NHTSA Complaint #10334642 — 1999 FORD WINDSTAR

1999 FORD WINDSTAR EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 114,000 MILES DESPITE HAVING ABSOLUTELY NO PRIOR ISSUES OF THIS NATURE. I WAS AT A RED LIGHT APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE FROM THE ON-RAMP OF I-25 WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED AND JERKED BEFORE ACCELERATING; AFTER PULLING OVER TO CHECK FOR DAMAGE (AS I WAS SURE I HAD HIT/RUN OVER SOMETHING), I FOUND NOTHING UNUSUAL AND PROCEEDED ONTO THE INTERSTATE. THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY FOR APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES AT FREEWAY SPEED UNTIL I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. UPON TRYING TO ACCELERATE, THE ENGINE WOULD ONLY REV REGARDLESS OF THE GEAR I USED, AT WHICH TIME I CONTACTED AN AUTOMOTIVE SHOP TO TOW THE VEHICLE. CURRENTLY, I AM AWAITING A CALL FROM THE SHOP AFTER THEIR FULL DIAGNOSIS, WHICH I WILL UPDATE THIS COMPLAINT. A SUDDEN PROBLEM OF THIS MAGNITUDE IS PERPLEXING AS WELL AS POTENTIALLY COSTLY. AFTER READING PAGES OF COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO MINE, I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THE HIGH(ER) MILEAGE OF MY VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT SPEAKS TO THE LEVEL OF REGULAR MAINTENANCE I HAVE PROVIDED. PLEASE CONSIDER SERIOUSLY INVESTIGATING THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO MINE BEFORE A LIFE IS TAKEN AS A RESULT. *TR