1995 Ford Windstar: jerking or lurching

Filed Jun 10, 2008 · Transmission · 72,252 miles · KY

1995 ford winstar transmission failed at 72,252 miles. Transmission began smoking and fluid leaked out. While changing oil gasket, found chunks of metal in pan. Despite changing oil gasket and putting it new transmission fluid, car still hesitates and jerks at stop light, sign. Told transmission needs to be replaced.

Filed Nov 15, 2005 · Seat belts · 149,599 miles · PA

When braking severely to avoid collision front passenger's seat belt failed to lock. There was no collision and passenger sustained no injury. Subsequently, all seven seat belts were tested by owner by violently jerking. All seven seat belts failed to lock when jerked. Local ford dealer has been requested to inspect the seat belts.

Filed Feb 17, 2004 · Engine · PA

While driving vehicle jerked and smoked from under hood. Vehicle was towed technician, who determined that engine head gasket needed to be replaced.

Filed Jan 20, 2004 · Transmission · 161,000 miles · ME

1995 ford windstar transmission "lurches" into 1st gear when in park. Extremely dangerous!!. Almost ran into someone in a parking lot, trying to turn into a space and it lurched forward missing them. Scared to death. *ak I went directly home and while at a stop sign it lurched again, however I was far enough away not to run into the back end of the vehicle in front of me. Getting this fixed at a ford dealership. They knew exactly what was wrong and qouted me a price quickly, after saying they do these all the time..... Maybe ford should be replacing this.....and reimbursing us...... Before someone dies!!!

Filed Mar 4, 2003 · Transmission · MO

Transmission failed causing vehicle to lurch forward. *ak nlm

Filed Jun 13, 2002 · Engine · MN

When starting vehicle and putting it into gear, there's a jerk. When stopping vehicle jerks, vehicle stalls in intersections. *ak consumer feels entitled to reimbursement of monies paid for repairs to vehicle.

Filed May 13, 2002 · Engine · MN

When accelerating vehicle jerks back and then it takes off. Vehicle is assumed to have a cracked piston. Dealer was notified. Please provide more information.

Filed Feb 21, 2002 · Transmission · OR

Transmission slides out of gear at a stop. Depressing the gas with expection of car movment results in high rpms and after a 1-2 second delay, a sudden harsh forward movement. This delay caused us to be lurch and be rear ended by our subsequent slamming.

Filed Jul 17, 2001 · Acceleration · WA

Whenever at a stop light or sign would start to accelerate. Vehicle would hesitate first, and then jerked forward. It was an intermittent problem. Have not taken vehicle to dealership. *ak consumer went to aamco to get transmission fixed and was told this was a common problem in the 1995-1996 windstar vans.

Filed Jun 21, 2001 · Transmission · OK

Transmission replacement will cost $2585 per dealer. I see from your web site that there are numerous complaints about this transmission. This is a manufcturing defect that should not be sholdered by the public. Ford needs to recall this transmisssion before someone gets hurt. The vehicle will rev and lurch forward while stopped in traffic.

Filed Feb 18, 2001 · Engine · TX

Ford replaced engine after head gaskt repairs contaminated.jerking again!!the original engine was replaced aug 2000 after ron robert's ford contaminated it when repairing the head gasket that went out. (which in order to have repaired I had to get my state attorney general consumer protection office involved because ford and ron roberts refused to replace the gasket even after I had been in and had it checked 4 months before as per an owner notification I received.) I took my vehicle to be repaired by pruitt ford in burkburnett, tx after the ron roberts fiasco. Pruitt did the engine replacement. My check engine light was still on...I took it back and had some hoses replaced. I was advised that no tune up was needed (note: my oxygen sensor was replaced 4 months before my engine blew). For the first time in 3 years my check engine was off. I just got on the road for long trip (the first since the hoses were replaced) after 1 hour the vehicle started jerking when I was travelling at 50-60 MPH. Only lower speeds (40-50mph) or higher speeds (70-80 MPH) stopped the jerks. I pulled over for about 15 mins, restarted the vehicle and, once again, the check engine light is on. The engine also stalls when making sudden and hard stops. This jerking is the exact same thing the firt engine was doing before the head gasket went out. I was told by pruitt that ford would not hold up the "100,000 mi head gasket repair" on my new engine even though it only has 12,000 mi. On it. Can the federal safety agency do anything to stop this thing. I have been going round and round with ford about my vehicle since 1998. I like the windstars ride and roominess but I do not like how ford is treating me. I have taken my vehicle in for all the owner notifications (3 so far) and keep up my maintenance. Who protects the consumer from half truths and just plain bad business ethics?

Filed Dec 28, 2000 · Transmission · OH

While attempting to move the vehicle from a stop the vehicle would not move, the consumer pushed the gas pedal firmly and it finally caught and jerked forward, due to failure of the forward clutch piston in the transmission. Nlm