1997 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

TWO FIRESTONE FR360 P215/70R15 97S TIRES DELAMINATED ON MY 1997 FORD WINDSTAR. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE DONE TO THE CAR AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO ANY ONE. NOTE-THIS IS FOR 2 TIRES, BOTH OF WHICH FAILED WITHIN A FEW WEEKS OF EACH OTHER. INFORMATION ABOUT ONE, ALSO APPLIES TO THE OTHER.*AK

97 WINDSTAR HAS HEAD GASKET FAILURE IM STILL PAYING ON IT PURCHADES AT AVIS FORD OF SOUTHFIELD 12 MILE TELEGRAP MI CANNOT AFFORD FIXIN IT I BELIEVE IS A MANUFACURE FAILURE AND NEED TO BE FIX DO NOT HAVE ANY SAFER TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME PLEASE HEL US

CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO PUT CHILD IN REAR MIDDLE SEAT. TS. *AK

AT 150,000KM (94,000 MILES) WAS IN FOR FRONT SPRING RECALL AND DEALER RECOMMENDED ENGINE FRONT GASKET REPLACEMENT. IMMEDIATELY HAD THIS REPAIR DONE ($900 CDN). SHORTLY AFTER MY MECHANIC STATED THAT HE COULD HEAR A SLIGHT KNOCKING AND PREDICTED THE ENGINE BEARING WOULD GO WITHIN THE YEAR. I STARTED CAMPAINING WITH FORD BASED ON THE HISTORY OF GASKET FAILURE (COOLANT LEAKS PAST GASKET INTO OIL CAUSING BEARING FAILURE). FORD CUSTOMER CARE SAID THEY NEED A DEALER TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM SO HAD A DEALER CHECK IT OUT WITH NO PROBLEM FOUND. AT CLOSE TO 170,000KM (106,000 MILES) THE KNOCKING BECAME LOUDER AND THE OIL LIGHT BEGAN TO FLICKER. AGAIN CONTACTED FORD WHO ASKED FOR DEALER DIAGNOSIS WHICH I DID AND CONFIRMED NEED ENGINE REPLACEMENT. FORD CUSTOMER CARE SAID THERE WERE NO PROGRAMS FOR MY VEHICLE THEREFORE NO COVERAGE BUT WOULD CONSIDER PARTIAL PAYMENT AS GOOD WILL GESTURE IF REPAIRED AT A FORD DEALER. CONTINUED TO EMAIL FORD BUT THEY STOPPED RESPONDING TO MY CONCERN. HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED AT MY MECHANIC.

CONSUMER STATES ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

ABS BRAKING LIGHT SYSTEM APPEARS ON DASHBOARD. ALSO THERE IS COOLANT MIXED IN WITH OIL INSIDE OF ENGINE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE AGAIN, THE STARTER MADE A FUNNY NOISE. ALSO, THE THERMOSTAT WAS EXTREMELY HIGH. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS OPENED AND THE ANTI-FREEZE WAS LOW-REFILLED. THE MECHANIC THOUGHT IT WAS THE WATER PUMP. THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING. *SCC

VEHICLE WAS LEAKING COOLANT WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS GOING INTO THE FRIST STAGE OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING TEMPERATURE GAUGE WILL POINT TO HOT, CAUSING TVEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. CONSUMER WILL HAVE TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT AT 68000 MILES.*AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND KEY WAS NOT IN THE IGNITION THE CHILD WAS ABLE TO PUT VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND IT ROLLED, HIT A TREE, PROCEEDED ACROSS THE STREET INTO A UTILITY POLE, THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL.*AK *NLM

CONSUMER STATES WITH NO WARNING THE FRONT COIL SPRING SNAPPED CAUSING VEHICLE TO DROP. CAUSE UNKNOWN DEALER NOTIFIED.*JB *YH

FUEL ODOR ENTERED INTO VEHICLE. *AK THE FUEL VAPORS ENTER INTO THE PASSENGER CABIN FREQUENTLY. DEALER SAYS THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE FUEL VAPOR ODOR AND THAT IT IS ONLY A PROBLEM IN THAT LOCALITY BECAUSE OF THE HIGH ALTITUDE. CONSUMER ONLY EXPERIENCES THIS ODOR PROBLEM IN THE SUMMER. THE SOLUTION GIVEN BY THE DEALER IS TO RUN THE AIR CONDITIONER AT MAXIMUM. *JG

FROM 12,000 MILES TO PRESENT MILEAGE, THE VEHICLE HAD THREE TRANSMISSIONS REPLACED WITHIN FIVE YEARS, AND THE PROBLEM IS REOCCURRING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING HAD BROKEN. (RECALLED IN NOVEMBER/NHTSA#01I00700)-WAS CHECKED. THE MECHANICS HAD PLACED A PLASTIC SLEEVE OVER COILS, AND THE SPRING HAD BROKEN THROUGH AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE AT 5 MPH. THE OVERDRIVE AND ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON. THE MECHANICS SAID THAT SOMETHING INSIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD. *SCC

WHEN DOORS WERE SHUT/ ENGINE OFF, INTERIOR LIGHTS STAYED ON. DEALER DETERMINED A SHORT IN LEFT FRONT DOOR. *AK

CONSUMER STATES HEAD GASKET BLEW, CONSISTENT WITH HISTORICAL PROBLEM ON THIS ENGINE, DEALER INITIALLY PAID ONE HALF OF REPAIR DUE TO HISTORY. *AK *YD

COOLANT LOW ENGINE RAN WARM, NO LEAKS FOUND. FEBRUARY 2003, ENGINE WAS FILLED WITH COOLANT BECAUSE OF LEAK. STARTER BLEW AND ENGINE LOCKED UP. PH

HOLLOW STABILIZER BAR FRACTURED JUST OUTSIDE OF RIGHT STABILIZER BAR MOUNT, BROKEN END OF BAR AND CONNECTING PIECE LEFT HANGING NEXT TO RIGHT TIRE. RESULTED IN POOR HANDLING & SEVERE REACTION TO CROSS WINDS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING SPEEDOMETER SUDDENLY STARTED TO READ THE WRONG SPEED. CONSUMER STATED IT BOUNCED ALL OVER THE PLACE. AT TIMES CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW EXACTLY WHAT SPEED SHE WAS TRAVELING. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED BUT SHE WAS OVERCHARGED. *YH

VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR RECALL CAMPAIGN 01V199000 WHERE DEALERSHIPINSTALLED PROTECTIVE SHIELDS AROUND FRONT COIL SPRINGS TO PREVENT CORROSION. HOWEVER, WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO USE SNOW CHAINS FOR USE IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE SNOW CABLE ON THE RIGHT/FRONT WHEEL MADE CONTACT WITH THE PROTECTIVE SHIELD AND CAUSED SHIELD TO SHEAR OFF. APPROXIMATE DISTANCE BETWEEN TIRE WITHOUT CHAIN AND PROTECTIVE SHIELD WAS 1/4 OF AN INCH. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 25 TO 30 MPH IN SNOW. THE PART IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. *AK CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE DEALER NEEDS TO WARN CONSUMERS OF THIS WHEN RECALL REPAIRS ARE MADE. *JB

RIGHT REAR BRAKE WOULD LOCK UP AFTER BEING PARKED. WOULD BREAK LOOSE AFTER BEING DRAGGED ON DRY PAVEMENT FOR ABOUT 20 FEET. ABS LIGHT WOULD COME ON SPORADICALLY. HAD FORD DEALER REPLACE REAR BRAKES.*AK

WE WERE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON. WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE VAN WENT OUT OF GEAR , THE ENGINE REVVED UP, AND ALL ACCELERATION STOPPED. WE PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND TRIED TO GET THE VAN TO GO BACK INTO GEAR - ANY GEAR - AND IT WOULDN'T. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF A PROBLEM - NO NOISES OR LEAKAGE OF FLUID OR ANYTHING UNUSUAL.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

PASSENGER SIDE REAR BRAKE DRUM CRACKED BUT WAS NOT NOTICED IMMEDIATELY. WHEN IT WAS REPAIRED, THERE WAS SEVERE DAMAGE TO ALL COMPONENTS WITHIN THE DRUM. IT SEEMS VERY UNUSUAL THAT THIS HAPPENED, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE LOW MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS ONE OF NUMEROUS FAILURES THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. I HAD THE DRIVER FRONT COIL SPRING BREAK, BUT IT WAS EVENTUALLY RECALLED. BASED ON THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE IN YOUR DATABASE, I FEEL THIS VEHICLE IS VERY UNSAFE, AND NOT RELIABLE. FORD HAS HAD MANY RECALLS FOR VARIOUS VEHICLES IN THE PAST 2 TO 3 MONTHS.*AK

MY WIFE, MELISSA HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THIS PROBLEM FOR OVER A YEAR AND A HALF, SHE HAS BEEN TOLD BY THE MECHANIC AT CAMPUS FORD THAT THERE HAS BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END SUSPENSION ON FOR WINDSTAR'S, HE STOPPED SHORT OF SAYING ANYMORE. OUR CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SERVICE DEPT AT THIS DEALERSHIP ON AND OFF FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF. WE KEEP HAVING DIFFERENT STORIES TOLD TO US, AND TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM DOESNOT EXIST..WELL WE JUST PAID 350.00 DOLLARS FOR NEW WELDING ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION, WE HAVE HAD THE STRUTS REPLACED AND A SPRING REPLACED, WE ALSO HAD UNUSUAL TIRE WARE ON THE RT PASSENGER SIDE AND THE TIRE REPLACED. WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, WE HAVE TWO CHILDREN AND MY WIFE IS A VISITING NURSE AND DRIVES ALOT, THE DEALERSHIP IS POO-POOING HER OFF LIKE SHE IS A NOBODY...PLEASE HELP US. *AK

WHILE COMING TO A STOP VEHICLE BEHIND CONSUMER RAN INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT, ABS AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING AT 78,000 MILES. CAR HAS FAILED 4 TIMES. REPEATED TRIPS TO SERVICE CENTER, TUNE-UP TWICE, NEW BATTERY, NEW FUEL PUMP. APPROX. $1500 PAID SO FAR, CAR CONTINUES TO FAIL WHILE DRIVING. FORD MOTOR CO.

RIGHT COIL SPRING BREAKAGE FOR NO APPARENT REASON.*AK

PURCHASED VEHICLE USED FROM DEALER WHO STATED VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW THERE. DUE TO LG NUMBER OF SAME TYPE OF ENGINE DEFECTS IN THIS VEHICLE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN RECALL IN 1998 AND NEVER REPAIRED.OR IF DEALER PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED VEHICLE AND RESOLD IT. I HAVE READ SEVERAL OTHER LISTINGS ON THIS WEBSITE AND THE PROBLEMS WE ARE EXPERIENCING WITH THIS VEHICLE ARE IDENTICAL TO THOSE LISTED. IF THIS IS A POORLY MADE COMPONENT AMENDS SHOULD BE MADE. ESTIMATED REPAIR COSTS TO MY VEHICLE AT THIS TIME STAND AT $2300.00. THIS IS AN EXTRORDINARY AMOUNT OF MONEY TO PAY FOR A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. WE WERE TOLD THE HEAD GASKETS NEEDED TO BE REPLACE AND POSSIBLE THE HEAD WAS CRACKED. WE ARE GETTING A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND WHITE SMOKE FROM THE TAILPIPE AS WELL AS ANTIFREEZE ODOR AND EVAPORATION THE ENGINE IS RUNNING HOT AND WE HAVE HAD NO PRIOR PROBLEM WITH OVERHEATING I AM AT MY WITS END ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH SO MANY PEOPLE SEEMINGLY AFFECTED BY THIS 3.8L ENGINE PROBLEM WHY IS FORD NOT STEPPING UP???Z*AK

A SMALL CHILD ACCIDENTALLY HIT GEAR BOX AND VEHICLE CAME OUT OF GEAR. CONSUMER FELTIT SHOULD NOT BE THIS EASY FOR VEHICLETO COME OUT OF GEAR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE FLOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE IS DAMP / WET DURING THE OCCASION WHEN THE AIR CONDITION SYSYTEN IS TURNED ON. WHAT I FIND MORE DISTURBING IS THAT I TOOK THIS VEHICLE FOR REPAIR ON 5 SEPARATE TIMES TO THE SAME MAROONE FORD SERVICE STATION FOR REPAIR AND THE FINAL CONCLUSION IS THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF THIS PROBLEM. IN OTHER WORD - THEY CAN'T FIX IT. ON THEIR FIRST INSPECTION OF THE VEHECLE ON 08/21/01 THEY THOUGHT THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED DRIVER'S SIDE WEATHERSTRIP , THEREFORE THEY REPLACED THE WEATHERSTRIP AT A COST OF $363.62. SOON AFTERWARDS, I'VE NOTICED THAT THE FLOOR AT THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS STILL WET. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, I'VE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE 5 TIMES TO THAT SAME FORD AUTHORIZED SERVICE STATION AND I CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I'VE BEEN CHARGED FOR AN UNNECESSARY REPAIR AND I WANT THE VEHICLE REPAIRED PROPERLY. THE FORD AUTHORIZED DEALER IS: MAROONE FORD OF MIAMI. 16800 NW 57TH AVE, MIAMI FLORIDA 33015 TEL: 305-557-5580 EXT 318 (AGUSTINE FALCON) CELL:305-216-7830. YOUR HELP AND FEEDBACK IS MUCH APPRECIATED.*AK

WE HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AT 115,000 MILES EVEN THOUGH WE HAD THE VAN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY WITH CONCERNS THAT THE HEAD GASKETS WERE BLOWN. THEY BLEW US OFF LIKE WE WERE IDIOTS!! WE HAD TO HAVE THE DOOR WINDOWS REPAIRED BECAUSE THEY WERE INSTALLED INCORRECTLY, THE LATCH ASSEMBLY ON THE HATCH BROKE WE TOOK IT IN AND HAD REPAIRED THEN APPROXIMATELY 1YEAR LATER IT BROKE AGAIN! OF COURSE THAT TIME IT WAS NOT COVERED BECAUSE WE WERE UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE THE LATCH, INSTEAD THEY WANTED ME TO PAY $250 TO REPLACE A PIECE OF PLASTIC THAT COULD NOT BE PURCHASED SEPERATELY! THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER QUIT WORKING. WE ALSO HAVE TO PERIODICALLY SCRAPE AND CLEAN THE SENSOR FOR THE SLIDING DOOR OTHERWISE IT WILL NOT STOP DINGING. THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR CRACKED THE FIRST WINTER, IT WAS REPLACED AND THE REPLACEMENT CRACKED THE NEXT WINTER. RIGHT NOW THIS VAN IS NOT RUNNING AND WE HAD TO HAVE THE HEAD PRESSURE CHECKED AND RESURFACED, WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKETS, ETC... IF WE ARE LUCKY WE WILL HAVE A VAN THAT RUNS IF NOT WE WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WHICH WILL BE AROUND $4500 OR MORE. WE HAVE ALREADY SPENT SEVERAL HUNDRED. I FEEL FORD SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THESE SERVICES ESPECIALLY SINCE WE TOOK THIS VAN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND WERE TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG EXCEPT WE NEEDED TO REPLACE OUR O2 SENSORS!! FORD IS JUNK!!!

