Five problems related to automatic transmission gear indicator have been reported for the 1996 Ford Windstar. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
While driving the vehicle the gear shift disengages. The dealer has been notified.
When the owner bought the car in 1996 he noticed that the gear shifter was hard to remove from park. The gear shifter developed a lot of play. When the car was in drive the gear position indicator showed that the car was in reverse or neutral. When the car was in reverse the gear position indicator showed park. The owner was concerned that the car may roll out of gear becuase it was usually parked on a small hill. The owner took vehicle to the dealership for the first time in 1996. The dealership did not know what was wrong. The transmission was replaced in 1997 while under warranty. The owner was unsure if the transmission was replaced. The owner stated that even after replacement of transmission, the vehicle always had the the gear position indicator problem. The owner took vehicle to the dealership a couple of years ago, and the mechanic told him that the car was hard to shift into gear. Then the owner checked and saw that there was a recall on the transmission. The owner's vehicle was not included in the recall.
Transmission jumped out of the park position/rolling backwards down hill, causing accident.
Gearshift sticks on occasions.
1996 Windstar minivan park pawl pin is defective. Gear moved out of park hitting consumer. A recall had been issued regarding the problem. However the consumer was told her vehicle was not included in the recall.