NHTSA Complaint #10082690 — 2000 FORD WINDSTAR

WHILE DRIVING PULLING ALIGHT UTILITY TRAILER MY OVERDRIVE OFF LIGHT CAME ON.WHEN I TRIED TO DISENGAGE THE OVERDRIVE NOTHING HAPPENED. I TOOK THIS VEHICHLE TO THE DEALER OF PURCHASE, AND I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO SERIOUS PROBLEM.I READ IN MY OURNERS MANUAL THAT THIS FLASHING OD OFF LIGHT INDICATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED IMEADIATE SERVICE. I THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LARGER DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO IN OVERDRIVE AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS BURNED. THEY SAID I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND THEY OFFERED TO INSTALL A FORD REBULIT FOR APROXIMATLY $2400. THE VAN HAD ONLY 49900 MILES. I TOLD THEM I WAS NOT INTERESTED IN PURCHASING ANYTHING FROM A COMPANEY WHO COULDN'T BUILD A TRANSMISSION THAT WOULD NOT LAST MORE THE 41000 MILES. I CONTACTED AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SERVICE WHO COULD INSTALL A REBUILT TRANSMISSION AT ABOUT THE SAME COST AND IT WOULD BE GARENTEED FOR 75000MILES. FORD WOULD ONLY GAURENTEE THER TRANSMISSION FOR 36OOO. I TOLD THIS DEALERSHIP I WOULD NEVER DO ANY MORE BUSSINESS WITH FORD , AND I WOULD SPREAD THE WORD EVERY WHERE I COULD ABOUT THEIR INFEARIOR PRODUCTS.*AK