1995 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

IF IGNITION SWITCH IS TURNED ONLY SLIGHTLY TOWARDS "ON" POSTION(NOT AT ACC POSITION), STEERING WHEEL UNLOCKS AND GEARSHIFT IS UNLOCKED, DEFEATING THE ELECTRIC INTER-LOCK FEATURE ON BRAKE PEDAL/GEARSHIFT. OUR THREE YEAR OLD ENTERED OUR CAR (KEYS IN IGNITION) AND DID JUST THAT. I TESTED SIX OTHER FORD PRODUCTS WITH AUTOTRANS. AND THEY DID THE SAME THING. THIS IS SERIOUS PROBLEM WHICH TOOK A THREE YEAR OLD CRASHING OUR VAN TO FIND ! THANK GOD HE IS SAFE.*AK

CONSUMER IS FURIOUS WITH FORD FOR SENDING OUT RECALL NOTICES THAT DO NOT INTEND TO HONOR OR EXCLUDE CERTAIN REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY.(WHICH WAS SENT IN 2000)THE RECALL STATED THAT FORD WINDSTARS 95 VEHICLES MAY CRACK AS A RESULT OF EXTENDED OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE IN VERY HIGH AMBIENT TEMPETURES.(VEHICLE HAS A LEAKY FUEL TANK, AND IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE)CONSUMER SAID, APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS LATER THE FUEL TANK HAS BEGUN TO LEAK. AND THE TEMPERATURES ON THE EAST COAST HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY HIGH (ESPECIALLY THIS SUMMER). *SCC

CONSUMER WAS AWARE OF THE HEAD GASKET DEFECT WITH THESE PARTICULAR VEHICLES. CONSUMER PROACTIVELY REQUESTED A HEAD GASKET SERVICE CHECK ON MARCH 24, 2000. AT THE TIME THERE WERE NO LEAKS DETECTED AND THEY WERE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE TRADE IN. ON SEP 7TH 2002, CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT TURNED OVER WITHOUT STARTING. CONSUMER WAITED AND TRIED AGAIN. THIS TIME, COOLANT POURED OUT OF THE BOTTOM. THE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN. FORD INFORMED CONSUMER THAT BECAUSE IT WAS PAST THE 7 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY THEY WERE INELIGIBLE FOR THE TRADE IN. *JG

HEADLAMPS ARE MADE OF PLASTIC. THE PLASTIC HAS DETERIORATED OVER THE YEARS FROM CLEAR TO BROWN. MOISTURE ALSO BUILDS UP INSIDE THE LAMPS. VISIBILITY HAS BEEN DRASTICALLY REDUCE ESPECIALLY ON A RAINY NIGHT. FORD SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE LAMPS ON THIS MODEL. MY OTHER CAR IS A 1993 MODEL AND THE HEADLAMPS ARE STILL CRYSTAL CLEAR AND I CAN SEE PERFECTLY AT NIGHT. TS

BRAKE LINE CORRODED THROUGH AND SPRAYED BRAKE FLUID ONTO CAT. CONVERTER CAUSING SMOKE. *PH *JB **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**768021

CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP BECAUSE OF AN OVERWHELMING SMELL OF GASOLINE. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL TANK CRACK IN THE FORWARD STRAP AREA. THE MANGER PULLED UP A RECALL WHICH CLEARLY STATES THIS IS THE EXACT PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER, DISCUSSED THE PROBLEM AND ALSO TOLD THEM OF THE RECALL WHICH CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED. THE SERVICE MANAGER CHECKED THE RECALL AND COMPARED THE VIN. CONSUMERS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. THE RECALL NUMBER IS 99V309 *JG *SCC

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER ABOUT A YEAR A GO AND HAD THE GAS TANK FIX BECAUSE OF A CRACK IN IT AND IS NOW LEAKING GAS AGAIN AND DEALER IS REFUSING TO REPAIR DAMAGES ON THE VEHICLE AGAIN . TS

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR RIGHT BRAKE ALSO STATES THAT WHILE HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WAS ALMOST INVOLVED ON A COLLISION ALSO STATED THAT SHE HAS RECEIVED A RECALL FROM FORD ON THE FRONT RIGHT BRAKE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH HER PREVIOUS PROBLEM SO THERE FOR THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO. TS

THE ENTIRE ENGINE WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO HAVE ENGINE PROBLEMS, THE TRANSMISSION SIDE PAN GASKET, HEAT, POWER WINDOW, DEFROSTER, DOOR SWITCH ASSEMBLY, WERE ALL REPLACED, THE DOME LIGHT WOULD STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY, AND THE RIGHT CALIPER WAS LEAKING.*JB

SIX OUT OF SEVEN SEAT BELTS FAIL TO FUNCTION PROPERLY WITH BELTS NOT RETRACTING WHEN PULLED OUT. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TESTED THE BELTS WHICH THEY THEN TOLD THE OWNER THAT THE RETRACTOR IS THE CAUSE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TS

1995 FORD WINDSTAR. DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS----------------770784. *AK *NLM

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE HEAD GASKET FAILED DUE TO A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO REPAY THE COST FOR REPLACING THE THE ENTIRE ENGINE (WELL OVER 4K DOLLARS) WHICH WAS THE CASE IN THE RECALL. SCC

CONSUMER STATED 6 OUT OF 7 SEAT BELTS WERE INOPERATIVE AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED. *SCC *JB

THE RIGHT FRONT BALL JOINT AXLE BROKE. *AK *JB

TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO LURCH FORWARD. *AK NLM

THE VEHICLES SPEEDOMETER FAILED. *AK *NLM

AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED REGARDING THE ENGINE, THE PROBLEM RECURRED.*JB

THE DEALERSHIP (LITHIA FORD;NAPA CA;707-255-2580) REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL FOR THE FUEL LINES 99 V 309 000. *NLM

MOTOR HAS GONE UP 5 TIMES SINCE OWNERSHIP.

THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM FAILED, WHICH CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *JB

WHILE DRIVING SMOKE CAME FROM THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND THEN ENGINE SHUT DOWN. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF POWER STEERING. *NLM

THE BRAKE LINE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHICH REPLACED THE BRAKE LINE ON 5/8/2003. *TT

THE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN AND WAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE 3.8 LITER ENGINES SINCE FORD USED THEM IN THEIR VEHICLES. DEALER WOULD NOT FIX DUE TO THE EXPIRED WARRANTY. *MR *SCC *JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT BOTH THE FUEL LEVEL AND TEMPERATURE LEVEL GAUGES FUNCTION ERRATICALLY. GAUGES MOVE UP AND DOWN AND DO NOT PROPERLY REGISTER THEIR RESPECTIVE COMPONENTS.

THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE FOR TWO YEARS. THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE IS BURNING ONE QUART OF OIL FOR EVERY 451 MILES. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS.

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS THE HEAD GASKET RECALL. MANUFACTURE WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE RECALL WAS DONE AND THAT IS THE ONLY THING THEY CAN DO. THE HEAD GASKET HAS BEEN REPLACED MORE THAN FOUR TIMES. *PH

PER CONSUMER THE COUNTY THAT THEY LIVE IN EXPERIENCED THE SAME HIGH TEMPERATURE THAT CAUSED THE DEFECT FOR THE FUEL TANK CRACKS AS STATED IN RECALL 99 V 309 000. BUT THEIR COUNTY WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL.*AK

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BUT 15000 MILES LATER THE TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING AGAIN. THIS IS THE THIRD TRANSMISSION IN 8 YEAR AND LESS THAN 100000 MILES. *PH *NLM

THE VEHICLE LEAKED POWER STEERING FLUID, WHICH RESULTED IN THE RACK AND PINION FAILING. *JB RACK AND PINION HAD TO BE REPLACED. *PH

THE TIE ROD'S BROKE WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH. *JB THE CONSUMER TURNED THE CORNER AND THE HANDLING HAD BECOME IMPOSSIBLE. THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT BOTH FRONT WHEELS WERE POINTING INWARD AS THOUGH THE RIGHT FRONT WERE TURNING LEFT AND THE LEFT FRONT TURNING RIGHT. *SCC. ALSO THE RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED AS WELL AS THE SERPENTINE BELT. *JB

HEAD GASKETS BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT.*AK

THE VEHICLE WAS RIDING ROUGH AND IDLING HIGH. THE DRIVER NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TAILPIPE. DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, WHO STATED IT WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB

ENGINE FAILED TWICE DUE TO A FAULTY HEAD GASKET. ALSO, ORIGINAL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WAS REBUILT. ABOUT TWO YEARS LATER, TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE DEALER REPLACED IT WITH A NEW TRANSMISSION. ANOTHER TWO YEARS LATER, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN AND WAS REBUILT. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DETERMINED. *AK THE RECALLED ENGINE BLEW AND THE MANIFOLD GASKET BLEW. WHEN THE CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD THEY STATED THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING RIGHT NOW BUT WOULD NOTIFY THEM LATER AND MAYBE THEY COULD HELP. CONSUMER HAD TWO WINDOWS THAT DIDN'T GO UP OR DOWN - REPLACED $412.34. BOTH TIE RODS WERE REPLACED. *PH *JB

WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. DEALER DETERMINED THAT BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED, CAUSING HOLES IN THE BRAKE LINE. *AK *MR

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND CONSUMER NOTICED A BRIGHT LIGHT COMING FROM THE GARAGE, THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT INDICATED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE JERKED AND SMOKED FROM UNDER HOOD. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TECHNICIAN, WHO DETERMINED THAT ENGINE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE SEVERLY VIBRATED. DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED TRANSMISSION FAILED TO CHANGE GEARS SMOOTHLY AS NORMAL. GEARS WOULD SLIP AND PERFORM ERRATICALLY. A TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK

WHEN CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE, DEALER DETERMINED THAT ENGINE HEAD GASKET NEEDED REPLACEMENT.*AK

THE SUPPLEMENTAL BRAKING SYSTEM IS HELD BY TWO BOLTS, ONE OF THE BOLTS CAME LOOSE, MAKING IT HARD FOR THE DRIVER TO SET THE PARKING BRAKE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. HE THEN PULLED OVER, BUT BEFORE HE COULD ACTUALLY GET OUT, OTHER DRIVERS NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM UNDERNEATH. WITHIN MINUTES, THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE AND WAS TOTALED. *AK