1998 FORD WINDSTAR Power Trainautomatic Transmission Problems

10/16/15 BOUGHT VAN. 10/30/15 STOP HAD TOWED HOME.CALL DEALERSHIP HAD TOWED TO THERE PLACE. THEY RAN A RED WIRE FROM FUSE RELAY TO INSIDE OF DASHBOARD TOOK OVER A WEEK GOT IT BACK. NOT IN EVEN WEEK LATER TRANSMISSION START MESSING UP TOLD THEM WOULDN'T CHANGE GEARS. IT WENT OUT. THEY DIDN'T WANT TO FIX IT FILE COMPLAINT WITH (DMV) INVESTIGATOR GOT IN TOUCH WITH THEM AGREEMENT WAS THEY WILL HAVE IT FIX WE DONT PAY LABOR, WE JUST PAY FOR TRANS AND FLUIDS. HAD IT TOWED THEY BEEN HAD VAN YEAR. 10/2016 THEY FOUND TRANS COST 515.PAID THEM. THEN IN 11/2016 SAID RADIATOR WAS CRACKED WE HAD TO PAY 102.84 ANOTHER MONTH 12/26/2016 GOT VAN. ITS MESSED UP SMOKING BRAKES BURNT UP.THE SPEEDOMETER LINES UNDER VAN NOT CONNECT JUST HANGING DONT MATCH UP ONE BROKE AT THE END. THE ODOMETER NOT HOOK UP. TOLD THEM THEN CARRIED TO INSPECTION...

POPPING IN FRONT END WHEN TURNING OR HITTING BUMPS. THE POPPING SOUND WAS OFTEN. HAD NEW TIRES PUT ON, AND WHEN I TOOK IT IN TO HAVE FRONT END ALIGNED. FORD TECH. SAID FRONT SPRINGS WERE BROKE. WAS AN EST. OF $1200.00 ON IT CAN'T AFFORD. THIS WAS 5/20/2011. CONTACTED MFR ABOUT THE RECALL THAT WAS ISSUED ON THIS PART 7/12/2001. WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, BECAUSE OF A TIME LIMIT. HOW CAN THEY PUT A TIME LIMIT ON SAFETY & PEOPLES LIVES BECAUSE THE SPRINGS ARE BROKEN,THEY CAN PUNCTURE THE TIRES AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. NOW WE ARE WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION. AND MY SON IS DISABLED AND HAS NUMEROUS DR. APPTS. MILES AWAY. BUT MY HANDS ARE TIED. THE MFR. DID ADVISE TO HAVE ANOTHER RECALL CHECKED OUT WHICH IS THE SPEED CONTROL BECAUSE IT CAN CATCH FIRE. WHEN I ASKED WHY, YOU JUST TOLD ME IT...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION BECAME STUCK IN OVERDRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE MAIN CONTROL VALVE WAS DEFECTIVE; IT WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT LATER BEGAN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE BRAKES AS THEY LOCKED UP WHEN THE CONTACT APPLIED THEM TO AVOID A DEER. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE WOODS AS A RESULT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ABS TONE RING SEAL HAD CRACKED; IT WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND THE DEALER THEN REPLACED THE TONE RING AND SENSOR. MONTHS LATER, THE BRAKES BEGAN TO GRAB. THE ENTIRE BRAKE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED FOUR TIMES. FURTHERMORE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE. THE SWITCH ASSIST IN ALL DOORS WAS REPLACED IN 2005. IN 2011, THE CONTACT HAD THE SAME FAILURE...

FORD WINSTAR WILL NOT STAY IN PARK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE AND THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

TRANSMISSION: 1998 FORD WINDSTAR MINI VAN: WHILE TRYING TO TURN AROUND IN A DRIVEWAY, I PUT IT IN REVERSE AND THERE WAS NOT A REVERSE OR DRIVE GEARS ,NOTHING. THE MOTOR REVVED, BUT COULD NOT MOVE. I WAS STRANDED WITH NO WARNING. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED SINCE IT WOULD NOT MOVE. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ONLINE, OTHER OWNERS, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD WINDSTAR MINI VAN. I FEEL THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD. I AGREE WITH SO MANY MORE CONSUMERS, WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN IN A RECALL. IT IS VERY, VERY DANGEROUS, SINCE IT JUST STOPS WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR PROBLEMS. I REALIZE IT IS TOO LATE FOR ME SINCE MINE IS IN THE SHOP ALREADY. HOWEVER, I AM ON A LIMITED INCOME AND PROBABLY WILL LOOSE THE VEHICLE DUE TO NO FUNDS FOR THE REPAIR. IF IT HAD BEEN ON A RECALL, THIS WOULD NOT...

1998 FORD WINDSTAR TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING OUT UNDER THE MOTOR. *TR

1998 FORD WINDSTAR TRANSMISSION FAILED. NO WARNING, NO PROBLEMS PRIOR TO FAILURE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT OBSERVED RED LIQUID LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, SHE DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V097000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION), BUT WAS UNAWARE IF HER VIN WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL OR IF PREVIOUS RECALL REPAIRS HAD BEEN PERFORMED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 124,528. UPDATED 02/24/09. *LJ UPDATED 02/24/09. *JB

1998 WINDSTAR, TRANSMISSION FAILURE, COMPLETE OVERHAUL , $1700.00 DOLLARS, THE VAN WAS BOUGHT FOR MY MOTHER, SHE'S 81 , THE VAN WAS THOUGHT TO BE DEPENDABLE AND LEFT HER ON THE ROAD. MECHANIC SAID THE PLANETARY GEARS WERE SHOT, NEW GEARS AND TORQUE CONVERTER, COMPLETE OVERHAUL. THE VAN WAS OWNED BY MY MOTHER IN LAW , BOUGHT NEW , WHEN SHE PASSED AWAY I GAVE IT TO MY MOTHER, TWO WOMEN DRIVERS, OVER 60 YEARS OF AGE, SO THERE WAS NO ABUSE TO THE VAN, ALWAYS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR OIL CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE,,,WHAT GIVES... *TR

I HAVE A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR VAN SV, I AVE SOME TRANSMISSION ISSUES. I HAVE TO HAVE A WHOLE TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL DONE. I FOUNT OUT THAT ALOT OF THE OTHER OWNERS OF THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE HAS SUFFERED THE SAME. WHAT WE HAVE FOUNT OUT IS THAT THAT MODEL OF VANS HAVE DEFAULT TRANSMISSIONS IN THEM. I WANT TO KNOW IF I COULD AT LEAST HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED OR TO KNOW ANY INFORMATION THAT WILL HELP. *TR

I BOUGHT A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR 3.0 L IN 1999. IN 2002 I RECEIVED A RECALL TO INSTALL FRONT SHIELDS OVER THE COIL SPRING SO I DID. YESTERDAY THE FRONT COIL SPRING PUNCTURED THE FRONT TIRE AND BROKE THE STRUTS AS WELL. WHEN CALLING FORD, THEY INFORM ME THAT THEY CAN NOT TELL ME WHEN MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED, JUST THAT THEY WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. THEY ISSUED THE WARRANTY FOR 10 YEARS FROM MANUFACTURER DATE EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL DID NOT TAKE PLACE UNTIL 3-4 YEARS AFTER MANUFACTURE DATE AND I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR THE RECOMMENDED CURE TO THE PROBLEM. *TR

MY 1998 FORD WINDSTAR HAS BROKEN BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT COIL SPRINGS. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, MY ABS AND REGULAR BRAKE LIGHT WON'T GO AWAY EVEN AFTER SERVICING. MY OVERDRIVE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND STAYING LIT FOR DAYS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE. SHE PARKED THE VEHICLE, CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD, AND FOUND THAT IT WAS VERY HOT AND SMELLED LIKE BURNED RUBBER. FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER, THERE WAS AN ENGINE FIRE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V097000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) WAS REFERENCED. THE PURCHASE DATE, POWERTRAIN, AND MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 04-08-08 *BF UPDATED 04/08/08 *TR

FRONT STABILIZER BAR BROKE IN HALF INSIDE BUSHING NONE OF THE AUTO TECHS COULD FIND THE PROBLEM FOR THE PART 2 YEARS (NOT EVEN DURING NY STATE INSPECTIONS) SO THEY PAST THE VAN ANYWAYS UNTILL FINALLY ONE GAVE A TUG ON THE PASSANGERS SIDE OF THE BAR AND IT CAME OUT OF THE BUSHING IN THEIR HANDS THE TECH SAID HE NEVER SAW A BAR BREAK LIKE THAT BEFORE AND THAT WAS THE CAUSE FOR HAVING TO GET THE WHEEL HUBS LOWERBALL JOINTS &TIE ROD ENDS REPLACED TWICE IN ONE YEAR ALONG WITH THE TIRES ON THE FRONT OF THE VAN SO THE VAN SITS IN THE DRIVE WAY UNTILL IT CAN GET FIXED (FINDING THE BAR IS THE HARD PART)DEALER SAID HE COULD NOT LOCATE ONE NOW WHAT???? ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APRESHIATED ALSO THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANNY 4 TIMES ONCE ABOUT EVERY 12000-17000 MILES...

1998 WINDSTAR JERKS WHEN DOWN SHIFTING. *TS *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A BURNING SMELL WAS PRESENT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. UPON INSPECTION, THERE WAS TRANSMISSION FLUID ON THE GROUND OF THE DRIVEWAY. UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE THERE WAS FLUID LEAKING OUT OF THE SERVO COVER OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND FAXED A COPY OF THE NHTSA RECALL #97V097000. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION MECHANIC STATED THERE WAS NO RECALLS PERTAINING TO THE SERVO COVER AND THERE WERE NEVER ANY VEHICLES REPAIRED AT THAT DEALERSHIP ACCORDING TO THE NHTSA RECALL. WHEN THE DEALER WAS ASKED TO FIX THE VEHICLE BASED ON THE RECALL, THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THE INFORMATION MEANT NOTHING TO THEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO EXPRESSED THAT THEY COULD NOT AUTHORIZED REPAIRS FOR THE VEHICLE UNDER THE NHTSA RECALL. *NM

TRANSMISSION WAS SLOW GOING INTO GEAR,WAS VERY NOISY AND WOULD NOT SHIFT IT FINALLY LOCKED UP IN GEAR AND WOULD NOT MOVE. IT WAS TOWED IN TO A REPAIR SHOP AND I WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD. THE VAN HAS ONLY 46,000 MILES ON IT. A 30,000 DOLLAR CAR SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN THIS. *JB

VAN WILL STALL WHEN DECELERATING INTO A TURN, OCURRS 2-3 TIMES PER WEEK. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 84,000 MILES COSTNG $1,700 TO REPAIR. VAN WOULD VIBRATE AND STUTTER WHEN ACEELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. HAD VAN TO DEALER 3-4 TIMES FOR STALLING PROBLEM, THEY CLAIMED THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG.

DT: THE CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING FOR ABOUT FIVE OR TEN MILES ,IF THE CONTACT GOES TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN OR STOP, THE VEHICLE WILL STALL. THIS OCCURS WHILE DECELERATING. HE STATES THAT EVERYTHING WORKS FINE WHILE HE IS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. IT JUST WHEN HE GOES TO STOP THAT HE HAS THE PROBLEMS. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HIS PERSONAL MECHANIC , AND THEY REPLACED THE IDLE CONTROL ,AND CLEANED THE INJECTORS. HOWEVER, VEHICLE STILL HAS THIS PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WITH NO WARNING. IT WILL START BACK UP AS SOON AS IT STALLS WHEN HE PUTS IT IN PARK. THE CONTACT STATES THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN 100 TIMES. VEHICLE HAS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE IS REGULARLY MAINTAINED. IT STARTED ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND IT WOULDN'T DO IT ALL THE TIME AND NOW IT IS DOING ALMOST EVERY TIME YOU SLOW DOWN. HAS CAME...

1998 FORD WINDSTAR TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH.*MR THE CONSUMER HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED 2 1/2 YEARS AGO. *JB

THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE ROAD WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE DRIVE GEAR POPPED OUT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN AND NOT MOVE. MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED BY CONSUMER.*AK

ENGINE SHUTS DOWN INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DECELERATING INTO A TURN. IT ALSO SHUTS DOWN MOMENTARILY (VEHICLE "BUCKS") OR FULLY (STALLS COMPLETELY) DURING NORMAL DRIVING, INDEPENDENT OF SPEED. THE LATTER PROBLEM IS MUCH MORE COMMON THAN THE FORMER! CONSEQUENCE: SEVERAL NEAR-MISS REAR-END COLLISIONS, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. AN INDEPENDENT TECHNICIAN REPLICATED BUT COULD NOT PROPERLY REPAIR THE PROBLEM(S). THE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN OCCURRING FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS. *NM

THE TRANSMISSION ON A 98 FORD WINDSTAR FAILED AFTER ONLY 74482 MILES. I HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT AT A SIGNIFICANT COST. *NM

HEARD NOISE FROM ENGINE AND LOST TRANSMISSION POWER. CAR COASTED. WHEN I GOT OUT THERE WAS A LOT OF TRANSMISSION OIL ON THE GROUND. TOWED TO FORD OF UPLAND, (CALIF) . I WAS SHOWN THAT THE LOW/INTERMEDIATE SERVO COVER WAS BLOWN TO THE SIDE. I CHECKED FOR RECALLS FOUND ONE RECALL FOR 98 WINDSTAR. ACCORDING TO FORD MOTOR CO REP. MY VEH WAS MANUFACTURED AFTER 3/1/97 NAMELY ON 11/26/97 BUT FORD REP SAID IT COULD BE THE SAME PROBLEM, AS OF NOW HE NOTED MY COMPLAINT AND SAID I SHOULD CALL YOU, (NHTSA) YOU MAY BE ABLE TO CHECK FURTHER INTO THIS. THANKS *JB

NAR 1/15/2003. THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. AFTER NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS, THE SELLING DEALER OFFERED TO BUY THE VEHICLE BACK, BUT THE CONSUMER DECLINED AND INSTEAD CONTINUED TO FORD AND HARASS THE EMPLOYEES TO POINT THAT THEY BECAME DEATH THREATS. *JB

REPORTING DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION IN 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. *BF *NM

PROBLEMS WITH 1998 FORD WINDSTAR TRANSMISSION.*MR *NM

WITHOUT WARNING, THE SPEEDOMETER WENT FLAT AND THE ENGINE STAYED IN LOW GEAR AND THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" CAME ON WHEN I WAS TRYING TO DRIVE UP A STEEP HILL. I CALLED MY HUSBAND AND HE PUT A LITTLE EXTRA TRANSMISSION FLUID IN IT. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME. WE TOOK IT THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR A OIL & AIR FILTER CHANGE AND TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSH. WE ONLY MADE IT A FEW MILES UNTIL IT BROKE DOWN AGAIN WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. WHEN WE HAD IT CHECKED AT THE SHOP, WE WERE TOLD IT ALSO HAS A BROKEN MOTOR MOUNT. WE CALLED A "TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST" AND WERE TOLD BY THE DESCRIPTION, IT SOUNDED LIKE THE SPEED SENSOR HAD GONE OUT. WE HAD THIS VAN CUSTOM-BUILT, NO ONE ELSE HAS EVER OWNED IT. IT CURRENTLY HAS ABOUT 94,000 MILES ON IT. IT HAS HAD REGULAR MAINENTENCE AND HAS NEVER...

RIGHT AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, I STARTED HAVING PROBLEM WITH IT. I ADDRESSED THE SELLER, AND HE TOLD ME THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NO WARRANTY, AND SO THAT I SHOULD JUST TAKE THE VEHICLE AND TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM BY MYSELF. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, I FEEL I WAS USED BECAUSE I AM POOR, AND WAS DESPERATE FOR A VEHICLE. OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE PURCHASED A VEHICLE FROM THEM HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ACTIONS CAN BE TAKEN TO CORRECT THE MATTER ANY LONGER. I HAVEN'T GIVEN A PAYMENT FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS, BECAUSE I HAVE HAD TO FIX THE VEHICLE. MAINLY TRANSMISSION AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. I HAVE ALSO HAD STEERING WHEEL PROBLEMS, AND TIRE PROBLEMS. *LA

I HAVE A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR WITH ABOUT 100,000 MILES ON IT. THE ENGINE IS GOOD, BUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, IT SUDDENLY SHIFTS TO LOW GEAR AND JERKS. INITIALLY, THIS WOULD HAPPEN OCCASSIONALLY, BUT NOW IT HAS REACHED A POINT THAT IT DOWN SHIFTS VERY OFTEN ESPECIALLY WHEN RUNNING AT SLOW SPEED AND THE VEHICLE VIBRATES A LOT. AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE PASSENGERS EXPERIENCE A VERY STRONG JOLTING FORWARD LIKE AS IF SOMEBODY STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AT HIGH SPEED. *JB A VISIT TO MY CERTIFIED MECHANIC REVEALS THAT THIS EXPERIENCE IS VERY COMMON AMONG FORD TRANSMISSIONS ON VARIOUS CARS. IT WILL COST BETWEEN $1,500 - $2,000 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION.

TRANSMISSION ON VAN WENT WITHOUT WARNING, STRANDED THE COMPLAINANT IN A PARKING LOT. VAN HAD TO BE TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THSI WAS THE THRID MAJOR REPAIR TO THIS VEHICLE (REPAIRS COSTING MORE THAN $1,000 EACH). PURCHASED THE USED VEHICLE IN APRIL 2001- HAD 30,000 MILES ON IT, CURRENTLY HAS A LITTLE OVER 100,000 MILES. JUST AFTER THE DEALER WARRANTY EXPIRED THE VAN HAD PARTS REPLACED IN THE TRANSMISSION, THEN PARTS REPLACED IN THE DRIVE TRAIN (EXPENSIVE). ENTIRE RACK AND PINION REPLACEMENT FOLLOWED. THE REAPIRS WERE DONE WITHING 18 MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. EVEN AFTER HAVING THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION AND RIVE TRAIN REPLACED, THERE IS STILL A GROWLING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WHEN IT IDLES AT A STOP SIGN. VEHICLE ALSO HAS ERRATIC SHIFTING WHEN ROUNDING CORNERS AT LOW SPEEDS (CLUNKING SOUNDS AND VEHICLE SHAKES WHEN VAN DROPS INTO GEAR)- ALL OF THIS EVEN AFTER...

LAST YEAR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS STARTED AGAIN. I HAD THE VAN IN THE GARAGE AGAIN IN DECEMBER TO REPLACE THE PUMP ON THE TRANSMISSION AFTER IT BLEW APART AND LEFT ME STRANDED WHEN IT WOULDN'T GO INTO ANY GEAR. AFTER 10 DAYS THE VAN WOULD MOVE AGAIN. NOW AGAIN THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND. THE VAN IS FAMOUS FOR DOWNSHIFTING FROM OVERDRIVE INTO 1ST OR 2ND GEAR. THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY FLASHING AND NOT WORKING. *JB

I CURRENTLY OWN A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. I HAVE HAD THIS VAN FOR TWO YEARS. I BOUGHT IT WITH 38000 MILES ON IT AND NOW HAVE 66000 MILES ON IT. UP TILL ABOUT A MONTH AGO, I HAD NO PROBLEMS AS I HAVE LOVED THIS VAN. BUT I DID RUN INTO A PECULIAR PROBLEM THAT SEEMS THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE HAVING WITH THIS VAN AS I HAVE CHECKED NUMEROUS WEBSITES AND WEB POSTS ON THE INTERNET AS WELL AS MY FRIENDS THAT HAVE FORMERLY OWNED THIS VEHICLE. THE DOOR AJAR CENSOR INSIDE THE DOORS WEAR, CAUSING THE COMPUTERS TO RECOGNIZE THE CAR DOORS TO BE SHUT. THIS EMITS A BEEPING SOUND THAT STEADILY BEEPS TILL YOU RISE ABOVE 15 MPH. ALSO, THE LIGHTS STAY ON AND SINCE FORD BUILT THESE VANS ALL THE SAME WAY, YOU CANNOT SIMPLY FIX IT WITHOUT SPENDING AT LEAST 500 DOLLARS IF YOUR LUCKY. ALSO,...

IHAVE A FORD WINDSTAR MIN VAN IT IS A 1998 GL AND MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE ONLY HAD IT THREE AND A HALF YEARS WE BOUGHT IT AT BEST FORD IN NASHUA NEW HAMPSHIRE. WE BOUGHT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT WE WERE OVER BY 600 MILES SO THEY WOULDNT HONOR IT. COME TO FIND OUT THERE WERE TWO OTHER MINI VANS WINDSTARS THE SAME TYPE AND AGE IN THE SHOP GETTING TRANSMISSION WORK DONE. THIS SHOULD OF NEVER HAPPENED TO US AND I THINK THE COMPANY OUGHT TO REIMBURSE US FOR THIS EXPENSIVE FIX THERE IS OBVIOUSLY PROBLEMS WITH THESE MIN VANS TRANSMISSION GOING TO EARLY . I HOPE I GET SOME RESULTS ON THIS ITS REDICULOUS WE ARE NOT EVEN DONE PAYING ON IT YET KAREN ROY. *AK

TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIME AND IS GOING AGAIN. DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO?*AK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *LA

1998 FORD WINDSTAR VAN CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. VAN WOULD NOT GO FORWARD UNTIL I DOWN SHIFTED TO 2ND GEAR. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT FOUND A PROBLEM CODE AND NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. DAILY CUT OFFS OCCUR ON PULLING UP MY STEEP DRIVEWAY AND COMING TO A STOP. *LA

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 65,000 MILES. CHECKED WITH DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF ANY PROBLEMS FROM FORD. I LOOK AT THIS WEBSITE AND FIND NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. THERE SHOULD BE AN OFFICIAL RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE MY MONEY REFUNDED FOR THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. *LA

WHILE DRIVING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS GEARS, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HESITATE. *AK

PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION, TORQUE, POWER STEERING, AND FRONT END STABLE RODS & ARMS. *MR THE TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE HAD BEEN REPLACED TWICE, THE POWER STEERING ONCE, THE FONT END STABLE RODS AND ARMS TWICE AND REMAINED BAD. THE BATTERY LIGHT HAD COME ON AND THE IDLER PULLEY WAS REPLACED, THERE WAS A CREAKING/CRACKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL AND THE OUTER TIE RODS WERE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE TOE BEING RESET, THERE WAS A CLUNK WHEN GOING OVER THE BUMPS, THERE WAS A VIBRATION UNDERNEATH DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION, THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND OFF AND SEEMED LIKE THE SHIFTS WERE ERRATIC, THE TRANSMISSION LEAKED BADLY, AND ON SOME OCCASIONS THE STARTER DID NOT ENGAGE. *SCC *JB

MY WINDSTAR VAN, AT 58,000 MILES, HAD A PREMATURE CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON HIGHWAY I-84 EAST. THIS EVENT PUT MY YOUNG CHILDREN AND MYSELF IN DANGER ON THE SIDE OF THE BUSY HIGHWAY DUE TO THE SMOKE AND STEAM COMING FROM THE VEHICLE THAT WE HAD TO RAPIDLY EVACUATE. MY VAN WAS OUT OF MY SERVICE FOR OVER ONE FULL WEEK AND HAS A REPAIR PRICE TAG OF JUST UNDER $2,800. I HAVE REQUESTED FORD TO PAY THE FULL COST OF THIS REPAIR THROUGH ONE OF THEIR "SPECIAL" PROGRAMS. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE DEFECTS OF THESE TRANSMISSIONS (I AM GLAD I DON'T OWN A 1995 WINDSTAR!) AND MUST BE MADE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR NOT USING QUALITY TRANSMISSION UNITS ON THESE VEHICLES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THEN, VEHICLE STARTED TO DECELERATE, CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. CONSUMER HAD MADE CONTACT WITH DEALER. *AK

POWERTRAIN FAILURE TRANSMISSION FELT LIKE IT DROPPED INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN WOULD NOT RESPOND. FAMILY MECHANIC INSPECTED VEHICLE AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY LOCKED UP..$2000. LATER TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED..IF THIS IS SUCH A "KNOWN ISSUE" WITH THESE VEHICLES WHY DOESNT FORD DO SOMETHING TO COMPENSATE THEIR CUSTOMERS? I USED TO BE A FORD GAL BUT NOT ANYMORE!!!*AK

MY 1998 WINDSTAR HAS 89,000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETEY BROKE APART, WITH NO WARNING AT ALL. NO SLIPPING OR ANYTHING. SITTING AT A RED LIGHT, THE VAN JERKED LIKE WE HAD BEEN HIT IN THE REAR BY SOMEONE DOING 80 MILES PER HOUR. IT IS GOING TO COST ME $1800.00 TO HAVE IT REBUILT. I KNOW NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ARE FILED WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION ON FORD TRANSMISSIONS. I WANT TO REGISTER MY COMPLAINT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK *JB

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND THE ABILITY TO SHIFT GEARS. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED AND COST ME $1900 TO FIX. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON 1998 WINDSTAR WITH ONLY 61,000 MILES ON VEHICLE.FORD REFUSED TO GIVE US ANY TYPE OF COMPENSATION. AFTER SEARCHING THIS DATABASE, IT SEEMS BAD TRANSMISSIONS ARE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH WINDSTARS.*AK

CONSUMER STATES HAS A POWER TRAIN PROBLEM FROM THE TRANSAXLES WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. CONSUMER STATED THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS ISSUED, NUMBER #98-15-19. *AK