1995 Ford Windstar complaints

TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEARS, WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP & TRANSMISSION SHOP THAT THIS WAS QUITE COMMON ON THE WINDSTAR TRANSMISSION AND THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. THEY STATED AMONG OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS THAT THERE IS AN ALUMINIUM CYLINDER THAT ALWAYS GOES BAD AND THAT THEY ARE REPLACED WITH STEEL NOW. I ALSO HAVE TWO FRIENDS WITH WINDSTARS HAVING THE SAME TROUBLE. (PLUS I SEE MANY OTHERS ON THE WEB WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS!)

SAME PROBLEM EXISTS ON MY 1994 FORD TAURUS, VIN# [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TRANSMISSION WOULD STICK. COULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANOTHER GEAR. HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. TOOK TO DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED. *AK

SECOND GEAR FAILED. FIRST GEAR PERFORMED FINE BUT THE SHIFT INTO SECOND RESULTED IN HIGH ENGINE RPM AND NO TRANSFER OF POWER TO WHEELS. THIRD AND FOURTH GEAR WORKED. $1,700 IN REPAIRS TO REBUILD ELECTRONIC OVERDRIVE TRANS AXLE AND TORQUE CONVERTOR. *MJS

TIMING COVER GASKET FAILED. YH

AFTER HEAD GASKET REPL. IT RACED, JERKED, CUT-OUT, AND SHOOK. DEALER "RETORQUED" MOUNTS. NEXT DAY, PUT IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF PARKING SPACE, ENGINE RACED, CLUNKED, AND ACCELLERATED, IN REVERSE, TO 45 MPH PLOWING CAR THROUGH BRICK WALL IN RESIDENCE TOTALLING CAR, MAJOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO HOUSE, ONE INJURY TO DRIVER.

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE WINDSTAR FELT AS THOUGH IT WAS COMPLETELY DOWNSHIFTING. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE AT A HIGH SPEED. ONCE THE VAN WAS TURNED OFF IT WOULD NOT MOVE. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE PLANETARY ASSEMBLY IN THE TRANSMISSION EXPLODED. THE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. *AK

IE98080, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SMOKE COMING INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND OVERHEATING DUE TO THE OIL COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, DUE TO BLOWN HEAD GASKET. ALSO KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH ALUMINUM FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO SLIP INTO HIGH GEAR AT HIGH RPMS, WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *AK

FRIDAY, 12/4/98, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO WORK THROUGH EAST BALTIMORE TO JOHNS HOPKINS HOSPITAL, WHEN SHE NOTICED POOR POWER ON ACCELERATION AND THE HEAT GAUGE MAXED-OUT. SHE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE THE REMAINING 10 BLOCKS TO HOPKINS (SINCE THE AREA WHERE SHE WAS DRIVING IS FAMOUS FOR SHOOTINGS, RAPES, AND MURDERS). I TOOK OFF WORK TO ASSESS THE PROBLEM AND TO GIVE HER A RIDE HOME.

THE PART FAILURE RATE IS BECOMING ALARMING

BRAKE LINE RUPTURED, CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK FROM THE BRAKE LINE, RESULTING IN COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING ERRATIC OPERATION OF VEHICLE TRANSMSSION WHILE DRIVING; VEHICLE WOULD SLIP OUT GEAR. *AK *NLM

BOB KEIM REPLACE CONTROL ARM / SPINDLE ASSEMBLY FIRST WEEK OF JAN. 1998. THIS WAS COVERED UNDER FORD 3 YEAR 36 MONTH WARRANTY. BOB KEIM WOULD NOT REPLACE TRANSMISSION AS 36 MONTH WARRANTY EXPIRED APRIL 3RD WHICH WAS THE DATE THAT VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PUT INTO SERVICE. AMCO COMPLETELY REBUILD TRANSMISSION FOR ME 5/15/98 AT A COST OF $1,958.99

ENGINE OVERHEATED DUE TO BLOWN HEAD GASKET.

NO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT SUCH A LOW ORIGINAL MILAGE. HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS

WE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION IN JULY ON A TRIP FROM TX TO CT WROTE LETTER TO FORD TO WHICH THEY DID NOT RESPOND. PRIOR TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE WROTE A SECOND FOLLOWUP LETTER ADVISING THEM OF THEIR LACK OF RESPONSE OR INTEREST TO MY FIRST LETTER. WHEN THIS TRANSMISSON BLEW, THE HGWY WHERE MY FAMILY WAS PARKED ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD PRESSED UP AGAINST A GUARD RAIL - ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD WERE WE UNINJURED. THE AVERAGE SPEED OF TRAFFICE GOING BY US WS 70MPH

TOOK VAN TO DEALER 9/17/98 BECAUSE AFTER STOPPING, VEHICLE HESITATED BEFORE IT KICKED INTO GEAR. DEALER FOUND NOTHING, CHARGED $98 FOR TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGE. STILL DIDN'T WORK RIGHT. ON NOV. 18, DRIVING IT AND LOST USE OF REVERSE COMPLETELY. DROPPED IT OFF AT DEALER. SAID TRANSMISSION NEEDS $1,325 REPAIR. FORD AGREED TO PAY $900. NOT HAPPY, BUT NO ALTERNATIVE. STILL WAITING FOR CAR TO BE FIXED TWO AND A HALF WEEKS LATER. NO LOANER CAR GIVEN EITHER.

PROBLEM IS WITH THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP. VEHICLE BEGINS MOVING IN FIRST GEAR AND THEN REVS UP TO A POINT HIGHER THAN WHEN IT SHOULD SLIP INTO SECOND GEAR. THEN, SUDDENLY, THE GEAR WILL CATCH AND THE VEHICLE WILL LURCH FORWARD. I NOTICED THE PROBLEM AND TOOK IT TO THE SHOP WHERE THEY SAY THE TRANSMISSION IS IN BAD SHAPE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. A SCAN OF THE WWW SHOWS SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO OWN THIS SAME MINIVAN HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. ONE CAN IMAGINE A POTENTIAL PROBLEM WHERE YOU GO TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY ACROSS A HIGH SPEED DIVIDED HIGHWAY BUT ONLY MAKE IT HALF-WAY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND YOU STOP, OR IT CATCHES AND SHOOTS YOU OUT INTO TRAFFIC. THERE SEEMS TO BE A GROWING NUMBER OF OWNERS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION, PERHAPS IT NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH BEFORE A TRAGEDY OCCURS. THANK YOU.

WE CURRENTLY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION,WHEN DRIVING THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT COMES ON AND IT SHIFTS HARD GOING AT ALL SPEEDS INCLUDING ABOUT 30 MPH. IT FEELS AT TIMES THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO FALL OUT.

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY. AFTER TURNING VEHICLE OFF, NOTICED THAT HOOD WAS SMOKING AND VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY EXTINGUISHERS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME TO SCENE, AND SUGGESTED THAT THE FIRE CAME FROM THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

THIS VEHICLE HAS ALSO HAD NUMEROUS BRAKE ROTARS/PADS/DRUMS REPLACEMENT. THE HEAD GASKET "BLEW" AT 72-74000 MILES. FORD COVERED THE REPAIR FOR THIS AT NO COST TO US. I FEEL THEY SHOULD ALSO COVER THE REPAIRS FOR THE TRANSMISSION. THEY KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSIONS IN NOVEMBER 1994 RIGHT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RELEASED FOR SALE.

TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE - DEFECT WAS ALUMINUM FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON CRACKED.

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH HEAD GASKETS. THE CONSUMER HAD TROUBLE STARTING THE CAR. WHEN PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, NOTICED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING AND THE TAIL PIPE STARTED SMOKING. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED TO OPERATE AT 53000 MILES OF WEAR. CONSUMER LEARNED OF OTHER CONSUMERS HAVING THIS SAME CONDITION, AND BELIEVED THIS IS A CONDITION CONCERNING A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. *AK

ENIGINE MOTOR BLOWER FAN HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES FOR A TICKING SOUND THAT IT STILLS MAKES. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

IE98080, THE DEFECTIVE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS ARE CAUSING THE COOLANT TO LEAK WHICH MAY CAUSE A FIRE. DEALER REPLACED HEAD GASKETS 2 TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHEN STOPPING FOR A STOP SIGN, THEN WHEN CONSUMER TRIED TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. CONSUMER SAID THAT TRANSMISSION JUMPED OUT OF GEAR, THEN BACK IN GEAR WITHOUT A REASON. DEALER IS WORKING ON VEHICLE RIGHT NOW. *AK

I WAS INFORMED BY RAMP FORD IN NY THAT THE HEAD GASKETS NEEDED REPLACEMENT - THIS WAS DONE NO CHARGE . BUT THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE TIMING CASE COVER GASKET WAS LEAKING AND SHOULD BE REPLACED . I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS PART IS COVERED BY A RECALL .

IE 98 080;TIMING GASKET IS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE, CAUSING THE HEADGASKETS TO FAIL. DEALER ARE AWARE OF DEFECT. *AK

CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO BLOWN HEAD GASKET. FORD IS AWARE OF THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE BUT IS PROVIDING NO ASSISTANCE. I WAS CAUGHT IN HEAVY, FAST MOVING TRAFFIC WHEN GASKET BLEW ENDANGERING ME AND MY TWO CHILDREN. NOW I FIND FORD IS AND HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE PROBLEM FOR YEARS. ISN'T IT TIME FOR NHTSA TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS? IT BECAME A SAFTEY ISSUE FOR ME WHEN MY CHILDREN WERE PUT AT RISK!

ON NOV. 7, 1998 I WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON I-4, JUST NORTH OF ORLANDO FLA. I WAS IN THE LEFT (FAST) LANE, DOING BETWEEN 60 AND 65 MPH. WHEN THE RIGHT (DOOR) REAR VIEW MIRROR BROKE LOOSE OF ITS BACKING AND SAILED BACK INTO TRAFFIC. AS IT SAILED AWAY, IT STRUCK THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR OF MY MINI-VAN IN THREE PLACES, GOUGING THE PAINT DOWN TO BARE METAL. I DID NOT SEE WHERE THIS MIRROR (LENS) CAME TO REST. I LAST SAW IT SAILING ABOUT 3 OR 4 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND INTO THE PATH OF THE VEHICLES FOLLOWING ME. I KNOW THAT IF IT HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE PAINT, GLASS, AND/OR SHEET METAL OF THE VEHICLE IT HIT.

FRONT CALIPERS LOCKED UP, DESTROYING ROTORS AND PADS. DEALERS REPLACED CALIPERS/PADS AND ROTORS. 13,000 MILES, LATER DEFECT REOCCURRED.DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE DEFECT. *AK

THE ALUMINUM PISTON IN THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR CRACKED, CAUSING VERY UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. WHEN THE GAS IS APPLIED AFTER A STOP, THERE IS A 1-2 SECOND DELAY, THEN THE VAN LURCHES FORWARD SUDDENLY. THE ALUMINUM PISTON APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN DEFECT; APPARENTLY FORD STARTED PUTTING STEEL PISTONS IN THE TRANSMISSIONS DURING THE 1996 MODEL YEAR.

CAR IS GETTING INCREASINGLY MORE DIFFICULT TO PUT INTO GEAR. LOCKS INTO PARK. HAVE TRIED WORKING BRAKE, TILTING STEERING COLUMN, BUCKLE SEAT BELT, ETC. SEEMS TO LOCK UP IN THE COLUMN. CAN HEAR AN AUDIBLE CLICK WHEN IT FINALLY RELEASES..USUALLY ABOUT 5 TO 10 MINUTES AFTER PLAYING WITH IT. HAVE SEARCHED THE WEB TO SEE IF ANY PRIOR RECALLS ON THIS PROBLEM AS I HAVE MANY FRIENDS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH WINDSTARS. (MILEAGE NOT ORIGINAL...HAD DASH REPLACED BY FORD'S FOR A FAULTY TEMPERATURE GAUGE) APPROXIMATELY 60,000 ORIG MILES.

THERE IS A GROWING LIST OF '95-'98 WINDSTAR OWNERS EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THIS MANIFESTS ITSELF ANYWHERE FROM TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE TO COMPLETE FAILURE. FORD CONTINUALLY DENIES A COMMON DEFECT THAT WOULD WARRANT A RECALL. IN ADDITION, THESE FAILURES ARE EXPENSIVE, RANGING IN REPAIR BILLS FROM $1500 - $2000.

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITHIN 53000 MILESS. CONSUMER HAD TO RELACE TRANSMISSION TWICE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE GEARS TO BURN OUT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMAITON. *AK

FORD IS AWARE THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS $15.00 PART AND THEY CHOOSE TO SOAK THEIR CUSTOMERS FOR $1,700.00 FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE PART. THE ALUMINUM PISTON IS CRACKING OR SHEARING OFF COUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THIS IS THEIR PART & THEIR PROBLEM TO FIX NOT THE CUSTOMERS!

THIS IS AN ISSUE RELATED TO THE PAST, IS CURRENT FOR ME AND MAY BE IMPORTANT IN THE FUTURE. I BROUGHT MY VAN TO APPLE FORD BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING ERRATICALLY AND BANGING INTO GEAR. THEY 'REPROGRAMMED' IT, I WAS TOLD. IT WAS OK FOR A WEEK OR TWO AND THEN IT STARTED TO 'BUCK OR BUMP' WHEN I CAME TO A STOP. I BROUGHT IT THEN TO MILLER FORD TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AS MY PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE AT APPLE WAS NOT A GOOD ONE. MILLER TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE SYMPTOM. I TAKE IT BACK. MY WIFE, THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE TELLS ME THAT ITS DOING IT AGAIN AND WORSE. SHE REPORTED TO ME THAT IT ACTUALLY 'CHIRPED THE TIRES, UPON STOPPING AND SHE HAD TO HOLD THE BRAKE. I CALLED MILLER AGAIN AND I AM CURRENTLY WAITING FOR AN APPOINTMENT. I DROVE THE CAR MYSELF A FEW TIMES AND WHAT I HAVE DETERMINED IS THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS HANGING UP IN SECOND GEAR AND JUMPS INTO FIRST ON A QUICK STOP. THE LAST TIME I CHECKED IT, IT JUMPED INTO FIRST GEAR SO HARD THE IT PUSHED THE VAN FORWARD. IF I HAD NOT HELD THE BRAKE, I WOULD HAVE HIT THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME. IT ACTUALLY FELT LIKE THE CAR ACCELERATED. PERHAPS IT FOOLED THE COMPUTER? I AM ASE CERTIFIED AND I KNOW CARS QUITE WELL. PERHAPS THIS IS WHAT CREATED THE AUDI PROBLEM AND NOT THE ACCELERATION OF THE ENGINE? WHAT HAPPENS IS THIS-YOU COME TO A QUICK STOP AND THE VEHICLE COMES TO REST, ABOUT 3-4 SECONDS AFTER THE STOP THE TRANS DOWNSHIFTS AND LUNGES FORWARD. AT A STOP, YOUR FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE. IF YOU STOP THEN RELESE THE

WHILE TRYING TO PULL OFF FROM A PARKING SPACE THE TRANSMISSION WON'T GO INTO GEAR OR IT JUST SLIPS OUT OF GEAR ALTOGETHER. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AND COMING TO A STOP AND APPYING THE GAS PEDAL, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND TOOK OFF. THE ALUMINUM PISTON WENT BAD, AND THE KENNEDY TRANSMISSION IT WITH A STEEL PISTION, AND THE SHIFTING WASN'T ACTING PROPERLY. *AK

WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A COOMON PROBLEM.THAT THE ALUMINUM PISTON WAS NOT DESIGNED RIGHT AND IT CRACKS.WHICH CAUSES THE VAN TO BUCK IN NOT SHIFT AS YOU PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC CUSING THE VAN TO BE A HAZZARD.WE HAVE BEEN TOLD A NEW STEEL PISTON HAS BEEN DESIGN NOT TO CRACK WITH WEAR.IF FORD DESIGNED IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME,I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM.

PASSENGER'S SIDE SLIDING DOOR IS UNABLE TO BE OPENED ON EITHER SIDE OF VEHICLE, AND THE INSIDE HANDLE CAME OFF. DOOR HANDLE MECHANISM REPLACED 3 TIMES BY DEALER. ALSO HAD TO HAVE DRIVING GEAR REPLACED. *AK *ML

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR REVERSE AND DRIVE GEARS. WHEN THEY PUTTING VEHICLE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE, VEHICLE FAILS TO MOVE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

ONE MONTH AGO I REPLACED THE BRAKE SYSTEM FOR $520.00 AND NOW MY TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

SUMMARY NOT PROVIDED BY CONSUMER.

TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING BADLY. DEALER CLAIMS IT WAS A SENSOR. JUST HEARD ON THE NEWS FORD WINDSTARS HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH 95 TRANNYS. GOVERNMENT SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR ALL 95 WINDSTARS AND HAVE THE TRANSMISSIONS CHECKED.

TRANSMISSION WAS NOT DOWNSHIFTING COMPLETELY WHEN VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THEN WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED, IT WOULD SUDDENLY SHIFT INTO GEAR, LURCHING FORWARD. THIS HAD HIGH POTENTIAL FOR CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, ESPECIALLY IF THE DRIVER ACCELERATED TOO QUICKLY.

CONSUMER WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. IT HAD NO PRESSURE, CAUSING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TO SLAM INTO GEAR, MAKING A LOUD CLOCKING NOISE. ALSO, THE CAR JERKED DUE TO BAD ENGINE GASKETS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK