We found the following complaints for FORD WINDSTAR (1998)
Read complaints for FORD WINDSTAR (1998)
The heat in the 1998 ford windstar (82k miles) stopped working... A few weeks later on our way home from a 300 mile trip, the temperature gage soared to hot.. We pulled off to the side of the highway to check the water in the radiator.we filled it (having extra un-opened drinking water) thinking that would help until we could get to lit service area.once at the service area, the car started shaking, the oil was low and almost immediately we noticed white smoke coming out of the exhaust.my husband turned off the car immediately and our nightmare began.towed to a service station 150 miles from home at 9:00 at night, our child and our gear, we then had to make arrangements to stay or get home some how.my brother-in-law made a 300 mile round trip to get us home to safety.the garage worked with us over the phone, tofix our car, but halfway through, via contact with ford i was told that ford would not honor any work the garage did because they were not an authorized ford dealer.the head gaskets were blown and too warped to shave down, so i had to get new ones.additionally, ford said they do not have a program to reimburse our head gasket 1400.00 bill for the 1998 year windstar....just the 1995 windstar head gasket problem...i am going to continue to pursue this issue and hope that ford will own up to their responisibility. The "customer relations number" indicated that they don't have many complaints for the 1998, so they are not taking action.please complain to ford if you have had the "pleasure" of owning one.
The clockspring failed which rendered horn and air bag inoperative.
Horn & air bag, my horn will not blow and the air bag will light is onand it stay`s on which means it is not working . The horn i tried to have some one locate the problem and the problem could not be located .
While travelingin warm weather ,making sudden stops/parking and while in stop and go traffic, vehicle would stall without any indication. Please provide further informaiton. Air bag light illuminated due to faulty module, the drivers side door adjar switch was sticking causing the door adjar light to illuminate, outer tie rod failed causing noise in the front end, vehicle experiences loss of power/slipping due to faulty transmission, check engine light illuminated and vehicle stalled, dealer replaced sensor, speedometer was off.nlm
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact was traveling 35 mph when the airbag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was neither diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was 106,000 and the current mileage was 107,000.updated 12/01/10. *ljthe consumer stated the cruise control and air bag also failed. The consumer believed they were all connected through the steering column through wiring. Updated 12/09/10
The air bag light comes on and stays on, the fuse, wiring harness and brake wires were fixed as possible cause but the light keeps on coming.
The air bag light comes on and stays on, the fuse, wiring harness and brake wires were fixed as possible cause but the light keeps on coming.
Front head on collision at 35-40 mph no deployment of any airbag.unsure of amount of damage to vehicle as accident occurred day before report filed.
While driving down street car ran stop sign,consume smashed on brakes, but still crashed into other car, upon impact,passenger's side arbag deployed and struck father in face, causing temporary blindness. Also, brakes squeaked,andpulled to right when applied. Dealer test drove vehicle, butfound nothing. Claim forms were to be sent to consumer, but were never sent.
Rear ended causing a front-end collision and neither air bag deployed. Please provide any additional information. Ts
In a frontal impactdriver's air bag malfunctioned, causing the airbag to deploy to the side, and causing injuries to the driver. Also,passenger's airbag deployed and exploded, causing the passenger to be blind.dealer could not determine the caus eof the problem.please provide further information.
Front abs brakes would make grinding noises. Had taken to dealer & mechanic changed brakes. Was driving vehicle when rearended another vehicle & the air bags failed to deploy.
I was a passenger in my 1998 ford windstar van when we struck a deer going 55 mph. The passenger side airbag caused serious injuries to my right eye, including a trauma induced cataract. So far vision has not returned and i'm worried that there may have been a defect in the passenger side airbag.*la
While driving 55 mph had a frontal impact with a deer anddriver's and passenger's airbags did deployed, but it did not deploy properly, whichseemed as ifairbags didnot deploy all the way.occupants sustained injuries.please provide further information.
The vehicle rear ended another vehicle at a low speed and the airbags did not deploy. Passenger sustained injuries and was blinded. The only damage to vehiclewas to interior. Deale rhas seen vehicle.
Ford advertised that integrated child seat belts accomodate children to 60 pounds. However, consumer's child weighing 43 pounds cannot fit into seat belt.
Locking clip harness of integrated child safety seat broke.nlm
I had difficulty finding an infant car seat that i could anchor properly in my car.i tried just about every major manufacturer's infant seat, and they all failed to restrain the seat properly aginst a front end crash.finally, i found a seat made by britax called "handle with care".this seat had a teather strap that enabled me to properly secure the seat to withstand a front end collision. I recommend that you consider requiring all manufacturers of infant (rear facing) seats to also provide teather straps.the britax seat cost $140.00.most consumers won't be able to afford such a seat.if you have any questions, please call or email me and i will be glad to provide the details. Thanks, randy haufe.
I purchased the evenflo medallion carseat (model #2541113p1, manufactured 25feb00).my 16 month old son is able to unclasp the chest buckle.i have to to stop every few blocks to relatch it.i contacted evenflo about my problem and was told that the buckle had been changed on the newer model and they would send me the new buckle.but, if i use this buckle and it does not hold, evenflo would assume no liability since i had altered the harness.they said this buckle had not been tested on my model carseat so they would not guarantee its safety ( even though they offered to give it to me, interesting don't you think?). I was told by their customer service rep that the best thing to do would be to buy a new seat.this seat cost about $100, and i purchased it because i was told that a five point harness was the safest.i truly cannot afford another seat ( although i will buy one if it is my only recourse).please advise me on my next step. Thank you for your time.
Child weighing33 pounds sits in the built-in child seatin whichharness is too high, and does not protect the childcorrectly.please provide further information.
Vehicle is a 1998 ford windstar. While driving the windshield washer,seat belt,and door ajar warning lights flash on and off. While this is happening the wiper blades stop working,power windows will not operate and on a few occasions the headlights will blink with the warning lights. I understand that this is an old vehicle but i have researched this issue and have found hundreds of complaints about the same problem. Not just restricted to this year. It is also an issue that happens just after a few years of service. I would think that wiper blades malfunctioning due to an electrical issue would be a safety concern.
Door ajar light stays on, door ajar bell rings continually when parked or driving under 17 mph, interior will not go off, problem seemed to come and go but now it seems to be here for good.unsafe to drive at night.
Electronics-door ajar warning light stays on specifically when weather is damp or mild. This causes door locks to unlock by themselves even when vehicle is in motion, also door chime keeps chimming. Battery looses power because dome lamp stays on for extended period of time.rear windshield wipers will not work if illuminated door ajar warning is caused by opening or closing rear liftgate.repairs have been made to driver door switch at the cost of $100 parts and labor, however the passenger door, side slider and rear liftgate have the same problem.im not sure if doors are really closed or not.since the doors wont stay locked, i believe this poses as a safety hazard to all passengers.mechanics have told me that this is a common problem with mini vans.
There's an electric shortage thats stopping my van from fully starting
My mini van lights would flicker while i'm driving and even after replacing the starter in the car, it still turns off while i'm driving. There's rust coming from under the car, i smell a burnt smell when i'm driving. I'm having electrical issues, my car stops when it wants to in the middle of the highway, .. It makes noises when i'm turning, i have rust coming from under my car. The signal lights flicker.while driving the windshield washer, seat belt, and door ajar warning lights flash on and off. While this is happening the wiper blades stop working,front brake rotors is causing steering wheel to shimmy when the brakes are applied.now when i turn my wheel to the left, it makes this loud nose. What is that?!
Courtesy lights will intermittenly work. They will come on when driving at night, or sometimes they will not come on at all.experiencing other electrical problems with the reverse lights, interior lights, automatic door locks, door check light, and signal lights operating intermittently, consumer states that the engine is noisy and the engine check light is always on, the seat belt is loose, passenger side arm rest is loose, and the back window wiper is inoperative.
1998 ford windstar; front brakes seem to have continuous shimmy; passenger side door lock uncooperative unlocking with remote; engine light off/on often, doesn't seem to be a reason; electrical panel malfunctioning after 104,000 miles,(engine light constantly on, abs light on, trac light constant flashing, and fuel gauge not reading gas in tank)
I have a 1998 ford windstar. It first started with my cruise control switch catching on fire and causing wires under my hood to burn... Now for the last year i have been having problems with my passenger sliding door..the sensor on the dash would show that the door was ajar(not closed) i could take the battery cable off for a while and the door light would go off. Now i have had to remove all the bulbs in the lights inside the van to keep my battery from running down this morning i get up and my battery is dead and acid from the battery is all over the post and cable wires. I talk to my mechanic he says this is due to some problem in the electrical system he said he has had to work on several windstars for the same problemsome kind of sensor fault defect.
I needed the starter replaced, my brakes, i'm having electrical issues, my car stops when it wants to in the middle of the highway,.. It makes noises when i'm turning, i have rust coming from under my car. The signal lights flickers
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar.the contact stated that there is an electrical sensor on the sliding door of the vehicle.while driving at any speed, the beeping sound does not turn off.in addition, the door ajar indicator and dome light do not dim.there is a switch that needs to be bypassed or rewired.the dealer stated that there was no recall issued for these failures.the contact stated that the failures occur everytime the vehicle is started.she has researched other consumers experiencing the same failures.the vehicle has not been repaired.the failure mileage was 126,000 and current mileage was 127,000.
Consumer states the vehicle has electrical problems.
Vehicle would not start, took vehicle to firestone and they replaced the starter. 5 days later, vehicle would not start.firestone stated it was the pin switch that drained the battery.consumer states that the transmission failed at 81000 miles.
I purchased my van from my grandfather's estate.on saturday, february 12, 2005, i was driving my 1998 ford windstar.i was traveling from a school function where i teach with my seven-year-old daughter in the van.my van seemed to have smoke coming from under the hood.i was stuck in traffic on highway 183 heading north toward cedar park where i live.i couldn't make the light at the junction of 620 to pull into a parking lot, so i went past the light and turned into the construction area just north of that intersection.i had already called my husband to meet me because i was concerned about the van.when i pulled in, i popped the hood and saw small flames and smoke coming from the driver side rear section under the hood.i dropped the hood and grabbed my daughter from the car.i then called 911 and they dispatched the fire department.while i waited, i pulled a bottle of water from the van, popped the hood and sprinkled water on the flames.when the fire department found me, the fire was smaller.they finished putting out the fire and told me that i probably saved my van by sprinkling water on it.it appeared to be electrical and near the area where the cruise control is located.i was in tears by the time my husband arrived and it was a horrible experience.i am grateful that we were not injured, but am furious that ford has not recalled my van.i did have it repaired at computer age automotive in cedar park and my insurance agent is ryan with state farm whom i did submit the claim.i was told that state farm does not have plans to pursue ford. I don't want another family to have this problem.it could have been a extremely bad situation.
Various problem with power lock locking byitself/windshield wipers working intermittently/dome light not operating, anddoor ajar light staying on. Vehicle been in / out of dealer shop on several occasions, and problems still reoccurring. Possible electrical problem with failure of power locks, windshield wipers, dome light, door ajar light, door ajar switch,lift gate door ajar switch, battery saver relay inoperable, and washer light illuminating.brakes noisy at times, dealer stated this was due to brake dust.power steering is noisy when turning back and forth, dealer replaced tie rod end.sliding door rattles while driving over bumps, dealer added foam tape to back side of panel, driver door rattles, sliding door hard to open at times, dealer lubed sliding hinges and latch.dealer replaced shocks due to rattling noise when riding over bumps.drivebelt replaced.maf sensor replaced due to hesitation.window guide did not fit tight.
Brake fluid leaking from cruise control reset switch, fluid dripping on wiring and controller switch for transmission.i am very concerned about fire potential with the brake fluid dripping on electrical wires and contacts that have constant 12 volt source.this same design has caused deaths do to fires.....
We have always had trouble with this van - we bought it used(1 yr old) so we had no recourse as far as warranties go. We finally were able to take it in to the ford dealership and have the light problem looked at - they replaced a sensor for $140 and as soon as we drove 45 miles it started up again! we were on our way on a road trip and i called to tell them it failed, but when we got back two weeks later they claimed that it must be something different... Interior lights do not shut off, removed door ajar chime so we didn't have to listen to that while driving all the time,door ajar light has been on continuously for more than 3 years, we've had to remove the dome lights and turn the other lights to "off" so our battery doesn't go dead over night - the passenger floor lights remain on however and get very hot... The doors do not lock because the car thinks it's doors are open! the car has become dangerous to drive and the problem has stumped too many mechanics to list - when driving above 40 mph the right wheel starts making a 'thumping' noise and when turning left or accelerating it becomes almost deafening, now it's making a very loud screech if, but don't want to sell this death-trap to anyone else either you turn too sharply - there is a continuous squeaking noise coming from the same area. Please help!! thank you, [xxx]ps... Cruise control doesn't work and the back wiper only works if you're backing up... Have had the van realigned continually and i just bought another set of tires in june and the left front tire is already worn out... The right passenger's window sometimes doesn't roll back up and the service engine light stays onsometimes for months for no reason as well as the brake light... Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Dinging from faulty switch while driving - interferes with drivers concentration and emergency warning sirens and horns.
For several years the abs light and the tracking light have automatically lit up, although there is no brake problems.
My 1998 windstar caught fire today.the fire appeared to start in the driver's door lock component.the entire driver's seat was destroyed, the windshield melted and cracked and the ceiling and dashboard melted.the entire van is smoke-damaged.the van had several auto-lock, instrumentation and door ajar problems which had been addressed by the dealership. *nlm
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar.the brake indicator illuminated on the instrument panel.whenever the brake pedal was depressed, the speedometer would malfunction.the contact took the vehicle to a mechanic and was informed that there was a brake fluid leak.the technician further stated that the speedometer failure was linked to brake fluid ingressed into the abs module.the manufacturer has not been notified.through online research, the contact found an investigation number pe08035 for the same failure.the investigation was closed with no recall issued, but he believes that the investigation should have led to a recall.the mechanic replaced a vehicle speed deactivation switch to stop the leaking; however, the abs module still needs to be replaced.the contact believes that the manufacturer should be responsible for the repair.the current and failure mileages were 82,818.
Vehicle has been in the shop seven times in a two and a half years. Repairs included transmission replacement, brake calipers replacement, and the electrical system problems.
After stopping a my van, the interior lights do not turn off and the dashboard shows an open door although all doors are closed. The beeping noise indicating the door is opened continues to make noise. The doors no longer lock. This condition continued even when the car is running. The dealer said to just remove the interior bulbs or just pull the fuse. When the dealer pulled thefused the brake lights no longer worked and the car could no longer go out of park but the interiorlights went out. The dealer said i must start the car with gear shifthalf way between park and neutral.the dealer said this is a very unique problem and is caused by something that i did. I stated that'sabsurd. The ford dealer mechanic then said it must be one of sensors probably the drivers door.nowi see there are others that havethe exact same problem. This is a very serious and dangerous problem.
Abs system is constantly malfunctioning, brakes give out, traction control is turning off and on.drivers side lock does not work with alarm remote.
Thursday oct. 5, 2006 at 7:00 pm, my van was sitting in the parking lot at my son's high school where it caught fire and was completely destroyed. I was not notified of any problems with my windstar van.
1998 ford windstar caught on fire while parked at dentist.fire dept was called and the vehicle is totaled.
Continual problems with interior lights and locks because of the door ajar monitor. Have to use passenger side door to enter because drivers door normally sets it off, and have to unplug battery to let system reset, so battery does not go dead which normally takes a couple of days.locks will lock and unlock on their own while driving.door ajar will also activate with the other doors on its own while you are driving.this has been happening for at least two years.everytime i wanted to take it to the dealer, it would stop and the dealer said they could do nothing unless it was happening at the time.
Abs light comes on intermittently and red brake light stays on constantly.while this is happening, the rear windshield wiper will not shut off, and the front windshield wipers do not work.the check engine soon light is constantly on.the turn signals are blinking rapidly or not working on some occasions.my warranty has expired as of last year.the transmission has already been rebuilt and we had problems with the door ajar warning lights not going off and the door lock motor had to be replaced because at first they were locking on their own repeatedly.i feel like these were all a result of wiring problems, but we had such a hard time getting all of the other things repaired that i'm not looking forward to going back to the dealer again, especially since the warranty has expired.this vehicle has been a lemon the whole time we have owned it.
1998 windstar van was parked in the front yard key out of it i was insidei heard a noise looked out the engine part was on fire i was moving my personal things i lost everything i own i left everything in the van including my purse w/ my money and id inside.
I purchased a 1998 windstar van from the ford dealer located in corning ca. I have had nothing but trouble with it passing smog for the oxy sensor. And the transmission has never worked right. The turbo thing is bad. When i went to trade it in i found that the vehicle was out of canada. And these things were part of the recalls reported to you. But, ford of corning said they did nothing to this van before selling it to me. I found 14 things wrong with this vehicle. I acted up a month after purchase.but i was on aware of my rights as a consumer. Also, i was not sure what oms meant. The van is stuck in folsom,ca at aamco transmission repair shop. Financed through fireside bank. Ford of corning said they did nothing to the van before i purchased it but cleaning it.
Abs and brake light on, and no speed control.
My mini van lights would flicker while i'm driving and even after replacing the starter in the car, it still turns off while i'm driving. There's rust coming from under the car, i smell a burnt smell when i'm driving. I don't know how my vin number wasn't part of the recall, so many things is wrong with the van, one thing after another.. Please help me
Consumer called complaining about the recall received on the vehicle. Also stated that she hadthis problem butthe dealer never paid attention to the complaints. Ts
Abs brake light came on intermittently for a couple weeks then began to stay on. New brakes & rotors/drums all around. Now problem with brakes but light will not go off. Also airbag light came on about two weeks after the abs light. It will not go off either.
Right after purchasing the vehicle, i started having problem with it. I addressed the seller, and he told me that the vehicle had no warranty, and so that i should just take the vehicle and take care of the problem by myself. I have had numerous of problems with this vehicle. When i purchased the vehicle, i feel i was used because i am poor, and was desperate for a vehicle. Other people that have purchased a vehicle from them have had the same problem. I don't know what actions can be taken to correct the matter any longer. I haven't given a payment for about 4 months, because i have had to fix the vehicle. Mainly transmissionand electrical problems. I have also had steering wheel problems, and tire problems.*la
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. While driving approximately 50 mph, the transmission became stuck in overdrive. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer who stated that the main control valve was defective; it was replaced. The contact later began having issues with the brakes as they locked up when the contact applied them to avoid a deer. The vehicle crashed into the woods as a result. A police report was filed. The contact sustained neck injuries. The contact was informed that the abs tone ring seal had cracked; it was repaired. The failure continued and the dealer then replaced the tone ring and sensor. Months later, the brakes began to grab. The entire brake assembly was replaced four times. Furthermore, the contact noticed that the electrical system was defective. The switch assist in all doors was replaced in 2005. In 2011, the contact had the same failure with the switch for the driver side mirror. The dealer replaced the switch on the driver side mirror and checked the latches on the doors because the door light was constantly illuminated. The dealer also replaced all the sensor assists for the doors. The door ajar light was still illuminated. The failure mileage was 4,400 and the current mileage was 72,000.
I currently own a 1998 ford windstar.i have had this van for two years.i bought it with 38000 miles on it and now have 66000 miles on it.up till about a month ago, i had no problems as i have loved this van.but i did run into a peculiar problem that seems that most people are having with this van as i have checked numerous websites and web posts on the internet as well as my friends that have formerly owned this vehicle.the door ajar censor inside the doors wear, causing the computersto recognize the car doors to be shut.this emits a beeping sound that steadily beeps till you rise above 15 mph.also, the lights stay on and since ford built these vans all the same way, you cannot simply fix it without spending at least 500 dollars if your lucky.also, another problem has risen just recently.my transmission has started to slip.i expected normal wear-and-tear, but it seems that when you reach a certain threshold, as many of other people have experienced once hitting 65000 miles on this particular van, the transmission goes completely.i would like to send an awareness to ford to fix this problem in their newer vans, if a problem emerged and to future buyers of this year of van.this has cost me over 2500 dollars and i must admit, is not worth it.this van is by far the worst investment i have ever made, and i do not recommend buying one.thank you.
On december 16th 2009. I was driving down west 117th towards madison/lakewood in cleveland, ohio and was trying to come to a stop (slow down and stop) to allow an ambulance to pass (there was a car in front of me that was also slowing downa nd that came to a stop at the street lot)this is on a major street near an highway intersection. I put my foot on my brake to slow down the vehicle and come to a stop but it would not slow down or stop. The brake had went out. I ended up hitting the car in front of me hard (an suv) and doing quite a bit of damage to my vehicle. The other driver vehicle was so far as i could tell undamaged. On my vehicle the front light is broken, my bumper is damaged, and my hood is damaged. I, myself and the driver i hit could have gotten seriously injured. So far we are bothfine and no injuries occurred. However he may turn around and come after me if he decides to. And i now can not drive my vehicle. I received a recall notice on my vehicle brake about a month ago around early november. Maybe in end of october. The very day of my accident (happened around 12:15 noon) i was going to go home and call ford about the recall. There is a worldwide recall on my vehicle model and many others. And i have had nothing but problems since i bought it. I have had to make numerous repairs on it and still had problems and this accident. Ford should be held responsible for this and should compensate me with another vehicle in good condition especially since i have spent so much time and money into replacement parts for this windstar. Or give me my money back or something. I'm glad my kids were not with me when this happened and that the man i hit was also alone and is ok. What can be done about this?i have had to replace the following items since i got this vehicle:o2 sensors (both), alternator, belt, windshield wiper blade, and make back blades don't work at all, the transmission, the steering column box, door handle and components inside and more!
Dt:the vehicle had been parked for about 15 mins before it caught on fire.the doors locked, and the windshield wipers were running on their own. The fire departmentcame and had to cut the battery cable to stop the vehicle. The keys were left inside the vehicle on the console in between the two front seats.a report was filed with the fire department.the dealer stated they had not received any reports of fires on windstars. Manufacturer was contacted, and caller filed a complaint.they will get back to him. Vehicle was totaled, and it was towed away. Thecaller did not know what started the fire.
Dt:while parked on the street, somehow in the night, an electrical fire ignited on the left passenger seat behind the driver seat located at the second electrical outlet.it was so hot it melted the car seat and paneling near the armrest.the glass didn't break but paint to outside of car is peeling off.center and console was destroyed.the fire went out somewhere near the front. No repairs have been made.
About 10 minutes after parking and turning off my 1998 ford windstar the car filled with smoke coming from steering column. Later car would not start from keyswitch.
Interior lights inpassenger's compartment remain illuminated. Consumer stated that battery had to be disconnected. Dealer has yet to be contacted. Please provide further details.
While driving vehicle stalls. When vehicle shuts off, engine checkand battery lights come on.
When applying brake pedal became stiff and the vehicle did not stop or slow down. Has happened 5 times, once resulting in a crash. Also happened in reverse. Dealer has seen vehicle3 times, and thoughit was the leaking battery acidwhichwas causing causing the defect.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated that the vehicle taken to a local mechanic for inspection of the sub frame when the contact was advised that the sub frame was severely corroded and that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The contact stated that the brake lines were also found to be corroded. The brake lines were replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the sub frame failure and denied any assistance with the repair. The sub frame was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 114,000.the tie rods, front wheel bearings and battery had to be replaced within one year of owning the vehicle. The wheel cylinders, brake adjusters, spring kit, drums, rotors, shoes, and pads all had to be replaced. Also, the turn signal level stopped working for the left side. When the brake was applied, it went to the floor and then pulsated back up, and then the abs light illuminated. Updated 02/01/12
The negative battery cable cover is broken and replaced.
Consumer has experienced several problems with the transmission, dealer has replaced it once, however problems continue, consumer has filed for a request for arbitration, vehicle bucks, jerks, and jumps into gear before taking off.vehicle shimmies from one side to another upon acceleration, there is a thumping sound heard also at times while driving.vehicle experienced a speed sensor circuit problem.speedometer jumps.problem with power steering, dealer adjusted rack and pinion and made other repairs to steering mechanism.right side brake light bulb failed.battery failed.consumer stated it felt as if vehicle was going to stall sometimes, engine has no power at acceleration, engine belt was noisy and was replaced.tire had a slow leak due to loose tire valve.
The engine was making a noise and it was reported and supposedly fixed by local dealer. However, within one month the alternator failed as well as the power steering box. Since it isn't under warrenty (36,000), dealer won't repair without cost.
A "beep" noise was coming from the vehicle, no warning lights on the dash, and dealer cannot determine where the beep noise came from, then a fire started due to alternator wiring burning.finally,dealerinsisted thatthe beeping noisewas an indicator for a problem, but not part of theinstrument panel.*ml
Alternator failed.nlm
From the rear of the alternator comes a high pitched squeal.mechanics are telling us to replace the unit which is not under warranty.shouldn't this part be a lifetime warranty?why did it fail right after the 36000 mile warranty ran out?
Horn & air bag, my horn will not blow and the air bag will light is onand it stay`s on which means it is not working . The horn i tried to have some one locate the problem and the problem could not be located .
The clockspring failed which rendered horn and air bag inoperative.
When driving at any speed at any given timeand without prior warningvehicle cut off, causing loss of all power. Consumer has contacted dealer, dealer has replaced parts, problem still occurs. Please provide any further details.
Car stop/stall abruptly, either driving (0-10mph), while turning, or waiting at the red light. Almost got a ticket for stallling in mid traffic, and almost caused an accident.
Van experiences stalling at stops and while moving, ford stated that the problem was with bad programming when the van was new, but they will not correct the problem since vehicle is out of warranty, consumer feels if this was a problem while the vehicle was new and ford was aware of it, then they should be responsible for it.
The engine stalled at low speed, followed by brake & steering failures. This has occured 2 times.
Over the past several months, we have experienced problems with the engine stalling during a left hand turn, thus causing the steering wheel to freeze up and we've had close calls on accidents. Luckily we live in a rural area where we have the time to put the car in neutral or park, restart it, then complete the turn. The car has also stalled for no apparent reason when coming to a fast stop at a red light or in a driveway after completing a partial turn. It is very scary. I'm worried that the next time this happens, it may cause an accident. We have two young drivers in the family, and it has happened to them as well.do you have any suggestions? we live over 3 hours away from the dealer we purchased the car from. Have other windstar owners expereinced this problem? please advise.
Intermittently vehicle stalls and dies without warning. Dealer has inspectedvehicle several times, and has not been able to duplicate or correct the problem.
Consumer has contacted several dealers in regard to recall 0110077000, ignition control . All dealers were refusing to provideservice in regard to these recalls. Please provide further information.
Vehicle will stall intermittently without warning.usually happens at slow speeds and while turning, causing safety hazard, especially in traffic. Cause is unknown.
The van stalled, or "cut out" when making left hand turns, or while at low rpm's. We took the van back to the dealer, and they contacted ford. Ford seemed to know about the problem, and directed the type of repair to be made, according to what we were told. I gave the dealer a news item about the exact same problem ford had in california with millions of cars stalling, and that resulted in a recall in california. "stalling" is a very serious problem and i feel that ford should have recalled my van in the first place ( rather than expose me and my family to injury) and ford should have had to pay for the repair ( which amounted to about $500). If they knew about the problem and if they agreed to fix the problem in california, why shift the cost of repair to me?
Intermittently whenbrakes are applied and making a sharp turn or going over a speed bump, vehicle stalls out and dies without warning.dealer has been notified, and will inspectvehicle.
Ongoing problem with stalling intermittently when making left turn or at a stop light.vehicle been in dealer shop on two occasions, andproblem still reoccurring. Please feel free to provide any further details on this matter.
The ignition stopped and this is later than the reported ignition problems reported in the detroit free press on 9-14-00.when the car went in for warranty work, ford claimed that it was just a "computer problem."when driving a new car, i don't enjoy having the car stop for no reason, especially in traffic.this ignition problem seems to be occurring in later model cars as my windstar is a 1998.i also have a disgusting smell that emanates from the heater/airconditioner which has been reported numerous times and has not ever been repaired.they put in deodorizer, but the smell still reeks when the heat or air conditioning is put on at any level. What is the problem?
While driving about any speed the engine will stall without a prior warning. Other vehicles will try to avoid crashing into consumer'svehicle.
Intermittent stalling while driving or at a stop position. Vehicle been in dealer shop on one occasion ,and independent repair shop on two occasions. But,problem still reoccurring.
Engine stalled on an off .called dealership, they said because of the emission control was on recall campain.after they fixed the emssion control, the problem still existed.brought the car in and the dealer said it is out of warranty.nothing they can do.the recall just done about 3 months ago this year.
Engine shuts down intermittently when decelerating into a turn.it also shuts down momentarily (vehicle "bucks") or fully (stalls completely) during normal driving, independent of speed.the latter problem is much more common than the former!consequence: several near-miss rear-end collisions,especially at highway speeds.the dealership could not replicate the problem. Anindependent technician replicated but could not properly repair the problem(s).the problems have been occurring for more than two years.
For no apparent reason the vehicle just cuts off while driving.the first time a computer adjustment was made, the second time(july 23rd) the electric fuel pump was replaced. The vehicle is being service for the third time(aug 5th) for the same problem. Each time the vehicle had to be towed to the dealership.
Vehicle stalls out intermittently ,there is no prior warning , when vehicle completely stallsit will lose allpower brakes and steering. Manufacturer sent out tsb, stating computer needs to be reprogramed.
Vehicle is stalling when slowing down/turning and in parking maneuvers possibly due to computer misfire and carbon build in engine. 3 tsbs have been issued.
The van would stall out at low speeds, particularly when turning.this occurred several times in heavy traffic and while turning across a lane of traffic.the ford dealer said there had been a service bulletin, but no recall on this problem.they charged me to reprogram the p cm module.i wrote to ford motor company, seeking reimbursement for the repair because i considered it a safety issue.further, the company was apparently aware of the problem.they refused to reimburse me for the repair.
Vehicle stalled while sitting idle in a drive through restaurant. Also happened10 months earlier in middle of an intersection while making a left turn.told by ford service that programming error in computer that causes system to shut off at low or idle speed.service has reprogrammed computer and says shouldn't happen again.why isn't this a recall issue if they are aware of this and potential for injury is great?
Three months after ownership the vehicle was experiencing vibration and stalling, three separate visits to the dealership to correct the computer software adjustments.*mjs
1. Transmission will shift erratically , and a loud noise will occur and motor will shake. Ford engineering was sent out and determinedtransmission needed work, but no dealer will honor warranty.2. Brakes will fail in the winter and in slippery roads, causing pedal to go to floor and vehicle will not stop.3. All doors lock by themselves/lights flash on and off, and heater and defroster motor will come on even without the key in the igntion. Vehicle will even start up by itself.
Consumer stated key cylinder turns hard, dealer unable to duplicate.
Consumer started vehicle, ignition switch spun around and all electrical functions stayed on. Vehicle was towed to dealer, please provide additional information.
Consumer placed key inside ofignition,turned vehicle on, and she tookkey out ofignition.ignition switch popped out. Dealership was aware ofproblem.
Consumer stated key cylinder turns hard, dealer unable to duplicate.
Problems with transmission, torque, power steering, and front end stable rods & arms. *mr the transmission and torque had been replaced twice, the power steering once, the font end stable rods and arms twice and remained bad.the battery light had come on and the idler pulley was replaced, there was a creaking/cracking noise when turning the wheel and the outer tie rods were replaced along with the toe being reset, there was a clunk when going over the bumps, there was a vibration underneath due to the transmission, the engine light would come on and off and seemed like the shifts were erratic, the transmission leaked badly, and on some occasions the starter did not engage. *scc
Relays failed.
This vehicle has had numerous braking problems/axles/sway bars/calipers/electrical problems
The warning sound that a door is ajar will continually go off even when all doors are securely shut.i have had this replaced twice at my own expense and it is doing it again. It will eventually reset itself after day or more.this has been a continual problem and i am just getting tired of it.it has happened after i have replaced the switches, and fuses.ford motor company needs to take care of this obvious problem.
See 10053790*tc
The fuse in the fuel pumpblew out on three separate occasions. When this occurred the vehicle stalled.upon replacing the fuel pump, the consumer checked the wiring in the fuel pump. They noticed that the wires were rubbing against a metal clamp or pipe , which caused the installation to rub off.
Consumer states the gas gauge was inoperative, the dealer had already replaced the fuel pump and determined that the problem was a pinched wire coming out from the top of the fuel tank, which shorted out the fuel sending unit.
Switch of rear defroster shorted out, causing dash panel to melt.ts.
Abs light comes on intermittently and red brake light stays on constantly.while this is happening, the rear windshield wiper will not shut off, and the front windshield wipers do not work.the check engine soon light is constantly on.the turn signals are blinking rapidly or not working on some occasions.my warranty has expired as of last year.the transmission has already been rebuilt and we had problems with the door ajar warning lights not going off and the door lock motor had to be replaced because at first they were locking on their own repeatedly.i feel like these were all a result of wiring problems, but we had such a hard time getting all of the other things repaired that i'm not looking forward to going back to the dealer again, especially since the warranty has expired.this vehicle has been a lemon the whole time we have owned it.
Consumer smelled a burning odor that got stronger as time progressed.a blackish color smokecamefrom thevents. Then, there were flames from the driver's seat, and vehicle caught on fire.the fire was caused by electrical system failure.*tc
Service manager at ford of ocala tells us thereis a ford technical bulletin about a chafed electrical wire in or near the fuel tanks on these vehicles...this given as a possible reason my98 windstar is having fuel problems.
I was driving after making a right-hand turn and started to smell something unusual.i checked my warning lights but there was no indication of a problem so i continued to drive hoping to make it home.the whole time that i continued to drive, i kept checking my warning lights because a still smelled something.when i had to stop at a traffic light a few minutes later, i started to see smoke and was going to pull into an adjacent parking lot when a bunch of people ran up to my car and yelled to get out of the car.it was on fire.someone grabbed my toddler and i quickly turned off the car and grabbed my dog.we got away from the car but the fire died down significantly after the engine was off.other people had called the fire department and police by then.other people put out what was left of the fire while i cared for my terrified child and contacted the auto club and relatives to help.the dealership said that there was a hole in one of my lines that leaked onto the engine causing the fire.they claimed because several lines were burned up that they could not determine which one it was.they acted as though fires are common " but 50,000 is a little early" for this to happen.if i did not have an extended warranty, i would have been paying for everything out of pocket.after the incident, i looked my car up on your website and found odi id 753227 which sounded like the same situation i had.
Dt*: the contact stated while traveling 10 mph, the engine began to smoke.the vehicle was pulled over and the contact noticed a fire under the hood on the passenger side.the contact waited for the fire to extinguish itself, and then the vehicle was towed to the residence.the vehicle was not inspected by a mechanic.
I was drivingour 1998 ford windstar northwoods edition from the shopping center parking lot on 12-24-06 when the van began to smoke. The smoke came into the car as i turned on the heater. I pulled the car immediately to the side of the road and called 911.within minutes the car wasfully on fire.there were no previous problems with the car.i believe that the fire started in the right front near the dashboard,the fire came through the firewall at that point, and that is where the smoke started and the flame first came out and where the most intense damage is.needless to say the car is totaled and we are now without a much needed vehicle.the tow truck operator stated this was the third ford windstar in this area to burn like this.
Was driving approximately 60mph with rear defroster on.vehicle overheated & blew a hole through rear window,causing a fire which melted the plastic interior of vehicle. Owner thought maybe it was an electrical short. Vehicle at dealership now for repairs.
Van went on fire under hood at this time landmark ford in tigard oregon doesnt know the cause of this fire it is there at this time waiting to be repaired
While traveling 30 to 40 mph transmission started slipping and smoke started coming from underneath hood of vehicle. Consumer pulled off toside ofroad and turned vehicle off. Consumer examinedvehicle and found that there was fluid leaking fromengine , pool of fluid was approximately 2 feet in diameter on the ground.dealership examinedvehicle and could not determine that there was a problem withvehicle.informedconsumer that no fluids leaked fromvehicle. Also, this vehicle was not affected by any recalls.dealer finally replaced transmission with a refurbished one after a field engineer stating it was faulty.
While driving smoke was coming from the vents and from the hood. Consumerpulled over to the shoulder, lifted up the hood, and saw flames. Vehicle caught on fire.consumer extinguished the fire, and had the vehicle towed to the dealer for inspection by the insurance company.
On the evening of october 12th 2001, while driving with my wife and children in our 98 gl windstar to see a cousin of mine. We approached a semicircle curve on a hill, as i turned my wheel to the right entering on to the curve, when all of a sudden smoke started to come from the bottom of my vehicle. My first thought was that the car was overheating but then fire was starting to come out as well. I yelled to everyone on board to exit the vehicle and stay some distance away. As the flames were getting worse. I had to pop open the hood and see if i could control the fire. I saw the flame shoot out of the bottom and the sides of the car. I immediately turned off the car and then disconnected the positive battery cable on the advice of a stranger that was there. Another person came with a bucket of water and we managed to douse the fire out. My cousin arrived later towards where we were as my wife had notified him by cellular of our situation. We took the vehicle to his home and in the morning he took a look at the car to see what had caused it to flame. He noticed that power steering fluid was visible and that the power steering pressure hose had rubbed with time on the rack and pinion or something metallic of the car slowly forming a groove on the hose about an inch and a half wide and about 1/4 inch deep. This created a hole in the groove where it was rubbing when i made my turn on the hill, thus pouring out power steering fluid on to the catalic converter which then started to smoke and fire. Importantly the protective fire cover placed on this pressure hose had worn out as well. I have only 63,256 miles on the car. I thank god that we are all safe and thank god for those who assisted us and also thank god that this did not happen to my wife and children while i was not there. I can't imagine being out alone and having this happen to someone else then having a great catastrophe with some deaths. I have kept the power steering hose as evidence of my situation.
While driving my 1998 ford windstar on the highway, i smelled smoke.i pulled to side of the road thinking at first that i had a broken fan belt or something similar. I got out of the car, opened the hood to find flames coming from the area of what i believe is the electrical wiring harness on the drivers side of the engine compartment.i used my cell phone to call for the fire department.before the fire department arrived, a motorist stopped to assist me in putting out the fire with water.
Fuse controlling onboard computer and ingnition system fails randomly without warning.engine stalls as a result and all power to brakes and steering is lost as well.this has happened five times since the middle of may 2002.twice on the highway and once in the middle of an intersection.we have taken this vehicle to three different mechanics, including a ford dealer (kerry ford, 165 kemper road, cincinnati, ohio45246 (513)671-9900).none can replicate the problem.kerry ford said all they can do is start replacing parts (at the cost of several thousand dollars) based on their best guess and hope it fixes the problem.i've called ford customer service and they have refused to pay for any of the repairs because the vehicle is out of warranty.pleas that the safety of my family is involved fall on deaf ears.frankly, we do not have several thousand dollars to put into this car hoping that it will fix the problem.moreover, i can't sell the vehicle without disclosing this problem and putting someone else's family in danger.we are left with a car that is too expensive to fix and worth absolutely nothing.the manufacturer is unresponsive.we have nowhere to turn.any help would be appreciated.
When driving and turning corner the vehicle just cut off and would not start back up.had to be towed.a fuse leading to the fuel pump blew out. Dealer contacted, and has not remedied the problem.
When vehicle received from dealer, the rear a/c -heater unit fan inop. Dealer reported"replaced fuse". 4 weeks later rear heater, a/c unit again inop. Due to lack of faith in dealer abilities, owner repaired fault. Found 60 amp current limiter blown. Traced fault to main power wire between fuse block and a/c control panel chafed/burned to chassis weld point located under carpet by drivers left foot rest. Wiring repaired, weld point ground flush, 60 amp current limiter replaced.
When i stopped my van, the interior lights would not turn off and the dashboard showed an open door, though all doors were tightly closed.this condition persisted even with the engine running.we had to pull the interior fuse so we could drive at night - a dangerous situation indeed!the san jose (california) mercury newspaper has an "action line" column where i saw others who have the exact same problem as mine.i took in my car to a ford dealer, but they charged me $85 for not even finding the problem.they said they could not duplicate it.i think ford knows about this but won't issue a recall.please help!
After each fill up car stalls after one block while driving, but the car restarts. Interior and headlites at times will not go on, delays about 10 mins then goes on this is intermit. Problem. Rear windows also intermit. Opens after a fewtimes when button is depressed. Used car dealer will check on nov. 2nd. Is this a problem with ford?
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Passenger mirror glass just fell out.interior lights do not shut off when vehicle is put in gear.
While driving on highway at 65 mph occupants started smelling smoke that was coming from the front left side of the dashboard. Within seconds of pulling off the highway vehicle caught on fire.the fire marshall couldn't find the cause of the fire because the front of the van was severely burnt.....
The amp to the radio and cd keeps burning out and the last time it caught onfire. It's been fixed (again) but i'm still scared to drive it. My van stinks like electrical burnt transformer. They said they found a short, but i wonder??? also, why is my exhaust putting out so much black soot on my van? i clean it off and every time i drive it, it becomes all sooted up again.my left tie rod went out too.is that normal for such low mileage? i'm very unhappy with this vehicle.
I have a 98 windstar mini van . After the minivan has been running for awhile and you go to stop it will go dead or what you call stalls.so after i crank it back up and try to take off again it will stall again.so therefore i have to make sure there is no traffic coming,because there has been some close calls of me and my children getting into a wreck due to this piece of $#*$.the interior lights will not go off, so my husband had to take the light bulbs out: also the passenger side window will not go down or up.this thing is so bad i wish jimm skinner ford would have just kept the piece of $#*$.
Door locks are not working properly.they will lock at times, and not lock at other times. Also, instrument panel will illuminate showing thatdoor is not closed when it is. Please provide more information.
My mini van lights would flicker while i'm driving and even after replacing the starter in the car, it still turns off while i'm driving. There's rust coming from under the car, i smell a burnt smell when i'm driving. I don't know how my vin number wasn't part of the recall, so many things is wrong with the van, one thing after another.. Please help me
Abs light is on.
My rear axle broke and then my door ajar constantly goes off even when doors are closed. The axle broke rear drivers side leaving me stranded. I was driving in town 20 mph.
Abs system is constantly malfunctioning, brakes give out, traction control is turning off and on.drivers side lock does not work with alarm remote.
My windstar has about 155,000 miles on it and a 25 gallon tank.about six months ago it cut off on the interstate in front of a tractor trailer with my daughter driving.it had just traveled about 200 miles and it was raining hard.we had it towed to a ford dealer and all he reported was the fuel pump fuse blew.the second event was on vacation and after driving about 175 miles. Again it was pouring down rain.i figured it was moisture related and let it sit three days and the idle close to 1/2 hour.finally i drove it about 45 minutes and it seemed fine so we drove home.again at about 150 miles and heavy rain it blew the fuse about 5 miles from home.after two more fuses we made it home.i used an air compressor and air nibbler to carefully cut an access hole in the floor of the van. My daughters chrysler comes with an access point for fuel pump service.now my van has one too.the original pump was in the tank.the wires exposed to fuel were chaffed in 5 spots and arcing at the push in connector.the arcing was due to a crimp on a hose clamp rubbing the wire near the push in pump connector.this rubbing may happen due to other stories i've read about where the tank collapsed from vacuum in the tank.shame on the people who designed this pump, tank and the assembly process.by the way i'm a quality engineer at an engine factory.i expect a fuel pump to wear out -- not short out.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission failed intermittently and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 182,000.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated that while driving 10 mph during warm weather, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 144,000.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. While driving at approximately 40 mph, there was an abnormal noise and vibrations coming from the rear driver side of the vehicle. The contact observed that the rear driver side wheel turned inwards and the check engine warning indicator illuminated continuously. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
Was driving down the road @ 55mph and the speedometer shot to 0mph and the trans was thrown into 1st. This happened several times. I am looking for a resolution.it acts as if vss isn't working. Even threw a code. I replaced the sensor and checked the wires all the way to the ecm. Everything looks quite good.ran a scanner. Picked up several codes. Vss and abs sensors all around.pulled cluster: everything looked great. The only fault i can think of is ecm unless abs system has the ability to affect the drive like that.
At approximately 57,600 miles my 1998 ford windstar developed an antifreeze leak. I took the vehicle to my local garage and it was diagnosed as a leak at the timing cover gasket. I had this repaired at a cost of $1453. Two weeks later, as i was driving to a baseball game, my car began to stall. It was hard to start, and the oil light was flickering when the car was running and there was a loud rattle coming from the engine. There was no warning before this happened, the temperature gauge was normal, no rattling sounds from the engine,etc. I had the car towed back to my local garage. My mechanic diagnosed the rattling noise as coming from the lower bearings, the engine bearings were failing at 57,800 miles!!!! i called my local ford dealer where i had bought the windstar and asked them if there were any open programs on the engine, since when the timing cover gasket had failed, i had searched the internet to see if this was a common failure( it was). The ford dealer was no help, i then called ford customer service and they were no help. I then wrote a letter to william clay ford and he had a blaine yung call me on 5/8/2004. Mr. Yung was also no help, quoting that the warranty was 3 yrs./36,000 miles. Meanwhile i had to have the car repaired at a cost of $4200, new remanufactured engine, tune-up, etc. I believe that the defect on the timing cover gasket which caused the original antifreeze leak, leaked antifreeze into the crankshaft and caused the engine failure. This car has been well maintained and should have gotten me at least to 120,000 miles before i need to replace an engine. I have owned many other cars and have gotten at 150,000 miles out of them before i had to do any major repairs (engine or transmission). I feel ford should back their products and own up to this defect.*la
I just found out that my head gasket is blown on my 1998 ford windstar.i read up on this and saw that this has been an ongoing problem with ford and they haven't done anything to correct this problem nor do they offer you a solution to fix this problem at their expense.
1998 ford windstar, 3.8 engine. I have problems it started stalling when i stopped at a light or stop, suddenly the car stopped. Also when it was in the parking . Mechanic made the tune-up but still doing so, now it is doing a white cloud of steam, if i accel, it comes worst, should i wait for a recall or it's a normal problem?
No problems with the windstar before the incident.the vehicle was parked and unattended when the owner was alerted by other residents that it was on fire.the smoke was white in color and coming from the front left area of the engine compartment.at the time the fire department arrived, the fire had made its way through the fire wall into the passenger compartment.the investigator determined the fire appeared to have started in the front left corner of the engine compartment evident by the heavier burning in that areathere is a v-pattern noted on the back side of the radiator pointing to the center of the engine.the fire appeared to have breached the fire wall at the area where the main wiring harness and steering columns come through into the passenger compartment.cause was ruled undetermined.
When we purchased the van, we also bought a diamondkote warranty ,for 499.99$ and told at the time of purchase that is was a good warranty.we then found out that we should not have been sold the warranty and plaza ford lincoln will not honor it, we can't even get a refund, so we spoke to someone at diamondkote and this person told us that we should not have been sold the warranty and have been trying to get a refund ever since,either from plaza ford lincoln or diamondkote. I had intentions of suing ford motor company two years ago when my husband took my two daughters to halifax, because my 8 year old had cancer at the time, she had a appointment at the i.w.k hospital and it was by the grace of god that thay were not killed when the front suspention spring broke in which case my husband lost steering. I spoke to a lawyer who sadly told, because there was no death or injury there was nothing he could do,well my 8 year old who is now cancer free was so scared, shestill gets very scared to get in a vehicle. I could go on but for now this is just the begining. I am going to pursue the matter of the diamondkote warranty further,and possibly more.we have had alot of vehicals before but never a ford with as much trouble as this has been.
Two weeks ago our 1998 ford windstar minivan, with 220,000 miles on it, caught fire under the hood while parked, and was totally destroyed.we had been carefully following the maintenance schedule from ford motor company. During the week before the fire, we had problems with the interior lights not always turning off when we exited the van.
Head gasket failure on 3.8 liter v-6 engine
Head gasket blew. Never ran hot. Always serviced on time. Talked to owner at the ford dealership, who in turn had me talk to the service mgr. He told me he would look into it and see if there was anything ford would do about it. He never called me back, so i called him after a week. He said he left a message on my answering machine. I don't have an answering machine...then he tells me the only problems with the 3.8 engines was in the t-birds, not the windstars. By this time i have already looked on the net and seen the problems are with the windstars as well. He then tells me to come in and talk with the owner. I had already taken off work to do this. I now have the van at my mechanic to be repaired. I will never again buy a ford product. I personally believe that if ford is producing a faulty product, they should take the blame when it tears up. I know from the net that they did a repair, or trade in allowance on some years for the same problem, but stopped this program in 1998. There was never a recall. I think they tried to just ignore it and see if it would go away!
On october 1, 2003 the transmission failed at 23,956 miles. It neutralizes at 10 mph or higher. Contact with the dealership stated it was out of warranty and i could bring it in for repair. They would not cooperate with providing me the name and means of contacting the zone rep. Repair cost at $1800.00 with transmission shop.
Head gasket failed.
A/c oct. 99 $168.98, dec. 99 $134.40suspensionjuly 01$664.61, dec. 99 $515.85, jun 01 $61.78,bodyjun 01 $443.61othercd player jun 01 $19.50 and $366.86 turn signal jan 02 $161.04 dome light jan 02 $84.02 jan 02 $89.72 door oct 99 $134.52, mar 03 $285.07steeringsept.02 $258.82, mar. 03 569.32computer controls sept. 00 $106.02engine jan 02 $784.75 coolant smell (found front cover gasket leaking) sept. 02 85.95 (told throttle body worn out, sold me update computer software, seams to run better)currently in shop for check engine light and a/c system intermittent.mechanic found engine problem, says main bearings or crankshaft bad, possibly due to coolant in oil system from january 02 problem
Vehicle loss coolant gradually over the last couple of years. I never saw any leaks under the vehicle.on several occasions the car was abruptly pulled off the road because we thought it had caught on fire, but we could not determine the cause of the burning smell, we also had brought it to a mechanic on several occasions to evaluatebut he could not determine the culprit. The vehicle overheated on oct19th and sprayed coolant and steam which was the first time there was a physical indication that there truly was a problem.the vehicle is presently in the shop at my expense to repair the head gasket, intake manifold and timing chain cover gasket.
While driving engine started idling high and running rough. Dealer has been notified.
1998 windstar head gasket failure. *mr the consumer noticed the coolant was low and had it to topped off.the coolant level continued to fall.the mechanic refused to change either fluid due to the head gasket failure.there was a recall on the 95' models but it appeared that ford did not fix the problem.refer to odi# 10028678 *scc
Camshaft position sensor failed and was replace 3 times. Again it is shot. This causes the van to stall and have extremely high idle. Causes to stall usually while stopped, sometimes hesitates upon acceleration.also: had to pull abs fuse due to pedal not depressing. Works excellent without abs. Also:transmission doesn't upshift when accelerating at high speeds/rpm's. Have to let off gas and repress for van to shift to next gear.
Our 1998 ford windstar van erupted in fire while off and parked in drive way. It had not been driven that day.the fire began in the dash on the driver side and spread so quickly that the van was a total loss.
Consumer states that the engine head gasket failed. Dealer notified.
The head gaskets failed and were replaced. Also, the coolant flowing through the cylinders caused a major engine problem.
On june 13th, 2009, my 1998 ford windstar van caught fire from under the hood causing a total loss of the vehicle and damage to the house. I have since learned that there is a recall of this particular make and model relating to electrical fires under the hood. I want ford to pay for the damage and the loss of my vehicle. About 5500 hundred dollars.
My heat wouldn't come on sometimes, then the hot light came on. Had it in the shop 2 times, everytime said it was fine, only changing out temp gauge. Dec 2005 3rd time took it in, same problem only oil light would also flicker at low idle pulling into parking spot.took it back in and told them they had to find out what was wrong, it had been going on too long. Told then heavy residue on oil cap, could see dark marks around exhaustpipe. Loosing radiator fluid slowly. I am no mechanic but all i researched showed head gasket. To make story brief, they told me same day all was ok, computer read fine.i told them i was not satisfied and to keep testing.took 3 days, then they call me to say the problem was that the head gasket had failed. Of course my extended warranty had ended 2 weeks before. They claimed i had been driving it with no oil and tried to get me to buy a new engine!i had been checking the oil myself, never ran low. Oil pan thick with gunk. I had it in for all reg maint, why would it have gotten that bad? $3200.00 later i had new head gasket water pump, oil pump, and various seals and hoses.picket it up, following day had it back for not wanting to start, roughidle. Another $175.00 later i got it back. Unhappy to know this has been an on going issue and my 98 windstar, fell in the age/miles time frame for the issue. Knowing that one van had this issue they should have know from all my descriptions what the problem was.if found 2 weeks earlier it would have been covered under warranty. Oil light still flickers now and then when pulling into parking spot. I will never but a ford product again. Company was unwilling to work with me, give me any breaks.
The head gasket on my 1998 ford winstar 3.8l engine has failed at 90,000 miles, well short of what i would have expected. It appears that ford has issued a recall for older 3.8l engines which have had head gasket failures, but not for this model year. I am registering this complaint in the event that other ford owners are experiencing the same problem.
On july 3, 2010, i was driving my 1998 ford windstar van with my family. While waiting for a traffic signal to change, we observed smoke coming from under the van.i immediately pulled into a parking lot and turned off the engine.the smoke continued to get worse until flames appeared from under the hood.the fire department was summoned but the van was eventually destroyed by fire before the fire department could put out the fire.prior to this event, the van was running smoothly.the temperature gauges were normal and there was no indication of any malfunction.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact smelled a burning odor while driving approximately 40 mph. The contact stopped the vehicle and inspected under the hood. The contact noticed a flame coming from the alternator. The contact used water to extinguish the flame. The fire department also reported to the scene. The contact replaced the alternator. The approximate failure mileage was 195,000.
My wife attempted to start 1998 ford windstar when smoke began to issue from beneath the hood. She immediately removoved herself and dog whereupon the engine caught fire and subsequently exploded. The fire department was called to extinguish the flames but everything fowrward of the firewall was melted down. The windshield had exploded and the interior suffered smoke damage. Everything in front of the firewall was an entire loss.this report is filed after learning that nhtsa is involved in investigation of more than 130 other reports of a similar nature. We wish to learn if there is any recourse or class action suit available to us.
Head gasket failure. Faulty head gasket design in my opinion abs/traction control unit.current problem tsb states that fuel tank manufactured with incorrect depth - fuel pump wiring is rubbed until electrical short occurs - and fuel pump fuse blows - vehicle is then stuck in traffic, in the middle of an intersection etc. Fords recommended fix is to replace the fuel tank and pump assemblyhowever, they will not contribute anything to the cost of the repairs caused due to their faulty design.
At 55,000 miles my 1998 windstar with the 232 cubic inch engine, you guessed it, blew a head gasket. After reading about the problems with previous models, it looks as though ford has more problems a"head" (sorry had to). What steps should i take to help the other consumers make complaints so we aren't out thousands of dollars for repair costs that is obviously a ford problem? what steps can i take to get ford to cover the costs of this repair? sincerely,
I own an 1998 windstar 3 liter engine. On april 16,2008 i parked my car (nose down hill) during a rain storm. Later that evening i notice the running lights were on and would not turn off. I then unhooked the battery.the next morning i jump started the car and drove it briefly to recharge the battery and noticed a smell of hot or burning wires. I looked under the hood and noticed pooling water in the engine compartment. After the engine dried completely the smell went away. While no fire resulted i was extremely concerned. I read the story concerning your investigation of the windstar and thought it relevant.
Took van in to have routine oil change and coolant replaced. Repair shop said the head gaskets were gone. Called ford customer service they said sorry but no help was available. Had vehicle towed to dealer. Bill to repair estimated at 1400 usd.van has been maintained and given good service. Don't think head gaskets should leak at 76000miles.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact was driving 35 mph and attempted to engage the brakes but the pedal was depressed into the floorboard abnormally with the illumination of the check engine warning light. The contact also mentioned that once he turned on the heater, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who diagnosed that the mass airflow sensor was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 200,816.
Found lot of white smoke from the exhaust. Left at repair shop. Repair shop called and mentioned that it is head gasket damage. The repair shop also mentioned that he has seen lot of similar problem with 3.8 l ford windstar gl minivans. Not sure what to do since it might cost about $2,000 to fix.
This van has all the defects and complaints listed on thegovt. Recalls the nhtsa site and othersihave too much info to put on this site if there is anyone i can send my complaint to please let me know iam putting it back into the shop againive been thru a nightmare along with trying to assure my 4 kids that they were safe in this vanthankyou angela wallace and by the wat the dealer that sold me this van will not cooperate at all
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated that after having repairs performed on the vehicle under nhtsa campaign id number: 10v385000 (suspension:rear:axle:non-powered axle assembly), the vehicle would start jerking violently from the rear to the front when driving at speeds above 60 mph. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the ball joints, bushing, intake gaskets, spark plugs, and lower controls arms needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance since the recall repairs were already performed. The vehicle was repaired at the contact's expense. The failure mileage was 126,131 and the current mileage was 127,000.
Heater on car wasn't working, smelling something burning. Advised that windstars with 3.8 engines seem to experience head gasket failure wherein coolant is either being burned or mixing with oil and will cause engine failure. Advised to contact ford, nhsta and local dealer.
Routing of hose caused contact with battery tray corner causinghole in hose
1998 ford windstar head gasket failure with vehicle just over warranty coverage status.normal maintenance record as well as driving techniques/habits.
The consumer had to refill the vehicle with coolant fluid often due toengine overheating.
Vehicle started smoking, andwhen consumer lifted up the hood there was a smell of coolant sprayed all over vehicle, and leaking from underneath onto the ground.transmission was replaced. But problem was still there.
Ne lamp light on- al maroone ford attempted to repair 4 times, but was unable. 5th time svc engine light appeared, the van broke down with a blown engine. Fluid leaked into oil, causing gasket to blow through engine block. Ford will not admit past problem
The 1998 ford windstar has on several occasions cut off in the middle of left hand turns i've made in intersections. It also cuts off ifwhenever i have to come to a sudden stop. For example once in september of 1998, in the middle of a left hand turn at a busy intersection another driver driving west ran through the caution light while i was turning. I had to slam on my breaks to keep her from hittting me and my car cut off. When i drive up hills it stalls[my drive way] and cuts off. Three days after i brought the van home it leaked what looked like to be antifreeze. It also hesitates when i slow down.
Fire starting underneath the hood due to snow, causing the cooling fan to be inoperative and caused a fire.
Consumer received recall letter , butdealer has not honoredrecallas of yet.
Radiator hose.
My heating was working intermitently so i brought the vehicle to crown ford in lynbrook to diagnose the problem.i was told that the head gasket needs to be replaced.the radiator also needs to be replaced due to the head gasket leaking into it.cost for the repair would be approximately $2300.there was a recall on previous years vehicles and there are many tales of woe regarding this problem posted on the web.i don't believe ford has fixed this problem sufficiently for the vehicles produced after 1996.
Transmission would jerk as if being rearended. Front end would work itself loose. Had to replace bushings, tracking bar & motor mounts due to being defective. Vehicle is not drivable after being in an accident.
I have maintained my 1998 ford windstar very well - having all recommended maintenace performed.it has only 80,000 miles on it and the head gasket now has a leak.coolant has leaked into the #4 cylinder.the dealer wants $3500-4500 to put a new engine in it.the head gasket leaking isa known problem with windstars.ford has has a program for earlier models to replace the engine.but ford has yet to apply the program to the 1998 models.i expect a ford vehicle to get at least 180,000 miles when the owner has all recommended maintenance completed.i want ford to pay for a new engine! i was to put another 100,000 miles on that van.
Head gasket failure, coolant leaked into cylindar, bent connecting rod.
Our 1998 fird windstar engine siezed
Motor mount broke.
The idler pulley and drive belt were replaced, failure was causing noise. *mjs
Head gaskets were leaking anti-freeze, had no heat under 30mph.
The front cover gasket failed and causing leakage. *mjs
Transmission failed @ approx. 24,000 miles without warning, had to be towed, took 3 weeks for dealer to replace, transmission failed again with approx. 49,000 miles, unable to get out of 1st gear, drove to dealer for repair - transmission has never seemed right on this car - at a reguarly scheduled service appointment we specifically asked the dealer about the transmission, they said it was fine and shortly thereafter the transmission failed - upon review of the other reported complaints re: transmissions for the 98 windstar,i do not feel i drive a reliable car - i have also had brake problems with this vehicle - they started smoking when driving in the mountains - i have also had problems with power window locks as well as problems with oil leakage
Vehicle was losing anti freeze , andengine would keep getting close to overheating. Contacted dealer, anddealer replacedhead gasket.
