Start van everything fine. Stop at store,etc. Restart van starts jerking and goes into second gear and will not go back into drive mostly jerking all the way or slips into drive and then back to second with a jerk over and over again. Don't have money to fix if really bad so please what could this be?? Give time to sit overnight and start its ok again??
1996 Ford Windstar: jerking or lurching
8 of the 1,386 complaints about the 1996 Ford Windstar describe jerking or lurching.
- owner complaints
- 8
- of this car's complaints
- 1%
- recalls
- 2
Is there a fix? There are 2 recalls and 40 service bulletins for this area of the car. See below
Jerking or lurching by model year
What owners say
When stopped at stop sign, van hesitated to shift into gear for about 5-10 seconds and then jerked into drive. This happened numerous times..took to dealer and they couldn't tell me what was wrong, just that it needed to be replaced. Had transmission overhauled...$1800 that I didn't have. 1 yr later now having more problems with transmission, when going around corners van seems to slip into neutral until it's straightened out. When proceeding from a stop at a light or stop sign, vehicle feels like it's spinning the tires, but the power isn't getting the tires, after letting off the gas it moves, but this is very hazardous, especially in heavy traffic..will be taking the van to get fixed....again. No more fords for me!!!!
Abs and check engine light constant, replaced o2 sensor, replaced ABS brakes, transmission problems causing vehicle to jerk and not change gears when running or parked, coolant leaking and door sensors are bad. All document known issues on.*jb http://www.carsurvey.org/modelyear_ford_windstar_1996.html - something needs to be done about this. This has gone on far to long and is putting peoples life at stake. I have children in my van and all of these are big issues that need to be address immediately.
While driving in the country where I live with three children at the base of the mountain to head 20 miles to my home I pressed on the accelerator and the vehicle lost power and went nowhere. Could not drive over 35 MPH. Was seen by a body shop and they replaced fuel filter and returned vehicle to me. Second occasion driving down the mountain at 55mph a strong jerk whiplashed myself and has caused injury in my back took to body shop and needs new transmission and must be towed. Van still sitting at body shop now for 2 weeks as I have 3 children and now no transportation...thanks ford.
Vehicle bought in 3/99 throttle body linkage broke repaire bill $500.00 shortly thereafter sensor went out (fuel)bill 256.00 later noticed squeking in front end advised it was tie rod ends not fixed yet this thing has broke me have had many occurences with speed odometer going crazy after 45mph recently noticed popping when turning steering or appling the brakes but before I could get it fixed transmission begin to either not shift upward ,slip at 45mph and has downshifted after reaching speeds of 45mph (on I-85) has jerked several times ..was told anywhere from 100.00-2000.00 ? Seems I have not been alone in my disquest with ford...only problem not encountered head gasket thank god please help us working folks against this big boy on the block thanks
When you put the car in park, engage the emergency brake and take your foot off the brake pedal, the car lurches forward or backward (depending upon incline of vechicle on a hill) and the sliding door, if opened, forcefully rolls and slams shut. Someone exiting the vehicle can be seriously injured, as can anyone (especially children) standing in front or behind the vehicle when it lurches. My son was injured when the door slammed shut as he was exiting the car after I put the car in park and engaged the emergency brake but before I took my foot off the brake pedal. I have asked the dealer to correct this obvious dangerous condition several times, but their response has been that I should engage the emergency brake before I put the vehicle in "park" - a process most people do not use when parking a car.
Transmission fails to reengage after coming to a stop. Upon acceleration, may suddenly engage at a high r.p.m. Causing vehicle to lurch forward. Also will slip into neutral while driving at highway speeds, and then re-engages without warning.
When driving and making any type of turn or going around a corner, vehicle is jerking. When driving straight consumer doesn't have any problems.
Service bulletins that may apply
- Groan/buzz/vibration when the gear selector is in park with the vehicle parked on an incline
- New transmission cooler flusher - service tips
- Torque converter clutch not engaging when commanded and/or diagnostic trouble codes P0741 or P1744 stored...
- Some vehicles may exhibit a groan/buzz/vibration when the gear selector is in park
- Some vehicles may exhibit a park pullout clunk noise when shifting from park to another gear position
- Brake shift interlock
- Transaxle - AX4S - replacement application chart - windstar vehicles only
- Information on indexing orange dot on torque converter to flexplate
Related recalls
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)
- What is wrong
- The park pawl abutment bracket has a sharp edge which can cause the parking pawl to hang up and not engage the park gear. This would allow the vehicle to move even though the gear shift indicator shows that the vehicle is in park.
- Risk
- Unintended and unexpected vehicle movement can result in personal injury and property damage.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the park pawl abutment bracket.
Recall number 96V166000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- The park pawl shaft was improperly positioned when the roll pin that retains it was installed during transmission assembly. If the shaft was not properly positioned, the roll pin may not have lined up with the groove in the shaft and have been crushed at assembly. Also, a burr could have been raised on the shaft.
- Risk
- This could result in the park pawl occasionally not engaging when the transmission selector lever is placed in the park position. This could result in the vehicle rolling as if in neutral if the vehicle operator does not apply the parking brake.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the park pawl shaft roll pin. If the roll pin is damaged, both the roll pin and the park pawl shaft will be replaced. In addition, owners will be reminded to fully apply the parking brake, in addition to placing the transmission in park.
Recall number 96V086000 · Recall details
Questions about the 1996 Ford Windstar jerking
Is jerking or lurching a common problem on the 1996 Ford Windstar?
8 of 1,386 owner complaints about the 1996 Ford Windstar (1%) mention jerking or lurching. The model year with the most reports is 1995.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 1996 Ford Windstar?
There are 2 recalls and 40 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 1996 Ford Windstar
ABS 99Engine failure 83Check engine light 78Coil spring 63Overheating 57Brake failure 46Fire or smoke 41Transmission failure 40Misfire 30Stalling 27Ball joint 26Grinding brakes 25Adaptive cruise 22Slipping 16Loss of power 13Tire blowout 13Wipers 13Knocking 11Door locks 10Fuel leak 10Fuel smell 9Won't shift 9Sudden acceleration 9Harsh shifting 7Premature wear 7Fuel pump 6Headlights 6Power steering loss 6Seat belt 6
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