2006 Ford Freestar Complaint Log

I WAS STANDING AT THE REAR OF MY SISTER'S NEW 2006 FORD FREESTAR VAN. MY 2 1/2 YEAR OLD SON WAS INSIDE THE VAN. THE VAN WAS NOT RUNNING. MY SON CLIMBED OVER THE FRONT SEAT FROM THE BACK SEAT AND PULLED DOWN ON THE SHIFTER LEVER CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COME OUT OF GEAR AND ROLL BACKWARD OUT OF A GRADED DRIVEWAY. THE VAN STRUCK MY RIGHT LEG AND RIGHT ELBOW CAUSING MINOR INJURIES. AFTER GETTING THE VEHICLE STOPPED I NEEDED TO KNOW WHY THE VEHICLE CAME OUT OF GEAR, AS THIS COULD'VE BEEN A SMALL CHILD BEHIND THIS VEHICLE INSTEAD OF MYSELF, THE RESULTS OF WHICH WOULD'VE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. DURING MY INVESTIGATION OF THIS CIRCUMSTANCE; WHILE I HAD ASSUMED THAT YOU HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO RELEASE THE SHIFTER LEVER, I INSTEAD DISCOVERED THE FOLLOWING: -- 1. IF THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING AND IN PARK, YOU MUST DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO RELEASE THE SAFETY FEATURE WHICH PREVENTS THE SHIFTER FROM COMING OUT OF GEAR. -- 2. IF THE VEHICLE IS NOT RUNNING, YOU ONLY HAVE TO TURN THE KEY ONE NOTCH TO RELEASE THE SAFETY FEATURE WHICH PREVENTS THE SHIFTER FROM COMING OUT OF GEAR. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AT ALL !!! I HAVE SINCE QUESTIONED MANY OTHERS TO SEE IF THE SAME IS TRUE, AND WAS SHOCKED TO DISCOVER THAT THIS IS NOT THE ONLY VEHICLE IN WHICH THIS OCCURS. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS DEFECT THAT THE PUBLIC ISN'T ROUTINELY AWARE OF, AND ONE THAT COULD POTENTIALLY KILL SOMEONE UNDER SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES. I HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THIS SUPPOSED SAFETY FEATURE POSES A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY, AS I HAVE BELIEVED FOR MANY YEARS THAT THIS SAFETY FEATURE PREVENTED ACCIDENTAL SHIFTER ACTUATION. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS OR MAKE IT KNOWN TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT COULD OCCUR UNDER SIMILAR (AND ALL TOO COMMON) CIRCUMSTANCES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION TO THIS VERY VALID CONCERN. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING A PUBLISHED WARNING, OR PERHAPS EVEN A GLOBAL RECALL, THAT ADDRESSES THIS POTENTIAL DANGER IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RPM REVVED FROM 0 TO 2 AND THE VEHICLE BUCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A SERVICE DEALER; UPON INSPECTION BOTH REAR AND FRONT BRAKE SYSTEMS HAD FAILED CAUSING THE TRACTION CONTROL TO AUTOMATICALLY USE THE BRAKES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMPUTER SYSTEM HOWEVER 48 HOURS LATER THE VEHICLE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. UPDATED 5/10/2006 - *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED ON 4-18-06 WHILE WASHING THE VEHICLE, THE RUBBER SURROUNDING THE FRONT WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE CAME LOOSE. ON 4-20-06 WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH THE RUBBER SURROUNDING THE FRONT WINDSHIELD ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE ALSO CAME LOOSE. THE RUBBER IS STILL ATTACHED AT THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. IN ADDITION, WHILE THE VEHICLE IS PARKED, IF YOU PLACE YOUR WEIGHT ON THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE ROCKS BACK AND FORTH. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON SIX TIMES DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY DECELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE AND HAD TO BE PULLED OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SIX TIMES, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,585. THE CONSUMER STATED WAS NOT INFORMED REPAIR WOULD REMEDY THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

THE FACTORY ISSUED WIPER BLADES ON THE 2004 AND 2006 FORD FREESTAR MINIVAN DO NOT WORK WELL. WHEN WIPING THEY LEAVE MAJOR STREAKS ACROSS MY LINE OF VISION. IN SOME CASES I HAVE HAD TO NARROWLY DODGE ACCIDENTS BECAUSE I COULD NOT SEE. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THEIR IS LITTLE, OR A LOT OF RAIN OR SNOW. IF IT IS BAD WEATHER IT IS PRETTY MUCH A GUARANTEE THAT THE WIPERS WILL NOT WORK. I HAVE TRIED CHANGING THEM TO DIFFERENT STYLE BLADES BUT IT DOES NO GOOD. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THE FORD WIPER. PERHAPS THE WIPER IS SIMPLY TOO LIGHT AND "FLOATS" WHEN DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. ANY SPEED HIGHER THAN 35 TENDS TO CAUSE THE WIPERS TO SMEAR RATHER THAN WIPE. *NM

DT: CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2005 WHILE GOING 25 MPH. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAG COVER OVER THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE CAME OUT ABOUT AND QUARTER OF AN INCH; HOWEVER, THE ACTUAL AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IT WAS A SIDE IMPACT AND PASSENGERS SIDE IT WAS A HEAD ON IMPACT. *AK