1999 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

I OWN A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR VAN WITH APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES THAT IS USED FOR PLEASURE PURPOSES ONLY. TWO DAYS AGO THE POWER STEERING UNIT COMMENCED HOWLING WHENEVER THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. YESTERDAY I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALER IN ARCADIA. DURING THE DRIVE TO THE DEALER THE VEHICLE APPEARED TO STEER CORRECTLY. HOWEVER, WHEN THE SERVICE MAN AT THE DEALER TRIED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE INTO THE STALL HE SAID THAT THE STEERING HAD FROZEN AND WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. SUBSEQUENTLY THE DEALER, AFTER CHECKING THE POWER STEERING UNIT, DECIDED THAT THE PUMP IN THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM HAD FAILED CAUSING COMPONENT PIECES TO PASS THROUGH THE SYSTEM CAUSING THE STEERING FAILURE.THE DEALER SAID THE REPAIR WOULD REQUIRE REPLACING THE PUMP AND ALL COMPONENTS OF THE SYSTEM AT A COST OF MORE THAN A THOUSAND DOLLARS. MY CONCERN IS THE STEERING COULD HAVE FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. IN ADDITION, FAILURE OF THE POWER STERRING UNIT AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE LEAVES THE IMPRESSION THAT THIS MIGHT BE A DEFECT IN OTHER CARS....THUS THE REPORT TO YOU. THE FORD DEALER'S TELEPHONE NUMBER IN ARCADIA IS 863 494 4848

I PULLED OUT OF A RESTAURANT PARKING LOT INTO A ROADWAY MEDIAN SO I COULD MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. WE FELT A JOLT AND HEARD A LOUD "THUNK" SORT OF SOUND. THE ENGINE REVVED UP HIGH SUDDENLY, BUT WE WEREN'T MOVING MUCH. I LET OFF THE GAS. THE VAN ROLLED FOR A BIT, BUT ONCE WE STOPPED IT WOULDN'T GO ANY MORE. NO GEARS AT ALL. DEALER ADVISED WE NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. WARRENTY JUST EXPIRED. ONLY 43,000 MILES. I CALLED FORD AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS ALONG THE LINES OF "YEAH, THAT'S A REAL SHAME."

WE JUST HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION IN OUR 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. IT HAS 107,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. WHEN WE HAD 63,000 MILES, WE HAD TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING RACK. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE VEHICLE TO OWN - ESPECIALLY WITH THE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS THAT IT REQUIRES.

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK VAN INTO SHOP TO HAVE CHECKED. THROUGH DIAGNOSIS AND CONTACT WITH LOCAL FORD DEALER, DETERMINED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS WERE LEAKING, REQUIRING A 700 PLUS DOLLAR REPAIR TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT FORD HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM FOR QUITE SOME TIME, HAVE ISSUED NUMEROUS SERVICE BULLETINS RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM, AND HAVE A " KIT " AVAILABLE TO REPAIR. BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT FORD HAS BEEN FULLY AWARE OF FOR A LONG TIME, AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL SO THE CONSUMER IS NOT BURDENED WITH REPAIR COSTS FOR A PROBLEM THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF LONG AGO. *CB

ACTUATOR MOTOR NOT WORKING; BROKE THE SWITCH DOOR. THIS OCCURRED DURING WINTER, UNABLE TO DEFROST WINDOWS, FREEZING WEATHER, NO HEAT IN FRONT.

WATER LEAKS INTO THE SEAL OF THE REAR HATCHBACK CAUSING DAMAGE AND MOLD TO BUILD UP IN THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED.

TENSIONER ASSEMBLY AND IDLE PULLEY DEFECTIVE. IF INSPECTING ENGINE, WHILE VAN IS RUNNING AND HOOD UP MAIN BELT MIGHT BREAK AND POSSIBLY CAUSING INJURY TO INSPECTOR.

MY VAN WAS BARELY OUT OF WARRANTY WHEN THE O/D OFF LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE FORD DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS A RESULT OF A BROKEN SENSOR WELD ON MY INTAKE MANIFOLD TO THE TUNE OF APPROX. $900. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THE O/D OFF LIGHT MEANT THAT THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $2,700. ALL THIS FOR BEING 1 MONTH AND 500 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. PLUS, I SEE THAT MANY PEOPLE WITH FORD WINDSTARS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING AT 35,000 MILES AND 70,000 (TWICE) SO I SEE THAT I WILL UNDOUBTEDLY HAVE SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO WHEN THE WARRANTY RUNS OUT ON THE TRANSMISSION... ALMOST LIKE THE DARNED THING IS DELIBERATELY DESIGNED TO CREATE A HUGE REPAIR BILL THE MOMENT IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY.

CONCERNING: 1999 FORD WINDSTAR WITH WITH 59,000 MILES. RECENTLY OUR VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A STRANGE RUBBING SOUND WHEN TURNING AND RAPIDLY STARTED TO GET WORSE. WE TOOK OUR VAN INTO THE FORD DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE AND WERE TOLD THAT THE TIE ROD ENDS WERE SHOT. THE REPAIRMAN (AT FORD) TOLD US THAT WE ARE LUCKY WE GOT IT IN FOR SERVICE WHEN WE DID. APPARENTLY THE TIE RODS COULD HAVE BROKEN AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING! THE VAN IS WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE TIE RODS WOULD BE IN SUCH BAD SHAPE. THIS SEEMS LIKE A MANUFACTURER CONCERN AND CERTAINLY A SAFETY CONCERN FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO TRANSPORT THEIR FAMILIES IN A WINDSTAR! I'D LIKE TO SEE FORD COVER THE COST OF THIS REPAIR AND TELL ME WHY MY FAMILIES' SAFETY WAS PUT INTO JEOPARDY WHILE DRIVING SUCH A NEW VEHICLE.

WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD MAKE A LOUD NOISE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

MY 1999 FORD WINDSTAR HAS SUFFERED A COMPLETE STEERING RACK FAILURE WITH LESS THAN 70,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME THE ORIGINAL PART WAS PRONE TO EARLY FAILURE AND THE REPLACEMENT COMPONENT WAS MUCH IMPROVED. HOWEVER, IF THERE IS A FLAW IN THE ORIGINAL PART, I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR. *JB

ON TWO OCCASIONS THE BRAKES IN MY 1999 WINDSTAR FAILED. BOTH OCCASIONS INVOLVED DAMAGE TO MY WINDSTAR. THE FIRST ACCIDENT OCCURED IN NOVEMBER 2002 AND IN THAT ACCIDENT TWO OTHER AUTOS WERE INVOLVED. IN BOTH ACCIDENTS THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE EVEN THOUGH I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES HARD. I TOLD THE DEALER (KOON'S FORD IN FALLS CHURCH, VA) ON BOTH OCCASIONS THAT THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY. THEY TOLD ME NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. I FELT SO SCARED DRIVING MY WINDSTAR THAT I JUST TRADED IT IT AT A BIG LOSS (US$4,000 TRADE IN) FOR A NEW 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOA. I TOOK POSSESSION OF MY NEW AUTO TODAY 1/18/03). THE BRAKES SIMPLY DID NOT ENGAGE ON THESE TWO OCCASIONS. WHILE THEY WORKED FINE AT OTHER TIMES. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO.

TEERING RACK FAILURE ON 1999 FORD WINDSTAR WITH LESS THAN 18,033 MILES. CAUSED UNSTABLE CONDITION, INCLUDING LACK OF STEERING CONTROL.

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ON OUR 1999 FORD WINDSTAR WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD CAUSING HER TO HAVE TO UNEXPECTEDLY PULL OVER. THE VAN ONLY HAS 35K MILES ON IT. WE HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AFTER SO FEW MILES. AFTER PERUSING THE INTERNET, I DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE.

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON MY 1999 WINDSTAR VAN ...HAS 61,300 MILES ON IT....WAS PUTTING IT IN DRIVE FROM A STOPPED POSTION AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND ALMOST SOUNDED LIKE EXPLOSION OF SORTS....LIKE A BACKFIRE IN MUFFLER....DOES NOT GO IN DRIVE AT ALL....SPEEDOMETER DOESNT WORK WHEN MOTOR IS REVVED ...*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH VEHICLE'S STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING AND HAD TO BE FILLED EVERY 30,000 MILES TO MAKE IT HOME. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK THE VEHICLE WILL JUMP OUT OF GEAR INTO REVERSE CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

PAINT IS PEELING OFF OF TOP OF 99 WINDSTAR. PRIMER IS STILL INTACT BUT THE PAINT WILL PEEL OFF IN BIG "HUNKS" AND NOW THERE IS A AREA OF APPROX 12"X4" THAT IS JUST PRIMER. THE RAIN GUTTER PAINT IS CRACKED AND WILL PEEL OFF SOON. FORD HOTLINE REFERS TO DEALER, DEALER SAYS IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. (OF COURSE IT HAPPENS RIGHT OUT OF WARRANTY.)

FORD WINDSTAR 1999. CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR LIT. MANUAL STATES THAT THIS INDICATES A PROBLEM WITH THE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM. DROP CAR TO DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIR. PARTS ON ORDER. CHECKED FEB. 5, 2003. PARTS STILL ON ORDER. AM TOLD THAT 8 OR SO VEHICLE OWNERS ARE WAITING FOR SAME PARTS.

WHILE DRIVING AT 35/40 MPH THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ABS FAILED. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE ABS ENGAGED WITHOUT CAUSE. THE PARTS REPLACED IS UNKNOWN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO APPEARED ON DASH. TS *JB

1/.WINDSHIELD WIPER IS NOT COMPLETELY WIPING OFF WATER ON THE WINDSHIELD WHEN IT TRAVELS AT 65 MPH ONLY 1/3 UPPER PART OF WINDSHIELD IS WIPED OF. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY ON RAINY DAY. 2/ PAINT IS BUBBLING AND PEELING OF FROM THE HOOD. 3/ THE CAR IS HUMBLING AND MAKE NOISE WHEN IT IS AT STOP AND A/C ON (MAY BE THE PRESSURE FROM THE POWER STEERING PULLING). *JB

ABS LIGHT COMES ON FREQUENTLY. I HAD THE PROBLEM CHECKED TWICE, THE FIRST TIME NUMEROUS CODES OCCURRED, IT WAS RESET AND A SWITCH WAS REPLACED. AUTO SHOP CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE ABS. I KEEP TAKING IT IN AT A COST OF $70 EACH TO HAVE THE PROBLEM RECHECKED BECAUSE THE ABS LIGHT STILL CONTINUED TO COME ON. I HAVE WRITTEN TO FORD CORPORATION AND LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED VEHICLE. *JB

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC. WAS TOLD THAT THE O2(OXYGEN)SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TWO UPSTREAM AND ONE DOWNSTREAM. SECOND OPINION/SOURCE SAID THAT THOSE PARTICULAR PARTS RARELY MALFUNCTION. WAS TOLD THAT PROBLEM COULD SEVERELY DAMAGE CATALYTIC CONVERTER.APPROX. 57K ON DATE OF OCCURANCE. SEEMS TOO SOON FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM.

1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE DEALER INSTALLED UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE GASKETS AND THE VALVE COVER GASKET WAS REPLACED. THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *JB

Y

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING A SEAL BLEW IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP WHICH CAUSED THE RACK AND PINION TO FAIL. TS

WHILE IN MOTION, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICE BY A TECHNICIAN. THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE RACK AND PINION WAS LEAKING FLUID AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TS *JG

VERY LOUD GRINDING JET ENGINE SOUND WHEN TURNING AND ALSO WHEN JUST IDLING. THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS BLACK WITH METAL CHIPS INDICATING THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE PUMP OR RACK AND PINION. I TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY FLUSHED THE PUMP. THE NOISE WENT AWAY FOR ONE DAY AND ON MY WAY OUT OF TOWN, IT STARTED AGAIN CAUSING ME TO LOSE POWER STEERING. THE NOISE WAS TERRIBLE AND I COULDN'T TURN THE WHEEL. I WAS ONE HOUR AWAY! I HAVE CHECKED AND THERE ARE 32 REPORTED CASES OF THIS SAME PROBLEM. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE SHOULD DEFINATELY BE A RECALL ON THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM! IT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN REPORTED FOR AT LEAST A YEAR AND NOTHING SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN DONE ABOUT IT! PLEASE CONTACT ME AND LET ME KNOW WHAT I HAVE TO DO TO GET A RECALL DONE ON THIS! I AM NOW LOOKING AT PAYING MORE THAN $800 TO REPLACE A PART THAT IS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE! PLEASE HELP! DT

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. NOW VEHICLE IS RUNNING ROUGH. FORD STATES ITS A PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN OF THE VALVE COVER AND WANTS TO REPLACE IT WITH A NEW AND IMPROVED ONE. PROBLEM IS THEY WANT ME TO PAY TO CORRECT THIER DESIGN PROBLEM. IF THEY DID NOT DESIGN THE COVER RIGHT THEY SHOULD PAY TO FIX IT. VEHICLE IS AN EXPENSIVE PAPER WIEGHT RIGHT NOW . *AK

TRANSAXLES FAILED ONLY 2 MILES AFTER BEING SERVICED BY DEALER, PHIL LONG FORD INVOICE #FOCS570297. SERVICE CONCLUDED "POWER-FLUSH", ITEM H. PARTS INVOICE LISTS 14 "UNITS OF TRANS FLUID @ $3.28 PER UNIT. THE MANUFACTURER'S OWNER MANUAL LISTS MAXIMUM DRY CAPACITY AS 12.25 QUARTS. THE OWNER'S MANUAL ALSO SAYS "...WHILE OVERFILLING CAN CAUSE FOAMING AND LOSS OF FLUID. EITHER CONDITION WILL CAUSE TRANSAXLE DAMAGE." *PH

THE DEFOGGER HEATER VENILATION BLOW OUT COLD AIR. THE BLEND DOOR ARM BROKE OFF THIS IS A PART OF THE HEATER BOX. CAUSING THE WINDOW OF THE VEHICLE TO FOG UP. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MR

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD MUST BE REPLACED. PH

PLASTIC FUEL INTAKE WAS DEFECTIVE REPLACED WITH METAL, SHOULD BE MADE WITH METAL. DT

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING THE OVER DRIVE WARNING LIGHT WILL COME ON AND IF WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO SHIFT GEAR ON THE VEHICLE. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED TS

TRANSMISSION "LURCHED" INFREQUENTLY FROM DAY OF PURCHASE. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL FOR A WINDSTAR. TRANSMISSION FAILED SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING WHILE IN TRAFFIC. NO ACCIDENT OCCURED BUT EASILY COULD HAVE. DT

PREMATURE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITH NO WARNING. DT

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GEARS WERE REDUCED TO METAL DUST. DT

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT IS BIG NOISE , DUE TO A FAULTY POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY, DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

1999 FORD WINDSTAR, TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE FAILURE. 78,000 MILES, NO WARNING GIVEN. DEALER QUOTED $2500.00 FOR REBUILT TRANNY. AS I UNDERSTAND, THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN PLAQUED WITH DRIVETRAIN PROBLEMS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE FORD BE FORCED TO REPAIR/REPLACE/REIMBURSE OWNERS FOR REPAIRS THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN NECESSARY.*JB

NO SUMMARY. DT

THE PAINT IS PEELING OFF THE ROOF OF THE VAN. WE FEEL ON A VEHICLE THAT IS ONLY THREE YEARS OLD THIS KIND OF THING SHOULD NOT HAAPPEN, THE PRIMER IS SHOWING THROUGH. IN OCTOBER I TOOK THE VAN TOO GET IT LOOKED AT AND AT THAT TIME THE GENTLEMAN I TALKED TO SAID THE FORD REP. HAD TO SEE IT TO GIVE US AN ESTAMATE.WHEN THE REP. CAME TOO TOWN HE WOULD NOT EVEN LOOK AT THE ROOF. ALL WE WERE HOPING FOR WAS SOME HELP REPAIRING THE DAMAGE.MY HUSBAND ALSO TALKED TO THE PERSON WHO LEFT THE MESSAGE AND ALL WE ARE BEING TOLD IS THAT THE WARRENTY IS UP. I WAS WANDERING HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM, AND HAVE NOT DISCOVERED IT YET, THE ONLY WAY WE SAW THE PAINT PROBLEM WAS WE LOOKED OUT OF MY INLAWS WINDOW AND SAW THAT THE PAINT WAS PEELLING OFF. THAT WAS IN OCTOBER2002 AND FORD NEVER LET US KNOW UNTIL JAN.2003 THAT IT WAS OUT OF WARRENTY AND THE REP.WASIN TOWN THAT DAY AND NEVER LOOKEDAT THE PROBLEM.

NO SUMMARY. DT

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WITH WARNING THE IDLE GETS DISCONNECTED AND THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER AND BECAMES INOPERATIVE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN BRAKING THE VEHICLE WILL SHIMMY HEAVILY AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

INTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKER FREQUENTLY FOR NO APPARENT REASON. LIGHT SWITCH MANIPULATED BUT DOES NOT SEEM TO AFFECT IT. RADIO VOLUME CHANGES. FAILURE OCCURRENCE SEVERAL TIMES PER DAY. LAST OCCURRENCE WAS YESTERDAY (9/26/02) WHERE THE LIGHTS FLICKERED THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. TS

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AND TURN EITHER WAY THE VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD NOISE. TS

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR. HAD VEHICLE TOWED. TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *MR

MASSIVE POWERSTEERING /RACK AND PINION LEAK , DIFFICULT TO STEER AT ANY SPEED. MR

OVERDRIVE LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING ON AND OFF. PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AND CHECKED TRANSMISSION FLUID, WHICH WAS SLIGHTLY LOW. DROVE 8 MILES TO AUTOMOTIVE STORE, PURCHASED FLUID AND REFILLED. PROBLEM ALLEVIATED FOR TWO DAYS, THEN OVERDRIVE LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AGAIN. DISCONNECTED BATTERY TO RESET SYSTEMS. TWO WEEKS LATER OVERDRIVE LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AGAIN. NOTICED RPMS WERE UP TO 3 AT 69 MPH. TOOK VAN TO OUR MECHANIC, WHO TOLD US THE OVERDRIVE WAS FAILING. HE THEN REFERRED US TO LOCAL FORD DEALER, WHO CONFIRMED THE OVERDRIVE WAS FAILING AND ENTIRE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY WHO TOLD US FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WOULD BE UP TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT INSPECTED THE TRANSMISSION. THEY OFFERED NO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. PRICE 1,800 FOR NEW TRANSMISSION, NOT INCLUDING LABOR. WHEN DRIVING HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP, ENGINE BEGAN STALLING AT LOW IDLE SPEEDS. ENGINE DIES DURING TAKE OFF OR ACCELERATION AT LOW SPEEDS. OUR MECHANIC INSPECTED VAN AND COULD FIND NO ENGINE FAILURE PROBLEMS. SUSPECTS ASSOCIATION WITH TRANSMISSION FAILURE. VAN IS HIGH MILAGE, BUT HAD 66,000 MILES WHEN WE BOUGHT IT IN 2000. HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEMS WITH FORD WINDSTAR TRANSMISSIONS. IN READING SOME OF THE OTHER OWNERS' STORIES, I FEEL VERY LUCKY MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT SLOWLY AND GAVE US WARNING. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO ACTUALLY GET KILLED BECAUSE OF THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE ANYTHING IS DONE TO MAKE FORD CORRECT THE PROBLEM? CONSIDERING MOST MINIVANS ARE USED TO TRANSPORT FAMILIES, IT SEEMS THAT IMMEDIATE ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN TO CORRECT AN OBVIOUSLY LIFE-THREATENING PROBLEM. DT

BAD IRMC, I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR A $200 DEDUCTIBLE, THEN VAN HAD TO GO BACK TO SHOP (ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON) NOW OUTPUT SPEED SENSOR SHAFT IS BAD , THAT WILL BE ANOTHER $200 DEDUCTIBLE/UNABLE TO AFFORD A RENATL CAR DUE TO REPAIRS... TS