10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
11,958 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

1996 Ford Windstar transmission problems

transmission problem

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1996 Ford Windstar Owner Comments (Page 5 of 8)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #73

Feb 242000

Windstar

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving along all of sudden vehicle experiences hard upshifting or down shifting. Occasionaly when coming to a stop sign then proceeding, motor revs and transmission does not engage. Took it back to the dealer in September. Dealer replaced a sensor, but still has not taken care of the problem. Vehicle is not longer under warranty.

- New Albany, IN, USA

problem #72

Apr 071999

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission stalls when driving and stopping at the stop sign. Also, transmission slips putting vehicle in drive from park.

- Long Beach, CA, USA

problem #71

Apr 231999

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
After stopping or at a decreased speed for turning van stalls or misses upon acceleration.

- Long Beach, CA, USA

problem #70

Apr 231999

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

No summary listed for abov evehicle.

- Long Beach, CA, USA

problem #69

Jan 252000

Windstar

  • miles
Auotmatic transmission slips out of gear into a neutral after you come to a stop. You then have to put it in a low gear to get in back in drive. This can be a hazard in traffic. The power steerinng pump makes a loud grinding noise much louder than the normal sound the pump makes, the dealer has said previously that it is normal for the Windstar. The passenger side power window has stopped working, unk reason has not been looked at. These problems are occurring in other Windstar of the same year.

- Coral Springs, FL, USA

problem #68

Jan 042000

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission also went when car was I yr old. Obviously a lemon. Help.

- Lakewood, NJ, USA

problem #67

Dec 161999

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Was driving approximately 35mph and transmission blew up. Heard a rattling noise prior to the blow up. Pulled off road & vehicle died. Was not able to move forward. Transmission was goine. Smoke had appeared later. Vehicle towed. Mechanic informed owner looked like a grenade had exploded inside. Contacted manufacturer & told vehicle over 36,000 miles & not under warranty. Nothing could be done. Transmission not repairable.

- Webster, NY, USA

problem #66

Sep 011999

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Due to a defective transmission, while applying the gas pedal, the vehicle hesistated and lunged forward which may have caused a crash. Dealer had replaced transmission with a rebuilt transmission. Engine check light comes on. Also, dealer replaced coil and a spark plugs, but problem is still occurring. Dealer could nt determine the cause of the problem.

- Norwalk, CT, USA

problem #65

Oct 011999

Windstar

  • miles
We had to replace our transmission. I have several people tell me about similar problems with the Ford 1996 Windstar transmission: Three owners in the virgina area, four owners in the Maryland area, the transmission specialist at the dealership indicated he works on these transmissions all the time which I also heard from an amoco shop

- Abingdon, MD, USA

problem #64

Nov 141997

(reported on)

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Vehicle experiencing hard shift. Nlm

- Bloomingto, IL, USA

problem #63

Oct 261999

Windstar

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

NHTSA recall # 96V086 000/ power transmission: Experienced a problem with vehicle starting to roll out of drieway after being parked. Dealer notified and informed consumer that vehicle was not part of recall and repairs would be at consumer's cost.

- New Milford, CT, USA

problem #62

Oct 141999

Windstar

  • miles
Overdrive light flahsing - advised by Ford dealer to no longer drive. Eec tested found faulty valvebody. This was the third major incident with front brakes. At 26,107 miles the front brake system was completely rebuilt. At 38,831 miles the rotors wer

- Niskayuna, NY, USA

problem #61

Nov 011999

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving transmission started making a loud sound. Consumer drove car to dealer. Dealer looked at it and said tha T transmission was full of metal. Bearings were rattling around in transmission. That was the noise consumer heard.

- Annandale, VA, USA

problem #60

Sep 211999

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
When attempting to put vehicle into gear it doesn't shifting properly. Also, ABS light is on, and there are no ABS brakes. Vehicle has been into repair shop three times for repair service, and the dealer can't determie the cause.

- Jackson, MO, USA

problem #59

Sep 101999

Windstar

  • miles
Automatic transmission was built with an aluminum cylinder piston that loses forward line pressure and transmission slips into neutral when driving vehicle. Vehicle can slip into neutral at any time. A local dealer informed me that they replace approximately 5 of these transmissions a year. The replacement transmission from Ford is built with a steel cylinder piston to remedy the problem. Vehicle is very dangerous and has the potential for a head on collision if you tried passing another vehicle and transmission slipped into neutral because of defective design of transmission with aluminum piston.

- Portland, ME, USA

problem #58

Sep 251999

Windstar

  • miles
Automatic transmission malfunctioned, causing stalling and hesitation while driving which may resultin a crash. Common problem.

- Bayonne, NJ, USA

problem #57

Aug 051999

Windstar

  • miles
The transmission component that the dealer believes has failed is the thrust piston. My research on Windstar mini-vans has shown this to be a chronic problem. This is especially true for 1995 models. It therefore should have been corrected in my 1996 model but obviously was not.

- Rockford, IL, USA

problem #56

Aug 051999

Windstar

  • miles
No summary.

- Rockford, IL, USA

problem #55

Sep 201999

Windstar

  • miles
I was at a stop sigh attempting to cross a major highway, it hesistated like emergency brake was on, got 2-3 feet in middle of highway with oncoming traffic with truck right behind me (couldn't back up)and vehicle wouldn't go in drive. I finally got it to coast to parking lot. Took vehicle in to Ford and the service manager told me it was the transmission, it had metal all through it. Which I said with this mileage and no warning at all. His reply was he hadn't seen it happen very often (often indicateds its happening and this is only one Ford place)at this low mileage. Keep in mind I'm a 48 year old driver with no tickets or wrecks, I don't abuse a vehicle and this is my fourth Ford (not van)it was very hazardous not to say horrifying.

- Joshua, TX, USA

problem #54

Feb 281997

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
When trying to take the vehicle out of park, the park pawl hung up, causing loud noise and it is very hard to get out of park. Dealer can't determine the cause of the problem.

- Chester Field, MO, USA

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