NHTSA Complaint #10030516 — 1998 FORD WINDSTAR

FORD 1998 WINDSTAR POWER TRAIN FAILURE. IN JAN 1999, I PURCHASE A USED 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. ALSO PAID FOR A 72 MONTH/60,000 PREMIUM CARE EXTENDED WARRANTY. IN 2000, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ALMOST CAUSING AND ACCIDENT. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER THAT I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK MORE THAN 5 TIMES STATING THAT THE NEW REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE TRANS WOULD SLIP COMING OUT OF FIRST GEAR AND BANG INTO 2ND GEAR. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY THE CAR WOULD STALL WHEN DOWNSHIFTING COMING OFF AN EXIT. THE DEALER, SPRINGFIELD FORD, STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. ON JULY 18, 2003 THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE JUST STOPPED AND WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. AS A DISABLED INDIVIDUAL THIS WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. WITH MY FLASHERS ON, I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, AND DRIVE OFF THE ROAD AND SAFELY PACK IT. THIS SEEMED STRANGE THAT I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SPRINGFIELD FORD ON JULY 18, 2003. THE DEALER CALLED AND SAID THAT MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND IT WOULD COST $3000.00 TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION. I SPOKE WITH FORD AND THE MANAGER AT SPRINGFIELD FORD. THEY STATED THAT MY WARRANTY EXPIRED IN JUNE OF 2003. I BELIEVE THAT MY WARRANTY IS IN EFFECT THRU 2005. THIS VEHICLE HAS 47,000 MILES ON IT. I BELIEVE THAT A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED IN MY VEHICLE. THIS HAS CREATED A MAJOR SAFTY ISSUE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY. AS OF TODAY FORD HAS NOT OFFERED TO FIX MY CAR, OFFER ME A LOANER CAR, OR OFFER ANY RESOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. AS A DISABLED INDIVIDUAL, THIS VAN IS MY MAIN TRANSPORTATION AND FAMILY CAR. I AM STILL WAITING FOR FORD TO OFFER TO FIX MY CAR, DESCRIBE THE FAILURE, AND PROVIDE A SOLUTION. AT THIS POINT I BELIEVE THAT THE ENTIRE POWER TRAIN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WITH OEM CERTIFIED NEW PARTS INSTALLED AND PAID BY FORD MOTOR CO. THANK YOU L *PH