Automatic Transmission Torque Converter problems of the 2001 Ford Windstar

I bought this vehicle in March of 2010. Two months after buying it I was driving home from l. A. And didn't notice until to late that the od off light was flashing. I had it towed to ammco and was told that the torque converter went out and that the trans had to be replaced. So this is what I had done. Since I had this replacement done with the transmission I have had the od off light flash on and off periodically. Every time the light comes on I run it back over to ammco and they test it to find the same code over and over, torque converter/clutch error. They have since replaced the transmission a second time, contacted the manufacturer on several occassions and spoke with several sources of theirs and they cannot find the problem. They have since told me that there is nothing else that can be done and think that it may be caused by the abs/brake light occassionally coming on.

When the transmission got hot, after about 30-40 miles of driving the steering wheel starts to shimmy like the wheels are going to fall off. Was told that there was a flaw in the design of a bearing that rides on the main shaft of trans, the one that connects the trans to the torque converter and engine. It was not able to handle to load and cuts a groove in to the shaft. This allows the trans to leak. Once the grove gets deep the bearings can fall out and cause more damage to the transmission. The affects of the transmission getting hot could cause the driver to lose control of vehicle or become stranded in the roadway, causing a collision. Was told the cost of repair would be $1500-$2500 depending on the amount of damage done to internal components.

Mid-summer vacation trip from west virginia to north carolina. Within a few miles of return to west virginia the transmission started to leak and eventually lost approximately 8 quarts of fluid. Major slippage started within 6 miles of home. We managed to limp to our driveway before the slippage was so bad we could not move the vehicle forward. I installed 8 quarts of fluid and drove it to repair shop -- no sign of leakage on that 15 mile trip. I subsequently drove the vehicle to a transmission repair shop, another 15 miles with no leakage. The transmission repair shop pulled the transmission, replaced the front seal and replaced the torque converter (slight groove on shaft that repairman said would cause the new seal to fail if the torque converter was not replaced). Vehicle had just under 65,000 miles on it when failure occurred. Note: the seal failure appears to be related to an overheating condition. This is made obvious by the fact that no leaks occurred during two 15-mile trips subsequent to failure and before repair was conducted. Anothe downside to this experience is that after spending $1100. 00 for the repair there is no warranty because the transmission repair shop did not disassemble and inspect the transmission, which would have been another major expense. The transmission function appears to be ok but I won't be trusting this vehicle again for long trips out of town. Given the 65,000 mile failure and internet history of low-mileage transmission failures without resolutions from Ford, this will be the last Ford I will own.

On 9-15-05 my wife made a round trip of 70mi. The next day there was a large pool of transmisssion fluid on the garage floor. I had my auto repair check out the sourse of the leak,looked like a front seal on the transmission, I called sunland Ford was told its was out of warranty,this van only has 42,770 mi. The torque converter caused the trans to over heat and , blow the seal, the tranmission shop said this should never happen at this mileage,the trans had been serviced at the required time ,when they pulled the pan it was full of steel shavings,I had to have it rebuilt at a cost of $ 1554 this is real hard when you are retired, I sent Ford a letter w/ repair invoice on 9-24-05 they called on a Friday about month after I sent the letter said there were no recalls for my problem, and that is the way it stands as of now ! I see on the complaint search this is not the only complaint ,for trans problems and more, they should have to stand buy their claim of "built Ford tough" sorry I bought a Ford.

My 2001 Ford Windstar van had its transmission replaced at 47,400 miles. The reason that it failed was that the torque converter went and the transmission overheated. I spoke to the service manager and transmission technician about this and the technician said that it was a problem common to this model. I called Ford and was told that there wasn't anything that they could do for me. Transmissions should not go with less than 48. 000miles on them.

We took a 300 mile trip to chicago in our Windstar that we just purchased less than 2 months previously. While we were out of town, the van started acting up. When we would take off from a stop, the van would jerk and bounce like maybe the brakes were locked. We stopped driving it while we were up there until we had to leave. On our drive home, we were about 100 miles from home the o/d light came on. Then a little later, I noticed some type of liquid coming out the back. We tried to get home but at 90 miles from home the van totally quit moving. We were able to coast to the side of the road. Under the van was a large puddle of transmission fluid. After having it towed home ($240) we took it to a transmission shop. They had to replace a front seal and torque converter ($950). I'm filing this complaint because I have seen on the internet where the transmission seems to be a problem with the Windstar. Now the brake light and abs light come on occasionally and won't go off until it's turned off and restarted. This also seems to a big problem with the Windstars. I haven't taken it in for that yet but dreading it. This is a very nice vehicle and I am rather disappointed in it.