The numerous failures on Ford transmissions are because they used aluminum instead of steel in a high pressure area, it will probably take a class action suit just like the head gaskets and the ignitions.

- Ft Thomas, KY, USA

Transmission would not engage when car came to a complete stop.you would press gas and car would get to 1700 RPM then the trans would engage with a bang.Ford had the same problem with this trans on 1994 Taurus amd took care of it.

- Forest Hill, MD, USA

Automatic transmission failed. Contacted dealer and Ford corporation both refused to admit any problem with the transmission. $1,800 out of pocket cost. 6 months later the head gasket failed. Initialially that cost $1,200 but was reimbursed for the expense when the part was recalled. I believe in doing research that a problem also exists with the transmissions and hope that enough people will complain to iniate a recall.

- Uniontown, PA, USA

This is a known problem. Ford replaced the aluminum piston with a steel piston on the 1996 models...

- Fayetteville, AR, USA

Transmission malfunctions.

- Joseph Cit, AZ, USA

Transmission hesitates when shifting out of 1st gear.

- Fenton, MO, USA

As early as June/July 2000, while in cruise control and/or manual speed control at speeds ranging from 35 - 65 mph. The transmission would disengage allowing the RPM to creep up. Resolution was to remove foot from accelerator and allow engine speed to decline and restabilize and then the transmission would reingage. This occurred intermittently. The transmission range sensor was identified by Ford service as the culprit and was replaced on 8/18/2000. A few days following the replacement, the scenario reocurred. Further evaluation/service is scheduled for this Friday, September 1,2000. When transmission slips out of gear, the engine is free without any restraint and no acceleration/deceleration of automobile speed is possible. This could result in serious injury if attempting to merge into heavy traffic or pass into oncoming traffic at the moment of failure.

- Plantation, FL, USA

After stopping at stop light vehicle would not accelerate above 40 mph until it stopped operating which left vehicle without power. The dealer did the repair job but no power to acelerate again while on highway. The transmission seal blew out due to pressure build in the transmission fluid stalling the vehicle completely.

- Westerville, OH, USA

No summary

- Hurlburt Afb, FL, USA

No summary

- Covington, GA, USA

When the engine seized up, I took the van to phil long Ford. They proceeded to run the diagnosis and informed me the van needed a new engine which would cost $3500. I did not have the money for the engine and waited. In may of 2000 I received a recall notice on the head gasket. Took the car to phil long in July. According to phil long, all that needed replaced was the head gasket. They replaced the head gasket, spark splug, changed the oil (antifreeze had leaked into the oil), and the oil filter. This was at their expence. All of a sudden, no new engine was needed. Two months later, to the day, I lost all the gears except low. I need to know if there has been a recall on the transmission and what the warranty is on the transmission for a 1995 Windstar. It seems unlikely that the transmission would go on such a new model.

- Lakewood, CO, USA

Transmission would not go into gear after stopping at a traffic signal. After reveing engine, it caught hold suddenly. I barely missed traffic that moved while I was stopped. Problem is broken piston-rtans forward clutch. Aluminum part has been replaced by steel by Ford at owner's expense since 1994 (SB94247) if transmission fails, but it should be recalled.

- Dawsonville, GA, USA

I'm on my 3rd transmission and it is going out! dangerous, because vehicle slips at crucial moments needed for acceleration. Please issue a recall for this product! it will cause lives (if it hasn't already). Wife won't drive because she's too frightened by it's inconsistent acceleration. What if it slipped while near railroad tracks" what if it slipped/disengaged while entering freeway" very dangerous.

- Copperas Cove, TX, USA

Ford has advised us that the transmission is not covered by any recall or rebate. Why"?" we have had 4 transmissions put in over the past 2 & 1/2 yrs. Fortunately, 2 of them were covered under warranty.

- Knoxville, TN, USA

After operating the vehicle for a while, transmission will not engage into drive and sometimes will not engage into reverse. Overdrive light then started to flash. When the transmission does engage, the vehicle tends to lurch forward in an unsafe manner. Brought the vehicle to an independent garage. They changed the ECM (electronic control module) at a cost of $650 parts and labor. We left for a week vacation the next day only to have the same problem occur. Garage insisted that the ECM was defective and that the transmission problem is a separate issue. Brought the vehicle to dealer (shamrock Ford). Within a couple of hours, we recieved a call that the transmission has to be replaced. Cost: $2600. Upon searching the internet, we found that a lot of 1995 Windstar experienced the same problem. We believe that this is not only an issue of manufacturer defect but also a safety issue, something the NHTSA should be involved in. Ford Motor Company has not been receptive to our complains and requests for financial assistance in the repair although, we believe, that they are fully aware of the defect in the transmission as evidenced by their prompt diagnosis of the problem. We own a 1995 Toyota Celica with 245,000 miles and a 1988 Toyota Camry with 264,000 miles. We feel that we are responsible car owners and that our vehicles are not subjected to abuse and misuse. We bought the Ford Windstar with the belief that finally, american car manufacturers has achieved a level of reliability equivalent to their foreign car competitors. It now appears that at least one company, Ford motors, has not.

- San Ramon, CA, USA

We are currently fighting a failed transmission. When we took the vehicle to the Ford dealership last week, we were told that it needed to be repaired or replaced. The dealer advised us that both scenarios were covered by a 12 month/12000 mile warranty, but if we elected the overhaul option, if a part failed that wasn't fixed, the warranty would not cover it. We elected the higher priced replacement. We were advised to come back the following week and the dealer would order a new transmission. My wife took off work and drove an hour to the dealership to leave off the car. When she got there, the dealer told her that Ford has stopped all shipments of this transmission and that he would be unable to order our replacement. Ford would give him no firm date on when we might be able to get a new transmission. Since Ford had decided that customer support was a matter of minor importance, we had no option but to repair the existing transmission and run the risk that the warranty would cover anything that happened. We have also had to replace the head gaskets on this vehicle and the oxygen sensors. I will tell you that immediately upon getting this vehicle back after the transmission is repaired, it is being traded in on anything else and I will never own another Ford. When it comes to customer support from Ford, we have had zero.

- Eureka, KS, USA

The transmission failed at the same time that the engine overheated due to faulty head gasket. I took the van into koons for "check engine light" and they found nothing, but charged me $500, later, the engine seized and had to be replaced; upon getting my van back with a rebuilt engine, the transmission was not working properly and failed within the week. The aamco dealership told me that a forward clutch thing was not working, but worse yet: The transmission completely failed because it had become extremely hot; in fact, so hot that any internal components that were rubber or plastic actually melted, and the gear teeth became so hot that they changed color to purple-ish and cracked in places. Yet Ford refuses to associate the damage to the transmission with their faulty head gasket. Incidently, I have been fully reimbursed for the rebuilt engine, but not the $500 Ford 'service' response to the 'check engine' light, or the $2,500 transmission.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

While drving engine head gasket started to leak. Water was getting into the oil. This caused vehicle to lose power. Also, transmission would slip, and it took too long to shift into 2nd gear from 1st gear. Took vehicle to dealer & mechanic indicated that transmission needed complete overhaul. Also, would check head gasket.

- Fresno, CA, USA

The transmission failed prematurely due to aluminium component which was used in place of cast iron.

- Riverwoods, IL, USA

Vehicle overheated, and smoke was coming from pipe. Then. Consumer took vehicle to dealer, where technician saw that problem was a blown engine head gasket. Transmission failed three times. Gas tank failed. Windshield is defective. And side door clamps failed.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA