Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
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 2003 Ford Windstar submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 99 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.
The 25 most recent of 99, in the owner's own words
On May 23rd 2022 I was driving on interstate 45 the speed limit through where I was driving was 75 all of a sudden with no warning no engine light on my transmission stopped working and I could not break I was able to safely get over thank goodness but there is a recall on my transmission which almost killed me that needs to be replaced
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000. UPDATED 05/01/13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION HAS SINCE FAILED AGAIN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN THE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE TORQUE CONVERTER HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE SPLINES WERE WORN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE RECENT FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 01/02/2013*LJ UPADTED 1/7/2013 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 124,000. UPDATED 08/28/12*LJ UPDATED 09/05/2012 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STARTED HER VEHICLE AND WHILE IT HAD POWER IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OR SHIFT INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A LOCAL WHO STATED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND REFERRED HER TO NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000. ...UPDATED 04/25/13 *BF
SUDDEN FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED, TAKING LEFT TURN UP A SMALL INCLINE IN THE ROAD. CAR WOULD NOT MOVE WITH ENGINE POWER EITHER FORWARD OR REVERSE. FELT LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL IN ALL SHIFTER DRIVE AND REVERSE POSITIONS. TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP, VEHICLE REQUIRED COMPLETE REBUILT TRANSMISSION COSTING OVER $3000. *KB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY WERE TRAVELING 70 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO CRUISE OFF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,727 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,200. UPDATED 02/22/12*LJ UPDATED 05/03/12
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,764. THE CONSUMER STATED HE NOTICED HIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, WITH THE OTHER FORD MODELS. THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED THE SAME TRANSMISSION FAILURE AS STATED IN THE RECALL. RECALL# 12V006000. UPDATED 03/02/12 UPDATED 06/12/12
WHILE DRIVING, I FELT THE VAN WAS NOT SHIFTING, SO I WENT TO THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. I TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER-AGAIN, NOTHING WRONG WITH TRANSMISSION BUT THEY DID DO A TRANSMISSION TUNE UP. WHEN I PICKED IT UP, I DROVE INTO TOWN. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND HAD TO STOP ON A RED LIGHT. ON GREEN, I PRESSED MY GAS PEDAL BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. IN A DESPERATE EFFORT, I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES. I WAS ABLE TO MOVE AGAIN, BUT FOR ONLY ABOUT A QUARTER MILE TO HAVE TO DO THE SAME REPEATEDLY UNTIL I GOT TO A SAFER SPOT. FINALLY, I ENDED UP LEAVING MY VAN PARKED AT A SHOPPING CENTER AND CALLED A CAB HOME. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH WITH MY FORD WINDSTAR VAN. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING, AND MY AIR CONDITIONING DOESN'T WORK, EVEN WHEN I HAD FREE ON PUT IN IT. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY FOR ANOTHER CAR, NOR DO I HAVE THE MONEY FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION, ALONG WITH HAVING IT PUT IN. I LIVE IN A TOWN WHERE THERE ARE NO BUSES AND CAN ONLY GET A RIDE FROM A TAXI. I DON'T HAVE $10 ONE WAY FOR THIS! I NEED TO GET TO WORK, AND CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE MY JOB. ALL BECAUSE OF A MALFUNCTIONING VEHICLE THAT IS CAUSING SAME PROBLEMS FOR MANY OTHERS OUT THERE. FORD SHOULD BE RECALLING THESE VEHICLES! *KB
2003 FORD WINDSTAR. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE TRANSMISSION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WATER WOULD GET INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION AT TIMES AND THE REVERSE GEAR IS FAILING. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED SLOWING DOWN AND AS THE ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED THE SPEED CONTINUED TO DECREASE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO INCREASE SPEED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THEY WOULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING. NO INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT KNOCK OR SLIP PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 43,337.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN DELAWARE WITH MY FAMILY THE VAN I SUDDENLY LOSS ACCELERATION. THANK GOD I WAS ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BUT THIS HAS TO BE A SAFETY CONCERN. WITHOUT NOTICE LOSE ACCELERATION AND NOW NO GEARS WORK. 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. AFTER SEARCHING ON LINE THERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO THEM. THIS VAN HAS BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE AXLE BREAKING WHILE DRIVING AND THAT WAS RECALLED. HOW CAN THIS NOT BE RECALLED AS IT ALMOST THE SAME RESULT. ACCIDENT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ON THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FAILURE IS CAUSED BY A FAILED TORQUE CONVERTER. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 110,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP SIGNAL WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE ENGINE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMALLY RAPID INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
VAN SHUDDERED WHILE ACCELERATING, LOUD ROAR ON DRIVER SIDE OF VAN, PROBLEM PERSISTED EVEN AFTER I TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP, THE SHOP CLAIMED THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY CODES FOR THE PROBLEM. DROVE ALL DAY JUNE 15 WITH ONLY ABOVE LISTED PROBLEMS, GOT IN THE VAN THE SAME NIGHT ONLY TO FIND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. NO WARNINGS, NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, VAN WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE WITH NO MOVEMENT, ONLY RISING RPMS. I HAVE CHECKED NUMEROUS ONLINE FORUMS ONLY TO DISCOVER HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM AND FORD HAS NOT REIMBURSED ANYONE OR DONE A RECALL, EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE SAME YEAR MODEL ON ALMOST EVERY FORUM COMPLAINT. MY VAN IS NOW IN THE SHOP, THERE IS NO TELLING HOW MUCH I AM GOING TO BE CHARGED TO GET MY VAN BACK, I HAVE 5 CHILDREN AND HAVE TO HAVE MY VAN. I CANNOT AFFORD TO GO OUT AND PUT A DOWN PAYMENT ON A NEW VAN OF A DIFFERENT MAKE. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE CORRECT THIS PROBLEM? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OR PROCEED WHEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE REGARDING A TRANSMISSION FAILURE FOR HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
NO WARNING LEADING TO FAILURE, VEHICLE JUST COMPLETELY LOST THE ABILITY TO POWER THE TIRES. TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED WITH NO WARNING, ENGINE REVS, BUT NO POWER TO THE TIRES TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER ON A VERY WELL TRAVELED ROAD RT 4 IN AUBURN ME HAD TO PUSH THE VEHICLE ACROSS 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC TO GET IT TO SAFETY THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THE FORD WINDSTAR, CONSIDERABLY MORE PREVALENT THAN THE CURRENT REAR AXLE RECALL. RESPECTFULLY REQUEST FORD AND NHTSA FURTHER INVESTIGATE THIS POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING FAILURE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR ISSUE AND I DO THINK IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED ASAP. *TR
NO EVENT LEADING TO FAILURE, VEHICLE JUST COMPLETELY LOST THE ABILITY TO POWER THE TIRES. TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED WITH NO WARNING, ENGINE REVS, BUT NO POWER TO THE TIRES TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER ON THE HIGHWAY IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THE FORD WINDSTAR, CONSIDERABLY MORE PREVALENT THAN THE CURRENT REAR AXLE RECALL. RESPECTFULLY REQUEST FORD AND NHTSA FURTHER INVESTIGATE THIS POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING FAILURE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SWITCH GEARS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION YET TWO YEARS LATER, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 162,000.
2003 WINDSTAR SPORT TRAVELING APPROX 80 MPH IN PASSING LANE OF I-93 EXPRESSWAY WHILE USING CRUISE CONTROL. TURNED OFF CRUISE CONTROL AND PRESSED ON GAS WITH NO RESPONSE. NO WARNING LIGHTS, SOUNDS, ETC TO INDICATE ANYTHING WAS WRONG. RPM'S INCREASED DUE TO PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL BUT NO RESPONSE FROM TRANSMISSION. COASTED TO SIDE OF EXPRESSWAY. TRIED USING DRIVE, 2ND OR 1ST GEARS TO GET OFF HIGHWAY BUT THERE WAS NO TRANSMISSION RESPONSE AT ALL. NO BREAKDOWN LANE AVAILABLE SO WE WERE STUCK IN RIGHT-HAND TRAVEL LANE WITH FLASHERS ON. WE WERE IN A PLACE WERE THERE WAS NOWHERE TO GET OUT AND BE SAFE AWAY FROM VEHICLE EITHER. EXTREMELY SCARY AND UNSAFE EXPERIENCE WITH TWO CHILDREN AND DOG IN VAN WITH ME AT 10PM IN BOSTON TRAFFIC!!! WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE NOT BEEN HIT AND KILLED!!! HAD VAN TOWED BACK TO NH AND HAS BEEN DETERMINED BY THE MECHANIC THAT TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. WILL BE HAVING A REBUILD DONE FOR $1000. WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A GROWING PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES BUT IS NOT A RECALL. ONE TRANSMISSION PLACE HE CALLED IN MANCHESTER NH STATED THEY ARE REBUILDING APPROX 3 PER WEEK RIGHT NOW. I HAD JUST PURCHASED AS OUR OTHER CAR DIED THE DAY AFTER MY FIANCE DEPLOYED OVERSEAS WITH THE ARMY. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED KNOWING ALL THE RECALLS HAD BEEN DONE AND IT GOT A CLEAN CHECK FROM MY MECHANIC. AS I HAVE NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION I AM NOW OUT OF WORK UNTIL THE VAN IS FIXED. THIS IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE SITUATION IN ANY REGARD AND FORD SHOULD BEGIN TAKING CARE OF THIS FOR THEIR CONSUMERS. WE ARE VERY LUCKY TO BE ALIVE BUT ARE NOW IN A HUGE FINANCIAL SITUATION WITH LOSS OF WORK AND A TRANSMISSION REBUILD BEING DONE. *TR
2003 WINDSTAR TRANSMISSION LITE DASH "OVER DRIVE IS OFF". I CHECKED THE FUSES NO.14 10 AMP WAS BLOWED THIS ALSO GOES TO THE SIDE ELECTROCHROMATIC MIRRORS THAT STOPPED WORKING. PUT NEW FUSE IN. I DRIVE 14 MILES AT 45MPH FUSE BLOWS AGAIN., *TR
2003 FORD WINDSTAR, LESS THAN 60000 MILES, TRANSMISSION JUST DIED, NO WARNING NO NOTHING...UNABLE TO REPAIR DUE TO THE COST OF REBUILDING, ESTIMATE IS $2300 ON A 4000 DOLLAR VAN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AND PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN THE ENGINE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN RPMS AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC SHOP WHERE HE WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS AND POSSIBLE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000.
I'M THE OWNER OF A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. I HAD MY TRANSMISSION FAIL WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING.THE VAN DRIFTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD,THE STEERING WAS LOCKED,THE LIGHTS BLINKED,MY OD N BLINKER FLASHED OFF N ON.MY DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WON'T GO DOWN. ALSO MY ABS LIGHT ABSOLUTELY WON'T GO OFF!!!!.ALSO REPLACES,BRAKES, ROTORS(WHICH WERE TOTALLY RUSTED). *TR
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .