2002 Ford Windstar Engine Problems

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle was wobbling uncontrollably and almost caused an accident. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle had been diagnosed by an independent mechanic. The contact was informed that the rear axle needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 142,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING AND APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT, A LOUD NOISE OCCURRED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT A HIGH SPEED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT COULD NOT GAIN CONTROL OR STOP THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE AND THE CONTACT QUICKLY SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE CONTACT POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE ENGINE REVVED HIGH. THE CONTACT POWERED OFF THE ENGINE AGAIN, EXITED THE VEHICLE, OPENED THE HOOD, AND NOTICED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS SHREDDED. ALSO, THE METAL PULLEYS WERE CRACKED IN SEVERAL PARTS AND SOME WERE MISSING. THE CONTACT NOTICED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE THAT THE MOTOR, SUBFRAME, AND MUFFLER WERE LAYING ON THE GROUND. A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED AND THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME GAVE OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S MOTHER'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V030000 (STRUCTURE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING AT LOW SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE ENGINE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BOLTS THAT SUPPORT THE TRAY FOR THE ENGINE AND THE FRAME WERE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WARNING LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, WHERE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ALSO RESET THE COMPUTER SYSTEM BUT THE REMEDY ONLY LASTED FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS BEFORE RECURRING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE AND THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50-55 MPH WHEN A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT SOUNDED AS IF SOMETHING HAD FALLEN FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE SPARK PLUGS WERE INVERTED IN THE ENGINE AND THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED A 5 PERCENT DISCOUNT TO THE CONTACT IF THE VEHICLE WERE TO BE REPAIRED AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 120,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

AS I PUT THE HEAT, DEFROSTER, OR AIR CONDITIONING ON, IT JERKS ALOT AND WHEN I STOP AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN IT STALLS. I HAVE TO PUT MY 4 WAYS ON, SHUT THE VAN OFF, AND RESTART IT WITHOUT THE HEAT OR AIR ON. I FEEL THIS IS A VERY DRASTIC SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO THE FACT IF I'M DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AND I STOP AT A RED LIGHT AND IT STALLS, IF THERE IS TRAFFIC BEHIND ME COMING RAPIDLY I CAN BE REAR ENDED AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME IN THE NOVEMBER INCIDENT. LUCKILY THE LIGHT WAS STILL RED. *JS

THE 1ST PROBLEM, HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON MY 2001 FORD WINDSTAR, C1518 "INTAKE MANIFOLD RUNNER CONTROL STUCK OPEN." AFTER READING FORUMS, MOST POINTED TO A PLASTIC "BUSHING" CLIP COMING OFF LEAVING A CONTROL ARM 2ND PROBLEM, ABS CHK LIGHT AND BRK CHK LIGHT COME ON AFTER DRIVING FOR A FEW MINUTES, ABS MODULE AND ABS SENSOR WENT OUT. *TR

2002 FORD WINDSTAR MINI VAN. CONSUMER STATES AFTER FILLING UP THE TANK AND TURNING ON THE IGNITION, FLAMES FLEW UP AND AFTER PUTTING WATER ON IT THERE WAS A FLASH FIRE AND EXPLOSION *TGW

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON - 2002 FORD WINDSTAR - SEEMS TO BE COMMON COMPLAINT ONLINE SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED IN 2003 - DIAGNOSTICS SAYS IT'S THE O2 SENSOR, THIS IS NOT THE CASE VEHICLE IDLES ERRATICALLY AT STOPS - SOME HESITATION - NOW HESITATES AND RUNS BAD IN RAIN I'VE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION TWICE - ENGINE ONCE - CRAPPY VEHICLE. *TR

ONGOING PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN TSB 04-17-4 & 03-16-1. THESE TSB'S TELL US THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY WAS AWARE OF THIS DESIGN FLAW AND CONTINUED TO MANUFACTURE AND SELL DEFECTIVE VEHICLES. THE PROBLEM EXIST IN THEIR FAULTY 3.8L ENGINE AT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE POOR DESIGN ALLOWS OIL TO SEEP INTO THE INTAKE PLENUM AND OVER TIME THE OIL ERODES AWAY THE RUBBER AROUND THE ISOLATOR BOLTS AND GASKETS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE ENGINE READS LEAN FUEL CODES ON BANKS 1& 2 AND A VACUUM LEAK. TO COMPENSATE FOR THESE LEAN CODES , MORE GASOLINE IS PUMPED INTO THE PLENUM CAUSING A RICH EXHAUST MIXTURE WHICH IS THEN SENT OUT THE TAIL PIPE INTO THE ATMOSPHERE. FORD MOTOR COMPANY DESIGNED AND BUILT THESE ENGINES AND THEY NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR CORRECTING THIS PROBLEM. REMEMBER, THIS IS AN ONGOING WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF THESE ENGINES FOULING UP THE AIR THAT WE BREATH EVERY DAY. *TR

ABS BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THE CAR GETS HOT. WHEN THE CAR IS COLD THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE ABS SYSTEM. THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AT ABOUT 75,000 MILES, COST TO REPLACE CIRCUIT BOARD 675 DOLLARS. THE ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD WARPED WHICH TURNED ON THE ENGINE REPAIR LIGHT, COST 950 DOLLARS TO REPAIR. UPDATED 01/20/11 *BF

ACTS LIKE DYING BUT SURGES FORWARD WITH BRAKE ON. *TR

1. THE CAR STOPS ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING 2. THAT HAPPENS BETWEEN 2 AND 5 TIMES A WEEK 3. WHEN THAT HAPPENS, I PUT THE CAR IN PARK THEN RESTART IT. I TOOK THE CAR TO MULLIMAX FORD DEALER IN APOPKA, FL SEVERAL TIMES. I PAID FOR DIAGNOSTICS, THEY CANNOT FIND THE REASON OR THE PROBLEM. THEY USUALLY PERFORM NECESSARY REPAIRS, BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL NOT SOLVED. RECENTLY I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN WHEN THE CAR DIED. SEVERAL MOTORIST STEPPED ON THEIR BRAKE TO AVOID STRIKING MY VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM WAS ON INITIAL STAGE, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR ANOTHER RECALL ON 11-25-09. *TR

SUDDEN ACCELERATION AT A STOP LIGHT ON 2 OCC. *TR

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, NOT RUNNING SMOOTHLY. DIAGNOSTIC CODES P0171 & P0174, ONCE PCM MEMORY IS RESET RUNS FINE FOR ABOUT A HUNDRED MILES, THEN ISSUE STARTS AGAIN. DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE PROBLEM. *TR

2002 FORD WINDSTAR. ENGINE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. TEST METER SHOWS LEAN CONDITION IN BANK 1 & 2. RESETTING THE MIL LIGHT WILL WORK FOR A FEW DAYS, THEN WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN. ENGINE RUNS WELL, NO NOTICEABLE PROBLEMS IN DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED FOR AT LEAST 20,000 MILES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WITHIN THE PAST TWO MONTHS AND THEY REPLACED THE INTAKE GASKET MANIFOLD, SPARK PLUGS, AND CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSORS. THE REPAIR COST EXCEEDED $4,000. NONE OF THE REPAIRS HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENT IN CORRECTING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT IS CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

GETTING LEAN CODE P0171 AND P0174. DEALER ANALYZED AND FROM WHAT I CAN TELL IT'S TSB 03-16-1 (NHTSA SB# 16920) I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET (AS YOU CAN) AND IT'S A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM (I KNOW 2 OTHER PEOPLE PERSONALLY WHO MAY HAVE IT). IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN (OR SHOULD BE) A RECALL ON THIS DEFECT. IN MY CASE, THE VAN WILL LOSE RPM'S, THEN "REV" UP ON COLD STARTUP. WHEN IT DOES THIS, THE VAN EXECUTES A "JERKING" MOTION WHICH TO ME COULD BE DANGEROUS. IN OTHER CASES, IT WILL STALL OR NEARLY STALL AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER TWICE. THE TECHNICIANS WERE ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000. UPDATED 12/22/09 *BF UPDATED 12/22/09

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE IDLING AT A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, THE ENGINE BEGAN VIBRATING AND THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED INTO PARK. IN ADDITION, THE RPM'S DECREASED AS IF THE VEHICLE WERE ABOUT TO STALL, BUT THEN WENT BACK TO NORMAL WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED INTO PARK. TWO WEEKS LATER, THE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,914 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.