Transmission Failure problems of the 1999 Ford Windstar

Shifted from park to drive and entered into traffic lane. Pressed down on gas pedal but all that happened was engine revved up but vehicle would not go forward. Luckily there was light traffic or I would have been hit. A helpful person pushed me to a safe place to park. I started the car and found that only reverse worked. No forward motion when put in drive, 2 or 1. I checked transmission fluid level and it was at proper level had vehicle towed to my house. Searched online and found this is a common issue with 1999 Windstars. Called a transmission place and told them what happened and was told I likely had suffered a transmission failure and needed a new transmission. I'm the second owner and the vehicle has apx 125,000 miles on it.

Took van in for latest recall, picked up with check transmission light on - was not on when we dropped van off for repair. Transmission failed shortly afterward.

Complete transmission failure at high speed on highway. Sudden hot smell coming from vehicle. Pulled off highway under power, no appearance of smoke, fluid, or other issue. Attempted to re-enter highway and found that vehicle would go forward with selector in "n"-no other gear positions worked. Vehicle moved to safety off highway (Ford dealership). Complete transmission failure after moving to dealership. Note: this is the second transmission failure in this vehicle. Original transmission was replaced in 2001 with Ford rebuilt trans by Ford dealership.

Only 28,000 miles on car driven by elderly father a few miles every day for past 7 years. No indication of problem with transmission before this incident. Pulled from stop onto state road at point where a blind curve/no site distance for oncoming traffic-speed limit 45 mph. Car jerked forward and transmission failed, no forward gears, leaving car sideways across 2 lanes of oncoming traffic. Got car to go in reverse to get off road which created an even more dangerous situation for me and all oncoming traffic. Told will cost $2,500 for re-built transmission. Ford sent standard reply to my complaint suggesting go to dealership and have checked out. Amazing that no recall has been issued or anything been done after seeing this and numerous websites with same complaints. So many of us lucky. How many deaths does it take before action will be taken? have been a Ford owner for years and will never, ever buy Ford again.

1999 Windstar ,98k, complete transmission failure. Went into reverse , but not into any forward gear. I've meticulously maintained this vehicle, never towed. Have owned cars for 30 yrs, never had a vehicle this bad. Will never buy Ford again.

The contact states that 1999 Ford Windstar lx had a transmission failure. The van was at a red light and when the owner pushed the accelerator to go, there was no power. The owner had to push the van to the side of the road. The van has not been taken in for repairs. There are no available openings in dealerships. The owner has not contacted Ford.

My transmission failed in my 99 Ford Windstar with onlly 55,ooo. I stoped at a stop sign, when I hit the gas I heard a thud and the van would not go forward. I only had reverse. I hear this is a common failure of Windstar vans.

I drove my 1999 Ford Windstar lx with my mother and my family (my 2 children, my nephew and my daughter's friend) to erie, PA to visit my sister's family for 2 days, then to splash lagoon for 2 days. This was a 230 mile trip, each way, from my home is elmira, NY. We arrived there without incident. All fluids were checked before we left and were in prime condition. The following day, we got in our vehicles to go see the 15 miles of beaches along lake erie. About a mile down their road, we went to cross a 4-lane high-way, when my vehicle stopped dead in the middle, almost killing all of us because traffic was coming from both directions. My vehicle woudn't move forward no matter what. The transmission failed, abruptly, without any advance notice, whatsoever! after much online research, I soon realized my unfortunate situation isn't unique to Ford Windstar owners! this "sudden transmission failure" is very common. We could have all been killed. My brother-in-law had to drive my vehicle back to his house in reverse, as that was the only gear that worked. After the failure, the fluids were checked again, and all was still full and in good condition (we saved these), however, he thought that maybe the filter might need to be changed, so he did so, replacing the used transmission fluid with brand new. Knowing we should not have work done to the vehicle for risk of voiding the $1,948. 00 extended service warranty I purchased from the dealership at the time I bought the vehicle (less than 3 years ago), we decided to have the vehicle towed home.

Car only has 72000 miles. Had car at dealership from March 17- March 24 for various problems. They replaced a tie rod, 2 control arms for $1100 and when that did not fix the problem, replaced the power steering pump and the steering rack. Car was still not right - had appt to bring back in on Friday April 1st. On March 30th, I was accelerating at a stoplight and the vehicle had an abrupt transmission failure. (when we got it back from the dealer it had a vibrating issue but we did not have warning this was coming) just a huge bang and then it wouldn't move. The police had to help me remove the vehicle from the intersection and assist with my two small children. It had to be towed at my expense $70. Warranty expired at 60k. Took it to another repair establishment (due to issues with the dealer) - will be $2200 to rebuild entire transmission. Will be contacting manufacturer.

While driving 45 mph transmission failed. As a result, the forward gears became inoperable.

Power train:automatic transmission transmission failed at 63,000 mi. Mechanic informed us the planetary assembly has catastrophically failed,total will be about $2,500 for a rebuilt trans. Preformed all maintance for the trans. At 40,000 mi. This should not happen at such low mileage. Will Ford have the integrity to stand behind its products? will NHTSA force a recall due to the high number of failures on these vans? ps. Ford says no to any help. I even offered to pay for labor if they paid for the transmission. Still no.

I was stopped at a 4-way stop, started to accelerate and heard a loud bang from the engine compartment. I then had no forward gears, but reverse still worked. The vehicle was towed to a local Ford dealer, who informed me that I needed a new (remanufactured) transmission at $2500. The vehicle has only 43,423 miles and has been regularly maintained. I contacted the Ford customer relationship center, but was offered no assistance or "goodwill" because the warranty period had expired. The number of 1999 Windstar transmission failures reported at NHTSA and other websites appears to be inordinately high.

The transmission failed at 56,000 miles and the second transmission has failed with 39,000 mile on it. Ford and the dealership are refusing to do anything. There is no acknowledgement on their part that there is an inherent problem with 1999 Windstar transmissions. After much internet research< I say there is !.

Driving locally at low speed, upon accelerating from a stop light, the vehicle experienced an abrupt transmission failure. No prior symptoms, just a loud bang and then it would not move forward and had to be towed. Dealer where the van was purchased and serviced at offered no recourse as I am out-of-warranty! in process of getting estimates to replace transmission.

Automatic transmission failure at 75000 miles. Sudden loss of forward gears. Reverse works. This transmission was replaced at 21,000 miles and has been rebuilt at the Ford dealer as well. The Windstar transmission is a lemon.

Complete transmission failure at 75,000 miles. Relaced transmission totaling $2,544. 00.

The transmission failed.

While driving, the transmission failed which caused the vehicle to only move in reverse.

While driving the transmission failed while the consumer attempted to down shift.

Sudden transmission failure.

Sudden transmission failure on a 1999 Ford Windstar. The transmission suddenly failed while being driven by a Ford dealership technician while test driving the vehicle after replacing a defective air intake manifold. Vehicle mileage was 32621 miles. While there was no accident envolved, the suddeness of the failure of a major drive component presents the hazard potential that needs to be investigated. An internet search has revealed significant numbers of complaints of similar premature and sudden failures on this vehicle and other model vehicles that use the transmission found in this vehicle. This complaint is being filed in order to bring it into the federal data base in order to determine if a recall of this transmission is warranted. I have the replaced components and would like to submit them for test and analysis if this agency is interested.

Transmission failure.

1999 Ford Windstar with approximately 59,000 miles had unexpected transmission failure while driving at low speed. Vehicle lurched "like it had hit a box" while accelerating from a stop sign. Vehicle was immediately stopped to check for any debris; none found. Upon re-entering vehicle, it could not be driven forward in "drive. " vehicle could only be driven in "reverse" gear. Vehicle towed to Ford dealership and it was determined that entire transmission needed to be replaced. Preventive maintenance was performed on the transmission by same Ford dealership in November 2002. Two of our in-laws also own 1999 Ford Windstars, one of whom is now on it's third transmission, and the other is currently experiencing occasional "slipping" of the transmission during acceleration.

1999 Ford Windstar with 63,000 miles transmission failure.

Automatic transmission failed @ 71,000 miles, 3 1/2 yr old vehicle. Reverse still worked, forward gears acted as though in neutral.

The transmission failed on our 1999 Ford Windstar while my wife was driving down the road causing her to have to unexpectedly pull over. The van only has 35k miles on it. We have to replace the transmission after so few miles. After perusing the internet, I discovered that this is a common problem on this vehicle.

Premature transmission failure with no warning. Dt.

Transmission "lurched" infrequently from day of purchase. I was told this was normal for a Windstar. Transmission failed suddenly and without warning while in traffic. No accident occured but easily could have. Dt.

Vehicle stops moving while driving at highway speed of 70 mph. This is second transmission failure within 69,000 mile of wear.

Transmission failed, seal broken; and transmission fluid pumped onto highway, caught fire under engine compartment; transmission to be replaced; common occurrence with this model; please recall.

My wife called me at work stating that there was a grinding sound coming from the van as she parked it in the garage. I went home and popped the hood and did a visual inspection and discovered nothing. I was going to stand in front of the van and listen while she started it to see if I could pinpoint the sound. She was concerned that I should not be near it in case "something blew up". I agreed and decided to start it myself and see how it sounded. As I started the van it surged forward (while in park), made a terrible grinding sound, and I had to slam on the brakes to stop it. It just touched the chest freezer in front of it in the garage. I immediately shut it off. Started it again and there was no sound and the engine run smoothly. Tried all the gears and got nothing. Had it towed to the dealer who tore it down and stated the planatery gear had seized. Had I stood in front of the van to listen as my wife started it I would have been smashed as it surged forward. Seems very dangerous for the vehicle to surge like that, even if the transmission fails.

Transmission failure started while on highway @ 60 mph. Sounded like muffler dragging on pavement, except it came from front of van. Was able to drive to nearest Ford dealer -- about 12 miles. Dealer reported transmission "full of debris" and replaced it (part # xf2z-7000-barm).

Abrupt transmission failure without any previous symptoms - failed to engage forward or reverse.

Transmission failed. Yh.

The transmission failed and the consumer brought the vehicle to the dealer for service as part of recall, the dealer indicated the recall was not transmission related and wanted to charge the consumer for fixing it.