1999 Ford Windstar complaints

WHILE DRIVING MY 1999 WINSTAR THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT CAME ON, SO I LOOKED IN MY REARVIEW MIRROR AND SAW SMOKE COMMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. SO, I PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STOP, TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING OUT. MY WINSTAR VAN BROKE DOWN OUT SIDE OF NASHVILLE, TN WITH 70,401 MILES ON IT. THE COSTS AT JOHN BARKER'S TWO RIVERS FORD IN NASHVILLE WAS $2017.81.*AK

MY POWER STEERING JUST RECENTLY STARTED MAKING A GRINDING NOISE AT 64,000 MILES. I NOTICED THAT THE FLUID WAS LOW. I FILLED IT UP AND IT KEEPS LOSING FLUIDI FOUND A SITE ON THE INTERNET WHERE A LOT OF WINSTAR OWNERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME. *AK PROBLEM...PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. SOME REPAIRS ARE OVER $1500.00. THE WEBSITE WHERE YOU CAN VIEW THESE COMPLAINTS IS WWW.CARTRACKERS.COM/FORUMS/LIVE/FORDWINDSTAR/249.HTML. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ALL OF US WINSTAR OWNERS IN GETTING FORD TO REIMBURSE US FOR THE DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING. OBVIOUSLY WITH SO MANY COMPLAINTS, FORD HAS A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT AND THEY NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE!!

THE FRONT SEAT BELTS GET LIGHTLY PINCHED BETWEEN THE INTERIOR DOOR PANELS LOWER STORAGE BIN AND THE CARPET ON THE FLOOR. THIS CAN CAUSE SOMEONE TO THINK THAT THEIR SEAT BELT IS ON CORRECTLY WHEN IN FACT IT IS NOT PROVIDING THEM ANY PROTECTION AT ALL. THE 12-18" OF EXCESS SLACK THAT IS CAUGHT BETWEEN THE INTERIOR DOOR PANEL AND THE CARPET COULD ALLOW A PERSON TO NOT BE SECURED TIGHTLY IN PLACE DURING AN ACCIDENT.*AK

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION AND RACK AND PINION.*MR THE RACK AND PINION TYPE GEAR HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 71,900 MILES. ONE MONTH LATER WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CONSUMER STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A NEAR BY MECHANIC SHOP WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. *JB *NM

WAS DRIVING 40 MPH, THE RIGHT SIDE SLIDING DOOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE DRIVER MANAGED TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF ROAD AND GOT OUT THE OF VEHICLE. ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS PASSING BY AND STOPPED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE . THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH THE SLIDING DOORS. *AK THE FIRE DEPT BELIEVED THE DOOR LOCK MOTOR CAUSED THE FIRE. *JB *NM

HEATER BOX DOOR, PLASTIC? LOCKED IN A/C MODE NO HEAT OR DEFROST CAPABILITY. DEALER SAID NEEDS TO REPLACE BOX TO FIX LITTLE DOOR - PLENUM ? BLEND DOOR / $1000 NEED DEFROST MECHANISM IN NEW ENGLAND FOR COLD WEATHER. FAILURE ON HIGHWAY A DISASTER WAITING TO KILL SOMEONE. *LA

POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHEN IT IS RAINING ON MY 1999 FORD WINDSTAR.*AK

WE BOUGHT OUR 1999 WINDSTAR IN 2002 WITH ONLY 27,000 MILES ON IT; FROM THE BEGINNING THE POWER STEERING WOULD GROAN AND MAKE NOISES. WE COMPLAINED ABOUT IT TO SEVERAL SHOPS, BUT WE WERE ASSURED THAT IT WAS "NORMAL." YESTERDAY THE POWER STEERING NOISE WAS VERY LOUD AND CONSTANT AND THERE WAS DIFFICULTY STEERING. TODAY THE STEERING WENT COMPLETELY OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO WORK. THE REPAIR SHOP SAYS IT IS THE RACK AND PINION. *LA

WE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION ON OUR 99 WINDSTAR 4 WEEKS AGO...TWO DAYS AGO THE POWER STEERING STARTED GRINDING AND WE BROUGHT IT IN FOR REPAIRS...REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP WITHIN 30 MILES OF THE DEALER THE NOISE IN THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK AND AFTER PAYING $800.00 FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP THEY WANT TO NOW CHARGE US $600.00 TO REPLACE THE RACK...IN THE LAST 4 WEEKS THE REPAIRS ON THE WINDSTAR HAVE BEEN OVER $4000.00... THIS ON A VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 70,000 MILES...I HAVE PAGES OF WINDSTAR OWNER COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME NATURE...THE TRANSMISSION AND THE POWER STEERING ON THE WINDSTAR IS FAULTY AND I HOPE FORD LISTENS...THIS WILL BE THE LAST FORD WE PURCHASE! *LA

AFTER ENTERING OUR DRIVEWAY, THE CONNECTING PIECE BETWEEN THE REAR WHEELS BROKE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE TIRES. WITH ONLY 52,000 MILES THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR OUT ON THE HIGHWAY, MAJOR INJURIES AND POSSIBLE DEATHS COULD RESULT. *AKEVERYONE, PLEASE INSPECT YOUR 1999 WINDSTAR.*AK

1999 FORD WINDSTAR. ONLY 60,000 MILES, RACK AND PINION IS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID ON BOTH SIDES. VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX, AND SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING WITH SO FEW MILES ON IT. VEHICLE BECOMES VERY HARD TO STEER, WHEN SITTING AT A STORE AND YOU COME OUT, IT IS HARD TO STEER TO GET IT HOME. *LA

CONSUMER NOTICED ABOUT THREE DAYS AGO THAT THE RIGHT SEAT BELT ON THE MIDDLE BENCH SEAT DID NOT LATCH. THE CONSUMER WILL CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. *AK THE SEAT BELT DID NOT ALWAYS LATCH. THE CONSUMER DID NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO SIT IN THE SEAT. *SCC *JB

CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT SUSPENSION COLLAPSED. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A FAILED COIL SPRING. *JB THE CONSUMER HASN'T RECEIVED A FOLLOWED A UP FROM NHTSA. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT DUE TO THE FAILED COIL SPRING. *SCC *JB

AFTER VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING FOR 20 MINUTES WITH THE ENGINE TURNED OFF, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEALER HAD BEEN CONTACTED. *PH THE CAUSE WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL FAULT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHERE THE CONTROLS WERE FOR THE REAR A/C. POSSIBLE RECALL # 12117. *SCC *JB

THE BRAKE FUILD LEAKED INTO THE WIRING CAUSING THE VEHILCE CONTROLS TO MALFUNCTION. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM

UPON BACKING OUT OF A PARKING LOT AT WORK, THE FRONT LEFT SUSPENSION SPRING ON MY 1999 FORD WINDSTAR MINIVAN (VIN [XXX]) BROKE. I HEARD A NOISE, BUT COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG. I DROVE IT 1 MILE TO WHITCOMB FORD DEALERSHIP, AND THEY REPLACED THE FRONT SPRINGS AND CHARGED ME $332.89. A LOCAL GOODYEAR SERVICE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT LEFT TIRE AT A COST OF $94.11. THE FORD DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT THERE IS A RECALL OUT ON WINDSTARS FOR EXACT THIS PROBLEM, BUT THAT THE MODEL YEAR OF THE RECALL WAS ONLY UP UNTIL 1998 MODELS, NOT 1999. WELL, I'M HERE TO SAY THAT FORD HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH 1999 MODELS, AND THAT I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR FIXING THIS FAILURE. IMAGINE, THE SUSPENSION FAILING ON A FOUR YEAR OLD CAR WITH 62020 MILES... LEMON ALERT! *JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

ONE DAY EVERYTHING WORKED FINE IN THE CAR, NEXT DAY,THE CAR WON'T SHIFT PROPERLY IN ALL GEARS AND SHUDDERS WHILE AT A STOP. TWO DIFFERENT REPAIR PLACES HAVE TOLD ME IT IS DEFINITLY A FAILED TRANSMISSION. I'M CURRENTLY AT 49K MILES ON THE CAR... WAY TOO EARLY FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. ACCORDING TO ALL THE POSTS AT CARTRACKERS.COM, LOTS OF OTHERS HAVE ALSO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH FORD WINSTARS.

