1999 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 70-72 MPH, BOTH AIR BAGS DEPOLYED AFTER RUNNING OVER A PIECE OF TIRE TREAD. DEALER AND MANFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

POWER OPERATED SLIDING DOOR MADE A VERY LOUD GRINDING NOISE, THEN UNEXPECTEDLY OPENED, CAUSE IS UNKNOWN.*AK *JB

CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITH NO WARNING.DEALER NOTIFIED.*JB

THE AUTO LOCKING SYSTEM ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR ONLY WORKS INTEMINTANLY. IN SHORT YOU CAN NOT LOCVK THE DRIVER'S DOOR WITH THE LOCK BUTTON. IF YOU DO IT ONLY POPS BACK UP . THE HAETER MALFUNCTIONED TOADY. THE HEATER IN THE DRIVERS COMPARTMENT ONLY BLOWS OUTSIDE AIR. NO HEAT, HOWEVER THE REAR HEATER WORKS PERFECTLY.*AK

I WAS STOPPED AT A TOLL BOOTH AND BEGAN TO ACCELERATE WHEN A LOUD GRINDING/CLANKING SOUND WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. I THEN HAD NO FORWARD GEARS, HOWEVER REVERSE STILL WORKED. I WAS TOWED TO THE FORD DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS "MAJOR INTERNAL TRANSMISSION DAMAGE". THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON A VEHICLE LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD AND 44,000 MILES. COST OF REPAIRS >$2900.*AK

POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY. CONSUMER HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE UNDERNEATH HOOD AREA.*AK

AT 70MPH ENGINE BLEWOUT, AND ANTIFREEZE STARTED TO LEAK FROM VEHICLE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

POWER STEERING MAKING NOISE AND LOOSING FLUID. NLM

VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING ALL DAY AND IT SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT FIRE STARTED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON DRIVER'S SIDE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY DESPITE THE FACT THAT TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN #13073 WAS ISSUED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM 5 MONTHS AFTER MY PURCHASE. WITHOUT THE BLEND DOOR MOVEMENT IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO HAVE DEFROSTING OF THE FRONT WINDOWS DURING FREEZING WEATHER.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

AFTER REVERSING FROM A PARKING SPACE ONTO STREET, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE WHILE THE GEARS WHERE CHANGED TO DRIVE. VEHICLE WOULD NO LONG TO FORWARD, WE WERE ABLE TO PUT IT IN REVERSE AND GET OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC. THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT 41,000 MILES.*AK

THERE IS A "SKIP" IN THE TRANSMISSION THAT IS A HARD THUD WHEN IT HAPPENS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, AFTER SEVERAL DAYS AND OVER 100 MILES THEY "FOUND" THE PROBLEM AND FIXED IT. IT STARTED TO DO IT AGAIN ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER. I JUST RECENTLY TOOK IT IN FOR THE CONSOLE LIGHTS FLICKERING WHEN ACCELERATING AND TOLD THEM AGAIN ABOUT THE "THUMPING". THEY CHARGED ME FOR THE DIAGNOSES OF THERE'S NOTHING WRONG, IT'S THE A/C COMPRESSOR THAT RUNS ALL THE TIME. ALSO THE BRAKES SQUEAK HORRIBLY WHEN YOU FIRST START OUT WITH IT FOR THE DAY. THEY SAID THE BRAKES RUST AND THERE WASN'T ANYTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT, THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT GOES. THE DATE I'M USING IS AN ESTIMATED DATE OF WHEN THINGS FIRST OCCURRED.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY HEARD A NOISE UNDERNEATH VEHICLE AND TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. *AK

WHEN SLIDING DOOR OPENS IT DOESN'T STAY OPEN. KIDS CAN GET CAUGHT IN THE DOOR, AND BE SERIOUSLY HURT.*AK

THE ABS MOTOR SWITCH BECAME STUCK WHILE BRAKING AND RESULTED IN NOISE FROM THE ABS SYSTEM. THE CONSUMER TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF BUT THE NOISE PERSISTED. *NLM *NLM

RACK AND PINION STEERING HAD TO BE REPLACED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. STEERING FROZE UP, AND THEN IT BECAME HARDER TO STEER VEHICLE. *JG *AK

VEHICLE STOPS MOVING WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 70 MPH. THIS IS SECOND TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITHIN 69,000 MILE OF WEAR. *AK *TT

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE I CAME TO A STOP AT TRAFFIC SIGNAL. WHEN SIGNAL TURNED GREEN I HAD NO FORWARD VEHICLE ONLY MADE NOISES FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THIS INCIDENT OCCURED WITHOUT PRIOR NOTIFICATION. THIS INCIDENT CAUSED ME AND MY FAMILY TO BE STRANDED ALSO RENDERING US WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR 2 WEEKS. DT

A LEAK DEVELOPED IN POWER STEERING RACK WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO SHAKE WHEN TURNING END EVENTUALLY TO LOSE ALL POWER ASSISTED STEERING. *AK

WHEN DRIVING HEARD NOISE COMING FROM FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL. DEALER REPLACED FRONT WHEEL BEARING. *AK

CONSISTENTLY COMPLAINED ABOUT THE ENGINE LIGHT ON SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. AT 32,000 MILES, THEY REPLACED THE INTAKE GASKETS. ENGINE LIGHT STILL CAME ON, WAS TOLD IT WAS SOMETHING MINOR. I COMPLAINED NUMEROUS TIMES ABOUT THE ENGINE LIGHT. THEY WOULD REPROGRAM THE WARNING AND WITHIN ONE DAY, IT WOULD COME BACK ON. NOW, WITH THE NEW EMISSIONS STANDARDS, MY CAR WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. I WAS TOLD THE INTAKE GASKET HAS TO BE REPLACED. WHEN I SPOKE TO FORD, THEY JUST SAY "WE ARE SORRY IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY". WELL, THEY SHOULD HAVE FIXED IT PROPERLY FROM THE BEGINNING. *JB

CONSUMER NOTICED CONDENSATION IN HEADLIGHTS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE THREE YEAR WARRANTY EXPIRED, THE TRANSMISSON HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE SENSOR. *SCC

WE KNOW OF NO INCIDENT THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS FAILURE. SEE PHOTO IN EMAIL. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NO WARNING PRIOR TO FORWARD SUN GEAR FAILURE , GEAR HAD SHEARED OFF AT WELDS CLEANLY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 40MPH. THE WINDSTAR BEGAN TO UNEXPECTEDLY SHUDDER AND MAKE A LOUD RATTLING NOISE. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT FLASHED AND THE VAN VIOLENTLY BUCKED. WE MANAGED TO GET TO OUR HOUSE. VAN WOULD NOT START AFTER TURNING OFF. DEALER CALLED AND VAN TOWED.DEALER CHECKED PROBLEM AND FOUND THE #5 PISTON HAD FAILED AND HAD CAUSED MAJOR ENGINE DAMAGE AND FAILURE. EST. REPLACEMENT COST $4,000. DEALER WAS NOT SURE IF THIS WAS RELATED TO THE EARLIER MODEL WINDSTAR 3.8L V-6 PROBLEMS CAUSING FAILURE. I AM THE SECOND OWNER AND WARRANTY IS EXPIRED. WE ARE WAITING TO HEAR FROM FORD BUT THE DEALER SAID THEY MAY DECLINE TO ASSIST IN REPLACEMENT COST. I NOW HAVE A $16,000 BLUE PAPERWEIGHT. THE SUDDEN JERKINESS OF THE ENGINE FAILURE ALMOST CAUSED MY WIFE AND TWO KIDS TO RUN OFF THE ROAD . THE PISTON IN THE MOTOR DROPPED DOWN INTO THE OILPAN AREA. ENGINE NOW HAS TO BE REPLACED AT 48,692.MILES. DOING RESEARCH INTO YOUR DATABASE, FROM OWNERS OF 1995 WINDSTARS AND A FEW 1999 MODELS, I NOTICED A SIMILARITY IN DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE AND RESULTING ENGINE FAILURE. THIS VEHICLE WAS VERY WELL MAINTAINED, I AM THE SECOND OWNER. IT WAS PURCHASED NEW AS A LEASED VEHICLE. I BOUGHT IT AFTER THE LEASE WAS OVER. I HOPE YOU CAN INVESTIGATE THIS ENGINE FLAW/DEFECT WITH FORD AND I CAN GET SATISFACTION

VEHICLE STOPPED FOR A LIGHT, AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF, VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. CONSUMERS FOOT WAS PRESSED ON GAS PEDAL, AND VEHICLE JUST MADE A NOISE AND WOULD NOT GO. *AK CONSUMER ADDS EVEN THOUGH RECALL 00B51 WAS PERFORMED ON VEHICLE, THE TRANNY, WHICH IS POSSIBLY RELATED TO THE RECALL, FAILED. *TT

HEAD GASKET LEAKS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO CUT OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING.*AK

TRANSMISSION FORWARD DRUM BROKE, HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON TWICE - CAN'T IDENTIFY PROBLEM, POSSIBLE INTAKE LEAK - WILL HAVE TO REMOVE INTAKE COVERS TO CHECK AT MY EXPENSE WITH NO GUARANTEE THIS IS THE PROBLEM. DOES FORD HAVE ANY SOLUTIONS THAT THEIR DEALERS DON'T KNOW ABOUT?*AK

WHEN TURNING LEFT, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS IN POSITION. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO FORCIBLY BRING WHEEL BACK IN THE CORRECT POSITION. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. CONTACTED DEALER AND FORD MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE GEAR TYPE GOES INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL POST RATTLES AND MAY BE BROKEN. *TT

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE RAN HOT. ENGINE CHECK SENSORS FAILED AND THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO BLOW. HAD CONTACTED DEALERSHIP FOR ANOTHER ENGINE. *AK

THE OVERDRIVE OFF LIGHT STARTED FLASHING ON THE 27TH OF DEC.2001 AND THE VEHICLE WAS VERY HARD SHIFTING THROUGH THE GEARS. ON THE 28TH OF DEC. 2001 MY WIFE WAS TAKING IT TO THE DEALER WHEN THE TRANSMISSION HAD A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE ON A 2 LANE ROADS STEEP HILL ON A CURVE, THE VEHICLES ENGINE REVVED UP TO REDLINE AND THE VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING DOWN THE HILL NO GEAR WOULD ENGAGE. FORD DID PICK UP ALL BUT 495.00 OF THE REPAIR COST,BUT I STILL FOUND IT MY OBLIGATION TO INFORM OTHER ENTITIES OF THIS FAILURE. THE INDIAN HEAD FORD DEALERS SERVICE DEPT. WAS VERY HELPFUL AND I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE SERVICE JUST THE PRODUCT. *AK

01 V 262 000/AUXILIARY A/C BLOWER MOTOR WIRING: THIS RECALL REPAIRS WAS MADE ON THE 7 DEC 01 BY LOUISBURG FORD; LOUISBURG, KS; PHONE # 913/837-5333. ON THE INCIDENT DATE WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, BELEIVED THIS MAY BE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE INTO GEAR, VEHICLE ACCELERATED BY ITSELF. VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO THE POINT WHERE BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP VEHICLE. ALSO, VEHICLE WENT SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET BEFORE STOPPING AND CONSUMER STATED NOT SURE HOW VEHICLE STOPPED. CONTACTED DEALER AND DEALER STATED HAD NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE.*AK *YH

THE VEHICLE'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER. *NM THE ALTERNATOR, RIGHT INNER CV BOOT, ABS MODULE, AND BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WERE REPLACE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL PULL, THERE WILL BE CLICKING NOISE. THEN, WILL LOSE STEERING.CONTACTED DEALER. RACK AND PINON STEERING WENT OUT.*AK

THE MECHANIC FOUND THE TORQUE CONVERTER HAD FAILED AND SPUN BRASS OFF AND RUINED THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION. *YD

REAR PASSENGER DOOR CANNOT BE OPEND FROM INSIDE, AND DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR CANNOT BE OPEND FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND DIED WITHOUT WARNING. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

TRANSMISSION SUN GEAR SHEARED FROM HOUSING. REQUIRED TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL AND PARTS TOTALING $1855.00. VEHICLE STARTING FROM A DEAD STOP AT INTERSECTION. DRIVER HEARD A NOISE FROM THE TRANSMISSION AT THE POINT OF FAILURE. STRANDED VEHILCE IN INTERSECTION. REVERSE WORKED BUT ALL FORWARD GEARS INOPERABLE. PART DESIGN APPEARS TO BE WEEK INTHE AREA THAT A GEAR MOUNTS TO METAL HOUSING. *AK

VEHICLE IS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID AROUND BUSHING. A MECHANIC EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND STATED THAT PROBLEM COULD BE WITH RACK AND PINION SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION. *AK

I HAVE CONTACTED FORD TO SEE IF I COULD GET SOME HELP AND THEY HAVE BEEN GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED WITHIN SUMMARY. *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARS ON DASHBOARD PERMANENTLY. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. CONSUMER WILL FURNISH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER REPLACED LEFT VALVE COVER WITH A UPDATED VERSION OF PART AND FUEL REGULATOR SUPPLY HOSE. *AK

VEHICLE FAILED TO START 11 TIMES. EACH TIME THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THE CAR WAS "FIXED;" HOWEVER, WITHIN WEEKS THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURED AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP ONLY CONTACTED THE FORD MANUFACTURING COMPANY TO REQUEST ASSISTANCE IN ASCERTAINING THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM AND SUBSEQUENT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CORRECTING THE PROBLEM AFTER LEGAL REPRESENTATION WAS OBTAINED. A COMPREHENSIVE DIAGNOSTIC WORK-UP WAS COMPLETED WHICH REVEALED NO INFORMATION RELATIVE TO THE ORIGIN OF THE PROBLEM. AS A RESULT, WE WERE INFORMED WE COULD, MOST LIKELY, CONTINUE TO EXPRERIENCE THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AS LONG AS WE OWNED IT. DESPITE THE ONGOING DIFFICULTY WE HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH THIS VEHICLE OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST YEAR, THE DEALERSHIP HAS REFUSED TO WORK TOWARD A RESOLUTION IN THIS ISSUE BY REFUSING TO EITHER REIMBURSE US FOR THE COST OF THE AUTOMIBLE MINUS WEAR AND TEAR OR PAY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PRESENT VALUE OF THE VEHICLE AND ANOTHER VEHICLE FOR WHICH OUR AUTOMOBILE COULD BE TRADED. *AK

THIS RECURRING PROBLEM CONTINUES TO FAIL WITHIN ONE TO TWO WEEKS AFTER THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED A NEEDED PART. EACH TIME I GET MY VEHICLE BACK IT WORKS FOR THE AFOREMENTIONED TIME AND THE PROBLEM COMES UP AGAIN. THEY REPLACE PARTS ONE BY ONE AND EACH TIME ANOTHER PART ON THE SYSTEM FAILS .ANOTHER ISSUE I BELIEVE TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE SERIES OF THIS ENTIRE VACCUM SYSTEM IS WHEN I AM DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 30 -35 MPH, THERE IS CONSIDERABLE NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHICH SOUNDS LIKE LIFTER RATTLE . IT HAPPENS WHEN I NEED TO ACCLERATE TO GET ONTO THE HIGHWAY ALSO. I NOTICE WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT (WHICH REQUIRES THAT A PART OR PARTS BE REPLACED FOR THE VACCUM SYSTEM), THE NOISE WILL STOP AND WON'T BE NOTICEABLE FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND EVENTUALLY THE LIGHT WILL COME ON AGAIN.THIS ISSUE OF THE LIFTER NOISE HAS NEVER BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE DEALERSHIP I AM TOLD THAT THEY CANNNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND THEY HAVE NO ANSWER OR SOLUTION. THIS PROBLEM ALSO CAUSES THE COMSUMPTION OF GAS TO INCREASE DRAMATICALLY. THE VAN WILL USE ONE EIGHTH TANK OF GAS ON A NORMAL DAY OF DRIVING WHEN , IF THE LIGHT IS ON, THE VEHICLE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY I WILL USE ABOUT ONE QUARTER TANK OF GAS. THE CONSUMPTION IS DOUBLED.

CONSUMER STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE, THE ENGINE WOULD HESITATE WHEN ACCELERATING, THE DEALER REPLACED THE CAM SENSOR, CRANKSHAFT SENSOR, REPLACED ALL THE PLUGS WITH PLATINUM, AND REPLACED THE UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE GASKETS. *JB