Consumer was traveling on highway and heard popping noise coming from underneath vehicle. He pulled over to shoulder of road, and looked underneath of vehicle, and noticed that transmission fluid was leaking. Dealership was aware of problem.
1998 Ford Windstar transmission complaints
Page 6 of 12: complaints 131 to 160 of 330, newest first, as owners wrote them.
While driving, the transmission seal separated from the transmission causing transmission fluid to leak to exhaust pipe, and the torque converter seal came off, dealer was contacted.*ak. Consumer wants to know if her vehicle is involved in the recall 97v097000.
We have owned two ford windstars, the first being a 1996, the transmission had to be rebuilt on it at 63,000 miles, the van was 3 1/2 years old at the time, we then traded it for a 1998 windstar and at 3 1/2 years old and only 60,000 miles the transmission had to be rebuilt on it!
Vehicle started smoking, and when consumer lifted up the hood there was a smell of coolant sprayed all over vehicle, and leaking from underneath onto the ground. Transmission was replaced. But problem was still there.
Multiple problems with transmission kicking while at a stop sign or light, broken piston.
While driving vehicle at any speed speedometer will freeze. But, tires are still spinning. If traveling at 60 MPH speedometer reads zero. Consumer feels this can be unsafeif he doesn't know how fast vehicle is going. Please provide any further information.
Premature failure of autotransmission @ 50000 miles & $2200.
While traveling between 40 and 65 MPH smoke started coming out from underneath hood of vehicle. Driver stopped vehicle, raised hood to discover a fire in engine compartment. Dealership examined vehicle, and determined wiring for transmission caused the fire. Please provide any additional information / documentation.
Can be turned off in gear--and put in gear when off--will roll.
Whenever vehicle is shifting from 1st gear to 2nd gear it would jerk. Problem happens at low speeds, 20-25mph. Can maintain control of vehicle. Had been to 3 different mechanics, and each time was informed that problem was torque converter.
Transmission failed without warning while driving. When coming to a stop and trying to proceed vehicle would not go faster than 15 MPH and in first gear. Contacted dealer, and dealer stated there was nothing they could do. Please add VIN .
Transmission failed. Rebuilt transmission installed. Rebuilt transmission already showing signs of failure similar to old one. There must be a manufacturing defect with these transmissions - they should last longer than this.
The gear shift would not come out of park after starting the vehicle. Putting the vehicle in neutral before starting it and shifting it to drive corrected the problem.
Consumer stated vehicle steers hard, dealer replaced the power steering pump.
While driving on highway vehicle jerked and made a really strange noise. Vehicle then died. Vehicle was towed to dealer, and the dealer stated that a metal piece had broken inside of transmission, and transmission would need to be rebuilt. Please provide any further informmation.
When slowing down to stop or turn--there is a downshift/shudder--if I am driving in overdrive. Out of overdrive, it does not downshift. Ref. 99-18-4 I have taken it in several times and all they do is clean the fuel injectors. (tiresize: p215/70r15)
Vehicle would slip in and out of gear while at a light or stop sign (while in drive gear). Required high rpms to engage causing the vehicle to lurch forward. Transmission replaced at owner's cost.
This vehicle has had two engines, transmission work and a lot of smaller problems. Right now it is having the drivers seat track and adjusters replaced. Would like to be part of a class action suit. The windstar may be safe, but it isn't reliable.
Transmission failure at 68000+/- miles. No previous problems. Traveling on interstate at 70 MPH, heard loud noise, got off at next exit. Sounded like engine dropped out and was dragging on ground, van was jumping. Made it to a parking lot at which point it would not engage in drive or reverse. Dealer didn't know what caused transmission failure, questioned dealer if this is common, "not common, but can't say it doesn't happen" reapir would be $3000.00. Called 3 transmission shops for pricing, when told it was a windstar all new what the problem was, down to the noise it made! Repairs at independant shops ran $1500.00. Ford is no help, claims there is no problem. Obviously this is a dangerous problem in the windstar, ford needs to get into gear and get these vehicles taken care of and compensate those who have already paid out of pocket for repairs.
