1996 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

THERE WAS PREMATURE FAILURE OF HEADGASKETS, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO ENGINE AND INSIDE PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED, AND THEN SOON AFTER ENGINE STALLED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING METAL SUPPORT SYSTEM COMPLETELY SPLIT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN, HAS BEEN REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

EXHAUST FUMES ENTERED INTO VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

SPEEDOMETER 'BOUNCES' ABOVE 45MPH, CANNOT TELL WHAT SPEED IS,UNREADABLE. *AK

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD. *AK

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE NEEDS A REPLACEMENT HEAD GASKET. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES FOR REPEATED "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" ILLUMINATING. RECENT REPAIR DONE TO VEHICLE WAS ON THE INTAKE GASKET AND O2 SENSOR. *JG *YD

WHEN PLACING CHILD IN REAR BENCH SEAT ON A BOOSTER SEAT CHILD'S HEAD IS OVER THE HEADREST. *AK

WHILE DRIVING RIDE WAS VERY ROUGH. AFTER VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF; THEN HOURS LATER, TRIED TO RESTART ENGINE, AND THERE WAS A STUTTER/ WAS NOT TURNING ON. ALSO, THERE WAS A CLOUD OF STEAM FROM ENGINE. MECHANIC STATED THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HEAD HASKET FAILURE AND STATES THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION STOPPED THEIR CONCERN AT THE 1995 FORD WINDSTARS, CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE 1996 WINDSTARS SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED SINCE THE 1996 VEHICLE IS IDENTICAL TO THE 1995 EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THEY WERE TITLED FOR 1996, A 1996 WINDSTAR COULD HAVE BEEN BUILT IN LATE 1995 AND THERERFORE THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE.*JB

THE CHECKE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. NOTICED A SMALL PUDDLE ON GARAGE FLOOR BENEATH VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. MECHANIC DROPPED OIL PAN. THE BEARINGS HAD TURNED TO COPPER, THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO LEAK ANTIFREEZE. NLM

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON REPEATEDLY AND DEALERSHIP TRIED TO FIX AS FOLLOWS: 8,369 MILES - REPLACED SPARK PLUG WIRES; 14,184 MILES REPLACED "BAD" HEGO BANK; 34,442 MILES REPLACES PLUGS 4 AND 5; 34,479 MILES REPLACED HEGO #2; 37,843 MILES REPLACED SPARK PLUG WIRES (AGAIN); 38,111 MILES REPLACED BAD SHAFT IN SYNCHONIZER SENSOR; 44,489 MILES REPLACED "DEFECTIVE" VACUUM ELBOW; 44,552 MILES CLEANED RESISTORS AND REPLACED UPPER INTAKE O RINGS; 47,420 MILES LIGHT CAME ON AND WENT OFF BY ITSELF; 50,000+ MILES LIGHT CAME ON AND WENT OFF WHEN BATTERY WAS REPLACED; 56,000+ MILES NOTICED COOLANT "DISAPPEARING FROM AUXILLARY COOLANT TANK - TOOK IN AND DEALERSHIP COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG BUT PUT IN DYE -- TOOK BACK IN A FEW WEEKS WHEN COOLANT DISAPPEARED AGAIN - DIAGNOSIS: HEAD GASKET FAILURE; HAD HEAD GASKETS REPLACED, BUT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF AND ENGINE WAS MISFIRING -- DIAGNOSIS: BENT ROD . *AK

CONSUMER STATED THE OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED. *YH

HAD ON NUMEROUS OCCASION TAKEN MY 1996 FORD WINDSTAR FOR ENGINE LIGHT WAS TOLD PROBLEM FIXED ONLY TO HAVE LIGHT COME BACK ON. PROCEEDED TO HAVE ALL WORK DONE DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE. WHILE SEARCHING FOR ADITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS KNOWN FORD MOTOR PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. IF THIS KNOWN BY THE COMPANY AS KNOWN DEFECT WHY HAS NOTHING BEEN TO RESOLVE THIS BESIDE HAVING THE CONSUMER TO ABSORB THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF FIXING A KNOWN MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT.*AK

UPON STARTING VAN, OWNER SMELLED COOLANT, AND THEN NOTICED THAT VAN WAS LOSING COOLANT. OWNER TOOK VAN TO DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT HE HAD A BLOWN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, WHICH CAUSED COOLANT TO ENTER INTO EXHAUST SYSTEM. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

THE BRAKES MAKE A LOUD SOUND LIKE A ROLLING DRUM WHEN YOU TRY TO STOP. IT SHAKES, RATTLES AND MAKES A LOUD DRAGGING LIKE NOISE UNTIL THE CAR STOPS. NOW YOU HAVE TO PRESS THE BRAKES ALL THE WAY DOWN IN ORDER TO JUST SLOW THE VAN DOWN. ALSO SOMETIMES WHEN YOU TRY TO ACCELERATE THE VAN WILL START TO MOVE BACKWARDS WHEN IT'S IN DRIVE. THEN WITH A HARD KICK WHICH SORT OF FEELS LIKE SOMEONE IS REAR ENDING YOU, THE VAN WILL GO FORWARD. THE BRAKES ARE SO BAD AT THIS POINT THAT SOMETIMES THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS NEEDED JUST TO STOP THE VAN.*AK

OWNER DROVE ABOUT A MILE AWAY FROM HOME, STEPPED ON BRAKE PEDAL, AND IT DESCENDED TO THE FLOOR. VAN LOST ALL BRAKING ABILITY DUE TO BRAKE LINE RUPTURING. TEN MINUTES LATER, VAN WAS ON FIRE DUE TO BRAKE FLUID MAKING CONTACT WITH CATALYTIC CONVERTER. MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF RECALL 02V101000 DUE TO VIN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

THIS COMPLAINT CONSIST OF FOUR FAILURES THAT ARE ENGINE RELATED: (1) HEAD GASKET FAILED WHILE BEING DRIVEN, AND LEAKED FLUID ONTO HOT ENGINE. (2) TIMING GASKET FAILED ALONG WITH GASKET FAILING. (3) INTAKE MANIFOLD RUNNERS FAILED, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE VAN IS UNDRIVABLE. (4) FAULTY MAIN ENGINE BEARINGS. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

DOOR AJAR INDICATOR LIGHT IS INOPERATIVE, DOESN'T KNOW IF DOORS ARE OPEN OR NOT. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

CONSUMER STATES BRAKE (SERVICE) WARNING LIGHT STARTED COMING ON WHEN PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP. ALSO THE ANTILOCK BRAKE WARNING LIGHT IS ON. DEALER FOUND LOW BRAKE FLUID, THE FRONT BRAKE LININGS, ROTORS, REAR LINGS, AND BOTH REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER CONSUMERS INSPECTION FOUND THAT DEALERSHIP HAD NEVER ADDED BRAKE FLUID. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR UNNECESSARY REPAIRS AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE BRAKE FLUID SENSORS RECALLED. *TT

FRONT TWO BRAKES WERE REPLACED TWICE WITHIN A YEAR WITH ADDITIONAL RETURN FOR BRAKE ADJUSTMENTS DUE TO ERRATIC SOFT PEDAL. VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH ANTI LOCK BRAKES. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NO DESCRIPTION GIVEN. NLM

MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER REPLACED FOR 3RD TIME. BRAKE PEDAL WOULD SLOWLY GO TO THE FLOOR. 1ST REPLACEMENT BEFORE 25000 MILES. 2ND REPLACEMENT AT 43282 MILES BY BAYTLEFIELD FORD 8980 MATTHAS AVE, MANASSAS, VA. 22110. 3RD REPLACEMENT AT 87808 MILES BY BATTLEFIELD FORD. THIS VAN WAS PURCHASED BY ME AS A "REACQUIRED VEHICLE" WITH BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER BEING ONE OF THE REPORTED CONCERNS. *PH *JB **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**768024

CONSUMER STATED REPAIR WORK WAS PERFORMED ON THE STEERING BOX MECHANISM.*JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SPEEDOMETER JUMPS ALL OVER THE PLACE WHILE DRIVING UNABLE TO KNOW EXCATLY HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING. DEALER CONTACTED. *MR

CONSUMER STATES OF HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE. PLEASE ADD MORE DETAILS.

