2003 Ford Windstar Powertrain & Transmission Problems

My family and I went to pull out of an entersection when the 03 Ford Windstar I purchased suddenly stopped pulling .almost getting rearended

On May 23rd 2022 I was driving on interstate 45 the speed limit through where I was driving was 75 all of a sudden with no warning no engine light on my transmission stopped working and I could not break I was able to safely get over thank goodness but there is a recall on my transmission which almost killed me that needs to be replaced

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTOR, FILTER, AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 172,000.

PURCHASED USED 2003 FORD WINDSTAR..IN 2005 ..WITH 30,000 MILES ..NOW HAS 107,000 MILES...AROUND TOWN DRIVING...GOT RECALLS..BROUGHT VEHICLE IN TO DEALER FOR REAR AXLE FIX.INSPECTED TWICE..AFTER ......BRACKETS INSTALLED TO STABILIZE AXLE WERE INITIALLY INSTALLED TOLD IF AXLE WAS BAD , FORD WOULD REPLACE..DID NOT REPLACE. BENTELER AXLE WHOLE PROBLEM FROM START.WEAK METAL SUBJECT TO FATIGUE .BRACKETS WERE A BAND-AID.ACTUALLY MAY HAVE MADE PROBLEM WORSE.......AXLE SNAPPED WHILE DRIVING AST LOW SPEED..AND WHILE TURNING........

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED 4 TIMES WITHIN 60K MILE INTERVAL WHILE FOLLOWING THE 30K TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSH. A FLASHING O/D LIGHT COMES ON AND THE TRANSMISSION WILL DIE OUT OF NOWHERE AND THE PAST FEW TIMES IT HAS BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 75 MPH WITH NO WARNING, SMOKE, LIGHTS, ETC. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION START SMOKING FROM THE ENGINE BAY EVEN THOUGH THE FLUID WAS CHANGED. NOW THERE IS A MASSIVE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK. THERE HAVE BEEN THOUSANDS OF OWNERS WHO REPORT A BAD DESIGN OF THE FORD WINDSTAR 2003 TRANSMISSION AND IT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. THE FORD FREESTAR WAS RECALLED FOR THE TRANSMISSION ISSUE, BUT THE WINDSTAR WASN'T. WHY NOT? BOTH MODELS USE THE SAME TRANSMISSION. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND FORD IS NOT WILLING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE AND RECALL THE VEHICLE TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH, TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED FROM THE VEHICLE ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AT CARRIAGE FORD DEALER LOCATED IN CLARKSVILLE, INDIANA WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A FRACTURED TRANSMISSION CASING IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V030000 (STRUCTURE) AND 10V385000 (SUSPENSION) PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH CASE NUMBER: CAS-13693189. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TRANSMISSION JUST STARTED SLIPPING OUT OF NOWHERE , STOPPED FOR A RED LIGHT PUT IN NUETRAL LIGHT TURNS GREEN AND I PUT IT INTO DRIVE AND START TO ROLL THE VAN WOULDNT BUDGE LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND LEAKING ALOT OF TRANSMISSION FLUID . PARKED IT IN NEARBY PARKING LOT ADDED TRANNY FLUID STILL NOT DRIVABLE AND WONT MOVE IN ANY GEAR.

I WAS INFORMED OF A RECALL TO THE REAR AXLE ON MY 2003 FORD WINDSTAR, I TOOK THE VAN INTO THE DEALER AND HAD THE INSPECTION DONE AS WELL AS THE BRACKETS INSTALLED. ( 15S27). THE VAN WAS THEN PARKED FOR APPROX 5 MONTHS AFTER THE PROCEDURE WAS DONE AS I WAS GIVEN A COMPANY VEHICLE. I WAS THEN LET GO FROM MY JOB AND BEGAN TO DRIVE THE OLD TRUSTY VAN THAT WE HAVE AROUND. 2 WEEKS INTO DRIVING IT ON A REGULAR BASIS I BEGAN TO SMELL AN ODOR OF BURNING RUBBER. NURSED THE VAN HOME AND BEGAN TO ATTEMPT TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. CHANGED THE WHEEL BEARING ON THE DRIVERS REAR AS I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. GOT IT ALL BACK TOGETHER AND FOUND OUT I STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. HAD AAA TOW THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY INFORMED ME THAT NOW MY AXLE WAS BROKEN, AND BY THE WAY THE RECALL WAS NOW OVER AND I WOULD BE REQUIRED TO PAY 1150.00 FOR A NEW ONE. THIS VEHICLE WAS NEVER CORRECTLY INSPECTED TO IDENTIFY THIS PROBLEM, IT WAS JUST SHUFFLED THROUGH AND NOW NOBODY WILL STAND UP AND MAKE THE REPAIR. I HAVE BEEN CHEATED BY THE SYSTEM. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS IS FAIR NOR DO I BELIEVE IT WAS EVER DONE CORRECTLY. *TR

