Ford Windstar 2000, transmission failure in the middle of a busy highway. I am 55 years old and have a bad back and had to risk my life to push this vehicle off the road so I would not get hit by traffic on a rainy evening! luckily, my aged mother was not in the car at the time. If you look up www.carcomplaints.com and research Ford transmission, you will see that this is not an isolated incident. No wonder they can't sell their cars! this transmission was just rebuilt two years ago for the same problem.

- Lakeland, FL, USA

Transmission failure, pulling on to roadway from gas station, Windstar made it 10 feet, snap, bang then stuck in middle of street, cars around ended up on grass but no accident. Re tried to move nothing car only has reverse, now after searching the web finding out very common problem with Ford Windstar, someone will get hurt / killed from this problem, and Ford knows all about it, now I have to spend $3000 on a new transmission, for a $50 part deep inside the trans just breaks when it breaks..... that obviously has a factory defect that is being ignored, just like the ( tfi module recall of the late 90's).

- Templeton, MA, USA

The contact owns a 2000 Ford Windstar. While driving approximately 25 mph in the driveway, the contact depressed the accelerator pedal and there was no response. The failure occurred without warning when the gear shifter was placed into drive or reverse. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The technician stated that the failure was related to the automatic transmission. A rebuilt transmission was installed in the vehicle. The failure mileage was 42,000 and current mileage was 50,000.

- 1012 South Taylor Street, NC, USA

Automatic transmission failure when stopped at intersection went to accelerate and main drive gear failed. Lost all forward drive gears only reverse gear worked. This latest automatic transmission failure occurred at 87,736 miles on 12-11-2008. Automatic transmission failed earlier on same vehicle at 42,130 miles on 12-3-2004. Both times main drive gear separated from drive cup according to my transmission shop. Transmission required a complete re-build both times. Transmission shop indicated this is common design issue with Ford Windstar and looking at NHTSA web site there are a lot more folks suffering from this Ford design issue. Have the 3.8 L 6 cylinder engine in this van. Us consumers should file a class lawsuit against Ford for their failure to re-call this known design issue. Have drive gear part that failed if NHTSA would like to analyze part. I will never by another Ford product and advise no one else to buy one. Had talked with Ford on 1st occurrence and Ford refused to stand by their product since it was outside of the 3yr / 36,000 mile warranty. Know wonder why the american auto companies are becoming history....

- Manchester, CT, USA

Since buying my Windstar, 2000; used, 57,000 miles I have had one problem after another. Within two weeks after purchase my transmission would jump then straighten out and go on. I had it checked by five different places and all stated there was nothing wrong. It stopped completely during a family trip and I had to purchase a new transmission. It had a knock in the engine ever since I bought it but it finally got so bad I thought the prudent thing to do was to get it overhauled. There crank shaft was not smooth and had to be machined and rebuilt. I have had several different issues concerning the electrical system; ABS stays on, sliding door lock failure, interior lights come on while driving and will not go off, all instrument dash lights flash on and then seem to recover, now my whole electrical system is acting up. The radio always went off when you cut off the engine and open the door, but now my battery is dead and while charging it the head light came on, (but none of the switches were turned on), oh and about 10 months ago I had to replace the alternator. No warning except right before it died the light started cutting off and on. I cannot afford another purchase at this time. I am sick of this.

- Pink Hill, NC, USA

Sending unit under front of brake master cylinder leaks. Corroded wiring harness of transmission causing erratic operation and a warning message about the transmission. Could have caused an engine compartment fire or a locked up transmission while driving.

- Rochester, NY, USA

2000 Ford Windstar transmission leaking. It started intermittently and then became more serious. Leaving a stream and trail of transmission fluid in my garage, my driveway and the street in front of my house. I have brought it to a reputable transmission repair shop and they tell me I need a complete rebuild. I have received a second opinion which is the same as the first. The lowest repair cost is $2200. After researching for similar issues with the Ford Windstar, I am amazed that there are several (too many) complaints regarding the same problem. This cannot be coincidence. If the transmission design Ford provided in these vehicles is not reliable, Ford needs to step up and repair these issues under warranty even though it has long expired. Chrysler realized they had an issue and revised their warranties to 10 years and 100,000 miles. Ford needs to follow suit.

- Nwark, DE, USA

71,000 automatic transmission in need of being rebuilt. Frequent problem according to internet search. Ford should recall.

- Wooster, OH, USA

Our van has 86000 miles on it. The O/D light started flashing and I took it to the Ford dealer to have it checked out. Three weeks later while my wife was driving the van, there was a loud noise and the van would not go in reverse, will ease forward in neutral and is jerky in drive.

- Hialeah, FL, USA

I have a 2000 Ford Windstar LX and it has 83,000 miles on it. It was kept up well and the transmission went out of it and will cost about $2000 dollars to replace it. I feel that Ford should resolve this problem since it seems to be a recurring problem with the Windstar.

- Clearfield, PA, USA

Minivan caught fire as result of transmission torque converter failure. Driving on a short Excursion (about 50 miles at highway speeds) with girl scouts the driver noticed that the rear window was not clean or clear as normal. As they approached a traffic stop the transmission over-drive light started flashing. When the vehicle pulled away from the stop it was not able accelerate above 45 mph and approximately half mile from the stop the driver was alerted of fire under the vehicle by passing drivers. The minivan driver immediately pulled over to evacuate passengers and call for help. When the van was stopped and its engine turned off the fire subsided with little damage. The fire department arrived and put absorbent to dry oil dripping from under the vehicle in the area behind the front wheels. The van was towed to a dealer where it was inspected and found that the torque converter had failed. As of 8/13/08 it is there waiting for repairs. The dealer recommends replacing the transmission.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

The problem I will be having very soon lots of others have already had. It is with the 2000 Ford Windstar. My O/D off light on dash is flashing. Upon research this is a huge problem. Ford will not recall it. It is a faulty transmission that they are using. I have only had my Windstar for about 2 months. It was running fine till the past week or two. My trans will go out. Lots of people keep replacing the trans just to have it go out again w/O warning for most. I drive on the highway almost everyday. I have 4 kids with me. If my trans goes out and I am on the highway...that could be fatal. Ford does not think it is a safety issue. How could that not be a safety issue" tons of complaints are being made about the trans they are using on their vehicles. Not just the Windstar either. Accidents could happen from this. Do people really have to get into accidents and die before it is considered a safety issue? why not prevent it from happening in the first place"

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

My wife was at a stop sign on an incline, pressed the gas pedal to turn and experienced what sounded like a crash. The van would not go forward, only reverse. She coasted backwards down the hill, we got a tow truck and went to a repair shop (after business hours). They called the next day and said that the transmission basically exploded on the inside. One site I have visited has 41 complaints of the same nature, yet Ford is doing nothing about the "design flaw" in the 2000 Windstar van transmissions.

- Huntsville, AL, USA

The intake went at 58,000 miles brought to Ford dealer and it was covered under warranty. 1 year later had same problem and van was out of warranty and Ford refused to cover had to pay $1,800 dollars. Then last year the transmission went van had 78,000 miles. Ford will not fix they would not repo it. They are now trying to sue me for a defective vehicle.

- Conklin, NY, USA

While at a complete stop in my 2000 Windstar I accelerated to cross a busy highway and heard a loud clunk. The transmission failed and left me to drift into cross traffic where I was almost hit by a mack truck. I swerved in an almost U-turn like fashion and was able to pull to the side of the highway next to the road I had originated from. This is the third transmission to fail in this vehicle. The first failed at about 37,000 miles. Luckily I had purchased an extended warranty so the dealership fixed it but they made me produce my original contract to prove I had the extended warranty. The second time was about 15 months ago, after Ford's refusal to help I took it to aamco and I paid $2800 to repair. After being referred to this website I was astounded at how many people have had the same experience. I was almost killed this morning, when is enough enough?

- Stockton, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2000 Ford Windstar. While driving 55 mph, the vehicle jerked and the overdrive light blinked. The mechanic stated that the vehicle needed a rebuilt transmission. As of November 6, 2007, the dealer had not repaired the vehicle. The failure mileage was 67,000 updated 01-14-08. Updated 12/12/07.

- Morrisville, PA, USA

On Aug. 18, 2007, I was getting off the freeway near my home when my transmission slipped out of gear and would no longer drive. I had it towed to our mechanic who told us it was a transmission problem and had to be taken to a transmission specialist. After inspecting it we were told that the transmission had been leaking fluid from the reservoir into the transmission and had the sensor system worked I would have been able to fix it 8 weeks earlier at a low cost, however the sensor, which was good, was not read by the main system and we had no idea there was a problem. We had no visible leakage because it was within the transmission itself and burned the inside of the transmission. The specialist told us we were lucky we were off the freeway because it would have caused a terrible accident had the transmission gone out while driving. I reported it it to Ford who have refused to pay for it so we had to pay for the whole transmission to be rebuilt, a cost of more than $1900 not including towing and rental car. The transmission specialist also said this is a common problem in the 1999-2000 Ford Windstar, which is the model vehicle I have because it was a manufacturer defect and nothing I did, I would like to know how to be reimbursed for all my out of pocket expenses and I think Ford should issue a recall on the sensors that would have ultimately saved me a lot of time and money. It took 2 weeks to fix.

- Hesperia, CA, USA

2000 Ford Windstar transmission failure due to sheared off sun gear in ax4S transmission. Failure occurred as vehicle was being accelerated from a dead stop into heavy cross traffic. All forward gears inoperative as van then slowly came to a stop in the middle of cross traffic. After a bit of panicking to figure how to get out of traffic we found that the reverse gear still functioned. Pulled vehicle without accident out of traffic.

- Hillsboro, OR, USA

Backing out of driveway when van made loud clunking noise when placed in drive and would not move. New transmission needed $2400! I will never buy another Ford vehicle.

- Fredericksburg, VA, USA

Our 2000 Windstar has had continuous problems from 20,000 miles on. Recently at 60K miles, our transmission began to fail. We were under extended warranty. Each time we went to Ford service, we were told a seal was broken and repaired. Two months later, the same problem. Three months later the same problem and same diagnosis. At 70 K, the check transmission light came on and the O/D light began flashing. Although we demanded a new transmission, Ford service refused, telling us that a seal was once again broken. Within two days, the same problem causing a breakdown out of state. New service rep. Rolled his eyes when he saw what the prior service department did, but 4 days later, told us that a defective part was installed and that a new part would be put in. Of course, no new part was put in and on transit home, the check transmission light and O/D lights came on again. I would never ever ever ever buy a Ford again as a result of their lies and failure to fulfill warranty commitments.

- Merrick, NY, USA