1998 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

ENGINE STALLED; REPORTED TO SHEEHY FORD; REPLACED SENSOR; WITHIN A WEEK VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN AND OFTEN. REPORTED TO DEALER; COULD NOT DUPLICATE STALL CONDITION. STALLING OCCURRED UP TO 13 TIMES A DAY; RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALER. AFTER TWO DAYS DEALER FOUND THAT PLASTIC GAS TANK HAD COLLAPSED, CAUSING A VAPOR LOCK, AFFECTING FUEL FLOW TO ENGINE AND RESULTING IN STALLS. GAS TANK REPLACED AT COST OF $882.*AK

IN JULY OF 2002 TWO LUGNUT STUDS FROM MY LEFT FRONT WHEEL BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE. IN MARCH OF 2003 THREE LUGNUT STUDS FROM MY RIGHT FROM WHEEL BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. A FORTH LUGNUT STUD BROKE ON MY RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WHEN I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR MAINTENANCE.

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER HAVING THE FLUID AND PAN GASKET CHANGED WITHIN THE PREVIOUS 6 MONTHS. SINCE IT IS A '98 AND ALTHOUGH IT HAS THE SAME TRANSMISSION AS EARLIER YEARS (WHOSE TRANSMISSIONS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT NO COST TO THE OWNER BECAUSE OF EITHER RECALLS OR SECRET WARRANTIES) FORD REFUSED TO REPLACE THIS TRANSMISSION AT COST.

AFTER RECALL 01V199000 FOR FRONT COIL SPRING CORROSION WAS COMPLETED PROBLEM REOCCURRED. *AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED CONSUMER SAW FRONT SWAY BAR HANGING DOWN ON PASSENGER'S SIDE OF VEHICLE.*AK

THE HYDRAULIC LIFTS WERE HELD IN PLACE BY A SCREW ON BOTH SIDES OF THE TAILGATE. THE SCREW ON THE LEFT SIDE BROKE. AS A RESULT THE TAILGATE RELEASED AND SLAMMED DOWN VERY HARD. *JB

ORIGINAL TIRES, FIRESTONE 20570R15, CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS HEARD A BIG BOOM, VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE, AND CONSUMER STATES IT WAS HAD TO KEEP CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THE TREAD SEPERATED FROM LEFT REAR TIRE. CONSUMER STATES THE WEATHER WAS VERY HOT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

CONSUMER STATES THE WARNING LIGHT WAS ON, THE DEALER TRACED PROBLEM TO A LOOSE HOSE ON THE FUEL TANK, WHICH REQUIRED TIGHTENING A SCREW, THE FUEL FILTER WAS REPLACED.*JB

CONSUMER STATED THAT ALL 5 STUDS ON THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SHEARED OFF WHILE DRIVING. DLR ADVISED THAT ALL STUDS SNAPPED AT THE SAME TREAD LENGTH. TS

FUEL PUMP INSIDE FUEL TANK IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THERE IS A WIRE INSIDE FUEL TANK CONNECTED TO FUEL PUMP, AND WITHIN 50000 MILES WIRE STARTED TO RUB TOGETHER WITH POTENTIAL OF THERE BEING A FIRE IN FUEL TANK. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

FUEL CLAPSED WHILE ON VACATION BLOWING FUSES AND RUINING FUEL PUMP HAD TO HAVE BOTH REPLACED. FORD CLAIMES HAS HAD NO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS. *AK

THE RETURN LINE CORRODED NEAR THE R&P VALVE,FORD TOLD ME IT WOULD TAKE APPROX. 10 TO 30 DAYS DUE TO NATIONWIDE BACKORDER I AM WORRIED THAT,DUE TO SUCH A BACKORDER THER IS DEFECT IN THAT PART.ANOTHER REASON FOR CONCERN IS THAT I HAD TO GET THE PART FROM AN AUTO RECYCLING FACILITY AND NOTICED THAT A REPAIR WAS MADE TO THE LINE EXACTLY WHERE MY LINE FAILED DUE TO CORROSION.THIS IS MY FAMILY SOLE MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION ,ANY RESEARCH OR FINDINGS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *AK

CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE, IGNITION SWITCH SPUN AROUND AND ALL ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS STAYED ON. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT TO FOURTH GEAR, DEALER REPLACED SOLENOID, DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MR

HEAD GASKET FAILURE, COOLANT LEAKED INTO CYLINDAR, BENT CONNECTING ROD.*AK

WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD TROUBLE WITH THIS VAN - WE BOUGHT IT USED(1 YR OLD) SO WE HAD NO RECOURSE AS FAR AS WARRANTIES GO. WE FINALLY WERE ABLE TO TAKE IT IN TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND HAVE THE LIGHT PROBLEM LOOKED AT - THEY REPLACED A SENSOR FOR $140 AND AS SOON AS WE DROVE 45 MILES IT STARTED UP AGAIN! WE WERE ON OUR WAY ON A ROAD TRIP AND I CALLED TO TELL THEM IT FAILED, BUT WHEN WE GOT BACK TWO WEEKS LATER THEY CLAIMED THAT IT MUST BE SOMETHING DIFFERENT... INTERIOR LIGHTS DO NOT SHUT OFF, REMOVED DOOR AJAR CHIME SO WE DIDN'T HAVE TO LISTEN TO THAT WHILE DRIVING ALL THE TIME, DOOR AJAR LIGHT HAS BEEN ON CONTINUOUSLY FOR MORE THAN 3 YEARS, WE'VE HAD TO REMOVE THE DOME LIGHTS AND TURN THE OTHER LIGHTS TO "OFF" SO OUR BATTERY DOESN'T GO DEAD OVER NIGHT - THE PASSENGER FLOOR LIGHTS REMAIN ON HOWEVER AND GET VERY HOT... THE DOORS DO NOT LOCK BECAUSE THE CAR THINKS IT'S DOORS ARE OPEN! THE CAR HAS BECOME DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND THE PROBLEM HAS STUMPED TOO MANY MECHANICS TO LIST - WHEN DRIVING ABOVE 40 MPH THE RIGHT WHEEL STARTS MAKING A 'THUMPING' NOISE AND WHEN TURNING LEFT OR ACCELERATING IT BECOMES ALMOST DEAFENING, NOW IT'S MAKING A VERY LOUD SCREECH IF, BUT DON'T WANT TO SELL THIS DEATH-TRAP TO ANYONE ELSE EITHER YOU TURN TOO SHARPLY - THERE IS A CONTINUOUS SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE SAME AREA. PLEASE HELP!! THANK YOU, [XXX] PS... CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK AND THE BACK WIPER ONLY WORKS IF YOU'RE BACKING UP... HAVE HAD THE VAN REALIGNED CONTINUALLY AND I JUST BOUGHT ANOTHER SET OF TIRES IN JUNE AND THE LEFT FRONT TIRE IS ALREADY WORN OUT... THE RIGHT PASSENGER'S WINDOW SOMETIMES DOESN'T ROLL BACK UP AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON SOMETIMES FOR MONTHS FOR NO REASON AS WELL AS THE BRAKE LIGHT... INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST AND THE ENGINE WAS MISSING DUE TO BLOWN HEAD GASKETS. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK ALSO FOUND BLOWN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 45,000 MILES. *TT

VEHICLE WAS STRUCK WHILE PARKED CAUSING SLIDING DOOR TO CLOSE ONTO CHILD'S HEAD WHILE GETTING OUT OF VEHICLE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ERRATIC DOWNSHIFT WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT SINCE IT OCCURED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHILE TRAVELLING AT 65MPH. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED TWICE AND THE DEALER COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER TOLD US THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE. SINCE THIS TIME, IT HAS HAPPENED TWO MORE TIMES ON A ONE WEEK PERIOD.

I OWN A 1998 FORD WINSTAR. I BOUGHT IT TWO YEARS AGO AND A MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT IT THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT GOES ON WHEN I OPEN THE SLIDER OR THE TRUNK AND IT WON'T GO OUT THEREFORE MY DOME LIGHT STAYS ON AND IF I DON'T PULL THE FUSE I RISK THE CHANCE OF LOOSING MY BATTERYAND WHEN THE FUSE IS OUT I CAN'T OPEN MY WINDOWS.*AK

SKINNER & DAMULIS FORD (HERKIMER, NEW YORK), SANFORD FORD (SANDFORD, NC), AND CROWN FORD (NC) SERVICE CENTERS STATED TRANSMISSION FAILURE IS "NORMAL" AT 70,000 MILES FOR THE FORD WINDSTAR. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FORD PRODUCTS FOR 20 YEARS NOW, NEVER HAVE I EXPERIENCED A MAJOR COMPONENT FAILURE AT HIGH MILEAGE. 4 SEASONS TIRE & AUTO CENTER IN ILION, NEW YORK (315) 894-5087 STATED THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECENTLY RECURRING PROBLEM WITH TAURUS & ESCORTS.*AK

BOTH FRONT WHEELS SHOW SIGN OF CRACKS WITHIN BEADS OF THE WHEELS. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, CONSUMER STATES THAT A TWO YEAR OLD CHILD PUT VEHICLE IN SECOND GEAR AND VEHICLE ROLLED BACKARDS INTO A TRASH BEND. CONSUMER FEELS LIKE GEAR SHOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR WITHOUT PRESSING ON BRAKE. *JB *TT

WHILE DRIVING DOWN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS TRANSMISION DOWN SHIFTS INTO LOWER GEARS, 2ND OR LOW GEAR.WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE A VERY BAD ACCIDENT. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAD THE SAME THING HAPPED WITH THE THE SAME TYPE VEHICLE! HAVE YOU HADE ANY OTHER COMPLANTES? H AD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO AUTHERIZED DEALER HE CHECKED IT OUT SAID NOTHING WRONG! CONTINUED ON TRIP AND IT KEEP DOING IT.THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AT HIGHIWAY SPEEDS AND WITH A BIG TRUCK BEHIND YOU!! ANY INFORMATION OR HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.FORD IS NO HELP! THANK YOU. *AK

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH THE TIRE RUBBING ON THE SPRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TO HAVE THE RECALL (01V199000) WORK PERFORMED. CONSUMER BEGAN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS AGAIN WITH THE RECALL RELATED ISSUE. THE DEALER REFUSED TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE, STATING THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RELATED TO THE SPRING, WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT THE CAR. *YD *NM

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITH NO ADVANCE WARNING. TRANSMISSION SIMPLY DIED, AND CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW AT FORD, AND MAINTAINED AT MOONEY FORD. REPRESENTS PREMATURE FAILURE.*AK

INVOLVED IN COLLISION WITH OTHER VEHICLE - FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OF OTHER VEHICLE HIT FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OF MY VEHICLE - BOTH MY WIFE (FRONT PASSENGER) AND MYSELF HAD OUR SEAT BELTS ON. AT IMPACT MY WIFES SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD HER UPPER BODY BACK CAUSING HER UPPER BODY TO GO FORWARD AND STRIKE HER FOREHEAD WITH THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. ALSO AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SEAT BELTS AT TIMES DON'T TIGHTEN ACROSS THE UPPER BODY.*AK

I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO WALKER FORD ON 3/14/202 FOR A PROTECTIVE SPRING SHIELD, RECALL #01S19. WE NOTICED A CLUNKING NOISE FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SHORRTLY AFTER. WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK TO WALKER FORD ON 5/3/02. UPON INSPECTION, WE WERE TOLD THE WELD FOR THE SUB FRAME WAS BROKEN. THIS HOLDS UP THE TRANSMISSION,ENGINE, SUSPENSION,.. THIS IS DEFINIEETLY A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE AND GONE UNCHECKED, I BELIEVE IT COULD HAVE LED TO A MAJOR ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLE INJURIES, NOT JUST TO MYSELF, BUT OTHERS WHO MAY BE DRIVING A VEHICLE WITH A SIMILAR PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED AS PART OF ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND IS VERY RARE AND UNCOMMON FOR THIS TO BREAK, AS CONFIRMED BY ANOTHER MECHANIC. I BELIEVE THE WELD WAS DEFECTIVE. THIS VEHICEL IS WELL MAINTAINED AND THERE IS NO CAUSE FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM OTHER THAN A DEFECT.

WHEN MAKING TURNS IN EITHER DIRECTION OR GOING OVER BUMPS THERE IS A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE. DEALER CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM.*JB

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THERE WAS A BAD ODOR COMING FROM VENT AREA. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER STATES AFTER TURNING ON THE AIR CONDITION OR OPENING THE VENT CONTROL THERE IS AN ODOR

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING TIRE TREAD STARTED TO SEPARATE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HAVE A BLOWOUT. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. SIZE P20570R15, DOT # W2MO *AK THE BLOWN OUT TIRE CAUSED DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE'S SIDE PANEL AND MUD GUARD. *YH

WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING, TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE. P20570T15. DOT W2M01P1188. *TT

I WAS DRIVING AFTER MAKING A RIGHT-HAND TURN AND STARTED TO SMELL SOMETHING UNUSUAL. I CHECKED MY WARNING LIGHTS BUT THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF A PROBLEM SO I CONTINUED TO DRIVE HOPING TO MAKE IT HOME. THE WHOLE TIME THAT I CONTINUED TO DRIVE, I KEPT CHECKING MY WARNING LIGHTS BECAUSE A STILL SMELLED SOMETHING. WHEN I HAD TO STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT A FEW MINUTES LATER, I STARTED TO SEE SMOKE AND WAS GOING TO PULL INTO AN ADJACENT PARKING LOT WHEN A BUNCH OF PEOPLE RAN UP TO MY CAR AND YELLED TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. IT WAS ON FIRE. SOMEONE GRABBED MY TODDLER AND I QUICKLY TURNED OFF THE CAR AND GRABBED MY DOG. WE GOT AWAY FROM THE CAR BUT THE FIRE DIED DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY AFTER THE ENGINE WAS OFF. OTHER PEOPLE HAD CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE BY THEN. OTHER PEOPLE PUT OUT WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE FIRE WHILE I CARED FOR MY TERRIFIED CHILD AND CONTACTED THE AUTO CLUB AND RELATIVES TO HELP. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN ONE OF MY LINES THAT LEAKED ONTO THE ENGINE CAUSING THE FIRE. THEY CLAIMED BECAUSE SEVERAL LINES WERE BURNED UP THAT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE WHICH ONE IT WAS. THEY ACTED AS THOUGH FIRES ARE COMMON " BUT 50,000 IS A LITTLE EARLY" FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. IF I DID NOT HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, I WOULD HAVE BEEN PAYING FOR EVERYTHING OUT OF POCKET. AFTER THE INCIDENT, I LOOKED MY CAR UP ON YOUR WEBSITE AND FOUND ODI ID 753227 WHICH SOUNDED LIKE THE SAME SITUATION I HAD. *AK

RECALL 01F090000 WAS DONE IN APRIL 2002. SHIELDS WERE INSTALLED WITHIN 1/8 INCH OF TIRE, NEW TIRES WILL RUB ON THE SHIELDS.*AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE GAS FILLER HOSES ARE EXPOSED TO FLYING STONES FROM THE WHEELS AFTER 98 FORDS ADDED A SHIELD TO COVER THEIR HOSE. *YH

HEAD GASKET FAILURE/REPLACEMENT - FORD HAS HAD ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD GASKETS ON THE 3.8 ENGINES. FORD INFORMED ME THAT THEY DO HAVE "PROGRAMS" FOR THIS PROBLEM ON EARLIER MODELS BUT HAVE NOT EXTENDED THEM TO COVER THE 98 MODELS. WHILE MY WINDSTAR IS A 98 MODEL IT WAS BUILT IN JANUARY OF 1997. *AK

THE SPRING ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF VEHICLE HAD RUPTURED WHILE CONSUMERS WIFE WAS DRIVING. WHEN THE SPRING RUPTURED, IT FORCED THE GUARD INTO THE TIRE (WHICH HAPPENS TO BE ONE MONTH OLD), AND RUINED THE TIRE. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE SPRING HAD BEEN RECALLED AND FORD WOULD REPLACE THEM. (IN WHICH FORD SAID THAT THE SPRING ON THIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPLACED ALREADY AND THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE ANYTHING).*SCC

VEHICLE LOST POWER, RPMS WENT UP, TRANSMISSION SLIPPED WHILE TRAVELLING 55MPH ON LOCAL EXPRESSWAY. *AK

INTERIOR LIGHTS AND DOOR LOCKS OPERATING ERRATICALLY WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION

RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY BEGAN LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID. HAD TO REPLACE RACK-AND-PINION ASSEMBLY AND POWER STEERING PUMP.*AK

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING POWER STEERING LEAKAGE, DEALER FOUND TWO HYDRAULIC LINES RUSTED. HOWEVER, REPAIRS COULD NOT BE PERFORMED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SHOP FOR 10 DAYS. *TT

COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON 1998 WINDSTAR WITH ONLY 61,000 MILES ON VEHICLE.FORD REFUSED TO GIVE US ANY TYPE OF COMPENSATION. AFTER SEARCHING THIS DATABASE, IT SEEMS BAD TRANSMISSIONS ARE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH WINDSTARS.*AK

WHEN MAKING TURNS IN EITHER DIRECTION THERE WAS A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. WHILE AT DEALERSHIP TO HAVE A RECALL PERFORMED, MECHANIC NOTICED FRONT TIE ROD JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO GREASE AT ALL ON JOINTS.*AK

WE WERE STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP, AND THE ENGINE REVVED AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. I TOOK TWO MEN TO PUSH IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ON A DOWNWARD SLOPE. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED TO KNOW OF NO PROBLEM WITH 1998 WINDSTAR TRANSMISSIONS. WE KNOW OF 3 OTHER OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER STATES WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLS AND LOSES ALL POWER. VEHICLE WILL KEEP ROLLING, AND IT IS HARD TO MANEUVER. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK *YH

SHOULD BE COVERED BY FORD BUT THEY REFUSE. NO SAFETY DERFEC TLISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

SEAT BELT ALARM,LIGHT, AND COURTESY LIGHT WOULD REMAIN ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME.*AK

ELECTRONICS-DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON SPECIFICALLY WHEN WEATHER IS DAMP OR MILD. THIS CAUSES DOOR LOCKS TO UNLOCK BY THEMSELVES EVEN WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, ALSO DOOR CHIME KEEPS CHIMMING. BATTERY LOOSES POWER BECAUSE DOME LAMP STAYS ON FOR EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT WORK IF ILLUMINATED DOOR AJAR WARNING IS CAUSED BY OPENING OR CLOSING REAR LIFTGATE. REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO DRIVER DOOR SWITCH AT THE COST OF $100 PARTS AND LABOR, HOWEVER THE PASSENGER DOOR, SIDE SLIDER AND REAR LIFTGATE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IM NOT SURE IF DOORS ARE REALLY CLOSED OR NOT. SINCE THE DOORS WONT STAY LOCKED, I BELIEVE THIS POSES AS A SAFETY HAZARD TO ALL PASSENGERS. MECHANICS HAVE TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MINI VANS. *NM