THE BRAKE BRACKET HAS GOTTEN WEAK FROM RUST AND GETS INTO REAR HUB CAUSING A LOUD IRRITATING NOISE. THE RUST CAUSES THE REAR BRAKE ANTILOCK SENSOR TO LIGHT UP IN DASH. *JG

CONSUMER NOTICE WHILE TRAVELING ENGINE INDICATION LIGHT WAS FLASHING VEHICLE WAS SERVICE BY TECHNICIAN. TECHNICIAN TEST VEHICLE AND NOTICE ENGINE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM PLEASE PROVIDES FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

IN ADDITION, THE FOLLOWING ARE WARRANTY/RECALL ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED ON THIS VEHICLE. DT

REAR VENT WINDOW FELL OUT ONTO THE STREET. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE HEAD COVER GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CUSTOMER WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR EXPENSES.*JB

THE ABS LIGHT HAD FLASHED PERIODICALLY, THE TRANSMISSION HAD BURNT OUT, AND THE ENGINE HAD BECOME CONTAMINATED WITH COOLANT. THE CONSUMER HAD REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE CHARGE OF THE REBUILT ENGINE. SCC *JB

THE SPEEDOMETER WAS FOUND TO BE FAULTY. SCC *JB

THE SPEEDOMETER MOVED ERRATICALLY AND MALFUNCTIONED INTERMITTENTLY LEAVING CONSUMER UNSURE OF SPEED. SPEEDOMETER HAD TO BE REPLACED 2 TIMES. *TT *JB *TS

THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, AND THE MOTOR BLOCK CRACKED. *AK *JB

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO THE CORROSION OF THE BRAKE LINE. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT IT IS UNFAIR TO ADDRESS THE RECALL TO THE NORTHERN STATES WHEN THE SOUTHERNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME FAILURE. THE CONSUMER WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. WHEN CHECKED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, FLUID WAS RUNNING OFF OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE CONSUMER HAS SPENT EACH WINTER IN TWO NORTHERN STATES AND HAS EXPERIENCED SALT/SNOW ROADS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. RECALL#02V101000 *SCC *NLM

WHILE DRIVING 25-35 MPH THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN DEPRESSED. THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE CLAMP RUSTED AND CAUSED A LEAK. *NLM.....*AK

THE CONSUMER REQUESTED AN INVESTIGATION OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEIR LACK OF RECALLS ON SOME SERIOUS DEFECTS. *MR. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A CLUNKING SOUND, HOWEVER THE DEALER STATED THE CLUNKING SOUND WAS NORMAL AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED WITH ANOTHER FORD TRANSMISSION, WHICH FAILED ON A TEST DRIVE AND ONE OTHER OCCASION. COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE THROUGH THE INTAKE GASKET, WHICH WAS RECALLED FOR THE 95 MODELS. THE TIMING CHAIN LEAKED. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE COILS IN THE SUSPENSION, WHICH FORD WOULD ONLY REPLACE WHEN THEY FAILED. THE BRAKE ROTORS FAILED AT 30000 MILES. SCC *JB

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. *JB

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER ALLOWED THE ENGINE TO COOL AND PUT IN SOME ANTI-FREEZE. *NLM

THE FRONT FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS LOOSE. *NLM

THE VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY ENGINE (3.8). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED EIGHT TIMES FOR ENGINE RELATED PROBLEMS. *TT

THE HEAD GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED. FORD RECALLED THE 95 MODELS AND WILL NOT HONOR THE 96 MODELS. THERE WAS AN INADEQUATE PERFORMANCE AND ABNORMAL ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE INDICATIONS, COOLANT LEAKED FROM THE HEAD GASKET AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. THE DEALER MISDIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND CAUSED THE CONSUMER SPEND MORE MONEY. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A REFUND FOR THE REPAIR COST. *MR

PROBLEMS WITH GAS FUMES COMING FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM.*MR( DORIS STEWART ON BEHALF OF HER PARENTS ROBERT STEWART AND JACQUELINE STEWART).*TS. THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AT IDLE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEAD GASKETS, THE AIR CONDITION STOPPED WORKING AND THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE. *JB

CONSUMER STATED WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE STARTED SURGING, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED VEHICLE WAS SURGING . ALSO, THERE WAS AN ANTI FREEZE SMELL. CHECKED ENGINE, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, AND TECHNICIAN NOTICED A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER SMELLED BURNING WIRES. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. OWNER CONTACTED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEY PUT OUT THE FLAMES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK