1999 FORD WINDSTAR Complaints

AT APPROXIMATELY 79,000 MILES, TRANSMISSION FAILED CATASTROHICALLY. I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, AND PROCEEDED FORWARD WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, I FELT A VIOLENT FORWARD JOLT, THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER GO FORWARD, THOUGH IT WOULD REVERSE. I HAD VEHICLE TOWED, AND WAS INFORMED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACED, COSTING $1800 (AND THAT WAS WITH A DISCOUNT FOR BEING FREQUENT CUSTOMERS.) ALSO, THE O/D LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING DAYS AFTER WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED IN 2002. DEALER REPAIRED FREE, BUT INFORMED US THAT THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTED TO THE O/D SWITCH RESTED ON THE ENGINE, WHERE NORMAL VIBRATIONS CAUSED IT TO WEAR THROUGH AND FAIL. THE TECHNICIAN CALLED IT A "DESIGN FLAW."*AK

AT 33,000 MILES, SUDDEN TRANSMISSION FAILURE. REBUILT AT A LOCAL SHOP FOR $2600 ... FORD CONTACTED, BUT REFUSED TO STAND BEHIND ITS PRODUCT.*AK

OVERDRIVE LIGHT WILL FLASH REPEATEDLY AFTER APPROXIMATELY DRIVING 20-25 MILES ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, RPMS INCREASE AND VAN ATTEMPTS TO LUNGE FORWARD. ALSO, WHILE PUTTING VAN INTO GEAR LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. TRANSMISSION WAS FLUSHED COMPLETELY, BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. FIRST OCCURANCE AT 61,000 MILES WHILE DRIVING FAMILY BACK FROM VACATION. 2ND OCCURANCE AT 63,000 MILES AND 3RD OCCURANCE AT 63,800 MILES. *AK

THE POORLY MANUFACTURED ALUMINUM PISTONS IN THE TRANSMISSION FRACTURED AND DESTROYED OTHER COMPONENTS IN THE TRANSMISSION AT 99,000 MILES.*AK

WHEN PARKED ON A HILL, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACK. *BF WHEN THE VEHICLE ROLLED, IT WENT A BIG FIELD AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE DRIVERS DOOR AND MUFFLER. THE SECOND INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN THE CONSUMERS DRIVEWAY ON A LITTLE HILL WHEN IT ROLLED AND HIT A TREE AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FENDER AND BUMPER. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN BOTH ACCIDENTS HAPPENED THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. ALSO THE STEERING WHEEL NEVER LOCKED. *JB

01 V 261 000/WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR COVER: THE WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. *JB

AWFUL NOISE COMING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE WITH TENDENCY TO STALL. TOWED TO LEE MYLES TRANSMISSIONS, WITH DIAGNOSIS OF A SEPARATED 1/2 DRUM ASM EPC SOLENOID. REPAIR COST $2148.03 MINUS $180.28 PLUS TAX FOR A TRANSMISSION COOLER WITH LABOR. *NM

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WITH 1999 FORD WINDSTAR ON SEVERAL OCCASION. *BF (TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE) THESE PROBLEMS HAVE EXISTED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST PURCHASED; ENGINE TROUBLE, VAPORIZATION LEAKS, AND A BROKEN GEAR. THERE WERE ALSO WORN FRONT BRAKES, STEERING WAS INOPERATIVE, AND THERE WAS A VACUUM LEAK DUE TO THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. *SC *JB

WHILE TURNING ON THE DEFOGGER OR HEAT IT FAILED TO COME ON. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, MECHANIC ADVISED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE FIXED, BUT THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR. *AK IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT HE BLEND AIR DOOR WAS BROKEN WHICH WOULD NOT ALLOW HEAT TO BLOW TROUGH ANY OF THE VENTS. *NM

1999 FORD WINDSTAR SUDDENLY SPURTS ANTIFREEZE FROM INTAKE VALVE GASKET. FORD DEALER NOTIFIED AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY KNEW IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE 3.8L V6 AND THEY WOULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT GUARANTEE THE WORK SINCE IT WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM. ALSO, TOLD THAT "EXTENDED WARRANTY" FOR THE PROBLEM WAS EXPIRED. *AK