2001 Ford Windstar: complete transmission failure

Filed Jun 24, 2011 · Transmission · 51,686 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH the automatic transmission failed, causing the vehicle to stall in the middle of the highway. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road and stopped. The vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 51,686.

Filed May 7, 2011 · Body · 56,000 miles · MD · crash

There is a re-occurring door failure and extensive rust damage on 2001 ford windstar. The first incident occurred in oct 2006 when the front stabilizer bar failed causing the van to loose control. Ford will not release the record of repair. My van is a modified wheelchair van and we are experiencing a severe sag in the floor on the passenger side, have had to replace the transmission, had multiple repairs due to rust and yesterday the top guide rail for the sliding door cracked and the top of door fell down almost hitting the car next to me. The tracks are extremely rusted and as the floorboard, becoming a safety hazard. I believe the rust issue in this vehicle are far more extensive than the 2 recalls currently in place. This may also be acerbated by authorized modifications to allow wheelchair access. In essence, the van is rusting apart.

Filed Feb 18, 2011 · Transmission · 40,163 miles · CA

I bought this vehicle in march of 2010. Two months after buying it I was driving home from l.a. And didn't notice until to late that the od off light was flashing. I had it towed to ammco and was told that the torque converter went out and that the trans had to be replaced. So this is what I had done. Since I had this replacement done with the transmission I have had the od off light flash on and off periodically. Every time the light comes on I run it back over to ammco and they test it to find the same code over and over, torque converter/clutch error. They have since replaced the transmission a second time, contacted the manufacturer on several occasions and spoke with several sources of theirs and they cannot find the problem. They have since told me that there is nothing else that can be done and think that it may be caused by the ABS/brake light occasionally coming on.

Filed Jan 28, 2011 · Body, Brakes · 194,500 miles · OH

My 2001 windstar had been making a scrunching noise each time I went off a curb. I took it to a tire place as that's when I found the crack in the axle in august 2010. The tire dealer didn't make that kind of repair so I call ford dealership who told me to bring the car in and that a recall had just been issued. My car sat for six months. On 1/26/2011 the dealer called and said my axle had been repaired and that I could pick the car up. I couldn't pick it up that day. On 1/27/11 I heard the news state a new recall and I looked it up. Turns out my car is involved in that recall too. I went to the dealer and I communicated to them that I do not want that vehicle back under any circumstances. The ABS light has been malfunctioning for three years or more. Since I got the vehicle I had many problems with sensors and I have had to replace the transmission after having only around 78,000 miles on the vehicle. I completed all maintenance on my vehicle as suggested by ford, yet I have had so many problems. I called ford on 1/27 and told them I do not want the vehicle back. They said a buy back isn't being offered for this recall at this time. It may be offered when the letter is distributed. I still do not want this vehicle back. I have three children and I cannot trust that this vehicle is safe.

Filed Oct 24, 2008 · Brakes · 88,108 miles · VA · fire

Abs and brake light on, o'd off flashes no odometer reading, we had smoke pouring out of hood fire dept. Said wiring burnt up. This week when all of these came on. It has been in shop again this week all week, this van has been nothing but a money pit! Have had to replace transmission, fuel injectors, lost count of alignments, now they say it is electrical problem. Not safe.

Filed Aug 23, 2007 · Transmission · 65,000 miles · WV

Mid-summer vacation trip from west virginia to north carolina. Within a few miles of return to west virginia the transmission started to leak and eventually lost approximately 8 quarts of fluid. Major slippage started within 6 miles of home. We managed to limp to our driveway before the slippage was so bad we could not move the vehicle forward. I installed 8 quarts of fluid and drove it to repair shop -- no sign of leakage on that 15 mile trip. I subsequently drove the vehicle to a transmission repair shop, another 15 miles with no leakage. The transmission repair shop pulled the transmission, replaced the front seal and replaced the torque converter (slight groove on shaft that repairman said would cause the new seal to fail if the torque converter was not replaced). Vehicle had just under 65,000 miles on it when failure occurred. Note: the seal failure appears to be related to an overheating condition. This is made obvious by the fact that no leaks occurred during two 15-mile trips subsequent to failure and before repair was conducted. Anothe downside to this experience is that after spending $1100.00 for the repair there is no warranty because the transmission repair shop did not disassemble and inspect the transmission, which would have been another major expense. The transmission function appears to be ok but I won't be trusting this vehicle again for long trips out of town. Given the 65,000 mile failure and internet history of low-mileage transmission failures without resolutions from ford, this will be the last ford I will own.

Filed Jan 3, 2006 · Transmission · 51,000 miles · MA

My wife was driving home from picking up the kids when the transmission failed without warning. She was able to put the car in neutral and roll backwards to the side of the road. Had the transmission failed 5 minutes earlier, she would have been turning off a busy street and could have been hit by oncoming traffic with two kids in the car. The dealer diagnosed the problem as a failure of the tourque converter and valve body due to excessive wear on the rod leading into the valve body. The van has 51,000 miles on it. The replacement will cost $3,000. I don't believe that the transmission should go at this point in the cars life.

Filed Nov 4, 2005 · Engine · 49,000 miles · CT

Bought 2001 ford windstar in january 2005 with 40,000 miles on it. In august we had to replace the transmission( 46,000 miles). This was $2000.00. Then in october we had to replace the engine(49,000 miles) because of the head gasket. Ford quoted us $4800.00 for this and said the car was out of warranty and would not help us defer the cost in any way. We ended up getting a used engine.

Filed Sep 21, 2005 · Transmission · PA

I was getting ready to leave work, put my car in reverse and heard a loud bang. My car wouldn't move. The transmission just died. No warning in advance. The car is a 2001 ford windstar with 51,000 miles on it and cost my $ 3000 for a brand new transmission. Ford stated " no warranty" over 30,000 miles sorry. Should this be happening to a van that is only 4 years old and that cost me $27,000. The garage that installed my transmission stated that the parts melted together and we were lucky it didn't start on fire.

Filed Jun 13, 2005 · Transmission · 76,500 miles · NC

While on vacation this past week,my wife, kids (5), and myself, the transmission went out with warning nor were there any symptoms to indicate that our family vehicle would leave us stranded on our first family vacation. We purchased a 2001 windstar sel from university ford in durham, nc. We purchased the extended warranty for $1500, and just when the vehicle barely surpassed the 'expiration date', the transmission, just suddenly quit. My wife and son were exchanging sandals at the local beach shop, and when she returned to the van, and tried to move it, there was no gear at all.......just park and neutral, (the two 'no' gears). They walked 3 miles in 90 degree weather back to our 'place'. I have called the university ford, and since my warranty was out by less than 2500 miles, I am stuck. The vehicle has less than 78,000 miles on it, and has been serviced from the very first day we have owned it. It was bought 'slightly used', only to be driven before by a top salesman/manager, before we purchased it. I have a fairly decent sized family and am middle class, not rich!! The transmission is supposed to be $1500-$3000 to replace, and I cant afford to replace and really dont feel responsible for a transmission that should have lasted, with normal driving, well into 100,000-150,000 miles. I have a pontiac bonneville that has almost 215,000 miles that has never given one seconds trouble out of the transmission. I have checked online and there are so many unfortunate people as myself, that this has happened to. I would like someone from your dept. To please check into the durability of the windstars transmissions, as ford, have told us (myself and other disgusted windstar owners) there is no such thing as ford making a design flaw in a transmission. Thank you for your valuable time in reading this, I am very appreciative. With kindest regards, I am johnnie wilkins

Filed Jan 19, 2005 · Transmission · 45,000 miles · IL

While driving 45 MPH vehicle lunged forward twice. As a result, transmission failed. *ak the consumer stated that the vehicle gave no warning prior to the incident. The mechanic stated that the transmission gears broke causing the case to crack.

Filed Oct 26, 2004 · Transmission · 51,000 miles · MA

Towards the end of the month of july during a trip to maine my pump seal on my transmission blew and I had to get a new transmission installed in the van. The van was just over 3 yrs old and the mileage was just at 51,000 the mechanic at the repair shop said at this mileage this problem never should have happened, after phone calls to my dealership they said that their was nothing they could do because it was out of warranty. I feel that the van never should have needed a transmission at this time and that I should be reimbursed my $1800.00.