We found the following complaints for FORD WINDSTAR (1996)
Read complaints for FORD WINDSTAR (1996)
On june 7 i was outside of our home and noticed i smelled gas near my wife's van. After inspecting i saw the tank was leaking fuel. I took the tank off and noticed there was pressure to the tank from thefront strap. The pressure caused what appears to be a stress crack where the strap holds the tank.it appears to me the strap is too small for the tank.ford refuses to fix this and would rather my wife and children ride around in a gas leaking danger machine. This vehicle has less than 95000 miles and i feel the same problem has occurred here as in the 1995 windstar.
Engine check light and the air bag light would intermittentl/simutaneously come on and cause loss of accelerationwhile traveling at highway speed. Dealer notified. Consumer was informed that vehicle had a transmission leak, the speedometer was acting erractically, parking brake and brakes were inoperative,also the power windows were inoperative.
Vehicle collision occurred and the air bag had violent deployment, injuring the driver.
Consumer states while driving 2mph steering column started smoking,then driver side airbag deployed in consumer face. Ts
Air bag light remaining on while driving. Vehicle been in the dealer shop onfour occasions, andproblem still reoccurring. Feel free to provide any further information concerning this matter.
Violent deployment of air bags caused burn injury.
Airbags deployed at 55 due to hitting a dog on bumper,no dammage. Driver had ringing in ears for one week.
While driving inner tie rod broke, causing the front passenger's side wheel to fall off, resulting in driver's side air bag deploying.consumer was knocked unconscious.please provide details.
While driving approximately25mphvehicle in front stop suddenly, and consumer rear ended it. Upon impact,both airbags deployed and bursted open which burned the left side of the consumer's face.
Vehicle hit a deer on driver's side at 20mph and neither driver's side or passenger's side airbags deployed, driver sustained injuries.dealercannot identify problem.
Consumer was attempting to stop about 15-20 feetbehind of other vehicle when abs became inoperative, causing consumer to rearend vehicle ,half of engine destroyed, all front end damaged, airbags did not deploy .consumer had extended stopping distance to 40-50 feet.
When driving on wet pavement theairbags deployed at approximately one mph when the consumer slammed on brakes to avoid impact of another vehicle. Dealer not aware of the problem.
Consumer was hit from the rear, causing vehicle to rear end another vehicle,resulting into a four vehicle collisionin which the drivers or passengers air bags did not deploy. Consumer suffered minor injuries.
Upon impact, during frontal crash at approx. 35mph, 9:00 on front bumper, dirvier's/passenger's airbags deployed, however, driver's airbag deployed onto the left arm of driver, causing wounds and bruises.
Was traveling 40-45mph in foggy weather when a deer appeared in the road. Hitdeer & both air bags deployed,causing the driver to suffer burns on the face & arms. Also,front seat belt failed to restrain the driver.
Violent deployment of passenger's airbag during an accident, resulting in chemical/abrasion burns to face and eye injury.
While driving 55 mp both frontal air bags deployed unexpectedly.driver and passenger sustained minor injuries, and were transported to a hospital by ambulance. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for inspection.
Upon impact, during frontal crash, 9:00 on front bumper, at approx. 35mph, driver's/ passenger's air bags deployed, however, driver'sairbag deployed onto the leftofdriver.as result,driver sustained wounds and bruises.
Airbags inadvertently deployed, causing minor long term injuries. Manufacturer has been notified.
While entering an intersection vehicle was broadsided on the paasenger's side by anothe vehicle. Upon impact, air bags failed to deploy. Also seat belt failed to restrain consumer. Hit rear mirror and split head open and got a concussion.
Upon impact, during frontal crash at approx. 35mph, 9:00 on front bumper, dual airbag deployment occurred, however, the driver's side airbag deployed directly onto driver's left arm, causing wounds and bruises.
Upon impact, during frontal crash, at approx. 35mph, 9:00 on front bumper, driver's/assenger's airbags deployed, however, driver's airbag deployed onto the left arm of driver, as result cause wounds and bruises.
The vehicle hit a deer and the passenger's side airbag deployed, injurying the passenger's retna. Dealer has not seen.
The head gasket failed.*ph *nlm
Entire brake system failed acording to local for dealership (kaytes ford) thee appeared to be contamination in the brake fluid that caused the seals to wear down and destroy the sytem.in july od 1998 i had the car in for the replacement of the abs sensor and the problem with pedal pressure in the vehicle.they found nothin wrong with the brakes at that time. The problem continued until the brakes faile in august of 98 at wich time ford said the fluid was contaminated and the entire brake system had to be repkaced.i had the fluid tested and have a copy which shows that there was no contamination.ford motor company refused to honor any warranty claim and i was forced to pay $2,300.00 in order to have the system fixed.ford never offered to test the brake fluid and still does not know what was wrong.if ther was no contamination the seals must have failed because of a defect in material which ford should honor under the warranty please help
The consumer's two year old child was able to undo the top half of the integrated child safety seat and proceeded to wiggle her legs out of the bottom strap and get out of the seat while the vehicle was making left hand turn omto a side street.
Design of integrated child seat's chest clipallows it tobe easily pushed by child's feet, freeing child to/ stand up/get out.
When the integrated child safety seat is locked a green insert is shown.when locking the css the green insert shows, but when tugging on the straps to make sure that the child is buckled in properly, the buckle separates very easily.
Children easily slip out of harness of integrated child seat.
When placing child inrear bench seat on a booster seat child's head is over the headrest.
The vehicle's integrated child seat straps which come across the child's chest can pop open very easily.the child which sits in the seat can pop open the straps.
Electrical system fails intermittently.
This is a second call for help ford corporate will not email me back. Will not verify if pcm has been updated. The van only has under 59,000 miles on it . It should not break this bad this soon makes me tell anyone on social media and our local news media and clark howards team.i do not want to call ford unless it is agreed the phone will be recorded for court purposes.i even asked is the would let me use the updater. I sure do not want don rich ford in villa ricaever again. They stripped the screw. That set min clearance on throttle plate. No shifts funny and sputters and terrible noise in oil pan area. Rod s knocking. Internet has tons of complaints of pistons exiting engine oil pan.
Brake pressure differential deactivation switch located under the master cylinderleaks, causing a short which activates the abs light on the dash. This short creates a severe fire risk. This switch also interacts with and can cause problems with the cruise control, speedometer and odometer.
My abs light stays its been on for 6 months now, my cruise control wont work, and my speedometer goes crazy, no lights in my dash and got told there was a recall on several of these items andi want to know how to get past recalls on my van i've have seen all kinds of recalls and never sent nothing.
1996 ford windstar caught on fire underneath the hood.****no answer required****mrthe consumer noticed a faint smell then viewed smoke coming from under the hood on the driver's side of the vehicle.the consumer felt that maybe the problem was due to the speed control per research.*sc
Horn is continually shorting out due to electrical failure which is also causing power window and door latch failure.
Consumer stated the interior lights would not go off in the vehicle, the dealer had to replace the sensons in the rear door panel.
Eletrical system shorted out. Windshield wipers worked only when washers were being used,dome light stayed on when door was closed and won't go off.
Interior lights stay on running the battery down. Doorbell & int. Lights stay on until 20 mph.
When driving the brakes went straight to the floorboard, and the brake light came on.conumer had to pump the brakes to get the vehicle to stop.also, when applying the brakes there is a loud noise. The brakes had been replaced three times.dealer told the consumer thatbrakes have to be replaced every year.consumer stated that there isanother safety problem involving the electricalsystem.the lights keep coming on , as well as the light's on the dashboard keep coming on. In addition, gas gauge failed to indicate the proper amount of gas left in the tank.
The contact owns a 1996 ford windstar.the vehicle caught fire after being parked for an hour.there were no prior warnings or failures.the fire originated in the front end of the vehicle and was extinguished by the fire department.the vehicle was towed.the cause of the failure was unknown.the purchase date was unknown.the current and failure mileages were 100,000.
Dt: 1996 ford windstar was parked when an explosion occurred.the consumerdiscovered the vehicle was on fire. The fire dept was called. The consumerfelt the air bag may have exploded.the insurance investigator checked the vehicle to cover expenses. The vehicle was totaled. Consumer contacted ford about this problem.ford investigators picked up the vehicle. The consumer has not heard from the investigators.
Interior light will not go off and door ajar chime rings non-stop. All doors are closed and secured. From searching the internet this seems to be a common problem with ford windstar's. *nlm
Electrical system failure.
Ford windstar brake, abs brake, cruise control, and speedometer/odometer electrical problems rear axle cracks!
Since we drove this car off the lot, it has been plagued with electrical problems.as soon as our warranty ran out, the transmission failed at 44,400.two adults and 4 children were on our way to a 4th of july celebration when the transmission stalled at an intersection.lucky for us all traffic was stopped and no major accident occurred.we took it to our dealer and asked for assistance since there was a tsb out on the transmission in ford windstar's.we were denied assistance.our problem was the aluminum piston that were reported in the tsb. In may 2001, the check engine light came on and we took it to a ford dealer.they replaced the irmc value. Cost $1000.recently, the check engine light came on again and smoke was coming out of the tail pipe.we took it to crossroads ford, the dealer we bought the car from. They once again denied to help us with the cost.we towed the van to a quality ford in durham, nc.they have contacted ford to see if they will assist us with the cost.the estimated cost is $3500-$4000. ****dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over artemis****761964
When stopping at a light, engine sometimes will die. Vehicle would lunge forward after pulling off from a stop.took vehicle to dealer, they replaced something, and two weeks later problem reoccurred. The engine stalls whenever more than one device is turned on at the same time. This problem makes it impossible to turn head lights and windshield wipers on together. The vehicle also shakes violently after being driven for few hours.
Complaint received via e-mail. My wife was drivingto church when the electrical system caught on fire. My two kids were in the car. They were able to put out the fire, and had the car towed to an automotive center. The brake monitor system caught on fire.
Engine dies after either very short (1 second or less) or no misfire. Always on hot afternoon after long period highway driving, typically interstate with speed in the 70's. Only once on a secondary road speeds of 45 - 50. All times in the rolling hills ofutah, wyoming, and western north dakota. All six incidents occurred during a cross country trip in july, 2005 with odometer readings in the 70,000's.typically, when it happens, the engine speed and throttle are continually adjusting to maintain speed across the hills.first indication often is simply the car slowing down rather that cruising along. All other electrical (air, radio, windows, etc) not affected. This is very dangerous. Other than sometimes a one second misfire, there is no warning. The car may be passing a truck, in a middle freeway lane, on on a road with no shoulder when it happens. Wherever and whenever it happens, the car simply coasts as the driver pulls off the road to extent possible. The engine will not restart for 15 minutes or so. Then it starts as if nothing ever happened, and car is good until the next incident. I made detailed notes of each incident, and can provide additional info onspecifics of what was going on with car at the time. I took car to a ford dealer. The dealer did diagnostics and could not identify problem. I have refrained from driving under similar highway conditions since then.the van was purchased new in connecticut in feb, 1997.
The vehicle's door locks locked and unlocked on their own.there were problems with the front driver side wheel and the engine light and the abs light was intermittent.the consumer experienced an accident which may be due to the brake lines.refer to recall#02v101000.*sc the sway bar rattled, the tie rods were replaced.
The vehicle experienced an electrical failure.
Door ajar, lights intermittently operate.lights stay on, and at night are a distraction to driver. Even when vehicle is off, lights remain on, and run battery down. Dealer contacted.consumer repaired lights at his own expense.
Vehicle had constant engine problems along with other problems that surfaced and ended its life cycle.*la the consumer experienced coolant leaks, hard starting, electrical noises, radio noises, vibration upon acceleration along with thumping noises, erratic dash light illumination, intermittent door ajar light, bearing noise and the engine blew out prematurely. *scfrom a normal sitting position the consumer could not see that the check engine light was on.it wasn't until he dropped something on the floor and looked up that he saw the light on.
Abs and check engine light constant, replaced o2 sensor, replaced abs brakes, transmission problems causing vehicle to jerk and not change gears when running or parked, coolant leaking and door sensors are bad. All document known issues on. Http://www.carsurvey.org/modelyear_ford_windstar_1996.html- something needs to be done about this. This has gone on far to long and is putting peoples life at stake. I have children in my van and all of these are big issues that need to be address immediately.
Speedometer failure speedometer fluctuates erratically starting at speeds of 35 mph gauge jumps in increments of 5-10-50 speedometer shows 65-85 when actually going 45-50 hazardous to driver and all occupants in vehicle and other drivers on road way.
The 1996 ford windstar continues to have defective head gaskets as in 1994 and 1995 models. This lead to engine failure at 78,000 miles! the cost to replace the engineper miller ford was 4,778.00. We paid 19,000 for this vehicle and refuse to pay for a new engine! the nasa has stated the head gasket should last at least 120,000 miles or the life of the vehicle. We have had this ford windstar with a blown engine due to head gasket failuresince last december, but continue to make monthly payments on this dead ford windstar. We pay taxes, insurance, and montly payments to ford credit for the next 18 months or so. We just discontinued registration fees as the dmv told us we could do this. Ford refuses to acknowledge this problem and is not standing up to it's committment of quality care to it's customers. I urge anyone who is considering buying a ford to do their research. Ford is a company that does not stand behind it's promises. We will never own another ford although our family has never owned anything but until now. Ford wake up!
The dome lightand the door ajar sensor light stays on.the consumer is concerned that the battery will drain completely.the cause has yet to be determined.the vehicle would shake when it was started.one injector was changed.the consumer felt that the other five injectors may go bad. *sc
Problem: power seat wiring short circuit from engine compartment main fuse and relay panel, 60 amp fuse repeatedly blows.problem was first intermittent, then after second fuse change change, short circuit became continuous. Wiring is shorted out between the main fuse panel and the power seat connector.power seat itself has no electrical problem. Model has a nhtsa recall history: 1995: wiring-harness insulation can abrade on a brace between instrument panel and cowl, resulting in short-circuit and possible fire.
Engine check light remains on constantly, vehicle has been checked by dealer several times, but consumer was advised light was not reading a code.head gasket blewout, and dealer advised consumer that light was reading a problem with the head gasket, which was leaking. Also the battery was replaced.
While vehicle wa parked it caught on fire in the engine compartment dueto a possible defective electrical alternator wire.
We took our windstar in at the first initial failure(12-2-97). Theengine check light had come on, so we took it to the ford garage closest to our residence. We were told at that time that there was nothing wrong, and that should theengine check light come back on that it should reset itself in a few days.... Not to worry. This happened 6-7 times afterward with the light always going off after 3 cold starts. But when we would take a long trip. It would start all over. In oct. Of this year (1999) the light came and and did not go off. When we took it to the dealer where we bought it, they said it needed a tune-up. ($217.00) we took it home and the next day we took it back because the light came back on. The dealer said it needed a new 02 sensor (approx. $100.00) the next day the light came on again. We took it back. The dealer said it was the computer, which they replaced at no cost. Light came back on. Took it back. Said the alternator was magnatized. New alternator didn't help. Finally the told us that it possibly could be the engine head gasket. Their estimate is $1200 which we cant afford. There was a recall for the 1995 windstars for the same exact problem. But because my windstar is a 1996 ford is un-willing to help. My windstar was manufactured in jan of 1996. So i am sure that that engine has the same defect of the 1995 engine. I want to stress how fustrated i am with ford motor company in their stance on this matter. They really don't care how safe the vehicle is.
The contact owns a 1996 ford windstar. He heard the horn blowing while he was inside his home and the dashboard was on fire. There were no injuries. The police was not notified and there are no photos available. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. The current and failure mileages were 153000.
This should never happen. The ignition system no longer turns the engine off, this is very dangerous!! i am very mad.
Consumer states that when removing the key from the ignition the vehicle is able to be started up again with out the key in the ignition. Contacted dealer.nlm
Please check into these problems thank you wayne kelley. No safety defect listed.
I have been having problems with my check engine light coming on and staying on since sept. 2000 when vehicle had under 100,000 miles on it.took it to dealer while under warranty. Now have a private certified auto tech who does my repairs and code read outs.i have had a tune up at 95,000 miles, and had to have another one at 121,000 miles.had problems with engine stalling while driving down the interstate and up a hlll.in summer of 2001, i had the iac valve changed which corrected the stalling problem.have replaced o-2 sensors at least twice.in past 6 months, the enging has been running very rough and i have a strong smell of gasoline .2nd tune-up and coil replaced about 2 weeks ago.engine now running very rough and gasoline odor is so strong that you could not light a match in the vehicle.check engine light on again as well as brake and abs light.radiator completely empty for the 2nd time in 2 weeks.
Engine light illuminated, dealer replaced spark plugs.
Head gasketfailed, leaking coolant into cylinder, foulingspark plugs and oxygen sensors. Problem has been ongoing sincevehicle had 95,000 miles.dealer was notified.please provide more information.
Please,we are parents whit 3 kids,is very hard for us to pay this extra money for this defect vehicle , to this moment we changed:transmission-twice 02sensor (transmission)-catylitic converter left/raight-coil ignition system ,we get this car whit 48.000mi. On 1998 .for my all familyand the good name of the ford deller tanks for yuo help.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Original transmission failed at 37900 mi. - detected when trans fluid leaked onto hot engine part and smoked. Original warranty expired at 36,000 mi.dealer told me that fmc would sell me an "extended powertrain warranty" for $250. The warranty would cover the previously diagnosed transmission failure and would coverany other major trans/engine problems up to 75,000 miles, provided i am still the owner of the vehicle. Ipurchased the extended warranty and was glad i did when the replaced trans failed ta 42,952 miles. The dealer replaced that trans, i had to pay a $50 deductible. In jan. 2001 (58,100 miles) the warranty had to be used again. This time it was for "upper and lower manifold seals".however, this time it would cost me $213 because they also had to replace the spark plugs, which were not covered by the extended warranty. Just last month, 6/22/2001 the vehicles engine light came on again, just as it had in january 2001. The vehicle was running rough, stalling, engine was 'misfiring".the end result this time was replacement of the spark plug wires, coil assembly,a-s sensor, and a spark plug.this vehicle was sold to me as "not needing a tune-up until 100,000 miles".sure sounds to me like i've already had that tune-up and i'm only 1t 65,000 miles!!then theres the a/c problem(s). In june the a/c was only blowing air through my defrost vents on top of the dash. The dealer repaired a "vacuum leak" and now they replaced a high psi switch, cost was $100 each time.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
While driving engine checklight was illuminating ondashboard. Consumer contacteddealer to have vehicle inspected,and mechanic replacedspark plugs and other parts.later,mechanic discovered thathead gasket malfunctioned, causing the problem.consumer states head gasket was replaced, subsequently since the repair the check engine light has come on twice.
Check engine light came on repeatedly and dealership tried to fix as follows:8,369 miles - replaced spark plug wires; 14,184 miles replaced "bad" hego bank; 34,442 miles replaces plugs 4 and 5; 34,479 miles replaced hego #2; 37,843 miles replaced spark plug wires (again); 38,111 miles replaced bad shaft in synchonizer sensor; 44,489 miles replaced "defective" vacuum elbow; 44,552 miles cleaned resistors and replaced upper intake o rings; 47,420 miles light came on and went off by itself; 50,000+ miles light came on and went off when battery was replaced; 56,000+ miles noticed coolant "disappearing from auxillary coolant tank - took in and dealership couldn't find anything wrong but put in dye -- took back in a few weeks when coolant disappeared again - diagnosis:head gasket failure; had head gaskets replaced, but check engine light would not go off and engine was misfiring -- diagnosis:bent rod .
When keyis removed from ignition the ignition can still be turned over if the wheel is not locked.
Due to a defective transmission, while applying the gas pedal, the vehicle hesistated and lunged forward which may havecaused a crash.dealer had replaced transmission with a rebuilt transmission. Engine check light comes on.also,dealer replaced coil and a spark plugs, but problem is still occurring.dealer could ntdetermine the cause of the problem.please provide further information.
This should never happen. The ignition system no longer turns the engine off, this is very dangerous!! i am very mad.
Premature failure of head gasket causing engine coolant to leak into the #1 cylnder causing a miss fire and the vehicle to run rough.engine light came on and i brought it to the dealer.the dealer had it for a few days, replced the spark plugs and said it was fine.on the ride back from the dealer the engine light came back on.the dealer then kept it for another two days and found the coolant in the #1 sparkplug well.brought to an independent repair shop where it was determnined to be a head gasket failure.
Engine failure at 88,000 miles, rough idle at times, computer replaced at 75,000 miles, head gasket blew, causing engine to fail.
Engine failure at 88,000 miles, rough idle at times, computer replaced at 75,000 miles, head gasket blew, causing engine to fail.
Consumerwas traveling about 55mph and engine check light blinked on and off on the dashboard. Also,transmission slipped out of gear. Computer chip was replaced, but problemstill continued. Anti-freeze was leaking from the transmission. In addition,spark plugs were replaced, andhead gasket needed to be replaced. Computor diagnosis indicated that cylinder #4 malfunction.the dealer said that doing tune up will solve this problem but did not.
Ford windstar (1996):a local mechanic said that our rough idle, engine light, and smell of antifreeze indicated a head-gasket problem. Hill and sanders ford service station checked for pressure leaks, but could only suggest that it was bad plugs causing the "misfire code" in the computer. After $318, we got new spark plugs and a reset warning light.within a week, the check engine light came on, and the rough idle and smell of antifreeze reappeared. We returned it to h&s and mentioned that it was a continuation of the previous, with a new symptom of discolored antifreeze in the overflow container (oil color). H&s said the engine light was a result of a "misfire code"but didn't know why. The only thing h&s did was flush the radiator for $100, and admitted they don't know what else it could be. A few days later the engine light came on.on nov. 20, 2000 the van started making mechanical noises from the engine, lost power, and slowed to a crawl.my wife got it to a safe location where she and the kids could wait to have it towed to h&s.a note referenced the previous 2 h&s visits for related problems. H&s's told me that "something inside the engine came loose" and that he recommends we replace the engine for $5050!he didn't know what was wrong.we called h&s ([xxx] ) the next day and told him that we felt that h&s should be responsible for the damages due to their inability to detect and fix the problem, and sending us away with a feeling that the problem was fixed or inconsequential.h&s felt that they were not responsible.our original mechanic was amazed that h&s didn't suspect something was wrong when oil was found in the antifreeze, and that they only flushed the system! we feel helpless and taken advantage of. Anything we can do to recover our loss? [xxx] vin [xxx]information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Due to a defective transmission, while applying the gas pedal, the vehicle hesistated and lunged forward which may havecaused a crash.dealer had replaced transmission with a rebuilt transmission. Engine check light comes on.also,dealer replaced coil and a spark plugs, but problem is still occurring.dealer could ntdetermine the cause of the problem.please provide further information.
Engine check light came on and the vehicle was taken back to ford. They did a diagnostic test that they claim the failure was due to one of the spark plug wires "arching". They could not or would not tell me which one was arching, but were willing to charge me $320 to change the six wires and plus. I paid for the diagnostic test and changed the plugs and wires myself. A week later, the check engine light came on again. This time i took it to my mechanic. He did a diagnostic test on the vehicle and advised that the problem was with cylinder number four. It was cracked. They made the repair and a week later i was out over a $1000. My mechanic also advised me that ford should have been able to tell me this right away. Ford was willing to replace the spark plugs and wires and i would still have the same problem.
The abs light and check engine lights were on. The dealer mechanic replaced speed sensors and then told me the computer was also bad. He also told me that the main seal was leaking and said that ford had lots of problems with the 3.8l v6 engine. He told me i should get rid of the car.
Engine check came on took to an independent service shop to have diagnostics run. Was told it needed a tune up, new spark plugs and cables, fuel filter, air filter, fuel injectors cleaned and i also had oil changed since it was time for it. Picked up vehicle paid 444.00 for the service next morning drove to work, oil light came on. I have never had the oil light flickered on. Checked oil, in my parking space was dark so all i could see is there was fluid at the correct level. Started it up that evening to go home drove aproximately 40 miles, stopped at a red light and the oil light came on the the engine began making a knocking noise. I pulled off the road had to towed back to the shop that did the work. Was told they could find nothing wrong with it, oil light did not come on. I refused to accept the answer knowing thenoise the engine was making to cause me to have it towed in. They test drove for and let run for approximately 30 min. Before the oil light did come on. They then told me it was an engine problem and did not do engine work. Had it towed immediately to a ford dealer and was told the oild pan was full of coolant and bearings were "washed" in engine and would have to have a new engine. No one wants to claim responsibility for this problem. I have just been made aware that there has been an on going problem with this particular model motor (and not by the dealership). What can be done next?
We took our windstar in at the first initial failure(12-2-97). Theengine check light had come on, so we took it to the ford garage closest to our residence. We were told at that time that there was nothing wrong, and that should theengine check light come back on that it should reset itself in a few days.... Not to worry. This happened 6-7 times afterward with the light always going off after 3 cold starts. But when we would take a long trip. It would start all over. In oct. Of this year (1999) the light came and and did not go off. When we took it to the dealer where we bought it, they said it needed a tune-up. ($217.00) we took it home and the next day we took it back because the light came back on. The dealer said it needed a new 02 sensor (approx. $100.00) the next day the light came on again. We took it back. The dealer said it was the computer, which they replaced at no cost. Light came back on. Took it back. Said the alternator was magnatized. New alternator didn't help. Finally the told us that it possibly could be the engine head gasket. Their estimate is $1200 which we cant afford. There was a recall for the 1995 windstars for the same exact problem. But because my windstar is a 1996 ford is un-willing to help. My windstar was manufactured in jan of 1996. So i am sure that that engine has the same defect of the 1995 engine. I want to stress how fustrated i am with ford motor company in their stance on this matter. They really don't care how safe the vehicle is.
Qualified mechanic tried to repaid with electronic control module but this did not work. Locks are grinding constantly so we were forced to disconnect to avoid burning it up.this should be a recall situation.
The key can be removed from the ignition without vehicle cutting off.dealer replaced ignition switch the first time. Problem exists again.
We own a 1996 ford windstar. In december of 2005 the van was parked in our driveway with the engine off. While my wife and i worked in the front yard, the van spontaneously started. I got in, put it in gear and it died. It ran fine for a time after that. We spoke to our independent mechanic who had never heard of such a thing. We basically forgot about it until may 30, 2006. This time it happened in the garage with all of the doors shut. My daughter came in the house asking why the van was running. We did the same thing to again make it stop. The garage was filled with exhaust and a black exhaust stain on the floor. This time we brought it to our local ford dealer. He diagnosed it as a faulty transmission range switch. Charge for the repair for parts and labor was $175. The dealership would not help because there had not been a recall of the item and it was no longer under warranty. I called ford's customer service department and they would not help citing the same excuse as the dealer. I feel this is a significant safety issue. Had we not caught it in time we could have experienced significant carbon monoxide poisoning or even death of our pets in the garage or family members in the house. We've been very disappointed with ford through the years. We have had gasket problems with our van, yet the recall for that item extends only through 1995 and they have not stood behind the 96's.
When getting into the vehicle can start the vehicle up without key and drive off. When children get into the vehicle they can start the vehicle up, and that isa safety defect.
Whenvehicle is turned on in the start position key can be removed without returning to the off position.dealer has been contacted, the ignition has been changed, and new keys has been made. This till happens.
Head gasket blew on 3.8l engine while sitting in a parking lot.caused additional damage to the starter and flywheel wheel broke.
I smelled some type of plastic burning while waiting at a stop light.after turning into the store i discovered the smell stayed with my car.after parking, i noticed smoke pouring from under the hood.i lifted the hood and discovered a connector was overheating and melting.i pulled the connector with a wet paper towel and the smoke cleared.i later learned it was the speed control switch located on the bottom of the master cylinder shorted and caused an overheating problem causing the connector to start smoking and melting.a few days later i could smell the burning again and decided to cut the connector completely off to prevent any further shorting.a couple of days later i heardabout a similar recall and decided to notify you as my model was not part of the original recall.
The vehicle parked for two days had a defective rear a/c wire which was too short, and caused an overload on that rear a/c wire, causinga fire without warning.prior to this incident, engine light did come on, but light went off.
We parked the car at ruby tuesday parking lot and we went inside to eat and early dinner. Less than five minutes people started screaming to call 911. They said car on fire. When i looked out at the window, my 96ford winstar was on fire at the front part, engine area of the vehicle. Fire department and police had to put down the fire. Good news, nobody was hurt.would you please look in to it?thanks sione.
While driving engine check light came on. Took to dealer & had wiring repaired. The dashboard lights went out. Problem had reoccurred. Was electrical short in wires.
Engine check came on took to an independent service shop to have diagnostics run. Was told it needed a tune up, new spark plugs and cables, fuel filter, air filter, fuel injectors cleaned and i also had oil changed since it was time for it. Picked up vehicle paid 444.00 for the service next morning drove to work, oil light came on. I have never had the oil light flickered on. Checked oil, in my parking space was dark so all i could see is there was fluid at the correct level. Started it up that evening to go home drove aproximately 40 miles, stopped at a red light and the oil light came on the the engine began making a knocking noise. I pulled off the road had to towed back to the shop that did the work. Was told they could find nothing wrong with it, oil light did not come on. I refused to accept the answer knowing thenoise the engine was making to cause me to have it towed in. They test drove for and let run for approximately 30 min. Before the oil light did come on. They then told me it was an engine problem and did not do engine work. Had it towed immediately to a ford dealer and was told the oild pan was full of coolant and bearings were "washed" in engine and would have to have a new engine. No one wants to claim responsibility for this problem. I have just been made aware that there has been an on going problem with this particular model motor (and not by the dealership). What can be done next?
The abs light has come on over 3 occasions.the first two times occurred within 2 years after the purchase of the van therefore the repair was under warranty.the most recent incident was 06/2000 due to a wire short and the repair costed $219.also, we just noticed that a piece of bar was broken off near the front alignment.took the van to the shop and found out the sway bar was broken off.the repair shop indicated that this part usually lasts the life of the van unless we hit something hard.this was not the case and the repair will cost $430.
Dt*:the contact stated after exiting the driveway, smoke was observed coming from under the hood.upon further inspection, under the hood a fire was also observed and extinguished.the vehicle as then parked and has not been inspected by a mechanic.
Vehicle caught on fire while stopping at a stop sign.consumer smelled rubber burning ,then smoke started coming from under the hood. Speed control linkages were completely burned. A recall was issued forspeed control linkages, but this vehicle was not included due to vin.
Dt: consumerowned a 1996 ford windstar.after parking the vehicle consumer smelled burning, andnoticed smoke coming from under the hood.the engine compartment was completely destroyed.consumer called ford, and they declined to inspect the vehicle. Fordsent a letter stating they did not have any responsibility in the matter.the vehicle was inspected by the cambria, california fire chief.the fire report has not been received yet.the insurance company did not inspect the vehicle.this occurred on july 12, 2005.there was no injuries.
Interior light came on and off intermittently,and without prior warning smoke was coming from hood area.
I discovered burnt wiring near the master cylinder on my 1996 ford windstar. I took the van to the local ford dealer, paradise ford in cocoa florida, they told me that the sensor/switch, that is attached to the bottom of the master cylinder, had malfuntioned and shorted out causing the wire and connector to burn until the wire was no longer connected to the sensor/switch.
Consumer had just parked and exited vehicle when it caught on fire under the hood without warning.
Check engine light came on and smoke started to come out from under the dashboard.we pulled over immediately and had to step over the flames comming out from underneath the vehicle to get out of the car.within 1 minute, the van was completely engulfed in flames at which point the gas tank exploded.the van is completely burnt down to nothing but a frame.ford refuses to take responsibility.
Dt*: the contact stated while parked in a driveway, the vehicle was started up, and smoke was noticed coming from under the hood.the vehicle was shut off, the hood was opened, and the contact noticed the wires located below the master cylinder had melted.there were no lights illuminated on the instrument panel and no warnings prior to the incident.the vehicle was taken to the service dealer, who determined that the vehicle should have been part of a recall.there were no recalls on the vehicle.the contact planned to contact the manufacturer after filing a complaint with the nhtsa.
While drivingdriver smelled burning wires. Shortly afterwards vehicle caught on fire under the hood. Owner contacted the fire department and theyput out the flames. Vehicle was totaled.
Fire on the speed control switch, which is connected to the master break cylender while driving.i managed to put the fire off before it spread. The fire destroyd the speed control switch and the wires connected to it.
While driving, a sudden engine fire occurred in a 1996 windstar.the ford dealer (sound ford, renton wa) states that the fire originated in the cruise control cutout switch.it is clear from the burn pattern that this was indeed the cause.the single occupant was able to exit the vehicle, and the fire was extinguished using a dry chemical fire extinguisher from a local merchant (westmarine, seattle, wa). The ford dealer has been unable so far to repair the vehicle (it's been over three weeks).
Fuse continues to burn for the overdrive cancel switch on the gearshift.
Wiring harness diagnosed as causing fire under dash. Six replacement harness's have been installed, none fit.been without my van now for two months waiting for the correct part.have experienced electrical problems (off and on) since buying the van.
In hotter conditions, the "key in the ignition alarm" rings even while driving, the check engine light burns continuously.i know of three windstars that are doing this.*latemperature or moisture seems to affect the "key alarm" and it continues to sound.one friend who is a mechanic, has to pull the fuse nightly on the check engine light or her battery runs down.i was told to replace the starter because it would not start on the evening so i did.it's still not starting right.acts as if the battery has been drained.tried to disconnect the check engine light but same fuse runs the wipers.*la
With doors securely closed the door adjar light comes on. This can last for minutes to hours, the same with the battery check light. Lastly, the chimes will intermittently come on. This is starting to become more and more frequent and continue for longer and longer periods of time. I have had it looked at numerous times and it is still not resolved. I have heard many other complaints of the same nature andoccurrences ie, complaint # 10020993. Electrical problems are generally hard to pinpoint but can be very serious in nature. Electrical fires start and spread fast. I have a family with young children and i am very concerned. Ford claims that they have no complaints of this nature.*phi find that hard to believe.
While driving smoke came from the dasharea of vehicle, causing wiring within the wiringharness assembly to melt together, cause unknown. Please give any further details.
Electrical fire started when i started heat in vehicle.under dash driver's side fully involved.
Brake module to cruise control harness caught on fire. Similar models have this recalled by ford but not for the year for my windstar.
This is a second call for help ford corporate will not email me back. Will not verify if pcm has been updated. The van only has under 59,000 miles on it . It should not break this bad this soon makes me tell anyone on social media and our local news media and clark howards team.i do not want to call ford unless it is agreed the phone will be recorded for court purposes.i even asked is the would let me use the updater. I sure do not want don rich ford in villa ricaever again. They stripped the screw. That set min clearance on throttle plate. No shifts funny and sputters and terrible noise in oil pan area. Rod s knocking. Internet has tons of complaints of pistons exiting engine oil pan.
Dear fordmy mother and i have been trying to get answers from the dealer and since they gave up. Because they could not fix it right the first time. Even the second or third time.the van a 1996 windstar with 59,000 miles on it and it started the engine started stalling, when making slow turns not touching the gas pedal loses power steering. My mom almost went into a ditch to avoid a collision with another car. With little internet searching found hundreds of vans with same problems, and appears there is not one resolved.and since this has gone on for over a month.the last visit to the ford dealer in an attempt to fix the stalling..the idle air control valve is new,and mass air flow is cleansupposed to have been replaced also. I checked the air filter was clean, the fuel filter is original so i replaced it. I started looking at the throttle body, and noticed that the throttle plate screw was all gouged up. While i was sitting in drive way with engine running and unless ford engines are only good for 60,000 miles, with all the stalling and low engine idle that keeps oil pressure in the engine lubricating the crank shaft.!! so when engine stalled at very low idlethere was no oil getting through the engine.this engine now has lower end knock, which i verified by pulling van onto floor ramps,test drove and confirmed the problem, is critical.each time i slowed down to turn engine stalled every time, lost power steering and brakes. I could have been killed because ford is ignoring this problem.. And this also answers why other complaints were about engine failures and very expensive repairs.this letter will be put on all social networks, to warn others this could happen to them be aware. They said the ecu/pcm computer was updated. Could not find update on invoices, or in history i can access.
Engine head gasket blewout, causing blue exhaust to come from tail pipe. This could have caused a fire. Dealer notified.indicators are that radiator coolant had been leaking into oil causing 02 sensors to fail and be replaced.dealer advised that entire engine be replaced.
Timing cover gasket failure allowed coolant to mix with engine oil. Gasket replaced but engine damage may have already been done. Speedometer wavers between 20 and 60 mph at 30 mph, headlight lenses have yellowed to the point that the headlights are useless. Most ford vehicles from 1990 to 2000 have the yellowing headlight problems and should be recalled as a safety problem.
My 1996 ford windstar caught fire in the engine compartment while driving and burned up within 10 minutes. I did not know about the fire danger recall until i heard about it on the new a few days after the event. The only accessory that was on was the airconditioning which was working properly. I noticed a smell followed by smoke from under the hood. I pulled over to investigate and the smoke intensified followed by flames. By the time the fire department arrived (5 minutes) flames were pouring out from under the hood and thick black smoke had filled the passenger compartment. The fire had completely destroyed the engine and had begun to burn into the passenger compartment. The dashboard has melted along with parts of the roof as far back as the middle seats.up to the event the car had been running normally with no problems. I had never been contacted by ford aboutthe recall and only found out about it on the news a few days after the event. Needless to say,the car was considered "totaled" by the insurance company.
1996 ford windstar with premature head gasket failure.
Consumer stated that whiletraveling vehicle slowed down/stopped, and then stalled. Consumer could not travel where there were any inclines or hills.consumer took vehicle to several mechanics, and hadvehicle on diagnostic machines, and no one could repair it.
1996 ford windstar, misfired under normal highway driving, the check engine light started flashing. This is indicative of a misfire according to the owners manual. Upon further research, this is a very common problem to the 1996 model. The computer will say the engine is misfire in cylinder x when it is actually a misfire in cylinder y. Have been told that this is anything from a faulty spark plug to a blown piston ring, causing a loss of compression in a cylinder. Seems to be a very very very common problem among 1996 windstars.
I maintained my windstar properly. It began to leak coolant and engine light. Ford dealership stated it needed a new engine. Due to faulty head gasket causing leak of coolant. Ford canada agreed to cover some of the cost but not all of it. Said if i declined their offer they would withdraw all offers. So i took it. I couldn't afford the bill as it was.i have since seen a small claims court in quebec found that ford was responsible for the repairs related to the head gasket.i have contacted ford canada customer complaint center. And told they will not reimburse me for the expenses. And that although they lost the complaint in quebec in all other canadian proviences they have one. Even a class action suit. Why would they pay a portion of the repair if they were not responsible??? i feel they are responsible for the full cost of the engine repair.
1996 ford windstar head gasket failure leading to complete engine failure.there was no prior indication.after the van sat for one week we started it and the headgasket blew allowing coolant into the engine.
While driving and without warninghead gasket/timing chain snapped, causing fluid to leak. Dealer notified. Ts.
Vehicle had constant engine problems along with other problems that surfaced and ended its life cycle.*la the consumer experienced coolant leaks, hard starting, electrical noises, radio noises, vibration upon acceleration along with thumping noises, erratic dash light illumination, intermittent door ajar light, bearing noise and the engine blew out prematurely. *scfrom a normal sitting position the consumer could not see that the check engine light was on.it wasn't until he dropped something on the floor and looked up that he saw the light on.
I purchased a 1996 ford windstar and five days later found out thatit had a bad engine (blown head gasket).it left myself and 6 children stranded on the side of the road.
The left outer tie rod was replace.the fuel injector, timing cover gaskets and wiper blades were replaced.the rear brake light was replaced . The switch headlight control was replaced. The drivers door ajar switch was replaced.updated
Check engine light on, white smoke emitting from tailpipe, missing, wildly erratic speedometer at 35-40, rear air blows hot.replacements:had gaskets, lower intake gaskets, upper intake gaskets, spark plugs, wires, thermostat, gasket, ? belt, timing cover, timing cover gasket, water pump.speedometer and a/c problem not yet fixed.
The brake system and it's components failed, the abs light had come on constantly, the transmission burned out, and the engine was contaminated with coolant.the consumer requested a new vehicle or a new engine.mr scc
Ford windstar with a 3.8 l v-8 blew the head gasket at 75,000 miles.the car was being driven on the expressway at the time.
My 1996 ford windstar van's engine assembly must be replaced due to persistent internal coolant loss into the engine, despite repeated trips to the dealership with complaints of classic head-gasket symptoms.ford displayed blatant neglegence and dishonesty in its dealings with me.i took my van to dealership twice for head-gasket-like symptoms:excessive loss of coolant with no external leakage, gray smoke out of exhaust, and engine running rough.the first time the dealership said no problems could be found.two weeks later i returned to the dealership with the same symptoms, only this time more obvious, and the check-engine light had come on.the dealership determined my engine had overheated and that coolant was lost via the timing cover gasket, which they replaced and then returned the vehicle to me.exactly one thousand miles later i had to have my vehicle towed to the dealership, at which point they condemned my engine due to coolant entering the #1 cylindar.they offered to replace the engine for $3,650, which includes a 20% discount for the timing cover gasket work that was done for nothing.i refused the offer and managed to barely drive the vehicle home, where it now sits, undrivable.aware of the windstar head gasket problems from the beginning, i repeatedly stressed to the dealership my concern that this was a head gasket problem, but they repeatedly explained this was not the problem.they lied by saying no known gasket problems exist on the 1996 windstar, but i researched the nhtsa's records and found tsb 99-13-1 (titled "underdetermined loss of coolant"), which instructs dealerships to replace the gaskets in situations like mine.the tsb is very clear.i wrote the dealership a letter demanding help replacing the engine, but received no reply.i re-sent the same letter and documents to the dealership just yesterday.i can provide copies of all documents, as i have scanned them into a compressed pdf file for e-mail transmission.
12-15-97 at 21,145 milesi reported noticing the coolant level always being low. No leak was found and i was told there must be a leak somewhere in the radiator.12-27-99 at 56,526 milesi began having a "cold start" problem. It acted like it was not getting fuel. 12-1200 at 74,306 milesi had the same "cold start" problem and the fuel filter was repaced. 12-22-00 at 74,930a new thermostat & gasket.12-29-00 at 75,113a fuel pressure regulator. 03-02-01 at 77,569 miles a new fuel pump relay(ccrm), fuel pump and pvc valve. 09-11-01 at 87,907 milesa mult-function switch. 01-31-02 at 95,069 milesa second ccrm relay. 03-06-02 at 99,348 mileson an 80 degree day "no start" same symptoms as "cold start" problem. Instead of not getting fuel it is suspected it is flooding. 4-23-02 at 99,348 milescold start problem, fuel injectors cleaned. 05-30-02 at 101,330 mileswouldn't start, no fuel pressure-intermittent. Had to have it towed. 6-7-02 at 101,388 miles"no start" problem. New fuel filter, fuel pump and sender o-ring. 12-01-2-01 109,530 miles van started steaming - appeared to be a coolant leak or broken hose. Added coolant direct in radiator.i have carried own coolant and added frequenlty since 1997, when i was told there must be a leak in the radiator. I could not find any trace of such a leak by putting cardboard under van. Suspected the plastic coolant container had a leak. No coolant leaks whereever found during routine oil changes. 12-04-02 109,568 m,iles found leaking front timing cover gasket. Replaced headgasket and all else that goes with it. Cost of repair $1,915.21. I believe the headgasket defect has been the problem all a long, costing me a small fortune.
Head gasket failed leading to coolant entering cylinders. Van had just 70,000 miles and this should not have been a problem. Repair at ford dealership was $1,300. They acknowledged this is a problem with the 1996 windstars.
Head gasket failure in 3.8i asked the service manager at the dealership when i purchased the car if the engines were having problems.he told me no.i took him on his word and now i have a car that needs a new engine.i have a 1994 t-bird that had to have the engine replaced due to the same problem.ford was great to work with.i wish they would stand behind this engine as well.i am very disappointed.
Replaced head gasket on 1996 ford windstar with 66, 712 miles on engine.
The contact owns a 1996 ford windstar gl (na). The contact stated that while waiting a stop sign, the vehicle suddenly died and the engine engulfed into flames. There were no injuries. The police and fire departments were called but no police report was filed. The vehicle had not been inspected or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Head gasket failure. Took car to dealer, golf mill ford in august. They misdiagnosed problem and charged me $1300. A couple of months later still had the same problem and took it back. Head gasket was replaced another $1400. Have written numerous letters to ford and dealership and they are denying liability or compensation. I am a senior citizen on a limited income, have always owned fords and am appalled by their treatment. Intend to take them to small claims court
Fuel was leaking into the converter. This caused the vehicle to overheat, and smokestarted to come from under the hood. Dealership informed the consumer of the problem, but did not resolve it.
Other is the head gasket went and leaked oil in my engine causing it to be replaced.ford denied any problems with this and i believed them until i read your web site article on the head gasket problem with 1995 windstars.i called ford this morning again and read the article and they still will not step up to the plate on this.nothing else has gone wrong with my car.
Head gasket failure.
I have a 3.8 engine that has had to have heads repaired/replaced 3 times.the last time the engine now requires replacing,it has been at garage for 2 years.due to cost involved it is not cost effective ro repair.it has overheated in all cases and the second time it was determined that a faulty ford water pump may have been cause.i have notified ford and dealer multiple times without response.
Blows headgasket every35000 miles.
I had symptoms of water in the exhaust, rough idle, and hydraulic lock of the engine.took to the shop, the head gasket was blown on #1 cylinder, and the connecting rod was bent on the cylinder, which has necessitated replacement of the engine.ford has been contacted by me and by the dealer to the district rep, to no avail.after reading all the literature on the web about this problem, and it's continuing thru the 95 models which are covered to the 96 models which aren't; i need further help.
I also have a 1996 windstar will all of the mentioned head gasket problems.van sits in rear, am currently driving toyota with 200+ i pulled from back yard after being stagnent for 3 years. No money to repair,causing hardship in family.i believe to be fords problem but doesnt look like they are going to admit as a trouble, will not buy another and will not support 6 family members when they lose their jobs do to this problem.my van was also manufactured in canada 12/96 and vin seems to be in sequence with others. Van just turned 100,000 a week ago.
Engine:head gasket failure @ 62,218 miles.needed to replace both cylinder gasket heads and resurface same.power door: failure of power door lock on passenger side.transmission:was replaced twice under warranty.other:ignition control module needed replacement. Have been advised engine has a sludge condition despite regular oil changes per ford guidelines.
This vehicle has not yet been repaired! the 1996 windstar 3.8 litre v-6 engine has head gasket leaks. I am not driving the vehicle until ford agrees to pay for the repair. Ford did pay for repairs to '94 & '95 windstar owners, but has not and will not pay for the '96 models.the vehicle emits clouds of white smoke and consumes antifreeze. The local ford dealership acknowledges the problems with this model, but states that ford will reject claims on it.
I've had the check engine light since 9/98 (6 months after purchase)-approx 40000 miles. I've spent over $2000 over 5 trips to the shop- last one 11/27/03- trying to have this fixed. I just had my transmission rebuilt for addt'l $1600 (jan 2004) and now i have the head gasket failure. I am desparate for some assistance as i have no other transportation and have invested way too much money into this van to replace it with more car payments.
The head gasket had to be replaced.ford recalled the 95 models and will not honor the 96 models.there was an inadequate performance and abnormal engine coolant temperature indications, coolant leaked from the head gasket and caused the engine to overheat.the dealer misdiagnosed the problem and caused the consumer spend more money.the consumer requested a refund for the repair cost.*mr
Intake gasket over passenger front wheel well leaking coolantabs brake light comes on during warm weather and on bumpy roads
Dealer resealed front timing cover, replaced water pump, and replaced the front engine timing cover gaskets.
1996 ford windstar, 3.8 l, lown head gasket.
I went to go to the store may 26th, 2010 6:30 - 7:00 pm, i got in my vehicle with my two year old daughter and i proceeded to go down my driveway which its a long driveway and i started to smell a faint smell of plastic burning and i got to the road and i started to go and i decided i should maybe pull over to see if i could see anything on the outside of vehicle causing smell then when got back in car saw the steam coming from hood and i decided to turn around and have my boyfriend take a look before i left.when got to house saw little steam but nothing big, turned off van and got my daughter from car seat and walked inside home not but 5 minutes later my other daughter ran screaming out her room, mom the vans on fire.when opened the door the flames were shooting out of the hood and tried to open hood, while other half going for fire extinguishers but motor was engulfed in flames and within 5 minutes got fire out with 2 fire extinguishers.nothing indicated before fire other then the faint smell that i smelled while going down driveway.the fire came from the wiring and it is definitely a safety issue cause if me and my daughter had this happen to us while on the road it could of seriously injured or killed us.i haven't done anything to fix the van yet cause i only had liability insurance on the van and the fire wasn't covered.i also do not financially have the means to fix the van myself so i am without transportation right now!my boyfriend did feel after looking at van the fire started with the wiring over the top of the center of the motor.
For the 3rd time thehead gasket blew.the first was at 56,000; the second at 90,000, and now at 125,000.on searching for used engine to replace mine, i find that most out of windstars have blown head gasket.
The 1996 ford windstar continues to have defective head gaskets as in 1994 and 1995 models. This lead to engine failure at 78,000 miles! the cost to replace the engineper miller ford was 4,778.00. We paid 19,000 for this vehicle and refuse to pay for a new engine! the nasa has stated the head gasket should last at least 120,000 miles or the life of the vehicle. We have had this ford windstar with a blown engine due to head gasket failuresince last december, but continue to make monthly payments on this dead ford windstar. We pay taxes, insurance, and montly payments to ford credit for the next 18 months or so. We just discontinued registration fees as the dmv told us we could do this. Ford refuses to acknowledge this problem and is not standing up to it's committment of quality care to it's customers. I urge anyone who is considering buying a ford to do their research. Ford is a company that does not stand behind it's promises. We will never own another ford although our family has never owned anything but until now. Ford wake up!
Misfiring and losing coolant. Am sure it is a head gasket problem. Father-in-law currently in dispute with ford for same model/year and they won't reimburse him. May attempt repair myself if ford unwilling to recall or put right. Also, speedometer failure intermittent or incorrect reading.
Dt*: the contact stated that the engine died at 21,000 miles. The contact expressed the engine should not have died at 21000 miles.there were no failures that lead to this incident. The problem has not been repaired.
1996 ford windstar vin [xxx]mftd. 08/95 ford motor co of canada. Head gasket failure allowing coolant and engine oil to mix, with main result being lost of coolant. I have to keep filling coolant resovoir.information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)
The head gasket blew out while driving, causing anti freeze to leak into the engine.also, there was a strong anti freeze odor coming into the cabin of the vehicle while driving.ford changed the gasket and since that time a blown head gasket have been a major failure. *sc
Engine front cover gasket failed in line with recall 99b29. Ford does not include my windstar model, built in03/96 in recall campaign 99b29, indicating that the original recall has been inadequate."
Problems with gas fumes coming from the exhaust system.*mr( doris stewart on behalf of her parents robert stewart and jacqueline stewart).. The vehicle overheated at idle, the dealer replaced the head gaskets, the air condition stopped working and there was a problem with the power train control module.
The vehicle overheated, consumer was informed by the dealer that the head cover gasket needed to be replaced. Customer would like to be reimbursed for expenses.
1996 ford windstar with headgasket problem. I have contacted fors, but they say there is no record of the 1996 engines having premature head gasket failure. My windstar, bought new has 68,000 miles. I have been smelling antifreeze for the past 3 years, but it has now gotten much worse. Brought car to mechaninc due to engine misfiring, one of the sysmptoms listed for the head gasket failure. The reapiar will cost over $2,000.
The consumer requested an investigation of ford motor company and their lack of recalls on some serious defects. *mr.the vehicle experienced a clunking sound, however the dealer stated the clunking sound was normal and then the transmission failed,the transmission was replaced with another ford transmission, which failed on a test drive and one other occasion.coolant leaked into the engine through the intake gasket, which was recalled for the 95 models.the timing chain leaked.there was arecall on the coils in the suspension, which ford would only replace when they failed.the brake rotors failed at 30000 miles.scc
Vehicle has been loosing coolant for many years. *lathe vehicle was taken in for a routine oil change but ended up having majorrepairs.approximately eight months after the repair, the engine quit and the consumer was informed by two dealers that the vehicle needed a short block installed.there was also noise in the steering and a coolant leak.the intake upper and lower manifold gaskets were also replaced. *sc
The engine gasketblew out due to engine overheating and boiling the coolant.consumer filled vehicle with coolant twice a week.
Coolant leaked into engine causing complete engine failure blowing the head gaskets and cracking the engine block. When this happened there was a complete power loss in the steering and braking of the vehicle.my wife and two children were in the van at the time of the failure.fortunatly they were not on the interstate or major highway because theres no telling what the result would have been in this case.i have found out that this is a recalled problem for the 94 and 95 years for the same model that i have but not the 96.this is not just a problem with windstar but has also happened with the mustangs and lincon town cars which leads me to believe that this is a design error with-in those years in question with many ford models.this will cost me nearly $4500 to repair as quoted from a ford dealership and it cost me $80 just to tell me something i already paid for at goodyear, i need a new engine.seeing that there has been a recall for previous years for this model i would apprieciate it if you could tell ford to consider recalling the other affected models with this same problem that they know about but refuse to admit.
Was having a slow loss of coolant with no visible leakage.now have a damaged timing cover/gasket ($1,200.00 repair estimate from a ford dealer) probably due to engine overheating.nlm
Engine coolant needs filling every 2-3 days, transmission skips, engine checklight always illuminated and interior door ajar light never goes off.
The checke engine light keeps coming on. Noticed a small puddle on garage floor beneath vehicle. Took vehicle to dealer. Mechanic dropped oil pan. The bearings had turned to copper, this caused the engine to leak antifreeze. Nlm
When driving speedometer was waving back from 20 to 90 mph. Consumer contacted dealer, dealer noticed transmission pan had metal in it which causedtransmission to be replaced. Also, noticed a fume odor inpassenger compartment, and contacted the dealer. Dealer noticed that coolant andtiming cover were leaking fluid onto head gasket. Please provide any further details.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Water pump failed.nlm
Problem with 1996 ford windstar 3.8l engine 45,000 mi. W/ defective head gasket. Ford extended the warranty on 94-95 models but won't cover 96 models. This is a known problem w/ all the 3.8l engines and ford should be held responsible for manufacturing and selling a defective product. A recall should be done on this product. Ts
Had oil changed at grayling ford on september 25. As soon as i pulled in, technician remarked he smelled anti-freeze burning. He checked coolant overflow tank and found it empty. One gallon of coolant was added at that time. He stated i should have my head gaskets checked because that would be the only cause of loss of coolant if i hadn't noticed any leakage, which i haven't.the van has been running good. There has been no indication of any problem, i.e. No check engine light has come on, no overheating. I am concerned that once repair is done on september 26, mechanics will find engine damage leading to a more costly repair. I still make payments and the estimated cost for just the head gasket repair is over $1,000.engine replacement or other repairs are not included in this estimate. Because my 96 windstar has the same engine components as those recalled for model years 94-95, i believe ford should take the same action and recall/reimburse owners of the 96 model who have had the same experience.i have owned nothing but ford vehicles for the past 25 years and feel my satisfaction should be important to ford motor company. I look forward to reimbursement of this repair when a recall is issued and that can't be soon enough.this is the second defect i have experienced with my van. The first was a broken front coil spring.ford should take the same action with the 96 windstar head gasket problem as it did with the coil spring problem: rectify it with its loyal customers.this may be the last ford i buy. I am afraid to take it out on the highway again. One footnote: i am a newspaper reporter and may write about this experience as i did with the coil spring. Thank you for this opportunity. Please make ford do the right thing.nlm
I would like to file a complaint regarding my 1996 ford windstar.i have just learned the head gasket on my vehicle has blown out with just 70k miles on it.i know ford recalled 1995 models and after some research of my own, have learned that there are just as many 96's with the same problem and ford refuses to do anything with that model year.
Head gasket failure . A common defect in ford windstars, they were covered in the previous model years, but not the '96 model. Ford, so far, will not cover this.also speedometer "jumps" around above 45 mph. This too, is common in this and prior model windstars. Repairs are usually $500 and is a safety concern as driver does not know how fast they are traveling.*nlm
Vehicle overheated and lost power making steering and braking difficult.the symptoms seem identical to the 1995 engine coolant loss covered by ford extended warranty althought dealer reports this vehicle is not affected.
I am dissatisfied with the service from ford on my 1996 windstar.this is the second time it has been in for service for the same thing.the antifreeze was leaking at a quick pace and ford ran the pressure test. Said it was the water pump and gasket that needed fixed.this was 2 weeks ago.they told my boyfriend [xxx] whose name is on the title of the van that it was fixed.here it is 1/4/2001 and again we had to take it in for service for the same problem.ran test again and said it was the head gaskets and #4 cylinder.we already paid $900 and it wasn't fixed the first time. Now they want to charge $1200 to have it fixed and we can't afford to pay more when it should have been fixed the first time around.also found out ford has had a recall on all windstars up to 1995 for the same problem that we are having and they are fixing this for free. As a consumer i feel we are being taken advantage of and this is a safety hazard to myself as well as our children.i am the main driver of this vehicle and i have 2 toddlers.ford said the van can stop at anytime and i would be stuck.i am very upset and dissatisfied and would like some satisfaction from this company.i feel we are being taken advantage of when ford knows this is an ongoing problem with this vehicle. Thank you and i await your response.parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
This incident started when i had noticed a small amount of radiator fluid on the garage floor, and a slight smell of radiator fluid when i ran the heater. In addition, the check engine light had come on again in november 2002.i took the van to the apple valley ford dealer and after diagnosing it, i was told the number 4 spark plug is stuck and the gasket needs to be replaced on the timing cover on the engine (this was the source of the radiator fluid leak).the dealers professional opinion was the head gasket is also bad, the head for the #4 plug would need replacing, and combined with the need to replace the timing cover gasket, they recommended a complete engine replacement at $4,400.i declined and took the van to another local mechanic, who unfortunately confirmed the diagnosis and indicated there were known problems and technical service bulletins for engine gasket replacements with ford windstar 3.8 liter v6 engines in 1995.they also indicated they had started seeing this same problem turning up in 1996 models.they also quoted a similar number & recommended using a jasper engine instead of the ford engine as the warranty is 75,000 miles.i also declined and the van is now sitting parked in my driveway while i continue to make car payments on a vehicle i can??t drive for fear of engine failure. 8nlm
No summary listed for this vehicle.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
The checkengine light illuminated and the vehicle began to overheat.the consumer pulled over allowed the engine to cool and put in some anti-freeze. *nlm
Engine coolant leaks, manufacturerhas a tsb onvehicle, but this vehicle is not part oftsb. Contacted dealer.
Rough idling, "hiccupping" while driving, no heat--went in for a tune up and thermostat and was told its the head gasket.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Vehicle is losing coolant and running rough when first started. A quart is added every 800 miles to vehicle. No lights illuminate on dashboard.coolant smell is coming through exhaust.dealer was not notified. Please provide more information.
Coolant leaking externally from engine front cover.
How many of these complaints do you need. We need help. According to your data, this is an obvious problem that will continue to be pushed aside without your help. I am out $1500 and a car while it is being fixed. Thanks. No safety defect listed.
Water was leaking out fromleft side of engine, a mechanic told consumer this should not happen at 72000miles.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Consumer states vehicle is leaking coolant.*yd
I would like to know how a class action suit can be made to force ford to make a recall of this item.
While traveling about 60mph there was coolantleak insideengine compartment due to aminor hole.consumer has to keep an eye on the coolant so that engine won't overheat.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
The head gasket on my 1996 for windstar has failed at around 93,000 miles.i have gone to many websites with hundreds of people complaining about the same problem.this same engine, in the 1995 windstar(even though ford said that they corrected the problem) was recalled for the same problem.i can see that if this were a rare case of gasket failure, it would not matter very much, but seeing that hundreds of people are having the same problem bothers me.ford should be responsible and fix this problem.i do not know how a recall gets started, but would like to get this one done.thank you
Problems with minivan stalling, loss of coolant in vehicle.*mrthe consumer had also experienced problems with the intake gasket leaking a lot of oil, the engine pump needed replacing, which resulted in a whole new engine being installed.
Vehicle was overheating while driving,.dealer notified , and replacedwater pump and the timing cover. Feel free to provide any further information.
Abs and check engine light constant, replaced o2 sensor, replaced abs brakes, transmission problems causing vehicle to jerk and not change gears when running or parked, coolant leaking and door sensors are bad. All document known issues on. Http://www.carsurvey.org/modelyear_ford_windstar_1996.html- something needs to be done about this. This has gone on far to long and is putting peoples life at stake. I have children in my van and all of these are big issues that need to be address immediately.
Consumer states vehicle is leaking coolant.*yd
In jan 2000, check engine light came on, noticed rough idiling, took in for service, problem with exhaust system repaired...again in feb 2000, same problem noted, again took in for expensive repairs(both of these repairs were done at local ford dealer)...in may noticed that it was starting to rough idle again...took to local repair shop...could not find anything wrong.........suddenly on june 30, 2000..after starting the van after work to go home...noticed white smoke pouring out from van and incredible rough idle...took the van to the ford dealer....proceeded to be told that the van had a blown head gasket, water pump, cracked pistons and they thought the engine block might be affected too....suggested that it was too expensive to fix if even possible....told this was not a problem with the 96 vans....not under any recall or warranty....suggested we might want to buy a new van.....felt we didn't have any options so bought a new 2000 windstar....now after some research i see this is problem with 96 windstars.....not very happy.... Have written numerous letters to ford and spoken to their complaint department.....no resolution yet.....thank you
Blower motor failed.
Blown head gaskets on a 3.8l engine.this is a known problem with ford engines that has not been addressed in complete recalls, etc.this vehicle was well maintained, never overheated, etc and the gaskets just failed with no warning.estimated costs to fix are $1500 minimum if heads or block are not cracked.ford needs to recall and fix all 3.8l engines.
I have been told by 5 repair peoplethat the windstars are very likely to have a blown head gasket, i have been told to request that ford repair the van.i have contacted the ford corp. And i have been told that the windstars are not having a head gasket issue.this van with the proper care should not be having this big of an issue.my van has sat in my driveway since july, the estimate is $ 2,000.00 to 4,000.00 to now replace an engine with less then 100,000 miles.
We took our windstar in at the first initial failure(12-2-97). Theengine check light had come on, so we took it to the ford garage closest to our residence. We were told at that time that there was nothing wrong, and that should theengine check light come back on that it should reset itself in a few days.... Not to worry. This happened 6-7 times afterward with the light always going off after 3 cold starts. But when we would take a long trip. It would start all over. In oct. Of this year (1999) the light came and and did not go off. When we took it to the dealer where we bought it, they said it needed a tune-up. ($217.00) we took it home and the next day we took it back because the light came back on. The dealer said it needed a new 02 sensor (approx. $100.00) the next day the light came on again. We took it back. The dealer said it was the computer, which they replaced at no cost. Light came back on. Took it back. Said the alternator was magnatized. New alternator didn't help. Finally the told us that it possibly could be the engine head gasket. Their estimate is $1200 which we cant afford. There was a recall for the 1995 windstars for the same exact problem. But because my windstar is a 1996 ford is un-willing to help. My windstar was manufactured in jan of 1996. So i am sure that that engine has the same defect of the 1995 engine. I want to stress how fustrated i am with ford motor company in their stance on this matter. They really don't care how safe the vehicle is.
My 1996 ford windstar has 72,000 miles on it.i had been losing coolant slowly and we couldn't find out where.after sitting for 2 days, when i started the van i heard a loud pop, and white smoke began coming out of the exhaust.i took it to my mechanic and it has a blown head gasket.i called ford, knowing there had been numerous recalls on other years for the same engine, and they basically said "sorry about your luck."they also told me i should bring it in to ford because they can't rely on a diagnostic done by an independent mechanic.*la
Ford windstar 1996.i have seen that many of these models and previous years as well have had severe head gasket problems.head gasket regularly fails at around 80,000 miles.nasa says a head gasket should last at least 120,000. Ford does not care.ford does not stand behind their product.i am basically screwed because now i don't have a car.i still owe on it but it doesn't run.$2,000+ to fix it and it will probably fail again.the head gasket going out caused the upper 02 sensor to go bad.it also sprayed the number 2 cylinder causing it to fail thus alerting me to a problem, which may have resulted in a blown engine.at no time while i have owned this vehicle has it ever overheated even slightly.heat was not the cause, it was faulty from the beginning.car auto safety has reported 429 complaints about the windstar!
Head gasket leaking into engine.coolant entering cylinder and crankcase, producing steam out of the exhaust.contacted ford dealer for repair estimate and was quoted $600+ for labor and additional cost for parts.have discovered through this website and others that this is a common problem with ford 3.8l v6 engine and that ford has helped with costs on 1995 vehicles, but not 1996.should not be having this problem with only 79000 miles on vehicle, and since it seems to be common, manufacturer should cover costs.last ford i will own.
Engine would overheat while driving. Vehicle taken to a repair shop, and was informed of a blown head gasket. Dealer contacted. Feel free to provide any further infromation.
Head gasket failed late at night in unsafe area.was afraid to drive van because of potential engine damage.however, because area unsafe, i did risk driving the vehicle to a safer area.
3.8 liter engine 44,000 miles and the head gasket failed.this is the same problem with the 1995 windstar that ford is now addressing.my quoted price to get fixed was over $1600.the dealership contacted ford and they agreed to pay less then 3/4 of the cost.i am responsible to pay $495 to fix the part.i contacted ford and told them that i thought this was obscene that a 4 yr old vehicle driven as a family vehicle with no heavy duty work could have a castrophic engine failure. Of course i got nowhere.i still don't understand why they will fix the 95 windstar and not reimburse me for mine?
Van had a failed head gasket (a common problem among windstars). The failed head gasket, lead to a thrown rod and totalled engine to the tune of $3600.00.we had at 89k miles taken the van in for to the dealer because a check engine light came on and a strange smell was noticed.they said nothing was wrong.3 months later the engine blew.
Head gasket has gone out a couple of times. Consumer has had some oil leakage. Contacted dealer, and the dealer was not willing to do anything.
Consumerhad seen water leaking fromengine. Had taken vehicle before to dealer to be repaired, and dealer told consumer that problem wascaused byhead gasket wich had to be replaced.
Engine head gasket was leaking anti-freeze. Had taken vehicle to dealer for repairs where they said that head gasket blewout, and could not be repaired.
After driving to state of virginia and parking it for 5 days.whenconsumer attempted to start vehicle head gasket blewout.
Problem with 1996 ford windstar 3.8l engine 45,000 mi. W/ defective head gasket. Ford extended the warranty on 94-95 models but won't cover 96 models. This is a known problem w/ all the 3.8l engines and ford should be held responsible for manufacturing and selling a defective product. A recall should be done on this product. Ts
The consumer stated that while driving and with no warning, the vehicle's head gasket blew and the coolant will started to leak causing the engine to over heat and the consumer will be forced to pull over.dealer notified.mrthe consumer stated ford will not recognize this problem as with the 94 and 95 windstar's.scc
Head/head gasket was repaired. Symptom causing repair was engine running hot.
Speedometer fluctuated all over dial when car went over 30 mph; transmission just failed while car was being operated, it failed to shift and did not move while in traffic; brakes fade when coming to a stop all the time (i have requested repairs repeatedly, told no problem detected); car continues to roll 6-8 incheswhen parked on an incline; rear suspension creaks when getting in and out of car; several leaks in engine had to be repaired (gasket??).
Coolant leaked into engine causing complete engine failure blowing the head gaskets and cracking the engine block. When this happened there was a complete power loss in the steering and braking of the vehicle.my wife and two children were in the van at the time of the failure.fortunatly they were not on the interstate or major highway because theres no telling what the result would have been in this case.i have found out that this is a recalled problem for the 94 and 95 years for the same model that i have but not the 96.this is not just a problem with windstar but has also happened with the mustangs and lincon town cars which leads me to believe that this is a design error with-in those years in question with many ford models.this will cost me nearly $4500 to repair as quoted from a ford dealership and it cost me $80 just to tell me something i already paid for at goodyear, i need a new engine.seeing that there has been a recall for previous years for this model i would apprieciate it if you could tell ford to consider recalling the other affected models with this same problem that they know about but refuse to admit.
Head gasket failure; was told car engine was not under warranty and total repair cost was over $3,500. Asked to speak with district rep but told i could not. Told this person would contact mespeedometer "bounces" at speeds over 40mph, making it useless for determining actual speed.
While driving down the street anti-freeze had leaked out, andengine check light came on.took vehicle to the local mechanic. Mechanic said it was a head gasket problem. Contacted dealer and manufacturer who were not able to help.
Ford refuses to listen to our request for compensation, simply because we did not receive service at a ford garage. We did not know or expect the head gasket to have blown. We were stranded on a sunday morning in ontario, some 650 miles from home. We were towed to the only service facitlity open on a sunday (canadian tire) who could potentially get us back on our way. We never expected a major engine problem to occur at 57,709 miles. We feel ford should compensate us for the replacement of the head gasket, as it is a known problem and was recalled on the 1995 winstars. Apparently the 1996 windstars have the same head gasket problem as the 1995s, but have not yet been recalled. Just because we were not at a ford dealer or garage should not let ford off the hook for our expense incurred on a defective part.
Ford has agreed to pay part of the repair cost for the head gasket.they have recalled this same engine in the 1995 windstar's but have not extended it to the 1996's despite many occurances.i feel they should cover the entire repair as well as our rental car expenses.
Laboratory oil analysis indicates failed head gasket based on glycol and anti-freeze chemicals in the engine oil.
Engine light illuminated and was registering hot.took to dealer ,and they stated theathead gasket failed, and vehicle would need a rebuilt motor.please provide any further information.
Consumer called complaining about the engine head gasket. The consumer also stated this was a common problem. The dealer was contacted who stated there was no warranty for the defect. *ph
My windstar blew its headgasket with 60k miles on it- the engine never ran hot---when check engine light came on i took it to dealer--blown gasket 1800 dollars--checked internet and found at least 200 people with same problem--called ford but they refuse to assist.
Engine head gasket head replaced within six months of ownership with original owner.now new engine is needed because a second gasket head has cracked and ruined engine.this does not seem reasonable within a four year period.ford has denied claim for repairs.
Headgasket replacement.same problems w/ other windstars-ford won't fix.
Problem 1- engine blew a head gasket as backing out of our driveway, we have only 72000 miles on it and were told that there is a recall on the 1995 ford engine for the same problem. This repair is going to cost $1,000.00.ford has given us no options. 2nd-problem- on the same vehicle a month before, again as i was backing out of my drive the front spring broke, punctured my tire and collapsed the shocks, that cost $600.00. Again, when we called ford we were told that there had been a recall on the taurus for the same problem but it wasn't for the windstar. Now ii have a problem believing that thay can recall one product without covering the other when the same exact problem occured with my vehicle. Please advise what further action i can take. Thanks.
Consumer is experiencing same problem as previous year models concerningengine head gaskets. A recall was issued for that year. Consumer feels that later model years should be included.
Head gasketfailed, leaking coolant into cylinder, foulingspark plugs and oxygen sensors. Problem has been ongoing sincevehicle had 95,000 miles.dealer was notified.please provide more information.
On december 13, 2001 my wife returned from a visit with her mother in galesburg illinois.as usual she parked our 1996 ford windstar in the garage.since my son and i had to make a trip to iowa city the next day, i decided to fill the van up with gas.upon trying trying to start the van i notice that the heat gauge was indicating that the van was overheating.i question my wife about this and she said that the van had not shown any signs of overheating on the way home.i took the van to dennison ford in bloomington illinois on december 17, 2001 and they informed me that the head gaskets had blown and that it would cost approximatel $1700.00 to repair.on december 22, 2001 i authorized dennisons to make the repairs.i got the van back the same day. On feburary 1, 2002 my daughter took the van to champaign illinois to pick up my son.this was the first time the van had been on the highway since the head gaskets had been replaced.i receive a call from my daughter from champaign telling me that the van had died and they couldn't get it started.on the way to champaign i called my daughter and found out that they were able to get the van started and were at my son's dorm.when i arrived at champaign i inspected the van and didn't find anything wrong,there were no light or any warning indications.i decided to drive the van home and gave my vehical to my kids.on the way home, approximately 10 miles from my son's dorm, i attempted to pass a semi.while passing the engine died.this left me in a very unsafe condition.there were cars in front and back of me and a semi on the right.i was able to get the van off the road with out an accident, but just barely.the van was tolled back the dennison's.later that day i was informed thatthe engine had blown and that it would cost approximately $3300.00 to repair.
I have a 1996 ford windstar with one of those 3.8l engines. My problems began withan antifreeze leak resulting from head gasket problems.i have just had the engine replaced in my van and the cost was $5000.i contacted the ford motor company consumer number at the suggestion of a friend who said that there had been a recall on her windstar.i was told by the ford rep. That my windstar had the wrong vin number to be recalled.i'm having a hard time understanding why some bad 3.8l engines are recalled and replaced if necessary and others are not.can you help?also,the needle on my speedometer fluctuates wildly at speeds over 30.i know that this, too, is a common problem with windstars.
Leaking oil onto engine resulting in all new seals, gaskets and head gasket, due to failure.
3.8l v-6 blown head gasket 1996 ford windstar known problem.
Ford windstar (1996):a local mechanic said that our rough idle, engine light, and smell of antifreeze indicated a head-gasket problem. Hill and sanders ford service station checked for pressure leaks, but could only suggest that it was bad plugs causing the "misfire code" in the computer. After $318, we got new spark plugs and a reset warning light.within a week, the check engine light came on, and the rough idle and smell of antifreeze reappeared. We returned it to h&s and mentioned that it was a continuation of the previous, with a new symptom of discolored antifreeze in the overflow container (oil color). H&s said the engine light was a result of a "misfire code"but didn't know why. The only thing h&s did was flush the radiator for $100, and admitted they don't know what else it could be. A few days later the engine light came on.on nov. 20, 2000 the van started making mechanical noises from the engine, lost power, and slowed to a crawl.my wife got it to a safe location where she and the kids could wait to have it towed to h&s.a note referenced the previous 2 h&s visits for related problems. H&s's told me that "something inside the engine came loose" and that he recommends we replace the engine for $5050!he didn't know what was wrong.we called h&s ([xxx] ) the next day and told him that we felt that h&s should be responsible for the damages due to their inability to detect and fix the problem, and sending us away with a feeling that the problem was fixed or inconsequential.h&s felt that they were not responsible.our original mechanic was amazed that h&s didn't suspect something was wrong when oil was found in the antifreeze, and that they only flushed the system! we feel helpless and taken advantage of. Anything we can do to recover our loss? [xxx] vin [xxx]information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
I have a 1996 3.8l windstar with head gasket failure.i see that the 1995's were recalled but nothing so far on the 1996's.these are the same engine all the way to 98.ford company will do nothing since the vehicle is out of warrenty.i was told by a service manager to sell the vehicle to someone and not disclose the mechanical problem.i called the main company and they took my information but said there is no program for people with 1996 windstars.i pointed out that they need o check the internet if they want some feedback.this vehicle was purchased because of it's safety record to transport my wife and kids.now, after looking at the information on the internet, i know this engine is neither safe nor reliable.something needs to be done but the company will not stand behind their products.i'm just thankful the engine failed in a parking lot and not on some busy freeway with my family inside.
Head gasket blown, requires engine replacement.
Speedometer: shakes back & forth on highway . Impossible to know speed travelling( unless equipped with good stopwatch & excellent math skills). Head gasket- failed .must be replaced. Does not meet any extended warranty criteria.
Dealer said head gasket needed replacing.in reading the nhtsa files for the windstar, i noticed a preponderance of head gasket failures and problems, right around the 100,000 mile mark (i.e. Out of any warranty).also, the check engine light kept coming on indicating various problems with the emission system.i had various repairs related to this.
My 3.8l windstar was checked at 60k at dealer.at 68k check engine lamp stayed on. Dealer identified the problem as head gasket failure & informed engine has to be replaced.vehicle received back after repair (new engine) after paying heavy & now has speedometer problem
This complaint consist of four failures that are engine related: (1) head gasket failed while being driven, and leaked fluid onto hot engine. (2) timing gasket failed along with gasket failing. (3) intake manifold runners failed, and the check engine light came on.the van is undrivable. (4) faulty main engine bearings.please describe details.
The apparently common blown head gasket on the 3.8l engine has occurred on my '96 ford windstar.i've been told by the local ford service center that ford is not compensating owners for this obvious design flaw.
According to jerry's ford lincoln mercury, an authorized ford dealer in leesburg, virginia, my engine blew a head gasket.this happened when i started the car.there were 2 passengers, ages 15 and 16, and myself, the driver in the car at the time this occurred.i contacted ford and was told that the build date of my engine was 12/19/95 and that the engine had been built in their oakville plant in ontario, cananda.orson, ford employee badge #2092 acknowledged that a recall had been issued on engines built in 1995 with this problem, but that no 1996 vehicles were involved.i explained to him that i appeared to have been affected as well.he stated that ford would not offer me any assistance, goodwill or otherwise, with this defect and that i should contact william clay ford, jr. In dearborn, michigan if i wished to pursue the matter further.
Had noticed smoke and steam coming from tailpipe out of rear view mirror.engine head gaskets blewout while driving. Vehicle kept going after that.the 1995 , 3.8 engine vehicles made by the manufacturer were known for blowing head gasket.
Right oil pump gasket failed.
My 1996 ford windstarblew a head gasket with only 76125 miles. Cost for repair will be 1333.25 . And from what i have read on the internet ,my windstar is not the only one with the blown headgasket problem.
Engine missed/surged for several months beginning 4th quarter 1999.several attempts made by two ford dealers to determine problem.langdale ford finally diagnosed as blown head gasket, number 2 cylinder.said chronic problem exists with this engine and there have been recalls,but not for our specific year yet.ford refuses to recognize problem or cover part (or all)of cost in spite of the fact that they are currently (2/28/2000) recalling the 1995 version of our engine.
1996 ford windstar 3.8l head gasket failure at #4 piston
At the 90,000 checkup the mechanic said our timing cover gasket is leaking and antifreeze is coming through.if it is not fixed whole engine will seize up.sounds like the problems of the 1995!
Vehicle was taken in for regular service.consumer asked mechanicwhy car was starting so roughly,and mechanic said it needed a head gasket. Consumer was having the same problem as mentioned in recall on head gasketson the ford windstar 1994/ 1995.
The consumer requested assistance to get ford to extend their head gasket recall to include the 1996 ford windstar. The gasket on the consumers vehicle needs to be replaced.*nlm
Head gasket has blownout,causing damage to engine which occurred over night. Please provide further information.
Ford has extended warranty coverage for 1995 windstar head gasket failures, but refuses to do the same for 1996 windstars despite the thousands of 1996 windstar owners experiencing the same head gasket failures with their 3.8 engines. The repair bill is $1300! ford is trying to cover up its head gasket defect. Please force ford to issue a recall. Thanks.
The premature failure of the 3.8l engine head gasket was first noticed by myself during a routine inspection of my fluid levels and engine compartment.what i noticed was what appeared to be a coolant leak around the head gaskets.under more constant supervision my wife and i observed other symptoms which include a more constant drop in the coolant level and a loss of heat when the heating system was operating.these symptoms seemed seriuos so we decided not to drive the vehicle until it has been serviced.through friends and relatives we have discovered that this problem is occuring with many windstar owners so we have decided to further research this matter which is how we have come across your site.please contact us with any updates you may have on this matter.thank you.
While traveling vehicle commenced to run rough and engine check light would come on. Vehecle taken to anindependent repair shop. Consumer was informed of a blown head gasket. Manufacturer notified, and informedconsumer that vehicle was not cover undered extended warranty.
Engine check light kept coming on.vehicle taken to the dealer,and informed consumer that engine needs replacement due to a blown head gasket. Please feel free to provide further details.
I purchased a 1996 ford windstar in september of 1998.it had 15,000 miles on it.it has the 3.8l v6 engine.the van currently has 84,452 miles on the odometer.on march 28, 2003 the check engine light appeared.i took the vehicle to my local ford dealer to be fixed.they advised that the engine had a miss-fire on cylinder number 1.they checked the spark plug, spark plug wire and coil.they did not determine why the engine misfired and concluded that it must have been a fluke.i paid for the work completed.i drove approximately one half mile and the check engine light again appeared. On march 28th, i was informed by the shop forman that the fuel injector on number 1 cylinder was not working.a fuel injector was ordered and installed.on monday, march 31, 2003i paid a bill for $136.31 for the repair of the fuel injector.as i drove the windstar to my home the check engine light appeared.the shop forman advised me that the fuel injector was not the problem and that an alternate engine computer was tried. On wednesday, april 2, 2003 i was advised that an engine knock had developed.it was caused by antifreeze leaking through a head gasket into cylinder number 1.the water in the cylinder caused the piston rod to bend ruining the engine.a replacement engine will cost $3400.i asked the shop forman if an engine compression check had been done during the engine diagnosis.he advise that no compression check was done since a pressure check of the engine had been done by this shop a few months previous because the coolant level was low.i have found many testimonials and complaints regarding the 1996 3.8l v6 engine.i believe that ford should pay for the new engine.*nlm
Consumer took car into dealer's shop for a brokenspeedometer, and mechanic noticed ahead gasket leak.alerted consumer to some recalls on those vehicles, but they had a different year.
Consumer states vehicle 3.8 v6 engine was losing coolants and running rough while driving, dealer notified and informed of a cracked head gasket.nlm
Water level loss in radiator due to head gasket failure.
Check the engine light came on and the coolant was leaking due to head gasket failure. The consumer noticed that the 1995 windstars had been issued a recall notice but when the consumer contacted the manufacturer but they were unwilling to help with the cost of repair, the consumers technician replaced the defective parts with a newly designed part.yh
Consumer states vehicle needs a replacement head gasket. Vehicle has been to the dealership numerous times for repeated "check engine light" illuminating.recent repair done to vehicle was on the intake gasket and o2 sensor.*jg*yd
Head gasket failure of 3.8l ford engine at a cost of $1500 to repair.this is a know and documented failure mechanism on these engines that needs to be remedied.
Engine started overheating, engine check' light came. Noticed oil mixed with coolantin reservoir. Dealer confirmed head gasket failure.
While traveling on the highway without prior warning the head gasket blew.oil was leaking from underneath the vehicle and shut down and the vehicle wouldn't restart. Please provide additional information dealer is aware of the problem. Ts
Engine light came on and off, on and off, etc.took it of service center.they said we had blown a head gasket.took to another service center they said it was the intake manifold gaskets.had them replaced.now have an antifreeze leak in the timing cover.service center said they don't want to fix it cause the engines end up seizing after about 2 months after repairing these leaks.they said to just keep an eye on the fluid level and keep it filled.i wish we wouldn't have purchased this vehicle.....
Head gasket failure.
Engine loses power while driving, possible head gasket failure, dealer notified.*nlm
Engine checks light kept coming on.vehicle taken to dealer on three occasions,and informed consumer of a possible blown head gasket. However,vehicle was not covered under manufacturer's recall due to vin.
Consumer stated that head gasket is cracked. Dealer and manufacturer has been notified.
Our 96 windstar head gasket has failed and we are out almost $1500 to replace it.ford knows of the problems but has only agreed to fix the 95 windstar at this time.we would like to join in any class action lawsuit regarding this subject.
Check engine light came on repeatedly and dealership tried to fix as follows:8,369 miles - replaced spark plug wires; 14,184 miles replaced "bad" hego bank; 34,442 miles replaces plugs 4 and 5; 34,479 miles replaced hego #2; 37,843 miles replaced spark plug wires (again); 38,111 miles replaced bad shaft in synchonizer sensor; 44,489 miles replaced "defective" vacuum elbow; 44,552 miles cleaned resistors and replaced upper intake o rings; 47,420 miles light came on and went off by itself; 50,000+ miles light came on and went off when battery was replaced; 56,000+ miles noticed coolant "disappearing from auxillary coolant tank - took in and dealership couldn't find anything wrong but put in dye -- took back in a few weeks when coolant disappeared again - diagnosis:head gasket failure; had head gaskets replaced, but check engine light would not go off and engine was misfiring -- diagnosis:bent rod .
We have been told that the front gasket cover is damaged and needs to be r eplaced. We have also been told that there is a recall for this same thing on 1995 models.we have an estimate to repair at $2,000.this car has been properly maintained and we should not have this kind of problem with the engine.we feel that ford should pay for the cost of repairing the engine.
Head gasket failed. Ford provided new head gaskets and sometimes complete engines for same problem in 1995 windstars with 3.8l engine, but denies there is a problem with the 1996 same model engine. Since there are hundreds of other identical complaints about the 1996 windstar 3.8l on this website, i find ford's denials pretty hard to believe! this has created a serious financial hardship, and ford has refused to compensate in any way for the obviously defective part. I am requested that you proceed with an investigation, and will be contacting my senators and representative.
White smoke was coming out of tailpipe &engine check light came on.dealer hasn't been able to do anything about the problem.manufacturer toldconsumer that it was not a safetyproblem.
Engine checklight displayed,white smoke billowing out of tail pipe.
Vehicle experienced a blown head gasket.
My head gasket failed arounf 70000 miles!94 and 95 ford windstars have already been recalled due to head gasket problems.there are many 1996 failures as well.what can we do to get ford to address this same problem with the 96 windstar?
Head gasket failure lead to destruction of engine, this is same as 95 windstars, why are 96's not included in re-call!cost of this repair $3500 (canadian)we are a family of five struggling to make it everyday, how can we swallow this????
1996 ford windstar experienced engine failure.*mrconsumer feels this is a major failure with this engine. The consumer's ford windstar is still sitting at the dealer awaiting some sort of answer from any govering body.
These 3.8 l engines are known for blown headgasket problems, and for fords lack of standing behind its so called quality products , i'm not a believer of that : thats why i will never own a ford product again.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Was driving vehicle whenhead gaskets blewout.started to lose antifreeze; this causedengine to overheat. Took vehicle to independent mechanic, andinformedconsumer problem of head gaskets can be repaired. Consumer also had a check engine problem due to cylinder, ford could not duplicate the problem, so consumer has his personal mechanic to reset the engine when the light comes on.
My 1996 3.8l ford windstar slowly developed a head gasket leak after approximately 80,000 miles.my van is well maintained with all the appropriate supporting documents. I have searched the net and i have found the head gasket leak problem with this model is shared by other numerous owners as well. It is apparent that ford needs to recall the 1996 windstar gasket leak as they did on their 1995 model. Ford has implied the gasket has been repaired on the 1996 model. My van is a testamentthe defect on the head gasket has not been resolved. I would like to add my complaint to your list and hopefully force ford to extend the recall to the 1996 model as well.
Headgasket replacement.same problems w/ other windstars-ford won't fix.
The head gasket failed causing us great problems, ie:loss of car to drive, financial hardship.the 1995 windstar's had a program that allowed for the repair of this issue.we bought our 1996 windstar on february 16, 1996 and we are not offered any assistance or resolution re: this failure and defect.
Engine check light came on, took to repair shop they confirmed blown headgasket, i understand this year and model of van and the engine are defective, how do i get ford to pay for repairs?
Head gasket has blown on 3.8 liter engine which could have caused other damage to vehicle parts.
Engine check light was on/ off.consuemr sent vehicle to a radiator shop, and they referred her todealer. Dealer has to replacegaskets because they havedestroyedengine. Antifreeze was apparently leaking, it has to be filled frequently.
Consumer stated while traveling and without any indication vehicle started surging, andcheck engine light started flashing. Vehicle was serviced, technician noticed thathead gasket needed to be replaced.
For approximately 2 months i noticed loss of compression during acceleration and occasional knocking sound from back of engine. Without tearing engine apartit seemed that the head gasketfailed and allowed fluids into the engine. Confirmed rod bearingfailed at 94,000 miles. Carwas not drivable now.
Heater not working...low coolant...had to replace head gasket.
Engine head gaskets were leaking coolant. Consumer was told by manufacturer that this problem has been recognized by the manufacture in canada,and that the warranty was extended to the us for 7 yrs/ 100000 miles.
While driving 65 mph the engine was producing a loud rattling noise. The dealer statedhead gasketfailed. As a result, the entire engine needed to be replaced. The consumer stated that while driving the vehicle the heat would not work it only blew cold air.a few minutes into driving the consumer noticed that the tempreture gauge was going in the red zone.the engine starting rattling and died.the consumer saw smoke coming from under the hood.*tc
Vehicle shut off while going through the intersection, no prior warning. Consumer tookvehicle to dealership. Mechanic told him thatwarranty has expired.
Gasket failure leaked coolant into engine oil damaging engine.
The contact owns a 1996 ford windstar.while stopped at a traffic light, the contact noticed smoke coming from the hood.the contact turned off the vehicle and the smoke ceased; however, the hood caught fire when the vehicle was started again.the contact extinguished the fire and there were no injuries.the vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer.the current and failure mileages were 135,000.
Cylinder head gasket problem resulting in internal antifreeze leak, causing bearings to go bad - engine replacement required.
Manufacturer has recalled '95 windstars for faulty head gasket and not '96 even though same design, materials and point of assembly.
96 windstar had failed nj state inspection but was running fine.vehicle has 109,000 miles and dealer informed me it has leaking head gaskets.dealer will not accept any responsibility for problem.vehicle has been serviced at this dealer for about 3 years and no mention was ever made about the potential for this problem even though it is quite apparent that this is a latent defect at least until the 1997 year.factory campaigns were in place through 95 and problem was reduced on 96 vehicles but still existed.
Blown head gasket - engine failure - 1996 ford windstar.
Consumer feels manufacturer should extend recall regarding defective head gaskets for 1996 models.
Head gasket failed, same problem as 95, which were repaired.i was teaching my teen age daughter to drive and the engine could have easily failed causing a very inexperienced driver to crash.in a letter to ford and a several conservations, they state that the problem was solved.persusal through numerous car web sites indicates that this is a common problem.ford told me it was my problem.
Head gasket failure--same part and problem as on '94 and '95 ford windstar
The vehicle stalled without warning.the consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealer.the mechanic informed the owner that the engine head gasket failed.
Computer codes indicate a head gasket failure
The head gasket leaked coolant.*dt
My check engine light stays on and if i hit the brakes suddenly the brake light will come on.
Problems with head gaskets / if compression check had been done bending of piston rods may not have occurred.*mrthe consumer experienced, rough idle along with the smell of anti freeze(indicated a head gasket problem), the engine light had come on as a result of a misfire code(the radiator was flushed), there were noises that had come from the engine(lost power/slowed to a crawl), and the consumer was told that something had come loose in the engine. (there was an intermittent miss in cylinder #1) the rough idle and the smell of antifreeze was repaired, the service dealer recommended the consumer replace the engine.*scc
I took my windstar in for 90,000 mile service (a little early) and was told the head gasket was bad and i am losing anti-freeze as a result.i found it odd, since the vehicle has been serviced regularly and has never overheated.i did some investigation and found the 1995 windstar's with the same engine were given extended warranties to cover a "known" head gasket problem.i called ford and was told my vin was not covered and has an "upgraded" head gasket.i argued that if in fact it is upgraded, it certainly is not upgraded enough.i have been quoted $800 to $1200 to make the repair.i can see from my reseach that many ford vehicles with this size engine have the same problem with head gasket failure.ford should correct the problem for its customers.
Timing cover seal was leaking, upon having this problem fixed, the engine began making a knocking noise, engine was replaced.
Headgasket failure. Ford is holding to their mileage limit, although mileage has no bearing (no moving parts). 95 and 96 windstars w/ 3.8l have horrible history of headgasket failures. Ford's own service plan allowed unlimited mileage for 95's through 98. No similar plan for 96's. Ford also refuses to reply in writing. Will only reply via phone.
Have in ford dealer shop a 1996 ford windstar with 92,100 miles on it.it has the infamous 3.8l engine head gasket and front cover gasket problem, as previously defined by ford motor company.ford customer assistance center refuses to cover the cost of this.
Engine never overheated blown headgasket and water in the cylender threw a rod when i started it up.
While vehicle was parked, owner noticed an oil leak. This was due to a blown engine head gasket. Dealer is offering an extended warranty.
Blown head gasket and intake manifold gasket at 70,700 miles took in to mechanic repair bill is approximately. $1200.00. I only had this vehicle since june 2002. It is now march 2003.found out that there was a new engine put in my van february of 2001.
3.8 liter engine.head gaskets failed prematurely. Dealer was inspecting and will repairvehicle.manufacturer has been notified.
Engine experienced loss of coolant.vehicle taken to dealer, and informed consumerof a head gasket failure which was not covered underextended warranty. Check the engine light came on while the vehicle was new but the dealer was unable to find the cause.
Engine head gasket cracked, resulting in oil leakage.the dealer has been notified.
Vehicle misfires. Consumer found water in oil and exhaust. Took vehicle to dealerand dealer stated that it was a blown head gasket.engine needed to be replaced. Please provide any furtherinformation.
Timing chain covercracked, causing coolant leakage. Dealer / manufacturer notified, and informed consumer that thisvehicle was not covered under manufacturer's recall. Feel free to provide further details.
The head gasket failed.*ph *nlm
3.8 liter engine 44,000 miles and the head gasket failed.this is the same problem with the 1995 windstar that ford is now addressing.my quoted price to get fixed was over $1600.the dealership contacted ford and they agreed to pay less then 3/4 of the cost.i am responsible to pay $495 to fix the part.i contacted ford and told them that i thought this was obscene that a 4 yr old vehicle driven as a family vehicle with no heavy duty work could have a castrophic engine failure. Of course i got nowhere.i still don't understand why they will fix the 95 windstar and not reimburse me for mine?
Loss of coolant and engine check light on.took to local mechanic, who is ford certified. Told of recall on windstars for this problem. O'meara ford diagnosed as head gasket crack.recall would not include vans after 1995.ours was manufactured in march of 1996.called ford.they would not honor or regard this as their problem.returned to our personal mechanic. He made repairs and found all of the "old" parts as used in vans under recall.he replaced the parts with the newer design ford now uses to eliminate this problem.cost to us was extreme-$1600, which was almost $1000 less than what o'meara ford was estimating.we are very disappointed with ford dealership and ford motor co. Not planning to ever purchase another ford vehicle in the future.
At 60000 miles check engine light came on, indicating a misfire on cylinder 1. Mechanic pulled plug and found coolant in cylinder due to a blown head gasket.
Engine failure at 88,000 miles, rough idle at times, computer replaced at 75,000 miles, head gasket blew, causing engine to fail.
The motor blew up while driving.*ph
Consumerwas losing antifreeze. Took vehicle to deaelr, and they said consumer needs a new head gasket.consumer wasscared that engine gasket may blow on highway withchildren present. The manufacturer had extended the warranty on the 94-95 models admitting the engine was faulty.so, the manufacturer should not fix only some vehicle but not others.
The head gasket failed.
I have a '96 ford windstar with a 3.8 liter v6 engine. This is the 2nd head gasket failure i've had with it. The first was in november of 2003. I paid about $2500 to have the head gaskets replaced then. This time i was driving to work when after a short time i noticed my car heater wasn't working, just blowing cold air. A short time later, i noticed my temperature gauge was going up, and after about 10 minutes, it was in the red zone. A few minutes after that, my engine began making terrible clunking and rattling noises and i had to pull over. As soon as i did, the engine died and wouldn't restart after about 15 minutes of cooling down. I had to be towed to my mechanic's garage which cost me $127, and my mechanic told me that i needed a new engine. The car's been at his garage for the past few days while i decide what i should do. I'm convinced that this is a manufacturing defect for which ford motor company is responsible, especially after reading the complaint log containing so many stories from people who have a car with this type engine. Ford claims they solved this problem after 1995, but the complaint log tells an entirely different story.
Oil contamination. Found oil in the coolnat. Dealer inspection concludes that this is a blown head gasket. An exact problem caused a major recall for the same engine for the years 94-95. No recall yet for year 1996. Growing amount of reports show that this problem exists on the 1996 model that carries the same engine. Dealer recommends to replace the engine block at a cost of $4000. I am expecting ford to pick up these charges due to the reasons stated above.
Engine needs to be replaced after timing cover leak.
I have a 96 ford windstar with a 3.8 liter engine and only 80,000 miles. Ford should be responsible for their actions for installing faulty head gaskets on these 3.8 liter engines. There are many complaints about these engines head gaskets for earlier models as well as mine.
The vehicle had a faulty engine (3.8).the vehicle was repaired eight times for engine related problems.
The head gasket was replaced by the dealer on 3-16-01, due to a crack and leaking coolant.the car had never overheated or shown obvious signs of this, although the engine check light came on after long trips and the dealer said this was o2 sensors.3 weeks after the headgasket replacement, the whole engine blew while on i-81 at 65mph.we lost all power and had to coast to a narrow shoulder.this sounds exactly like the 1995 windstar head gasket problem, but they have not acknowledged the 96 as a manufacturing defect and did not recall the 95 either.
Blown head gaskets.
Failure of head gaskets on engine, resulting in required replacement of the entire engine.same engine that ford is currrently replacing in 1994 and 1995 model year windstars, for the same reason - premature failure of head gaskets.ford will not reimburse for the cost of repairs of this engine, although it is perfectly clear that it has failed for the same reasons as the 1994 and 1995 model year.ford has admitted to this problem being present, yet is not taking any action to rectify the situation for owners of vehicles with the same engine installed in newer model years.
When driving speedometer was waving back from 20 to 90 mph. Consumer contacted dealer, dealer noticed transmission pan had metal in it which causedtransmission to be replaced. Also, noticed a fume odor inpassenger compartment, and contacted the dealer. Dealer noticed that coolant andtiming cover were leaking fluid onto head gasket. Please provide any further details.
We took our 96 windstar into the ford dealer to investigate an oil leak.the service department informed my wife that the oil pan gasket and lip seal, timing cover gasket, upper/lower intake gaskets and u/c gaskets needed replacement at a cost of $1,800.00.i found this unusual and researched these symptoms on the internet and was astonished what i found.the content in the articles on many web sites researched, are identical to what i am experiencing.following the pattern of these stories i am concerned that if the dealer begins the work stated, i will receive a call from him saying that coolant leaked passed the gaskets and i will need a new engine.i also discovered that ford extended the warranty on 95 windstars.there is no indication that ford is planning on extending the warranty for the 96 year however, the information that is public domain clearly indicates a chronic problem.it is my opinion that i should not bear these costs, given the historic problems, and hope that ford will take responsibility to resolve this issue.
Engine coolant leakage at intake manifold & head gasket. Since we bought,been having multiple issues with engine light on & various work done at dealership. On 11/3/01 intake gasket replaced for white exhaust smoke & engine light on. Returned 12/7/01 for engine light on & 02 sensor replaced. 1/3/02 heater blowing cool air- dealer sts head gasket bad. Corporate ford refuses to do goodwill gesture/pay.(mileage to date approx since car still in shop).
Ford is coming up with some type of re-embursement for the 1995 windstars but how about the 1996 windstars. We are having the same head gasket problems as the 1995s.
Head gaskets found to be leaking during service for rough idling. Wait for remanufactured engine greater than 4 weeks and no guarantee from ford as to when the car will be repaired.
Consumer notice while traveling engine indication light was flashing vehicle was service by technician. Technician test vehicle and notice engine head gasket problem please provides further information. Ts
July of 1999 while on vacation in pennsylvania the engine check light came on.a family friend recommended that we not worry about the problem unless the light stayed on.the light went off but then came back on a couple of times over the next few months.finally in april of 2000 the light came on and stayed on.the ford dealership informed us that the head gaskets were blown.the dealership told us that they would pay most of the $1400.00 repair bill but we still ended up with $600.00 on our part.we have contacted ford twice about this failure at only 53,000 miles.we believe that we should be reimbursed our $600.00.we are shocked to see how many 1996 windstars are having the same problems.we have asked ford to tell us the number of gasket failures they have seen on the 1996's.they have refused to provide that information.please help us.thank you for your time and attention to this problem.
Consumer stated that ondecember 11, 2000haed gasket was replaced due to crack and coolant leakage that got intopiston and other parts ofengine. Currently, engine is not working, and manufacturer will not be responsible forrepairs.consumer believed that deterioration of engine was due to defective head gasket.
In the 20 months that i've owned this vehicle the engine block has over - expanded twice - causing the head gasket to fail.both times i wastraveling on interstate highways. Thier was no warning prior to failure(complete loss of power due to heat fatigue). Fortunatly i was able to manuever the vehicle off to the shoulder without causing an accident.this is definately a safety concern for other owners of this vehicle.
My 3.8l, 1996 ford windstar gl at almost 100k started leaking coolant through a blown head gasket. I was able to get home safely despite almost completely overheating.i am now without transportation for me and my four small children, walking a total of 2 miles a day to get my 7 yr old daughter to/ from school with a 5, 3 and 1yr old. My husband's job is our only source of income so this will be a *huge* financial burden getting this fixed (not to mention the new problem over the malfunctioning 'door open' indicator).i have found windstar head gasket problems are very common after talking with several mechanics. The issue is acknowledged by ford as they extended warranty on the 1995 windstars. Why can't they own up to a defective engine and extend this to the 1996 windstars as well?! this blatant disregard by ford will get someone hurt or worse (god forbid) killed. Ford needs to take care of this!!
Noticed check engine light on in december 2001.looked in manual and said needed to complete 3 cooled complete cycles, but light didn't go off.started leaking coolant and temperature gauge would go to hot.heater would blow out cold air.took to an independent mechanic and was told it had a cracked block and that ford has had these same problems with previous years.contacted dealership and they are unwilling to do anything to help out.am in the process of contacting ford company to see if they will be willing to help.please follow up with any information.at this point my family of 5 is driving around in a small pick up truck beause i am unable to drive the van since told it could stop on me at anytime and cause even more damage.
Engine light comes on, stays on engine runs rough. This continued form january to july with vehical going in to shop as much as 5 times in one day . Sayville ford on last arrival said head gasket falure as in all windstars from 1995and 96. They said this in january and every vist after that until the last one when white smoke came out of exhaust. Then they said replace head gaskets. At this time they found the number 1 cylinder rod bent and i would need a new engine. They still have the vehical and want me to pay for damages i will not seeing they should have fixed it in the begining. I called ford motor company and they would not step in saying the delership and the car is my problem. I even asked for the factory rep tolook into this problem and was told the delership would have to request him. They will not call him where do people turn for a fair shake? please call me ?!!
Consumer was traveling 65mph onhighway and noticed thattemperature gauge went up and was red. He pulled over toshoulders and liftedhood. Checked coolant, and noticed that there was no coolant inside ofvehicle. Headgasket leak caused the temprature gauge to go up.
3.8 v6 engine check light stays on while driving, vehicle is leaking oil and running rough; vehicle taken to dealer and informed of ablown head gasket. Feel free to provide any further information.
Engine cylinder head failed due to a manufacturing defect.
While driving engine checklight was illuminating ondashboard. Consumer contacteddealer to have vehicle inspected,and mechanic replacedspark plugs and other parts.later,mechanic discovered thathead gasket malfunctioned, causing the problem.consumer states head gasket was replaced, subsequently since the repair the check engine light has come on twice.
Took in for service as a result of no heat. Loss of coolant, oil present in coolant, leak of oil and water at timing cover seal, lower intake manifold and suspect engine oil cooler.auto repair shop indicates that it has a cracked block and will need a new engine.
Engine failure at 88,000 miles, rough idle at times, computer replaced at 75,000 miles, head gasket blew, causing engine to fail.
Ford has a history of head gasket failures on the 3.8 engine from 1995 on.also speedometer cable head has went out for the 2nd time!
1995 windstar 3.8l engines have gotten extended warranties on blown head gaskets in their engines.it is apparent the 1996 windstar 3.8l engine has the same problem but ford has not extended the warranty for this model year.request the nhtsa force ford to back up their products that are known to be defective.
Vehicle was overheating while driving,.dealer notified , and replacedwater pump and the timing cover. Feel free to provide any further information.
Engine (3.8l) was leaking coolant onto engine cylinder.also, oxygen sensor needs to be replaced.
Problems encountered by consumer on 1996 ford windstar.(nar)*la
Check enginestays on after tuneup ... Does not lose speed... Runs rough after accelerating anddoesn't not overheat ....what is the problem.
I have a '1996 ford windstar.it was taken into the shop for an oil change and they discovered water in the oil.i know that ford knows this is a problem.there has been no damage to the motor but the head does need to be fixed.the repairs have not been done yet because they are costly.i feel ford should at the least help cover some of the cost.
Consumer states that the head gasket failed.
Consumer noticed oil beading up incoolant tank.took vehicle to dealership andhead gasket andengine manifold gaskets were "redesigned" and replaced.on april 5th, consumer noticed oil incoolant recovery tank, causing engine" check light to come on. Vehicle was also misfiring.please provide any additional information/attachments.
Consumer states that the 3.8l v6 engine blew a head gasket and causing loss of coolant and coolant getting into the engine oil. Dealer and the manufacturer has been notified. Feel free to provide any further information.
Due to head gasket which had a crack and caused the oil and the anti freeze to leak and mix together.dealer had to weld the head to fix the problem.please provide further information.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
The head gasket has blown on our mini van.we took it to our local ford dealer who said that most windstars are covered on an extended warranty issued by ford due to manufacutering defects.however, for some reason, our van is not covered.even though it has done just what the others have done, ours is not "their fault."i called the ford hot line and talked with suzette, who was very friendly, but she offered no help other than contacting you.please help.thank you.
Blown head gasket.this is a documented problem with ford's 94 and 95 windstars.in contacting ford's customer assistance center, they indicate that these earlier vehicles are now covered by an extended warranty because nhtsa has determined that ford was at fault; however, they indicate that nhtsa has made no similar ruling on the 1996 model.i have asked ford for an explanation of the defect that was found in the 1994 and 1995 models and the date by which a specific, corrective action was taken to ensure against similar failure in subsequentmodels.the ford customer assistance center indicates that the dealer is the only source of technical information and they are not able to respond to this issue.my question to the nhtsa is whether you can assist in documenting the specifics of the defect and the timeline within which ford took corrective action to your satisfaction?it is possible that i am simply unfortunate and that the head gasket failure on my '96 windstar--although it seems awfully similar to the head gasket failures on hundreds (thousands?) of 94 and 95 windstars--isonly a coincidence?or is it the case that my vehicle has suffered the same fate as those earlier vehicles but not enough of the '96 vehicles have reached the point of failure for this model to have reached statistically significant levels?if i knew that you had pinpointed the problem and that ford had corrected it prior to the build date of my vehicle (which i understand to be feb. 1996) or the manufacturing date of the engine components,i would probably be less frustrated at the $3646.88 bill from ford to replace their "defective" engine. As it stands now, their history of denying the problem with the 94 and 95 vehicles, their reluctance to explain that head gasket problem and the timing of their corrective action,and the recent series of issues involving other of their vehicles in which they appeared to place profits ahead of consumer safety all leave me frustrated.
Engine check light keeps coming on. Taken vehicle todealer,and informed consumer of a head gasket failurewhich was notcovered under a manufacturer's recall.
1996 ford windstar with blown head gasket. Same engine and parts as recalled 1995's. Was stranded on the side of a highway. No assistance from ford. Have read 100's of internet accounts of same problem. Thousands of people with same problem. This is a major saftey hazard.
Engine bearings failed.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Engine blew a rod while crankingvehicle on. Dealer and the manufacturer notified. Manufacturer not willing to do anything because this particular van is not included in recall.
Check engine light comes on< goes off< comes on< goes off< comes on< stays on< goes off! and the dealership (greene ford, gainesville, ga.) always has a different reason for the problem at a cost of approximately. $600 or more to fix each time, to no end. The first time the check engine light came on the imrcs were suppose to be the problem according to the dealerships disagnostics test (cost $80.00) they replaced and supposedly fixed the problem, (cost $560.00). Light came on next day while taking a family vacation out of state. Had an independent machanic perform a tune up on vehicle, replaced plugs, wires, oil change, throttle body cleaned (cost $223.00)the check engine light came back on within two days. Upon the next return to the dealership the diagnostics test (cost another $80.00) reported a code egr insufficient flow and a #4 cylinder misfire (est. Repair costs $600.00). Had a dpfe sensor replaced ($76.00) the check engine light came back on! it is amazing to me that these so called dealerships (experts) with their so called (diagnostics tests) have not the foggiest clue about how to fix this problem. It is also disturbing that after reveiwing the number of complaints on this website, that nhtsa has not ordered ford to stop playing games and force a recall for these problems. It is apparent that others had the same symptoms and problems in the past that never get resolved until the head gaskets fail and the repair bills go from $600.00 to $2000.00. I am accusing ford of knowingly and without regard to the best intrests of their customers allowing major problems to exist and persist in an effort to increase their profits at the customers expense. Ford corparation should be assamed, but they have shown no acceptance of responability. And the dealerships are no better, everytime we discuss this problem with them, we get different answers and costs from day to day and it appears if you complain to much you get to pay even more. Thanks ford, for nothing!
Engine check light came on. Rough idle. Tune-up performed. Oxygen sensor replaced.engine check light is now off. Two days later, engine check light is back on and rough idle returns. Replaced oxygen sensor and plug wires. Next day, driving car and temperature gauge falls almost all the way to cold side. Heater blowing out just a little warm. Pressure tested engine. Leakage in a cylinder. Upon teardiown, head gasket has failed leaking coolant into engine.
Engine was running rough; a lot of white smoke cme out of tailpipe. Radiator was losing antifreeeze every day. Took to dealership & mechanic would not look at vehicle. Contacted ford manufacturer & csr indicated not under extended warranty, no repair will be done. Took to another dealership & was placed on diagnostic machine. Was technical service bulletin on head gaskets, but manufacturer was going by vin.
Head gaskets failed mechanic has replaced several ford 3.8l head gaskets, called ford they refused to pay $1256.13 bill.
I am also one that had to spend $1933.07 beause of head gasket problem. I have also replaced my brake pad 5 times. I have also bought new front tires 3 times in 3 years. The tire wear is unreal. I also have the problem of the odometer not working. The problem with the brakes and engine running sluggish have been since i purchased the van. The odd thing is you don't get warning signs. The check engine light would come on - go off. In order for the dealer to know what is wrong the check engine light must be on.never had any sign of the engine overheating. Great driving van but many, many, many, many, many problems.
Head gasket had to be replaced.
Local garage diagnosed that our 1996 ford windstar van's 3.8l engine had a blown head gasket, which was causing the check engine light to continually come on.combustion gases were in the cooling system, as was oil residue.oil also found in the top part of the engine in the intake manifold.it is suspected that coolant and maybe water have found their way into the cylinders.don't know yet what damage is done internally to the engine.local ford dealership indicated that it was a $2000 charge to repair.engine not under the warranty program issued by ford for the 1995 windstars even though it's the same 3.8l engine.ford customer assistance logged my call but said that they were not treating this issue as a warranty item and that i was on my own to fix it.
Vehicle experienced head hasket failure and states the national highway traffic safety administration stopped their concern at the 1995 ford windstars, consumer believes that the 1996 windstars should have been included since the 1996 vehicle is identical to the 1995 except for the fact they were titled for 1996, a 1996 windstar could have been built in late 1995 and thererfore there is no difference.
Like the 95's, it's only just begun. Head gaskets blown at 64k miles.
1996 ford windstar - failure of head gasket resulting in irreparable engine damage.cost of head gasket repair, ~$1,500.cost of engine replacement ~$4,000.was informed by ford service technician that this was a common problem with windstars from the years '94 through '97 and that ford had a "silent recall" for up to 100k miles where they would have replaced head gasket. *nlm
Head gasket failure, misfiring, 'check engine light on', loosing compression, no repairs are covered, ford windstars produced up until the end of 1995 are being recalled for this same defect, my windstar (build 1/2/1996!!) is not covered. I am concerned about safety (i read about the danger of suddenly losing speed) and yes, i am angry about bearing the cost of repair.
Rods in the engine broke for no apparent reason.ford said that it was not their problem.
Defective engine head gasket that ford is refusing to repair.
Headgasket problems need new engine, just like the 1995 recall but ford wont honor the same problem with the 1996.
Engine check light remains on constantly, vehicle has been checked by dealer several times, but consumer was advised light was not reading a code.head gasket blewout, and dealer advised consumer that light was reading a problem with the head gasket, which was leaking. Also the battery was replaced.
Engine light went on for a couple days, brought vehicle to dealer.they stated that antifreeze leaking into head gasket & that it's possible that i may need a new engiene.i did not leave vehicle at dealer at that time because i stated that i wanted to speak to my mechanic because it would be cheaper to have him do work on vehicle.i contacted my mechanic who told me that the 3.8 litre engiene is known for this problem with head gasket.on 3/19/ 01 dealer contacted me wanting to know if i would be getting head gasket fixed.i stated that after further research i was able to determine that certain 1995 3.8 litre engienes were recalled and that a class action suit was brought against ford motor company on 12/9/99 because of faulty head gaskets.i contacted ford motor company & logged complaint, but they stated that their were no recalls on 1996 ford windstars so they could not do anything.once i complained to dealer that their was a problem with this engiene they offered me a 6 year warranty from original date of purchase or 100,000 miles which ever came firston transmission & engiene up to $2,000.00 with $500.00 deductible.i took this offerwith dealer because we only have 1 vehicle.although i am grateful for this offer, the only reason the dealer offered me this deal was because i informed them that this particular engiene has a faulty head gasket.dealer originally quoted that work on head gasket would cost approximately $1,500 for head gasket repairs or approximately $3,000.00 for new engiene.even though i will have pay $500.00 out of pocket, i believe that the dealer or ford should reimburse me for the head gasket repairs because this has been a problem with this engiene since 1988.i have also been able to locate on the internet @ websitewww.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/ford_windstar_1996_gaskets.htm that other consumers have had the same problem with their 1996 ford windstars 3.8 litreengieneas i have.i appeciate any assistance.
This incident started when i had noticed a small amount of radiator fluid on the garage floor, and a slight smell of radiator fluid when i ran the heater. In addition, the check engine light had come on again in november 2002.i took the van to the apple valley ford dealer and after diagnosing it, i was told the number 4 spark plug is stuck and the gasket needs to be replaced on the timing cover on the engine (this was the source of the radiator fluid leak).the dealers professional opinion was the head gasket is also bad, the head for the #4 plug would need replacing, and combined with the need to replace the timing cover gasket, they recommended a complete engine replacement at $4,400.i declined and took the van to another local mechanic, who unfortunately confirmed the diagnosis and indicated there were known problems and technical service bulletins for engine gasket replacements with ford windstar 3.8 liter v6 engines in 1995.they also indicated they had started seeing this same problem turning up in 1996 models.they also quoted a similar number & recommended using a jasper engine instead of the ford engine as the warranty is 75,000 miles.i also declined and the van is now sitting parked in my driveway while i continue to make car payments on a vehicle i can not drive for fear of engine failure.
Consumer states vehicle needs a replacement head gasket. Vehicle has been to the dealership numerous times for repeated "check engine light" illuminating.recent repair done to vehicle was on the intake gasket and o2 sensor.*jg*yd
Both engine head gaskets have blown at 69,000 miles, causing anti-freeze to leak onto spark plugs.owner will have to pay for repairs. *ml
Same identified problem as 1994-95 head gasket defects that ford has admitted problem and placed a limited 100,000 mile warranty, but for only 94-95 3.8 l engines.
The abs light and check engine lights were on. The dealer mechanic replaced speed sensors and then told me the computer was also bad. He also told me that the main seal was leaking and said that ford had lots of problems with the 3.8l v6 engine. He told me i should get rid of the car.
I took the automobile in for oil change and asked mechanic to look at heater because it didn't seem to be heating properly.that's where the nightmare began.the mechanic called and said there was water in #4 cylinder which i have learned is a problem with 3.8l engines which ford was aware of for some time.the car was towed to ford where the intake gasket and the 18 sensors were replaced.inspite of the noted sludge, they failed to drop the oil pan and sent me on my way into the dark with a car which had not been test driven.the car broke down in less than 5 miles.now i'm being told i need a new engine.shouldn't the engine last longer than 125,000 miles?why did i have to have it tuned up at 100,000 if the engine is only suppose to last another 25,000 miles?ford has proven negligent in dealing with the problems with the 3.8l engine.had my car not broken down that night, the next morning i would have set out at 5:15am on i-20 and i285 in atlanta.it was by the grace of god that this car broke down so quickly when they failed to repair it properly.
While traveling on a busy interstate, engine light went on.van lost speed and started overheating. I was able to make it off highway.van died had to be towed.told it was cracked head due to coolant leakage.warranty company refuses to pay claim.. Speedometer flips around, estimate repair cost is $475.warranty company refusee to pay.
I have a 1996 windstar with just over 40,000 miles - v-8 engine. The engine warning light came on, and i stopped driving and dropped the car off at the dealer.he said it has blown head gaskets and after research online, i find that this is an engine problem that ford has with windstars.i would like to see a recall orderedon all ford 3.8 engines having this problem.
Head gasket blew on 3.8l engine while sitting in a parking lot.caused additional damage to the starter and flywheel wheel broke.
Head gasket failed. Yh
Our engine failed as a result of a defective gasket of which ford motor co. Is fully aware but refuses to do anything about.
Consumer states new head gaskets were needed and vehicle had relatively low mileage, ford would not provide any financial help, so consumer had no choice but to trade vehicle in.
1996 3.8 ford windstar has a blown head gasket which ruined my engine. Ford refused to do anything to help with this problem even though it is a well know problem.*nlm
Premature failure of head gasket causing engine coolant to leak into the #1 cylnder causing a miss fire and the vehicle to run rough.engine light came on and i brought it to the dealer.the dealer had it for a few days, replced the spark plugs and said it was fine.on the ride back from the dealer the engine light came back on.the dealer then kept it for another two days and found the coolant in the #1 sparkplug well.brought to an independent repair shop where it was determnined to be a head gasket failure.
I also have a 1996 windstar will all of the mentioned head gasket problems.van sits in rear, am currently driving toyota with 200+ i pulled from back yard after being stagnent for 3 years. No money to repair,causing hardship in family.i believe to be fords problem but doesnt look like they are going to admit as a trouble, will not buy another and will not support 6 family members when they lose their jobs do to this problem.my van was also manufactured in canada 12/96 and vin seems to be in sequence with others. Van just turned 100,000 a week ago.
Engine check light came on and we immediately took the vehicle for service.found out it was head gasket problem.contacted ford after a week of not being able to get the needed parts for repair and was told my vehicle was not on recall list.also found out that they are unwilling to help since vehicle not under warranty.took 2 weeks in shop to get fixed and replacement parts were ordered outside of ford dealership because they couldn't get the right part.it ended up costing $300 additional to original estimate.
This failure stranded my wife and children along the side of a busy highway.it was a catastrophic failure of the main head gasket and has resulted in repair cost exceeding 2200 dollars at this point.ford is not willing to admit the defect, even though my preliminary research indicates that hundreds of other windstar owners are experiencing the same problem of premature failure.please help us get justice by forcing ford to repair/replace the defective parts at reduced or no cost!!!
Engine head gasket blew out, allowing coolant to leak inside the engine compartment. Dealer has replaced engine head gasket once before, for the same defect. Problem is occurring again.
Leak in gasket for timing chain cover not covered under warranty because i am not the original owner.
Have had the minivan in several times for symptoms of the head gasket failure only to find problem after warranty expired. Transmission has always "clunked" when shifting into drive or reverse, this is a daily problem the dealership cannot "find". Windshield cracked overnight in november. We don't think the windshield should have been so fragile.
Noticed check engine light on in december 2001.looked in manual and said needed to complete 3 cooled complete cycles, but light didn't go off.started leaking coolant and temperature gauge would go to hot.heater would blow out cold air.took to an independent mechanic and was told it had a cracked block and that ford has had these same problems with previous years.contacted dealership and they are unwilling to do anything to help out.am in the process of contacting ford company to see if they will be willing to help.please follow up with any information.at this point my family of 5 is driving around in a small pick up truck beause i am unable to drive the van since told it could stop on me at anytime and cause even more damage.
Head gasket leaking, master cylinder froze up and caused smoke and damage to brake system on 3 wheels, abs light kept coming on, in for repairs on several occasions and light was disconnected by dealer, engine light on: o2 sensor replaced,speedometer failed to register speeds, driverside window goes down while driving, replaced by dealer,door open light turns on randomly, sliding door fails to lock with electric locks.what is going to be next?
Ford should be forced to recall the '96's as well as the '95's. Same engine same problem. I was told the check engine light was just emissions. Not to worry about it . Head gasket failure is something to worry about. Repairs are $1000.00.
Dealer informed thatengineshot a bearing and needed to be replaced. Feel free to provide any further informnation.
Vehicle has a blown head gasket, causing engine damage.the same engine in the 1995 windstars have been recalled for total replacement of the head gaskets and all related damage.the 1996 windstars that carried the same engine are not being recalled. According to the dealer these must be repaired at the owners expense, and may cause a total engine failure if continue driving.these engines were only placed in the early models of the 1996, and then after the 3.8 l engines were recalled the newer 1996 windstars contain the 3.0l engine.we feel that ford should cover the cost of repair as it is the same engine as the 1995 windstar.
Vehicle was starting to miss, and gasket was leaking water into oil pan.please provide any further information.
3.8 liter engine 44,000 miles and the head gasket failed.this is the same problem with the 1995 windstar that ford is now addressing.my quoted price to get fixed was over $1600.the dealership contacted ford and they agreed to pay less then 3/4 of the cost.i am responsible to pay $495 to fix the part.i contacted ford and told them that i thought this was obscene that a 4 yr old vehicle driven as a family vehicle with no heavy duty work could have a castrophic engine failure. Of course i got nowhere.i still don't understand why they will fix the 95 windstar and not reimburse me for mine?
We bought this van 07/25/00, since then it has had head gasket replacement, and two engines, 0-2 sensors, heater plug, now the pcm, we have only driven our van for @ 6 months, all repairs have been done at dealership, today is 11/24/01. And our van is at the dealership as i submit this. I have copy of all records.thank you,[xxx]parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
I am reporting this problem due to the fact that ford motor fails to admit there is a problem. I have spoken to many garages in the cincinnati area and they have had to replace many head gaskets. The mechanics at castrucci ford said they have repaired two windstars and were working on the third. This problem could cause catastophic engine failure and possibly result in an accident!!!! i feel that ford should recall these vehicles.
94-95 ford windstar engines are having head gasket problems. When i contacted them they said it was vans mfg. From dec 93 to aug 95 and that my 96 was not involved. Just because the sticker says my van was mfg. In 96 does not mean that the engine could not have been mfg at the same time as a the engine for 94 or 95 van. They are offering money for trade-in or engine replacement. It seems very coincidental that they just announced this problem on 94-95 vans and my 96 has this problem.
I own a 1996 ford windstar with a 3.8l v-6 engine.the vehicle currently has about 72,000 miles on it.it is now in the shop with a blown head gasket that will require a new long-block motor and possibly the replacement of the catalytic converter because antifreeze/oil was passing through it due to the gasket failure.i'm currently looking at a $5,800 bill to repair the vehicle.my query to ford motor company resulted in a response that they can't do anything for me...that there are "no warranties, recalls or customer satisfaction programs" on my vehicle.my research shows that there are a ton of complaints of blown head gaskets in the 1996 fordwindstar, but ford refuses to do anything about it.ford was hit with class action suits regarding the 1995 ford windstar that has the same problem and eventually agreed to extend the 1995 windstar warranty period.head gaskets should last the life of the vehicle. It should not fail at 72,000 miles.my vehicle had all of the required maintenance performed when they were due.this is not a case of a neglected vehicle from a maintenance perspective.ford needs to step up and take corrective action.the service rep has told me that if they can't get a re-built in the next couple of days, it will probably be next week before the repairs will be completed.next week is christmas.this was my first ford product that i purchased.it will be the last.any company that has this much disloyalty to its customers can not expect any loyalty in return.their actions speak volumes to the lack of quality control in their product, customer service and, quite frankly, any sense of common decency.a proper head gasket would have cost them probably under $10.00 when the engine was built.it is now costing me $5,800 to fix their inaptitude and incompetence.
Small coolant leak into engine from head gasket.
My 1996 windstar has a blown head gasket.
3.8l engine. Head gaskets blewout. Ford has extended warranty on1995 windstars with3.8l engine. Manufacturer has been notified.
Ongoing problem with 3.8l v6 engine check light coming on,running rough and loss of coolant.dealer and manufacturer were notified. Feel free to provide any further information.
Manifold gasket and head gasket failed causing the vehicle to use excessive amount of coolant and check engine light was illuminated injectors and egr ports were cleaned, 2 months later when the vehicle began smoking thick white smoke, this dealer found that the head gasket had blown and that the consumer was 12 days late for the manufacturer's recall.
I have a 1996 ford windstar (3.8-liter engine) with almost 78,000 miles.i've owned is since it was new.it experienced a blown head gasket 3 weeks ago.the service manager at bert weinman ford here in chicago recommended that i replace the engine.i did so at a price of almost $4500.from what i know, ford has a serious problem with head gaskets in this engine.they have offered extended warranty for some model years, but none which covers my vehicle.
It was at the beginning of march and i noticed that as i was driving the heater would blow warm air and then for no reason it would blow cold air. I thought that it was probably a bad heater core or thermostat so i took it to our local mechanic. He checked it out and said that it was a blown head gasket. He suggested that we check with our local ford dealer because he had heard there was a recall on the 3.8 liter engine. We checked with them and of course they didn't want to tell us much until after we brought it to them and they ran a diagnostics test which would cost us $125 and if it wasn't under the recall it would be some where between $1800 - $2200 to replace the head gasket. Obviously we chose our local mechanic at $1150.08 and chose to persue customer service. We were told by one of the reps. That they would look into it and get back with us. When they called us back we were informed that our van was not one of the vehicles that were on recall. Of course, i was not happy with this decision and asked to speak to someone higher up. I was given the customer service supervisor and she informed me that they intended to stick by their earlier decision and that she had the final say and that i had to further recourse. I was angry but i felt that i had just been dealt a raw deal by ford and i did not have the time to wait because we have a large family and i could not be without my vehicle any longer.
Aftervehicle is startedengine check light remained illuminated. Dealer replaced head gaskests which did not correct the problem.please give any further details.
Head gaskets fail on the 3.8 l engine.ford will not fix. They had a recall in 1998, 98m01 but will not fix after jan 1999.
Vehicle has leaked2 1/2 gallons of coolant.engine check light stays on, andvehicle is having trouble starting.heat iswarm becausecoolant keeps leaking out.mechanicsuggested to replaceengine head becauseleakage was ruining the engine.
Failure of defective head gasket, resulting in coolant leakage into engine, engine failure.
The head gasket failed, which caused the anti-freeze and oil not to circulate through the engine.
Vehicle experienced loss of coolant and engine overheating. Dealer notified, and informed consumer of a of a head gasket failure on its 3.8l v6 engine. Please provide any further details on this matter.
A head gasket failure under 80,000 miles of wear.dealer andmanufacturer were notified. Feel free to provide any further infromation.
This van has been an albatross!i had to take it in 3 or 4 times and get nasty before the dealership would admit that there was a transmission problem- and then agree to fix it.i know they were waiting for my bumper to bumper warranty to expire.the head gasket/engine problem absolutely fries me.no vehicle with 62,000 miles on it should require a new engine and head gaskets.that repair cost me $5000.00 and no one will help me.we all know about the 94 and 95 recalls.what about the 96's???the problem has not been fixed.i have called ford customer service several times, and have tried the dealer for help.no one will help me.the concensus is this:ford motor company does not care enough about the products they produce (or the customers who purchase them) to make an intolerable situation right.i have heard of so many cases like mine- ford has definately lost a customer.if they won't stand behind their produsts, i certainly won't buy another one!
1996 ford windstar engine failure - systemic head gasket problem with the v6 3.8l engine, which ford has known about for many years.symptoms:hard to start, rough idle, white smoke from tail pipe, engine coolant dripping from exhaust, oil looks like brown mayonnaise.*la
Vehicle experienced premature head gasket failure which caused engine to overheat, ford refuses to reimburse consumer even though the head gasket failure is a known condition. *mjs
96 windstar, 3.8l engine, 65,000 miles.failure of head gasket and intake manifold gasket.$1700 to replace gaskets and related problems caused by the faiure.
After three fairly reliable years and only 58,000 miles, i have had head gaskets blown and a transmission that is showing signs of failure.after researching on the internet, i see that i am not alone in having these problems with the windstar.i have never felt compelled to complain about a vehicle before.the thought of this car leaving my family stranded on a busy stretch of freeway (which it almost did) due to a premature engine failure and factory defect is inexcusable.
The engine head gasket blew out, and the motor block cracked.
The timing gasket cover cracked.
3.8 liter engine. Premature wear ofhead gaskets. Head gaskets blewout, causingengine to go. Dealer has the vehicle.
While driving the van about 30 mph heard a popping noise. When owner looked under the van the rear connecting rod was broken in half. The van will be repaired.
The abs light had flashed periodically, the transmission had burnt out, and the engine had become contaminated with coolant.the consumer had requested reimbursement for the charge of the rebuilt engine.scc
Head engine blew while driving vehicle on the highway at apporx. 55mph on a normal road condition. Vehicle was taken to dealer, repairs were made at the cost to consumer. Consumer pointed out that a manufacturer's. Recall was done to 1994-1995, concerning head gasket.
I have 1996 windstar (85k) 3.8 v-6 with a coolant leak in the >combustion chamber. It developed last year. I know this is a >chronic problem that plagued 1994/1995 3.8 v-6 windstars too. >ford extended their warranties to 7 years & 100,000 miles. While >ford made some changes to the '96 models, they didn't really >upgrade the head gasket until 1997. >please see link.>http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/driving/articles/42970/article.h>tml)>i have seearched the web and have found that there are many '96 >windstar as well as other 3.8 v-6 ford owners who are having >similar problems. >(http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/ford_wnd_96_gas.htm)>how can i get ford to bite the bullet an admit that there is an >on going problem and fix my car?
Consumer states while driving, the check engine light illuminated. Took to dealer and they stated that the head gasket needed replacing. Consumer feels that the gasket should not have went out, there is a common problem with winstars. Please provide any further information.
While drivingmotor blew a head gasket which resulted in loss of power.contacted dealer, and vehiclewas being repaired.
My windstar has only 48000 miles on it and we had to replace the head gasket. My neighbor has a 1995 windstar with 20000 more miles on it and they were reimbursed for their failed head gasket. I find this unacceptable and i am trying to receive a fefund more the work done on my van.
Head gasket is onverge of blowing. Antifreeze has to be added weekly to keep cooled off. Dealer isn't doing anything unlessconsumer coverscost.
Owner took vehicle to mechanic to have tire changed & noticed the engine head gaskets was leaking coolant on manifold/front timing chain. If engine ran dry, would have seized . Was very hard to warm up. Manufacturer knows of problem.
Vehicle experienced a blown head gasket.
The head gasket failed in my 1996 ford windstar due to a recall that i was not notified of because ford is only concerned with the 1995 model.i was told by the ford dealer that my engine failed due to the same defect.ford is replacing the engine, they have had my car for 6 weeks already and no end in sight.they are saying that they will give me a 2 year warranty on the engine but it appears from the 1995 recall that it should be a 7 year/100,000 mile warranty.
Head gaskets blew out without warning.dealer has inspectedvehicle.ford has issued a service recall on earlier years.
Head gasket failed, and then soon after engine stalled.contacted dealer, and dealerwas not willing to do anything.
The engine light illuminated on the dashboard, a noise emitted from under the hood, and then the engine stalled.
Van is well taken care of. Only 1 driver, over 50 years old. Kept a merc grand marquis wagon for 14 years and 250,000 miles. Timing cover gasket failed - leaked coolant. This is very premature - seems like a design/fabrication problem, gasket problem. Over $600 to repair. Window track became separated from door - had to be rewelded. Over $150 to repair. Should not happen in 4 years of mostly highway driving. Definite assembly problem. Undectable until nearly fully separated, and out of warranty, and excessive vibrations in using window.
Vehicle had been parked for over a week before being started. Was driving for awhile & noticed white smoke coming out ofrear exhaust. Took vehicle to mechanic & was informed that head gaskets had blown. Prior to head gaskets being blown, been putting water into the system to cool it down.
1996 ford windstar 3.8 liter engine with 83,000 miles on it blew head gasket in december 2002. Paid over $1200 for repairs. Sent a complaint to ford motor company requesting assistance. Response was that the 1996 model is not covered under recall. June 19, 2003 after paying repairs mentioned above, the engine blew. The vehicle is completely disabled and will cost over $3500 to repair.*nlm
While driving could see the engine check light had illuminated. Then, took vehicle to dealer, and they found an engine head gasket failure just like indicated in recall for 1995 vehicles.
Ford has been giving me the run around about repairing my windstar. They claim that it is not covered under their silent extended warantee because it was built in the wrong place. They contend that vans built where mine was were fine as far as the head gasket is concerned. Also, the wayside ford dealership in marlboro ma lied to me and told me that the coverage was for 50,000 and not 60,000 miles, so i didnt qualify.
Blown engine gasket and speedometer off by five miles (recalled).
44,000 miles and blown head gasket, $1500 repair quote.how many complaints before ford provides remedy for 96 windstars?i will never buy a ford again and i am telling everyone i know not to buy a ford.
While driving and without warning the head gasket blew and caused fluid to leak. *nlm
At 45,000 miles vehicle experienced a loss of coolant. Taken to independent repair shop, and informed consumer that3.8l v6 engine had an enginehead gasket failure. Manufacturer notified, and informed consumer that vehicle was not covered under extended warranty.
I am dissatisfied with the service from ford on my 1996 windstar.this is the second time it has been in for service for the same thing.the antifreeze was leaking at a quick pace and ford ran the pressure test. Said it was the water pump and gasket that needed fixed.this was 2 weeks ago.they told my boyfriend [xxx] whose name is on the title of the van that it was fixed.here it is 1/4/2001 and again we had to take it in for service for the same problem.ran test again and said it was the head gaskets and #4 cylinder.we already paid $900 and it wasn't fixed the first time. Now they want to charge $1200 to have it fixed and we can't afford to pay more when it should have been fixed the first time around.also found out ford has had a recall on all windstars up to 1995 for the same problem that we are having and they are fixing this for free. As a consumer i feel we are being taken advantage of and this is a safety hazard to myself as well as our children.i am the main driver of this vehicle and i have 2 toddlers.ford said the van can stop at anytime and i would be stuck.i am very upset and dissatisfied and would like some satisfaction from this company.i feel we are being taken advantage of when ford knows this is an ongoing problem with this vehicle. Thank you and i await your response.parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Head gaskets are designed to last the lifetime of a vehicle.they are not routine maintenance items in the ford owner's manual.ford extended the warranty on the 1995 windstar head gaskets twice (5 years, 60k miles and then to 100,000 miles).even though no major changes to the engine block were made on the 96 ford winstar, ford has refused to accept responsibility for repairing this know defect on my vehicle.in fact it appears that ford is aware of the condition as they issue a technical service bulletin in october 1999 for the 1996 windstars (tsb 90-20-7). The cost of the repair to me was $1,357.84.what is even more troublesome to me is ford's complete lack of integrity and honesty by not fully disclosing this known defect to its customers.this is an injustice to all americans who purchased this product.i hope you will help do something about this problem.
Engine repaired at customer cost of $1300.001995 windstar had engine recall and manufacturer stood behind product. Same basic configuration in the 1996 model. Ford should cover.
Consumer had to have whole head gasket set replaced, also brakes failed completly.
Head gaskets had to be replace, engine light came on and started to blink.taken into mechanic who said that the head gaskets had to be replace along with a few oxygen sensors.is going to cost approx. $1,800.ford told us that the 96's were not covered under the extended warranty, even though these probably still have the same bad parts.
Engine head gaskets are leaking oil ontoengine. Manufacturer has been notified.
There waspremature failure of headgaskets, causing coolant to leak ontoengine and insidepassenger's compartment. Dealer and manufacturerhave been notified. Please provide further information.
My 1996 windstar had head gaskets repaired less than two years ago.at the time, the garage doing the work indicated the engine had a design problem, and the gaskets would probably, over time, fail again.this has happened, as radiator fluid has begun leaking once again into the engine block.this is a problem ford knows exists with the 1996 windstar, as it did with the 89-95 models, and it needs to be addressed.
Need to replace speedometer head, replaced tie rod, front and rear brakes, cylinders, head gasket and now engine blew need new engine.
A major recall has occurred with ford covering the repair costs or issuing $4000 certificates toward the purchase of a new vehicle for 1995 and earlier models.it is obvious that the head gaskets on all ford 3.8-liter engines are defective and the new engine design did not help or eliminate the problem they have with the earlier version. I feel ford should include the 1996 windstar in the recall.8ak
Nar 03/05/2003 the consumers experienced head gasket failure. The cost of repair were approx $2100.22. Dealer notified.
During routine maintenance check, dealer found head gasket had blown and the pistons broke.dealer replaced head gasket and cylinder head, also consumer stated that the vehicle would run hot and then cool back down due to the blown had gasket.
While driving at 50 to 55 mph vehicle was vibrating. Took to dealer, and they replaced fuel filter. Currently, a yellowwarning light came on instrument panel.consumertook vehicle to mechanic,andhe replacedhead gasket.please provide any further information.
Outer hood panel separated from body of vehicle prior to recall (97v-180). In addition, replaced front electric door latch/multifunctioned wiper switch/windshield wiper switch/engine cylinder head gaskets due to coolant leak, and differential seal.
Engine was running rough and white smoke was coming from tail pipe. Vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop.repair shop informed consumer that engine head gasket had blown out.
Engine light on & running hot. Head gasket & manifold gasket replaced. Mechanic later said recall would reimburse for cost to repair. Ford said our vin was not covered due to place & date of manufacture. This is an admitted manufacturer design problem which needs to be rectified. The ford mechanics even state that this is the same engine as those in the recall. People who find out that i have a 1996 ford windstar ask if i've had my head gasket replaced yet. How would they know about this problem if it is not widespread, not to mention a severe deficiency in design. How can ford get away with this nonsense? why should we buy american? please help.
The engine cover gasket failed, and oil mixed with the anti-freeze and ruined the engine.
Vehicle is riding extremely rough, causing difficulty in steering vehicle.mechanic stated head gaskets needed to be replaced.
Rods in the engine broke for no apparent reason.ford said that it was not their problem.
Engine head gasket has blownout, causing coolant to leak onto the engine. Dealer has been notified.
Consumer states that the head gasket failed.
While traveling on the interstate, check engine light appears on dashboard, and vehicle was leaking antfreeze.dealership is aware of problem. Dealer found head gasket had blown, replaced head gasket and thermostat, on several occasions the air conditioning leaks, brakes making grinding sound, dealer found anti-lock sensor failed, rear fender is rusted on passenger side.
At around 62,000 miles our vehicle's "check engine" light came on.we brought it in to a local ford dealership where they performed diagnostic tests.basically they told us it was a blown head gasket, among other misc. Problems.we were not satisfied with their customer service methods and brought the van to anotherford dealership.the mechanic at this place not only agreed with previous diagnosis but also felt the whole engine system was contaminated and recommended a total engine replacement at a cost of 3,800 dollars.we have meticulously maintained this vehicle and have had it serviced regularly.(we have th documents to prove this.)
Vehicle started operating above the normal temperature. Dealership examined vehicle and discovered that there was an internal leak.there was a cylinder that was warped andhead gasket was blown.please provide any additional information/attachments. Consumer states because of the low mileage and condition of the vehicle, consumer believes there is a efect in the design of the vehicle.
Head gasket blewout.please provide further information.
Ford winstar head gasket premature failure
Blown head gasket.mechanic tells me hes seen hundreds of these on the windstar but there is no recall.will not buy a ford again.
Head gasket started to leak fluid ontoengine compartment which caused loss of heat.also, engine checklightilluminated ondashboard. Consumer has contacteddealer, dealer noted that head gasket needed replacement.please provide any further details.
Engine head gaskets have blown, causing water coolant to leakinto the oil pan .dealer and manufacturer have been notified.
Engine check light keeps coming on. Also,a lot of anti-freeze was missing too fast, took vehicle to dealer, and they said that anti-reeze was getting intocylinder. Consumer returned vehicle 1 week later, replaced gaskets again they were leaking.
When filling vehicle with gasolineenginecheck light would come on. This happened twice last year. Owner's manual indicated that after three startsengine check light did not go off. Then brought vehicle to the dealer to be checked.engine was running very rough.contacted the dealer,advised consumer on 9-mar-2000 that there was a problem with thehead gasket.
Consumer noticed water leaking from under vehicle, vehicle was serviced. Technician noticed head gasket needed to be replaced. *yd
Engine check light illuminated. Took vehicle to dealer, and they stated that head gasket blew up.causeunknown. Please provide any further information.
Head gasket failure.
Problems with ford windstar 3.8l engine.*mrthe consumer has question about the engine failure he experienced.
Blown head gasket.
96 windstar 3.8l engine .blown head gasket .90,000 miles on vehicle. Dealer quote $1500. -$1800. To repair head gasket.service manager suggested replace engine $4000. Service manager admitted there is a definite problem with this engine ford knows of the problem. The service manager gave me the telephone#for ford customer complaints and wishedme good luck. Three independent mechanics told me there is definitely a problem with the 3.8l engine and windstars.one of the mechanics " 9 out of 10windstarsblow head gaskets".hissuggestion of vehicles to avoidwhen shopping for a vehicle -------------ford windstar-------- ford dealer offered to take my windstar in trade and they would re-wholesale the vehicle not repair it. No thanks ford will be last on my list of vehicle's to own." made in america and proud of it" ???how about it ford?*nlm
We noticed a leak of some sort of fluid and brought the windstar to our dealer.what we didn't expect was that the timing cover gasket was broken and needed to be replaced at 52000 miles.this costed us $904 and i am not sure if it's related to prior '95 gasket problems.
Head gasket failed and was replaced, also a new engine cover was put on, a little over a year later the head gasket had to be replaced again and the engine had to be cleaned and milled due to the sludge build up, serpentine belt noisy.
Repeated expensive repairs to turn off " engine" checklight only temporairly successful.loss of coolant for unknown reason. Engine now noticably "smoking".
It appears that i have experienced "the problem" with my van.like everyone else who has lodged complaints the vehicle started smelling like it was overheating.the coolant level was checkd and no problems were found.then the rough idle started.then the dealer found out that the head gaskets were bad, and a rod was bent and the motor would have to be replaced.and it all started at 60k miles.the problems are well documented and it will continue to get worse.most of the vehicles of this year are probably getting close to the right mileage for the gaskets to blow.ford will have to ramp up production on replacement engines because every vehicle will have to have the engine replaced and it doesn't matter how well it has been maintained.it is unbelievable that a company would knowingly and willingly let this happen.as long as people aren't dying who cares about millions of dollars spent on repairs by consumers.what a joke!
The check engine light came on and we took it to the local dealer, who checked it and discovered that the head gaskets had blown and that the timing cover gasket and the front engine gasket were needing to be replaced as well. And we suspect that the transmission is also going out.wetalked with the service advisor who told us that it was not part of the recall isssued by ford motor co.we contacted bill at ford motor co. Employee number 2556 and he also informed us that there really wasn't anything that they could do as it wasn'tcovered under the extended warranty just issued by ford motor co. We have looked on the web and have discovered numerous other people who have had the same problem with their 1996ford windstar.we would like some help in this matter. Thankyouthe estimated cost for all repairs are $2000.00.
Engine head gasket failed. Intermittent engine warning light since new. Self reset before chance to get it to dealer. At approx 80k miles solid engine warning light. Dealer replaces oxygen sensor. Still got intermittent engine warning light. Latest incident solid engine warning light & blue smoke from tail pipe. Dealer indicates blown head gasket and worn connecting rod bearings as a cause & result of incorrectly designed head gasket. Indicates it is a known problem and should have been recalled with 1995 model year.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Consumer states that engine failed, consumer believes engine failure is by factory related defects, also the timing cover gasket failed at 65,454.*yd
No summary listed for above vehicle.
The engine coolant is leakinginto the intake engine manifold.dt
Timing cover seal was leaking, upon having this problem fixed, the engine began making a knocking noise, engine was replaced.
Ford no help. Need new motor. Told to have nice day. Will get fixed,fight with ford and if no satisfaction will trade on japanese model.like the wind star , don't like being treated like an idiot. Had fords all my life, this in all probability, will be my last one.qc is job 1 my ass.
When the vehicle hits a bumpengine cuts off. Has happened 6 times. Dealer has seen vehicle 6 times. Also dealer replaced a screw that held the grounding for the fuel pump.
Ford extended warranty on 3.8 l engine for 1995 model due to engine failure caused by defective gasket sets. However, is not doing so for like failure on 1996 model 3.8 l engines.engine seized on our vehicle with approximately 48000 miles despite maintenance and timing chain gasket set replacement an approximately $1200 repair.dt
Vehicle's blower was working, however no heat was coming out, vehicle continued to experience heating problems and dealer found coolant was low, 2 weeks later check engine light illuminated and short time later, vehicle overheated, dealer stated to consumer that vehicle needed a new engine.
Vehicle shut off when making turns or if stopping on a hill.no warning. Lights came on.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Engine made loud noise, then cut out. No warning lights came on at all. Had to put newer engine in.
Oil contamination. Found oil in the coolnat. Dealer inspection concludes that this is a blown head gasket. An exact problem caused a major recall for the same engine for the years 94-95. No recall yet for year 1996. Growing amount of reports show that this problem exists on the 1996 model that carries the same engine. Dealer recommends to replace the engine block at a cost of $4000. I am expecting ford to pick up these charges due to the reasons stated above.
The engine overheated and then died.it was determined this happened because of ford's faulty head gaskets.we had to replace the engine.
Engine check light and the air bag light would intermittentl/simutaneously come on and cause loss of accelerationwhile traveling at highway speed. Dealer notified. Consumer was informed that vehicle had a transmission leak, the speedometer was acting erractically, parking brake and brakes were inoperative,also the power windows were inoperative.
Vehicle misfires. Consumer found water in oil and exhaust. Took vehicle to dealerand dealer stated that it was a blown head gasket.engine needed to be replaced. Please provide any furtherinformation.
When decelerating the van will stall.this has happened at all speeds.it is a very intermittent problem.also very dangerous.while on vacation, and traveling on major highways at 60-65 mph the van would stall when letting off the accelerator.we would have to immediately pull off to the side of the road.there was one near collision with a tractor trailer that was following to close.i have spent over $200 at 2 ford dealerships and they say they cannot find anything wrong.this is an extrememly dangerous situation.the problem does not occur if the fuel level is kept at 75% or above.
Leaking oil onto engine resulting in all new seals, gaskets and head gasket, due to failure.
Major engine failure at 72,201 miles.all maintenance work peerformed by dealer
Ford knows about the problems these vehicles are having but they refuse to fix them. No safety defect listed.
White smoke coming from tailpipe/loss of antifreeze. Took van to dealer. Going to cost over 2000 dollars to fix. With the same problem happening to so many people who own 1996 windstar, you would think something could be done about this.no safety defect listed.
Consumer states of having problems with the engine. Please add more details.
Ford recalled all cars with this engine except the 1996.my windstar was manufactured in july 1995 using the same engines that were put in the 1995 cars.
I brought it while i was living in toronto, ontario.the exact mileage is 98881km (not k-miles).i have contacted ford but ford refused to help on servicing the vehicle. No safety defec tlisted.
Loss of collant in engine.dealer explained that this is a common problem and would cost from $1200 to $1500 to repair. Dealer also added that that motor is a "time bomb" trouble code in computer is po301 (misfire at #1 cylinder). Ford no help, considering they admit that it is a common problem that happens anywhere after 60000 miles.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Consumer noticed vehicle was surging . Also,there was an anti freeze smell. Checked engine, and engine checklight started flashing. Vehicle was serviced, and technician noticed a head gasket problem.
After driving about 4 hours from alabama with 1 or 2 stops we stopped at the sc welcome center for 5 minutes.when we restarted the engine, the oil pressure light came on and the engine started making a noise.we drove about 20 miles, then had the van towed to fairway ford in anderson, sc.we were told the engine needed to be replaced.we authorized a replacement, but asked for a diagnostic to be performed so we would know what caused the old engine to fail.to date, that information has never been revealed to us by ford.ford corp. Has been extremely uncooperative in returning phone calls, and has basically told us "tough luck".
Check engine light has been on since 9/99.several repair attempts have been made, 2 diagnostics performed.fred beans ford has been unable to correctly diagnose and remedy problem.manufacture offering no assistance.
After three fairly reliable years and only 58,000 miles, i have had head gaskets blown and a transmission that is showing signs of failure.after researching on the internet, i see that i am not alone in having these problems with the windstar.i have never felt compelled to complain about a vehicle before.the thought of this car leaving my family stranded on a busy stretch of freeway (which it almost did) due to a premature engine failure and factory defect is inexcusable.
Engine has gone out, causing smoke to come out of tail pipe.
Check engine light flashes and at times remains on. The engine hesitates while acceleration. Per the dealer the engine head gasket has developed a small crack which allows coolant to seep into the engine and cause an occational misfire. The dealer stated that this is not covered under the warranty and will cost $1,800 to repair. Per nhtsa recall report in 1995 the same engine and in windstars were recalled for the same issue.also simlar issue noted in 1996 windstar complaintss.
Engine stalls unexpectedly on warm to hot days.causes loss of steering and braking and handling of vehicle.engine stalls during normal operation, at intersections, needing to steer off the road to avoid collisions.engine needs to cool down for 20 minutes before it will turn over. Recent newspaper article reported major collisons leading in death or severe injury because of this engine failure.cases pending in california.ford needs to be pressured by the nhtsa to have a recall of this tfi module which is positioned improperly on engine before more incidents occur or the tfi module needs to be redesigned to withstand more heat so that engine does not shut down while driving.we are afraid to drive the vehicle and need to have action taken now before something serious happens.
Head gasket failed, and then soon after engine stalled.contacted dealer, and dealerwas not willing to do anything.
There have been numerous failures of systems in my van. The engine must be replaced, the speedometer is out again.
Ford has been unwilling to discuss with me. I've called and written to no avail.
Engine light comes on, stays on engine runs rough. This continued form january to july with vehical going in to shop as much as 5 times in one day . Sayville ford on last arrival said head gasket falure as in all windstars from 1995and 96. They said this in january and every vist after that until the last one when white smoke came out of exhaust. Then they said replace head gaskets. At this time they found the number 1 cylinder rod bent and i would need a new engine. They still have the vehical and want me to pay for damages i will not seeing they should have fixed it in the begining. I called ford motor company and they would not step in saying the delership and the car is my problem. I even asked for the factory rep tolook into this problem and was told the delership would have to request him. They will not call him where do people turn for a fair shake? please call me ?!!
Leaking antifreeze at timing cover gasket.windstars have become known for head and timing cover gasket leaks.repairs estimated to be $700 - $900 to replace a $7 gasket which ford knows it has a problem.ford should be made to reimburse customers expenses and issue recall on other affected vehicles.fords customer service needs attention.problem started in early october 2000 with loss of heat for heater operation.i noticed antifreeze level was low and refilled.heat returned.vehicle was under extended warranty until november 2000.about mid november noticed antifreeze leaking onto driveway.gilboy ford has confirmed timing cover gasket leak. I am on full time disability andfeelford should be footing the bill for this repair. Thank you for you assistance
Need to replace speedometer head, replaced tie rod, front and rear brakes, cylinders, head gasket and now engine blew need new engine.
When stopping at a light, engine sometimes will die. Vehicle would lunge forward after pulling off from a stop.took vehicle to dealer, they replaced something, and two weeks later problem reoccurred. The engine stalls whenever more than one device is turned on at the same time. This problem makes it impossible to turn head lights and windshield wipers on together. The vehicle also shakes violently after being driven for few hours.
At 60-65 mph, engine blewout with no warning and could have caused an accident. Cause unknown. Dealer notified.personal mechanic found broken connecting rod which damaged two cylinders and crankshaft.connecting rod experienced metal fatigue due to faulty manufacturing.engine needs to be replaced.
Have fought with ford about losing power and vehicle stalling since owning the car.also find that many others(on web 'windstar head defect' search) have had the same problem.i have also had two ford mechanics unofficialy admit that there is a design flaw in the 1996 windstars.ford, after being badgered, said they would cover my engine to 100,000 miles and arereniging now that it has completely blown.i just want a car that is safe for my family.help me.
Engine failure at 88,000 miles, rough idle at times, computer replaced at 75,000 miles, head gasket blew, causing engine to fail.
Vehicle has extended warranty which just expired. Ford regional representative rejected request for assistance. Complaint letter sent to wc ford. $1673.38 paid for repair of defects. No safety defect listed.
Engine light on, engine misfires,rough
Engine failure at 88,000 miles, rough idle at times, computer replaced at 75,000 miles, head gasket blew, causing engine to fail.
Ford said my motor made in august 95. Recall issued for motors made in june july. No safety defect mentioned.
After driving for 2 minutes the temperature gauge went to hot.consumer took vehicle to dealer, and they replacedhead gasket. Engine overheats due to head gaskets and timing cover gasket failure . Consumer stated that windshield was cracked after repair.
Consumer stated that due to a factory defect, the engine had to be replaced.it was brought to consumers attention by the service manager that ford motor company had a factory recall on the 1994 and 1995 models for the same problem. *yd
I own a 1996 ford windstar with a 3.8l v-6 engine.the vehicle currently has about 72,000 miles on it.it is now in the shop with a blown head gasket that will require a new long-block motor and possibly the replacement of the catalytic converter because antifreeze/oil was passing through it due to the gasket failure.i'm currently looking at a $5,800 bill to repair the vehicle.my query to ford motor company resulted in a response that they can't do anything for me...that there are "no warranties, recalls or customer satisfaction programs" on my vehicle.my research shows that there are a ton of complaints of blown head gaskets in the 1996 fordwindstar, but ford refuses to do anything about it.ford was hit with class action suits regarding the 1995 ford windstar that has the same problem and eventually agreed to extend the 1995 windstar warranty period.head gaskets should last the life of the vehicle. It should not fail at 72,000 miles.my vehicle had all of the required maintenance performed when they were due.this is not a case of a neglected vehicle from a maintenance perspective.ford needs to step up and take corrective action.the service rep has told me that if they can't get a re-built in the next couple of days, it will probably be next week before the repairs will be completed.next week is christmas.this was my first ford product that i purchased.it will be the last.any company that has this much disloyalty to its customers can not expect any loyalty in return.their actions speak volumes to the lack of quality control in their product, customer service and, quite frankly, any sense of common decency.a proper head gasket would have cost them probably under $10.00 when the engine was built.it is now costing me $5,800 to fix their inaptitude and incompetence.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Dealer has told us entire engine must be replaced.
I have had the windstar in again, with same symptoms as before.have an appointment tonight to see exactly whats wrong.van runs terrible again. No safety defect listed.
No summary listed for abov evehicle.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
A check engine light came on november 3, 2002 and we took the vehicle to mccafferty ford on november 7, 2002.the diagnosis was that the head gaskets were leaking coolant onto the engine and out the tail pipe and "shorted" the oxygen sensor which caused the check engine light to appear.the estimate to repair the problem is $1,423 (with tax).they also charged me $137.69 for two hours labor to find the problem, even though i experienced several of the symptoms.i did some research about ford windstars and head gasket failures and found out the 1994 and 1995 windstars were recalled to fix the same problem.but, there is not a recall for 1996 even though i found thousands of complaints on-line.i have spoke to mccafferty ford service representative richard h. Mitchell on november 8, 2002 and he said there is nothing they can do if the vehicle is over 100,000 miles. (well, my vehicle would of been less than 100,000 if there was a recall earlier)i then contacted the ford customer assistance center to get an answer.ford representative bill (#2072) said that there wasn't a recall on the 1996 windstars, so there is nothing they can do (mileage didn't matter).i was told to keep my receipts in case there was a recall.i found online that there are 1996 windstar owners that have had this problem fixed for free or a fraction of the cost, by the dealers.our local mechanic (d&d auto service in mechanicsburg) said that he has seen this problem often.also, that the head gaskets in a modern car should last the lifetime of the vehicle (at least 120,000 miles).we also got an estimate from jackson's automotive (because d&d doesn't do extensive repairs) in camp hill to repair the head gasket problem for around $800, which is over $600 less then mccafferty ford's estimate.dt
While drivingride was very rough.after vehicle was turned off;then hours later, tried to restart engine, andthere was a stutter/ was not turning on. Also, there was a cloud of steam fromengine. Mechanic stated the engine hadto be replaced.
I have been having problems with my check engine light coming on and staying on since sept. 2000 when vehicle had under 100,000 miles on it.took it to dealer while under warranty. Now have a private certified auto tech who does my repairs and code read outs.i have had a tune up at 95,000 miles, and had to have another one at 121,000 miles.had problems with engine stalling while driving down the interstate and up a hlll.in summer of 2001, i had the iac valve changed which corrected the stalling problem.have replaced o-2 sensors at least twice.in past 6 months, the enging has been running very rough and i have a strong smell of gasoline .2nd tune-up and coil replaced about 2 weeks ago.engine now running very rough and gasoline odor is so strong that you could not light a match in the vehicle.check engine light on again as well as brake and abs light.radiator completely empty for the 2nd time in 2 weeks.
No summary.dt
Had on numerous occasion taken my 1996 ford windstarfor engine light was told problem fixed only to have light come back on.proceeded to have all work done due to not being able to afford another vehicle. While searching for aditional information concerning this problem discovered that this is known ford motorproblem with this model. If this known by the company as known defect why has nothing been to resolvethisbeside having the consumer to absorb the financial burden of fixing a known manufacturer's defect.
I reported engine hesitation during acceleration to ford (dealer)on numerous occasions. They always claimed that they could not duplicate the problem. I reported rough running engine when starting, which they said they could not duplicate. I serviced the vehicle frequently to keep all systems functioning well.now, that the gaskets have failed, the dealer tells me that the hesitation and rough running are symptoms of head gasket failure.of course, now i'm out of warranty.so ford has offered to repair both failed gaskets and all related repairs and to extend my drivetrain warranty to 75k miles if i pay $495.00. I have refused. My car sits unusable in my driveway.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
This is in reference to what appears to be an excessive number of 1996 ford windstar's with the 3.8 engine having multiple head gasket problems.my vehicle is now having to be replaced after a third head gasket has to be replaced.
While driving vehicle intermittently stalled.
Head gasket for 3.8l v6 ford engine is defective.ford recognizesthis for previous model years (1994-1995), but does not for my model. Ford has tsb for this problem for their dealers and service centers, as it is a common problem for the 1996 - and 3.8l engines of that time across their product lineaccording to center for auto safety, this is a part that should never need changing.furthermore, according to a ford dealer service manager, ford at 7 years and 78k miles do not want to repair the defect.the dealer i bought this vehicle from did not disclose that this car was past any defect recall and was past time to take action with ford.(there is another issue with their climate controls on this minivan as well, as they ceased to function - and that is another item that should not fail unless defective.)in any case, the head gasket is very expensive to repair/replace, and should not need to be replaced during the lifetime of a vehicle.
Vehicle was misfiring. Consumer tookvehicle to dealer, and they stated thatengine needed to be replaced.please provide any further information.
Took vehicle to dealer 6 times since october 2000 for engine knocking/ shaking/ engine light on, and engine missing. Dealer could not remedy.then on 31 mar ch, 2001 vehicle was started. Driven about 10 yards when consumer heard a big bang, engine stalled. Towed to dealer who found coolantwas coming out ofexhaust. Engine needed to be replaced.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
On 11-10-01 noticed cool air coming from heater. Checked coolant level and added way more than just topping it off. The next moring the engine was seized up. Local ford dealer quoted me 3600.00 for a new engine. There is water in the oil.
96 ford windstar with 3.8 lt v6 ,has blown head gasket,ford says there has been no recall for part with my vin# after looking up problem with vehicle on the web i found numerous complaints about the head gasket for the 94 and 95 models and it seems they have followed over to the 96 models especially with the 3.8 engines.upon calling ford and talking to a representative they said the repair cost were basically im my hands ,i told them from what i read there had been numerous problems with the gaskets in the 96 and for them to go at 73,ooo miles seems a little premature,she basically told me that we were talking in circles and that the 96"s had a excellent customer rating and to make a long story short the expense of the repair would be mine.*nlm
Engine check light came on. Rough idle. Tune-up performed. Oxygen sensor replaced.engine check light is now off. Two days later, engine check light is back on and rough idle returns. Replaced oxygen sensor and plug wires. Next day, driving car and temperature gauge falls almost all the way to cold side. Heater blowing out just a little warm. Pressure tested engine. Leakage in a cylinder. Upon teardiown, head gasket has failed leaking coolant into engine.
While driving, the check engine light illuminated, consumer stated three sensors had to be replaced, a few weeks later there was a knocking sound coming from the engine compartment, the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the consumer was informed that the engine needed to be replaced.
Our 1996 ford windstar gl, which we purchased new, has 118000.we have experienced a broken (bouncing) speedometer, dome light malfunctioned, abs and brake light malfunctioned, and more recently, leaking coolant which is linked to a blown head gasket and check engine warnings.the cost has been astronomical.according to many other consumers, all of these issues are common with the 96 model.please investigate whether ford intends to make any recalls regarding these issues.
The engine malfunctioned.
Original transmission failed at 37900 mi. - detected when trans fluid leaked onto hot engine part and smoked. Original warranty expired at 36,000 mi.dealer told me that fmc would sell me an "extended powertrain warranty" for $250. The warranty would cover the previously diagnosed transmission failure and would coverany other major trans/engine problems up to 75,000 miles, provided i am still the owner of the vehicle. Ipurchased the extended warranty and was glad i did when the replaced trans failed ta 42,952 miles. The dealer replaced that trans, i had to pay a $50 deductible. In jan. 2001 (58,100 miles) the warranty had to be used again. This time it was for "upper and lower manifold seals".however, this time it would cost me $213 because they also had to replace the spark plugs, which were not covered by the extended warranty. Just last month, 6/22/2001 the vehicles engine light came on again, just as it had in january 2001. The vehicle was running rough, stalling, engine was 'misfiring".the end result this time was replacement of the spark plug wires, coil assembly,a-s sensor, and a spark plug.this vehicle was sold to me as "not needing a tune-up until 100,000 miles".sure sounds to me like i've already had that tune-up and i'm only 1t 65,000 miles!!then theres the a/c problem(s). In june the a/c was only blowing air through my defrost vents on top of the dash. The dealer repaired a "vacuum leak" and now they replaced a high psi switch, cost was $100 each time.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Engine spewing water.diagnosed as freeze plugs blowing72,000 miles.at 42,000 miles transmission had to be worked on.jumped out of drive to neutral. Vehicle has had regular maintenance since purchased new.
The engine malfunctioned.
They have recalled 94 and 1995 versions of the same engine.problem not fixed.
Appears to be a known problem with ford windstars after 50,000 miles, however ford refuses to address the problem in existing vechicles.* no safety defect listed.
While driving vehicle just all of a suuden stopped running, consumer had vehicle towed to dealership and it was determined that a new engine was needed, according to mechanic there was no oil pressure.
The engine failed due to defect in manufacturing. Yh
I have had nothing but problems with this ford windstar since i purchased it in 8/98.in july of 99 my vehicle would not start and then it became a stalling problem. For 3 mths the dealership could not find the problem.then on april 21,00 the coil spring broke, and the spring was jammed into our tire while doing 70 on the west virginia turnpike. Luckily we were not killed or injured. Ford has received a letter concerning these issue's and has not responded.
Engine light on.dealership stated that head gasket needed replacement and possible engine damage.found hundreds of complaints on internet relating to defect in 1995-1997 windstars with head gasket problems.ford dealership claims do not know anything about problem.contacting ford, but getting run around and tends not to speak to me since mileage is over 100,000.obvious problem, as evidence by the ability to easily find others with same issue.dealership suggested engine replacement at $4,000 or gasket replace at $1,200.another issue is abs light on.seems to be another issue where known problem with fords, but ford not able to fix. Dt
The engine failed due to defect in manufacturing. Yh
Drive belt failed.nlm
The serpentine belts has been replaced three times since the consumer purchased the vehicle.
Head gasket failed and was replaced, also a new engine cover was put on, a little over a year later the head gasket had to be replaced again and the engine had to be cleaned and milled due to the sludge build up, serpentine belt noisy.
Was driving vehicle when a loud noise was heard. Suddenly everything failed. There were no power brakes or steering. Could hear motor still going. All dashboard lights came on. Vehicle ended up in someone elses yard. Owner checked vehicle & found tensioner bar on the drive beltbroke, causing loss 0fcontrol. *ml
Check engine light on, white smoke emitting from tailpipe, missing, wildly erratic speedometer at 35-40, rear air blows hot.replacements:had gaskets, lower intake gaskets, upper intake gaskets, spark plugs, wires, thermostat, gasket, ? belt, timing cover, timing cover gasket, water pump.speedometer and a/c problem not yet fixed.
Vehicle misfires. Consumer found water in oil and exhaust. Took vehicle to dealerand dealer stated that it was a blown head gasket.engine needed to be replaced. Please provide any furtherinformation.
Exhaust fumes entered into vehicle.
Consumer noticed a very bad odor in the passenger's compartment. Consumer contacted the dealer, dealer unable to determine the cause. *ml
Problems with gas fumes coming from the exhaust system.*mr( doris stewart on behalf of her parents robert stewart and jacqueline stewart).. The vehicle overheated at idle, the dealer replaced the head gaskets, the air condition stopped working and there was a problem with the power train control module.
I purchased a 1996 ford windstar van 3.0 l in june 2010. I have had numerous issues with this vehicle from day 1 to current most dangerous isthe blowing spark plug which has blown out 2 times forcing me to drive it to a place where it could be parked for repair first time blow out was 7 days after purchase repaired by a mechanic now 2000 miles later again blew out ford should be ashamed of themselves for ignoring such a huge hazard this could seriously ignite fuel fumes and cause a major fire, explosion while some one is driving with there children to find a repair shop unaware of the danger and damage this could cause, second issue is a failing shifting module or tranny and this has happened alot driving and all of a sudden the vans transmission shifts to a 1st or 2nd gear causing extreme change in speed and in heavy traffic we have almost been rearended several times due to this issue, vessil must be pulled over and trans reset by shifting to park and sometimes shutting off the vehicle and starting it again.ford dealer gave us a 3000. Estimate to replace transmission and told us we would continue to replace trans aprox every 70,000 miles this is a chump way to build cars and they have managed to get more money out of repairs than sales i will never own anotherford again safe or not. Ford should be forced to reclaim all these dangerous vehicles and replace all money spent on repairs and purchase of the vehicles due to endangering and there is no way they didn't know about these problems.
Head gasketfailed, leaking coolant into cylinder, foulingspark plugs and oxygen sensors. Problem has been ongoing sincevehicle had 95,000 miles.dealer was notified.please provide more information.
Engine (3.8l) was leaking coolant onto engine cylinder.also, oxygen sensor needs to be replaced.
We took our windstar in at the first initial failure(12-2-97). Theengine check light had come on, so we took it to the ford garage closest to our residence. We were told at that time that there was nothing wrong, and that should theengine check light come back on that it should reset itself in a few days.... Not to worry. This happened 6-7 times afterward with the light always going off after 3 cold starts. But when we would take a long trip. It would start all over. In oct. Of this year (1999) the light came and and did not go off. When we took it to the dealer where we bought it, they said it needed a tune-up. ($217.00) we took it home and the next day we took it back because the light came back on. The dealer said it needed a new 02 sensor (approx. $100.00) the next day the light came on again. We took it back. The dealer said it was the computer, which they replaced at no cost. Light came back on. Took it back. Said the alternator was magnatized. New alternator didn't help. Finally the told us that it possibly could be the engine head gasket. Their estimate is $1200 which we cant afford. There was a recall for the 1995 windstars for the same exact problem. But because my windstar is a 1996 ford is un-willing to help. My windstar was manufactured in jan of 1996. So i am sure that that engine has the same defect of the 1995 engine. I want to stress how fustrated i am with ford motor company in their stance on this matter. They really don't care how safe the vehicle is.
This complaint consist of four failures that are engine related: (1) head gasket failed while being driven, and leaked fluid onto hot engine. (2) timing gasket failed along with gasket failing. (3) intake manifold runners failed, and the check engine light came on.the van is undrivable. (4) faulty main engine bearings.please describe details.
Engine check light came on. Rough idle. Tune-up performed. Oxygen sensor replaced.engine check light is now off. Two days later, engine check light is back on and rough idle returns. Replaced oxygen sensor and plug wires. Next day, driving car and temperature gauge falls almost all the way to cold side. Heater blowing out just a little warm. Pressure tested engine. Leakage in a cylinder. Upon teardiown, head gasket has failed leaking coolant into engine.
Head gaskets had to be replace, engine light came on and started to blink.taken into mechanic who said that the head gaskets had to be replace along with a few oxygen sensors.is going to cost approx. $1,800.ford told us that the 96's were not covered under the extended warranty, even though these probably still have the same bad parts.
I was informed by crissman lincoln/ mercury that my head gaskets are leaking on my windstar. This is a frequent enough problem that they informed me that if i payed the first $500 that ford would pay for the rest of the repair. Previous to getting this informatio i had to replace all four oxygen sensors and part of the catalytic converter. I have now been told that these became defective as a result of the engine coolant leaking into the engine. In addition to this at only 49000 the front coil spring broke while parked in the driveway. Ford has no springs in stock and there are no aftermarket parts being made yet. Are these springs defective?
We bought this van 07/25/00, since then it has had head gasket replacement, and two engines, 0-2 sensors, heater plug, now the pcm, we have only driven our van for @ 6 months, all repairs have been done at dealership, today is 11/24/01. And our van is at the dealership as i submit this. I have copy of all records.thank you,[xxx]parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Consumer stated the oxygen sensor failed.
Please,we are parents whit 3 kids,is very hard for us to pay this extra money for this defect vehicle , to this moment we changed:transmission-twice 02sensor (transmission)-catylitic converter left/raight-coil ignition system ,we get this car whit 48.000mi. On 1998 .for my all familyand the good name of the ford deller tanks for yuo help.
What's with the o2 sensors?this is the second time it went bad.don't they know how to make a good quality parts?
Nothing but problems since purchasing 1)door ajar light constantly illuminated-all doors checked none ajar2) engine checklight occasionally comes on-happened right after purchase and catalytic converter replaced obviously didn't fix problem3)occasionally power windows/locks and a/c will go out unless adjustable fan speed turned to high4)recently front passenger door will open at random usually during a turn-luckily no one sits in that seat5)speedometer will occasionally flicker higher while driving at speeds greater than 65mphall of these problems have surfaced in the past 1-1.5 yrs and have continued since then.
Bought car 3/01-immediately replaced cat. Converter. Overdrive lt flashing-needed new transmission, torque converter, planetary gears, solenoids; had to realign;speedometer off by at least 10 mph; need new rack & pinion-power steering fluid leaking; nothing but problems have spent so much money and also been without car for over a month -only had it 7 months!
When parked in driveway (thank god) i stepped on brake and pedal went to the floor. Looked underneath and fluid was flowing off of the catalytic converter. Had vehicle towed to nearest dealer (allstar ford, praireville, la) to fix. They advised subject line failed due to corrosion (i have the line and it is corrosion). Failure fits nthsa recall 02v101000 except that vehicle was purchased and registered in louisiana,but i have childern in nj and pa and spend time there each winter and have experienced snow and salted roads many times. In any case there should be an implied contract when you purchase a car that a critical component will not fail due to a preventable design error, or if it fails not be repaired by the manufacturer. I believe any vehicle with this failure regardless of place of purchase or registration should be covered by this recall.
When parked in driveway (thank god) i stepped on brake and pedal went to the floor. Looked underneath and fluid was flowing off of the catalytic converter. Had vehicle towed to nearest dealer (allstar ford, praireville, la) to fix. They advised subject line failed due to corrosion (i have the line and it is corrosion). Failure fits nthsa recall 02v101000 except that vehicle was purchased and registered in louisiana,but i have childern in nj and pa and spend time there each winter and have experienced snow and salted roads many times. In any case there should be an implied contract when you purchase a car that a critical component will not fail due to a preventable design error, or if it fails not be repaired by the manufacturer. I believe any vehicle with this failure regardless of place of purchase or registration should be covered by this recall.
I was informed by crissman lincoln/ mercury that my head gaskets are leaking on my windstar. This is a frequent enough problem that they informed me that if i payed the first $500 that ford would pay for the rest of the repair. Previous to getting this informatio i had to replace all four oxygen sensors and part of the catalytic converter. I have now been told that these became defective as a result of the engine coolant leaking into the engine. In addition to this at only 49000 the front coil spring broke while parked in the driveway. Ford has no springs in stock and there are no aftermarket parts being made yet. Are these springs defective?
The head gasket failed.*ph *nlm
Manifold gasket and head gasket failed causing the vehicle to use excessive amount of coolant and check engine light was illuminated injectors and egr ports were cleaned, 2 months later when the vehicle began smoking thick white smoke, this dealer found that the head gasket had blown and that the consumer was 12 days late for the manufacturer's recall.
The defective design of the air intake valve located on the driver's side over the wheel well housing, water accumulated and clogged the air intake valve, causing the engine to stall while driving which almost resulted inan accident.
During routine inspection consumer was informed ofleaking head gasket.dealership was notified, but did not resolved the problem.
Consumer noticed oil beading up incoolant tank.took vehicle to dealership andhead gasket andengine manifold gaskets were "redesigned" and replaced.on april 5th, consumer noticed oil incoolant recovery tank, causing engine" check light to come on. Vehicle was also misfiring.please provide any additional information/attachments.
Upon starting van, owner smelledcoolant, and then noticed thatvan was losing coolant.owner took van to dealership, and they told him that he had a blown intake manifold gasket, which caused coolant to enter into exhaust system.please describe details.
I brought my 1996 ford windstar in for an oil change, and was told tie rods failed and needed to be replaced. , then, next day, they phoned and advisedme thattransmission was defective because the pan was full of shavings, also,power steering rack was leaking, and intake gasket needed replacement., a total of $5000to fix this vehicle.i bought it at 118,000 miles, and this happened shortly after owning it for one year. Currently, it has 134,000 miles, and cannot be driven.i parked vehiclethenstarted it after being parked for a week. Heard a noise fromfront, and then white smoke came out of the tail pipe.i do believe that paul cornies, the dealer that i purchased vehicleknew that they were selling me a lemon.it has caused me a lot of hardship as i no longer work due to health reasons.i filed for disability insurance, and was told that i had a preexisting disease , and refused to pay the insurance.currently, i have a junker in my driveway that i can't afford to fix , and a bill for the next 3 years, since i still owe for it.i will never buy another ford.
While driving at 30 mph vehicle stalled.smoke was coming from the tail pipe.driver drove the vehicle to dealer for analysis, and mechanic noticed that the head gasket blewout, and the engine needed to be replaced.
Ignition system mis-fired due to two cylinders getting lean mixture and one cylinder getting all exhaust gas when two egr holes became plugged.check engine light started coming on and owner noticed smote coming out of the exhaust.
Carbon has gone through the entire emissions system , manifold needs replacement.
Ignition system mis-fired due to two cylinders getting lean mixture and one cylinder getting all exhaust gas when two egr holes became plugged.check engine light started coming on and owner noticed smote coming out of the exhaust.
Check engine light came on repeatedly and dealership tried to fix as follows:8,369 miles - replaced spark plug wires; 14,184 miles replaced "bad" hego bank; 34,442 miles replaces plugs 4 and 5; 34,479 miles replaced hego #2; 37,843 miles replaced spark plug wires (again); 38,111 miles replaced bad shaft in synchonizer sensor; 44,489 miles replaced "defective" vacuum elbow; 44,552 miles cleaned resistors and replaced upper intake o rings; 47,420 miles light came on and went off by itself; 50,000+ miles light came on and went off when battery was replaced; 56,000+ miles noticed coolant "disappearing from auxillary coolant tank - took in and dealership couldn't find anything wrong but put in dye -- took back in a few weeks when coolant disappeared again - diagnosis:head gasket failure; had head gaskets replaced, but check engine light would not go off and engine was misfiring -- diagnosis:bent rod .
I have several service issues that fall under the technical service bulletins for my 1996 windstar.most recently i took the van to mike shad ford in jacksonville, fl because they had replaced the plugs and wires earlier this year.the engine continues to sputter and after diagnosis, i am told that it needs the following: 02 sensors - pcv tube- egr ports intake gaskets.since the reason i took it to ford in the first place was because of the sputtering and my service advisor tom summers when i told him i wanteda tune-up asked me what i wanted done as if i was the mechanic and knew what was wrong never bothered to have the van checked out.as the advisor, i would expect him to inform me as to the problem.he said that they just do what the customer asks of them.i asked that the plugs and wires be changed as that is all i knew to tell him.there is the incidence of my locks going haywire and rear windows being stuck also the speedometer had to be replaced as it stuck.all of these are on their various tsb.should they not have repaired them at no charge to me?what is the function of a tsb as opposed to a recall?this vehicle was still under warranty when i purchased it.all of the incidences listed here did not occur at the same time.i have listed them never-the-less.the incident date is for intake gasket.it has not been repaired.thanking you in advance, i appreciate your earliest response. *la
Had noticed smoke and steam coming from tailpipe out of rear view mirror.engine head gaskets blewout while driving. Vehicle kept going after that.the 1995 , 3.8 engine vehicles made by the manufacturer were known for blowing head gasket.
The 1996 ford windstar continues to have defective head gaskets as in 1994 and 1995 models. This lead to engine failure at 78,000 miles! the cost to replace the engineper miller ford was 4,778.00. We paid 19,000 for this vehicle and refuse to pay for a new engine! the nasa has stated the head gasket should last at least 120,000 miles or the life of the vehicle. We have had this ford windstar with a blown engine due to head gasket failuresince last december, but continue to make monthly payments on this dead ford windstar. We pay taxes, insurance, and montly payments to ford credit for the next 18 months or so. We just discontinued registration fees as the dmv told us we could do this. Ford refuses to acknowledge this problem and is not standing up to it's committment of quality care to it's customers. I urge anyone who is considering buying a ford to do their research. Ford is a company that does not stand behind it's promises. We will never own another ford although our family has never owned anything but until now. Ford wake up!
Consumer states the entire air condition system had to be replaced.
While traveling on the interstate, check engine light appears on dashboard, and vehicle was leaking antfreeze.dealership is aware of problem. Dealer found head gasket had blown, replaced head gasket and thermostat, on several occasions the air conditioning leaks, brakes making grinding sound, dealer found anti-lock sensor failed, rear fender is rusted on passenger side.
Original transmission failed at 37900 mi. - detected when trans fluid leaked onto hot engine part and smoked. Original warranty expired at 36,000 mi.dealer told me that fmc would sell me an "extended powertrain warranty" for $250. The warranty would cover the previously diagnosed transmission failure and would coverany other major trans/engine problems up to 75,000 miles, provided i am still the owner of the vehicle. Ipurchased the extended warranty and was glad i did when the replaced trans failed ta 42,952 miles. The dealer replaced that trans, i had to pay a $50 deductible. In jan. 2001 (58,100 miles) the warranty had to be used again. This time it was for "upper and lower manifold seals".however, this time it would cost me $213 because they also had to replace the spark plugs, which were not covered by the extended warranty. Just last month, 6/22/2001 the vehicles engine light came on again, just as it had in january 2001. The vehicle was running rough, stalling, engine was 'misfiring".the end result this time was replacement of the spark plug wires, coil assembly,a-s sensor, and a spark plug.this vehicle was sold to me as "not needing a tune-up until 100,000 miles".sure sounds to me like i've already had that tune-up and i'm only 1t 65,000 miles!!then theres the a/c problem(s). In june the a/c was only blowing air through my defrost vents on top of the dash. The dealer repaired a "vacuum leak" and now they replaced a high psi switch, cost was $100 each time.
Replaced rack and pinion for the second time 8/01 ( by dealership) and 5/03.also replaced front end bearing in 1999 and transmission.wiring harness in 2000.rear a/c does not workand that's only the items i can remeber.
Problems with gas fumes coming from the exhaust system.*mr( doris stewart on behalf of her parents robert stewart and jacqueline stewart).. The vehicle overheated at idle, the dealer replaced the head gaskets, the air condition stopped working and there was a problem with the power train control module.
Nothing but problems since purchasing 1)door ajar light constantly illuminated-all doors checked none ajar2) engine checklight occasionally comes on-happened right after purchase and catalytic converter replaced obviously didn't fix problem3)occasionally power windows/locks and a/c will go out unless adjustable fan speed turned to high4)recently front passenger door will open at random usually during a turn-luckily no one sits in that seat5)speedometer will occasionally flicker higher while driving at speeds greater than 65mphall of these problems have surfaced in the past 1-1.5 yrs and have continued since then.
The 1996 ford windstar continues to have defective head gaskets as in 1994 and 1995 models. This lead to engine failure at 78,000 miles! the cost to replace the engineper miller ford was 4,778.00. We paid 19,000 for this vehicle and refuse to pay for a new engine! the nasa has stated the head gasket should last at least 120,000 miles or the life of the vehicle. We have had this ford windstar with a blown engine due to head gasket failuresince last december, but continue to make monthly payments on this dead ford windstar. We pay taxes, insurance, and montly payments to ford credit for the next 18 months or so. We just discontinued registration fees as the dmv told us we could do this. Ford refuses to acknowledge this problem and is not standing up to it's committment of quality care to it's customers. I urge anyone who is considering buying a ford to do their research. Ford is a company that does not stand behind it's promises. We will never own another ford although our family has never owned anything but until now. Ford wake up!
According to the manual and sales staff the built in child safety seats are supposed to accomidate a child up to 60 lbs., however the seat belt only fits around a child appr. 30-35 lbs, the consumers children are both appro 35 lbs or less and are unable to fit in the seat comfortably, the consumer believes that the pamphlets and manual are false and misleading.nlm
Consumer states the right brake light, left license plate lamp bulb, driver's door ajar switch failed. Also the head lights go off at times due to the head light switch control failure.
The 1996 ford windstar continues to have defective head gaskets as in 1994 and 1995 models. This lead to engine failure at 78,000 miles! the cost to replace the engineper miller ford was 4,778.00. We paid 19,000 for this vehicle and refuse to pay for a new engine! the nasa has stated the head gasket should last at least 120,000 miles or the life of the vehicle. We have had this ford windstar with a blown engine due to head gasket failuresince last december, but continue to make monthly payments on this dead ford windstar. We pay taxes, insurance, and montly payments to ford credit for the next 18 months or so. We just discontinued registration fees as the dmv told us we could do this. Ford refuses to acknowledge this problem and is not standing up to it's committment of quality care to it's customers. I urge anyone who is considering buying a ford to do their research. Ford is a company that does not stand behind it's promises. We will never own another ford although our family has never owned anything but until now. Ford wake up!
Brake stop light replaced. Mjs
The left outer tie rod was replace.the fuel injector, timing cover gaskets and wiper blades were replaced.the rear brake light was replaced . The switch headlight control was replaced. The drivers door ajar switch was replaced.updated
Brake light came on several times because brake fluid was low.yh
Headlight assembly has clear plastic lens. Over time plastic has discolored which degrades lighting . Also lamp assembly collects moisture inside unit further degrading lighting this condition prevalent not only on my vehicle but also on other cars i have observed.
Head light failure.
Disc brakes are warping from excessive heat buildup within the abs brakes. Dealer contacted, and stated the design of car has small brakes. Repair work done at owner's expense. Also, headlights are filling up with water when raining, could cause major problems/speedometer does not work properly. Provide further information.
The left outer tie rod was replace.the fuel injector, timing cover gaskets and wiper blades were replaced.the rear brake light was replaced . The switch headlight control was replaced. The drivers door ajar switch was replaced.updated
Outer hood panel separated from body of vehicle prior to recall (97v-180). In addition, replaced front electric door latch/multifunctioned wiper switch/windshield wiper switch/engine cylinder head gaskets due to coolant leak, and differential seal.
The vehicle had a fuel leak at the fuel tank. I removed the tank to see that the tank looked like it was pinched and developed a crack. The fuel tank is plastic so i found this to be odd. I had to put epoxy on the tank to patch the crack so i could get it home as i was out of town when this happened. When i got home i started looking online for a tank and found that ford had a recall on this matter. I called lafayette ford and explained the recall and gave my vin #. I was told that my vehicle does not fall under the recall that i will have to repair it myself. If i have the same vehicle of the recall and the same problem of the recall why does ford not honor it. The recall states the crack at the front strap area and that ford will replace the tank and the strap with a longer one and a bushing. My tank has the crack at the front strap and the tank was pinched because the strap is too short.
Engine dies after either very short (1 second or less) or no misfire. Always on hot afternoon after long period highway driving, typically interstate with speed in the 70's. Only once on a secondary road speeds of 45 - 50. All times in the rolling hills ofutah, wyoming, and western north dakota. All six incidents occurred during a cross country trip in july, 2005 with odometer readings in the 70,000's.typically, when it happens, the engine speed and throttle are continually adjusting to maintain speed across the hills.first indication often is simply the car slowing down rather that cruising along. All other electrical (air, radio, windows, etc) not affected. This is very dangerous. Other than sometimes a one second misfire, there is no warning. The car may be passing a truck, in a middle freeway lane, on on a road with no shoulder when it happens. Wherever and whenever it happens, the car simply coasts as the driver pulls off the road to extent possible. The engine will not restart for 15 minutes or so. Then it starts as if nothing ever happened, and car is good until the next incident. I made detailed notes of each incident, and can provide additional info onspecifics of what was going on with car at the time. I took car to a ford dealer. The dealer did diagnostics and could not identify problem. I have refrained from driving under similar highway conditions since then.the van was purchased new in connecticut in feb, 1997.
While the van was park, i notice a strong smell of gasoline. I took it in to my auto repair shop to be fixed. The shop found acrack in fuel tank that was not the results of impact damage.
While driving approximately 65 mphwindshield started to fog up.driver rolled downwindow for driver's door when a "popping" noise could be heard, and flames could be seen coming fromvehicle.when vehicle was stopped, heavy smoke started coming from under the hood, andvehicle was engulfed in flames.a fire lieutenant suspected thatfire was due to leaking fuel inengine compartment.vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer orinsurance company.please provide any additional information / documentation.
I have ford windstar,96. When i filled up gas in the tank,it started leaking and is continuously leaking. It seems that it is leaking from the tank.
Engine light illuminated and vehicle runs rough and misses, dealer replaced number one injector, dpfe sensor, o2 sensor and intake gaskets, dealer found a vacuum leak and replaced the pcv tube.
On june 7 i was outside of our home and noticed i smelled gas near my wife's van. After inspecting i saw the tank was leaking fuel. I took the tank off and noticed there was pressure to the tank from thefront strap. The pressure caused what appears to be a stress crack where the strap holds the tank.it appears to me the strap is too small for the tank.ford refuses to fix this and would rather my wife and children ride around in a gas leaking danger machine. This vehicle has less than 95000 miles and i feel the same problem has occurred here as in the 1995 windstar.
Engine light illuminated, dealer replaced intake manifold runner control retaining clip, cleaned the throttle body and found secondary egr ports partially plugged.
1996 ford windstar fuel tank has a crack in it and is leaking fuel i see the recall only effaced 1995 windstars but apparently the problem was not fixed on the 1996 windstars because mine has a 3 inch crack in it. I do not know if some of the 1996 windstars were in this recall.
Engine coolant leakage at intake manifold & head gasket. Since we bought,been having multiple issues with engine light on & various work done at dealership. On 11/3/01 intake gasket replaced for white exhaust smoke & engine light on. Returned 12/7/01 for engine light on & 02 sensor replaced. 1/3/02 heater blowing cool air- dealer sts head gasket bad. Corporate ford refuses to do goodwill gesture/pay.(mileage to date approx since car still in shop).
Consumer was smelling gas and noticed a big puddle of gas in driveway.consumer feels this very dangerous.please provide any further information.
Consumer is having problems withfuel lines.fuel lines are wrapped which is causing fuel to leak. Has not contacted dealer.
Have complained several times to dealer while van is in for service, that i smell gas by left rear wheel well and fuel filler door. The shop claims no leaks found with electronic sniffer. Gas smell strongest when tank is 3/4 full or more. Problem has been around since 1998. No visible signs of leakage.
When the vehicle hits a bumpengine cuts off. Has happened 6 times. Dealer has seen vehicle 6 times. Also dealer replaced a screw that held the grounding for the fuel pump.
Fuel pump failed.
Fuel pump fuse would short out whenever vehicle hit a bump. In return,would hit the radiator surport,causing the constant control relay moudule to short out. Dealer notified and informed consumerrepairs would only be made if consumer picked up charges.
Fuel pump failure, causing vehicle to stall/starting problems.
Fuel turn off switch is located outside the vehicle, design is not very safe.
While driving in the country where i live with three children at the base of the mountain to head 20 miles to my home i pressed on the acceleratorand the vehicle lost power and went nowhere. Could not drive over 35 mph. Was seen by a body shop and they replaced fuel filter and returned vehicle to me. Second occasion driving down the mountain at55mph a strong jerk whiplashed myself and has caused injury in my back took to body shop and needs new transmission and must be towed. Van still sitting at body shop now for 2 weeks as i have 3 children and now no transportation...thanks ford.
While driving at 50 to 55 mph vehicle was vibrating. Took to dealer, and they replaced fuel filter. Currently, a yellowwarning light came on instrument panel.consumertook vehicle to mechanic,andhe replacedhead gasket.please provide any further information.
Engine check came on took to an independent service shop to have diagnostics run. Was told it needed a tune up, new spark plugs and cables, fuel filter, air filter, fuel injectors cleaned and i also had oil changed since it was time for it. Picked up vehicle paid 444.00 for the service next morning drove to work, oil light came on. I have never had the oil light flickered on. Checked oil, in my parking space was dark so all i could see is there was fluid at the correct level. Started it up that evening to go home drove aproximately 40 miles, stopped at a red light and the oil light came on the the engine began making a knocking noise. I pulled off the road had to towed back to the shop that did the work. Was told they could find nothing wrong with it, oil light did not come on. I refused to accept the answer knowing thenoise the engine was making to cause me to have it towed in. They test drove for and let run for approximately 30 min. Before the oil light did come on. They then told me it was an engine problem and did not do engine work. Had it towed immediately to a ford dealer and was told the oild pan was full of coolant and bearings were "washed" in engine and would have to have a new engine. No one wants to claim responsibility for this problem. I have just been made aware that there has been an on going problem with this particular model motor (and not by the dealership). What can be done next?
Vehicle bought in 3/99 throttle body linkage broke repaire bill $500.00 shortly thereafter sensor went out (fuel)bill 256.00 later noticed squeking in front end advised it was tie rod ends not fixed yet this thing has broke me have had many occurences with speed odometer going crazy after 45mph recently noticed popping when turning steering or appling the brakesbut before i could get it fixed transmission begin to either not shift upward ,slip at 45mph and has downshifted after reaching speeds of 45mph (on i-85) has jerked several times ..was told anywhere from 100.00-2000.00 ? seems i have not been alonein my disquest with ford...only problem not encountered head gasket thank god please help us working folks against this big boy on the block thanks
Engine check light came on while sitting in the driveway.my mechanic had to replace my fuel injector and gaskets.also he said i need a new fuel pump which is located in my gas tank but that i can wait till next oil change due to expence.my car only has under 40,000 miles!!!!!
The dome lightand the door ajar sensor light stays on.the consumer is concerned that the battery will drain completely.the cause has yet to be determined.the vehicle would shake when it was started.one injector was changed.the consumer felt that the other five injectors may go bad. *sc
Engine check came on took to an independent service shop to have diagnostics run. Was told it needed a tune up, new spark plugs and cables, fuel filter, air filter, fuel injectors cleaned and i also had oil changed since it was time for it. Picked up vehicle paid 444.00 for the service next morning drove to work, oil light came on. I have never had the oil light flickered on. Checked oil, in my parking space was dark so all i could see is there was fluid at the correct level. Started it up that evening to go home drove aproximately 40 miles, stopped at a red light and the oil light came on the the engine began making a knocking noise. I pulled off the road had to towed back to the shop that did the work. Was told they could find nothing wrong with it, oil light did not come on. I refused to accept the answer knowing thenoise the engine was making to cause me to have it towed in. They test drove for and let run for approximately 30 min. Before the oil light did come on. They then told me it was an engine problem and did not do engine work. Had it towed immediately to a ford dealer and was told the oild pan was full of coolant and bearings were "washed" in engine and would have to have a new engine. No one wants to claim responsibility for this problem. I have just been made aware that there has been an on going problem with this particular model motor (and not by the dealership). What can be done next?
The left outer tie rod was replace.the fuel injector, timing cover gaskets and wiper blades were replaced.the rear brake light was replaced . The switch headlight control was replaced. The drivers door ajar switch was replaced.updated
Fuel injectors hung open, causing raw fuel to be emitted through exhaust system.
Manifold gasket and head gasket failed causing the vehicle to use excessive amount of coolant and check engine light was illuminated injectors and egr ports were cleaned, 2 months later when the vehicle began smoking thick white smoke, this dealer found that the head gasket had blown and that the consumer was 12 days late for the manufacturer's recall.
Moderate leak of fuel was observed after filling up the tank. We brought this to an auto repair shop and they indicated that the top of the tank was cracked. The tank needs replacement. We have a 1996 ford windstar gl. This was purchased in 1995. When i looked at the 1995 recalls i noticed that the 1995 models were recalled for this problem. I also think that this could have resulted in to a fatal accident if it had caught fire.
The vehicle developed a serious gasoline leak.the dealer states that the gas tank is plastic and has cracked causing the leak.*nlm
Fuel tank developed a crack which allowed gasoline to leak out. Failure took many months to become apparent and was proceeded by gasoline odors from the fuel tank area, especially noticible after refueling, but with no apparent leakage until the end.
The 1996 ford windstar has a fuel tank on it that is identical to the 1995 ford windstar.the 1995 was recalled for a leak on the upper portion of the tank.the 1996 version was not recalled.my 1996 leaks same place as the 1995 recalled version. Dangerous fuel can seep down tank and drip on exhaust system or other components to cause fire or explosion.ford does not want to replace tank on 1996. Nothing was done by ford to correct this problem.
Dt*:the contact stated there was an odor of fuel in his garage.the vehicle was taken to the dealership, but a determination was not given.there is a nhtsa recall, # 99v309000, regarding the tank assembly; however, it is not included in the recall due to the vin.updated 5/30/2006 - the consumer inspected the vehicle and found that thefuel tank was leaking at the strap on the driver's side.the tank began to leak where the manufacturer has apparently over-tightened the support straps for the tank.the 1995 model was recalled (99v-309000), manufacturer number 99r33 regarding the exact same issue.the consumer contacted the dealer but they provided no assistance.updated06/27/06.
Fuelwas escaping fromtank and fumesgetting inside of vehicle.dealer had been contacted.
20 gallon tank has cracks in it.fuel is leaking all over the ground. Consumerhas taken vehicle into dealer.please provide any further information.
The contact owns a 1996 ford windstar. While the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed an excessive amount of gasoline on the ground. The vehicle was taken to a local repair facility where the independent mechanic located the failure as a fracture in the fuel tank. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 200,000 and the current mileage was 212,902.
A crack has developed in the gas tank, causing a leak.
After the fuel tank was replaced we inquired of the mechanic if the tank cracked due to misuse.the machanic could not see any signs of misuse, the tank was properly mounted and the crack was on the upper portion of the tank.we noticed ont he news recently a recall for ford econoline vans from the same period were being recalled due to cracked gas tanks.does ford use the same gas tank on the windstar?has anyone else complained of this problem?
Fuel tank began to pourgas from under van to the ground.i took the van to treadwell ford and they have been unable to get me a new fuel tank.they say it will take 11 days. This was a problem on the '95 windstars and they were recalled. No recall has been issued for the "96's.so i will be without trasnsportation for almost two weeks(if they can get a tank) and have the expense of $440.00.what can we do?
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Dt: the contact owns a 1996 ford windstar. Vehicle had a crack in top of fuel tank, also at strap. Recalls on 1995 ford windstars pertained to the make of vehicle. S melled gas fumes and gas tank register was noticeably different.smelled gas fumeswhile parked in driveway or while driving . Incidenthappenedseptember25, 2005.no crash . No police report.updated 1/25/2006 -
Gas tank leak. I leave in one of the states that is listed in recall 99v309000 that states hot weather increases cracks in fuel tanks on 1995 ford windstars. My vehicle is a 1996 with a build date of 10-02-1995.ford motor will not consider this vehicle for replacement. They need to re-evaluate the recall to include a wider range than they now have.i was told by the dealership that my leak looks just like a 1995 they fixed on 07-23-2004. Please help on this safety issue.
After filling at gas station, noticed fuel leaking from top portion of tank.had tank replaced at local shop. Cost of tank $250 plus labor and misc. Parts.
Plastic fuel tank has split causing fuel leakage. Consumer is stating fuel tank should not be madeout of plastic.
Fuel tank leaking. . dealer was not notified at this time. Feel free to provide any further information.
Fuel tank leak, may have caused extensive fire.
The consumer stated gas leaked from one of the straps which supported the fuel tank.please describe further.
Bracket the holds the gas tank disintegrated fromvehicle.
I have a concern over the defect of the head gasket of our 1996 ford windstar. This vehicle is our family vehicle - very neccessary for a family of young children - family of 7.so far, we have replaced the transmission, replaced the speedometer, and most recently have been told to replace the head gasket.i understand that the head gasket repair/ replacement is a rather expensive repair.i also understand that ford has offered to some, to make good on this defect in workmanship.i have been advised to turn this in to the state's attorney here in north dakota, and to the better business bureau.i need this vehicle fixed.i don't care for the ford dealership in jamestown, nd - since the last repair left me without a vehicle for a month. I would like this defect taken care of.i think ford has made a safe van for my family, but i am very dissappointed with the quality of the parts under the hood - who would have thought that ford would have such poor workmanship that i would have this much trouble with this 1996 vehicle. Please advise me on how to obtain the paperwork that will get this defect on the head gasket properly paid for and taken care of by ford.
Consumer noticed oil beading up incoolant tank.took vehicle to dealership andhead gasket andengine manifold gaskets were "redesigned" and replaced.on april 5th, consumer noticed oil incoolant recovery tank, causing engine" check light to come on. Vehicle was also misfiring.please provide any additional information/attachments.
When driving the brakes went straight to the floorboard, and the brake light came on.conumer had to pump the brakes to get the vehicle to stop.also, when applying the brakes there is a loud noise. The brakes had been replaced three times.dealer told the consumer thatbrakes have to be replaced every year.consumer stated that there isanother safety problem involving the electricalsystem.the lights keep coming on , as well as the light's on the dashboard keep coming on. In addition, gas gauge failed to indicate the proper amount of gas left in the tank.
1996 ford windstar fwd auto pb ps pw ac, v-6. Vehicle auto accelerated when put into reverse. Brake loss due to lack of vacuum. Vehicle spun in a circle suddenly and hit another parked vehicle when backing out of a parked position.
Consumers concerned about the safety of the fuel turn off switch.
Noticed fuel leak when returned after parking at slanted parking space.inspection by licensed mechanic in columbus, ohio confirmed fuel tank leak. Removed tank for further investigation and found crack. Repaired by same mechanic. Total cost close to $300.00. Now no gasoline leak.
The contact owns a 1996 ford windstar. The contact stated that there was a very strong fuel odor inside and outside the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 240,000.
Door ajar light andcourtesy light would remain on after shuttingdoors. Dealer/manufacturer notified, and informed consumer that there are no recalls concerning that problem.
Engine coolant needs filling every 2-3 days, transmission skips, engine checklight always illuminated and interior door ajar light never goes off.
The inside courtesy did not shut off.
Eletrical system shorted out. Windshield wipers worked only when washers were being used,dome light stayed on when door was closed and won't go off.
Interior lights stay on after opening hatch and now side door. Door ajar light stays on always.
Nothing but problems since purchasing 1)door ajar light constantly illuminated-all doors checked none ajar2) engine checklight occasionally comes on-happened right after purchase and catalytic converter replaced obviously didn't fix problem3)occasionally power windows/locks and a/c will go out unless adjustable fan speed turned to high4)recently front passenger door will open at random usually during a turn-luckily no one sits in that seat5)speedometer will occasionally flicker higher while driving at speeds greater than 65mphall of these problems have surfaced in the past 1-1.5 yrs and have continued since then.
1996 ford windstar switches are bad in doors causing door ajar light to stay on.when driving, stays on until you are going approx. 15-18 miles per hour.this is a hazard especially at night. Due to the glare on the windows inside the van.i have went to a dealer and they said it would be 400.00 dollars to fix it.i don't have 400.00.i was also visiting family in indiana this last week and an old friend of mine has the exact van and problem.i currently live in colorado and thought that it was odd that someone who lives in indiana has the same problem that i have with our windstar.so, then i decided to file a complaint.and maybe something will be done.
The dome light always stayed on.
Our 1996 ford windstar gl, which we purchased new, has 118000.we have experienced a broken (bouncing) speedometer, dome light malfunctioned, abs and brake light malfunctioned, and more recently, leaking coolant which is linked to a blown head gasket and check engine warnings.the cost has been astronomical.according to many other consumers, all of these issues are common with the 96 model.please investigate whether ford intends to make any recalls regarding these issues.
The dome lightand the door ajar sensor light stays on.the consumer is concerned that the battery will drain completely.the cause has yet to be determined.the vehicle would shake when it was started.one injector was changed.the consumer felt that the other five injectors may go bad. *sc
When engine is started and all doors are closed and latched, the door ajar light stays on and interior dome lights stay on as well as the door ajar chime rings.this is continuous while driving, and eventually turns itself off.this creates a hazard especially while backing as it is not possible to see behind vehicle at dusk or dark.there is no consistency as to when this happens.it has been found that if a door is indeed ajar, that the door ajar light will stay on, but the dome light will go off as will the chime.
Interior light came on and off intermittently,and without prior warning smoke was coming from hood area.
Dome light stays on after starting or closing door - intermittent problem.
The vehicle's door locks locked and unlocked on their own.there were problems with the front driver side wheel and the engine light and the abs light was intermittent.the consumer experienced an accident which may be due to the brake lines.refer to recall#02v101000.*sc the sway bar rattled, the tie rods were replaced.
Driver's and passenger doors/tailgate and the sliding door are defective due to a pin in the handletobreaking or falling apart, causing the doors to get stuck and they won't open or close.
Can't open the rear front from inside. * akconsumer states the only way people can get out is through the driver's side door, passenger and sliding door can not open rear door or rear window from inside off van hit on right side or rolls on right side, then the only escape for all occupants is the driver's door.
When you put the car in park, engage the emergency brake and take your foot off the brake pedal, the car lurches forward or backward (depending upon incline of vechicle on a hill) and the sliding door, if opened, forcefully rolls and slams shut.someone exiting the vehicle can be seriously injured, as can anyone (especially children) standing in front or behind the vehicle when it lurches.my son was injured when the door slammed shut as he was exiting the car after i put the car in park and engaged the emergency brake but before i took my foot off the brake pedal.i have asked the dealer to correct this obvious dangerous condition several times, but their response has been that i should engage the emergency brake before i put the vehicle in "park" - a process most people do not use when parking a car.
Door locks activate while exiting vehicle (as to close a garage door) with engine running after backing up .this leaves driver locked out of vehicle with engine running and key in ignition.imagine the situation if an infant is in the car and mom is locked out!!!dealer says it is the way vehicle is designed.
Door lock design allows doors to be opened from inside when locked.
When closing the sliding door all other doors lock withoutoperator operating the door lock function, thus,locking the parents outvehicle. Consumer has contacted the dealer. Please provide any further details.
Consumer has gotten brakes repaired over 15 times. Each time brakes only lasted one month.also ruining rotors and pads. Also, vehicle pullsto one side, shakes and acts like it is stuck in neutral. Door sliding locks and unlocks on its own, no exit at times.
Rear liftgate latches have been replaced seven times in 1 year, dealer has been unable to fix.
The primary hood latch does not catch.
Driver's and passenger doors/tailgate and the sliding door are defective due to a pin in the handletobreaking or falling apart, causing the doors to get stuck and they won't open or close.
My 1996 ford windstar was parked "in park"in my driveway, without the keys in the ignition, and just rolled downed the driveway and crashed into a stone wall.there is significant undercarriage damage to the car and wall damage.*nlm
Parking brake keeps failing,adjusted 5 times,dealer refuses to replace
Pads and rotors replaced twice in 36,000 miles, emergency brake requires adjustment monthly. Abs light has been reset once.
Vehicle was parked and key out of ignition; v ehicle rolled across ann isle in parking lot due to emergency brake failure and stopped at a planter island.
Parking brake did not release completely.no warning light on.lever down.burned up all 4 brakes and car would not stop.
10/20/95 truck was left in park with the keys removed the truck rolled backwards 60 feet and hit another car no dammage. Dealer fixed the cable,truck roll again
Speedometer needle jumps, will not indicate correct speed, causing safety hazard.dealer has been notified.
Due to the defective design of speedometerowner had to replace it 3 times, and the previous owner once. Please provide further information.
Speedometer begins to fluccuate at 50 mph, randomly jumping from 50mph to 80mph - previously went out at 47k miles, and only solution offered by hansel ford was to replace speedometer/odometer assembly ($400) because of "broken" speedometer head assembly - 52k later, exact same problems, and ford's only recommendation is replace speedometer/odometer again at my expense - given that the speedometer displays an erroneous reading starting at 50mph and the freeway speed limit is 55+mph, i have no reliable indication of my actual speed, which is particularly worrisome when i tow a tent-trailer.additionally, i don't know if the odometer is recording mileage correctly.there has been a tsb refering to this problem, but i have not been able to find the details out about it, so i don't know how to begin to correct the problem.
Possible design flaw of speedometer fluctuates back & forth causing difficulties while driving. Vehicle experienced its first failure at 27,000 miles, but has 80,000 miles on it and needs a third speedometer.
Speedometer erratically changes its readings making it impossible to tell what speed the vehicle is going. This is the second time it has happened. Dealer is replacing the speedometer for the second time.*ml
The day i bought this 96 ford winstar minivan, i had tested 2-3 others.they each had the bouncing speedometer problem - once you went past 50 mph, it would bounce from 50-70 or 60-90 or whatever.also, after a certain speed it didn't work at all - at one point my speedometer said i was going 110 mph and people were passing me left and right.anyway, when i test drove the windstar i bought, it was the first one that didn't have a bouncing speedometer.my friends and i all commented on it at the time.but that evening, as i drove back to my friend's house (i bought the van in their city, not mine), the speedometer began bouncing.it was saturday and the dealership was closed, so i called monday morning.they kept repeating that it was "as is" and there was nothingthey would do about it.after i brought the car home and started asking around, i found out the bouncing speedometer was a common windstar problem.so i brought it to the closest dealer, about 1-1/4 hours away, and they also agreed it was a common problem but had not been recalled.it cost me $350 to fix it!i was thoroughly disgusted and e-mailed a complaint form to ford but to no avail.i guess i'm just stuck paying the money.
Speedometer became very erratic, jumped all around,had cable replaced but it is not completely working correctly still jumps slightly.mechanic says we need to service the instrument cluster and ford would have to repair original cluster.i would take up to at least a week.he has had to service many.(neuberts tire and auto repair, tabernacle, nj08088)i know the speedometer is not reading the correct speed.
Speedometer has been replaced twice because the needle fluctuated from 0 to 120 erratically. First speedometer was replaced with 35,000, and the second at 38,000. Please provide any further information.
12-15-97 at 21,145 milesi reported noticing the coolant level always being low. No leak was found and i was told there must be a leak somewhere in the radiator.12-27-99 at 56,526 milesi began having a "cold start" problem. It acted like it was not getting fuel. 12-1200 at 74,306 milesi had the same "cold start" problem and the fuel filter was repaced. 12-22-00 at 74,930a new thermostat & gasket.12-29-00 at 75,113a fuel pressure regulator. 03-02-01 at 77,569 miles a new fuel pump relay(ccrm), fuel pump and pvc valve. 09-11-01 at 87,907 milesa mult-function switch. 01-31-02 at 95,069 milesa second ccrm relay. 03-06-02 at 99,348 mileson an 80 degree day "no start" same symptoms as "cold start" problem. Instead of not getting fuel it is suspected it is flooding. 4-23-02 at 99,348 milescold start problem, fuel injectors cleaned. 05-30-02 at 101,330 mileswouldn't start, no fuel pressure-intermittent. Had to have it towed. 6-7-02 at 101,388 miles"no start" problem. New fuel filter, fuel pump and sender o-ring. 12-01-2-01 109,530 miles van started steaming - appeared to be a coolant leak or broken hose. Added coolant direct in radiator.i have carried own coolant and added frequenlty since 1997, when i was told there must be a leak in the radiator. I could not find any trace of such a leak by putting cardboard under van. Suspected the plastic coolant container had a leak. No coolant leaks whereever found during routine oil changes. 12-04-02 109,568 m,iles found leaking front timing cover gasket. Replaced headgasket and all else that goes with it. Cost of repair $1,915.21. I believe the headgasket defect has been the problem all a long, costing me a small fortune.
While traveling noticed speedometer works eratically.
At speeds of 40-50 mphspeedometer will jump from 30-90 mph intermittently. Vehicle not taken to dealer yet.
Speedometer jumps between 70 - 100 mph at low (40) or high (65) speeds. Makes buzzing noise.very dangerous as it is misleading and distracting (unnerving) to the driver.dealer "never heard of" this problem. Owner paid $525 repair.
At speeds of 35mph or higher the speedometer needle wavers severely making it impossible to determine the correct speed.this defect has been reported to the nhtsa more than 100 times.i reported this to the local ford dealership and was told i had to pay for repairs.at 49000 miles this should not be happening.as a law enforcement officer i have driven numerous ford vehicles well over 100000 miles and none of them have had this problem.this should be considered a manufacturers flaw and be replaced by them.this is definatley a safety issue!if a vehicle operator cannot determine how fast they are going this cvould result in a serious injury.this is even more evident during reduced visiblity and/or at night when it is even more difficult to determine speeds.i appreciate any assistance in this matter if possible.
Failure of the speedometer while driving on the freeway.the speedometer needle jumps erratically while driving faster than 30mph.the speedometer will eventually peg at 120mph, even though you are driving at slower speeds.according to my repair shop, the speed sensor broke, but ford requires a very costly repair that includes replacement of the whole speedometer head and speed sensor.
When driving speedometer was waving back from 20 to 90 mph. Consumer contacted dealer, dealer noticed transmission pan had metal in it which causedtransmission to be replaced. Also, noticed a fume odor inpassenger compartment, and contacted the dealer. Dealer noticed that coolant andtiming cover were leaking fluid onto head gasket. Please provide any further details.
While accelerating, speedometer needle jumps at 20 mph to 40 or 50 mph. The needle continues to waver.actual speed is much lower than shown speed.definitesafety problem.dealer will only replace head and not fix.replacement will break too based on research from reputable speedometer shops.
The service and parts depatment of apple ford, columbia, maryland reports to me that they're seeing a pattern of failed speedometer heads on windstars.currently, 7 or 8 are back-ordered at that dealership alone.the service manager reports that a similar problem occurred with 1995 taurus's.while not directly a safety defect, if consumers are going to be made to repair what appears to be a manufacturing defect, my sense is that may will choose to forgo this expensive repair.one then has to ask, "how many ford drivers do we want on our highways who are unaware of their speed?"please investigate to see if their is a pattern of failed speedometer heads in ford windstars, particularly 1996 models.if there is, consider a recall.thank you.
The speedometer had to be replaced (not covered under extended warranty) because it was jumping all over the place.secondly, the door ajar light and audible bell indicate a door is open, when in fact, all of them are tightly closed; this happens intermittently, seems to happen more in inclement (cold and/or wet) weather.
While driving and turningwheel orwith any movement insteering there comes a loud squeaking noise, contacted dealer, and dealer stated that there could be a problem withball joints. Problem began about 50000 miles.also this vehicle has a faulty speedometer.
Speedometer head failed two times. *
At 40 mph and higherspeedometer jumps . Dealer will be notified.
The speedometer wavers wildly from 55 to 110 with no increase in vehicle speed.this may be caused by oil not being injected properly during manufacturing.nlm
The speedometer began to show erratic movements at all speeds. It would fluctuate up to 10 to 30 mph at highway speeds rendering it's function useless. Ford denies any known defect and refused an implied warranty for the item. Due to cost differences i chose to have it replaced at a local repair shop using a new ly purchased speedometer head from the ford dealership.
Speedometer needle floats, cruise control doesn't work. Continues.
Whenever vehicle reaches a speed of 50 mph , speedometer cable head malfunctions causing rapid fluctuations on speedometer dial of + or - 30 mph. This makes it extremely difficult to maintain safe and proper highway speeds.
Speedometer malfunctioned. Consumer was unable to read the speed of the vehicle. Speedometer has been replaced.
Speedometer failure was gradual but is troubling because the speedometer needle still moves (very erratically) but does not indicate the right speed. The needle bounces around and the higher the speed the more it bounces.this faulty speedometer is a safety issue in that someone could glance at the speedometer and get an inaccurate reading, then increase speed which may contribute to a severe accident.our private (non-manufacturer) mechanic indicated that this speedometer failure is common for this vehicle.we strongly believe ford should recall or fix these speedometers as they fail. Thanks for your help!
Speedometer head failed twice.yh
Speedometer malfunctions when above 45 mph.
Speedometer does not register correctly, speed always erratic. Fails at different speeds at different times during the day. Unknown how many times replaced on vehicle. I bought it used. Have not yet tried to price the repair. Looking to see if any info on help on how to handle. This is very inconvenient.
Speedo head jumps. When driving vechicle, the speedometer needle will start waving. You can't tell how fast your traveling. Service center stated this is real common on 1996 windstar.windshield wiper motor froze. Can't clean rear window.
Hen driving at any speed the consumer is unable to tell how many mphs the vehicle is travling due to the speedometer./dometer. Needle is jumping from place to place.
While drivingspeedometer does not register the correct level speed due to a malfunction within the speedometer head.
Blown engine gasket and speedometer off by five miles (recalled).
Original spedometer failed at 27000 miles, replacement by ford only lasted 20000 miles. Dealer and ford customer service both refused to cover the replacement saying it is out of warranty. Based on my experience and having read the reports on ford speedometers, they are placing defective equipment in thier cars and are not living up to their responsibility to their customers nor their suppoed commitment to quality.
Check engine light on, white smoke emitting from tailpipe, missing, wildly erratic speedometer at 35-40, rear air blows hot.replacements:had gaskets, lower intake gaskets, upper intake gaskets, spark plugs, wires, thermostat, gasket, ? belt, timing cover, timing cover gasket, water pump.speedometer and a/c problem not yet fixed.
Speedometer needle jumps between 50 mph -120 mph, not indictating speed of vehicle, causing safety hazard. Manufacturer is aware of defect.
Engine:head gasket failure @ 62,218 miles.needed to replace both cylinder gasket heads and resurface same.power door: failure of power door lock on passenger side.transmission:was replaced twice under warranty.other:ignition control module needed replacement. Have been advised engine has a sludge condition despite regular oil changes per ford guidelines.
Dear fordmy mother and i have been trying to get answers from the dealer and since they gave up. Because they could not fix it right the first time. Even the second or third time.the van a 1996 windstar with 59,000 miles on it and it started the engine started stalling, when making slow turns not touching the gas pedal loses power steering. My mom almost went into a ditch to avoid a collision with another car. With little internet searching found hundreds of vans with same problems, and appears there is not one resolved.and since this has gone on for over a month.the last visit to the ford dealer in an attempt to fix the stalling..the idle air control valve is new,and mass air flow is cleansupposed to have been replaced also. I checked the air filter was clean, the fuel filter is original so i replaced it. I started looking at the throttle body, and noticed that the throttle plate screw was all gouged up. While i was sitting in drive way with engine running and unless ford engines are only good for 60,000 miles, with all the stalling and low engine idle that keeps oil pressure in the engine lubricating the crank shaft.!! so when engine stalled at very low idlethere was no oil getting through the engine.this engine now has lower end knock, which i verified by pulling van onto floor ramps,test drove and confirmed the problem, is critical.each time i slowed down to turn engine stalled every time, lost power steering and brakes. I could have been killed because ford is ignoring this problem.. And this also answers why other complaints were about engine failures and very expensive repairs.this letter will be put on all social networks, to warn others this could happen to them be aware. They said the ecu/pcm computer was updated. Could not find update on invoices, or in history i can access.
Vehicle has its second replacement onspeedometer since 54,000 miles.whenvehicle reaches 30 mph or moreneedle would bounce back and forth.dealer notified. Feel free to provide any further information on this matter.
The speedometer "buzzes" and swings widely after ~ 30 mph, indicating up to 100 mph.the vehicle had been returned, when under warranty, to the dealership to find and fix a buzz in the dashboard.the problem typically occurred during cold weather, when the vehicle exeeded 30-40 mph, and came from the vicinity of the speedometer.the delaer was given these symptoms, but could not repair the cause.the problem was made worse by the fact that it occurred sporadically .the buzz never was eliminated by the dealer.the buzz now audible when the speedometer swings widely is a more pronounced version of that same buzz.the dealer and ford refused to pay to repair the problem, even though i maintain the problem occurred while under warranty.
The speedometer gives faulty readings at all speeds.the needle spins ramdomly, and there is the sound similar to a bad ball bearing under the driver's side dashboard.i need to know if there has been a recall for this problem, since nearly every owner of a 1995 - 1997 windstar that i know has described the same problem, though their problems began while the vehicle was still under warranty.
Speedometer does not register properly.needle would jumps back and forth while driving.dealer notified, and informed consumer that vehicle was out of warranty, and repairs would only be done at consumer expense.
Speedometer reads up to 45mph, then jumps erratically above that level. It is impossible to read speed between 45 and top speed. This is a common problem in 1996 windstars and constitutes a safety defect!
Speedometer 'bounces' above 45mph, cannot tell what speed is,unreadable.
My 1996 ford windstar van's engine assembly must be replaced due to persistent internal coolant loss into the engine, despite repeated trips to the dealership with complaints of classic head-gasket symptoms.ford displayed blatant neglegence and dishonesty in its dealings with me.i took my van to dealership twice for head-gasket-like symptoms:excessive loss of coolant with no external leakage, gray smoke out of exhaust, and engine running rough.the first time the dealership said no problems could be found.two weeks later i returned to the dealership with the same symptoms, only this time more obvious, and the check-engine light had come on.the dealership determined my engine had overheated and that coolant was lost via the timing cover gasket, which they replaced and then returned the vehicle to me.exactly one thousand miles later i had to have my vehicle towed to the dealership, at which point they condemned my engine due to coolant entering the #1 cylindar.they offered to replace the engine for $3,650, which includes a 20% discount for the timing cover gasket work that was done for nothing.i refused the offer and managed to barely drive the vehicle home, where it now sits, undrivable.aware of the windstar head gasket problems from the beginning, i repeatedly stressed to the dealership my concern that this was a head gasket problem, but they repeatedly explained this was not the problem.they lied by saying no known gasket problems exist on the 1996 windstar, but i researched the nhtsa's records and found tsb 99-13-1 (titled "underdetermined loss of coolant"), which instructs dealerships to replace the gaskets in situations like mine.the tsb is very clear.i wrote the dealership a letter demanding help replacing the engine, but received no reply.i re-sent the same letter and documents to the dealership just yesterday.i can provide copies of all documents, as i have scanned them into a compressed pdf file for e-mail transmission.
The speedometer fluctuates abructly 10 to 25 mph at different speeds, it is difficult to judge the proper speed. Ford declined to help in matter and acted as if they never heard of the problem.problem occurred in my daughter's '96 windstar as well and replaced same at her expense for $550, ford wanted $880.
The speedometer failed.
Consumer states that speedometer does not function properly.the needle moves erratically and makes a ticking noise.consumer is unable to ascertain correct speed while driving.dealer has unsuccessfully attempted to repair 2 times by replacing speedometer cable. Ts
Speedometer failure
Speedodometer is working intermittently.when consumer is driving he can't determine the speed he is traveling.
Speedometer does not read actual speed driven.also, speedometer jumps at times. Consumer has contacted dealer.dealer is not willing to provide any assistance.
While traveling on a busy interstate, engine light went on.van lost speed and started overheating. I was able to make it off highway.van died had to be towed.told it was cracked head due to coolant leakage.warranty company refuses to pay claim.. Speedometer flips around, estimate repair cost is $475.warranty company refusee to pay.
This is a copy of the complaint i sent to ford regarding problems with the speedometer in my 1996 windstar.i am starting to have the same problem again.considering all the things i've read regarding this problem, i find it hard to believe their is not a recall for this yet.i recently purchased this vehicle (june 1999) in folsom, ca from a private party.the van is in excellent condition with 46800+ miles.recently i started having problems with the speedometer.it would get to approximately fifty miles-per-hour and then start fluctuating +/- five to seven miles-per-hour.the problem gradually became worse, getting to the point that it started swinging wildly and would go all the way to the right.i figured it was probably a speedometer cable.i called my local ford dealer in yuba city to have them give me an estimate.without even looking at the van, they told me it was likely not the cable, but the speedometer unit itself.i asked how they could be so sure and i was told that it was common to see the speedometer go bad in this vehicle.i was floored to learn that the cost of a new one was $333.33, not including labor.now, i have been around long enough to know that new car parts arent cheap, but $333.33 seems rather ridiculous.i then called a speedometer specialty shop, speedometer electric, in marysville to have a second opinion.not that i dont trust the dealer, but because as a technical sergeant in the usaf i just cant afford what the new speedometer cost.mr. Larry witherow, longtime owner of speedometer electric, verified that it was not the cable, but indeed the speedometer itself.he also told me he has replaced approximately twenty speedometers from windstars and other ford vehicles in the past few months.this does not include those who had the same problem but could not afford the repairs.it is because of this and the dealers comments as well that i am writing this letter.
Speedometer reads differently than the speedvehicle is actually doing.dealer will repair at consumer's cost.dealer sya it's a common problem, but has no explanation.
Consumer states that thespeedometer jumps all over theplace while driving unable to know excatly how fast you are going. Dealer contacted.*mr
The consumer is an owner of a fleet of ford windstars.the consumer stated that on several of the vehicle, the speedometers have not been operating properly.the speedometers have been reading too high.in addition, the needle bounces back and forth to different speeds. The manufacturer has not been contacted. *nlm
Speedometer operates erratically. When traveling at speeds of 40 mph or above, bar indicatingspeed jumps around.
Speedometor needle is erratic after 55 mph needle bounces between 95-60 mph also makes a irratating buzzing noise
When driving consumer noticedspeedometer needlewas making a clicking sound. Also, needle raised above actual speed traveling. Consumer has contacted dealer, dealer has replacedspeedometer, problem has reoccurred. Two years later,the speedometer head had to be replaced again.the consumer states that a new vehicle that experience speedometer failure every 50000 miles should have a defect and is unsafe.
In dec. 1997 the speedometer in the vehicle started to vibrate and quit working. Warranty replaced part at no charge. In january 2000, speedometer started vibrating again. Told it was a problem with cable lubrication. Contacted dealer and ford and they agreed to pay a percentage of repair cost. November 2001, speedometer has started to vibrate again. Contacted ford. They indicated there is not a problem. I have contact with another car owner (same model/year) who's speedometer is not working properly and were told the same thing i was in january. They have elected not to repair due to the high cost. Quoted between $600-800 dollars. There is obviously a problem for one car the have 3 speedometers malfunction. How many other owners may have not reported this problem?please help!
The consumer requested an investigation of ford motor company and their lack of recalls on some serious defects. *mr.the vehicle experienced a clunking sound, however the dealer stated the clunking sound was normal and then the transmission failed,the transmission was replaced with another ford transmission, which failed on a test drive and one other occasion.coolant leaked into the engine through the intake gasket, which was recalled for the 95 models.the timing chain leaked.there was arecall on the coils in the suspension, which ford would only replace when they failed.the brake rotors failed at 30000 miles.scc
Speedometer began flucuating wildly at all speeds along with a clicking noise. Since numerous complaints of the same nature, looks like it should be investigated by nhtsa. Dealer states cost to fix is $600.hundreds of occurences of same problem.
Speedometer acts erratically when going over 50 mph, and there is a grinding noise behind the dash when this happens. The speedometer head was replacedwhich corrected the problem at owner's expense.
I have a 1996 windstar and the speedometer is unable to indicate speed of vehicle.the speedometer just jumps around.it use to just jump around at round 40-50 mph but it has completed failed now.it jumps around and make a clicking sound all the time.
At speeds of 30 mph and higherspeedometer does not register. Dealer found speedometer head needs to be replaced.
Speedometer fluctuated all over dial when car went over 30 mph; transmission just failed while car was being operated, it failed to shift and did not move while in traffic; brakes fade when coming to a stop all the time (i have requested repairs repeatedly, told no problem detected); car continues to roll 6-8 incheswhen parked on an incline; rear suspension creaks when getting in and out of car; several leaks in engine had to be repaired (gasket??).
My neighbor also had her speedometer break on her 1996 ford windstar.
Speedometer floats.when driving the needle will jump up and read 90 mph when the vehicle is only going 40mph.dealer has been contacted.
While driving could not determine what is speed that vehicle is traveling. Also, sometimes could feel that vehicle was going fast, but speedometer would not show what wascurrent speed.
Speedometer began to indicate much higher speed than actual above 50 mph.needle was erratic and made a "chirping" noise.complained to ford.had dealer replace (saybrook ford, ct).made video showing failure mechanism (rotating element rubbing speed 'cup') and wrote letter to ford.ford sent back video unwatched and informed me that they will not reimburse for parts and labor.i believe that this is a manufacturing defect which is supported by the large number of complaints on speedometers (see odi id 702130, 827746, 830141)
Engine check light and the air bag light would intermittentl/simutaneously come on and cause loss of accelerationwhile traveling at highway speed. Dealer notified. Consumer was informed that vehicle had a transmission leak, the speedometer was acting erractically, parking brake and brakes were inoperative,also the power windows were inoperative.
Speedometer would move back and forth when vehicle reaches 30 mph or more. Dealer was notified, andrepairs were made.speedometer was replaced, however new speedometer makes the same abnormal noise that the old one did prior to failure, consumer feels this one will also fail and speed will not be able to be determined.
My 1996 ford windstar has an erratic speedometer above 40mph making it impossible to determine how fast i am going.
The speedometer "jumps" above 45 mph.the needle bounces around and we have no idea how fast we are going.this is a safety hazard that has effected thousands of ford owners.ford needs to recall the speedometers.
Transmission failure, second failure due to accumulator seals, complete overhaul.
Replaced original speedometer on 4-23-98.replacement failed on 8-20-98 with only 15000 miles.ford motor co. Refused to help.ted russell ford offered to pay 1/2 of the cost to replace.
Nothing but problems since purchasing 1)door ajar light constantly illuminated-all doors checked none ajar2) engine checklight occasionally comes on-happened right after purchase and catalytic converter replaced obviously didn't fix problem3)occasionally power windows/locks and a/c will go out unless adjustable fan speed turned to high4)recently front passenger door will open at random usually during a turn-luckily no one sits in that seat5)speedometer will occasionally flicker higher while driving at speeds greater than 65mphall of these problems have surfaced in the past 1-1.5 yrs and have continued since then.
Speedometer malfunctioned when it gets up to 45 mph or more. Yh
Speedometer erratic- swings to 120 mph at 60 or so. Replaced original with two salvaged speedo heads. All failed.
Speedometer started reading erratically as of approx. Failure date given. Has now become worse and at speeds >40mph speedo indicator jumps wildly. Dealer charged $70 to diagnose problem as failed speedometer head. Says ford no longer makes or stocks this part and the head must be removed from the dash and sent out for repairs. Obtained a written estimate for this repair of $861.00.
Speedometer very erratic, going 55 will show 90 to 100.at 40 will spike at 60 no way of knowing true speed.to me a definite hazard.
While travelingspeedometer started jumping around giving wrong reading. Dealer repaired speedometer, butproblem returned. Please providr further information.
Speedometer needle fluctuates > ~40mphcan't tell the speed *very dangerous* and *unsafe*.
While traveling noticed speedometer reading 40 rpms. Then would jump to 100 rpms without depressing the gas on normal traveling. Also, the reading for how fast the vehicle is travelling jumps around and is inaccurate.ford is aware of the problem and has issued a tsb. *ml
Speedometermalfunctions intermittently while driving60mph.contacted dealer.
Odometer gives an inacurate reading past 30mph. Consumer is able to keep a designated speed. Ford was contacted. Please provide more information.
I purchsed the vehicle with the knowledge that it had 50,000 miles on it. The car was not runnig as well as i thought it should for a car with "low miles" i had it back in the shop where i purchsed it several times when the mechanis there mentioned carfax.com. I got a report which stated there was a odometer rollback. I took it back to the dealer where they did a title search which in my mind had been doctored. I don't feel i received the all the information needed. I have the carfax report which shows mileage at 103,443 on 9-21-98. Then on 10-9-98it shows mileage at 34,818. The car continues to run terribly. I need to get to the bottom of this and find some answers. I feel i was ripped off and i want my money or a new car for the same amount i paid with the same low miles. Please help me if you can or put me intouch with an agency that can help me. Thank you.
Disc brakes are warping from excessive heat buildup within the abs brakes. Dealer contacted, and stated the design of car has small brakes. Repair work done at owner's expense. Also, headlights are filling up with water when raining, could cause major problems/speedometer does not work properly. Provide further information.
When driving over 45 mphspeedometer is not reading the actual speed driven which preventsconsumer from knowingactual speed traveling.consumer has contacteddealer. Please provide any further details.
Car failed to go after coming to a stop at red light many times , abs light stays on,emergency brake light stays on,speedometer spins out of control,interior lights sometimes stay on,
Speedometer reading is incorrect,readingstated faster speed then actually traveling. Consumer contacted the dealer, dealer stated the speedometer needed replacing. Please provide any further details.
For the second time in three years the speedometer needle is jumping all over the place.after talking with two dealers, a speedometer repair specialist with 30 + years experience, and reviewing the 135 + other driver complaints of the same problem, i can only come to these conclusions:this is a faulty piece of equipment; ford is aware of this defect and refusesto recognize and take responsibility for it; and this is most certainly a candidate for a recall.what else does it take to come to the same conclusion?
Speedometer does not work properly above 35 miles per hour.failed at 35 mph-jumps to 60 the to 90mph.*et
Speed needle goes up and down from 50mph to 120mph register on the speedometer . Consumer had the speedometer replacedat 45181 miles byford dealership, mechanic did the actual work.transmission failed at about 32,000 miles.
I have researched this on the internet and it is a problem that has affected many windstar owners. Ford has even issued a tsb - 99-7-9 re speedometer needle wavers and sticks.that's the problem i have.it costs over $500 to fix - so many people are opting not to fix it.also, those that repair have the same problem occur over and over again.you shopuld make ford recall on this issue.
Speedometer display is erradic.at approx. 30 mph, the speedometer can register up to 65 mph.at 65 mph, the gauge needle is on the peg at the extreme speed.this is not isloated, i know of 2 other vans, same year, that have this problem, one belongs to a salesman at the ford dealer.dealer says the computer unit needs replacing, minimum of $600.no ford recall has been issued.no one seems willing to help.
Speedometer inacurate by approx 9 mph.has been replaced twice.
The contact owns a 1996 ford windstar. While at a stop light, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to accelerate above 20 mph. The service brake warning indicator illuminated. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
Speedometer jumps to 120mph when traveling at 65mph, seems to work fine until you reach 40mph then it will jump.cost to repair was $493ford would not cover cost even under extra-care extended warranty.
Consumer reporting speedometer inoperative while driving, unable to determine the proper speed. Dealer and the manufacturer were notified.consumer feels ford should recall these vehicles or at least reimburse consumer for monies paid for repairs.*jg
Speedometer malfunctioned. Please provide additional information.
Consumer took car into dealer's shop for a brokenspeedometer, and mechanic noticed ahead gasket leak.alerted consumer to some recalls on those vehicles, but they had a different year.
Speedometer is erratic after 30 mph, therefore, consumer cannot indicatecorrect speed. No satisfaction from manufacturer.
When driving at higher speeds on the interstate, the speedometer malfunctions, i.e., traveling at 65 mph, the speedometer shot up to 90 mph.
This speedo problem is a great safety hazard to the driver and people on the road.a driver may think he is driving at a certain speed and he may infact be exceeding the speed limit or hindering drivers on the road.this puts drivers at risk.
While driving over 30 mph speedometer needle fluctuates back and forth, not registering the correct speed. Dealer was not notified about this problem.
The speedometer no longer gives accurate readings.it bounces up and down after 30 mph.ford tells me there is no "known problem" with this, however, any internet complaint site certainly does "know" about this.the '95 windstar has already had a recall for the same problem, why isn't the '96 being taken care of also?
The speedometer reads near 100 mph while the vehicle is only traveling at speeds betweem 30 and 70 mph.nlm
Speedometer jumps while going 50mph or faster. Also, makes rattling noise.
While going down interstate 75 car pulled back,rpms went very high to 3 and 4, and speedometer declined very rapidly.contacted dealerwho said thatvehicle's speed sensor needed to be repaired.
Consumer has complained to manufacturer about speedometer not working & nothing was being done.consumer couldn't determine speed,and felt that it was a safety hazard.consumer informed by mechanic of a tsb issued by ford regarding this problem, which calls for replacement under 3 yr warranty.this problem occurred in this vehicle just after 3 years, and dealer refuses to repair it under warranty.*ml
Speedometerfloats and does not read the right speed that the vehicle is really traveling. It reads 20mph more than what it is doing. Dealer has been contacted.
Consumer states the speedometer system had to be replaced.
Speedometer bounces and is inaccurate, especially above 45mph.i have seen many other windstar owners report the same thing!
This is a second call for help ford corporate will not email me back. Will not verify if pcm has been updated. The van only has under 59,000 miles on it . It should not break this bad this soon makes me tell anyone on social media and our local news media and clark howards team.i do not want to call ford unless it is agreed the phone will be recorded for court purposes.i even asked is the would let me use the updater. I sure do not want don rich ford in villa ricaever again. They stripped the screw. That set min clearance on throttle plate. No shifts funny and sputters and terrible noise in oil pan area. Rod s knocking. Internet has tons of complaints of pistons exiting engine oil pan.
Speedometer very erraticand unreliable at speeds of 45mph or over.
Speedometer malfuctioned.needle kept bouncing back and forth. Dealer had replaced speedometer at 65,000 miles, and problem reoccurredat 95,000 miles. Feel free to provide any further details on this matter.
Head gasket failure; was told car engine was not under warranty and total repair cost was over $3,500. Asked to speak with district rep but told i could not. Told this person would contact mespeedometer "bounces" at speeds over 40mph, making it useless for determining actual speed.
Speedometer is erratic at speeds above 40 mph and varies plus or minus 30-40 mph.
When the consumer first contacted the dealer no tools were available to fix the problem, on the second and third trip parts were not able to remedy the problem.recall 96s39.
Speedometer clicking and reporting a higher spped than actually traveling...cannot tell what the actual speed of the vehicle is.
My 3.8l windstar was checked at 60k at dealer.at 68k the speedometer is erratic. Noticed about 60 very similiar complaints by consumers at this site. Cant drive confidently/safely.
I am unable to attain a replacement part from the dealerships in the area.i have been told that the parts are on emergency back order and that it will take 4-6 weeks to get the part.currently when the vehicle exceeds 30mph the speedometer jumps all over the place, and it is impossible to determine a rate of spped.i am wondering about a equipment recall, etc. Since it appears that a great demand for this failed component exists.is ford taking any corrective action?the wait for the part seems excessive.
Last year my speedometer began to make a whizzing sound and would jump eractically.so, i took it to ford and they stated that it might be a speed sensor or the actual gear behind the dash.i had the gear module changed in 99, twice, i went to a professional certified speedo mechanic.then, close to the year, after the repair, this speedo began doing the same thing.when i took it to the ford service dept, they wanted to check everything from the cables, the sensor and even the drive gear.i went to my mechanic which has worked for ford, and all of these things were changed, and the drive gears were inspected and they were fine.so, i called another ford service tech, and he told me that yes, they had been having alot of incidents with these speedo's, and that the speedo would have to changed again.this has all cost me a fortune and to boot, they increased the part, knowing that it was a defective one.i called the ford company, and they stated they could not help since the warranty had expired on thisvehicle.this has gotten so out of hand, that i have had to go to the emergency rooms having chest pains and am taking sedatives.......i have also checked the internet and it is filled witht he same situations.... I am scared that a police officer will stop me, this is my only vehicle and do not work... Please help us..
When reachingspeed of 25mph speedometer needle bounces around, causing no knowledge of speed.
Whenvehicle reaches 30 mph speedometer would commence to bounce back and forth, and a grinding sound from the odmeter area. Manufacturer notified, and informed consumer that the part was out of warranty, and not cover under a recall.please feel free to provide any further details on this matter.
While driving the vehicle speed could not be determined due to malfunctioning of the speedometer. Cause unknown.
Speedometer is unreliable when drivng at speeds of 45mph or over due to a defective cable.. The service station reports indicated that there were 15 repairs done on these models in one year period.
My 3.8l windstar was checked at 60k at dealer.at 68k check engine lamp stayed on. Dealer identified the problem as head gasket failure & informed engine has to be replaced.vehicle received back after repair (new engine) after paying heavy & now has speedometer problem
Ford has a history of head gasket failures on the 3.8 engine from 1995 on.also speedometer cable head has went out for the 2nd time!
When driving consumer noticedspeedometer is bouncuing back and forth, and is making a noise.speedometer is not providing the actual speed driven. Consumer has contacted dealer.
Speedometer: shakes back & forth on highway . Impossible to know speed travelling( unless equipped with good stopwatch & excellent math skills). Head gasket- failed .must be replaced. Does not meet any extended warranty criteria.
Bought this van used. On second day of ownership this started. Speedometer is erratic after 35 mph. Have read hundreds of complaints on this problem online. I beleive there should be a recall on this as this can be a safety problem. How can you tell how fast you are going?
Speedometer becomes erratic when speed over 45 mph, accompanied by buzzing sound from instrument cluster.needle jumps up 15-20 mph making it very difficult to judge speed.
Head gasket leaking, master cylinder froze up and caused smoke and damage to brake system on 3 wheels, abs light kept coming on, in for repairs on several occasions and light was disconnected by dealer, engine light on: o2 sensor replaced,speedometer failed to register speeds, driverside window goes down while driving, replaced by dealer,door open light turns on randomly, sliding door fails to lock with electric locks.what is going to be next?
While driving 65 mph withcruise control onvehicle sped up. While getting ready to exit off the highwayvehicle stayed undercruise control module. As consumer attempted to slow down, vehicle was moving 65 mph without any control fromconsumer.in order to make vehicle stopconsumer had to press brake pedal with both feet, andshiftvehicle into neutral.eventually,vehicle was able to slow down, and consumer turnedvehicle off, dealer replaced 2 lock tabs because one had slipped on the cruise causing it to stay on.trip speedometer was replaced, it would not go past 799 miles.at 30 mph and over, the over drive light will flash.left front wheel cover was replaced due to it making ticking noises at lower speeds.sliding door squeaked, dealer lubed the sliding door.front rotors replaced and rear drums turned, a clicking noise was heard.
Speedometer fluctuates at speeds above 40mph.this makes it hard to tell how fast your going.
There was no crash. There was no warning what so ever. I was driving a client home from a picnic and pulled into a parking lot to park and smoke started rolling out of the engine compartment. I got my passenger who was in a wheelchair to safety and opened the hood to find flames coming from the top of the transaxles. I put out the fire. The "transaxles range sensor" and plug just forward of the range sensor were the cause of the fire. The wiring harness above coming out of the black box(fuse box) was also burnt. This problem has not been repaired.
Owner received recall notice, contacted dealer and was told parts were not available.recall#96v086000.
While driving 55-60 mph consumer heard noise, vehicle shifted into lower speed. Vehicle would not go over 30-35 mph. Possible cause defective transmission.
Ford dealer mechanic told me that he has repaired many of these transmissions at premature mileage levels (less than 80,000 miles).ford has authorized replacement of many original parts with new designs to reconcile the substandard original design.for my transmission the mechanic said failure was the result of a defective aluminum piston, a problem that has developed in many ford transmissions.
Transmission growls and sounds lke it is going to drop/hit the ground; also brake pedal gets mushy/soft, vehicle loses control. There is also loss of steering power.
Transmission will not go into drive or reverse, it slips into other gear thatis not specified, dealership is aware ofproblem.vehicle was inshop more than five times.
In the past two weeks the transmission has slipped twice.when at a complete stop and accelerating the vehicle has to be put into park and then back into drive.this is very dangerous. There is only 56000 on vehicle.battery light continually comes on this can be very nerve wracking when in heavy traffic. .speedometer fluctuates and flops around after 40mph, sometime sticks at 50mph.rear wipers work when they want.we have just returned from serving 8 years overseas, this is our only vehicle and from the research we have just been able to start this windstar is headaches with the same problems.i would like to be able to take my family to see relatives they have not seen in over 8 years but this vehicle is unsafe.
The aluminum piston on the automatic transmission causes the transmission to stall, especially at stop signs and lights. In some instances the vehicle rolled into the intersection and it would not move for 5-10 seconds or more until the transmission finally kicked into gear hard which jolted the car forward. This creates a safety hazard in the intersection. Apparently ford is aware of this problem and has a new steel piston, but it costs owners $1600 - $2000 to have it fixed. Many of us cannot afford such a high amount for repair and take our chances on safety while we save up money for the repair.
Automatic transmission failure possibly due to low transmission fluid following guidelines in owners guide .after failure and subsequent replacement. I found an article in newspaper quotedfrom ford regardingfluid level maintenance which was different than recommendation in the owners guide.*la
Cruise controlwas set at 70mph. Vehicle suddenly downshiftedto 40 mph.dealer informedowner that the transmission sensor malfunctionedand replaced it.manufacturer has been notified.
Engine spewing water.diagnosed as freeze plugs blowing72,000 miles.at 42,000 miles transmission had to be worked on.jumped out of drive to neutral. Vehicle has had regular maintenance since purchased new.
Bought car 3/01-immediately replaced cat. Converter. Overdrive lt flashing-needed new transmission, torque converter, planetary gears, solenoids; had to realign;speedometer off by at least 10 mph; need new rack & pinion-power steering fluid leaking; nothing but problems have spent so much money and also been without car for over a month -only had it 7 months!
After stopping or at a decreased speed for turning van stalls or misses upon acceleration.
Transmission replacedaround 40000 miles due to its jumping, rpm'swent up and down.currently, happening again. The consumer states the transmission had been replaced six times but the problem was not solved.as the result the consumer was very much concerned about safety.
Dealer states i have a"implied warranty"whatever that mean. No safety defect listed in summary.
This car has barely 75,000 miles on it. We are told it costs $2,800 for a rebuilt transmission. Upon investigation on the internet, i found that transmission failure in the windstar is a chronic problem (along with the door locks and rear hatch failing). I believe the transmission should be recalled. Just fyi-our extended warrently expired one year ago.
Transmission defect, causing vehicle to roll back while in the park position/accident/injury.
Transmission failed internally, causing outside case to crack, and started leaking transmission fluid. Needed to replace transmission for $2400. This at 72,000 miles, and after replacing entire engine (under extended warranty) at 59,000 miles. This vehicle has been serviced per the owner's manual, since buying new. The only satisfaction is that ford has lost money on this vehicle because of all the warranty work done for the first six years of it's life. Have had major problems with the last 4 fords i have owned, all at less than 60,000 miles. No more fords in my future.
When vehicle is going 65mph rpms escalate higher that normal ,andvehicle dies out. No warning is detected when sticking between gears. Please provide more information.
After three fairly reliable years and only 58,000 miles, i have had head gaskets blown and a transmission that is showing signs of failure.after researching on the internet, i see that i am not alone in having these problems with the windstar.i have never felt compelled to complain about a vehicle before.the thought of this car leaving my family stranded on a busy stretch of freeway (which it almost did) due to a premature engine failure and factory defect is inexcusable.
Continuous failed transmission.have had 4 actual rebuilt/replacements.begged for exteded warranty, received.shortest lived transmission was 300 mi.1 mo. Out of warranty, transmission failed again, on highway, 100 mi from home with 3 disabled children in car.will be vehicles actual 6th transmission.has now 98k mi, bought new off lot (1st transmission in 1st yr owned).irionically person 1 mi down the highyway had 1999 windstar who's tranmission had also just failed.bought car for children due to safety, is nothing but a lemon and ford won't do anything about it.
Total automatic transmission failure at 36.5 months, 44,400 miles
Was coming to a red light after driving 35-40mph & had stopped. Started to pull out, but vehicle failed to move. The gears did not shift. Vehicle did not shut down. Applied accelerator & nothing happened. It was still running even though it stalled. Took to dealer & had it checked. Mechanic found nothing wrong.
The abs light had flashed periodically, the transmission had burnt out, and the engine had become contaminated with coolant.the consumer had requested reimbursement for the charge of the rebuilt engine.scc
Owner received recall notice 7-1-96, contacted dealer and was told parts were not available.
Dt*:the contact stated while driving on normal road conditions at any speed the transmission slipped continously and would not go into overdrive when gas was applied while trying to pass other vehicles.the vehicle was taken to the dealership who advised the contact to take the vehicle to a reputable transmision service.the contact disregarded the option because it was too far and the towing too expensive.a tire was also punctured while repairing a coil spring.after the tire was replaced without being balanced the vehicle lost its aligment.
Original transmission failed at 37900 mi. - detected when trans fluid leaked onto hot engine part and smoked. Original warranty expired at 36,000 mi.dealer told me that fmc would sell me an "extended powertrain warranty" for $250. The warranty would cover the previously diagnosed transmission failure and would coverany other major trans/engine problems up to 75,000 miles, provided i am still the owner of the vehicle. Ipurchased the extended warranty and was glad i did when the replaced trans failed ta 42,952 miles. The dealer replaced that trans, i had to pay a $50 deductible. In jan. 2001 (58,100 miles) the warranty had to be used again. This time it was for "upper and lower manifold seals".however, this time it would cost me $213 because they also had to replace the spark plugs, which were not covered by the extended warranty. Just last month, 6/22/2001 the vehicles engine light came on again, just as it had in january 2001. The vehicle was running rough, stalling, engine was 'misfiring".the end result this time was replacement of the spark plug wires, coil assembly,a-s sensor, and a spark plug.this vehicle was sold to me as "not needing a tune-up until 100,000 miles".sure sounds to me like i've already had that tune-up and i'm only 1t 65,000 miles!!then theres the a/c problem(s). In june the a/c was only blowing air through my defrost vents on top of the dash. The dealer repaired a "vacuum leak" and now they replaced a high psi switch, cost was $100 each time.
The transmission component that the dealer believes has failed is the thrust piston. My research on windstar mini-vans has shown this to be a chronic problem. This is especially true for 1995 models. It therefore should have been corrected in my 1996 model but obviously was not.
Consumer says the transmission will not go into reverse when stopping, it shifts down with a loud thump, also when putting vehiclein gear there's a loud thump. When driving vehicle transmission slips,engine continues racing and the vehicle's not moving.
Transmission failed.
Since we drove this car off the lot, it has been plagued with electrical problems.as soon as our warranty ran out, the transmission failed at 44,400.two adults and 4 children were on our way to a 4th of july celebration when the transmission stalled at an intersection.lucky for us all traffic was stopped and no major accident occurred.we took it to our dealer and asked for assistance since there was a tsb out on the transmission in ford windstar's.we were denied assistance.our problem was the aluminum piston that were reported in the tsb. In may 2001, the check engine light came on and we took it to a ford dealer.they replaced the irmc value. Cost $1000.recently, the check engine light came on again and smoke was coming out of the tail pipe.we took it to crossroads ford, the dealer we bought the car from. They once again denied to help us with the cost.we towed the van to a quality ford in durham, nc.they have contacted ford to see if they will assist us with the cost.the estimated cost is $3500-$4000. ****dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over artemis****761964
Whenever transmission gets hot it would make humming noises after driving 50-60 miles. Been to dealer & informed by mechanic, after test driving vehicle, the cause of humming noise could not be located.
The brake system and it's components failed, the abs light had come on constantly, the transmission burned out, and the engine was contaminated with coolant.the consumer requested a new vehicle or a new engine.mr scc
Transmission also went when car was i yr old. Obviously a lemon. Help.
When drivingvehicle fails to shift into gears which has caused problems whenaccelerating. Also, whenbrakes are applieda noise occurs infront end of vehiclecause unknown.please give any further details.
Transmission problems, causing vibrations.
Automatic transmission had been replaced four times at approximately every 17,000 miles.the cause of the malfunction of the transmission was not disclosed to the consumer by the dealer.
While driving about 40 mph feels like transmission is shifting into second gear. Then vehicle will move slowly without a warning.consumer contacted ford, the dealer repaired the failed sensor at no cost. .et.
While driving along all of sudden vehicle experienceshard upshifting or down shifting.occasionaly when coming to a stop sign then proceeding, motor revs and transmission does not engage.took it back to the dealer in september. Dealerreplaced a sensor, but still has not taken care of the problem. Vehicle is not longer under warranty.
Automatic transmission malfunctioned, causing slippage in gears and the rpm to go high. Sometimes wont go into gears.dlr is replacing the transmission.please provide further information.
Went attempted to put vehicle in reverse vechilce went forward. Tried six times shut off vehcile remove key and restarted it was fine. Please describe details.
Was driving approximately 35mphand transmission blew up. Heard a rattling noise prior to the blow up. Pulled off road & vehicle died. Was not able to move forward. Transmission was goine. Smoke had appeared later. Vehicle towed. Mechanic informed owner looked like a grenade had exploded inside. Contacted manufacturer & told vehicle over 36,000 miles & not under warranty. Nothing could be done. Transmission not repairable.
Vehicle bought in 3/99 throttle body linkage broke repaire bill $500.00 shortly thereafter sensor went out (fuel)bill 256.00 later noticed squeking in front end advised it was tie rod ends not fixed yet this thing has broke me have had many occurences with speed odometer going crazy after 45mph recently noticed popping when turning steering or appling the brakesbut before i could get it fixed transmission begin to either not shift upward ,slip at 45mph and has downshifted after reaching speeds of 45mph (on i-85) has jerked several times ..was told anywhere from 100.00-2000.00 ? seems i have not been alonein my disquest with ford...only problem not encountered head gasket thank god please help us working folks against this big boy on the block thanks
No summary.dt
I purchased a 1996 ford windstar van 3.0 l in june 2010. I have had numerous issues with this vehicle from day 1 to current most dangerous isthe blowing spark plug which has blown out 2 times forcing me to drive it to a place where it could be parked for repair first time blow out was 7 days after purchase repaired by a mechanic now 2000 miles later again blew out ford should be ashamed of themselves for ignoring such a huge hazard this could seriously ignite fuel fumes and cause a major fire, explosion while some one is driving with there children to find a repair shop unaware of the danger and damage this could cause, second issue is a failing shifting module or tranny and this has happened alot driving and all of a sudden the vans transmission shifts to a 1st or 2nd gear causing extreme change in speed and in heavy traffic we have almost been rearended several times due to this issue, vessil must be pulled over and trans reset by shifting to park and sometimes shutting off the vehicle and starting it again.ford dealer gave us a 3000. Estimate to replace transmission and told us we would continue to replace trans aprox every 70,000 miles this is a chump way to build cars and they have managed to get more money out of repairs than sales i will never own anotherford again safe or not. Ford should be forced to reclaim all these dangerous vehicles and replace all money spent on repairs and purchase of the vehicles due to endangering and there is no way they didn't know about these problems.
While driving 65 mph withcruise control onvehicle sped up. While getting ready to exit off the highwayvehicle stayed undercruise control module. As consumer attempted to slow down, vehicle was moving 65 mph without any control fromconsumer.in order to make vehicle stopconsumer had to press brake pedal with both feet, andshiftvehicle into neutral.eventually,vehicle was able to slow down, and consumer turnedvehicle off, dealer replaced 2 lock tabs because one had slipped on the cruise causing it to stay on.trip speedometer was replaced, it would not go past 799 miles.at 30 mph and over, the over drive light will flash.left front wheel cover was replaced due to it making ticking noises at lower speeds.sliding door squeaked, dealer lubed the sliding door.front rotors replaced and rear drums turned, a clicking noise was heard.
Under normal operations of vehicle, transmission changes from drive to low gear on its own, results in sudden reduction of speed, no prior warning.
Engine coolant needs filling every 2-3 days, transmission skips, engine checklight always illuminated and interior door ajar light never goes off.
This problem gives you no warning. You will be at a stop in heavy traffic. The transmission will dis-engage caausing you to become a hazzard. This failure occured at 51000 miles. When i took the vehicle to the dealer, there were(3) other people there for the same problem with the same mileage. I spoke to the service manager about the problem, he stated this defect happens all the time. I went to an indendent transmission shop, they see the problem all the time. Ford has addressed the problem in newer vehicles and the rebuild kits for the transmission by changing the material of a piston. We i contacted ford customer service, they were aware of the problem but stated we do not have to do anything to re-imburse the owners with the faulty transmissions unless the nhtsa forces us to fix it. This failure costs owners of ford windstars $1400. I am an enginner myself. And i do not believe that at 51000 miles a major repair like this is warrented. Where i live , there are (4) owners of windstars. Three out of those (4) vehicles have had to have their transmission rebuilt for this problem. Please help us with this because ford knows this is a problem but will not do anything about it unless you tell them to.
Transmission will fail to engage after making a stop.on the first incident,dealership could not determine that there was a cause because no computer code came up when examiningvehicle, and there was not a transmission specialist available.a second dealership/mechanic observed the defect, but could not determinecause due to no computer code showing onvehicle. A separate mechanic advisedconsumer thatdefect could be a result from a piston withintransmission cracking.please provide any additional information/attachments.
Ford told me tsb's were only to helpmechanics to solve problems that they know exists, but that they don't give me any right unless i purchased their extended warranty coverage.don't consumers have any rights?i bought this van because it got 5 stars in crash tests.i didn't know it would first inactivate the abs by losing its sensor.then another sensor would go, causing the van to downshift to low 1 when you were driving 55 miles an hour down the road.they should stand by their product.my van also clunks when i take it out of park.i refuse to pay my dealer any more money for something that i think that they should fix.i spent $140 to find out my abs sensor was defective,another $90 to have it replaced. Then another $95 to have the sensor replaced in the transmission.
Overdrive light failed.
Research shows me that hundreds of others have had this same transmission failure.. Ford is unwilling to pay for any of my damage. My van is parked six hours away from me at a dealer because i don't have the money to have it fixed.this is a bad transmission design and ford needs to quickly reimburse all of us who have had this problem.
Prior to recall notiifcation (96s50) vehicle would go in and out of gear while traveling at speeds of over 50 mph, vehicle was taken in for recall to be performed, however transmission consequently failed, consumer believes that ford knew that they built a defective transmission.
Transmission failed 15,401 miles after it had been replaced.manufacturer refuses to cover replacement since vehicle is out of warrenty even though failure is the same as the prior failure.first transmission failure occurred at 30,218 miles and second occurred at 45,619.
Please,we are parents whit 3 kids,is very hard for us to pay this extra money for this defect vehicle , to this moment we changed:transmission-twice 02sensor (transmission)-catylitic converter left/raight-coil ignition system ,we get this car whit 48.000mi. On 1998 .for my all familyand the good name of the ford deller tanks for yuo help.
Transmission failure causing surging.
While traveling at highway speeds,transmission suddenly shifted into lower gear without warning, almost causing loss of control. If the road was wet, vehicle would have crashed.
Ford extended warranty on 3.8 l engine for 1995 model due to engine failure caused by defective gasket sets. However, is not doing so for like failure on 1996 model 3.8 l engines.engine seized on our vehicle with approximately 48000 miles despite maintenance and timing chain gasket set replacement an approximately $1200 repair.dt
At about 60000 miles the windstar would fail to move after stopping at a traffic light.on occasion the vehicle would make noise, similar to what you would expect if a plastic container was caught under the vehicle.took the vehicle to the dealer and was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced.vehicle is less than five years of age and less than 60000 miles.dealer offered no assistance, financial or otherwise.
Transmission stalls whendriving andstopping at the stop sign.also, transmission slipsputtingvehicle in drive from park.
No summary listed for this vehicle.
Failure of transmission
Due to a defective transmission, while applying the gas pedal, the vehicle hesistated and lunged forward which may havecaused a crash.dealer had replaced transmission with a rebuilt transmission. Engine check light comes on.also,dealer replaced coil and a spark plugs, but problem is still occurring.dealer could ntdetermine the cause of the problem.please provide further information.
Owner accelerated and the vehicle would not move ( vehicle was in drive) the overdrive light came on.dealerinspected vehicle ( transmission was gone).
When driving speedometer was waving back from 20 to 90 mph. Consumer contacted dealer, dealer noticed transmission pan had metal in it which causedtransmission to be replaced. Also, noticed a fume odor inpassenger compartment, and contacted the dealer. Dealer noticed that coolant andtiming cover were leaking fluid onto head gasket. Please provide any further details.
Transmission slipping intermittently while driving, engine drops to 45 mph and rpm goes to 5000 at highway speeds. On some occassion during stop and go transmission does not change from 1st to 2nd gear. Took vehicle to dealer and they cannot find any problem. This is becoming a dangerous situtation.
Automatic transmission has been rebuilt due to the transmission not shifting into gear. After the transmission has been rebuilt consumer noted that overdrive light was illuminating ondash. Due tooverdrive light being illminated ondashtransmissioncould wear out again.
No summary listed for abov evehicle.
1996 ford windstar auto transmission failure. Intermittently will lock in 1st or 2nd gear shifting up. Also transmission, intermittently will down shift into 2nd gear while crusing at 60-70 mph. This sometimes lasts hours and then for no apparent reason desides to shift absolutly fine. I have changed the fluid, filter and gasket. Internally looks very clean minuscule amounts of filings and no apparent contamination. I would like to know what computer modules and or sensers are involved. I have heard of the,transmission control module (tcm) and the-----(pcm)?...what are this ? what is their purpose? are there others?where are they located?what do they cost? i cannot beleive the transmissions needs a $2000 rebuild when it performs perfectly most of the time. Logic convinces me it may very well be as simple as plug and play. Yet no transmission shops want to hear of it, they want to rebuild. My complaint is not with the equiptment but with the experts , especially the dealers taking advantage of customers. Case in point, the head gasket blew out on the windstar dealer priced the repair no less than $1450.00 and not to be surprised at final cost upwards of $2200.00. I had it towed 70 miles to my local mechinic and the costs including the tow job was $237.00. I wish he was a transmission mech. But he is not.you have my e-mail address i assume you wanted that to help me. Answer my questions about the computer module etc..and please do not give my address to any other sites for that matter to anyone at all. Do this, you will earn my trust, i will be greatful, you just need to ask.
Auotmatic transmission slips out of gear into a neutral after you come to a stop. You then have to put it in a low gear to get in back in drive. This can be a hazard in traffic. The power steerinng pump makes a loud grinding noise much louder than the normal sound the pump makes, the dealer has said previously that it is normal for the windstar. The passenger side power window has stopped working, unk reason has not been looked at. These problems are occurring in other windstars of the same year .
No ummary listed for this vehicle.
Vehicle has had two separate transmission overhauls. Vehicle has been to dealer five seperate times for engine problem. Manufacturer has been contacted but does not seem to be concerened with my issues or problems.
I brought my 1996 ford windstar in for an oil change, and was told tie rods failed and needed to be replaced. , then, next day, they phoned and advisedme thattransmission was defective because the pan was full of shavings, also,power steering rack was leaking, and intake gasket needed replacement., a total of $5000to fix this vehicle.i bought it at 118,000 miles, and this happened shortly after owning it for one year. Currently, it has 134,000 miles, and cannot be driven.i parked vehiclethenstarted it after being parked for a week. Heard a noise fromfront, and then white smoke came out of the tail pipe.i do believe that paul cornies, the dealer that i purchased vehicleknew that they were selling me a lemon.it has caused me a lot of hardship as i no longer work due to health reasons.i filed for disability insurance, and was told that i had a preexisting disease , and refused to pay the insurance.currently, i have a junker in my driveway that i can't afford to fix , and a bill for the next 3 years, since i still owe for it.i will never buy another ford.
My windstar has had several problems which cannot be found or corrected by the dealer until now, they can see that the slipping transmission needs to be replaced.i am afraid to spend $2,500 on a repair as the other "undetectable" problems are quite scary and have made me question the safety of this vehicle for a long time.the biggest problem is that the brakes will occasionaly "grab" hold of the front right tire for a split second while i am driving!! it happens and lets go so fast that it has never caused a problem but i am worried one day it won't let go! the car also has some electrical failings that just make me feel this car is not worth fixing, my speedometer bounces all over the place, the door ajar bell rings on and on sometimes, and the passanger window doesn't always go up and down.i really feel i need a new car, but am quite sad about having a $24,000 vehicle that is only 4 years old and is only worth $5,500 for a trade in.i have heard there were so many transmission & head gasket problems with the 95's that ford gives a special rebate upon trade in for a new ford, can you help me???
Transmission completely shutdown, has been replaced. Please provide any further information.
-vehicle was in park for about 1-2 minutes and the vehicle popped out of gear and rolled down the street. Driver started running behind vehicleand was pinned between the vehicleand light, and suffered some damage to her left side. There is a recall listed on the transmission96v-086000.dealer says that this is what the recall stateswill happen,but they say that this vehicle is not listed on recall for the park pawl roll pin popping out of gear. Dealer has vehicle now in shop for the problem, but owner is responsible for the fee.
The transmission was replaced on this vehicle at 15,000 miles but is now starting to act up again.it frequently shifts hard when upshifting and often downshifts whenever the gas pedal is released.although the transmission hasn't failed yet, it will only be a matter of time and the vehicle is now out of warranty protection.i noticed when checking the nhtsa web site that this seems to be a common problem for this vehicle type.
While driving transmission started making a loud sound. Consumer drove car to dealer.dealer looked at it andsaid tha t transmissionwas full of metal. Bearings were rattling around in transmission. That was the noise consumer heard.
Vehicle shifts very hard when changing gears.
Automatic transmission malfunctioned, causing stalling and hesitation while driving which may resultina crash.common problem.please provide further information.
#pe96-015 truck in park position,slipped out of park into reverse. Please describe.
Vehicle will not shift into gear when on an incline.a recall has been issued on the vehicle's make and model. However this vehicle was not included due to vin. Dealer has inspectedvehicle.
When attemptingtoput vehicle into gear itdoesn't shifting properly. Also, abs light is on, and there are no abs brakes. Vehicle has been intorepair shop three times for repair service, and the dealer can't determie thecause.
I was at a stop sigh attempting to cross a major highway,it hesistated like emergency brake was on, got 2-3 feet in middle of highway with oncoming traffic with truck right behind me (couldn't back up)and vehicle wouldn't go in drive. I finally got it to coast to parking lot. Took vehicle in to ford and the service manager told me it was the transmission, it had metal all through it. Which i said with this mileage and no warning at all. His reply was he hadn't seen it happen very often (often indicateds its happening and this is only one ford place)at this low mileage. Keep in mind i'm a 48 year old driver with no tickets or wrecks, i don't abuse a vehicle and this is my fourth ford (not van)it was very hazardous not to say horrifying.
The vehicle's transmission shifts down without notice, causing vehicle to 50 mph to 10 mph or less.this causes driver head to hit steering wheel and the children to be jolsted.the vehicle traveling behind just escaped impacting us in the rear.
Transimission failed.
When in park vehicle rolls if on incline.tt
3 transmission failures in less than 18 months
While driving the transmission failed which caused the vehicle to decelerate.*nlmtransmission replaced.
While driving at speeds above 50 mphvehicle will drop into nuetral without the indicator ever moving. Contacted dealer, and the dealer was not willing to do anything.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Van had been in for diagnostic check and maintenance on 9/21. No problems found. With no warning, transmission began to slip. Was able to drive in 2nd gear to repair shop and home, but told needed new transmission @$3500. This is my primary transportation used for business and home.still owe $10,000. Can't trade with bad transmission.please help
Transmission slippage.occasionally during stop and go transmission will not up shift out of 1st to higher gear.appears random.dealer could not re-create problem, and therefore could not find a problem.however, after doing some research, this appears to be a very common problem with 1996 ford windstar's.the only solution appears to require a rebuilt transmission.but, again nhsta complaints include owners having to have transmission rebuilt more than once.
This van has been an albatross!i had to take it in 3 or 4 times and get nasty before the dealership would admit that there was a transmission problem- and then agree to fix it.i know they were waiting for my bumper to bumper warranty to expire.the head gasket/engine problem absolutely fries me.no vehicle with 62,000 miles on it should require a new engine and head gaskets.that repair cost me $5000.00 and no one will help me.we all know about the 94 and 95 recalls.what about the 96's???the problem has not been fixed.i have called ford customer service several times, and have tried the dealer for help.no one will help me.the concensus is this:ford motor company does not care enough about the products they produce (or the customers who purchase them) to make an intolerable situation right.i have heard of so many cases like mine- ford has definately lost a customer.if they won't stand behind their produsts, i certainly won't buy another one!
Transmission failed causing other components to fail.
When stopped at stop sign, van hesitated to shift into gear for about 5-10 seconds and then jerked into drive.this happened numerous times..took to dealer and they couldn't tell me what was wrong, just that it needed to be replaced.had transmission overhauled...$1800 that i didn't have.1 yr later now having more problems with transmission, when going around corners van seems to slip into neutral until it's straightened out. When proceeding from a stop at a light or stop sign, vehicle feels like it's spinning the tires, but the power isn't getting the tires, after letting off the gas it moves, but this is very hazardous, especially in heavy traffic..will be taking the van to get fixed....again.no more fords for me!!!!
While driving the consumer was unableto shift gears.the consumer was able to pull over and noticed that fluid was leaking from underneath the vehicle.the dealer informed the consumer that the transmission needed to be replaced.
Vehicle would not go over 30mphwhen the ignition was turned off oil started to leak from the vehicle.the dealer informed owner that the transmission fluid had evaporated,causingvarious parts to melt together.the manufacturer has been notified.
Cannot up shift to 3rd gear.rpms go up and down when vehicle is on a slight incline.
While backing outvehicle, it felt like it was pulling. Also,it would make a lot of horrible noises prior to transmission breaking down. It cannot be shifted into gear or able to move.
Transmission failure in 1996 ford windstar, requiring complete replacemen at approx 70k miles
While in florida i stopped at a traffic light at which time the transmision would not downshift.i had to manually down shift to move.vehicle taken to sarasota fl. Dealer.transmission was rebuilt for $1800.no explanation given for failure.manufacturer no help in solving situation.i have been a loyal owner offord motor co. Products for well over40 years.very unsatisfied at this time.
Transmission quit operating at 85,000 miles.transmission went out at 4000 miles. Consumer was traveling 10 to 15 miles onhighway.dealership wa saware ofproblem.
Currently, the van is at the dealership and we are awaiting an estimate on the head gasket. Our warranty expired on august 31, 2002 and ford will not help with the cost of the repair. The transmission is also being checked as it has begun leaking only 10 months after we had it replaced. Our mechanic stated that these are commonly seen with this vehicle and stated the failure of the head gasket is due to the defective fire ring. No reason was given as to why the transmission failed in january of 2002 and to why it is now leaking.dt
Gears switched from drive to second, then it stayed in second. Tookvehicleto a mechanic, andhe said that metal chips were all in transmission and it needed to be replaced.
In the past two weeks the transmission has slipped twice.when at a complete stop and accelerating the vehicle has to be put into park and then back into drive.this is very dangerous. There is only 56000 on vehicle.battery light continually comes on this can be very nerve wracking when in heavy traffic. .speedometer fluctuates and flops around after 40mph, sometime sticks at 50mph.rear wipers work when they want.we have just returned from serving 8 years overseas, this is our only vehicle and from the research we have just been able to start this windstar is headaches with the same problems.i would like to be able to take my family to see relatives they have not seen in over 8 years but this vehicle is unsafe.
While driving transmission won't shift gears, and sometimes will stay in neutral where transmission will lose power while not shifting. A cause could not be found.
The transmission in this vehicle failed at an unacceptably low mileage. When it failed, it caused a surging that was dangerous. The speedometer should not fail at such a low mileage. It fluctuates wildly. We do not have the resources to get it fixed and can't tell what speed we are driving.
Transmission shifts hard.
Transmission makes clunking noises when backing vehicle up or when starting to move forward. Will be taking vehicle to dealer.
Transmission failed at 44,000 miles,irratic downshifting,required rebuild including replacement of forward clutch piston, ford covered 60%
Start van everything fine. Stop at store,etc. Restart van starts jerking and goes into second gear and will not go back into drive mostly jerking all the way or slips into drive and then back to second with a jerk over and over again. Don't have money to fix if really bad so please what could this be?? give time to sit overnight and start its ok again??
Transmission self destructed at 60950 miles. Wanted to add this to you list of failed windstar transmissions in the hope that a recall may someday happen. Ford seems to know about this problem but wants to do nothing about it. I am out $2300.00. This was the cost to have my transmission rebuilt. At the present time i have recieved no financial assistance from ford. I will keep trying until i get the money i spent to get my transmission rebuilt back, even if i have to use the legal system. Thank you for your time.
Transmissions failed 3 times since vehicle purchased in 1999.very concerned about safety while driving vehicle.1st replacement at 33000/2nd at 34000, and 3rd at 65000.
Overdrive light flahsing - advised by ford dealer to no longer drive.eec tested found faulty valvebody.this was the third major incident with front brakes.at 26,107 miles the front brake system was completely rebuilt.at 38,831 miles the rotors wer
Consumerwas traveling about 55mph and engine check light blinked on and off on the dashboard. Also,transmission slipped out of gear. Computer chip was replaced, but problemstill continued. Anti-freeze was leaking from the transmission. In addition,spark plugs were replaced, andhead gasket needed to be replaced. Computor diagnosis indicated that cylinder #4 malfunction.the dealer said that doing tune up will solve this problem but did not.
The automatic transmission will either refuse to shift into the higher gear or will downshift on its own.continuing so that eventually (after 10 to 15 minutes) it will no longer shift from first into second.the problem is not continual.the dealship had the van for three days after it first occurred.they were unable to get the problem to reoccur for them.the day after we picked the van up from them the problem arose once again.at present we are trying to figure out what step to take, what the problem could be and how to get the problem to reoccur while at the dealer.of, couse the problem always occurs on the weekend or in the evening after closing.
Forwardclutch piston failed , cracking transmission, causing fluid to leak, and resulting in transmission slipping.tsb has been sent out # 98-22.
1996 ford windstars have major transmission trouble. We have only had our van for 2 years and it is very upsetting that a car manufacturer cannot make a vehicle that will make it to 100,000 miles. Ford states that you can go 100,000 miles before needing a tune up but they don'y mention that their transmissions won't make it that far. I have been on the internet researching this problem and have found that many people have this problem but ford does not reply with any help or hope. The ford transmission problem expands outward, not just on the windstar vans. There should be a recall or something should be done because most of the owners are still making payments on these "new " vehicles that are suppose to be able to make it for 100,000 miles. On the sites i searched, alot of people have only gotten 40,000-55,000 miles on their vehicles before the problems began. This is not ordinary and cannot be looked upon as normal wear and tear because it has happened to too many people. Ford needs to be made to recall and correct their vehicles. They should be responsible for what they build and sell. We have already taken our van to the shop 2 times, and the 3rd is in the near future because it still is not fixed.please, please, please check into this and see if something can be done to get our vehicles repaired so we don't have to take out loans to pay for repairs that should be repaired by ford, on a vehicle we are still making payments only . Thank you.
Went attempted to put vehicle in reverse vechilce went forward. Tried six times shut off vehcile remove key and restarted it was fine. Please describe details.
Since the transmission failure i have met others who had the exact same problem with the 96 windstar. This is not an isolated incident.. The failure of the windshield wipers is a safety problem.
Transmission rebuilt twice within a year, and new engine
When coming to a stop and trying to accelerate it was like vehiclewas in neutral, it would roll, but couldn't go anywhere.then, it would jump into drive.
Auto-tran: vehicle keeps rolling when coming to stop, shifted to park, keeps rolling on flat surface and incline, no warning.
Transmission failed.
Van was parked running in the driveway, passenger exited the vehicle while in park. Car satin park for 1-2 minutes and started to roll.there is a recall on the model of vehicle make and year,but this vehicle was not included in the recall .
Transmission failuredue to the cracking of the forward clutch piston.
Transmission failed. Yh
Speedometer fluctuated all over dial when car went over 30 mph; transmission just failed while car was being operated, it failed to shift and did not move while in traffic; brakes fade when coming to a stop all the time (i have requested repairs repeatedly, told no problem detected); car continues to roll 6-8 incheswhen parked on an incline; rear suspension creaks when getting in and out of car; several leaks in engine had to be repaired (gasket??).
Stopped @ intersection & light changed. Transmission failed & van stalled. There was no previous indication of transmission problems.luckly, all traffic was stopped or this could have been a major traffic accident.failure is due to aluminum clutch pistons.incident was reported to ford motor co.there are alot of premature transmission failures in ford windstars.95 models were recalled. 96 models share the same components.
Transmission fails to reengage after coming to a stop.upon acceleration, may suddenly engage at a high r.p.m. Causing vehicle to lurch forward.also will slip into neutral while driving at highway speeds, and then re-engages without warning.
Abs and check engine light constant, replaced o2 sensor, replaced abs brakes, transmission problems causing vehicle to jerk and not change gears when running or parked, coolant leaking and door sensors are bad. All document known issues on. Http://www.carsurvey.org/modelyear_ford_windstar_1996.html- something needs to be done about this. This has gone on far to long and is putting peoples life at stake. I have children in my van and all of these are big issues that need to be address immediately.
Replaced rack and pinion for the second time 8/01 ( by dealership) and 5/03.also replaced front end bearing in 1999 and transmission.wiring harness in 2000.rear a/c does not workand that's only the items i can remeber.
Vehicle experiencing hard shift.nlm
Defective transmission, causing vehicle to roll backwards while in the park position/ accident.
Transmission malfunctioned, causing the vehicleto slow down while driving at a high speed, almost causing an accident.also problems with putting the vehicle in an reverse postion.dealer cannot determine problem.
Transmission keeps failing
The park pawl shaft occasionally does not engage when the transmission selector lever is placed in the park position or other position.therefore, the vehicle either does not stay still or does not move when placed in gear.
Was at stop sign & started to move forward. Suddenlyvehicle just stopped/stalled.had vehicle towed to dealership & was informed by mechanic the problem was in the transmission & would need to replace it.
While driving transmission went out. Vehicle jolted about 3 times, and then coasted to a stop.vehiclefelt like it was in neutral,andwould not go into any other gear. Ford customer representatives are defensive when consumer talks to them regarding the problems and they are unwilling to help in any matter.
We had to replace our transmission. I have several people tell me about similar problems with the ford 1996 windstar transmission: three owners in the virgina area, four owners in the maryland area, the transmission specialist at the dealership indicated he works on these transmissions all the time which i also heard from an amoco shop
Ford dealer mechanic told me that he has repaired many of these transmissions at premature mileage levels (less than 80,000 miles).ford has authorized replacement of many original parts with new designs to reconcile the substandard original design.for my transmission the mechanic said failure was the result of a defective aluminum piston, a problem that has developed in many ford transmissions.
Nhtsa recall # 96v086 000/ power transmission: experienced a problem with vehicle starting to roll out of drieway after being parked. Dealer notified and informed consumer that vehicle was not part of recall and repairs would be at consumer's cost.
Vehicle been experiencing ongoing problem with overdrive slipping. Dealer/manufacturer notified . Can nhtsa provide addtional information or help in this matter.
Without prior warningtransmission went out. Dealer checked the vehicle out, and there was a lot of metal in the oil pan.
No summary listed on this vehicle.
Automatic transmission was built with an aluminum cylinder piston that loses forward line pressure and transmission slips into neutral when driving vehicle. Vehicle can slip into neutral at any time.a local dealer informed me that they replace approximately 5 of these transmissions a year. The replacement transmission from ford is built with a steel cylinder piston to remedy the problem. Vehicle is very dangerous and has the potential for a head on collision if you tried passing another vehicle and transmission slipped into neutral because of defective design of transmission with aluminum piston.
When trying to take the vehicle out of park, the park pawl hung up, causing loud noise and it is very hard to get out of park.dealer can't determine the cause of the problem.
Since date of original delivery this car has intermittently deactivated the traction control component fo the 4 wheel disk brake option. This enhanced safety feature was purchased as i beleived it made the vehicle somewhat safer in avoiding problems in poor traction situations. However about once every 700 miles, including day of deliverry with only 25 miles on the clock the trac off light starts to flash indicating that i no longer have the safety advantage of traction control. I either pull off road and turn car off/on which resets the traction control or continue to drive without the benefit of this while also suffering the disruption of seeing a flashing alarm. Neither of these are safe situations.a nys lemon law suite was initiated about this situation 2 years ago. The dealer has tried to correct over a dozen times without success. Often they claim they need to get theerror code & an not remedy without it. While we have had numerous failures the dealer has had only 2 attempts with the light on. They blew one and in 8/31 they did succeed to get a code but have yet to correct.are there other reports of this safety feature erroneously disarming itself?
Tracking control system light/ abs brake light illuminate, indicating malfunctionwithin the systems. Please give any further details.
Traction control system failed.
Traction control sensors failed causing wheels to lock up on slippery surfaces.(qcaw)
Problems with gas fumes coming from the exhaust system.*mr( doris stewart on behalf of her parents robert stewart and jacqueline stewart).. The vehicle overheated at idle, the dealer replaced the head gaskets, the air condition stopped working and there was a problem with the power train control module.
We bought this van 07/25/00, since then it has had head gasket replacement, and two engines, 0-2 sensors, heater plug, now the pcm, we have only driven our van for @ 6 months, all repairs have been done at dealership, today is 11/24/01. And our van is at the dealership as i submit this. I have copy of all records.thank you,[xxx]parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
The tracking control light andabs brake light illuminate, indicating a problem within the system. Please give any further details.
Traction control system system failed on two occasions, switch replaced. Mjs
At original new car deliver and recurring at approx. 800 mile increments, the traction control system (an component of the 4 wheel disk abs option) disables itself and ceases to function. The car has been returned to the dealer and numerous complaints to ford have also been issues. I loss the value of traction control which is one of the reasons i purchsed this vehicle and paid a substantial upgrade fee for this option.despite many attemtps to resolve the problem still continues. Traction control remains disabled until the car can be shut down and restarted. This is dangerous to do on a highway and means i go without traction control for long periods. This problem was also the source of a nys lemon law action. More than 4 ford dealerships have been asked to correct this problem without success.
1. Auto transmission front seal premature failure causing leaks. 2. 5.5 x 15 steel rim cracked due to material defects, causing dangerous steeling responses. Both defects have been reported to ford san francisoc region, but ford deny responsibility.
Dt:when the owner bought the car in 1996 he noticed that the gear shifter was hard to remove from park.the gear shifterdeveloped a lot of play.when the car was in drive the gear position indicator showedthat the car was in reverse or neutral. When the car was in reverse the gear position indicator showed park. The owner was concerned that the car may roll out of gear becuase it was usually parked on a small hill. The owner took vehicle to the dealership for the first time in 1996.the dealership did not know what was wrong. The transmission was replaced in 1997 while under warranty. The owner was unsure if the transmission was replaced. The owner statedthat even after replacement of transmission, the vehicle always had the the gear position indicator problem. The owner took vehicleto the dealership a couple of years ago, and the mechanic told him that the car was hard to shift into gear. Then the owner checkedand saw that there was a recall on the transmission. The owner's vehicle wasnot included in the recall.
While driving thevehicle the gear shift disengages. The dealer has been notified.
Transmission jumped out of the park position/rolling backwards down hill, causing accident.
Gearshift sticks on occasions.
1996 windstar minivan park pawl pin is defective. Gear moved out of park hitting consumer. A recall had been issued regarding the problem. However the consumer was told her vehicle was not included in the recall.
Vehiclestopped at light/sign & then ready to move forward, cannot engage vehicle into drive position. Its an intermittent problem. Dealer cannot find problem. Informed owner to wait until it's worse before the problem can be found & fixed.dealer finally replaced transmission on 10/24/97. No other occurrences since latest repairs.
Interlock system does not prevent the gear from shifting from one gear to another.
The vehicle rolled back with the gear in the parking position on the drive way
Vehicle rolled away while vehicle was parked, and keys were out of ignition.
Recall 96s50.when the car is in park it does not engage and it will roll. Dealer has not been contacted to remedy the problem. Provide further information.
After exiting the passenger was left in the vehicle as the passenger went to take the key out of the ignition ,the vehicle jumped into the reverse gear and back into another vehicle . Dealer has been contacted.
While parked inincline position and the key is out of the ignition the child switched transmission gearfrom park position to neutral position with the emergency parking brake on, the vehicle rolled down almost.please provide details.
Vehicle was put in park with engine running. Consumer got out and walked around the side, and noticedvehicle rolling forward. Consumer jumped in vehicle and applied the brakes, and vehiclehitgarage door.cause was unknown. Please provide any further information.
Torque converter blew.stranded vehicle.almost caused fire from spewing transaxle fluid onto hot engine parts.
Please,we are parents whit 3 kids,is very hard for us to pay this extra money for this defect vehicle , to this moment we changed:transmission-twice 02sensor (transmission)-catylitic converter left/raight-coil ignition system ,we get this car whit 48.000mi. On 1998 .for my all familyand the good name of the ford deller tanks for yuo help.
Torque converter blew.stranded vehicle.almost caused fire from spewing transaxle fluid onto hot engine parts.
Bought car 3/01-immediately replaced cat. Converter. Overdrive lt flashing-needed new transmission, torque converter, planetary gears, solenoids; had to realign;speedometer off by at least 10 mph; need new rack & pinion-power steering fluid leaking; nothing but problems have spent so much money and also been without car for over a month -only had it 7 months!
While drivingrear axle cracked in two parts.no reason was found, anddealer /manufacturer had been contacted.
Driving west bound on i-94 just part menomonie, wi, the left rear wheel fell off around 7:30 pm on 1/2/99.about 40 miles before that, the abs light came on.the brake pedal would go to the floor, but you did have minimal braking power by pumping the brakes up.the tow truck operator and my brother (who came to pick us up), thought it was a froozen wheel bearing.the patrol officer who took the rest of the family to the perkins while i waited for the tow truck found the wheel with the drum attached to it (all lug nuts were tight).within the first couple of months of ownership of the car, the right rear wheel bearing had frooze and locked the car up.we have also had to add about 4 ounces of brake fluid each year to the system due to the brake light coming on.we have also complained that when going down a hill and braking hard that the steering wheel would shimmy pretty bad.some other backgound on the wheel falling off is that we left gulf shores, alabama at 2:00 pm on 1/1/99.we drove i-65 up to i-90 in indiana.and then took i-94 heading for st. Paul, minnesota.due to the bad weather those days (1/1/99 and 1/2/99), we had to drive through rain, freezing, rain, snow, and high winds.as stated, the wheel fell off around 7:30 pm on 1/2/99 about 3 miles past (west of) menomonie, wi.i had to wait until about 8:50 pm for the tow truck due to other cars being in the ditch.they couldn't tow it to stillwater, minnesota (where i leave, about 50 miles away) since they were busy that night.northtown ford called on 1/8/99 and stated that it would cost around $1,800 to $2,000 to fix.i've asked for the cause(s) of this failures, but they have been unable to tell me.please contact me if more information is needed and let me know what my next steps should be.thanks.
Owner states while backing out of the driveway her rear axle broke. Owner also notes that dealer said it was from a pothole.
While backing out at approx. 4mph, tie rod end detached and axel pulled out from vehicle, resulting in wheels couldn't rotate.
\vehicle hit curb and was sideswiped at about 3mph backwards. Impact bent rear axle assembly, causing other parts to fail. Also shifted axle so that tire jammed body at wheel well. Vehicle could not be driven.
Consumer was traveling 20mph & heard a strange sound from rear wheel area. Consumer stopped & saw the wheel up against the wheel well. Underneath the metal bar (axle) was broken.vehicle has been repaired,butconsumer was looking for some type of reimburstment.vehicle has not been damaged for this to happen.
Outer hood panel separated from body of vehicle prior to recall (97v-180). In addition, replaced front electric door latch/multifunctioned wiper switch/windshield wiper switch/engine cylinder head gaskets due to coolant leak, and differential seal.
Stopped @ intersection & light changed. Transmission failed & van stalled. There was no previous indication of transmission problems.luckly, all traffic was stopped or this could have been a major traffic accident.failure is due to aluminum clutch pistons.incident was reported to ford motor co.there are alot of premature transmission failures in ford windstars.95 models were recalled. 96 models share the same components.
Axle boot on driver's side ripped.
Bought car 3/01-immediately replaced cat. Converter. Overdrive lt flashing-needed new transmission, torque converter, planetary gears, solenoids; had to realign;speedometer off by at least 10 mph; need new rack & pinion-power steering fluid leaking; nothing but problems have spent so much money and also been without car for over a month -only had it 7 months!
When the consumer first contacted the dealer no tools were available to fix the problem, on the second and third trip parts were not able to remedy the problem.recall 96s39.
Consumer states on occasion when set in park it will sometimes pop out and go into neutral.
Axle broke at where wheel baering is. Causing abs teeth grind against steering nuckle and lower ball joint. The drive axle should never break this way. Please let know where can i attach picture.
Engine check light and the air bag light would intermittentl/simutaneously come on and cause loss of accelerationwhile traveling at highway speed. Dealer notified. Consumer was informed that vehicle had a transmission leak, the speedometer was acting erractically, parking brake and brakes were inoperative,also the power windows were inoperative.
When we were leaving the city we noticed the motor was reving too high.we stopped the van and noticed when we started that it would not shift out of 1st gear (it is an automatic).later, after letting it sit i drove it again and accelerated it up to 65 mph, it shifted ok.suddenly it downshifted into 1st gear.took it to dealer the next day and they could not find anything wrong.it is working alright at the moment but in looking over the internet i have found numerous complaints dealing with similar problems.
Have had the minivan in several times for symptoms of the head gasket failure only to find problem after warranty expired. Transmission has always "clunked" when shifting into drive or reverse, this is a daily problem the dealership cannot "find". Windshield cracked overnight in november. We don't think the windshield should have been so fragile.
Vehicle suddenly slower down to 35-40 mph while on the highway, just avoided being hit in the rear brought vehicle to dealer where they replaced sensor that determines shift lever location. As car had 41,000 miles, dealer refused to cover defect under warranty even through car was just over 2 years old.
Speed needle goes up and down from 50mph to 120mph register on the speedometer . Consumer had the speedometer replacedat 45181 miles byford dealership, mechanic did the actual work.transmission failed at about 32,000 miles.
Transmission failure.abs light comes on, rear hatch failing to open, ignition switch failing to start vehicle, blower motor failure, front brake pads wear quicly, and hood recall.
I am looking for wheel rim failure information on 1986 to 1988 buick, lesabre and buick electra estate wagons.the rims of the 1986 have some wear at the mounting holes resulting in imperfect centering.buick refuses to tell me if there is a known problem replacing the lug nuts that came with the rims with standard centering lug nuts!the original lug nuts and rims were made with large flat areas and relying on the diameter of the lug nut to do the centering.i can not afford new rims, if new lug nuts would work i'd rather do that.but the rims seem to be some kind of alloy.can you help?
The transmission sensor failed.
Transmission failed due to the cracking of the forward clutch piston.
Called a couple of weeks ago, parts not available and no instructions from the maufacturer on performing recall 96v086000.
Someone ran into consumerhead-on,and seat belts did not hold him.driver/wife and two children were injured.
Was traveling 40-45mph in foggy weather when a deer appeared in the road. Hitdeer & both air bags deployed,causing the driver to suffer burns on the face & arms. Also,front seat belt failed to restrain the driver.
Dt:when the contact's vehiclerear ended anothervehicle both front seat belts disconnected. The passenger sustained a broken collar bone and bruised ribs. A police reportwas taken at the scene.the contact was not able to drive the vehicle. It has not been inspected to see why this occurred.
Owner just bought vehicle and is having seat belt problems on the passenger's side,dealers do not address the problem.
Stitching on passenger seatbelt completely deterioriated at floor hold down.
The safety belts located on the right front, and the rear seats, lock up while riding normally in the vehicle, actually squeezing the occupant, so the occupant has to remove the seat belt and then refasten it due to the pendilum locking up.also if you are sitting in the seat with the seat belt on, and lean forward to pick something up, it will automatically lock up, and again you have to remove the seat belt, and then refasten it.i have contacted the freedom ford dealer, and they advised me, that is what they are supposed to do!i am a police officer, and have attended numerous training courses, and know that this is not the proper way that the seat belt operates, and explained that to the service department personal, but they dismissed my complaint, and stated, do what ever you have to!.
Middle seat and passenger side seat belts failed.
Sudden loss of control in winter conditions, impact with tree, seat belt did not lock up, driver's side door opened, driver's seat broke, driver ejected and held outside of vehicle in seat belt.severe rib, lung injuries with heart contusion. Impact with tree left front quarterpanel, vehicle totaled. (dot number: not knowntiresize: 15)
Consumer was involved in a 40 mphfrontal collision,hitting the left fender in whichdriver's seat belt released from the buckle housing, causingdriver to move forward.please give any further details.
While entering an intersection vehicle was broadsided on the paasenger's side by anothe vehicle. Upon impact, air bags failed to deploy. Also seat belt failed to restrain consumer. Hit rear mirror and split head open and got a concussion.
Passenger's side seat belt does not lock, and driver's side is twisted and does not lock either.hasto manually feed the belt back inside ofthe retractor.
A child got tangled in rear middle seat belt, the seat belt would not release and was strangling the child, the belt had to be cut.
Shoulder retractor is not working properly in the middle bench seat. Will not retract enough for belt to go around consumer. Can't pull out manually.dealer contacted. *jg
Whiledriving at 35 mph on wet pavement consumer applied the brakes, and the shoulder strap belt didn't stop the consumer from hitting the window as another vehicle was coming head-on into the consumer. Consumer had to turn away from the other vehicle.
Shoulder part 0f the seat belt wasn't working properly,causing the consumer to hit the windshield.while driving at 35mph on wet pavement andwhen applying the brakes, another vehicle was coming head-on and collided.the shoulder belt didn't hold the driver.4 occupants sustained injuries.
Theintegratedchild safety seat wouldn't work,consumer took it to the dealer who couldn't do anything . Please describe .
Rear seat folds down into a child safety seat, however the seat belts are too tight, cut childs circulation off. Aw
Rear seat belt locked, trapping child in belt.no safety release visable, or in manual.contacted ford, no data available.ford refered me to contact n.h.t.s.a.
Drivers seat failed.
The special rear seats are so tight when folded downinto a child safety seat that it cuts childs circulation off almost choking him/her.
The safety belts located on the right front, and the rear seats, lock up while riding normally in the vehicle, actually squeezing the occupant, so the occupant has to remove the seat belt and then refasten it due to the pendilum locking up.also if you are sitting in the seat with the seat belt on, and lean forward to pick something up, it will automatically lock up, and again you have to remove the seat belt, and then refasten it.i have contacted the freedom ford dealer, and they advised me, that is what they are supposed to do!i am a police officer, and have attended numerous training courses, and know that this is not the proper way that the seat belt operates, and explained that to the service department personal, but they dismissed my complaint, and stated, do what ever you have to!.
Middle/rear seats do nto have headrests.
Vehicle is not equipped with rear headrest for the occupant due to design.nlm
Driver's leather power seat, on the left side vertical seat framewhich ends at the seat, has a very sharp edge,which cuts through the seat's padding/ leather cover. This could cause injuries to the driver'sleft side. *ml
Middle/rear seats have very low back support.
Abs light on dashboard comes on intermittently, after 5 minutes of operation light will come on, then stay on, but after shut off vehicle and start again light is fff and comes back on after few minutes of travel.
We have been having our abs light come on when the van travel on the highway.when traveling at speeds between 50-55 after 3-10 miles at this speed the abs light comes on.this problem started in dec 1998 and the dealership thought they fixed the problem by cleaning the sensors.the problem kept coming back .now we were informed that there is a toothed collar on the front axles that the sensors monitor for speed.these rings crack and the sensor picks up the crack.the dealership replaced the left front axles on the van on 24 sept 1999.they figured this would fix the problem.we drove the van to my parents home in scranton, pa and 7 miles into the journey the abs came on again.the problem will not go away and ford has no spare parts to replace these rings until 15 oct.how can someone place a 5 star government safety rating on a vehicle when the main safety does not operate.within the last 3 months this van has had the subframe mount, steering rods and part and last the whole left axle.if we keep this up my wife will have a whole new van.we have a handicapped child and the van is very useful for him and his baby brother.we don't drive it but local any more.we don't feel safe.we are asking how this van received a 5 star safety rating and what could you do to help us get this problem corrected.we only buy american made cars, but as of latley i am looking at old junk cars.please feel free to contact us at anytime to talk about this.thank you for you time.
In cold snowy weather when appying the abs brakes, they failed three times, causing an accident,took to dealer, couldn't find problem .
Please send a report out to consumers, and find out who else is having these brake problems.i went to firestone for a second opinion after 5 times at ford, the mechanic tells me he sees this often, mainly due to plastic calipers hangingup, they say the calipers are faulty, which cause the pads to get eaten up and rotors to wearout.ford turned my new rotors 3 times, leaving me, with rotors that after warranty i would have to replace at my cost.only when i threatned arbitrationdid they replace them.
Nhtsa recall 02 v 101 000/manufacturer's recall 02s36 concerning brake linefailure whichoccurred while driving. Problem was due to loss of brake fluid. Dealer notified. Feel free to provide any further information.
Ford windstar brake, abs brake, cruise control, and speedometer/odometer electrical problems rear axle cracks!
While traveling on the highway the abs braking light appear on the dashboard and the pedal went all the way to the floor.please provide additional information dealer is aware of the problem.
Vehicle brought in for smoke from under hood.found cruise control deactivation switch caught on fire.sheehy ford ro# 611676
Vehicle on 4th set of front brakes.vehicle has been owned for 21 months with 26000 miles, driven in normal condition.
The abs warning light comes on when driving.i can stop and shut the van off and it will be all right.1996 ford windstar 82,400 miles.
The cruise control had an electrical short and the brakes failed.
I maintained my windstar properly. It began to leak coolant and engine light. Ford dealership stated it needed a new engine. Due to faulty head gasket causing leak of coolant. Ford canada agreed to cover some of the cost but not all of it. Said if i declined their offer they would withdraw all offers. So i took it. I couldn't afford the bill as it was.i have since seen a small claims court in quebec found that ford was responsible for the repairs related to the head gasket.i have contacted ford canada customer complaint center. And told they will not reimburse me for the expenses. And that although they lost the complaint in quebec in all other canadian proviences they have one. Even a class action suit. Why would they pay a portion of the repair if they were not responsible??? i feel they are responsible for the full cost of the engine repair.
Had changed brake pads a week earlier. Driving 55mph and the car crashed down on it's axle as the tire and wheel passed by us going down highway, in 37 north. Studs had all broken off. The disc brake is ruined from skidding on it. Traffic was moderately heavy. We skidded to a stop on a bridge and feel lucky not to have crashed into anyone.
Three of the four front capliper brake bolts were missing causing an awful grinding noise from the front undercarriage.nlm
My 1996 ford windstar van's engine assembly must be replaced due to persistent internal coolant loss into the engine, despite repeated trips to the dealership with complaints of classic head-gasket symptoms.ford displayed blatant neglegence and dishonesty in its dealings with me.i took my van to dealership twice for head-gasket-like symptoms:excessive loss of coolant with no external leakage, gray smoke out of exhaust, and engine running rough.the first time the dealership said no problems could be found.two weeks later i returned to the dealership with the same symptoms, only this time more obvious, and the check-engine light had come on.the dealership determined my engine had overheated and that coolant was lost via the timing cover gasket, which they replaced and then returned the vehicle to me.exactly one thousand miles later i had to have my vehicle towed to the dealership, at which point they condemned my engine due to coolant entering the #1 cylindar.they offered to replace the engine for $3,650, which includes a 20% discount for the timing cover gasket work that was done for nothing.i refused the offer and managed to barely drive the vehicle home, where it now sits, undrivable.aware of the windstar head gasket problems from the beginning, i repeatedly stressed to the dealership my concern that this was a head gasket problem, but they repeatedly explained this was not the problem.they lied by saying no known gasket problems exist on the 1996 windstar, but i researched the nhtsa's records and found tsb 99-13-1 (titled "underdetermined loss of coolant"), which instructs dealerships to replace the gaskets in situations like mine.the tsb is very clear.i wrote the dealership a letter demanding help replacing the engine, but received no reply.i re-sent the same letter and documents to the dealership just yesterday.i can provide copies of all documents, as i have scanned them into a compressed pdf file for e-mail transmission.
Three of the four front capliper brake bolts were missing causing an awful grinding noise from the front undercarriage.nlm
The 1996 ford windstar continues to have defective head gaskets as in 1994 and 1995 models. This lead to engine failure at 78,000 miles! the cost to replace the engineper miller ford was 4,778.00. We paid 19,000 for this vehicle and refuse to pay for a new engine! the nasa has stated the head gasket should last at least 120,000 miles or the life of the vehicle. We have had this ford windstar with a blown engine due to head gasket failuresince last december, but continue to make monthly payments on this dead ford windstar. We pay taxes, insurance, and montly payments to ford credit for the next 18 months or so. We just discontinued registration fees as the dmv told us we could do this. Ford refuses to acknowledge this problem and is not standing up to it's committment of quality care to it's customers. I urge anyone who is considering buying a ford to do their research. Ford is a company that does not stand behind it's promises. We will never own another ford although our family has never owned anything but until now. Ford wake up!
Three of the four front capliper brake bolts were missing causing an awful grinding noise from the front undercarriage.nlm
The brake system and it's components failed, the abs light had come on constantly, the transmission burned out, and the engine was contaminated with coolant.the consumer requested a new vehicle or a new engine.mr scc
The brake & abs lights were coming on intermittently then the brakes started squeaking and eventually started at least scrubbing on the right side.also, when you push the brake pedal down, it felt soft.this started happening again at the beginning of october of this year and the right front brakes are scrubbing.and, the brake pedal feels soft, again.my husband replaced the brakes on 12/28/09 and we had to have the right front axle and spindle replaced on 01/13/10.we had the recall no. 09s09 work performed at richard haney ford in carrollton, georgia on 12/17/09.new front brakes were also put on by mechanics on 12/12/08 & 09/17/07.
While driving at 45 mph brakes failed without warning, causing vehicle to collide with another vehicle.
Driving west bound on i-94 just part menomonie, wi, the left rear wheel fell off around 7:30 pm on 1/2/99.about 40 miles before that, the abs light came on.the brake pedal would go to the floor, but you did have minimal braking power by pumping the brakes up.the tow truck operator and my brother (who came to pick us up), thought it was a froozen wheel bearing.the patrol officer who took the rest of the family to the perkins while i waited for the tow truck found the wheel with the drum attached to it (all lug nuts were tight).within the first couple of months of ownership of the car, the right rear wheel bearing had frooze and locked the car up.we have also had to add about 4 ounces of brake fluid each year to the system due to the brake light coming on.we have also complained that when going down a hill and braking hard that the steering wheel would shimmy pretty bad.some other backgound on the wheel falling off is that we left gulf shores, alabama at 2:00 pm on 1/1/99.we drove i-65 up to i-90 in indiana.and then took i-94 heading for st. Paul, minnesota.due to the bad weather those days (1/1/99 and 1/2/99), we had to drive through rain, freezing, rain, snow, and high winds.as stated, the wheel fell off around 7:30 pm on 1/2/99 about 3 miles past (west of) menomonie, wi.i had to wait until about 8:50 pm for the tow truck due to other cars being in the ditch.they couldn't tow it to stillwater, minnesota (where i leave, about 50 miles away) since they were busy that night.northtown ford called on 1/8/99 and stated that it would cost around $1,800 to $2,000 to fix.i've asked for the cause(s) of this failures, but they have been unable to tell me.please contact me if more information is needed and let me know what my next steps should be.thanks.
Abs brake failure; also abs warning light keeps coming on.
The van has abs. When trying to apply the brakes the brake pedal goes to the floor and the van does not stop.
Was driving applied the brakes, vehicle slowed down then locked up and hit a mail truck .
Abs brake light keeps coming on. Would add brake fluid & light goes out. Taken to dealer & was informed by mechanic a code would come up, even after brake fluid had been added. This happens every 2 months.
Abs system failed.
Was parkingvehicle on a street and pulling up into a corner parking spot,appliedbrakes, andvehicle kept on accelerating.contacted dealer.
Abs light came on, went to the dealer, dealer replaced the left front wheel speed sensor and reset the abs module.two days later abs light back on at 60 mph.dealer says now the module that was reset is burned out. Wants to charge 531.00 plus labor to replace.if the module was reset, how did they not know the module was burned out the first time?
The abs light has come on over 3 occasions.the first two times occurred within 2 years after the purchase of the van therefore the repair was under warranty.the most recent incident was 06/2000 due to a wire short and the repair costed $219.also, we just noticed that a piece of bar was broken off near the front alignment.took the van to the shop and found out the sway bar was broken off.the repair shop indicated that this part usually lasts the life of the van unless we hit something hard.this was not the case and the repair will cost $430.
Abs warninglight was on . Dealer has repaired thebrakes 5 times. It is arepeating problem. Please provide futher information.
The brake bracket has gottenweak from rust and gets into rear hub causing a loud irritating noise.the rust causes the rear brake antilock sensor to light up in dash.*jg
Abs, brake failure, when vehcile is cold and first started, brake has a soft pedal, extended stopping distance.
Experiencing moments when extreme pressure must be used to stop.
This vehicle has a soft (spongy) brake pedal, which results in extended stopping distances during hard or panic stops.this was emphasized recently when we narrowly avoided an accident on the interstate.the lack of braking effectiveness is not so obvious during normal driving.we have requested the dealer to repair this, originally shortly after the purchase, and just a week ago when the front brake pads were replaced.replacing the brake pads did not correct the problem.the dealer seems unable to understand or correct the problem.this problem relates to your ea 96026; and i have seen many other complaints in your file.this is a serious safety defect.
Front two brakes were replaced twice within a year with additional return for brake adjustments due to erratic soft pedal.vehicleis equipped with anti lock brakes.please describe details.
Abs and hand brake failure.
Consumer had to have whole head gasket set replaced, also brakes failed completly.
Brakes go soft to floor, have had lines bled 3 times, air in left front line each time, none in other 3.problem seems to be coming back more frequently.mechanic finds no fluid leak and master cylinder fluid is full.
Disc brakes are warping from excessive heat buildup within the abs brakes. Dealer contacted, and stated the design of car has small brakes. Repair work done at owner's expense. Also, headlights are filling up with water when raining, could cause major problems/speedometer does not work properly. Provide further information.
Abs brakes; after making a turn, at low speeds vehicle brakes locked up.please describe.
While driving vehicle at either high or low speeds abs brakes would lock up on their own.
While drivingapproximately at any speedand applying the brake pedal, the brakes take longer to stop, and there's too much play on the brake pedal.
Anti-lock brake failure, causingloss of control; alsosteering failure.
While driving down street abs light and brake lights came on then auto would not stop, consumer hit another auto from rear.
The vehicle's abs brakes failedand abs light came on. Vehicle vibratedat high speed.brakes serviced at 20miles.dealer cannot determine the problem.
Anti lock brake system is continually failing, replacement of components do not rectify failures. Mjs
When brakes are applied to stop the van, a grinding sound is heard,a vibration is felt in the brake pedal, and stopping distance is increased.abs light comes on occasionally.dealer on 9/30/00 said brake system is ok.problem persists.
While driving about 35 mph the abs light came on until consumer shut offengine. Then when he applied brakes again, the lights came on again.manufacturer and dealer have been contacted.
This is a second or follow-up for my earlier complaint filed on the day of teh incident. I just found additional information and wanted to append this to my complaint.first complaint was about the total loss of braking in my 1996 ford windstar with 4 wheel discs and abs.with a dual braking system the rupture of a brake line should not cause total brake loss but this failure did cause just that.if the electrical power was not on some pedal was evident. Once electrical power was on the pedal went to the floor.since the ruptured brake line was in the rear and the front brakes still had fluid and do most of the braking i would have expected to retain some stopping capability.i purchased the 4 wheel disc system to gain a safer and more secure vehicle. If the additonal of abs 4 wheel braking results in the loss of the dual master cylinder function , which is more critical, i think this option is less safe.the new information is the fact that other ford windstars have a recall for improperly installed brake lines which are subject to rust through and rupture. Ford tells me that my vin is not in that group. I do not know if this is correct but the sumptoms sound identical. All the other brake lines in my car were in excellent shape save for the one to the rear brakes which ruptured and caused the loss of the fluid in the rear system.the front system retained fluid but did not pressurize the brakes. I assuem this failure was caused by the abs but i can not be sure if that is the actual cause.ford indciates that my need to replace the brake line is not the same as the existing recall. I am requesting that you investigate if the brake line problem with the windstar product is larger that originally thought. My car also is supposed to have the master cylinder signage updated on a recall. Ford indicates my was done but i do not see any of the expected markings. Perhaps these were applied and have fallen off or i could be looking in the wrong place.
While driving experienced abs brake failure, when attempting to stop, pedal went to floor,almost had a crash,no prior warning.
Abs brake light remains illuminated, indicating a malfunction within the system cause unknown. Dealer adjusted the rotors which did not correct the problem.please give any further details.
Abs system has a short.
Anti lock brakes lock up.
There have been numerous failures of systems in my van. The engine must be replaced, the speedometer is out again.
The left front excitor ring of the abs system failed.due to a crack in the ring, which allowed the ring to slide inward on the axle disengaging from the sensor.my wife came to the end of our driveway and attempted to stop.the antilock system prevented the brakes from engaging properly.the abs light came on and i brought the vehicle to metro ford in raynham, mass.they said the ring is made right on the axle and can not be replaced by itself.and replaced the axle with ring.that info proved to be a lie as other ford dealers i later called said they replace just the ring all the time.i have 25 years of prof. Mechanic experience and i inspected and removed the axle to see if it showed any wear.*nlm *nlm**dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over to artemis*755180
The abs light and check engine lights were on. The dealer mechanic replaced speed sensors and then told me the computer was also bad. He also told me that the main seal was leaking and said that ford had lots of problems with the 3.8l v6 engine. He told me i should get rid of the car.
Braking has been fading for the past year resulting in excessive stopping distance. Dealer checked brakes, found: "brake are good". My wife had a front-end collision when the car in front of her hit a 3rd car cutting into their lane.
Abs brake failure.
The abs braking system malfunctioned, causing extended stopping distance which may cause an accident. Also, abs system activated when it was not supposed to.dealer replaced the abs braking system at consumer's expense.please provide further information.
The braking system malfunctioned,causing the front brake pads wear and tear at 20,000.also abs light came on,causing extended stopping distance.
While traveling andapplying brakes there is a grinding noise.she has to pump the brakes.abs braking system doesn't kick in there is a thumping noise.dealership is aware of problem.,
While driving and upon making a sudden stopbrake pedal goes allway tofloorboard, causing extended stopping distance . Consumer has contacteddealer, dealer stated it wasnormal operation. Please provide any further details.
When applying the abs brakes,the pedal went to the floor, and brakes failed to stop the vehicle.
Abs light stays on continuously.was told it was due to a problem on the right front wheel, replaced parts on right front wheel, abs light still stays on.no other reasons found for light to be on. Numerous attempts to correct have not succeeded.check engine light continues to stay on.i have paid $89 3 times to have 'diagnostics' run which show no reason for the light to be on, yet it continues to stay on which will not allow my car to pass state inspection.
Abs brakes failed four times.
My windstar has had several problems which cannot be found or corrected by the dealer until now, they can see that the slipping transmission needs to be replaced.i am afraid to spend $2,500 on a repair as the other "undetectable" problems are quite scary and have made me question the safety of this vehicle for a long time.the biggest problem is that the brakes will occasionaly "grab" hold of the front right tire for a split second while i am driving!! it happens and lets go so fast that it has never caused a problem but i am worried one day it won't let go! the car also has some electrical failings that just make me feel this car is not worth fixing, my speedometer bounces all over the place, the door ajar bell rings on and on sometimes, and the passanger window doesn't always go up and down.i really feel i need a new car, but am quite sad about having a $24,000 vehicle that is only 4 years old and is only worth $5,500 for a trade in.i have heard there were so many transmission & head gasket problems with the 95's that ford gives a special rebate upon trade in for a new ford, can you help me???
When the brakes are applied the pedal becomes hard,resulting in extended stopping distance .also, the abs lightstays illuminatedwhile in motion.dealerhas inspected the vehicle.
Driving down hill, around curve, expeienced brake failure, when applied brake vehicle shook and shimmied and steering vibrated,driver right front wheel smoked and was very hot, pass. Front and rear wheels were cool, pedal went to floor, no warning.
When applying the brakes the steering wheel jumps all over the place. Dealer replaced warped pads and rotors. Problem exists again.
I applied my brakes at least 3 times and they did not grab or make any sound, no skid marks. I slid under the flat bed of a semi truck. My van was totaled. My daughter and i were injured. I called ford motor co., and was told they would do whatever my insurance agent said. My case is now under review with the adjuster board through nationwide insurance in dayton, ohio, where the accident occured. My adjuster said there is no way to check the anti lock system since there is a hole in the engine and the van can't be started. I would appreciate any help in this matter or suggestions.
The tracking control light andabs brake light illuminate, indicating a problem within the system. Please give any further details.
Consumer has gotten brakes repaired over 15 times. Each time brakes only lasted one month.also ruining rotors and pads. Also, vehicle pullsto one side, shakes and acts like it is stuck in neutral. Door sliding locks and unlocks on its own, no exit at times.
Engine light on.dealership stated that head gasket needed replacement and possible engine damage.found hundreds of complaints on internet relating to defect in 1995-1997 windstars with head gasket problems.ford dealership claims do not know anything about problem.contacting ford, but getting run around and tends not to speak to me since mileage is over 100,000.obvious problem, as evidence by the ability to easily find others with same issue.dealership suggested engine replacement at $4,000 or gasket replace at $1,200.another issue is abs light on.seems to be another issue where known problem with fords, but ford not able to fix. Dt
Owner has abs brakes.0 vehicle wasinvolved in an accident. Brakes were applied, but did not stop vehicle. Pedal went completely to floor.also abs light came on at time of accident. Cause has not been determined.
Ea96026; brake pedal fades/extended stopping distance. In an emergency stopping situation, when slamming on the brakes vehicle keeps going and does not stop. This happens on any type of road surface and any type of weather. Dealer was notified about problem, but is not able to duplicate the problem with the brakes. Please provide futher details.
When driving the brakes went straight to the floorboard, and the brake light came on.conumer had to pump the brakes to get the vehicle to stop.also, when applying the brakes there is a loud noise. The brakes had been replaced three times.dealer told the consumer thatbrakes have to be replaced every year.consumer stated that there isanother safety problem involving the electricalsystem.the lights keep coming on , as well as the light's on the dashboard keep coming on. In addition, gas gauge failed to indicate the proper amount of gas left in the tank.
The front brakes feel like they are grinding & grabbing when they are applied. This extends the stopping distance.
Brake pedal went to floor and no brakes in normal stop on dry pavement.then brakes were fine.2 wks later happened again so took to ford. Ford replaced all brakes due to heat from slightly set emergency brake (warning light was burned out they said).brakes to floor, but manuel brakes the next day.ford drained brake lines.happended again.ford said you will have manuel brakes--it takes a while for new brakes to settle in.kept happening-pedal to floor, manuel brakes, then normal braking.no improvement in 2 months so returned to ford.ford said no problem.on 12-22 rear ended a truck as brakes failed with no manuel brakes available.ford says no problem.ford engineer refuses to talk with me and sends the message that there is nothing that can cause that kind of problem.i don't know what to do.
When attemptingtoput vehicle into gear itdoesn't shifting properly. Also, abs light is on, and there are no abs brakes. Vehicle has been intorepair shop three times for repair service, and the dealer can't determie thecause.
Abs failure.
Three sets of front brake pads in 30,000 miles or replaced every 8 months. Driving style is considered conservative.
When applying brakes vehicle will not stop, usually takes about 2 car lengths before it stops. But it can also vary, depending on the speed. Dealer has replaced brake pads 3 times/7 times rotors and calipers. This has to be done usually every 1500-3000 miles defect is occurring.
Abs false activated at low speed.probably typical for a vehicle with such high mileage.
Had the sub-frame insulator replaced twice. Had new abs brakes put on vehicle. The rotors were cut twice. The subframe bushing thread loader was worn down. Tie rods replaced twice, and the struts were replaced twice also.
The abs light illuminates while vehicle is in motion.the dealer has inspected the brake system several times and could not correct the problem.
Abs:applied brakes on bottom of slight incline, vehicle stopped at much longer distance than normal, excessive effort to stop vehicle.
Short in the abs system.
Tracking control system light/ abs brake light illuminate, indicating malfunctionwithin the systems. Please give any further details.
Abs brakes failed, resulting in extended stopping distace/brakes fading. Also warped front brake rotors, causing vibration when brakes are applied.
Ongoing problem with excessive wear andreplacement of brake system.pads/ rotors had to be replaced on five occasions within five years. Reoccurring problem of a squealing noise coming fromwheel whenbrakes were applied. Feel free to provide any further information on this matter.
While driving or when vehicle is in different gears , door ajar chime will sound when the doors are actually closed.also, the abs brake warning light illuminates, indicating a malfunction within theabs system.cause unknown.please give any further details.
Abs light and brake lights come on and the lock the brakes.
Son was driving along approximately 20 mph and hit a sheet of ice and the vehicle just went to the right side of the road. The abs brakes seemed to have locked up suddenly.
Abs brakes; after making a turn, at low speeds vehicle brakes locked up.please describe.
Speedometer fluctuated all over dial when car went over 30 mph; transmission just failed while car was being operated, it failed to shift and did not move while in traffic; brakes fade when coming to a stop all the time (i have requested repairs repeatedly, told no problem detected); car continues to roll 6-8 incheswhen parked on an incline; rear suspension creaks when getting in and out of car; several leaks in engine had to be repaired (gasket??).
Ea96026, braking system malfuctioned, causing extended stopping distance whichmay result a crash. Also,dealer replaced the front brakestwice. Please provide further information.
Abs system continually failing, several component replacement(sensors, module assembly and cleaning of the sensor rings), however failure indicator light continues to illuminate on occasions. Mjs
My 1996 ford windstar with abs 4 wheel disc brakes experienced total brake failure on the ny cross island highway. I managed to get the car off the highway and into a parking lot.despite having dual zone brakes and brake fluid remaining in the front brake system i had zero braking.i would think that paying extra for 4 wheel disk abs brakes would not be at the cost of losing the value of the dual master cylinder.i expected improved braking with the abs 4 wheel disk option. The loss of any braking mote than off-sets the heat discipatation and abs features. Should having abs and disc brakes make a car less safe?the car with only 58,500 miles on it had a metal brake hose rust out. This line went to the right rear brakes and the failure was in the middle of the car above the spare wheel. Other brake lines still appear rto be in excellent condition. I do not know why this one failed at this date. The real reason for this complaint is that i was surprised by the total loss of braking. I think this may bea design failure.shouldn't the front brakes still have worked?indeed with the ignition and system off some pedal was encountered but with the power on there was absolutely no pedal. The indicator lights did indicate a braking problem.this car has been reported to ford and to several dealers as the abs/traction contorl often automatically disengages. Despite more that 20 attemtps to have this corrected at multiple dealers this problem persists. This is another problem that results in the loss of benefits in what should be a safety improvement.however, this report is not about the recurring traction control failure.this is only to surface the fact that braking force is totally lost when a brake line for the rear brakes fails.
When applyingabs brakes on dry pavementpedal went to the floor , causing extended stopping distance. Right brake pad had come apart, right rotor damaged and had to be replaced.no warning light before failure. *ml
Abs and check engine light constant, replaced o2 sensor, replaced abs brakes, transmission problems causing vehicle to jerk and not change gears when running or parked, coolant leaking and door sensors are bad. All document known issues on. Http://www.carsurvey.org/modelyear_ford_windstar_1996.html- something needs to be done about this. This has gone on far to long and is putting peoples life at stake. I have children in my van and all of these are big issues that need to be address immediately.
Abs light keeps coming on. Had received recall notice 99v14700 for hydraulic cylinder system. Took to dealer & had abs checked. Hydraulic control circuit went bad & needed replacing.
Abs brake system failed.
Abs brake problems; intermittently,when applying the brakes, the brakes lock up. This happens under normal braking conditions, normal braking situation and dry roads. The dealer was not able to detect a problem with the braking system. Taken to dealer on 1/17/97 ,9/15/97, 11/4/97 and4/1/98. Brakes locked up again on 5/19/98. Dealer not able to correct brake problem.
Owner has abs brakes; while applying brakes, brake pedal goes to floor. Also,full pressure was applied to brake pedal with no results. Owner further notes that brake rotors and pads were replaced. Owner is very concerned for safety.
While driving at 50mph and coming to a stop, the vehicle had extended stopping distance which caused the brakes to vibrate. Also the consumer stated that the antilock brakes activated when coming to a slow stop on dry pavement.the van was taken to suppes ford of johnstown pa who replaced the right front exciter ring.(excellent short form)*scc
Anti-lock brakes fail continuously, causing accident.
When driving the abs brakes and traction off,light comes on, the brakes seem to grab and the vehicle slows down and suddenly stops with no intention of stopping.
Ford told me tsb's were only to helpmechanics to solve problems that they know exists, but that they don't give me any right unless i purchased their extended warranty coverage.don't consumers have any rights?i bought this van because it got 5 stars in crash tests.i didn't know it would first inactivate the abs by losing its sensor.then another sensor would go, causing the van to downshift to low 1 when you were driving 55 miles an hour down the road.they should stand by their product.my van also clunks when i take it out of park.i refuse to pay my dealer any more money for something that i think that they should fix.i spent $140 to find out my abs sensor was defective,another $90 to have it replaced. Then another $95 to have the sensor replaced in the transmission.
The abs light comes on. Recall notice #99v14700 was received for hydraulic cylinder system. Had abs checked at dealer & sticker was applied control unit that went bad & needed replacing. Had no problems with brake system prior to recall notice .
Transmission growls and sounds lke it is going to drop/hit the ground; also brake pedal gets mushy/soft, vehicle loses control. There is also loss of steering power.
Upon making a right hand turn the anti-lock braking system did not send the proper message to the wheel sensor.
Abs brakes; when applying brakes in normal conditions the pedal went to the floor and brakes failed to stop vehicle, causing an accident.please provide further details.
The abs light illuminated on the dash board, and then the brake pedal traveled to the floor.
Upon applying force to the brake pedal, the pedal will continue to maneuver, causing extended stopping distance and brakes fade away.please provide further details.
Anti-brake light keeps going off.
Ea 96-026, when traveling at low speeds and coming out of a parking lotinto oncoming traffic,experienced brakes fading away which resulted in extended stopping distance. Consumer unsure if pedal traveled to the floorboard. Consumer contacted dealer, dealer has yet to replace parts. Please provide any further details.
Anti lock brakes failed.
While applying the brakes pedal went to the floor.consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle and pulled over.vehicle stalled. Consumer tried to restart vehicle, but was unable to do so.consumer hadvehicle towed to the dealer for inspection, andmechanic could not duplicate the problem.
Consumerwas traveling 30mph on side street andheard a noise. Consumer applied brakes, and pedal went all the way to the floor.vehicle started pulling toright, she was able to control vehicle.dealershipwas aware ofproblem. Mechanic stated thatleft rear backing plate and brake shoe anchor rivets sheared off.
The electrical abs anti-lock brake light keeps coming on and the engine check light also comes on.please describe.
Defective antilock brakes.
Thereis a leakage withinmaster cyclinder.also,abs light is on andlight won't go off. Dealer is aware of the problem.
While driving braking system malfunctioned, causing brake pedal to g to the floor, and extended stopping distance.please provide further information.
Abs light continues to go on / the right wheel is making a humming noise.
Abs problems; when applying the brakes on normal road conditions there is a grinding sound and the pedal goes to the floorbroad, and more stopping distance is required. Dealer stated that the brake calipers were missing and were replaced under warranty. Consumer is still experiencing a braking problem.
Brakes failed (when my wife was driving with our 6 year old son with her) with no warning, pedal went to floor and only slowed the van when your foot was all the way down. Brought it to two ford dealers before they diagnosed that the abs/hcu is not working, replacement part and labor is est. At $1,400. Out of my pocket, plus i have been without vehicle for 3 weeks and counting, and had to have it towed. Also the first local garage replaced the master cyl in an attempt to fix it another $300.
Consumer was attempting to stop about 15-20 feetbehind of other vehicle when abs became inoperative, causing consumer to rearend vehicle ,half of engine destroyed, all front end damaged, airbags did not deploy .consumer had extended stopping distance to 40-50 feet.
Abs brake lights come on. After applying brakes there's plenty of vibration. Steering wheel has to be held tightly due to moving from side to side. Took to dealer 6 times & brakes repaired each time. Problem still exists.manufacturer said met warranty obligation.
While driving down street abs light and brake lights came on then auto would not stop, consumer hit another auto from rear.
At original new car deliver and recurring at approx. 800 mile increments, the traction control system (an component of the 4 wheel disk abs option) disables itself and ceases to function. The car has been returned to the dealer and numerous complaints to ford have also been issues. I loss the value of traction control which is one of the reasons i purchsed this vehicle and paid a substantial upgrade fee for this option.despite many attemtps to resolve the problem still continues. Traction control remains disabled until the car can be shut down and restarted. This is dangerous to do on a highway and means i go without traction control for long periods. This problem was also the source of a nys lemon law action. More than 4 ford dealerships have been asked to correct this problem without success.
On highway driving tapped on brakes and the pedal went to the floor, no brakes at all, speed was approximately 40-55mph. No accidents or injuries. Dealer cannot duplicate the problem.
I applied my brakes at least 3 times and they did not grab or make any sound, no skid marks. I slid under the flat bed of a semi truck. My van was totaled. My daughter and i were injured. I called ford motor co., and was told they would do whatever my insurance agent said. My case is now under review with the adjuster board through nationwide insurance in dayton, ohio, where the accident occured. My adjuster said there is no way to check the anti lock system since there is a hole in the engine and the van can't be started. I would appreciate any help in this matter or suggestions.
The brakes on leased vehicle have gone bad,and the manufacturer is not willing to replace or repair these brakes, and the car is still under warranty.
While driving, experienced abs failure, when attempting to slow/stop got no response, vehicle continued to go foward at same speed 20-25mph, rearended mail truck, no prior warning, no injuries.
Abs brake light stays on while braking.
Our 1996 ford windstar gl, which we purchased new, has 118000.we have experienced a broken (bouncing) speedometer, dome light malfunctioned, abs and brake light malfunctioned, and more recently, leaking coolant which is linked to a blown head gasket and check engine warnings.the cost has been astronomical.according to many other consumers, all of these issues are common with the 96 model.please investigate whether ford intends to make any recalls regarding these issues.
Brake/abs warning light on.
The abs light had flashed periodically, the transmission had burnt out, and the engine had become contaminated with coolant.the consumer had requested reimbursement for the charge of the rebuilt engine.scc
My check engine light stays on and if i hit the brakes suddenly the brake light will come on.
The computer that controls the absmalfunctioned, resulting in the anti lock brakes not engaging when vehicle was being driven on ice or snow. Dealership was contacted.*tc
1996 ford windstar. Consumer requests a refund for money spent on repairs as a result of the problem described in a recall *tgwthe consumer stated the vehicle had a brake fluid leak which damaged the abs module, closkspring and caused the cruise control not to work. The consumer stated in mid-late december she and her husband began to experience problems with braking and the abs light would come on and go off at random.braking was sometimes interrupted by a shuddering which delayed the action of the brake after the brake pedal was depressed, as if the abs did not want the brake to engage. This happened during normal braking as well as a quick press of the brake pedal, but in either case the braking was prolonged. The consumer stated the dealer repaired the problem with a kit and she was reassured the brake leak was fixed and there should be no more problems and there was nothing wrong with the action of the brakes. Several days later, the consumer and her husband experienced the shuddering again while driving 65 mph. The consumers husband decided to purchase an abs module from an online dealer. The consumer took the vehicle to the dealer, who agreed to install the part. The problem with the abs light and shuddering has been resolved. When the consumer received the recall notice, he went to the dealership with the receipts from the repair, but was told his vehicle was not one of the years covered for a refund of previous repairs.
While traveling on the interstate, check engine light appears on dashboard, and vehicle was leaking antfreeze.dealership is aware of problem. Dealer found head gasket had blown, replaced head gasket and thermostat, on several occasions the air conditioning leaks, brakes making grinding sound, dealer found anti-lock sensor failed, rear fender is rusted on passenger side.
Abs brake sensor failed resulting in collision.
Dt: the contact owns a 1996 ford windstar. Two years ago around june 7 2003 while driving the van all weekend, when they got out of the vanand walked into a store, were not into the store for 10 minutes and someone said that the vehicle on fire.had problems with abs light coming on, and they tried to have this fixed. Were not successful in getting this fixed. The vehicle was totaled, and the insurance company covered it. She believed the problem was from the deactivation of cruise control switch. The fire started under the hood.
Complaint received via e-mail. My wife was drivingto church when the electrical system caught on fire. My two kids were in the car. They were able to put out the fire, and had the car towed to an automotive center. The brake monitor system caught on fire.
Recall 99v147000. Dealer did not take care forrecall, and told consumer not to worry about it. Manufacturer told owner to call nhtsa to receive the necessary treatment.
Brakes failed.
When applying the abs brakes the pedal nearly travels to the floor, causing extended stopping distance.dealer cannot identify any problem.consumer states that there is a grinding noise from the front brakes.consumer also states that the steering wheel is very difficult to use.
While driving the brakes grind and squeak.please provige further details.
While driving 65 mph withcruise control onvehicle sped up. While getting ready to exit off the highwayvehicle stayed undercruise control module. As consumer attempted to slow down, vehicle was moving 65 mph without any control fromconsumer.in order to make vehicle stopconsumer had to press brake pedal with both feet, andshiftvehicle into neutral.eventually,vehicle was able to slow down, and consumer turnedvehicle off, dealer replaced 2 lock tabs because one had slipped on the cruise causing it to stay on.trip speedometer was replaced, it would not go past 799 miles.at 30 mph and over, the over drive light will flash.left front wheel cover was replaced due to it making ticking noises at lower speeds.sliding door squeaked, dealer lubed the sliding door.front rotors replaced and rear drums turned, a clicking noise was heard.
Brakes continue to squeek when driving.they can lubricate them which only lasts six months.then they start squeeking again.the only time it is quiet is when you have the brakes applied.this seems to be a manufacturers defect.
When driving on wet and dry pavement,the brake pedal fades,causing extended stoppingdistance.
Entire brake system failed acording to local for dealership (kaytes ford) thee appeared to be contamination in the brake fluid that caused the seals to wear down and destroy the sytem.in july od 1998 i had the car in for the replacement of the abs sensor and the problem with pedal pressure in the vehicle.they found nothin wrong with the brakes at that time. The problem continued until the brakes faile in august of 98 at wich time ford said the fluid was contaminated and the entire brake system had to be repkaced.i had the fluid tested and have a copy which shows that there was no contamination.ford motor company refused to honor any warranty claim and i was forced to pay $2,300.00 in order to have the system fixed.ford never offered to test the brake fluid and still does not know what was wrong.if ther was no contamination the seals must have failed because of a defect in material which ford should honor under the warranty please help
No description given.nlm
Brakes continually fade due to air getting into the lines. *dh
Brakes have continually caused vehicle to vibrate. Mjs
Brakes faded, causing accident.
Engine check light and the air bag light would intermittentl/simutaneously come on and cause loss of accelerationwhile traveling at highway speed. Dealer notified. Consumer was informed that vehicle had a transmission leak, the speedometer was acting erractically, parking brake and brakes were inoperative,also the power windows were inoperative.
Brakes failed.
Front brakes failed.yh
Consumer states brake (service) warning light started coming on when pulling away from a stop.also the antilock brake warning light is on. Dealer found low brake fluid, the front brake linings, rotors, rear lings, and both rear wheel cylinders needed to be replaced.however consumers inspection found that dealership had never added brake fluid.consumer is requesting reimbursement for unnecessary repairs and would like to see brake fluid sensors recalled.
While traveling on the interstate, check engine light appears on dashboard, and vehicle was leaking antfreeze.dealership is aware of problem. Dealer found head gasket had blown, replaced head gasket and thermostat, on several occasions the air conditioning leaks, brakes making grinding sound, dealer found anti-lock sensor failed, rear fender is rusted on passenger side.
Consumer stqated the front and rear brakes were replaced.
Brakes failed.
Brakes experience extended stopping distance.
Pads and rotors replaced twice in 36,000 miles, emergency brake requires adjustment monthly. Abs light has been reset once.
While driving at 50mph and coming to a stop, the vehicle had extended stopping distance which caused the brakes to vibrate. Also the consumer stated that the antilock brakes activated when coming to a slow stop on dry pavement.the van was taken to suppes ford of johnstown pa who replaced the right front exciter ring.(excellent short form)*scc
Disc brakes are warping from excessive heat buildup within the abs brakes. Dealer contacted, and stated the design of car has small brakes. Repair work done at owner's expense. Also, headlights are filling up with water when raining, could cause major problems/speedometer does not work properly. Provide further information.
When brakingvehicle jolts and vibrates.cause is unknown. Please provide any further information.i
Overdrive light flahsing - advised by ford dealer to no longer drive.eec tested found faulty valvebody.this was the third major incident with front brakes.at 26,107 miles the front brake system was completely rebuilt.at 38,831 miles the rotors wer
When brakes are applied to stop the van, a grinding sound is heard,a vibration is felt in the brake pedal, and stopping distance is increased.abs light comes on occasionally.dealer on 9/30/00 said brake system is ok.problem persists.
Consumer has gotten brakes repaired over 15 times. Each time brakes only lasted one month.also ruining rotors and pads. Also, vehicle pullsto one side, shakes and acts like it is stuck in neutral. Door sliding locks and unlocks on its own, no exit at times.
When applying the brakes the steering wheel jumps all over the place. Dealer replaced warped pads and rotors. Problem exists again.
The brake lining, sliders, rotors & 2 calipers had to be replaced due to grinding, metal to metal, & excessive wear. Brakes not holding like they should. Had same problem 1 1/2 years ago. Took vehicle to mechanic for repairs.
The brakes make a loud sound like a rolling drum when you try to stop. It shakes, rattles and makes a loud dragging like noise until the car stops.now you have to press the brakes all the way down in order to just slow the van down.also sometimes when you try toaccelerate the van will start to move backwards when it's in drive.then with a hard kick which sort of feels like someone is rear ending you, the van will go forward.the brakes are so bad at this point that sometimes the emergency brake is needed just to stop the van.
Ea96026, braking system malfuctioned, causing extended stopping distance whichmay result a crash. Also,dealer replaced the front brakestwice. Please provide further information.
Front brake rotors:due to rotors warping, they have been replaced 3 times since i purchased the vehicle.all have been covered under original warranty.now, my warranty has expired, and therefore, i am stuck with any future problems.passenger side sliding door:rust was found on inside bottom of door.it was temporarily fixed; dealer is waiting for ford to approve new door to be installed (under original warranty).
When applying brakes vehicle will not stop, usually takes about 2 car lengths before it stops. But it can also vary, depending on the speed. Dealer has replaced brake pads 3 times/7 times rotors and calipers. This has to be done usually every 1500-3000 miles defect is occurring.
Red brake light illuminated on and off, dealer tested all brakes and found no problems, later found brakes low on front, dealer turned front rotors and replaced pads.
Vehicle's front disc brakes have premature wear and tear at 12,000. The brakes had to be replaced. Dealerstated that other windstars have the same problem.
Right front brake worn out, damaging rotor, requiring replacement. Left front brake worn out, but rotor salvageable. No audible indication up to failure warning of worn pads. Looks like brakes should have lasted longer also. Vehicle not driven on highway or heavy traffic.
Experiencing excessive wear of the brake pads/calipers and rotors. Consumer has contacted the dealer.dealer has replaced parts on a number of occasions.sproblem still occurs.please provide any further details.
Need to replace speedometer head, replaced tie rod, front and rear brakes, cylinders, head gasket and now engine blew need new engine.
Ongoing problem with excessive wear andreplacement of brake system.pads/ rotors had to be replaced on five occasions within five years. Reoccurring problem of a squealing noise coming fromwheel whenbrakes were applied. Feel free to provide any further information on this matter.
The braking system malfunctioned,causing the front brake pads wear and tear at 20,000.also abs light came on,causing extended stopping distance.
Abs problems; when applying the brakes on normal road conditions there is a grinding sound and the pedal goes to the floorbroad, and more stopping distance is required. Dealer stated that the brake calipers were missing and were replaced under warranty. Consumer is still experiencing a braking problem.
Caliper bolts fell off of vehicle.
The caliper was hanging up causing premature brake failure.yh
Brake calipers failed by getting stuck with the brake pad contacting the disc, causing premature brake pad wear.mechanic reported seeing identical failures of this make and model.
Three sets of front brake pads in 30,000 miles or replaced every 8 months. Driving style is considered conservative.
Spring broke as the car was being jacked up to do a brake pad replacement.
Brake rotors replaced three times, brake pads replaced five times.
Owner has abs brakes; while applying brakes, brake pedal goes to floor. Also,full pressure was applied to brake pedal with no results. Owner further notes that brake rotors and pads were replaced. Owner is very concerned for safety.
Consumer replaced front brake pads for2nd time.pads were soft, and when they got hot they fade and stay covered with dust all the time. This wassecond time in a year, 6 months apart.dealer stated it was a normal wear and tear.
I am also one that had to spend $1933.07 beause of head gasket problem. I have also replaced my brake pad 5 times. I have also bought new front tires 3 times in 3 years. The tire wear is unreal. I also have the problem of the odometer not working. The problem with the brakes and engine running sluggish have been since i purchased the van. The odd thing is you don't get warning signs. The check engine light would come on - go off. In order for the dealer to know what is wrong the check engine light must be on.never had any sign of the engine overheating. Great driving van but many, many, many, many, many problems.
Brake pads failed.
When applying the brakes a loud grinding noise occurred. The brake pads were replaced.also, brake shoes were worn badly on the right wheel, also brake shoes were bent.
Right front rotor and brake pads failed.yh
Brake pads failed.
Right front rotor and brake pads failed.yh
The rotors warped and caused the windstar to shake when the brakes were applied. The rotors and brake pads were replaced in july of 1997 by dealership.
Rotors failed.
Vehicle requires front brakes every 10,000 miles, rotors lasted only 25,000 miles, rear brakes lasted only 8,000 miles.mileage/driving habits are not wearing out tires - original tire are fine.
The consumer requested an investigation of ford motor company and their lack of recalls on some serious defects. *mr.the vehicle experienced a clunking sound, however the dealer stated the clunking sound was normal and then the transmission failed,the transmission was replaced with another ford transmission, which failed on a test drive and one other occasion.coolant leaked into the engine through the intake gasket, which was recalled for the 95 models.the timing chain leaked.there was arecall on the coils in the suspension, which ford would only replace when they failed.the brake rotors failed at 30000 miles.scc
Had the sub-frame insulator replaced twice. Had new abs brakes put on vehicle. The rotors were cut twice. The subframe bushing thread loader was worn down. Tie rods replaced twice, and the struts were replaced twice also.
Rotors are warping, i changed them and they warp again, undersized brakes.
Abs brake light remains illuminated, indicating a malfunction within the system cause unknown. Dealer adjusted the rotors which did not correct the problem.please give any further details.
Brake rotors replaced three times, brake pads replaced five times.
Owner has abs brakes; while applying brakes, brake pedal goes to floor. Also,full pressure was applied to brake pedal with no results. Owner further notes that brake rotors and pads were replaced. Owner is very concerned for safety.
After having brakes repaired, owner was told brakes as repaired would have reduced braking performance because of defective rotors, mechanic stated that a number of ford rotors undergo a hardening when machine and there is no way to know in advance which rotors will machine properly and which ones will harden. Cj
I had my front brakes replacedjanuary 7 , 2000 . I recently heard a loud " tumping " noise in the right front wheel / axle assembly. I took the van back to the dealer for repairs. They replace the " sway bar / tie rods on the right side and did a suspension adjustment and assured me the problem was fixed. I took the van out of the parking lot only to return immediatly. I then took the " expert " front end mechanic for a test drive . He heard the noise for the " first " time and told me i now needed struts. This he said would solve my problem . I am scheduled to have this repair done on july 23 , 2000. I do not believe this to be my problem . Also i am concerned that my dealer as well as ford will not cover any of these repairs because the 36 months on my warranty has expired but not my 36,000 miles ( i am at 33,900 miles ) . If you could send any information on recalls , class action suits or helpful tips on what to do i would be forever gratefull . Thanks ron turner
Abs brakes failed, resulting in extended stopping distace/brakes fading. Also warped front brake rotors, causing vibration when brakes are applied.
Entire brake system failed acording to local for dealership (kaytes ford) thee appeared to be contamination in the brake fluid that caused the seals to wear down and destroy the sytem.in july od 1998 i had the car in for the replacement of the abs sensor and the problem with pedal pressure in the vehicle.they found nothin wrong with the brakes at that time. The problem continued until the brakes faile in august of 98 at wich time ford said the fluid was contaminated and the entire brake system had to be repkaced.i had the fluid tested and have a copy which shows that there was no contamination.ford motor company refused to honor any warranty claim and i was forced to pay $2,300.00 in order to have the system fixed.ford never offered to test the brake fluid and still does not know what was wrong.if ther was no contamination the seals must have failed because of a defect in material which ford should honor under the warranty please help
The brake lining, sliders, rotors & 2 calipers had to be replaced due to grinding, metal to metal, & excessive wear. Brakes not holding like they should. Had same problem 1 1/2 years ago. Took vehicle to mechanic for repairs.
Need to replace speedometer head, replaced tie rod, front and rear brakes, cylinders, head gasket and now engine blew need new engine.
The consumer received a recall for the front portion of the brake line. The consumer felt that the entire brake line should have been included in the recall because the entire line on his vehicle was rusted.the consumer also stated that he was nearly involved in an accident due to the defect with the brakes.no recalls found.a leaking brake line was found. *sc
Consumer complained about abrake problem.the brake line ruptured, causing the vehicle to crash into a tree.a recall was issued on this make, model and year. But the vehicle identification number was not included in the recall.
While driving front brake line rubbed against vehicle's structure component, causing a hole to develop in line, and resulting in loss of brakes. Consumer stated brake fluid leaked onto catalytic converter.
The consumers vehicle experienced symptoms of recall 02v-101000 which was related to brake line corrosion.the vehicle was not included i the recall due to vin.*nlmthe vehicle was manufactured at the plant with the recall during that time.*scc
While driving on the road and approachinga red light consumer applied the brakes and the vehicle did not stop. Consumerhad the vehicle towed to the dealer. It was determined that when thebrake pedal wentto the floor fluid leaked. The brake linethat led to the firewall was defective.previously,recall 02v101000 concerning brake lines was issued.consumer indicated thatford performed recall repairs. However, the brake failure recurred.
Consumer's vehicle was experiencing the same problem with brake line as stated in recall 02 v 101 000, but this vehicle was not part ofrecall due tovin.
The vehicle's door locks locked and unlocked on their own.there were problems with the front driver side wheel and the engine light and the abs light was intermittent.the consumer experienced an accident which may be due to the brake lines.refer to recall#02v101000.*sc the sway bar rattled, the tie rods were replaced.
Nhtsa recall 02-v-101-000/ manufacturer'srecall# 02s36;while driving 35-40mph and when applyingbrakes theyfailed to stopvehicle. Thisresultedin extended stopping distance.vehicle was repaired beforerecall was issued.please provide more information.
Hydraulic line rusted through, causing consumer to lose brakes. Consumer had to use emergency brakes to get home.
Brake pedal when to floor. Resulting in no brakes. Metal brake line corrosion was the cause of the problem.
While driving 25-35 mph the brake pedal went to the floor when depressed.the mechanic indicated that the brake line clamp rusted and caused a leak.*nlm.....
1996 ford windstar. Consumer requests a refund for money spent on repairs as a result of the problem described in a recall *tgwthe consumer stated the vehicle had a brake fluid leak which damaged the abs module, closkspring and caused the cruise control not to work. The consumer stated in mid-late december she and her husband began to experience problems with braking and the abs light would come on and go off at random.braking was sometimes interrupted by a shuddering which delayed the action of the brake after the brake pedal was depressed, as if the abs did not want the brake to engage. This happened during normal braking as well as a quick press of the brake pedal, but in either case the braking was prolonged. The consumer stated the dealer repaired the problem with a kit and she was reassured the brake leak was fixed and there should be no more problems and there was nothing wrong with the action of the brakes. Several days later, the consumer and her husband experienced the shuddering again while driving 65 mph. The consumers husband decided to purchase an abs module from an online dealer. The consumer took the vehicle to the dealer, who agreed to install the part. The problem with the abs light and shuddering has been resolved. When the consumer received the recall notice, he went to the dealership with the receipts from the repair, but was told his vehicle was not one of the years covered for a refund of previous repairs.
Complete brake loss when the brake was applied. The brake pedal went all the way to the floor without warning. Luck had it we were pulling into a parking spot with a concrete stop. The metal brake line located above the gas tank rusted completely. While the rest of the brake lines look fine, it's the area of the brake line that passes over the gas tank that is rusted. Because of the location of the gas tank, the line are hidden from normal view of an inspection unless the gas tank is lowered. Had this occurred at a busy intersection or highway at high speeds this could have been catastrophic. The brake lines were replaced. The old part is available. I am keeping this as a reminder how close my family came to death.
Consumer states that while applying the brakes the pedal went to the floor and the consumer smelled smoke.the consumer took the vehicle to the local garage and they stated that the brake fluid had dripped onto catalytic converter and started a fire.*nlmthe consumer put out the fire with an extinguisher.*scc
My vehicle has a brake line that blew.the line that blew is subject to a recall from ford. (recall # 02s36).on the phone ford says that the recall was completed in 2002 and therefore does not apply to this vehicle even though the problem is the same as outlined in the recall.
When parked in driveway (thank god) i stepped on brake and pedal went to the floor. Looked underneath and fluid was flowing off of the catalytic converter. Had vehicle towed to nearest dealer (allstar ford, praireville, la) to fix. They advised subject line failed due to corrosion (i have the line and it is corrosion). Failure fits nthsa recall 02v101000 except that vehicle was purchased and registered in louisiana,but i have childern in nj and pa and spend time there each winter and have experienced snow and salted roads many times. In any case there should be an implied contract when you purchase a car that a critical component will not fail due to a preventable design error, or if it fails not be repaired by the manufacturer. I believe any vehicle with this failure regardless of place of purchase or registration should be covered by this recall.
Dt:consumer has a 1996 ford windstar. He took vehicle to dealer for recall 02s36 repairs.the brake line was inspected on july 21, 2003 as stated in recall. The brake line was considered not a problem that needed replacement.on august 14, 2005 the brake line ruptured while the consumer'swife was driving on city road. Has taken vehicle back to dealer and has contacted manufacturer, and they told him that the recallwas considered closed because they had already performed inspection. He felt that recall repair did not fix problem due to problem recurring . He thought brake line may have ruptured due to rubbing and rust.
Brake failure lines rotted completly through.
When parked in driveway (thank god) i stepped on brake and pedal went to the floor. Looked underneath and fluid was flowing off of the catalytic converter. Had vehicle towed to nearest dealer (allstar ford, praireville, la) to fix. They advised subject line failed due to corrosion (i have the line and it is corrosion). Failure fits nthsa recall 02v101000 except that vehicle was purchased and registered in louisiana,but i have childern in nj and pa and spend time there each winter and have experienced snow and salted roads many times. In any case there should be an implied contract when you purchase a car that a critical component will not fail due to a preventable design error, or if it fails not be repaired by the manufacturer. I believe any vehicle with this failure regardless of place of purchase or registration should be covered by this recall.
Failure occurred in parking lot, able to stop using emergency brake.hydraulic fluid leaked on exhaust manifold, fire prevented by diverting leak.contacted ford customer care oct 2002 who stated no recall on record and offered no repair despite my reference to your 02v101000 recall.i have digital pictures if you want.repeated contacts with ford get no resolution.dealer listed on form was original purchase location and not involved.dt
Dealer made repairs for recall 02v101 for the front right brake lines, however consumer states that now the other brake lines are corroded, consumer feels all the brake lines should be included in the recall.
Abs light on, brake light on, brakes failed due to broken brake line. This is the second time this happened. On 2 different brake lines. We replaced both brake lines.
The vehicle experienced brake failure due to the corrosion of the brake line.the consumer felt that it is unfair to address the recall to the northern states when the southerners have had the same failure.the consumer was parked in the driveway when he applied the brakes and the pedal went to the floor.when checked underneath the vehicle, fluid was running off of the catalytic converter.the consumer has spent each winter in two northern states and has experienced salt/snow roads on numerous occasions.the consumer requested reimbursement.recall#02v101000*scc *nlm
Owner drove about a mile away from home, stepped on brake pedal, and it descended to the floor.van lost all braking ability due tobrake line rupturing.ten minutes later, van was on fire due tobrake fluid making contact withcatalytic converter.manufacturer statedthat this vehicle was not part of recall 02v101000 due to vin. Please describe details.
While driving 10-15 mph and applying the brake,the pedal went down to the floor andvehiclehad no brakes.a rupture in the brake line was the cause of the failure.
The brake pedal when it was depressed went to the floor and smoke started coming from under the van. This occurred while in park with the engine still running. Upon inspection of the vehicle by a mechanic,they noticed a pin hole in the brake line.there's a recall for the brake line 02v10100, which the dealership did inspect the van's brake line as indicated in the recall letter, but no problem was found at that time so the part wasn't replaced. *ph
Brake line going to right front wheel corroded ,causing brake failure at 70 mph on interstate 85.
Tried to stop vehicle due to traffic ahead and the vehicles brakes did not engage causing me to drive into the rear end of the vehicle stopped ahead of me.
Consumer states, while driving vehicle noticed a black smoke and flame under the hood. The master cylinder was causing the burning and damaging wire. Dealer has been notified. Please provide further information. Ts
Head gasket leaking, master cylinder froze up and caused smoke and damage to brake system on 3 wheels, abs light kept coming on, in for repairs on several occasions and light was disconnected by dealer, engine light on: o2 sensor replaced,speedometer failed to register speeds, driverside window goes down while driving, replaced by dealer,door open light turns on randomly, sliding door fails to lock with electric locks.what is going to be next?
No description given.nlm
Master brake cylinder replaced for 3rd time. Brake pedal would slowly go to the floor. 1st replacement before 25000 miles.2nd replacement at 43282 miles by baytlefield ford 8980 matthas ave, manassas, va. 22110. 3rd replacement at 87808 miles by battlefield ford. This van was purchased by me as a "reacquired vehicle" with brake master cylinder being one of the reported concerns. *ph**dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut over to artemis**768024
Thereis a leakage withinmaster cyclinder.also,abs light is on andlight won't go off. Dealer is aware of the problem.
This is a second or follow-up for my earlier complaint filed on the day of teh incident. I just found additional information and wanted to append this to my complaint.first complaint was about the total loss of braking in my 1996 ford windstar with 4 wheel discs and abs.with a dual braking system the rupture of a brake line should not cause total brake loss but this failure did cause just that.if the electrical power was not on some pedal was evident. Once electrical power was on the pedal went to the floor.since the ruptured brake line was in the rear and the front brakes still had fluid and do most of the braking i would have expected to retain some stopping capability.i purchased the 4 wheel disc system to gain a safer and more secure vehicle. If the additonal of abs 4 wheel braking results in the loss of the dual master cylinder function , which is more critical, i think this option is less safe.the new information is the fact that other ford windstars have a recall for improperly installed brake lines which are subject to rust through and rupture. Ford tells me that my vin is not in that group. I do not know if this is correct but the sumptoms sound identical. All the other brake lines in my car were in excellent shape save for the one to the rear brakes which ruptured and caused the loss of the fluid in the rear system.the front system retained fluid but did not pressurize the brakes. I assuem this failure was caused by the abs but i can not be sure if that is the actual cause.ford indciates that my need to replace the brake line is not the same as the existing recall. I am requesting that you investigate if the brake line problem with the windstar product is larger that originally thought. My car also is supposed to have the master cylinder signage updated on a recall. Ford indicates my was done but i do not see any of the expected markings. Perhaps these were applied and have fallen off or i could be looking in the wrong place.
I discovered burnt wiring near the master cylinder on my 1996 ford windstar. I took the van to the local ford dealer, paradise ford in cocoa florida, they told me that the sensor/switch, that is attached to the bottom of the master cylinder, had malfuntioned and shorted out causing the wire and connector to burn until the wire was no longer connected to the sensor/switch.
Failure of the brakes, loss of power assist causing the consumer to have a near accident.
Failure of the brakes, loss of power assist causing the consumer to have a near accident.
This morning, i was preparing to back out of my driveway when, all of a sudden, the brake pedal went to the floor. I had completely lost my brakes and brake fluid was spilling onto the driveway.upon investigating the leak, my neighbor and i were able to locate a crack in the right front hard line. There was obvious signs of corrosion on all of the hard brake lines.i have not received any notification of defective brake lines and was unaware of any problems until i reviewed the information on this site. I am not sure whether to contact ford directly or speak with an attorney first.i shudder to think of what may have been the result if this had occurred on the interstate while on a family trip rather than in my driveway.
1996 ford windstar van has rear brake line immediately above the catalytic converter causing brakeline failure.brakeline gets very hot and causes it to rus,tdeteriorate and leak on catalytic converter.fortunately this failure did not result in a accident.the car is presently being repaired at a goodyear repair center.no recall notice or other warning has ever been received from ford regarding this obvious defect.i have the brakeline and it clearly shows the effect of the excessive heat from the converter.
I have a 1996 ford windstar that has developed a leak in its brake line.i went on the internet to find a brake line for the car and i found out that this is a chronic problem with this vehicle.there was a recall for this exact problem from ford.i contacted ford and told them of the problem and they stated to me that my vehicle was seen by a ford dealer for the recall in 2002.they then told me to contact my local dealer and find out if this would be covered by ford.i contacted my local dealer and they told me that if the car was already recalled for this problem that it would have to be paid for by me.i looked at the brake line and it does not look like it was ever replaced.the recall # is 02v101000 .
Complete brake loss when the brake was applied. The brake pedal went all the way to the floor without warning. Luck had it we were pulling into a parking spot with a concrete stop. The metal brake line located above the gas tank rusted completely. While the rest of the brake lines look fine, it's the area of the brake line that passes over the gas tank that is rusted. Because of the location of the gas tank, the line are hidden from normal view of an inspection unless the gas tank is lowered. Had this occurred at a busy intersection or highway at high speeds this could have been catastrophic. The brake lines were replaced. The old part is available. I am keeping this as a reminder how close my family came to death.
Tried to stop vehicle as we entered intersection, however brakes failed due to corroded brake line. Three cars in accident.
Master cylinder booster switch burned.
This is a second or follow-up for my earlier complaint filed on the day of teh incident. I just found additional information and wanted to append this to my complaint.first complaint was about the total loss of braking in my 1996 ford windstar with 4 wheel discs and abs.with a dual braking system the rupture of a brake line should not cause total brake loss but this failure did cause just that.if the electrical power was not on some pedal was evident. Once electrical power was on the pedal went to the floor.since the ruptured brake line was in the rear and the front brakes still had fluid and do most of the braking i would have expected to retain some stopping capability.i purchased the 4 wheel disc system to gain a safer and more secure vehicle. If the additonal of abs 4 wheel braking results in the loss of the dual master cylinder function , which is more critical, i think this option is less safe.the new information is the fact that other ford windstars have a recall for improperly installed brake lines which are subject to rust through and rupture. Ford tells me that my vin is not in that group. I do not know if this is correct but the sumptoms sound identical. All the other brake lines in my car were in excellent shape save for the one to the rear brakes which ruptured and caused the loss of the fluid in the rear system.the front system retained fluid but did not pressurize the brakes. I assuem this failure was caused by the abs but i can not be sure if that is the actual cause.ford indciates that my need to replace the brake line is not the same as the existing recall. I am requesting that you investigate if the brake line problem with the windstar product is larger that originally thought. My car also is supposed to have the master cylinder signage updated on a recall. Ford indicates my was done but i do not see any of the expected markings. Perhaps these were applied and have fallen off or i could be looking in the wrong place.
While driving down the interstate the vehicles needle started to hum.then next, the speedometer needle started to fly back and forth between 40-110mph.i did some further research about this problem on the internet and found that about 20 other individuals with this same problem were having to replace this component with less than 40,000 miles usage between replacements.up to two or three were being replaced within the vehicles.now if there were 20 reports on one website about this concern then there are probably hundreds more not being reported.an investigation is warranted.this is a major safety concern for all drivers on the roads with this problem.
Th speedometer does not accurately show the speed. This could be dangerous, espcially with my teenage driver. Johnson ford is charging $333.00 for the part alone which incidently can only be purchased at ford dealers. I feel that a speedometer should work.
While driving vehicle lost steering control which could cause an accident.
Speedometer failed at 35000 miles, the needle jumps all over have no accurate speed reading. The speedometer was replaced under warrinty by manufacturer. The speedometer broke again at app. 75000 miles, the same problem, this time the manufacturer will not fix it even though it is a reoccurring problem.
The right rear speed sensor quit working and was determined as needing replacement by joe mahan ford in paris, tn.the cost is approximately $100, but i feel this is a safety concern because without it working, the anti-lock brakes will not work.also, the speedometer is broken.while driving over 30mph, the needle jumps around to 80 or more and the correct speed cannot be determined.again, this should be a safety concern because speed should be known at all times.i contacted ford customer relations department, but they stated that they could be of no assistance.i really need these items fixed, but the combined cost is greater than $400 and i feel ford should at least share in the cost.
Steering gear assembly failed.
In the past two weeks the transmission has slipped twice.when at a complete stop and accelerating the vehicle has to be put into park and then back into drive.this is very dangerous. There is only 56000 on vehicle.battery light continually comes on this can be very nerve wracking when in heavy traffic. .speedometer fluctuates and flops around after 40mph, sometime sticks at 50mph.rear wipers work when they want.we have just returned from serving 8 years overseas, this is our only vehicle and from the research we have just been able to start this windstar is headaches with the same problems.i would like to be able to take my family to see relatives they have not seen in over 8 years but this vehicle is unsafe.
Speedometer began jumping around above 40 mph.ford dealer stated it was a speedometer gear replacement.cost >$400.ford had a recall for the same item for the 95 windstar (tsb 94b47) and a service bulletin to repair (tsb 99-7-9).nhtsa has more than 30 complaints for this same failure.it appears ford recognized the safety hazard on the 1995 windstar, but did not fix the problem on the 1996.
12-15-97 at 21,145 milesi reported noticing the coolant level always being low. No leak was found and i was told there must be a leak somewhere in the radiator.12-27-99 at 56,526 milesi began having a "cold start" problem. It acted like it was not getting fuel. 12-1200 at 74,306 milesi had the same "cold start" problem and the fuel filter was repaced. 12-22-00 at 74,930a new thermostat & gasket.12-29-00 at 75,113a fuel pressure regulator. 03-02-01 at 77,569 miles a new fuel pump relay(ccrm), fuel pump and pvc valve. 09-11-01 at 87,907 milesa mult-function switch. 01-31-02 at 95,069 milesa second ccrm relay. 03-06-02 at 99,348 mileson an 80 degree day "no start" same symptoms as "cold start" problem. Instead of not getting fuel it is suspected it is flooding. 4-23-02 at 99,348 milescold start problem, fuel injectors cleaned. 05-30-02 at 101,330 mileswouldn't start, no fuel pressure-intermittent. Had to have it towed. 6-7-02 at 101,388 miles"no start" problem. New fuel filter, fuel pump and sender o-ring. 12-01-2-01 109,530 miles van started steaming - appeared to be a coolant leak or broken hose. Added coolant direct in radiator.i have carried own coolant and added frequenlty since 1997, when i was told there must be a leak in the radiator. I could not find any trace of such a leak by putting cardboard under van. Suspected the plastic coolant container had a leak. No coolant leaks whereever found during routine oil changes. 12-04-02 109,568 m,iles found leaking front timing cover gasket. Replaced headgasket and all else that goes with it. Cost of repair $1,915.21. I believe the headgasket defect has been the problem all a long, costing me a small fortune.
Speedometer jumps erratically after 40 mph; enginechecklight comes on often, with various diagnoses that seem to only fix the problem for awhile; we have paid almost $1000 in repairs so far, none of it under warranty, per the dealer.
Vehicle has been loosing coolant for many years. *lathe vehicle was taken in for a routine oil change but ended up having majorrepairs.approximately eight months after the repair, the engine quit and the consumer was informed by two dealers that the vehicle needed a short block installed.there was also noise in the steering and a coolant leak.the intake upper and lower manifold gaskets were also replaced. *sc
In the past two weeks the transmission has slipped twice.when at a complete stop and accelerating the vehicle has to be put into park and then back into drive.this is very dangerous. There is only 56000 on vehicle.battery light continually comes on this can be very nerve wracking when in heavy traffic. .speedometer fluctuates and flops around after 40mph, sometime sticks at 50mph.rear wipers work when they want.we have just returned from serving 8 years overseas, this is our only vehicle and from the research we have just been able to start this windstar is headaches with the same problems.i would like to be able to take my family to see relatives they have not seen in over 8 years but this vehicle is unsafe.
When the key was taken out of the ignition, the engine did not shut off.the vehicle was taken to the dealership who stated a pin came out of the steering system.
Speedometer readout not reliable.needle sometimes sticks on certain speed when obviously accelerating.needle often swings suddenly up and down when cruising at steady speed.needle has crept upward several mph while driving with cruise control on.first occurred just under 27,000 mi, and instrument panel was replaced under warranty.is now reoccurring, and dealer wants $400 to replace again 18 mo later.dealer service shops in arkansas and north dakota bot said they've seen a lot of this - the plastic parts (gears?) in the instrument panel just wear out.
Steering makes noise.
The speedometer starts moving erratically once speeds of 25 mph are reached.also, sometimes, the windshield wipers will only work on high speed.i have contacted the dealer, and am told it will be $500.00 for the speedometer.i feel this, as well as the problems with the wipers is a serious safety issue.i've read several complaints on this site about problems with speedometers on 1996 windstars, and i think ford should be responsible for repairs, not me.
Thump felt in steering wheel when starting to move or while stopping the vehicle. It feels as if something is loose inside.
A fire started in the vehicle's steering column while the car was in motion.
While driving about 30 mph the steering wheel separated from the steering column, causing the driverto lose control of the vehicle. The dealer has been notified.
Consumer stated repair work was performed on the steering box mechanism.
Transmission growls and sounds lke it is going to drop/hit the ground; also brake pedal gets mushy/soft, vehicle loses control. There is also loss of steering power.
My aunt and uncle have had problems with there ford windstar since 1995. They brought there first in 1995 and the power steering pump needed to be fixed after 6 months, and again after 18 months. Then the transmittion failed after two 2 years. After this crystal ford of silver spring, md. Decided to give them a new 1997 model. With this vehicle, the transmission went out after 18 months and now it's in the shop for the power steering pump. This really doesn't make since. Obviously, there is a problem with this vehicle because i have seen numerous website's complaining about this minivan. Someone needs to make the ford motor company aware of the severity of this complaints. If you have any questions please contact lawrence and alice brown at (202) 723-1530.
Power steering failed.nlm
When applying the abs brakes the pedal nearly travels to the floor, causing extended stopping distance.dealer cannot identify any problem.consumer states that there is a grinding noise from the front brakes.consumer also states that the steering wheel is very difficult to use.
Anti-lock brake failure, causingloss of control; alsosteering failure.
When we turned the car on, a loud grinding sound came from the engine along with large sparks/flames. We had it towed to our mechnaic who discovered the bottom bolt of the power steering assembly had never been tightned. The bolt had loosend itself, hit the pulley and caused flames. Could have started a fire if were on the road at the time.
I brought my 1996 ford windstar in for an oil change, and was told tie rods failed and needed to be replaced. , then, next day, they phoned and advisedme thattransmission was defective because the pan was full of shavings, also,power steering rack was leaking, and intake gasket needed replacement., a total of $5000to fix this vehicle.i bought it at 118,000 miles, and this happened shortly after owning it for one year. Currently, it has 134,000 miles, and cannot be driven.i parked vehiclethenstarted it after being parked for a week. Heard a noise fromfront, and then white smoke came out of the tail pipe.i do believe that paul cornies, the dealer that i purchased vehicleknew that they were selling me a lemon.it has caused me a lot of hardship as i no longer work due to health reasons.i filed for disability insurance, and was told that i had a preexisting disease , and refused to pay the insurance.currently, i have a junker in my driveway that i can't afford to fix , and a bill for the next 3 years, since i still owe for it.i will never buy another ford.
Auotmatic transmission slips out of gear into a neutral after you come to a stop. You then have to put it in a low gear to get in back in drive. This can be a hazard in traffic. The power steerinng pump makes a loud grinding noise much louder than the normal sound the pump makes, the dealer has said previously that it is normal for the windstar. The passenger side power window has stopped working, unk reason has not been looked at. These problems are occurring in other windstars of the same year .
Vehicle experiencing premature tie rod failure at 47,000 miles, causing a potential safty hazard.
While driving there came a loud squeaking noise fromsteering area. Contacted dealer, anddealer noted that there could be problems withtie rods. Problem began about 50000 miles.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
I had my front brakes replacedjanuary 7 , 2000 . I recently heard a loud " tumping " noise in the right front wheel / axle assembly. I took the van back to the dealer for repairs. They replace the " sway bar / tie rods on the right side and did a suspension adjustment and assured me the problem was fixed. I took the van out of the parking lot only to return immediatly. I then took the " expert " front end mechanic for a test drive . He heard the noise for the " first " time and told me i now needed struts. This he said would solve my problem . I am scheduled to have this repair done on july 23 , 2000. I do not believe this to be my problem . Also i am concerned that my dealer as well as ford will not cover any of these repairs because the 36 months on my warranty has expired but not my 36,000 miles ( i am at 33,900 miles ) . If you could send any information on recalls , class action suits or helpful tips on what to do i would be forever gratefull . Thanks ron turner
Vehicle bought in 3/99 throttle body linkage broke repaire bill $500.00 shortly thereafter sensor went out (fuel)bill 256.00 later noticed squeking in front end advised it was tie rod ends not fixed yet this thing has broke me have had many occurences with speed odometer going crazy after 45mph recently noticed popping when turning steering or appling the brakesbut before i could get it fixed transmission begin to either not shift upward ,slip at 45mph and has downshifted after reaching speeds of 45mph (on i-85) has jerked several times ..was told anywhere from 100.00-2000.00 ? seems i have not been alonein my disquest with ford...only problem not encountered head gasket thank god please help us working folks against this big boy on the block thanks
Had the sub-frame insulator replaced twice. Had new abs brakes put on vehicle. The rotors were cut twice. The subframe bushing thread loader was worn down. Tie rods replaced twice, and the struts were replaced twice also.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Owner states while driving vehicle it started to shake.owner also noted that vehicle went off a bridge because the steering knuckle arm broke.owner is very concerned for her safety.
Steering spindle failed.
The left outer tie rod was replace.the fuel injector, timing cover gaskets and wiper blades were replaced.the rear brake light was replaced . The switch headlight control was replaced. The drivers door ajar switch was replaced.updated
Outer tie rod ends failed.
Need to replace speedometer head, replaced tie rod, front and rear brakes, cylinders, head gasket and now engine blew need new engine.
I brought my 1996 ford windstar in for an oil change, and was told tie rods failed and needed to be replaced. , then, next day, they phoned and advisedme thattransmission was defective because the pan was full of shavings, also,power steering rack was leaking, and intake gasket needed replacement., a total of $5000to fix this vehicle.i bought it at 118,000 miles, and this happened shortly after owning it for one year. Currently, it has 134,000 miles, and cannot be driven.i parked vehiclethenstarted it after being parked for a week. Heard a noise fromfront, and then white smoke came out of the tail pipe.i do believe that paul cornies, the dealer that i purchased vehicleknew that they were selling me a lemon.it has caused me a lot of hardship as i no longer work due to health reasons.i filed for disability insurance, and was told that i had a preexisting disease , and refused to pay the insurance.currently, i have a junker in my driveway that i can't afford to fix , and a bill for the next 3 years, since i still owe for it.i will never buy another ford.
The vehicle's door locks locked and unlocked on their own.there were problems with the front driver side wheel and the engine light and the abs light was intermittent.the consumer experienced an accident which may be due to the brake lines.refer to recall#02v101000.*sc the sway bar rattled, the tie rods were replaced.
Front right wheel separated because tie rod separated fromwheel. Dealer repairedtie rod.30000 miles later,dealer replaced the tie rods.earlier has recently inspected vehicle and discovered that the tie rods needed to be replaced again.
Inner tie rod ends failed.
While backing out at approx. 4mph, tie rod end detached and axel pulled out from vehicle, resulting in wheels couldn't rotate.
The vehicle experienced premature tie rod failure.*mjs
Front end groans when turning the steering wheel. Was told tie rod ends have to be replaced.
Vehicle was pulling to the right at all time,vehicle was taken to dealer for alignment. Dealer stated alignment could not be done, due to the tie rod coupling being cracked. Nlm
While driving at 5 mph and withoutprior warning, inner tie rod broke, resulting in loss of control, andvehicleran into a pole.
Two frozen outer tie rods. Conusmer would notice since he heard some noises. Also,streeing wheel would not completey turn back to its place.contacted dealer, dealer fixedproblem.
While driving inner tie rod broke, causing the front passenger's side wheel to fall off, resulting in driver's side air bag deploying.consumer was knocked unconscious.please provide details.
Rack and pinion steering failed.
Bought car 3/01-immediately replaced cat. Converter. Overdrive lt flashing-needed new transmission, torque converter, planetary gears, solenoids; had to realign;speedometer off by at least 10 mph; need new rack & pinion-power steering fluid leaking; nothing but problems have spent so much money and also been without car for over a month -only had it 7 months!
Replaced rack and pinion for the second time 8/01 ( by dealership) and 5/03.also replaced front end bearing in 1999 and transmission.wiring harness in 2000.rear a/c does not workand that's only the items i can remeber.
Steering rack failed.
Complete brake loss when the brake was applied. The brake pedal went all the way to the floor without warning. Luck had it we were pulling into a parking spot with a concrete stop. The metal brake line located above the gas tank rusted completely. While the rest of the brake lines look fine, it's the area of the brake line that passes over the gas tank that is rusted. Because of the location of the gas tank, the line are hidden from normal view of an inspection unless the gas tank is lowered. Had this occurred at a busy intersection or highway at high speeds this could have been catastrophic. The brake lines were replaced. The old part is available. I am keeping this as a reminder how close my family came to death.
1996 ford windstar, speedometer malfunction. Speed is impossible to determine as the needle fluctuates wildly.problem has persisted now for at least 50,000 miles , but i just learned that you should be notified so that ford can be held accountable for poor quality and non support.as i was advised that repair would be about 600.00.as i have a tach, i simply use this to determine my speed.i was not about to spend that amount of money on what i consider a design flaw.
While traveling on the interstate, check engine light appears on dashboard, and vehicle was leaking antfreeze.dealership is aware of problem. Dealer found head gasket had blown, replaced head gasket and thermostat, on several occasions the air conditioning leaks, brakes making grinding sound, dealer found anti-lock sensor failed, rear fender is rusted on passenger side.
The k frame rusted out where the control arms mount to the frame and the front driver's side coil spring broke while driving at 65 miles per hour on the interstate
Vehicle is leaking antifreeze from underneath hood area. Engine checklight appears on the dashboard. Dealership is aware of problem.
While drivingmetal support system completely split. Please provide any further information.
The electrical door lock for the back tailgate , does not automatically lock when vehicle is put into drive. The dealer is aware of the problem. The problem has not been corrected.
Qualified mechanic tried to repaid with electronic control module but this did not work. Locks are grinding constantly so we were forced to disconnect to avoid burning it up.this should be a recall situation.
Reoccurring/ ongoing problem with automatic locklocking all doors without system being on. Door should only lock when shifted into drive, but there are times it locks itself without cause. Can nhtsa help in this matter.
Front brake rotors:due to rotors warping, they have been replaced 3 times since i purchased the vehicle.all have been covered under original warranty.now, my warranty has expired, and therefore, i am stuck with any future problems.passenger side sliding door:rust was found on inside bottom of door.it was temporarily fixed; dealer is waiting for ford to approve new door to be installed (under original warranty).
When driving door locks automatically lock up. Also,door panel was ringing noise.
Light for door ajar, comes on when door is closed. When at stop light/sign, door chimes would sound. When speeding up, chimes go off, but door ajar. Andlight stays on. An intermittent problem. Been to dealer & was informed will not check until it happens again.
Tail gate lock actuator inoperative.
Head gasket leaking, master cylinder froze up and caused smoke and damage to brake system on 3 wheels, abs light kept coming on, in for repairs on several occasions and light was disconnected by dealer, engine light on: o2 sensor replaced,speedometer failed to register speeds, driverside window goes down while driving, replaced by dealer,door open light turns on randomly, sliding door fails to lock with electric locks.what is going to be next?
While driving or when vehicle is in different gears , door ajar chime will sound when the doors are actually closed.also, the abs brake warning light illuminates, indicating a malfunction within theabs system.cause unknown.please give any further details.
Nothing but problems since purchasing 1)door ajar light constantly illuminated-all doors checked none ajar2) engine checklight occasionally comes on-happened right after purchase and catalytic converter replaced obviously didn't fix problem3)occasionally power windows/locks and a/c will go out unless adjustable fan speed turned to high4)recently front passenger door will open at random usually during a turn-luckily no one sits in that seat5)speedometer will occasionally flicker higher while driving at speeds greater than 65mphall of these problems have surfaced in the past 1-1.5 yrs and have continued since then.
While driving 65 mph withcruise control onvehicle sped up. While getting ready to exit off the highwayvehicle stayed undercruise control module. As consumer attempted to slow down, vehicle was moving 65 mph without any control fromconsumer.in order to make vehicle stopconsumer had to press brake pedal with both feet, andshiftvehicle into neutral.eventually,vehicle was able to slow down, and consumer turnedvehicle off, dealer replaced 2 lock tabs because one had slipped on the cruise causing it to stay on.trip speedometer was replaced, it would not go past 799 miles.at 30 mph and over, the over drive light will flash.left front wheel cover was replaced due to it making ticking noises at lower speeds.sliding door squeaked, dealer lubed the sliding door.front rotors replaced and rear drums turned, a clicking noise was heard.
Outer hood panel separated from body of vehicle prior to recall (97v-180). In addition, replaced front electric door latch/multifunctioned wiper switch/windshield wiper switch/engine cylinder head gaskets due to coolant leak, and differential seal.
Power lock on driver side doesn't work.
The automactic locks will not unlock when using the manufacturer's key. The van has been repaired(8) times within the last year for this problem,scheduled forappointment again on december 20, 1997.
Pinch point on rear door upon opening. Owner has to open with palm and squeeze upward with four fingers, still pinching motion.
Recall no. 97v180000; there is no sign that that recall work has been taken care.
Driving approxiamtely 55mph when the top part of the hood just flew off the van. This is a two part hood and the bottom part was still locked. Vehicle was alsoinvolved in a minor accident while going 20-25 mph.took in for repair, but did not get repaired because they said it was not under warranty.
No summary listed for this vehicle.
Outer hood panel separated from body of vehicle prior to recall (97v-180). In addition, replaced front electric door latch/multifunctioned wiper switch/windshield wiper switch/engine cylinder head gaskets due to coolant leak, and differential seal.
While driving 65 mphhood separated from the outer panel.consumer was able to pull over, called roadside assistance, and hadvehicle towed toconsumer's home.consumer contacted the dealer, and mechanic informed the consumer thatvehicle was not covered by recall.
While driving 65 mph hood separated from the hinges and broke the windshield.driver pulled the vehicle to the side of the road without incident.the hood was replaced.
Paint falling off '96 ford windstar
Trailing arm attached to the body of rearaxle fractured while driving at low speed. No evidence of any impact to the trailing arm or body of the rear axle. Dealer / manufacturer notified, and informed consumer that warranty expired,and vehicle was not covered under a recall.*ml
The dealership noticed a crack in the sub frame. Which could had caused the engine to fall out, if the vehicle was in an accident.
A popping noise was coming from the front end.four bolts and mounts attached to the frame had deteriorated and needed to be replaced.ford manufacturer states the vehicle was out of warranty and cannot duplicate the problem.
Consumerheard a noise coming fromlower passenger's side of vehicle. After inspecting vehicle dealer determined subframe was cracked.
The front frame of the vehicle was loose.*nlm
The front subframe bushing rotted / corroded. Dealer has been contacted.
Ford extended warranty on 3.8 l engine for 1995 model due to engine failure caused by defective gasket sets. However, is not doing so for like failure on 1996 model 3.8 l engines.engine seized on our vehicle with approximately 48000 miles despite maintenance and timing chain gasket set replacement an approximately $1200 repair.dt
Had the sub-frame insulator replaced twice. Had new abs brakes put on vehicle. The rotors were cut twice. The subframe bushing thread loader was worn down. Tie rods replaced twice, and the struts were replaced twice also.
Had just pulledout onto the street then heard a snap. Checked , and noticed left rear wheel had kicked out sideways and was hitting the mud flap.rear frame holding rear axle had broken in half. Rear axle needed to be strapped up before vehicle was towed to dealership.
The sub-frame broke where the strut arm connects in the front( in area of the strut arm bushings. At first thought that the noise was from at loose heat shield. Strut arm rattles everytime van iecounters rough pavement. The speedometer just went haywire. Needle bounces all over the place. Have found other people on the internet with the same speedometer problem. I feel that both of these failures are a saftey issue. Ford motordoesn't.
At highway speeds vehicle vibrates uncontrollably.driver has to cut the vehicle off to stopvibration. Dealer has been notified.
The vehicle will not travel in a straight line. Constantly pulls / wanders to the right. Dealer has had car 10 to 12 times. Parts replaced in an attempt to cure problem are : steering rack, part of steering column, tires. Car has been alligned 8 times. Car has only 22,500 miles on it. Ford regional engineer contacted and his attempt to repair made matters worse. After ford engineer failed attempt, dealer has had car twice more to attempt to remedy by alligning slightly out of spec. Problem still exists and makes car difficult to drive safely.i have filed a claim against ford at their dispute settlement board.
The vehicle's door locks locked and unlocked on their own.there were problems with the front driver side wheel and the engine light and the abs light was intermittent.the consumer experienced an accident which may be due to the brake lines.refer to recall#02v101000.*sc the sway bar rattled, the tie rods were replaced.
Left and right side strut bushings failed, causing a potentially dangerous situation to exist in the front end.my mechanic informed me that this is a very common problem with fords.if so, i feel that the whole system should be replaced by the manufacturer.otherwise, i should be reimbursed for the rewelding of the bushings ($100.00).
Vehicle is riding extremely rough, causing difficulty in steering vehicle.mechanic stated head gaskets needed to be replaced.
Strut spring broke and body fell over drivers side.was able to drive home at up to 10 mph.went to one repair shop, told that the strut spring had broken and it would take over a week to get the part because there was a national backorder for it.finally took the car to the local ford dealer in merrillville, art hill ford (not where car was purchased). Was told the same thing regarding the availability of the part.no loaner was offered.service rep could not give an adequate reason as to why the part was not available, in one moment she said that it was possible that because this was an unusual occurrance, the manufacturer may not make the part.in the next breath i was told that in a car at 64,000 miles, anything could break.the failure occurred while i was pulling up to a drive-through bank window, up a small unevenness in the pavement that i'd driven over many times before with no incident.a previous check for past complaints in this area showed that a similar complaint was filed in 1997. In that instance also, the part could not be found.i have owned 2 fords prior to this, including a 1990 aerostar with 193,000 miles on it.the strut spring has never cracked, nor some ofthe other problems i have had with this particular vehicle.
When driving and making any type of turn or going around a corner, vehicle is jerking. When driving straight consumer doesn't have any problems.
Ford windstar brake, abs brake, cruise control, and speedometer/odometer electrical problems rear axle cracks!
Vehicle had constant engine problems along with other problems that surfaced and ended its life cycle.*la the consumer experienced coolant leaks, hard starting, electrical noises, radio noises, vibration upon acceleration along with thumping noises, erratic dash light illumination, intermittent door ajar light, bearing noise and the engine blew out prematurely. *scfrom a normal sitting position the consumer could not see that the check engine light was on.it wasn't until he dropped something on the floor and looked up that he saw the light on.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Dt: the contact owns a 1996 ford windstar. The sway bar broke in half.the sway bar was connected to the carriage. Thisoccurred while driving and resulted in a collision.the sway bar snapped about three inches outside of the left frame bushing.it was also rusted and corroded. It was a hollow tube thathad been cracked for sometime.the consumer could tell it was cracked due to corrosion.the vehicle was taken to ford who indicated that everything was fine.the mechanic determined that the front wheel was leaning.
Vehicle has been in for repair of the front end suspension several times without remedy of the failure.
Consumer heard a loud bang noise and a clunk noise from the left front wheel area.
I brought kids to school and i was pulling out. I heard a noise and my tire went flat. I had to have it towed home. My husband checked it out and found the drivers side front coil spring broke and stabbed the tire. I saw there was a recall so hopefully it is still covered because i don't have 100.00 to fix something that's already been recalled. *ln
While driving vehicle about 40mph steering wheel would shake. This causes driving to be difficult. Have not taken to dealer as of yet.
When drivingvehicle fails to shift into gears which has caused problems whenaccelerating. Also, whenbrakes are applieda noise occurs infront end of vehiclecause unknown.please give any further details.
When braking or turning right or left clunking noises comes from the front end of the vehicle.
When stopping at a light, engine sometimes will die. Vehicle would lunge forward after pulling off from a stop.took vehicle to dealer, they replaced something, and two weeks later problem reoccurred. The engine stalls whenever more than one device is turned on at the same time. This problem makes it impossible to turn head lights and windshield wipers on together. The vehicle also shakes violently after being driven for few hours.
The contact owns a 1996 ford windstar. While reversing out of a driveway at low speeds, the contact heard an unusually loud noise. When further inspecting the vehicle, the contact found that the brake lines was being pinched by the springs. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer advised there were no recalls on the vehicle and that repairs would be at his expense. The contact stated the vehicle was not drivable. The failure and current mileages were 164,954.
While driving and having any movement insteering wheel there comes a loud spueaking noise fromwheel,contacted dealer, anddealernoted that there could be some problems withball joints.
Right front control arm failed, causing the wheel to fell off.
While driving and turningwheel orwith any movement insteering there comes a loud squeaking noise, contacted dealer, and dealer stated that there could be a problem withball joints. Problem began about 50000 miles.also this vehicle has a faulty speedometer.
The car has been riding rough and when you went over bumps in the road or the surface was not even, the engine felt like it was about to fall out of the car.i had the shocks and struts checked and they were fine.i did receive an extended coverage announcement in the mail on 8/2001 (program #01m03) for the front coil springs and assumed that was the problem.i brought it to the ford dealership and they said the springs were fine but, they had to "weld both of the lower control are brackets back on to the car".they did not go into any explanation as to why this happened but i got the feeling from their tone of voice and body language that this was not suppose to happen.
I just paid our local ford dealership (van was in for a nys inspection) to perform weld repair on the "front strut/control arm support rod" bushings because they were loose and, in the dealers words, a safety hazard (loose due to corrosion and questionable weld quality by ford manufacturing). Degradation of welds on a major suspension component under normal wear & tear conditions- isn't that a significant safety issue? how many windstars has this happened to? i can see replacing components (i.e. Brakes, alternators, tires, etc.) over the live of a vehicle but weld repair on the suspension sub-frame?based on other complaints, is this a viable condition or did the dealer fleece me?
Lower ball joint failed, causing right front wheel to come off.
Driving 30mph, went over pothole which caused strut to be pushed upwards & was crushed. Vehicle can be driven, but not for long. Took to ford & could not find problem. Took to 2 different mechanics & informed by both of crushed strut.
Front left macphersonstrut spring broke. Dealerwas inspectingvehicle.
Had the sub-frame insulator replaced twice. Had new abs brakes put on vehicle. The rotors were cut twice. The subframe bushing thread loader was worn down. Tie rods replaced twice, and the struts were replaced twice also.
Suspension spring broke and blew right front tire. Also,struts collapsed, and consumer lost control and came to a full stop.
Right side shock absorber failed.
While driving 65 mphcoil spring onpassenger's sidebroke and punctured tire, no collision or injuries occurred.
Coil spring broke damaging struts and tire, which had to be replaced later, also required towing charges.
Ea oo 027/ suspension coil spring breakage;right front coil spring broke while driving at 55-60 mph and punctured tire.repairs made at an independent repair shop. Repairs have been made.
Coil spring broke damaging struts and tire, which had to be replaced later, also required towing charges.
Consumer was traveling on the highway andpassenger's door came open without touching electrical windows. Dealership was aware ofproblem.also, coil spring failedduring installation.vehicle had six inch suspension. Dealershipwas aware of problems.
Front spring fractured for no reason other than it was a manufacturer's defect.fortunate for us the van was parked when the spring broke .had we been driving when the spring broke ,it would have puctured the front tire and possibly cause me to loose controll of the van .i purchased a new spring from a ford dealer and replaced the fractured spring .my concern is i have learned this is a common occurrence with the front springs and that nothing is being done to hold ford accountable to replace the defective springs.this seems to be a major problem. Thank you. I look forward to hear from you in regards to this problem.
Consumer was callingdealer in regard to recall #01i007000 forfront coil springs onprevious model year vehicle. Consumerwas experiencing the same problem. Dealer has been contacted for repairs, but refused to repair vehicle free of charge. Please provide further details.*aik
Both front coil springs broke while the car was parked.it was like a mimni-=explosion.several neighbors came out of their houses to check.in addition, the breaking of the springs also broke the driver's side cylinder for the abs breaking system.the breaking of the coils springs also gouged very badly the driver's side front tire.i replaced it.the bill for the work and parts and tire amounted to over 500 dollars.i contacted ford motor company on or about april 1, 2000.their rep said "we're very sorry but can't do anything about it."it happened in weslaco, texas, where i spend the winters.i live in virginia, mn.telephone here in tx is [xxx].address is [xxx], [xxx]#[xxx], [xxx], tx [xxx].i'm sending this to you because i read an article in this morning's paper stateing that this type of failure was under investigation.please include my situation in your documentation.parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Vehicle was parked for a couple of minutes when there was a loud explosion.front driver's side coil springs broke, causingvehicle to dropdown to the ground, which almost damaged the tires. Consumer has contacted the dealer.*ml
Front-left suspension coil spring broken, poked into tire, vehicle loss control immediately!!!!!!!
This is the second report for this vehicle. The right front spring broke on 4/15/2001. Now on 6/05/2001 the left spring broke. The cause of failure is as follows. The original spring is plastic coated, any type of imperfection in this plastic coating is a site for corrosion, the corrosion"pit" becomes a stress riser which starts the fatique failire. Bothe springs have the same type of failure.
Ea 00 027/ suspension coil spring breakage: while backing out of the drivewayright side coil spring broke.vehicle towed to a independent repair shop for repairs.dealer / manufacturerwerenot notified at this time. .front coil spring broken twice while driving.
While traveling and without any indication front coil spring had broken, causingfront end of vehicle to drop to ground.
Pe 00 024/suspension coil spring breakages: right front coil spring broke while pulling out of parking lot.vehicle towed to independent repair shop, and still waiting on parts.
The front suspension spring on driver side snapped and went into tire, however the tire was not damaged.
The front coil spring of the vehicle broke tearing the brake line and ripping out driver side tire and the front end while the consumer was traveling.
Consumer received recall 01i007000 notice concerning front coil springs. Consumer went to the dealer when the recall was recognized. However,dealer told consumer that they will not replace the front coil springs untilone was broken.the consumer stated that when the spring broke it punctured the front drivers side tire while the vehicle was at a stand still. *tc
While driving, front coil spring on passenger side broke causing damage to 2 tires.
While driving 20 -25 mph consumer heard a crunching sound. Then, felt like something was rubbimgonwheel.front left tire blewout, and front of vehicle dropped to ground,front coil spring had broken.
While driving 35 mphheard a loud clunking noise.had vehicle towed to dealer,replaced passenger front coil spring. There was no prior warning.the consumer pointed out to a defect story an internet (1-30-2001) that said the us government was investigating 926,000 ford windstar minivans about spring breaking and puncturing tires.
Left front coil spring broke & punctured the tire. Dealer inspectedvehicle & couldn't give consumer onexplanation why it happened.there was no damage to the strut. *ml
While backing into a parking space, left front coil spring broke and punctured tire.manufacturer was notified. Provide any further information.
Parked car in driveway, next morning noticed car low on right front, had car towed toford garage. Had broken coil spring right side and ford had no explanation way it broke.had to have both springs and struts replaced. Saw an article in newpaper about ford having a problem with coil springs and an investigation by the nhtsa and think ford should have to paid for part or all of replacement
I have had nothing but problems with this ford windstar since i purchased it in 8/98.in july of 99 my vehicle would not start and then it became a stalling problem. For 3 mths the dealership could not find the problem.then on april 21,00 the coil spring broke, and the spring was jammed into our tire while doing 70 on the west virginia turnpike. Luckily we were not killed or injured. Ford has received a letter concerning these issue's and has not responded.
Problem 1- engine blew a head gasket as backing out of our driveway, we have only 72000 miles on it and were told that there is a recall on the 1995 ford engine for the same problem. This repair is going to cost $1,000.00.ford has given us no options. 2nd-problem- on the same vehicle a month before, again as i was backing out of my drive the front spring broke, punctured my tire and collapsed the shocks, that cost $600.00. Again, when we called ford we were told that there had been a recall on the taurus for the same problem but it wasn't for the windstar. Now ii have a problem believing that thay can recall one product without covering the other when the same exact problem occured with my vehicle. Please advise what further action i can take. Thanks.
The front coil spring of the vehicle broke tearing the brake line and ripping out driver side tire and the front end while the consumer was traveling.
The front right coil spring broke while backing out of the driveway.due to the low mileage and reported problems with spring coils on other ford models i am bringing it to your attention.
1996 ford windstar coil spring was found by non-ford dealer mechanic to be broken in half and causing banging noise in front end. Ford dealer could not find problem, but both coil springs and struts were eventually replaced by non-ford mechanic before i was notified about ford's recall on the coil springs.am i entitled for reimbursement by ford for the costof the repair bill?
Consumer could hear a weard noise, then smelled something burning, front tire blewout because of a coil spring puncturing tire.
The contact owns a 1996 ford windstar. While the contact was driving approximately 35 mph the driver side front coil spring broke causing the front end of the vehicle to collapse. The coil spring traveled through the sidewall of the front driver side tire. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint. The current and failure mileages were 169,105.
While traveling at 35 mph and without any indication,front endfell down on tires. Technician stated coil spring broke.
Both offront coil springs are broken.i have been hearing a noise infront end, driver's side.i took the windstar to a mechanic and he showed me t broken spring.we looked at the right-side spring, and that one was broken also.i went to a local ford dealer, the rochester auto collection.they said they don't have many problems with the springs on the windstars. But my mechanic said that he has been doing a lot of spring jobs on 1996 windstars.my search on the internet turned up many incidents of problems with these springs.i also saw that the nhtsa is also investigating this safety problem.it looks like ford doesn't think this is a safety issue.are they waiting for people to die before they issue a recall?the metal is obviously inferior and defective.please let me know of any updates.thank you.........sante dicarlo.
Both front coil springs broke and one ripped up the right front tire, driver was able to stop vehicle in a safe manner, it took over 2 days to get back on road, local dealer had trouble locating coil springs, told that ford motor company had 600 coil springs on back order. Cj
Suspension spring broke and blew right front tire. Also,struts collapsed, and consumer lost control and came to a full stop.
The consumer requested an investigation of ford motor company and their lack of recalls on some serious defects. *mr.the vehicle experienced a clunking sound, however the dealer stated the clunking sound was normal and then the transmission failed,the transmission was replaced with another ford transmission, which failed on a test drive and one other occasion.coolant leaked into the engine through the intake gasket, which was recalled for the 95 models.the timing chain leaked.there was arecall on the coils in the suspension, which ford would only replace when they failed.the brake rotors failed at 30000 miles.scc
Consumer andfamily got inside ofvehicle,husband noticed a flat tire onfront driver'sside.he changed the flat tire.halfa mile down the roadnoticed asmell coming from vehicle.pulled over onto the shoulder.then heard a pop, donut tire popped off also. Vehicle had to be towedtodealership. Mechanic toldconsumer thatfront springs had to be replaced. Dealership has a back order.
Consumer stated that while driving the front coil springs punctured the driver's front tire almost resulting in vehicle crashing.*nlm
Driver heard bang, then rubbing noise.smelled and saw smoke and pulled over thinking car was on fire.after coming to a stop, driver and passenger heard explosion.front left coil spring broke and rubbed inner tire side wall causing blowout.
The front spring broke causing damage to the stabilizer bar, the upper strut bracket, and the abs sensor.
Front suspension spring broke going over a small (1") bump.now springs, struts and mounts need to be replaced.
While backing out it sounded like consumer ran over a chunk of ice, fromscraping noise. Consumer stopped, and looked, and didn't see anything. While the consumer continued driving, he discovered that the left front of the vehicle had collapsed and was riding on the tire, which later on exploded.both front springs were replaced.
Coild sring failed, causing front tire to be shredded and blow out.
My wife and i own a 1996 windstar.great vehicle, we now have 140000 miles.complaint: ford campaign #01i007000 (front coil springs) my request for reimbursement was denied vialloyd-manwell ford dealership.the spring broke on the highway, lucky i (or family) not injured.took vehicle for repair to 3rd party.ford has the file details.incredible that ford would deny a $200 claim on a technicality and thus risk a lifetime customer.i will appeal all the way to bill ford if necessary.
Front coil springs broke, puncturingtire. Vehicle has been repaired.
Front coil spring broke.
Both coil springs broke while parked; towed to dealer shop and repaired under extened warranty.please provide any further details on this matter.
Vehicle was parked when consumer noticed that front left was lower thanright. Dealer informed consumer left front coil spring needed to be replaced.
Consumer states thatfront coil spring broke. Dealer notified.
When coil of the spring fractured, it rubbed on the tire, removing approximately 1/8 inch of sidewall material all around thetop inner sidewall.the opinion of the service persons was that if it had happened at highway speed, it would have resulted in catastrphic failure of the tire with subsequent loss of control of the vehicle.ford would not accept full resonsibility for the failure (although i have an extended warranty).
While backing car out of driveway driver's side front sank down, took vehicle to dealer , and they said the spring mounting ondrivers side was busted. Consumer felt this was unsafe because if it were on highway, it could have caused a very bad accident.only one spring has been replaced, since there was only one spring available. *ml
Front coil springs broke.vehicle towed to an independent repair shop. Mechanic informedconsumer that parts were on national back order. Manufacturer was contacted, and informedconsumer that they were unable to predictwhen they would get the orders in.
While the vehicle was parked, the driver and passenger side coil springs sheared off without warning.the vehicle shifted to the right thenfell to ground.the consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealer.the mechanic informed the driver that the front driver and passenger side coil springs needed replacement.please fill in additional information.
While traveling consumer heard a noise.then, front end of vehicle dipped down to left side due t a broke coil spring.
On june 6th as i was leaving my driveway to go to work the front drivers side spring broke off causing the left front to drop down on the tire.after calling the dealership (artino ford in huron, ohio) i found out this was not covered under warranty.i asked them if they have had this problem with other windstars and they said "a few".i called our local garage to see if they could get my van in to repair it and they said yes but don't drive it because they had another one there just like it and they drove it in and tore the brake line off.i called ford motor customer service and was told they were not doing any warranty on this problem "at this time".,she also said that they are having a problem with the front springs.also, i had to replace both front springs because after 5 years and 55,000 miles, the right side sat lower than the left side after replacement, creating another safety problem.besides, who knows how long before the other spring fails.the tow truck driver informed me that this was the 3rd windstarwitrh the same problem he has had to pick up just in our area.i think this is a satety problem that ford should address right away.we already have 5 in our area alone.i wonder how many more have the same problem across the u.s.please keep me informed.
While driving less than 30 mphfront coil spring broke on the driver' side. The front tire was damaged because of this. Driver was able to avoid a crash. The front coil springs have been replaced at owner's expense. This is a company owned vehicle. Report given by president/ceo. Please provide any further details.
The coil spring around the drivers side strut broke.the vehicle was parked at the time the spring broke.the repair shop i called about repair said this is the third windstar in a few weeks he has repaired with the same problem.the other two were 1995 windstars.i am grateful that i was not driving when this happened.the repair shop informed me that when these springs break they usually also puncture the tire.my concern is that if someone is not as lucky as i to have this happen in thier driveway , that this could cause a serious if not fatal accident.if this is a common occurance i feel that other windstar owners should be notified.thank you.
When driving consumer noticed vehicle was noisy when making a turn. Consumer contacted the dealer for rountin repairs, and dealer noted thatleft front coil spring broken in half which could have caused an accident. Coil spring was replaced. Please provide any further details. Pe00-024.
When drivers side coil spring (of the strut) broke i asked the dealer if they should replace the pass. Side. They said the warrenty would not cover it. Luckly when the coil spring went, both times the car was parked. The spring could have popped the tire while driving thus causing an accident. The coil springs should not have failed with less than 60,000 miles, their must be something wrong in the metal of the spring.
Consumer stated that ford will not reinburse forpassenger's and driver's coil springs repairs that were needed.please provide furthur details.
1996 ford windstar - front spring broke and punctured tire. Fortunately, i was just leaving my driveway. I dread to think what would have happened if i had been travelling at any speed. The spring punctured and went into my tire - i couldn't remove the tire. I contacted ford customer service who referred me to a dealership. The car was towed and the springs were both replaced free of charge along with a new tire. However, this was a recall and i only knew about it from word of mouth. Ford should have notified me of the problem. This type of fault could cause serious injury and the public should be aware. The tow truck driver said he had seen this happen to a ford taurus as well.
Front left spring broke puncturing tire.vehicle had been returned for service on defective part, at time we were told not to worry we would know when part needed replaced. *nlm
Consumer states while driving the sway bar broke,without any warning. Dealer contacted.
The abs light has come on over 3 occasions.the first two times occurred within 2 years after the purchase of the van therefore the repair was under warranty.the most recent incident was 06/2000 due to a wire short and the repair costed $219.also, we just noticed that a piece of bar was broken off near the front alignment.took the van to the shop and found out the sway bar was broken off.the repair shop indicated that this part usually lasts the life of the van unless we hit something hard.this was not the case and the repair will cost $430.
Dt: the contact owns a 1996 ford windstar. The vehicle was purchased on march 17, 2005. The contact stated that the dealership verbally told her thatvehicle would pass inspection. However, she didnot have this information in writing. About two weeks ago the stabilizer bar broke while pulling out of a driveway. Luckily no one was injured.however, there were children in the car. After examining the brokenstabilizer bar one could tell that the bar was shredded, and they sawwhere the bar had been welded onto the vehicle. When the contactspoke with the dealership sheasked if the vehicle had been in an accident prior to purchasing it. The dealership said that the vehicle was not in an accident, and there was nopolice report.however, there were previous accidents prior to the contact'sownership ofthis vehicle.
Stabilizer bar completely snapped, causing significant body lean.replacement is no longer hollow.
Front stabilizer bar broken. Tried to get part. I was told not yet available.
I have a 1996 ford windstar 3.8l engine with a broken front stabilizer bar. About 12 inches of it are hanging near the right front wheel. I checked a friends windstar of similar vintage and he has the same problem! that's two out of two. I know ford has recalled similar problems with other vehicles.
Consumer stated the stabilizer bar rusted and broke through. As a result, a grinding noisewas heard when turning in either direction.
The front stabilizer bar has broken on the left side of the vehicle at the point where the bar attaches to the frame.
The stabilizer bar broke about 5 inches from the tire after the bend and into the straight part of the bar. Efforts i have made to find a replacement part new or used is proveing difficult because every single place has been out of them, this would indicate to me that there is a rash of brakeages of this part and not an isolated incident.
Front sway bar is found to be hollow and broke in half on passengers side. Ford should be liable for the repair cost since they were aware that they would not hold up in salty and snowy conditions.
The stabilizer bar broke causing very unstable driving.wife complained and i looked under the vehicle and saw the bar hanging.it looks rusted through.the center of the bar has an ovbious hole so either it was made defective.vehicle is undrivable and dangerious.mr
Replaced rack and pinion for the second time 8/01 ( by dealership) and 5/03.also replaced front end bearing in 1999 and transmission.wiring harness in 2000.rear a/c does not workand that's only the items i can remeber.
The contact owns a 1996 ford windstar.the contact stated that the right control arm of the rear axle has split in half.while driving 20 mph, the vehicle began to shift.the failure has caused the rear passenger side wheel to shift back three inches.the manufacturer advised him to call nhtsa.the vehicle has not been repaired.the current and failure mileages were 85,000.
I had my front brakes replacedjanuary 7 , 2000 . I recently heard a loud " tumping " noise in the right front wheel / axle assembly. I took the van back to the dealer for repairs. They replace the " sway bar / tie rods on the right side and did a suspension adjustment and assured me the problem was fixed. I took the van out of the parking lot only to return immediatly. I then took the " expert " front end mechanic for a test drive . He heard the noise for the " first " time and told me i now needed struts. This he said would solve my problem . I am scheduled to have this repair done on july 23 , 2000. I do not believe this to be my problem . Also i am concerned that my dealer as well as ford will not cover any of these repairs because the 36 months on my warranty has expired but not my 36,000 miles ( i am at 33,900 miles ) . If you could send any information on recalls , class action suits or helpful tips on what to do i would be forever gratefull . Thanks ron turner
Rear axle problems.
While drivingrear axlebroke, cause unknown.please give any further details.
Speedometer fluctuated all over dial when car went over 30 mph; transmission just failed while car was being operated, it failed to shift and did not move while in traffic; brakes fade when coming to a stop all the time (i have requested repairs repeatedly, told no problem detected); car continues to roll 6-8 incheswhen parked on an incline; rear suspension creaks when getting in and out of car; several leaks in engine had to be repaired (gasket??).
Upon entering road from store parking, a loud thump was heard from under the front of the vehicle. After inspection, it was found that the anti-sway bar had broken approximately 6 inches from its connection point to the left strut. This caused the remaining link to interfere with the front suspension (both turning and travel).
Consumerwas traveling 30mph on side street andheard a noise. Consumer applied brakes, and pedal went all the way to the floor.vehicle started pulling toright, she was able to control vehicle.dealershipwas aware ofproblem. Mechanic stated thatleft rear backing plate and brake shoe anchor rivets sheared off.
While driving my 1996 ford windstar with my four children in the vehicle, the rear axle arm cracked in half causing the vehicle to go out of control.we were lucky to get to the side of the road off of the highway driving at 55 mph during rush hour traffic. There was no accident, nor did we hit anything.the vehicle is currently at the mechanic who has to replace the entire axle.the cost will be over $1,000.we have continual problems with this vehicle.
Spring broke as the car was being jacked up to do a brake pad replacement.
Consumer was moving out of a parking lot andrearof vehicle dropped.consumer got outof vehicle,thinking it was aflat tire. Rear coil spring on left side broke and puncturedtire.dealer diagnoised that vehicle needed rear coil springs and struts.a mehanic repairedvehicle using ford parts ordered by the consumer.both sets of coil springs needed to be replaced.
Michelin tire blew out at 5000 miles.(p20570r15)
When traveling at 35 mph when the left rear tire blew out, pushing the vehicle into another lane, causing an accident, and resulting in injuries to the driver. Consumer has contacted the dealer. Please provide any further details.
The right front tire broke off the post.
Kelly-springfield superguard gt p205/70r15 tire blew out prior to recall repairs. However, tire serial number did not match the recall serial numbers as stated in recall letter. Dealer did replace tire.
Ford extended warranty on 3.8 l engine for 1995 model due to engine failure caused by defective gasket sets. However, is not doing so for like failure on 1996 model 3.8 l engines.engine seized on our vehicle with approximately 48000 miles despite maintenance and timing chain gasket set replacement an approximately $1200 repair.dt
Four rims at a time will leak air withoutprior warning.also, tires will go flat, even onhighway.
Four tirerimshave cracks on them, causingtires to leak air at all times.
While driving the van between 55-60 mph, the front driver's side tire came off the wheel. Driver lost control of the van, but was able to avoid a crash. Both wheels and tires on the driver's side were replaced at the owner's expense.
Tire rod fittings were not properly greased. Which can cause a break while turning.
At approximately 7:20pm on wednesday evening, august 22, 2001, i was traveling at the speed limit, 75mph, south on interstate 70, near richfield, ut, when, without warning, the left front tire delaminated.i managed to keep control of my vehicle and got it to the right shoulder of the highway.the tire's tread was completely gone, having deformed, blackened and taken paint off the left front fender, detached the left portion of the bumper from the fender, destroying and casting away the majority of the inner fender skirt, badly denting the rear portion of the wheel well/fender, and shredding the mud guard there to the extent that most of it had to be cut off later.the tire continued to hold air though so i was able to creep along the shoulder the approximately one mile to the first richfield exit.i parked in the parking lot of a large gas station just off the interstate and got the by-now-deflated-de-laminated tire off the vehicle, and the "spare" tire on in its place.i then proceeded into richfield where i found a tire dealer who was willing to sell, mount, balance and install two replacement tires for me, charging me a $55 "after hours" fee in addition to the price of the two tires.the ford dealer in richfield, the following morning, gave me little hope that michelin would accept responsibility for the incident, and there was no michelin dealer in richfield that i could contact.since returning home last friday, i have not had a chance to get estimates for repairs, but, knowing what similar repairs have cost friends, my own estimate is between $300 and $500 for the actual repairs to my vehicle, plus the cost of the replacement tires/after hours charge ($189.96).i feel that i was exceedingly lucky to have been driving straight at the time of the de-lamination; to have had both hands on the wheel; and to have had very little traffic around me which could have prevented me from making a safe maneuver to the side of the highway.
Problem w/tires.qcaw
Consumer has been experiencing problems with right front tire. While driving, front tire fell off.as a result, consumer was involved in a crash.the manufacturer has yet to be contacted.
On august 16, 2000 i was the victim of a minor automobile accident that occurred when a newfr440 tuwsps21570r15 tire, purchased onmay 22, 2000 and located on the front right side of the vehicle, explicably burst while i was traveling around a corner at a low rate of speed. My minivan slid off the side of the road and into a tree, doing damage to the body and the frame. The tire was so shredded after sliding off the road it was impossible to tell what caused it to burst. However, i had purchased road hazard insurance on the tires (after replacing tires i had just bought in april that were punctured by a sharp stone). A firestone tire center would not fix the damage caused in the accident and i was forced to utilize insurance to repair the damage. The tire had approximately 5,000 miles in usage when it burst. (tiresize: 21570r15)( dot number:tire size: 21570r15 )
While driving, the entire wheel/tire fell off of the vehicle, it is unknown if it was the tire or wheel that failed, one person was injured, claim 13-7497-974.
While driving 20 -25 mph consumer heard a crunching sound. Then, felt like something was rubbimgonwheel.front left tire blewout, and front of vehicle dropped to ground,front coil spring had broken.
Aluminum wheels corrode at tire bead seat-tires loose air- no repair is lasting. Salt may be a factor. (tiresize: 215x70r15)
Michelin sidewall tires split. *sd
Spare tire is on outside underneath vehiclerusted. This caused spare tire to becomeunusable.cause unknown. Dealer notified.
Consume rwas traveling on a main highway and heard a noise,rear passenger tire tread separated.tires were bought on july 16, andtire blewout.tire size p20570 r15.hancock tiresdealershipwas aware ofproblem.
All 4 goodyear aquatread ii tires showed signes of tread separation and were replaced, tire size p215/r0r15, dot mkm02dhr477.
Check engine light came on and smoke started to come out from under the dashboard.we pulled over immediately and had to step over the flames comming out from underneath the vehicle to get out of the car.within 1 minute, the van was completely engulfed in flames at which point the gas tank exploded.the van is completely burnt down to nothing but a frame.ford refuses to take responsibility.
Check engine light flashes and at times remains on. The engine hesitates while acceleration. Per the dealer the engine head gasket has developed a small crack which allows coolant to seep into the engine and cause an occational misfire. The dealer stated that this is not covered under the warranty and will cost $1,800 to repair. Per nhtsa recall report in 1995 the same engine and in windstars were recalled for the same issue.also simlar issue noted in 1996 windstar complaintss.
Electronic switch for hatch warning light failed.
Ford should be forced to recall the '96's as well as the '95's. Same engine same problem. I was told the check engine light was just emissions. Not to worry about it . Head gasket failure is something to worry about. Repairs are $1000.00.
Engine check light came on and the vehicle was taken back to ford. They did a diagnostic test that they claim the failure was due to one of the spark plug wires "arching". They could not or would not tell me which one was arching, but were willing to charge me $320 to change the six wires and plus. I paid for the diagnostic test and changed the plugs and wires myself. A week later, the check engine light came on again. This time i took it to my mechanic. He did a diagnostic test on the vehicle and advised that the problem was with cylinder number four. It was cracked. They made the repair and a week later i was out over a $1000. My mechanic also advised me that ford should have been able to tell me this right away. Ford was willing to replace the spark plugs and wires and i would still have the same problem.
Door ajar warning light/audible alarm goes off and remains on for extended time despite all doors securely closed and locked.
Engine experienced loss of coolant.vehicle taken to dealer, and informed consumerof a head gasket failure which was not covered underextended warranty. Check the engine light came on while the vehicle was new but the dealer was unable to find the cause.
The problem first occurred at 10-15-97. I took it in and the ford dealor told me that everything checked out. The check engine light has come on 4 to 5 times since. Now that the dealor has identefied the problem they tell me it will be a 1200.00 fix. Of course now it is out of warranty.
Consumerwas traveling about 55mph and engine check light blinked on and off on the dashboard. Also,transmission slipped out of gear. Computer chip was replaced, but problemstill continued. Anti-freeze was leaking from the transmission. In addition,spark plugs were replaced, andhead gasket needed to be replaced. Computor diagnosis indicated that cylinder #4 malfunction.the dealer said that doing tune up will solve this problem but did not.
Engine check light came on and we immediately took the vehicle for service.found out it was head gasket problem.contacted ford after a week of not being able to get the needed parts for repair and was told my vehicle was not on recall list.also found out that they are unwilling to help since vehicle not under warranty.took 2 weeks in shop to get fixed and replacement parts were ordered outside of ford dealership because they couldn't get the right part.it ended up costing $300 additional to original estimate.
When filling vehicle with gasolineenginecheck light would come on. This happened twice last year. Owner's manual indicated that after three startsengine check light did not go off. Then brought vehicle to the dealer to be checked.engine was running very rough.contacted the dealer,advised consumer on 9-mar-2000 that there was a problem with thehead gasket.
Please provide technical information regarding defect of vehicle. No safety defect listed, information request.
3.8 v6 engine check light stays on while driving, vehicle is leaking oil and running rough; vehicle taken to dealer and informed of ablown head gasket. Feel free to provide any further information.
White smoke was coming out of tailpipe &engine check light came on.dealer hasn't been able to do anything about the problem.manufacturer toldconsumer that it was not a safetyproblem.
July of 1999 while on vacation in pennsylvania the engine check light came on.a family friend recommended that we not worry about the problem unless the light stayed on.the light went off but then came back on a couple of times over the next few months.finally in april of 2000 the light came on and stayed on.the ford dealership informed us that the head gaskets were blown.the dealership told us that they would pay most of the $1400.00 repair bill but we still ended up with $600.00 on our part.we have contacted ford twice about this failure at only 53,000 miles.we believe that we should be reimbursed our $600.00.we are shocked to see how many 1996 windstars are having the same problems.we have asked ford to tell us the number of gasket failures they have seen on the 1996's.they have refused to provide that information.please help us.thank you for your time and attention to this problem.
There have been numerous failures of systems in my van. The engine must be replaced, the speedometer is out again.
Door ajar indicator light is inoperative, doesn't know if doors are open or not. Contacted dealer.
While driving engine checklight was illuminating ondashboard. Consumer contacteddealer to have vehicle inspected,and mechanic replacedspark plugs and other parts.later,mechanic discovered thathead gasket malfunctioned, causing the problem.consumer states head gasket was replaced, subsequently since the repair the check engine light has come on twice.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Was driving vehicle whenhead gaskets blewout.started to lose antifreeze; this causedengine to overheat. Took vehicle to independent mechanic, andinformedconsumer problem of head gaskets can be repaired. Consumer also had a check engine problem due to cylinder, ford could not duplicate the problem, so consumer has his personal mechanic to reset the engine when the light comes on.
While driving down the street anti-freeze had leaked out, andengine check light came on.took vehicle to the local mechanic. Mechanic said it was a head gasket problem. Contacted dealer and manufacturer who were not able to help.
Other is the head gasket went and leaked oil in my engine causing it to be replaced.ford denied any problems with this and i believed them until i read your web site article on the head gasket problem with 1995 windstars.i called ford this morning again and read the article and they still will not step up to the plate on this.nothing else has gone wrong with my car.
Speedometer jumps erratically after 40 mph; enginechecklight comes on often, with various diagnoses that seem to only fix the problem for awhile; we have paid almost $1000 in repairs so far, none of it under warranty, per the dealer.
This was done during manufacturing. No safety defect listed.
No summary provided by consumer
Misfiring and losing coolant. Am sure it is a head gasket problem. Father-in-law currently in dispute with ford for same model/year and they won't reimburse him. May attempt repair myself if ford unwilling to recall or put right. Also, speedometer failure intermittent or incorrect reading.
My windstar blew its headgasket with 60k miles on it- the engine never ran hot---when check engine light came on i took it to dealer--blown gasket 1800 dollars--checked internet and found at least 200 people with same problem--called ford but they refuse to assist.
Ford windstar (1996):a local mechanic said that our rough idle, engine light, and smell of antifreeze indicated a head-gasket problem. Hill and sanders ford service station checked for pressure leaks, but could only suggest that it was bad plugs causing the "misfire code" in the computer. After $318, we got new spark plugs and a reset warning light.within a week, the check engine light came on, and the rough idle and smell of antifreeze reappeared. We returned it to h&s and mentioned that it was a continuation of the previous, with a new symptom of discolored antifreeze in the overflow container (oil color). H&s said the engine light was a result of a "misfire code"but didn't know why. The only thing h&s did was flush the radiator for $100, and admitted they don't know what else it could be. A few days later the engine light came on.on nov. 20, 2000 the van started making mechanical noises from the engine, lost power, and slowed to a crawl.my wife got it to a safe location where she and the kids could wait to have it towed to h&s.a note referenced the previous 2 h&s visits for related problems. H&s's told me that "something inside the engine came loose" and that he recommends we replace the engine for $5050!he didn't know what was wrong.we called h&s ([xxx] ) the next day and told him that we felt that h&s should be responsible for the damages due to their inability to detect and fix the problem, and sending us away with a feeling that the problem was fixed or inconsequential.h&s felt that they were not responsible.our original mechanic was amazed that h&s didn't suspect something was wrong when oil was found in the antifreeze, and that they only flushed the system! we feel helpless and taken advantage of. Anything we can do to recover our loss? [xxx] vin [xxx]information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Engine:head gasket failure @ 62,218 miles.needed to replace both cylinder gasket heads and resurface same.power door: failure of power door lock on passenger side.transmission:was replaced twice under warranty.other:ignition control module needed replacement. Have been advised engine has a sludge condition despite regular oil changes per ford guidelines.
Vehicle has leaked2 1/2 gallons of coolant.engine check light stays on, andvehicle is having trouble starting.heat iswarm becausecoolant keeps leaking out.mechanicsuggested to replaceengine head becauseleakage was ruining the engine.
Loss of coolant and engine check light on.took to local mechanic, who is ford certified. Told of recall on windstars for this problem. O'meara ford diagnosed as head gasket crack.recall would not include vans after 1995.ours was manufactured in march of 1996.called ford.they would not honor or regard this as their problem.returned to our personal mechanic. He made repairs and found all of the "old" parts as used in vans under recall.he replaced the parts with the newer design ford now uses to eliminate this problem.cost to us was extreme-$1600, which was almost $1000 less than what o'meara ford was estimating.we are very disappointed with ford dealership and ford motor co. Not planning to ever purchase another ford vehicle in the future.
Engine check light keeps coming on. Also,a lot of anti-freeze was missing too fast, took vehicle to dealer, and they said that anti-reeze was getting intocylinder. Consumer returned vehicle 1 week later, replaced gaskets again they were leaking.
Rotors are warping, i changed them and they warp again, undersized brakes.
Engine check light illuminated. Took vehicle to dealer, and they stated that head gasket blew up.causeunknown. Please provide any further information.
Engine coolant needs filling every 2-3 days, transmission skips, engine checklight always illuminated and interior door ajar light never goes off.
While traveling on the interstate, check engine light appears on dashboard, and vehicle was leaking antfreeze.dealership is aware of problem. Dealer found head gasket had blown, replaced head gasket and thermostat, on several occasions the air conditioning leaks, brakes making grinding sound, dealer found anti-lock sensor failed, rear fender is rusted on passenger side.
While driving engine check light came on. Took to dealer & had wiring repaired. The dashboard lights went out. Problem had reoccurred. Was electrical short in wires.
Engine check light came on. Rough idle. Tune-up performed. Oxygen sensor replaced.engine check light is now off. Two days later, engine check light is back on and rough idle returns. Replaced oxygen sensor and plug wires. Next day, driving car and temperature gauge falls almost all the way to cold side. Heater blowing out just a little warm. Pressure tested engine. Leakage in a cylinder. Upon teardiown, head gasket has failed leaking coolant into engine.
Engine check came on took to an independent service shop to have diagnostics run. Was told it needed a tune up, new spark plugs and cables, fuel filter, air filter, fuel injectors cleaned and i also had oil changed since it was time for it. Picked up vehicle paid 444.00 for the service next morning drove to work, oil light came on. I have never had the oil light flickered on. Checked oil, in my parking space was dark so all i could see is there was fluid at the correct level. Started it up that evening to go home drove aproximately 40 miles, stopped at a red light and the oil light came on the the engine began making a knocking noise. I pulled off the road had to towed back to the shop that did the work. Was told they could find nothing wrong with it, oil light did not come on. I refused to accept the answer knowing thenoise the engine was making to cause me to have it towed in. They test drove for and let run for approximately 30 min. Before the oil light did come on. They then told me it was an engine problem and did not do engine work. Had it towed immediately to a ford dealer and was told the oild pan was full of coolant and bearings were "washed" in engine and would have to have a new engine. No one wants to claim responsibility for this problem. I have just been made aware that there has been an on going problem with this particular model motor (and not by the dealership). What can be done next?
Head gasket failure, misfiring, 'check engine light on', loosing compression, no repairs are covered, ford windstars produced up until the end of 1995 are being recalled for this same defect, my windstar (build 1/2/1996!!) is not covered. I am concerned about safety (i read about the danger of suddenly losing speed) and yes, i am angry about bearing the cost of repair.
Engine checklight displayed,white smoke billowing out of tail pipe.
Ongoing problem with 3.8l v6 engine check light coming on,running rough and loss of coolant.dealer and manufacturer were notified. Feel free to provide any further information.
Engine checks light kept coming on.vehicle taken to dealer on three occasions,and informed consumer of a possible blown head gasket. However,vehicle was not covered under manufacturer's recall due to vin.
Engine check light kept coming on.vehicle taken to the dealer,and informed consumer that engine needs replacement due to a blown head gasket. Please feel free to provide further details.
While traveling vehicle commenced to run rough and engine check light would come on. Vehecle taken to anindependent repair shop. Consumer was informed of a blown head gasket. Manufacturer notified, and informedconsumer that vehicle was not cover undered extended warranty.
Vehicle is leaking antifreeze from underneath hood area. Engine checklight appears on the dashboard. Dealership is aware of problem.
Engine check light came on while sitting in the driveway.my mechanic had to replace my fuel injector and gaskets.also he said i need a new fuel pump which is located in my gas tank but that i can wait till next oil change due to expence.my car only has under 40,000 miles!!!!!
No summary.dt
Repeated expensive repairs to turn off " engine" checklight only temporairly successful.loss of coolant for unknown reason. Engine now noticably "smoking".
Engine light went on for a couple days, brought vehicle to dealer.they stated that antifreeze leaking into head gasket & that it's possible that i may need a new engiene.i did not leave vehicle at dealer at that time because i stated that i wanted to speak to my mechanic because it would be cheaper to have him do work on vehicle.i contacted my mechanic who told me that the 3.8 litre engiene is known for this problem with head gasket.on 3/19/ 01 dealer contacted me wanting to know if i would be getting head gasket fixed.i stated that after further research i was able to determine that certain 1995 3.8 litre engienes were recalled and that a class action suit was brought against ford motor company on 12/9/99 because of faulty head gaskets.i contacted ford motor company & logged complaint, but they stated that their were no recalls on 1996 ford windstars so they could not do anything.once i complained to dealer that their was a problem with this engiene they offered me a 6 year warranty from original date of purchase or 100,000 miles which ever came firston transmission & engiene up to $2,000.00 with $500.00 deductible.i took this offerwith dealer because we only have 1 vehicle.although i am grateful for this offer, the only reason the dealer offered me this deal was because i informed them that this particular engiene has a faulty head gasket.dealer originally quoted that work on head gasket would cost approximately $1,500 for head gasket repairs or approximately $3,000.00 for new engiene.even though i will have pay $500.00 out of pocket, i believe that the dealer or ford should reimburse me for the head gasket repairs because this has been a problem with this engiene since 1988.i have also been able to locate on the internet @ websitewww.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/ford_windstar_1996_gaskets.htm that other consumers have had the same problem with their 1996 ford windstars 3.8 litreengieneas i have.i appeciate any assistance.
Currently, the van is at the dealership and we are awaiting an estimate on the head gasket. Our warranty expired on august 31, 2002 and ford will not help with the cost of the repair. The transmission is also being checked as it has begun leaking only 10 months after we had it replaced. Our mechanic stated that these are commonly seen with this vehicle and stated the failure of the head gasket is due to the defective fire ring. No reason was given as to why the transmission failed in january of 2002 and to why it is now leaking.dt
Engine check light and the air bag light would intermittentl/simutaneously come on and cause loss of accelerationwhile traveling at highway speed. Dealer notified. Consumer was informed that vehicle had a transmission leak, the speedometer was acting erractically, parking brake and brakes were inoperative,also the power windows were inoperative.
The sub-frame broke where the strut arm connects in the front( in area of the strut arm bushings. At first thought that the noise was from at loose heat shield. Strut arm rattles everytime van iecounters rough pavement. The speedometer just went haywire. Needle bounces all over the place. Have found other people on the internet with the same speedometer problem. I feel that both of these failures are a saftey issue. Ford motordoesn't.
This complaint consist of four failures that are engine related: (1) head gasket failed while being driven, and leaked fluid onto hot engine. (2) timing gasket failed along with gasket failing. (3) intake manifold runners failed, and the check engine light came on.the van is undrivable. (4) faulty main engine bearings.please describe details.
The consumer requested that the manufacturer investigate a speedometer problem on ford windstars and escorts. *ph*nlm
Engine light comes on, stays on engine runs rough. This continued form january to july with vehical going in to shop as much as 5 times in one day . Sayville ford on last arrival said head gasket falure as in all windstars from 1995and 96. They said this in january and every vist after that until the last one when white smoke came out of exhaust. Then they said replace head gaskets. At this time they found the number 1 cylinder rod bent and i would need a new engine. They still have the vehical and want me to pay for damages i will not seeing they should have fixed it in the begining. I called ford motor company and they would not step in saying the delership and the car is my problem. I even asked for the factory rep tolook into this problem and was told the delership would have to request him. They will not call him where do people turn for a fair shake? please call me ?!!
Engine head gasket failed. Intermittent engine warning light since new. Self reset before chance to get it to dealer. At approx 80k miles solid engine warning light. Dealer replaces oxygen sensor. Still got intermittent engine warning light. Latest incident solid engine warning light & blue smoke from tail pipe. Dealer indicates blown head gasket and worn connecting rod bearings as a cause & result of incorrectly designed head gasket. Indicates it is a known problem and should have been recalled with 1995 model year.
Timing cover gasket failure allowed coolant to mix with engine oil. Gasket replaced but engine damage may have already been done. Speedometer wavers between 20 and 60 mph at 30 mph, headlight lenses have yellowed to the point that the headlights are useless. Most ford vehicles from 1990 to 2000 have the yellowing headlight problems and should be recalled as a safety problem.
The 1994 and 1995 windstars were recalled for this problem. I dont understand how come the 1996 werent. No safety defect listed within summary.
At around 62,000 miles our vehicle's "check engine" light came on.we brought it in to a local ford dealership where they performed diagnostic tests.basically they told us it was a blown head gasket, among other misc. Problems.we were not satisfied with their customer service methods and brought the van to anotherford dealership.the mechanic at this place not only agreed with previous diagnosis but also felt the whole engine system was contaminated and recommended a total engine replacement at a cost of 3,800 dollars.we have meticulously maintained this vehicle and have had it serviced regularly.(we have th documents to prove this.)
I have a 1996 windstar with just over 40,000 miles - v-8 engine. The engine warning light came on, and i stopped driving and dropped the car off at the dealer.he said it has blown head gaskets and after research online, i find that this is an engine problem that ford has with windstars.i would like to see a recall orderedon all ford 3.8 engines having this problem.
Premature failure of head gasket causing engine coolant to leak into the #1 cylnder causing a miss fire and the vehicle to run rough.engine light came on and i brought it to the dealer.the dealer had it for a few days, replced the spark plugs and said it was fine.on the ride back from the dealer the engine light came back on.the dealer then kept it for another two days and found the coolant in the #1 sparkplug well.brought to an independent repair shop where it was determnined to be a head gasket failure.
Engine started overheating, engine check' light came. Noticed oil mixed with coolantin reservoir. Dealer confirmed head gasket failure.
The electrical abs anti-lock brake light keeps coming on and the engine check light also comes on.please describe.
After driving about 4 hours from alabama with 1 or 2 stops we stopped at the sc welcome center for 5 minutes.when we restarted the engine, the oil pressure light came on and the engine started making a noise.we drove about 20 miles, then had the van towed to fairway ford in anderson, sc.we were told the engine needed to be replaced.we authorized a replacement, but asked for a diagnostic to be performed so we would know what caused the old engine to fail.to date, that information has never been revealed to us by ford.ford corp. Has been extremely uncooperative in returning phone calls, and has basically told us "tough luck".
While drivingat any speedengine check light will come on unexpectedly, and will not go away.dealer could not fix defect.
In addition, the following are warranty/recall issues that need to be addressed on this vehicle.dt
Aftervehicle is startedengine check light remained illuminated. Dealer replaced head gaskests which did not correct the problem.please give any further details.
Engine light illuminated and was registering hot.took to dealer ,and they stated theathead gasket failed, and vehicle would need a rebuilt motor.please provide any further information.
Had on numerous occasion taken my 1996 ford windstarfor engine light was told problem fixed only to have light come back on.proceeded to have all work done due to not being able to afford another vehicle. While searching for aditional information concerning this problem discovered that this is known ford motorproblem with this model. If this known by the company as known defect why has nothing been to resolvethisbeside having the consumer to absorb the financial burden of fixing a known manufacturer's defect.
No failure identified.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Intermittently engine check light comes on whilevehicle is in motion.dealer has not been able to duplicate or correct the problem.
Head gasket failure . A common defect in ford windstars, they were covered in the previous model years, but not the '96 model. Ford, so far, will not cover this.also speedometer "jumps" around above 45 mph. This too, is common in this and prior model windstars. Repairs are usually $500 and is a safety concern as driver does not know how fast they are traveling.*nlm
Engine check light was on/ off.consuemr sent vehicle to a radiator shop, and they referred her todealer. Dealer has to replacegaskets because they havedestroyedengine. Antifreeze was apparently leaking, it has to be filled frequently.
Whenever vehicle is driven over 40 mphspeedometer jumps back and forth.when the speedometer jumps back and forth consumer does not know how fast he is driving.
The contact owns a 1996 ford windstar.approximately two weeks ago, the contact noticed smoke rising from under the hood of the vehicle while it was parked.he stated that the speed control switch and the wiring harness were melted from the inside.the switch was hanging from the master cylinder and fell towards the fuse box.the dealer has not inspected the vehicle.the vehicle was purchased from a private party.the engine size, failure mileage, and a valid vin were unknown.the current mileage was 200,000.
Throttle body broke causing failure.
Speedometer needle bounces all over the speed dial.problem came all of a sudden.happens when you go over 30 mph or so.this has been listed many other nthsa hotline statements on same vehicle.will anything be done by ford??
While driving transmission went out. Vehicle jolted about 3 times, and then coasted to a stop.vehiclefelt like it was in neutral,andwould not go into any other gear. Ford customer representatives are defensive when consumer talks to them regarding the problems and they are unwilling to help in any matter.
Dt*:the contact stated while driving 15mph, there was a loud popping noise followed by a hissing sound.the vehicle was parked in the driveway for further inspection.the odor of smoke was present, the contact and passengers exited the vehicle immediately.flames were visible from the front under hood area.the flames primarily surrounded the top of the transmission and master cylinder. The contact extinguished the flames with a fire extinguisher.no injuries were sustained, but the vehicle sustained moderate fire damage.the police were not alerted.the vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop who determined the fire originated from the master cylinder.the manufacturer was alerted.there was a nhtsa recall, # 05v38800, regarding the vehicle speed control.the vehicle was not included in the recall due to the vin.
Due to a defective transmission, while applying the gas pedal, the vehicle hesistated and lunged forward which may havecaused a crash.dealer had replaced transmission with a rebuilt transmission. Engine check light comes on.also,dealer replaced coil and a spark plugs, but problem is still occurring.dealer could ntdetermine the cause of the problem.please provide further information.
While driving in low speeds gas pedal went to the floor and vehicle suddenly accelerated.braking system did not stop the vehicle which resulted in an accident.please provide further information.
No summary listedfor above vehicle.
Transmission replacedaround 40000 miles due to its jumping, rpm'swent up and down.currently, happening again. The consumer states the transmission had been replaced six times but the problem was not solved.as the result the consumer was very much concerned about safety.
While driving along all of sudden vehicle experienceshard upshifting or down shifting.occasionaly when coming to a stop sign then proceeding, motor revs and transmission does not engage.took it back to the dealer in september. Dealerreplaced a sensor, but still has not taken care of the problem. Vehicle is not longer under warranty.
My vehicle went crazy. It lunged backwards and then rocketed forward straightright into the wall of a furniture store. It felt like it was going 500 mph. I had no control over the car. It went crazy. I am totally serious. It was the scaryist experience of my life!please help me report it to all who need to know.
Transmission fails to reengage after coming to a stop.upon acceleration, may suddenly engage at a high r.p.m. Causing vehicle to lurch forward.also will slip into neutral while driving at highway speeds, and then re-engages without warning.
The speedometer moved erratically and malfunctioned intermittently leaving consumer unsure of speed.speedometer had to be replaced 2 times.
Vehicle experiencing problem with sudden acceleration whenever cruise control is engaged. Dealer notified and some repairs were made. Seeking help from nhtsa in this matter. *ml
While parked, a 1996 ford windstar caught fire due to a defective speed control disconnection switch.
The speed control pressure switch had caught fire due to being located below the master cylinder, needing to know how to get replaced.
The 1996 windstar had been parked in the garage (attached to the home) with the ignition off for several hours when fames were seen coming from the left rear quadrent of the engine compartment. It was obvious the fire could not be extinguished. The family left the home, which was soon completely destroyed.
While driving in the country where i live with three children at the base of the mountain to head 20 miles to my home i pressed on the acceleratorand the vehicle lost power and went nowhere. Could not drive over 35 mph. Was seen by a body shop and they replaced fuel filter and returned vehicle to me. Second occasion driving down the mountain at55mph a strong jerk whiplashed myself and has caused injury in my back took to body shop and needs new transmission and must be towed. Van still sitting at body shop now for 2 weeks as i have 3 children and now no transportation...thanks ford.
While driving at 30 mph and using cruise control,the vehicle becomes hard to control,picking up more speed.ta
When i get to about 35 mph, you can hear the speedo head gears grind.when you reach approx 55 - 60 mph, the speedo needle will bounce up to 90 and back, and keep doing this.we had the speed sensor replaced, but this did not fix the probelm.i was told by lompoc valley ford in lompoc, ca that it is more than likely the speedo head.they also told me that they replace one of these a month, sometimes two a month.it seems to me that ford should fix this problem instead of me paying the $1,000 that lompoc vally ford quoted me to fix a problem that is obviously a manufacturer defect.although this is not a big safety problem, it could turn into one because you either have to drive too slow for traffic conditions, or you don't know how fast you are really going when you try to keep up with traffic.i appreciate any help you can give me in getting this problem fixed.
Speedometer bounces erratically, and does not register actual speed. Impossible to tell speed of the vehicle.
Speedometer replacement.mrthe consumer believed that 545.00 to replaced a speedometer was expensive since it was a common problem.
Ford recall letter dated december 2011 recall number 09 s 09speed control system modification.i recently took my ford windstar on janurary 3, 2013 for a recall. About a month later i drove over railroad tracks and now the vehicle is slow and won't pick up speedit makes a put put sound and has almost no power.i called the dealer to report the issue and they want $90.00 just to look at it even though it was just in the shop for the recall.i called ford customer complaint and all they say is they are not responsible for the ford dealer actions or inactions. The letter from ford was the main reason i took the van in because it says there is a fire hazard but now the van is a piece of junk.ford refuses to recheck the vehicle and locate the real cause of the problemthe vehicle is the only way for me to get around.thanks ford for your attention and lack of concern.signed dissatified victim of a scam.
The right rear speed sensor quit working and was determined as needing replacement by joe mahan ford in paris, tn.the cost is approximately $100, but i feel this is a safety concern because without it working, the anti-lock brakes will not work.also, the speedometer is broken.while driving over 30mph, the needle jumps around to 80 or more and the correct speed cannot be determined.again, this should be a safety concern because speed should be known at all times.i contacted ford customer relations department, but they stated that they could be of no assistance.i really need these items fixed, but the combined cost is greater than $400 and i feel ford should at least share in the cost.
When speed exceeds 40 mphspeedometer fails to read vehicle mileage correctly.
Vehicle was in collision due to sudden acceleration.
Failure of the speedometer while driving on the freeway.the speedometer needle jumps erratically while driving faster than 30mph.the speedometer will eventually peg at 120mph, even though you are driving at slower speeds.according to my repair shop, the speed sensor broke, but ford requires a very costly repair that includes replacement of the whole speedometer head and speed sensor.
Speedometer needle floats, cruise control doesn't work. Continues.
Dt: contact stated on july 19, 05 while pulling into driveway and foot was on the brake the car rapidly accelerated and it ran into the garage.contact pressed on the brakes and the brake didnot respond. When she comingto a stop the engine was raced very fast, and the engine sounded abnormally loud. Contactspoke with someone at dealer's service department, and they didnot told her anything as of yet.this was the first time this happened.
My van was in great shape and great condition. I was driving to work on may 6th 2012 about 45-50 mph entered the i-215 collector, started to smell a burned rubber smell, i looked at the temp gauge and it was normal, the van started to sputter like running out of gas, the van was not out of gas almost full, the service engine light started to flash on and off, i pulled over to the shoulder and came to a complete stop, looked at the temp gauge again and it still was normal, the burned rubber smell got worse and i noticed then a black smoke coming from under the hood. I got out of the van and stood at the front of the van to call aaa and the engine burst into flames under the hood. There was not indicator what so ever that the vehicle was overheating. This all occurred in about 5-10 minutes. The police came and could not put the fire out with extinguisher. The fire department had to put the fire out. It burned up my entire vehicle with all the contents inside. The fireman stated that even the front tires were burned up and melted. I did get pictures of what happened. I only had liability insurance so i thought i was just out of luck. A security specialist from work said that it sounded like the fire could have started due to a factory safety defect and told me to do some research. I did find that there was a recall on the speed switch or control on 1996 ford windstars. I always use my cruise control. I have filed a claim with my insurance based on a burn under the assumption that the fire occurred due to the speed control recall. Please let me know what i can do. I never received any notification of the recall or i would have taken it in to be fixed before this happened.
The transmission in this vehicle failed at an unacceptably low mileage. When it failed, it caused a surging that was dangerous. The speedometer should not fail at such a low mileage. It fluctuates wildly. We do not have the resources to get it fixed and can't tell what speed we are driving.
Speedometer failed. Buzzing sound coming from speedometer. Speedometer swings wildly from 0 to 120 mph. Speedometer not recording actual speed.
Owner went to start vehicle, and it started smoking. Examination revealed scds (speed control deactivation switch) overheated and melted off, causing small fire in left rear of engine compartment.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Speedometer not accurate.speedometer will jump 5-10 miles on the gauge or with cruise control set will bounce back and forth between top and bottom of the gauge.
The cruise control deactivator sensor on the master brake cylinder shorted out due to brake fluid in it. This caused the wires to it to burn off the insulation and a large amount of smoketo enter the vehicle.all replacement parts are oem leading me to believe it is an on going problem.
Brake module to cruise control harness caught on fire. Similar models have this recalled by ford but not for the year for my windstar.
Ford windstar brake, abs brake, cruise control, and speedometer/odometer electrical problems rear axle cracks!
Cruise control would decelerate by itself at 45 mph, and accelerate by itself back to original speed, intermittent occurrence. Dealer contacted and cannot remedy the problem. Problem still exists. Provide further information.
The speedometer failed when the vehicle just passes the 30,000 miles.it is bouncing back and forth between the top and bottom of the gauge.without an accurate speed indicator, it is not save to drive this vehicle on the highway.i think that ford ought to recall the windstar failed speedometer asap.*la
When vehicle is going 65mph rpms escalate higher that normal ,andvehicle dies out. No warning is detected when sticking between gears. Please provide more information.
While drivingvehicle accelerated without the gas being pushed,and also decelerated own its own.dealer has been notified of this problem for the second time. Dealer could not replicate, and therefore could not repair.
Vehicle experienced sudden acceleration which caused the consumer to get a speeding ticket.nlm
I have been having problems with my check engine light coming on and staying on since sept. 2000 when vehicle had under 100,000 miles on it.took it to dealer while under warranty. Now have a private certified auto tech who does my repairs and code read outs.i have had a tune up at 95,000 miles, and had to have another one at 121,000 miles.had problems with engine stalling while driving down the interstate and up a hlll.in summer of 2001, i had the iac valve changed which corrected the stalling problem.have replaced o-2 sensors at least twice.in past 6 months, the enging has been running very rough and i have a strong smell of gasoline .2nd tune-up and coil replaced about 2 weeks ago.engine now running very rough and gasoline odor is so strong that you could not light a match in the vehicle.check engine light on again as well as brake and abs light.radiator completely empty for the 2nd time in 2 weeks.
Parking the vehicle and coming to stop, vehicle went into open throttle position, applied brakes,vehicle impact 12:00 position, low speed 5mph.
While driving 65 mph withcruise control onvehicle sped up. While getting ready to exit off the highwayvehicle stayed undercruise control module. As consumer attempted to slow down, vehicle was moving 65 mph without any control fromconsumer.in order to make vehicle stopconsumer had to press brake pedal with both feet, andshiftvehicle into neutral.eventually,vehicle was able to slow down, and consumer turnedvehicle off, dealer replaced 2 lock tabs because one had slipped on the cruise causing it to stay on.trip speedometer was replaced, it would not go past 799 miles.at 30 mph and over, the over drive light will flash.left front wheel cover was replaced due to it making ticking noises at lower speeds.sliding door squeaked, dealer lubed the sliding door.front rotors replaced and rear drums turned, a clicking noise was heard.
The speedometer was found to befaulty. Scc
I step on the gas pedal & the engine revves up but the van does not move forward, then after a minute or so delay something must engage and the van lunges forward with terrific speed which even causes the tires to squeal.
Our 1996 ford windstar gl, which we purchased new, has 118000.we have experienced a broken (bouncing) speedometer, dome light malfunctioned, abs and brake light malfunctioned, and more recently, leaking coolant which is linked to a blown head gasket and check engine warnings.the cost has been astronomical.according to many other consumers, all of these issues are common with the 96 model.please investigate whether ford intends to make any recalls regarding these issues.
1996 ford windstar caught on fire in the steering column.*mrwhiled parked with the engine off, but radio running, consumer saw smoke coming under hood in front of steering wheel.speed control detection switch was the cause of fire.there is recall but consumer's vin is not included.
When stopping at a light, engine sometimes will die. Vehicle would lunge forward after pulling off from a stop.took vehicle to dealer, they replaced something, and two weeks later problem reoccurred. The engine stalls whenever more than one device is turned on at the same time. This problem makes it impossible to turn head lights and windshield wipers on together. The vehicle also shakes violently after being driven for few hours.
The speedometer has failed on my 1996 ford windstar placing my wife and two small children at risk.the service department at tony betten ford in grand rapids, mi diagnosed the problem on march 7, 2003. Betten reported to me that a disproportionate number of speedometers have failed on 1996 ford windstars and 1996 ford escorts.i was also told by the service department that ford has not recalled the models because "they (ford motor company) don't consider a failed speedometer a safety issue."in my view ford should recall and pay for repairs.if speedometers aren't a safety issue then why don't we all drive intuitively?under separate cover i am writing my congressman representative vern ehlers so that his office might offer you assistance.
Vehicle bought in 3/99 throttle body linkage broke repaire bill $500.00 shortly thereafter sensor went out (fuel)bill 256.00 later noticed squeking in front end advised it was tie rod ends not fixed yet this thing has broke me have had many occurences with speed odometer going crazy after 45mph recently noticed popping when turning steering or appling the brakesbut before i could get it fixed transmission begin to either not shift upward ,slip at 45mph and has downshifted after reaching speeds of 45mph (on i-85) has jerked several times ..was told anywhere from 100.00-2000.00 ? seems i have not been alonein my disquest with ford...only problem not encountered head gasket thank god please help us working folks against this big boy on the block thanks
Dt*:the contact stated a puddle was observed under the vehicle.a week later, a small fire occurred under the hood which was extinguished by the contact.there was a nhtsa recall, # 06v286000, regarding the vehicle speed control.the vehicle was not included in the recall due to the vin.
The spedometer is swinging wildly when van reaches highway speeds. The spedometer records speeds of over 115 mph when the van is actually going 70 mph. The instrument panel buzzes constantly while this occurs. It happens every time we drive. I think this is a serious safety issue and should be corrected by the dealer free of charge. We were told by our mechanic that it would be at least $200 to fix this. We can't afford to pay for this ourselves so we are driving the van in this condition. Please advise us as to whatever rights we may have concerning this glaring defect.
Speedometer is no longer showing the actual speed driven, needle jumps around, if driving 75mph it shows 120mph. This happens on a daily basis, there is also a ticking noise. Vehicle has not been examined by a dealer.
Was parkingvehicle on a street and pulling up into a corner parking spot,appliedbrakes, andvehicle kept on accelerating.contacted dealer.
The brakes make a loud sound like a rolling drum when you try to stop. It shakes, rattles and makes a loud dragging like noise until the car stops.now you have to press the brakes all the way down in order to just slow the van down.also sometimes when you try toaccelerate the van will start to move backwards when it's in drive.then with a hard kick which sort of feels like someone is rear ending you, the van will go forward.the brakes are so bad at this point that sometimes the emergency brake is needed just to stop the van.
When transmission wasin driveengine raced, and unexpectedlysurged forward. Dealerhas inspectedvehicle, and was not able to duplicate the problem.
While driving over 55 mph and without warning speedometer malfunctioned. The numbers fluctuated up and down at high speeds.once the vehicle got below 55 mph the systemwent back to normal.dealer was unable to find the cause of the problem.
Mlp switch failed causing vehicle to not accelerate when gas pedal was depressed.nlm
Entire brake system failed acording to local for dealership (kaytes ford) thee appeared to be contamination in the brake fluid that caused the seals to wear down and destroy the sytem.in july od 1998 i had the car in for the replacement of the abs sensor and the problem with pedal pressure in the vehicle.they found nothin wrong with the brakes at that time. The problem continued until the brakes faile in august of 98 at wich time ford said the fluid was contaminated and the entire brake system had to be repkaced.i had the fluid tested and have a copy which shows that there was no contamination.ford motor company refused to honor any warranty claim and i was forced to pay $2,300.00 in order to have the system fixed.ford never offered to test the brake fluid and still does not know what was wrong.if ther was no contamination the seals must have failed because of a defect in material which ford should honor under the warranty please help
While waiting at a stop light, the vehicle failed to movewhen gas pedal was pressed.this is 3rd time it happened in the last 3 months without any warning. The engine revved up but the vehicle refused to move at all.
In extreme cold weather , the throttle pedal sticks, causing the vehicle to accelerate.
Accelerator cable broken causing failure.
While driving andupon attemtping to accelerate by depressingaccelerator pedal, there was no response from vehicle. Also, without no prior warningvehicle suddenly accelerated without driver depressingaccelerator pedal. Consumer has contacteddealer. Please provide any further details.
While driving, a sudden engine fire occurred in a 1996 windstar.the ford dealer (sound ford, renton wa) states that the fire originated in the cruise control cutout switch.it is clear from the burn pattern that this was indeed the cause.the single occupant was able to exit the vehicle, and the fire was extinguished using a dry chemical fire extinguisher from a local merchant (westmarine, seattle, wa). The ford dealer has been unable so far to repair the vehicle (it's been over three weeks).
Consumer has exprienced idle control problems with vehicle four-five times. First time july 29-97, then no problem for five days. The problem occurs when driving 35mph, if foot is taken off pedal at 35mph the vehicle idles there. When driving at 55 in over drive the idle gest stuck also. Dealer changed the idle air control the first time part #9f715-9f670. The fourth time dealer added a flight recorder which recorded three failures, but they cannot find a cause. Vehicle is in shop for fifth time. Lake shore ford- mercury-toyota inc. 244 melton rd.chesterton, in. 46034. 219-787-8600. This has occured over 20 different times within one month.
Engine check light came on. Rough idle. Tune-up performed. Oxygen sensor replaced.engine check light is now off. Two days later, engine check light is back on and rough idle returns. Replaced oxygen sensor and plug wires. Next day, driving car and temperature gauge falls almost all the way to cold side. Heater blowing out just a little warm. Pressure tested engine. Leakage in a cylinder. Upon teardiown, head gasket has failed leaking coolant into engine.
I smelled some type of plastic burning while waiting at a stop light.after turning into the store i discovered the smell stayed with my car.after parking, i noticed smoke pouring from under the hood.i lifted the hood and discovered a connector was overheating and melting.i pulled the connector with a wet paper towel and the smoke cleared.i later learned it was the speed control switch located on the bottom of the master cylinder shorted and caused an overheating problem causing the connector to start smoking and melting.a few days later i could smell the burning again and decided to cut the connector completely off to prevent any further shorting.a couple of days later i heardabout a similar recall and decided to notify you as my model was not part of the original recall.
I have a 1996 ford windstar van that caught fire while i was driving.the cruise control was on.the vehicle lost power, then a boom and there were flames around the firewall.the master cylinder, wiring harness, hoses etc. Were destroyed.the fire was located more on the driver's side of the vehicle.this vehicle has been more than properly maintained, and my mechanic can attest to this. This vehicle has not yet been repaired.i was not injured. This occurred prior to the current recall.
The cruise control had an electrical short and the brakes failed.
The contact owns a 1996 ford windstar.after picking up his vehicle from the mechanic, the contact noticed smoke rising from under the hood.he pulled over, opened the hood, and noticed flames coming from the cruise control switch that connects to the bottom of the master cylinder.he notified the dealer and the manufacturer and they stated that nothing could be done because there was no recall.they advised him to call nhtsa.the contact extinguished the fire with water, but the vehicle continued to smoke.the vehicle has remained parked at his residence since august 6, 2007.the speed was unknown.the failure and current mileages were 130,000.
Dt: the contact owns a 1996 ford windstar. Two years ago around june 7 2003 while driving the van all weekend, when they got out of the vanand walked into a store, were not into the store for 10 minutes and someone said that the vehicle on fire.had problems with abs light coming on, and they tried to have this fixed. Were not successful in getting this fixed. The vehicle was totaled, and the insurance company covered it. She believed the problem was from the deactivation of cruise control switch. The fire started under the hood.
My 1996 ford windstar has been leaking brake fluid for a few months. It was determined yesterday, by my mechanic, that the speed control deactivation switch was the cause of the leak. He replaced the part and informed me that ford has a recall for this defective part. I called my ford dealership and was told that the windstar does not fall under this recall.
Cruise control switch shorted, caused smoke, caused cruise control to fail, replaced with new switch.ford would not repair as part of recent pickip truck recall on this switch.had to pay for repair.i have original failed switch which leaks brake fluid into switch causing short and smoke.
Ford windstar (1996):a local mechanic said that our rough idle, engine light, and smell of antifreeze indicated a head-gasket problem. Hill and sanders ford service station checked for pressure leaks, but could only suggest that it was bad plugs causing the "misfire code" in the computer. After $318, we got new spark plugs and a reset warning light.within a week, the check engine light came on, and the rough idle and smell of antifreeze reappeared. We returned it to h&s and mentioned that it was a continuation of the previous, with a new symptom of discolored antifreeze in the overflow container (oil color). H&s said the engine light was a result of a "misfire code"but didn't know why. The only thing h&s did was flush the radiator for $100, and admitted they don't know what else it could be. A few days later the engine light came on.on nov. 20, 2000 the van started making mechanical noises from the engine, lost power, and slowed to a crawl.my wife got it to a safe location where she and the kids could wait to have it towed to h&s.a note referenced the previous 2 h&s visits for related problems. H&s's told me that "something inside the engine came loose" and that he recommends we replace the engine for $5050!he didn't know what was wrong.we called h&s ([xxx] ) the next day and told him that we felt that h&s should be responsible for the damages due to their inability to detect and fix the problem, and sending us away with a feeling that the problem was fixed or inconsequential.h&s felt that they were not responsible.our original mechanic was amazed that h&s didn't suspect something was wrong when oil was found in the antifreeze, and that they only flushed the system! we feel helpless and taken advantage of. Anything we can do to recover our loss? [xxx] vin [xxx]information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Vehicle accelerated suddenly and unexpectedly,resulting in a collision which caused minor injuries.
The speedometer failed. The manufacturer stated it was not considered a safety issue when the consumer asked would certain vehicle's be recalled.
When you put the car in park, engage the emergency brake and take your foot off the brake pedal, the car lurches forward or backward (depending upon incline of vechicle on a hill) and the sliding door, if opened, forcefully rolls and slams shut.someone exiting the vehicle can be seriously injured, as can anyone (especially children) standing in front or behind the vehicle when it lurches.my son was injured when the door slammed shut as he was exiting the car after i put the car in park and engaged the emergency brake but before i took my foot off the brake pedal.i have asked the dealer to correct this obvious dangerous condition several times, but their response has been that i should engage the emergency brake before i put the vehicle in "park" - a process most people do not use when parking a car.
Vehicle caught on fire while stopping at a stop sign.consumer smelled rubber burning ,then smoke started coming from under the hood. Speed control linkages were completely burned. A recall was issued forspeed control linkages, but this vehicle was not included due to vin.
The right front door rattles when the window is down due to window guide failure. Windshield wiper blades failed.
The 1996 ford windstar continues to have defective head gaskets as in 1994 and 1995 models. This lead to engine failure at 78,000 miles! the cost to replace the engineper miller ford was 4,778.00. We paid 19,000 for this vehicle and refuse to pay for a new engine! the nasa has stated the head gasket should last at least 120,000 miles or the life of the vehicle. We have had this ford windstar with a blown engine due to head gasket failuresince last december, but continue to make monthly payments on this dead ford windstar. We pay taxes, insurance, and montly payments to ford credit for the next 18 months or so. We just discontinued registration fees as the dmv told us we could do this. Ford refuses to acknowledge this problem and is not standing up to it's committment of quality care to it's customers. I urge anyone who is considering buying a ford to do their research. Ford is a company that does not stand behind it's promises. We will never own another ford although our family has never owned anything but until now. Ford wake up!
The front windshield the bottom part in cold weather and windshield blade wouldn't defrost .tt
Consumer was traveling on a main street andturned onheat. Vents were blowing out cold air,andengine check light came ondashboard. Vehicle was not leaking any fluids.thermostat was on hot. Dealershipwas aware ofproblem.
Ford extended warranty on 3.8 l engine for 1995 model due to engine failure caused by defective gasket sets. However, is not doing so for like failure on 1996 model 3.8 l engines.engine seized on our vehicle with approximately 48000 miles despite maintenance and timing chain gasket set replacement an approximately $1200 repair.dt
The premature failure of the 3.8l engine head gasket was first noticed by myself during a routine inspection of my fluid levels and engine compartment.what i noticed was what appeared to be a coolant leak around the head gaskets.under more constant supervision my wife and i observed other symptoms which include a more constant drop in the coolant level and a loss of heat when the heating system was operating.these symptoms seemed seriuos so we decided not to drive the vehicle until it has been serviced.through friends and relatives we have discovered that this problem is occuring with many windstar owners so we have decided to further research this matter which is how we have come across your site.please contact us with any updates you may have on this matter.thank you.
Consumer states heater stoped working intermittently.*yd
We bought this van 07/25/00, since then it has had head gasket replacement, and two engines, 0-2 sensors, heater plug, now the pcm, we have only driven our van for @ 6 months, all repairs have been done at dealership, today is 11/24/01. And our van is at the dealership as i submit this. I have copy of all records.thank you,[xxx]parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Door todefroster has broken off.consumer feels this is very unsafe because it stopsdefroster from clearingwindows, visionbecomes impaired. Please provide any further information.
Ford extended warranty on 3.8 l engine for 1995 model due to engine failure caused by defective gasket sets. However, is not doing so for like failure on 1996 model 3.8 l engines.engine seized on our vehicle with approximately 48000 miles despite maintenance and timing chain gasket set replacement an approximately $1200 repair.dt
Engine:head gasket failure @ 62,218 miles.needed to replace both cylinder gasket heads and resurface same.power door: failure of power door lock on passenger side.transmission:was replaced twice under warranty.other:ignition control module needed replacement. Have been advised engine has a sludge condition despite regular oil changes per ford guidelines.
Engine check light and the air bag light would intermittentl/simutaneously come on and cause loss of accelerationwhile traveling at highway speed. Dealer notified. Consumer was informed that vehicle had a transmission leak, the speedometer was acting erractically, parking brake and brakes were inoperative,also the power windows were inoperative.
Auotmatic transmission slips out of gear into a neutral after you come to a stop. You then have to put it in a low gear to get in back in drive. This can be a hazard in traffic. The power steerinng pump makes a loud grinding noise much louder than the normal sound the pump makes, the dealer has said previously that it is normal for the windstar. The passenger side power window has stopped working, unk reason has not been looked at. These problems are occurring in other windstars of the same year .
Problem: power seat wiring short circuit from engine compartment main fuse and relay panel, 60 amp fuse repeatedly blows.problem was first intermittent, then after second fuse change change, short circuit became continuous. Wiring is shorted out between the main fuse panel and the power seat connector.power seat itself has no electrical problem. Model has a nhtsa recall history: 1995: wiring-harness insulation can abrade on a brace between instrument panel and cowl, resulting in short-circuit and possible fire.
I don't know if this is the right place or not. But i paid the ford dealer ship $60.00 to tell me why my power window would only work part of the time, and they said it was my motor which they wanted $353.00 for. So i told themi didn't think it was so i went home and worked on it myself and found out it was only sticking at the top. I went back on the 24th of march to try to get my money back, because to me this is complete fraud on their part. Well, i talked with the service manager (mark kisch) and he was very rude, and refused to return my money.he even laughed when i told him i was going to report him. It is not my problem that he hasbad people working there that don't know what their doing.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
There have been numerous failures of systems in my van. The engine must be replaced, the speedometer is out again.
Power window failed.
The 1996 ford windstar continues to have defective head gaskets as in 1994 and 1995 models. This lead to engine failure at 78,000 miles! the cost to replace the engineper miller ford was 4,778.00. We paid 19,000 for this vehicle and refuse to pay for a new engine! the nasa has stated the head gasket should last at least 120,000 miles or the life of the vehicle. We have had this ford windstar with a blown engine due to head gasket failuresince last december, but continue to make monthly payments on this dead ford windstar. We pay taxes, insurance, and montly payments to ford credit for the next 18 months or so. We just discontinued registration fees as the dmv told us we could do this. Ford refuses to acknowledge this problem and is not standing up to it's committment of quality care to it's customers. I urge anyone who is considering buying a ford to do their research. Ford is a company that does not stand behind it's promises. We will never own another ford although our family has never owned anything but until now. Ford wake up!
Whenever the vehicle is turned off, all the power windows would still move up and down. Will be taking to dealer to have them checked.
Nothing but problems since purchasing 1)door ajar light constantly illuminated-all doors checked none ajar2) engine checklight occasionally comes on-happened right after purchase and catalytic converter replaced obviously didn't fix problem3)occasionally power windows/locks and a/c will go out unless adjustable fan speed turned to high4)recently front passenger door will open at random usually during a turn-luckily no one sits in that seat5)speedometer will occasionally flicker higher while driving at speeds greater than 65mphall of these problems have surfaced in the past 1-1.5 yrs and have continued since then.
Remote rear vent windows failed.
Problem with water seeping in and soaking the driver and front passenger floor padding and carpet.
Consumer was traveling on the highway andpassenger's door came open without touching electrical windows. Dealership was aware ofproblem.also, coil spring failedduring installation.vehicle had six inch suspension. Dealershipwas aware of problems.
Rear window exploded inward.hit consumer in face next to left eye. Also baby was rear facing in vehicle when incident occured. , baby didnot sustain any injuries. Manufacturer / dealer notified, and informed consumer that they are willing to pay 90% ofreplacment cost.
All windows can'tbe put down sinceall four motors are not working. Dealer will replace at $365.00 each motors.
Rear vent window fell out onto the street. Please provide any further information.ph
In the past two weeks the transmission has slipped twice.when at a complete stop and accelerating the vehicle has to be put into park and then back into drive.this is very dangerous. There is only 56000 on vehicle.battery light continually comes on this can be very nerve wracking when in heavy traffic. .speedometer fluctuates and flops around after 40mph, sometime sticks at 50mph.rear wipers work when they want.we have just returned from serving 8 years overseas, this is our only vehicle and from the research we have just been able to start this windstar is headaches with the same problems.i would like to be able to take my family to see relatives they have not seen in over 8 years but this vehicle is unsafe.
In the past two weeks the transmission has slipped twice.when at a complete stop and accelerating the vehicle has to be put into park and then back into drive.this is very dangerous. There is only 56000 on vehicle.battery light continually comes on this can be very nerve wracking when in heavy traffic. .speedometer fluctuates and flops around after 40mph, sometime sticks at 50mph.rear wipers work when they want.we have just returned from serving 8 years overseas, this is our only vehicle and from the research we have just been able to start this windstar is headaches with the same problems.i would like to be able to take my family to see relatives they have not seen in over 8 years but this vehicle is unsafe.
Have had the minivan in several times for symptoms of the head gasket failure only to find problem after warranty expired. Transmission has always "clunked" when shifting into drive or reverse, this is a daily problem the dealership cannot "find". Windshield cracked overnight in november. We don't think the windshield should have been so fragile.
After driving for 2 minutes the temperature gauge went to hot.consumer took vehicle to dealer, and they replacedhead gasket. Engine overheats due to head gaskets and timing cover gasket failure . Consumer stated that windshield was cracked after repair.
Dt: windshield on passenger's side was hit by a turkey and the turkey came in the cab of van. Caller was injured. Windshield shattered and glass went everywhere. The turkey came in through a big hole. Callerwanted to know if windshield was made of safety glass. Insurance company took the van, and caller hadnot yet heard from insurance company. Callerhas not talked to dealer or manufacturer.*sb
Windshield failed resulting in crack.
Front windshield failed.
When turning on the windshield wipers the wipers don't work,upon turning on the washers they work.
The right front door rattles when the window is down due to window guide failure. Windshield wiper blades failed.
The speedometer starts moving erratically once speeds of 25 mph are reached.also, sometimes, the windshield wipers will only work on high speed.i have contacted the dealer, and am told it will be $500.00 for the speedometer.i feel this, as well as the problems with the wipers is a serious safety issue.i've read several complaints on this site about problems with speedometers on 1996 windstars, and i think ford should be responsible for repairs, not me.
Windshield wipersdo not work when there is a little snow or rain. Visibility is very poo/blades ice up and become coated with snow and will not functrion properly.windshield wiper and defrosterdon't seem to work.
Owner states that his rear wiper does not clear window effectively and that washer pump does not operate,he also notes that he has a hard time of seeing out rear window.
Windshield wiper pivot arm nut became loose while in use.wiper fell to left off of windshield.
The left outer tie rod was replace.the fuel injector, timing cover gaskets and wiper blades were replaced.the rear brake light was replaced . The switch headlight control was replaced. The drivers door ajar switch was replaced.updated
Eletrical system shorted out. Windshield wipers worked only when washers were being used,dome light stayed on when door was closed and won't go off.
While driving, consumer heard a noise coming from the front passenger side wheel, the front passenger side wheel then came off, claim 46-0491-262.
I saw that it happened with other owners so it must be a manufacturer's fault. No safety defect mentioned in summary.
Right front wheel came loose upon failure of pin connecting control arm to ball joint.loss of steering and control of vehicle resulted.
Abs light continues to go on / the right wheel is making a humming noise.
While driving inner tie rod broke, causing the front passenger's side wheel to fall off, resulting in driver's side air bag deploying.consumer was knocked unconscious.please provide details.
My aluminum wheels have corroded at the tire bead seat severely. This produces tire pressure loss constantly. The wheels are not corroded at the face but at the area where the tire seals. My local tire store in michigan says they see this same issue regularly. I am a ford engineer and have complained about this defect to the wheel engineers and they say there is no such problem. The tire store also added that aluminum wheels combined with michelin tires are the worst. Two of my wheels have this problem now with the original tires. This is a safety problem as they keep loosing air. I have to add air once a week.pls call me- i can show them to you. I dismounted the rears and the corrosion is severe. I take care of my cars-there is no excuse for this level of corrosion. Thanks.(tiresize: 215x70x15)
While driving, the entire wheel/tire fell off of the vehicle, it is unknown if it was the tire or wheel that failed, one person was injured, claim 13-7497-974.
The problem is the weld on the wheel.the first one broke apart at the weld.the second one developed a pinhole at the weld. The third one also developed a pinhole at the weld. All were original ford wheels. In all my years of driving i have never had one wheel break at the weld until i bought this van. Now i have had three in approximately 2 years. These vans are designed for carrying children so to me this is a safety issue. Ford however refuses to look into it because they have not had enough complaints theyalso refuse to reimburse me for the replacement wheels.thank you for your time ,i hope you will look in to this.
Had changed brake pads a week earlier. Driving 55mph and the car crashed down on it's axle as the tire and wheel passed by us going down highway, in 37 north. Studs had all broken off. The disc brake is ruined from skidding on it. Traffic was moderately heavy. We skidded to a stop on a bridge and feel lucky not to have crashed into anyone.
Driving west bound on i-94 just part menomonie, wi, the left rear wheel fell off around 7:30 pm on 1/2/99.about 40 miles before that, the abs light came on.the brake pedal would go to the floor, but you did have minimal braking power by pumping the brakes up.the tow truck operator and my brother (who came to pick us up), thought it was a froozen wheel bearing.the patrol officer who took the rest of the family to the perkins while i waited for the tow truck found the wheel with the drum attached to it (all lug nuts were tight).within the first couple of months of ownership of the car, the right rear wheel bearing had frooze and locked the car up.we have also had to add about 4 ounces of brake fluid each year to the system due to the brake light coming on.we have also complained that when going down a hill and braking hard that the steering wheel would shimmy pretty bad.some other backgound on the wheel falling off is that we left gulf shores, alabama at 2:00 pm on 1/1/99.we drove i-65 up to i-90 in indiana.and then took i-94 heading for st. Paul, minnesota.due to the bad weather those days (1/1/99 and 1/2/99), we had to drive through rain, freezing, rain, snow, and high winds.as stated, the wheel fell off around 7:30 pm on 1/2/99 about 3 miles past (west of) menomonie, wi.i had to wait until about 8:50 pm for the tow truck due to other cars being in the ditch.they couldn't tow it to stillwater, minnesota (where i leave, about 50 miles away) since they were busy that night.northtown ford called on 1/8/99 and stated that it would cost around $1,800 to $2,000 to fix.i've asked for the cause(s) of this failures, but they have been unable to tell me.please contact me if more information is needed and let me know what my next steps should be.thanks.
While making a right hand turn,front left wheel came off, vehicle dropped to the left side causing body damage and possible left front suspension damage, claim 45-8019-328.*jg
While driving 65 mph withcruise control onvehicle sped up. While getting ready to exit off the highwayvehicle stayed undercruise control module. As consumer attempted to slow down, vehicle was moving 65 mph without any control fromconsumer.in order to make vehicle stopconsumer had to press brake pedal with both feet, andshiftvehicle into neutral.eventually,vehicle was able to slow down, and consumer turnedvehicle off, dealer replaced 2 lock tabs because one had slipped on the cruise causing it to stay on.trip speedometer was replaced, it would not go past 799 miles.at 30 mph and over, the over drive light will flash.left front wheel cover was replaced due to it making ticking noises at lower speeds.sliding door squeaked, dealer lubed the sliding door.front rotors replaced and rear drums turned, a clicking noise was heard.
The front right wheel sheared off the lugs and caused the wheel to just about fall off while we were driving the car.the dealer replced the lugs (only the broken ones and not all of them).just over one year later, the exact same thing happened; that is, the right front wheel sheered off the lugs and caused the wheel to almost fall off.a few months prior to the second incident, all 4 tires were changed by an independent tire place.that tire place swears up and down that they properly torqued the bolts and that their standard inspection calls for a second inspection to confirm this.i tend to believe that they did this.i think there is a known defect in the wheel design by which the lug nuts are known to back off during use, causing the wobbly wheel to shear off the other lugs.i have seen this condition reported by others on this site.
While driving the lug nuts on the vehicle broke causing the right front wheel to fall off of the vehicle, loss of control resulted in the vehicle striking the guardrail.(ohio traffic crash report) *mjs
Front wheel lug nut broke off causing extreme vibration.
Front passenger's wheel lugs: nuts kept getting cut off which may have causedwheel to fall off. Lugs: nuts been replaced 3 times.
Consumer was pulling away from a stop sign at approximately 10 mph when suddenly the passenger's side front wheel came off due to lugs:nuts:bolts coming off.no accident & no injury. Dealer notified and refused to repair without cost to the consumer.
Consumer stated the lug nuts on the front passenger side wheel were sheared off.consumer stated while driving on the highway at about 50 mph, the vehicle started to shimmy violently almost out of control.*ph
Lugs: nuts have repeatedly broken off whileconsumer has drivenvehicle. Contacted dealer, and the dealer has already replaced lugs: bolts four times, but they will continue to break.
Right front wheel bolts broke off while driving. Had them replaced 3 times problem still reoccurred.
We were driving at approx. 45 mph when the front passenger wheel came off and rolled into on coming traffic.my the front passenger sidewas smashed as the vehicle skidded to a stop.fortunately no one was injured.the repair technician said that it appeared the bolts had somehow sheared off.we had not had any recent repairs to the wheels and had not changed tires since november 1999.my husband and 2 young children were in the car when the accident occurred.the police drove by and when they saw that no one was injured did not stop to take a report.the accident was reported to our insurance company and we were required to pay our $500.00 deductible.we contacted ford motor, however, they denied any similar complaints.this accident occured inmarch.
While driving 10 mph the front right tire fell off the vehicle.*nlm
Consumer was traveling on highway doing about 65mph.vehicle started to shimmer.consumer pulled over to inspectvehicle to see if the tires had any flats. All tires were fine. When consumer got back in to take off,vehicle wouldn't move, it just rocked back & forth.right front tire came off.consumerfound out thatlugs: nuts sheared in half.half of all five were on the road & the others were on the wheel axle.dealer said they might have been tightened too much.a tork wrench was used to prevent overor under tightening.
1996, windstarexperienced numerous broken wheel studs on the left front and right front wheels.two studs broke on right front wheel onfebruary 15, 2004.
Insured claims the lug nuts sheared off on the right front wheel for no apparent reason, claim 17-9168-422.*jg
Studs on rt. Front wheel sheared off while making a left hand turn at low speed, separating wheel from vehicle.
Insured states that all five lug bolts broke off in the area where the back of the wheel and the brake rotor meets, claim 17-9180-936.*jg
Insured called in noticing frequency of losses to other vehicles, while in motion, the front wheel starts to wobble, studs sheer and come off the vehicle, claim 55-s367-002.*jg
While driving 20 mph lugs: nuts sheared off, causing tire to disconnect, vehicle fell to the ground, could result in an accident.
While driving vehicle the tire was flat, took tire for repair and consumerwas told that the tire was flat because the wheel rim had split near one of the welds,unwelded and cameapart.
Both of the front rims developed cracks.this was discovered in an inspection to find a clicking noise coming from tire area. Ford was contacted(local dealer and national customer services)they do not seem concerned and were unwilling to replace the rims.i feel that 2 (two) rims cracking on one vechicle without any apparent cause may be a sign of faulty rims and a potential hazard to all owners of like rims.
Both of the front rims developed cracks.this was discovered in an inspection to find a clicking noise coming from tire area. Ford was contacted(local dealer and national customer services)they do not seem concerned and were unwilling to replace the rims.i feel that 2 (two) rims cracking on one vechicle without any apparent cause may be a sign of faulty rims and a potential hazard to all owners of like rims.
The rims inside of the wheel had a hole that developed cracksinside of the wheel which caused it to deteriorate.
While traveling on the highway the rim of the tire iscutting inside bead of the tire causing a blow out.the dealership is aware of the problem.
Problems with tires on 1996 ford windstar.*mrthe consumer purchased a set of new tires for his vehicle.after 50,000 milesthe consumer had a flat tire shortly which resulted from rim separation (a separation between the outer rim that holds the tire and the inner part that has the lug holes).the consumer purchased another rim and experienced the same problem two months later.tc
Four rims at a time will leak air withoutprior warning.also, tires will go flat, even onhighway.
Consumer stated that all four rimshad cracks in them. Consumer took vehicle to the dealer,where it was determined that the rims were defective.
1. Auto transmission front seal premature failure causing leaks. 2. 5.5 x 15 steel rim cracked due to material defects, causing dangerous steeling responses. Both defects have been reported to ford san francisoc region, but ford deny responsibility.
Wheel rim leaked air.yh
In 1999 when turning to the right, we experienced a grinding noise.my husband removed the hubcap and found the steel rim of the wheel to be cracked badly.we contacted the manufacturer and the dealer who both said it was a serious problem, but that the other should pay to have it fixed.because i put my 3 small children in the car, i paid to have it fixed.two years later, we have found two more wheels have cracked.this time, we contacted the dealer and the manufacturer agreed to help pay for the repair.the speedometer was the first "problem" we came across with this car.at speeds of over 40mph the needle would go sporactically back and forth between about 35 and 110mph.we were told it would be $400 to replace so, we have not yet had it fixed.since the first few months of its occurance, it only moves back and forth 5mph up or down of our speed.please recall the speedometer problem.we have been reading on the internet and it seems many, many other people are having the same problem with the same make of car.thank you.
The driver side rim cracked.
The original wheels on my 1996 windstar have developed air leaks at the welds. The first time this happened, i went to a salvage yard for a replacement, and they said windstar wheels are scarce because this seems to be a common problem. I have replaced all four wheels within the past two years. I believe the oem wheels are defective. (in 34 years of driving, i've never had this problem with even one wheel on any car. 4 out of 4 wheels with the same problem on this van tells me something is wrong with the product.) our driving is on good roads, so it cannot be attributed to rough use. The only consequence so far is that tire pressure is slowly lost, leading to low pressure. Our only expense so far is that we have had to replace all the wheels, one at a time. This problem causes inconvenience and expense at the very least, and could result in wheel failure, injury and death if not addressed.
2 rims failed causing slow leak.
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