RoadVitals

1999 Ford Windstar Transmission Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Transmission reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
211
Latest Aug 17, 2011
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
14%
of 1,522 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
13
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
4

What this page shows

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Ford Windstar submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 211 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming transmission

The 25 most recent of 211, in the owner's own words

BrakesElectricalTransmission
Filed Aug 17, 2011

ABS LIGHT IS ON CONTINUOUSLY. OVERDRIVE JUMPING IN AND OUT OF GEAR AFTER DRIVING IT 30 MINUTES OR MORE. I READ THE RECALL AND SAFETY REPORT THAT BRAKE FLUID LEAKS ON THE ABS SWITCH CONNECTED TO THE MASTER CYLINDER WHICH CAN CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC FIRE. I DIDN'T RECEIVE ANYTHING IN THE MAIL FROM FORD ON MY VEHICLE ON THIS PROBLEM AS OF YET. ALSO THE COOLANT LINE THAT RAN UNDER PORT INJECTION WAS WELDED LEAKING WATER WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING. *KB

NHTSA ID
10419919
Incident
Aug 17, 2011
Mileage
120,259 mi
Transmission
Filed Jun 30, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN DECELERATING AND LOSING POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SEAL HAD FAILED AND CAUSED TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK WHEN THE TEMPERATURE OF THE VEHICLE INCREASED. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

NHTSA ID
10410072
Incident
Jun 15, 2011
Mileage
45,000 mi
Body & structureEngineTransmission
Filed Apr 27, 2011

1999 FORD WINDSTAR. CONSUMER WRITES TO EXPRESS DISCONTENT REGARDING FORD MOTOR COMPANY *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE PROBLEMS. ALSO, THE VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION, DUE TO A RUSTED SUBFRAME. FORD OFFERED TO BUY THE VEHICLE BACK FROM THE CONSUMER.

NHTSA ID
10397722
Incident
Apr 1, 2011
Transmission
Filed Mar 16, 2011

1999 FORD WINDSTAR. CONSUMER STATES WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOUD NOISE LIKE AN EXPLOSION AND THEN VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SHE BARELY GOT THROUGH THE TRAFFIC LIGHT *TGW THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TO TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY INFORMED HER THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10391788
Incident
Jan 13, 2011
Transmission
Filed Nov 1, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE HAD BEEN OCCURRING SINCE OCTOBER 2010. THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 125,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 126,000.

NHTSA ID
10363509
Incident
Oct 2, 2010
Mileage
125,000 mi
Heating & air conditioningDriver assistanceTransmission
Filed Oct 9, 2010

I HAVE A FORD WINDSTAR YEAR 1999. ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO THE TWO BRAKE LIGHTS WENT ON, I HAD A FUSE # 10 BLOWN AND A NON WORKING SPEEDOMETER DIAL.( THE CRUISE CONTROL HAS THREE MONTHS THAT IS NOT WORKING) I DID TAKE A LOOK AT THE OWNER'S MANUAL. IN THE MANUAL I READ THAT REASON FOR THE BREAK LIGHT TO COME ON WAS THE LOWER LEVEL OF BRAKE FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR AND SO IT WAS. I ADDED SOME BRAKE FLUID AND THE LIGHT WAS OFF. IN THE MEAN TIME I DID CHECKED THE FUSE PANEL AND I FOUND THIS FUSE #10 WAS BLOWN AND I REPLACED IT, BUT HALF AN HOUR LATER I GOT A BLOWN FUSE AGAIN. ALSO THE ABS LIGHT WAS ON AND SO I DECIDED TO SEE A MECHANIC. I DID GO TO A REPAIR SHOP AND I WAS TOLD THAT MY VAN HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. SCDS UNDER THE MASTER CYLINDER HAS DEVELOPED A BAD LEAK. THE SCDS SWITCH IS LEAKING AND THAT MAY CAUSE A FIRE SOONER OR LATER. THIS LEAK HAS CAUSED A SHORT AND A FUSE TRIP #10 THIS BREAK FLUID LEAK HAS WICKED DOWN THE WIRES TO THE ABS MODULE. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS LEAKY SWITCH HAS CAUSED ALL THE PROBLEM IN MY VAN. SPEEDOMETER, CRUISE CONTROL AND ABS BRAKE SYSTEM ARE NOT WORKING. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE MAY BE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEMS. I DO NOT KNOWANY THING ABOUT IT. I KNOW THAT IT WAS A RECALL ISSUED ON AUGUST 27,2010 IN REGARD WITH REAR AXEL. I NEVER GOT ANY NOTICE FROM FORD CO. I HAD A BROKEN REAR AXEL ON MARCH 2010 AND I WAS SAVED BY GOOD LUCK. I PAID A LOT OF MONEY TO FIX IT. FORD DID NOT PAY A DIME FOR THIS PROBLEM. FORD NEVER SENDS ME ANY RECALL NOTICES. I'M NEVER GOING TO BUY FORD CARS AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10359889
Incident
Sep 29, 2010
Mileage
129,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 5, 2010

TRANSMISSION BANGS HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR AND OVERDRIVE LIGHT COMES ON SAYING OD IS OFF. THIS STARTED A FEW MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT IT IN LATE 2001;IT WAS FIXED BY THE DEALER. IT STARTED AGAIN IN EARLY 2006. MILLER FORD REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IT WAS JUST OUT SIDE OF MY 4 YEAR WARRANTY BUT STILL WITHIN THE MILEAGE. (79,000). I TOOK IT BACK AGAIN IN 2008. THEY STILL WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING FOR ME. TOOK IT 2009 THEY LOOKED AT IT, CHARGED ME $400.00 DOLLARS AND SAID I NEEDED A NEW RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION. OH WELL. NO MORE FORDS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10347584
Incident
Jun 18, 2009
Mileage
79,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jun 24, 2010

1999 FORD WINDSTAR VAN. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH FRONT END SHUDDERS ON ACCELERATION, SOMETIMES DOESN'T MOVE AT ALL WHEN GAS IS PRESSED *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A RECALL AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER, PROBLEMS DEVELOPED. FOUR DAYS LATER, THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. *JB

NHTSA ID
10340069
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Transmission
Filed Jun 4, 2010

1999 FORD WINDSTAR EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 114,000 MILES DESPITE HAVING ABSOLUTELY NO PRIOR ISSUES OF THIS NATURE. I WAS AT A RED LIGHT APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE FROM THE ON-RAMP OF I-25 WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED AND JERKED BEFORE ACCELERATING; AFTER PULLING OVER TO CHECK FOR DAMAGE (AS I WAS SURE I HAD HIT/RUN OVER SOMETHING), I FOUND NOTHING UNUSUAL AND PROCEEDED ONTO THE INTERSTATE. THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY FOR APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES AT FREEWAY SPEED UNTIL I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. UPON TRYING TO ACCELERATE, THE ENGINE WOULD ONLY REV REGARDLESS OF THE GEAR I USED, AT WHICH TIME I CONTACTED AN AUTOMOTIVE SHOP TO TOW THE VEHICLE. CURRENTLY, I AM AWAITING A CALL FROM THE SHOP AFTER THEIR FULL DIAGNOSIS, WHICH I WILL UPDATE THIS COMPLAINT. A SUDDEN PROBLEM OF THIS MAGNITUDE IS PERPLEXING AS WELL AS POTENTIALLY COSTLY. AFTER READING PAGES OF COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO MINE, I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THE HIGH(ER) MILEAGE OF MY VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT SPEAKS TO THE LEVEL OF REGULAR MAINTENANCE I HAVE PROVIDED. PLEASE CONSIDER SERIOUSLY INVESTIGATING THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO MINE BEFORE A LIFE IS TAKEN AS A RESULT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10334642
Incident
Jun 1, 2010
Mileage
114,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 19, 2009

SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER BEING TRANSMITTED FROM THE ENGINE TO THE WHEELS (LATER DETERMINED TO BE A FAILED TORQUE CONVERTER THAT ALSO DESTROYED THE TRANSMISSION). *TR

NHTSA ID
10292936
Incident
Mar 7, 2009
Mileage
92,000 mi
BrakesOther / unspecifiedTransmission
Filed Aug 26, 2009

ABS LIGHT, O/D LIGHT IN DASHBOARD COMING ON. WHEN VEHICLE PURCHASED AS USED CAR THESE ITEMS SHOWED UP ON THE DRIVE HOME AFTER PURCHASE. VEH HAS BEEN IN TO FORD DEALERSHIP GARAGE 4 TIMES. BRAKES WERE WORKING FINE AT THAT TIME. 3 MONTHS LATER BRAKE LIGHT COME ON. CHECK AND FIND THAT BRAKE FLUID IS LEAKING FROM MULTIPLE LOCATIONS. ONE BEING THE BRAKE PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (2B264) LOCATED UNDER THE MASTER CYLINDER. UPON REMOVING THIS PLUG I FOUND BRAKE FLUID IN THE CONNECTION. LOOKING BELOW I FOUND BRAKE FLUID ON THE WIRING HARNESS BELOW THE SWITCH AND ON THE METAL PANEL, WHERE IT HAD ACTUALLY BEGAN TO RUST. BELIEVE THIS HARNESS IS THE POWER STEERING WIRING. BRAKE PEDAL IN CAB NOW GOES TO THE FLOOR BEFORE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THERE IS A HISSING SOUND WHEN THIS IS DONE. BELIEVE THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER IS LEAKING FLUID INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER AS WELL AND HAS DESTROYED THE GASKET IN THERE AS WELL. THIS HAPPENED WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING. THANKFULLY ALL OF THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT CONSIDERING I TRANSPORT MY 3 CHILDREN AND WIFE IN THIS VAN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10281830
Incident
May 15, 2008
Mileage
129,483 mi
Transmission
Filed Mar 28, 2009

1999 FORD WINDSTAR 3.8L V6 99K MILES DRIVING TO WORK TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING TO MAKE THE VEHICLE MOVE FORWARD. IT ONLY WOULD WORK IN REVERSE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH WINDSTARS PLEASE REFERENCE THIS WEBSITE HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/WINDSTAR/2000/TRANSMISSION/. *TR

NHTSA ID
10263515
Incident
Mar 28, 2009
Mileage
99,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 18, 2008

PULLED UP TO AN INTERSECTION, PUT THE VAN INTO PARK, GOT OUT TO CLOSE THE REAR HATCH. GOT BACK INTO THE VAN PUT IT INTO DRIVE AND I HEARD A LOUD THUNK AND THE VAN ROLLED INTO TRAFFIC. I HURRIED UP AND PUT IT INTO REVERSE AND THANK GOD IT WORKED. I WAS ALMOST HIT BY ANOTHER CAR MOVING AT ABOUT 50 MILES PER HOUR. THE SHOP THAT'S REBUILDING THE TRANSMISSION SAID THAT THE (SUNGEAR) WELDS HAD BROKE AND THAT THEY HAD REPAIRED SEVERAL FORD WINDSTARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM OF BROKEN WELDS ON THE SUNGEAR. IT SEEMS THAT FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR TRANSMISSIONS, BUT HAVE NOT OFFERED ANY RECALLS FOR THEIR DEFECTS OF THESE BAD WELDS ON THE SUNGEARS OR THE OTHER DEFECTS IN THEIR TRANSMISSIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10242832
Incident
Aug 17, 2008
Mileage
144,387 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 18, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT RANDOM IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR THE LIGHT TO DIM. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE LIGHT WOULD REMAIN OFF FOR 4-5 MILES BEFORE ILLUMINATING AGAIN. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR HATCH WAS OPEN, SO HE EXITED THE VEHICLE TO SHUT THE HATCH. ONCE HE GOT BACK IN THE VEHICLE, HE PLACED THE GEAR INTO DRIVE, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE THAT NEVER OCCURRED IN THE PAST. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND A MECHANIC REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE SUN GEAR WELLS IN THE TRANSMISSION BECAME DETACHED, WHICH CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 144,000.

NHTSA ID
10242807
Incident
Aug 23, 2008
Mileage
144,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 30, 2008
Crash reported1 injury reported

I WAS IN MY GARAGE. I PLACED THE WINDSTAR IN PARK. I LEFT THE ENGINE RUNNING, OPENED MY DOOR AND WALKED TO THE BACK OF THE VAN. I HEARD A CLUNK WHICH APPARENTLY WAS THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING INTO REVERSE. THE VAN IMMEDIATELY TOOK OFF AND THE DOOR CAUGHT ME AND SLAMMED ME INTO THE GARAGE WALL AND BROKE BACKWARDS. IT DRUG ME OUT THE GARAGE AND I FELL OFF. THE VAN THEN PROCEEDED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY ACROSS THE STREET. IT DAMAGED THE NEIGHBORS YARD, MAIL BOX, CABLE BOX AND SHRUBS. IT SLOWED ON A BERM AND I WAS ABLE TO JUMP IN AND STOP IT. I MOVED IT FROM REVERSE TO PARK, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND WENT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM WITH BRUISES AND SPRAINED WRISTS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10240360
Incident
Aug 26, 2008
Mileage
106,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jul 10, 2008

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD FROM 1ST GEAR TO 2ND GEAR. TRANSMISSION DOWNSIHFTS HARD TO 1ST GEAR AT TIMES. PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED TO GET WORSE OVER TIME. AT FIRST JUST A LITTLE BUMP FEELING BUT AFTER ABOUT 40,000 MILES GOT WORSE AND NOW AT 150,000 CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE. PROBLEM OCCURS ALMOST ALL THE TIME, 95% OR MORE OF THE SHIFTS. TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN SERVICED WITH FILTER AND FLUID CHANGE EVERY 30, 000 MILES BUT THE PROBLEM DOES NOT GO AWAY. WILL TRY A NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH BUT MAY HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION IF THAT DOES NOT CLEAR UP THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT CURRENTLY IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10233809
Incident
Sep 15, 1999
Mileage
1,000 mi
Transmission
Filed May 13, 2008

I HAVE A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR XL. AND THE O/D LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF WHEN I PUT MY FEET ON THE GAS AND IT CAUSE THE VAN TO SHIFT IN GEAR VERY HARD. AND WHEN I GET OVER 55 MILES PER HOUR IT ALSO DOES THE SAME THING. IT HAPPENS EVERYDAY. THE VAN GOES INTO GEAR VERY HARD AND IT IS HARD FOR IT TO PICK UP SPEED WHEN I TAKE OFF. IT STALLS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10227570
Incident
Jan 1, 2007
Mileage
150,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Mar 11, 2008

THERE HAVE BEEN NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VAN SINCE PURCHASE, BUT THEN RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK THE OD LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS FINE, SHIFTS A LITTLE ROUGHLY INTO FIRST GEAR, BUT ALL OTHER PARTS ARE FINE. I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED, AND THE LIGHT STILL FLASHES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10220799
Incident
Sep 17, 2007
Mileage
160,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jan 24, 2008

COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT HIGH SPEED ON HIGHWAY. SUDDEN HOT SMELL COMING FROM VEHICLE. PULLED OFF HIGHWAY UNDER POWER, NO APPEARANCE OF SMOKE, FLUID, OR OTHER ISSUE. ATTEMPTED TO RE-ENTER HIGHWAY AND FOUND THAT VEHICLE WOULD GO FORWARD WITH SELECTOR IN "N"-NO OTHER GEAR POSITIONS WORKED. VEHICLE MOVED TO SAFETY OFF HIGHWAY (FORD DEALERSHIP). COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AFTER MOVING TO DEALERSHIP. NOTE: THIS IS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN THIS VEHICLE. ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED IN 2001 WITH FORD REBUILT TRANS BY FORD DEALERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10215850
Incident
Jan 5, 2008
Mileage
79,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jan 14, 2008

I HAVE A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR MINIVAN WITH JUST OVER 68K MILES. I HAVE JUST RECENTLY BEEN TOLD THAT MY WINDSTAR IS IN NEED OF A NEW TRANSMISSION. I HAVE HAD IT IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP OVER THE LAST 3 MONTHS. I HAVE SPENT CLOSE TO $1000.00 IN REPAIRS AND NOW MY TRANSMISSION JUST DROPS. WHY DO I HAVE TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION IN A VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 100K MILES? I HAVE HEARD FROM SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT THIS IS COMMON IN THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE AND I WANT TO KNOW WHAT FORD IS GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS. I AM NOT HAPPY! *TR

NHTSA ID
10214745
Incident
Jan 12, 2008
SuspensionTransmission
Filed Nov 9, 2007

1999 FORD WINDSTAR TRANSMISSION WENT UP. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE CONTROL ARM FELL OFF IN MARCH. CONSUMER AGAIN STATED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *KB

NHTSA ID
10208384
Incident
Mar 1, 2007
Mileage
24,709 mi
ElectricalInterior & seatsExterior lighting+1 more
Filed Sep 21, 2007

FIRST: WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH ON AN INTERSTATE IN NC OUR VAN DIED. AFTER SAFELY PULLING OVER, CROSSING 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC, WE HAD THE VAN TOWED HOME TO VA AND THE MECHANIC SAID HE CHANGES 7-8 TRANSMISSIONS A WEEK IN FORD WINDSTAR VANS. WE HAD FALLEN VICTIM TO THIS. WE STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE O/D LIGHT COMING ON AND HAVING TO ADD TRANSMISSION FLUID FREQUENTLY. SECOND: OUR VAN INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS DIM AND BLINK AT RANDOM. THE ALERT WILL ALSO COME ON SAYING ONE OF THE DOORS IS AJAR LEAVING THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ON AND DOORS UNLOCKED. IT WILL RANDOMLY CHANGE DOORS WHILE DRIVING. NOW THE REAR TURNING LIGHTS DO NOT FLASH, THE LOCKS DO NOT WORK, THE INTERIOR AND BACK EXTERIOR LIGHTS DO NOT GO OUT EVEN WITH THE KEY OFF AND OUT. THERE WILL BE RANDOM BEEPING AND BUZZING NOISES. THE REAR HEAT/AIR TURNS OFF AND ON AT RANDOM EVEN WITH THE CONTROLS IN THE OFF POSITION. THERE IS A CLICKING UNDER THE DASH WHEN THE REAR HEAT OR AIR IS RUNNING. ON INSPECTION THE MECHANIC FOUND THE ALARM WIRES UNDER THE DASH BARE, UNHOOKED, AND EXPOSED. HE TAPED THESE HOPING IT WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. IT HAS NOT. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER IS NOT REPUTABLE. IT IS A WELL KNOWN FACT IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY BREAK SOMETHING ELSE WHILE FIXING ANOTHER TO ENSURE A RETURN VISIT. WE HAVE TO TRAVEL 45-60 MINUTES TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THEY ARE SO BUSY BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE SERVICE FOR A LARGE RURAL AREA. FORD HAS NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED PHONE CALLS OR LETTERS SENT TO THEM. WE FEEL STUCK WITH A LEMON! *TR

NHTSA ID
10203621
Incident
May 21, 2004
Mileage
80,000 mi
ElectricalEngineTransmission
Filed Sep 8, 2007

I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT AT A MAJOR INTERSECTION AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I HEARD A LOUD SOUND. I TRIED TO ACCELERATE BUT MY CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. THE ENGINE JUST REVVED. I THOUGHT I RAN SOMETHING OVER DUE TO THE SOUND SO INSPECTED GOT OUT TO INSPECT THE CAR. I FOUND NOTHING. I GOT BACK INTO THE CAR AND TURNED CAR OFF AND TURNED BACK. THE CAR WOULD NOT DRIVE. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND MANAGED TO GET OFF THE ROAD. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER SUTTON FORD IN MATTESON IL. THAT THE TRANSMISSION JUST BROKE AND WOULD COST ME $3000.00. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR LESS THEN 2 YEARS. I HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT JUST EXPIRED A FEW MONTHS AGO. MY OBD LIGHT WAS ON BUT WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER IT WAS A SENSOR. THEY COULD TURN IT OFF BUT IT WASN'T ANYTHING MAJOR. AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS I'M SURE IT IS MAJOR. SINCE PURCHASING THIS CAR, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE TIRES AT LEAST EVERY SIX MONTHS, MAJOR ENGINE REPAIR, ALTERNATOR REPAIR, AS WELL AS SPRING REPLACEMENT. OVERALL, I'VE PUT MORE THEN $3000.00 IN REPAIR NOT INCLUDING THE REPAIR OF THE TRANSMISSION I NOW NEED. I LOVED MY WINDSTAR BUT I AM NOW DISCOVERING THAT IT PUTS MY LIFE ENDANGER TO DRIVE IT. MY TWO KIDS WERE IN THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND I FEARED SOMEONE WOULD HIT MY CAR. THE WORST PART ABOUT ALL THIS IS I AM UNABLE TO GET RID OF THIS CAR AS I STILL AM BUYING THIS CAR. I AM UNABLE TO REFINANCE THE DIFFERENCE. I WAS TOLD TO JUST SCARP THE CAR BY THE DEALER AND JUST GET ANOTHER CAR AS I AM EVEN MORE IN DEBT TRYING TO REPAIR THE CAR. I DON'T WANT TO RUIN MY CREDIT SO THERE HAS TO BE ANOTHER SOLUTION. I HAVE NO INKLING HOW I'M GOING TO MANAGE TO GET 3000.00 FOR A NEW CAR AND PAY MY BILLS AND FIND AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD. I REALLY WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF FORD WOULD JUST DO THE RIGHT THING FIX MY TRANSMISSION. SPLIT THE COST. I DID DAMAGE MY CAR IN THE MIST OF ALL THIS AND JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE TO WORK UNTIL THE CAR IS PAID OFF.*JB

NHTSA ID
10202275
Incident
Sep 4, 2007
Mileage
12,900 mi
Transmission
Filed Jun 5, 2007

MY TRANSMISSION ON A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR IS LEAKING FROM THE BELL HOUSING ON THE TRANSMISSION, AS WELL AS SLIPPING THROUGH THE GEARS, THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED WITHIN 50,000 MILES. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT FROM WHERE IT IS LEAKING FROM THE TRANSMISSION, MY CATALYTIC CONVERTERS AFFECTED BY THE FLUID THAT IS ON IT AS WELL, CONSISTENTLY BURNING OFF AS IT GETS HOTTER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10192449
Incident
Jun 5, 2007
Mileage
103,000 mi
BrakesTransmission
Filed Jun 1, 2007

THE VEHICLE WHEN PARKED AT ANY DEGREE OF INCLINE OR DECLINE HAS HAD REPEATED TENDENCIES NOT TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. ON THIS OCCASION, I HAD THE VEHICLE ON RAMPS CHANGING MY OIL AND WENT TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL TO LEVEL IT OUT. THE VEHICLE APPEARED TO HAVE GOTTEN STUCK IN REVERSE AND NEITHER THE FOOT BRAKE NOR THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WOULD STOP IT. IT WOULD NOT LET ME SHIFT INTO ANY OF GEAR UNTIL IT REACHED LEVEL GROUND. I HAD AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER TO LOOK AT THE TRANSMISSION ON MAY 31, 2007 BECAUSE I HAD BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING VERY ROUGH AND FEELING A JERKING SENSATION WHEN I SHIFTED FROM PARK TO EITHER DRIVE OR REVERSE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10192265
Incident
May 25, 2007

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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