10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
33,274 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.

1999 Ford Windstar transmission problems

transmission problem

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1999 Ford Windstar Owner Comments (Page 8 of 10)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #44

Feb 232002

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

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

Vehicle stops moving while driving at highway speed of 70 mph. This is second transmission failure within 69,000 mile of wear.

- Batesville, AR, USA

problem #43

Jan 052002

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission forward drum broke, had to be replaced.

- East Chicago, IN, USA

problem #42

Jan 252002

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
No warning prior to forward sun gear failure, gear had sheared off at welds cleanly.

- Smithtown, NY, USA

problem #41

Dec 282001

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

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

The overdrive off light started flashing on the 27th of Dec.2001 and the vehicle was very hard shifting through the gears. On the 28th of Dec. 2001 my wife was taking it to the dealer when the transmission had a catastrophic failure on a 2 lane roads steep hill on a curve, the vehicles engine revved up to redline and the vehicle started rolling down the hill no gear would engage. Ford did pick up all but $495 of the repair cost, but I still found it my obligation to inform other entities of this failure. The indian head Ford dealers service dept. Was very helpful and I have no problem with the service just the product.

- White Plains, MD, USA

problem #40

Dec 232001

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
No summary listed for above vehicle.

- Doddridge, AR, USA

problem #39

Nov 252001

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission sun gear sheared from housing. Required transmission overhaul and parts totaling $1855. Vehicle starting from a dead stop at intersection. Driver heard a noise from the transmission at the point of failure. Stranded vehilce in intersection. Reverse worked but all forward gears inoperable. Part design appears to be week inthe area that a gear mounts to metal housing.

- Newport, WA, USA

problem #38

Nov 172001

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

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

I have contacted Ford to see if I could get some help and they have been giving me the run around. No safety defect mentioned within summary.

- Carson, CA, USA

problem #37

Oct 142001

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
I backed out of my driveway, put van in drive, reached about 25mph, van just locked up(tires did not roll)...threw me forward. I put the van in reverse, then back in drive, but it still wouldn't move forward. Backed back into driveway and contacted Ford dealer. Am now told "the transmission is broke". on a car only 2 years old. Ford Motor Company should make this wrong, right!

- Cleveland, OK, USA

problem #36

Sep 202001

(reported on)

Windstar

  • miles
The vehicle began shifting erratically and was revving up when being driven, the dealer has been unable to duplicate the problem. Nlm

- Ridge, NY, USA

problem #35

Sep 052001

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
My transmission is going out at 52,000 miles, and since I don't have an extended warranty, I'm stuck with the bill. This is unacceptable that a transmission on a new vehicle is defective!.

- Blue Springs, MO, USA

problem #34

Aug 012000

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

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

Windshield cracked while driving slowly. After taking it to get a new one put in we found that it was never sealed/mounted on the bottom. Absolutly no adhesive contact what so ever. Also at 28755 miles the O/D light started blinking and the car clucked while making turns and the transmission was replaced under warrantty and now at 37000 miles it doing them same thing again.

- Monmouth Jct., NJ, USA

problem #33

Aug 152001

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving transmission would start to shutter at high speeds. Consumer stated that at 52000 miles transmission should not need replacing.

- Blue Springs, MO, USA

problem #32

Jul 282001

Windstar

  • miles
Transmission failed, seal broken; and transmission fluid pumped onto highway, caught fire under engine compartment; transmission to be replaced; common occurrence with this model; please recall.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #31

May 182001

Windstar

  • miles
My wife called me at work stating that there was a grinding sound coming from the van as she parked it in the garage. I went home and popped the hood and did a visual inspection and discovered nothing. I was going to stand in front of the van and listen while she started it to see if I could pinpoint the sound. She was concerned that I should not be near it in case "something blew up". I agreed and decided to start it myself and see how it sounded. As I started the van it surged forward (while in park), made a terrible grinding sound, and I had to slam on the brakes to stop it. It just touched the chest freezer in front of it in the garage. I immediately shut it off. Started it again and there was no sound and the engine run smoothly. Tried all the gears and got nothing. Had it towed to the dealer who tore it down and stated the planatery gear had seized. Had I stood in front of the van to listen as my wife started it I would have been smashed as it surged forward. Seems very dangerous for the vehicle to surge like that, even if the transmission fails.

- Bellevue, NE, USA

problem #30

Mar 012001

Windstar

  • miles
Transmission jerks harshly into second gear after slowing down and accelerating especially on incline. Dealer replaced solenoids and torque converter and problem still exists. After returning to dealer they state it needs a new transmission. Steering makes loud grinding noises when turning. Dealer replaced tie rod, problem returned after 1 week. Dealer then replaced rack.

- Anderson, SC, USA

problem #29

May 122001

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
No summary listed for above vehicle.

- Holland, MI, USA

problem #28

Mar 012001

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
First indication of problem was "rattling" sound going downhill @ about 60 mph. Sounded like muffler came loose and was dragging on pavement, except the noise was coming from the front of the car. After investigating and finding nothing, proceeded to drive to destination (about 12 mi). Rattle continued off and on; overdrive off light on dash started blinking off and on though od was engaged. Drove to a Ford dealer (university Ford, peoria il). They found "transmission full of debris" and replaced the transmission under the original warranty.

- Dekalb, IL, USA

problem #27

Mar 012001

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission failure started while on highway @ 60 mph. Sounded like muffler dragging on pavement, except it came from front of van. Was able to drive to nearest Ford dealer -- about 12 miles. Dealer reported transmission "full of debris" and replaced it (part # xf2Z-7000-barm).

- Dekalb, IL, USA

problem #26

Mar 011999

Windstar

  • miles
Transmission problem - problem noticed immediately after purchase date - problem with slow shifts noticeable at 20 and 40 mph. Grinding noise prevelant at these stages. Dealership said was normal. Around 25000 transmission began to experience "quick" shifts from acceleration, popping noise from one gear to next as transmission tries to determine appropriate gear for 5-10mph. Grinding at 20 and 40mph steadily becoming worse. Again dealership indicates normal. At 27mph transmission is beginning to jump into reverse. Shifting of gears - bang bang bang. Much worse. Many trips to dealership yeild same response. "new engine, no problems, or yes the engineers hear what you hear but no problem" I am afraid that with 2 children and my wife that transmission will quit putting them in an unsafe predicament. Notice that there are other complaints that outline the same or similar problem. Ford unwilling to recognize.

- Elkton, MD, USA

problem #25

Sep 232000

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission would shift properly into gears. Problem of shifting was intermittent. Steering is leaking fluid. Took to dealership, mechanic could not locate cause of leakage or reason gears would lock up.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

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