9.8
really awfulTypical Repair Cost:
$1,633.00
Average Mileage:
98,916 miles
Total Complaints:
10 complaints
Most common solutions:
- replace transmission (5 reports)
- a new tranny &engine work & electrical govenor (1 reports)
- bomb it (1 reports)
- not sure (1 reports)
- rebuilt transmission (1 reports)
- replaced torque converter and pump shaft (1 reports)
transmission problem
Helpful Websites About 1998 Ford Windstar transmission failure
2009May 17
Windstar GL 3.8L
- Automatic transmission
- 206,000 miles
I read alot of complaints about windstars just failing on the side of the road with no warning what so ever, I had the exact same thing happen.
Driving back from PA (live in NY) and went to accelerate and nothing, no noise, no warning, NO FORWARD GEARS OR REVERSE!!!
I am a mechanic so I pulled the transmission and torque converter and low and behold the splines in the torque converter were completly stripped out.
These said splines drive the fluid pump for the transmission and without a pump, you have no pressure and without pressure you have no transmission engagement.
All of you who had the transmission replaced at a cost of 2G's got RIPPED OFF!!!!!!
The torque converter is a $150 part and the pump shaft is a $30 part, 5-6 hours of labor MAX!!
I did this in my driveway with a jack and some basic tools in like 4 hours to remove and 4 hours to replace, and about 40 mins to replace the pump shaft in the transmission.
FORD knows about this problem and it is caused by crappy steel that the splines are made from. But at the same time you all got ripped off by whatever shop you all brought your vans to.
2009Jun 27
Windstar GL 3.8L
- Automatic transmission
- 93,206 miles
F*** FORD! i got this van for free and it even wasn't worth it. my parents gave it to me after they got new cars and didn't need to haul kids around anymore cause we're all grown up. so since day one i got it a new the transmission had loose seals and low pressure cause the clutch would slip when accelerating and would take sometime for the car to kick in and i would need to floor the pedal to merge on the highway. as well as sudden hard shifting cause 50% of the time i accelerate the tires to squeak. i thought about 6 months till i get a real car so this s*** box will last for about that long. but she didn't even make it more then one month. one day my friend asks me a favor if i can drive his band equipment to his show and i was happy to do him a favor. loading up the van i notice tranny fluid on his drive and yup the ford was dripping. seeing as the show must go on i figure the 20km to the show and back will be fine but after that shes dead. half way to the show the gears wont engage leaving us in the middle of the road with speeding cars around us honking and a revving engine thats spitting tranny fluid and smoke everywhere. TRANSMISSION FAILED. before this it was showing symptoms like hard shifting and over heating clutch. the tow truck came and got the van to the show on time but how embarrassing is it to get to a gig with your van on a tow truck? after the show and a quick look at the engine i figure if i take the side streets and keep it in second she can make it home by periodically putting in some tranny fluid. FOUR HOURS LATER AND FIVE LITERS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID LATER I GOT HOME. a ride that normally would take less the 20minutes. i was driving on the highway with the heat meter past red. second gear. 60kph. smoke everywhere. tranny fluid everywhere and hitting about 5000rpm just to accelerate worse then the old ford model-t.
i got it home and spat on it. uses hunk of garbage. 2000$ for a tranny? NO WAY! id rather buy a honda just as old that would still last five years. ford is garbage and sell yours the minute you see tranny failure even at the slightess. i drive them at work and everyone hates the tranny on the 2005 f250 aswell. if i ever met someone who was proud to own a ford i would hysterically in there face. as the say goes Found On Road Dead
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2009Mar 11
Windstar Northwoods
- Automatic transmission
- 86,000 miles
after only 86,000 miles the tranny goes, I could still drive it but sometimes it would not act up but when it did the tranny would roar like really loud and the speedometer would quit working and drop to zero. Still don't know what is wrong with it but doesn't really matter now because now I have a blown head gasket or a cracked head. I bought this van new in 1998 and I guess they are only good for 86,000 miles a real expensive
piece of disposable vans. I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER! ! ! ! ! ! !
2009Jan 04
Windstar 3.8L
- Automatic transmission
- 100,455 miles
Like most of the people below I too have had many problems. From the inside lights staying on, the door open indicator light staying on, the service engine light going on and off & being told it was due to the gas tank cover, to todays event. Today I pulled up to a stop sign and when I went to accelerate it felt like I was trying to go through a concrete wall there was so much resistance. Then it just clunked to a stop and wouldn't engage in drive, reverse, or any gear, just sat and reved up. Same story as most below. I thought this car was a blessing, I loved it ....at first. I am a single mother of 4 children and I was counting on this to be a safe and reliable vehicle for my children. After reading all of these stories I keep wondering why we as consumers havnt made ford answer these problems or do a recall. Something needs to be done.
2005Apr 08
Windstar GL V6 3.8L
- Automatic transmission
- 100,500 miles
The thing just seized! Of course it had just come off of warranty!!! The transmission practically fell out of the car!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2006Jul 20
(reported on)Windstar
- 50,000 miles
Left stranded when transmission would not shift out of reverse. Had to be towed and have transmission rebuilt. Pretty pathetic for only having 50K miles!
2006Sep 17
(reported on)Windstar LE
- 89,000 miles
first when we turn left, no windshield wipers, then the right passenger window stopped going up or down. Everytime car wuld run, I would feel extreme heat coming from under the car if I was standing outside it. Very hot. It has gone through 3 batteries... totally drained them. We ended up keeping a spare battery in car just in case. Then, the grand finale was a month ago when we were driving. I stopped at a stop sign in town. Proceeded to go through it and the car made a noise like I was revving it and then I had to drive and shift to 2nd and couldn't go more than 25-30 mph. Sometimes it would go as high as 35, but no much. You also have to keep your foot on the gas to keep it going.
2007Apr 27
(reported on)Windstar Northwoods 3.8L
- Automatic transmission
- 85,000 miles
I bought a 1998 Ford Windstar (Northwoods) mid January 2007. Within 3 weeks of ownership the transmission went out. I had it rebuilt which cost $950 + $80 towing expenses. From what I understand my trans job was cheap compared to a lot of other transmission places. Two weeks later, what I thought was the transmission slipping again, turned out to be the speed sensor needed replacing. The repairs were $125 + $80 towing expenses. About 4 weeks later the axles on the front wheels went bad. That cost $250 + $80 towing expenses. It was during this repair my mechanic said the bearings were going. If I got that done it was going to be about $250 for each wheel. Before buying this vehicle I did a carfax, had a mechanic do a quick look through, and even talked to the previous owner. I did everything right before buying this car. But it all comes down to this...
1998 Ford Windstars SUCK! The transmission owner suggested I get rid of the van because due to recent history the Windstar was going to suck the life right out of me and my bank balance.
2007Aug 03
(reported on)Windstar GL V6
- Automatic transmission
- 72,000 miles
no prior warning of any trans problem. Leaving for Fla. from Pa. and Had dealer service and inspect trans as a precaution, 3 days before leaving for Fla... 1000 miles to Fla. no problem. After 3 days in Fla. and another 30 miles , trans slipped as i made a right turn. Next day called an orlando dealer who told me to drive it in to check it out. Drove 2 miles and no forward or reverse gears. Called and towed to dealer. Told me it looks like an explosion. Even took out speedometer cable etc. Total over $2800.00. Orlando dealer says " off the record" I should talk to the dealer who just serviced it before leaving for vacation, not a normal trans failure..... TS from York dealer !!!
We have partnered with JustAnswer to offer online auto repair help and advice from expert professional automotive technicians. You describe your transmission problem or ask your question and they try to help you figure it out. The fee is typically $9 to $15, but you can offer to pay more for really tough questions. You will usually receive an answer in 10 minutes or less, and you do not have to pay anything unless you accept the answer.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2009Aug 11
Windstar GL 3.8L
Previously had the car checked the weeks before by a mechanic for any codes / issues and it came back fine. Within in a week started hearing a "clunk" under the car when stopping and cornering and thought it might be shocks. Another week later started seeing Transmission fluid in the garage, my heart dropped. Within 2 days, sitting at the stop light in my subdivision, the transmission literally "dropped". Spilled fluid all over the ground. So @ 107,000 the transmission "fell out" of the car. Never hit the ground but it disconnected from the drive train. I have never in my life, with owning over a dozen vehicles even HEARD of such a thing. If you hear a clunk DON'T drive it anymore get it immediately to a mechanic (My 1st Mistake) and if you see transmission fluid (or any fluids) on the ground (My 2nd mistake) get it to a mechanic. It isn't unusual for me to get 200,000 miles on a car before letting it go, but every American made car I have had has been a pure nightmare. My Mazda5 ( Japanese made) has been the best car I have ever had. I leave the state several times a month and it is the only one I know of I can trust. Back to the windstar, the car in total is only worth $2500 so do I even attempt to get it fixed? I am stuck between a rock and a hard place, car just sitting in my driveway.
Vesey W.
Lithonia, GA, USA
SEND A COMMENT »