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.
1995 Ford Windstar transmission complaints
Page 5 of 30: complaints 101 to 130 of 875, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Transmission gears were not shifting properly. Dealer was contacted. After inspection, it was determined that transmission needed to be replaced. Please provide further information.
Speedometer was working intermittently. At times the consumer will not know speed. Contacted dealer. *ak the consumer stated that the dealer replaced the cable but the problem was in the speedometer pinion gear. Per technical service bulletin vehicle equipped with incorrect speedometer pinion gear.
I have had numerous problems with my 1995 windstar. The transmission failed in 10/99 and I had to replace the entire transmission. I have had many problems with the computer/electrical system with sensors and fuses going out. My timing gasket cover cracked and coolant was leaking (10/01). I had to have that replaced along with the water pump, etc. Now, my engine has either a bearing or has thrown a rod and I have been told I need to have my engine replaced at a cost of $3500. There have been many more problems (struts, engine mounts, etc....). I have spent over $6000 (not including regular maintenance costs --oil changes, brakes, tires, tune ups, etc). I have had to spend much $$$ on car rentals while my car was being repaired. Now I'm faced with a huge new problem--the engine.
We have experienced two engine failures on this vehicle, one in november, 1999, which ford denied responsibility for, even though we were told by no less than 10 mechanics it was a defective design, and then another failure in july, 2000. Also in 2000, we reported problems with the transmission slipping and the vehicle jumping out of gear when in park. Again, ford is denying any responsibility, though we have noted numerous cases of the same problem that other windstar owners have experienced.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Consumer stated that check engine light constantly illuminated, tech advisor determined it was the heated oxygen sensor which was replaced, however when pressing the accelrator, the engine hesitated, consumer received warranty extension on head gasket, the engine ultimately failed, and the head gasket was replaced under the extended warranty, however the hesitation problem improved but the engine did not respond as well before, the heistation became worse and it was determined that the engine had failed, but not due to the head gasket, consumer received a second opinon by an independent mechanic and was informed that water was detected in the #6 cylinder and determined that this caused the engine to fail, the mechanic attributed the root cause of problem to be a head gasket failure, however manufacturer is not honoring warranty stating that the gasket was replaced previously and that the dealership determined that the failed engine was not due to gasket failure, and also the independent mechanic was not an authorized ford repair facility.
The transmission put itself into gear from park in the garage as I was getting out the drivers door injuring me and damaging the garage wall and the van door. After pressing the brake to stop the movement, found car in park and all tested all gears - they all produce reverse. Showed the wife. Went to videotape the failure, but had to turn the car off to get the recorder. When I turned the car back on the problem was magically gone! I am in the process of trying to reproduce the problem with the video running. Please help the citizens of this country. Ford is hurting this country, its citizens, and probobly has killed a few because of this problem. I was lucky. Don't let this turn into another tire thing. Do something now! P.s. This is the second tranny replaced by ford and the second engine replaced by ford.
Transmission being replaced for the second time. Started reporting problems at 10,000 miles. Dealer could not identify. (slugish, bucking, rough acceleration.) at 60,000 miles would not move out of park. Dealer replaced head gasket and made other adjustments (don't know what because they are all in code on repair slip) at 90,000 miles the transmission went. Motor mounts also had to be fixed. Problems with acceleration and bucking came less that 7,000 miles later. Second transmission went less than 20,000 miles later! Also have had numerous problems with the ignition switch (replaced 3 times and still does not work right) and warning lights for the brakes and airbags. (no problems ever found) ford dealer says transmission is not a recall item and there is nothing that they can do. I find this shocking in light of the nearly 4,000 complaints that the nhsta has logged for the 95 windstar, (669 for transmissions!!!). Ford should be ashamed!
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Vehicle is not able to be shifted into gear due to aluminum pistons cracking. Contacted dealership.
I am presenting you with my concern about the safety of the 1995 ford windstar minivans. We purchased one in 1998 from a reputable used car dealer in roanoke, va. Within the first year of ownership we had to replace the transmission. Within the following year, we had to replace the head gaskets. There was a recall on both of these items but we conveniently were past the issue date. I wrote ford a polite letter expressing my desire for assistance in these matters. They denied assistance and stated that if enough people complained that they would possibly up the recall again for the third time. Not 35,000 miles from the previous head gasket repair did they blow again. This was particularly dangerous due to the fact that the vehicle was flushing raw fuel out the tailpipe creating a serious fire hazard to my family. The van is currently sitting on magic city ford's lot as I am adressing you. Since these problems have begun to surface I have done a significant amount of research and have discovered that I am not the only one experiencing these problems. Rather it is a known problem with the vast majority of the entire line of 1995 ford windstars in which the company is conveniently eluding most of it's responsibilities to the consumer. I have even had people I do not know stop me and ask me if I had experienced any such problems. How can a vehicle that is proven to have so many defects from the get go been allowed to remain on the market? No matter how many times the head gaskets and transmissions are replaced they will continue to blow because a manufacturer defect in the engine itself. It is wrong to put a temporary fix on these vehicles and allow them to re-enter the consumer market knowing of these life threatening defects. If you would like, I can obtain multiple web-sites of thousands of people expressing the same problems with their vehicle. They too have been denied coverage by ford because they are conveniently past the recall. Thank you.
We have contacted ford numberous times and didn't seem concerned. We have so much money in this van we can't get rid of this lemon. Now the engine light is coming on. The interior lights stay on and has ruined batteries. We have to change brakes at least 3 times a year. Now my locks start locking w/o anyone pushing the button. It has been really a nightmare..
I've have the transmission replaced/rebuilt 3 times, meaning this is my fourth transmission. Twice in 1999 alone and both times serviced by coastal ford. I had the engine head gaskets blow, also in 1999, and serviced by coastal ford and I also had to pay for that, which was over $1,400.00. I just replaced the transmission again in nov 2001 (for my 4th transmission in 6 years). I've replaced the brake ABS system and had the brakes serviced repeatedly for new rotors, and other componants (not the usual pad replacement). I've written ford and the local ford dealership several letters over the years and they have never replied to me. I have spent well over $12,000.00 in repairs on this van several thousand in rental car charges, even when it was a known ford recall and ford would not even cover the cost of the rental. Van always hesitates and engine races and slows while stopped.
While driving gear slipped 3 times, and there was an accident. Dealer had been notified. Please provide any further information or make corrections.
Transmission jumps out of gear while driving. Dealer has rebuilt transmission. Please provide additional information.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Transmission slips. There are fixes that ford says need to be done when transmission is torn apart for repair. They know about the problems but will only mandate what needs to be replaced. They should recall as this is not isolated. It is like the headgasket, they extend the warranty but will not replace unless it goes bad. Odds are great it will as others have. It will ruin the engine if it goes bad on road or worse cause accident if highway speed is involved. Thank you for your help. If you cannot, thank you anyway. Dan gaines.
My 1995 ford windstar has been a nightmare since I bought it in sept of 1994. The first major transmission problem went at 6,500 miles and was fixed by warranty. The head gasket blew at 54,000 miles and 39 months of use. Ford initially said tough luck but then the secret warranties became known and they reimbursed me for that repair. At less than 100,000 miles on the chassis the coolant level started showing low again but the head gasket failure didn't become highly noticeable until 103,000 miles. Ford refused to repair this time as the vehicle was now over 100,000 miles although this "new" ford head gasket had less than 50,000 mile on it. So, I am preparing to sue ford and the local dealer on that repair. Finally, the transmission totally failed a few weeks ago and I had a "new" transmission put in. It lasted 1 week and the ford windstar is now getting another transmission (covered under the 2 year or 24,000 mile warranty of the replaced transmission). After reading about all the ford ?!@#$% regarding the 1995 ford windstar problems, why is that your agency has done so little in forcing a recall? Ford ought to be recalling those vehicles or offering the owners money to buy them back.
The sales rep, john j. Baker, of m&s chevrolet demanded $300 cash to allow us to purchase the used ford windstar. We told him the odometer numbers did not line up and he stated that was normal. The front brake pads were replaced at the close of the sale on 11/11/97 and have been replaced twice since then. The transmission slips and is balky, so sometimes the brake engages when you have your foot on the gas. The brakes actually failed to perform on 10/24/01 with our family of five in the vehicle on a major highway, route 495 in ma. We avoided an accident by moving into the break down lane and slowing to a complete stop. The dealer owner, mr. Michael sylvester ,and his attorneys, rizzo &kelly, stated that this previously leased vehicle had an accurate odometer reading. This van was purchased at auction by a former employee of m&s, who is now an auto wholesaler in the area. We need a safe vehicle for our family and we need immediate action taken, even if it means that ford will authorize the necessary repairs at our local dealer, regan ford, of.
Crunching noise from front brake when braking or pulling out, consumer was informed that the ABS was inoperative, also the front and rear brakes had aftermarket pads, dealer recommended refaced or replaced.
Vehicle would have severe shaking in front wheels when speedometer reaches 50mph and above. Can maintain control of vehicle when vibrating. Problem is most noticeable when vehicle is loaded down or going down hill. Been to dealership, and informed problem was normal.
Consumer states brakes were replaced twice as well as machined.
Reverse gear will not work after the van has been running for any amount of time. I have contacted ford many times, only to be told there is nothing they will do to help since the vehicle is over 60,000 miles. I see all of the complaints with the same problem, and am so angry that nothing is being done even though this is a defective transmission part. How many complaints do there need to be before ford is held accountable for these repairs? Not being able to reverse the vehicle seems to be a very major problem to me, and I feel as if ford is giving me the run around.
I have had a continuing stream of endless repairs to this ford windstar. Staring with the water pump one week after purchase; then the left front spring and strut collasped; next the ABS system almost cost me my life by failing on a downgrade into an intersection; a compoent of the fuel injection system in the main computer failed; the rear master cylinder on the brakes was leaking; the transmission has never shifted correctly almost giving passengers whiplash; the rear power door lock on the tailgate has just never worked form day one; I did receive a recall for the hood and that was replaced; now the power windows operate without the key in the ignition, but the door locks do not work and the vehicle is totally diabled, it will not start or even try to turn over. I am just a nurse not a millionaire, I have paid almost $5,000.00 in repairs into this vehicle in the 2 1/2 years I have owned it. And now it is dead, leaving me with no transportation to work, my only source of income. Please help.
Brakes and transmissions are a safety factor. Please take action to make ford pay for repairs.
When trying to accelerate vehicle would hesitate. It would downshift and then slip, trying to catch and then slip again. Would not go into gear when pressing accelerator pedal. Would catch eventually, and then take off. Have taken to dealership , had transmission replaced. Replacement transmission acts like the previous transmission.
On 7/29/01 traveling on i495 in massachusetts, the car started revving and the rpms fluttered between 3k-4k. Shortly thereafter on masspike (within 10-20 miles), car could not achieve more than 50 MPH. I pulled to the side of the turnpike where I noticed smoke from car. At this point I tried to get it into gear again to get off highway and could not get it out of 2nd gear, then 1st, then nothing. The car has been towed to the dealership who diagnosed a transmission failure due to the failure of a converter seal which then leaked out my transmission fluid. They will replace my transmission for $2400. This incident occurred within three weeks of picking up the car from the dealership where the engine had been replaced under the warranty extension ford has given to fix head gasket failures in this car. There had not been any transmission problems prior to this incident in the car.
The transmission failed because of the failure of the forward clutch piston.consumer is asking for rembursement because the complain, clunking when shifting the car from park to another gear and clunking in front end when going over bumps.
Kent parson ford was not helpful at all. No safety defec tlisted.
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