While driving, the vehicle stopped in the middle of traffic without warning. The dealer stated the transmission and head gasket needed to be replaced.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. While parking he smelled a burning odor, and then saw flames inside of the engine compartment. He was able to extinguish the fire himself. The manufacturer was notified, and he was advised to call nhtsa because they would not provide assistance. No repairs were made. The failure and current mileages were under 184,347.
Service engine light was on and van was running rough.diagnostics indicated that the intake maniford runner control vacuum motor was stuck.van would overheat if not replaced.
The 1998 ford windstar 3.8l v-6 engine's head gasket leaked on our windstar and the coolant contaminated the engine oil, which created engine failure due to excess bearing wear.in the last 2,000 miles we lost approximately 2 quarts of coolant. Ford says it does not have a recall for the 3.8l head gasket problem and will not compensate us for the costs of installing a new fqr 3.8l engine.the new fqr engine only has a 24 month/24,000 mile warranty, which may fail again after the 2year/24,000 mile and the customer is taken advantage of again! ford is aware of the 3.8l engine head gasket problem and has had the problem since 1988 model year.ford has issued two onps (owner notification program) 98m01 which extended the warranty for 5years/60,000 through 1995 model years, and the 00m09 which extended the 98m01 warranty to 7years/100,000.i have checked the nhtsa complaint database and found they are still having problems with the 3.8l head gaskets through the 1999 windstars, mustangs, sables, taurus, lincoln continentals, and cougars.many of these vehicles are having the problem as early 18,000 to 36,000 miles but the bulk are having the problems in excess of 3years/36,000 and the customer is stuck with a huge repair bill, of $4,000 to $6,000 dollars.ford claims they corrected the problem after the 1995 model year with new head gaskets even though it is obvious the problem has not been corrected.ford has sold and still may be selling a product that is defective that could lead to creating accidents with multiple fatalities.ford has admitted to the fact that the 3.8l head gaskets should not fail before 7 years/100,000 miles for vehicles manufactured through 1995 with the 00m09 owner notification program.ford is still having a problem with the 3.8l head gaskets failing through the 1999 model year!why aren't they taking care of these problems.why hasn't the government (nhtsa) investigated this and permit ford to take advantage of the consumer?
1998 ford windstar 3.8l engine, head bolts stretched causing coolant leak into engine, head gasket was not blown so wynn's service contract will not pay for $1800 repair. This is the second major expense, i had to replace the transmission at 80,000 miles.
I am seeking action to alleviate the cost of maintenance problems i have experienced with my 1998 3.8l v6 ford windstar gl.over the past few years, my windstar has displayed reoccurring and extensive mechanical problems in the front end, brakes, and engine that have resulted increasing amounts of time and money spent on repairs.from research, i have found that our difficulties are not an isolated event, and are in fact a common problem in the 1998 windstar, and are the same problems found in the 1995 windstar.the most recent event was the requirement to have the head gasket replaced.the local ford dealer provided this service which cost $1500.00 in parts and labor.upon completion of the repairs the van was not roadworthy, a new short block was needed due to damage caused by the faulty head gasket.i have been quoted over $6000.00 for this job.in addition to the mounting repair costs, i am forced to rent a car so that we have transportation while we consider options with our windstar.my windstar has less than 100,000 miles.it is not uncommon these days to have vehicles operate this long before requiring the first tune-up.in order to maintain this van, i have spent the time i have ownwd this vehicle and a lot of money taking my windstar into service centers to have inferior parts, such as the plastic tie-rod ends and brakes, replaced many times.i have also spent a fortune on rental cars while our windstar sat unserviceable.we have born this cost with the expectation that investing money in repair would result in safe, reliable transportation for our family.with this major repair, the months of exhaustive diagnosis and trial repair jobs to fix the problems that arrise, the multiple tie rod end replacements, and brake system repairs, i feel that i am entitled to compensation from the ford motor company.
While driving at any speed the vehicle stalls and the brakesgrind. Had to be replace brakestwice and engineonce. Consumer is hearing a banging noise coming from the vehicle and the vehicle will cut off withoutprior warning.
While driving, the engine fell out to the ground.dealer said someone removed the engine bolts.there were no existing bolts.(engine support held in place by friction on the threads until final failure) *scc
Problems with transmission, torque, power steering, and front end stable rods & arms. *mr the transmission and torque had been replaced twice, the power steering once, the font end stable rods and arms twice and remained bad.the battery light had come on and the idler pulley was replaced, there was a creaking/cracking noise when turning the wheel and the outer tie rods were replaced along with the toe being reset, there was a clunk when going over the bumps, there was a vibration underneath due to the transmission, the engine light would come on and off and seemed like the shifts were erratic, the transmission leaked badly, and on some occasions the starter did not engage. *scc
Motor mount broken. Mjs
Blown head gasket is diagnosis after noticeable loss of antifreeze and heat in vehicle.
When shifting from 1st to 2nd gear, the van would vibrate.the dealership stated they replaced the motor mounts, however the condition still persists.the motor mounts were replaced again due to the same problem of unknown vibration. Nlm the passenger side front tire wore out.the tie rod ends were replaced.*jg
The 1998 ford windstar 3.8l v-6 engine's head gasket leaked on our windstar and the coolant contaminated the engine oil, which created engine failure due to excess bearing wear.in the last 2,000 miles we lost approximately 2 quarts of coolant. Ford says it does not have a recall for the 3.8l head gasket problem and will not compensate us for the costs of installing a new fqr 3.8l engine.the new fqr engine only has a 24 month/24,000 mile warranty, which may fail again after the 2year/24,000 mile and the customer is taken advantage of again! ford is aware of the 3.8l engine head gasket problem and has had the problem since 1988 model year.ford has issued two onps (owner notification program) 98m01 which extended the warranty for 5years/60,000 through 1995 model years, and the 00m09 which extended the 98m01 warranty to 7years/100,000.i have checked the nhtsa complaint database and found they are still having problems with the 3.8l head gaskets through the 1999 windstars, mustangs, sables, taurus, lincoln continentals, and cougars.many of these vehicles are having the problem as early 18,000 to 36,000 miles but the bulk are having the problems in excess of 3years/36,000 and the customer is stuck with a huge repair bill, of $4,000 to $6,000 dollars.ford claims they corrected the problem after the 1995 model year with new head gaskets even though it is obvious the problem has not been corrected.ford has sold and still may be selling a product that is defective that could lead to creating accidents with multiple fatalities.ford has admitted to the fact that the 3.8l head gaskets should not fail before 7 years/100,000 miles for vehicles manufactured through 1995 with the 00m09 owner notification program.ford is still having a problem with the 3.8l head gaskets failing through the 1999 model year!why aren't they taking care of these problems.why hasn't the government (nhtsa) investigated this and permit ford to take advantage of the consumer?
Piston and gasket failed causing the vehicle to shift harshly and make noise.
Head gasket failure/replacement -ford has had ongoing problems with the head gaskets on the 3.8 engines.ford informed me that they do have "programs" for this problem on earlier models but have not extended them to cover the 98 models.while my windstar is a 98 model it was built in january of 1997.
Engine shuts down intermittently when decelerating into a turn.it also shuts down momentarily (vehicle "bucks") or fully (stalls completely) during normal driving, independent of speed.the latter problem is much more common than the former!consequence: several near-miss rear-end collisions,especially at highway speeds.the dealership could not replicate the problem. Anindependent technician replicated but could not properly repair the problem(s).the problems have been occurring for more than two years.
The head gasket failed.a technical service bulletin was issued for the earlier models.
When making a turn /reverse there is a noise present. Dealer replaced the mounts to correct problem.
There was an engine headgasket leakage and the dealer fixed the leak. Also, the vehicle will shift from first gear into second gear, and from second to first while driving or sitting in traffic.the dealer can't detemine the problem, and the vehicle has been in the shop three times and they can't find the problem.
25 gallon oil tanks are collapsing, leaving room for only 16 or 17 gallons of gasoline.dealer contacted, and stated they are not responsible for the defect.
The first sign of trouble occurred when the vehicle was brought into the repair shop.informed by the mechanic that there was a problem with the head gasket, in which the radiator fluid was leaking into the engine and that the repair cost would be approximately $1,500 (canadian).ford was notified but refuses to acknowledge and to compensate the problem because it?s not covered in its extended warranty even though its warranty is for seven years or 160,000 km.*la
With no prior warning vehicle stalles while driving 30-35 mph.abs brake light comes on.
White smoke coming from the exhaust and the engine was missing due to blown head gaskets. Dealer contacted. Also found blown intake manifold gasket. Transmission replaced at 45,000 miles.
I have a 1998 ford windstar in which i recently had to replace an oil pan because the mechanic told me that it had warped and was causing an oil leak on the exhaust system. No one has ever heard of a faulty oil pan is there anyone else with this problem?
While driving 30 mph, the head gasket failed . As a result, a loud noise from the engine was produced.*sc
Blown head gasket on 1998 ford windstar.head gasket is not a service item and should last for the life of the vehicle.there are many reports of similar problems with the ford 3.8l engine.
Head gasket failure leading to complete engine failure.
When vehicle starts to pickup speed after making a turn, it would have a strong jerking motion, like having a tow chain attached.
Brake malfunction, display of "service engine soon".
At 112,000 miles, my ford windstar has developed a head gasket leak internally which has resulted in extensive internal engine damage that now requires complete engine replacement. I have 2 professional repair shops diagnosis and both agree that it needs an engine replacement for the reasons stated above.
While driving 35 mphengine locked up without warning , leaving the consumer without power. The dealer was notified. *nlm.
# 4 cylinder was checked by ford dealer as defect, but it was headgasket paid $300.00 for computer check wrong information, car kept stalling before and after installation due to head gasket failure while making turns or sudden stops.
Consumer statedthere are problems with the vehicle. Dealer was contacted and they stated there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. Ph
Vehicle was parked and head gasket blewout.vehicle had to be towed.dealership is aware of problem.
Purchased a 1998 windstar on 11/20/01. We had to replace the transmission only four months later, at only 44,000 miles. This van currently has a busted head gasket and is inoperable at only $64,000.00 miles. These issues with this make and model are quite common and wide-spread. For motor company is quite aware. Both problems could have caused serious accidents and property damages. They are excessive and extraordinary. *la
Consumer states thatvacuum motor switch fails. He also states that the rubber diaphram fails all the time. This part of the auto is suppose to be working in relations with the intake manifold.
Blown head gasket on 1998 ford windstar at 85,000 miles.
Engine failure 1 month after head gasket replacement and approximately 2000 miles.
Failed head gasket in 3.8l engine.
Brake hose leak caused a sudden total loss of breaking power.amazingly, there was no accident.the gasket failure was attended to at the first hint of a problem, since i had the same problem on my ford taurus one month prior.
Heater on car wasn't working, smelling something burning. Advised that windstars with 3.8 engines seem to experience head gasket failure wherein coolant is either being burned or mixing with oil and will cause engine failure. Advised to contact ford, nhsta and local dealer.
Vehicle caught fire under hood in engine compartment, claim 04-1243-985.
Various problem with power lock locking byitself/windshield wipers working intermittently/dome light not operating, anddoor ajar light staying on. Vehicle been in / out of dealer shop on several occasions, and problems still reoccurring. Possible electrical problem with failure of power locks, windshield wipers, dome light, door ajar light, door ajar switch,lift gate door ajar switch, battery saver relay inoperable, and washer light illuminating.brakes noisy at times, dealer stated this was due to brake dust.power steering is noisy when turning back and forth, dealer replaced tie rod end.sliding door rattles while driving over bumps, dealer added foam tape to back side of panel, driver door rattles, sliding door hard to open at times, dealer lubed sliding hinges and latch.dealer replaced shocks due to rattling noise when riding over bumps.drivebelt replaced.maf sensor replaced due to hesitation.window guide did not fit tight.
Insured was traveling when he smelled something funny.flames had start to come up from the hood.insured tried to put fire out but couldn't, possible transmission leak onto manifold, claim 40-2554-562.*jg
For no apparent reason the vehicle just cuts off while driving.the first time a computer adjustment was made, the second time(july 23rd) the electric fuel pump was replaced. The vehicle is being service for the third time(aug 5th) for the same problem. Each time the vehicle had to be towed to the dealership.
While in motion insured smelled gas and pulled over.looking under the hood, he saw flames shooting from the engine, claim 42-1328-321.*jg
While driving at approx 20 mph or coming to stop, feels little shaking in steering wheel, then vehicle will turn completely off, no power in engine or electrical system.this also happens when going uphill, or quick stopping,it will then stop and it will restart just like normal. This defect has no set pattern.dealership claims cannot find problem. This defect can result in an accident.
While driving, insured heard a large popping noise, smoke emmited, then an fire erupted, claim 42-1402-914.*jg
When moving slowly to turn orto park, orfully warmed up,1/2-full tank of gas.vehicle stalled or shut off without prior warning.contacted dealer, and was told that there was an air leak.dealer made the necessary repairs..et.
Vehicle is experiencing a stalling problem, dealer has replaced the alternator and performed tsb 982506, however problem is still occurring, a customer service rep from ford was supposed to call consumer back regarding problem and has not.consumer states he has since discovered that the problem with the vehicle is an engineering defect in the fuel injector causing the engine to shut down atslow speeds when the vehicle is turning.
The engine was making a knocking noise, consumer was informed that a new engine was needed, the check engine light came on again and there was a noise in the front end consumer was informed that a flywheel was needed, the check engine light came on again and it was determined that there was an oil leak.
The engine failed and the dealer replaced it. There was a noise in the front end due to flywheel failure.
I have a 98 windstar mini van . After the minivan has been running for awhile and you go to stop it will go dead or what you call stalls.so after i crank it back up and try to take off again it will stall again.so therefore i have to make sure there is no traffic coming,because there has been some close calls of me and my children getting into a wreck due to this piece of $#*$.the interior lights will not go off, so my husband had to take the light bulbs out: also the passenger side window will not go down or up.this thing is so bad i wish jimm skinner ford would have just kept the piece of $#*$.
The engine experiences intermittent slow speeds and lack power.
Vehicle one was driving and started to smell something like plastic.insured pulled into sevice station, lifted the hood and found a fire burning inside the compartment, claim 36-a159-793.*jg
I have had 2 windstars - the first a 1995 had multiple problems. The dealer - premier fordwould not fix the van and ford's complaint department was tedious and unresponsive. Therefore, i turned to arbitration which resulted in replacement of the vehicle under the lemon law in nc. Because of this, i reluctantly purchased a 1998 windstar. This vehicle has had the head gasket replaced before it had 36,000 miles. It started stalling. The van was taken to lee motor, a ford dealer in wilson, nc. They could not find anything. Since that time, it has continued to stall at least 5 times that i can document. It has concerned me that the recent news regarding stalling includes up to 1995 windstars. There is a very great safety issue here - as great if not worse than the problems with the much publicized tire recall.
Intermittently while decelerating vehicle will stall unexpectedly which may cause a crash.please provide further information. Dealer cannot determine the problem.
Courtesy lights will intermittenly work. They will come on when driving at night, or sometimes they will not come on at all.experiencing other electrical problems with the reverse lights, interior lights, automatic door locks, door check light, and signal lights operating intermittently, consumer states that the engine is noisy and the engine check light is always on, the seat belt is loose, passenger side arm rest is loose, and the back window wiper is inoperative.
Engine stalls when wheel turned to far left/right.
While making a left/right or u turnengine completely shuts down without warning.
Vehicle has been to the dealership 5 times for the same hard shifting, transmission problem since new. Problem is better ,but i expect failure before warranty expires. The transmission has a hard 1-2 shift since i bought it new on 13 jan 98. The lemon law causedfirm to offer me an extended warranty of 5 years/75,000 miles instead of fixing the problem. I'm very dissatisfied with the transmission, and dealership service shop's performance.recently, the brakes have developed a vibration and the engine sometimes stalls at slow speeds. I took the van back to the dealership on monday 5 april 99 for the same transmission problem, and the two new problems.the last several new vehicles i've purchased have been fords. My next vehicle probably won't be a ford.
Vehicle experienced fire in the engine compartment, claim 59-v719-855.
I am so scared to drive our van- i have no idea what to do.thia van showed be considered a lemon- or ford should repair it.we purchased the van cause we had another little one on the way(making 4 kids) in the past we had old vechilcles.we decided to spend the $$ and have a reliable vechicle since we have 4 kids and travel around town alot.first my air codtioner goes out in july, 99 (electrical- no power to it).we did not have the $ to fix.than in august,99 we started experiencing intermittent neutral condtion after driving and coming to a stop.had to rebuild the transmission- due to a faulty clutch piston that ford knows is causing problems in ax4s windstar 3.8l.engine - stalls usually when driving at low speeds, such as o turns or coming to a stop.scared to death that somesone will run into me.steering- vechile pulls to the right so badly that in seconds i am in another lane. Have had it relighned.the other seroius problem is i will start van or have foot on brake and it itermittally accerates in surges on its own.my foot in not near the gas- i am so scared to death that i will lose control of it resulting into an accident. I am so scared to drive this van and it is only a 98".what am i to do.i do not want to wait for and acident or death to someone.please help!!i need some advice.i have no warranty on van- but yet with so many problems why should the consumer have to pay when ford knows of the problems with the vans- what does it take - death!!!i need to know what is causeing these problems.i can not afford to keep taking them to mechanics and not getting it fix.shouldn't ford have to take this piece of crap back-please help!!
This vehicle has had two engines, transmission work and a lot of smallerproblems.right nowit is having the drivers seat track and adjustersreplaced.would like to be part of a class action suit. The windstar may be safe, but it isn't reliable.
When driving and coming to a stop, and when pulling out, the enigine stalls or shuts down. Dealer has been contacted.
While in motion, insured rear ended another vehicle, causing the vehicle to rear end someone else, vehicle caught on fire possibly mechanically related, there were two injuries in the accident, claim 43-r763-433.
When proceeding through a light or stop sign after a stopping, vehicle will die.consumer can restart it again.
Vehicle stalls usually when driving at low speeds, such as on turns or coming to a stop.
First incident 11-13-00.engine stalled making left turn against oncoming traffic.van serviced at ford country, henderson, nv and alternator changed.four more of same type incidents in february.car returned to ford country in henderson for this complaint.mileage 35024.they performed tsb 982506.sent letter and called ford customer service.andrea insisted that the car be looked at once more at colorado river ford in kingman, az.she said she made appointment and arranged for a loaner van or large car.contact was steve.we drove 40 miles for the appointment.. On the way we had another stalling incident.we arrived for the appointment, steve did not have a loaner car.we had to leave and when at home called ford again.we were promised a call back from andrea within 1/2 hour.it is now more than 24 hours and we are still waiting for the call back.this is a very dangerous situation.we were told by two people at the dealership in henderson that ford is aware of this problem. Stalling could cause a crash situation with both oncoming traffic and traffic behind us.does the body count have to rise before something is done about it?will this become another situation like the tire problem?i will also be sending a copy of this to you in the mail.
Vehicle caught fire under the hood, claim 04-1243-985.*jg
Vehicle experienced fire in the engine compartment, claim 59-v719-855.
While in motion, insured rear ended another vehicle, causing the vehicle to rear end someone else, vehicle caught on fire possibly mechanically related, there were two injuries in the accident, claim 43-r763-433.
Engine caught fire while parked in driveway. Car was not running at the time. The car was driven home from work, (about a 20 minute ride), and had been parked for about 5 minutes when the fire occured.
Vehicle stalls when making slow turns.not taken to dealer yet.
6 months after purchasing the van's problem with stalling out when stopping and then proceeding through intersections.it had been taken to the dealer once in roanoke (majic city ford)_ and again in charlottesville, va with no problems found.the car comes to acomplete stop with 'service engine soon" light and can't be started until put in park and then started.also, as odd as it seems, it only occurs when turning 'left'.the air conditioning when started (max ac- ac- defrost settings) make a bang noise att the right front underside of the van.it occurs a few times in a row and then stops only to begin weeks later.the van has been brought into brady-bushey for this with no repair work performed because it did not happen when they tested it.they told me to bring it back when it happens again. But then, when it stops making the noise how am i suppose to prove this noise?
