The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating complaints concerning the 2004-05 Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans, which have been reported to have defective transmissions that can cause the moving vehicles to stop suddenly. Federal safety officials say that as many as 205,000 vehicles could be affected.

According to the NHTSA website, investigators are focusing on the torque converter output shaft. The shaft, in the rear of the transmission, drives the wheels. To date, the NHTSA has received 654 customer complaints and 2,791 warranty claims related to the vehicles’ sudden inability to move on the road. Clarence Ditlow, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety, considers it a safety defect that calls for a recall. The agency’s engineering analysis will be completed in 12 months, according to NHTSA. Ford has yet to issue a statement with regards to the ongoing investigation.

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Tags:car news, Ford, ford freestar nhtsa, ford freestar nhtsa transmission, Mercury, mercury monterey nhtsa, mercury monterey nhtsa transmission
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