1995 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 55,400 MILES. *AK

FORWARD PISTONS CRACKED AND LEAKED FLUID, CAUSING LOSS OF FORWARD GEARS IN CAR, AND CAR CAN'T MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARDS WHEN THIS OCCURS. *AK VEHICLE STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN AS A RESULT OF GEARING DOWN AND GETTING STUCK, A TSB WAS ISSUED STATING THAT THE CRACKED FORWARD PISTONS WERE CAUSING THIS TO HAPPEN. *SLC

WHEN SLOWING DOWN FOR STOPPING TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP OUT OF GEAR, VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD/BACKWARD, ACCORDING TO DEALER, FORWARD PISTON CRACKED, ENTIRE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT.*AK *JB

TRANSMISSION STICKS IN DRIVE/ WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE AFTER ENGINE HAS WARMED UP, COULD CAUSE CRASH. ACCORDING TO DEALER, TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACING. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON NORMAL STREET CONDITION AT 5 MPH, ATTEMPTED TO MAKE LEFT TURN WHEN VEHICLE IN FRONT. ALSO TRIED TO MAKE LEFT TURN AND STOPPED, FORCING CONSUMER TO STOP. WHEN CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKE PEDAL, IT WENT TO THE FLOOR, ALMOST CAUSING COSUMER TO HIT VEHICLE IN FRONT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

FOUR-YEAR OLD SON TOOK KEYS PUT THEM IN THE IGNITION, AND TURNED THE IGNITION FROM THE LOCKED POSITION TO OFF POSITION. WITHOUT STARTING ENGINE OR TOUCHING BRAKES, SHIFTED GEAR INTO REVERSE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL OUT OF GARAGE INTO STREET AND NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR'S DRIVEWAY, MISSED HITTING A TREE/MAILBOX/CAR, AND THEN ROLLED FORWARD INTO A NOTHER DRIVEWAY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED.

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES--BRAKES WENT OUT, CAR WOULD NOT STOP, RESULTED IN A CRASH.

TRANSMISSIONS FAILS TO ENGAGE CORRECT GEAR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LUNGE AFTER STOPPING.

STARTED THE VEHICLE AND PUT IT IN DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE'S GAS TANK IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. THE PLASTIC GASOLINE TANK DOES NOT HAVE ANY KIND OF PROTECTIVE SHIELD, WHICH ENABLES THE TANK TO BE EASILY PUNCTURED BY ROAD DEBRIS.

SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO SHOW CORRECT SPEED. DRIVER WAS GOING 85 MPH IN 75 MPH ZONE. DRIVER WAS TICKETED BY NEBRASKA STATE POLICE FOR SPEEDING. *AK

TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE, THEN SUDDENLY IT WOULD JERK FORWARD. *AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON AND THE VEHICLE HAD HESITATION AT STOP LIGHT, DUE TO BAD HEAD GASKET.

NO SUMMARY

THE DOOR AJAR SWITCH HAS GONE BAD 3 TIMES IN 5 YEARS, EACH TIME IT COST $250.00 TO REPAIR. IF WE DO NOT GET IT FIXED THEN THE DOME LIGHTS STAY ON FOR 15 MINUTES AFTER EACH TIME ANY DOOR IS OPENED. IN THE DARK THAT MAKES IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE DO TO GLARE. I DO NOT WISH TO UNHOOK THE SWITCH , BUT I WILL NOT REPLACE THIS AGAIN. *AK

THE FRONT AREA OF MY VAN MAKES LOUD POPPING NOISES WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES AND/OR TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS MAINLY IN THE SUMMER MONTHS OR TIMES WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS WARMER. THIS PROBLEM BEGAN ABOUT A YEAR TO A YEAR AND A HALF AFTER I BOUGHT THE VAN WHEN IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS TODAY. I HAD TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. THE DEALER SAID THE POPPING NOISE WAS THE BRAKE CYLINDERS EXPANDING ONTO THE PADS TO STOP THE VAN. IT IS ODD THOUGH BECAUSE THE FRONT END POPS WHEN I AM TURNING THE WHEEL AT A VERY SLOW SPEED WHEN I AM NOT APPLYING THE BRAKES. *NLM

HEAD GASKET MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. ALSO ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON/OFF. *AK

FRONT CLUTCH ASSEMBLY FAILURE. *AK

CONSUMER STATE WHEN DRIVING ON WET PAVEMENT AND UPON MAKING A STOP THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND BRAKES FADE AWAY. CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON. HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS ON ADDITION PROBLEMS. EA96-026. *AK

HAD STARTED APPLYING BRAKES (ABS) WHEN IT MADE A CRUNCHING, GRINDING NOISE. CAN FEEL IT HAPPENING. ITS AN INTERMITTEN PROBLEM. TOOK TO DEALER & PROBLEM NOT DUPLICATED. HAD PADS/ROTORS/FRONT SHOES AND FRONT ABS SENSORS REPLACED. BRAKES NOISE STILL EXISTS. *AK

WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH WHEN SHE STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TRYING TO STOP VEHICLE, BUT BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKES DID NOT WORK, FORCING CONSUMER TO PASS A STOP SIGN AND STOPPING ON THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. *AK DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND BLEED THE BRAKES, DEALER HAS ALSO REPLACED THE CALIPERS AND TURNED THE ROTORS DUE TO VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL UPON BRAKING. *ET

DRIVING VEHICLE; STARTED OVERHEATING; TOOK TO SHOP; INFORMED AIR BUBBLE IN ENGINE; LET IT RUN & IT WAS SUCKED IN ANTI-FREEZE; MECHANIC SAID ENGINE SHOT & NEEDS REPLACING; SAID FACTORY PROBLEM. *AK

I AM EXASPERATED AT MY LOSSES AND FRUSTRATED TRYING TO RECOUP MY MONEY. I WISH TO ACHIEVE AN AMICABLE RESOLUTION WITH FORD. PLEASE ASSIST. THANK YOU, SINCERELY, NICOLA ZANGHI. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

PARKED VEHICLE IN GARAGE, SHIFTED TO PARK, GOT OUT OF VEHICLE, MOMENTS LATER VEHICLE ROLLED OUT OF GARAGE, ACCORDING TO INDICATOR, STILL IN PARK POSITION, VEHICLE WITH DEALER TO DETERMINE CAUSE AND REPAIRS NEEDED, IF ANY; NO COLLISION. *AK

WHILE VEHICLE IS AT A STOP. IT APPEARS TO GO INTO NEUTRAL. UPON ACCELERATION, VEHICLE KICKS REALY HARD INTO GEAR, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

WHEN DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT 35 MPH THE RIGHT REAR RETAINER SPRING BROKE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DECCLEARATE, CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF BRAKE-RELATED PROBLEMS WITH THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLE. *AK

UPON MAKING A SUDDEN STOP ON WET AND DRY PAVEMENT CONSUMER NOTED MALFUNCTIONING OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM, PEDAL GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND BRAKES FADING AWAY, EA96-026. *AK

CAR TRANSMISSION JUMPING IN AND OUT OF GEAR. *AK

WHILE BACKING VEHICLE FROM PARKING SPACE THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL MADE CONTACT WITH CONCRETE PARKING BUMPER AT AN ANGLE. THE METAL FRAME HOLDING THE AXLE COLLAPSED ON ONE SIDE PUSHING THE WHEEL FORWARD INTO THE WHEEL WELL.

THIRD TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

EVERY 8,00 MILES THE BRAKES NEED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF WEAR. *AK

NO SUMMARY

ENTERING ENTRANCE RAMP, GIVING VEHICLE GAS; STEERING WHEEL STARTED PAUSING GOING LEFT/RIGHT; TOOK TO DEALER, HE STATED THAT STEERING AREA NEEDED GREASING. TOOK BACK 2ND TIME & WAS INFORMED PRESSURE RELEASE BELL REDUCED PRESSURE ON STEERING WHEEL & WAS NORMAL. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED DUE TO A SMALL PINHOLE LEAK. *AK

WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE IN THE ON POSITION, AND UPON TURNING THE TURN SIGNAL, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL TURN OFF. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER REPLACED THE SWITCH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR (VIN: [XXX]) UNDERWENT REPAIR IN 1997 FOR AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FORWARD PISTON FAILURE. I HAVE RECENTLY HEARD THAT FORD HAS REPAIRED OR REPLACED TRANSMISSIONS WITH SAME DEFECT (INCLUDING WINDSTAR AND TAURUS) AT NO CHARGE UP TO 5 YEARS / 80,000 MILES. MY VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 80,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF REPAIR (3/18/97). I WAS CHARGED $500.00 ($535.00 WITH TAX) FOR SUCH REPAIR ON 3/18/97 BY A FORD DEALER PLUS ANOTHER $100 IN 3RD PARTY DIAGNOSTIC CHARGES. FORD DENIED ME COMPENSATION WHEN I REPORTED THIS TO THEM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN AT 6 YEARS AND 57,000 MILES. VILLAFORD DID 1ST REPAIR. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, LIFTED THE HOOD UP AND THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE MAIN FUSE BOX AND THE WIRING HARNESS. THE VEHICLE IS AWAITING SERVICE. *AK

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 55 MPH CRASH IN WHICH A SMALL ANIMAL WAS HIT, CAUSING THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. *AK

AT 40 MPH VEHICLE DOESN'T COME TO A QUICK STOP DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE, THAT CAN RESULT AN ACCIDENT. *AK

THE PART FAILURE RATE IS BECOMING ALARMING

ON THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET ISSUE, I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD LAST MAY 1998 AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT INSPECTED. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY CHECK THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE GASKET. NOW I AM FACE WITH MAJOR REPAIRS ON THE ENGINE. THE FUEL TANK IS EXTREMELY SLOW FILLING. I FEAR A POTENTIAL FIRE OR EXPLOSION RELATED TO THE FUEL FILLER ISSUE. THE TRANSMISSION GROANS MOSTLY IN THE MORNING AND AT TIMES DOES NOT ENGAGE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. ALSO THE FORM WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED EARLY IN THE VEHICLES LIFE , ANOTHER EXPENSIVE REPAIR WAS NECESSARY. THERE IS NO TEMPERATURE CONTROL TO MODIFY THE REAR HEATER TEMPERATURE.

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STALK CONTROL ARM WORKS ONLY INTERMITTENTLY. BOTH WIPERS AND WASHER FAIL TO OPERATE WITHOUT TURNING CONTROL ON AND OFF A NUMBER OF TIMES. *AK

WAS BACKING VEHICLE OUT; PUT VEHICLE INTO GEAR TO MOVE FORWARD; VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE; CHECKED & NOTICED SEPARATION OF TIE ROD END FROM WHEEL; VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER; TIE ROD DISCONNECTED. *AK

PASSENGER'S SIDE LUGS: NUTS SHEARED OFF WHEEL, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE IN A CRASH. *AK

REMOTE CONTROL FAILED.

OXYGEN SENSORS ARE DEFECTIVE, TRIGGERING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON AND GO OFF RANDOMLY.

TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE ACCELERATING INTO TRAFFIC. POSSIBLY DUE TO SLIPPING.

NO SUMMARY