10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
17 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
14 / 0
Average Mileage:
4,103 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #161

Sep 011998

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission piston failure causing intermittent stalling.

- Saint Pete, FL, USA

problem #160

Jan 301998

Windstar

  • miles
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.

- Burnsville, MN, USA

problem #159

Apr 041998

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
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.

- Vaorico, FL, USA

problem #158

Nov 131998

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
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.

- Massapeua Park, NY, USA

problem #157

Nov 121998

Windstar

  • miles
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.

- Mandeville, LA, USA

problem #156

Nov 031998

Windstar

  • 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.

- Seward, NE, USA

problem #155

Oct 301998

Windstar

  • miles
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 brake and this shift occurs it pushes the vehicle forward. I am still waiting for an appointment at miller.

- Ellicott City, MD, USA

problem #154

Oct 101998

Windstar

  • miles
Ford is aware that they have a problem with this $15 part and they choose to soak their customers for $1,700 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!

- Greencastle, PA, USA

problem #153

Oct 121998

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving automatic transmission malfunctioned, causing the gears to burn out. Cause unknown. Please provide further informaiton.

- Inver Grove Heights, MI, USA

problem #152

May 041998

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Ongoing problem with transmission failure within 53000 miless. Consumer had to relace transmission twice. Dealer notified.

- Maple Plain, MI, USA

problem #151

Oct 091998

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
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.

- Ellsworth, WI, USA

problem #150

May 041998

Windstar

  • miles
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.

- Brooklyn Park, MN, USA

problem #149

Sep 011998

Windstar

  • miles
Transmission was slipping badly. Dealer claims it was a sensor. Just heard on the news Ford Windstar have major problems with 95 trannys. Government should issue a recall for all 95 Windstar and have the transmissions checked.

- Mpls, MN, USA

problem #148

Jul 011998

Windstar

  • miles
Transmission failure, began to slip.

- Redwood Fa, MN, USA

problem #147

Apr 041998

Windstar

  • miles
Transmission failures occured over a period of time. The transmission began slipping between 40 and 50,0000 miles, primarily wehn accelerating from a stop or slow rolling condition to driving speeds. Driving habits were altered to insure the slipping condition would not create a hazardous situation, where possible (ie avoiding pulling out onto the travel lanes without having a considerable amount of space)

- Woodbury, MN, USA

problem #146

Feb 011998

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission was making noise and shifting gears. Dealer contacted and component was defective. Replaced the transmission at owners expense, no warranty.

- Zimmerman, MN, USA

problem #145

Jul 121998

Windstar

  • miles
Transmission went out, and the gears are hard to shift when driving, and the gear would go into neutral. Vehicle has been in the shop for repairs, and they don't know what the problem.

- Shore View, MN, USA

problem #144

May 011998

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
When taking off from a stop the transmission would not accelerate. The transmission was rebuilt by the dealership around the second week of may, 1998. Transmission has since been replaced, owner is looking for admission of the problem by Ford and reimbursement of costs.

- Plymouth, MN, USA

problem #143

Aug 181997

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
. cosumer is having an automatic transmission problem the RPM gets up to about 5 before the gear would change, and when it finaly changes there is a hard jerk in the vehicle. Dealer has not been contacted.

- Corcoran, MN, USA

problem #142

Aug 181997

Windstar

  • miles
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.

- Minneapolis, MN, USA

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