Just got off the phone with Ford and they will not do anything, I was informed they improved their transmissions in 2008. They won't fix this one with 78k but they will sell me a new one and guarantee it to 100000 miles?

Update from Dec 18, 2010: I got the transmission fixed at Bill's transmission in Rochester NH. He mentioned that he had done several recently and was up on the transmission issue. Evidentaly the Torque convertor is made of cast aluminum and strips out. He put a rebuilt one in and did a transmission service for 1050.00 and the truck runs like new. Ford motor corp would not offer any help and quoted $3200.00 to install a rebuilt transmission, very disapointed with Ford. I also noticed the news has recently highlighted the axel issue due to a fatality. Don't wait to have it chrcked out, it could cost you dearly.

Update from May 19, 2011: fixd at local auto shop for $1000.00

We had the transmission repaired under an extended warranty a couple of years ago, it was shifting really hard as in BANG when it shifted into over drive. The repair work kind of settled it down until last week. I fired up the vehicle and it wouldn't move, eventually it tried but it would grab then release, we weren't going anywhere. With all of these complaints registered, one would think that FORD would come clean with their poor reports and look after their customers. To be sure I will certainly question if I would ever buy another Ford.

I was driving along on a very busy thoroughfare, going approx. forty mph, and all of a sudden, i just happened to be looking at the dashboard and in particular the tachometer when it suddenly went from 1500 to zero and the forward progress halted. remember that this occurred in or on a very busy road. there was nothing, no forward, no reverse, and most irritating, there was absolutely no warning. the transmission just quit working. the very first thing i did was to check the transmission fluid. praying that maybe, just maybe, the problem could be resolved by adding some transmission fluid. when i pulled out the transmission dip stick. wiped it off and re entered it and pulled it out again. the fluid level was right where it should have been. now i am really pissed off. i don't know what else to check or do. got back into the vehicle ran the shifter bar through the sequence from "p" right through to "d-2" NOTHING !!! did this a couple of times hoping that what ever had happened would correct itself. ha, what a frigging joke. called triple "a" had vehicle towed to repair shop. i explained exactly what had occurred to the head mechanic. he replied, "yeah, ford windstars are noted for this type of bullshit. usually what happens is that the pump burns out, the "shaft" doesn't get lubricated and it breaks, causing the transmission to stop working. this is an on going problem with them." he got in the van & started it up and judging by the "whining sound" it made , he said "yep just as i thought. you are going to need a transmission." words i did not want to hear. he had his employee look-up what it was going to cost me& the estimate was $1,400.00. and that is exactly what it cost. imagine that ??? not a penny more. not a penny less. i want ford to help me pay for this.. after all, from all that i have read , ford is well aware that this is a recurring problem and should be addressed by a "recall" and have these trannys checked, so that someone doesn't get killed.

What a feakin JOKE!!! Never again do I buy a POS called a FORD!!! Them USELESS bastards who put in a poorly designed tranny that just decides to give up without any warnings!!!! Just like all other complaints on this board....I was on my way home and like someone through my car in to neutral and that was it....no warning and all point to a tranny failure and called around to get quotes for a rebuild and costs are around $2500 - $3200!!! And to boot, USLESS ford paint jobs turn into rust spots in under 7 years... another reason why not to buy a POS of a FORD!!!

Have Windstar that just won't go, starts up but won't go into gear. It stopped in traffic at an intersection, had to be pushed into a safer lane, lucky there was limited traffic!! Got towed to daughter's house. Haven't taken it in, hate to see what it is and how much it will be. Still paying on the damn thing. There was no indication that the tranny would go out. I had a tranny go out before on a dodge and this one didn't even have a sign that there was something wrong. The only problem before had to do with the pulley thingy,(belt) had that fixed.

I can't believe all the complaints on this tranny. I wrote to my senators but I doubt that will do anything. Ford should give us a discount if they won't do a recall on these trannys. The must know these are f888ed up trannys!!! Anybody have any idea how much the cost would be or if we could put another tranny from a different year for this?? Would that be compatiable?? I really hate to put another 2003 in it if thats all they do is break down after a while. DON"T GET A FORD WINDSTAR!!!!!

Purchased this piece of junk 1 year ago, local private sale. I got a good buy, I thought, due to price..However, little did I know this van was a mess of different problems every week! Yesterday, I was taking my dogs to the groomer and the transmission quit working on the Highway..just had second gear. I was close enough to home to ride in second gear..but I was told the trannie is "cooked"..I never owned a Ford..and I never will again..I am trying to buy American every time I make a purchase, but people like Ford make it difficult..A total waste of money, because I am not spending almost 3,000 to fix it. I paid 5,000. Now I know why it was such a good buy..the man couldn't get rid of it fast enough. The body and interior are excellent..it looks good sitting in my driveway that is..

well well well I get to bitch about my van.YES!!!!! Well I purchased this van in 2005 from a dealer in Thunder Bay. The first year with the van was alright other then one of my sliding auto doors just opened and closed whenever it felt like it.(NOT UNDER WARRANTY). And then in the second year, more things slowly progressed wrong but the biggie was the tranny. I get up to go to work one morn and I cannot move out of my driveway, to find out it was a done Transmission. Ok so that (second) one was on warranty for 3 months. well on the 4th month , My second Tranny starts acting up!!! Can you believe that sh*t? I still think it was a fault of the garage. So with dishing out thousands on the 2nd tranny trying to fix problems that are happening we ( the new garage and I) decide to stop putting parts and money into the second tranny and just put in a THIRD transmission! Yes 3rd!!!! ( Only put more money into this van cause I still owe on it and need wheels!) OK so now it has been a bit over a year with the 3rd Tranny and that seems ok but in this past year I have changed I swear every other imaginable part existing! Yesterday was the alternator, 2 weeks ago the Power Steering hose, A month ago sway bars.... and on and on!!!! 100 bucks says the motor will go on it me now just cause everything else is brand new! I swear I will never..... NEVER by a ford again!!!!!!

F.O.R.D = Fix Or Repair Daily!!!

My wife and I and our two kids were traveling on the freeway on our way to see my mother at the hospital 60 miles away. About 25 miles into our trip, without a warning just began to loose speed despite pressing on the gas pedal. It just felt like the gear shifted into neutral. We were able to cruise our way out of the freeway and park it on a side street. So much for going to see my ailing mother at the hospital. Had to push car to other side of street(no parking anytime sign) despite the osteoarthritis on my knees). Had to pay towing. A friend of mine knew a mechanic who would be kind enough to reconstruct the transmission for $1,100. Still, it was money we didn't have. Had to borrow from family & friends. Guy from repair shop in Los Angeles said this was a common problem with Ford Windstars. This was the first time I had heard about this.

The only positive thing I could to say is that I'm glad and thank God this didn't happen a few days before when we traveled through the 110 scorching degrees in the Mojave Desert to and from Las Vegas.