NHTSA Complaint #10045337 — 2000 FORD WINDSTAR

MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR WITH (46,000 MILES) RECENTLY BEGAN MAKING A SMALL WHIRRING OR TICKING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD. EXAMINATION BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT A LOCAL DEALER INDICATED THAT THE ORIGIN OF THE PROBLEM WAS THE TRANSMISSION. UPON TEARDOWN OF THE TRANSMISSION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE STATOR SUPPORT BEARING HAD "BLOWN APART." THE DEALER WISHED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION FOR $3700. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ALSO EXAMINED THE CAR AND FOUND THAT IN ADDITION TO THE STATOR, THE PUMP SHAFT, TORQUE CONVERTER, AND CLUTCHES WOULD ALL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE GEAR TRAIN OR THE SOLENOIDS. IT SEEMS UNBELIEVABLE THAT SUCH EXTENSIVE DAMAGE MANIFESTED ITSELF IN NOTHING MORE THAN A SMALL TICKING SOUND THAT MECHANICS AT THE DEALERSHIP WERE AT FIRST UNABLE TO EVEN DETECT. IT IS EVEN MORE AMAZING AND FRIGHTENING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL DRIVABLE. THERE WAS NOTHING SUSPICIOUS FOUND IN ANY PREVIOUS SERVICE VISITS TO SUGGEST THAT SUCH A FAILURE WAS IMMINENT AND NO DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS OF ANY KIND. HAD THIS VEHICLE FAILED WHILE IN TRANSIT, SERIOUS INJURIES MAY HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE. *LA