Transmission problem. The transmission was replaced 4 times within 60k mile interval while following the 30k transmission fluid flush. A flashing o/d light comes on and the transmission will die out of nowhere and the past few times it has been on the highway going 75 MPH with no warning, smoke, lights, etc. I had the transmission start smoking from the engine bay even though the fluid was changed. Now there is a massive transmission fluid leak. There have been thousands of owners who report a bad design of the ford windstar 2003 transmission and it needs to be recalled. The ford freestar was recalled for the transmission issue, but the windstar wasn't. Why not? Both models use the same transmission. It is a safety issue and ford is not willing to acknowledge the issue with the vehicle and recall the vehicle to fix the transmission problem.
2003 Ford Windstar: complete transmission failure
68 of the 1,510 complaints about the 2003 Ford Windstar describe complete transmission failure.
- owner complaints
- 68
- of this car's complaints
- 5%
- typical repair cost reported
- $2,000
- typical mileage
- 105,000
- recalls
- 1
Complete transmission failure by model year
What owners say
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. While driving at various speeds, the transmission failed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.
My spouse was driving our 2003 ford windstar home from church and while turning right onto our street the transmission failed, no longer powering the vehicle. She coasted to a stop in front of our home. I had the vehicle towed to a local transmission repair shop and was told by the mechanic that this is a very common problem in ford windstars and that he has had to prematurely replace many of these transmissions. We were very lucky during this incident. It could have easily happened on the interstate highway and caused a severe crash, injuries or death. Ford customer relations informed me they had no recall actions underway for this problem on my vehicle, but to save any receipts in case there was a future reimbursement/recall effort.
Transmission failure, van will not shift into any gear, forward, reverse, 2,1.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. The contact reversing from a driveway, the transmission failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection but the diagnosis was unclear. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The VIN was unavailable. The approximate failure mileage was 103,000.
Our van was fine until it was having a hard time shifting. We took the van into a transmission specialist and had to replace the transmission due to water. And also had the water to the radiator completely bypass the transmission. Everything was fine until months later it was having a hard time shifting. Somehow a lot of water had gotten in there. There's no way it's from the radiator since like I said it bypasses the tranny and has a different cooling thing?? Now he thinks it's from the A/C. So now it's in the shop again and I already spent $300 for a complete flush. Now I might have to do it again. Plus he's going to make a shield for the A/C. This is crazy.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. The contact stated that the transmission failed. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic where the contact was advised that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 76,000. Updated 05/01/13 *bf the consumer stated the transmission has since failed again.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. The contact was driving approximately 30 MPH when the transmission failed to operate without warning. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer for diagnosis where the contact was informed that the torque converter was faulty and required replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. There was a recall associated with the 2004 ford windstar model years but not the 2003 models (the federal safety agency campaign id number:12v006000-power train). The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000.
I was driving down the road and all of a sudden I had to acceleration or reverse or anything. It was like I was out of gear. I drifted over to the side of the road and called a tow. I needed a new transmission. That was feb. 2011 I just had the same incident happen again to me dec. 2012- transmission needs rebuilt again! Mileage is 82000 are you kidding! 2 transmissions in less than 2 years! The torque converter both times!
Was going down the highway and the vehicle started to decrease in speed, pressed gas pedal to increase speed, b ut only the RPM's went up and nothing else. Had to coast to a safe area to get off the road, was stranded 6 miles front he nearest town and was about 20 degrees outside. There was no warning or anything else showing any type of problem before transmission went out.
Abs light and brake light on dash stays on majority of the time, transmission went out without warning in the driveway with no power, and there is a noticeable change at times in the cruise speed control while driving revving up the engine. Had the transmission replaced as a result. There appears to be rust and crack in the axle.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. The contact stated that while driving in reverse, the transmission failed without warning and the contact was unable to accelerate. The contact took the vehicle to a mechanic and was told that the torque converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 124,000. Updated 08/28/12*lj updated 09/05/2012
Service bulletins that may apply
- Erratic fluid level reading on transaxle DIPSTICK-LEAKS-4F50N, AX4N, AX4S transaxle
- General (PCM) power train control module programming procedures
- Groan/buzz/vibration when the gear selector is in park with the vehicle parked on an incline
- New transmission cooler flusher - service tips
- Torque converter clutch not engaging when commanded and/or diagnostic trouble codes P0741 or P1744 stored...
Related recalls
Power train: axle assembly
- What is wrong
- Ford is recalling certain model year 1998-2003 windstar vehicles manufactured from september 1, 1997, through july 3, 2003, and currently registered or originally sold in virginia. Over time, corrosion can weaken the rear axle making it susceptible to torsional stress. Corrosion and stress can lead to cracks which, if undetected, can increase and result in a complete fracture of the axle.
- Risk
- A fractured axle can affect vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and install rear axle reinforcement brackets, or replace the axles, as necessary. This service will be performed free of charge. The recall began on june 19, 2012. Owners may contact ford at 1‑866‑436‑7332.
Recall number 12V193000 · Recall details
Questions about the 2003 Ford Windstar transmission failure
Is complete transmission failure a common problem on the 2003 Ford Windstar?
68 of 1,510 owner complaints about the 2003 Ford Windstar (5%) mention complete transmission failure. The model year with the most reports is 1995.
How much does it cost to fix complete transmission failure on the 2003 Ford Windstar?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $2,000 (median of 16 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2003 Ford Windstar?
There is 1 recall and 5 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2003 Ford Windstar
ABS 700Adaptive cruise 56Check engine light 44Fire or smoke 34Door locks 31Stalling 30Ball joint 24Grinding brakes 24Headlights 16Wipers 14Loss of power 13Brake failure 12Harsh shifting 12Won't shift 12Jerking 11Coil spring 10Won't start 10Tire blowout 9Warning lights 8No deployment 6Engine failure 6Hesitation 6Power steering loss 6Slipping 6Airbag light 5Fuel gauge 5Misfire 5Steering noise 5Pulling 5Sudden acceleration 5
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