NHTSA Complaint #10072600 — 1998 FORD WINDSTAR

TRANSMISSION ON VAN WENT WITHOUT WARNING, STRANDED THE COMPLAINANT IN A PARKING LOT. VAN HAD TO BE TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THSI WAS THE THRID MAJOR REPAIR TO THIS VEHICLE (REPAIRS COSTING MORE THAN $1,000 EACH). PURCHASED THE USED VEHICLE IN APRIL 2001- HAD 30,000 MILES ON IT, CURRENTLY HAS A LITTLE OVER 100,000 MILES. JUST AFTER THE DEALER WARRANTY EXPIRED THE VAN HAD PARTS REPLACED IN THE TRANSMISSION, THEN PARTS REPLACED IN THE DRIVE TRAIN (EXPENSIVE). ENTIRE RACK AND PINION REPLACEMENT FOLLOWED. THE REAPIRS WERE DONE WITHING 18 MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. EVEN AFTER HAVING THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION AND RIVE TRAIN REPLACED, THERE IS STILL A GROWLING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WHEN IT IDLES AT A STOP SIGN. VEHICLE ALSO HAS ERRATIC SHIFTING WHEN ROUNDING CORNERS AT LOW SPEEDS (CLUNKING SOUNDS AND VEHICLE SHAKES WHEN VAN DROPS INTO GEAR)- ALL OF THIS EVEN AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED! WHAT A LEMON! *AK