1996 Ford Windstar Transmission Problems

I PURCHASED A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR VAN 3.0 L IN JUNE 2010. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE FROM DAY 1 TO CURRENT MOST DANGEROUS IS THE BLOWING SPARK PLUG WHICH HAS BLOWN OUT 2 TIMES FORCING ME TO DRIVE IT TO A PLACE WHERE IT COULD BE PARKED FOR REPAIR FIRST TIME BLOW OUT WAS 7 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE REPAIRED BY A MECHANIC NOW 2000 MILES LATER AGAIN BLEW OUT FORD SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES FOR IGNORING SUCH A HUGE HAZARD THIS COULD SERIOUSLY IGNITE FUEL FUMES AND CAUSE A MAJOR FIRE, EXPLOSION WHILE SOME ONE IS DRIVING WITH THERE CHILDREN TO FIND A REPAIR SHOP UNAWARE OF THE DANGER AND DAMAGE THIS COULD CAUSE, SECOND ISSUE IS A FAILING SHIFTING MODULE OR TRANNY AND THIS HAS HAPPENED ALOT DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VANS TRANSMISSION SHIFTS TO A 1ST OR 2ND GEAR CAUSING EXTREME CHANGE IN SPEED AND IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WE HAVE ALMOST BEEN REARENDED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THIS ISSUE, VESSIL MUST BE PULLED OVER AND TRANS RESET BY SHIFTING TO PARK AND SOMETIMES SHUTTING OFF THE VEHICLE AND STARTING IT AGAIN.FORD DEALER GAVE US A 3000. ESTIMATE TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AND TOLD US WE WOULD CONTINUE TO REPLACE TRANS APROX EVERY 70,000 MILES THIS IS A CHUMP WAY TO BUILD CARS AND THEY HAVE MANAGED TO GET MORE MONEY OUT OF REPAIRS THAN SALES I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER FORD AGAIN SAFE OR NOT. FORD SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECLAIM ALL THESE DANGEROUS VEHICLES AND REPLACE ALL MONEY SPENT ON REPAIRS AND PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLES DUE TO ENDANGERING AND THERE IS NO WAY THEY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10401099

Incident

Jul 1, 2010

Mileage

125,000 mi

THERE WAS NO CRASH. THERE WAS NO WARNING WHAT SO EVER. I WAS DRIVING A CLIENT HOME FROM A PICNIC AND PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT TO PARK AND SMOKE STARTED ROLLING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I GOT MY PASSENGER WHO WAS IN A WHEELCHAIR TO SAFETY AND OPENED THE HOOD TO FIND FLAMES COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE TRANSAXLES. I PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE "TRANSAXLES RANGE SENSOR" AND PLUG JUST FORWARD OF THE RANGE SENSOR WERE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE WIRING HARNESS ABOVE COMING OUT OF THE BLACK BOX(FUSE BOX) WAS ALSO BURNT. THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10283712

Incident

Aug 21, 2009

Mileage

187,569 mi

THE PARK PAWL SHAFT OCCASIONALLY DOES NOT ENGAGE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION OR OTHER POSITION. THEREFORE, THE VEHICLE EITHER DOES NOT STAY STILL OR DOES NOT MOVE WHEN PLACED IN GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10239896

Incident

Jun 1, 2008

Mileage

153,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS AT ANY SPEED THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED CONTINOUSLY AND WOULD NOT GO INTO OVERDRIVE WHEN GAS WAS APPLIED WHILE TRYING TO PASS OTHER VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A REPUTABLE TRANSMISION SERVICE. THE CONTACT DISREGARDED THE OPTION BECAUSE IT WAS TOO FAR AND THE TOWING TOO EXPENSIVE. A TIRE WAS ALSO PUNCTURED WHILE REPAIRING A COIL SPRING. AFTER THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITHOUT BEING BALANCED THE VEHICLE LOST ITS ALIGMENT.

NHTSA ID

10161094

Incident

Dec 9, 2005

Mileage

125,000 mi

1996 WINDSTAR MINIVAN PARK PAWL PIN IS DEFECTIVE. GEAR MOVED OUT OF PARK HITTING CONSUMER. *TS A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED REGARDING THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10151974

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

Mileage

16,000 mi

DT: WHEN THE OWNER BOUGHT THE CAR IN 1996 HE NOTICED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS HARD TO REMOVE FROM PARK. THE GEAR SHIFTER DEVELOPED A LOT OF PLAY. WHEN THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE THE GEAR POSITION INDICATOR SHOWED THAT THE CAR WAS IN REVERSE OR NEUTRAL. WHEN THE CAR WAS IN REVERSE THE GEAR POSITION INDICATOR SHOWED PARK. THE OWNER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE CAR MAY ROLL OUT OF GEAR BECUASE IT WAS USUALLY PARKED ON A SMALL HILL. THE OWNER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 1996.THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED IN 1997 WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. THE OWNER WAS UNSURE IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE OWNER STATED THAT EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION, THE VEHICLE ALWAYS HAD THE THE GEAR POSITION INDICATOR PROBLEM. THE OWNER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, AND THE MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT THE CAR WAS HARD TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THEN THE OWNER CHECKED AND SAW THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION. THE OWNER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10134156

Incident

Oct 1, 1996

Mileage

5,000 mi

START VAN EVERYTHING FINE. STOP AT STORE,ETC. RESTART VAN STARTS JERKING AND GOES INTO SECOND GEAR AND WILL NOT GO BACK INTO DRIVE MOSTLY JERKING ALL THE WAY OR SLIPS INTO DRIVE AND THEN BACK TO SECOND WITH A JERK OVER AND OVER AGAIN. DON'T HAVE MONEY TO FIX IF REALLY BAD SO PLEASE WHAT COULD THIS BE?? GIVE TIME TO SIT OVERNIGHT AND START ITS OK AGAIN??*AK

NHTSA ID

10118467

Incident

Feb 9, 2005

I BROUGHT MY 1996 FORD WINDSTAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE, AND WAS TOLD TIE RODS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. , THEN, NEXT DAY, THEY PHONED AND ADVISED ME THAT TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE BECAUSE THE PAN WAS FULL OF SHAVINGS, ALSO, POWER STEERING RACK WAS LEAKING, AND INTAKE GASKET NEEDED REPLACEMENT. , A TOTAL OF $5000 TO FIX THIS VEHICLE. I BOUGHT IT AT 118,000 MILES, AND THIS HAPPENED SHORTLY AFTER OWNING IT FOR ONE YEAR. CURRENTLY, IT HAS 134,000 MILES, AND CANNOT BE DRIVEN. I PARKED VEHICLE THEN STARTED IT AFTER BEING PARKED FOR A WEEK. HEARD A NOISE FROM FRONT, AND THEN WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. I DO BELIEVE THAT PAUL CORNIES, THE DEALER THAT I PURCHASED VEHICLE KNEW THAT THEY WERE SELLING ME A LEMON. IT HAS CAUSED ME A LOT OF HARDSHIP AS I NO LONGER WORK DUE TO HEALTH REASONS. I FILED FOR DISABILITY INSURANCE, AND WAS TOLD THAT I HAD A PREEXISTING DISEASE , AND REFUSED TO PAY THE INSURANCE. CURRENTLY, I HAVE A JUNKER IN MY DRIVEWAY THAT I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX , AND A BILL FOR THE NEXT 3 YEARS, SINCE I STILL OWE FOR IT. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD. *AK

NHTSA ID

10118128

Incident

Apr 5, 2004

Mileage

134,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND NOTICED THAT FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB *NM

NHTSA ID

10083504

Incident

Jul 12, 2004

Mileage

130,000 mi

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES AT APPROXIMATELY EVERY 17,000 MILES. THE CAUSE OF THE MALFUNCTION OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT DISCLOSED TO THE CONSUMER BY THE DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID

10061434

Mileage

17,000 mi

1996 FORD WINDSTAR AUTO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. INTERMITTENTLY WILL LOCK IN 1ST OR 2ND GEAR SHIFTING UP. ALSO TRANSMISSION, INTERMITTENTLY WILL DOWN SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR WHILE CRUSING AT 60-70 MPH. THIS SOMETIMES LASTS HOURS AND THEN FOR NO APPARENT REASON DESIDES TO SHIFT ABSOLUTLY FINE. I HAVE CHANGED THE FLUID, FILTER AND GASKET. INTERNALLY LOOKS VERY CLEAN MINUSCULE AMOUNTS OF FILINGS AND NO APPARENT CONTAMINATION. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT COMPUTER MODULES AND OR SENSERS ARE INVOLVED. I HAVE HEARD OF THE,TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (TCM) AND THE-----(PCM)?...WHAT ARE THIS ? WHAT IS THEIR PURPOSE? ARE THERE OTHERS?WHERE ARE THEY LOCATED?WHAT DO THEY COST? I CANNOT BELEIVE THE TRANSMISSIONS NEEDS A $2000 REBUILD WHEN IT PERFORMS PERFECTLY MOST OF THE TIME. LOGIC CONVINCES ME IT MAY VERY WELL BE AS SIMPLE AS PLUG AND PLAY. YET NO TRANSMISSION SHOPS WANT TO HEAR OF IT, THEY WANT TO REBUILD. MY COMPLAINT IS NOT WITH THE EQUIPTMENT BUT WITH THE EXPERTS , ESPECIALLY THE DEALERS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF CUSTOMERS. CASE IN POINT, THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT ON THE WINDSTAR DEALER PRICED THE REPAIR NO LESS THAN $1450.00 AND NOT TO BE SURPRISED AT FINAL COST UPWARDS OF $2200.00. I HAD IT TOWED 70 MILES TO MY LOCAL MECHINIC AND THE COSTS INCLUDING THE TOW JOB WAS $237.00. I WISH HE WAS A TRANSMISSION MECH. BUT HE IS NOT.YOU HAVE MY E-MAIL ADDRESS I ASSUME YOU WANTED THAT TO HELP ME. ANSWER MY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COMPUTER MODULE ETC..AND PLEASE DO NOT GIVE MY ADDRESS TO ANY OTHER SITES FOR THAT MATTER TO ANYONE AT ALL. DO THIS, YOU WILL EARN MY TRUST, I WILL BE GREATFUL, YOU JUST NEED TO ASK.*AK

NHTSA ID

10045897

Incident

Oct 4, 2003

Mileage

116,786 mi

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE POSSIBLY DUE TO LOW TRANSMISSION FLUID FOLLOWING GUIDELINES IN OWNERS GUIDE . AFTER FAILURE AND SUBSEQUENT REPLACEMENT. I FOUND AN ARTICLE IN NEWSPAPER QUOTED FROM FORD REGARDING FLUID LEVEL MAINTENANCE WHICH WAS DIFFERENT THAN RECOMMENDATION IN THE OWNERS GUIDE. *LA

NHTSA ID

10045131

Incident

Sep 17, 2003

Mileage

103,289 mi

WHEN STOPPED AT STOP SIGN, VAN HESITATED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR FOR ABOUT 5-10 SECONDS AND THEN JERKED INTO DRIVE. THIS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES..TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY COULDN'T TELL ME WHAT WAS WRONG, JUST THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HAD TRANSMISSION OVERHAULED...$1800 THAT I DIDN'T HAVE. 1 YR LATER NOW HAVING MORE PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION, WHEN GOING AROUND CORNERS VAN SEEMS TO SLIP INTO NEUTRAL UNTIL IT'S STRAIGHTENED OUT. WHEN PROCEEDING FROM A STOP AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT'S SPINNING THE TIRES, BUT THE POWER ISN'T GETTING THE TIRES, AFTER LETTING OFF THE GAS IT MOVES, BUT THIS IS VERY HAZARDOUS, ESPECIALLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC..WILL BE TAKING THE VAN TO GET FIXED....AGAIN. NO MORE FORDS FOR ME!!!!*AK

NHTSA ID

10043645

Incident

Sep 18, 2001

PROBLEMS WITH GAS FUMES COMING FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM.*MR( DORIS STEWART ON BEHALF OF HER PARENTS ROBERT STEWART AND JACQUELINE STEWART).*TS. THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AT IDLE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEAD GASKETS, THE AIR CONDITION STOPPED WORKING AND THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10040361

REPLACED RACK AND PINION FOR THE SECOND TIME 8/01 ( BY DEALERSHIP) AND 5/03. ALSO REPLACED FRONT END BEARING IN 1999 AND TRANSMISSION. WIRING HARNESS IN 2000. REAR A/C DOES NOT WORK AND THAT'S ONLY THE ITEMS I CAN REMEBER.*AK

NHTSA ID

10030855

Incident

Aug 5, 2003

Mileage

85,550 mi

CONTINUOUS FAILED TRANSMISSION. HAVE HAD 4 ACTUAL REBUILT/REPLACEMENTS. BEGGED FOR EXTEDED WARRANTY, RECEIVED. SHORTEST LIVED TRANSMISSION WAS 300 MI. 1 MO. OUT OF WARRANTY, TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN, ON HIGHWAY, 100 MI FROM HOME WITH 3 DISABLED CHILDREN IN CAR. WILL BE VEHICLES ACTUAL 6TH TRANSMISSION. HAS NOW 98K MI, BOUGHT NEW OFF LOT (1ST TRANSMISSION IN 1ST YR OWNED). IRIONICALLY PERSON 1 MI DOWN THE HIGHYWAY HAD 1999 WINDSTAR WHO'S TRANMISSION HAD ALSO JUST FAILED. BOUGHT CAR FOR CHILDREN DUE TO SAFETY, IS NOTHING BUT A LEMON AND FORD WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10025417

Incident

Jul 3, 2003

Mileage

98,800 mi

ENGINE SPEWING WATER. DIAGNOSED AS FREEZE PLUGS BLOWING 72,000 MILES. AT 42,000 MILES TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE WORKED ON. JUMPED OUT OF DRIVE TO NEUTRAL. VEHICLE HAS HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE SINCE PURCHASED NEW. *JB

NHTSA ID

10021321

Incident

Jun 8, 2003

Mileage

71,000 mi

FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION

NHTSA ID

10019157

Incident

May 1, 2003

Mileage

94,000 mi

TRANSMISSION FAILED INTERNALLY, CAUSING OUTSIDE CASE TO CRACK, AND STARTED LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID. NEEDED TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION FOR $2400. THIS AT 72,000 MILES, AND AFTER REPLACING ENTIRE ENGINE (UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY) AT 59,000 MILES. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED PER THE OWNER'S MANUAL, SINCE BUYING NEW. THE ONLY SATISFACTION IS THAT FORD HAS LOST MONEY ON THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF ALL THE WARRANTY WORK DONE FOR THE FIRST SIX YEARS OF IT'S LIFE. HAVE HAD MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE LAST 4 FORDS I HAVE OWNED, ALL AT LESS THAN 60,000 MILES. NO MORE FORDS IN MY FUTURE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10013999

Incident

Mar 22, 2003

Mileage

72,000 mi

TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE. OCCASIONALLY DURING STOP AND GO TRANSMISSION WILL NOT UP SHIFT OUT OF 1ST TO HIGHER GEAR. APPEARS RANDOM. DEALER COULD NOT RE-CREATE PROBLEM, AND THEREFORE COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. HOWEVER, AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 1996 FORD WINDSTAR'S. THE ONLY SOLUTION APPEARS TO REQUIRE A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. BUT, AGAIN NHSTA COMPLAINTS INCLUDE OWNERS HAVING TO HAVE TRANSMISSION REBUILT MORE THAN ONCE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10010875

Incident

Mar 21, 2003

Mileage

80,000 mi

THE ABS LIGHT HAD FLASHED PERIODICALLY, THE TRANSMISSION HAD BURNT OUT, AND THE ENGINE HAD BECOME CONTAMINATED WITH COOLANT. THE CONSUMER HAD REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE CHARGE OF THE REBUILT ENGINE. SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10008655

Mileage

10,335 mi

ABS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONSTANT, REPLACED O2 SENSOR, REPLACED ABS BRAKES, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS CAUSING VEHICLE TO JERK AND NOT CHANGE GEARS WHEN RUNNING OR PARKED, COOLANT LEAKING AND DOOR SENSORS ARE BAD. ALL DOCUMENT KNOWN ISSUES ON.*JB HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/MODELYEAR_FORD_WINDSTAR_1996.HTML - SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. THIS HAS GONE ON FAR TO LONG AND IS PUTTING PEOPLES LIFE AT STAKE. I HAVE CHILDREN IN MY VAN AND ALL OF THESE ARE BIG ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESS IMMEDIATELY.

NHTSA ID

10008147

Incident

Jan 14, 2001

Mileage

62,000 mi

THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACK WITH THE GEAR IN THE PARKING POSITION ON THE DRIVE WAY

NHTSA ID

10003546

Incident

Jan 17, 2003

Mileage

80,000 mi

TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN 1996 FORD WINDSTAR, REQUIRING COMPLETE REPLACEMEN AT APPROX 70K MILES

NHTSA ID

10003256

Incident

Jun 15, 2002

Mileage

70,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE. *NLM TRANSMISSION REPLACED. *TT

NHTSA ID

10019331

Incident

Apr 26, 2003

Mileage

39,500 mi