1998 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

DOOR AJAR LIGHT ON DASH IS ON CONSTANTLY WHEN ALL DOORS ARE SHUT. CHIME IS ALSO GOING OFF AT ALL TIMES. WHEN CHIME IS ON IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO LOCK DOORS. VEHICLE AT DEALERSHIP AT THIS TIME. *AK

VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK *SLC

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH HEARD A NOISE FROM PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL. HE PULLED OVER, AND TOOK OFF HUBCAP TO CHECK TIRE. AS SOON AS HUBCAP WAS OFF, 3 OF THE 5 LUGS: NUTS FELL OFF WITH POST ATTACHED. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH BRAKES FAILED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE WITHOUT INCIDENT. COMPONENT THAT FAILED WAS BRAKE CALIPER. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED BY RECALL 98I003000. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS. *AK

REPORTED PROBLEM IN MAY 2001, NOW REPLACED LUGS: NUT SHEARED OFF WHEEL,HELP!*AK

RECALL 01 V 199 000/FRONT COIL SPRING CORROSION: DEALER ; CAPITOL FORD; GOLDSBORO, NC; PHONE# 919/735-8411 REFUSED TO DO ANY REPAIRS NOT UNTIL SIGN OF DEFECT/CORROSION APPEARED ON VEHICLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE WILL STALL. WHEN COMING TO A STOP VEHICLE WILL ALSO STALL. ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND GO OFF. THIS HAPPENS VERY OFTEN. CONTACTED DEALER AND DEALER STATED ENGINE LIGHT HAS TO STAY ON AT LEAST 15 MINUTES BEFORE VEHICLE COULD BE PUT ON COMPUTER. *AK *JB

TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND TRYING TO PROCEED VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO FASTER THAN 15 MPH AND IN FIRST GEAR. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. PLEASE ADD VIN . *AK

IT WAS HARD TO STEER VEHICLE, AND IT WAS NOISY. CONSUMER WENT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO FOUND THAT FLUID IN RACK AND PINION WAS VERY DIRTY. SHAFT BEARINGS AND GEARS WERE DAMAGED BY FLUID AGAIN AFTER THEY TEST DROVE VEHICLE. CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD REGARDING RECALL 97V165000/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 97S85. BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED, DUE TO VIN.*AK *JB

ON THE EVENING OF OCTOBER 12TH 2001, WHILE DRIVING WITH MY WIFE AND CHILDREN IN OUR 98 GL WINDSTAR TO SEE A COUSIN OF MINE. WE APPROACHED A SEMICIRCLE CURVE ON A HILL, AS I TURNED MY WHEEL TO THE RIGHT ENTERING ON TO THE CURVE, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN SMOKE STARTED TO COME FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY VEHICLE. MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS THAT THE CAR WAS OVERHEATING BUT THEN FIRE WAS STARTING TO COME OUT AS WELL. I YELLED TO EVERYONE ON BOARD TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AND STAY SOME DISTANCE AWAY. AS THE FLAMES WERE GETTING WORSE. I HAD TO POP OPEN THE HOOD AND SEE IF I COULD CONTROL THE FIRE. I SAW THE FLAME SHOOT OUT OF THE BOTTOM AND THE SIDES OF THE CAR. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE CAR AND THEN DISCONNECTED THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE ON THE ADVICE OF A STRANGER THAT WAS THERE. ANOTHER PERSON CAME WITH A BUCKET OF WATER AND WE MANAGED TO DOUSE THE FIRE OUT. MY COUSIN ARRIVED LATER TOWARDS WHERE WE WERE AS MY WIFE HAD NOTIFIED HIM BY CELLULAR OF OUR SITUATION. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HIS HOME AND IN THE MORNING HE TOOK A LOOK AT THE CAR TO SEE WHAT HAD CAUSED IT TO FLAME. HE NOTICED THAT POWER STEERING FLUID WAS VISIBLE AND THAT THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE HAD RUBBED WITH TIME ON THE RACK AND PINION OR SOMETHING METALLIC OF THE CAR SLOWLY FORMING A GROOVE ON THE HOSE ABOUT AN INCH AND A HALF WIDE AND ABOUT 1/4 INCH DEEP. THIS CREATED A HOLE IN THE GROOVE WHERE IT WAS RUBBING WHEN I MADE MY TURN ON THE HILL, THUS POURING OUT POWER STEERING FLUID ON TO THE CATALIC CONVERTER WHICH THEN STARTED TO SMOKE AND FIRE. IMPORTANTLY THE PROTECTIVE FIRE COVER PLACED ON THIS PRESSURE HOSE HAD WORN OUT AS WELL. I HAVE ONLY 63,256 MILES ON THE CAR. I THANK GOD THAT WE ARE ALL SAFE AND THANK GOD FOR THOSE WHO ASSISTED US AND ALSO THANK GOD THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN TO MY WIFE AND CHILDREN WHILE I WAS NOT THERE. I CAN'T IMAGINE BEING OUT ALONE AND HAVING THIS HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE THEN HAVING A GREAT CATASTROPHE WITH SOME DEATHS. I HAVE KEPT THE POWER STEERING HOSE AS EVIDENCE OF MY SITUATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT FROM FIRST GEAR, STARTS JERKING, WHICH CAUSES SEAL PUMP TO MALFUNCTION AND TRANSMISSION TO BLOWOUT. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

I NOTICED RECENTLY A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING. FROM PAST EXPERIENCE, I THOUGHT ONE OF THE TIRES NEEDED BALANCING, SINCE I DID NOT FEEL ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE ROTORS. I WENT TO HAVE THE TIRES CHECKED, AND THE GOODYEAR DEALER SAID THE TIRES HAD A DEFECT IN THE BELTS. HE RECOMMENDED REPLACING ALL 4 TIRES, BECAUSE HE SAID THEY ALL LOOKED BAD. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE NEXT DAY (10/12/01) TO HAVE THEM REPLACED, BUT WOULDN'T YOU KNOW IT, I WENT TO DRIVE TO WORK ON THE FREEWAY ON 10/11/01 AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW UP. I THINK THAT GOODYEAR SHOULD REPLACE THESE TIRES AT "NO CHARGE" INSTEAD OF PRO-RATING THEM, BUT THAT PROBABLY WON'T HAPPEN WITHOUT A RECALL RIGHT? I WOULD NOT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO ANYBODY ELSE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. WHAT IF THEY HAVE BAD TIRES, BUT DID NOT NOTICE ANY VIBRATION LIKE I DID? CAN THESE TIRES BLOW UP WITHOUT ANY WARNING TO OTHER DRIVERS?*AK (TIRESIZE: P215 70R15)

CONSUMER STATES WHILE APPLYING BRAKES SUDDENLY CHILD SAFETY SEAT'S SHIELS SNAPPED . MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO STOP VEHICLE BY APPLYING BRAKES, AND BRAKES FAILED TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN. CONSUMER EVENTUALLY MANAGED TO STOP VEHICLE. NO DETERMINATION HAS BEEN MADE AS TO COMPONENT THAT FAILED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT MASTER CYLINDER FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. GATEWAY FORD STATED THAT THE ABS WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *YH

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER SMELLED A FUNNY SMELL AND THEN SAW FLAMES COMING UP FROM THE HOOD, CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN ACCIDENT, POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION LEAK ONTO MANIFOLD, CLAIM 40-2554-562. *SLC

INSURED WAS TRAVELING WHEN HE SMELLED SOMETHING FUNNY. FLAMES HAD START TO COME UP FROM THE HOOD. INSURED TRIED TO PUT FIRE OUT BUT COULDN'T, POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION LEAK ONTO MANIFOLD, CLAIM 40-2554-562. *JG

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS. WHEN VEHICLE SHUTS OFF, ENGINE CHECK AND BATTERY LIGHTS COME ON.*AK

THE OUTER TIE RODS CREATED A GRINDING NOISE WHEN THE VEHICLE TURNED AT LOW SPEEDS AND LIKELY DUE TO LACK OF ADEQUATE LUBRICATION.THE FAILURE OF THE RIGHT INNER TIE ROD WAS MUCH MORE SERIOUS, IN THAT IT CREATED A VERY BAD VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WAS A SCARY SITUATION, AND COULD VERY WELL HAVE RESULTED IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE JERKED AND MADE A REALLY STRANGE NOISE. VEHICLE THEN DIED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, AND THE DEALER STATED THAT A METAL PIECE HAD BROKEN INSIDE OF TRANSMISSION, AND TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REBUILT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMMATION.*AK

TREAD ON THE FRONT RIGHT GOODYEAR EAGLE LS TIRE, SIZE: P215/70R15, DOT: UNKNOWN ON A 1990, FORD, WINDSTAR IS STARTING TO SEPARATE, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 44,000 MILES ON THE TIRES.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE TIRE DID SEPARATE AND DECIDED TO REPLACED THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WHICH ALSO HAD SEPARATED, CONSUMER THEN REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES.*JB

ALL STALLING HAS OCCURRED WHEN SLOWING FOR A TURN FROM A SLOW SPEED (FROM ABOUT 30 MPH TO 15 MPH.) ONCE NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHEN POWER STEERING, BRAKES, ETC WERE LOST AND NEARLY REAR-ENDED CAR IMMEDIATELY AHEAD. ANOTHER STALL WAS IN MIDDLE OF BUSY TRAFFIC WHICH WAS HELD UP UNTIL ENGINE STARTED AGAIN. ALL STALLING OCCURRED WHEN ON PUBLIC THOROUGHFARES, TURNING EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT. PROBLEM BEGAN IN FEBRUARY 2000 AT APPROX 44,000 MILES ODOMETER READING.

CONSUMER STATES THE BOLTS ON THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SHEARED OFF.(CLAIM#27-7046-604)*JB

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH PASSENGER TOOK A MAGAZINE AND GENTLY SWATTED AT A MOSQUITO ON WINDSHIELD. WINDSHIELD SHATTERED, OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS 50. NO INJURIES. *AK

WHILE THE INSURED WAS TRAVELING THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BROKE OFF AND THE VEHICLE WHEEL ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO WHEEL WELL CAUSING FENDER DAMAGE. CLAIM# 43-R781-260 *YH

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER HEARD A LARGE POP AND SAW SMOKE, VEHICLES ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE, CLAIM 42-1402-914. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING, INSURED HEARD A LARGE POPPING NOISE, SMOKE EMMITED, THEN AN FIRE ERUPTED, CLAIM 42-1402-914. *JG

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP BECAUSE FRONT TIRE TIRES WERE BALLED INSIDE. MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT UPPER BALL JOINTS AND TIRE ROD ENDS WERE DEFECTIVE. CONSUMER REPLACED THEM. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. *AK

FAULTY INSTALLATION OF LEFT FRONT SPRING GUARD THAT WAS ON RECALL CAUSED NOISE. *YH

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN TO DEALER FOR A RECALL REPAIRS ON FRONT SPRING. SAME DAY CONSUMER RECEIVED CAR BACK, THERE WAS A BANGING NOISE WHEN CONSUMER HIT A BUMP. CONSUMER HAD NOT CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMAYION.*AK

RIGHT HAND SIDE OF POWER STEERING PUMP HAS RUSTED THROUGH, RESULTING IN DIFFICULT STEERING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTATCED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP FOR RECALL #01I007000 REPAIRS, BUT DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPAIR VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

MY FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL CAME OFF MY CAR WHEN I CAME TO A STOP TO ALLOW A CAR PASS BY, I WENT TO MAKE A LEFT HANDED TURN WHEN MY ENTIRE WHEEL CAME OFF MY CAR AND SHOT ACROSS THE ROAD. MY HUSBAND CAME TO LOOK AT THE CAR AND WELL AS A TOW TRUCK HAD TO TAKE OUR CAR HOME, BOTH MADE THE COMMENT THAT ALL FIVE BOLTS SCHEERED OFF. STATE FARM OUR INSURANCE COMPANY PLUGGED THIS INFORMATION INTO THEIR SYSTEM AND SAID THAT IT IS A FORD ISSUE AND THAT I NEED TO FILL OUT THIS COMPLAINT FORM FOR YA'LL TO INVESTIGATE. STATE FARM IS SAYING THAT IT HAS TO DO WITH THE ROTAR AND VIBRATION IF THE WRONG PARTS ARE INSTALLED THIS SITUTATION COULD HAPPEN. WELL I TOLD STATE FARM AND I WILL TELL YOU, THE ROTARS ARE FROM THE FACTORY AND SO THE "WRONG PARTS" WERE NOT USED AND IT IS NOT A POSSIBLITY BECAUSE IT DID HAPPEN TO ME. FORTURNATELY I WAS NOT INJURED AND MY PRECIOUS GIRLS WERE NOT IN THE CAR WITH ME, BUT I DON'T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE OR FOR THAT MATTER WHO IS TO SAY THE OTHER ROTAR WON'T DO THIS ON THE OTHER SIDE. PLEASE CALL ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR NEED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME WITH THIS MATTER.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE LUG NUTS ON THE FRONT WHEEL BROKE OFF, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.(CLAIM#43-R774-617)*JB

WHILE THE INSURED WAS DRIVING THE TIRE FELL OFF DUE TO TWO LUG NUTS HAD CRACKED. CLAIM# 33-0348-233 *YH

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 68000+/- MILES. NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS. TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH, HEARD LOUD NOISE, GOT OFF AT NEXT EXIT. SOUNDED LIKE ENGINE DROPPED OUT AND WAS DRAGGING ON GROUND, VAN WAS JUMPING. MADE IT TO A PARKING LOT AT WHICH POINT IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. DEALER DIDN'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED TRANSMISSION FAILURE, QUESTIONED DEALER IF THIS IS COMMON, "NOT COMMON, BUT CAN'T SAY IT DOESN'T HAPPEN" REAPIR WOULD BE $3000.00. CALLED 3 TRANSMISSION SHOPS FOR PRICING, WHEN TOLD IT WAS A WINDSTAR ALL NEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, DOWN TO THE NOISE IT MADE! REPAIRS AT INDEPENDANT SHOPS RAN $1500.00. FORD IS NO HELP, CLAIMS THERE IS NO PROBLEM. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM IN THE WINDSTAR, FORD NEEDS TO GET INTO GEAR AND GET THESE VEHICLES TAKEN CARE OF AND COMPENSATE THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY PAID OUT OF POCKET FOR REPAIRS.*AK

MY WIFE PULLED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY ONTO THE ROAD AND HEARD A HORRIBLE SCREECHING/SQUEALING SOUND AND SMELLED RUBBER BURNING. SHE PULLED INTO THE CENTER LANE, APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET FROM OUR DRIVEWAY AND STOPPED. SHE ASKED OUR DAUGHTER TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND SEE WHAT WAS WRONG. SHE SAID, "MOM, THE TIRE IS TOUCHING THE REAR BUMPER". MY WIFE TURNED THE VEHICLE AROUND IN THE NEIGHBOR'S DRIVEWAY AND DROVE BACK INTO OUR DRIVEWAY. SHE CALLED ME OUT AND I LOOKED AT THE REAR RIGHT CONTROL ARM ON THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY. IT WAS COMPLETELY SEVERED AND PULLED APPROXIMATELY 3 INCHES APART. THE REAR RIGHT TIRE WAS SCRAPING THE BUMPER AND HAD GOUGES IN THE TREAD (THE TIRE IS RUINED). THE LEFT WHEEL WAS PUSHED SLIGHTLY FORWARD. I KNOW IF SHE HAD MADE IT TO THE EXPRESSWAY AND THIS PIECE HAD BROKE AT 70 MPH, MY CHILD, HER 3 FRIENDS, AND MY WIFE WOULD BE DEAD. I AM WORRIED THAT ANYBODY WITH THE SAME STYLE AND YEAR VEHICLE COULD HAVE THE SAME DEFECT, AND I WANT IT MADE AWARE TO ALL. I AM PETRIFIED TO THINK WHAT COULD HAVE OCCURRED. I ALSO HAVE DIGITAL PICTURES OF THE DEFECT WHICH COULD BE E-MAILED AT YOUR REQUEST.

WHILE DRIVING, THE RIGHT WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLIDE.(CLAIM#60-C263-071)*JB

THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. NLM

WHILE IN MOTION, INSURED REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO REAR END SOMEONE ELSE, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE POSSIBLY MECHANICALLY RELATED, THERE WERE TWO INJURIES IN THE ACCIDENT, CLAIM 43-R763-433.

VEHICLE DOES NOT SHIFT DOWN INTO GEAR AT STOP, RESULTING IN VEHICLE ROCKING BACKWARDS UNTIL GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED TO GO FORWARD WHICH RESULTS IN CAR LURCHING FORWARD VIOLENTLY. INSPECTED BY JENKINS AND WYNN FORD DEALERSHIP ON DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER. IT WAS FOUND TO HAVE A DEFECTIVE ALUMINUM DRUM AND PISTON ASSEMBLY WHICH STICKS IF THERE IS NOT ENOUGH PRESSURE BUILT UP FOR IT TO GO FORWARD. THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER JOHN CORNEJO AT JENKINS-WYNN ON 08/27/01. AT THIS TIME FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSES TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AS WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE SERVICE STAFF AT THIS LOCATION IN CLARKSVILLE, TN. A FORD MOTOR COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE WAS CONTACTED AND TOLD OF THE PROBLEM. SHE THEN CONTACTED LARRY BRYANT, SERVICE MANAGER AT THIS LOCATION, WHO THEN PROCEEDED TO GIVE ERRONEOUS INFORMATION TO THE REPRESENTATIVE. THE FORD MOTOR REPRESENTATIVE THEN BECAME INDIFFERENT TO OUR SITUATION. WE REQUESTED TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE OF A HIGHER AUTHORITY AND WERE TOLD THAT WE WOULD BE CONTACTED BACK BY HER SUPERVISOR WITHIN 48 HOURS. MEANWHILE MR. CORNEJO, STATING THAT THE FIRST OPTION OF FLUSHING OUT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT BENEFIT US, AS ORIGINALLY SUGGESTED TO US BY MR. BRYANT AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO A REBUILT TRANSMISSION, ADMITTED THAT THIS WAS NOT A REMEDY FOR THIS TYPE OF DEFECTIVE PART. WE ARE CURRENTLY AWAITING MR. CORNEJO TO CONTACT US ON 08/28/01 REGARDING THIS FACT AFTER HE CONSULTS WITH MR. BRYANT. AS FORD MOTOR CORP. CUSTOMERS, WE ARE EXPECTED TO FOOT THE BILL ON A DEFECTIVE PART THAT WILL COST US $2500 TO REPAIR THROUGH NO FAULT OF OUR OWN. DEFECTIVE PART IS MADE OF ALUMINUM. FORD MOTOR ONLY MAKES THIS REPLACEMENT PART IN STEEL NOW DUE TO THE REALIZATION THAT ALUMINUM WILL FAIL AT SOME POINT.*AK

ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THE VAN ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE. THE VAN WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD. UPON PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE ENGINE REVS UP. AFTER 10-15 SECONDS, THE VAN SHIFTS INTO GEAR AND LUNGES FORWARD. THIS IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE'S NO INDICATION WHEN THIS TYPE OF MOVEMENT WILL OCCUR. ON OCCASIONS WHEN BREAKING TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN, THE VEHICLE SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. IT GOES BACK INTO DRIVE MODE. THIS AGAIN CAUSES ANOTHER SAFETY HAZARD. THE VEHICLE HAS ALMOST BEEN REAR-ENDED NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.*AK

PREMATURE FAILURE OF AUTOTRANSMISSION @ 50000 MILES & $2200. *AK

WE WERE ON VACATION IN PENNSYLVANIA AFTER A TRIP TO BOSTON AND HAD PULLED INTO A PARKING AREA WHEN WE PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE TO STRAIGHTEN OUT IN THE PARKING SPACE AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A FORD GARAGE WHERE WE WERE TOLD THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACING. THIS TOOK 5 DAYS, WHEN WE LEFT PA AND DROVE HOME TO IOWA. THE MILES ON THIS WINDSTAR ARE HIGHWAY MILES AND NOT CITY DRIVING.*AK

VEHICLE STALLS WHEN MAKING SLOW TURNS. NOT TAKEN TO DEALER YET.*AK

THE GEAR SHIFT WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE. PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL BEFORE STARTING IT AND SHIFTING IT TO DRIVE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. *YH

TRANSMISSION FAILED. REBUILT TRANSMISSION INSTALLED. REBUILT TRANSMISSION ALREADY SHOWING SIGNS OF FAILURE SIMILAR TO OLD ONE. THERE MUST BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS - THEY SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN THIS. *AK

CAN BE TURNED OFF IN GEAR--AND PUT IN GEAR WHEN OFF--WILL ROLL. *AK

THE PAINT IS LITERALLY PEELING OFF OF MY SILVER 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE PAINT ON THE ROOF IS PRACTICALLY GONE AND NOW THE TOP OF THE DOORS ARE STARTING TO PEEL AND RUST. I WAS TOLD BY FORD THAT THEY WILL NOT HELP ME. ALL ESTIMATES I HAVE FOR REPAINTING STATE THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. *AK

WHILE IN MOTION THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS FRACTURED AND WERE IN NEED OF EMERGENCY REPAIR. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR INSTALLING PROTECTIVE SHIELDS TO PROTECT THE COIL SPRINGS FROM FRACTURING. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR MONIES PAID, BUT FORD DEALER WILL NOT HONOR THE REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT, BECAUSE THE REPAIRS WERE NOT MADE AT THE DEALERSHIP. *JG