2000 FORD WINDSTAR Power Trainautomatic Transmission Problems

WHILE DRIVING MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR IN A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT, PREPARING TO GO ONTO A VERY BUSY ROAD, THE VAN MADE A LOUD BANG AND SLAMMED TO A STOP. I WAS ALARMED AS I HAD MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL AT THE TIME AND I WAS GOING ABOUT 10 MILES AN HOUR. THE JOLT FROM THE SUDDEN STOP WAS ENOUGH TO JERK MYSELF AND MY 3 CHILDREN FORWARD, IT WAS RATHER SHOCKING. IF I HAD BEEN GOING 65, OR IF THERE HAD BEEN A CAR CLOSE BEHIND ME, AND IT SLAMMED TO A STOP, IT WOULD HAVE HAD CATASTROPHIC RESULTS. I PRESSED THE GAS TO GO, AND NOTHING. THE ONLY GEAR THAT WOULD WORK WAS REVERSE. I HAD TO PARK IT AND CALL A TOW TRUCK, IT WAS TAKEN TO A FORD DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VAN HAD 115, 552 MILES...

2000 FORD WINDSTAR LX TRANSMISSION BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE I85 IN VA 80,000 MILES ON IT. FLUID CAME SPEWING OUT THE BACK END OF THE VAN. $2500 COST TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. NO WARNING SIGNS THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

2000 WINDSTAR-CRUISE CONTROL SLOWLY STOPPED WORKING, ALMOST LIKE A LOOSE BUTTON OR WIRE WAS THE ISSUE, THEN COMPLETELY STOPPED, ABS LIGHT RANDOMLY GOING ON AND OFF THEN FINALLY STAYING-STOPPING DISTANCES INCREASED, TACH, SPEEDOMETER, AND OTHER DASH GAUGE NEEDLES SWINGING WILDLY WHILE DRIVING- TACH STOPPED WORKING FIRST THEN SPEEDOMETER(WITNESSED BY IOWA HIGHWAY PATROL), OD OFF LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AT RANDOM TIMES. FINALLY STAYED ON, TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OCCASIONALLY WHEN AT STOP SIGNS. TOOK IT TO TRANS. SHOP NO CODES FOUND, NEXT DAY THE VAN WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR. VAN IS NOW A YARD ORNAMENT. ISSUES ONGOING OVER THE COURSE OF ABOUT A YEAR. *TR

FORD WINDSTAR 2000 - TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 110,000 AND RUMOR IS THAT FORD KNEW THESE WERE WEAK BUT INSTALLED THEM ANYWAY. POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED THREE TIMES BETWEEN 60,000 AND 100,000. POWER STEERING PISTONS EACH FAILED AROUND 80,000. HEATER/AIR CONDITIONING AIR FLAPPER FAILED - REPLACEMENT WAS $1500 INSTALLED. SLIDING DOOR RELEASE STUCK AT 80,000. THE CAR IS A JUNKSTAR. I'LL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD - THEY BUILD WITH PLASTIC AND LIGHTWEIGHT JUNK AND THEY JUST FAIL - FAIL - FAIL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED MOVING FORWARD. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A GEAR IN THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; THE PART HAD BEEN RE-ENGINEERED AS IT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 72,000. THE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE AND WHEEL BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 05/23/11

I WAS TRAVELING ON THE CHICAGO INTERSTATE I-290 AT AROUND 3:30 AM WHEN MY REAR AXEL SNAPPED ON MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR MINIVAN. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON THE MORNING OF SEPTEMBER 27TH, 2010 ON A CLEAR DAY WITH IDEAL ROAD CONDITIONS BUT IN A LONG TERM CONSTRUCTION ZONE. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR AND IN LIGHT TRAFFIC WHEN THE AXEL SNAPPED ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE CAUSING ME TO JERK VIOLENTLY TO THE RIGHT AND THROUGH CONSTRUCTION BARRIERS INTO AN OPEN LANE AND ONTO THE SHOULDER A SHORT DISTANCE LATER. ANY OTHER TIME, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC BUT GIVEN THE EARLY HOUR OF MY TRAVEL TO WORK AND THE REDUCED SPEEDS DUE TO ONGOING CONSTRUCTION I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VIOLENT MOVEMENT TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT INJURY OR MISHAP. THE CAR WAS TOWED A SHORT TIME LATER TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND I SEARCHED FOR...

WHILE DRIVING A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR THAT HAD BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED AND BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR EVERY CHECKUP, THE TRANSMISSION DECIDED TO GO OUT. I HAD PARKED THE CAR AND WHEN I WENT TO GO FORWARD, NOTHING HAPPENED. THE CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING GREAT UP UNTIL THIS POINT AND THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS OF THE TRANSMISSION BEING READY TO GIVE. I HAD TO GET THE CAR TOWED TO GET A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. I DO NOT HAVE THE OLD PART, BUT HAVE HEARD IT IS A RATHER COMMON PROBLEM AMONG '99-'03 WINDSTARS. *TR

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...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT IN AND OUT GEAR AND THEN BEGAN TO SHIFT MUCH EXTREME FORCE. THE RADIO ALSO CAME ON AND BY ITSELF. THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED AND THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE TRANSMISSION SHOP TO REPLACE THE GEAR SHIFT BOX AND A SEAL WAS ADDED TO ASSIST WITH THE TRANSMISSION LEAK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140000.

INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. WHEN THE ENGINE HEATS UP A LITTLE THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS COME ON INDICATING THAT THEY ARE NO LONGER WORKING. IN THE MORNING WHEN THE CAR IS FIRST STARTED THE LIGHT ARE OFF FOR AWHILE UNTIL THE ENGINE HAS HAD TIME TO HEAT UP. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS VERY HARD TO SHIFT. HE HEARS A LOUD BANGING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING AND THE VEHICLE ALSO LOOSES POWER. THE FAILURE IS MORE PRONOUNCED ON AN INCLINE. FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED NOR HAS THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 130,000.

2000 FORD WINDSTAR RETURNING FROM TRIP TO VIRGINIA FROM BALTIMORE; O/D LIGHT STARTS FLASHING AND THEN FLUID AND SMOKE POUR FROM UNDER CAR AT 55 MPH, FOUND MECHANIC RIGHT OFF FREEWAY EXIT, MECHANIC FINDS THAT TRANSMISSION SELF-DESTRUCTED. REPLACEMENT WITH GOOD WARRANTY IS $3500. LOOKED ONLINE AND THERE ARE MANY, MANY SAME SITUATIONS BUT NO RECALL FROM FORD. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS ON THE WASHINGTON BELTWAY. *TR

MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THAT STARTED IN LATE 2008. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LEVER WAS HARD TOO SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE TRANSMISSION STARTED LEAKING. AS THE MONTHS WENT BY THE LEAKING GOT WORSE. IN MAY OF 2009 THERE WAS NOW QUITE A BIT OF TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING FROM THE TRANSMISSION, CAUSING THE NEED FOR FLUID TO BE ADDED IN ORDER FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO WORK. PROBLEM FIXED IN JULY OF 2009. TRANSMISSION OIL SEAL WAS DEFECTIVE ON THE VAN, EVEN THOUGH IT ONLY HAD 75,000 MILES ON IT. HEAD GASKET NEEDED REPLACED AS WELL. TOTAL PRICE: $1700. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN JERKING EXTREMELY HARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO HER RESIDENCE WHERE SHE DISCOVERED A LEAK IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000. UPDATED 11/16/10. *LJ

AT 82,000 MILES CAR WAS RUNNING BUMPY AND O/D OFF LIGHT WAS FLASHING. I TOOK IT TO FORD AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS NEARLY BROKEN AND SHOULD BE REPLACED FOR $3300. I GOT IT REBUILT AT AAMCO FOR $2300. *TR

I HIT A SMALL POT HOLE AND WHEN I GOT TO THE PARKING LOT I WAS TOLD MY REAR TIRES WERE SIDE WAYS. MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR HOME 2/10THS OF A MILE. WHEN THE MECHANIC LOOK AT IT HE SAID THE POT HOLE WASN'T THE PROBLEM. IT WAS ALREADY CRACKED. HE SAID HE HAD REPAIRED A NUMBER OF AXLES ON FORD. ALSO, MY TRANSMISSION BEGAN SKIPPING AT THE SAME TIME THIS WHOLE INCIDENT STARTED. WHEN WE FIRST BOUGHT THE VAN, I WAS IN LINE IN THE CAFETERIA AND A GENTLEMEN ASKED ME IF I WAS PICKED EACH DAY IN A WINDSTAR AND I SAID YES. HE INFORMED ME THAT WINDSTARS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I KNOW HE IS RIGHT. *TR

