1998 Ford Windstar Powertrain & Transmission Problems

10/16/15 BOUGHT VAN. 10/30/15 STOP HAD TOWED HOME.CALL DEALERSHIP HAD TOWED TO THERE PLACE. THEY RAN A RED WIRE FROM FUSE RELAY TO INSIDE OF DASHBOARD TOOK OVER A WEEK GOT IT BACK. NOT IN EVEN WEEK LATER TRANSMISSION START MESSING UP TOLD THEM WOULDN'T CHANGE GEARS. IT WENT OUT. THEY DIDN'T WANT TO FIX IT FILE COMPLAINT WITH (DMV) INVESTIGATOR GOT IN TOUCH WITH THEM AGREEMENT WAS THEY WILL HAVE IT FIX WE DONT PAY LABOR, WE JUST PAY FOR TRANS AND FLUIDS. HAD IT TOWED THEY BEEN HAD VAN YEAR. 10/2016 THEY FOUND TRANS COST 515.PAID THEM. THEN IN 11/2016 SAID RADIATOR WAS CRACKED WE HAD TO PAY 102.84 ANOTHER MONTH 12/26/2016 GOT VAN. ITS MESSED UP SMOKING BRAKES BURNT UP.THE SPEEDOMETER LINES UNDER VAN NOT CONNECT JUST HANGING DONT MATCH UP ONE BROKE AT THE END. THE ODOMETER NOT HOOK UP. TOLD THEM THEN CARRIED TO INSPECTION FAILED. MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT THEY LIED THE TRANS COST 250 THE GUY THAT WAS WORKING ON IT BUSTED RADIATOR BUSTED IT THEY DIDNT TELL US. THEY RESPONSIBLE .THE MILES HAVE BEEN ROLLED BACK.2 TIMES. 10/15/2015 SAYS 144448.NOW 01/02/17 SAYS 144208. THEY BEEN HAD A YEAR AND THE ODOMETER DISCLOUSUER STATEMENT WAS SIGNED BY THE LADY NOT ME ARE MY WIFE.SHE SAID SHE DIDN'T BUT DID. WANT GIVE US MONEY BACK AND THEY PUT ALL THE INVOICES IN HIS NAME AND DEALERSHIP NAME LIKE WE DIDN'T PAY FOR ANYTHING AND SHE STILL WANT GIVE ME A INVOICE FOR THE 515 FOR TRANS. THE MAN GOING TO TELL ME PUT IT UP FOR SALE CANT THEY MESSED IT UP AND TOOK ALL OUR MONEY WE ONLY GET PAID ONCE A MONTH. WANT OUR MONEY BACK.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 182,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD BANGING SOUND AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE SERVO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250,000. UPDATED 08/19/14*LJ UPDATED 8/30/2017*CN

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD @ 55MPH AND THE SPEEDOMETER SHOT TO 0MPH AND THE TRANS WAS THROWN INTO 1ST. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. I AM LOOKING FOR A RESOLUTION. IT ACTS AS IF VSS ISN'T WORKING. EVEN THREW A CODE. I REPLACED THE SENSOR AND CHECKED THE WIRES ALL THE WAY TO THE ECM. EVERYTHING LOOKS QUITE GOOD. RAN A SCANNER. PICKED UP SEVERAL CODES. VSS AND ABS SENSORS ALL AROUND. PULLED CLUSTER: EVERYTHING LOOKED GREAT. THE ONLY FAULT I CAN THINK OF IS ECM UNLESS ABS SYSTEM HAS THE ABILITY TO AFFECT THE DRIVE LIKE THAT. *JS

REAR AXLE EXTREMELY RUSTED, FALLING APART, STILL GARAGE CONDITIONS, DOESN'T LOOK SAFE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE RPM INCREASED TO 3,000 AND THE SPEED DROPPED TO 35 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE ONTO THE SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE RETURNED TO NORMAL FUNCTION AFTER THE RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 121,600.

FORD ISSUED A TSB ON THIS PROBLEM. THE REPAIR IS TO REPROGRAM THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM). STALL DURING DECELERATION TO A STOP, PARKING AND/OR COASTING DURING SLOW SPEED TURNS. VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.8 LITER ENGINE. MY VAN IS DOING THIS BUT SHOWS NO RECALL WITH VIN # *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED AND LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE POWER TRAIN MODULE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MANUFACTURER'S POWER TRAIN PCM RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 154,327.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE AND THE OVER DRIVE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE INTO A FORD DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 197,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED ACCELERATED IN AN ATTEMPT TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN THE FRONT END STARTED TO SHAKE AS THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE CONTINUED RUNNING. THE CONTACT'S MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT THE GEARS IN THE TRANSMISSION WERE FRACTURED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 178,187.

TRANSMISSION FAILED ON GARDEN STATE PARKWAY IN NJ, STRANDED IN BUSY TRAFFIC. *TR

JUST WANTED THIS AGENCY TO KNOW THAT THESE PARTICULAR VEHICLES ARE UNSAFE.I WAS DRIVING IN BUSY TRAFFIC, IN MAJOR CONSTRUCTION NONETHELESS ON A 1 LANE ROAD AND MY VEHICLES TRANSMISSION WITHOUT WARNING QUIT WORKING....BACKED UP ALL KINDS OF TRAFFIC WITH NO WHERE TO PULL OVER AND MADE ALL KINDS OF NEW FRIENDS....JUST LETTING THIS AGENCY KNOW THIS MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE NOTIFIED.ALTHOUGH IT IS NOW AND OLDER VEHICLE IT IS STILL CAPABLE OF CREATING HAVOC...AND POTENTIALLY UNSAFE.COULDNT IMAGINE IF I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH SPEED TO MAKE IT TO SAFELY PULL OFF, COULD OF CAUSED A PILE UP.. *TR

FORD WINSTAR WILL NOT STAY IN PARK. *TR

TRANSMISSION: 1998 FORD WINDSTAR MINI VAN: WHILE TRYING TO TURN AROUND IN A DRIVEWAY, I PUT IT IN REVERSE AND THERE WAS NOT A REVERSE OR DRIVE GEARS ,NOTHING. THE MOTOR REVVED, BUT COULD NOT MOVE. I WAS STRANDED WITH NO WARNING. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED SINCE IT WOULD NOT MOVE. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ONLINE, OTHER OWNERS, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD WINDSTAR MINI VAN. I FEEL THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD. I AGREE WITH SO MANY MORE CONSUMERS, WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN IN A RECALL. IT IS VERY, VERY DANGEROUS, SINCE IT JUST STOPS WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR PROBLEMS. I REALIZE IT IS TOO LATE FOR ME SINCE MINE IS IN THE SHOP ALREADY. HOWEVER, I AM ON A LIMITED INCOME AND PROBABLY WILL LOOSE THE VEHICLE DUE TO NO FUNDS FOR THE REPAIR. IF IT HAD BEEN ON A RECALL, THIS WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. THIS IS MY FIRST FORD VEHICLE AND MORE THAN LIKELY, WILL BE MY LAST! PLEASE DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH AND YOU WILL SEE HOW COMMON THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN. THANK YOU *TR

REAR AXLE IS FRACTURED. ITS HAS A 3 INCH LONG CRACK ON THE REAR AXLE TOWARD THE DRIVERS SIDE. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THE VAN SINCE 1998. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR WAGON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD, ABNORMAL BANG. HE STATED HE PULLED OVER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR AXLE HAD FRACTURED IN HALF ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS PLACE OF RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURE ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE WEATHER, ROAD CONDITIONS OR MOISTURE IN THE AREA. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,576.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE REVERSING INTO A DRIVEWAY, THE REAR AXLE FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE REAR AXLE WAS REPLACED AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,948 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 165,200.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE REAR AXLE BROKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP BUT HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 156,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SWAYING EXCESSIVELY. THE CONTACT MOVED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR AXLE WAS FRACTURED INTO TWO. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS PLACE OF RESIDENCE. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 101,000. UPDATED 11/03/10. *LJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE AND THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.