NHTSA Complaint #10126917 — 1999 FORD WINDSTAR

STOPPED THE VEHICLE TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, WHEN I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE THEN JUMPED INTO GEAR VIOLENTLY. I MANAGED TO GET TEH VEHICLE INTO A PARKING LOT WHERE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE COULD BE HEARD WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND GEARSHIFT IN PARK. I MOVED THE GEAR SELECTOR INTO DIFFERENT GEARS AND CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CAR HAD A HISTORY OF NOISE WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK INTO ANY GEAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN PARKED ON A INCLINE. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO DOWNSHIFTED HARSHLY WHEN DECELERATING TO COAST THROUGH A TURN. BOTH ISSUES WERE REPORTED TO THE DAN WACHTEL FORD IN ATHENS, AL THAT SERVICES THE VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS FLUSHED AND HAD THE FILTER CHANGED TWICE, THE SECON ONLY 8000 MILES BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. DEALER REPORTS THAT THE CAR NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION WITH ONLY 58,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I PURCHASED AN 5 YEAR/70,000 EXTENDED WARRANTY WHEN WE BOUGHT THE CAR, BUT OF COURSE THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND I AM LOOKING AT A $2800 REPAIR BILL. I LOOKED AT THE FORD SERVICE BULLETINS AND OTHER COMPLAINTS THROUGH THIS SITE AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A HISTORY OF THE SAME TYPE OF OCCURRENCES WITH THE WINDSTAR AND THE TRANSMISSION. SEEKING ASSISTANCE FROM DEALER AND FORD SINCE VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED, HAS LOW MILEAGE CONSIDERING IT IS 6 YEARS OLD AND HAS A HISTORY OF SUCH EVENTS.