NHTSA Complaint #10174391 — 2002 FORD WINDSTAR

I PURCHASED A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR IN 2005. IN OCTOBER I TOOK IT IN FOR INSPECTION AND NEEDED TO HAVE ALL FOUR TIRES (ONE OF WHICH HAD BEEN REPLACED 6 MONTHS BEFORE), THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, A BREAK LIGHT BULB AND FRONT BRAKES REPLACED...NEEDLESS TO SAY IT FAILED AND I MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING IT BACK IN (AFTER SAVING TO HAVE IT FIXED)! I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP IN NOVEMBER. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE TRANSMISSION WHICH WOULD NEED TO BE REPAIRED. THE COST, AS QUOTED BY THE SERVICE REP, WOULD BE ABOUT $1,500!!! I HAD JUST SPENT OVER $700 FOR THE OTHER REPAIRS! I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR! I HAVE SEARCHED SEVERAL WEBSITES AND HAVE FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH WINDSTAR OWNERS (OF VARIOUS YEARS 1995-2002), SOME OF WHICH WHO HAVE BEEN FORCED TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FIXED MULTIPLE TIMES. THIS IS AN OUTRAGE! FORD NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS PROBLEM! I CANNOT CONTINUE TO SINK COUNTLESS DOLLARS INTO THIS VEHICLE AND I CANNOT TRADE IT UNTIL THE PROBLEMS ARE CORRECTED. THIS PRESENTS A SERIOUS ISSUE FOR THE SOMEONE LIKE ME, IN THE WORKING MIDDLE-CLASS. I WILL SOON NEED TO PICK UP A SECOND JOB JUST TO TAKE CARE OF REPAIRS! THIS IS CRAZY!! PLEASE HOLD FORD MOTOR COMPANY ACCOUNTABLE FOR SUCH TERRIBLE PRODUCTION...ESPECIALLY ON A ISSUE THEY HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE OF (TRANSMISSION) FOR YEARS! THANK YOU. *NM