NHTSA Complaint #10357687 — 2000 FORD WINDSTAR

MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR JUST DIED AS I WAS PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY TODAY 9/26/2010. THE CAR WONT MOVE FORWARD IN DRIVE, BUT GOES BACKWARDS IN REVERSE. FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS ITS BEEN JERKING AND RACING AND I CALLED FORD AND TOLD THEM ABOUT IT. THEY SAID THE JERKING WHEN YOU SHIFT IS NORMAL. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DALE JARRET FORD IN CHARLOTTE NC TO SERVICE ANOTHER RECALL AND I MENTIONED ABOUT THE JERKING WHEN YOU SHIFT AND THE NEEDLES FLIPPING OUT. HE SAID THAT HIS WIFE'S CAR HAD SIMILAR ISSUES AND IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR. THE SALESMAN SHIFTED THE GEAR UP AND DOWN AND SAID IT WAS DEFINETELY THE ALTERNATOR AND IT WOULD COST $350 TO FIX. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER PLACE THAT SAID THE ALTERNATOR WAS FINE, IT WAS THE CLUSTER THAT MADE THE NEEDLES FLIP OUT. NICE GOIN' FORD GUY!! THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT HAD BEEN FLICKERING SINCE SATURDAY MORNING AND BY SUNDAY AFTERNOON, THE TRANSMISSION LOOKS LIKE IT IS FRIED. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL OR ANY OTHER OPTIONS. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR