2000 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

VEHICLE COULD ONLY GO BACKWARDS AS A RESULT OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *PH THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AS IS THEREFORE THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT COVER UNDER ANY WARRANTY. *NM

I WOULD JUST LIKE YOU TO BE AWARE THE THE AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOORS ON MY WINDSTAR TEND TO OPEN UP BY THEMSELVES WHILE IN REVERSE OR DRIVING I FIND THIS AS A MAJOR SAFETY RISK SINCE I HAVE 4 SMALL CHILDREN WHO RIDE IN THE BACK. *AK

SIDE WALL OF TIRE BLEW OUT. *LA

THE CHILD WAS PLAYING INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS PARKED. THE CHILD HIT GEAR SHIFT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL BACKWARDS AND HIT A TREE. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *PH

HEARD VERY LOUD NOISE, CAR WOULD NOT GO IN GEAR. TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPAIRED AT COST OF $2000. *LA

PER DEALER REPAIR: TRACE TO LOWER VACUUM LEAK, R&R LOWER INTAKE GASKETS, INSTALL UNDATED PARTS COST OF $600. THIS WAS ON TOP OF A $2000 TRANSMISSION REPAIR AT SAME TIME, SEPARATE COMPLAINT, AND ALSO AFTER TWO TIE RODS REPLACED. *LA

THE TRUCK IDLES RUFF. THE WRONG ENGINE MOTOR VALVE COVER BOLTS WERE USED AT TIME OF THE TRUCK BEING MANUFACTURED. AS A RESULT THE BOLTS CAUSED AN OIL LEAK IN THE ENGINE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BOLTS. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. *PH THERE WERE EIGHT BOLTS COVERED WITH PLASTIC WHICH MELTED AND CAUSED OIL TO ENTER THE ENGINE AND RUN ROUGH. MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT MANY OF THESE BOLTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE CONSUMER FEELS FORD SHOULD COVER THE COST OF REPAIRS, NOT HIM. *PH

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND STOPPING AT A LIGHT HE HAD NO GEARS, EXCEPT REVERSE AND PARK. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE MECHANIC. AFTER MECHANIC EVALUATED THE VEHICLE CONSUMER TOWED IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. HE THEN CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD TO CONTACT A FORD DEALER IN HIS AREA. CONSUMER CONTACTED A FORD DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE HE DID NOT PURCHASE THE VEHICLE FROM THEM OR HAD THE SERVICE DONE THERE . *AK TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER HAD TO BE REMOVED. FAILURE WAS THE RESULT OF A BROKEN SUN GEAR. CONSUMER STILL HAS THE PART. *PH

MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR WITH (46,000 MILES) RECENTLY BEGAN MAKING A SMALL WHIRRING OR TICKING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD. EXAMINATION BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT A LOCAL DEALER INDICATED THAT THE ORIGIN OF THE PROBLEM WAS THE TRANSMISSION. UPON TEARDOWN OF THE TRANSMISSION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE STATOR SUPPORT BEARING HAD "BLOWN APART." THE DEALER WISHED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION FOR $3700. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ALSO EXAMINED THE CAR AND FOUND THAT IN ADDITION TO THE STATOR, THE PUMP SHAFT, TORQUE CONVERTER, AND CLUTCHES WOULD ALL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE GEAR TRAIN OR THE SOLENOIDS. IT SEEMS UNBELIEVABLE THAT SUCH EXTENSIVE DAMAGE MANIFESTED ITSELF IN NOTHING MORE THAN A SMALL TICKING SOUND THAT MECHANICS AT THE DEALERSHIP WERE AT FIRST UNABLE TO EVEN DETECT. IT IS EVEN MORE AMAZING AND FRIGHTENING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL DRIVABLE. THERE WAS NOTHING SUSPICIOUS FOUND IN ANY PREVIOUS SERVICE VISITS TO SUGGEST THAT SUCH A FAILURE WAS IMMINENT AND NO DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS OF ANY KIND. HAD THIS VEHICLE FAILED WHILE IN TRANSIT, SERIOUS INJURIES MAY HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE. *LA

THE AIR FLOW UNIT ATTACHED TO THE TOP OF THE ENGINE MAKES A CLATTERING NOISE. THE DEALER/SERVICE DEPT. INSPECTED AND DESCRIBED THE NOISE CAUSED BY A PISTON DRIVEN MECHANISM INSIDE THIS AIR FLOW CHAMBER. APPARENTLY THIS UNIT HELPS WITH FUEL EFFICIENCY. IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND FORD MOTOR CO. WILL NOT REPLACE IT.*AK

PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING POWER ASSIST DOOR DOES NOT ALWAYS LATCH CORRECTLY.*AK

THE TRANSMISSION JUST QUIT WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING OR PROBLEMS. LEFT WIFE AND KIDS STRANDED IN MIDDLE OF BUSY STREET. *LA

