1999 Ford Windstar: transmission slipping

Filed Nov 1, 2010 · Transmission · 125,000 miles · NJ

Tl*the contact owns a 1999 ford windstar. The contact stated that the transmission slipped and the check engine light was illuminated. The failure had been occurring since october 2010. The vehicle also stalled when the failure occurred. The vehicle was taken to a local repair shop where the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000 and the current mileage was approximately 126,000.

Filed Sep 3, 2010 · Body, Brakes · 172,000 miles · WI

Irregular braking, experienced as an odd, slipping lurch at the completion of a stop occasioned investigation of a supposed braking problem by our mechanic. Previously noted was the misalignment of the steering wheel about a quarter turn from vertical during straight-ahead driving. After checking the brakes the mechanic was puzzled by a rubbing noise he had heard on his test drive. While repositioning the car to investigate, the engine cradle suddenly separated from the sub-frame and dropped to the ground, wrenching the steering wheel forward and disconnecting the steering mechanism from the wheels. Ancillary damage is as yet unassesed. The cause of separation was massive,evident corrosion where the engine cradle attaches to the sub-frame. This vehicle is located in a "salt-belt" state.

Filed Jun 5, 2007 · Transmission · 103,000 miles · AR

My transmission on a 1999 ford windstar is leaking from the bell housing on the transmission, as well as slipping through the gears, this is the second time it has happened within 50,000 miles. I have also noticed that from where it is leaking from the transmission, my catalytic converters affected by the fluid that is on it as well, consistently burning off as it gets hotter.

Filed Oct 16, 2006 · Transmission · 83,000 miles · MI

Transmission slippage resulting in loss of drive power/torque as a result of a manufacturing defect.

Filed Nov 30, 2005 · Transmission · 89,000 miles · VA

I was sitting at a traffic light and went to pull away when the light turned green. There was very loud noise, like an explosion, and the van lurched forward. At first I thought another driver hit us and I was bracing for the impact. Fortunately, we had not been hit, but the van would not move more than a few feet at that point. I managed to pull as far over as I could in the traffic lane, although I could not reach the shoulder, and turned on my hazards. There had been no warning at all that anything was wrong with the van at that point. No warning lights, no leaking fluid, and it was still running-it just wouldn't move forward or reverse. I had been driving it all day, and I am the primary driver. The transmission seemed to be working just fine up until that point. I had not noticed any slipping or any other problems. Once it was towed to the dealer, we found out that the transmission had totally failed and we are now paying $2600 for a remanufactured transmission. The van has 89,000 miles on it currently, and we did have an extended warranty than ran out at 75,000 miles. We have had the power steering unit replaced already, in addition to ford sending mechanics out from michigan twice to repair our automatic sliding doors, which had been malfunctioning since we bought the van.

Filed Oct 12, 2005 · Steering · 125,000 miles · MA

Dt: contact states that there was a loud noise in the power steering that got worse when turning. It was getting harder to turn. It felt like it was slipping at times. There were metal filings in the power steering fluid. Dealer replaced the power steering gear and a pump. She was told the power steering was leaking fluid. She was still hearing a slight noise when she turns to the left. Manufacture has not been contacted yet.

Filed Jan 4, 2005 · Transmission · 56,500 miles · CA

My wife was driving our 1999 ford windstar and without any prior events, the transmission started to "slip" when taking off from a start. She promptly drive home 1.5miles and by the time she got home the van could not be driven because the transmission shuddered so bad when you stepped on the accelerator. We had the van towed the next day and were given news of a transmission failure and a $1900 repair bill. The car only had 57,000 miles.

Filed Oct 5, 2004 · Brakes, Engine · MA

Transmission problem with 1999 ford windstar on several occasion. *bf (transmission slippage) these problems have existed since the vehicle was first purchased; engine trouble, vaporization leaks, and a broken gear. There were also worn front brakes, steering was inoperative, and there was a vacuum leak due to the upper intake manifold. *sc

Filed Sep 23, 2003 · Transmission · 95,000 miles · IN

My 1999 ford windstar with 95000 miles experienced complete transmission failure due to three now updated problems that ford does not want to recognize or be responsible for. The first is a shudder during the 1-2 upshift caused by a faulty solenoid which is now updated in the reman transmission. The second is a faulty torque converter that was also an updated item and causes my van to not want to shift at the appropriate times. The third is slipping which occurs at highway speeds and is caused due to a faulty clutch piston which is also an updated item in all remanufactured transmissions for that make and model. For it to be a coincidence that all three caused premature trnsmission failure and all three also to be updates is undeniable evidence that the original transmission was not engineered correctly or not manufactured correctly. This should be recalled or be covered by extended warranty because after reading bulletins and similar complaints it is clear that ford know all about this and is trying to just cover it up.

Filed May 1, 2003 · Transmission · 30,800 miles · MD

I have mechanical experience and maintain my vehicles religiously as I like to keep them as long as possible. We have a '99 ford windstar and at 30,800 miles the transmission gave out as my wife was driving through a busy intersection. She described it as a loud "bang" and then it would not go any further. After having it towed to the dealership they advised we had worn out the "clutches" and the transmision needed to be replaced. I had just driven the vehicle on a ski trip vacation the week before and the transmission did not slip or have any problems, something inside the transmission broke without any prior warning and left my wife and kids stranded in the middle of a busy intersection. After researching on the web and verifying through some connections I found that this is a consistent problem with these transmissions and it usually occurs between 30k to 50k miles. The dealership tried to make us pay since it was 800 miles over the warranty but after much deliberation they agreed to "let" us purchase an extended warranty and gave us a rebuilt transmision. We had the vehicle in several times previously for transmission recalls and performance issues. We never tow anything with our van and my wife mainly drives around the area to work and transporting our children. Where my wife was stranded was on top of a hill in the middle of a 6 lane highway intersection and not only do I feel this is a quality issue perpetuated on ford customers but a safety issue also as was demonstrated at this time.

Filed Apr 16, 2003 · Transmission · 59,000 miles · NY

1999 ford windstar with approximately 59,000 miles had unexpected transmission failure while driving at low speed. Vehicle lurched "like it had hit a box" while accelerating from a stop sign. Vehicle was immediately stopped to check for any debris; none found. Upon re-entering vehicle, it could not be driven forward in "drive." vehicle could only be driven in "reverse" gear. Vehicle towed to ford dealership and it was determined that entire transmission needed to be replaced. Preventive maintenance was performed on the transmission by same ford dealership in november 2002. Two of our in-laws also own 1999 ford windstars, one of whom is now on it's third transmission, and the other is currently experiencing occasional "slipping" of the transmission during acceleration.

Filed Oct 2, 2002 · Transmission · PA

I took it to the dealer they said they fixed the problem but he transmission still slips. The last van I had did the same thing it was a 1998 windstar. They told me there was nothing wrong with it and in 3 months I had to have the whole thing rebuilt. *nlm **dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over to artemis*768017