NHTSA Complaint #10105938 — 2000 FORD WINDSTAR

AT APPROXIMATELY 62,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR SUDDENLY FAILED. I WAS STARTING UP FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT A BUSY INTERSECTION WHEN I HEARD A LOUD CLUNK FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR AND THE CAR STOPPED MOVING. THE CAR WOULD GO IN REVERSE ONLY. I HAD IT TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE SUN GEAR HAD SHEARED OFF. (RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET INDICATED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR.) I HAD A MECHANICAL ENGINEER LOOK AT THE BROKEN PART AND HE CONCLUDED THAT THE WELD WAS NOT DEFECTIVE, IT WAS JUST POORLY DESIGNED. THE REPLACEMENT PART HAS BEEN REDESIGNED AND IS NOW REINFORCED, WHICH WOULD INDICATE TO ME THAT FORD IS WELL-AWARE OF THE DESIGN FLAW. (SINCE THEY WENT TO THE TROUBLE OF REDESIGNING THE PART) THIS IS JUST THE LATEST IN A LONG LINE OF PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR.*AK