NHTSA Complaint #10116674 — 1999 FORD WINDSTAR

OUR 1999 FORD WINDSTAR HAS 51,000 MILES AND TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. YESTERDAY (4/8/05) WHILE DRIVING KIDS HOME FROM SCHOOL THE VAN MADE A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE AND WOULD NOT GO INTO FORWARD OR REVERSE. WAS ABLE TO ROLL TO SHOULDER. WE REPLACED BATTERY A MONTH AGO, AND WHILE DRIVING OVER THE BAY BRIDGE (MARYLAND) EASTER SUNDAY OUR HEADLIGHTS AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS BEGAN TO DIM AND VAN SEEMED AS IF IT WAS GOING TO STALL. BY THE TIME WE DROVE 4 MILES TO HOME ALL LIGHTS WERE OUT AND CAR WAS SPUTTERING, WOULDN'T START. WE THEN REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR. THE O/D LIGHT HAS BEEN FLASHING. INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON SPORADICALLY AS WELL AS DOOR AJAR LIGHT WHEN ALL DOORS ARE CLOSED. INTERIOR LIGHTS SOMETIMES DON'T COME ON WHEN VAN IS PARKED AND DOORS OPENED. NO RHYME OR REASON TO THIS. TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE DUE TO ABNORMAL WEAR. WE ARE GETTING QUOTES OF BETWEEN 1,600 AND 2,800 FOR TRANSMISSION. ALSO WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHERE MIRROR WAS REATTACHED AFTER IT FELL OFF. WHEN WE WERE JUST OVER 3 YEARS AND AT AROUND 25,000 MILES, ALL DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON ALSO WHILE DRIVING ON BAY BRIDGE. TOOK VAN TO DEALER (BOB BELL IN GLEN BURNIE, MD) AND THEY SAID THEY'D HAVE IT DONE THAT DAY BUT KEPT IT A WEEK. I THREW A FIT AND GOT A LOANER - A TIN CAN ON WHEELS. FORD EVENTUALLY COVERED SOME OF THE REPAIRS THROUGH A 'SPECIAL PROGRAM.' I CANNOT BELEIVE THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ON THESE PIECES OF GARBAGE WITH THE NUMBER OF TRANSMISSION FAILURES I SEE ON THIS WEBSITE. NHTSA SHOULD FORCE FORD TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS NONSENSE AND PAY FOR THESE OUTRAGEOUS FAILURES. WE ALSO HAVE A FORD PICKUP AND WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD PRODUCT. HENRY MUST BE ROLLING OVER IN HIS GRAVE.*AK