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 contact owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The contact stated while driving 55 mph, the vehicle failed to respond with the accelerator pedal depressed. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the torque convertor, filter, and the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 172,000.
Purchased used 2003 Ford Windstar..in 2005..with 30,000 miles..now has 107,000 miles...around town driving...got recalls..brought vehicle in to dealer for rear axle fix.inspected twice..after......brackets installed to stabilize axle were initially installed told if axle was bad, Ford would replace..did not replace. Benteler axle whole problem from start.weak metal subject to fatigue.brackets were a band-aid.actually may have made problem worse.......axle snapped while driving ast low speed..and while turning........
Transmission slow to engage after sitting. This is not only a repeat problem after being repaired, but also after being totally replaced by Ford dealer. ABS never recalled for scds 09S09. Constantly resetting and disengaging. After 15 years of ownership, I have yet to be notified of or had anything repaired under warranty. When the transmission quit working, my wife was driving ( when the RPM's went up and the transmission quit pulling) on a busy highway, in heavy traffic, no place to go. Nearly causing a horrific accident. With the ABS problem, anything indicating a brake failure, possible onboard fire, or loss of control, leaves you with a huge lack of confidence in the vehicle.
Transmission problem. The transmission was replaced 4 times within 60K mile interval while following the 30K transmission fluid flush. A flashing O/D light comes on and the transmission will die out of nowhere and the past few times it has been on the highway going 75 mph with no warning, smoke, lights, etc. I had the transmission start smoking from the engine bay even though the fluid was changed. Now there is a massive transmission fluid leak. There have been thousands of owners who report a bad design of the Ford Windstar 2003 transmission and it needs to be recalled. The Ford freestar was recalled for the transmission issue, but the Windstar wasn't. why not? both models use the same transmission. It is a safety issue and Ford is not willing to acknowledge the issue with the vehicle and recall the vehicle to fix the transmission problem.
- Aurora, CO, USA
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The contact owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. While driving 55 mph, the rear axle fractured without warning. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The contact called crest Ford flat rock (22675 gibraltar rd, flat rock, mi 48134) and was informed that the vehicle was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the issue, but did not assist. The failure mileage was approximately 138,000.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while driving 2 mph, transmission fluid leaked from the vehicle onto the ground. The vehicle was diagnosed at carriage Ford dealer located in clarksville, Indiana where it was determined that there was a fractured transmission casing in the vehicle. The dealer under NHTSA campaign number: 11V030000 (structure) and 10V385000 (suspension) previously repaired the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and provided the contact with case number: Cas-13693189. The failure mileage was 175,000. The VIN was not available.
Transmission just started slipping out of nowhere, stopped for a red light put in nuetral light turns green and I put it into drive and start to roll the van wouldnt budge looked out the window and leaking alot of transmission fluid. Parked it in nearby parking lot added tranny fluid still not drivable and wont move in any gear.
I was informed of a recall to the rear axle on my 2003 Ford Windstar, I took the van into the dealer and had the inspection done as well as the brackets installed. ( 15S27). The van was then parked for approx 5 months after the procedure was done as I was given a company vehicle. I was then let go from my job and began to drive the old trusty van that we have around. 2 weeks into driving it on a regular basis I began to smell an odor of burning rubber. Nursed the van home and began to attempt to diagnose the problem. Changed the wheel bearing on the drivers rear as I thought that was the problem. Got it all back together and found out I still had the same problem. Had aaa tow the vehicle to the dealer where they informed me that now my axle was broken, and by the way the recall was now over and I would be required to pay $1150 for a new one. This vehicle was never correctly inspected to identify this problem, it was just shuffled through and now nobody will stand up and make the repair. I have been cheated by the system. I do not believe this is fair nor do I believe it was ever done correctly.
2003 Ford Windstar. Consumer writes in regards to dealership refuses to repair axle recall notice until consumer pays for a new $300 axle replacement. The consumer stated the dealer installed the brackets at no charge.
2003 Ford Windstar. Consumer writes in regards to rear axle reinforcement brackets recall notice repair issues. The consumer was informed the brackets were installed correctly. However, there was a crack in the axle.
2003 Ford Windstar. Consumer writes in regards to rear axle reinforcement brackets recall notice repair issues. The consumer stated the dealer performed a visual check of the vehicle, but nothing was replaced.
I was driving at hwy speed and RPM's went up and car slowed down.stopped and tried shifting gears no luck/movement.had car towed.transmission wiped out second time in 14 months.Ford needs to step up.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the engine cooling indicator became trapped in the speedometer and gear shifter area, causing the gear shifter not to engage in park. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the instrument panel needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 50,000.
I just bought this car one week ago with 96000 miles on it. Because I previously got a 1995 Windstar with ax4S transmission, running over 190000 miles without any transmission issues. I then bought the 2003 car with relatively low mileage and hope it would last the similar length. This 2003 car is with 4F50N transmission. Both ax4S and 4F50N transmission are similar in design and dimensions but they perform totally different. Every time during the first week of driving the 2003 car, there were always a harsh reverse when the engine was warm after driving a few miles. I had to pump the gas to reach a high RPM just to gain a little reverse action. That makes me temporarily to park the car with the front facing the driving lane at shopping plaza. But I could still carry out the reverse action on the driveway during the morning while the engine is cold. It may not be the mechanical problem but the hydraulic issue inside the transmission.there must be something wrong with some not-up-to-the-spec internal transmission components that are temperature sensitive with warm transmission fluid, thus affecting the normal operation of certain components for their intended performance. I will bring the car for the mechanic check up soon. Ford designs, buys parts from suppliers, manufactures, fabricates, sell, and service this car. Ford should bear the responsibility to address this problem and initiate some actions such as notices, warnings, or recall to correct the problem and give consumers the confidence in their product.
My wife was driving the car in the country and heard noises when going over bumps. When she smelled something burning she stopped. Discovered the rear axle had split where it had been beefed up with brackets after Ford's 10S13 recall. Ford is saying we have to pay $300 to make repairs on an issue that appears to us to be a design/manufacturing flaw, for which there has been 3 recalls issued (if I understand it correctly). I don't understand why we should have to pay?
2003 Ford Windstar transmission completely failed at 87343 miles. I have seen thousands of reports on 2003 Ford Windstar transmissions failing under 70K miles. Transmissions should be recalled.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. While driving at various speeds, the transmission failed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Raymondville, MO, USA