1998 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

RACK AND PINION STEERING BROKE WHEN TRAVELING, CAUSING POOR STEERING CONTROL. ALSO, TIE RODS MALFUNCTIONED, ALMOST WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

1ST TO 2ND BANG WHEN SHIFTING ON SLOW ACCELERATION (REPEATS OFTEN), FUEL PUMP CONTINUALLY CUTS OUT WHEN PARKED ON SLIGHT DOWNHILL, STILL 6+ GALLONS LEFT. ONLY SINCE REPLACEMENT OF FUELTANK AND GAS PUMP DUE TO ELECTRICAL SHORT

THE VAN WILL STALL AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL IF THE O/D IS LEFT ON AFTER SEVERAL MILES DRIVING WITH THE O/D ON. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE VAN HAS STALED AT MAJOR INTERSECTIONS NEARLY CAUSING ACCIDENTS. *AK

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE STEERS HARD, DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP.*JB

MY WIFE WAS TURING LEFT AT A RED LIGHT AND WAS WAITING FOR PEDISTRIANS TO CROSS THE STREET. AS SHE TURNED THE CORNER THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE SNAPPED OFF OF THE HUB AND ALMOST HIT A LAWYER! ALL FIVE OF THE STUDS BROKE OFF, THE METAL INDICATED THEY WERE FRESH BREAKS. THERE WAS NOT ANY INDICATION OF THE NUTS BEING LOSE, THE NUTS WERE STILL SCREWED ON THE STUDS. THE WHEEL AND NUTS DID NOT LOOK SCARED AS IF THEY HAD BEEN LOSE. PIOR TO THE WHEEL COMING OFF THERE HAD BEEN NO SHIMMY OR VIBRATION AT ALL. I HAD DRIVEN THE VEHICLE THE PREVIOUS NIGHT AND HAD NOT FELT ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. SHE HAD ONLY ACCELERATED FROM THE LEFT TURN POSITION ABOUT 15FT AND COULD NOT HAVE BEEN GOING FASTER THAN 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN SERVICED AFTER WE PURCHASED IT. THANK GOD SHE WAS NOT ON THE INTERSTATE IN 5'OCLOCK TRAFFIC! *AK

A LOUD GRINDING NOISE STARTED OCCURRING WHEN THE WHELL WAS TURNED. MY WIFE SAID SHE HEARD THE NOISE AND THOUGHT SHE NEEDED POWER STEERING FLUID. I PUT A LITTLE IN BUT THE NOISE DIDN'T GO AWAY. TOOK VAN TO DEALER. THEY CALLED AND SAID THE OUTER TIE RODS WERE BAD AND GRINDING METAL TO METAL. HAD THEM REPLACED. WHEN MY WIFE PICKED UP THE VAN, THE REPAIR PERSON SAID TO HER THAT SINCE THERE WERE NO GREASE JOINTS, SO THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD HAVE DONE. HE SAID THAT FORD SAID IT WAS A BAD DESIGN AND THEY HAD A MODEL TO REPLACE IT. THIS DIDN'T SOUND GOOD TO ME AND I WONDERED WHY I HAD TO PAY FOR THEIR BAD DESIGN. IF THE TIE RODS WERE GRINDING METAL TO METAL, IT COULD HAVE LED TO A BREAK AND STEERING FAILURE.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED AS DRIVER STEPPED ON THE GAS TO CROSS THE HIGHWAY. VEHICLE STOPPED, ALMOST CAUSING IT TO BE HIT. CONSUMER HAD EXPERIENCED OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT--SOMETIMES WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR, OR ONLY WORK IN SECOND GEAR. TRANSMISSION REPLACED BY DEALER. *AK *ML

WHEN MOVING SLOWLY TO TURN OR TO PARK, ORFULLY WARMED UP,1/2-FULL TANK OF GAS. VEHICLE STALLED OR SHUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS AN AIR LEAK. DEALER MADE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. *AK.ET.

THE SENSOR RING FOR THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED. THE ENTIRE AXLE HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $300.00. I HAVE THE PART THAT FAILED AND FOUND THAT THE PART HAD A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. BUT HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET ANY COMPENSATION FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE BOLTS SHEARED OFF AND WHEEL ROLLED DOWN THE HIGHWAY. CAR RESTED ON FRONT DISC BRAKE. THEN IT CAME TO A STOP. MECHANIC SAID THE BOLTS BROKE OFF, AND NUTS WERE STILL ON THEM. *AK

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THREE GOODYEAR TIRES SIZE: P215/70R15, DOT: 4BN3DDWR037 ON 1998, FORD, WINDSTAR. FIRST TIRE HAD 23,000 MILES ON IT, AND BELTS BUNCHED UP IN IT, DISTORTING THE SHAPE OF THE TIRE, EGG SHAPED. SECOND TIRE HAD 30,000 MILES ON IT, AND THE STEEL BELT CAME THROUGH SIDEWALL OF TIRE. THIRD TIRE HAD 46,000 MILES ON IT, AND STEEL BELT BUNCHED UP, ALLOWING A BUBBLE TO FORM IN TREAD OF TIRE. *AK GOODYEAR INVICTA GS. *SLC

THE POWER STEERING FAILED. *YH

WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING DOOR WARNING LIGHT COMES ON PANEL, AND LIGHT WILL STAY ON. INTERIOR LIGHT WILL GO OFF, BUT THE SOUND OF THE CHIME WILL NOT STOP. DEALERLERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AIK

FILLER NOZZLE CRACKED AND THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING FROM VEHICLE. CONTACTED A DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

VEHICLE SHAKES WHEN APPLYING BRAKE AT HIGHER SPEED, MORE SO WHEN GOING DOWNHILL. DEALER TURNED ROTORS ONCE. DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. MR

INTERIOR DOME LIGHT STAYS ON UNTIL 15-20MPH IS REACHED. DASH LIGHT INDICATOR SAYS DOOR IS OPEN. ISOLATED PROBLEM TO SLIDING DOOR ON PASSENGER SIDE. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. TAKE TO FORD DEALERSHIPS ON 3 SEPERATE OCASSIONS AND ALL 3 TIMES THE PROBLEM MYSTERIOUSLY WENT AWAY. ALSO WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE REAR WIPER DOESN'T WORK ALL THE TIME.

FRONT STRUTS BROKE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HWY AT 30-35 MPH ON A SNOWY ROAD CONDITION. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REPAIRS WER EMADE AT CONSUMER'S COST. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH HAD A FRONTAL IMPACT WITH A DEER AND DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID DEPLOYED, BUT IT DID NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY, WHICH SEEMED AS IF AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ALL THE WAY. OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

CONSUMER WHILE BACKING OUT OF GARAGE FELT LIKE CAR HAD BACKED OVER SOMETHING.REAR PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE FROZE UP. ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT WAS ON. BACK WHEEL ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WAS NOT TURNING WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. CONSUMER SAYS IT WAS SNOWING WERE THEY WERE. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY TOLD CONSUMER TO TAP WITH A HAMMER AND PUT CAR SOMEWHAT WARM. *AK

A SPRING UNDER CAR CAME LOOSE AND WAS DANGLING AROUNG UNDER VEHICLE.THIS PART COULD HAVE PUNCTURED A TIRE AND CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *AK

A/C OCT. 99 $168.98, DEC. 99 $134.40 SUSPENSION JULY 01 $664.61, DEC. 99 $515.85, JUN 01 $61.78, BODY JUN 01 $443.61 OTHER CD PLAYER JUN 01 $19.50 AND $366.86 TURN SIGNAL JAN 02 $161.04 DOME LIGHT JAN 02 $84.02 JAN 02 $89.72 DOOR OCT 99 $134.52, MAR 03 $285.07 STEERING SEPT.02 $258.82, MAR. 03 569.32 COMPUTER CONTROLS SEPT. 00 $106.02 ENGINE JAN 02 $784.75 COOLANT SMELL (FOUND FRONT COVER GASKET LEAKING) SEPT. 02 85.95 (TOLD THROTTLE BODY WORN OUT, SOLD ME UPDATE COMPUTER SOFTWARE, SEAMS TO RUN BETTER) CURRENTLY IN SHOP FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND A/C SYSTEM INTERMITTENT. MECHANIC FOUND ENGINE PROBLEM, SAYS MAIN BEARINGS OR CRANKSHAFT BAD, POSSIBLY DUE TO COOLANT IN OIL SYSTEM FROM JANUARY 02 PROBLEM

VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SEVEN TIMES IN A TWO AND A HALF YEARS. REPAIRS INCLUDED TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT, BRAKE CALIPERS REPLACEMENT, AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEMS. *AK

MANUFACTURER DOES NOT HAVE ROTORS FOR VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE WIFE WAS DRIVING TIRE BLEW OUT, AND AUTOMOBILE ACCELERATED. DRIVER COULD NOT GET AUTOMOBILE TO STOP.- VEHICLE WENT INTO A DITCH AND FLIPPED OVER. DRIVER WAS INJURED. *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION BECAUSE THE ABS FAILED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAIL. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE GEAR AND DRIVER APPLIES ACCELERATOR VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE, AND THE RPMS WILL REV HIGH. EVENTUALLY, VEHICLE WILL MOVE BUT SLOWLY.*AK

1)ALL 5 LUGS: NUTS SHEARED OFF FROM THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER HUB, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE. THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET UNTIL IT STOPPED. 2)THE REAR BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH NEW PADS AND ROTORS. DEALER COULDN'T EXPLAIN WHY THIS WAS A PROBLEM. 3) THE NEXT DAY THE RIGHT PASSENGER MIRROR ELECTICAL SYSTEM NO LONGER WORKED. 4)THE PARKING BRAKE CONSISTENTLY DOES NOT DISENGAGE AFTER USE. WE NO LONGER USE IT, POSSIBLY CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD. 5) THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLS OUT AT LOW SPEEDS OR UPON STOPPING. ADDITIONALLY THE INITIAL GEARS SHIFT HARD AND LOUD. 6) THE REAR SEAT WILL NOT MOVE ON THE TRACK. *AK

CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AND THE AUTOMOBILE DID NOT STOP. CONSUMER'S WIFE HIT A PARKED CAR. *AK

CONSUMER HAS SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL 97V165 000. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH FRONT RIGHT WHEEL LUGS SHEARED OFF CAUSING WHEEL TO COME OFF.*AK *SLC

1998 WINDSTAR'S FRONT RIGHT WHEELS LUG BOLTS SHEERED OFF CAUSING WHEEL TO FLY OFF WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. *NLM

TWO INCIDENTS OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION, ONE CAUSING DAMAGE TO OUR VEHICLE AND THE ONE AHEAD AS I WAS PARKING NEXT TO A CURB. SECOND TIME WAS IN DRIVEWAY WHEN ENTERING GARAGE; SLAMMED ON BRAKES TO NOT HIT HOUSE. NUMEROUS INCIDENTS OF HARD 1ST TO 2ND GEAR SHIFT AT 15 MPH; SOUNDS LIKE A HARD THUD. FORD OVERFILLED TRANS. FLUID 1/2 QUART AS A FIX IN NOVEMBER; REPLACING VALVE PUMP NOW IN JANUARY. *AK

1. TRANSMISSION: THE VEHICLE WOULD ACT AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL AFTER COMING TO A STOP. SOMETIMES THIS WOULD HAPPEN RIGHT AS I PULLED INTO AN INTERSECTION, LEAVING ME IN THE PATH OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC WITH NO POWER. 2. A/C: THE CONTROL MODULE FAILED TO ENGAGE THE A/C BUT STILL CYCLED THE IDLE SPEED. THIS WAS DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE BRAKING REQUIRED TO HOLD THE VEHICLE AT A STOP WAS INSUFFICIENT WHEN THE IDLE RANDOMLY SURGED TO HIGH. BOTH FAILURES HAD POTENTIAL TO CAUSE ACCIDENT BUT WERE REPAIRED BEFORE ANY INCIDENT OCCURRED.

WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60MPH WITH REAR DEFROSTER ON. VEHICLE OVERHEATED & BLEW A HOLE THROUGH REAR WINDOW, CAUSING A FIRE WHICH MELTED THE PLASTIC INTERIOR OF VEHICLE. OWNER THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. VEHICLE AT DEALERSHIP NOW FOR REPAIRS. *AK

THE ENGINE WAS MAKING A NOISE AND IT WAS REPORTED AND SUPPOSEDLY FIXED BY LOCAL DEALER. HOWEVER, WITHIN ONE MONTH THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AS WELL AS THE POWER STEERING BOX. SINCE IT ISN'T UNDER WARRENTY (36,000), DEALER WON'T REPAIR WITHOUT COST.

TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING HARD AND ROUGH, IT MAKES A SLAMMING NOISE WHILE GOING INTO EACH GEAR.*AK

IN A FRONTAL IMPACT DRIVER'S AIR BAG MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY TO THE SIDE, AND CAUSING INJURIES TO THE DRIVER. ALSO, PASSENGER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND EXPLODED, CAUSING THE PASSENGER TO BE BLIND. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUS EOF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING DOWN STREET CAR RAN STOP SIGN, CONSUME SMASHED ON BRAKES, BUT STILL CRASHED INTO OTHER CAR, UPON IMPACT, PASSENGER'S SIDE AR BAG DEPLOYED AND STRUCK FATHER IN FACE, CAUSING TEMPORARY BLINDNESS. ALSO, BRAKES SQUEAKED, AND PULLED TO RIGHT WHEN APPLIED. DEALER TEST DROVE VEHICLE, BUT FOUND NOTHING. CLAIM FORMS WERE TO BE SENT TO CONSUMER, BUT WERE NEVER SENT. *AK

THE WINDSTAR TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 30349 SO SHAMROCK FORD REBUILT IT. AT 40295 IT FAILED AT 50 MPH ON US 223 IN ADRIAN ABOUT 1 MILE FROM DAVE KNAPP FORD. I CALLED SHAMROCK FORD AND ASKED SERVICE DEPARTMENT IF I SOULD TOW IT TO THEM OR DAVE KNAPP. THEY SAID ANY FORD DEALER WILL TAKE OF THE WARRENTY PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION WAS SUPPOSED TO BE COVERED FOR 12MONTHS/ 12,000 MILES AFTER REBUILD. TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT 5 MONTHS AND 10,000 MILES AGO. DEALER SAID IT'S NOT UNDER WARRENTY AND WILL NOT PAY FOR IT . I PAID 1,900.00 PLUS TAX AND I WANT MY MONEY BACK.

TWO-YEAR OLD WAS ABLE TO ABLE TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, SHIFTED VAN INTO REVERSE WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. VAN ROLLED DOWN THE HILL INTO A WOODED AREA. DAUGHER WAS NOT HURT IN CRASH. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THE INCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

ROUTING OF HOSE CAUSED CONTACT WITH BATTERY TRAY CORNER CAUSINGHOLE IN HOSE

REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD WIPER (PASS) DOES NOT SEEM TO FIT CORRECTLY-NONE OF THE WIPERS IN DEALER STOCK FITS WITH SAME POSITIVE LOCKING ACTION AS THE ORGINAL WIPER BLADE. APPEARS THAT WIPE BLADE ASSY CAN POP OFF UNDER SOME CONDITIONS

THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE OCCURED AND THE FORD SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION IF I PAID $500 TO BUY AND EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN COVERING UPTO 75000 FOR THE POWER TRAIN, A REQUIREMENT FOR REPLACING THE FAILED COMPONENT. I AM EXTREMLY UNHAPPY THAT THIS TRANSMISSION FAILURE OCURRED AND IS ALSO REPORTED WIDELY BY HUNDEREDS OF FORD WINDSTAR OWNERS FOR EXAMPLE LOOK AT THE INTERNET SITES COMPLAINING ABOUT THE FAILED TRANSMISSION.(EG., WWW.FORDWINDSTAR.COM). FORD MUST FIX THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM OF THESE MINIVANS.

THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED, AND STILL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

STEERING COLUMN STICKS, HAS TO JERK STEERING WHEELS. ALSO VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT. CONSUMER CAN HEAR A WHISTLING SOUND ON LEFT SIDE. CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER KEPT VEHICLE FOR ABOUT ONE HOUR, AND TOLD CONSUMER IT WASN'T ANYTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER STATEED BOTH FRONT TIE RODS FAILED AND WERE REPLACED, ALSO THE STEERING RACK WAS REPLACED.*YH

SLOWING FROM CUISING SPEED TO MAKE A TURN ONTO A SIDE STREET, THE ENGINE STALLED CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT. STALLING CAUSED THE POWER STEERING TO FAIL MAKING THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO MANUVER THROUGH THE TURN AND LOSS OF POWER CREATED THE POSSIBILITY THAT I MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CLEAR TRAFFIC. IF MY WIFE HAD BEEN DRIVING THE MINIVAN SHE SURELY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO AVOID ONCOMING TRAFFIC.

CONSUMER STATES POWER STEERING FLUID STAYS LOW, CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT IT BE CHECKED FOR LEAKS, MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT RACK AND PINION WAS LEAKING FROM LEFT BOOT AREA, THIS PART HAS FAILED 4 TIMES. *JB