NHTSA Complaint #720991 — 1998 FORD WINDSTAR

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH THE CAR DOWNSHIFTED TO A LOW GEAR CAUSING THE RPM'S TO RACE AND THE CAR TO LURCH. WAS ABLE TO PULL TO SIDE OF BUSY HIGHWAY WITHOUT INCIDENT. FORD DEALER REPLACED MAP SENSOR AND REBUILT/REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. FORD COMPANY PAID ALL BUT $200 AS PART OF THEIR "CUSTOMER GOODWILL PROGRAM". I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION AND IF SO, I WOULD LIKE MY $200 REFUNDED TO ME. THE TIE ROD ENDS FAILED RIGHT AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD. EVEN THE DEALER ALLUDED TO THE FACT THAT THEY WERE PROBABLY FACTORY DEFECTS, THAT THEY SHOULD NOT GO BAD THEN. THE 'OPEN DOOR SENSOR' STAYS ON EVEN THOUGH ALL OF THE DOORS ARE CLOSED. THIS HAPPENS SPORADICALLY. IT MAY HAPPEN TWICE A DAY AND THEN NOT HAPPEN FOR DAYS. THE AUTOMATIC DOORLOCKS HAVE NOT WORKED PROPERLY SINCE ABOUT 40,000 MILES. I HAVE TO MANUALLY LOCK/UNLOCK THE SLIDING DOOR. AND TO TOP OFF ALL OF MY PROBLEMS, LAST WEEK I HAD A MOUSE IN MY GLOVE COMPARTMENT! THE DESIGN OF THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT LETS YOU LOOK RIGHT INTO THE ENGINE, AND A MOUSE GOT IN THERE AND CHEWED UP MY MAPS AND CLEAN PAPER NAPKINS. I AM NOT HAPPY! AND THAT WILL BE A SAFETY ISSUE IF I AM DRIVING AND SOMEONE OPENS MY GLOVE BOX! I BET YOU HAVE NEVER HEARD THAT ONE! MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THE TRANSMISSION. I HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NANCY