDER TRYING TO BILL ME FOR REMAINDER OF LOAN AND NOW CAUSING MAJOR CREDIT ISSUES. I WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE COVERED BY FORD/CARMAX FOR SELLING MY FAMILY AN UNSAFE VEHICLE WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN CRITICAL INJURY OR WORSE.

PURCHASED USED VEHICLE FROM MARSHALL USED CARS IN SACRAMENTO, CA, WHERE RESIDE CURRENTLY. PURCHASED 05/2011, PAID FULL NO LOAN AT TIME OF PURCHASE. PURCHASED ADD. EXT. WARRANTY WHICH WAS 6MONTHS. FROM THE DOS TIL PRESENT DATE; I HAVE PAID, AND WAS MISLEAD IN ALL THE INSURANCE COVERING MAJOR DEFECTS, OWNER(ME) HAD CAME OUT OF POCKET PAYING FOR SERVICE TO FIX WARRANTY PARTS. NOW THIS IS THE CURRENT AND SERIOUS ISSUE. I AM DISABLED, I HAVE A DISABLE CHILD. MY VEHICLE WAS REPORTED UNDER VIN TO FORD CORPORATE TO NOTATE FOR SERVICE TO BE CHECK AND WORKED ON AT LOCAL FORD DEALER. COMPLAINED ABOUT MULTIPLE (4) ISSUES. DEALERSHIP MISLEAD ME, AND DID NOT PERFORM WORK. ONLY WORK THEY DID WAS REPLACE 1 RECALL 10/12. AFTER RECALL SERVICE I (OWNER) RECALL MANUFAC. MADE CLAIM, AGAIN AND THEN WENT TO DEALER. I WAS TURNED AWAY...AND TOLD TO DO NORMAL MAINTENANCE BEFORE PUTTING A SERVICE CLAIM IN. THIS IS A PROBLEM. I AM NOT IGNORANT TO THE ANATOMY OF A VEHICLE. I AM VERY LITERATE ON UNDERSTANDING VEHICLE OPERATIONS AS WELL AS MAINTAINING MAINTENANCE. I CAN SAY THIS BECAUSE I BELIEVE I SHOULD BE AWARE OF EVERY ISSUE SO I WONT HAVE A DISABLED VEHICLE. VEHICLE MILEAGE APPLIED FROM THE DATE RECALL REPLACED 5800 WITHIN THE TIME TIL I MADE ANOTHER CLAIM IN OCT 2013. TOOK VEHICLE IN, TOLD TO CHECK EVERYTHING. DID. BROUGHT VEHICLE BACK AND VEHICLE WAS IN SERVICE DEPT FOR WEEK WHICH ROLLED OVER TO NOV 1, 2013. VEHICLE WAS DX AND FOUND TO BE THE SAME THING I MADE A CLAIM ABOUT. VEHICLE HAS A DEFECTED RECALL PART. PART WAS NOT REPLACED. AND OWNER IS NOW LEFT WITH A DEFECT RECALL PART, PLUS MORE DAMAGE ON OTHER PARTS RELATED TO TORQUE CONVERTER, FUEL LINE, 3RD BENCH, FRONT R-WHEEL HUB. I HAVE MULTIPLE HEALTH APPTS TO MAINTAIN FOR ME AND MY CHILD'S DISABILITY. MY CHILDREN NEED TO GET TO SCHOOL, AND I MISSED LEGAL APPT DATES FROM COURT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 15 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF IT. A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT VEHICLE SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

I HAVE A 04 FORD FREESTAR THAT CONTINUES TO HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IT STARTED EARLY AROUND 40K. FMC SERVICE STATED 'JUST A LEAK'. REPEAT COMPLAINTS EQUALED 'NOTHING FOUND, ETC, ETC'. BEGINNING LAST YEAR IT WOULD LOSE POWER AND BACKFIRE WHILE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND ALMOST CAUSED MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER TO BE BROADSIDED WHEN SHE TRIED TO PULL OUT IN TRAFFIC AND THE VAN DID NOT GO FORWARD. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP AND NOT ENGAGE TO SECOND GEAR. I TOOK IT TO AAMCO AND PAID $1800 TO HAVE IT FIXED. THEY SAID THEY HAD TO BASICALLY REPLACE EVERYTHING. NOW, A YEAR LATER AND IT IS DOING IT AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME BY NOT ENGAGING INTO SECOND GEAR, IT CAUSED A PERSON BEHIND ME TO GET HIT IN THE REAR BECAUSE HE THOUGHT I WOULD TURN AS A NORMAL CAR WOULD, BUT I COULDN'T ACCELERATE DUE TO THE TRANS. ADDITIONALLY NOW IT WILL SHUDDER, SHAKE AND LOSE POWER AT 40 TO 50 MPH. IT IS NOT EVEN DRIVABLE AS I TRIED TO GO OUT TO THE STORE TODAY AND IT MADE TERRIBLE NOISES AND SHOOK LIKE CRAZY WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE. TRIED TO GO UP MY DRIVEWAY AND IT SHOOK EVEN HARDER AND MADE TERRIBLE GRINDING NOISES IN DRIVE, 3RD AND 1ST GEAR. DOES NOT MATTER WHAT POSITION THE SHIFTER IS IN, IT HAS PROBLEMS. LOOKED AT THE DIP STICK FOR THE TRANS AND IT IS RUSTED SHOWING THAT OBVIOUSLY NOW SOME TYPE OF WATER IS IN THE SYSTEM TOO. I AM DISABLED AND ON A DISABILITY INCOME AND DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDS TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED AGAIN. FORD WILL DO NOTHING FOR IT UNLESS OF COURSE I WANT TO PAY TO HAVE IT REBUILT AT $4000. THIS VAN IS A DANGER TO ALL ON THE ROAD AND LUCKILY NO ONE HAS BEEN KILLED AS A RESULT OF IT NOT PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC AS IT SHOULD. PLEASE FORCE FORD TO BUY BACK THESE VANS AND REFUND THE EXPENSES OF PEOPLE WHO HAD TO PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED. FOR ME, IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS GOING TO BE A DOUBLE TROUBLE PROBLEM. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO, I KNOW IT WILL JUST BREAK DOWN AGAIN IF I DO HAVE IT FIXED. THE VAN NEEDS TO BE TAKEN TO A JUNK YARD AND CRUSHED TO SAVE LIVES. *TR

NO PRIOR TRANSMISSION TROUBLE; NO WARNING OF PROBLEM ON THE DATE OF INCIDENT. DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON THE APPROACH TO A NARROW FOUR-LANE HIGHWAY BRIDGE. THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE RPM SUDDENLY RACED WHILE THE FORWARD MOMENTUM LAGGED; THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN FINE, BUT THE TRANSMISSION NO LONGER PROVIDED ANY FORWARD POWER. THE VEHICLE SLOWED RAPIDLY DUE TO THE UPWARD GRADE OF THE BRIDGE, AND THERE WAS NO SHOULDER TO PULL OFF ONTO, WITH TRAFFIC BEARING DOWN AT 60+ MPH. THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION THEN CAUSED A FOUR-CAR ACCIDENT. DEFECT VEHICLE WAS NOT BADLY DAMAGED (ONLY MINOR REAR BUMPER CRUSH) BUT AFTER ACCIDENT IT STILL WOULD NOT MOVE IN GEAR, EVEN THOUGH ENGINE RAN FINE. HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS OF THIS DATE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT 10 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE IMPACT MOVED HER BODY TO THE RIGHT AND THE SEATBELT UNFASTENED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT STRUCK THE STEERING WHEEL AND FRACTURED HER RIBS AND VERTEBRAE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 55,000. UPDATED 03-05-09 *BF UPDATED 03/06/09. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED IN APRIL 2005, THE ABS AND AIRBAG LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE CODES WERE RESET AND THE LIGHTS WENT OFF. THEN, WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON DRY ROADS, A VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE ABS DID NOT ACTIVATE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT SUSTAINED A BROKEN ANKLE AND HAND, A DISLOCATED SHOULDER, AND A CONCUSSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAGS OR ANTILOCK BRAKES.

A CAR JACK, PART NUMBER 3F2Z17080AB, THAT COMES STANDARD WITH 2004 FORD FREESTAR MINIVANS, BENT WHILE SUPPORTING THE VAN CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FALL, CRUSH AND KILL THE OWNER THAT WAS UNDER THE VEHICLE DOING REPAIRS IN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WELL. UPDATED 05/26/11 *BF *TR UPDATED 09/08/11 *BF UPDATED 1/5/12 *CN...UPDATED 10/03/12 *BF UPDATED 10/4/2012 *JS

2004 FORD FREESTAR [XXX]FORD IS CHARGING ME FOR THE REPAIR FOR THE TORQUE CONVERTER SUBFRAME 3-4 $600~$800 BUSHING KITS ($200 EACH) THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME. I INFORMED THEM THAT ONLY DO THE FACTORY RECALL REPAIRS THE PULLED MY VAN OUT AND TOLD ME THE CANT DO THE REPAIRS, BECAUSE THEY ARE SCARED OF THE BALL JOINTS AND TIE RODS MIGHT BREAK, THEN COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SUBFRAME MY HAVE TO BE CUT TO INSTALL NEW SUBFRAME BOLTS BUSHINGS ETC. JUST TO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO TAKE THE APART TO REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THE AGREED TO CHARGE ME 300 LABOR AND TOLD ME TO PICK UP THE PARTS NEEDED SO I PURCHASED 2 TIE-RODS. 2 TRANSAXLES L-R, 2 LOWER CONTROL ARMS WHICH INCLUDED BALL JOINTS. THEY TOOK THE SUBFRAME APART THEN TOLD ME I NEED TO PAY AND ADDITIONAL $500 FOR A USED SUBFRAME FROM THE SALVAGE YARD. INSTEAD OF FORD JUST PREPLACING THE SUBFRAME 4 BUSHINGS AND BOLTS KITS $67.00 AT PARK FORD 400 WEST AVENUE TALLMADGE OHIO 44278, THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME I NEEDED TO GET A NEW SUBFRAME BOLTS AND THAT THE SUBFRAME IS NOT MADE ANYMORE AND 3-4 $600~$800 EACH. THEN THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $300 EXTRA LABOR FOR CUTTING THE FRAME/ AND WELDING IT BACK SHUT TO INSTALL WASHER(BOLT ANCHORS ) THEN RESEAL IT, AND TO UNINSTALL THE OLD PARTS AND INSTALL THE NEW PARTS WHICH THEY HAVE TO REMOVE TO PERFORM THE FACTORY RECALL REPAIRS. SO THIS REPAIR IS GOING TO COST ME 392.20 FOR PARTS 300 LABOR, 800 SUBFRAME BUSHINGS $1492.2 IF PURCHASE ELSEWHERE AROUND $26 EACH I AM A USA DISABLE VETERAN STUDYING FORM CISCO CCNA 200-105 EXAM AND SO I CAN BETTER SUPPORT MY ADULT SPECIAL NEED DAUGHTER [XXX] ,I AM [XXX] FORD HAD MY VAN FRIDAY 24TH 2017 ITS MARCH 1ST 2017 AND THEY ARE SEARCHING FOR WAYS TO CHARGE ME MORE MONEY. WHILE I HAVE TO WALK TO MY DESTINATIONS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNOCCUPIED AND IN PARK, IT ERRONEOUSLY ROLLED AWAY AND CRASHED INTO A HOUSE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 178,000.

HI I AM [XXX] WAS OUT FRIDAY AT ABOUT 5.30 WHEN MY 2004 FREE STAR VAN STARTED ACTING UP IT CUT OFF 3 TIME RIGHT AT A LIGHT THIS IS [XXX] JUST GOT THE VAN 6 MOS AGO FOR 9,300 AT A FORD DEALER IN LEXINGTON NC .MAYBE GOING TO QUIT BUYING FORD ECT CAR VAN WHAT EVER HAD TO CALL MY DAD TO COME HELP ME THE VAN WOULD NOT RUN OR START BECAUSE OF THE PCM BOX HAD WATER ON IN IT .NOW FORD DON'T WANT TO DO A [XXX] THING BUT MAKE ME PAY MORE MONEY JUST GOT THE VAN FOR 9,300 NOW GOT TO PAY 1,2600 AT A FORD DEALER IN WHITEVILLE NC I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY BUT MY DAD AND BOTHER IS GOING TO PAY FOR IT TO GET FIX THIS TIME MAYBE SALE THE [XXX] 2004 FREE STAR VAN SOON I DON'T WANT TO BUT IF I DON'T SALE IT MAY HAPPEN AGAIN TO ME .FORD NEED TO RECALL THIS [XXX]NOW BEFORE SOMEONE GET KILLED I WHEN DOWN THE ROAD AND COULD NOT CONTROL MY VAN AND NOW I HAVE BRAKES WENT OUT TO ?????LOOK FORD SEND ME MY MONEY BACK 1,12200 TO ME IN WHITEVILLE NC 2872 TO [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND AXLE HAD SUDDENLY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. NO ONE WAS INJURED DURING THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 87,308. UPDATED 05/10/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE RIGHT TIRE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF HIS VEHICLE SIMPLY COLLAPSED. THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AS THE FRONT SIDE DROPPED GOUGING THE HUB CAP AND THE METAL WHEEL INTO THE ASPHALT LEAVING A NARROW STRIP IN BETWEEN MY WHEEL AND THE ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS DOUBLE PARKED. HIS VEHICLE CONTINUED TO GOUGE THE ASPHALT AND THEN STOPPED. THE COLLAPSED TIRE DID RUB THE LEFT LOWER SIDE SPORT TRIM OF THE OTHER VEHICLE WHICH LEFT BLACK RUBBER MARKS ON THE DOUBLE PARKED VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED HIS SPEED WAS ABOUT 25 MPH AND AS HELD THE STEERING WHEEL, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, WITH SUCH GREAT FORCE IT SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE POLICE REFUSED TO MAKE A REPORT AS THERE WERE NO INJURIES. UPDATED 07/12/12

2004 FORD FREESTAR TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITH 93,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION JUST STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING ON I-895, A MAJOR INTERSTATE THROUGH BALTIMORE, MD. THE VAN HAD TO BE ABANDONED, BUT CAUSED TWO OTHER ACCIDENTS WHILE WE WAITED FOR A TOW TRUCK. THIS SERIOUSLY PUT MY FAMILY AND THE SAFETY OTHERS IN JEOPARDY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 55-60 MPH, THE THROTTLE BECAME STUCK AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT STRUCK A GUARD RAIL, WHICH CAUSED OVER $5,000 IN DAMAGES. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS FAILURE OCCURRED. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000. UPDATED 11/24/08 *CN UPDATED 11/26/08. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR TWICE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP. THIS OCCURRED AT 30 MPH. THE FIRST TIME, THERE WAS NO DAMAGE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE A PROBLEM, BUT REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE SECOND TIME, WHILE APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN; THE VEHICLE WAS STEERED TO THE RIGHT OVER A CURB INTO A PARKING LOT. THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN AND CROSSED A THREE LANE HIGHWAY INTO ANOTHER PARKING LOT WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED BY SHRUBS. THIS CAUSED A TIRE TO BLOW OUT AND MINOR DAMAGE TO THE BUMPER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE A PROBLEM.

VEHICLE FELT LIKE THERE WAS A FLAT TIRE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. SLOWED DOWN, HEARD A LOUD BANG AND PULLED OFF THE ROAD WITH A SKIDDING STOP. UPON INSPECTION, FOUND THAT THE A-FRAM HAD DROPPED OUT OF THE COLLAR OF THE TIE ROD. *AK

I JUST CAME ACROSS THIS WEBSITE AND WISH I WROTE THIS A YEAR AGO BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE MADE A COMPLAINT THEN. I HAVE HAD MANY ISSUES WITH THE LIGHTS FLICKERING, COMING ON AUTOMATICALLY WHEN IT RAINS, MY INTERIOR LIGHTS STAYING ON AND ACTUALLY CATCHING FIRE BECAUSE IT HAD GOTTEN SO HOT. MY RADIO USED TO TURN ON BY ITSELF OR NOT TURN ON AT ALL, WHICH HAS NOW BEEN REPLACED. MY VAN HAS LITERALLY DIED ON ME WHILE DRIVING MORE OFTEN AT TIMES WHEN I'M MAKING A TURN OR SLIGHTLY MOVING MY STEERING WHEEL. HAS ALMOST CAUSED A FEW ACCIDENTS BECAUSE IT SHUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING. MY VAN WILL USUALLY HAVE A HIGHER RPM WHEN IT'S RUNNING IN PARK OR WITH FOOT ON BREAK(WAITING AT A RED LIGHT). THEN SUDDENLY THE RPMS DROP AND FLUCTUATE HIGH AND LOW AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. MY TRANSMISSION IS ALSO STARTING TO FAIL BY NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. USUALLY INTO SECOND GEAR. THE INDICATOR LAMP LIGHT FLASHES WITH MEANS ERROR WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THAT IS MOST LIKELY DUE TO THE POWER TRAIN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TORQUE CONVERTER GETTING WET OR IT IS POWERTRAIN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. ALSO HAVE ISSUES WITH MY MY POWER STEERING THE WHEEL KNOCKS AND SORTA LOCKS UP AT TIMES , FLUIDS HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND WERE PERFECT. I BELIEVE THAT IT'S ASSOCIATED WITH THE STEERING HYDRAULIC SYSTEM FAILURE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V006000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE DEALER REFUSED TO REMEDY THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS THEN INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DECLINED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER, AND DRIVING AT 25 MPH, SMOKE FILLED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

CAR HISTORY: THE TRANSAXLE LIGHT HAS GONE BEFORE WHEN WE TRAVEL THROUGH VT MOUNTAINS, BUT TURNING OFF THE ENGINE AND LETTING IT SIT, AND RESTARTING IT, THE LIGHT WOULD GO OFF. UPON GETTING HOME SAFETY, OUR MECHANICS DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING TO REPAIR AND SO LEFT IT BE, AND WOULD ONLY SOMETIMES SEE IT WHEN WE TRAVELED THROUGH THE VT MOUNTAINS, A FEW TIMES A YEAR. ALL RECALL REPAIRS WERE UP TO DATE. THERE WERE NO OTHER SYMPTOMS. INCIDENT: AS WE NEARING THE TOP OF A MOUNTAIN, THE TRANSAXLE LIGHT CAME ON. UNLIKE THE OTHER TIMES, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED TO BE IN THE CORRECT GEAR, SO UNLIKE THE OTHER TIMES, WE WERE VERY CONCERNED. WE PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY, AND AS WE REACHED THE SHOULDER SMOKE BEGAN POURING OUT OF THE VENTS. WE QUICKLY EVACUATED OUR KIDS, AND AS WE WERE GETTING THEM OUT WE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS ALREADY FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, NEAR THE WINDSHIELD, ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. WE ARE SO GLAD OUR KIDS WERE AWAKE, AND ABLE TO UNLATCH THEIR OWN CHILD CARSEATS, AND ABLE TO GET OUT QUICKLY. THE FIRE SPREAD TO THE ENTIRE VAN, CONSUMING EVERYTHING, AT A GREAT EXPENSE TO US. (AND OTHERS; OUR ACCIDENT BLOCKED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC FOR ABOUT 3 HOURS.) *TR