NHTSA Complaint #10242807 — 1999 FORD WINDSTAR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT RANDOM IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR THE LIGHT TO DIM. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE LIGHT WOULD REMAIN OFF FOR 4-5 MILES BEFORE ILLUMINATING AGAIN. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR HATCH WAS OPEN, SO HE EXITED THE VEHICLE TO SHUT THE HATCH. ONCE HE GOT BACK IN THE VEHICLE, HE PLACED THE GEAR INTO DRIVE, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE THAT NEVER OCCURRED IN THE PAST. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND A MECHANIC REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE SUN GEAR WELLS IN THE TRANSMISSION BECAME DETACHED, WHICH CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 144,000.