While driving, consumer heard a large pop and saw smoke, vehicles engine compartment caught on fire, claim 42-1402-914.
While driving, consumer smelled something like plastic, pulled into service station and opened the hood and saw a fire in the engine compartment, adjuster stated that the upper intake gasket, fuel pressure regulator, upper and lower pieces of servo, and some of the fuel line and vacuum lines were damaged, claim 36-a159-793.
Vehicle experienced low engine idle condition on deceleration or stop turns. The vehicle has been into the dealer for repair twice.
Insured was traveling when he smelled something funny.flames had start to come up from the hood.insured tried to put fire out but couldn't, possible transmission leak onto manifold, claim 40-2554-562.*jg
Engine will have lower than normal rpm when first coming to a stop. Has stalled 3 seperate times.
While parked for one day, engine compartment caught on fire, claim 23-c025-105.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Vehicle loss, fire under hood, claim 59-v719-855.*jg
While in motion, the egine caught on fire, claim 53-c579-741.*jg
Intermittently while drivingvehicle stalls unexpectedly, which when coming to a stop or going through a drive troughmay cause a rear end collision.been to dealer several times, but could not determine the cause of problem.please provide further information.
While driving straight or when making an u turn about any mphsteering wheel will lock up without a prior warning.then, engine will stall. Dealer said this problem could not be found.
Vehicle stalls out when idling or cruising into a turn, mostly when the gas pedal is not applied. Dealer has not seen vehicle.problem has occurred 10 times.
Consumer experiencing problem with vehicle shuttingoff at random whenever consumer needs to make a turn. Vehicle been in dealer shop two times and condition still occurs.
Unexpected catastrophic engine failure.low milage vehicle with complete service records and no warning threw piston rod during normal operation.dealer estimates cost to repair at $4900.dealer estimates damage due to failed head gasket.antifreeze leak filled cylinders.
Vehcile will stall when motor is hot, putting consumer in a dangerous situation. Sliding door malfunctions.
While driving, consumer smelled something like plastic, pulled into service station and opened the hood and saw a fire in the engine compartment, adjuster stated that the upper intake gasket, fuel pressure regulator, upper and lower pieces of servo, and some of the fuel line and vacuum lines were damaged, claim 36-a159-793.
While driving vehicle stalls. When vehicle shuts off, engine checkand battery lights come on.
When driving at slow speed the engine cuts off. This usually happens without warning. The manufacturer is aware of the problem.
On numerous occassions this vehicle while stall when coming to a stop (stop sign/traffic lights). This vehicle has been to the repair shop over 8 times and was last worked on for this problem in june 2000. Then in july200 while on vacation the power steering pump failed and the emission control failed. Although the dealership has been repairing the problems the vehicle has lost it's creditability as being safe.
While driving, vehicle will stall. When coming to a stop vehicle will also stall.engine light will come on and go off. This happens very often. Contacted dealer and dealer stated engine light has to stay on at least 15 minutes before vehicle could be put on computer.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
While driving, insured heard a large popping noise, smoke emmited, then an fire erupted, claim 42-1402-914.*jg
During operation at any speed engine will stall unexpectedly.problem occurred a few times beginning in july of 2000, and is progressively increasing in frequency. Dealership has not examined vehicle for this problem.please provide any additional information / documentation.
While traveling at any speed vehicle would stall without any indication.dealer has been notified.please provide further information.
While in motion insured smelled gas and pulled over.looking under the hood, he saw flames shooting from the engine, claim 42-1328-321.*jg
While making a right turn the vehicle cut off and the steering wheel locked up,causing loss of vehicle control. Cause unknown. Please give any further details.
Engine oil found in coolant.timing cover gasket failure.loud engine knock from rear valve bank- possible wrist-pin/lower intake gaskets/valve problems.
When traveling at any speedvehicle will cut off without prior warning. Consumer has contacteddealer anddealer has replaced parts. Please provide anyfurther details.
Vehicle experiences rough idle, erratic idle and stalling which has been a problem since new and has continued to deteriorate to frequent stalling while driving, the dealership has failed to yield any remedy to the mechanical issue.nlm
While driving, engine compartment caught on fire, claim 53-c579-741.
Contacted bill ford, chairman, fmc, in writting, 2x,, no written response.no safety defect mentioned.
When driving at any speed and without any prior warning,vehicle is stalls and cuts off.
Vehicle loss, fire under hood, claim 59-v719-855.*jg
While parked for a day inside of insured's garage, a fire started in the engine compartment, claim 23-c025-105.*jg
Engine has trouble starting and intermittent lunging and rough idle.
Vehicle stalls at low speeds, took back to thedealer twice and they reprogramed the computer. Problem still exists.
While driving, consumer rearended another vehicle, that vehicle ran into another vehicle, consumers vehicle caught fire in the engine compartment, 2 people were injured in the accident, fireman stated fire could have been mechanically related, claim 43-r763-433.
While decelerating engine would stall without indications. Please provide further information.
When driving the vehicle stalls at any time, the engine just dies.the vanhas been at dealership twice for repairs ( on sept 19th & oct 8th & 9th) that did not solve problem. A computer device has been hooked up to the engine to capture any errors when the van stalls.
While driving, consumer rearended another vehicle, that vehicle ran into another vehicle, consumers vehicle caught fire in the engine compartment, 2 people were injured in the accident, fireman stated fire could have been mechanically related, claim 43-r763-433.
Service bulletin #01205 or nhtsa #625715 i have a ford windstar gl 1998 i onlyhad it turn over to 70,000 and my engine light keeps coming on and i'm getting trouble code po 171 and i'm also notice that fuel gage don't not go to the full markand i had to have all 4 h2o sencer replace and now my odemeter and trip meter quit working and i only have 72,000 on my van is there something i can do with these vechile problems that i shouldn't have with such low miles i just bought the van in aug 2004 with only 56,000 are any of these problems on the recall list .please help if you can i can't afford to keep repairing my van that should be a recall problem.thanks for any help you can give me
Consumer experiencing ongoing problem with vehicle stalling intermittently.also,transmission is slipping whenever vehicle comes to a stop. Sometimes vehicle would have to shift into park and back into drive for the gear to engage.vehicle been in/out dealer shop for stalling and transmission slipping on three occasions each.
Vehicle has been in numerous times for new seals on front right passenger door for wind noise: also been in for failed brake system numerous times and front rotors have been on back order for almost 2 months: in numerous times for front end alignment-checked and rechecked by several ford dealers and they cannot do anything, vehicle has always pulled to the right; engine has died several times and would not start back up; front pads on brake system have been replaced and rotors turned at only 10,000 miles still grinding and will not stop correctly; vehicle feels to me as unsafe for my wife and two younger boys.
While parked for a day inside of insured's garage, a fire started in the engine compartment, claim 23-c025-105.*jg
While driving van stalls without any type of warning. This condition almost caused two rear end crahses.the dealer is not able to determine what is causing this problem. Please provide any further information.
Consumer has experienced several problems with the transmission, dealer has replaced it once, however problems continue, consumer has filed for a request for arbitration, vehicle bucks, jerks, and jumps into gear before taking off.vehicle shimmies from one side to another upon acceleration, there is a thumping sound heard also at times while driving.vehicle experienced a speed sensor circuit problem.speedometer jumps.problem with power steering, dealer adjusted rack and pinion and made other repairs to steering mechanism.right side brake light bulb failed.battery failed.consumer stated it felt as if vehicle was going to stall sometimes, engine has no power at acceleration, engine belt was noisy and was replaced.tire had a slow leak due to loose tire valve.
When in stop and go traffic with cooler weather conditions the engine nearly stalls out when stopping.this affects the power brakes and the power steering making it difficult to control.complaints to dealers and ford customer care have not resolved this issue. Problem developed after installing a rebuilt transmission at 30,000 miles.ford can not find the problem after at least four trips to the shop.this vehicle could have been submitted under the lemmon law and replaced but was not.
Vehicle continually stalling, unable to be fixed.mjs
While driving and proceeding to come to a stop the vehicle will intermittentlystall. Consumer has contacted the dealer, several repair attempts however continues. Brake rotors warped causing grinding of the brakes while stopping.
All stalling has occurred when slowing for a turn from aslow speed (from about 30 mph to 15 mph.) once nearly caused an accident when power steering, brakes, etc were lost and nearly rear-ended car immediately ahead. Another stall was in middle of busy traffic which was held up until engine started again. All stalling occurred when on public thoroughfares, turning either right or left. Problem began in february 2000 at approx 44,000 miles odometer reading.
The engine hesitates or stalls in a slow turn.
Vehicle caught fire under the hood, claim 04-1243-985.*jg
Vehicle one was driving and started to smell something like plastic.insured pulled into sevice station, lifted the hood and found a fire burning inside the compartment, claim 36-a159-793.*jg
The engine was making a knocking noise, consumer was informed that a new engine was needed, the check engine light came on again and there was a noise in the front end consumer was informed that a flywheel was needed, the check engine light came on again and it was determined that there was an oil leak.
Intermittent stalling.
Vehicle is stalling when slowing down/turning and in parking maneuvers possibly due to computer misfire and carbon build in engine. 3 tsbs have been issued.
While travelingin warm weather ,making sudden stops/parking and while in stop and go traffic, vehicle would stall without any indication. Please provide further informaiton. Air bag light illuminated due to faulty module, the drivers side door adjar switch was sticking causing the door adjar light to illuminate, outer tie rod failed causing noise in the front end, vehicle experiences loss of power/slipping due to faulty transmission, check engine light illuminated and vehicle stalled, dealer replaced sensor, speedometer was off.nlm
Vehicle check engine light is illuminated. Engine developes a rough idle at stop while driving and has on ocassions stalled completely. Not in warranty at present time. Taken to independant repair shop and diagnosed with ford tsb 01205. Replace manifold gasket and bolts, etc. Ford motor needs to issuse recall on the problem asap.
Slowing from cuising speed to make a turn onto a side street, the engine stalled creating the potential for an accident.stalling caused the power steering to fail making the vehicle difficult to manuver through the turn and loss of power created the possibility that i may not have been able to clear traffic.if my wife had been driving the minivan she surely would not have been able to avoid oncoming traffic.
While driving the vehicle hesitates and stall, also the engine light was illimated.
While driving, consumer heard a large pop and saw smoke, vehicles engine compartment caught on fire, claim 42-1402-914.
Vehicle died completely with power steering and electrical all off, lights and all when driving at night.
Consumer states when coming to a stop, the vehicle stalls and loses all power. Vehicle will keep rolling, and it is hard to maneuver. Dealer contacted.
Vehicle stalled without prior warning. Vehicle hasbeenat dealership several times.
Vehicle caught fire under hood in engine compartment, claim 04-1243-985.
Vehicle was traveling aproximately 65mph andengine shut down.power brakes and steering went out without warning.brake pedal was pushed to the floor to stopvehicle.dealer stated it would be too expensive to find out what was thecause.
Engine. Air conditioning.
Van stalled twice when in slow turn, usully would restart now it is stalling and will not restart at all.
While parked for one day, engine compartment caught on fire, claim 23-c025-105.
While driving, consumer smelled gas and pulled over, consumer looked under the hood and there was fire shooting from the engine, claim 42-1328-321.
Dealership installed another transmission at 7,000 miles because of our repeated complaints about the bucking sensation/the vehicle is still bucking/other problems developed such as the lunchingforward in second gear, shifting into gear began to produce a grinding noiseand a very obvious vibration in the steering wheel has developed/ford keeps ignoring us after our repeatedly contacting them/we have now filed under the lemon law in the state of connecticut/ we have been treated very shabbily by ford !
While drivingvehicle stalls unexpectedly which may cause a crash.been to the dealer several times, and dealer cannot determine the problem.please provide further information.
Transmission "pump failed, causing planet gears to come apart.
While in motion, the egine caught on fire, claim 53-c579-741.*jg
While driving, engine compartment caught on fire, claim 53-c579-741.
While driving, consumer smelled gas and pulled over, consumer looked under the hood and there was fire shooting from the engine, claim 42-1328-321.
Ford windstar tension pulleys on their serpentine belts are defective. *la
Vehicle has noisy fan belt.yh
The idler pulley and drive belt were replaced, failure was causing noise. *mjs
Consumer has experienced several problems with the transmission, dealer has replaced it once, however problems continue, consumer has filed for a request for arbitration, vehicle bucks, jerks, and jumps into gear before taking off.vehicle shimmies from one side to another upon acceleration, there is a thumping sound heard also at times while driving.vehicle experienced a speed sensor circuit problem.speedometer jumps.problem with power steering, dealer adjusted rack and pinion and made other repairs to steering mechanism.right side brake light bulb failed.battery failed.consumer stated it felt as if vehicle was going to stall sometimes, engine has no power at acceleration, engine belt was noisy and was replaced.tire had a slow leak due to loose tire valve.
Various problem with power lock locking byitself/windshield wipers working intermittently/dome light not operating, anddoor ajar light staying on. Vehicle been in / out of dealer shop on several occasions, and problems still reoccurring. Possible electrical problem with failure of power locks, windshield wipers, dome light, door ajar light, door ajar switch,lift gate door ajar switch, battery saver relay inoperable, and washer light illuminating.brakes noisy at times, dealer stated this was due to brake dust.power steering is noisy when turning back and forth, dealer replaced tie rod end.sliding door rattles while driving over bumps, dealer added foam tape to back side of panel, driver door rattles, sliding door hard to open at times, dealer lubed sliding hinges and latch.dealer replaced shocks due to rattling noise when riding over bumps.drivebelt replaced.maf sensor replaced due to hesitation.window guide did not fit tight.
Engine stalled on an off .called dealership, they said because of the emission control was on recall campain.after they fixed the emssion control, the problem still existed.brought the car in and the dealer said it is out of warranty.nothing they can do.the recall just done about 3 months ago this year.
Consumer complained about a blown head gasket problem.anti- freeze was mixing with the oil, causingwhite exhaust fumes. Consumercontacted the dealer and described the problem over the phone. Dealer told consumer it will cost $1500.00 to repair. The problem.vehicle was no longer under warranty.
This van has all the defects and complaints listed on thegovt. Recalls the nhtsa site and othersihave too much info to put on this site if there is anyone i can send my complaint to please let me know iam putting it back into the shop againive been thru a nightmare along with trying to assure my 4 kids that they were safe in this vanthankyou angela wallace and by the wat the dealer that sold me this van will not cooperate at all
A/c oct. 99 $168.98, dec. 99 $134.40suspensionjuly 01$664.61, dec. 99 $515.85, jun 01 $61.78,bodyjun 01 $443.61othercd player jun 01 $19.50 and $366.86 turn signal jan 02 $161.04 dome light jan 02 $84.02 jan 02 $89.72 door oct 99 $134.52, mar 03 $285.07steeringsept.02 $258.82, mar. 03 569.32computer controls sept. 00 $106.02engine jan 02 $784.75 coolant smell (found front cover gasket leaking) sept. 02 85.95 (told throttle body worn out, sold me update computer software, seams to run better)currently in shop for check engine light and a/c system intermittent.mechanic found engine problem, says main bearings or crankshaft bad, possibly due to coolant in oil system from january 02 problem
The amp to the radio and cd keeps burning out and the last time it caught onfire. It's been fixed (again) but i'm still scared to drive it. My van stinks like electrical burnt transformer. They said they found a short, but i wonder??? also, why is my exhaust putting out so much black soot on my van? i clean it off and every time i drive it, it becomes all sooted up again.my left tie rod went out too.is that normal for such low mileage? i'm very unhappy with this vehicle.
On numerous occassions this vehicle while stall when coming to a stop (stop sign/traffic lights). This vehicle has been to the repair shop over 8 times and was last worked on for this problem in june 2000. Then in july200 while on vacation the power steering pump failed and the emission control failed. Although the dealership has been repairing the problems the vehicle has lost it's creditability as being safe.
I purchased a 1998 windstar van from the ford dealer located in corning ca. I have had nothing but trouble with it passing smog for the oxy sensor. And the transmission has never worked right. The turbo thing is bad. When i went to trade it in i found that the vehicle was out of canada. And these things were part of the recalls reported to you. But, ford of corning said they did nothing to this van before selling it to me. I found 14 things wrong with this vehicle. I acted up a month after purchase.but i was on aware of my rights as a consumer. Also, i was not sure what oms meant. The van is stuck in folsom,ca at aamco transmission repair shop. Financed through fireside bank. Ford of corning said they did nothing to the van before i purchased it but cleaning it.
Oxygen sensor failed.
While driving there is excessive smoke coming out of the tail pipe, mechanic does not have solution for consumer concern.dealer replaced defective bank #2 hego sensor. But consumer states problem still exist. Door light on dash board illuminated. A special part was ordered.
Various problem with power lock locking byitself/windshield wipers working intermittently/dome light not operating, anddoor ajar light staying on. Vehicle been in / out of dealer shop on several occasions, and problems still reoccurring. Possible electrical problem with failure of power locks, windshield wipers, dome light, door ajar light, door ajar switch,lift gate door ajar switch, battery saver relay inoperable, and washer light illuminating.brakes noisy at times, dealer stated this was due to brake dust.power steering is noisy when turning back and forth, dealer replaced tie rod end.sliding door rattles while driving over bumps, dealer added foam tape to back side of panel, driver door rattles, sliding door hard to open at times, dealer lubed sliding hinges and latch.dealer replaced shocks due to rattling noise when riding over bumps.drivebelt replaced.maf sensor replaced due to hesitation.window guide did not fit tight.
Check engine soon light came on.i took it to the ford dealer where i purchased my 1998 ford windstar.i told the service advisor i had a coolant leak.when the mechanic did the diagnostic test he said the leak was at the valve covers and intake.the gaskets had to be replaced at a price of over $900.it appears to be a major problem of the 1998 ford windstar which is not covered under the defect warranty. My windstar had just over 50,000 miles on when this defect happened.
Black carbon getting on the body from the exhaust pipe and tail pipe extension installed.
Consumer states thatvacuum motor switch fails. He also states that the rubber diaphram fails all the time. This part of the auto is suppose to be working in relations with the intake manifold.
Current mileage approx. 55,800. .on a recent trip to cape may, nj (approx. 150 miles from our home in bayside, ny ),the engine seized and the car died on the garden state parkway. The car was brought to the nearest ford dealer/ service station, chapman ford (june 31,2003), where it is being serviced currently. The technician could not evaluate the damage until july 2,2003, where he stated that a rod broke causing a puncture in the oil pan therefore causing a loss of fluid and a seize of the engine. At lease inception, we took an extended warranty through ford hempstead with interstate warranty services. This warranty company ordered a complete tear down of the engine to find out why the rod broke, we agreed knowing that it was due to no neglect on our part, the tear down did not occur until july 10th and was examined on july 11th by an inspector hired by interstate. The claim is now being denied, even though we supplied them with all thedocumentation they requested on the upkeep and maintenance of the car. Their claim is that the last maintenance (oil change, filter and lubricants) were not done. We have the documentation to prove that monahan ford, flushing, ny did this maintenance along withother work in january. Also, hempstead ford, hempstead, ny, did service on the car april 2003 for the exact hesitation in acceleration that we experienced immediately before the engine seized. Unfortunately monahan ford went out of business and we are being told that our car was not kept in good condition when documentation proves it was in two separate dealerships within a sixth month period.i now am faced with a $5000.00+ bill to repair a car that was kept well and has an extended warranty. I am being forced to file suit with monahan ford for fraudulent service and file suit with hempstead ford for failure to correctly analyze the car's problem.
Driving at about 35 mph in moderate traffic, engine slowed, oil and check engine light came on.engine began making a sputtering sound and white smoke billowed from the tail pipe.vehicle decreased speed rapidly, endangeringthree children.engine diagnositc proved blown head gasket.
Ford windstar throwing persistent ses light p0740. This was common with almost most windstars. There should be a recall for the manifolds/gasket. Rough ride and stalling at dangerous points.
The exhaust was emitting black smoke. The tail pipe had black soot inside. Took to dealer & mechanic cut tail pipe on side. According to manufacturer's instructions, it would run it underneath van & then turn down. Its an engine manifold design flaw.
Consumer received several recall/ campaign notice 03e003000 regarding ds-2000 primary driving control system.consumer did not agree with the campaigns that the manufacturer called routine maintenance.these repairs were very costly, and did not fix the problem with dirt and foreign materials entering the system ,and causing the system to operate slowly.the controls on the system hadto be pressed firmly until the function, e.g., shifting was accomplished.
Air conditioner malfunctioned.
Loss of front right wheel while driving.*mrwhile driving the front passenger side wheel separated from the vehicle.the separation caused damage to the front passenger side fender.it was later determined the wheel in question separated from the vehicle as a result of inappropriate clamping force to the assembly. It also appeared that the lack of clamping force was the result of an under torqued wheel or a wheel and a brake rotor combination the was inappropriately seated.the rear wipers were defective and the air conditioner was inoperative.*nlm
The air conditioning line leading to the back of the vehicle (for rear cooling) rubbed against the power steering line, causing the air conditioning line to rupture. If this had caused the rupture of the power steering line, significant serious safety consequences could have occurred.additionally, the loss of the total coolant due to the ruptured air conditioning line is an environmental issue. We believe this is a major design flaw in the vehicle and one that warrants immediate attention by the manufacturer. The vehicle is less than three years old.
The consumer has been experiencing problems with air conditioner condensor.th when turning onair conditioner, it gives off a foul odor.the manufacturer has been contacted.
While traveling on highway and without prior warning there was a bad odor coming from vent area.dealership is aware of problem. Consumer states after turning on the air condition or opening the vent control there is an odor
6 months after purchasing the van's problem with stalling out when stopping and then proceeding through intersections.it had been taken to the dealer once in roanoke (majic city ford)_ and again in charlottesville, va with no problems found.the car comes to acomplete stop with 'service engine soon" light and can't be started until put in park and then started.also, as odd as it seems, it only occurs when turning 'left'.the air conditioning when started (max ac- ac- defrost settings) make a bang noise att the right front underside of the van.it occurs a few times in a row and then stops only to begin weeks later.the van has been brought into brady-bushey for this with no repair work performed because it did not happen when they tested it.they told me to bring it back when it happens again. But then, when it stops making the noise how am i suppose to prove this noise?
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Engine. Air conditioning.
1. Transmission:the vehicle would act as if it were in neutral after coming to a stop.sometimes this would happen right as i pulled into an intersection, leaving me in the path of oncoming traffic with no power.2. A/c:the control module failed to engage the a/c but still cycled the idle speed.this was dangerous because the braking required to hold the vehicle at a stop was insufficient when the idle randomly surged to high.both failures had potential to cause accident but were repaired before any incident occurred.
Rear air will not work.
Air conditioner fan failed due to a/c condensor failure.
Power steering line malfunctioned while driving, rendering vehicle difficult to steer, dealer has repaired vehicle.consumer also stated the air conditioner was not cooling, there was a loose connection at compressor, the doors would not lock, the power door actuator was the cause of the doors not working,windows would not go down because of a bad window motor.
The ignition stopped and this is later than the reported ignition problems reported in the detroit free press on 9-14-00.when the car went in for warranty work, ford claimed that it was just a "computer problem."when driving a new car, i don't enjoy having the car stop for no reason, especially in traffic.this ignition problem seems to be occurring in later model cars as my windstar is a 1998.i also have a disgusting smell that emanates from the heater/airconditioner which has been reported numerous times and has not ever been repaired.they put in deodorizer, but the smell still reeks when the heat or air conditioning is put on at any level. What is the problem?
Some type of computer chip failed that enable the vehicle to shift gears. Vehicle was taken to dealership and was repaired at no cost to me. We were told by the service advisor that a recall was done on the part. However i was never notified, the amount of the repair was unknown. Now the paint is falling off & rusting everywhere! started to rust on top of the van roof then paint started "chipping" on the roof side, was small at first then one day we had a lot of rain and all of the sudden at the end of the day i noticed a lot more paint missing.i take excellent care of my vehicle and this is not usual for any of my cars.
This head gasket problem look like ford knew about it as early as 1995 with some of its other vehicles.doesn't seem fair to me.
A/c oct. 99 $168.98, dec. 99 $134.40suspensionjuly 01$664.61, dec. 99 $515.85, jun 01 $61.78,bodyjun 01 $443.61othercd player jun 01 $19.50 and $366.86 turn signal jan 02 $161.04 dome light jan 02 $84.02 jan 02 $89.72 door oct 99 $134.52, mar 03 $285.07steeringsept.02 $258.82, mar. 03 569.32computer controls sept. 00 $106.02engine jan 02 $784.75 coolant smell (found front cover gasket leaking) sept. 02 85.95 (told throttle body worn out, sold me update computer software, seams to run better)currently in shop for check engine light and a/c system intermittent.mechanic found engine problem, says main bearings or crankshaft bad, possibly due to coolant in oil system from january 02 problem
When radio on, electrical noise exists when lights are on.noise changes pitch, volume, and phase when dimmer switch is rotated.dealer claims it's normal.additional electrical noise given these conditions and which is in sync with transmission has been corrected by dealer.problem does not exist with installation of non-ford radio.
While driving 60 mph front coil springs broke.was able to get vehicle on the shoulder.dealer replacedfront coil spring.the front passenger side tire was punctured by the broken spring.the jack failedwhile raising the vehicle to change the tire.
First the interior light stay on and blinds driver at night the dash lights for door open shows all 4 door are open but they are closed. In addition the spare tire hoist will not go up and being that this part is not used but for emergencies and proper storage of an emergency item i feel the part should last for many yrs.
Although not apparent on new labels, the composition is plastic covering over printed base, with the base having the necessary adhessive to affix to the master cylinder reservoir. While using a clean, dry cloth to clean up around the engine compartment, i wiped over the labels and the plastic outer covering slid, smearing the printed information and making the english label illegible. The brake warning statement is still entirely visible, but only the french version print is legible, since i did not rub over it. At the time, the engine compartment was warm, since the engine had been running.
Light will not reset even after replacing part.
Consumer was issuedrecall 00v168000/ manufacturer'srecall 00s14 fordaytime running lights.vehicle was made in according to canadian standards. Ford wantedconsumer to sign a statement saying that they will not be held responsible for notnot disconnectingvehicle, it could catch on fire. Consumer just wanted it repaired.consumer is requesting that lights be fixed and not blocked.
I needed the starter replaced, my brakes, i'm having electrical issues, my car stops when it wants to in the middle of the highway,.. It makes noises when i'm turning, i have rust coming from under my car. The signal lights flickers
Vehicles daytime running lamp are being recalled (00v-168) and disconnected because the light is brighter than allowed u.s. Standards, the consumer does not want them disconnected but replaced to meet u.s. Standard.nlm
The consumer does not want the vehicle daytime running lamp disable per recall notice 00v-168 because he believes they are a safety feature, the recall states that this vehicle was imported from canada erroneously, the lamps are too bright and do not meet u.s. Standards.nlm
Vehicle is a 1998 ford windstar. While driving the windshield washer,seat belt,and door ajar warning lights flash on and off. While this is happening the wiper blades stop working,power windows will not operate and on a few occasions the headlights will blink with the warning lights. I understand that this is an old vehicle but i have researched this issue and have found hundreds of complaints about the same problem. Not just restricted to this year. It is also an issue that happens just after a few years of service. I would think that wiper blades malfunctioning due to an electrical issue would be a safety concern.
Ongoing problem with door ajar light staying on while all doors are properly closed.dealer notified, and informed consumer that vehicle was out of its warranty, and nothing would be done.
Consumer has experienced several problems with the transmission, dealer has replaced it once, however problems continue, consumer has filed for a request for arbitration, vehicle bucks, jerks, and jumps into gear before taking off.vehicle shimmies from one side to another upon acceleration, there is a thumping sound heard also at times while driving.vehicle experienced a speed sensor circuit problem.speedometer jumps.problem with power steering, dealer adjusted rack and pinion and made other repairs to steering mechanism.right side brake light bulb failed.battery failed.consumer stated it felt as if vehicle was going to stall sometimes, engine has no power at acceleration, engine belt was noisy and was replaced.tire had a slow leak due to loose tire valve.
1998 ford windstar - failure of brake pressure switch; caused all brake fluid to leak out of master cylinder, and subsequent brake failure.no accident caused (fortunately), could have been disastrous or fatal.wife noticed that she could not stop vehicle just before entering the freeway; used the emergency brake to stop and drive the windstar home.i discovered massive amount of brake fluid had leaked onto the surrounding area, and the #30 fuse for cruise control, and abs had blown.
Consumer was issuedrecall 00v168000/ manufacturer'srecall 00s14 fordaytime running lights.vehicle was made in according to canadian standards. Ford wantedconsumer to sign a statement saying that they will not be held responsible for notnot disconnectingvehicle, it could catch on fire. Consumer just wanted it repaired.consumer is requesting that lights be fixed and not blocked.
Traveling at night with lights on.activating right turn signal caused headlights to turn off (parking lights stayed on).turning light swtich off then back on again did not correct. Had to flash highbeams for headlights to turn back on. Testing right turn signal again shut off healights. Again, only way to get them back on was to flash and release hi-beams.
My problem is with nhtsa definition of a problem (daytime running lights too bright in the daytime) and ford's fix of the problem(disable the lights).
Headlight covers turned cloudy. Consumer first noticed this in 2001. Even when headlights are switched tobright they do not illuminate the roadway enough to safely see at night.
While drivingheadlights will go out without warning.10 seconds later they will come back on.please provide any further information.
I was driving on a two lane curving road with the brights on.without warning the lights went completly out.i was able to pull the switch back to the regular position and they luckily they came back on.i was unable to get a replacement on saturday because the dealer was doing inventory.the switch also failed several other times over the weekend with the regular headlights as well.i contacted the dealer for a replacement switch and asked him if they had been replacing many of these and he told me yes.i then proceeded to tell him how it tried to kill me and my family.i have metered the replacement switch and it shows readings all over the place as far as resistance, in excess of 400,000 ohms at times.it never would stay completly open.i just wonder how many accidents that this intermittant problem may be responsible for.
1998 windstar headlights are extremely clouded making low beams useless.the headlight are cloudy on the inside and the outside and cannot be polished.the dealer indicated that this was a common problem.
Headlights over the past year have not been corrected.at night dimmer lights have very poor visibilty.dealer has been notified. Dealer advised that headlight assembly needed to be replaced.
Headlight power reduced due to hazy len's.
Tail lights and gasket.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated that the vehicle taken to a local mechanic for inspection of the sub frame when the contact was advised that the sub frame was severely corroded and that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The contact stated that the brake lines were also found to be corroded. The brake lines were replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the sub frame failure and denied any assistance with the repair. The sub frame was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 114,000.the tie rods, front wheel bearings and battery had to be replaced within one year of owning the vehicle. The wheel cylinders, brake adjusters, spring kit, drums, rotors, shoes, and pads all had to be replaced. Also, the turn signal level stopped working for the left side. When the brake was applied, it went to the floor and then pulsated back up, and then the abs light illuminated. Updated 02/01/12
Multifunction switch failed and was replaced.
Consumer states the warning light was on, the dealer traced problem to a loose hose on the fuel tank, which required tightening a screw, the fuel filter was replaced.
Engine stalled; reported to sheehy ford; replaced sensor; within a week vehicle stalled again and often.reported to dealer; could not duplicate stall condition.stalling occurred up to 13 times a day; returned vehicle to dealer.after two days dealer found that plastic gas tank had collapsed, causing a vapor lock, affecting fuel flow to engine and resulting in stalls.gas tank replaced at cost of $882.
Head gasket failure. Faulty head gasket design in my opinion abs/traction control unit.current problem tsb states that fuel tank manufactured with incorrect depth - fuel pump wiring is rubbed until electrical short occurs - and fuel pump fuse blows - vehicle is then stuck in traffic, in the middle of an intersection etc. Fords recommended fix is to replace the fuel tank and pump assemblyhowever, they will not contribute anything to the cost of the repairs caused due to their faulty design.
This van has all the defects and complaints listed on thegovt. Recalls the nhtsa site and othersihave too much info to put on this site if there is anyone i can send my complaint to please let me know iam putting it back into the shop againive been thru a nightmare along with trying to assure my 4 kids that they were safe in this vanthankyou angela wallace and by the wat the dealer that sold me this van will not cooperate at all
My windstar has about 155,000 miles on it and a 25 gallon tank.about six months ago it cut off on the interstate in front of a tractor trailer with my daughter driving.it had just traveled about 200 miles and it was raining hard.we had it towed to a ford dealer and all he reported was the fuel pump fuse blew.the second event was on vacation and after driving about 175 miles. Again it was pouring down rain.i figured it was moisture related and let it sit three days and the idle close to 1/2 hour.finally i drove it about 45 minutes and it seemed fine so we drove home.again at about 150 miles and heavy rain it blew the fuse about 5 miles from home.after two more fuses we made it home.i used an air compressor and air nibbler to carefully cut an access hole in the floor of the van. My daughters chrysler comes with an access point for fuel pump service.now my van has one too.the original pump was in the tank.the wires exposed to fuel were chaffed in 5 spots and arcing at the push in connector.the arcing was due to a crimp on a hose clamp rubbing the wire near the push in pump connector.this rubbing may happen due to other stories i've read about where the tank collapsed from vacuum in the tank.shame on the people who designed this pump, tank and the assembly process.by the way i'm a quality engineer at an engine factory.i expect a fuel pump to wear out -- not short out.
1998 ford windstar. Consumer states issues with repairs *tgwthe consumer stated the gas he put in his vehicle, turned out to be bad, which caused the vehicle shake. (consumers handwriting is extremely illegible. )
A/c oct. 99 $168.98, dec. 99 $134.40suspensionjuly 01$664.61, dec. 99 $515.85, jun 01 $61.78,bodyjun 01 $443.61othercd player jun 01 $19.50 and $366.86 turn signal jan 02 $161.04 dome light jan 02 $84.02 jan 02 $89.72 door oct 99 $134.52, mar 03 $285.07steeringsept.02 $258.82, mar. 03 569.32computer controls sept. 00 $106.02engine jan 02 $784.75 coolant smell (found front cover gasket leaking) sept. 02 85.95 (told throttle body worn out, sold me update computer software, seams to run better)currently in shop for check engine light and a/c system intermittent.mechanic found engine problem, says main bearings or crankshaft bad, possibly due to coolant in oil system from january 02 problem
While driving at various speeds and without warning consumersmelled gas fumes inside the vehicle. Cause has yet to be determined. The seal between the gas tank and the fuel pump failed because the gas tank collapsed.the gas tank was replaced at the dealer. The fuel gauge accuracy problem that was corrected when the new gas tank was installed. *scc
White smoke coming from the exhaust and the engine was missing due to blown head gaskets. Dealer contacted. Also found blown intake manifold gasket. Transmission replaced at 45,000 miles.
No summary listed for abov evehicle.
Problem area: wiring in gas tank-- the hose clamp inside gas tank has rubbed through the wires which power the electric pump. This caused to blow the fuse for the gas pump. *note-possible electric arc inside the gas tank.
After each fill up car stalls after one block while driving, but the car restarts. Interior and headlites at times will not go on, delays about 10 mins then goes on this is intermit. Problem. Rear windows also intermit. Opens after a fewtimes when button is depressed. Used car dealer will check on nov. 2nd. Is this a problem with ford?
I had a fuse blow on my fuel pump.this pump is in the tank and the tank was full.when the mechanic removed the tank he found two wires with thethe coatings burnt off.a pieceof one wire was welded to one of the tubes.this could have caused a fire or if the tank wasnot full more likely an explosion.it is fused with 25amp.i believe this to be avery dangerous condition .ihave the pump also pictures of same.please keep me advised of your findings.ifyou need more info just call or e-mail.
Fuel pump fuse blew which could have caused a fire.
Fuel pump has stopped working due toinsulationonwires wore off, which in some cases couldresult in a fire. Contacted dealer.
Ie99059, the defective steering bushings does not support the system which causes the vehicle steering system to malfuction. Also, braking system malfunctioned, causing extended stopping distance which may result in a crash.the fuel pump went out unexpectedly, cause vehicle to stall.finally,liftgate indicator light came on, but the liftgateremained closed.brakes been replace once,andbushings3 times.please provide further information and vin#.
Surging, lack of power, stalling, no start condition
1st to 2nd bang when shifting on slow acceleration (repeats often), fuel pump continually cuts out when parked on slight downhill, still 6+ gallons left. Only since replacement of fueltank and gas pump due to electrical short
Fuel pump failed.
There are wires going through fuel tank that have no cover, and it could cause a fire. Dealer notified. The vehicle had stalled several times due to wires shorting out in the fuel pump. The fuel pump was replaced. Yh
I have a 1998 ford windstar, and its fuel tank was leaking into the passenger compartment.when brought to the dealer it was said that the fuel tank collapsed at the fuel pump, which caused the leaking.*la
Dt: contact stated the fuel sending unit and the fuel pump harness melted.dealer told contact she was lucky the vehicle did not blow up on her. This happened while she was driving the vehicle. The check engine light came on, and thenvehicle coasted to a stop.
For no apparent reason the vehicle just cuts off while driving.the first time a computer adjustment was made, the second time(july 23rd) the electric fuel pump was replaced. The vehicle is being service for the third time(aug 5th) for the same problem. Each time the vehicle had to be towed to the dealership.
While driving 30 mph down hill the fuel pump will shutdown, which was caused by a short in the sensor of the fuel tank. Dealer replaced the fuel pump and the tank.consumer states that the tank was a 25 gallon tank, however the sensor was causing the low fuel light to come on when only 16-17 gallons had been consumed.
Fuel pump inside fuel tank is not working properly. There is a wire insidefuel tank connected tofuel pump, and within 50000 mileswire started to rub together withpotential of there being a fire in fuel tank. Contacted dealer, and the dealer was not willing to do anything.
Fuel cut off switch would cut off without any warning while driving. This has happened at least 4 times. Has taken vehicle to dealer each time. It was repaired the first time ithappened. The last 2 times been in contact with dealership & nothing was informative about problem. Vehicle died out. Got out of vehicle & turned switch back on to start vehicle again.
While being drivenat45 mph, van stalled, resulting in steering wheel locking and brakes completely failing with no pressure.owner had no other choice but to coast through an intersection with light.please describe details.
Fuel will leak when filling up gas tank to full, possibly due to failure of o-ring.tank still leaked after o-ring replaced.owner has not replaced tank.*ml
Vehicle is experiencing a stalling problem, dealer has replaced the alternator and performed tsb 982506, however problem is still occurring, a customer service rep from ford was supposed to call consumer back regarding problem and has not.consumer states he has since discovered that the problem with the vehicle is an engineering defect in the fuel injector causing the engine to shut down atslow speeds when the vehicle is turning.
Recurring problem concerning the fuel system, often when we reach about a quarter tank of fuel about the time the low fuel light comes on if we come to a stop the vehicle will cut off and it will blow the fuse that controls the fuel system and after replacement of the fuse it will continue to blow until we put in more gas
Exit line from the fuel injection system is leaking fuel onto the engine , causing a very strong gas odor in the vehicle. This could lead to a fire. Please give any further details.
Dt:the contact states while driving for about five or ten miles ,if the contact goes to make a right turn or stop, the vehicle will stall. This occurs while decelerating. He states that everything works fine while he is driving the vehicle.it just when he goes to stop that he has the problems. He took the vehicle to his personal mechanic , and they replaced the idle control ,and cleaned the injectors. However,vehicle still has this problem. The vehicle shuts off with no warning. It will start back up as soon as it stalls when he puts it in park. The contact states that this has happened more than 100 times.vehicle hasautomatic transmission.the vehicle is regularly maintained.it started about a year ago and it wouldn't do it all the time and now it is doing almost every time you slow down. Has came very close to causing an accident.
