1998 Ford Windstar Transmission Problems

10/16/15 BOUGHT VAN. 10/30/15 STOP HAD TOWED HOME.CALL DEALERSHIP HAD TOWED TO THERE PLACE. THEY RAN A RED WIRE FROM FUSE RELAY TO INSIDE OF DASHBOARD TOOK OVER A WEEK GOT IT BACK. NOT IN EVEN WEEK LATER TRANSMISSION START MESSING UP TOLD THEM WOULDN'T CHANGE GEARS. IT WENT OUT. THEY DIDN'T WANT TO FIX IT FILE COMPLAINT WITH (DMV) INVESTIGATOR GOT IN TOUCH WITH THEM AGREEMENT WAS THEY WILL HAVE IT FIX WE DONT PAY LABOR, WE JUST PAY FOR TRANS AND FLUIDS. HAD IT TOWED THEY BEEN HAD VAN YEAR. 10/2016 THEY FOUND TRANS COST 515.PAID THEM. THEN IN 11/2016 SAID RADIATOR WAS CRACKED WE HAD TO PAY 102.84 ANOTHER MONTH 12/26/2016 GOT VAN. ITS MESSED UP SMOKING BRAKES BURNT UP.THE SPEEDOMETER LINES UNDER VAN NOT CONNECT JUST HANGING DONT MATCH UP ONE BROKE AT THE END. THE ODOMETER NOT HOOK UP. TOLD THEM THEN CARRIED TO INSPECTION FAILED. MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT THEY LIED THE TRANS COST 250 THE GUY THAT WAS WORKING ON IT BUSTED RADIATOR BUSTED IT THEY DIDNT TELL US. THEY RESPONSIBLE .THE MILES HAVE BEEN ROLLED BACK.2 TIMES. 10/15/2015 SAYS 144448.NOW 01/02/17 SAYS 144208. THEY BEEN HAD A YEAR AND THE ODOMETER DISCLOUSUER STATEMENT WAS SIGNED BY THE LADY NOT ME ARE MY WIFE.SHE SAID SHE DIDN'T BUT DID. WANT GIVE US MONEY BACK AND THEY PUT ALL THE INVOICES IN HIS NAME AND DEALERSHIP NAME LIKE WE DIDN'T PAY FOR ANYTHING AND SHE STILL WANT GIVE ME A INVOICE FOR THE 515 FOR TRANS. THE MAN GOING TO TELL ME PUT IT UP FOR SALE CANT THEY MESSED IT UP AND TOOK ALL OUR MONEY WE ONLY GET PAID ONCE A MONTH. WANT OUR MONEY BACK.

NHTSA ID

10954533

Incident

Oct 30, 2015

Mileage

144,448 mi

FORD ISSUED A TSB ON THIS PROBLEM. THE REPAIR IS TO REPROGRAM THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM). STALL DURING DECELERATION TO A STOP, PARKING AND/OR COASTING DURING SLOW SPEED TURNS. VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.8 LITER ENGINE. MY VAN IS DOING THIS BUT SHOWS NO RECALL WITH VIN # *TR

NHTSA ID

10512337

Incident

Apr 11, 2013

Mileage

140,000 mi

POPPING IN FRONT END WHEN TURNING OR HITTING BUMPS. THE POPPING SOUND WAS OFTEN. HAD NEW TIRES PUT ON, AND WHEN I TOOK IT IN TO HAVE FRONT END ALIGNED. FORD TECH. SAID FRONT SPRINGS WERE BROKE. WAS AN EST. OF $1200.00 ON IT CAN'T AFFORD. THIS WAS 5/20/2011. CONTACTED MFR ABOUT THE RECALL THAT WAS ISSUED ON THIS PART 7/12/2001. WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, BECAUSE OF A TIME LIMIT. HOW CAN THEY PUT A TIME LIMIT ON SAFETY & PEOPLES LIVES BECAUSE THE SPRINGS ARE BROKEN,THEY CAN PUNCTURE THE TIRES AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. NOW WE ARE WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION. AND MY SON IS DISABLED AND HAS NUMEROUS DR. APPTS. MILES AWAY. BUT MY HANDS ARE TIED. THE MFR. DID ADVISE TO HAVE ANOTHER RECALL CHECKED OUT WHICH IS THE SPEED CONTROL BECAUSE IT CAN CATCH FIRE. WHEN I ASKED WHY, YOU JUST TOLD ME IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.HE ADVISED IT COULD CATCH FIRE JUST SETTING IN THE DRIVE NOT RUNNING. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF EITHER ONE OF THESE RECALLS BY MAIL OR OTHER WISE UNTIL I CALLED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS. HOW DOES THESE BILLION DOLLAR COMPANY'S KEEP GETTING BY WITH NEGLIGENCE? THERE ARE LOTS OF RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE HELP! *TR

NHTSA ID

10405794

Incident

May 20, 2011

Mileage

142,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION BECAME STUCK IN OVERDRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE MAIN CONTROL VALVE WAS DEFECTIVE; IT WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT LATER BEGAN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE BRAKES AS THEY LOCKED UP WHEN THE CONTACT APPLIED THEM TO AVOID A DEER. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE WOODS AS A RESULT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ABS TONE RING SEAL HAD CRACKED; IT WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND THE DEALER THEN REPLACED THE TONE RING AND SENSOR. MONTHS LATER, THE BRAKES BEGAN TO GRAB. THE ENTIRE BRAKE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED FOUR TIMES. FURTHERMORE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE. THE SWITCH ASSIST IN ALL DOORS WAS REPLACED IN 2005. IN 2011, THE CONTACT HAD THE SAME FAILURE WITH THE SWITCH FOR THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SWITCH ON THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR AND CHECKED THE LATCHES ON THE DOORS BECAUSE THE DOOR LIGHT WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER ALSO REPLACED ALL THE SENSOR ASSISTS FOR THE DOORS. THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT WAS STILL ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,400 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA ID

10379940

Incident

Aug 28, 1998

Mileage

4,400 mi

FORD WINSTAR WILL NOT STAY IN PARK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10371994

Incident

Dec 12, 2010

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE AND THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

NHTSA ID

10362630

Incident

Apr 26, 2010

Mileage

155,000 mi

TRANSMISSION: 1998 FORD WINDSTAR MINI VAN: WHILE TRYING TO TURN AROUND IN A DRIVEWAY, I PUT IT IN REVERSE AND THERE WAS NOT A REVERSE OR DRIVE GEARS ,NOTHING. THE MOTOR REVVED, BUT COULD NOT MOVE. I WAS STRANDED WITH NO WARNING. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED SINCE IT WOULD NOT MOVE. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ONLINE, OTHER OWNERS, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD WINDSTAR MINI VAN. I FEEL THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD. I AGREE WITH SO MANY MORE CONSUMERS, WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN IN A RECALL. IT IS VERY, VERY DANGEROUS, SINCE IT JUST STOPS WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR PROBLEMS. I REALIZE IT IS TOO LATE FOR ME SINCE MINE IS IN THE SHOP ALREADY. HOWEVER, I AM ON A LIMITED INCOME AND PROBABLY WILL LOOSE THE VEHICLE DUE TO NO FUNDS FOR THE REPAIR. IF IT HAD BEEN ON A RECALL, THIS WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. THIS IS MY FIRST FORD VEHICLE AND MORE THAN LIKELY, WILL BE MY LAST! PLEASE DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH AND YOU WILL SEE HOW COMMON THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ID

10354930

Incident

Sep 10, 2010

Mileage

161,000 mi

1998 FORD WINDSTAR TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING OUT UNDER THE MOTOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10285359

Incident

Sep 23, 2009

Mileage

104,000 mi

1998 FORD WINDSTAR TRANSMISSION FAILED. NO WARNING, NO PROBLEMS PRIOR TO FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10276561

Incident

Jun 25, 2009

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT OBSERVED RED LIQUID LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, SHE DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V097000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION), BUT WAS UNAWARE IF HER VIN WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL OR IF PREVIOUS RECALL REPAIRS HAD BEEN PERFORMED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 124,528. UPDATED 02/24/09. *LJ UPDATED 02/24/09. *JB

NHTSA ID

10256105

Incident

Jan 23, 2009

Mileage

124,528 mi

1998 WINDSTAR, TRANSMISSION FAILURE, COMPLETE OVERHAUL , $1700.00 DOLLARS, THE VAN WAS BOUGHT FOR MY MOTHER, SHE'S 81 , THE VAN WAS THOUGHT TO BE DEPENDABLE AND LEFT HER ON THE ROAD. MECHANIC SAID THE PLANETARY GEARS WERE SHOT, NEW GEARS AND TORQUE CONVERTER, COMPLETE OVERHAUL. THE VAN WAS OWNED BY MY MOTHER IN LAW , BOUGHT NEW , WHEN SHE PASSED AWAY I GAVE IT TO MY MOTHER, TWO WOMEN DRIVERS, OVER 60 YEARS OF AGE, SO THERE WAS NO ABUSE TO THE VAN, ALWAYS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR OIL CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE,,,WHAT GIVES... *TR

NHTSA ID

10242121

Incident

Sep 3, 2008

Mileage

113,000 mi

I HAVE A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR VAN SV, I AVE SOME TRANSMISSION ISSUES. I HAVE TO HAVE A WHOLE TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL DONE. I FOUNT OUT THAT ALOT OF THE OTHER OWNERS OF THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE HAS SUFFERED THE SAME. WHAT WE HAVE FOUNT OUT IS THAT THAT MODEL OF VANS HAVE DEFAULT TRANSMISSIONS IN THEM. I WANT TO KNOW IF I COULD AT LEAST HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED OR TO KNOW ANY INFORMATION THAT WILL HELP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10236921

Incident

Jul 5, 2008

I BOUGHT A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR 3.0 L IN 1999. IN 2002 I RECEIVED A RECALL TO INSTALL FRONT SHIELDS OVER THE COIL SPRING SO I DID. YESTERDAY THE FRONT COIL SPRING PUNCTURED THE FRONT TIRE AND BROKE THE STRUTS AS WELL. WHEN CALLING FORD, THEY INFORM ME THAT THEY CAN NOT TELL ME WHEN MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED, JUST THAT THEY WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. THEY ISSUED THE WARRANTY FOR 10 YEARS FROM MANUFACTURER DATE EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL DID NOT TAKE PLACE UNTIL 3-4 YEARS AFTER MANUFACTURE DATE AND I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR THE RECOMMENDED CURE TO THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10235419

Incident

Jul 22, 2008

Mileage

110,000 mi

MY 1998 FORD WINDSTAR HAS BROKEN BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT COIL SPRINGS. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, MY ABS AND REGULAR BRAKE LIGHT WON'T GO AWAY EVEN AFTER SERVICING. MY OVERDRIVE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND STAYING LIT FOR DAYS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10219663

Incident

Jan 2, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE. SHE PARKED THE VEHICLE, CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD, AND FOUND THAT IT WAS VERY HOT AND SMELLED LIKE BURNED RUBBER. FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER, THERE WAS AN ENGINE FIRE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V097000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) WAS REFERENCED. THE PURCHASE DATE, POWERTRAIN, AND MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 04-08-08 *BF UPDATED 04/08/08 *TR

NHTSA ID

10217362

Incident

Nov 2, 2007

FRONT STABILIZER BAR BROKE IN HALF INSIDE BUSHING NONE OF THE AUTO TECHS COULD FIND THE PROBLEM FOR THE PART 2 YEARS (NOT EVEN DURING NY STATE INSPECTIONS) SO THEY PAST THE VAN ANYWAYS UNTILL FINALLY ONE GAVE A TUG ON THE PASSANGERS SIDE OF THE BAR AND IT CAME OUT OF THE BUSHING IN THEIR HANDS THE TECH SAID HE NEVER SAW A BAR BREAK LIKE THAT BEFORE AND THAT WAS THE CAUSE FOR HAVING TO GET THE WHEEL HUBS LOWERBALL JOINTS &TIE ROD ENDS REPLACED TWICE IN ONE YEAR ALONG WITH THE TIRES ON THE FRONT OF THE VAN SO THE VAN SITS IN THE DRIVE WAY UNTILL IT CAN GET FIXED (FINDING THE BAR IS THE HARD PART)DEALER SAID HE COULD NOT LOCATE ONE NOW WHAT???? ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APRESHIATED ALSO THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANNY 4 TIMES ONCE ABOUT EVERY 12000-17000 MILES AND ONE OF THE TRANNYS ONLY LASTED FOR 325 MILES BEFORE THE VAN DIED ON THE NY STATE THRUWAY ON OUR WAY TO CANADA FROM SYRACUSE,N.Y. THEN IT TOOK THE 5 WEEKS TO FIX THE VAN AND GET IT BACK TO ME SO HOW COULD I BE SURE THAT THE BREAKING OF THE SAWY BAR WAS NOT CAUSED FROM THE TECHS REMOVING THE UNIT X AMOUNT OF TIMES???????????ALONG WITH THE TIE RODS,WHEEL HUBS,ECT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10185729

Incident

Jan 27, 2007

Mileage

89,764 mi

1998 WINDSTAR JERKS WHEN DOWN SHIFTING. *TS *NM

NHTSA ID

10174344

Incident

Aug 15, 2006

I PURCHASED A 1998 WINDSTAR VAN FROM THE FORD DEALER LOCATED IN CORNING CA. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH IT PASSING SMOG FOR THE OXY SENSOR. AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS NEVER WORKED RIGHT. THE TURBO THING IS BAD. WHEN I WENT TO TRADE IT IN I FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF CANADA. AND THESE THINGS WERE PART OF THE RECALLS REPORTED TO YOU. BUT, FORD OF CORNING SAID THEY DID NOTHING TO THIS VAN BEFORE SELLING IT TO ME. I FOUND 14 THINGS WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE. I ACTED UP A MONTH AFTER PURCHASE. BUT I WAS ON AWARE OF MY RIGHTS AS A CONSUMER. ALSO, I WAS NOT SURE WHAT OMS MEANT. THE VAN IS STUCK IN FOLSOM,CA AT AAMCO TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP. FINANCED THROUGH FIRESIDE BANK. FORD OF CORNING SAID THEY DID NOTHING TO THE VAN BEFORE I PURCHASED IT BUT CLEANING IT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10171845

Incident

Jun 24, 2003

Mileage

3,700 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A BURNING SMELL WAS PRESENT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. UPON INSPECTION, THERE WAS TRANSMISSION FLUID ON THE GROUND OF THE DRIVEWAY. UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE THERE WAS FLUID LEAKING OUT OF THE SERVO COVER OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND FAXED A COPY OF THE NHTSA RECALL #97V097000. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION MECHANIC STATED THERE WAS NO RECALLS PERTAINING TO THE SERVO COVER AND THERE WERE NEVER ANY VEHICLES REPAIRED AT THAT DEALERSHIP ACCORDING TO THE NHTSA RECALL. WHEN THE DEALER WAS ASKED TO FIX THE VEHICLE BASED ON THE RECALL, THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THE INFORMATION MEANT NOTHING TO THEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO EXPRESSED THAT THEY COULD NOT AUTHORIZED REPAIRS FOR THE VEHICLE UNDER THE NHTSA RECALL. *NM

NHTSA ID

10170757

Incident

Oct 10, 2006

Mileage

100,000 mi

TRANSMISSION WAS SLOW GOING INTO GEAR,WAS VERY NOISY AND WOULD NOT SHIFT IT FINALLY LOCKED UP IN GEAR AND WOULD NOT MOVE. IT WAS TOWED IN TO A REPAIR SHOP AND I WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD. THE VAN HAS ONLY 46,000 MILES ON IT. A 30,000 DOLLAR CAR SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN THIS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10134388

Incident

Aug 5, 2005

Mileage

46,101 mi

VAN WILL STALL WHEN DECELERATING INTO A TURN, OCURRS 2-3 TIMES PER WEEK. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 84,000 MILES COSTNG $1,700 TO REPAIR. VAN WOULD VIBRATE AND STUTTER WHEN ACEELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. HAD VAN TO DEALER 3-4 TIMES FOR STALLING PROBLEM, THEY CLAIMED THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG.

NHTSA ID

10123946

Incident

May 28, 2005

Mileage

5 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING FOR ABOUT FIVE OR TEN MILES ,IF THE CONTACT GOES TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN OR STOP, THE VEHICLE WILL STALL. THIS OCCURS WHILE DECELERATING. HE STATES THAT EVERYTHING WORKS FINE WHILE HE IS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. IT JUST WHEN HE GOES TO STOP THAT HE HAS THE PROBLEMS. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HIS PERSONAL MECHANIC , AND THEY REPLACED THE IDLE CONTROL ,AND CLEANED THE INJECTORS. HOWEVER, VEHICLE STILL HAS THIS PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WITH NO WARNING. IT WILL START BACK UP AS SOON AS IT STALLS WHEN HE PUTS IT IN PARK. THE CONTACT STATES THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN 100 TIMES. VEHICLE HAS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE IS REGULARLY MAINTAINED. IT STARTED ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND IT WOULDN'T DO IT ALL THE TIME AND NOW IT IS DOING ALMOST EVERY TIME YOU SLOW DOWN. HAS CAME VERY CLOSE TO CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10120560

Incident

May 10, 2004

1998 FORD WINDSTAR TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH.*MR THE CONSUMER HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED 2 1/2 YEARS AGO. *JB

NHTSA ID

10117688

Incident

Feb 26, 2005

THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE ROAD WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE DRIVE GEAR POPPED OUT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN AND NOT MOVE. MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED BY CONSUMER.*AK

NHTSA ID

10112809

Incident

Feb 18, 2005

ENGINE SHUTS DOWN INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DECELERATING INTO A TURN. IT ALSO SHUTS DOWN MOMENTARILY (VEHICLE "BUCKS") OR FULLY (STALLS COMPLETELY) DURING NORMAL DRIVING, INDEPENDENT OF SPEED. THE LATTER PROBLEM IS MUCH MORE COMMON THAN THE FORMER! CONSEQUENCE: SEVERAL NEAR-MISS REAR-END COLLISIONS, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. AN INDEPENDENT TECHNICIAN REPLICATED BUT COULD NOT PROPERLY REPAIR THE PROBLEM(S). THE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN OCCURRING FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10106588

Incident

Jan 7, 2005

Mileage

42,200 mi