NHTSA Complaint #10149849 — 2000 FORD WINDSTAR

IN FALL OF 2005 MY BROTH-IN-LAW HAD HIS TRANSMISSION REPLACED TWICE ON A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR MINIVAN. FEE FROM DEALERSHIP (FORD IN WILLIAMSBURG, VA) WAS IN EXCESS OF $2500 EACH REPLACEMENT. IN JANUARY 2006 MY OWN 2000 WINDSTAR VAN'S TRANSMISSION FAILED IN AN INTERSECTION IN TRAFFIC. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO FORD DEALERSHIP IN WMBG AND DIAGNOSED AS TRANSMISSION FAILURE, FEE $2700. FOR A SECOND OPINION, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MR. TRANSMISSION IN HAMPTON, TRANSMISSION DISSECTED AND LAID OUT FOR ANALYSIS. METAL FRAGMENTS HAD DESTROYED THE TRANSMISSION. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE WITH FORD WINDSTARS. IN EARLY MODELS, A METAL TUBE FOR THE COOLANT DOESN'T HAVE ANY SUPPORT AND BREAKS OR TEARS FROM VIBRATION. IN LATER MODELS THIS TUBE HAS A SUPPORT TO PREVENT THAT. THE FORD SERVICE PEOPLE, WHEN CONFRONTED, SAID "TRANSMISSIONS CAN FAIL, YOU NEVER KNOW." WE ASKED "IS THIS COMMON IN WINDSTARS?" ANSWER "NO." NO MENTION OF PRIOR KNOWLEDGE, NO MENTION OF RECALL. WHEN ONE CONSIDERS 2 WINDSTARS, YEARS 1999 AND 2000, 3 DESTROYED TRANSMISSIONS BETWEEN THEM, AND DENIAL ON THE PART OF THE MANUFACTURER, THIS WARRANTS INVESTIGATION. IT IS NEGLIGENT TO NOT MAKE THE PUBLIC AWARE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR IN TRAFFIC AND NOT INSTITUTE A RECALL TO REPLACE TRANSMISSIONS ON EARLY MODELS. IT IS CRIMINAL TO CHARGE OWNERS $2500+ FOR A MANUFACTURING DESIGN FLAW. THE FACT THAT LATER MODELS HAVE THE ISSUE CORRECTED IMPLIES PRIOR KNOWLEDGE. THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *NM