7.5
pretty bad- Typical Repair Cost:
- $1,230
- Average Mileage:
- 128,350 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 11 complaints
Most common solutions:
- not sure (7 reports)
- changed tranny filter and fluid and replaced convertor (1 reports)
- replace / rebuild transmission (1 reports)
- replace coil pack (1 reports)
- replace torque converter multiple times (1 reports)
Received this van as a gift; first of all, you can hardly get it out of park unless you mash the brake pedel through the floor and then sometimes it's still difficult. Transmission slips between 2nd and 3rd, then 3rd and 4th. This is the 3rd trans in this van! (As the 3rd owner I have only had 1 rebuilt trans put in it.) This trans has around 50,000 miles on it.....I'm having it checked tomorrow and if they say they can't fix it without replacing the trans again, I'm driving it into a ditch somewhere and walking home!
- Linda B., Snellville, GA, US
Complaint is only about the transmission right now not shifting while being driven in drive.
- Leo G., Greenwood, IN, US
My 1998 Ford Windstar just started shift gears I could tell when it started, shortly after that the odometer goes to zero, this gets worse when its hot outside. Stopping at a stop sign is really bad, because the cars in back of me some times blow their horns because I can't go any faster until the gear kicks in.
02 sensors is what Ford said the problem was and fixed the with some special spark plugs that were to be the best. However the problem came back within same week.
Its so bad now, that I shift the gear into 1st to pick up speed then pop it into 2nd gear just to take off, then the car's speed would pick up but the odometer would stay at zero then it would start moving when it wants to for a moment. Now almost the full day its off, I just have learned to live with this issue.
The car feels as if someone has just hit me from behind now when the car slips back into 1st gear. Not sure what going on, and you can smell a very funny odor now. I'm probably doing much worst damage but its my only car and I have to get around. can't afford to pay for repairs on guess work from Ford.
- Tina W., Andover, MN, US
this became a real problem when i have to take 6 kids all over the place. i was down without the car for 1 day to replace everything. not to bad if you know what you're doing. pain in the ass big time to do with kids screaming at you every 5 seconds but, it works like new now and i hope i never have to do it again.
- Samantha R., ashtabula, OH, US
The overdrive light occasionally blinks and the transmission slips, you can hear it whine as it tries to go up a hill as it is slipping. Don't have a lot of money for repair, need to get correct repair first shop visit. Please advise on repairs that have actually fixed the problem. Thanks so much.
- Beth Z., Stockport, OH, US
MY 1998 FORD WINDSTAR MINI VAN RIDES GREAT, AND ENGINE WISE RUNS GREAT. BUT, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS FROM 1ST TO 2ND. IT ALSO LOSES TRANSMISSION FLUID AND WE CANT FIGURE OUT WERE IT GOES. AND THE STUPID OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHES WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS. BUT I ONLY PAID $2000.00 FOR IT I GUESS WHEN I GET THOUGH WITH IT IT WILL BE TIME FOR IT TO GO TO THE JUNK YARD!!
- Marlana E., Rison, AR, US
While I was on vacation, my transmission and battery blew. I had to have my car towed to the nearest Ford dealer, and pay almost $2400. I had 51,000 miles on my vehicle at the time. Ford Motor Company contacted me, and said there was nothing they could do for me because it was a maintenance issue. They even contacted the dealer that did the repair, even the dealer told them it was not a maintenance issue. The fluids weren't black and everything looked pretty good. They agreed with me that I should not have needed a new transmission. When I told Ford Motor Company that I would never buy another Ford, they said that is unfortunate and practically hung the phone up on me. Folks, if you are planning on buying a Ford product, rethink it, they will NOT stand behind their product. Even if they know that something is wrong, they will not go above and beyond to correct the situation.
- Amy S., Johnstown, PA, US
Slipping in and out of drive, leaks fluid. $1500 to replacehere in town, looking on line for another.......... This is not the first problem i have had with this@%$# van.... I really HATE FORDS, I will never own another. I have replaced the door-sensors multiple times(on all doors!!)and I have yet another one shot(and this is surprising??.. oh well Just keep pulling fuse), have replaced wheel-bearings numerouse times, the cruise control keeps shorting out.....WARNING Unless you have lots of money to burn on repairs, STAY AWAY from the windstars, now called the FREESTAR
- Steven T., Brockport, NY, US
I have a 1998 Ford Windstar that has been a piece of junk from day one. The main problem I am having is that the torque converter keeps going out causing the transmission to slip from 1st to 2nd. The first time I had this problem repaired the dealership lied to me and said that they had replaced the transmission. NOT!!!!!!!! All they did was replace the torque converter, and the seal. Well about two weeks ago I was taking my 5 children to their different baseball games and the torque converter just blew. Transmission fluid was not leaking, it was pouring out of the transmission faster than I could put it in. When I took it to the dealership to have it repaired I was told that it was no longer in warranty and that I would have to pay about $1500.00 to have the problem repaired. I found a transmission repair shop that repaired the van for only $500.00 but it was ridiculous to have to pay anything for a repair that was less than two years old and had only 28000 miles on it. Today I contacted Ford Motor Co. and was told that this vehicle was reliable and they had had no such problems with it. That is a lie because I know of about 10 people in this small rural town that I live in alone that have had the same problems. One lady has a 2002 and after less than 3000 miles they had to have the transmission replaced. I paid $32,000 for this piece of junk and I am fed up with it being in the shop more than I have it to take myself and my children where we need to go. All I am asking from Ford Motor Co is that they at least pay for the torque converter if nothing else, but they flat out lied to me about the problems with the vehicle. I am filing a lawsuit with an attorney here in the town I live in. If anyone else out there is having the same problems I am and would like to be a part of this, email me at lmbarlow2001@yahoo.com.
- tad_bit, Monroeville, AL, US
This problem was supposedly fixed. I am on my 4th trip to have this problem solved. Any suggestions?
- shellim, Middleboro, MA, US
all of a sudden it didnt want to shift out of park, reverses, neutral or drive, and when it finally decided to it would take 2 or 3 seconds in where the car would be in neutral. when acceleratingit seemed as though it had half the power as it normally had. check engine light was on and there was a bit of a smell. would barely turn over in the cold mornings. Needed to replace the coil pack for $500.
- enugent, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada