This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The reported failures are a common problem on this vehicle. I would think Ford would compensate owners for these failures. No safety defect listed in summary.
- Annapolis, MD, USA
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While driving the temperature gauge barried at hot, then engine check light came on. Pulled over and white smoke came from tail pipe. Then van would not restart. A mechanic replaced the head and I drove it for approx. 400 miles when the engine started nocking and the trans. Would not shift out of 2 gear until it got hot then wouldn't shift out of 1st I believe the head gasket damaged the engine and trans. Van is undriveable and still owe for it.
Oct 99 head gaskets failed / Mar 00 transmission failed both replaced by dealer both are safety issues and have to be corrected by Ford. Do we need a major injury before someone does something about everything wrong with this van.
This transmission started to shift without warning at around 80000 miles and began fully shifting out of gear a few thousand miles later. It seems that there are many other Windstar with this problem which Ford is willing to fix, but unwilling to accept that they blundered with this transmission. Has the NHTSA adressed this issue as yet with Ford. The dealer's computer has found nothing wrong with the tranny as yet even though it continues to slip out of gear.
I have talked with multiple people from work, church and family members that have or have had a 1995 Windstar and all without exception have had their transmissions rebuilt. Most have taken the position that, "things break, oh well I guess I'll just take it on the chin!". the funny thing to me after asking them to find out and also talking with transmission shops as well as "Ford repair techs" at Ford dealerships there seems to be one common failure point -- the "forward clutch piston". all that I talked to in the transmission repair world say that the pistion is made of an inferior metal and that later in that year Ford realizing their mistake started putting in an "updated piston" made with better metal. Good for the folks that bought the later models but as of yet too bad for those of us that bought the "early model". I have talked with people that their transmission went out at 300 miles and mine went out the second time at 107,000 miles and several at milages in between. Any help you could leverage Ford into owning up to their "mistake" would be great. Thanks so much for your consideration gary clendenin.
Original complaint - car would not shift into reverse after parking, car engine replaced at transmission shop at 51770 miles, bonnell motors was not helpful so we took it to a referred transmission shop who said mfr's rebuilt part was krappy and the problem was torque converter blew while driving causing engine failure 2nd time. Engine was under 12K miles/ 1 yr warranty however, have been having same problems with jerky starts and engine straining to make uphill drives before the 1st failure, so I am anticipating a 3rd failure with this engine.
Stopped at four-way intersection, light turned green, put foot on gas pedal to go forward, and vehicle rolled back. Hit the brakes. Tried it again, vehicle hesitated, then went into gear.
Vehicle lurches forward at 25mph. Dealer service dept identified the problem on the first upshift the transmission. He informed me that the two transmission specialists at the dealership have probably seen this problem 50 times. I was informed that an aluminum forward piston needed to be replaced at an estimed cost of $1200-2300. I further learned that Ford knew of this defective forward piston as early as 1993, but continued to use them on new assemblies. Where is the justice" is there a class action suit pending"
Initially took vehicle to dealer Nov. '99 for follow-up check on head gasket replacement from Sept.'99 because of chugging and what felt like engine hesitation. I suspected complications from repair work performed on engine. Dealer was not able to verify complaint. Now know this was an initial indication of a premature transmission failure. It disengages at stops without warning. When attempting to accelerate from a stop engine revs and vehicle moves very slowly, or not at all. When this first occurred, had an incident where the vehicle moved slowly into speeding traffic when attempting to turn onto road from a stop. Vehicle would not fully accelerate because trans would not engage (engine racing) and a collision was barely avoided because of this. My family was stranded in the middle of a high speed intersection with oncoming vehicles having to swerve or stop to avoid hitting us. Trans eventually engaged. However, a very close call. We now know not to pull out into fast moving traffic unless there are no vehicles in sight, or we know they have ample time to slow down if the vehicle gets stuck in front of them. Dealer now acknowledges problem is due to forward clutch piston failure and transmission requires replacement.
Engine head gasket and the transmission were defective. There was no heat inside of the car, and white smoke was coming from the exhaust system. Transmission went into neutral, and slipped upon shifting gears. Also, there was a clanking and knocking noise.
Hillard auto park discovered that the transmission had failed while the vehicle was in for 2 unrelated recall notices. Although the service manager stated that cause of failure couldn't be determined, failure appears to have been the result of original defective parts or design flaw. Ford has refused to provide any compensation for the repair.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Hatbor, PA, USA