10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
5 / 5
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
14,803 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

1998 Ford Windstar transmission problems

transmission problem

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1998 Ford Windstar Owner Comments (Page 11 of 13)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #55

Aug 161999

(reported on)

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

After putting car into reverse, vehicle went forward into drive. Dealer has not seen vehicle.

- Schaumburg, IL, USA

problem #54

Jul 151999

Windstar

  • miles
Transmission was stuck in second gear and would not shift to drive. This caused a near collision with traffic because of lack of available power while merging into interstate traffic. Prior to and still ongoing is the transmissions tendency to kick or slip.Ford refuses to aknowledge any inherent transmission problems with the Ford Windstar and has not offered a remedy to current problems.

- Fairhope, AL, USA

problem #53

Jul 261999

(reported on)

Windstar

  • miles
Appears to have a connection with the transmission. While driving at speeds ranging from 25 mph to 45 mph, the vehicle repeatedly has downshifted, thus decreasing speed of vehicle without any warning. Sometimes the vehicle will engage and disengage from transmission several times. Also, the speedometer drops to zero. The reported dealer has had my vehicle in for more than a week with no results. I have also driven vehicle with attached "flight recorder" from shop. I made several readings but know the shop says there is a problem with their equipment (that was 1 week ago today). Although the shop keeps my vehicle and I have described the symptoms several times, they claim they have no idea what it could be. I am very concerned for the safety of using this vehicle. If you need more information, please call me. Thank you.

- Fairfax, VA, USA

problem #52

Jul 031999

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Transmission seems to "stick" in nuetral and then violently shifts into 1st. Intermittent problem. Vehicle taken to dealer 2 times. Both times dealer says nothing is wrong!!

- Fairfax, VA, USA

problem #51

Jun 171999

Windstar

  • miles
At take-off from stop light, transmission failed with no warning. Put into neutral, and got stutter and grind from transaxle. Shop informed me that the planetary gears had disintergrated. I believe this to be a manufacturing problem or defect with the Ford 3.8L/axod combo, as these types of problems date back to 1988 and the Taurus/Sable compatible assemblies.

- Newtown Square, PA, USA

problem #50

Aug 011998

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission failed. Nlm

- Long Beach, CA, USA

problem #49

Feb 011998

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Transmission failed. Nlm

- Redondo Be, CA, USA

problem #48

Jun 141999

(reported on)

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving transmission slipped from drive into neutral without notice. Consumer was unaware and still applying gas when it jumped back into gear very hard, causing whiplash. Dealer has been contacted.

- West Islip, NY, USA

problem #47

Oct 011998

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission failed. Mjs

- Laguna Nig, CA, USA

problem #46

Aug 011998

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission modulator valve failed. Mjs

- Grover Cit, CA, USA

problem #45

Jun 011999

Windstar

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

On several occasions transmission slipped into neutral while at a stop. In this instance, transmission slipped into neutral while driving at approximately 35 M.P.H., causing definite safety hazard on a state route.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #44

Jun 011999

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The transmission jumps stongly when accelerating and breaking at slow speeds, have taken to dealer twice. Both times they say it drives fine but that Ford knows of problem on Windstar transmissions and are working on a solution. I asked dealer what I was supposed to do in the meantime and he said wait. I am concerned with safety, and that this jumping will cause other problems in the engine. I told service manager this at dealer and he said hopefully Ford will recall before something else happens to my engine.

- West Chester, OH, USA

problem #43

Oct 171998

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission lunges forward at low speeds.

- Manville, NJ, USA

problem #42

Feb 011999

(reported on)

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission failed. Mjs

- Littlerock, CA, USA

problem #41

May 251999

(reported on)

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
When starting out vehicle will pulsate. Feels like it will not catch gears.

- Lordsburg, NM, USA

problem #40

May 111999

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Vehicle jumps out of gear between 1st and 2nd gear. Dealer has been notified.

- Granit Falls, NC, USA

problem #39

May 031999

Windstar

  • miles
Prior to the total failure, there was no indication that the component was having problems or about to fail.

- Lawrenceville, GA, USA

problem #38

Apr 301999

(reported on)

Windstar

  • miles
Dealership installed another transmission at 7,000 miles because of our repeated complaints about the bucking sensation/the vehicle is still bucking/other problems developed such as the lunching forward in second gear, shifting into gear began to produce a grinding noiseand a very obvious vibration in the steering wheel has developed/Ford keeps ignoring us after our repeatedly contacting them/we have now filed under the lemon law in the state of Connecticut/ we have been treated very shabbily by Ford !

- Jewett City, CT, USA

problem #37

Dec 011998

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission downshifted while going 60-65 mph.

- Westport, MA, USA

problem #36

Apr 191999

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
In December 98, consumer experienced transmission being in neutral condition after coming to a stop. Dealer could not dupplicate problem. Also, on April 19, 99, consumer experienced the same problem. Found bulletin #972213, dated 97 which dealt with the same problem.

- Mc Kienny, TX, USA

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