Vehicle does not shift down into gear at stop, resulting in vehicle rocking backwards until gas pedal is depressed to go forward which results in car lurching forward violently. Inspected by jenkins and wynn ford dealership on diagnostic computer. It was found to have a defective aluminum drum and piston assembly which sticks if there is not enough pressure built up for it to go forward. This was confirmed by the service manager john cornejo at jenkins-wynn on 08/27/01. At this time ford motor company refuses to replace transmission as was recommended by the service staff at this location in clarksville, tn. A ford motor company representative was contacted and told of the problem. She then contacted larry bryant, service manager at this location, who then proceeded to give erroneous information to the representative. The ford motor representative then became indifferent to our situation. We requested to speak to someone of a higher authority and were told that we would be contacted back by her supervisor within 48 hours. Meanwhile mr. Cornejo, stating that the first option of flushing out the transmission would not benefit us, as originally suggested to us by mr. Bryant as an alternative to a rebuilt transmission, admitted that this was not a remedy for this type of defective part. We are currently awaiting mr. Cornejo to contact us on 08/28/01 regarding this fact after he consults with mr. Bryant. As ford motor corp. Customers, we are expected to foot the bill on a defective part that will cost us $2500 to repair through no fault of our own. Defective part is made of aluminum. Ford motor only makes this replacement part in steel now due to the realization that aluminum will fail at some point.
We were on vacation in pennsylvania after a trip to boston and had pulled into a parking area when we put the car in reverse to straighten out in the parking space and nothing happened. The car was towed to a ford garage where we were told the transmission needed replacing. This took 5 days, when we left pa and drove home to iowa. The miles on this windstar are highway miles and not city driving.
My wife pulled out of the driveway onto the road and heard a horrible screeching/squealing sound and smelled rubber burning. She pulled into the center lane, approximately 50 feet from our driveway and stopped. She asked our daughter to get out of the vehicle and see what was wrong. She said, "mom, the tire is touching the rear bumper". My wife turned the vehicle around in the neighbor's driveway and drove back into our driveway. She called me out and I looked at the rear right control arm on the rear axle assembly. It was completely severed and pulled approximately 3 inches apart. The rear right tire was scraping the bumper and had gouges in the tread (the tire is ruined). The left wheel was pushed slightly forward. I know if she had made it to the expressway and this piece had broke at 70 MPH, my child, her 3 friends, and my wife would be dead. I am worried that anybody with the same style and year vehicle could have the same defect, and I want it made aware to all. I am petrified to think what could have occurred. I also have digital pictures of the defect which could be e-mailed at your request.
This van is 3 years old. Corrosion most likely caused the problem with strut rods & sway bar links. Obviously this manufacturer was not concerned with quality b/c of all these problems. The ford company will not reimburse me (my van is no longer covered by factory warranty) unless they issue a recall on any particular problem. I just don't understand why I would have all these problems with a vehicle that was less than 2 yrs old when the problems started. Maybe you can't help me, but I wanted to lodge a complaint.
While traveling in warm weather ,making sudden stops/parking and while in stop and go traffic, vehicle would stall without any indication. Please provide further informaiton.*ak air bag light illuminated due to faulty module, the drivers side door adjar switch was sticking causing the door adjar light to illuminate, outer tie rod failed causing noise in the front end, vehicle experiences loss of power/slipping due to faulty transmission, check engine light illuminated and vehicle stalled, dealer replaced sensor, speedometer was off. Nlm
Transmission jumped into gear while in park, almost hitting a small child.. Trans stuck in park, vehicle had to towed to dealer. Ford insisted nothing wrong with vehicle while under warranty, although it was looked at more than once. Took vehicle in again and was informed it needed a new transmission and would cost 2600.00 because warranty had run out.
Was driving vehicle when transmission died in middle of traffic with 18,000 miles. Second time it died with 95,600 miles. Vehicle did not feel right when shifting. Took to mechanic, and informed consumer that transmission had contaminated fluid that was causing it to die/stall out. Contaminated fluid needed to be replaced.
Transmission was rebuilt/remanufactured. Attending service technician indicates that ,although it may have come from factory in this condition, it looks like someone considered putting in a transmission cooler, started drilling a hole for a plug, and changed their mind without completing the job. This weak spot failed, spewing transmission fluid, and causing transmission failure. We believe this is a clear-cut instance of defective materials/workmanship.
Transmission fails to stay in lockup mode when travelling at highway speeds and slips and viberates whenever you reach a slight upgrade
We have been reporting transmission problems to the dealers, transmission slamming into gear,. Thel tell me nothing is wrong. We now have a complete transmission failure.
While traveling 30 to 40 MPH transmission started slipping and smoke started coming from underneath hood of vehicle. Consumer pulled off to side of road and turned vehicle off. Consumer examined vehicle and found that there was fluid leaking from engine , pool of fluid was approximately 2 feet in diameter on the ground. Dealership examined vehicle and could not determine that there was a problem with vehicle. Informed consumer that no fluids leaked from vehicle. Also, this vehicle was not affected by any recalls. *ak dealer finally replaced transmission with a refurbished one after a field engineer stating it was faulty.
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