NHTSA Complaint #10426361 — 2003 FORD WINDSTAR

WHILE DRIVING, I FELT THE VAN WAS NOT SHIFTING, SO I WENT TO THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. I TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER-AGAIN, NOTHING WRONG WITH TRANSMISSION BUT THEY DID DO A TRANSMISSION TUNE UP. WHEN I PICKED IT UP, I DROVE INTO TOWN. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND HAD TO STOP ON A RED LIGHT. ON GREEN, I PRESSED MY GAS PEDAL BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. IN A DESPERATE EFFORT, I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES. I WAS ABLE TO MOVE AGAIN, BUT FOR ONLY ABOUT A QUARTER MILE TO HAVE TO DO THE SAME REPEATEDLY UNTIL I GOT TO A SAFER SPOT. FINALLY, I ENDED UP LEAVING MY VAN PARKED AT A SHOPPING CENTER AND CALLED A CAB HOME. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH WITH MY FORD WINDSTAR VAN. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING, AND MY AIR CONDITIONING DOESN'T WORK, EVEN WHEN I HAD FREE ON PUT IN IT. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY FOR ANOTHER CAR, NOR DO I HAVE THE MONEY FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION, ALONG WITH HAVING IT PUT IN. I LIVE IN A TOWN WHERE THERE ARE NO BUSES AND CAN ONLY GET A RIDE FROM A TAXI. I DON'T HAVE $10 ONE WAY FOR THIS! I NEED TO GET TO WORK, AND CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE MY JOB. ALL BECAUSE OF A MALFUNCTIONING VEHICLE THAT IS CAUSING SAME PROBLEMS FOR MANY OTHERS OUT THERE. FORD SHOULD BE RECALLING THESE VEHICLES! *KB