2000 Ford Windstar: sudden loss of power

Filed Mar 24, 2005 · Engine, Fuel system · 55,000 miles · CA

My 2000 ford windstar will stall, while driving, without warning causing a loss of power to the engine, braking system and steering system in a 3800 pound vehicle. This is an intermittent problem, but repeats itself every 2 or 3 weeks or so. The last time it caused my wife to transverse into a stop sign controlled intersection in a populated residential area of los angeles county without brakes or steering. It has happened 15 times to myself and my wife and twice to south bay ford since approximately nov of 2004. I believe that ford dispatched engineers to south bay ford in hawthorne california who stated that this is an issue of fuel tank design and is not correctable. South bay ford and ford motor company together appear to be ready to return the vehicle to me with the instructions "don't let the fuel tank drop below 1/4 of a tank". The stated reason is that the ford windstar has a rectangular fuel tank that when driving on grades can cause the fuel to move to a part of the tank that will not pump the gas to the engine (this is supposedly a known bug and possibly associated with a service bulletin). I asked why, assuming that my driving habits (and my wife's) have not changed in relation to our letting our tank get below 1/4 tank, then why has this only surfaced as a problem in the last 4 or 5 months? Why not the first 3.5 years?!? This car is covered by an extended warranty for one more year. The car has been in the shop for nearly three weeks now. Ford can not fix the problem, but will not take ownership of it either.

Filed Mar 14, 2005 · Engine · CA

My 2000 ford windstar ,still under extended warranty, has a life-threatening bug. The engine, without warning, will stall while driving. It is intermittent, and very odd, but at whatever speed you are. *ak traveling, suddenly you realize that you have lost power to the engine, braking system and steering system, yet you are moving at the speed of traffic in a 3000+ pound vehicle without control. The vehicle has been taken to south bay ford multiple times and they state that there diagnosis of the car shows the vehicle to be in good heath. Yet, it keeps happening and will likely result in an accident if it continues. Vehicle is covered under warranty.

Filed Aug 16, 2004 · Transmission · 85,000 miles · MA

While driving 30 MPH, the vehicle lost power. The consumer managed to pull over and had the vehicle towed.

Filed Sep 15, 2003 · Transmission · 78,500 miles · TX

Transmission has always kicked forcefully and abruptly in low speed or on deceleration at low speed. There has been a transmission fluid leak(indicated by red fluid on and around the the transmission pan) but the fluid level has remained constant and at approved limits. We have mentioned this to dealers but have always been told that was normal and that if the transmission fluid level was within specifications then there was not a problem. On this date as we accelerated from a four-way stop there was an extremely forceful kick and the van lost power and forward motion and actually began to drift backward. The dealer told us we required a new torque converter, some new gears replaced, and that we would be better off having the entire transmission replaced.

Filed Jan 14, 2003 · Steering · MA

Consumer noticed while traveling vehicle lost all power steering. Dealer was contacted and replaced steering rack pump and pulley. Please provide further information. Ts

Filed Dec 20, 2002 · Steering · MA

Consumer states while traveling without any indication vehicle lost all power steering. Dealer was contacted and replace steering rack pump and pulley. Please provide further information. Ts

Filed Mar 19, 2002 · Engine · NY

After hitting brakes vehicle appears to lose power, and feels like it's going to lurch forward. Please provide any further information.

Filed Nov 9, 2000 · Transmission · NJ

While driving about 50 MPH transmission lost power when trying to accelerate. Could not drive forward, and reverse was only gear working.

Filed Aug 11, 2000 · Engine · IL

While driving engine will begin to stall and suddenly die out, causing a loss of all power. Dealer has been contacted.