Last November my beloved 2000 Ford Windstar Bullet with 46,000 miles died on me with Transmission problems so we bought a 2005 Ford Escape (Zuess) with 33,373 miles on it. We had a 12 month 12,000 mile warrantee with no deductible and we bought an extended warranty He is a beautiful vehicle I doubled my gas mileage and I love him dearly like he is family.

Yesterday I noticed some fluid in the exact same spot as we saw with Bullet and DH said I was seeing things but I told him either he gets under Zuess or I will to check for fluid. Well he got under there and came in with you guessed it transmission fluid on his finger and I was hot on the phone to the Dealership. The Mileage on the car is 42,000 exactly the same mileage where we found the leak on Bullet and started all the repair work before she died 4,00 miles and $3,000 later.

So took Zuess into Ford and heard words I did not want to hear it is the transmission , more specifically the transfer case for the 4wd that my vehicle has and I don't know how to use and have never used it is supposed to be automatically turned on. However it is a very expensive part and the Warranteee company is balking paying for it until they can come out to see it for themselves on Monday and if they approve it the dealership key word being "IF" it will take another 3 days to get the part so I have no vehicle with no scooter carrier until Thursday at least and right now I need my scooter because I am having problems getting around. They did give me a rental car a Grand Marquis which I fell out of because its hard to get in and out of for me and hurt my wrist.

I think what is upsetting me the most is I have had this car a year haven't made my 12th payment and am having transmission problems at the same point I did with my other Ford and I have to pay $100 my deductible to get it fixed which I dont have to spare. I am beginning to think that Ford makes an inferior transmission product. I cant afford to trade this thing in for another one I have no money to put down and the payments I have I can barely afford as is.

I did a search online and there are a lot of message board posts about this same problem at about the same mileage all over the place and there was a recall on the 2006 Escapes, do I mention this to the dealership that I see there are a lot of problems with these particular vehicles and the transfer cases and maybe they should alert Detroit maybe they need to look further into a recall? This really makes me angry that I cant have a car that works right with low mileage you know that I am paying good money for.

Any advice out there?

Thanks for letting me vent DH did not want to hear me venting last night or this morning. I need to get down the road to some training for work shortly and brave driving and getting in and out of this vehicle they gave me its huge you should see the trunk in this thing you could store about 5 dead bodies in it !LOL

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~ Christine ~
Grammie to Trinity Lorayne Jean Keens Born June 9, 2011 Loving my awesome guitar picking 100% Country Boy boyfriend Kenny !
RIP Daddy~ 01/24/1930-06/01/2007 I miss you !
Dont Think you Can .. know you can ~ Jeff Hardy

Wow, if it's not one thing it's another. You sure have some bad luck. Sorry but I don't have any advice just well wishes!

cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

I've never liked Fords and I never will! I'm a chevy girl!
I'm sorry you are having this problem hopefully everything will work out.

I love how you name your cars. I used to name cars too.. but not nice names.. My mom had a BIG blue Chevy once.. I called it the Blue Bus. My Ex's Mom had a tiny white car.. I called it "The Egg"
Me and Mom actually cried when we sent Blue Bus off to the dump after she died

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I hate car problems. I hope they fix it for you.what good is having the warranty if they do not fix it ? Please keep us updated. Good luck vibes to you !

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The service dept records every time your car goes into the shop and what it is in for then the records are sent to Ford HQ, so they will track the number of Escapes with problems. When it gets to a certain level, they issue a TSB (service bulletin) or a recall. I am so glad you bought the extended warranty---I used to work at a dealership and know that the warranty saved many many people from expensive repairs. Consumer Reports advises NOT to buy a warranty! True, but only for those who have emergency savings they can use for a repair. Most of us would be sunk by a $2000 repair or have to put it on a credit card and pay higher interest forever!

Also, if this is the dealer where you bought the vehicle, speak to the service manager or your salesman about getting another type of loaner---one you can get in and out of. They may charge you a small fee (most warranties only cover a set "per day" expense) but it might be worth it to be comfortable and safe.

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"It's not about how much baggage you have, it's about whether or not you can carry your own baggage with grace and dignity."

I have a 2006 Escape it have never had any problems (knock on wood) it has over 50 k miles on it. I am sorry this is happening to you but it's not Ford it's the company that holds the insurance policy on the work on your vehicle. Ford does not do that it's a third party.
I hope you get everything fixed. Just be firm with the company and if they turn you down for some reason there is a way to file an appeal.
I know it's a PITA but that is how all the companies act-insurance companies when someone hits you, medical insurance when you need an expensive procedure, etc.
I am sure they will work this out with you.
Good Luck

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

We have always been a Ford family. Until we bought our Ford Windstar. At 20,000 miles the intake manifold had to be replaced. We don't put on a lot of miles so it was just over 3 years old and out of warrenty. They said it was a mechanical defect so they paid half. Then at 22,000 miles the power door locks, and blender door went out. So now there is no heat or defrost, and at times it bangs very loudly when the air cond. is on. That we have not fixed. At 30,000 the transmission went out. The service writer said it was my fault because I don't put a lot of miles on it. They also said that the sungear went out and although early was normal. Normal at 30,000 miles???? Because of the service writers stupid statement they paid half. The new transmission is guaranteed for one year only. They sure stand behind their products. These were just the big things that have happened.

My father worked for Ford for 50 years and that was the only cars we had growing up. That was all I bought when I bacame an adult. This one Ford and how they treated us, and talked to us has made us never to want to buy a Ford again. We will probably buy our next car based on the lengh of the warrenty. Good luck with your car.

Sorry this is happening to you. You might want to do a search to see if there are any recalls on the vehicle.

When the electric windows on my son's car stopped working, he made an appointment at the dealership to have it repaired. In the meantime, I did a search about it and come to find out there had been a RECALL on the window motors! When we took the car in, they never mentioned the recall. So I waited until everything was finished and they said our car was ready (my son was a teen at the time). We went to pay the bill and they said it was $$$ (hundreds of dollars), and I pulled out what I had found online. They were like, oh, right, there IS a recall on those motors. It costs us nothing.

So do your research before you deal with these people. Most of them are crooks.

The saddest thing is I used to work in the car business years ago so I know how it all works, I will admit I hounded them down on the price of this car last year and I bought the extended warranty because of working in the business and knowing what can and does happen. I had an extended warranty on my Windstar but it was expired when all the problems started thankfully this Warranty I got is better and longer so I should be Ok until 2 years after I pay it off unless I pay it off before hand.

I did find two recalls on it but they are not for this issue, but there is a recall for this same issue on 2006 Escape Hybrids so its one of those things that make you go hmmm. I will call Monday to see if the recalls were ever done by the prior owners, I did do a search on the Ford website by VIN # and it says there are no outstanding recalls, but you never know.

CJ ~ You talk about bad luck we're seriously talking about changing our last name to Bad-luck or catch-22 came home to two bad news letters. Denied for Fuel Assistance because we get $10 a month too much, but encouraged to apply for another program. DH's SSDI Application was denied for some reason they think he has a college degree and can do other work than manual labor so already shot an email off to my Attorney and she answered back and will meet with him next week to appeal for us. Its weird when I applied way back when they thought I had an Associates Degree and I dont my Atty wonders where they get this information from because nowhere on my application did it say I had one and nowhere on DH's does it say he has any college at all, DH barely has a HS Diploma they tossed him through HS and he can barely read, spell or write and they think he can work in an office !?!

I am going to see if they can put me in a Van or something else it hard to sink so low and get up from so low with my cane in hand, these hips of mine are hurting with this 30 degree weather.

Thanks for all the good vibes I knew you all would understand and allow me to vent DH just I dont know has some issues lately.

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~ Christine ~
Grammie to Trinity Lorayne Jean Keens Born June 9, 2011 Loving my awesome guitar picking 100% Country Boy boyfriend Kenny !
RIP Daddy~ 01/24/1930-06/01/2007 I miss you !
Dont Think you Can .. know you can ~ Jeff Hardy

Sorry for all the problems with your vehicles. I have to say it....... buy foreign next time, imho Honda. I've had all kinds of cars/trucks (Ford, Toyota, Chevy, GMC, Jeep, Nissan that I remember) over the years and had the most problems with the 2 Fords.

