Four problems related to transmission not engage have been reported for the 2003 Ford Windstar. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2003 Ford Windstar based on all problems reported for the 2003 Windstar.
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.
The car was driving down the road. No warning, the car would not engage. The engine would rev but the transmission was not working. Once on the side of the road, there was no forward or reverse. Nothing happened prior, the car was working fine. There are many complaints on this car on the internet. Ford needs to do something to remedy the problem. We are so thankful nothing worse happened, there were children in the car.
2003 Ford Windstar minivan vehicle had been driven to a workplace and parked for the day. Upon entering the vehicle to travel home, driver started vehicle normal and attempted to shift automatic transmission into gear to move from the parking space. The transmission would not engage into either drive (forward) or reverse (backward). Vehicle was towed to a garage and then to a transmission shop. Estimate to repair the transmission exceeds $2500. The transmission had shown no signs of slippage or other visible, audible and/or shifting issues. Since the incident, I have done online researched and found literally hundreds of similar complaints and incidents on this vehicle model. We have also have repeated electrical problems with this van. Interior lights come on and go off for no reason. Interior lights blink while driving in daytime or nighttime. Sometimes the rear power wing windows open. . . Sometimes they do not. Service lights come on and off including brake and abs system lights, service engine lights, and others. We are thoroughly disappointed with this vehicle.
Simply driving on the highway, and attempted to set the cruise control. The engine began to race, and the transmission disengaged. Required new transmission to repair. This after only 49,000 miles. Transmission filter and fluid changed at 37,000 miles was not the problem. This vehicle also had the front wheel bearings replaced at 17,000 miles. This vehicle was not used for towing, primarily highway miles.