1996 Ford Windstar Power Train:automatic Transmission Problems
NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · data through 07/14/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
How power train:automatic transmission ranks on this vehicle
Share of the 1,386 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 1996 Ford Windstar overview page.
What owners report
“TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO THE CRACKING OF THE FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON.”NHTSA complaint 523431 — filed 09/23/1997
“UNDER NORMAL OPERATIONS OF VEHICLE, TRANSMISSION CHANGES FROM DRIVE TO LOW GEAR ON ITS OWN, RESULTS IN SUDDEN REDUCTION OF SPEED, NO PRIOR WARNING.”NHTSA complaint 814440 — filed 07/28/1997
“VAN WAS PARKED RUNNING IN THE DRIVEWAY, PASSENGER EXITED THE VEHICLE WHILE IN PARK. CAR SAT IN PARK FOR 1-2 MINUTES AND STARTED TO ROLL…”NHTSA complaint 814014 — filed 07/10/1997
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints by year filed
Frequently asked questions
Does the 1996 Ford Windstar have power train:automatic transmission problems?
Power Train:automatic Transmission is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 1996 Ford Windstar: 153 of 1,386 complaints on file (11%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.
How many complaints does the 1996 Ford Windstar have in total?
1,386 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 60 involved a crash, 45 involved a fire, 52 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.
What does NHTSA's power train:automatic transmission category include?
NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.
