1995 Ford Windstar Powertrain & Transmission Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE REAR AXLE SHIFTED AND FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED TO THE DRIVE POSITION, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE DIFFICULTIES SHIFTING THE VEHICLE TO DIFFERENT GEARS. THE FAILURES RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IDLE AIR CONTROLLER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 245,000.

DRIVING HOME FROM A 1HR TRIP TURNED IN TO A 3HR TIP HOME.RPMS GOING UP TO HIGH AND SPEED DROPS. LIKE PULLING A BIG LODE. HAD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A WINNING OR RACING SOUND. NO LIGHTS CAME ON NO SHAKING OR RUFF RIDE. WOULD BE LIKE THIS FOR A BIT THEN RUN FINE FOR A BIT THEN DO IT AGEN.STOPPED CHECKED FLUIDS ALL FINE.GOT HOME AND RAN TO PARTS STORE PUT IT ON THE READ OUT.NOTED THEN OD BLINKING BUT NO CODS FOR TRANS AXEL CAME UP. BUT YET THE BOOK SAYS THAT IS A TRAN AXEL MAL. THEY GUY HIT RESET AND THE OD STOPPED BLINKING. PUT IT IN SHOP AND THEY CAN NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG THEY GOT NO CODS. FOR THE TRANS AXSEL.TOLD ME TO COME GET IT THEY SPENT TO MUCH TIME ON IT AS IT IS. YA 45MINS. OUT OF ONE DAY.ALL THEY DID WAS DRIVE IT AND SEEN IT WAS DOING WHAT I SAID.THATS IS TO MUCH TIME.BUT FEELS IT HAS TO BE INTERNAL TRANS.$45 FOR THAT.NOW WILL HAVE TO TAKE IT TO A FORD DEALER $80 FOR THEM TO SEE WHAT IT IS IF THEY CAN AND THEN FIX WHAT EVER IT IS AND GOD KNOWS HOW MUCH IT WILL BE TO FIX.I AM SURE I CAN NOT AFFORD IT.I AM LEFT WITH A CAR.THIS IS MESSED UP.FORDS ARE A MESS.AND PEOPLE LIKE ME PAY FOR IT.I HAVE HAD ONE PROB.AFTER ANOTHER AND HAVE ONLY HAD IT FOR 2 YEARS MOM HAD IT BEFORE THAT FOR ABOUT 6 YEARS. SHE HAD THE SERVES ENGINE LIGHT COME ON AND STAY ON FOR A LONG TIME BUT SHOP FOUND NOTHING WRONG. IT WENT OFF ONE DAY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHEN. IT IS NOW ON AGAIN.

FORD WINDSTAR GL VAN 1995 IS TAKING EXTENDED DISTANCE TO STOP AFTER APPLICATION OF BRAKES. BRAKE PADS WERE CHANGED AND NEW ROTORS WERE INSTALLED STILL BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING AFTER THE SPEED OF 40MPH. NO LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD IS LIT TO INDICATE THE PROBLEM. *TR

1995 FORD WINSTAR TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 72,252 MILES. TRANSMISSION BEGAN SMOKING AND FLUID LEAKED OUT. WHILE CHANGING OIL GASKET, FOUND CHUNKS OF METAL IN PAN. DESPITE CHANGING OIL GASKET AND PUTTING IT NEW TRANSMISSION FLUID, CAR STILL HESITATES AND JERKS AT STOP LIGHT, SIGN. TOLD TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

TL*- THE FRONT TRANSMISSION SEAL ON HIS 1995 FORD WINDSTAR FAILED AND STARTED A FIRE, SPREADING OIL ALL OVER. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO MALFUNCTION WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING REBUILT. THIS WAS THE SECOND FORD WINSTAR THAT THE CONTACT HAD PURCHASED AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD AT LEAST FIVE VEHICLES PER YEAR WITH THIS PROBLEM. *AK

TRANSMISSION WAS OVERHAULED BY A FORD DEALER IN 1997 WITH A $400 DEDUCTIBLE. TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN IN 2002 AND WAS REBUILT. THE VAN IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP AGAIN FOR MORE TRANSMISSION WORK AT THE COST OF $1995. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING. THIS CREATED A HAZARDOUS CONDITION FOR MY CHILDREN AND I. THE COST OF REPAIRS THIS TIME WILL EXCEED $2000 AT AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOP. FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS ISSUED A TCP PREVIOUSLY. I PUSH FOR A RECALL AND FOR FORD TO OFFSET THE COST OF SEVERAL TRANSMISSION OVERHAULS.*AK

FORD WINDSTAR 1995-TRANSMISSION HAD COMPLETE FAILURE. HIT GAS AND WAS UNABLE TO GO IN ANY GEAR. TRANSMISSION REPAIR FACILITY SAID FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY ALUMINUM PISTON, REPLACED WITH STEEL. ALSO FACILITY REPORTED FORD SUGGESTS OVERFILLING TRANSMISSION WITH FLUID SO SUFFICIENT FLUID IS AVAILABLE WHEN TURNING CORNERS. TOTAL COST OF REPAIR WAS OVER $2000. *NM

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE REBUILT/REPLACED. AT 80,000 MILES. I DO NOT TOW WITH THE VEHICLE NOR DID I ABUSE IT. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP FOUND BITS OF METAL IN FLUID. *NM

CAR ENGINE WAS SKIPPING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT MID SPEEDS, AUTO SHOP SAID IT WAS EITHER THE TORQUE CONVERTER STARTING TO GO BAD OR THE TRANSMISSION HAD A SHORT IN THE OVERDRIVE SWITCH. NEXT NIGHT AFTER DRIVING APPROX 30 MILES, PARKED CAR IN DRIVEWAY, 20 MINUTES LATER, WHOLE FRONT END OF CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. CAR WAS TOTALED BY INSURANCE COMPANY. *JB

MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR DIED OUT ONE DAY WHILE PARKING AT A STORE. IT STARTED UP AGAIN AND I IGNORED IT. A MONTH LATER IT MADE A STRANGE NOISE SO I HAD IT LOOKED AT. I WAS TOLD A PISTON WENT OUT IN MY ENGINE AND I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. I REPLACED IT AND NOW IT COSTANTLLY DIES OUT. I HAD REPLACED MANY PARTS SUCH AS THE IDLE AIR CONTROL MOTOR, IDLE SPEED CONTROL SENSOR,MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, AND NOW I AM IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE POWERTRAIN COMPUTER MODULE. *AK

1995 FORD WINDSTAR TRANSMISSION "LURCHES" INTO 1ST GEAR WHEN IN PARK. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!!. ALMOST RAN INTO SOMEONE IN A PARKING LOT, TRYING TO TURN INTO A SPACE AND IT LURCHED FORWARD MISSING THEM. SCARED TO DEATH. *AK I WENT DIRECTLY HOME AND WHILE AT A STOP SIGN IT LURCHED AGAIN, HOWEVER I WAS FAR ENOUGH AWAY NOT TO RUN INTO THE BACK END OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. GETTING THIS FIXED AT A FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG AND QOUTED ME A PRICE QUICKLY, AFTER SAYING THEY DO THESE ALL THE TIME..... MAYBE FORD SHOULD BE REPLACING THIS.....AND REIMBURSING US...... BEFORE SOMEONE DIES!!!

AFTER DRIVING SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES ON THE INTERSTATE, WE WAS DRIVING IN TOWN, MADE A STOP AT THE STORE, WHEN WE LEFT THE STORE WE STOPED AT THE END OF THE DRIVEWAY, WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING.*AK AFTER TALKING TO SEVERAL TRANSMISSION SHOPS, AND TAKING VEHICLE TO FORD SHOP WE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE WINDSTAR VAN. ( TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING ) HAD THIS HAVE HAPPEND ON THE INTERSTATE ITY COULD HAVE CAUSED A SEVERE ACCIDENT, OR EVEN A FATALITY...

