I am so glad to report that this, the worst vehicle I have ever owned, has finally gone the extra yard and decided to seize it's engine on me. This left the family stranded without a ride for nearly 2 weeks while we scrounged up $1000 for a down payment on another car. I just would like to thank Ford for making such a nicely packaged turd. Loaded with options and gizmos that hide the enormous electrical, mechanical and economical issues that have made it one of the most famous lemons in the automotive realm. When the A/C-heat thingamajig under the dashboard stripped a gear, I was smiling as I was forced to reach under the dash to change it manually. Soon after when the A/C stopped blowing cold, I smiled for I knew that wind is free and the windows worked fine...for now. Afterall, winter was coming anyway. When the gauges and cruise control died and I learned it was due to a brake system recall that said the van could catch fire, I smiled as I learned my dealership didn't consider the Windstar as being covered under the recall. As I saw all the warning lights on the dashboard come on one after another in a one month period, yet show nothing wrong on a diagnostic machine, I smiled because bright lights are festive and I am a festive guy. Maybe Ford wanted me to cheer up. As the battery died every time the car sat overnight due to a mysterious electrical problem that eluded several mechanics, I smiled as I jump started it in the rain, snow and darkness. My wife smiled as she asked total strangers to help her out in dark parkinglots. As the brake fluid and oil leaks created a permanent greasy black stain in my yard where the van was parked, I smile knowing it is an empty space now. As I disassemble the van to sell it for parts, I smile knowing when I am done I can call a scrapyard and they will actually pay me for the shell. As I make the last three payments on this van that doesn't run, I smile knowing it will soon be crushed into a cube and possibly recycled into a Japanese car that won't make the new owner smile as much as I have owning it.

Good riddance and fare thee well hated minivan of suck.

While the Windstar has been a little more problems than other cars that I've owned, I've never driven a vehicle as far as this one.

I once owned a Honda Accord that needed a major MANUAL transmission repair after 100,000 miles. Manual transmissions should never fail, but this one did. I junked the car after only 9 years of road use with 183,000 miles.

The Windstar's automatic transmssion plugged along until 190,000 miles at 11 years. I now have 237,000 miles and it is near time to rework the engine, but almost 250,000 miles from one engine seems fairly reasonable to me. Even after 12 years the frame and body are still mostly rust free and I could see running it for a few more years until my need for a van has passed.

I liked the Accord, as there were fewer upfront problems, but when it's time came it died without any hope of recovery. In addition, parts were more expensive than they've been for the Windstar.

I feel your pain for what you've been through, but I have not shared your experience.