Transmission Fluid Leaking problems of the 2001 Ford Windstar

Ford Windstar seems to be a good vehicle at first. With age numerous problems continue to happen. Service shops regard problems as common for a Ford Windstar. I think Ford ignores the problems. My husband and I are loyal Ford owners, I don't know how much longer we will continue. Currently the abs& brake lights are on. Transmission leaked out all of the fluid while driving, had to rebuild trans. Speedometer doesn't work properly when brake lights are on. Engine light is on, numerous codes for this problem.

2001 Ford Windstar. I took it to the dealership to have some safety recalls done. A few days later I was driving along and smoke started boiling out from under the hood so I pulled over and by the time I got stopped and got the kids out safely it quit smoking. I raised the hood and could see some burned wiring under the brake master cylinder. We got back in and drove on then the transmission started shifting wrong and the brake pedal didn't feel right,it felt spongy. I took it to my mechanic who is ase master and Ford senior master certified. He replaced the trans range sensor and told me that the fire was caused by a defective cruise control deactivation switch leaking brake fluid. He replaced the switch and advised me to take it back to the dealer and have them do the recall which is what they were supposed to have done in the first place. He said that it also had a damaged abs module and wiring and that was part of the recall. I called them and they said they only did the rear axle recall that was on the letter I got from Ford. My mechanic said that they were required by law to complete all safety recalls while it was in their possesion. I am going to take it back but I'm afraid to drive it cause it hardly has any brakes. My mechanis said it was because all the brake fluid leaked out of the switch and got air in the lines.

The contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. While driving approximately 30 mph the contact heard a rubbing noise underneath the rear end of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who confirmed that the rear axle was bent. The rear axle was replaced by the independent mechanic. The failure has not recurred since the vehicle was repaired; however, transmission fluid has leaked out of the vehicle. The transmission leak was not diagnosed by the dealer. The failure and current mileages were 123,000.

When driving van in hot weather or going up steep hills or grades the transmission will start leaking out transmission fluid. Enough will be coming out to create a visible cloud of smoke behind the vehicle as it is hitting the exhaust system. Had new trans axle seal installed but the problem still is there. If you park the van for about 45 minutes it quits leaking and you can proceed. For some reason the fluid gets so hot it is basically boiling out of the transmission.

Golf mill Ford dealership induced transmission failure. Vehicle taken in for a recall and the dealership recommended a transmission flush, injector flush, throttle body service,power steering flush and fuel filter. On Feb. 19, 2004 had a transmisson flush and throttle body serviced at golf mill Ford. It was never written or verbally told to me that I had any transmission problems prior to this service. After having this service I experienced a number of problems on the way home. The car ran rough, it hesitated will stopping a stop light, there was a mist that came from the front vent, the car started but then quickly cut off, and lastly when I went start the car I could hear a loud whosh sound which scared me. On Feb 26, 2004, I took the car back to gold mill Ford where I did inform them of all the problems I was having. After inspecting the car they stated nothing was wrong. The car was safe to drive. On March 1, 2004, while on the road I noticed fluid was leaking from the car. I went to a ray skillman Ford dealership in grenwood indiana they stated that there was a leak around transmission seal & the pan was not tighted properly. Tony at ray skillman Ford also stated that golf mill did not place enough transmission fliud in the van. Golf mill Ford instructed tony to put some liquid transmission sealer in transmission & send us on our way. At the time tony told us he did not feel comfortable with doing so. Golf mill felt as though they did nothing wrong. However after waiting eight hours at the dealership tony descided to put the sealer in because he did not want to keep us any longer. After leaving indiana, 4:oo am on March 2, 2004 the car stopped on the highway. The car had to be towed 600 miles at my expense. I have contacted the Ford motor customer care and golf mill Ford, they feel that because I am not in warranty that there is nothing that they are going to do. It has been two months and I am paying for a car I can not drive.

We purchased our 2001 Ford Windstar with approximately 24,000 miles on it. One week after we purchased the van the indicator light for the air bags would not go off. We took the van to the dealer and they fixed the problem. Shortly after that incident the rear heat and a/c would not operate. We took the van to the local dealer again and they repaired the problem under warranty. A few weeks after that the check engine light came on and they tried to fix it but it came back on. They charged us for that visit. The check engine light is still on we now have around 70,000 miles on the van. When the van had accumulated about 35,000 miles the transmission started shuddering. The van would shake all over during driving. Recently I had to have the transmission replaced. There is a leak around the passenger door on the left side of the van. There is a clicking noise when I brake that no one seems to know what it is or how to fix it. Now there is a loud humming noise coming from the automatic power steering fluid pump. It is so loud that it can be heard even when the radio is turned on. It used to be loud when I turned a corner or onto another street but now it is loud when I am sitting at a stop light. When we first purchased the van there was a foul odor coming from the venting system. I asked the service tech at the local dealership about this but he did not know why this was happening. We still have an odor even after changing the filter twice for the vent system. We are very unhappy with our purchase and would never consider buying another Windstar.