2000 Ford Windstar: Transmission failed at 80K/50M

[cclayton]

I purchased my Windstar new in 2000. It now has 80,000 km on it. While driving it from a stop sign, the transmission just blew. It is now in with the dealership as the transmission needs to be replaced. Part that malfunctioned: Reverse Sun Gear.

The history: This vehicle has been maintained by the dealership for four years. Under warranty it was brought in many times with complaints of the transmission (at least 10 times). The most recent time was four weeks ago. Continual diagnosis when brought in previously: nothing wrong. The vehicle is now not under warranty.

The problem: Premature failure of a major vehicle component - transmission was replaced with a "remanufactured transmission". Ford split the cost 75% / 25%. Cost to me.. the consumer: $900 Canadian. I now own a vehicle that I cannot sell at market value. No one would purchase my vehicle knowing it has a rebuilt tranny.

When I paid $28,000 for my vehicle nowhere in my wildest imagination did I expect to have to replace the transmission at 80K. I can ill afford an extra $1000 to put into a vehicle which has prematurely malfunctioned at absolutely no fault of my own (and I regularly serviced and maintained my vehicle AND brought it in for problems with the same part while under warranty).

This is WRONG. I am a consumer caught in a "stereotypical" fight with a large car company.

Has anyone else experienced problems with their 2000 Ford Windstar?

[lewisnc100]

Sorry to hear of your problems.

I did have a question though, which Windstar model do you have, LX, SE or SEL? I'm asking because another thread brought up the question of whether the SEL transmissions faired better since they come standard with a combo power steering/transmission cooler, while the LX and SE do not. Just curious, hope everything works out when you get it back.

[rodeo02]

cclayton- yes this is a bummer. In those four years of dealership maintenance, did they ever do a transmission fluid changeout? Early transaxle failure is almost always a certainty with any ford/general motors/daimler chrysler minivan that has not had an ATF change in 50000 miles. It's the nature of the beast. The transaxles in this type of vehicle are overstressed & really beat up the ATF. Typical transaxle lifespan with regular/frequent maintenance is 120-150K miles.
G/luck
Joel

[12Ounce]

cclayton,
My '99's tranny failed at 90kmiles. I got hit with the whole cost, 1700 USD. Guess I should have gone after some refund from Henry.
The failure (I'm convinced) was caused by a chafing drivetrain harness (transmission solenoid circuit) that resulted in the transmission having down/up shift convulsions. The pump shaft finally snapped. I personally found the harness problem and corrected it.

However, the repair job that the Ford dealership did on the tranny has been very effective. There is now over 50 kmiles on the repair, and there now no known tranny issues. I pull a loaded 2500# trailer in some pretty hilly country.

Just wanted to share with you that there can be life after a tranny repair. Of course, sometimes when there is a dampness in the air, I still feel a sharp pain in the wallet.

Good luck!

[cclayton]

re: inquiry by lewisnc100 - 09-15-2004 at 03:12 PM

which Windstar model do you have, LX, SE or SEL?

I have a 2000 Windstar LX Model

Wonder if you are on to something there.

I did hear back from an inquiry I made to http://www.lemonaidcars.com/index.html

The advice was to reclaim the money I spent in small claims court. He feels I have a winnable case since it is a very common defect.

I guess I'm just of the opinion that "one off's" on this whole tranny issue is not enough. I think it's time that a group got together to fight this. Maybe it will help others.

That's why it's great to hear from others.

If anyone would like to contact me, i can be e-mailed directly at
[email protected]

Thanks!

[cclayton]

Originally Posted by rodeo02

cclayton- yes this is a bummer. In those four years of dealership maintenance, did they ever do a transmission fluid changeout? Early transaxle failure is almost always a certainty with any ford/general motors/daimler chrysler minivan that has not had an ATF change in 50000 miles. It's the nature of the beast. The transaxles in this type of vehicle are overstressed & really beat up the ATF. Typical transaxle lifespan with regular/frequent maintenance is 120-150K miles.
G/luck
Joel

No, I do not believe it was done. Although all maintenance was scheduled by the dealership. They were supposed to follow the recommendations for service. I guess cause it failed at 49,709 miles, it may not have been done.

[lewisnc100]

Originally Posted by cclayton

The advice was to reclaim the money I spent in small claims court. He feels I have a winnable case since it is a very common defect.

Not sure how the legal details work in Canada, but here in the US if you take the Ford discount and pay the remainder and don't indicate on the payment that you still have an issue, you have no chance of winning in small claims court. I think they recommend you sign the check or receipt with something like "Paid under protest" or similar indicating that you still have issues. Otherwise the courts view the Ford discount as an agreement by you to resolve the issue.

Good luck in getting everything resolved.

[cclayton]

Originally Posted by lewisnc100

Not sure how the legal details work in Canada, but here in the US if you take the Ford discount and pay the remainder and don't indicate on the payment that you still have an issue, you have no chance of winning in small claims court. I think they recommend you sign the check or receipt with something like "Paid under protest" or similar indicating that you still have issues. Otherwise the courts view the Ford discount as an agreement by you to resolve the issue.

Good luck in getting everything resolved.

Thank god I wrote that when I paid the balance!!! I have a copy of my statement that has that printed.

Thanks for the

[lumpylewis]

Originally Posted by lewisnc100

Sorry to hear of your problems.

I did have a question though, which Windstar model do you have, LX, SE or SEL? I'm asking because another thread brought up the question of whether the SEL transmissions faired better since they come standard with a combo power steering/transmission cooler, while the LX and SE do not. Just curious, hope everything works out when you get it back.

I have 2000 SEL with 78,000 km, so far so good. Question is for lewisnc100, when you said the SEL comes standard with the powersteering/tranny cooler is this the same one used in the trailer package? I want to install a hitch and start towing my boat, Will I need another cooler or is this one sufficient?

[lewisnc100]

The combination cooler did come with the towing package, can't really comment on whether it is sufficient or not. An auxillary cooler wouldn't hurt, I just don't know where you would fit it in. The only concern I'd have with the combination cooler is the condition my power steering fluid was in after 45k miles, pretty cooked. You might consider adding an ATF temp sensor to the pan.

12ounce, aka Fordfan can probably comment better since he just went through the process of setting up his 99 for towing.

[wiswind]

CCLAYTON,
Just to add to what you have been told so far.....

I do not think that your rebuilt tranny will have a major effect on resale for a 4 year old van......

I would recommend that you insist in the tranny service every 30K miles....or 21K miles for severe usage.....(stop and go driving, and trailer towing are big "severe" items).
This will pay off for you big time.

This should include fluid change (not just a pan drop and 6 quarts) and a filter change. Even though Ford does not list the filter change as routine for my '96.... I did find a fair amount of grey "sand" on the magnet...which is normal.

For the power steering fluid issue that LewisNC mentions.....The lines from the pump to the steering rack sit over part of the engine....and if you look from under the car....you will see that they are over the catalitic converter(s)....
My belief is that when you park the car......the fluid sitting in the lines cooks.
What I did was replace the power steering fluid with a synthetic, which has a much higher temp. rating.

There should be some heat shielding wrap around the power steering lines where they are over the catalytic converter.

I have not mentioned the fluid types....as you will want to follow the manual for the correct types for YOUR year. LewisNC and FORDFAN have a wealth of information for the newer windstars.

[laydeecas]

[quote=cclayton]I purchased my Windstar new in 2000. It now has 80,000 km on it. While driving it from a stop sign, the transmission just blew. It is now in with the dealership as the transmission needs to be replaced. Part that malfunctioned: Reverse Sun Gear.

*******************************

I feel for you COMPLETELY! Our's had 48000 mi when our tranny went out. I pulled from a stop and it just crapped out right there. I could go in reverese only. I researched quite a bit before I paid for the tranny to be fixed and saw that most people were being told they needed to replace the whole thing. Luckily we got someone honest and ours was the Sun Gear also. So it makes me wonder how many people are getting screwed to pay a higher cost and have it replaced when it can be rebuilt??? Also, is the Sun Gear what is going out on most, if not all of the 2000 Windstar models? If so then maybe Ford needs to look into it just a little bit better. I was so disappointed in the Windstar after this, that while it was getting fixed I bought a Kia. Anything but another Ford.

[kahjdh]

You said you took it in like 10 times before? Maybe they knew it was on its last legs and just were waiting until your warranty went out. I would definatly take them to court. 2 trannies is bull.

[Dakota00]

98 Windstar, taken good care of it. The tranny blew at 50,000KM, $4000(cdn) to fix it.

[road_rascal]

Originally Posted by lewisnc100

Not sure how the legal details work in Canada, but here in the US if you take the Ford discount and pay the remainder and don't indicate on the payment that you still have an issue, you have no chance of winning in small claims court. I think they recommend you sign the check or receipt with something like "Paid under protest" or similar indicating that you still have issues. Otherwise the courts view the Ford discount as an agreement by you to resolve the issue.

Good luck in getting everything resolved.

Not im my case. I had a transmission failure with a Chrysler product, Chrysler paid 50%, then I sued Chrysler in small claims for the rest. This was an out of warranty repair AND the repair was done at an independent facility. You have to know how to 'persuade' the auto industry.