The least problematic were my Nissan truck and my Hondas. I am on my third Accord right now and out of the three, had one problem with one. I do take really good care of my cars (my family calls whatever I am driving "the creampuff') so you lay the basis in your care and driving habits, but really, rethink buying Ford again.

dl

We had a Chevy Corsica about 20 years ago. The transmission went out, of course, just after the warranty expired-the car was only 3 years old. I brought it into the dealership, thinking I would be responsible for the bill. Luck was on my side-when I was signing in the car, I stated the problem. There was a mechanic right there behind the cashier. Once I told her the problem, the mechanic stated, "Must be a 1990 Corsica." It was not under recall at that point, but once I heard that statement, I was determined that I would not pay for the repair. I fought it w/ the dealership, and they fought it w/ Chevy, and it was taken care of at no charge to me. If you think you are being wronged, try to fight it. The dealerships don't want the bad rep. It's worth a shot.

We only buy Fords and Chevy's and have had great luck with both. I had a 67 Mustang until it was 25 years old, but did replace everything in it eventually. Right now I drive a 1996 Ford Aerostar van and I love it, we have 2 newer vehicles (both Chevy's) but I bought this van from friend to take my dogs places, anyway I love driving it and drive it everyday instead of my car. It has 136,000 miles on it now and the only thing I have had a problem with is one of the automatic door locks and one of the automatic windows and both were in the past 3 months. The Chevy's we will drive until they die, one has 140,000 miles and one has 123,000 and have had no major problems with either one, just routine maintenance, same as the last Chevy we had that we sold at 170,000 miles. We are due for a new vehicle in February or so, will probably get a newer used one, my mechanic is looking for one for me, he knows alot of people that buy cars, and I know he will find me a good SUV or Truck, so I may have to get another brand if he finds me something good.

The reason we only buy Chevy's and Fords is because of the problems with other vehicles I've owned. I had a Fiat Spyder and that thing was in the shop almost every month for something, it was horrible, always breaking down. Also, had a Dodge that died right after I paid it off after 5 years, the computer system went out $5000 to fix it, I junked it, because the car wasn't even worth $5000 by that time and I hated it. Had a Toyota that lasted forever, but will only buy American now. VW that the engine blew up in. So many cars other cars over the years.

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We've only owned one Ford and it was a disaster (1988 Ford Esort). Since then we've only owned foreign cars and never had a major issue with any of them. Whenever anyone mentions owning a Ford, DH always whispers these two sayings under his breath:

Fix
Or
Repair
Daily

Found
On
Road
Dead

I think any car can have a problem and it's unfair to say a specific Maker is bad just because a car breaks down.

We have only Ford Vehicles. I still have my 1994 Ford Escort Wagon that is used to Haul stuff in (Including dogs to the vet). My DD and DS both have Explorers, My DH has an F150, Dad has 2 Explorers, Sister has an Explorer, Mom has a Taurus and I just got my first ever brand new car, a Ford Fusion.

I'm sorry you have had problems, but we love Ford and would never purchase a foreign car. We'd rather keep the money in the US. And yes foreign made cars here in the states still send profits back to Japan, Sweden, Germany, UK, ETC.

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Mary

My first car was a Ford a 1978 Ford Pinto I loved that car she was named Dabble because of the license plates they were DAB-986, My Dad looked out and went Ha A Litle Dab will do ya so she became "Dabble" she had 130,000 miles on her when an FBI agent ran into DH and totaled her in 1989. We then bought a 1976 Ford Pinto Station Wagon that we ran until 200,000 miles and the transmission went on it. Next up was a 1981 Datsun that had almost 200,000 on it when a rod went through the engine and I had a 1977 Lebaron that had electrical Problems. Then we got a 1985 Escort that I got from my dealership for $900 in 1990 and It had close to 200,000 miles on it when the block cracked when I was in NH visiting so I bought a 1994 Sunbird, DH had a 1990 Pontiac Lemans that ate through timing belts, my Sunbird got repoed. We were given a !985 Bronco that we loved but some idiot totaled it. Then we had a string of new cars, 1998 Tracker, 1998 Geo Metro, !998 Hyundai Elantra that left me on the side of the road more than once, 1998 Neon that I traded for the Elantra, a 1998 S-10, I traded the Elantra for the Windstar and DH traded his Tracker for a 2002 Cavalier that was repoed. So we have had Gm, Ford, Pontiac, Chrysler and Korean cars and many of them had their little idiosynchrocies. My Neon had this phantom water leak they could never find but the back seat and floor was always wet, My Sunbird when it rained or snowed, the electric locks would go nuts when I was driving and then my car would stall out, then there was the Lemans with the timing belts every 1500 miles.

Every car had a name we always name our cars. Does anyone else name theirs like we do or am I in the minority here?

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~ Christine ~
Grammie to Trinity Lorayne Jean Keens Born June 9, 2011 Loving my awesome guitar picking 100% Country Boy boyfriend Kenny !
RIP Daddy~ 01/24/1930-06/01/2007 I miss you !
Dont Think you Can .. know you can ~ Jeff Hardy

It's been 15 years since I have stepped into the drivers seat of a ford...and you will not see me in one as an owner for the rest of my life...3 cars, all 40K miles & under transmission dropped. By the third one, I had nobody to blame but myself! And they wonder why their business is failing? Stop over paying people to produce crap!

Foreign cars made in the states supply a LOT of jobs right here...actually Honda supports many people about in my back yard, more secure jobs than the big three I'd say! Those jobs in turn stimulate our economy, sounds like a win win to me. Not to mention the superior quality & resale value.

Are you aware the Ford Fusion is built in Mexico?

"The "American" Ford Fusion contains just 30-percent U.S./Canadian content, whereas the competing "Japanese" Honda Accord contains 70 percent, Nissan Altima 65 percent and Toyota Camry 80 percent."
http://www.edmunds.com/advice/buying...5/article.html

Well this is my third dodge durango and I simply love them. In fact I get a new one every 2 years.My ds has my white one I had and he loves it so much as well. My dh also has his Dodge Ram and loves it as well. Now for my dd she loves her toyota camry, they do run beautiful . My younger dd Caitlin will have to wait till May 2009 to get her car and I think a camry would be a wonderful first car for her as well. We never lease, so its easy to simply trade back and get a new vehicle every 2-3 years>I only like to drive Suv's I feel so safe. Now for ford my dad simply swears by them.I guess you like what you like . To the op sorry you had so many problems. I sincerely wish all works out for you. Peace. Catherine

I completely agree. My brother supports his family with his factory job at Toyota, right here in KY.

.

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~~~MsMiser

Very Interesting, no I wasn't aware of this - But in the end the Net Profits come back to the US.


And yes - a lot of "Imports" are built here in the US (I knew someone was going to point this out), creating jobs, but again, the Net Profits go back over seas.

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Mary

And that is exactly what companies who take jobs to foreign countries rather than employ ready and willing US workers want you to keep believing.

We once ownd a windstar, yep, transmission problems and it still didn't run right afterwards. They are notorius for transmission problems. I don't think I will ever own a ford again. I have a cobalt now. Not too great but it will get me by. I want to pay if off so I can get me something else. I think I might get a camry or tacoma. I am tired of u.s. cars failing me with such low miles. I baby my cars so I don't want to hear any excused of why something breaks down. My cobalt has only 50k. At 45k it had the steering wheel column, drive shaft, bushings and left strutt replaced. The dealership used thier goodwill fund because I am such a loyal customer. ... but that being said.. I'm done with the US cars unless something else comes out that really gets good reviews.

Yep, My dh works for Toyota. They employ around 35k here in the US. Since the down turn in the economy they've had to cut down on production some. Instead of laying workers off they've been sending some out to do community service, some were sent down south to help hurricane victims a few months ago. They can afford to do this because of sound business practices.

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Once the game is over, the king and the pawn go back in the same box.

Ford could care less about their customers. I hate Ford, with a passion. Their vehicles are riddled with expensive repair problems, and they are frequent at that.

I called Ford one time with the huge issue I had many years ago with the vehicles that were losing power, out of the blue, they would just die!
I had been a Ford owner for over 10 years, three different vehicles at this point (and all new). The Ford dealership could not figure out what the problem was, even though they said they tried to get it to die on them, it wouldn't. However, I would take it out of the dealership EACH TIME ( I had it in there probably 10 times in a month) it would die in the middle of the road not even a mile away.
They would tow it back in, and still come back and say they don't know why.
There were many people in the Taurus vehicles at that time that were dieing in Cali on the freeways because of this problem (the van I had at that time would just lose all power, and you could not really steer or do much of anything but coast to a stop).

Anyway, I called Ford. I was so upset. I had the extended warranty, it was actually still under the manu. warranty!
You know what they said?
"Oh Well"
I said, what? I guess you do not want me as a customer anymore?
They said, "We have appreciated your business"

They don't care. This is why our American Auto Industry is failing!

I'd say the number # sound business practice they employ is no Unions!

My first car was a 1973 VW Bug that all my friends and I called Pac Man. I still regret selling that car ~ he was awesome! I've never named a car since.....

Daughter of long time union member and we've bought our last American cars. DH says the next one is a Subaru!

OP, I'm very sorry to hear of your problems. We have a 2001 Windstar and had a couple of expensive fixes on it. Thankfully, DH uses the Haynes manual to fix most things and I am so grateful for that. The last repairs were just a couple of weeks ago and we found the mechanic who previously worked on it put a filter in upside down, along with other issues that hadn't been taken care of.

None of them (foreign or domestic) are cheap to fix, that's for sure.

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I don't have any words of wisdom, but I just wanted to say that I'm sorry. I've had my share of car problems lately as well with the Caddy. I feel the same about GM. No wonder I love my husband's Toyota Camry so much. Eight years with no problems. No wonder so many people won't buy American made cars anymore. Next time I'm getting a Honda or another Toyota. ~Lisa

My dh has been really wanting to get rid of his Jaguar and buy a different car.
The miles are getting up there (I think he is at 60,000) and he feels it is time to get a new car. He has been talking about Hybrids a lot.

I told him I don't understand why he wants to get rid of his car. It is SOLID, never really had any issues and when we did the car was under warranty and covered. It runs flawlessly (knock on wood), is classic all the way from the top to the bottom and is just beautiful. The AWD feature makes it an even better choice for our snowy area that we live in.

I would never go back to American once I had an import. Even though Jaguar is owned by Ford, the entire car is built with parts from England. It is just that much of a better car.

Ummm - see my user name.

We have a 03 Windstar and a 97 Escort - both with mileage in the high 90,000 and both running great.

Truly sorry you are having problems.

My last car was a Ford Escort 1999 I drove it for nine years and put 200,000 miles on it. The worst thing that ever happened was I needed a new power steering pump once.
I sold the car cheaply to a friend ($300) who drove it for a year and a half, put another 30,000+ miles on it then he sold it to a friend of his cheap who still drives it now about half a year later.

I guess it depends on which car you get. My family has always had Fords and so far not very many problems.

As far as the auto industry failing it is partially due to the Unions. But I think mostly it's a case of idiots mismanaging everything from budgets to how to efficiently make things.

I love my Ford Escape and when this one dies I will get another one.

I am sorry this happened to OP and I hope that this doesn't happen to anyone else.

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My 2000 Ford Windstar has been nothing but a nightmare! Right now it's sitting in our driveway doing nothing because they say it would need a new engine. It blows a bunch of smoke out every time I start it. The transmission has already been replaced twice (thank goodness it was still under warranty both of those times!) and just numerous other problems...We got it because my husband's half-brother has a dealership and we got a "good" deal...but it has been a money pit! Thank goodness they realized they should stop making them.

My husband's 1998 Ford Taurus, on the other hand, has been pretty good. It had transmission issues and problems here and there but with the mileage that's on there, it's been a pretty decent car.

peapie