1999 FORD WINDSTAR Complaints

WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO DOWN SHIFT. *NLM

I HAVE MECHANICAL EXPERIENCE AND MAINTAIN MY VEHICLES RELIGIOUSLY AS I LIKE TO KEEP THEM AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. WE HAVE A '99 FORD WINDSTAR AND AT 30,800 MILES THE TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT AS MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THROUGH A BUSY INTERSECTION. SHE DESCRIBED IT AS A LOUD "BANG" AND THEN IT WOULD NOT GO ANY FURTHER. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY ADVISED WE HAD WORN OUT THE "CLUTCHES" AND THE TRANSMISION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAD JUST DRIVEN THE VEHICLE ON A SKI TRIP VACATION THE WEEK BEFORE AND THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SLIP OR HAVE ANY PROBLEMS, SOMETHING INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION BROKE WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING AND LEFT MY WIFE AND KIDS STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE WEB AND VERIFYING THROUGH SOME CONNECTIONS I FOUND THAT THIS IS A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS AND IT USUALLY OCCURS BETWEEN 30K TO 50K MILES. THE DEALERSHIP TRIED TO MAKE US PAY SINCE IT WAS 800 MILES OVER THE WARRANTY BUT AFTER MUCH DELIBERATION THEY AGREED TO "LET" US PURCHASE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND GAVE US A REBUILT TRANSMISION. WE HAD THE VEHICLE IN SEVERAL TIMES PREVIOUSLY FOR TRANSMISSION RECALLS AND PERFORMANCE ISSUES. WE NEVER TOW ANYTHING WITH OUR VAN AND MY WIFE MAINLY DRIVES AROUND THE AREA TO WORK AND TRANSPORTING OUR CHILDREN. WHERE MY WIFE WAS STRANDED WAS ON TOP OF A HILL IN THE MIDDLE OF A 6 LANE HIGHWAY INTERSECTION AND NOT ONLY DO I FEEL THIS IS A QUALITY ISSUE PERPETUATED ON FORD CUSTOMERS BUT A SAFETY ISSUE ALSO AS WAS DEMONSTRATED AT THIS TIME.

A SHARP PIECE OF METAL WAS PROTRUDING FROM THE DRIVER SEAT BACK (LEFT SIDE AT HIP LEVEL). *NLM *SCC

THE CONSUMER HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. THE DEALER STATED THE RACK AND PINION AND POWER STEERING PUMP HAD FAILED. HOWEVER, THEY WERE PREVIOUSLY REPLACED IN NOVEMBER 2001 BY THE DEALER. *JB

1999 FORD WINDSTAR WITH APPROXIMATELY 59,000 MILES HAD UNEXPECTED TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED. VEHICLE LURCHED "LIKE IT HAD HIT A BOX" WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP SIGN. VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY STOPPED TO CHECK FOR ANY DEBRIS; NONE FOUND. UPON RE-ENTERING VEHICLE, IT COULD NOT BE DRIVEN FORWARD IN "DRIVE." VEHICLE COULD ONLY BE DRIVEN IN "REVERSE" GEAR. VEHICLE TOWED TO FORD DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT ENTIRE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED ON THE TRANSMISSION BY SAME FORD DEALERSHIP IN NOVEMBER 2002. TWO OF OUR IN-LAWS ALSO OWN 1999 FORD WINDSTARS, ONE OF WHOM IS NOW ON IT'S THIRD TRANSMISSION, AND THE OTHER IS CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING OCCASIONAL "SLIPPING" OF THE TRANSMISSION DURING ACCELERATION. *NLM

COOLANT LEAKING FROM ENGINE BLOCK. VAN NEVER OVER HEATED. FOUND OUT THIS HAPPENS OFTEN TO THE 3.8 L ENGINE....THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS..SHOULD CHANGE FROM ALUMINUM TO STEEL OR ANOTHER METAL THAT WONT CRACK OR WARP SO EASILY. *JB

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. MR THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN THE MAIL REGARDING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONSUMER, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK ON HIGH SPEED OR IN COLD WEATHER. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE ANY HEAT AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT WAS A NEW PROBLEM. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE VEHICLE. *JB

THE OIL GASKET SHIFTED FROM ITS "SPECIFIED" LOCATION WHICH CAUSED AN EXTREME OIL LEAK FROM THE ENGINE. *JB

ABS LIGHT COMES ON FREQUENTLY. I HAD THE PROBLEM CHECKED TWICE, THE FIRST TIME NUMEROUS CODES OCCURRED, IT WAS RESET AND A SWITCH WAS REPLACED. AUTO SHOP CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE ABS. I KEEP TAKING IT IN AT A COST OF $70 EACH TO HAVE THE PROBLEM RECHECKED BECAUSE THE ABS LIGHT STILL CONTINUED TO COME ON. I HAVE WRITTEN TO FORD CORPORATION AND LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED VEHICLE. *JB

TRANSMISSION FAIL-FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON. STOPPED AT STOP SIGN AND WHEN I PUT FOOT ON GAS TO GO IT JUST RACED THE ENGINE. GEARS WOULD NOT ENGAGE. NO FOREWARNING AND ONLY 33,000 MILES ON A LIGHTLY DRIVEN CAR! CALLED FORD DEALER AND CORP. AND THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING. FROM WHAT I READ THIS IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE AND HAD I PULLED INTO TRAFFIC THIS MORNING AND LOST IT I WOULD BE WRITING THIS FROM A HOSPITAL!!! I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO FORDS ATTENTION! I WILL BE OUT OF ALMOST 2500 WHEN THIS IS OVER....MONEY IN THESE TIMES THAT I CANNOT AFFORD! *NLM