2003 FORD WINDSTAR. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR VEHICLE REPAIR. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE SAFETY RECALL 15S27 WAS IMPROPERLY COMPLETED. THE AXLE CRACKED, THE INSTALLED BRACKET AND AXLE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. THE FAILURE HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. *JS

I WAS DRIVING AT HWY SPEED AND RPM'S WENT UP AND CAR SLOWED DOWN.STOPPED AND TRIED SHIFTING GEARS NO LUCK/MOVEMENT.HAD CAR TOWED.TRANSMISSION WIPED OUT SECOND TIME IN 14 MONTHS.FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP.

REAR AXLE BROKE IN HALF WHILE DRIVING,( BACKING UP IN DRIVEWAY) MY 2003 FORD WINDSTAR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE COOLING INDICATOR BECAME TRAPPED IN THE SPEEDOMETER AND GEAR SHIFTER AREA, CAUSING THE GEAR SHIFTER NOT TO ENGAGE IN PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

2003 FORD WINDSTAR. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE REAR AXLE FRACTURE RECALL NOTICE REPLACEMENT PARTS FAILURE. *SMD *CN

I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR ONE WEEK AGO WITH 96000 MILES ON IT. BECAUSE I PREVIOUSLY GOT A 1995 WINDSTAR WITH AX4S TRANSMISSION, RUNNING OVER 190000 MILES WITHOUT ANY TRANSMISSION ISSUES. I THEN BOUGHT THE 2003 CAR WITH RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE AND HOPE IT WOULD LAST THE SIMILAR LENGTH. THIS 2003 CAR IS WITH 4F50N TRANSMISSION. BOTH AX4S AND 4F50N TRANSMISSION ARE SIMILAR IN DESIGN AND DIMENSIONS BUT THEY PERFORM TOTALLY DIFFERENT. EVERY TIME DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF DRIVING THE 2003 CAR, THERE WERE ALWAYS A HARSH REVERSE WHEN THE ENGINE WAS WARM AFTER DRIVING A FEW MILES. I HAD TO PUMP THE GAS TO REACH A HIGH RPM JUST TO GAIN A LITTLE REVERSE ACTION. THAT MAKES ME TEMPORARILY TO PARK THE CAR WITH THE FRONT FACING THE DRIVING LANE AT SHOPPING PLAZA. BUT I COULD STILL CARRY OUT THE REVERSE ACTION ON THE DRIVEWAY DURING THE MORNING WHILE THE ENGINE IS COLD. IT MAY NOT BE THE MECHANICAL PROBLEM BUT THE HYDRAULIC ISSUE INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION.THERE MUST BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH SOME NOT-UP-TO-THE-SPEC INTERNAL TRANSMISSION COMPONENTS THAT ARE TEMPERATURE SENSITIVE WITH WARM TRANSMISSION FLUID, THUS AFFECTING THE NORMAL OPERATION OF CERTAIN COMPONENTS FOR THEIR INTENDED PERFORMANCE. I WILL BRING THE CAR FOR THE MECHANIC CHECK UP SOON. FORD DESIGNS, BUYS PARTS FROM SUPPLIERS, MANUFACTURES, FABRICATES, SELL, AND SERVICE THIS CAR. FORD SHOULD BEAR THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM AND INITIATE SOME ACTIONS SUCH AS NOTICES, WARNINGS, OR RECALL TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND GIVE CONSUMERS THE CONFIDENCE IN THEIR PRODUCT.

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR IN THE COUNTRY AND HEARD NOISES WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. WHEN SHE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING SHE STOPPED. DISCOVERED THE REAR AXLE HAD SPLIT WHERE IT HAD BEEN BEEFED UP WITH BRACKETS AFTER FORD'S 10S13 RECALL. FORD IS SAYING WE HAVE TO PAY $300 TO MAKE REPAIRS ON AN ISSUE THAT APPEARS TO US TO BE A DESIGN/MANUFACTURING FLAW, FOR WHICH THERE HAS BEEN 3 RECALLS ISSUED (IF I UNDERSTAND IT CORRECTLY). I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY?

2003 FORD WINDSTAR TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED AT 87343 MILES. I HAVE SEEN THOUSANDS OF REPORTS ON 2003 FORD WINDSTAR TRANSMISSIONS FAILING UNDER 70K MILES. TRANSMISSIONS SHOULD BE RECALLED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 118,000.

AFTER LOOKING UP ALL OF THE SERVICE REPORTS ON THIS VEHICLE, I AM BEGINNING TO RECOGNIZE THAT FORD HAS SOME EXPLAINING TO DO. WE HAVE A LARGE AMOUNT OF SERVICE REPORTS ON OUR VEHICLE ALONE THAT OUR DEALERSHIP IS NOT REPORTING. WE HAVE PAID MORE FOR SERVICE REPAIRS THAN WE DID PAYING FOR THE VEHICLE. OUR AC/HEAT JUST CLICKS W/O WORKING, POWER WINDOWS FRONT AND REAR DO NOT WORK, POWER DOOR LOCKS, LEAKING ROOFS, LEAKING DOORS, ABS LIGHTS ON, ENGINE LIGHTS ON, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ON, ENGINE SPUTTERS EVEN AFTER TWO COMPLETE OLD FASHIONED TUNE-UPS, COWL BROKEN, FRONT AND REAR AXLES SEVERELY CRACKED, SUB-FRAME CRACKED, REAR WIPER DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY, BRAKES NEED CONSTANT REPAIRS, ELECTRICAL SHORTS EVERYWHERE, HEAD LIGHTS, FOG LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS ALL NEED CONSTANT REPLACEMENTS, ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED 6 TIMES IN ONE DAY BECAUSE THEY WERE ALL FAULTY, BRAKE SWITCH UNDER BRAKE PEDAL NEEDS CONSTANT REPLACEMENT, CONSTANT WHEEL ALIGNMENTS, WHEEL SENSORS MISSING OR BROKEN, POWER SEAT BROKE AND THE DEALERSHIP TOLD US THAT IT WAS PETTY TO HAVE IT FIXED EVEN WITH A HEIGHT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DRIVERS, CONTROL MODULES REPLACED, MULTIPLE EXPENSIVE SENSOR FAILURES, SPARK PLUGS WITH WIRES REPLACED AT LEAST TWICE, STARTER REPLACED, PARKING BRAKE NEEDS TO BE WATCHED FOR SLIPPAGE BECAUSE IT CAN'T HOLD ON HILLS, INTERIOR LIGHTS BLINK IN A PATTERN WHILE DRIVING, CAN'T HAUL IT'S OWN TAILGATE, BATTERY REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES BY DEALERSHIP, POWER MIRROR SWITCH BROKE, MANY MORE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE AT OUR COST, P0302, P0305, P0316, C1235, C1185, C1198, C1194, C1254, C1246, C1250, C1242, C1214, C1210, C1103, C1410, C1404, B1318. WE WERE TOLD BY MANY SERVICE DEPARTMENTS A WHILE BACK THAT THESE CODES WERE NOT IMPORTANT. THEY CLEARED THE CODES EVERY TIME. THEIR RESPONSE TO THESE CODES WERE TO CLEAR THEM EVERY SINGLE TIME. WE ONLY HAVE ONE VEHICLE AND THIS IS IT. I AM A MOM W/CHILDREN. *TR

REAR AXLE RECALL WAS INSPECTED IN 2/17/2011 BY THE DEALER AND WAS NOTED NO CRACKS AND JUST PUT SOME BRACKETS. TODAY 3/23/2015 WENT FOR A STATE INSPECTION TO THE SAME DEALER AND FAILED DUE TO CRACK IN THE REAR AXLE(THAT WAS ONCE RECALLED). NOW DEALER/FORD STATES THAT THE RECALL WAS ONCE MANAGED, AND NO LONGER RESPONSIBLE FOR FURTHER ISSUES... IF AN ITEM WAS RECALLED, IT SHOULD BE FIXED WITHOUT COST. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS WITH FORD. THANK YOU *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS A POTHOLE ON THE ROAD, WHICH WAS DRIVEN OVER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL FRACTURED AND WAS DETACHED FROM THE AXLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR AXLE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V193000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE RECALL REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000. UPDATED 4/15/15*CN