1998 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

PURCHASED 2 COOPER TRENDSETTER SE TIRES, TIRE IDENTIFICATION NO. 2UTM3C2J4702, ON JANUARY 17, 2003. SINCE THAT TIME, TIRES HAVE NOT HELD AIR AND HAVE SUFFERED LOSS OF TREND AND TRACTION CAUSING A DANGEROUS CONDITION. RETURNED TO RETAILER IN MARCH OF 2005 AND TIRES WERE TAKEN OFF AND RESEALED AT A COST OF $15.00 BUT TIRES STILL CONTINUE TO LOSS AIR. SINCE THE DATE OF PURCHASE, ONLY 23,000 HAVE BEEN PUT ON THESE TIRES. *NM

ABS LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY AND RED BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON CONSTANTLY. WHILE THIS IS HAPPENING, THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER WILL NOT SHUT OFF, AND THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK. THE CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON. THE TURN SIGNALS ARE BLINKING RAPIDLY OR NOT WORKING ON SOME OCCASIONS. MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AS OF LAST YEAR. THE TRANSMISSION HAS ALREADY BEEN REBUILT AND WE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHTS NOT GOING OFF AND THE DOOR LOCK MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE AT FIRST THEY WERE LOCKING ON THEIR OWN REPEATEDLY. I FEEL LIKE THESE WERE ALL A RESULT OF WIRING PROBLEMS, BUT WE HAD SUCH A HARD TIME GETTING ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS REPAIRED THAT I'M NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN A LEMON THE WHOLE TIME WE HAVE OWNED IT.

AT 55,000 MILES MY 1998 WINDSTAR WITH THE 232 CUBIC INCH ENGINE, YOU GUESSED IT, BLEW A HEAD GASKET. AFTER READING ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WITH PREVIOUS MODELS, IT LOOKS AS THOUGH FORD HAS MORE PROBLEMS A"HEAD" (SORRY HAD TO). WHAT STEPS SHOULD I TAKE TO HELP THE OTHER CONSUMERS MAKE COMPLAINTS SO WE AREN'T OUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR REPAIR COSTS THAT IS OBVIOUSLY A FORD PROBLEM? WHAT STEPS CAN I TAKE TO GET FORD TO COVER THE COSTS OF THIS REPAIR? SINCERELY, *TR

I SENT THE FOLLOWING IN AN EMAIL TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY, AND ALSO TALKED WITH THEIR "CUSTOMER SERVICE". THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS DISPUTE BETWEEN THE DEALER REP AND MYSELF, AS IT WAS A FIELD DECISION. THE ORIGINAL REPAIR WAS A REBUILD OF THE DRUM BRAKE ON THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL, THE SAME WHEEL THAT LATER SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE SHOES. LUCKILY, WE WERE DRIVING AT OVER 35 MPH, SO THE WHEEL DID NOT LOCK UP UNTIL WE STOPPED AT A FRIENDS HOUSE. THE ENTIRE HUB ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REBUILT AFTER THE BRAKE SIEZED. NOTE: THIS IS THE SECOND BRAKE REBUILD. THE CAR HAS ALSO SUFFERED FROM BROKEN TIE RODS. ======================================================== THE PARSONS DEALERSHIP THAT REBUILT MY RIGHT REAR BRAKE LAST OCTOBER WILL NOT ADMIT THAT THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE PADS, AND SUBSEQUENT COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY LAST WEEK WHICH REQUIRED REPLACING THE DRUM, IS COVERED UNDER THEIR WARRANTY (12,000 OR 12 MONTHS.) THEY SAY IT WAS DUE TO A RUSTED PARKING BRAKE CABLE THAT SEIZED. I SAY THAT IS A BIG LOAD OF BALONEY....EVEN IF IT WAS RUSTED (IN A PRETTY NEW CAR!) THEN THEY SHOULD HAVE SEEN THAT LAST YEAR. THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIR ON 9/20/02 WAS $639.88. I WANT FORD TO: 1) MAKE PARSONS RETURN MY MONEY, AND 2) REPRIMAND PARSONS FOR POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE. I WILL NOT BUY A CAR FROM THEM AGAIN, NOR WILL THEY EVER SEE MY CAR AGAIN - DESPITE THEIR ADMONITION AT THE BOTTOM OF THEIR INVOICE THAT SAYS "WARRANTY 90 DAYS OR 4000 MILES ON ADJUSTMENTS, ALIGN, BALANCE. ALL OTHER REPAIRS COVERED 12 MONTHS OR 12000 MILES. CUSTOMER MUST RETURN TO PARSONS FORD FOR DEFECTIVE REPAIRS. NO REFUNDS IF CUSTOMER TAKES TO ANOTHER REPAIR FACILITY. I WON'T GO INTO THE DELAYS (A FULL WEEK TO REPAIR THE DRUM AND BRAKE ASSEMBLY).

VEHICLE HAS FRONT AXLE HUB AND SPEED SENSOR REPLACED DUE TO ANTILOCK WARNING SIGNAL CONTINUING TO STAY ON. *BF RECALL# 01I007000. THERE WAS A NOISE IN THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL AND ON ANOTHER OCCASION A LOUD BANG HAD COME FROM THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE LEFT FRONT SPRING EXPLODING. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED ON ANOTHER OCCASION THAT THE SUB FROM HAD RUSTED BADLY. *SC

I HAVE A 98 FORD WINDSTAR FAMILY VAN VIN# [XXX] I PURCHASED THE VAN IN JUNE OF 2002 IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND HAD A FULL INSPECTION BY THE SERVICE DEPT ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP WHEN PURCHASED, I WAS DRIVING BY MYSELF ON A SUNDAY RETURNING FROM VISITING MY ELDERLY PARENTS AND AS I WAS DRIVING THE INTERSTATE A HUGE NOISE SCARED ME AND I LOOKED TO THE REAR OF THE VAN AND A WINDOW ON THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR VENT WINDOW WAS GONE, THE TEMP WAS VERY COLD AND NO ONE WAS AROUND IT THANK GOODNESS, IT COULD HAVE AT A DIFFERENT TIME COST A MOTORCYCLE RIDER OR ANYONE IT COULD OF HIT THEIR LIFE OR SERIOUS INJURY, I TOOK THE VAN TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED FOR THEM TO REPORT AND ALSO EXPLAINED I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR, I HAD TO PAY FOR IT AND CONTACTED THE FORD MOTOR CO THREE TIMES AND THEY DO NOT SEEM TO BELIEVE THEY SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS ISSUE, IT WAS A ELECTRIC WINDOW LATCH THAT MOVES THE WINDOW IN AND OUT AS A VENT THAT MALFUNCTIONED AND BROKE, IT IS ALSO THE ONLY THING THAT HOLDS IT IN. I BELIEVE I COULD NOT HAVE ANTICIPATED THIS TO HAPPEN AND IT WAS CLEARLY A DEFECT AND I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED AND SOME NOW THAT THEY HAVE CAUSED ME SO MUCH AGGRAVATION. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

SWITCH OF REAR DEFROSTER SHORTED OUT, CAUSING DASH PANEL TO MELT. TS. *AK

I HAVE MAINTAINED MY 1998 FORD WINDSTAR VERY WELL - HAVING ALL RECOMMENDED MAINTENACE PERFORMED. IT HAS ONLY 80,000 MILES ON IT AND THE HEAD GASKET NOW HAS A LEAK. COOLANT HAS LEAKED INTO THE #4 CYLINDER. THE DEALER WANTS $3500-4500 TO PUT A NEW ENGINE IN IT. THE HEAD GASKET LEAKING IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH WINDSTARS. FORD HAS HAS A PROGRAM FOR EARLIER MODELS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. BUT FORD HAS YET TO APPLY THE PROGRAM TO THE 1998 MODELS. I EXPECT A FORD VEHICLE TO GET AT LEAST 180,000 MILES WHEN THE OWNER HAS ALL RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE COMPLETED. I WANT FORD TO PAY FOR A NEW ENGINE! I WAS TO PUT ANOTHER 100,000 MILES ON THAT VAN.

HOWEVER, WE ARE CURRENTLY VERY UPSET WITH OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER OVER A SIMPLE SEAT BELT. WE OWN A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. WHEN THE CAR WAS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD WE TOOK IT IN TO HAVE A FRAYED SEAT BELT REPAIRED. I HAVE THE PAPERWORK FOR THIS REPAIR. WE THEN HAD A BABY AND INSTALLED A FIVE POINT HARNESS CAR SEAT IN THAT SEAT POSITION. THE CAR SEAT REMAINED THERE FOR FOUR YEARS, (REMOVED ONLY WHEN SO FILTHY IT HAD TO BE CLEANED), THUS THE SEAT BELT REMAINED LOCKED IN POSITION AND WAS NOT PULLED OUT OR RETRACTED DURING THAT TIME. THAT BABY IS NOW OLD ENOUGH TO NEED A BOOSTER SEAT (WHICH UTILIZES THE SEAT BELT DIRECTLY). WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF STARTING TO USE THE BOOSTER SEAT DAILY WE NOTICED THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS ONCE AGAIN FRAYING. I CALLED THE DEALER AND HE TOLD ME TO BRING IT IN. WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE ORIGINAL REPAIR PLACE (WITH THE PAPERWORK FROM THE FIRST REPAIR) AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION. THEY TOLD US THAT SINCE THE FIRST REPAIR WAS AT 7138 MILES AND THE VAN NOW HAS 89,123 MILES ON IT THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I ASKED FOR A LETTER STATING THIS FACT (THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY) AND THEY REFUSE. *NLM

FUEL TANK BROKEN / PUNCTURED WHEN RAN OVER ON A UNKNOWN OBJECT (SUSPECT TIRE PIECE) DURING NIGHT ON A RAINY DAY. *JB

ON 12/7/01 MY ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND THE TRAC OFF LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. I TOOK IT INTO THE INVER GROVE FORD, MN AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS BROKEN WHEEL SENSOR AND HAD TO REPLACE THE ECU. THAT COST US $1600.00. THEN ON 12/8/02, THE 2 LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. I CALLED FORD VERY UPSET AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS ONLY A 12 MONTH/12,000 MILES WARRANTY ON THE PART. AFTER ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC TEST, IT WAS DETERMINED THE ECU AGAIN WENT OUT. FORD OFFERED TO PAY $500.00 OF THE $1147.00 ESTIMATE, BUT IT INFURIATES ME THAT AUTOMOBILE COMPANIES CAN GET AWAY WITH THIS TYPE OF "HIGHWAY ROBBERY" AND ONLY WARRANTY SUCH AN EXPENSIVE PIECE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. IT IS NOW A SAFETY ISSUE, BECAUSE MY ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DO NOT WORK! WHAT AM I TO DO?

NAR 1/15/2003. THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. AFTER NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS, THE SELLING DEALER OFFERED TO BUY THE VEHICLE BACK, BUT THE CONSUMER DECLINED AND INSTEAD CONTINUED TO FORD AND HARASS THE EMPLOYEES TO POINT THAT THEY BECAME DEATH THREATS. *JB

HEAD GASKET FAILURE. FAULTY HEAD GASKET DESIGN IN MY OPINION ABS/TRACTION CONTROL UNIT. CURRENT PROBLEM TSB STATES THAT FUEL TANK MANUFACTURED WITH INCORRECT DEPTH - FUEL PUMP WIRING IS RUBBED UNTIL ELECTRICAL SHORT OCCURS - AND FUEL PUMP FUSE BLOWS - VEHICLE IS THEN STUCK IN TRAFFIC, IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION ETC. FORDS RECOMMENDED FIX IS TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK AND PUMP ASSEMBLY HOWEVER, THEY WILL NOT CONTRIBUTE ANYTHING TO THE COST OF THE REPAIRS CAUSED DUE TO THEIR FAULTY DESIGN.

I OWN TWO 1998 FORD WINDSTAR MINIVANS, BOTH OF THEM HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SLIDING DOOR CAUSING THE PANEL LIGHT TO COME ON AND THE CAR INTERIOR LIGHTS TO STAY ON FOR UP TO TWO HOURS AFTER YOU HAVE EXITED THE VEHICLE. I HAVE READ IN A REPORT THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH SOME OF THESE VEHICLES. I HAVE A SISTER THAT ALSO OWNS A WINDSTAR AND A BROTHER THAT JUST TRADED HIS IN. THEY HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM TO MY KNOWLEDGE. WHAT IS CAUSING THIS AND HOW IS THE PROBLEM FIXED? THE DEALER'S MECHANIC WHERE I PURCHASED IT FROM TOLD ME THAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE THIS, BUT I KNOW IT IS NOT. 12 SECOND DELAY IS NORMAL NOT TWO HOURS. I THINK HE WAS JUST AS STUMPED AS MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE BEEN WITH THIS PROBLEM. AGAIN PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THIS TO HAPPEN AND HOW IT CAN BE REPAIRED.

1998 FORD WINDSTAR. ACCORDING TO DEALER REPAIR DEPT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE FUEL TANK CAUSED BY CORROSION RELATING TO THE EMISSION TUBING. HAD TO REPLACE FUEL TANK. REPORTED TO FORD, THEY HAVE NOTHING TO REPORT. DEALER PERSON SAID THEY HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL OF THESE AND THIS IS IN A SMALL RURAL TOWN. TANK WAS BACK ORDERED FOR A MONTH. I WOULD THINK THAT A HOLE IN A GASOLINE TANK WOULD BE HAZARDOUS, AND GIVEN THE STATEMENT OF SEEING SEVERAL OF THESE IN ONE DEALERSHIP PLUS THE BACKORDER SITUATION INDICATES THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM.

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO ACCELERATE. DEALER NOTIFIED.

THERE WAS A NOISE THAT HAD COME FROM THE WHEEL WHEN TURNING, AS THE CONSUMER TRAVELED ON THE HIGHWAY. TS THE BALL JOINTS FAILED, BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT ON THE FRONT END. SCC

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE'S TIRE ROD SQUEAKS WHEN WHEEL IS TURNING. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. CHIMES STAY ON WHEN CAR IS STARTED UNTIL THE SPEED REACHES AROUND 15 MPH. BUT AS SOON AS I SLOW DOWN AND STOP, THE CHIMES COME ON AGAIN. *JB

INTERMITENT BRAKE FAILURE. BRAKES GO RIGHT TO FLOOR! GARAGE CAN NOT FIND PROBLEM. REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER NOT THE PROBLEM. HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES FOR 1 YEAR COMES AND GOES. TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT STARTS BLINKING WHEN BRAKES APPLIED SHARPLY. WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS TURNED ON THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COME ON AND THE CRUISE DOES NOT WORK. DT

ALL 5 LEFT FRONT LUG BOLTS SHEARED AND CAR LOST WHEEL AT 70 MPH ON FREEWAY. ROAD WAS STRAIGHT AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL CAR TO RIGHT SHOULDER. I NOTE 29 SIMILAR INCIDENTS OVER LAST 4 YEARS ON NHTSA WEBSITE, BUT NO RECALL. WHY NOT? PREVIOUSLY MY MECHANIC HAD 3 OF RIGHT FRONT LUGS BREAK AT LESS THAN SPEC TORQUE. ALL RIGHT FRONT LUGS WERE REPLACED. AT THAT TIME THE LEFT LUGS TOOK TORQUE AND (UNFORTUNATELY) WERE NOT REPLACED. THESE LUGS CAUSED LIFE THREATENING HAZARD. DT

FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL FELL OFF AT 40-45 MPH. VEHICLE IS AT DEALERSHIP AT THIS TIME. *TS *TT

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. TS THERE WAS A NOISE THAT EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE BEFORE THE STEERING FAILED. *JG

THE SWAY BAR BROKE, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE LEFT.*JB

HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON 3.8 LITER V-6 ENGINE

THE SENSOR THAT CONTROLS THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM HAS FAILED AND AS A RESULT THE BRAKES NO LONGER FUNCTION PROPERLY. A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN HAS BEEN ISSUED, HOWEVER, FORD REFUSES TO REPLACE THE PART. WE HAVE CONTACTED BOTH THE DEALER AND FORD DIRECTLY TO REQUEST THAT THEY PAY TO REPLACE. THIS PART SHOULD NOT FAIL ON A VEHICLE WITH 43,000 MILES, AND THEY OBVIOUSLY KNOW OF THE PROBLEM BASED ON THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS. I CAN PROVIDE THE VIN NUMBER LATER IF IT WOULD BE HELPFUL. MR

CONSUMER STAES INSULATION BUSHING/STABELIZER BAR WAS REPLACED TWICE WITH IN PRESENT MILEAGE. PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

THE CONSUMER IS CONCERN SHE DIDN'T RECEIVE A RECALL #NUMBER97V097000 FOR THE A/T FLUID SEVO COVER LEAK. BECAUSE HER VIN NUMBER WASN'T INCLUDED BUT SHE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MR

POWER STEERING LEAK, BLACK POWER STEERING FLUID, LOUD WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT,BROUGHT TO MECHANIC,REPLACED POWER STEERING RACK.STILL HAVE BLACK POWER STEERING FLUID ,CAR STILL LOUD WHEN TURNING WHEEL.*AK

TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND STOPPED ALTOGETHER WITHIN ONE DAY. PH

OUR FUEL PUMP WENT FOR A SECOND TIME IN A THREE MONTH PERIOD. THE CAUSE OF THE FUEL PUMPS MALFUNCTION WAS A SHORT IN THE WIRING WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE FACT THAT THE DEPTH OF THE FUEL TANK WAS NOT WITHIN THE REQUIRED SPECIFICATIONS. THE DEPTH OF THE FUEL TANK WAS ONLY 6 5/8" DEEP. IF THE DEPTH OF THE TANK IS TO SHALLOW, THE WIRING ATOP THE FUEL PUMP CAN BECOME CHAFFED ON THE METAL FUEL HOSE CLAMP. FORD HAD ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS VERY ISSUE. WHAT OCCURRED WITH OUR VAN WAS PRECISELY WHAT THE SERVICE BULLETIN WARNS OF. THE SERVICE BULLETIN STATES THAT IF THEFUEL TANK DEPTH IS LESS THAN 7 3/4" REPLACE THE FUEL TANK 9002 AND FUEL DELIVERY MODULE 9H307. OUR VAN CLEARLY MET THAT CRITERIA, HOWEVER, FORD WOULD NOT REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP OR FUEL TANK AT FORDS EXPENSE. THE SERVICE MANAGER AND TECHNICIAN AT FORD STATED THAT IF I WERE A REGULAR CUSTOMER OF DUDDIE FORD, THAT THEY WOULD NOT LET ME TAKE THE VAN WITH ME BECAUSE OF THE SAFETYISSUES INVOLVED. WHEN I ASKED WHAT EXACTLY THEY MEANT, THEY STATED THAT BECAUSE OF THE CHAFFING OF THE WIRING ON THE FUEL PUMP, A SHORT COULD OCCUR, WHICH COULD IGNITE GASOLINE FUMES AND THEREFORE RESULT IN A CATASTROPHIC TRAGEDY. BASICALLY, THE VAN COULD EXPLODE. AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE AT GRANITE FORD IN ROCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL TANK PER THE SERVICE BULLETIN. THE GRANITE FORD TECHNICIAN ALSO MEASURED THE DEPTH OF THE FUEL TANK AND FOUND A DEPTH OF ONLY 6 5/8". (SEE GRANITE FORD INVOICE) THE FUEL TANK WAS REMOVED AND REPLACED. DT

IN SEPTEMBER, 2002, I HAD TO REPLACE THE SPEED CONTROL PRESSURE SWITCH ON THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER OF MY 1998 FORD WINDSTAR, BECAUSE IT STARTED LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE DRIVERS SIDE TIE ROD END BECAUSE THE LEAKING BRAKE FLUID DAMAGED THE RUBER BUSHING. *JB

THE TREAD SEPARATED ALL THE WAY AROUND THE TIRE WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN UNDERINFLATED, OVERLOADED OR ABUSED IN ANY WAY.*AK

VEHICLE DIED COMPLETELY WITH POWER STEERING AND ELECTRICAL ALL OFF, LIGHTS AND ALL WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT.*AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, CONSUMER NOTICED A FLAT TIRE. WHEEL HAD A CRACK IN IT THAT CAUSED THE TIRE TO GO FLAT. CONTACTED DEALER. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, WHICH IS CAUSED BY A DEFECT*AK *JLG

WHILE DRIVING IF TRANSMISSION REACHES A CERTAIN TEMPERATURE IT DROPS OUT OF 3RD GEAR DOWN INTO 2ND. ENGINE RPMS INCREASE AND VEHICLE VIBRATES AND SHAKES.*AK

ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2002 MY FORD WINDSTAR BEGAN SMOKING. THE SMOKING WAS CAUSED BY THE LEAKING OF THE POWER STEERING FLUID ON TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM OF THE VAN. AFTER BEING INFORMED BY MY WIFE THAT THE VAN WAS SMOKING I DETERMINED THAT THE SMOKE WAS CAUSED BY THE POWER STREERING FLUID FALLING ON THE EXHAUST SYSTEM OF THE VAN. AFTER DETERMINING THE CAUSE OF THE SMOKE I TURNED OFF THE VAN SO THAT THERE WOULD NOT BE A FIRE. THE VAN WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT POWER STEERING FITTING HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND THE HOSE HAD BEGUN LEAKING. IT WAS ALSO STATED THAT THE HOSE CONNECTED TO THE FITTING WAS ALSO LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID. I QUESTIONED THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND HE STATED THAT OTHER FORD VEHICLES HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. I GAVE APPROVAL TO THE DEALER TO FIX THE PROBLEM WHICH COSTED $551.74. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT SINCE I DID NOT HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE THAT FORD WOULD NOT COVER ANY OF THE REPAIR COST. MR

PEELING PAINT ON MOST UPPER SURFACES, INCLUDING ROOF, LIFTGATE, AND SIDE DOOR. MR

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK *YH

RACK AND PINION STEERING IS LEAKING FLUID, AND IS CAUSING CONSUMER TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH POWER STEERING. IT WILL BE HARD TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

THE RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 70 MPH. THE INCIDENT RESULTED IN BODY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE (FIRESTONE TUBLPS FR680, TIRE SIZE P205/70R15 AND DOT # W2M01P1118. TIRE MILEAGE WAS 18000). *YH

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

TRANSMISSION TOTALLY COLLAPSED ON HIGHWAY, PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED TWICE. *AK

CONSUMER PLACED KEY INSIDE OF IGNITION,TURNED VEHICLE ON, AND SHE TOOK KEY OUT OF IGNITION.IGNITION SWITCH POPPED OUT. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

FUEL PUMP HAS STOPPED WORKING DUE TO INSULATION ON WIRES WORE OFF, WHICH IN SOME CASES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

OUR CAR STOPPED RUNNING AFTER REVERSING FROM OUR DRIVEWAY, IT WAS TOWED TO A NEARBY AUTO REPAIR SHOP FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE TRANSMISSION CASE COVER WAS REMOVED. THE GEARS INSIDE WERE IN PIECES. THE CASE HAD THE PROPER OIL AND QUANTITY. THE UNIT JUST DISMEMBERED ITSELF. CLEARLY A LATENT MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE CASE HAD NEVER BEEN OPENED BEFORE AND ALWAYS HAD THE PROPER OIL AND AMOUNT.*AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 44,000 MILES. FORD WILL NOT ASSIST WITH REPLACEMENT

WHILE BEING DRIVEN AT45 MPH, VAN STALLED, RESULTING IN STEERING WHEEL LOCKING AND BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILING WITH NO PRESSURE. OWNER HAD NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO COAST THROUGH AN INTERSECTION WITH LIGHT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

FRONT LEFT WHEEL VIBRATED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. INSPECTED LUGS: NUTS AND FOUND 3 BROKEN ONES.*AK

THERE ARE WIRES GOING THROUGH FUEL TANK THAT HAVE NO COVER, AND IT COULD CAUSE A FIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD STALLED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO WIRES SHORTING OUT IN THE FUEL PUMP. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. YH