WHILE LEAVING OUR PARKING LOT THE TRANSMISSION MADE A FEW HARD JERKS WHILE STOPPED AND THEN WOULD NOT GO IN A FORWARD MOTION, TRIED TO GO IN REVESE NOTHING. PUSHED THE VAN BACK TO A PARKING SPACE, CALLED FORD CUSTERMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD NO WARRANTIES OR "CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAMS" (SECERET WARRANTIES) EXSITED.CALLED AROUND TO SURVEY OPTIONS AND NOTED THAT THE WINDSTAR HAS HAD AT LEAST 3 UPGRADE KITS ISSUSED FOR THE TRANSMISSION. FOUND A LOT OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. CALLED FORD AGAIN, ASKED ABOUT THE VARIOUS OTHER COMPLAINTS AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS TRANSMISSON HAS NEVER HAD PROBLEMS THAT ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM NON-FORD SOURCES IS FALSE OR INCORRECT. WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE TRANSMISSON UPGRADE KITS (INFO FOUND ON FORD'S WEBSITE) WAS MET WITH THE SAME RESPONSE THAT THE TRANSMISSON HAS NEVER HAD A PROBLEM AND NON-FORD INFO.... AAMCO ESTIMATES $2200 TO $3500 FOR A REBUILT TO NEW TRANSMISSON, FORD OFFERS NO HELP. WE ARE LOOKING FOR A CLASS-ACTION OR OTHER INFORMATION TO GET FORD TO OWN-UP TO AND PAY FOR A "KNOWN" FAILURE IN THERE TRANSMISSON THAT DATES BACK TO 1991 WINDSTARS/TAURAS. ODOMETER READING 55,000. *AK

2000 FORD WINDSTAR VAN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON AND ROUGH IDLING, TOOK VAN TO FORD AND THE PROBLEM WAS INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET $850.00 REPAIR VAN HAD 40000.0 MILES, WHAT WAS FUNNY IS MY BOSS HAS THE SAME VAN AND SAME THING HAPPENED TO HIM AT 43000.0 MILES. I THINK THIS IS HAPPENING MORE THAN 4 OCCURENCES AS STATED. *AK

MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK. TBS ARTICLE NO. 03-16-1. THIS REPAIR WAS DONE 7 MONTHS EARLIER THAN THIS AND WE PAID A $200.00 DEDUCTABLE AND OUR WARRANTY COMPANY PAID THE REST. 7 MONTHS AND 13,800 MILES LATER IT WENT AGAIN AND THEY NEVER DID THE TBS TO IT THE FIRST TIME AND THEY WOULDN'T PAY FOR THEIR ERROR IN NOT TAKING CARE OF THE PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME. OUR WARRANTY COMPANY WOULD NOT PAY AS IT'S A FAULTY PART FROM FORD AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED AT THE 7 MONTH PRIOR APT. I HAD ALSO BROUGHT IT IN A FEW MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS OCT. VISIT AS THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND THEY SAID IT WAS BECAUSE MY GAS CAP WASN'T ON TIGHT ENOUGH AND WAS CHARGED $85.00 FOR THIS VISIT. I WONDER IF THIS WAS A SIGN OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING. WE WE'RE TREATED TERRIBLY BY FORD NOT ONLY WITH NOT PAYING FOR THEIR ERROR BUT DISREPECTFULL AND UNCALLED FOR LANGUAGE AND BEHAVIOR.

NATURE OF FAILURE: TRANSMISSION FAILURE VEHICLE: 2000 FORD WINDSTAR LX 73,000 MILES. DATE OF FAILURE: OCTOBER 22, 2003 COST OF REPAIR PLUS TOWING: 2,178.00

TRANSMISSION ON MY 2000 WINDSTAR LX TOTALLY FAILED AT 70,000 MILES. REPAIR COST OVER $2,500. I WROTE TO FORD AND COMPLAINED, AS I AM AWARE OF THIS HAPPENING TO MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH WINDSTARS, MANY WITH LESS MILAGE, ONE AS LOW AS 45,000 MILES. FORD HAS REFUSED TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION, ALTHOUGH IT MUST BE OBVIOUS THERE IS A DEFECT. THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE REPS CLAIM TO HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IN A WINDSTAR BEFORE. I FIND THIS IMPOSSIBLE TO BELIEVE.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE'S SLIDING DOOR WON'T OPEN WITH THE POWER DOOR LOCK, BUT WHILE DRIVING DOOR SLIDES OPEN. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *TS

WHEN I PUT NEW TIRES ON MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR THE FRONT END STARTED VIBRATING AT 45 TO 60 MPH I HAVE A 75000 MILE WARRANTY ON THE VAN AND IT HAD 67000 MILES ON IT AT THIS TIME. FORD TOLD ME IT WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY,THERE WAS NO PART CAUSING THE VIBRATION,BUT THEY HAVE A TECH SERVICE BULLETIN SAYING TO REPLACE JUST ABOUT ALL OF THE FRONT END PARTS (NONE ARE DEFECTIVE) WITH AN ENTIRE KIT OF PARTS! THE KIT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY,EVEN THOUGH FORD HAS ENOUGH TROUBLE WITH THIS SITUATION TO HAVE A TSB AND AN ENTIRE KIT IF PARTS TO FIX IT. *CB

THE POWER DOOR LOCK ON THE DRIVER'S OF MY 2000 WINDSTAR WILL NOT OPERATE. IT GETS STUCK IN THE LOCKED POSITION AND WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH THE REMOTE KEY FOB. THE FORD DEALERSHIP SUGGESTS REPLACING THE ACCUATOR AT A COST OF $250. THIS HAS BEEN NON-FUNCTIONAL SINCE LATE 2003.*AK

ABS LIGHT CAME ON AFTER ABOUT 3 YEARS AND IS NOW ALWAYS ON. EACH AND EVERY TIME THE CAR IS RE-STARTED THE LIGHT COMES ON WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, AND THEN STAYS ON. *TR

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT WITH NEW COMPONENTS. *AK *SCC *JB

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK

TRANSMISSION AX4S FAILED AT STOPLIGHT. GEAR WAS SHEARED OFF DRUM. VEHICLE HAD 50,623 MILES WHEN FAILURE OCCURRED. TRANSMISSION WAS OVERHAULED AT A COST OF $2037.92.

TRANSMISSION HAS ALWAYS KICKED FORCEFULLY AND ABRUPTLY IN LOW SPEED OR ON DECELERATION AT LOW SPEED. THERE HAS BEEN A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK(INDICATED BY RED FLUID ON AND AROUND THE THE TRANSMISSION PAN) BUT THE FLUID LEVEL HAS REMAINED CONSTANT AND AT APPROVED LIMITS. WE HAVE MENTIONED THIS TO DEALERS BUT HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TOLD THAT WAS NORMAL AND THAT IF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL WAS WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS THEN THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM. ON THIS DATE AS WE ACCELERATED FROM A FOUR-WAY STOP THERE WAS AN EXTREMELY FORCEFUL KICK AND THE VAN LOST POWER AND FORWARD MOTION AND ACTUALLY BEGAN TO DRIFT BACKWARD. THE DEALER TOLD US WE REQUIRED A NEW TORQUE CONVERTER, SOME NEW GEARS REPLACED, AND THAT WE WOULD BE BETTER OFF HAVING THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION REPLACED.

WHILE MY WIFE AND YOUNG SON WERE DRIVING 400 MILES FROM HOME ON A CONGESTED EXPRESSWAY THE SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR CAUSE. AFTER THE DEALER HAD THE VEHICLE FOR TWO WEEKS THEY DECIDED IT WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY SENSOR AND SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY (3 YR/36,000 MILES) THEY GAVE US A BILL FOR OVER $1100.00 WITH OUR REPAIRED VEHICLE TWO WEEKS AFTER LATER. THE MANUFACTURER ASSUMES NO LIABILITY. WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE IT.

INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECAME INOPERABLE, OBTRUCTING THE DRIVER'S VIEW. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON SIMILAR MAKES AND MODELS. HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK

COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITH ONLY 48,000 MILES.

TRANSMISSION ON 2000 WINDSTAR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AFTER 47,000 MILES.*AK

THE FRONT PASSENGER COIL SPRING FAILED, SHREDDING THE FRONT TIRE. THE SERVICE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS ROAD DEBRIS THAT CAUSED THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE LOCATION WHERE THE COIL FAILED APPEARED TO BE AN OLD CORROSION SPOT WITHIN THE STEEL. I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY FOR THE PART.*AK

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN AT STOP SIGN I HEARD A "CLUNCK" AND COULD NOT DRIVE FORWARD. AFTER A FEW CARS DROVE AROUND ME AND MY YOUNG CHILDREN SOMEONE FINALLY STOPPED TO PUSH MY WINDSTAR INTO A PARKING LOT THAT WAS CLOSE BY. I NEEDED TO HAVE THE VAN TOWED AND WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE 37200 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE AND IT IS NOT QUITE 4 YEARS OLD. AS ANGRY AS I AM I ALSO HAVE TO BE THANKFUL THAT THIS SUDDEN TRANSMISSION FAILURE DIDN'T HAPPEN JUST 2 WEEKS EARLIER WHEN MY FAMILY AND I WERE ON VACATION IN VIRGINIA. I AM LOOKING TO FORD AT THIS TIME TO HAVE MY VEHICLE FIXED WITH ASSISTANCE THROUGH A "GOODWILL" PROGRAM SO FAR I HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT FORD SEEMS TO BE AWARE OF.

CONSUMER STATED THAT TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT CHANGE PROPERLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND WAS TOLD THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED.*AK

SUDDEN TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 34,000 MILES. NO WARNING. ALL FORWARD GEARS FAILED. MANUFACTURER OFFERING "SECRET WARRANTY." PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE COMMON TO ALL WINDSTARS AS FAR BACK AS 1994. *AK

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE LEFT TURN AT TRAFFIC LIGHT, VEHICLE FAILED TO GO FORWARD. IT WOULD GO IN REVERSE, SO I DROVE IT BACKWARD INTO A PARKING LOT AND HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER. HAS 30,500 MILES, FORD WILL NOT ASSIST ME IN THE 2600.00 REAPAIR OF THE REQUIRED NEW TRANSMISSION. I AM VERY UNHAPPY.*AK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE TWICE. FIRST FAILURE AT 29K MILE IN OCTOBER 2001. TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. SECOND TRANSMISSION FAILURE WAS AT 56K VEHICLE MILES BUT ONLY 27K MILES ON REBUILT TRANSMISSION. BOTH FAILURES OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. SECOND FAILURE IS 3K MILES OUTSIDE OF 2YR/24K WARRANTY PROVIDED BY FORD. I BELIEVE SUDDEN TRANSMISSION FAILURE IS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE.

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION INSTALLED. AS WELL AS NEW TIE RODS.

BOUGHT VAN FROM DEALER JUNE 2001 WITH 28,000 MILES; ONGOING ISSUES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OVER 24 MONTH PERIOD; 34,000 MILES, HARSH VIBRATION AND SLIPPING ON ACCELERATION (AT TIMES NO FASTER THAN 35 MPH GETTING ON INTERSTATE), REBUILD UNDER 3 YR, 36 WARRANTY (TORCH CONVERTER OTHER INTERNALS); 1 YEAR LATER, 58,000 MILES, SAME SYMPTOMS WITH FLUID LEAKAGE, TRANSMISSION TOTALLY GONE, REPLACE WITH NEW REBUILT TRANSMISSION UNDER PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY; 4 MONTHS LATER, 64,000 MILES SAME SYMPTOMS, SLIPPAGE, HARSH VIBRATION, REBUILD TORCH CONVERTER UNDER WARRANTY; 4 MONTHS LATER (JUNE 2003) TRANSMISSION STARTING TO SHOW SAME SYMPTOMS, DEALER CAN NOT DUPLICATE; NOW CONSTANT VIBRATION WHEN TORCH CONVERTER IS LOCKED IN,CLUNKING, SLIPPING ON ACCELERATION AROUND CORNERS, END OF JULY FILED UNDER LEMON LAW AT STATE, WAITING TO HEAR FROM THEM.

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED TRANSMISSION JERKED. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN ONTO THE INTERSECTION AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING A LOUD NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE REAR. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE BRACKET HOLDING THE SWAY BAR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD DETACHED FROM THE FRAME. *AK

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE INTERIOR LIGHTS, POWER WINDOWS, RADIO, AND HEATER WOULD STAY ON AFTER THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND THE KEY IS REMOVED. THE FUSE HAS TO BE REMOVED EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. HE FOUND RECALL 00V351000 ON LINE CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. WHEN HE CONTACTED THE DEALER , THEY SAID THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. ALSO THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE OFF SWITCH FOR CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT WORK. THE CRUISE CONTROL COULD ONLY BE TURNED OFF BY APPLYING THE BRAKES. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY CARBON FUEL INTAKE INTO MANIFOLD CLOGGED UP, CAUSING FUMES AND BAD SMOKE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH GEARS WENT OUT AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE OWNERS RESIDENCE. OWNER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER FOR AN APPOINTMENT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *NLM THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. FORD CHARGED THE CONSUMER FOR THE REPAIR WHICH WAS UNSATISFACTORY. *SCC *JB

WHILE PULLING UP TO AN INTERSECTION THE VEHICLE JERKED AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T GO BACKWARD OR FORWARD. THE COST FOR REPAIRS WERE $530.00. *AK *CB

INTERMITTENT WINDSHIELD WIPERS INOPERABLE AND WIPERS WILL NOT PARK WHEN TURNED TO OFF POSITION OBSTRUCTING DRIVERS VIEW AND INCREASING POSSIBILITY OF A CRASH. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED, 01S25, FOR CERTAIN MODELS OF SAME MAKE AND YEAR FOR THIS EXACT DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE, HOWEVER, IS NOT INCLUDED BASED ON THE VIN. *JB

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING IT ROLLED DOWN THE STREET. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE BRAKING AND WITHOUT WARNING ABS FAILED, CAUSING THE ABS LIGHT TO COME ON. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK