1999 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

AT FREEWAY SPEED WE HEARD A LOUD BANG, AND THE VEHICLE LIFTED UP SUDDENLY IN THE REAR, FOLLOWED BY A LOUD SLAPPING SOUND. I WAS ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL AND GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE TIRE TREAD HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF PUNCTURE MARKS OR OTHER DAMAGE TO THE TIRE. WHEN WE GOT THIS VEHICLE FROM THE DEALERSHIP, I NOTICED "BULGES" IN THE SIDEWALLS OF THESE TIRES AND ASKED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL. GENERAL SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL ALL THESE TIRES. MANY WERE PUT ON WINDSTAR MINIVANS AND THIS WAS A VERY VIOLENT SEPARATION THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT IF SOMEONE WITH LESS EXPERIENCE WAS DRIVING, OR ROAD CONDITIONS WERE WET OR SLIPPERY!*AK (DOT NUMBER: A3M3 TIRESIZE: P215/70R15)

I BACKED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, PUT VAN IN DRIVE, REACHED ABOUT 25MPH, VAN JUST LOCKED UP(TIRES DID NOT ROLL)...THREW ME FORWARD. I PUT THE VAN IN REVERSE, THEN BACK IN DRIVE, BUT IT STILL WOULDN'T MOVE FORWARD. BACKED BACK INTO DRIVEWAY AND CONTACTED FORD DEALER. AM NOW TOLD "THE TRANSMISSION IS BROKE". ON A CAR ONLY 2 YEARS OLD. FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD MAKE THIS WRONG, RIGHT!*AK

AT 36,500 MILES POWER ASSIST PUMP FAILED TO OPERATE WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY RECALL, AND WARRANTY EXPIRED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE TURNING AT A LOW SPEED, NOTICED A BUZZING NOISE. DROVE 4 MILES TO AGENCY WHERE VAN WAS PURCHASED. SERVICE TECH. STATED IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING PUMP. ADVISED NOT T DRIVE VAN HOME. NEXT DAY, THE TECH. STATED THAT THE POWER STEER. PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACE (COST OF $320.). TWO DAYS LATER, SAME PROBLEM BUT NOW WITH LEAKING FLUID. DEALER REFUSED TO TOW BACK TO DEALERSHIP, NO RENTAL CAR OFFERED. TECH. STATES THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDS REPLACING - NO COST. AT SAME TIME, ADVISED TECH. THAT CAR "MISFIRES" AT START UP, ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER. CAR "SCOPED" AT A COST OF $60. REPLACED "AIR-INTAKE VALVE". AGAIN, TWO DAYS LATER, SAME PROBLEM OCCURS. AGENCY CURRENTLY FINDING PARTS TO REPLACE VARIOUS SENSORS. NO CAR FOR OVER ONE WEEK BUT DEALER HAS PROVIDED A RENTAL.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER COULD HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM STEERING, JUST LIKE WHEN POWER STEERING WAS LOW IN FLUID, CONSUMER THEN TOOK VEHICLE TO TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS, THEY SAID THAT PROBLEM WAS WITH RACK AND PINION STEERING THAT HAD A LEAKAGE. MANUFACTRURER WAS CONTACTED AT THE TIME, BUT COULD NOT PROVIDE ANY OTHER HELP.*AK *JB

SHORT IN THE ALTERNATOR CAUSED VEHICLE FIRE, CLAIM 28-3093-207. *SLC

THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE ALTERNATOR, CAUSING A FIRE, CLAIM 28-3093-207. *JG

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE VEHICLES ENGINE SHUT DOWN. NO WARNING. NO INJURIES. CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER STATES THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDS REPLACING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

THE PLASTIC SEAM WHERE THE BACK AND SEAT PORTION OF THE CHILD CAR SEAT BROKE. THEREFORE, THE BACK CAN JUST FLOP FRONTWARDS AND BACKWARDS. OUR OTHER SEAT (SAME MODEL) SHOWS STRESS AT THE SAME SEAM (PLASTIC IS A LIGHTER SHADE OF GREY). THE SEATS WERE PURCHASED A YEAR AGO, HAVE NOT BEEN IN A WRECK OR ABUSED. I WILL CONTACT FISHER PRICE TOMORROW BY PHONE.

PASSENGER'S SIDE VIEW MIRROR DOES NOT HEAT OR MOVE BY SWITCH INSIDE VEHICLE.*AK *JB

PASSENGER'S SLIDING DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE CORRECTLY AND DOME LIGHT WILL COME ON. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK THE PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR COMES AJAR AND THE DOOR LIGHT COMES ON IN THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER HAD TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM EIGHT TIMES. *YH

CONSUMER HAD JUST STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, AND WAS GENTLY ACCELERATING INTO THE INTERSECTION WHEN SOMETHING POOPED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER GO FOWARD, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE BREAKDOEN WAS CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF THE WELD WHICH HOLDS THE DRUM AND THE SECONDARY SUN GEAR TOGETHER.*YD

VEHICLE HAS HAD INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURE, PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AT ANY SPEED. THIS HAS HAPPENED 20-25 TIMES. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER 4 TIMES, COULD NOT FIND A CAUSE. *AK

FRONT BRAKE CALIPER ON DRIVER'S SIDE FROZE UP. BRAKES WERE WORN DOWN AND WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. CONTACTED DEALER TO HAVE BRAKES CHECKED BECAUSE OF RECALLS. DEALER NEVER DID SERVICE, AND WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH BRAKES. CONSUMER WENT TO ANOTHER DEALER AND FOUND BRAKE PROBLEM.*AK

THE POWER STEERING ON THIS VEHICLE WENT OUT AS MY WIFE WAS ROUNDING A CURVE. SHE DESCRIBED IT AS GOING OFF AND COMING BACK ON. WHEN IT STIFFENED UP, SHE TURNED HARDER AND IT LOOSENED UP FAST. THIS CAUSED HER TO GO PARTIALLY OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHE GOT IT HOME AND IT WOULD HARDLY TURN WHILE IN THE DRIVEWAY. POWER STEERING FLUID IS LEAKING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE RACK AND PINION BOOT. A FORD DEALER SHOWED ME ARTICLE NO. 01-5-6 DATED MARCH 8,2001 THAT DISCUSSES THIS ISSUE AND STATES IT IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND HELP.

MY TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT AT 52,000 MILES, AND SINCE I DON'T HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, I'M STUCK WITH THE BILL. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT A TRANSMISSION ON A NEW VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE!. *AK

RECALL 01V26100/,MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 01S25 CONCERNING WINDSHIELD WIPER: MOTOR. CONSUMER CALLED MANUFACTURER ABOUT RECALL REPAIRS, AND MANUFACTURER STATED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS BRANDED . ON TWO OTHER RECALLS CONSUMER HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET BECAUSE MANUFACTURER KICKED IT OUT BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS BRANDED.*AK

RECALL 01V262000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 01S26 CONCERNING AIR CONDITIONER:FAN: MOTOR:WIRING. CONSUMER CALLED MANUFACTURER ABOUT RECALL REPAIRS, AND MANUFACTURER STATED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS BRANDED. ON TWO OTHER RECALLS CONSUMER HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET BECAUSE MANUFACTURER KICKED IT OUT .*AK

REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 01V261000, HOWEVER, DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT RECALL ONLY COVERED FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK

MY GRANDSON FELL OUT OF THE VAN BECUSE THE DOOR LOCKS WERE NOT WORKING...THEY LOCK BUT DO NOT STAY LOCKED. *AK

DOOR HAS CONTINUALLY MALFUNCTIONED INCLUDING OPENING WHILE I AM DRIVING FOR 11 MONTHS. *AK

A LEAK DEVELOPED IN POWER STEERING RACK WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO LOSE ALL POWER ASSISTED STEERING. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND WAS REPAIRING THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK.AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AN OFF ONCE EVERY THREE WEEKS. ALSO, LOCKS STARTED TO LOCK AND UNLOCK BY THEMSELVES. HEADLIGHTS WERE FLICKERING OFF AND ON. FINALLY, THEN HORN FAILED. CONSUMER REPLACED HORN, AND HORN STILL DID NOT WORK. CONSUMER FELT PROBLEMS MAY HAVE BEEN RELATED TO CLOCK SPRING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK CONSUMER WROTE IN SAYING THE NAME AND ADDRESS BELONGS TO HER, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IS NOT HERS, NOR IS ANY OF THE INFORMATION ALONG WITH IT. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION WOULD START TO SHUTTER AT HIGH SPEEDS. CONSUMER STATED THAT AT 53000 MILES TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT NEED REPLACING. *AK *SLC

WHILE DRIVING 60MP VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND DIED WITHOUT WARNING ,RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. AFTER VEHICLE HAD STALLED OUT "LOW OIL PRESSURE" INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHED. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE. *AK DEALER COULD NOT FIGURE WHY VEHICLE STALLED, HOWEVER STATED THAT THE PCM WAS CANADIAN OR EUROPIAN MADE SO IT WAS REPLACED. *SLC

THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE WITHOUT SLAMMING IT. IT FELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS CAUGHT IN THE DOOR. A FEW DAYS LATER THE DOOR POPPED OPEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE DOOR WAS LOCKED. IT DID NOT OPEN ALL OF THE WAY. I DROVE STRAIGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. NO PROBLEMS SINCE THEN.

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WILL STALL AT LOW IDLE, ENGINE ALWAYS REVS VERY HIGH AT START UP, THEN CALMS DOWN, ALSO ENGINE STALL IF AIR CONDITION IS ON WHILE PARKED.*JB

PURCHASED WHAT THOUGHT WERE NEW TIRES FROM AMERICAN TIRE DEPORT IN 2001. HAD A BLOW-OUT ON ONE REAR TIRE IN JULY. HAD A BLOWOUT WITH SECOND REAR TIRE TWO WEEKS LATER. WHEN WENT TO REPLACE FROM ANOTHER DEALER, WAS TOLD THAT WHAT I THOUGHT WERE NEW TIRES WERE ACTUALLY SECONDS....HAVE SECOND TIRE TO SHOW THE DEFECT...TIRES HAD LESS THAN 25,000 MILES ON AT TIME OF BLOWOUT. NEED TO KNOW WHO TO FILE COMPLAINT WITH.BOTH FOR TIRE AND FOR AMERICAN TIRE DEPOT FOR SELLING SECONDS AS NEW. *AK

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD TURN ON AT TIMES WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. ADDED EXTRA FLUID IN BRAKE RESERVOIR (OVER FILLED) AND BRAKE LIGHT STOPPED TURNING ON. ABS LIGHT USED TO TURN ON ABOUT 2 TIMES A MONTHS WITH 38000 MILES ON THE CAR. NOW LIGHT TURNS ON ALMOST ALL THE TIME WITH 1400000 MILES ON THE CAR. BRAKES HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY REPLACES, CALIPERS, PADS, ROTORS AND ALL OTHER WORN PARTS. ALL FRONT SUSPENSION PARTS, INCLUDING STRUTS ARE NEW. REAR HAS NEW SHOCKS AND BRAKE PARTS AS WELL. ALL BRAKES PROPERLY BLED BUT THE ABS LIGHT CONTINUES ALMOST EVERY TIME IT IS DRIVEN. CAR IS DRIVEN DAILY. MPG WAS ABOUT 21MPG AVERAGE BEFORE 35K MILES BUT NOW ONLY ABOUT 17 MPG. ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION HAS ALL MAINTENANCE COMPLETED ON SCHEDULE - TRANSMISSION MERCON V FLUID REPLACED EACH 30K MOTOR OIL BY SCHEDULE IN MANUAL. CAR HAS HAD OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS - LIKE THE DOME LIGHT TURNING ON RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD - THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE TWO PROBLEMS ARE RELATED. ALSO THE REAR AC WOULD TURN ON RANDOMLY SINCE NEW, BUT FORD SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. I FINALLY FIGURED IT OUT - THE DASH CONTROL SWITCH FOR THE REAR AC IS INCORRECTLY MAID AND THE LEVER GOES PAST THE OFF POSITION. THIS CAUSES THE REAR AC TO RANDOMLY TURN ON AND WOULD PROBABLY BE CONSIDERED A SHORT. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 1999 FROM HUB CITY FORD IN LAFAYETTE, LA. THERE APPEARS TO BE SEVERAL ELECTRICAL SHORTS IN THE VAN THAT THEY WERE NEVER ABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR FIX. IS THIS DANGEROUS? THE CLICKING SOUND FROM THE REAR AC SYSTEM? THE ABS RANDOMLY TURNING ON? THE MPG DROPPING SO DRASTICALLY WHEN THE ABS STARTED TURNING ON? THE FRONT OF THE CAR SOUNDING LIKE IT IS HITTING LARGE BUMPS IN THE ROAD WHEN THERE ARE ONLY MINOR IMPERFECTIONS? THIS HAS CONTINUED FOR OVER 100000 MILES AND WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF IT IS DANGEROUS OR JUST AN EXTREME IRRITATION. GUILLORY *TR

MY WIFE ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT WHILE TRYING TO STEER THE CAR OFF THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY EXIT 102.*AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED, SEAL BROKEN; AND TRANSMISSION FLUID PUMPED ONTO HIGHWAY, CAUGHT FIRE UNDER ENGINE COMPARTMENT; TRANSMISSION TO BE REPLACED; COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THIS MODEL; PLEASE RECALL. *AK

FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION AT HIGHWAY SPEED; FLUID SPILLED ONTO ROAD CAUGHT FIRE UNDER ENGINE COMPARTMENT; COMPLAINED TO DEALER ABOUT HARD SHIFTING FROM 1-2; AND VAN SURGING FORWARD WHEN COMING TO A STOP; DEALER CLAIMED NO PROBLEM PERFORMED B51 SERVICE UPDATE PRIOR TO PROBLEM; OVERDRIVE SLIPS IN AND OUT ON INCLINE; REQUIRES REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE WILL STALL AT ANY SPEED/ ANY TIME. STALLED 8 TIMES IN 20 MINUTES. VEHICLE AT DEALER AT THIS TIME, STILL TRYING TO FIND CAUSE. *AK AT TIMES THE VEHICLE CAN NOT BE RESTARTED, THIS OCCURS IMEDIATELY PRIOR TO WHEN IT STALLS, THE RPM INDICATOR DROPS DOWN TO ZERO THEN WITHIN THE NEXT 3-5 SECONDS THE CAR COMPLETELY DIES. NLM

WHEN REACHING 20MPH VEHICLE WILL START TO SHAKE SOON AFTER IT WILL SHUT OFF. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

THIS FORD WINDSTAR LX HAS EXPERIENCED THE ENGINE JUST SUDDENLY QUITTING WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROADWAYS. THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED THE DAY I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, WHEREBY I DROVE IT HOME AND EVEN TEST DROVE IT WITHOUT INCIDENT. HOWEVER, WHEN I GOT HOME MY DAUGHTER WANTED TO TAKE IT FOR A SPIN AND GOT APPROXIMATELY TWO HOUSES DOWN THE STREET WE LIVE ON AND THE ENGINE SUDDENTLY QUIT. I ATTEMPTED TO SIMPLY DRIVE IT AROUND THE BLOCK TO GET BACK HOME AND IT QUIT RUNNING TWO MORE TIMES. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND HE CALLED FORD AND WHAT WAS DONE I DO NOT KNOW BUT ONE DAY LATER I WAS TOLD IT WAS READY AND PICKED IT UP. WE DROVE IT FROM THE 26TH OF JUNE UNTIL THE 29TH OF JUNE. ON THE 29TH MY WIFE WAS TRAVELLING 40MPH DOWN A BUSY STREET WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY QUIT AGAIN. THE DASH LIGHTS ALWAYS CAME ON AND THIS TIME THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. WHEN THE ENGINE QUITS YOU STEERE WITHOUT POWER STERRIN NOR POWER BRAKES. MY WIFE IS 5'1" AND 120 LBS AND THIS WAS VERY DIFFICULT AND SCARRY. I FEAR IF SHE HAD BEEN ON AN INTERSTATE AND HAD THIS OCCUR! SUBSEQUENTLY, I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER ON THE 2ND OF JULY AND TODATE THEY FIXED THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT PROBLEM, BUT THIS WAS NOT THE PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE SUDDENLY QUITTING. THE MINI-VAN HAS QUIT RUNNING TWICE MORE WHILE AT THE FORD DEALER AND THEY DO NOT HAVE A CLUE AS TO WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. FROM THE 2ND OF JULY TO TODAY 7-13-01 I HAVE NO CAUSE NOR SOLUTION TO THIS SAFETY HAZARD. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INFORMATION OR IF THIS HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPORTED WITH THIS PARTICULAR MINI-VAN, OR IF I INDEED JUST HAVE A LEMON. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE VAN AND IT COMES OUT WITH A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH EACH TIME. I FEEL THIS NEEDS TO BE REPORTED FOR THE POSSIBLE ACCIDENT POTENTIAL AND POSSIBLE LOSS OF LIFE DUE TO THE ENGINE JUST SUDDENLY QUITTING TO RUN. I WILL UPDATE YOUR OFFICE AS TO ANY CHANGES IN STATUS AND/OR RESOLUTION OF THIS VEHICLE PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR TIME AND ENERGY IN THIS MATTER.*AK

CONSUMER WAS BACKING UP WHILE GOING 5MPH. THEN, VEHICLE BACK ENDED, HITTING AN "L" SHAPE POLE. TAILGATE WINDOW SHATERRED. TAILGATE WAS HIT RIGHT BELOW THE WINDOW WHEN IT SHATTERED. MANUFACTURER DIDN'T REFER CONSUMER TO DEALER. *AK

THIS IS THE 13 MAJOR REPAIR ON THIS MINIVAN. I HAVE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS. NO AFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

WE HAVE OWNED OUR 99' WINDSTAR SINCE THE DAY IT WAS NEW, AND AT FIRST LOVED IT. BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND AS I HAVE FOUND OUT WITH FORD EMPLOYED INVESTIGATORS THE 99' WAS A BAD YEAR FOR MANY AREAS TO INCLUDE THE TRANSMISSION. OUR TRANSMISSION GOES INTO DEFAULT LIMP-HOME MODE(OVERDRIVE FLASHES ON AND OFF CONTINUOUSLY RPM'S INCREASE AND SHIFTS HARD). AT 5 MILES AFTER STARTING UP AND GETTING UNDER WAY. THE DEALER TOLD ME THE BEST REPAIR TO THE PROBLEM WAS TO "DRIVE THE VAN TILL THE TRANS DIES" AS THIS WAS AN EASIER FIX THAN THE BAD COMPUTER MODULE. SUPPOSEDLY CHEAPER AS WELL. I STRONGLY URGE EVERYONE IN THE WINDSTAR TRANSMISSION PREDICKAMENT TO SPREAD THE NEWS AS FORD SHOULD CORRECT THIS KNOWN PROBLEM BEFOR IT KILLS SOMEONE.

MY MECHANIC HAS SUGGESTED THAT I CONTACT YOU, I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY, AND THEY ARE NOT BEING OF ANY ASSISTANCE. MY MECHANIC HAS STATED THAT WITH THE NUMBER OF MILES ON MY VEHICLE, THE ITEMS THAT HAVE FAILED SHOULD NOT HAVE, AND IS UNSAFE. PLEASE TELL ME HOW TO GO ABOUT GETTING SOME HELP FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY THANK YOU CYNTHIA SORA. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOORS MALFUNCTION ON A REGULAR BASIS. THEY DO NOT SHUT ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT AND ONE OF THE REAR DOORS (PASSENGER SIDE) WILL OPEN AND SHUT WHILE THE VAN IS MOVING (IN REVERSE). SOMETIMES IT WILL TAKE UP TO 10 ATTEMPTS TO GET THE DRIVERS SIDE SLIDING DOOR TO SHUT, MY KIDS CALL IT THE "OPEN AND SHUT" GAME. VERY ANNOYING IN BAD WEATHER AND ALSO A SAFETY CONCERN WITH THE DOOR THAT WILL OPEN AND SHUT WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING.*AK

HORN WILL ONLY BLOW IF HORN IS HIT AT DIRECT CENTER AND WITH A LOT OF FORCE. CONSUMER WAS RUN OFF THE ROAD BY ANOTHER VEHICLE SINCE SHE WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE SPOT FOR HORN. *AK

MY WIFE CALLED ME AT WORK STATING THAT THERE WAS A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE VAN AS SHE PARKED IT IN THE GARAGE. I WENT HOME AND POPPED THE HOOD AND DID A VISUAL INSPECTION AND DISCOVERED NOTHING. I WAS GOING TO STAND IN FRONT OF THE VAN AND LISTEN WHILE SHE STARTED IT TO SEE IF I COULD PINPOINT THE SOUND. SHE WAS CONCERNED THAT I SHOULD NOT BE NEAR IT IN CASE "SOMETHING BLEW UP". I AGREED AND DECIDED TO START IT MYSELF AND SEE HOW IT SOUNDED. AS I STARTED THE VAN IT SURGED FORWARD (WHILE IN PARK), MADE A TERRIBLE GRINDING SOUND, AND I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES TO STOP IT. IT JUST TOUCHED THE CHEST FREEZER IN FRONT OF IT IN THE GARAGE. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT IT OFF. STARTED IT AGAIN AND THERE WAS NO SOUND AND THE ENGINE RUN SMOOTHLY. TRIED ALL THE GEARS AND GOT NOTHING. HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO TORE IT DOWN AND STATED THE PLANATERY GEAR HAD SEIZED. HAD I STOOD IN FRONT OF THE VAN TO LISTEN AS MY WIFE STARTED IT I WOULD HAVE BEEN SMASHED AS IT SURGED FORWARD. SEEMS VERY DANGEROUS FOR THE VEHICLE TO SURGE LIKE THAT, EVEN IF THE TRANSMISSION FAILS.*AK

ENGINE WOULD MAKE A "PINGING" NOISE WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN AT ANY SPEED. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED A VALVE COVER IN ENGINE WAS CORRODED, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

AT ANNUAL INSPECTION ON MAY 4, 2001, WITH 21,000 MILES ON CAR, THE ORIGINAL GENERAL TIRES WERE DECERTIFIED DUE TO DRY ROT, CRACKING, AND VISIBLE WEAR BARS ON TIRES. TIRES WERE JUST SHORT OF 2 YEARS OLD, WITH 21,000 MILES ON THEM.*AK (TIRESIZE: P215/70R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/70R15 )

I HAVE A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR SEL WITH TRACTION CONTROL THAT I PURCHASED NEW JANUARY OF 1999. IT HAS NEVER BEEN OUTSIDE OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND IS STORED INSIDE. CURRENT MILEAGE IS 140,000. THIS ABS PROBLEM STARTED AFTER WARRANTY PERIOD EXPIRED AT APPROX 39,000 MILES. THE VAN DEVELOPED AN "ABS" LIGHT AND "TRAC OFF" LIGHT. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSIS WAS A "FAULTY ABS MASTER RELAY" (CODE C1185 AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHERSREQUIRING A NEW ABS MODULE TO THE TUNE OF MORE THAN 1200$. WITH THE OTHER PROBLEMS IE: HAVING TO REPLACE THE VACUUM HOSES, INTAKE MANIFOLD, VALVE COVER, DOOR SEALS, HEATER BLEND DOOR, INTERIOR LIGHT FLICKERING, AND TRANSMISSION 3 TIMES OVER THE LAST 9 YEARS, THIS WAS ONE FIX WE ELECTED TO FORGO AS I PERFORM ALL MAINTENANCE OUTSIDE THE DEALERSHIP AND THIS SI A DEALER ONLY FIX. I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS FOR YEARS WITH INTEREST AND JUST NOW DECIDED TO FILE AS THERE APPEARS TO BE THOUSANDS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. DASH LIGHTS HAVE BEEN ON FOR THE LAST 100,000 MILES. APPARENT PROBLEM AS FOUND ON WEB - ABS ECM FAILURE - ABS BRAKE LIGHT. THE ISSUE OF THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT IS CRITICAL IN THAT THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM DOES NOT FUNCTION AS DESIGNED BY FORD. THE ISSUE IS CAUSED BY HEAT IN THE ABS (ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM) ECM (ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE) (2C219) MODULE CAUSING EXPANSION OF A LARGE ALUMINUM PLATE (HEAT SINK) IN THE ECM WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE ECM MAIN CIRCUIT BOARD AT ALL POINTS. THE EXPANSION OCCURS WHEN THE UNIT GETS WARM ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMER MONTHS AND CAUSES INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL CONNECTION IN THE UNIT BECAUSE THE FRAGILE BOARD IS BEING STRETCHED AND MALFORMED. THE CODE MOST COMMONLY SCANNED BY PROFESSIONAL MECHANICS IS CODE C1185. SEEN BY US OWNERS AS A YELLOW ABS BRAKE LIGHT. *TR

AT 3000 MILES BRAKE PADS WERE SQUEAKING, YESTERDAY WHILE DRYING CONSUMER PRESSED BRAKES AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES.*AK

HAVE HAD REPEATED SERVICE VISITS FOR LIGHT TO EXTREME ENGINE KNOCKING. DEALER TOLD ME TO USE PREMIUM GAS TO SOLVE KNOCKING. KNOCKING WENT AWAY WITH PREMIUM. DEALER THEN TRIED COMPUTER ADJUSTMENT AND GOING BACK TO REGULAR GAS. KNOCKING SOLVED FOR 2 WEEKS THEN RETURNED. DEALER SAID TO GO BACK TO PREMIUM GAS. NO KNOCKING FOR A YEAR, THEN KNOCKING CAME BACK. DEALER REPLACED VALVE COVER WITH NEW DESIGN. NO KNOCKING FOR 4-6 WEEKS. KNOCKING STARTED LIGHTLY, NOW BACK TO SEVERE KNOCKING AND LACK OF ACCELERATION POWER. VEHICLE BACK AT DEALER FOR WORK. FED UP WITH WINDSTARS. THIS IS 2ND LEMON WINDSTAR IN A ROW! FORD BOUGHT BACK '98 WINDSTAR FROM ME!*AK

DRIVER'S SIDE BUCKLE HARNESS HAS BROKEN WITH NORMAL USE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK