This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
ABS light is on continuously. Overdrive jumping in and out of gear after driving it 30 minutes or more. I read the recall and safety report that brake fluid leaks on the ABS switch connected to the master cylinder which can cause a catastrophic fire. I didn't receive anything in the mail from Ford on my vehicle on this problem as of yet. Also the coolant line that ran under port injection was welded leaking water where it connects to the thermostat housing.
The contact owns a 1999 Ford Windstar. While driving approximately 60 mph, the vehicle began decelerating and losing power. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the technician advised that the transmission seal had failed and caused transmission fluid to leak when the temperature of the vehicle increased. The technician also advised that the transmission would need to be replaced. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the transmission was replaced. The approximate failure mileage was 45,000.
1999 Ford Windstar. Consumer writes to express discontent regarding Ford Motor Company the consumer stated the vehicle had transmission and engine problems. Also, the vehicle failed inspection, due to a rusted subframe. Ford offered to buy the vehicle back from the consumer.
1999 Ford Windstar. Consumer states while stopped at a traffic light there was a sudden loud noise like an explosion and then vehicle lost power and she barely got through the traffic light the consumer had the vehicle to towed to the dealer where they informed her the transmission needed to be replaced.
The contact owns a 1999 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the transmission slipped and the check engine light was illuminated. The failure had been occurring since October 2010. The vehicle also stalled when the failure occurred. The vehicle was taken to a local repair shop where the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000 and the current mileage was approximately 126,000.
- Newark, NJ, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
I have a Ford Windstar year 1999. About two weeks ago the two brake lights went on, I had a fuse # 10 blown and a non working speedometer dial.( the cruise control has three months that is not working) I did take a look at the owner's manual. In the manual I read that reason for the break light to come on was the lower level of brake fluid in the reservoir and so it was. I added some brake fluid and the light was off. In the mean time I did checked the fuse panel and I found this fuse #10 was blown and I replaced it, but half an hour later I got a blown fuse again. Also the ABS light was on and so I decided to see a mechanic. I did go to a repair shop and I was told that my van has a serious problem. Scds under the master cylinder has developed a bad leak. The scds switch is leaking and that may cause a fire sooner or later. This leak has caused a short and a fuse trip #10 this break fluid leak has wicked down the wires to the ABS module. I was told that this leaky switch has caused all the problem in my van. Speedometer, cruise control and ABS brake system are not working. I was told that there may be a recall on this problems. I do not knowany thing about it. I know that it was a recall issued on August 27,2010 in regard with rear axel. I never got any notice from Ford co. I had a broken rear axel on March 2010 and I was saved by good luck. I paid a lot of money to fix it. Ford did not pay a dime for this problem. Ford never sends me any recall notices. I'm never going to buy Ford cars again.
Transmission bangs hard from 1st to 2nd gear and overdrive light comes on saying od is off. This started a few months after I bought it in late 2001;it was fixed by the dealer. It started again in early 2006. Miller Ford refused to do anything about it. It was just out side of my 4 year warranty but still within the mileage. (79,000). I took it back again in 2008. They still wouldn't do anything for me. Took it 2009 they looked at it, charged me $400 dollars and said I needed a new radiator and transmission. Oh well. No more Ford.
1999 Ford Windstar van. Consumer states problem with front end shudders on acceleration, sometimes doesn't move at all when gas is pressed the consumer stated she took the vehicle to the dealer for a recall and shortly thereafter, problems developed. Four days later, the dealer informed the consumer the vehicle needed a new transmission.
1999 Ford Windstar experienced a sudden transmission failure at 114,000 miles despite having absolutely no prior issues of this nature. I was at a red light approximately 1/4 mile from the on-ramp of I-25 when the vehicle shuddered and jerked before accelerating; after pulling over to check for damage (as I was sure I had hit/run over something), I found nothing unusual and proceeded onto the interstate. The vehicle operated normally for approximately 25 miles at freeway speed until I was stopped at a red light. Upon trying to accelerate, the engine would only rev regardless of the gear I used, at which time I contacted an automotive shop to tow the vehicle. Currently, I am awaiting a call from the shop after their full diagnosis, which I will update this complaint. A sudden problem of this magnitude is perplexing as well as potentially costly. After reading pages of complaints similar to mine, I have no doubt that the high(er) mileage of my vehicle at the time of this incident speaks to the level of regular maintenance I have provided. Please consider seriously investigating the numerous complaints similar to mine before a life is taken as a result.
Sudden loss of power being transmitted from the engine to the wheels (later determined to be a failed torque converter that also destroyed the transmission).
ABS light, O/D light in dashboard coming on. When vehicle purchased as used car these items showed up on the drive home after purchase. Veh has been in to Ford dealership garage 4 times. Brakes were working fine at that time. 3 months later brake light come on. Check and find that brake fluid is leaking from multiple locations. One being the brake pressure differential deactivation switch (2B264) located under the master cylinder. Upon removing this plug I found brake fluid in the connection. Looking below I found brake fluid on the wiring harness below the switch and on the metal panel, where it had actually began to rust. Believe this harness is the power steering wiring. Brake pedal in cab now goes to the floor before brakes are applied. There is a hissing sound when this is done. Believe that the master cylinder is leaking fluid into the brake booster as well and has destroyed the gasket in there as well. This happened while my wife was driving. Thankfully all of this happened without causing an accident considering I Transport my 3 children and wife in this van.
1999 Ford Windstar 3.8L V6 99K miles driving to work transmission stopped working to make the vehicle move forward. It only would work in reverse. This is a common problem with Windstar please reference this website www.carcomplaints.com/Ford/Windstar/2000/transmission/.
Pulled up to an intersection, put the van into park, got out to close the rear hatch. Got back into the van put it into drive and I heard a loud thunk and the van rolled into traffic. I hurried up and put it into reverse and thank god it worked. I was almost hit by another car moving at about 50 miles per hour. The shop that's rebuilding the transmission said that the (sungear) welds had broke and that they had repaired several Ford Windstar with the same problem of broken welds on the sungear. It seems that Ford has known about the problems with their transmissions, but have not offered any recalls for their defects of these bad welds on the sungears or the other defects in their transmissions.
The contact owns a 1999 Ford Windstar. The overdrive light illuminated at random in the vehicle. The contact would have to restart the vehicle in order for the light to dim. Once the vehicle was restarted, the light would remain off for 4-5 miles before illuminating again. The contact noticed that the rear hatch was open, so he exited the vehicle to shut the hatch. Once he got back in the vehicle, he placed the gear into drive, but the vehicle did not move. The vehicle made a loud clunking noise that never occurred in the past. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and a mechanic rebuilt the transmission. The mechanic stated that the sun gear wells in the transmission became detached, which caused the transmission to fail. The vehicle is currently being repaired. The contact believes that the failure was due to a manufacturer defect. The current and failure mileages were 144,000.
I was in my garage. I placed the Windstar in park. I left the engine running, opened my door and walked to the back of the van. I heard a clunk which apparently was the transmission shifting into reverse. The van immediately took off and the door caught me and slammed me into the garage wall and broke backwards. It drug me out the garage and I fell off. The van then proceeded down the driveway across the street. It damaged the neighbors yard, mail box, cable box and shrubs. It slowed on a berm and I was able to jump in and stop it. I moved it from reverse to park, turned off the engine and went to the emergency room with bruises and sprained wrists.
Transmission shifts hard from 1st gear to 2nd gear. Transmission downsihfts hard to 1st gear at times. Problem has continued to get worse over time. At first just a little bump feeling but after about 40,000 miles got worse and now at 150,000 car is not drivable. Problem occurs almost all the time, 95% or more of the shifts. Transmission has been serviced with filter and fluid change every 30, 000 miles but the problem does not go away. Will try a neutral safety switch but may have to replace the transmission if that does not clear up the problem because it currently is not safe to drive.
I have a 1999 Ford Windstar XL. And the O/D light flashes on and off when I put my feet on the gas and it cause the van to shift in gear very hard. And when I get over 55 miles per hour it also does the same thing. It happens everyday. The van goes into gear very hard and it is hard for it to pick up speed when I take off. It stalls.
There have been no problems with the van since purchase, but then randomly while driving home from work the od light started flashing. The transmission seems fine, shifts a little roughly into first gear, but all other parts are fine. I have had the transmission serviced, and the light still flashes.
Complete transmission failure at high speed on highway. Sudden hot smell coming from vehicle. Pulled off highway under power, no appearance of smoke, fluid, or other issue. Attempted to re-enter highway and found that vehicle would go forward with selector in "N"-no other gear positions worked. Vehicle moved to safety off highway (Ford dealership). Complete transmission failure after moving to dealership. Note: This is the second transmission failure in this vehicle. Original transmission was replaced in 2001 with Ford rebuilt trans by Ford dealership.
I have a 1999 Ford Windstar minivan with just over 68K miles. I have just recently been told that my Windstar is in need of a new transmission. I have had it in and out of the shop over the last 3 months. I have spent close to $1000 in repairs and now my transmission just drops. Why do I have to replace a transmission in a vehicle with less than 100K miles? I have heard from several people that this is common in this type of vehicle and I want to know what Ford is going to do about this. I am not happy!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Uniontown, AL, USA