NHTSA Complaint #10583522 — 2003 FORD WINDSTAR

WHILE IN 75MPH SPEED LIMIT UPON ENTERING INTO A 70MPH LIMIT I PUSHED CST ON CRUISE PANEL STEERING WHEEL. I NOT ONLY SLOWED BUT MY VAN CONTINUED TO SLOW WHILE HEAVIER TRAFFIC WAS SKIRTING AND TRYING NOT TO RUN ME OVER. IT WAS AT LESS THAN 40MPH I WAS ABLE TO GET ON THE EMERGENCY LANE. WOULD NOT RESPOND TO DRIVE, 1ST, 2ND, REVERSE GEARS. ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE IN NEUTRAL, GOING NOWHERE, WHEN FOOT APPLIED TO ACCELERATOR. NO WARNING GIVEN; NO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS OR NOISE BEFOREHAND. STRANDED 400 MI FROM HOME, TOWED TO STERLING FORD DEALERSHIP IN OPELOUSAS, LA WITH VAN LEFT THERE AND NO NOTION OF WHEN FIRM DIAGNOSIS, TORQUE CONVERTER WAS THE FIRST SUGGESTION, PULLING TRANSMISSION PUMP AND MUCH MORE COSTLY WAS SECOND. WAS TOLD BY PREUS FORD THEY "THOUGHT" THERE HAD BEEN RECALL REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. DON'T KNOW. *TR