TRANSMISSION IN '99 FORD WINDSTAR FAILED AFTER 85,000 MILES

WHILE DRIVING AT 35/40 MPH THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ABS FAILED. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE ABS ENGAGED WITHOUT CAUSE. THE PARTS REPLACED IS UNKNOWN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO APPEARED ON DASH. TS *JB

MY 1999 FORD WINDSTAR WITH 95000 MILES EXPERIENCED COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO THREE NOW UPDATED PROBLEMS THAT FORD DOES NOT WANT TO RECOGNIZE OR BE RESPONSIBLE FOR. THE FIRST IS A SHUDDER DURING THE 1-2 UPSHIFT CAUSED BY A FAULTY SOLENOID WHICH IS NOW UPDATED IN THE REMAN TRANSMISSION. THE SECOND IS A FAULTY TORQUE CONVERTER THAT WAS ALSO AN UPDATED ITEM AND CAUSES MY VAN TO NOT WANT TO SHIFT AT THE APPROPRIATE TIMES. THE THIRD IS SLIPPING WHICH OCCURS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND IS CAUSED DUE TO A FAULTY CLUTCH PISTON WHICH IS ALSO AN UPDATED ITEM IN ALL REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSIONS FOR THAT MAKE AND MODEL. FOR IT TO BE A COINCIDENCE THAT ALL THREE CAUSED PREMATURE TRNSMISSION FAILURE AND ALL THREE ALSO TO BE UPDATES IS UNDENIABLE EVIDENCE THAT THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION WAS NOT ENGINEERED CORRECTLY OR NOT MANUFACTURED CORRECTLY. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED OR BE COVERED BY EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE AFTER READING BULLETINS AND SIMILAR COMPLAINTS IT IS CLEAR THAT FORD KNOW ALL ABOUT THIS AND IS TRYING TO JUST COVER IT UP.

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE REAR PASSENGER AIR CONDITIONER UNIT.*AK

POWER STEERING FLUID IS LEAKING OUT OF RACK ON LEFT SIDE. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 52,950 MILES ON IT. DEALERSHIP STATES THERE ARE NO SERVICE BULLETINS BUT ACCORDING TO THIS WEB SITE THERE ARE. THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD PAY FOR REPAIRS IF THEY HAVE BEEN AWARE THIS IS A PROBLEM. *JB

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE POPPED OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE. NO ONE WAS HURT, DEALER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

THERE IS A "SKIP" IN THE TRANSMISSION THAT IS A HARD THUD WHEN IT HAPPENS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, AFTER SEVERAL DAYS AND OVER 100 MILES THEY "FOUND" THE PROBLEM AND FIXED IT. IT STARTED TO DO IT AGAIN ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER. I JUST RECENTLY TOOK IT IN FOR THE CONSOLE LIGHTS FLICKERING WHEN ACCELERATING AND TOLD THEM AGAIN ABOUT THE "THUMPING". THEY CHARGED ME FOR THE DIAGNOSES OF THERE'S NOTHING WRONG, IT'S THE A/C COMPRESSOR THAT RUNS ALL THE TIME. ALSO THE BRAKES SQUEAK HORRIBLY WHEN YOU FIRST START OUT WITH IT FOR THE DAY. THEY SAID THE BRAKES RUST AND THERE WASN'T ANYTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT, THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT GOES. THE DATE I'M USING IS AN ESTIMATED DATE OF WHEN THINGS FIRST OCCURRED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH FRONT RIGHT TIRE HAD SIDEWALL SEPARATION WHICH CAUSED A TIRE BLOWOUT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.TIRE SIZE 32560R16.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, LOST THE RACK AND PINION STEERING CONTROL ON MY 1999 WINDSTAR VAN. ONLY 31,000 MILES ON THE VAN EVEN THOUGH IT IS 4 YEARS OLD. *AK

1999 FORDWINDSTAR STEERING RACK REPLACED AT 62000 MILES, TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 75000 MILES AND INTAKE GASKET RPLACED AT 75000 MILES. *AK

1999 FORD WINDSTAR, WITH 58,000 MILES LEAKS POWER STEERING FLUID OUT OF LEFT RACK. DEALER SAYS COMMON PROBLEM WITH RACK AND PINION. MAKES GRINDING AND SQUEALING SOUND , CONSTANT LOSS OF FLUID.*AK

THE FRONT COIL SPRING OF THE OUR 1999 FORD WINDSTAR SUDDENLY BROKE AND PUNCTURED OUR FRONT TIRE. FORTUNATELY WE WERE TRAVELING AT ONLY 20 MPH SO THAT WE WERE ABLE TO COME TO A STOP SAFELY, WITHOUT INJURY OR ACCIDENT, HOWEVER AS WE HAD JUST TRAVELED FROM MI TO NY ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS, IF THIS HAD OCCURED JUST A SHORT TIME EARLIER, THE INCIDENT COULD HAVE ENDED IN CATASTROPHY FOR MYSELF AND MY FAMILY.*AK

1999 WINDSTAR SE - STEERING PROBLEMS, REPLACED STEERING "RACK" IN MARCH 2003, IS ALREADY GOING OUT AGAIN. REPUTATION OF BAD "RACKS", SO BAD OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER KEEPS THEM IN STOCK. ABOUT 52,000 MILES.*AK

THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR OVER A YEAR, VERY SHORTLY AFTER MY LAST FUEL EMISSIONS TEST IN 2002. DESPITE NUMEROUS CHECKS BY MY MECHANIC, WHICH DETECTS NO FUEL EMISSIONS PROBLEMS, THE INDICATOR LIGHT STAYS ON. AFTER EACH INSPECTION BY MY MECHANIC, THE LIGHT TURNS OFF TEMPORARILY, (1 OR SO WEEKS), AND THEN RELIGHTS. WE HAVE THUS FAILED THE MD STATE EMISSIONS TEST (WITHOUT BEING TESTED BY THEM) DUE TO THIS CHRONIC LIGHT PROBLEM. MY BROTHER-IN-LAW HAS THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH HIS FORD WINDSTAR MINIVAN, AND SO DOES ANOTHER PERSON (NOT VERIFIED MYSELF). THE READ WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR HAS BEEN RECALLED. WE HAD IT REPAIRED BY A FORD REPAIR SHOP, AND IT HAS BROKEN AGAIN.*AK

TRANSAXLES FAILED ONLY 2 MILES AFTER BEING SERVICED BY DEALER, PHIL LONG FORD INVOICE #FOCS570297. SERVICE CONCLUDED "POWER-FLUSH", ITEM H. PARTS INVOICE LISTS 14 "UNITS OF TRANS FLUID @ $3.28 PER UNIT. THE MANUFACTURER'S OWNER MANUAL LISTS MAXIMUM DRY CAPACITY AS 12.25 QUARTS. THE OWNER'S MANUAL ALSO SAYS "...WHILE OVERFILLING CAN CAUSE FOAMING AND LOSS OF FLUID. EITHER CONDITION WILL CAUSE TRANSAXLE DAMAGE." *PH

UPON STARTING DRIVER SHIFTED THE GEAR ON THE STEERING COLUMN BUT NO MOVEMENT OF THE VAN OCCURRED. ALSO, TRANSMISSION WILL MAKE A CLUNKING NOISE ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING A FIRE WAS OBSERVED BY THIRD PARTY MOTORIST. THE FIRE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO WORLD FORD IN PEMBROKE PINES, FLORIDA, FOR AN INITIAL ASSESSMENT. ACCORDING TO WORLD FORD, THE VEHICLE SHOWED HEAVY TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKAGE, BUT NO OBVIOUS SIGN OF FIRE OR FIRE DAMAGE. THE MANUFACTURER DECLINED TO PERMIT FORD TO WORK ON THE VEHICLE PENDING EVALUATION/INSPECTION BY NHTSA INVESTIGATORS TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF FIRE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT BE RELATED TO OBVIOUS TRANSMISSION ISSUES. *NLM *CB *JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT INSTRUMENT LIGHT PANEL IS NOT WORKING AT ALL. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. NOW VEHICLE IS RUNNING ROUGH. FORD STATES ITS A PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN OF THE VALVE COVER AND WANTS TO REPLACE IT WITH A NEW AND IMPROVED ONE. PROBLEM IS THEY WANT ME TO PAY TO CORRECT THIER DESIGN PROBLEM. IF THEY DID NOT DESIGN THE COVER RIGHT THEY SHOULD PAY TO FIX IT. VEHICLE IS AN EXPENSIVE PAPER WIEGHT RIGHT NOW . *AK

MY WIFE WAS PROCEEDING FROM A STOP,PRESSED GAS AND HEARD A POP OR BANGING SOUND.CAR WOULD NOT MOVE IN FORWARD GEARS,ONLY IN REVERSE.TOWED TO DEALER.HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THEM YET.BUT BY MY RESERCH INTO THIS IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM.VEHICLE HAS 39,000 MILES,NEVER ABUSED.FORD SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT.*AK

MY 1999 FORD WINDSTAR BEGAN TO MAKE LOUD GRINDING NOISES WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED IN EITHER DIRECTION. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIPWHERE IT WAS PURCHASED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE RACK AND PUMP WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *AK REPLACED AND THE COST WOULD BE $1295.00. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 38,000 MILES AND HAS EXCEEDED THE THREE YEAR WARRANTY.

FORD WINDSTAR AUTO - 1999 - STEEL STUDS BROKE OFF FROM ONE OF MY WHEELS. SEARS AUTO HAD TO FIX THAT. WASHINGTON POST, APRIL 15, 2003 , PAGE E@, ARTICLE INDICATED NHTSA IS CONSIDERING RECALL. WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? WE DRIVE THE CAR WITH FEAR THAT THE WHELLS MIGHT POP OFF BECAUSE OF FAULTY STUDS>*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. HEARD A NOISE. FRONT PASSENGER TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. GOODRICH TIRES, P2151/70R15. *AK

STEERING FLUID LEAKED FROM THE STEERING RACK AND PINION. DEALER NOTIFIED AND STATED THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM# 01-5-6-6. *AK *SCC *JB

WHILE TRAVELING AT 30 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD BUMP NOISE. FELT LIKE THE VEHICLE WANTED TO STOP. DEALER STATED TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK

THE RETAINING NUTS: BOLTS WERE LOOSE CAUSING THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE NUTS, BUT PROBLEM STILL RECURRING. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY CARBON FUEL INTAKE MANIFOLD CLOGGED UP, CAUSING THE FUEL NOT TO BURN PROPERLY. *AK

THE POWER STEERING RACK IS LEAKING WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. *JB THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED, AND ALSO THE WIRES WERE BURNT. PH *JB

THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE GAS PEDAL WERE DESIGNED TOO CLOSE TOGETHER, WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. *NLM. *AK *TS *JB

3 WHEEL STUDS ON FRONT RIGHT WHEEL OF OUR 1999 WINDSTAR VAN BROKE - CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHERE THE WHEEL COULD HAVE FALLEN OFF AT ANY SPEED. THE MECHANIC (CRAVEN AUTO AND TIRE OF GAITHERSBURG, MD) REPAIRED THE WHEEL AND TOLD ME THAT AT LEAST ONE OTHER PERSON HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH A 1999 WINDSTAR. THE FIRST SYMPTOM NOTICED WAS A RATTLING NOISE AROUND THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE AREA. THEN ON SATURDAY 6/7/2003 WE PULLED INTO OUR DRIVE AND HEARD A VERY LOUD "CLUNK". I QUICKLY REALIZED THE VAN WAS UNDRIVEABLE AND HAD A TOW TRUCK TAKE THE VAN TO OUR MECHANIC.*AK

SUDDEN TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED WHILE BEING DRIVEN BY A FORD DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN WHILE TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE AFTER REPLACING A DEFECTIVE AIR INTAKE MANIFOLD. VEHICLE MILEAGE WAS 32621 MILES. WHILE THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT ENVOLVED, THE SUDDENESS OF THE FAILURE OF A MAJOR DRIVE COMPONENT PRESENTS THE HAZARD POTENTIAL THAT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. AN INTERNET SEARCH HAS REVEALED SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS OF COMPLAINTS OF SIMILAR PREMATURE AND SUDDEN FAILURES ON THIS VEHICLE AND OTHER MODEL VEHICLES THAT USE THE TRANSMISSION FOUND IN THIS VEHICLE. THIS COMPLAINT IS BEING FILED IN ORDER TO BRING IT INTO THE FEDERAL DATA BASE IN ORDER TO DETERMINE IF A RECALL OF THIS TRANSMISSION IS WARRANTED. I HAVE THE REPLACED COMPONENTS AND WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT THEM FOR TEST AND ANALYSIS IF THIS AGENCY IS INTERESTED.*AK

RACK AND PINION STEERING IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK