1997 Ford Windstar transmission problems

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #10026343 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

SUDDEN CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 1996 WINDSTAR, 86,000 MI. PROPER MAINTENENCE HAD BEEN DONE. I SEE THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS HERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. NHTSA IT IS TIME TO STEP UP AND FORCE A RECALL. HOW LONG DO THE CONSUMERS HAVE TO BEAR THE BRUNT OF THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT. WE DON'T HAVE THE $3000 THEY WANT FOR REPAIRS. WHAT HAPPENED TO COMSUMER RIGHTS? THE WAY IT STANDS NOW I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER AMERCIAN CAR. IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT FOR THE ECONOMY. YOU HAVE TO HOLD CORPORATE AMERICA RESPONSIBLETOPUT OUT QUALITY VEHICLES. YOU HAVE THE POWER. DO WHAT YOU ARE THERE TO DO, PROTECT THE CONSUMER, NOT THE CORPORATE MONEY.

NHTSA complaint #10000833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

CONSUMER STATES THE SPEEDOMETER IS INOPERATIVE.

NHTSA complaint #564851 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

AT 60000 MILES SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED, AND CONSUMER COULD NO LONGER READ THE SPEED ON VEHICLE. DEALER REPLACED SPEEDOMETER CABLE. *AK

NHTSA complaint #8010199 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

WHILE DRIVING SPEEDOMETER SUDDENLY STARTED TO READ THE WRONG SPEED. CONSUMER STATED IT BOUNCED ALL OVER THE PLACE. AT TIMES CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW EXACTLY WHAT SPEED SHE WAS TRAVELING. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED BUT SHE WAS OVERCHARGED.

NHTSA complaint #8004600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

TRACKING SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. AND BRAKES ARE NOT OPERABLE. LIGHT ON THE INSIDE COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #8003695 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

SPEEDOMETER STARTED TWITCHING VERY LITTLE AT ABOUT 34,000 MILES. THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT BECAUSE IT WAS SO SMALL. AFTER WARRANTY WAS OVER IT WOULD SWING WILDLY FROM 50 TO 110 MPH. ALSO MAKES A GRUMBLING SOUND. UNABLE TO DETERMINE SPEED . DEALER IS REPLACING SPEEDOMETER FOR @$600.00 AT THIS TIME. EDMUNDS AND OTHER CAR SITES HAVE LOTS OF COMPLAINTS JUST LIKE MINE. DEALER SAID THEY KNOW JUST HOW TO TROUBLESHOOT THIS PROBLEM...MUST BE LOTS OF EXPERIENCE. IF THIS IS HOW THEY BUILD THESE AND CHARGE ME A TON TO FIX THE DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT, I WILL BE LLOKING FOR A HONDA OR TOYOTA NEXT. SEEMS LIKE A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING...BEEN USING THE TACH FOR A LONG TIME MYSELF.

NHTSA complaint #756155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WE WERE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON. WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE VAN WENT OUT OF GEAR , THE ENGINE REVVED UP, AND ALL ACCELERATION STOPPED. WE PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND TRIED TO GET THE VAN TO GO BACK INTO GEAR - ANY GEAR - AND IT WOULDN'T. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF A PROBLEM - NO NOISES OR LEAKAGE OF FLUID OR ANYTHING UNUSUAL.

NHTSA complaint #755118 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT, ABS AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING AT 78,000 MILES. CAR HAS FAILED 4 TIMES. REPEATED TRIPS TO SERVICE CENTER, TUNE-UP TWICE, NEW BATTERY, NEW FUEL PUMP. APPROX. $1500 PAID SO FAR, CAR CONTINUES TO FAIL WHILE DRIVING. FORD MOTOR CO.

NHTSA complaint #753758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WE BELIEVE THE SHEER NUMBER OF DEFECT ON THIS CAR IS UNBELIEVABLE. WE PURCHASED IT USED FROM MY PARENTS. TOTAL COST OF NON "WEAR AND TEAR" REPAIRS IS AROUND $5000. THIS IS OVER 25% OF THE VEHICLES ORIGINAL VALUE, AND OVER 50% OF THE VALUE AT TIME OF PURCHASE. WHILE NO ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED, WE BELIEVE FORD SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A BAD PRODUCT.

NHTSA complaint #753194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

A SMALL CHILD ACCIDENTALLY HIT GEAR BOX AND VEHICLE CAME OUT OF GEAR. CONSUMER FELTIT SHOULD NOT BE THIS EASY FOR VEHICLETO COME OUT OF GEAR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #893725 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE COST $2,000 TO REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #749058 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

ERRATIC OPERATION OF SPEEDOMETER, COMMENCED TO JUMP BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH OR MORE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY. NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL, AND NOTHING WOULD BE DONE UNLESS COST GO TO CONSUMER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER.

NHTSA complaint #884785 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

SPEEDOMETER BROKE, AND CONSUMER COULD NOT TELL HOW FAST VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR A WHILE.

NHTSA complaint #884515 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

SPEEDOMETER SPEED INDICATOR JUMPS UP AND DOWN, UNIT BUZZES.

NHTSA complaint #741657 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

ERRATIC SPEEDOMETER (EG SPEEDOMETER MOVING TO 80 WHILE VEHICLE PARKED).

NHTSA complaint #740981 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

WHILE TRAVELLING AT SPEED OF 55 MPH, SPEEDOMETER STARTED CHATTERING ERRATICALLY AND FLUCTUATING FROM 55-90, THEN STOPPED AND INDICATED CORRECTLY. PROBLEM HAS SINCE SHOWN UP CONSTANTLY AND WILL NOT INDICATE CORRECTLY ABOVE 40 MPH EVERY TIME. CRUISE CONTROL HOLDS AT CONSTANT SPEED (BY TACH RPM). DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OF SPEEDOMETER AT COST OF $550 PARTS + LABOR -- OR -- THE SPEEDOMETER CAN BE REFURBISHED, REQUIRING THE VAN TO BE KEPT AT THE DEALER FOR UP TO 2 WEEKS AT A COST OF $260 PARTS + LABOR.

NHTSA complaint #739093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

SPEEDOMETER GOES FROM 15 TO 80 AND STAYS AT A HIGH SPEED. MY MECHANIC HAS STATED THIS IS A EXPENSIVE PART AND FORD IS AWARE THEY ARE HAVING A PROBLEM. HE HIMSELF HAS SENT MANY CUSTOMER BACK TO THE DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEEDOMETER REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #737326 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILED, AT THE TIME OF REPAIR THEY FOUND THAT THE FRAME WAS BROKEN, THE VAN WAS PURCHASED FROM THEM 6 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE AND THEY ACCUSED ME OF HITTING A BUMP AND MAKING THE FRAME BREAK. I PERSONALLY DO NOT REMEMBER HITTING ANYTHING IN THE VAN I DRIVE IT TO AN FROM WORK. IF A BUMP SMALL ENOUGH NOT TO RECALL WILL BREAK THE FRAME WOULD THAT MEAN THE FRAME IS DEFECTED? I PERSONALLY FEEL THAT I PURCHASED THE VAN WITH A BROKEN FRAME AND DRIVING IT FOR SIX MONTHS IN THAT CONDITION COULD OF CAUSED MY TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. I WOULD LIKE TO GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS AND SEE IF THERE IS ANYWAY OF BEING REIMBURSED OF THIS INCIDENT. I FEEL THE VAN SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A LEMON IF IT WAS SOLD WITH A BROKEN FRAME. IF I HIT A BUMP HARD ENOUGH TO BREAK THE FRAME SHOULDN'T THE AIRBAGS EJECT? ARE THEY DEFECTIVE TOO? I'VE DISCUSSED THIS WITH CHARRAP FORD AND THEY DID REDUCE THE PRICE OF THE VAN REPAIRS BUT HAVE NO EXPLANATION OF THE BROKEN FRAME OR THE TRANSMISSION. I TRADED IN AN 89 AEROSTAR WHICH DIDN'T GIVE ME HALF THE PROBLEMS THIS 97 WINDSTAR IS . I WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO INVESTIGATE THIS AND PLEASE CONTACT ME. THANKS! VICKI DANLEY

NHTSA complaint #731912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

REPAIR PART COST IN EXCESS OF $450 (WITH LABOR). LOSS OF SPEEDOMETER DEEMED SAFETY RELATED ISSUE AS SPEED COULD NOT BE ACCURATELY DETERMINED.

NHTSA complaint #729561 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

INSIDE SLIDE DOOR LOCK IS BROKEN. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK SPEDOMETER HEAD BROKE.

NHTSA complaint #866724 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

WHILE DRIVING SPEEDODOMETER FLOATS AND MAKES A CLICKING SOUND, READING 30 MILES HIGHER THAN WHAT THE VEHICLE IS REALLY DOING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #863966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

VAN LOST POWER ON ACCELERATION AND STOPPED. THE FRONT DRIVE WHEELS LOCKED-UP. DEALER DETERMINED PLANETARY GEAR IN TRANSMISSION BLEW. MANUFACTURER PAID FOR THE OUT OF WARRANTY (BY 4 MONTHS) REPAIRS. NOTE FORD HAS HISTORY OF PLANETARY GEAR FAILING (MY 91 TAURUS).

NHTSA complaint #722758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT

CV JOINTS FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL.

NHTSA complaint #534695 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:BANJO HOUSING

HALF SHAFT ASSEMBLY IN TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL.

NHTSA complaint #534695 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION BUSHINGS ASSEMBLY FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL.

NHTSA complaint #534695 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

SPEEDOMETER BOUNCES AND BUZZES IN DASH EST. REPAIR COST $350.

NHTSA complaint #719208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILED. YH

NHTSA complaint #550358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.