2000 Ford Windstar: transmission slipping

Filed Jul 14, 2015 · Transmission · 119,033 miles · DE

I was driving down on 896, in the left hand lane, when my 2000 ford windstar lx van stopped running. I was going about 50mph when all of a sudden it just stopped. (I did have some transmission slipping previously but it had stopped.) (I thought that it was because the van hadn't been driven for about 4 months). I immediately put my hazards on and called the delaware state police. If this had happened on the interstate, I would have been killed. As it was. It happened this morning while I was on my way to work. I had people come flying up behind my vehicle and blowing their horn at me. Thankfully it was not rush hour otherwise I would not be here right now, which means my children would be motherless!

Filed Jul 22, 2014 · Fuel system, Transmission · 153,218 miles · OH

Transmission started leaking fluids all over the road and started slipping to where I couldn't get home with it.

Filed Feb 16, 2011 · Transmission · MN

2000 windstar-cruise control slowly stopped working, almost like a loose button or wire was the issue, then completely stopped, ABS light randomly going on and off then finally staying-stopping distances increased, tach, speedometer, and other dash gauge needles swinging wildly while driving- tach stopped working first then speedometer(witnessed by iowa highway patrol), od off light started coming on at random times. Finally stayed on, transmission slipped occasionally when at stop signs. Took it to trans. Shop no codes found, next day the van would not shift into any gear. Van is now a yard ornament. Issues ongoing over the course of about a year.

Filed Sep 6, 2007 · Transmission · 105,872 miles · CA

On aug. 18, 2007, I was getting off the freeway near my home when my transmission slipped out of gear and would no longer drive. I had it towed to our mechanic who told us it was a transmission problem and had to be taken to a transmission specialist. After inspecting it we were told that the transmission had been leaking fluid from the reservoir into the transmission and had the sensor system worked I would have been able to fix it 8 weeks earlier at a low cost, however the sensor, which was good, was not read by the main system and we had no idea there was a problem. We had no visible leakage because it was within the transmission itself and burned the inside of the transmission. The specialist told us we were lucky we were off the freeway because it would have caused a terrible accident had the transmission gone out while driving. I reported it it to ford who have refused to pay for it so we had to pay for the whole transmission to be rebuilt, a cost of more than $1900 not including towing and rental car. The transmission specialist also said this is a common problem in the 1999-2000 ford windstar, which is the model vehicle I have because it was a manufacturer defect and nothing I did, I would like to know how to be reimbursed for all my out of pocket expenses and I think ford should issue a recall on the sensors that would have ultimately saved me a lot of time and money. It took 2 weeks to fix.

Filed Feb 9, 2006 · Transmission · 120,000 miles · VA

In fall of 2005 my broth-in-law had his transmission replaced twice on a 1999 ford windstar minivan. Fee from dealership (ford in williamsburg, va) was in excess of $2500 each replacement. In january 2006 my own 2000 windstar van's transmission failed in an intersection in traffic. Vehicle was towed to ford dealership in wmbg and diagnosed as transmission failure, fee $2700. For a second opinion, vehicle was towed to mr. Transmission in hampton, transmission dissected and laid out for analysis. Metal fragments had destroyed the transmission. I was told this was a frequent occurrence with ford windstars. In early models, a metal tube for the coolant doesn't have any support and breaks or tears from vibration. In later models this tube has a support to prevent that. The ford service people, when confronted, said "transmissions can fail, you never know." we asked "is this common in windstars?" answer "no." no mention of prior knowledge, no mention of recall. When one considers 2 windstars, years 1999 and 2000, 3 destroyed transmissions between them, and denial on the part of the manufacturer, this warrants investigation. It is negligent to not make the public aware of the possibility of slipping out of gear in traffic and not institute a recall to replace transmissions on early models. It is criminal to charge owners $2500+ for a manufacturing design flaw. The fact that later models have the issue corrected implies prior knowledge. This should be investigated.

Filed Aug 6, 2003 · Transmission · VT

Bought van from dealer june 2001 with 28,000 miles; ongoing issues with automatic transmission over 24 month period; 34,000 miles, harsh vibration and slipping on acceleration (at times no faster than 35 MPH getting on interstate), rebuild under 3 yr, 36 warranty (torch converter other internals); 1 year later, 58,000 miles, same symptoms with fluid leakage, transmission totally gone, replace with new rebuilt transmission under purchased extended warranty; 4 months later, 64,000 miles same symptoms, slippage, harsh vibration, rebuild torch converter under warranty; 4 months later (june 2003) transmission starting to show same symptoms, dealer can not duplicate; now constant vibration when torch converter is locked in,clunking, slipping on acceleration around corners, end of july filed under lemon law at state, waiting to hear from them.

Filed Jul 31, 2003 · Transmission · 40,000 miles · 00

Automatic transmission is slipping primary when in overdrive. Cause unknown.