NHTSA Complaint #10056428 — 2000 FORD WINDSTAR

MY COMPLAINT IS WITH MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. IN APPROX. JUNE OF 2003(DON'T HAVE EXACT DATE BECAUSE VEHICLE IS AT DEALERSHIP), WITH NO WARNING MY TRANSMISSION FAILED. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED. EASY CARE WARRANTY REFUSED CLAIM DUE TO FACT TRANSMISSION WAS FLUSHED 1000 MILES PAST RECOMMENDATION. DEALERSHIP NOR FORD MOTOR CO. PROVIDED NO HELP. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO LOCAL MECHANIC FOR REPAIR. LOCAL MECHANIC DOCUMENTED THAT TRANSMISSION HAD NO IMPACT ON FAILURE. COST OF REPAIR WAS APPROX. $2100. IN JAN. 2004, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. LOCAL MECHANIC RAN DIAGNOSIS AND STATED IT MUST BE REPAIRED BY FORD DEALER. STATED THAT DRIVABILITY WAS OK. TOOK INTO DEALERSHIP TODAY, FEB.2, 2004. ONCE AGAIN, EASY CARE REFUSED CLAIM BECAUSE IT WAS A POORLY DESIGNED PART AND THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS. ONCE AGAIN, FORD MOTOR CO. WAS NO HELP. STATED THAT VEHICLE'S WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. PER EASY CARE, THERE IS A REVISED VALVE COVER THAT HAS BETTER BAFFLING SYSTEM. FORD HAS A DESIGN FLAW. FORD WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PARTS, THEREFORE, THE WARRANTY IS MEANINGLESS AND THE CUSTOMER MUST PAY FOR POOR DESIGN??!! THE REPAIR WILL COST IN EXCESS OF $700. I WOULD LIKE FORD TO INCUR THE COST OF REPAIR DUE TO ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF DEFECTIVE DESIGN.*AK