LOWEREING OF THE PASSENGER WINDOW CAUSED DOOR TO UNLOCK AND OPEN WHILE TRAVELING - RECALL 01S19 WAS PERFORMED DURING REPAIR OF THE WINDOW - COIL SPRING SHIELDS COLLIDE WITH INNER STRUT TOWER - POSSIBLY 2 INCHES OF TRAVEL IN SUSPENSION - VEHICLE BOTTOMS OUT - DEALER IS NOT ACCOMODATING - MORE TO THIS STORY!

MY WINDSAR WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR 34 HOURS SUDDENLY HAD ITS FRONT COIL SPRING SNAP. HAD I BEEN DRIVING THIS VAN I AM SURE IT WOULD HAVE DISTROYED THE TIRE. MY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TOLD ME HE HAS HAD FIVE WINDSTARS THIS YEAR WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED INSPECTED AND FOUND OUT THAT SUSPENSION COILSPRING WAS BROKEN WITHOUT A WARNING OF PROBLEM.*AK

COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE COST $2,000 TO REPAIR.*AK

ERRATIC OPERATION OF SPEEDOMETER, COMMENCED TO JUMP BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH OR MORE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY. NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL, AND NOTHING WOULD BE DONE UNLESS COST GO TO CONSUMER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

LEFT SIDE TIE ROD BROKE WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS, ALSO, SUSPENSION JOINTS NEEDED TO BE WELDED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER . *AK

EA 00 027/SUSPENSION COIL SPRING BREAKAGE: A RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVER UNDER A RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER . *AK

TRACKING SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. AND BRAKES ARE NOT OPERABLE. LIGHT ON THE INSIDE COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

SPEEDOMETER BROKE, AND CONSUMER COULD NOT TELL HOW FAST VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR A WHILE.*AK

ERRATIC SPEEDOMETER (EG SPEEDOMETER MOVING TO 80 WHILE VEHICLE PARKED). *AK

BACKING UP IN DRIVE WAY, FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FELL TO THE GROUND/TIRE WAS RIPPED APART ON THE INSIDEOF TIRE WALL/SPRING COIL BROKE/CALLED TOW TRUCK/DEALER SAID COIL SPRING BROKE/REPLACED COIL SPRING/ THEY HAD FAILED TO REPLACED THE DRIVER SIDE COIL/ I THOUGHT THIS WAS VERY IRRESPONSIBLE/COULD HAVE THE SAME HAZARDOUS POTENTIAL TO BREAK.*AK (DOT NUMBER: 4BM3DDER TIRESIZE: P215/70R15)

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, VAN HIT A POT HOLE, WHICH CAUSED THE FUEL TANK TO CRACK, FUEL TANK WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. CJ

THIS CAR HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AFTER ONLY 80000 MILES. IT IS A 3.8 L ENGINE THAT HAS A HISTORY OF FAILURES. HOW LONG CAN FORD CONTINUE SELLING THIS JUNK? IT SEEMS TO BE GOING ON FOREVER. *AK

LEFT COIL SPRING CAME UNDONE WITHOUT WARNING AND BLEWUP TIRE WHILE DRIVING.. RIGHT COIL SPRING CAME UNDONE WITHOUT WARNING AND CAR HAD TO BE TOWED.*AK

SPEEDOMETER GOES FROM 15 TO 80 AND STAYS AT A HIGH SPEED. MY MECHANIC HAS STATED THIS IS A EXPENSIVE PART AND FORD IS AWARE THEY ARE HAVING A PROBLEM. HE HIMSELF HAS SENT MANY CUSTOMER BACK TO THE DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEEDOMETER REPLACED. *AK

MECHANIC STATES THAT VEHICLE HAS A HISTORY OF HEAD GASKET FAILURES IN PREVOIUS YEARS. *AK

SPEEDOMETER SPEED INDICATOR JUMPS UP AND DOWN, UNIT BUZZES. *AK

REPAIR PART COST IN EXCESS OF $450 (WITH LABOR). LOSS OF SPEEDOMETER DEEMED SAFETY RELATED ISSUE AS SPEED COULD NOT BE ACCURATELY DETERMINED.