2000 FORD WINDSTAR SE VAN. TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. AT 35,500 MILES THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION FAILED AND FORD REPLACED IT. OVERDRIVE LIGHT BLINKS AND ADDITIONAL REPAIRS HAVE BEEN NEEDED. I HAVE BEEN ON SEVERAL WEBSITES REGARDING FORD TRANSMISSIONS (2000 - 2005) YEAR MODELS OF VANS, SUV, AND LIGHT TRUCKS. THE BLINKING OD LIGHT IS A RECURRING THEME (HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS) AND REQUIRES EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. FORD HAS TO BE AWARE OF THIS TRANSMISSION DEFECT, BUT HAS NOT NOTHING!!! *TR

AS TYPICAL WITH FORD WINDSTARS MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING ON A MAJOR ROADWAY ALMOST CAUSING A SEVERE ACCIDENT THAT WOULD HAVE INJURED ME AND MY WIFE AND THREE KIDS AND THE OCCUPANTS OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT FORD WINDSTAR TRANSMISSIONS FAILING AND THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TRANSMISSION TO FAIL IN OUR VEHICLE. THE COSTLY REPAIR FOR WHAT SEEMS LIKE A PROBLEM WITH NUMEROUS WINDSTAR VANS SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF FORD THIS ISSUE COULD KILL SOMEONE IF A FAILURE WAS TO OCCUR ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE WHEN VEHICLES ARE TRAVELING AT HIGH RATES OF SPEEDS AND DRIVERS DO NOT HAVE TIME TO REACT TO A SUDDEN TRANSMISSION BLOWOUT. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING AND FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE ESPECIALLY AFTER THEY RECEIVED STIMULUS MONEY FROM ALL OF US TAXPAYERS. THEY SHOULD...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THE ABS LIGHT WERE FLASHING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUSE THAT CONTROLS THE ABS LIGHT AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WERE FAULTY AS WELL AS A LEAK IN THE MASTER CYLINDER. A YEAR AFTER THE FUSE WAS REPLACED, THE ABS LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AGAIN AND THE GAS GAUGE WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO BEGAN TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK SINCE THE FAILURE COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A CRASH. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 124,545 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TRANSMISSION FAILED IN THE LOADING ZONE AT THE AIRPORT. TOWED TO LOCAL TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP; ADVISED THAT COST TO REPLACE WITH A USED TRANSMISSION WOULD BE $2800. CURRENT BLUE BOOK FOR THIS VEHICLE IS $2125 IN FAIR CONDITION. *TR

FORD WINDSTAR 2000, TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY. I AM 55 YEARS OLD AND HAVE A BAD BACK AND HAD TO RISK MY LIFE TO PUSH THIS VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD SO I WOULD NOT GET HIT BY TRAFFIC ON A RAINY EVENING! LUCKILY, MY AGED MOTHER WAS NOT IN THE CAR AT THE TIME. IF YOU LOOK UP WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM AND RESEARCH FORD TRANSMISSION, YOU WILL SEE THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. NO WONDER THEY CAN'T SELL THEIR CARS! THIS TRANSMISSION WAS JUST REBUILT TWO YEARS AGO FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE, PULLING ON TO ROADWAY FROM GAS STATION , WINDSTAR MADE IT 10 FEET, SNAP, BANG THEN STUCK IN MIDDLE OF STREET, CARS AROUND ENDED UP ON GRASS BUT NO ACCIDENT. RE TRIED TO MOVE NOTHING CAR ONLY HAS REVERSE, NOW AFTER SEARCHING THE WEB FINDING OUT VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD WINDSTAR, SOMEONE WILL GET HURT / KILLED FROM THIS PROBLEM,AND FORD KNOWS ALL ABOUT IT, NOW I HAVE TO SPEND 3000.00 ON A NEW TRANSMISSION, FOR A 50.00 PART DEEP INSIDE THE TRANS JUST BREAKS WHEN IT BREAKS..... THAT OBVIOUSLY HAS A FACTORY DEFECT THAT IS BEING IGNORED, JUST LIKE THE ( TFI MODULE RECALL OF THE LATE 90'S). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. A REBUILT TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHEN STOPPED AT INTERSECTION WENT TO ACCELERATE AND MAIN DRIVE GEAR FAILED. LOST ALL FORWARD DRIVE GEARS ONLY REVERSE GEAR WORKED. THIS LATEST AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE OCCURRED AT 87,736 MILES ON 12-11-2008. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED EARLIER ON SAME VEHICLE AT 42,130 MILES ON 12-3-2004. BOTH TIMES MAIN DRIVE GEAR SEPARATED FROM DRIVE CUP ACCORDING TO MY TRANSMISSION SHOP. TRANSMISSION REQUIRED A COMPLETE RE-BUILD BOTH TIMES. TRANSMISSION SHOP INDICATED THIS IS COMMON DESIGN ISSUE WITH FORD WINDSTARS AND LOOKING AT NHTSA WEB SITE THERE ARE A LOT MORE FOLKS SUFFERING FROM THIS FORD DESIGN ISSUE. HAVE THE 3.8 L 6 CYLINDER ENGINE IN THIS VAN. US CONSUMERS SHOULD FILE A CLASS LAWSUIT AGAINST FORD FOR THEIR FAILURE TO RE-CALL THIS KNOWN DESIGN ISSUE. HAVE DRIVE GEAR PART THAT FAILED IF NHTSA WOULD LIKE TO ANALYZE PART. I WILL NEVER BY ANOTHER FORD PRODUCT AND ADVISE NO ONE ELSE...

SINCE BUYING MY WINDSTAR, 2000; USED, 57,000 MILES I HAVE HAD ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER. WITHIN TWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE MY TRANSMISSION WOULD JUMP THEN STRAIGHTEN OUT AND GO ON. I HAD IT CHECKED BY FIVE DIFFERENT PLACES AND ALL STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. IT STOPPED COMPLETELY DURING A FAMILY TRIP AND I HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW TRANSMISSION. IT HAD A KNOCK IN THE ENGINE EVER SINCE I BOUGHT IT BUT IT FINALLY GOT SO BAD I THOUGHT THE PRUDENT THING TO DO WAS TO GET IT OVERHAULED. THERE CRANK SHAFT WAS NOT SMOOTH AND HAD TO BE MACHINED AND REBUILT. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL DIFFERENT ISSUES CONCERNING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ABS STAYS ON, SLIDING DOOR LOCK FAILURE, INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON WHILE DRIVING AND WILL NOT GO OFF, ALL INSTRUMENT DASH LIGHTS FLASH ON AND THEN SEEM TO RECOVER, NOW MY WHOLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS ACTING UP....

SENDING UNIT UNDER FRONT OF BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER LEAKS. CORRODED WIRING HARNESS OF TRANSMISSION CAUSING ERRATIC OPERATION AND A WARNING MESSAGE ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION. COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE OR A LOCKED UP TRANSMISSION WHILE DRIVING. *TR

2000 FORD WINDSTAR TRANSMISSION LEAKING. IT STARTED INTERMITTENTLY AND THEN BECAME MORE SERIOUS. LEAVING A STREAM AND TRAIL OF TRANSMISSION FLUID IN MY GARAGE, MY DRIVEWAY AND THE STREET IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO A REPUTABLE TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP AND THEY TELL ME I NEED A COMPLETE REBUILD. I HAVE RECEIVED A SECOND OPINION WHICH IS THE SAME AS THE FIRST. THE LOWEST REPAIR COST IS $2200. AFTER RESEARCHING FOR SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THE FORD WINDSTAR, I AM AMAZED THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL (TOO MANY) COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS CANNOT BE COINCIDENCE. IF THE TRANSMISSION DESIGN FORD PROVIDED IN THESE VEHICLES IS NOT RELIABLE, FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP AND REPAIR THESE ISSUES UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH IT HAS LONG EXPIRED. CHRYSLER REALIZED THEY HAD AN ISSUE AND REVISED THEIR WARRANTIES TO 10 YEARS AND 100,000 MILES. FORD NEEDS TO FOLLOW SUIT. *TR

71,000 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN NEED OF BEING REBUILT. FREQUENT PROBLEM ACCORDING TO INTERNET SEARCH. FORD SHOULD RECALL. *TR

OUR VAN HAS 86000 MILES ON IT. THE O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. THREE WEEKS LATER WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VAN, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND THE VAN WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE, WILL EASE FORWARD IN NEUTRAL AND IS JERKY IN DRIVE. *TR

I HAVE A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR LX AND IT HAS 83,000 MILES ON IT. IT WAS KEPT UP WELL AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT OF IT AND WILL COST ABOUT $2000 DOLLARS TO REPLACE IT. I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM SINCE IT SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSTARS. *TR

MINIVAN CAUGHT FIRE AS RESULT OF TRANSMISSION TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE. DRIVING ON A SHORT EXCURSION (ABOUT 50 MILES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS) WITH GIRL SCOUTS THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE REAR WINDOW WAS NOT CLEAN OR CLEAR AS NORMAL. AS THEY APPROACHED A TRAFFIC STOP THE TRANSMISSION OVER-DRIVE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. WHEN THE VEHICLE PULLED AWAY FROM THE STOP IT WAS NOT ABLE ACCELERATE ABOVE 45 MPH AND APPROXIMATELY HALF MILE FROM THE STOP THE DRIVER WAS ALERTED OF FIRE UNDER THE VEHICLE BY PASSING DRIVERS. THE MINIVAN DRIVER IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO EVACUATE PASSENGERS AND CALL FOR HELP. WHEN THE VAN WAS STOPPED AND ITS ENGINE TURNED OFF THE FIRE SUBSIDED WITH LITTLE DAMAGE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND PUT ABSORBENT TO DRY OIL DRIPPING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE IN THE AREA BEHIND THE FRONT WHEELS. THE VAN WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED AND FOUND THAT...

THE PROBLEM I WILL BE HAVING VERY SOON LOTS OF OTHERS HAVE ALREADY HAD. IT IS WITH THE 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. MY O/D OFF LIGHT ON DASH IS FLASHING. UPON RESEARCH THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM. FORD WILL NOT RECALL IT. IT IS A FAULTY TRANSMISSION THAT THEY ARE USING. I HAVE ONLY HAD MY WINDSTAR FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS. IT WAS RUNNING FINE TILL THE PAST WEEK OR TWO. MY TRANS WILL GO OUT. LOTS OF PEOPLE KEEP REPLACING THE TRANS JUST TO HAVE IT GO OUT AGAIN W/O WARNING FOR MOST. I DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY ALMOST EVERYDAY. I HAVE 4 KIDS WITH ME. IF MY TRANS GOES OUT AND I AM ON THE HIGHWAY...THAT COULD BE FATAL. FORD DOES NOT THINK IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. HOW COULD THAT NOT BE A SAFETY ISSUE? TONS OF COMPLAINTS ARE BEING MADE ABOUT THE TRANS THEY ARE USING ON...

MY WIFE WAS AT A STOP SIGN ON AN INCLINE, PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL TO TURN AND EXPERIENCED WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A CRASH. THE VAN WOULD NOT GO FORWARD, ONLY REVERSE. SHE COASTED BACKWARDS DOWN THE HILL, WE GOT A TOW TRUCK AND WENT TO A REPAIR SHOP (AFTER BUSINESS HOURS). THEY CALLED THE NEXT DAY AND SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION BASICALLY EXPLODED ON THE INSIDE. ONE SITE I HAVE VISITED HAS 41 COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME NATURE, YET FORD IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT THE "DESIGN FLAW" IN THE 2000 WINDSTAR VAN TRANSMISSIONS. *TR

THE INTAKE WENT AT 58,000 MILES BROUGHT TO FORD DEALER AND IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY . 1 YEAR LATER HAD SAME PROBLEM AND VAN WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND FORD REFUSED TO COVER HAD TO PAY $1,800 DOLLARS. THEN LAST YEAR THE TRANSMISSION WENT VAN HAD 78,000 MILES. FORD WILL NOT FIX THEY WOULD NOT REPO IT. THEY ARE NOW TRYING TO SUE ME FOR A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. *TR

WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP IN MY 2000 WINDSTAR I ACCELERATED TO CROSS A BUSY HIGHWAY AND HEARD A LOUD CLUNK. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND LEFT ME TO DRIFT INTO CROSS TRAFFIC WHERE I WAS ALMOST HIT BY A MACK TRUCK. I SWERVED IN AN ALMOST U-TURN LIKE FASHION AND WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY NEXT TO THE ROAD I HAD ORIGINATED FROM. THIS IS THE THIRD TRANSMISSION TO FAIL IN THIS VEHICLE. THE FIRST FAILED AT ABOUT 37,000 MILES. LUCKILY I HAD PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY SO THE DEALERSHIP FIXED IT BUT THEY MADE ME PRODUCE MY ORIGINAL CONTRACT TO PROVE I HAD THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE SECOND TIME WAS ABOUT 15 MONTHS AGO, AFTER FORD'S REFUSAL TO HELP I TOOK IT TO AAMCO AND I PAID $2800 TO REPAIR. AFTER BEING REFERRED TO THIS WEBSITE I WAS ASTOUNDED AT HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT BLINKED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. AS OF NOVEMBER 6, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000 UPDATED 01-14-08. *KB UPDATED 12/12/07.

ON AUG. 18, 2007, I WAS GETTING OFF THE FREEWAY NEAR MY HOME WHEN MY TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND WOULD NO LONGER DRIVE. I HAD IT TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC WHO TOLD US IT WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND HAD TO BE TAKEN TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST. AFTER INSPECTING IT WE WERE TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN LEAKING FLUID FROM THE RESERVOIR INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND HAD THE SENSOR SYSTEM WORKED I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT 8 WEEKS EARLIER AT A LOW COST, HOWEVER THE SENSOR, WHICH WAS GOOD, WAS NOT READ BY THE MAIN SYSTEM AND WE HAD NO IDEA THERE WAS A PROBLEM. WE HAD NO VISIBLE LEAKAGE BECAUSE IT WAS WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION ITSELF AND BURNED THE INSIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE SPECIALIST TOLD US WE WERE LUCKY WE WERE OFF THE FREEWAY BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT...

2000 FORD WINDSTAR TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO SHEARED OFF SUN GEAR IN AX4S TRANSMISSION. FAILURE OCCURRED AS VEHICLE WAS BEING ACCELERATED FROM A DEAD STOP INTO HEAVY CROSS TRAFFIC. ALL FORWARD GEARS INOPERATIVE AS VAN THEN SLOWLY CAME TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF CROSS TRAFFIC. AFTER A BIT OF PANICKING TO FIGURE HOW TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC WE FOUND THAT THE REVERSE GEAR STILL FUNCTIONED. PULLED VEHICLE WITHOUT ACCIDENT OUT OF TRAFFIC.*JB

BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY WHEN VAN MADE LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN PLACED IN DRIVE AND WOULD NOT MOVE. NEW TRANSMISSION NEEDED $2400! I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD VEHICLE. *NM

OUR 2000 WINDSTAR HAS HAD CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS FROM 20,000 MILES ON. RECENTLY AT 60K MILES, OUR TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO FAIL. WE WERE UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. EACH TIME WE WENT TO FORD SERVICE, WE WERE TOLD A SEAL WAS BROKEN AND REPAIRED. TWO MONTHS LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM. THREE MONTHS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM AND SAME DIAGNOSIS. AT 70 K, THE CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON AND THE O/D LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. ALTHOUGH WE DEMANDED A NEW TRANSMISSION, FORD SERVICE REFUSED, TELLING US THAT A SEAL WAS ONCE AGAIN BROKEN. WITHIN TWO DAYS, THE SAME PROBLEM CAUSING A BREAKDOWN OUT OF STATE. NEW SERVICE REP. ROLLED HIS EYES WHEN HE SAW WHAT THE PRIOR SERVICE DEPARTMENT DID, BUT 4 DAYS LATER, TOLD US THAT A DEFECTIVE PART WAS INSTALLED AND THAT A NEW PART WOULD BE PUT IN. OF COURSE, NO NEW PART WAS PUT IN AND ON TRANSIT HOME, THE...

TRANSMISSION FAILURE 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. I HAVE A FORD WINDSTAR A COUPLE WEEKS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. I HAD COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER ABOUT ACCELERATION PROBLEMS BEFORE AND NOW THEY ARE TELLING ME THEY ARE NOT GOING TO COVER IT. I BELIEVE THEY STALLED UNTIL THE WARRANTY WAS OUT SO THEY WOULD NOT HAVE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. I LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT FORD HAS HAD A HISTORY OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSTAR. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD OF BEEN TAKEN CARE OF BY THE MANUFACTURER. *JB

HAD JUST STOPPED AND WAS PULLING OUT ONTO THE HIGHWAY WHEN A CLUNK SOUND FROM UNDER THE VAN WAS HEARD. THERE WAS NO POWER, NO FORWARD OR REVERSE MOTION. THE TRANSMISSION WAS GONE. IT HAD TO BE TOWED HOME AND WE WERE TOLD THAT SINCE IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY THE COST WOULD BE OURS TO BEAR. IT SITS IN THE GARAGE AS I HAVE NO MONEY TO PAY THE $2400 MECHANIC BILL. FORD KNEW ABOUT THIS AND YES HAS DONE NOTHING. THIS IS THE SECOND WINDSTAR I'VE OWNED THAT HAS HAD TRANSMISSION TROUBLE. THE FIRST BEING A 1995 WITH HEAD GASKET TROUBLES. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED INTO AN INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THIS HAPPENED AT 32,000 MILES AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THEN AT 62,000 MILES THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN 70 MPH, AND THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN. THE VEHICLE IS NOW AT THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST DETERMINED THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS CAUSING THE MALFUNCTIONING OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE REPLACED A THIRD TIME AT 70,000 MILES.

IN FALL OF 2005 MY BROTH-IN-LAW HAD HIS TRANSMISSION REPLACED TWICE ON A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR MINIVAN. FEE FROM DEALERSHIP (FORD IN WILLIAMSBURG, VA) WAS IN EXCESS OF $2500 EACH REPLACEMENT. IN JANUARY 2006 MY OWN 2000 WINDSTAR VAN'S TRANSMISSION FAILED IN AN INTERSECTION IN TRAFFIC. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO FORD DEALERSHIP IN WMBG AND DIAGNOSED AS TRANSMISSION FAILURE, FEE $2700. FOR A SECOND OPINION, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MR. TRANSMISSION IN HAMPTON, TRANSMISSION DISSECTED AND LAID OUT FOR ANALYSIS. METAL FRAGMENTS HAD DESTROYED THE TRANSMISSION. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE WITH FORD WINDSTARS. IN EARLY MODELS, A METAL TUBE FOR THE COOLANT DOESN'T HAVE ANY SUPPORT AND BREAKS OR TEARS FROM VIBRATION. IN LATER MODELS THIS TUBE HAS A SUPPORT TO PREVENT THAT. THE FORD SERVICE PEOPLE, WHEN CONFRONTED, SAID "TRANSMISSIONS CAN FAIL, YOU NEVER KNOW." WE ASKED "IS THIS COMMON IN WINDSTARS?" ANSWER "NO." NO...

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON 2000 WINDSTAR WITH 78000 MILES. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST CASE I HERD OF ON THIS PROBLEM. *NM

BLOWN TRANSMISSION ON A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. *NM

DT: CONTACT STATES: SHE HAD A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR AND IT CAME OUT OF PARK WITHOUT HITTING THE BRAKE. VEHICLE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE RUNNING. HER TWO YEAR OLD CHILD GOT THE CAR OUT OF PARK ,AND IT ROLLED DOWN A HILL AND HIT A TREE. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. SHE CONTACTED FORD, AND THEY SAID THEY WERE NOT GOING TO PURSUE THE MATTER.*AK

WENT INTO DOCTORS OFFICE AND WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF I HEARD A LOUD NOISE. WHEN I CAME OUT I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTED TO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. *JB

I PURCHASED MY CAR FROM POWAY HONDA IN FEBRUARY 2004. ONE WEEK AFTER DRIVING IT OFF THE LOT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THEY CLAIMED TO FIX IT AND IT CAME ON FOUR MORE TIMES AFTER THAT. WE ALSO COMPLAINED THAT THE CAR WAS CLUNKING INTO GEAR BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS. NO ONE COULD FIND A PROBLEM, A COUPLE WEEKS LATER TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS SPRAYING OUT ALL OVER THE BACK OF THE CAR, THEY CLAIMED TO NOT BE ABLE TO FIND A LEAK. WE LITERALLY HAD THE CAR IN EVERY MONTH SINCE THEN. POWAY HONDA, WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, REFUSES TO EVEN HELP ME ANYMORE. FINALLY, A YEAR LATER, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED MAKING FUNNY NOISES. PERRY FORD REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION. ONE WEEK AFTER THAT WE HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY (WITH 5 CHILDREN IN THE CAR) BECAUSE IT WAS SPRAYING TRANSMISSION FLUID...

THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. THE SMOKE WENT OUT ON ITS OWN. THE DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE SECOND INCIDENT INVOLVED THE TRANSMISSION EXPLODING WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK ONLY FOUR OF THE SEAT BELTS WORKED. *SC *JB