1999 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

INTERMITTENTLY SLIDING DOOR OPENS WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE THREE TIMES, AND PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

HORN DOES NOT FUNCTION OR NEEDS VERY HIGH EFFORT. USELESS IN EMERGENCY AVOIDANCE. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT IF THEY RELY ON THIS HORN.*AK

VEHICLE WAS IDLING WHILE CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, THE ENGINE SURGED AND ACCELERATED FORWARD HITTING A BOAT MOTOR THAT WAS IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. *SLC

WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID RESERVOIR IS LOCATED OUT IN HOOD THAT DEFROSTER CANNOT GET TO IT. THEREFORE, IN BAD SNOWY CONDITIONS WINDSHIELD WIPER RESERVOIR WILL FREEZE UP, AND CONSUMER CANNOT USE IT WHEN NEEDED, SUCH AS WHEN ICE AND MUD IS SPLASHED ONTO WINDSHIELD, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY.*AK

DURING SHIFTS FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR WITH THE ENGINE AT IDLE, AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE ENGINE SURGES DURING THE SHIFT. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATES TO APPROXIMATELY 9-10 MPH. THIS HAS CAUSED SEVERAL NEAR-ACCIDENTS AND PANIC STOPS IN PARKING LOTS AND STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC. DURING NORMAL ACCELERATION WITH A PARTIALLY OPEN THROTTLE, THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT OCCUR. THE VEHICLE HAS BEHAVED IN THIS WAY SINCE IT WAS NEW. *AK

HORN BUTTON WILL NOT RESPOND WHEN NEEDED IN A "HURRY-UP" SITUATION. EXACT LOCATION MUST BE DEPRESSED FOR HORN TO BLOW. NEVER HAS THE HORN BLOWN WHEN I NEEDED IT IN A HURRY. USE OF THE HEEL OR PALM OF YOUR HAND WILL NOT BLOW THE HORN. YOU MUST LOCATE THE HORN EMBLEM FIRST, THEN DEPRESS THE HORN THERE. IN A HURRY-UP NEED FOR THE HORN, THERE IS NO TIME TO FIND THE BUTTON. THE DEALER STATES THAT THIS IS DUE TO THE AIR BAG INSTALLED WITHIN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THEREFORE THERE IS ONLY A SMALL AREA THAT WILL ACTIVATE THE HORN. IN MY PERSONAL OPINION, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE HAD MANY OCCASSIONS TO BLOW THE HORN FOR SOMEONE GETTING TOO CLOSE TO ME, OR CHANGING LANES WITH A THREAT OF SIDESWIPING ME. WHEN I HIT THE HORN WITH THE HEEL OF MY HAND, THERE IS NO RESPONSE. IN THE 2 YEARS + THAT I'VE HAD THE CAR, I'VE STILL BEEN UNABLE TO OVERCOME THIS BY TRYING TO HIT JUST THE RIGHT SPOT TO BLOW THE HORN. I HAVE INQUIRED WITH OTHER WINDSTAR OWNERS WHEN I SEE ONE IN A PARKING LOT. THEY ALL SAY THE SAME THING. BASICALLY, THEY SAY, AND I AGREE, THE HORN IS NON-FUNCTIONAL WHEN NEEDED IN A HURRY. *AK

IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS THE HORN PAD/BUTTON. DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO FIX DUE TO CONFIGURATION. *CJ

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 20 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

TRANSMISSION OFTEN DOES NOT SMOOTHLY SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE OVERDRIVE ON/OFF LIGHT WILL FLASH ON AND OFF FOR 30-40 SECONDS INTERMITTENTLY. THE TRANSMISSION WILL SEEM TO HAVE TROUBLE SHIFTING GEARS AND WILL HESITATE OR ROUGHLY JERK INTO A GEAR. WE HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO BE REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES AND HAD IT REPAIRED UNDER A TRANSMISSION RECALL AS WELL BUT IT STILL IS HAVING PROBLEMS. *AK

TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT CONUSMER DEPRESSED HORN BUTTONS, AND HORN WOULD NOT SOUND. CONSUMER STATED HORN BUTTONS HAVE TO BE DEPRESSED VERY HARD TO SOUND.*AK THE DESIGN OF THE HORN AND STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY DOES NOT PROVIDE EFFECTIVE ACCESS TO HORN IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. ALSO, TURN SIGNAL DOES NOT PROPERLY ENGAGE ON CURVED ROAD WAYS. *YH

STEERING GEAR TO PUMP HAD BROKEN, CAUSING LOST OF STEERING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFOMATION. *AK

HORN SENSOR IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO LOCATE IN AN EMERGENCY. *AK

REAR DOME LIGHT FAILED. NLM

THE PULLEY AND FAN BELT ARE MAKING NOISE, THE DEALER CLAIMS NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. NLM

WHEN WEATHER IS HOT AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE SLIDING ELECTRICAL DOOR, DOOR POPS BACK UPON. PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS IN HOT WEATHER CONDITIONS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

SUBFRAME BOLTS LOOSENED, CAUSING A VERY LOUD NOISE TO OCCUR WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

POWER SLIDDING DOOR ON PASSENGER'S SIDE WILL NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. DEALER HAS ADJUSTED DOOR, BUT IT WILL ONLY WORK FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. DEFECT ALWAYS REOCCURRED. DEALER HAS HAD VEHICLE 5-6 TIMES .*AK

FRONT END IS LOOSE , WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL VEHICLE BECOMES UNCONTROLABLE, DEALER CANNOT GET ALIGNMENT STRAIGHT AND CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE.*AK

WHEN IT RAINS SRS LIGHT ILLUMINATES WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING AIRBAGS TO BE INOPERABLE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE.*AK

PREMATURE WEAR OF BRAKE ROTORS. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

THE TRANSMISSION COOLANT LINE BUSTED, THE DEALER REPLACED THE LINE WITH A RUBBER HOSE AND TWO CLAMPS INSTEAD OF REPLACING IT WITH ANOTHER LINE, THE REPLACEMENT HOSE HAS BEGUN TO LEAK. NLM

MY 1999 WINDSTAR HAS SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE IN BUMPER TO BUMBER SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC. IT WILL ALL OF A SUDDEN ACCELERATE FORWARD WHILE YOUR FOOT IS NOT ON THE BRAKE OR ON THE GAS. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO THREE FORD DELEARSHIPS AND ARE UNABLE TO GET IT FIXED. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS IS NORMAL WITH FORDS AND THE COMPUTER SHOWS NO PROBLEMS. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND MYSELF WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED IN MAY OF 2000. THANK YOU!*AK

WHENEVER DRIVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WOULD EXPERIENCE A RATTLING NOISE NEAR ENGINE AREA. VEHICLE DOES NOT SHAKE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. TAKEN TO DEALERSHP AT LEAST TWICE FOR PROBLEM, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE CAUSE OF PROBLEM.*AK

LUGS: NUTS: BOLTS ON RIGHT FRONT WHEEL HAVE SHEARED OFF. DEALER WILL INSPECT AND CORRECT PROBLEM.*AK

GETTING SPARK KNOCK FROM THE ENGINE AND GOING BACK IN FOR THE FOURTH TIME FOR THE SAME PROBLEM! VERY UNHAPPY FORD CUSTOMER AT THIS POINT. *AK

WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN DRIVER HEARD A UNUSUAL NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP WHER EMECHANIC NOTICED THAT POWER STEERIING FLUID WAS LEAKING, AND RACK AND PINION HAD COMPLETELY BLOWN OUT. DEALER REPLACED RACK AND PINION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

BINDING/KLUNKING/GROAN WHEN TURNING WHEN COLD WEATHER WORKING W/ FORD FOR OVER TWO YEARS ON PROBLEM /REPLACED RACK, HOSES /REPOSITIONED POWER STEERING HOSES/ FINALLY WENT TO ARBITRATION AND FORD BOUGHT BACK VEHICLE BEFORE GOING TO ARBITRATION BOARD

THE POWER SLIDING DOORS WILL OPEN WITH THE REMOTE OR CONSOLE CONTROL, BUT GET STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION AND WILL NOT CLOSE WITH THE REMOTE OR CONSOLE CONTROL, CLOSING THE DOORS MANUALLY IS VERY DIFFICULT AND THEY DO NOT ALWAYS CLOSE ON THE FIRST OR SECOND TRY MANUALLY, THE DOOR CAN APPEAR TO BE CLOSED WHEN CLOSED MANUALLY, BUT THE DOOR IS NOT SECURE AND HAS SLID OPEN WHEN DRIVING, CONSUMER STATES THE DOOR MOTOR HAS BEEN REPLACED AND STILL DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY.*JB

THE MAIN PROCESSOR FAILED. NLM

I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING ENGINE KNOCK SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN JUNE 1999. THE FIRST DOCUMENTED SERVICE AT A FORD DEALER WAS IN SEPTEMBER 1999 AT 5,000 MILES. THE ENGINE KNOCK WAS APPARENT AT HIGHWAY ACCELERATION SPEEDS AND ON SLIGHT HILLS. IT BECAME WORSE OVER TIME. AFTER MY CONTINUED PERSISTENCE AT THE DEALER OVER MORE THAN A YEAR, A TSB WAS FOUND AND THE VALVE COVER WAS REPLACED IN THE JULY-AUGUST 2001 TIMEFRAME PER A FORD TSB (NHTSA NUMBER SB618552). THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM AND THE TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALER TOLD ME IN SEPTEMBER 2001 THAT HE STILL FOUND AN ABNORMAL AMOUNT OF OIL IN THE ENGINE. FORD ENGINEERS HAVE SUGGESTED REPLACING THE PCV VALVE AND TUBING SYSTEM AMONG OTHER MINOR ADJUSTMENTS, WHICH THE TECHNICIAN DOUBTS WILL MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE. AT THIS POINT, IT APPEARS THAT THE VALVE COVER REDESIGN IN THE TSB DOES NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THIS COMPLAINT IS IDENTICAL TO ODI IDS: 744509 AND 725795.*AK

WHEN EMERGENCY BRAKE IS ON, VEHICLE CAN BE DRIVEN BEFORE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS RELEASED. *AK THE REAR BRAKES WILL NOT HOLD, THEY SEEM TO WEAR OUT FIRST.*YH

NO SUMMARY

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE CONSUMER BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE AS PART OF RECALL, THE DEALER INDICATED THE RECALL WAS NOT TRANSMISSION RELATED AND WANTED TO CHARGE THE CONSUMER FOR FIXING IT. *YH

THE MAJOR COMPLAINT, THE DRIVER'S SEAT, HAS BEEN REPORTED TO BOTH FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THE DEALERSHIP - NEITHER OF WHOM HAS SEEN FIT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY EXISTENCE ON THIS PLANET. THE SEAT WILL NOT ADJUST (LEVER APPARENTLY HAS A PERPETUAL SHORT) - WHICH MEANS I CAN'T SEE COMFORTABLE OVER THE STEERING WHEEL.*AK

PASSENGER'S SLIDING DOOR FAILED TO CLOSE PROPERLY. PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT. KEYLESS REMOTE CONTROL COULD SOMETIMES OPEN AND CLOSE DOOR. THIS CAUSED BATTERY TO BE DRAINED, AND VEHICLE NOT ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. HAD TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 3 TIMES FOR PROBLEM. EACH TIME MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO LOCATE CAUSE OF DOOR PROBLEM. *AK

HORN BUTTON IS DIFFICULT TO OPERATE. IT IS ALSO IMPOSSIBLE TO MODULATE, RESULTING IN ALL-OR- NOTHING OPERATION.*AK

HEATER BLOWER WILL TURN ON AND OFF BY ITSELF. WHEN CONTROLS ARE OFF BLOWER WILL COME ON, AND SOMETIMES WILL STAY ON FOR A WHILE. CONSUMER HAS TO TURN BLOWER OFF AND ON TO SHUT OFF. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON INCLINE, FACING DOWNWARD, PASSENGER'S SLIDING DOOR FAILED TO LOCK IN PLACE. WOULD SLAM SHUT AFTER BEING OPENED. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED.*JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER RECALL, RECALL#01V262000, BY FORD FOR REPAIRS TO THE HEATER BLOWER AND SOME OTHER PART. THE PROBLEM WAS THE REFUSAL OF FORD DEALERS TO LOAN A VEHICLE FOR THE HALF-DAY OR MORE THEY SAID THEY NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR. *YD

ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITHIN COMPUTER. DEALER HAS RESET THE COMPUTER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONSWITHOUT ANY PERMANENT RESULTS. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

VAN WAS PURCHASED LESS THAN 2 YEARS AGO, HAS BEEN IN AND OUT FOR REPAIRS AT LEAST 5 TIMES, THE FIRST BEING WITHIN 3 WEEKS AFTER IT WAS PURCHASED. I AM A FEMALE SO DO NOT KNOW THE EXACT NATURE OF THE PROBLEMS, BUT BELIEVE THEY WERE ALL RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED. WE CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM EACH TIME IT NEEDS REPAIRS. HARD JERKING WHEN YOU SLOW DOWN TO STOP AND WHEN YOU ACCELERATE TO GO AFTER BEING STOPPED, WILL GO DEAD AT TIMES WHEN YOU ARE IDILING. WE JUST HAD THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED A WEEK AGO AND WE OUT OF STATE WHEN THE PROBLEM RESURFACED 3/15.*AK

WHILE SHIFTING VEHICLE INTO PARK VEHICLE WOULD NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, AND TECHNICIAN REPLACED STEEL PLATE AND REVERSE CLUTCH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHEN STARTING VEHICLE PUT GEAR INTO DRIVE VEHICLE WILL LUNGE FORWARD WITH A SUDDEN THRUST, I HAVE MADE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS TAKEN IT TO ASHLEY FORD, 395 MT PLEASANT ST, NEW BEDFORD MA 02745, 508-996-5611, THIS LAST TIME 04-16-02 THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THEY ORDERED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I BELIEVE IT IS SOMETHING ELSE OTHER THAN THE TRANSMISSION. ON 4-15-02 MY VEHICLE WAS IN THE GARAGE I PARKED IT FACING THE STREET AS I BACK IT INTO THE GARAGE AND WHEN I STARTED IT UP, PUT IT INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD NEARLY STRIKING MY WIFE WHO WAS WALING INTO THE GARAGE FROM THE SIDE. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO AS A ACCIDENT COULD OCCUR IF NOT ALREADY. *TS ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS***760968

WHEN STARTING VEHICLE PUT GEAR INTO DRIVE VEHICLE WILL LUNGE FORWARD WITH A SUDDEN THRUST, I HAVE MADE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS TAKEN IT TO ASHLEY FORD, 395 MT PLEASANT STREET, NEW BEDFORD, MA 02745, 508-996-5611, , THIS LAST TIME 04/16/02 THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THEY ORDERED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I BELIEVE IT IT SOMETHING ELSE OTHER THAN THE TRANSMISSION. ON 04/15/02 MY VEHICLE WAS IN THE GARGE I PARK IT FACING THE STREET AS I BACK IT INTO THE GARAGE, AND WHEN I STARTED IT UP, PUT IT INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD NEARLY STRIKING MY WIFE WHO WAS WALING INTO THE GARGE FROM THE SIDE. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO AS A ACCIDENT COULD OCCUER IF NOT ALREADY.*AK

START VEHICLE PUT INTO DRIVE, VEHICLE WILL SUDDENTLY LUNGE FORWARD (A SUDDEN THRUST) WITHOUT TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL. THIS HAPPENS ATLEAST 95 PER-CENT OF THE TIME WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO ASHLEY FORD, 395 MT PLEASANT STREET, NEW BEDFORD, MA, 508-996-5611ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASSION, THIS LAST TIME 04/16/02 THEY STATED THAT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION, AND THEY ORDERED A NEW TRANSMISSION, WHICH IS TO BE INSTALLED. ON 04/15/02 AUTO WAS IN MY GARAGE STARTED IT UP PUT IT INTO GEAR AND IT LUNGED FORWARD ALMOST STRIKING MY WIFE WHO WAS WALKING INTO THE GARAGE FROM THE SIDE, I PARK MY AUTO FACING THE STREET, AS I BACK IT INTO THE GARAGE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM HAVE COMPLAIN TO ASHLEY FORD SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THIS MATTER. I FEEL THAT IT MAY BE SOMETHING ELSE OTHER THAN THE TRANSMISSION. (TIRESIZE: P215/70RX-)

WHEN STOPPING AT LIGHT OR MAKING A TURN VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN TURNING VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTING COMPUTER RESETS, AND DEALER CAN'T IDENTIFY PROBLEM.*AK

STEERING IS MAKING WEIRD SOUNDS WHICH CAUSES NOISE TO PROGRESS, STEERING WOULD BECOME STIFF WITH SOME BINDING EVEN AFTER POWER STEERING ADDED, CONDITION REMAINED THE SAME. DEALER IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE ACTUAL CAUSE WITH REPLACEMENT OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP/ TIE ROD ENDS, AND RACK ASSEMBLY. *AK *TT

WHEN MAKING TURNS STEERING IS VERY TIGHT DUE TO POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING FROM VEHICLE. RACK AND PINION STEERING WAS REPLACED.*AK

HORN DOES NOT WORK. DEALER CHECKED VEHICLE, AND INSTALLED A NEW HORN ASSEMBLY, BUT HORN STILL DOES NOT FUNCTION.*AK