ENGINE HAS BEEN SPUTTERING, FLASHING OVERDRIVE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. REAR PASSENGER FRONT AND REAR WINDOWS WON'T OPEN, RADIO CONSOLE STARTED TO GET REAL HOT AND THEN WENT OUT. ENGINE CONTINUES TO SPUTTER AS THOUGH ITS SKIPPING A GEAR, AND OVERDRIVE LIGHT CONSTANTLY BLINKING.*AK

ON THE DATE INDICATED BELOW WHILE TRAVELLING WITH MY CHILDREN (THE YOUNGEST ONLY 18 MONTHS OLD) AND MY MOTHER TO VISIT RELATIVES IN LEONARDTOWN MD, APPROXIMATELY 4 HOURS FROM MY HOME, MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR TRANSMISSION FAILED COMPLETELY, SHORTLY AFTER EXITING THE FT. MCHENRY TUNNEL, WHICH WAS VERY CROWDED. I HAD THE VAN CHECKED BEFORE I LEFT FOR MY DESTINATION, PARTICULARLY THE TRANSMISSION FLUIDS AND OTHER FLUIDS, AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT FAILURE WAS IMMINENT. I WAS STRANDED BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR OVER 2 HOURS, BUT CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY BECAUSE IF THIS VAN HAD STALLED IN THE TUNNEL, WE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED ON THIS VEHICLE WHICH ONLY HAS 73,400 MILES. I AM CURRENTLY LOOKING AT AN OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE OF $2,000.00 AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THIS VAN, WHICH HAS CONSISTENTLY GIVEN ME PROBLEMS SINCE I PURCHASED IT. I HAVE ALSO FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE FORD COMPANY, BUT HAVE NOT YET HEARD FROM THEM. I HAVE FILED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS WITH FORD REGARDING THE 1995 WINDSTAR (WHICH VARIOUS FORD EMPLOYEES HAVE TOLD ME IS ONE OF THE WORST VEHICLES EVER MADE) AND THE COMPANY DOES NOT WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE VAN IS INDEED A LEMON. I PAID GOOD MONEY FOR THIS VAN, AND EXPECT TO LAST A LITTLE LONGER THEN IT HAS. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO REVIEW THIS COMPLAINT. *AK

STALLS AT STOP, SLIPS, THEN SHIFTS HARD IN TO GEAR. SPOKE TO TWO PERSONS IN THE TRANSMISSION SHOP THEY BOTH AGREE THAT IT'S FORD COMPANY'S PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY SEE AT LEAST SIX VANS A MONTH WITH SAME PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION STALLING. *LA

1995 FORD WINDSTAR'S TRANSMISSION HAS COMPLETELY FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME (THIS IS NOW THE THIRD TRANSMISSION) WITHIN 97,000 MILES. FORD WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE EXISTENCE OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WHICH HAS IMPACTED MY FAMILY IN OVER $5,000 FINANCIAL COSTS, IN ADDITION TO POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE.

FIRST OF ALL WE HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE HEAD GASKET REPAIRED ON OUR VAN TWICE. THE FIRST TIME IT TOOK THE DEALERSHIP ALMOST 3 MONTHS. NOW WHEN WE ARE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE SPEED LIMIT OF 65 MPH, TRANSMISSION SLIPS BACK INTO 2ND GEAR AND MAKES A GRINDING NOISE. THE TACHOMETER GROWS UP AND DOWN. SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT EVEN GO OUT OF 2ND TO ACCELERATE. I DO NOT FEEL LIKE THIS IS A VERY "SAFE" VEHICLE TO HAVE ANYMORE. AND ALL THE DEALERSHIPS STATE THERE IS NO RECALL. HOWEVER MANY OF THE PEOPLE WE KNOW WITH THE SAME VEHICLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THIS IS THE 4TH TRANSMISSION IN THE VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION THAT WILL BE INSTALLED WILL BE THE 5TH TRANSMISSION. FORD HAS CONTINUED TO INSIST THAT THERE IS NOT AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH THE TRANMISSION IN THES MODEL ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN 634 COMPLAINTS/INVESTIGATIONS LODGED WITH THE NATIONAL TRAFFIC AND SAFETY BOARD.

CONSUMER STATES THAT AFTER SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY ON HER VEHICLE, TO HAVE IT REPAIRED, BECAUSE FORD WOULD NOT HONOR RECALL NOTICES BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OVER THE MILEAGE. HER AUTOMOBILE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS COMPLETELY DEMOLISHED. SHE STATED THAT WIIRES WERE COMPLETELY MELTED. AFTER THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT THE FIRE CHIEF STATED THAT HE THOUGHT THE FIRE STARTED BECAUSE OF LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID. CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS STRANDED IN JEROME, IDAHO, AND FORD WILL NOT ASSIST HER IN GETTING TO HER DESTINATION AFTER NOT HONORING RECALL. *AK