NHTSA Complaint #10078378 — 1998 FORD WINDSTAR

I HAVE A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR WITH ABOUT 100,000 MILES ON IT. THE ENGINE IS GOOD, BUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, IT SUDDENLY SHIFTS TO LOW GEAR AND JERKS. INITIALLY, THIS WOULD HAPPEN OCCASSIONALLY, BUT NOW IT HAS REACHED A POINT THAT IT DOWN SHIFTS VERY OFTEN ESPECIALLY WHEN RUNNING AT SLOW SPEED AND THE VEHICLE VIBRATES A LOT. AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE PASSENGERS EXPERIENCE A VERY STRONG JOLTING FORWARD LIKE AS IF SOMEBODY STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AT HIGH SPEED. *JB A VISIT TO MY CERTIFIED MECHANIC REVEALS THAT THIS EXPERIENCE IS VERY COMMON AMONG FORD TRANSMISSIONS ON VARIOUS CARS. IT WILL COST BETWEEN $1,500 - $2,000 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION.