We found the following complaints for FORD WINDSTAR (1997)
Read complaints for FORD WINDSTAR (1997)
Vehicle was rear ended by a tractor trailer 3 times and knocked the vehicle into a concrete divider. Neither driver's side nor passenger's side airbags deployed. Vehiclewas totaled.
While coming to a stopvehicle behind consumer ran intoconsumer's vehicle, and air bags did not deploy. Please provide more information.
While driving and without warning,driver'sside and passenger's side airbags went off, causing vehicle to run off the road. Dealer has not seen vehicle.
My windstar gl wouldn't start. I replaced the range selector switch. When i restarted the vehicle i forgot the reconnect the brake pressure sensor wiring connector and the abs light came on. I tried to get the code cleared but no-one could access the code. I took the van to the dealer for a recall notice on the speed control system and had them look into why the abs light was on. I was told the abs module had quit and needed replaced. The module is $1500.00 and $300.00 to install. That's more than the van is worth. I searched online and found out many other windstar owners are having the same problems. The cruise control system has also quit and the dealer rep. Tells me that the cruise control also goes through this module. With the possibility of fire it seems rather irresponsible for ford to do nothing more than install a fusible link as a safety measure. I am looking into buying a used module to repair the cruise and abs.the failure is total. Neither the cruise control or the abs system works at this time.
While driving the driver saw smoke coming from under the hood and pulled over.the driver went for help and came back to find the vehicle in flames.the fire department determined that the fire was caused by an electrical problem.please provide further details.
Behind in payments.ford motor credit issued write of summons on 7/3/03, trial scheduled for 9/22/03.on 7/29/03, while at work, vehicle caught on fire, damaging 2 other vehicles parked on either side of me.fire marshall investigated the incident and found to be an electrical problem.insurance investigated and vehicle was total loss.insurance paid ford motor credit $5,689.25 (claim [xxx]).ford motor credit obtained judgment and wages are currently being garnished on a vehicle that was claimed a total loss due to an electrical problem. Updated 07/18/2012 information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)
I turned the air conditioning on in the van and after about 10 minutes, turned it to the 'max ac' position.the hood started steaming so i turned the air completely off.after less than a minute, i noticed the hood was smoking so i pulled to the side of the road immediately.i turned the car off and exited the van and saw that the passenger side of the hood was on fire.i ran to the passenger side and opened the sliding door, and got my 18 month old and 4 yearold out of the vehicle.after we were all a safe distance away i saw that most of the hood of the van was in flames.by the time the fire department arrived about 5 minutes later, the entire hood was on fire with a lot of black smoke.the entire engine compartment looks charred and partially melted.the vehicle is beyond repair.i'm thankful my children are safe but i am very concerned about the safety (failure) of this vehicle.
Alternator failed causing the electrical system to completely stop without warning.
While driving the vehicle stalls unexpectedly due to a engine computer failure and sensors and steering problem.dealer cannot determine problem.
While driving, the consumer turned the ignition off.upon starting thevehicle again, the starter made a funny noise.also, the thermostat was extremely high.the consumer had taken the vehicle to the dealer, and the problem was not resolved.the consumer stated that the radiator was opened and the anti-freeze was low-refilled.the mechanic thought it was the water pump.the head gasket was leaking.*scc
While drivingtemperature gauge will point to hot, causing tvehicle to overheat. Consumer will have to pull over. Dealer notified.
While driving, the consumer turned the ignition off.upon starting thevehicle again, the starter made a funny noise.also, the thermostat was extremely high.the consumer had taken the vehicle to the dealer, and the problem was not resolved.the consumer stated that the radiator was opened and the anti-freeze was low-refilled.the mechanic thought it was the water pump.the head gasket was leaking.*scc
At 150,000km (94,000 miles) was in for front spring recall and dealer recommended engine front gasket replacement.immediately had this repair done ($900 cdn).shortly after my mechanic stated that he could hear a slight knocking and predicted the engine bearing would go within the year. I started campaining with ford based on the history of gasket failure (coolant leaks past gasket into oil causing bearing failure). Ford customer care said they need a dealer to diagnose the problem so had a dealer check it out with no problem found. At close to 170,000km (106,000 miles) the knocking became louder and the oil light began to flicker.again contacted ford who asked for dealer diagnosis which i did and confirmed need engine replacement.ford customer care said there were no programs for my vehicle therefore no coverage but would consider partial payment as good will gesture if repaired at a ford dealer.continued to email ford but they stopped responding to my concern.had the engine replaced at my mechanic.
The engine over heated.
Head gasket leaked, timing cover cracked. $3,000.00 + repair bill.
97 windstar has head gasket failure im still paying on it purchades at avis ford of southfield 12 mile telegrap mi cannot afford fixin iti believe is a manufacure failure and need to be fix do not have any safer transportation available at this time please helus
I turned the air conditioning on in the van and after about 10 minutes, turned it to the 'max ac' position.the hood started steaming so i turned the air completely off.after less than a minute, i noticed the hood was smoking so i pulled to the side of the road immediately.i turned the car off and exited the van and saw that the passenger side of the hood was on fire.i ran to the passenger side and opened the sliding door, and got my 18 month old and 4 yearold out of the vehicle.after we were all a safe distance away i saw that most of the hood of the van was in flames.by the time the fire department arrived about 5 minutes later, the entire hood was on fire with a lot of black smoke.the entire engine compartment looks charred and partially melted.the vehicle is beyond repair.i'm thankful my children are safe but i am very concerned about the safety (failure) of this vehicle.
I bought this 1997 ford windstar in march of 2003. The very next day i returned to the independent car dealer due to the check engine light was on. They said nothing was wrong and they reset the light. Within a week it was on again and this time they said it was a fluxation in the electrical current and it was making the light come on. They reset it. About 2 weeks later it is losing coolant somewhere and running rough, they check it and now it needs 2 out of 4 oxygen sensors replaced im told. They pay for it if they truly fixed it because about 2-3 weeks later i am havint the same problems so they replace the other 2 oxygen sensors, but cannot explain the coolant loss. Ever since i have had nothing but problems so i decided to go to the local ford dealer even though i try to avoid dealers because of prices and they charge me $58 to tell me i need a head gasket, my abs system is not working, timing cover is leaking, ball bearing is shot and my antifreeze looks like mud. This is all wrote on a service estimate i asked them for. It would cost about $1700 + tax for them to fix. I have read that ford knew they had a problem with the 95 windstars and the head gaskets and offered an extended warranty or money towards a new car so i feel they know all windstars with this 3.8l engine are faulty not just the 95's. I called ford and they told me tough luck basically. I have read on the internet numerous complaints about the head gaskets in all 3.8l windstars and i want my van fixed.
At a routine nys inspection, the ford dealer advised that the head gaskets needed to be replaced. The car is 6 years old with 36k miles. Called ford for assistance, and got profuse apologizes, and no help with a $1600.00 repair. The car is exhibiting no symptoms of any problems, and i do not have the money for the repair. For such low mileage, i think that fmc should make some attempt to assist with this complaint. They are certainly aware of the problem with the 95 & 96 windstars!!
I own a 1997 ford windstar minivan (vin# [xxx]) that contains a 3.8 v6. At 82,000 miles, the head gasket has blown. The dealer tells me that it will cost between $2000 and $4000 to repair. After doing extensive research on the web, it appears that the 1995 and 1996 models also had head gasket problems due to an admitted design flaw. Ford claims to have corrected the problem-but there are increasing numbers of owners of 1997 models that are experiencing the same problem. Repeated visits to the dealership-as well as numerous calls to ford-have resulted in dead ends. I get responses such as: the warranty has expired, there are no recalls on your vehicle at this time, etc. But since this is clearly due to a design flaw in the engine, then shouldn't this still be covered and corrected? ford offered a brief program to repair the earlier models-so why hasn't this been offered on the later years? ford claims that they have fixed the problem-which they clearly have not-yet they expect people to simply pay for the repairs. I believe that ford needs to be held accountable for this, and that they should offer to perform the work at either a discounted rate, or for free since this is due to their engine design. Even the manual claims the head gasket is expected to last for at least 120,000 miles, and i was told that this was the case with this vehicle. Had i known of the problems other owners were having, i would have reconsidered my decision to purchase this van. To that end, i feel that i was misled somewhat. It is my hope to have ford admit to the problem and offer to repair my vehicle at no charge. Given the circumstances-and the amount of evidence supporting the claim of negligence on the behalf of ford-this should not be an unreasonable request.information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
While drivingtemperature gauge will point to hot, causing tvehicle to overheat. Consumer will have to pull over. Dealer notified.
Gaskets have completely failed.
We believe the sheer number of defect on this car is unbelievable. We purchased it used from my parents. Total cost of non "wear and tear" repairs is around $5000. This is over 25% of the vehicles original value, and over 50% of the value at time of purchase. While no accidents have occurred, we believe ford should take responsibility for a bad product.
Failed head gasket led to a piston rod shooting through the oil pan. Very dangerous for the cars behind me as oil was shooting over the highway. Slippery for cars following, and went on other cars paint and windshields. Head gaskets were recalled in previous 3 years of vehicles 1993-96 ford windstars, 1997 was not on a recall even though the problem was never correctly fixed. Highly dangerous and highly irresponsible of the automaker to not include additional cars in the recall effort.
Van lost power and stalled.took to service center and was found to have main bearing spun and cracked block.sincewarranty was over on mileage, neither the dealer nor ford motor company will warranty or even look at it.was told it was "lack of maintenance" that caused problem.
This car had a blown head gasket after only 80000 miles. It is a 3.8 l engine that has a history of failures. How long can ford continue selling this junk? it seems to be going on forever.
Due to a faulty head gasket, anti freeze leaked into the oil and ruined the engine.*ph the dealer refused to replace the vehicles faulty gaskets free of charge because the vehicle's warranty had expired.the consumer indicated thata recall was issued on the vehicle but the dealer still refused to repair the vehicle.*sc
Abs braking light system appears ondashboard. Also there is coolant mixed in with oil inside of engine. Dealership is aware of theproblems.
Have a 97 ford windstar all of a sudden i had a tire blow completely here to find out that the coil spring on drivers front broke and went into tire, then to find out there was a recall 2 years ago on it but was never notified of it and also a few weeks ago, van all of a sudden kept getting real hot with rolling white smoke just to find out that there was problems with the head gaskets on these windstars but yet still was never notified, this is not right, i feel we were cheated, now have a van that sits and still owe $10,000 on because i'm a family man of six and cannot afford the cost of these major repairs, i'm afraid of what might of happened if this would of blew with all my family in it on a highway, is this how the ford company treats their consumers by lying and decieving them.
Mechanic states that vehicle has a history of head gasket failures in prevoius years.
Dt: the contact stateshas been having several problems withvehicle since 2002. On april 28, 2004 the speedometer was not providing an accurate speed reading.on december 9, 2004 the sliding door would not unlock or slide properly.the dealer replaced the door lock actuator and determined that the slide wheels were dry.the dealership replaced the door latch, and now it needed replacement again. On february 5, 2005 the engine was replaced at 75, 172 miles, andon november 21, 2005 the power steering failed and was replaced. All repairs have been done atcontact'sexpense.
Coolant low engine ran warm, no leaks found.february 2003, engine was filled with coolant because of leak.starter blew and engine locked up. Ph
The head gasket leaked.
I bought my 1997 windstar used 6 months ago with 87,000 on it, i have driven only 3,000 miles and my engine blew with no warning. This was the most expensive used car i had ever owned and we did everything we could before we bought it..we checked the vin report on carfax...we had the vehicle checked out by our own mechanic. I thought i had found a great (dream for me)vehicle. Ben satcher ford in sc said there was no recall on this car only the 95 model and that problem had been since fixed. So i'm stuck with paying $3000 for a new engine while i still owe $6000 on my vehicle. This vehicle is the only way i can transport my 3 children around together, our other vehicle is a pick-up with only front seats...so were stranded.
Head gasket blew out at 68000 miles.
Blown head gasketon 3.8 engine on 1997 ford windstar, with only 77,000 miles. Ford with not offer any help.after owning a ford for past 28 years, this is the last ford product that my family will ever own.ever! ts
Consumer states engine light illuminated. Took to dealer and they stated that it was a blown head gasket.please provide any further information.
Engine timing belt and cylinder head leaked.
Consumer states head gasket blew, consistent with historical problem on this engine, dealer initially paid one half of repair due to history.*yd
We have a blown head gasket at 115,000 miles even though we had the van to the dealership several times when it was under warranty with concerns that the head gaskets were blown.they blew us off like we were idiots!!we had to have the door windows repaired because they were installed incorrectly, the latch assembly on the hatch broke we took it in and had repaired then approximately1year laterit broke again!of course that time it was not covered because we were under the extended warranty and they refused to replace the latch, instead they wanted me to pay $250 to replace a piece of plastic that could not be purchased seperately!the rear windshield wiper quit working.we also have to periodically scrape and clean the sensor for the sliding door otherwise it will not stop dinging.the driver side mirror cracked the first winter, it was replaced and the replacement cracked the next winter.right now this van is not running and we had to have the head pressure checked and resurfaced, will have to replace the head gaskets, etc... If we are lucky we will have a van that runs if not we will have to replace the engine which will be around $4500 or more.we have already spent several hundred. I feel ford should be paying for these services especially since we took this van to the dealer several times and were told there was nothing wrong except we needed to replace our o2 sensors!! ford is junk!!!
I own a 1997 ford windstar minivan (vin# [xxx]) that contains a 3.8 v6. At 82,000 miles, the head gasket has blown. The dealer tells me that it will cost between $2000 and $4000 to repair. After doing extensive research on the web, it appears that the 1995 and 1996 models also had head gasket problems due to an admitted design flaw. Ford claims to have corrected the problem-but there are increasing numbers of owners of 1997 models that are experiencing the same problem. Repeated visits to the dealership-as well as numerous calls to ford-have resulted in dead ends. I get responses such as: "the warranty has expired", "there are no recalls on your vehicle at this time", etc. But since this is clearly due to a design flaw in the engine, then shouldn't this still be covered and corrected? ford offered a brief program to repair the earlier models-so why hasn't this been offered on the later years? ford claims that they have fixed the problem-which they clearly have not-yet they expect people to simply pay for the repairs. I believe that ford needs to be held accountable for this, and that they should offer to perform the work at either a discounted rate, or for free since this is due to their engine design. Even the manual claims the head gasket "is expected to last for at least 120,000 miles", and i was told that this was the case with this vehicle. Had i known of the problems other owners were having, i would have reconsidered my decision to purchase this van. To that end, i feel that i was misled somewhat. It is my hope to have ford admit to the problem and offer to repair my vehicle at no charge. Given the circumstances-and the amount of evidence supporting the claim of negligence on the behalf of ford-this should not be an unreasonable request.*lainformation redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Had a blown head gasket at 27,888 miles, and also after that they had to replace the entire engine. I also found a beer can smashed between my spare tire and the frame of my van. This is that way it came from the factory. What kind of quality is this. Are people drinking alchohol while working on assembling my van. Now i stuck with this sorry ford product. They need to buy my van back and replace with a new one.
At 67,000 miles the head gasket has blown, causing the vehicle to become inoperable. Cause unknown. Please give any further details.
Vehicle was leaking coolant while driving, vehicle taken to a repair shop and they informed that vehicle was going into the frist stage of a blown head gasket. Dealer and manufacturer were not notified at this time. Feel free to provide any further information.
While driving, the consumer turned the ignition off.upon starting thevehicle again, the starter made a funny noise.also, the thermostat was extremely high.the consumer had taken the vehicle to the dealer, and the problem was not resolved.the consumer stated that the radiator was opened and the anti-freeze was low-refilled.the mechanic thought it was the water pump.the head gasket was leaking.*scc
Purchased vehicle used from dealer who stated vehicle purchased new there. Due to lg number of same type of engine defects in this vehicle would like to know if this vehicle was included in recall in 1998 and never repaired.or if dealer previously repaired vehicle and resold it. I have read several other listings on this website and the problems we are experiencing with this vehicle are identical to those listed. If this is a poorly made component amends should be made. Estimated repair costs to my vehicle at this time stand at $2300.00. This is an extrordinary amount of money to pay for a manufacturer defect. We were told the head gaskets needed to be replace and possible the head was cracked. We are getting a check engine light and white smoke from the tailpipe as well as antifreeze odor and evaporation the engine is running hot and we have had no prior problem with overheating i am at my wits end about what to do with so many people seemingly affected by this 3.8l engine problem why is ford not stepping up???z
The check engine light illuminates intermittently, possible engine failure.nlm
Next cars usa in bakersfield california sold us a ford windstar which was defective (a lemon).within two week after our purchase the vehicle cut off jeopardizing the safety of my children each time we pressed the accelerator pedal. We have taken the vehicle to next carsfor repairs and to date we are now moving into our third month without transportation.when we inquired about a loan vehicle juan casillas (manager) response was that "we don't do that." we have filed a complaint with the better business bureau and when next cars received the complaint on march 8, 2006 juan casillas told us that "we just stopped working on the car because you pissed us off." we are at our wits end and so we are submitting this complaint for an investigation.
While driving, the consumer turned the ignition off.upon starting thevehicle again, the starter made a funny noise.also, the thermostat was extremely high.the consumer had taken the vehicle to the dealer, and the problem was not resolved.the consumer stated that the radiator was opened and the anti-freeze was low-refilled.the mechanic thought it was the water pump.the head gasket was leaking.*scc
The contact owns a 1997 ford windstar.the contact stated that the front end of the vehicle was abnormally low.upon further inspection, he noticed that the front coil springs fractured due to excessive rust.the failure caused the tires to deflate.the dealer stated that the vin was excluded from nhtsa campaign id number 01v199000 (suspension:front:springs:coil springs); therefore, they would not assume responsibility for any repairs.the vehicle has not been repaired according to the recall.the failure mileage was 70,000 and current mileage was 90,000. Updated 6/4/09 the exhaust system was replaced and brake lines snapping. Updated 06/09/09.
Crankcase cracked. Yh
Mildew smell coming from air conditioner.
Fuel odor entered into vehicle.the fuel vapors enter into the passenger cabin frequently.dealer says there are a lot of complaints concerning the fuel vapor odor and that it is only a problem in that locality because of the high altitude.consumer only experiences this odor problem in the summer.the solution given by the dealer is to run the air conditioner at maximum.*jg
Engine check light,abs and trac off lights started flashing at 78,000 miles.car has failed 4 times.repeated trips to service center, tune-up twice, new battery, new fuel pump.approx. $1500 paid so far, car continues to fail while driving.ford motor co.
Dt*: the contact stated the fuel tank cracked resulting in fuel leakage.the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the fuel tank was replaced.the contact is the original owner and explained the vehicle has never been in an accident.
While driving 50 mph, van hit a pot hole, which caused the fuel tank to crack, fuel tank will have to be replaced.cj
Brought van in first time and got charged $132.00 for them to tell me nothing is wrong,problem keeps happening when driving . Ford want me to return it when it happens and cannot do this. Iterior lights stay on. I have an extended warranty on the vehicle. I don't want to get strianded with my 3 children.
Dt: the contact stateshas been having several problems withvehicle since 2002. On april 28, 2004 the speedometer was not providing an accurate speed reading.on december 9, 2004 the sliding door would not unlock or slide properly.the dealer replaced the door lock actuator and determined that the slide wheels were dry.the dealership replaced the door latch, and now it needed replacement again. On february 5, 2005 the engine was replaced at 75, 172 miles, andon november 21, 2005 the power steering failed and was replaced. All repairs have been done atcontact'sexpense.
We have a blown head gasket at 115,000 miles even though we had the van to the dealership several times when it was under warranty with concerns that the head gaskets were blown.they blew us off like we were idiots!!we had to have the door windows repaired because they were installed incorrectly, the latch assembly on the hatch broke we took it in and had repaired then approximately1year laterit broke again!of course that time it was not covered because we were under the extended warranty and they refused to replace the latch, instead they wanted me to pay $250 to replace a piece of plastic that could not be purchased seperately!the rear windshield wiper quit working.we also have to periodically scrape and clean the sensor for the sliding door otherwise it will not stop dinging.the driver side mirror cracked the first winter, it was replaced and the replacement cracked the next winter.right now this van is not running and we had to have the head pressure checked and resurfaced, will have to replace the head gaskets, etc... If we are lucky we will have a van that runs if not we will have to replace the engine which will be around $4500 or more.we have already spent several hundred. I feel ford should be paying for these services especially since we took this van to the dealer several times and were told there was nothing wrong except we needed to replace our o2 sensors!! ford is junk!!!
While driving down the road the rivets that hold the hood failed causing the hood to fly off and over the vehicle.nlm
Ford service bulletin 980318985a28 parking brake won't release
Emergency parkingbrake will not engagewhich causesvehicle to move forward when parked on an incline.please give any further details.
I am concerned about the warning lights on the dashboard. When driving this vehicle the abs brake light along with the emergency brake stay lit while driving and when the vehicle is being used. It also seems that the door ajar buzzer tends to keep sounding while driving. This is a hindrance while driving.
We believe the sheer number of defect on this car is unbelievable. We purchased it used from my parents. Total cost of non "wear and tear" repairs is around $5000. This is over 25% of the vehicles original value, and over 50% of the value at time of purchase. While no accidents have occurred, we believe ford should take responsibility for a bad product.
Brake pads twice and the brake rotors once needed to be replaced.abs light and parking brake light in the dash began to flash on and off. Currently,they are staying on invehicle.please provide any additional information/attachment.
Consumer states the speedometer is inoperative.
Speedometer assembly failed. Mjs
Speedometer broke, andconsumercould not tell how fastvehicle was traveling.it has been doing this for a while.
While driving speedometer suddenly started to read the wrong speed. Consumer stated it bounced all over the place. At times consumer did not know exactly what speed she was traveling. Consumer states that the problem was solved but she was overcharged.
Speedometer started twitching very little at about 34,000 miles.thought nothing of it because it was so small.after warranty was over it would swing wildly from 50 to 110 mph.also makes a grumbling sound.unable to determine speed .dealer is replacing speedometer for @$600.00 at this time.edmunds and other car sites have lots of complaints just like mine.dealer said they know just how to troubleshoot this problem...must be lots of experience.if this is how they build these and charge me a ton to fix the defective equipment, i will be lloking for a honda or toyota next.seems like a safety issue when you do not know how fast you are going...been using the tach for a long time myself.
Speedometer bounces and buzzes in dash est. Repair cost $350.
Repair part cost in excess of $450 (with labor).loss of speedometer deemed safety related issue as speed could not be accurately determined.
I noticed that my speedometer was behaving erratically at about 41000 miles.i contacted the dealer who said that it would have to be replaced at a cost of $250 if i wanted it fixed.i said that i didn't believe the speedometer should fail at that low mileage.the manufacturer contacted me about this and said there was nothing they could do (financially)to help with the replacement.at about 50000 miles i was informed that the right tie rod end was worn and advised it should be replaced.again, i protested because of the low mileage.i finally had the replacement done for safety reasons at my expense. I was also told that the right wheel bearing was out of tolerance at a mileage of approx. 40000 miles.none of these defects were mentioned at the pre-36000 mile servicing i had done of the vehicle.i am very dissatisfied with the durability of the vehicle, and will probabably not purchase another ford vehicle again.ford has not been helpful in helping with the repair costs on the vehicle at this relatively low mileage.
Speedometer bounces and or registers incorrect speed, dealer says speedometer head is defective, estimates repairs at $350. After researching nhtsa, i find others with the same problem. A vehicle this new should not experiance a problem like this. Please help. Thank you.
The part is the speedometer which has replacement part f682.17255.cb supplied by the firm electra-sound, inc., west palma, ohio.estimated costs for replacement of this part is $54.00 diagnostic; $166.66 for the replacement speedometer; $65.00 for labor.problem: the original speedometer began being "jittery" at 20,000 miles.at 40,000 miles, the speedometer fluctuates wildly at speeds of 40 mph and more.so, if you are traveling on the highway at 60 mph, for example, the speedometer will show speeds anywhere from 40 to 110 mph.you do not know what speed you are traveling!!!mechanics around here have been quoted as saying this defect is common in speedometers used in windstar and explorer models.the dealer that provided my diagnostic work said there is a two-week backlog to get this part.the mechanics also said the failure reason is attributable to a plastic component in the speedometer.note: the rpm guage, and coolant temperature guage do not seem to be affected.i think it is a fundamental safety defect to not know what speed you are driving at!!! please help...
At 60000 miles speedometer malfunctioned, and consumer could no longer read the speed onvehicle. Dealer replaced speedometer cable.
While travelling at speed of 55 mph, speedometer started chattering erratically and fluctuating from 55-90, then stopped and indicated correctly.problem has since shown up constantly and will not indicate correctly above 40 mph every time.cruise control holds at constant speed (by tach rpm).dealer has been contacted and i was told that the problem would require replacement of speedometer at cost of $550 parts + labor -- or -- the speedometer can be refurbished, requiring the van to be kept at the dealer for up to 2 weeks at a cost of $260 parts + labor.
Speedometer goes from 15 to 80 and stays at a high speed.my mechanic has stated this is a expensive part and ford is aware they are having a problem.he himself has sent many customer back to the dealers to have the speedometer replaced.
Erratic operation of speedometer, commenced to jump back and forth while driving at 40 mph or more. Dealer notified, and informed consumer thatvehicle was out of its warranty.not covered under arecall, and nothing would be done unless cost go to consumer.please provide any further details on this matter.
Speedometer speed indicator jumps up and down, unit buzzes.
Erratic speedometer (eg speedometer moving to 80 while vehicle parked).
While driving speedodometer floats and makes a clicking sound, reading 30 miles higher than what the vehicle is really doing.dealer has been contacted.
While driving consumer noticed that speedometer was not working at that time, and had not worked since.
Inside slide door lock is broken. Dealer has been notified.spedometer head broke.
While driving vehicle, noticed the indicator gauge for the speedometer fails to register speed of vehicle. The indicator needle kept bouncing up & down. Was not steady. Taken vehicle to mechanic for noise in dashboard. Mjs
Norm conditions 20 mph stop abs engaged,delayed stop. Near accident.dealer found no problem, not repeatable.one year later problem recurred, and abs light illuminated. Dealer to replace left wheel sensor.seems that if the on-board computer doesn't think there is a problem, the technicians cannot find it.sensors could have been replaced earlier as a precaution.other problem- driving 55 on highway and transmission downshifted uncommanded.check engine light had been illuminated since earlier incident with the dealer unable to diagnose.sensor in gear selector was bad.hopefully, no undue wear and tear on transmission resulted from the highway downshift.
When coming to a stop, the vehicle goes into neutral even though the shift indicator is in the drive position. When accelerating after stopping the vehicle moves unexpectedly after applying gas.manufacturer has been notified about the problem. The problem has not been corrected. Please provide any further details.
Complete transmission failure cost $2,000 to repair.
Transmission failed. Yh
When the vehicle was put into reverse the vehicle made a clicking sound and now the transmission is leaking.
My van has been putting itself into neutral when i am at a stop or pulling out of a stop. When i have went to the dealers in deleware (on vacation), pa. (on vacation) and my local dealer, no one can find a problem.now all of a sudden my dealer in roanoke rapids ,n.c. Said he would rreplace some transmission parts but i do not know what they did. They told me it was to complicating. I am mad and scared to drive my van. I do not know what they did of if it will happen again. I travel to pa. Alot with my 9yr old daughter by ourselves and now i am scared to do this. Help!!! no one else will!!! i can not even get in touch with ford!!!
We were driving on the interstate at 70 mph with the cruise control on.without any warning, the van went out of gear , the engine revved up, and all acceleration stopped.we pulled off the road and tried to get the van to go back into gear - any gear - and it wouldn't.there was no warning of a problem - no noises or leakage of fluid or anything unusual.
Transmission bushings assembly failed causing vehicle to pull.
Sudden catastrophic failure of the transmission on my 1996 windstar, 86,000 mi. Proper maintenence had been done.i see there are many complaints here with the same problem. Nhtsa it is time to step up and force a recall. How long do the consumers have to bear the brunt of this obvious defect. We don't have the $3000 they want for repairs.what happened to comsumer rights? the way it stands now i will never buy another amercian car. Is that what you want for the economy. You have to hold corporate america responsibletoput out quality vehicles. You have the power. Do what you are there to do, protect the consumer, not the corporate money.
Ford has a tsb 98-22-1 regarding a false neutral after driving.here is what happens-vehicle is stopped in drive.when throttle is reapplied the vehicle sometimes doesn't move.but, it sometimes abruptly drops back into drive.this has caused a sudden unexpected lurching forward complete with tire squealing. It would be very likely to cause an accident in stop-and-go traffic with this defect.ford admits this defect, they just don't want to fix it after 3/36k warranty.
Dt*: the contact stated, while the vehicle was immobile with the engine running, smoke erupted from under the hood. The engine was immediately turned off and the vehicle was vacated. The hood was raised and flames looked as if they it was coming out of the engine compartment. The fire was extinguished and the vehicle was towed to the home of the contact. The manufacturer was alerted. There is a nhtsa recall #97v097000 pertaining to the power train:automatic transmission. The vehicle is not included in the recall due to the vin.
Consumer stated that while driving at any speed and without warningtransmission failed, causing a distraction to the consumer. Dealer notified.
We believe the sheer number of defect on this car is unbelievable. We purchased it used from my parents. Total cost of non "wear and tear" repairs is around $5000. This is over 25% of the vehicles original value, and over 50% of the value at time of purchase. While no accidents have occurred, we believe ford should take responsibility for a bad product.
When shifting gears vehiclemakes a loud noise. Also,the driver'sside window doesn't work properly, and there is a problem with the slider, it won't work.
2nd transmission failure: 1/26/99 @71,800 miles.parked/when started, no reverse or forward gears.repaired:multiple parts:ie ax4n, ax4s, bearing pump shaft/plate etc.extended warrenty claim denied/ $3,500.00 out of pocket/ trans, still dysfunctional & power steering defective after last repair.both failures occurred out of state/repaired out of state. Tomorrow i have to take van to akron oh (where last repaired)hope the transmission &steering will get me there in 1 peice!!please help!!(don't know if trans problems related to recalled parts, this vehicle was not put into service until 10/97 & recall was 6/97.i have exausted my resources& would appreciate any help/advice/direction.thought i had a ford warrenty, but i was sold something else, unfortunately.thank you, sincerely, linda
Tracking systemlight comes on without prior warning. Andbrakes are not operable. Light on the inside comes on intermittently. Dealership is aware of problem.
Engine check light,abs and trac off lights started flashing at 78,000 miles.car has failed 4 times.repeated trips to service center, tune-up twice, new battery, new fuel pump.approx. $1500 paid so far, car continues to fail while driving.ford motor co.
Traction control failed.yh
Nhtsa recall 97v-097000 automatic transmission leaking over catalytic converter and problem with steering loss. Dealer was not notified at this time.
A small child accidentally hit gear box and vehicle came out of gear.consumer feltit should not be this easy for vehicleto come out of gear. Please provide any further information.
Vehicle was parked and key was not in the ignition the child was able to put vehicle in drive and it rolled, hit a tree, proceeded across the street into a utility pole, the dealer was contacted and stated that this was normal.*nlm
Half shaft assembly in transmission failed causing vehicle to pull.
Cv joints failed, causing vehicle to pull.
The differential is noisy and coming apart. Yh
Van lost power on acceleration and stopped.the front drive wheels locked-up.dealer determined planetary gear in transmission blew.manufacturer paid for the out of warranty (by 4 months) repairs. Note ford has history of planetary gear failing (my 91 taurus).
Transmission failed, at the time of repair they found that the frame was broken, the van was purchased from them 6 months prior to the failure and they accused me of hitting a bump and making the frame break.i personally do not remember hitting anything in the van i drive it to an from work.if a bump small enough not to recall will break the frame would that mean the frame is defected?i personallyfeel that i purchased the van with a broken frame and driving it for six months in that condition could of caused my transmission to fail.i would like to get more information about this and see if there is anyway of being reimbursed of this incident.i feel the van should be considered a lemon if it was sold with a broken frame.if i hit a bump hard enough to break the frame shouldn't the airbags eject?are they defective too?i've discussed this with charrap ford and they did reduce the price of the van repairs but have no explanation of the broken frame or the transmission.i traded in an 89 aerostar which didn't give me half the problems this 97 windstar is .i would like someone to investigate this and please contact me.thanks! vicki danley
I own a 1997 ford windstar, over the course of a month my husband and a few friends used my van to go hunting.over the course of that month his friend weighing in at 300 pound sat in the center rear seat.the seat belt snaps into place on the side of that seat.during that month of getting in and out and plopping down on it, it broke and now i have to replace it in order to use it again.but im afraid that if it could brake because someone sat on it then how easily could it break during an accident.please take the time to do an in depth investigation of it before someone is involved in an accident and the seat belt breaks and someone is hurt or worse killed.
Adolescent was caught in seat belt. It continued to lock tighter and would not release. Parent had to stop car and cut child free of belt to avoid internal injuries. Child went into shock and was driven to nearestfor evaluation. No permenant injuries were noted at this time.dt
The back seat shoulder belt straps were rerouted at dealership due to locking mechanisms. The back rest of front seat was adjusted forward, the seat belt harness got caught and was so tight that the dealership had to release it.consumer 's six year old got into the seat and released back forward, she got caught and trapped in the seat. The third time when cleaning the vehicle,the front bucket seat leaned backward and looked upward. At the same time, if released the back so the head rest could come forward and it created a (v).the tops of the two headrests caught consumer's hand,. A younger child could hang himselfif in that position. Consumer has young children. This vehicle has high back bucket seats. Consumer will add vin.# these incidents happened within the last three weeks.
Front seats are uncomfortable and unsafe.
My wife has a damaged spinal column due to flawed nature of van seats.our private doctor, the service manager at steve marsh ford at milan, tennessee have both stated that windstar van have a flawed seat design.also virtually everyone i have talked to who have driven a windstar for lengthy periods of time state they are uncomfortable and painful.our seat was a special seat designed to move forward to allow for driver side entry into van.the sitting portion of seat is flawed and during prolonged driving the posterior becomes numb, pained and in the case of my wife damaged.the van is unsafe to operate and has nearly gotten my family killed due to fact the pain caused by the seats causes on to squirm and try to move the body resulting in loss of safe control of vehicle.
Front driver's and passenger's seats are very uncomfortable.ultimately resulting in unsafe operation of vehicle by driver due topain. Also, resulting in various frustrating body movements made by driver to relieve pain. This has caused near fatal crashes.
- the contact was sitting in van , the vehicle was turned off. The van stated to fill up with smoke. At which point he looked at the driver seat and noticed that the van was on fire. The he put out the initial fire. When helooked under the driver seat he noticed there were more flames. The next day he saw that there were wires under the seat.he was able to drive the va with the seat is damaged due to the fire. Contact drive the van home.
The back seat shoulder belt straps were rerouted at dealership due to locking mechanisms. The back rest of front seat was adjusted forward, the seat belt harness got caught and was so tight that the dealership had to release it.consumer 's six year old got into the seat and released back forward, she got caught and trapped in the seat. The third time when cleaning the vehicle,the front bucket seat leaned backward and looked upward. At the same time, if released the back so the head rest could come forward and it created a (v).the tops of the two headrests caught consumer's hand,. A younger child could hang himselfif in that position. Consumer has young children. This vehicle has high back bucket seats. Consumer will add vin.# these incidents happened within the last three weeks.
The back seat shoulder belt straps were rerouted at dealership due to locking mechanisms. The back rest of front seat was adjusted forward, the seat belt harness got caught and was so tight that the dealership had to release it.consumer 's six year old got into the seat and released back forward, she got caught and trapped in the seat. The third time when cleaning the vehicle,the front bucket seat leaned backward and looked upward. At the same time, if released the back so the head rest could come forward and it created a (v).the tops of the two headrests caught consumer's hand,. A younger child could hang himselfif in that position. Consumer has young children. This vehicle has high back bucket seats. Consumer will add vin.# these incidents happened within the last three weeks.
Consumeris unable to put child in rear middle seat. Ts.
Norm conditions 20 mph stop abs engaged,delayed stop. Near accident.dealer found no problem, not repeatable.one year later problem recurred, and abs light illuminated. Dealer to replace left wheel sensor.seems that if the on-board computer doesn't think there is a problem, the technicians cannot find it.sensors could have been replaced earlier as a precaution.other problem- driving 55 on highway and transmission downshifted uncommanded.check engine light had been illuminated since earlier incident with the dealer unable to diagnose.sensor in gear selector was bad.hopefully, no undue wear and tear on transmission resulted from the highway downshift.
Abs and brake light on same time. Notice brake fluid leak. Refill brake fluid often. Speedometer needle sways erratically for about 2 years. Cruise control inoperable for 2 years.
My windstar gl wouldn't start. I replaced the range selector switch. When i restarted the vehicle i forgot the reconnect the brake pressure sensor wiring connector and the abs light came on. I tried to get the code cleared but no-one could access the code. I took the van to the dealer for a recall notice on the speed control system and had them look into why the abs light was on. I was told the abs module had quit and needed replaced. The module is $1500.00 and $300.00 to install. That's more than the van is worth. I searched online and found out many other windstar owners are having the same problems. The cruise control system has also quit and the dealer rep. Tells me that the cruise control also goes through this module. With the possibility of fire it seems rather irresponsible for ford to do nothing more than install a fusible link as a safety measure. I am looking into buying a used module to repair the cruise and abs.the failure is total. Neither the cruise control or the abs system works at this time.
I bought this 1997 ford windstar in march of 2003. The very next day i returned to the independent car dealer due to the check engine light was on. They said nothing was wrong and they reset the light. Within a week it was on again and this time they said it was a fluxation in the electrical current and it was making the light come on. They reset it. About 2 weeks later it is losing coolant somewhere and running rough, they check it and now it needs 2 out of 4 oxygen sensors replaced im told. They pay for it if they truly fixed it because about 2-3 weeks later i am havint the same problems so they replace the other 2 oxygen sensors, but cannot explain the coolant loss. Ever since i have had nothing but problems so i decided to go to the local ford dealer even though i try to avoid dealers because of prices and they charge me $58 to tell me i need a head gasket, my abs system is not working, timing cover is leaking, ball bearing is shot and my antifreeze looks like mud. This is all wrote on a service estimate i asked them for. It would cost about $1700 + tax for them to fix. I have read that ford knew they had a problem with the 95 windstars and the head gaskets and offered an extended warranty or money towards a new car so i feel they know all windstars with this 3.8l engine are faulty not just the 95's. I called ford and they told me tough luck basically. I have read on the internet numerous complaints about the head gaskets in all 3.8l windstars and i want my van fixed.
Power steering fluid leakage.vehicle rolls after being in park on slightest incline.
Front brakes are soft.
Brake pads twice and the brake rotors once needed to be replaced.abs light and parking brake light in the dash began to flash on and off. Currently,they are staying on invehicle.please provide any additional information/attachment.
Abs brakes; when applying brakes under normal conditions, the pedal goes to the floor and brakes failed to stop vehicle, causing extended stopping distance.
My anti lock lightstayson brake light indicator stays on after i come to a hault for the first time out for the day. But i thought it was from the brake drums crushing my brake pad i had to replace one at a time.but the in one month my rear rim cracks leaking air then front rim does same thing in same month dealer say we ca sceduel you an appointment at your cost. Thanks you ford for a fine response.
Abs anti-lock braking engages during normal dry braking.this causes a lessening in braking just before a complete stop.could cause a collision by not stopping car within the distance expected.
Engine check light,abs and trac off lights started flashing at 78,000 miles.car has failed 4 times.repeated trips to service center, tune-up twice, new battery, new fuel pump.approx. $1500 paid so far, car continues to fail while driving.ford motor co.
Antilock brakes failed 3 times.
Abs and brake light comes on when brakes are applied.
I am concerned about the warning lights on the dashboard. When driving this vehicle the abs brake light along with the emergency brake stay lit while driving and when the vehicle is being used. It also seems that the door ajar buzzer tends to keep sounding while driving. This is a hindrance while driving.
Abs braking light system appears ondashboard. Also there is coolant mixed in with oil inside of engine. Dealership is aware of theproblems.
Tracking systemlight comes on without prior warning. Andbrakes are not operable. Light on the inside comes on intermittently. Dealership is aware of problem.
Have a 97 ford windstar all of a sudden i had a tire blow completely here to find out that the coil spring on drivers front broke and went into tire, then to find out there was a recall 2 years ago on it but was never notified of it and also a few weeks ago, van all of a sudden kept getting real hot with rolling white smoke just to find out that there was problems with the head gaskets on these windstars but yet still was never notified, this is not right, i feel we were cheated, now have a van that sits and still owe $10,000 on because i'm a family man of six and cannot afford the cost of these major repairs, i'm afraid of what might of happened if this would of blew with all my family in it on a highway, is this how the ford company treats their consumers by lying and decieving them.
Abs brake light illuminates for no apparent reason. Mjs
Noticed that i was leaking some brake fluid for the last couple of months on my 1997 ford windstar but very little at that. About the same time the cruise control quit working. One day while driving i noticed a lot of smoke coming from under the hood. Raised the hood but the smoke had quit. Got back home and noticed this again when i was stopped in the driveway. Checked under the hood again and found that the cruise control deactivation switch was smoking and very hot. Went to the ford dealer to check if there was a recall on this and there was not . Installed the replacement part with plug adaptor and this fixed the problem with smoking and the cruise started working again. Noticed on the net this same part that is in my windstar is also in other vehicles that has been recalled. Why is this? this could have easily caught fire and been a total loss to the van and if it had been parked in the garage the house also.
Right side brakes make intermittent rumbling noise, dealer unable to determine the cause.nlm
Brake pads twice and the brake rotors once needed to be replaced.abs light and parking brake light in the dash began to flash on and off. Currently,they are staying on invehicle.please provide any additional information/attachment.
Brake caliper failed. Yh
Brake pads failed.yh
We believe the sheer number of defect on this car is unbelievable. We purchased it used from my parents. Total cost of non "wear and tear" repairs is around $5000. This is over 25% of the vehicles original value, and over 50% of the value at time of purchase. While no accidents have occurred, we believe ford should take responsibility for a bad product.
Right rear brake would lock up after being parked.would break loose after being dragged on dry pavement for about 20 feet.abs light would come on sporadically.had ford dealer replace rear brakes.
Passenger side rear brake drum cracked but was not noticed immediately.when it was repaired, there was severe damage to all components within the drum. It seems very unusual that this happened, especially considering the low mileage of the vehicle.this is one of numerous failures this vehicle has had in the last 6 months.i had the driver front coil spring break, but it was eventually recalled. Based on the complaints about this vehicle in your database, i feel this vehicle isvery unsafe, and not reliable.ford has had many recalls for various vehicles in the past 2 to 3 months.
The contact owns a 1997 ford windstar.the contact stated that the front end of the vehicle was abnormally low.upon further inspection, he noticed that the front coil springs fractured due to excessive rust.the failure caused the tires to deflate.the dealer stated that the vin was excluded from nhtsa campaign id number 01v199000 (suspension:front:springs:coil springs); therefore, they would not assume responsibility for any repairs.the vehicle has not been repaired according to the recall.the failure mileage was 70,000 and current mileage was 90,000. Updated 6/4/09 the exhaust system was replaced and brake lines snapping. Updated 06/09/09.
Steering failure caused a vehicle collision.
Steering locked up on right turns at low speeds.by forcing the wheel to turn, there was an audible popping sound and then the steering unlocked and functioned properly.
While driving up hill at 40mph the steering wheel locked. Vehicle crashed into guardrail.
Steering gear assembly failed causing vehicle to pull.
Nhtsa recall 97v-097000 automatic transmission leaking over catalytic converter and problem with steering loss. Dealer was not notified at this time.
Dt: the contact stateshas been having several problems withvehicle since 2002. On april 28, 2004 the speedometer was not providing an accurate speed reading.on december 9, 2004 the sliding door would not unlock or slide properly.the dealer replaced the door lock actuator and determined that the slide wheels were dry.the dealership replaced the door latch, and now it needed replacement again. On february 5, 2005 the engine was replaced at 75, 172 miles, andon november 21, 2005 the power steering failed and was replaced. All repairs have been done atcontact'sexpense.
The contact owns a 1997 ford windstar.while drivingat 45 mph the power steering failed.the front spring failed and punctured the front passenger tire.the contact was able to drive the vehicle to the side of the road. The contact stated that recall #01i007000: suspension:front:springs:coil springs was related to the failure.the manufacturer advised the contact that the recall expired. The current and failure mileage was 142,000.
Power steering fluid leakage.vehicle rolls after being in park on slightest incline.
Why would tie rods fail at 47000 miles.
Servo cover recalled.
Tie rods were worn out. Dealer notified.
Left side tie rod broke while driving at 50 mph. Vehicle taken to dealer for repairs,also,suspension joints needed to be welded.please provide any further details on this matter .
While turning at low speeds, the driver heard a loud noise coming from the end of the vehicle.the vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection.the mechanic informed the driver that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced.
Vehicle making a popping noise througout the frame.nlm
The floor on the passenger side of the vehicle is damp / wet during the occasion when the air condition sysyten is turned on.what i find more disturbing is that i took this vehicle for repair on 5 separate times to the same maroone ford service station for repair and the final conclusion is that they do not know what is the origin of this problem.in other word - they can't fix it.on their first inspection of the vehecle on 08/21/01 they thought that the vehicle needed driver's side weatherstrip , therefore they replaced the weatherstrip at a cost of $363.62.soon afterwards, i've noticed that the floor at the driver's side is still wet.to make a long story short, i've taken this vehicle 5 times to that same ford authorized service station and i continue to have this problem.i've been charged for an unnecessary repair and i want the vehicle repaired properly.the ford authorized dealer is:maroone ford of miami.16800 nw 57th ave,miami florida 33015tel: 305-557-5580 ext 318 (agustine falcon)cell:305-216-7830.your help and feedback is much appreciated.
The contact owns a 1997 ford windstar. The contact stated that after having the vehicle inspected, he was notified that the vehicle failed to pass the state inspection due to the sub frame being completely corroded. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the sub-frame needed to be replaced.the vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.
When doors were shut/ engine off,interior lights stayed on. Dealer determined a short in left front door.
Inside slide door lock is broken. Dealer has been notified.spedometer head broke.
Tailgate installed with improper alignment with body. Corrected one year after purchase.
The subframe assembly on my 1997 ford windstar has broken/cracked in two different locations * on two separate occasions.the first repair was in september of 2002.the most recent repair was september 2003.the service manager at dennison ford (steve bowns) said that if it happens again, the subframe probably will need to be replaced.my impression is that this is a common problem with windstars.when i called to set up an appointment the second time and started describing the problem, the service rep said they usually broke at the strut. When searhing the internet, i have found other windstar owners with this problem.in a discussion with sheldon (#2052) at (1 - 800 392 ford) when asked if this was a safety issue, his response was "i am not in a position to comment if this is a safety issue." when asked if he checked with the service manger if this was a safety issue he responded. "i did not ask him specifically if it was a safety issue.if you want to know if it is a safety issue, you will need to tallk to the person that is working on your car."i indicated to sheldon thati wanted to talk with a ford representative that could tell me whether or not a subframe breaking while driving was a safety issue.he indicated only the person working on my car could do this.sheledon indicated that he (sheldon) was not qualified to do this.is this a safety issue?* the service tech said several times that it was a different location.when sheldon called the dennison ford service manager, steve bowns, the service manger indicated that it was the same location according to sheldon.
Vehicle making a popping noise througout the frame.nlm
Transmission failed, at the time of repair they found that the frame was broken, the van was purchased from them 6 months prior to the failure and they accused me of hitting a bump and making the frame break.i personally do not remember hitting anything in the van i drive it to an from work.if a bump small enough not to recall will break the frame would that mean the frame is defected?i personallyfeel that i purchased the van with a broken frame and driving it for six months in that condition could of caused my transmission to fail.i would like to get more information about this and see if there is anyway of being reimbursed of this incident.i feel the van should be considered a lemon if it was sold with a broken frame.if i hit a bump hard enough to break the frame shouldn't the airbags eject?are they defective too?i've discussed this with charrap ford and they did reduce the price of the van repairs but have no explanation of the broken frame or the transmission.i traded in an 89 aerostar which didn't give me half the problems this 97 windstar is .i would like someone to investigate this and please contact me.thanks! vicki danley
At highway speeds vehicle vibrates.dealer has inspected the vehicle and has not corrected the problem. Manufacturer has been notified.
The contact owns a 1997 ford windstar. The contact stated that while driving 40 mph, the track bar detached from the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle began to wobble excessively. The manufacturer was notified of the issue and advised the contact not to drive the vehicle. The failure mileage was 90,000.updated 09/21/12*ljthe vehicle was repaired by a local mechanic at the owner's expense. The dealer was made aware of failures. Updated 09/26/2012
I purchased a 1997 ford windstar and from what i understand is that there was a recall on the coil springs/suspension. (recall#01i00700) < i believe this is the recall #. Long story short my front tires are flat doue to the coil springs. None of the dealers i took it to are willing to fix this. They say it is not covered under any recall... Please help me better understand why ford wont fix this defect.
Vehicle making a popping noise througout the frame.nlm
Consumer can hear a crickling noise.consumerheard about an investigationof suspension and feared it may break and puncture a tire.
Had shacking problem right after purchased and did not get any satisfaction from dealer.now the front suspension went out and 2s ets of ball joints,and did not have the van since july of this year. Please call me at 920-899-9650 we have put alot of money into this van and they are asking for more to fix other items in the suspension.is their any recalls?
The rumbling/rattling in the front end when going over bumps has been going on since we bought the car new.i took it in to ford and they could not find anything.our previous windstar did not do this.i'm afraid something is going to come loose at high speed.
My wife, melissa has been following this problem for over a year and a half, she has been told by the mechanic at campus ford that there has been problems with the front end suspension on for windstar's, he stopped short of saying anymore. Our car has been in the service dept at this dealership on and off for the last year and a half. We keep having different stories told to us, and told that the problem doesnot exist..well we just paid 350.00 dollars for new welding on the front suspension, we have had the struts replaced and a spring replaced, we also had unusual tire ware on the rt passenger side and the tire replaced. We are worried about this problem, we have two children and my wife is a visiting nurse and drives alot, the dealership is poo-pooing her off like she is a nobody...please help us.
Front driverside tire went flat, front suspension spring had broken in two pieces and punctured a hole in the sidewall of the tire.
Lowereing of the passenger window caused door to unlock and open while traveling - recall 01s19 was performed during repair of the window - coil spring shields collide with inner strut tower - possibly 2 inches of travel in suspension - vehicle bottoms out - dealer is not accomodating - more to this story!
Consumer was traveling 75mph and front coil spring on driver's side broke punctured tire.vehicle was kept in control.ford dealer had heard nothing about this, and wouldn't stand behindproblem.tire was replaced on warranty and the strut was replaced by the dealer.
My windsar while sitting in the driveway for 34 hours suddenly had its front coil spring snap. Had i been driving this van i am sure it would have distroyed the tire. My independent mechanic told me he has had five windstars this year with the same problem.
While vehicle was parked in driveway all of a sudden heard a loud noise. Later on, noticed loss of steering. Vehicle towed to dealer. Dealerinformed consumer that the problem was due to front coil spring failure.owner seeks reimbursement for repairs.*ml
Backing up in drive way, front passenger side fell to the ground/tire was ripped apart on the insideof tire wall/spring coil broke/called tow truck/dealer said coil spring broke/replaced coil spring/ they had failed to replaced the driver side coil/ i thought this was very irresponsible/could have the same hazardous potential to break. (dot number: 4bm3ddertiresize: p215/70r15)
Vehicle was serviced for recall campaign 01v199000 where dealershipinstalled protective shields around front coil springs to prevent corrosion.however, when he attempted to use snow chains for use in inclement weather, the snow cable on the right/front wheel made contact with the protective shield and caused shield to shear off.approximate distance between tire without chain and protective shield was 1/4 of an inch.this incident occurred while traveling approximately 25 to 30 mph in snow. The part is available for inspection.consumer feels that the dealer needs to warn consumers of this when recall repairs are made.
While vehicle was parked in driveway consumer heard a loud noise. Then took vehicle to a technician. He told consumer that it was left front coil spring that broke.
While driving in traffic front coil spring broke.consumer stated that manufacturer paid for the repairs.
While drivingfront end coil spring broke, consumrlost control and almost hit two cars.
Front passenger-side coil spring failed by shearing, causing tire to puncture while car was parked.if car had been moving, the failure would have caused a potentially serious accident.
Front left coil spring broke in half, causingleft side ofvehicle to fall.please give any further details.
I have 1997 ford windstar. Feb. 1, 2007i was going about 20 mph, andpassenger front spring shattered. I had to have it towed. My mechanic saud i was lucky i was not on the expressway when it happened. I had it fixed, it cost me $1036.00. I called ford to try and get reimbursed, and they told me that i did not have it repaired at a ford dealer. If i had known they were bad i would have. I never received any warning at all. They did not even have me down as the registered owner. Here is the recall # 011007000, front coil spring corrosion. They said it covers from 1995-1998 windstars. Here is my vin. #2fmda514vbd14446. All i would like is to get some of my money back, i live on $699. A month, and for them to admit i was covered. They are being really nasty about this. I was told to call by fox 6 in milwaukee, katrina cravy consumer reporter.
The contact owns a 1997 ford windstar. While driving 20 mph the passenger side tire exploded causing the front end to hit the ground. The contact observed that the front coil spring was broken. The vehicle was not diagnosed by a dealer. The current and failure mileages were 132,000.
Passenger side rear brake drum cracked but was not noticed immediately.when it was repaired, there was severe damage to all components within the drum. It seems very unusual that this happened, especially considering the low mileage of the vehicle.this is one of numerous failures this vehicle has had in the last 6 months.i had the driver front coil spring break, but it was eventually recalled. Based on the complaints about this vehicle in your database, i feel this vehicle isvery unsafe, and not reliable.ford has had many recalls for various vehicles in the past 2 to 3 months.
Ea 00 027/suspension coil spring breakage:a right front coil spring broke while parked indriveway.dealer notified,and informedconsumer thatvehicle was not cover under a recall.please provide any further details on this matter .
Right coil spring breakage for no apparent reason.
Consumer was traveling 75mph and front coil spring on driver's side broke punctured tire.vehicle was kept in control.ford dealer had heard nothing about this, and wouldn't stand behindproblem.tire was replaced on warranty and the strut was replaced by the dealer.
While vehicle was parked inspected and found out that suspensioncoilspring was broken without a warning ofproblem.
Consumer states with no warning the front coil spring snapped causing vehicle to drop. Cause unknown dealer notified.
From 12,000 miles to present mileage, the vehicle had three transmissions replaced within five years, and the problem is reoccurring. Dealer notified.the driver side front coil spring had broken.(recalled in november/nhtsa#01i00700)-was checked.the mechanics had placed a plastic sleeve over coils, and the spring had broken through and punctured the tire at 5 mph.the overdrive and engine light had come on.the mechanics said that something inside of the transmission was bad.*scc
Have a 97 ford windstar all of a sudden i had a tire blow completely here to find out that the coil spring on drivers front broke and went into tire, then to find out there was a recall 2 years ago on it but was never notified of it and also a few weeks ago, van all of a sudden kept getting real hot with rolling white smoke just to find out that there was problems with the head gaskets on these windstars but yet still was never notified, this is not right, i feel we were cheated, now have a van that sits and still owe $10,000 on because i'm a family man of six and cannot afford the cost of these major repairs, i'm afraid of what might of happened if this would of blew with all my family in it on a highway, is this how the ford company treats their consumers by lying and decieving them.
Whendriving slowly in trafficfront coil spring broke which could have resulted intire deflating.please give any further details.
Left coil spring came undone without warning and blewup tire while driving.. Right coil spring came undone without warning and car had to be towed.
The contact owns a 1997 ford windstar.the contact stated that the front end of the vehicle was abnormally low.upon further inspection, he noticed that the front coil springs fractured due to excessive rust.the failure caused the tires to deflate.the dealer stated that the vin was excluded from nhtsa campaign id number 01v199000 (suspension:front:springs:coil springs); therefore, they would not assume responsibility for any repairs.the vehicle has not been repaired according to the recall.the failure mileage was 70,000 and current mileage was 90,000. Updated 6/4/09 the exhaust system was replaced and brake lines snapping. Updated 06/09/09.
1997 ford windstar recall for coil springs. Consumer states that the recall was not repaired in 2001 when it was received because the dealer stated that if they were not broken they would not replace it, they would just put plastic shields over them. Now dealer states that the recall expired.
Left front coil spring burst, cuasingtire to blowout.hadtire replaced. Was driving withreplaced tire on, and started hearing rattling. Took back to dealer, andwas informed by mechanic that welds on right side had broken and needed rewelding.
The contact owns a 1997 ford windstar.while drivingat 45 mph the power steering failed.the front spring failed and punctured the front passenger tire.the contact was able to drive the vehicle to the side of the road. The contact stated that recall #01i007000: suspension:front:springs:coil springs was related to the failure.the manufacturer advised the contact that the recall expired. The current and failure mileage was 142,000.
Hollow stabilizer bar fractured just outside of right stabilizer bar mount, broken end of bar and connecting piece left hanging next to right tire.resulted in poor handling & severe reaction to cross winds at highway speeds.
The consumerwas traveling about 35mph on the highway and noticed that passenger's rear started to swerve into the opposite direction. Consumer pulled over onto the shoulders and called a tow truck.
The contact owns 1997 ford windstar. The contact stated while traveling 65 mph the rear axle beam became fractured.the manufacturer was notified of the defect. A private mechanic stated that the rear axle beam needed to be replaced. There were no repairs made on the vehicle.the failure mileage was 140,000 and the current mileage was 140,000.
No summary listed for abov evehicle.
My tire problems were reported to firestone and their response was to blame low air pressure or not to respond at all i have replaced all the firestone tires on my motorhome with another brand, out of 8 tires, five came apart, i would suggest anyone with a firestone tire problem, try a different brand( dot number: tire size: 225/75/16 )
From 12,000 miles to present mileage, the vehicle had three transmissions replaced within five years, and the problem is reoccurring. Dealer notified.the driver side front coil spring had broken.(recalled in november/nhtsa#01i00700)-was checked.the mechanics had placed a plastic sleeve over coils, and the spring had broken through and punctured the tire at 5 mph.the overdrive and engine light had come on.the mechanics said that something inside of the transmission was bad.*scc
Engine check light,abs and trac off lights started flashing at 78,000 miles.car has failed 4 times.repeated trips to service center, tune-up twice, new battery, new fuel pump.approx. $1500 paid so far, car continues to fail while driving.ford motor co.
1997 ford windstar: speedometer after 55mph bounces and reaches 70mph with noise under the dashboard. I asked other ford owners and they had same problem on different ford model.
While driving vehicle, noticed the indicator gauge for the speedometer fails to register speed of vehicle. The indicator needle kept bouncing up & down. Was not steady. Taken vehicle to mechanic for noise in dashboard. Mjs
We believe the sheer number of defect on this car is unbelievable. We purchased it used from my parents. Total cost of non "wear and tear" repairs is around $5000. This is over 25% of the vehicles original value, and over 50% of the value at time of purchase. While no accidents have occurred, we believe ford should take responsibility for a bad product.
Speedometer erratic.when driving at 55 (i think) the needle bounces between 4o and 110.problem started at around 35,000, corrected itself for a while and now is back and much worse.speedometer is useless.this is a safety hazard.
Dt*: the contact stated the check engine light illuminated constantly, and the overdrive light located on the gearshift illuminated intermittently.this was accompanied by a strong smell of something electrical burning.the vehicle was taken to a private repair shop, where it was determined that the sensor on the master cylinder had caught on fire, and also burned the wiring harness between the master cylinder and the transmission.the mechanic replaced the sensor on the master cylinder, on the transmission, and the wiring harness, which corrected the problem.there was a nhtsa recall # 05v388000, which pertains to the vehicle speed control.the vehicle was not included in the recall due to the vin.
Defective speedometer units in1997ford windstars.i have had my speedometer replaced 3 times and is in need of another. The dealer told me this has been a problem with the windstars and the taurus.you can not judge how fast you are going which is a safety issue.especially when you replace the unit and it keeps needing to be replaced.can it be recalled?
Driving on interstate with speed limit of 70 mph... Was driving about 77 mph at the time... Vehicle's factory installed cruise control was in use... Speedometer began to fluctuate wildly between about 60 mph and maximum (over 120 mph)... Vehicle's speed remained constant - trouble was just with the speedometer... Vehicle has 90,000 miles on the odometer... 1997 ford windstar... Speedometer doesn't fluctuate wildly at most speeds over 30 mph... From checking on web this has happened to other owners of ford windstars - this is a safety issue.
Vehicle surges foward while driving, and at the same it will sputter and stall out.enginecheck light comes on , cause is unknown.
1996 windstar was at a stop then vehicle lurched forward unexpectedly which could have caused a crash and /or injuries.
Our 1997 ford windstar minivan that is currently subjected to the recall for the faulty cruise control switch burned to the ground on feb 21, 2007 as the result from a fire that started in the engine area.
Erratic speedometer (eg speedometer moving to 80 while vehicle parked).
I had my 97 windstar fan fixed due to recall # 09s09:speed control system modification. Ever since then the abs and parking lights have been coming on. We have had the codes reset, but they keep appearing. I have also called the ford dealer where the repair was done, but they say it is not covered in the recall to check the scds, or that if it wasn't leaking then, they did not have to replace that part. I am very frustrated.
Sudden acceleration, causing accident.
When coming to a stop, the vehicle goes into neutral even though the shift indicator is in the drive position. When accelerating after stopping the vehicle moves unexpectedly after applying gas.manufacturer has been notified about the problem. The problem has not been corrected. Please provide any further details.
Dt: the contact stateshas been having several problems withvehicle since 2002. On april 28, 2004 the speedometer was not providing an accurate speed reading.on december 9, 2004 the sliding door would not unlock or slide properly.the dealer replaced the door lock actuator and determined that the slide wheels were dry.the dealership replaced the door latch, and now it needed replacement again. On february 5, 2005 the engine was replaced at 75, 172 miles, andon november 21, 2005 the power steering failed and was replaced. All repairs have been done atcontact'sexpense.
I own a 1997 ford windstar gl with 53,000 on the odometer. The speedometer has failed to operate properly. At speeds of 40 mph and above the speedometer fluctuates erratically ranging in shown speeds of 60 to 110 mph. I have done much research and have become aware of thousands of consumer complaints. This is unconscious that ford is aware of this problem and making a mint off of the consumer out of pocket expense of repair. This should be an immediate safety recall or tsb.
Ford has a tsb 98-22-1 regarding a false neutral after driving.here is what happens-vehicle is stopped in drive.when throttle is reapplied the vehicle sometimes doesn't move.but, it sometimes abruptly drops back into drive.this has caused a sudden unexpected lurching forward complete with tire squealing. It would be very likely to cause an accident in stop-and-go traffic with this defect.ford admits this defect, they just don't want to fix it after 3/36k warranty.
My windstar accelerated from a complete stop and smashed through our garage door vehicle stopped when we hit the front wall of the garage.i don't know if the vehicle was in park or drive when this happened.i had stopped to look for the garage door opener.i could not stop the verhicle as it took off and do not know how fast we were going except it was very fast and there are big skid marks on the garage floor.my two kids were in their car seats in the back and i was driving.i broke my hand & had some bruises.the kids were fine. We don't yet have a mechanic's report so i can't be sure what part failed.it may not be the engine as indicated above.
My windstar gl wouldn't start. I replaced the range selector switch. When i restarted the vehicle i forgot the reconnect the brake pressure sensor wiring connector and the abs light came on. I tried to get the code cleared but no-one could access the code. I took the van to the dealer for a recall notice on the speed control system and had them look into why the abs light was on. I was told the abs module had quit and needed replaced. The module is $1500.00 and $300.00 to install. That's more than the van is worth. I searched online and found out many other windstar owners are having the same problems. The cruise control system has also quit and the dealer rep. Tells me that the cruise control also goes through this module. With the possibility of fire it seems rather irresponsible for ford to do nothing more than install a fusible link as a safety measure. I am looking into buying a used module to repair the cruise and abs.the failure is total. Neither the cruise control or the abs system works at this time.
Noticed that i was leaking some brake fluid for the last couple of months on my 1997 ford windstar but very little at that. About the same time the cruise control quit working. One day while driving i noticed a lot of smoke coming from under the hood. Raised the hood but the smoke had quit. Got back home and noticed this again when i was stopped in the driveway. Checked under the hood again and found that the cruise control deactivation switch was smoking and very hot. Went to the ford dealer to check if there was a recall on this and there was not . Installed the replacement part with plug adaptor and this fixed the problem with smoking and the cruise started working again. Noticed on the net this same part that is in my windstar is also in other vehicles that has been recalled. Why is this? this could have easily caught fire and been a total loss to the van and if it had been parked in the garage the house also.
When i exceed 50 mph my speedometer fails to keep accurate speed and it "waves" wildly from 20 - 110 mph.when i contacted my ford dealership they "had never heard of that before", but when i did a little more research i found at least 50 more complaints.i contacted the ford motor company directly to see why there had not been a recall on what appears to be a manufacturing defect because all problems of this nature involved only the 96-98 ford windstar models.they informed me they knew of the problem but only the nhtsa could initiate a recall.i had never heard of this and i doubt other owners of these vehicles do, either or there would be more complaints. This is a serious problem.
When in cruise control, stepped on accelerator to engage passing gear,the passing gearwould not disengage, driver was able to coast to side of road safely in neutral.
On august 20th, while in a repair shop having the motors replaced in the windows of my ford windstar 1997, there was a fire under the hood while the car was off.the mechanic put the fire out and i took it to my mechanic the same day.the cruise control mechanism was what caught fire.after seeing my mechanic i called the ford hotline and asked about recall information.they said they would get back ahold of me in two days, and they did not.today, august 30th, while in wal-mart with my children i was paged to the parking lot.my car had caught fire again, while off and with no key in the ignition.the engine was destroyed, and luckily the fire department arrived in time to put the fire out before the interior of the car was destroyed (car seats, strollers, etc.).
Speedometer unit in 1997 windstars are defective. I have had mine replaced 4 times within the past 4 years and it needs to be replaced again. The speedometer does not work, just swings wildly. It is unsafe as the driver doesn't know how fast they are driving. My ford dealer tells me this has been a problem with windstars and taurus but never recalled.
In cold weather conditionsinside ofwindows becomes extremely fogged, cannotbe defrosted, causing poor visibility.please give any further details.
While driving the windows iced up with an 3/4 inch of ice and the deffoger did not defrost the windows even after driving for a distance. Dealer has been contacted.
On august 20th, while in a repair shop having the motors replaced in the windows of my ford windstar 1997, there was a fire under the hood while the car was off.the mechanic put the fire out and i took it to my mechanic the same day.the cruise control mechanism was what caught fire.after seeing my mechanic i called the ford hotline and asked about recall information.they said they would get back ahold of me in two days, and they did not.today, august 30th, while in wal-mart with my children i was paged to the parking lot.my car had caught fire again, while off and with no key in the ignition.the engine was destroyed, and luckily the fire department arrived in time to put the fire out before the interior of the car was destroyed (car seats, strollers, etc.).
Lowereing of the passenger window caused door to unlock and open while traveling - recall 01s19 was performed during repair of the window - coil spring shields collide with inner strut tower - possibly 2 inches of travel in suspension - vehicle bottoms out - dealer is not accomodating - more to this story!
I bought this 1997 ford windstar in march of 2003. The very next day i returned to the independent car dealer due to the check engine light was on. They said nothing was wrong and they reset the light. Within a week it was on again and this time they said it was a fluxation in the electrical current and it was making the light come on. They reset it. About 2 weeks later it is losing coolant somewhere and running rough, they check it and now it needs 2 out of 4 oxygen sensors replaced im told. They pay for it if they truly fixed it because about 2-3 weeks later i am havint the same problems so they replace the other 2 oxygen sensors, but cannot explain the coolant loss. Ever since i have had nothing but problems so i decided to go to the local ford dealer even though i try to avoid dealers because of prices and they charge me $58 to tell me i need a head gasket, my abs system is not working, timing cover is leaking, ball bearing is shot and my antifreeze looks like mud. This is all wrote on a service estimate i asked them for. It would cost about $1700 + tax for them to fix. I have read that ford knew they had a problem with the 95 windstars and the head gaskets and offered an extended warranty or money towards a new car so i feel they know all windstars with this 3.8l engine are faulty not just the 95's. I called ford and they told me tough luck basically. I have read on the internet numerous complaints about the head gaskets in all 3.8l windstars and i want my van fixed.
The welds on the wheel rims fail, and the rim leaks and has to be replaced.i contacted the ford dealer and he told me he has not seen a history of failure, but the tire dealer said they have had to replace a lot of the rims due to leaks at the welds on 1997 windstars.
Right front rim cracked, causingtire to lose air. Please provide further information.
2 front cracked wheel rims--rim had a crack--tire starting having slow leak---rim was replaced
The consumer noticed two cracked rims in 2001.the parts were replaced with ford original part# f58z1015a.later the consumer noticed three cracked wheels which were also replaced. *sc
My anti lock lightstayson brake light indicator stays on after i come to a hault for the first time out for the day. But i thought it was from the brake drums crushing my brake pad i had to replace one at a time.but the in one month my rear rim cracks leaking air then front rim does same thing in same month dealer say we ca sceduel you an appointment at your cost. Thanks you ford for a fine response.
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