[Fulcrum]

I have a 2000 Windstar SEL, bought in 2002 with only 7,000 miles on that my wife drives. We bought the van because it came with a tow package. 3 yrs later we bought a pop-up camper after our kids were old enough to go. Our first trip was from where we live in Michigan to the Florida Keys, staying at the Bahia Honda State park. I had no problems with my transmission there an back, but later that year in the fall the trans when out with only 50,000 miles on vehicle. So I replaced the trans for $2500. The Trans shop said they never saw a trans break like that.

I also owned a '99 Ford Taurus at the time, it had 60,000 miles on it when that the trans went out too... Almost 1 month after my windstar... Another $2500. [ I do not drive my vehicles hard, and I watch the fluids, but these are the only 2 vehicles I ever had where the trans has went out.] I later found out that the Taurus trans is what is used in the Windstar.

The followng spring we went on another pop-up camping trip, going down to ohio, a much shorter trip. But yet again the trans when out with only 12,500 miles on it. It was out of warranty (1yr or 12,000miles), the the trans shop said they'd only charge me 50%, $1,250. I had to make big stink to get that though.

Two years later my Taurus trans started to go again, with only 40,000 more miles on it. I decided to replace the car. I bought a used Chrysler Town & Country for $3000 @ 100,000miles. It has never had a trans problem it now has 165,000miles on it. Works great.

Over the next few years we kept going on camping trips, but camped mostly in Michiagn. After 60,000 miles on the trans it went out again. I told my wife, I wanted to junk the van. But then my next door neighbor told me about RC Transmissions in Royal Oak Michigan that gives Lifetime warranties on the trans. I paid $1800 to fix the van. He did not replace all the parts, only the ones that needed it. I said "I'll see you in a couple of years", and they said I wouldn't because they know how to rebuild the trans correctly. Well it's been 65000 miles (the longest the trans has ever lasted), and it is still humming. But I don't worry because if it goes out, I'm still covered. Since then I've pulled my pop-up camper all the way to South Dakota to see Mount Rushmore with the family.

So what are my points....

(1) Ford Motor Company makes really bad transmissions. The Ford Taurus and Windstar have the worst ones.

(2) It depends on the trans shop you go to. That is their business, and they want and need your return business. It may not make sense to them to repair it so well that you never return.

I'm just wondering if anyone else in this forum knows of other trans shops that give out LIFETIME warranties on transmissions... I would be good for members to know where to go to have them rebuild correctly.

Fulcrum