1999 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

1999 FORD WINDSTAR MINIVAN ABS LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON WHICH IS BLOWING A FUSE CAUSING MY SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER AND CRUISE CONTROL NOT TO WORK. AFTER MUCH INTERNET RESEARCH THIS LOOKS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH CATASTROPHIC RESULTS IF NOT DISABLED. AFTER READING THESE RESULTS I IMMEDIATELY HAD SOMEONE DISCONNECT THE ABS MODULE UNDER THE HOOD WHICH DISABLED MY ABS BRAKE SYSTEM TO PREVENT A FIRE. IN TURN MY ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER ARE NOW WORKING BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY A POSSIBLE FIRE WAS PREVENTED! I WOULD APPRECIATE ATTENTION BEING TAKEN IN THIS MATTER SEEING AS HOW IT IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS PROBLEM IS BEING REPORTED. *TR

MY SPEEDOMETER WASN'T READING CORRECTLY, POSSIBLY 10 TO 15 MILES AN HOUR OFF, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN THE CORRECT SPEED. I WASN'T AWARE OF THE PROBLEM UNTIL I GOT A RADAR TICKET IN THE MAIL. I KNEW WHAT SPEED I WAS TRAVELING ACCORDING TO THE SPEEDOMETER AND IT WAS DIFFERENT THAN WAS INDICATED. I FOUND A WEB SITE WHICH DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM I WAS EXPERIENCING ALONG WITH OTHER PROBLEMS THAT I WAS HAVING. THESE WERE THE SPEEDOMETER, CRUISE CONTROL SOMETIMES NOT WORKING THEN QUIT ALTOGETHER, ABS LIGHT IS ON, SOMETIMES THE BRAKE LIGHT WOULD COME ON THEN GO OFF, AND THE AIR CONDITIONER WOULD SOMETIMES QUIT WORKING. I THOUGHT THEY WERE UNRELATED BUT AFTER THE SPEEDING TICKET DISCOVERED THEY WERE CAUSED BY THE SAME PROBLEM, A SWITCH CONNECTED TO THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. I TOOK THE MEASURES TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND THE ABS LIGHT IS STILL ON BUT THE OTHER SYSTEMS WORK FINE NOW. THE AC WORKS, THE SPEEDOMETER WORKS RIGHT, THE CRUISE CONTROL WORKS, AND THE BRAKE LIGHT WENT OUT. *TR

ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF. WE DID TAKE OUR WINDSTAR IN FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL RECALL, AND THE SWITCH WAS LEAKING. THE FORD DEALERSHIP SAID THE THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE ABS HARNESS OR MODULE. THE LIGHT PROBABLY COMES ON 3-4 TIMES PER WEEK. *TR

WHEN I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MY GAUGES WILL NOT WORK BUT THEN SUDDENLY WORK FOR A FEW MILES AND THEN GET STUCK IN WHATEVER POSITION THEY HAPPEN TO BE IN. ITS MY FUEL, RPM, SPEED AND TEMP ARE EFFECTED. MY ABS LIGHT IS ON AND MY O/D LIGHT FLASHES BUT ONLY AFTER I HAVE DRIVEN TEN TO FIFTEEN MILES. MY A/C BLOWS OUT HOT AIR. BECAUSE MY GAUGE WAS WORKING AT THE TIME AND SAID I WAS GOING 30MPH I BELIEVED I WAS GOING 30 BUT I GOT PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE WHICH SAID I WAS GOING ACTUALLY 46MPH. *TR

WE RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 1999 FORD WINDSTAR SEL MINIVAN. WE TOOK IT TO AN AUTO SHOP TO HAVE AN OIL CHANGE, AND AIR FILTERS REPLACED. UPON RETURNING HOME THAT EVENING, WE NOTICED AND SMELLED SMOKE FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. WHEN WE WENT TO LOOK AT IT, WE FOUND WHITE SMOKE COMING UP FROM BEHIND THE AIR FILTER AND IN FRONT OF THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER. WE THOUGHT THAT SOME FLUIDS HAD BEEN SPILT AND WERE SIMPLY BURNING OFF. WHEN WE WENT TO DRIVE IT LATER THAT EVENING, THE ENTIRE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WENT DARK. ALL OF THE INTERIOR LIGHTS, THE ODOMETER, SPEEDOMETER, COMPUTER STATION, RADIO, CLIMATE CONTROL, WINDOWS, DOOR LOCKS, A/C, INSTRUMENT PANEL, CRUISE CONTROL, AND TURN SIGNALS STOPPED WORKING. WE MADE IT HOME SAFELY AS THE HEAD AND TAIL LIGHTS WERE STILL WORKING. UPON INSPECTION THE FOLLOWING DAY, WE FOUND THAT THE BRAKE PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (2B264) LOCATED UNDER THE MASTER CYLINDER (BEHIND THE AIR FILTER) DEVELOPED A LEAK. IT HAD BEEN LEAKING FOR SOME TIME AND HAD LITERALLY EATEN AWAY THE ELECTRICAL PLUG. THE WIRES HAD BEEN EATEN THROUGH AS WELL AND HAD CROSSED AND CAUSED THE SHORT. *TR

I OWN A FORD WINDSTAR ESL 99, YESTERDAY THE WIRES OF THE SENSOR OF THE BRAKES FLUID BURNED, I WAS LUCKY TO BE IN A TIRE SHOP AND THEY CHECKED AND DISCONNECTED IT. I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC THE VAN IS ON RECALL, HE HAS SENT ME DIFFERENT ARTICLES FROM THE INTERNET ABOUT FORD FIRES RECALL THAT INCLUDES MY VEHICLE MODEL. CALLING FORD RECALL INFORMATION THEY SAID VIN# DOESN'T SHOWS ANY RECALL. THEY TOOK THE COMPLAINT THAT I'M ASKING FORD TO REPAIR IT EVEN IT IS NOT IN RECALL AS THEY SAID BUT IT IS LISTED IN OTHER SOURCES, THEY WILL INVESTIGATE AND LET ME KNOW BY MAIL IN 10-15 LABOR DAYS. I WILL HAVE TO TAKE MY VAN TO A FORD DEALER FOR MY SAFETY AS I CAN'T DRIVE IT WITHOUT THE SENSOR WORKING PROPERLY. I WANT TO COMPLAIN IN ORDER TO ACCELERATE THE FORD REIMBURSE AND THAT THEY INCLUDE THE 99 WINDSTAR ESL IN THEIR LIST, AS IT IS IN OTHERS, EVEN ATTORNEYS HAVING LAWSUITS CURRENTLY AGAINST FORD. IT HAPPENS TO ME ALREADY, AND MY EXPERIENCE COULD HAVE BEEN TERRIBLE. THE FAILURE DIDN'T MAKE ANY MORE DAMAGE THAN WIRES BURNED, SO FAR. I NEED THEM TO RESPOND PROPERLY AS THIS IS A MANUFACTURER FAILURE WITH HIGH SAFETY CONSEQUENCES. *TR THANK YOU,

1999 FORD WINDSTAR - THE ABS LIGHT AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT APPEARS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE 'CHECK TRACTION CONTROL' MESSAGE COMES UP AS WELL. *TR

1999 FORD WINDSTAR. LAST WEEK OF JULY/2009, HAD FORD DEALER REPLACED FRONT ROTORS & PADS + REAR SHOES & MACHINED REAR DRUMS. WITHIN 1ST WEEK AFTER BRAKES JOB ABS LIGHT BEGAN CYCLING ON & OFF. AFTER THE 4TH WEEK, THE ABS LIGHT STAYED SOLID. CRUISE CONTROL IS ALSO NOT FUNCTIONING. FORD DEALER SAYS MIGHT HAVE TO REPLACE ABS CONTROL MODULE. READ SOMEWHERE THAT CONTROLS OF THESE TWO COMPONENTS MIGHT BE AFFECTED BY BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM MASTER CYLINDER INTO A SWITCH THEREAFTER MOISTURE WILL ACCUMULATE IN THE SWITCH CAUSING A SHORT BLOWING FUSE #10. ALSO READ THAT THIS BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE MIGHT LEAD TO A FIRE SUBSEQUENTLY. REPAIRS HAVE BEEN QUOTED TO BE HIGH. WILL REPAIR ONCE HAVE SUFFICIENT MONEY SAVED. *TR

FRONT FRAME (SHOP CALLED IT A K-MEMBER OR ENGINE CRADLE) WAS RUSTED THRU & BROKE OFF WHERE IT ATTACHED TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING LOCALLY, LUCKILY NOT ON THE FREEWAY. STEERING WHEEL WENT OUT OF ALIGNMENT A FULL 90 TO 120 DEGREES WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING. MOST SHOPS WOULD NOT FIX IT, BUT FOUND A SHOP WHO PUT IN A SALVAGE YARD PART. FORD DEALER WAS LUDICROUSLY HIGH DOLLAR & VERY UNSYMPATHETIC. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AUTOMATICALLY OPENED TWICE ON ITS OWN. THE DEALER ADVISED THE MECHANIC THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE OR HOW TO REPAIR IT. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT DUST ON THE CYLINOID OF THE DOOR MECHANISM COULD HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK, DEFECT AS WELL AS THE CHILD SEATS LOCATED IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 200,000.

MY ABS LIGHT IS ON, BRAKE LIGHT COMES OFF AND ON, NOW MY SPEEDOMETER AND THE RPM METER ARE NOT WORKING... *TR

FIRST OCCURRENCE OF THE ABS LIGHT COMING ON RESULTED IN PRODUCING DIAGNOSTIC CODES OF C1185 C1242 AND AN ABS REAR SENSOR CODE. THE ABS LIGHT WAS VERY INTERMITTENT AT FIRST BUT NOW HAS BECOME MUCH MORE FREQUENT. THE LIGHT WILL DISPLAY MORE SO ON BUMPY ROADS AND HOT DAYS. I DEPEND ON MY ABS SYSTEM BECAUSE I AM HANDICAPPED AND LIVE IN NORTHERN CLIMATE (SNOW AND ICE CONDITIONS). I CAN KNOW LONGER DEPEND ON MY ABS SYSTEM TO HELP PREVENT AN ACCIDENT OR AN IMPACT. *KB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE INSPECTING HIS VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED A CRACK IN THE REAR AXLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 90,405.

I HAVE BEEN HEARING A CLANKING NOISE FROM THE REAR OF MY CAR. I BROUGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME I HAD A CRACK IN MY REAR AXLE. HE SAID IT WAS THE THIRD WINDSTAR HE HAD SEEN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM -- TWO 1999 WINDSTARS (ONE BEING MINE) AND A 2001 WINDSTAR. THIS IS POSSIBLE A RECALL SITUATION. *TR

THE REAR AXLE (OR REAR SUPPORT BEAM)BROKE IN TWO ON MY 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. WE HAD HEARD SOME NOISE FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR AND HAD AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT CHECKED THE DAY AFTER THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED. I HAD THOUGHT THAT MAYBE THE REAR SHOCKS WERE GOING. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON SUNRISE HIGHWAY IN ROCKVILLE CENTER,NEW YORK WHEN THE CAR STARTED BUCKING AND THERE WAS A LOUD BANG. IMMEDIATELY THE CAR STARTED SWERVING TO THE RIGHT AND I STARTED T SMELL A BURNING ODOR. IT WAS QUITE A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE AND I THANK GOD THAT NEITHER I OR ANYONE ELSE WAS HURT. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS I NOTICED THE LOOK OF HORROR ON THE FACES OF THE FEW BYSTANDERS ON THE SIDEWALK. I COULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT I SAW WHEN I GOT OUT. THE REAR WHEELS WERE BOTH SPREAD EAGLE APART AND THE AXLE WAS BROKE IN TWO AND SCRAPING ON THE GROUND. THERE WAS A DISTINCT SCRAPE MARK IN THE ROAD FROM THE AXLE THAT TRACED MY PATH TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AS I SEARCHED THE INTERNET I WAS DISTURBED TO SEE THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND THAT FORD HAS DONE NOTHING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. I JUST GOT MY CAR BACK TODAY, AUGUST 4,2009. I HAD TO PAY $870.00 FOR THE REPAIR AND THAT IS WITH A USED REAR AXLE SUPPORT FROM A JUNK YARD. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE AND BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED FORD SHOULD STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND RECALL THESE CARS!!! TO MAKE THINGS JUST A LITTLE WORSE, IT JUST HAPPENED TO BE MY 50TH BIRTHDAY ON THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT. WHAT A BIRTHDAY PRESENT FROM THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY. I HAD PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW IN 1999 AND AM THE ONLY OWNER. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENT. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND FORD SOLD ME AN EXTENDED SERVICE CONTRACT AT A SIGNIFICANT DISCOUNT AFTER I HAD THE CAR FOR TWO YEARS BECAUSE OF ALL THE PROBLEMS I HAD WITH THE CAR FROM DAY ONE. THE CAR HAS 97,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT,NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD,MASTER CYLINDER,BRAKE BOOSTER,STRUTS,RACK AND PINION,AND MORE. *TR

MY ABS LIGHT COMES ON DAILY. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OF START UP. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH THE ABS LIGHT AND TRACTION WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. SHE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED AT AN EXPENSE OF $ 825.00 DOLLARS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.

1. REAR OF VAN SWAYING AND A SQUEAKING NOISE..............2. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE REAR AXLE CRACKED AT THE MID POINT 3/4 THE WAY THROUGH..............3. PLAN TO REPLACE THE AXLE, HAVE NOT DONE SO AS YET. I WILL KEEP THE OLD AXLE OR MAKE IT AVAILABLE IF NEEDED.............."THE WHOLE STORY"..............OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS I'VE NOTICED WHEN HITTING A BUMP THE REAR OF THE VAN WOULD SWAY A LITTLE, AND OCCASIONALLY I?D HEAR A SQUEAK/SCREECH THAT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE VAN. I DECIDED TO INVESTIGATE THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF MY VEHICLE, I WAS SHOCKED, DISMAYED, DUMBFOUNDED, AND DISBELIEVED WHAT MY EYES WHERE SHOWING ME. THE REAR AXLE, A RATHER BEEFY LOOKING PIECE OF STEEL AND ENGINEERING, WAS CRACKED OF THE WAY THROUGH. AFTER DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH TO MY SURPRISE I FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH WINDSTAR VANS. APPARENTLY DOZENS OF WINDSTAR OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND APPARENTLY FORD LIKE THE VALVE COVER SNAFU HAS DECIDED TO IGNORE IT. PLEASE, BEFORE SOMEONE TRAGICALLY PAYS THE ULTIMATE PRICE MAKE THEM STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

I BOUGHT A FORD WINDSTAR VAN FROM A USED CAR DEALER BY THE NAME OF RAY PRICE IN DEC. OF '07. WE HAD BEEN LOOKING FOR A VAN FOR SOME TIME AND I HAD LOOKED FOR ANY RECALLS BEFORE WE PURCHASED. I FOUND NONE LISTED. WE PAID OFF THE CAR LAST MONTH, AND THAT'S WHEN THE TROUBLE STARTED. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE GARAGE 3 TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH BECAUSE IT KEPT STALLING WHEN IT WOULD IDLE FOR LONGER PERIODS OF TIME. THE MECHANIC FIXED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD SEALS AND THE SURROUNDING PARTS, REPLACING THEM AS NEEDED EACH TIME. I ALSO HAD THE SPARK PLUGS AND PLUG WIRES REPLACED JUST IN CASE. ON THURSDAY JULY 23RD, MY HUSBAND REPLACED THE BRAKES ON THE FRONT. HE DROVE THE VAN ALL DAY WITH NO PROBLEMS OTHER THAN THE OCCASIONAL STALL. WE STOPPED FOR MILK AT THE GROCERY STORE ON OUR WAY HOME FROM MY WORK AND HAD BEEN INSIDE FOR ONLY 5-10 MINUTES WHEN THE MANAGER CALLED OUT THAT OUR CAR WAS ON FIRE. WE RAN OUTSIDE, AND THE FIREMEN GOT IT OUT, BUT THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. I SPOKE TO MY MECHANIC AND THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR AND BOTH TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD COME ACROSS A RECALL THAT HAD BEEN OUT A FEW YEARS AGO ABOUT MY VAN. IT SEEMS THAT FORD RECALLED THE CRUISE CONTROL MECHANISM IN THE ENGINE BECAUSE IT CAUSED ELECTRICAL FIRES JUST LIKE WHAT HAPPENED TO MINE. THE FIRE CHIEF SAID IT LOOKED EXACTLY LIKE WHAT HE HAD SEEN BEFORE WHEN IT HAPPENED. SINCE THEN, FORD HAS DENIED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL AND WON'T LOOK INTO THE MATTER. MY CAR HAD BEEN ON THIS LOT FOR AT LEAST A YEAR BEFORE WE BOUGHT IT. IF THE RECALL WENT OUT, IT WAS NEVER FIXED, AND A LAWYER HAS ALREADY SAID IT IS FORD'S RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE CARE OF THE MATTER. CAN YOU CHECK ON THIS FOR ME? *TR

MY SISTERS 1999 WINDSTAR HAD A RUSTED SUBFRAME. I TOOK MY 1999 WINDSTAR TO A MECHANIC , THE SUBFRAME WAS STARTING TO RUST ON THE RIGHT SIDE. WITHIN 4 WEEKS , THE FRAME SPLIT WHILE DRIVING WITH MY 2 KIDS IN THE CAR. IT IS UNDRIVABLE. I CALL FORD ON 7/22/09 TO LET THEM KNOW OF A DESIGN PROBLEM (THE A/C DRAINTUBE DRAINS ON THE SUBFRAME ON THE RIGHT. THERE IS NO OTHER RUST ON THE CAR, BUT FORD SAID MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. ITS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE, ITS A DESIGN ISSUE. I AM HAVING IT FIXED AND I THINK FORD SHOULD REIMBURSE ME . THEY WILL NEED TO REPLACE THE SUBFRAME. *TR

REAR AXLE BROKE ON MY 1999 FORD WINDSTAR WITHOUT WARNING. THOUGHT I WAS HYDROPLANING, AS IT WAS RAINING. AT 60 MPH, I STARTED TO LOOSE CONTROL AND I SLOWED DOWN TO 40MPH. I DROVE 5 MILES, THINKING I WAS GETTING A FLAT TIRE. AS I PULLED OFF THE ROAD, REAR TIRES WERE SCRAPING THE FENDER AND I DISCOVERED THE AXLE HAD BROKEN IN HALF. *TR

I HAVE A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR AND MY ENTIRE DASH HAS GONE OUT EXCEPT FOR MY AIRBAG LIGHT. THIS INCLUDES MY SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, MY RPMS, AND MY GAS GAUGES. *TR

1999 FORD WINDSTAR ABS LIGHT ON, ODOMETER INOP, SPEEDOMETER INOP, 15 AMP FUSE CONSTANTLY BLOWS. BRAKE FLUID LEAKING ON VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE SUBFRAME ON MY 1999 FORD WINDSTAR IS SEVERELY CORRODED AT MOST OF THE CONNECTION POINTS. WHENEVER WE MAKE A TURN WE COULD HEAR THE RATTLING/GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM BENEATH THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED AT THIS POINT, BUT I AM CONSIDERING DOING SOME REINFORCEMENTS AND HOPING THERE WILL A RECALL VERY SOON. *TR

REAR AXLE SNAPPED INTO 2 ON 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. *TR

2 WEEKS AGO, MY FAMILY AND I HAD MADE A TRIP TO THE DALLAS TEXAS AREA. A FEW DAYS INTO THE VACATION WE HAD GONE TO CHURCH. WELL, WHEN WE HAD LEFT CHURCH, I NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER, THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WERE NOT WORKING. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE ABS WAS ON. MY FATHER-IN-LAW SUGGESTED THAT THERE WAS A FUSE PROBLEM THAT MADE THE AC STOP WORKING. WE LOOKED THE FUSES OVER AND REPLACED THE BURNT ONES ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL. THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTED UNTIL WE HAD LEFT TEXAS. ON THE WAY BACK HOME, (WE WERE IN OKLAHOMA AT THE TIME) WE HAD STOPPED AT A GAS STATION TO FUEL UP. LEAVING THE GAS STATION ONTO THE HIGHWAY OUR DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT COMPLETELY (IT WAS AROUND 5 AM). SO I PULLED OVER TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, BY THIS TIME THE HOOD OF THE VAN WAS BLOWING OUT FAINT SMOKE. WE LOOKED UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND SEEN THERE WAS A FIRE. MY WIFE AND I IMMEDIATELY GOT OUR 3 KIDS OUT OF THE VAN AND INTO OUR PARENT'S CAR, WHILE MY FATHER-IN-LAW DOUSED THE FLAMES. THANK GOD WE HAD ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE THAT TOWED US TO THE NEAREST AUTOZONE. WE WERE SHOCKED AS TO WHAT EXACTLY HAD HAPPENED. AFTER REPLACING SOME MORE FUSES, WE GOT IT UP AND RUNNING LONG ENOUGH TO MAKE IT HOME. THE SPEEDOMETER STILL DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AND THE ABS LIGHT IS STILL ON. DURING THAT TIME WE NOTICED THAT THE CONNECTION UNDER THE MASTER CYLINDER THAT HOUSED THE ABS MODULE HAD COMPLETELY MELTED AND HAD STARTED THE FIRE. I WENT ON THE INTERNET TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS HAS BEEN A BIG ISSUE WITH 1995-2003 WINDSTAR MODELS. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MONTHS AND HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS EXCEPT FOR THIS. LIKE I HAVE STATED BEFORE, I HAVE 3 BABIES THAT COULD HAVE BEEN HARMED OR KILLED BY A FAULTY DESIGN ON THIS VEHICLE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT COULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY AT THIS TIME TO HAVE IT REPAIRED TO INSURE THAT IT WONT HAPPEN AGAIN. THE VEHICLE IS DRIVABLE BUT DOES NOT HAVE AC/HEAT/ OR ABS. *TR

LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID, BRAKE LIGHT ON AFTER SERVICE,BRAKE LIGHT RED, 15 AMP FUSE BLOWING OUT, SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OR FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT,SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER STOPPED WORKING, CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT ACTIVATE OR DEACTIVATES WITHOUT WARNING, ABS WARNING LIGHT IS ON. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. WHEN THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE, THE MECHANIC NOTICED RUST IN THE SUBFRAME COMING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING. CONDENSATION FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS DRIPPING ONTO THE SUBFRAME, WHICH CAUSED THE RUST. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES AND THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD BE LIABLE. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE FOR A LITTLE MORE THAN $3,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,547 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,560.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT TOOK HIS VEHICLE IN FOR A ROUTINE INSPECTION AND WAS INFORMED THAT BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V147000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER) AND WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 83,000.

SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH ON 1999 FORD WINDSTAR WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. PROBLEM FOUND WHEN ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, BRAKE-SHIFT INTERLOCK, AIR CONDITIONER AND A FEW OTHER ITEMS NO LONGER FUNCTIONED. APPARENTLY FLUID CAUSED A SHORT THAT ACTIVATED A FUSE, DISABLING THESE ITEMS. REQUESTED FORD REPAIR AT THEIR COST AS SWITCH IS SAME AS WAS RECALLED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V388000. THEY REFUSED SINCE RECALL DOES NOT INCLUDE WINDSTAR. SWITCH WAS REPLACED, AT MY COST, AND PROBLEMS APPEARS RESOLVED. *TR

TRANSMISSION BANGS HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR AND OVERDRIVE LIGHT COMES ON SAYING OD IS OFF. THIS STARTED A FEW MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT IT IN LATE 2001;IT WAS FIXED BY THE DEALER. IT STARTED AGAIN IN EARLY 2006. MILLER FORD REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IT WAS JUST OUT SIDE OF MY 4 YEAR WARRANTY BUT STILL WITHIN THE MILEAGE. (79,000). I TOOK IT BACK AGAIN IN 2008. THEY STILL WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING FOR ME. TOOK IT 2009 THEY LOOKED AT IT, CHARGED ME $400.00 DOLLARS AND SAID I NEEDED A NEW RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION. OH WELL. NO MORE FORDS. *TR

1999 FORD WINDSTAR - SUBFRAME RUSTED OUT. HAD REPAIRS DONE. HAD VEHICLE INSPECTED BY FORD FOR CURRENT REAR AXLE RECALL, WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RUST IN THE REAR AXLE. I AM HAVING THE CAR INSPECTED BY MY MECHANIC BECAUSE IT WOULD SEEM THAT IF THE FRONT END RUSTED OUT, SO WOULD THE BACK. *TR

WHEN HAVING THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED AND AN ALIGNMENT DONE, OUR MECHANIC NOTED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE IS SEVERELY RUSTED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. HE CLAIMED THAT IT WAS FAR WORSE THAN IT EVER SHOULD BE AND IF THIS WAS A GM, THEY WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT. HOWEVER, THIS IS A FORD AND THEY WILL DO NOTHING. *TR

THE ABS LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON AND AFTER INVESTIGATION THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE ECM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON EVERY DAY AND THE BRAKING OF THE VEHICLE IS REDUCED. HAVE NOT REPLACED THE MODULE AS WE CAN NOT LOCATE ONE LOCALLY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE HEAD GASKET AND TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 163,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

ON MAY 22 MY 1999 FORD WINDSTAR VAN STARTED TO MAKE A SQUEALING/WHINING NOISE AT APPROXIMATELY 10:30 IN THE MORNING DURING WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A 40 MINUTE DRIVE TO MY MOTHERS HOUSE. DUE TO THE WEIRD NOISE I STOPPED AND CHECKED THE AIR PRESSURE IN MY TIRE (RIGHT REAR) WHERE THE SOUND SEEMED TO BE ORIGINATING FROM. THE PRESSURE WAS A LITTLE LOW SO I TOPPED IT OFF AND CONTINUED ON MY TRIP. THE SOUND CONTINUED AND I DECIDED TO STOP AT A SERVICE STATION ABOUT 20 MORE MILES INTO THE TRIP. THE SERVICE STATION WAS LITTLE HELP, THEY CHECKED MY POWER STEERING FLUID, DROVE THE VAN AROUND THE PARKING LOT A COUPLE OF TIMES AND IT MADE NO NOISES. THE ATTENDANT TOLD ME HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY IDEA AS TO WHAT THE SOUND MIGHT BE AND ASKED IF I COULD RETURN IN AN HOUR WHEN HIS SUPERIOR WOULD BE THERE. I AGREED TO RETURN AFTER DROPPING OFF MY KIDS AT MY MOTHERS. AFTER GOING ON DOWN THE ROAD ABOUT ANOTHER TEN MILES I FELT THE STEERING WHEEL START TO FLOAT AND DRIFT AND MY BRAKES BECAME USELESS AND THE VAN CAME TO AN ABRUPT HALT AND THERE WAS A HUGE BANG AS THE ENTIRE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE BECAME DISABLED. AS WE ALL PILED OUT TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG WE FOUND THE REAR WHEELS POINTING INWARD UNDER THE VAN AT A BACKWARDS ANGLE. SOME MEN CAME TO HELP ME WHO WERE NEARBY THEY INFORMED ME MY AXLE WAS SNAPPED. LOOKING UNDER THE VEHICLE I COULD CLEARLY SEE THEY WERE RIGHT. MY VAN WILL BE REPAIRED THIS WEEKEND. I CALLED FORD THEY BASICALLY TOLD ME TO EAT THE REPAIRS MYSELF. IN WV A YEARLY INSPECTION IS REQUIRED, I PASSED INSPECTION AT THE BEGINNING OF APRIL WHICH TELLS ME THERE WAS NOTHING VISUALLY WRONG WITH MY AXLE LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AGO. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT WITHOUT ANY OUTSIDE DAMAGE OR FORCE (ACCIDENTS, FORCE ECT) AN AXLE CAN JUST SNAP IN TWO. IF I HAD BEEN TRAVELING ANY FASTER MY 4 CHILDREN AND MYSELF WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR HARMED AS AT THE MOMENT IT BROKE I HAD LITTLE CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE AND THE BRAKES WERE FAILING. ONLY PEOPLE WITH CHILDREN BUY MINI-VANS, THIS IS SCARY. *TR

I WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE DASHBOARD ON MY 1999 FORD WINDSTAR LAST SPRING. ALL THE GAUGES WOULD GO WACKY AND THE ABS LIGHT WOULD COME ON. I TOOK IT INTO THE LUTHER FORD DEALER IN FARGO, ND AND THEY COULD NOT FIGURE IT OUT. OFFERED TO REPLACE FRONT BOARD WHERE THE GAUGES ARE FOR NO CHARGE I WOULD JUST PAY FOR THE LABOR. I SAID NO. WENT THIS WAY ALL SUMMER AND THEN THE RPM NEEDLE JUST QUIT. THIS VAN HAS GIVEN ME SO MUCH TROUBLE REGARDING THE WIRING. I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE BOARD IN THE BACK RIGHT PANEL OF THE VAN. AND AM ALWAYS REPLACING LIGHT BULBS IN THE BACK. DISGUSTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I DID TAKE IT IN FOR THE RECALL. THE ABS LIGHT IS OFF NOW. DO I HAVE ABS??????????? I FELT THEY JUST WANTED TO GET RID OF ME. *TR

ABS AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS COME ON WHEN DRIVING. *TR

1999 FORD WINDSTAR ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILURE. ABS WARNING LIGHT IN DASH HAS BECOME ILLUMINATED AND DIAGNOSTIC CODES INDICATE ABS ECM RELAY FAILURE. FAILURE IS DUE TO A POOR DESIGN, AND POOR MATERIALS CHOICE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. MODULE FAILURE EFFECTS THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM AND RESULTS IN UNEXPECTED, RANDOM BRAKING OF THE VEHICLE. REMOVAL OF FUSES OF CIRCUITS 101 AND 102, DE-ENERGIZE ABS SYSTEM AND TRACTION CONTROL AND MAKES THE VEHICLE OPERABLE AGAIN, WITHOUT ABS BRAKES OR TRACTION CONTROL. *TR

1999 FORD WINDSTAR- WAS HEARING A LOT OF DEEP SOUNDING SQUEAKING FROM THE PASSENGER FRONT SIDE. ALSO SOME CRACKING SOUNDS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AND FOUND THE SUBFRAME WAS VERY BADLY RUSTED. WE REPLACED THE SUBFRAME. THE REPAIR SHOP TOOK PICTURES FOR US AND WE WERE HORRIFIED TO SEE HOW SEVERE THE SITUATION ACTUALLY WAS. IT WAS VERY CLOSE TO RUSTING COMPLETELY THROUGH. 1999 WINDSTAR WITH 98,000 MILES. COST TO REPAIR WAS APROX. $1500. THE CAR RIDES VERY SMOOTH NOW THAT IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED. BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE FEEL. WAS NOT AWARE HOW BOUNCY THE CAR WAS RIDING. NOW IT FEELS ALMOST LIKE A NEW SUSPENSION. *TR

CONNECTOR COMING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE SENSOR ON THE BRAKE RESERVOIR ON MY 1999 WINDSTAR 3.8 LITER IS BURNED - MELTED. THIS CAUSED THE BRAKE LIGHT TO COME ON AND THE ABS TO SHUT DOWN AND THE LIGHT TO COME ON. ALSO, THE A/C DOESN'T WORK AND THE FANS DON'T WORK. *TR

THE DASHBOARD GAUGES, TACHOMETER, SPEEDOMETER, GAS, AND TEMPERATURE GO HAYWIRE CONSTANTLY. ONE TIME ON A HILL, I COULD NOT PUT THE SHIFT LEVER IN PARK SO THAT I COULD ASSIST A HANDICAPPED FAMILY MEMBER OUT OF MY VEHICLE. THE TACHOMETER NEEDLE WAS PINNED TO THE RIGHT, AND THE SHIFT INDICATOR COULDN'T MOVE TO THE RIGHT TO ENGAGE PARK. I NEVER KNEW HOW MUCH GAS I HAD, THE SPEED I WAS GOING, OR THE RUNNING TEMPERATURE OF MY VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT RAN CONSTANTLY EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO CODE SHOWING UP IN THE EMISSION CODE SCANNER.. $ SETS OF INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS WERE INSTALLED AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. 3 BY FORD, ONE BY ANOTHER MECHANIC. I HAVE A CRACKED REAR AXLE, THE VAN SITS AT THE DEALERSHIP, AND I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE FRONT-END SUB-FRAME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR AXLE ON HIS VEHICLE CRACKED COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $1,641. THE CONTACT CANNOT AFFORD TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

ABS LIGHT CAME ON WITHOUT WARNING. *TR

1999 FORD WINDSTAR ABS LIGHT. *TR

REAR AXLE BEAM FAILURE, 99 FORD WINDSTAR. AXLE AILED (BROKE) ON 4-8-09 AT 96,765 MILES AND THEN AGAIN ON 7-13-10 AT 107,500 MILES. FIRST TIME THE AXLE SNAPPED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE 2ND TIME IT SNAPPED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. BOTH TIMES THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE AXLE BROKE. THE SECOND AXLE WAS A USED PART WHICH WAS INSTALLED AS A REPLACEMENT FOR THE 1ST. AXLE AFTER IT FAILED. *TR

FRONT DRIVERS SIDE SPRINGS FRACTURED JUST LIKE THOSE SPECIFIED ON FORD WINDSTAR 1997 AND 1998 ASSEMBLED AT OAKVILLE PLANT BETWEEN AUG 1996 THROUGH JULY 1998. THE DEFECTIVE SPRINGS FORCED FORD TO ISSUE RECALL 01S19. MY 1999 WINDSTAR WAS SHIPPED NOV 1998 AND I SUSPECT WITH BAD SPRINGS BECAUSE OTHER 1999 FORD WINDSTAR OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF THE SAME SPRING BREAKAGE CAUSING PUNCTURED FRONT TIRES. MY SPRINGS WERE FOUND DEFECTIVE AND NOW FAIL NH SAFETY INSPECTION. PLEASE ACT SWIFTLY MY FUNDS ARE VERY LOW! *TR

1999 FORD WINDSTAR 3.8L V6 99K MILES DRIVING TO WORK TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING TO MAKE THE VEHICLE MOVE FORWARD. IT ONLY WOULD WORK IN REVERSE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH WINDSTARS PLEASE REFERENCE THIS WEBSITE HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/WINDSTAR/2000/TRANSMISSION/. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A STRANGE NOISE. HE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR AXLE WAS CRACKED IN HALF AND THE REAR TIRES WERE BENT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AVAILABLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS OVER THE WARRANTY MILEAGE; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 87,000. UPDATED 04/13/09. *JB

THE ENGINE CRADLE HAS RUSTED OUT ON MY 1999 WINDSTAR VAN. THIS HAS OCCURRED DUE TO A FAULTY DESIGN BY FORD. AFTER RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER LEAKS ON THE CRADLE CREATING A COMMON PROBLEM OF THE CRADLE RUSTING OUT. THIS CAN BE AND HAS BEEN RESULTING IN CAR ACCIDENT DEATHS. I WAS LUCKY. I HAD THE CAR AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN ENGLEWOOD FLORIDA(BAY HARBOR FORD) FOR ANOTHER PROBLEM AND THEY WENT TO PUT MY CAR ON THE LIFT AND THE CRADLE BROKE BECAUSE OF THE RUST. THEY ARE REPLACING THE CRADLE AND THEN CONTINUING ON THE REPAIRS. THE COST TO ME IS EXPECTED AROUND $2,200 OR MORE. THEY HAVE ORDERED A USED CRADLE. FORD INSPECTED MY CAR BEFORE I PURCHASE IT AND NEVER TOLD ME ABOUT THIS RUST PROBLEM. I PURCHASED THE VAN IN 2007- OCT BASED ON THEIR BLESSING THAT IT WAS A SOUND, SAFE VEHICLE AND WOULD LAST ME FOR AT LEAST ANTHER 200,000 MILES. *TR