1998 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

EXPERIENCED TOTAL CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION. DESPITE NEVER TOWING ANYTHING AND ALWAYS PERFORMING RECOMMENDED ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. *AK

WHEN FIRST PURCHASED VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE DRIVERS SEATBELT WAS INOPERATIVE. *AK

ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 98 WINDSTAR, SIZE P215/70R15, RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *AK 2 OTHER GOODYEAR INVICTA TIRES DOT#PDM3DDER317 EXPERIENCED IRREPAIRABLE BULGES. *SLC

BOTH FRONT DISK BRAKES WERE GONE; ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED.

METAL PART OF WHEELS - ALL FOUR- CRACKED. TWO WERE IN BAD SHAPE. FORUNATLY NO ACCIDENTS. HEARD CRACKING SOUND FIRST THEN INSPECTED AN NOTICED CRACKS

INNER AND END TIE RODS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 6 TIMES IN 2 YEARS. FIRST TIME AT 16000 MILES. CONSUMER HEARS NOISE FROM FRONT END, THEN, HAS VEHICLE INSPECTED BY DEALER, WHO THEN FINDS TIE RODS ARE BREAKING. *AK

BRAKE FLUID LEAKING. HAVE TAKEN IT IN SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY CAN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. SIMULAR TO THE 1996 WINDSTAR RECALL.*AK

*SINCE PURCHASE NEW, ONE TIRE WOULD GO NEARLY FLAT WEEKLY. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED WHEN THEY CHECKED THE WINDOW MECHANISM AND THE ABS SENSOR LIGHT--NO PROBLEM FOUND. TOOK IT TO 3 DIFFERENT TIRE STORES (2 GOODYEAR)--NO PROBLEM FOUND. IT WENT BALD AFTER ONLY 18K AND 2 ROTATIONS. NO PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASING 2 NEW TIRES. ALIGNMENT WAS NOT A PROBLEM--DONE @ 10K & 21K. WEATHER DID NOT EFFECT AIR LOSS, EITHER. *DRIVERS "AUTO-DOWN" FEATURE HAS NEVER WORKED CONSISTANTLY. HAS NEARLY CAUSED ACCIDENTS & IS VERY FRUSTRATING. DEALER HAS CHECKED IT TOO MANY TIMES TO COUNT--SAME WITH THE *ABS LIGHT ON THE DASH COMING ON AND NOT GOING OFF. I THINK THEY CHANGED FUSES ONCE--STILL HAPPENS, BUT NOT AS OFTEN. WOULD THAT EFFECT SAFETY? I DON'T KNOW IF THE SYSTEM WILL WORK PROPERLY WHILE THE LIGHT IS FLASHING. *WIPER PROBLEM IS VERY INTERMITTENT--OF COURSE. WHEN ON SLOW INTERMITTENT (1 OR 2) SPEED, WILL SPEED UP ON IT'S OWN TO VERY FAST & THEN MUST BE TURNED OFF & BACK ON AGAIN IN ORDER TO GET THE CORRECT SPEED SET AGAIN. TEMP & TIME RUN DOES NOT EFFECT MALFUNCTION AT ALL--HAPPENS HOT OR COLD & AFTER 3-5 MINUTES OR UP TO AN HOUR. BACK WIPER HAS ALWAYS "CHATTERED" WHEN WIPING--WORSE WHEN COLD. *CAN YOU CHANGE THIS WINDOW? IT'S HARD TO TELL WHAT YOU TYPE AND VERY HARD TO CORRECT ERRORS.( DOT NUMBER: 97S ? TIRE SIZE: P215/70R15 )

WITHIN 3 MONTHS OF EACH OTHER THE RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT ABS (SPEED SENSOR) RINGS CRACKED IN HALF. I WAS INFORMED BY THE REPAIRING FORD DEALERSHIP, CHAPMAN FORD, PLEASANTVILLE, NJ, THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS EVIDENTLY A DEFECT AND COULD NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS COULD OCCUR UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. I VIEWED THE BROKEN LEFT SENSOR RING. THERE WAS NO CORROSION AND NO EVIDENCE OF WEAR OR TEAR. IT WAS SIMPLY CRACKED IN HALF. THIS DEFECT CAUSES THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM TO FAIL. FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM AND REFUSES ASSISTANCE WITH REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE PARTS.

TRAVELING AT NIGHT WITH LIGHTS ON. ACTIVATING RIGHT TURN SIGNAL CAUSED HEADLIGHTS TO TURN OFF (PARKING LIGHTS STAYED ON). TURNING LIGHT SWTICH OFF THEN BACK ON AGAIN DID NOT CORRECT. HAD TO FLASH HIGHBEAMS FOR HEADLIGHTS TO TURN BACK ON. TESTING RIGHT TURN SIGNAL AGAIN SHUT OFF HEALIGHTS. AGAIN, ONLY WAY TO GET THEM BACK ON WAS TO FLASH AND RELEASE HI-BEAMS.

WHILE IN PARK CHILD WAS ABLE TO PUT CAR IN PARK, CONSUMER INDICATED THAT IN ORDER TO PUT A CAR IN PARK CONSUMER HAS TO PUT FOOT ON THE BRAKE. BUT CHILD WAS STANDING IN THE SEAT AND PUT CAR INTO DRIVE AND IT WENT INTO A CHAINED FENCE. CONSUMER SAYS WHEN BRINGING IT OUT OF PARK OR DRIVE IT MAKES A LOUD POPING NOISE. TOOK TO DEALER, THEY CAN'T FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING. MJS

ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. CAR WAS NOT RUNNING AT THE TIME. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN HOME FROM WORK, (ABOUT A 20 MINUTE RIDE), AND HAD BEEN PARKED FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES WHEN THE FIRE OCCURED.

THE PASSENGER DOOR CONTACT WAS CORRODED CAUSING THE INTERIOR LIGHTS TO COME ON AND AN ALART ON THE DASH THAT THE DOOR IS "OPEN". REPORTED TO DEALERSHIP BUT NEVER REPAIRED OR REPLACED UNDER WARANTY. THIS IS A DANGER TO THE DRIVER THAT THE DOOR IS OPEN AND DISTRACKS THE DRIVERS ATTENTION TO IMMEDIATELY TURN AROUND TO VISUALLY CHECK. THIS ALERT ALSO CAUSES THE INTERIOR LIGHTS TO AUTOMATICALLY COME ON WHEN THIS "OPEN DOOR" INDICATION IS GIVEN. THIS IS ALSO A DISTRACTION. BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND FORD WERE CONTACTED BUT NOTHING WAS DONE. I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD PRODUCT AGAIN. *AK

DRIVER'S SEATBELT DOES NOT RETRACT, WHICH WON'T PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF A CRASH. DEALER WILL REPLACE DRIVER'S SEATBELT. PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

VEHICLE STALLED WHILE SITTING IDLE IN A DRIVE THROUGH RESTAURANT. ALSO HAPPENED 10 MONTHS EARLIER IN MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN.TOLD BY FORD SERVICE THAT PROGRAMMING ERROR IN COMPUTER THAT CAUSES SYSTEM TO SHUT OFF AT LOW OR IDLE SPEED. SERVICE HAS REPROGRAMMED COMPUTER AND SAYS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. WHY ISN'T THIS A RECALL ISSUE IF THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS AND POTENTIAL FOR INJURY IS GREAT?

THE FRONT BRAKES, ROTORS AND PADS WERE COMPLETELY WORN OUT BUT CONSUMER HAD NO WARNING OF THE FAILED COMPONENTS. NLM

FAILURE OF THE PADS AND ROTORS CAUSE NOISE WHILE BRAKING. YH

I BELIEVE YOU SHOULD ADD THE FIRESTONE TIRES THAT WERE STANDARD EQUIPMENT ON THE 1998 WINDSTAR TO YOUR INVESTIGATION. THE CIRCUMSTANCES SEEM PRETTY SIMILAR.OUR TIRE SHREDDED ON HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH . TREAD WRAPPED AROUND REAR AXLE. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES BUT THIS OCCURED IN A RURAL AREA IN 100 DEGREE WEATHER. IF NOT FOR MOBILE PHONE AND SERVICE WE COULD HAVE DIED OF HEAT STROKE. CAR WAS TOWED BY AAA TO SHERIDAN, WYOMING GOODYEAR DEALER. WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS DEFINITE TIRE FAILURE. FIRESTONE DEALER IN LAS VEGAS EXAMINED TREAD AND REFUSED TO REPLACE AT NO CHARGE OR ADMIT DEFECT. AFTER MANY CALLS AND COMPLAINTS, FIRESTONE CUSTOMER SERVICE FINALLY REFUNDED US $40.00 AND NOTHING TOWARDS THE TOWING OR OTHER COSTS INVOLVED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P20570RX15 )

TRANSMISSION "PUMP FAILED, CAUSING PLANET GEARS TO COME APART. *AK

REAR TIRE BLEW.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

DRIVER SIDE WIPER FAILED DURING A MAJOR DOWNPOUR IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. VISIBILITY WAS NEXT TO ZERO. MANAGED TO GET VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. IN CHECKING WIPER ARM I FOUND THE NUT ATTACHING THE WIPER ARM TO THE WIPER MOTOR ASSEMBLY HAD COME LOSE. BECAUSE OF THE LOOSE CONDITION, WIPER ARM WOULD NOT MOVE MORE THAN 1-2 INCHES. A SIMPLE WASHER OR LOCK WASHER UNDER THE NUT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS FAILURE.

WHILE STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION, THE TRANSMISISON SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT DRIVERS KNOWLEDGE, RESULTING IN VEHICLE ROLLING BACKWARDS WHEN THE BRAKE WAS RELEASED, SHIFTING TO PARK THEN BACK TO DRIVE REENGAGED THE FORWARD GEAR. NLM

FOR NO APPARENT REASON THE VEHICLE JUST CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE FIRST TIME A COMPUTER ADJUSTMENT WAS MADE, THE SECOND TIME(JULY 23RD) THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS BEING SERVICE FOR THE THIRD TIME(AUG 5TH) FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. EACH TIME THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

ABS BRAKES FAILED. ALSO ABS LIGHT COMES ON/OFF. *AK

NO SUMMARY

TRANSMISSION WAS STUCK IN SECOND GEAR AND WOULD NOT SHIFT TO DRIVE. THIS CAUSED A NEAR COLLISION WITH TRAFFIC BECAUSE OF LACK OF AVAILABLE POWER WHILE MERGING INTO INTERSTATE TRAFFIC. PRIOR TO AND STILL ONGOING IS THE TRANSMISSIONS TENDENCY TO KICK OR SLIP.FORD REFUSES TO AKNOWLEDGE ANY INHERENT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THE FORD WINDSTAR AND HAS NOT OFFERED A REMEDY TO CURRENT PROBLEMS.

WHEN I STOPPED MY VAN, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF AND THE DASHBOARD SHOWED AN OPEN DOOR, THOUGH ALL DOORS WERE TIGHTLY CLOSED. THIS CONDITION PERSISTED EVEN WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. WE HAD TO PULL THE INTERIOR FUSE SO WE COULD DRIVE AT NIGHT - A DANGEROUS SITUATION INDEED! THE SAN JOSE (CALIFORNIA) MERCURY NEWSPAPER HAS AN "ACTION LINE" COLUMN WHERE I SAW OTHERS WHO HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS MINE. I TOOK IN MY CAR TO A FORD DEALER, BUT THEY CHARGED ME $85 FOR NOT EVEN FINDING THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE IT. I THINK FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS BUT WON'T ISSUE A RECALL. PLEASE HELP! *AK

TRANSMISSION WILLNOT ENGAGE WHILE IN PARK. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD CONSUMER THAT THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

A "BEEP" NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, NO WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH, AND DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE WHERE THE BEEP NOISE CAME FROM, THEN A FIRE STARTED DUE TO ALTERNATOR WIRING BURNING. FINALLY, DEALER INSISTED THAT THE BEEPING NOISE WAS AN INDICATOR FOR A PROBLEM, BUT NOT PART OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. *AK *ML

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

SPEED CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE WHILE DRIVING 75MPH. I TRIED TURNING IT OFF FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AS WELL AS BY BRAKING. AT THIS POINT I REALIZED I HAD NO BRAKING POWER AND MANAGED TO USE AN EXIT RAMP SLOWING DOWN BUT NOT STOPPING COMPLETELY BY USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. ENGINE WAS STILL REVVING AT 75MPH WHEN I SHUT IT OFF. CAR WAS TOWED TO TAMIAMI FORD IN NAPLES,FL. THEY COULD NOT FIN ANY PROBLEMS. TEST DROVE AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITHOUT INCIDENT. PLEASE NOTIFY ME AS TO ANY SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THANK GOD MY CHILDREN AND I WERE NOT INJURED.

WHILE GOING AROUND A TURN AND YIELDING BRAKES HARDENED AND STEERING LOCKED UP FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS. DEALER COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. BUT IF THE CAR HAD DIED, THEY PROBLEY COULD HAVE FOUND THE PROBLEM EASIER. IF DRIVING AT A FASTER SPEED AND STEERING LOCKED UP THERE COULD BE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *AK

ON NUMEROUS OCCASSIONS THIS VEHICLE WHILE STALL WHEN COMING TO A STOP (STOP SIGN/TRAFFIC LIGHTS). THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP OVER 8 TIMES AND WAS LAST WORKED ON FOR THIS PROBLEM IN JUNE 2000. THEN IN JULY 200 WHILE ON VACATION THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED AND THE EMISSION CONTROL FAILED. ALTHOUGH THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN REPAIRING THE PROBLEMS THE VEHICLE HAS LOST IT'S CREDITABILITY AS BEING SAFE.

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, ONE INCIDENT RESULTED IN MINOR DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. MJS

FORD MO SAID THEY CANNOT FIX MY SUSPENSION PROBLEM AFTER WORKING ON MY CAR SINCE THE FIRST SERVICE CALL. THIS HAS BEEN SINCE 1999. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY SERVICE CALLS, PARTS REPLACED, AND I WAS TOLD THAT IF I TRADED IN THE CAR THAT THEY WOULD GIVE ME $3,000 TOWARD ANOTHER CAR, WHICH AMOUNTED TO ME BUYING A NEW VAN FOR THE REGULAR LISTED PRICE. I HAVE BEEN PUTTING UP WITH THESE EXCUSES THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT MY CAR AS A TRADE IN AS THEY COULD'NT RESELL IT. NOW I AM STUCK WITH A CAR THAT I CAN'T SELL AS IT IS DEFECTIVE. WHAT IS A CONSUMER LIKE MYSELF TO DO ABOUT THIS. I HAVE GONE TO ARBITRATION AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T HELP. THE LEMON LAWS ONLY APPLIES TO THE FIRST YEAR OF PURCHASE AND I SPENT THE FIRST YEAR WITH FORD TELLING ME THEY WERE WORKING ON MY PROBLEM AND THAT IT WOULD ALWAYS BE COVERED BY WARRANTY. NOW THEY TELL ME THEY CAN'T FIX IT. THE CAR HAS SUCH A BAD SHIMMY, POUNDING IN THE FRONT END THAT NO ONE WOULD TAKE THIS VAN AS A TRADE.*AK

TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO "STICK" IN NUETRAL AND THEN VIOLENTLY SHIFTS INTO 1ST. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER 2 TIMES. BOTH TIMES DEALER SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG!! *AK

AN UNEXPECTED TOTAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEM FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE THE MINIVAN WAS BEING DRIVEN ALONG INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT 65MPH. THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM HAD TO BE TOTALLY REPLCAED. AN UNEXPECTED INCIDENCE OF TOO SHORT LIFE SPAN OF A TRANSMISSION SYSTEM IN A NEW MINIVAN.

THREE OF RIM WHEEL BASES HAVE CRACKED. THIS CAUSED A CLONKING SOUND WHEN DRIVING. DEALR HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK WHEELS USUALLY CRACK 6-7 MONTHS AFTER BRAKES WERE SERVICED. TIRE TREAD SEPARATION AND OUT OF ROUND ARE CAUSED BY THE FAULTY WHEELS. *YH

DOOR SENSOR REPLACED IN 1999 "JUST GOES BAD" RICK HUNT FORD IN WARRENTON VA. SAYS.WENT BAD AGAIN. INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON UP TO TWENTY MPH. SOMETIMES THE CHIMES ARE ON THE SAME WAY , SOMETIMES THE CHIMES AND ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND CUT OFF AGAIN AT20 MPH, BUT DIP DOWN TO15 MPH AND THEY ALL START ON AGAIN. SOMETIMES THE DOOR LOCKS POP TO UNLOCK POSITION ALSO.DO I HAVE THE ONLY VEHICAL LIKE THIS?*AK

THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING AND WENT INTO SAFE MODE. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT DOWNSHIFT AND RACED AT HIGH RPM. TORQUE CONVERTER HAD WORN OUT.

AT TAKE-OFF FROM STOP LIGHT, TRANSMISSION FAILED WITH NO WARNING. PUT INTO NEUTRAL, AND GOT STUTTER AND GRIND FROM TRANSAXLE. SHOP INFORMED ME THAT THE PLANETARY GEARS HAD DISINTERGRATED. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM OR DEFECT WITH THE FORD 3.8L/AXOD COMBO, AS THESE TYPES OF PROBLEMS DATE BACK TO 1988 AND THE TAURUS/SABLE COMPATIBLE ASSEMBLIES. *AK

CONSUMER IS DRIVING AND PULLED UP TO AN INCLINE, IF HE TAKES HIS FOOT OFF THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE WILL ROLL BACKWARDS, HE'S ALSO DRIVEN TWO OTHER WINDSTARS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. AFTER DUPLICATING THE PROBLEM FORD SAID THAT THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM, THIS IS NORMAL.

THE TRANSMISSION WOULD DISENGAGE BY ITSELF FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL POSITION. WHEN ACCELERATING, TRANSMISSION WOULD POP OUT OF POSITION. IN LOW GEAR, IT WOULD BE ROUGH SHIFTING. ALSO, GAS PEDAL WOULD VIBRATE. BEEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES FOR PROBLEM BEFORE FINALLY LOCATING & ESTABLISHING THAT THROTTLE CABLE WAS LOOSE. MECHANIC REPAIRED LOOSE THROTTLE CABLE. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROX. 5MPH WHEN THE COIL SPRING BROKE, ONCE MECHANIC CHECKED THERE WAS RUSTOVER HALF OF THE SPRING, ON 1/4 OF AN IN. WAS LEFT.

2 OF 4 WHEELS ON OUR WINDSTAR DEVELOPED WHEEL LEAKS ON THE WELD LINE JOINING THE TIRE BEAD FLANGE TO THE CENTER HUB SECTION OF THE WHEEL (ORIGINAL SUSPICION WAS TIRE OR VALVE STEM LEAK, BUT SOAPING RIM SHOWS AIR BUBBLING THROUGH WELD). FIRST FAILED WHEEL REPLACED BY DEALER. SECOND WHEEL REPLACED BY LOCAL GARAGE (DEALER WANTED $50 DEDUCTABLE) AND IS AVAILABLE FOR EXAMINATION. I'VE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A DEFECT, BUT FORD DEALER MECHANIC VOLUNTEERED THAT THEY'VE "SEEN WINDSTAR WHEELS LEAK". GARAGE REPLACING SECOND WHEEL MADE SIMILAR COMMENT. A FRIEND WITH 1996 WINDSTAR HAD TWO WHEELS FAIL WITH SAME PROBLEM. DEALER REJECTED CLAIM OF ACCELERATED TIRE WEAR CAUSED BY FIRST FAILURE ($80 REPLACEMENT COST). SECOND TIRE HAS WEAR ON OUTER EDGES AND WILL NEED PREMATURE REPLACEMENT ($80!). AS A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT (LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE DUE TO WHEEL LEAKAGE COULD LEAD TO TIRE FAILURE AND POTENTIAL LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL) FORD LOGICALLY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL COSTS RELATED TO CORRECTING THIS DEFECT. BASED ON THE LIMITED SAMPLE I'VE SEEN (4 OF 8 WHEELS ON TWO VANS FAILED; FACTORY AND INDEPENDENT MECHANICS SPECIFICALLY AWARE OF PROBLEM WITH WINDSTAR WHEELS), LOGICALLY QUALIFIES IT AS AN EPIDEMIC FAILURE (ALBEIT WITH A LOW SAMPLING CERTAINTY, PENDING EXPANSION OF THE SAMPLE BASE). IT'S LIKELY THAT FORD MOTOR CO. HAS SERVICE RECORDS TO CONFIRM THESE OBSERVATIONS.

THE TRANSMISSION JUMPS STONGLY WHEN ACCELERATING AND BREAKING AT SLOW SPEEDS, HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER TWICE. BOTH TIMES THEY SAY IT DRIVES FINE BUT THAT FORD KNOWS OF PROBLEM ON WINDSTAR TRANSMISSIONS AND ARE WORKING ON A SOLUTION. I ASKED DEALER WHAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO DO IN THE MEANTIME AND HE SAID WAIT. I AM CONCERNED WITH SAFETY, AND THAT THIS JUMPING WILL CAUSE OTHER PROBLEMS IN THE ENGINE. I TOLD SERVICE MANAGER THIS AT DEALER AND HE SAID HOPEFULLY FORD WILL RECALL BEFORE SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENS TO MY ENGINE. *AK

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TRANSMISSION SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL WHILE AT A STOP. IN THIS INSTANCE, TRANSMISSION SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 M.P.H., CAUSING DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD ON A STATE ROUTE. *AK

NOTED PROBLEM ONLY WHEN GAS TANK WAS FILLED, SMELLED GAS, THOUGHT IT WAS FROM VENT LINE - AFTER A FEW MORE TANK FILLS - NOTICED GAS LEAKING ON GROUND DURING TANK FILL-UP. PROBLEM WAS FIXED 07/29/1999 AT BROWN MOTORS PETOSKEY, MI - THIS COULD BE A VARY SERIOUS PROBLEM - COULD CAUSE FIRES AT GAS STATION, HOME GARAGE'S, ECT. THIS PROBLEM WAS THERE WHEN WE BOUGHT THE VAN AS IT WAS NEVER FULL DURING TEST DRIVING - STARTED SMELLING GAS FUMES WHEN WE WOULD FILL TANK UP AND UNTILL THE FUEL LEVEL WOULD DROP DOWN LOW ENOUGH NOT TOO LEAK OUT THE O-RING SEAL.