I brought my 1996 ford windstar in for an oil change, and was told tie rods failed and needed to be replaced. , then, next day, they phoned and advised me that transmission was defective because the pan was full of shavings, also, power steering rack was leaking, and intake gasket needed replacement. , a total of $5000 to fix this vehicle. I bought it at 118,000 miles, and this happened shortly after owning it for one year. Currently, it has 134,000 miles, and cannot be driven. I parked vehicle then started it after being parked for a week. Heard a noise from front, and then white smoke came out of the tail pipe. I do believe that paul cornies, the dealer that I purchased vehicle knew that they were selling me a lemon. It has caused me a lot of hardship as I no longer work due to health reasons. I filed for disability insurance, and was told that I had a preexisting disease , and refused to pay the insurance. Currently, I have a junker in my driveway that I can't afford to fix , and a bill for the next 3 years, since I still owe for it. I will never buy another ford.
1996 Ford Windstar transmission complaints
Page 2 of 12: complaints 11 to 40 of 322, newest first, as owners wrote them.
While driving the consumer was unable to shift gears. The consumer was able to pull over and noticed that fluid was leaking from underneath the vehicle. The dealer informed the consumer that the transmission needed to be replaced. *jb
Automatic transmission had been replaced four times at approximately every 17,000 miles. The cause of the malfunction of the transmission was not disclosed to the consumer by the dealer.
Engine: head gasket failure @ 62,218 miles. Needed to replace both cylinder gasket heads and resurface same. Power door: failure of power door lock on passenger side. Transmission: was replaced twice under warranty. Other: ignition control module needed replacement. Have been advised engine has a sludge condition despite regular oil changes per ford guidelines.
My 1996 ford windstar van's engine assembly must be replaced due to persistent internal coolant loss into the engine, despite repeated trips to the dealership with complaints of classic head-gasket symptoms. Ford displayed blatant neglegence and dishonesty in its dealings with me. I took my van to dealership twice for head-gasket-like symptoms: excessive loss of coolant with no external leakage, gray smoke out of exhaust, and engine running rough. The first time the dealership said no problems could be found. Two weeks later I returned to the dealership with the same symptoms, only this time more obvious, and the check-engine light had come on. The dealership determined my engine had overheated and that coolant was lost via the timing cover gasket, which they replaced and then returned the vehicle to me. Exactly one thousand miles later I had to have my vehicle towed to the dealership, at which point they condemned my engine due to coolant entering the #1 cylindar. They offered to replace the engine for $3,650, which includes a 20% discount for the timing cover gasket work that was done for nothing. I refused the offer and managed to barely drive the vehicle home, where it now sits, undrivable. Aware of the windstar head gasket problems from the beginning, I repeatedly stressed to the dealership my concern that this was a head gasket problem, but they repeatedly explained this was not the problem. They lied by saying no known gasket problems exist on the 1996 windstar, but I researched the federal safety agency's records and found tsb 99-13-1 (titled "underdetermined loss of coolant"), which instructs dealerships to replace the gaskets in situations like mine. The tsb is very clear. I wrote the dealership a letter demanding help replacing the engine, but received no reply. I re-sent the same letter and documents to the dealership just yesterday. I can provide copies of all documents, as I have scanned them into a compressed pdf file for e-mail transmission.
Check engine light on, white smoke emitting from tailpipe, missing, wildly erratic speedometer at 35-40, rear air blows hot. Replacements: had gaskets, lower intake gaskets, upper intake gaskets, spark plugs, wires, thermostat, gasket, ? Belt, timing cover, timing cover gasket, water pump. Speedometer and A/C problem not yet fixed.
12-15-97 at 21,145 miles I reported noticing the coolant level always being low. No leak was found and I was told there must be a leak somewhere in the radiator. 12-27-99 at 56,526 miles I began having a "cold start" problem. It acted like it was not getting fuel. 12-1200 at 74,306 miles I had the same "cold start" problem and the fuel filter was repaced. 12-22-00 at 74,930 a new thermostat & gasket. 12-29-00 at 75,113 a fuel pressure regulator. 03-02-01 at 77,569 miles a new fuel pump relay(ccrm), fuel pump and pvc valve. 09-11-01 at 87,907 miles a mult-function switch. 01-31-02 at 95,069 miles a second ccrm relay. 03-06-02 at 99,348 miles on an 80 degree day "no start" same symptoms as "cold start" problem. Instead of not getting fuel it is suspected it is flooding. 4-23-02 at 99,348 miles cold start problem, fuel injectors cleaned. 05-30-02 at 101,330 miles wouldn't start, no fuel pressure-intermittent. Had to have it towed. 6-7-02 at 101,388 miles "no start" problem. New fuel filter, fuel pump and sender o-ring. 12-01-2-01 109,530 miles van started steaming - appeared to be a coolant leak or broken hose. Added coolant direct in radiator. I have carried own coolant and added frequenlty since 1997, when I was told there must be a leak in the radiator. I could not find any trace of such a leak by putting cardboard under van. Suspected the plastic coolant container had a leak. No coolant leaks where ever found during routine oil changes. 12-04-02 109,568 m,iles found leaking front timing cover gasket. Replaced headgasket and all else that goes with it. Cost of repair $1,915.21. I believe the headgasket defect has been the problem all a long, costing me a small fortune.
1996 ford windstar auto transmission failure. Intermittently will lock in 1st or 2nd gear shifting up. Also transmission, intermittently will down shift into 2nd gear while crusing at 60-70 MPH. This sometimes lasts hours and then for no apparent reason desides to shift absolutly fine. I have changed the fluid, filter and gasket. Internally looks very clean minuscule amounts of filings and no apparent contamination. I would like to know what computer modules and or sensers are involved. I have heard of the,transmission control module (TCM) and the-----(PCM)?...what are this ? What is their purpose? Are there others?where are they located?what do they cost? I cannot beleive the transmissions needs a $2000 rebuild when it performs perfectly most of the time. Logic convinces me it may very well be as simple as plug and play. Yet no transmission shops want to hear of it, they want to rebuild. My complaint is not with the equiptment but with the experts , especially the dealers taking advantage of customers. Case in point, the head gasket blew out on the windstar dealer priced the repair no less than $1450.00 and not to be surprised at final cost upwards of $2200.00. I had it towed 70 miles to my local mechinic and the costs including the tow job was $237.00. I wish he was a transmission mech. But he is not.you have my e-mail address I assume you wanted that to help me. Answer my questions about the computer module etc..and please do not give my address to any other sites for that matter to anyone at all. Do this, you will earn my trust, I will be greatful, you just need to ask.
Automatic transmission failure possibly due to low transmission fluid following guidelines in owners guide . After failure and subsequent replacement. I found an article in newspaper quoted from ford regarding fluid level maintenance which was different than recommendation in the owners guide.
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!!!!
Problems with gas fumes coming from the exhaust system.*mr( doris stewart on behalf of her parents robert stewart and jacqueline stewart).*ts. The vehicle overheated at idle, the dealer replaced the head gaskets, the air condition stopped working and there was a problem with the power train control module.
Replaced rack and pinion for the second time 8/01 ( by dealership) and 5/03. Also replaced front end bearing in 1999 and transmission. Wiring harness in 2000. Rear A/C does not work and that's only the items I can remeber.
Continuous failed transmission. Have had 4 actual rebuilt/replacements. Begged for exteded warranty, received. Shortest lived transmission was 300 mi. 1 mo. Out of warranty, transmission failed again, on highway, 100 mi from home with 3 disabled children in car. Will be vehicles actual 6th transmission. Has now 98k mi, bought new off lot (1st transmission in 1st yr owned). Irionically person 1 mi down the highyway had 1999 windstar who's tranmission had also just failed. Bought car for children due to safety, is nothing but a lemon and ford won't do anything about it.
Engine spewing water. Diagnosed as freeze plugs blowing 72,000 miles. At 42,000 miles transmission had to be worked on. Jumped out of drive to neutral. Vehicle has had regular maintenance since purchased new.
Failure of transmission
Transmission failed internally, causing outside case to crack, and started leaking transmission fluid. Needed to replace transmission for $2400. This at 72,000 miles, and after replacing entire engine (under extended warranty) at 59,000 miles. This vehicle has been serviced per the owner's manual, since buying new. The only satisfaction is that ford has lost money on this vehicle because of all the warranty work done for the first six years of it's life. Have had major problems with the last 4 fords I have owned, all at less than 60,000 miles. No more fords in my future.
The consumer requested an investigation of ford motor company and their lack of recalls on some serious defects. *mr. The vehicle experienced a clunking sound, however the dealer stated the clunking sound was normal and then the transmission failed, the transmission was replaced with another ford transmission, which failed on a test drive and one other occasion. Coolant leaked into the engine through the intake gasket, which was recalled for the 95 models. The timing chain leaked. There was a recall on the coils in the suspension, which ford would only replace when they failed. The brake rotors failed at 30000 miles. Scc
Transmission slippage. Occasionally during stop and go transmission will not up shift out of 1st to higher gear. Appears random. Dealer could not re-create problem, and therefore could not find a problem. However, after doing some research, this appears to be a very common problem with 1996 ford windstar's. The only solution appears to require a rebuilt transmission. But, again nhsta complaints include owners having to have transmission rebuilt more than once.
The ABS light had flashed periodically, the transmission had burnt out, and the engine had become contaminated with coolant. The consumer had requested reimbursement for the charge of the rebuilt engine. Scc
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.
The vehicle rolled back with the gear in the parking position on the drive way
Transmission failure in 1996 ford windstar, requiring complete replacemen at approx 70k miles
While driving the transmission failed which caused the vehicle to decelerate. *nlm transmission replaced.
Consumer states that speedometer does not function properly. The needle moves erratically and makes a ticking noise. Consumer is unable to ascertain correct speed while driving. Dealer has unsuccessfully attempted to repair 2 times by replacing speedometer cable. Ts
No summary. Dt
Ford extended warranty on 3.8 l engine for 1995 model due to engine failure caused by defective gasket sets. However, is not doing so for like failure on 1996 model 3.8 l engines. Engine seized on our vehicle with approximately 48000 miles despite maintenance and timing chain gasket set replacement an approximately $1200 repair. Dt
Currently, the van is at the dealership and we are awaiting an estimate on the head gasket. Our warranty expired on august 31, 2002 and ford will not help with the cost of the repair. The transmission is also being checked as it has begun leaking only 10 months after we had it replaced. Our mechanic stated that these are commonly seen with this vehicle and stated the failure of the head gasket is due to the defective fire ring. No reason was given as to why the transmission failed in january of 2002 and to why it is now leaking. Dt
The brake system and it's components failed, the ABS light had come on constantly, the transmission burned out, and the engine was contaminated with coolant. The consumer requested a new vehicle or a new engine. Mr scc
Consumer states that the speedometer jumps all over the place while driving unable to know excatly how fast you are going. Dealer contacted.
Speedometer very erratic and unreliable at speeds of 45mph or over.
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