Vehicle has a bad seal on the fuel cap. Vehicle was being inspected at state. Dealer contacted and cannot duplicate the problem.provide further information.
our fuel pump went for a second time in a three month period.the cause of the fuel pumps malfunction was a short in the wiring which was caused by the fact that the depth of the fuel tank was not within the required specifications.the depth of the fuel tank was only 6 5/8" deep.if the depth of the tank is to shallow, the wiring atop the fuel pump can become chaffed on the metal fuel hose clamp. Ford had issued a service bulletin on this very issue. What occurred with our van was precisely what the service bulletin warns of.the service bulletin states that if thefuel tank depth is less than 7 3/4"replace the fuel tank 9002 and fuel delivery module 9h307. our van clearly met that criteria, however,ford would not replace the fuel pump or fuel tank atfords expense.the service manager and technician at ford stated that if i were a regular customer of duddie ford, that they would not let me take the van with me because of the safetyissues involved.when i asked what exactly they meant, they stated that because of the chaffingof the wiring on the fuel pump, a short could occur, which could ignite gasoline fumes and therefore result in a catastrophic tragedy.basically, the van could explode. An appointment was made at granite ford in rochester, new hampshire for replacement of the fuel tank per the service bulletin.the granite ford technician also measured the depth of the fuel tank and found a depth of only 6 5/8". (see granite ford invoice) the fuel tank was removed and replaced.dt
Air lock on filling gas tank, after repair attempts still continues.nlm
Fuel tank collapse on 1998 windstar dealer wants $1300 dollars to replace fuel tank and all related components. Dealer says this is because there is a vacuum inside tank created by the fuel pump. Perfectly running van that has been kept up maintenance wise is now inoperative do to stalling.
The consumer has experienced problems withgas tank.the consumer statevehicle doesn't hold the capacity of gas that is stated on the sticker.the gas tank gauge will read emptywhen it has 4+gallonsgas.the manufacturer has been to be contacted.two repair attempts and both failed and currently third repair has been postponed due to lack of parts. The transmission has developed a second leak..et.
Afterdealer did the recall for the fuel tank sensor, there was a gas smell which was caused bya pin hole in the gas tank.dealer replaced gas tankwith a new plastic gas tank. 45 days later, the vehicle had a gas leak caused by a pin hole in the gas tank, in which if there was a source of ignition a fire could have occurred.
Ford installed improper size fuel tanks which caused the wire in the fuel tank to chafe and short out which caused the vehicle to stop running.*phthe consumer believes the manufacturer should be financially responsible for repairing the problem.
While driving the fuel system doesn't letknow how much fuel is in the tank.the vehicle has been in the ford repair shop four times. Dealer cannot deterimine what the promblem is.
1998 ford windstar. According to dealer repair dept there was a hole in the fuel tank caused by corrosion relating to the emission tubing. Had to replace fuel tank. Reported to ford, they have nothing to report. Dealer person said they have replaced several of these and this is in a small rural town. Tank was back ordered for a month. I would think that a hole in a gasoline tank would be hazardous, and given the statement of seeing several of these in one dealership plus the backorder situation indicates this is a widespread problem.
Noted problem only when gas tank was filled, smelled gas, thought it was from vent line - after a few more tank fills - noticed gas leaking on ground during tank fill-up.problem was fixed 07/29/1999 at brown motors petoskey, mi - this could be a vary serious problem - could cause fires at gas station, home garage's, ect.this problem was there when we bought the van as it was never full during test driving - started smelling gas fumes when we would fill tank up and untill the fuel level would drop down low enough not too leak out the o-ring seal.
Fule tank sending unit is leaking fuel.the dealer has been notified.
We have been to arbitration on this defect. We have the 25 g. Gas tank and ford says the misreading is supposed to be the way it is.
Engine stalled; reported to sheehy ford; replaced sensor; within a week vehicle stalled again and often.reported to dealer; could not duplicate stall condition.stalling occurred up to 13 times a day; returned vehicle to dealer.after two days dealer found that plastic gas tank had collapsed, causing a vapor lock, affecting fuel flow to engine and resulting in stalls.gas tank replaced at cost of $882.
Fuel gauge inaccurately reads the amount of fuel in the vehicle.the dealer says that the problem is normal.
Neither dealer nor ford zone rep helpful.probable cause of tank collapse is failure in vapor/vent system to fuel tank.see also your odi id 829866.problem appears to be limited to 1998 windstar with 25 g tank.dealer has found orig tank crushed, has replaced same, has replaced/checked gauge sender, and replaced gauge.probelm continues as originally reported, and believed to be related to vacuum in tank as pump extracts fuel, and external air pressure plus internal tank vacuum crushed 25 g tank to 16 g volume.
Fuel tank broken / punctured when ran over on a unknown object (suspect tire piece) during night on a rainy day.
Fuel tank is leaking, causing a fire hazard. Please provide further information.
I have a 1998 ford windstar, and its fuel tank was leaking into the passenger compartment.when brought to the dealer it was said that the fuel tank collapsed at the fuel pump, which caused the leaking.*la
1st to 2nd bang when shifting on slow acceleration (repeats often), fuel pump continually cuts out when parked on slight downhill, still 6+ gallons left. Only since replacement of fueltank and gas pump due to electrical short
The fuel tank was punctured after running over a dead turtle in the roadway and fuel leaked profusely from damaged area.the tank was found to be plastic and had not type of protective shields.
Fuel tank collapsed. As a result, the 22 gallon tank can only take in 13 gallons.
Fuel clapsed while on vacation blowing fuses and ruining fuel pumphad to have both replaced.ford claimes has had no other problems with this.
Consumer stated excessive fuel was leaking .dealer indicated that top of the fuel tank broke apart.
We purchased an optional 25 gallon fuel tank. When the fuel gauge pointer bottoms out at "e" and the "low fuel" light comes on, we fill the tank and are only able to put approximately 18 gallons in the the tank (on a regular basis). The owner's guide says that the light should come on when there is 1/16 of a tank (1.5-2 gallons) left as a reserve. We have had the van into two different dealers for a total of 8 times but they have not fixed the problem. The dealers have replaced the sender assembly twice, the fuel gauge assembly and the fuel tank assembly twice. The dealers state that there is nothing that they can do; they have done all that ford has authorized. Ford says that this is a problem that the dealers should handle. We feel that it is unsafe for my wife and children to travel in a vehicle that may run out of gas on a busy highway (possibly causing an accident) or in the middle of nowhere(leaving them stranded and unsafe). We feel that a gauge as important as a fuel gauge should be accurate and consistent.
Fuel gauge reads inaccuratly. The fuel gauge reads empty even when there is still 1/4 tank or more fuel.
Concerned about fuel tank filler hose. Check engine light comes on states loose fuel cap. Fuel cap has been replaced three times. Problem persists. Is there a 1999 recall on windstar fuel tanks? what does it entail? we are the original owner of the vehicle.
Fuel spitting back out of filler neck while filling fuel tank. Dealer notified, and informed consumer that vehicle's problem was not coveredunder manufacturer's recall. *ml
Filler nozzle cracked and there was fuel leaking fromvehicle. Contacted a dealer, anddealer was not willing to do anything.
Driving fwy speed, left most lane, gas guage read over 1/4 tank, vehicle was really out of fuel (empty) and stalled in left lane with heavy traffic.was repaired 2x previously by dealer, dealer insists there's no problem.
Vehicle supposedly has 25 gallon gas tank. Will not accept more than 15 gallons when dash light indicates low fuel ( 1/16 tank ). Dealer has replaced tank 4 times, done several tsb procedures. Manufacturer notified. Still not resolved.
While driving vehicleit ran out of gas. Had coasted to side of road. Fuel gauge showed fuel in tank, but was informed no fuel in tank.
Gas gauge failed.
Problem originated immediately after purchase. Was taken in 3 times for repair. Fuel gauge would not register full when filled and filling up with only 12 to 14 gallons when at 1/4 of a tank or less.problem supposedly fixed but still had occasional erratic movement and improper fuel gauge readings over a period of 1 1/2 years. Problem became much worse in july 2000. Had erratic movement in fuel gauge, would fill tank, gauge would go to full, then drop 1/8, then go back up to full, the drop 1/8 again.filling up at 1/4 of a tank or less with 12 to 14 gallons again. Vehicle has been at dealers 5 times, to date.continually say that it is fixed but when i fill up with gas the problem is still there.
The consumer has experienced problems withgas tank.the consumer statevehicle doesn't hold the capacity of gas that is stated on the sticker.the gas tank gauge will read emptywhen it has 4+gallonsgas.the manufacturer has been to be contacted.two repair attempts and both failed and currently third repair has been postponed due to lack of parts. The transmission has developed a second leak..et.
Consumer noticed something hanging down from the vehicle while it was sitting in the driveway.upon closer inspection consumer found that the vapor recovery system bracketrusted.
Fuel pump fuse has blown on 1998 ford windstar. *mr the vehicle ceased to run while in heavy traffic.the consumer found that it ha been a number of vehicle's with fuel pump wire failures due to defective venting systems for the fuel tank.this causes the fuel tank to deform, collapse and pinch the wires to the integrity mounted fuel pump. *sc
Vehicle blows fuel pump fuse and stops running.this has occurred in 3 instances on the highway and in the middle of an intersection.
I was informed that the problem was recalled in 1998. I inform the local dealer of of this recall and asked if this problem could be fixed. He stated that the recall has expired and that the ford dealership would not pay for this. I feel that since i was not notified of this at anytime. I was not able to take the vehicle in to get fixed. The infomation pertaining to this is: 97b17 (program number) issue date: feb 98 recallm - fuel gauge/sender assembly." reason for this program: the fuel gauge in the instrument cluster of your vehicle may read approxiamately 1/4 full when there is very little fuel in the fuel tank. Thiscould cause you to experience the inconvenience of running out of fuel" i have a copy of a letter that my repair man has given me to see if the dealer ship would fix the problem. We have one vehicle and have three children. I can'trelie on this vehicle at this time. I am afraid that the vehicle would stop all of a sudden and thenan accident may occur. Thank you for your time. Monica mcclurep all of
Car stalls and cuts off when slowing down to stop - making sharp turns - when completely filling gas tank up - at the half way point on fuel gauge
Gas tank sensor unit failed.yh
My mini van lights would flicker while i'm driving and even after replacing the starter in the car, it still turns off while i'm driving. There's rust coming from under the car, i smell a burnt smell when i'm driving. I don't know how my vin number wasn't part of the recall, so many things is wrong with the van, one thing after another.. Please help me
My mini van lights would flicker while i'm driving and even after replacing the starter in the car, it still turns off while i'm driving. There's rust coming from under the car, i smell a burnt smell when i'm driving. I'm having electrical issues, my car stops when it wants to in the middle of the highway, .. It makes noises when i'm turning, i have rust coming from under my car. The signal lights flicker.while driving the windshield washer, seat belt, and door ajar warning lights flash on and off. While this is happening the wiper blades stop working,front brake rotors is causing steering wheel to shimmy when the brakes are applied.now when i turn my wheel to the left, it makes this loud nose. What is that?!
I have basically had everything that could go wrong with this vehicle.. Go wrong. It has been in several times for the seal around drivers side door (air flows in). The door ajar indicator continually goes on and the dome light comes on(making it very unsafe to drive at night. Especially when trying to back up. The dome light then stays on causing battery to die. I have had problems with the traction control light to blink have had in shop they say they replaced a sensor. As soon as my warranty was up. It happened again(cost me over $400.00) when either window is rolled down about 3 inches(as soona s it hits that point) a buzzing sound will occur. I had a huge gash on the interior of my right tire(no known cause) i believe the van was 3 months old at this time.... Had to purchase a new tire. I have had work done several times on the front passenger side. Including the bearings replaced.... A sensor ring that had broken in half, tie-rod... I am so disappointed in this vehicle, we bought this because it was convient to tote around 3 children but the fact that i am so afraid to drive it alot of times ins't very convenient at all. I am amazed that it has made it this far (90,000) the back hatch seems to have some electrial problems as whenever it is opened it woll set off the door ajar light and when closed it never goes off.. For some reason it has periods of time that it will stay on for weeks and then when that stops the window buzzing starts. I am not under warranty and am very tired of sinking money into a van that we apid well over 30,000 for. Why is something so expensive........... Such a money pit????? i feel i get no response from the dealers. They seem to be able to word it in a different way when they fix something and you have to take it back in to be re-fixed.. Although it does the same thing??? i guess we will have to do more research on vehicle manufactors when buying our next family vehicle. I have never been so disappointed. Please send recall informat
Dome lightwill automatically stay on even afterdoors are closed. Contacted dealer.
Door ajar light stays on all the time.chimes stay on when car is started until the speed reaches around 15 mph.but as soon as i slow down and stop, the chimes come on again.
Door open indicator stays on, causes interior light to stay on. Every other 1998 ford i know has same problem (7 vehicles). Nieghbor has had thier van (98) worked on 4 times in one year. Dealer not helpfull. Ford has blinders on, acts as if they know nothing about thos problem. All i wanted is ford to say they knew it was a problem, and they were working on a solution. Fords integrity is in question with me.
Light that indicates door is open stays illuminated.light gets so hot thatit may cause a fire. The switches have been replaced.the ford company is aware of the problem and doesn't want to fix unless consumer pays out of pocket.the sliding door was replaced.*jg
The door open/close indicator light remained on.sometimes the light remained on for about an hour after the car was parked and turned off.this is an intermittent problem that has been occurring for about a year.
Door ajar light on dash is on constantly when all doors are shut. Chime is also going off at all times.when chime is on it is not possible to lockdoors. Vehicle at dealership at this time.
Consumer is experiencing an electrical malfunction with the door ajar light. *yd
Accelerator went down on its own while in reverse, no brakes to stop, resulting in a accident.steering vibrates, recommend rotating the tires.interior seats slightly twisted, door locks works sometime, interior lights work sometimes.
Continual problems with interior lights and locks because of the door ajar monitor. All doors are closed and door alarm monitor remains on which causes the interior lights to remain on at all times. Have to remove #29 fuse just to get interior and dome lights to shut off, even after ignition is off and key removed. Otherwise battery will die as lights do not go off as they are supposed to. Driving with dome light continuously on is a very big safety hazard, especially at night. However removing this fuse also results in loss of electric window function which should also be a safety hazard.this has been happening for at least four years. Everytime i take it to the dealer, it would stop for a short while and then subsequently act up again.i am the sole owner of this vehicle and purchased it new in 1998.i feel these parts should have been made correctly to begin with and/or should have been recalled to be repaired.i will never buy another ford vehicle because of this safety hazard.
Continual problems with interior lights and locks because of the door ajar monitor. Have to use passenger side door to enter because drivers door normally sets it off, and have to unplug battery to let system reset, so battery does not go dead which normally takes a couple of days.locks will lock and unlock on their own while driving.door ajar will also activate with the other doors on its own while you are driving.this has been happening for at least two years.everytime i wanted to take it to the dealer, it would stop and the dealer said they could do nothing unless it was happening at the time.
I have a 1998 ford windstar. It first started with my cruise control switch catching on fire and causing wires under my hood to burn... Now for the last year i have been having problems with my passenger sliding door..the sensor on the dash would show that the door was ajar(not closed) i could take the battery cable off for a while and the door light would go off. Now i have had to remove all the bulbs in the lights inside the van to keep my battery from running down this morning i get up and my battery is dead and acid from the battery is all over the post and cable wires. I talk to my mechanic he says this is due to some problem in the electrical system he said he has had to work on several windstars for the same problemsome kind of sensor fault defect.
Interior dome light stays on until 15-20mph is reached. Dash light indicator says door is open. Isolated problem to sliding door on passenger side. Problem is intermittent. Take to ford dealerships on 3 seperate ocassions and all 3 times the problem mysteriously went away. Also when this happens the rear wiper doesn't work all the time.
Without prior warning door warning light comes onpanel,andlight will stay on. Interior light will go off, but the sound of the chime will not stop.dealerlership is aware ofproblem.*aik
The passenger door contact was corroded causing the interior lights to come on and an alart on the dash that the door is "open".reported to dealership but never repaired or replaced under waranty. This is a danger to the driver that the door is open and distracks the drivers attention to immediately turn around to visually check.this alert also causes the interior lights to automatically come on when this "open door" indication is given.this is also a distraction.both the dealership and ford were contacted but nothing was done.i will never buy a ford product again.
Interior lights inpassenger's compartment remain illuminated. Consumer stated that battery had to be disconnected. Dealer has yet to be contacted. Please provide further details.
Interior light as well as beeping noise ringing nonstop while all doors are shut correctly. Dash light also stays oncomputer issue with system.
Two weeks ago our 1998 ford windstar minivan, with 220,000 miles on it, caught fire under the hood while parked, and was totally destroyed.we had been carefully following the maintenance schedule from ford motor company. During the week before the fire, we had problems with the interior lights not always turning off when we exited the van.
The interior courtesy lamps do not go out when doors are closed. Door ajar light comes on. Ford is well aware of this problem and its a safety issue as driver cannot see during night driving unless fuse is pulled. Interior lights cannot be shut off with the dimmer switch!!.. Dealers play dumb when you discuss this issue. Three neighbors have same problem. This is an accident waiting to happen!!!!!!!!
Ajar bell keeps ringing, dash light is on, andlights up.door is not open, but bell continues to ring.
First the interior light stay on and blinds driver at night the dash lights for door open shows all 4 door are open but they are closed. In addition the spare tire hoist will not go up and being that this part is not used but for emergencies and proper storage of an emergency item i feel the part should last for many yrs.
Various problem with power lock locking byitself/windshield wipers working intermittently/dome light not operating, anddoor ajar light staying on. Vehicle been in / out of dealer shop on several occasions, and problems still reoccurring. Possible electrical problem with failure of power locks, windshield wipers, dome light, door ajar light, door ajar switch,lift gate door ajar switch, battery saver relay inoperable, and washer light illuminating.brakes noisy at times, dealer stated this was due to brake dust.power steering is noisy when turning back and forth, dealer replaced tie rod end.sliding door rattles while driving over bumps, dealer added foam tape to back side of panel, driver door rattles, sliding door hard to open at times, dealer lubed sliding hinges and latch.dealer replaced shocks due to rattling noise when riding over bumps.drivebelt replaced.maf sensor replaced due to hesitation.window guide did not fit tight.
Have a 1998 ford windstar van and the problem is that my interior lights and sensor showing that your door is open does not turn off.even all the door are closed. Sometimes the interior lights go off but the beeping noise does not stop.
Seat belt alarm,light,andcourtesy light would remain on while driving. Dealer was not notified at this time.
Consumer is experiencing an electrical malfunction with the door ajar light. *yd
When i stopped my van, the interior lights would not turn off and the dashboard showed an open door, though all doors were tightly closed.this condition persisted even with the engine running.we had to pull the interior fuse so we could drive at night - a dangerous situation indeed!the san jose (california) mercury newspaper has an "action line" column where i saw others who have the exact same problem as mine.i took in my car to a ford dealer, but they charged me $85 for not even finding the problem.they said they could not duplicate it.i think ford knows about this but won't issue a recall.please help!
I have a 98 ford windstar family van vin# [xxx] i purchased the van in june of 2002 it is still under warranty and had a full inspection by the service dept according to the dealership when purchased, i was driving by myself on a sunday returning from visiting my elderly parents and as i was driving the interstate a huge noise scared me and i looked to the rear of the van and a window on the passenger side rear vent window was gone, the temp was very cold and no one was around it thank goodness, it could have at a different time cost a motorcycle rider or anyone it could of hit their life or serious injury, i took the van to the ford dealership i bought it from and explained what happened for them to report and also explained i should not have to pay for the repair, i had to pay for it and contacted the ford motor co three times and they do not seem to believe they should take care of this issue, it was a electric window latch that moves the window in and out as a vent that malfunctioned and broke, it is also the only thing that holds it in. I believe i could not have anticipated this to happenand it was clearly a defect and i should be reimbursed and some now that they have caused me so much aggravation.information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
I have a 1998 ford windstar. It first started with my cruise control switch catching on fire and causing wires under my hood to burn... Now for the last year i have been having problems with my passenger sliding door..the sensor on the dash would show that the door was ajar(not closed) i could take the battery cable off for a while and the door light would go off. Now i have had to remove all the bulbs in the lights inside the van to keep my battery from running down this morning i get up and my battery is dead and acid from the battery is all over the post and cable wires. I talk to my mechanic he says this is due to some problem in the electrical system he said he has had to work on several windstars for the same problemsome kind of sensor fault defect.
Interior lights and door locks operating erratically while vehicle is in motion
Electronics-door ajar warning light stays on specifically when weather is damp or mild. This causes door locks to unlock by themselves even when vehicle is in motion, also door chime keeps chimming. Battery looses power because dome lamp stays on for extended period of time.rear windshield wipers will not work if illuminated door ajar warning is caused by opening or closing rear liftgate.repairs have been made to driver door switch at the cost of $100 parts and labor, however the passenger door, side slider and rear liftgate have the same problem.im not sure if doors are really closed or not.since the doors wont stay locked, i believe this poses as a safety hazard to all passengers.mechanics have told me that this is a common problem with mini vans.
Passenger's side door lock is inoperative, causes interior lights to stay on at all times.
Vehicle was struck while parked causing sliding door to close ontochild's head while getting out ofvehicle. Dealer andmanufacturer were not notified at this time. Feel free to provide any further information.
Door actuators failed in this minivan in 2000.in 2001 the relay switches were replaced and in 2002.now in 2004 they say i need to replace the door actuators again.as a result the doors do not lock automatically everything must be done manually.
I own a 1998 ford winstar. I bought it two years ago and a month after i bought it the door ajar light goes on when i open the slider or the trunk and it won't go out therefore my dome light stays on and if i don't pull the fuse i risk the chance of loosing my batteryand when the fuse is out i can't open my windows.
Continual problems with interior lights and locks because of the door ajar monitor. Have to use passenger side door to enter because drivers door normally sets it off, and have to unplug battery to let system reset, so battery does not go dead which normally takes a couple of days.locks will lock and unlock on their own while driving.door ajar will also activate with the other doors on its own while you are driving.this has been happening for at least two years.everytime i wanted to take it to the dealer, it would stop and the dealer said they could do nothing unless it was happening at the time.
Accelerator went down on its own while in reverse, no brakes to stop, resulting in a accident.steering vibrates, recommend rotating the tires.interior seats slightly twisted, door locks works sometime, interior lights work sometimes.
We have a 1998 ford windstar, the door switch, is a safety problem when the doors are shut, the light showing the door open, the door locks will unlock, and the in side lights will stay on. I had new rear door locks replaced,my wife safety is a factor if you leave the inside lights on, the battery will fail, if you take the fuse out, then the windows will not work.
Ajar bell keeps ringing, dash light is on, andlights up.door is not open, but bell continues to ring.
Door ajar lights come on even when all doors are securely closed. The lights continue even when the car is moving.eventually, sometimes after a day, the lights go out on their own.
The hydraulic lifts were held in place by a screw on both sides of the tailgate.the screw on the left side broke. As a result the tailgate released and slammed down very hard.
Rear hatch light keeps coming on and won't go off.when backing outafter dark it is very unsafe to be driving.the dealer replaced the switch and the hatch lock light comes on,and the door doesn't seem like it is locked.
Dt*: the contact stated the front hood unlatched from the vehicle while traveling 65 mph.the hood blew off, and went through the windshield nearly causing injuries.
Consumer stated while parking and without any indication vehicle lost power steering. Vehicle was serviced, technician noticed steering fitting was rusted which caused the power steeering fluid to leak.the hood was difficult to open.the dealer lubed the latch. *nlm
Parking brake malfunctions intermittently.yh
Emergency brake failed. Yh
1)all 5 lugs: nutssheared off from the right front passenger hub, causing the wheel to leave the vehicle.the body of the vehicle traveled approximately 200 feet until it stopped.2)the rear brakes had to be replaced with new pads and rotors.dealer couldn't explain why this was a problem. 3) the next day the right passenger mirror electical system no longer worked.4)the parking brake consistently does not disengage after use.we no longer use it, possibly creating a safety hazard. 5) the vehicle intermittently stalls out at low speeds or upon stopping.additionally the initial gears shift hard and loud. 6)the rear seat will not move on the track.
Parking brake does not hold vehicle, even on slight incline.brake does not meet fmvss test for effectiveness.brake cable has been adjusted by dealer for minimum slack, and foot brake is fully applied before setting hand brake, but parking brake still does not hold vehicle.
Owner didn't realize that emergency parking brake didn't release completely.once she did realize thatowner released it. A 1 1/2 later, lost brakes completely while going through an intersection due to brake fluid boiling inmaster cylinder.also,emergency brake was integrated withhydraulic system.please describe details.
My 1998 ford windstar has broken both right and left coil springs. I've had to replace the transmission, my abs and regular brake light won't go away even after servicing. My overdrive light keeps coming on and staying lit for days.
Emergency brake lever failed. Mjs
My 1998 ford windstar has broken both right and left coil springs. I've had to replace the transmission, my abs and regular brake light won't go away even after servicing. My overdrive light keeps coming on and staying lit for days.
Consumer has experienced several problems with the transmission, dealer has replaced it once, however problems continue, consumer has filed for a request for arbitration, vehicle bucks, jerks, and jumps into gear before taking off.vehicle shimmies from one side to another upon acceleration, there is a thumping sound heard also at times while driving.vehicle experienced a speed sensor circuit problem.speedometer jumps.problem with power steering, dealer adjusted rack and pinion and made other repairs to steering mechanism.right side brake light bulb failed.battery failed.consumer stated it felt as if vehicle was going to stall sometimes, engine has no power at acceleration, engine belt was noisy and was replaced.tire had a slow leak due to loose tire valve.
Paint is peeling on roof, and sides of the vehicle
Paint is peeling off of van interor remain on panel shows door open when its not and the lights will not go out until you reach about 20mph try driving at night with this.
While travelingin warm weather ,making sudden stops/parking and while in stop and go traffic, vehicle would stall without any indication. Please provide further informaiton. Air bag light illuminated due to faulty module, the drivers side door adjar switch was sticking causing the door adjar light to illuminate, outer tie rod failed causing noise in the front end, vehicle experiences loss of power/slipping due to faulty transmission, check engine light illuminated and vehicle stalled, dealer replaced sensor, speedometer was off.nlm
Van has been swaying when driving like a tire was low on air, kept checking with no tire problems but when backing out of parking space at work i heard a dragging noise. When i got out i found my rear drivers side tire leaning in. I jacked up my van to find the rear axle is broken about a foot or so in from the drivers side. I travel with 4 children and if this would have broken with them on the highway it could have been fatal, there is no obvious rust on the axle. I found a ford website that has numerous complaints of the axle breaking and i feel this needs investigated.
Speedometer doesn't return to zero upon stopping vehicle and stays at a particular speed, even if you brake or accelerate.(qcaw)
A faulty brake pressure differential deactivation! switch is leaking brake fluid!
The vehicle jerked when driving at any speed.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated after shifting into reverse, the vehicle failed to move and the over drive light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact mentioned that she shifted into drive and the vehicle functioned properly. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who stated that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who advised the contact to take the vehicle into a ford dealer for inspection. The failure mileage was 197,000.
This van has all the defects and complaints listed on thegovt. Recalls the nhtsa site and othersihave too much info to put on this site if there is anyone i can send my complaint to please let me know iam putting it back into the shop againive been thru a nightmare along with trying to assure my 4 kids that they were safe in this vanthankyou angela wallace and by the wat the dealer that sold me this van will not cooperate at all
While driving vehicle at any speedspeedometer will freeze.but, tires are stillspinning. If traveling at 60 mph speedometer reads zero. Consumer feels this can be unsafeif he doesn't know how fast vehicle isgoing. Please provide any further information.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled with the illumination of all of the instrument panel warning lights.the vehicle was taken to a mechanic where a diagnostic was performed and located the failure at the power train module. The manufacturer advised the contact that the vehicle was not included in the manufacturer's power train pcm recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The vin was not available. The failure and current mileage was 154,327.
The transmission failed after having the fluid and pan gasket changed within the previous 6 months. Since it is a '98 and although it has the same transmission as earlier years (whose transmissions have been replaced at no cost to the owner because of either recalls or secret warranties) ford refused to replace this transmission at cost.
I own a 1998 ford windstar(manufacture date aug..1997. I have been having problems for a while. My van was making a whining grinding noise. Gear is hard to get out of park bad popping noise when backing up...replaced all 4 wheel bearings and both tie rod ends..still making a bad whining noise.3 days ago i was driving down the highway and the steering started acting weird and shaking and the back of the van started swaying back and forth .. Was told at the shop about the recall on axel i called ford and was told my van is not on the list my van has a excessive amount of corrosion throughout the whole bottom the shop told me this van has been exposed to salt. When i bought the van it had a inspection sticker from previous owner from one of the recall states.(pens) ford would not give me any information onwhat state it was sold in or dealer, what brand of axel that was being recalled (said they didn't know the brand) come on what company spends money on parts and don't even know the brand or manufacture they buy from. I'm scared to death to drive this automobile.. I think ford should honor there promise to its customers and fix this problem on all 1997-2003 windstars not just certain months of 1997 or does someone have to lose there life before they do something?ford>>> you took our money for your product now stand behind your product.
First incident happened while driving up a low grade and coming to a stop.van started rolling backward after removing foot from brake and when it finally moved forward the service engine light came on and no speedometer.took it to the dealer and was told that it was a faulty sensor.most recent incident happened after passing a semi on the freeway.passed doing approximately 70 mph and when pulling back into right lane van lost all forward power and speed.speedometer once again dropped to 0.was able to make it back to the dealer but as yet have not had it looked at by dealer.said to bring it back on the weekend.
Was driving down the road @ 55mph and the speedometer shot to 0mph and the trans was thrown into 1st. This happened several times. I am looking for a resolution.it acts as if vss isn't working. Even threw a code. I replaced the sensor and checked the wires all the way to the ecm. Everything looks quite good.ran a scanner. Picked up several codes. Vss and abs sensors all around.pulled cluster: everything looked great. The only fault i can think of is ecm unless abs system has the ability to affect the drive like that.
On october 1, 2003 the transmission failed at 23,956 miles. It neutralizes at 10 mph or higher. Contact with the dealership stated it was out of warranty and i could bring it in for repair. They would not cooperate with providing me the name and means of contacting the zone rep. Repair cost at $1800.00 with transmission shop.
Speedometer jumps around; consumer cannot haveaccurate speed becausespeedmeter jumps around and around. Dealership is aware ofproblem.
Transmission failed on garden state parkway in nj, stranded in busy traffic.
After it was put into reverse and i went to park there was a loud noise and i couldn't move the van. Got out and look at it and saw it was the rear axel completely broken.
On december 16th 2009. I was driving down west 117th towards madison/lakewood in cleveland, ohio and was trying to come to a stop (slow down and stop) to allow an ambulance to pass (there was a car in front of me that was also slowing downa nd that came to a stop at the street lot)this is on a major street near an highway intersection. I put my foot on my brake to slow down the vehicle and come to a stop but it would not slow down or stop. The brake had went out. I ended up hitting the car in front of me hard (an suv) and doing quite a bit of damage to my vehicle. The other driver vehicle was so far as i could tell undamaged. On my vehicle the front light is broken, my bumper is damaged, and my hood is damaged. I, myself and the driver i hit could have gotten seriously injured. So far we are bothfine and no injuries occurred. However he may turn around and come after me if he decides to. And i now can not drive my vehicle. I received a recall notice on my vehicle brake about a month ago around early november. Maybe in end of october. The very day of my accident (happened around 12:15 noon) i was going to go home and call ford about the recall. There is a worldwide recall on my vehicle model and many others. And i have had nothing but problems since i bought it. I have had to make numerous repairs on it and still had problems and this accident. Ford should be held responsible for this and should compensate me with another vehicle in good condition especially since i have spent so much time and money into replacement parts for this windstar. Or give me my money back or something. I'm glad my kids were not with me when this happened and that the man i hit was also alone and is ok. What can be done about this?i have had to replace the following items since i got this vehicle:o2 sensors (both), alternator, belt, windshield wiper blade, and make back blades don't work at all, the transmission, the steering column box, door handle and components inside and more!
The speedometer stopped working. As a result,when driving speed cannot be determined.dealer has been contacted.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated while stopped at a traffic light, the vehicle made a loud banging sound and the vehicle failed to accelerate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the intermediate servo needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware. The vehicle was not repaired. The vin was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 250,000.updated 08/19/14*lj updated 8/30/2017
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated that while driving at 55 mph, the rpm increased to 3,000 and the speed dropped to 35 mph. The contact was able to move onto the shoulder. The vehicle returned to normal function after the restart. The vehicle was not repaired. The vin was not available. The failure and current mileage was 121,600.
Transmission replaced two times to illiminate slipping 1st and 2nd gears, however the replacements did not rectify transmission problems. Mjs
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission failed intermittently and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 182,000.
Ford installed a ford taurus transmission in the windstar from the factory. I am currently in the lawsuit stage to make ford repair the factory defect. I will never buy another ford vehicle again. Town east ford in mesquite, tx found out about the problem and decided to eat the $1000.00 plus repair bill after they dismantled the transmission and discovered the problem. They now want to give me the runaround and shift the blame to the used dealership kingdom auto world in arlington texas where i bought the lemon from.ford is clearly responsible and i will sue them dearly for their runaround and poor customer service.
Just wanted this agency to know that these particular vehicles are unsafe.i was driving in busy traffic, in major construction nonetheless on a 1 lane road and my vehicles transmission without warning quit working....backed up all kinds of traffic with no where to pull over and made all kinds of new friends....just letting this agency know this manufacturer should be notified.although it is now and older vehicle it is still capable of creating havoc...and potentially unsafe.couldnt imagine if i didn't have enough speed to make it to safely pull off, could of causeda pile up..
Rear axle extremely rusted, falling apart, still garage conditions, doesn't look safe
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated accelerated in an attempt to pass another vehicle when the front end started to shake as the vehicle stopped accelerating. The contact stated that the engine continued running. The contact's mechanic also stated that the gears in the transmission were fractured. The failure mileage and current mileages were 178,187.
Vehicle does not shift down into gear at stop, resulting in vehicle rocking backwards until gas pedal is depressed to go forward which results in car lurching forward violently.inspected by jenkins and wynn ford dealership on diagnostic computer.it was found to have a defective aluminum drum and piston assembly which sticks if there is not enough pressure built up for it to go forward. This was confirmed by the service manager john cornejo at jenkins-wynn on 08/27/01.at this time ford motor company refuses to replace transmission as was recommended by the service staff at this location in clarksville, tn.a ford motor company representative was contacted and told of the problem.she then contacted larry bryant, service manager at this location, who then proceeded to give erroneous information to the representative.the ford motorrepresentative then became indifferent to our situation.we requested to speak to someone of a higher authority and were told that we would be contacted back by her supervisor within 48 hours.meanwhile mr. Cornejo, stating that the first option of flushing out the transmission would not benefit us, as originally suggested to us by mr. Bryant as an alternative to a rebuilt transmission, admitted that this was not a remedy for this type of defective part.we are currently awaiting mr. Cornejo to contact us on 08/28/01 regarding this fact after he consults with mr. Bryant.as ford motor corp. Customers, we are expected to foot the bill on a defective part that will cost us $2500 to repair through no fault of our own.defective part is made of aluminum.ford motor only makes this replacement part in steel now due to the realization that aluminum will fail at some point.
Transmission failed without warning signal. Yh
Our car stopped running after reversing from our driveway, it was towed to a nearby auto repair shop for diagnosis. The transmission would not engage.the transmission case cover was removed. The gears inside were in pieces. The case had the proper oiland quantity. The unit just dismembered itself. Clearly a latent manufacturing defect. The case had never been opened before andalways had the proper oil and amount.
1998 ford windstar transmission fluid leaking out under the motor.
Appears to have a connection with the transmission.while driving at speeds ranging from 25 mph to 45 mph, the vehicle repeatedly has downshifted, thus decreasing speed of vehicle without any warning.sometimes the vehicle will engage and disengage from transmission several times.also, the speedometer drops to zero.the reported dealer has had my vehicle in for more than a week with no results.i have also driven vehicle with attached "flight recorder" from shop.i made several readings but know the shop says there is a problem with their equipment (that was 1 week ago today).although the shop keeps my vehicle and i have described the symptoms several times, they claim they have no idea what it could be.i am very concerned for the safety of using this vehicle.if you need more information, please call me.thank you.
While driving at 40 mph, the transmission failed without warning.
Transmission (replacement) sticks in 2nd gear just like orig. Did at 4400 miles. Orig. Stuck in second at 4400 mi. And was replaced. Replacement has rough shift and other problems reported to you by others. Ford trans. Have a defect that should be recalled!!
Transmission has been replaced three times. Nlm
While driving vehicle lost all power and the ability to shift gears. Dealer notified.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Transmission replaced two times to illiminate slipping 1st and 2nd gears, however the replacements did not rectify transmission problems. Mjs
Transmission stalls during down shifting at low speeds. Shifts hard into gear, causing the vehicle to lunge forward,three times has been repaired,first time @ 32000,3600,65,000.dealer said that it's a known problem,but there is no fix. *nlm
Transmission was stuck in second gear and would not shift to drive. This caused a near collision with traffic because of lack of available power while merging into interstate traffic. Prior to and still ongoing is the transmissions tendency to kick or slip.ford refuses to aknowledge any inherent transmission problems with the ford windstarand has not offered a remedy to current problems.
Consumer experiencing numerous problems with torque converter, transmission slipping, and lurching forward, problem is intermittent making it difficult for dealer to diagnose problem.
We were stopped at an intersection.when the light turned green, the transmission locked up, and the engine revved as if it was in neutral.i took two men to push it to the side of the road on a downward slope.the dealership claimed to know of no problem with 1998 windstar transmissions.we know of 3 other owners of these vehicles who have had the same problem.
When at a stoplight transmission goes into neutral unnoticed, but when you step on the gas the engine revvs up and then suddenly jumps back into gear and shoots out into traffic with out warning. Ford knows of the problem , and told me it was a aluminum piston that fails in the trans. But wants over 2000.00 dollars to fix it because i didn't report it soon enough. I was lucky that the intersection was empty, or it could have been a bad accident! this is clearly a safetyproblem that ford does not want to deal with. I want to know if there are any others out there with this problem? i called several transmission shops and they all knew of the problem, even some of the ford dealers admitted that the transmission is defective! for $26000.00 the trans. Only lasted 2yrs. Is there anything i can do?
Transmission failed @ approx. 24,000 miles without warning, had to be towed, took 3 weeks for dealer to replace, transmission failed again with approx. 49,000 miles, unable to get out of 1st gear, drove to dealer for repair - transmission has never seemed right on this car - at a reguarly scheduled service appointment we specifically asked the dealer about the transmission, they said it was fine and shortly thereafter the transmission failed - upon review of the other reported complaints re: transmissions for the 98 windstar,i do not feel i drive a reliable car - i have also had brake problems with this vehicle - they started smoking when driving in the mountains - i have also had problems with power window locks as well as problems with oil leakage
Consumer has experienced several problems with the transmission, dealer has replaced it once, however problems continue, consumer has filed for a request for arbitration, vehicle bucks, jerks, and jumps into gear before taking off.vehicle shimmies from one side to another upon acceleration, there is a thumping sound heard also at times while driving.vehicle experienced a speed sensor circuit problem.speedometer jumps.problem with power steering, dealer adjusted rack and pinion and made other repairs to steering mechanism.right side brake light bulb failed.battery failed.consumer stated it felt as if vehicle was going to stall sometimes, engine has no power at acceleration, engine belt was noisy and was replaced.tire had a slow leak due to loose tire valve.
1. Transmission:the vehicle would act as if it were in neutral after coming to a stop.sometimes this would happen right as i pulled into an intersection, leaving me in the path of oncoming traffic with no power.2. A/c:the control module failed to engage the a/c but still cycled the idle speed.this was dangerous because the braking required to hold the vehicle at a stop was insufficient when the idle randomly surged to high.both failures had potential to cause accident but were repaired before any incident occurred.
The vehicle experienced transmission problems.
My 1998 ford windstar has broken both right and left coil springs. I've had to replace the transmission, my abs and regular brake light won't go away even after servicing. My overdrive light keeps coming on and staying lit for days.
Van will stall when decelerating into a turn, ocurrs 2-3 times per week. Automatic transmission failed at 84,000 miles costng $1,700 to repair. Van would vibrate and stutter when aceelerating from a complete stop. Had van to dealer 3-4 times for stalling problem, they claimed they could find nothing wrong.
Can be turned off in gear--and put in gear when off--will roll.
Transmission failed while driving. Mjs
Transmission failedwithout warning while driving. When coming to a stop and trying to proceed vehicle would not go faster than 15 mph and in first gear.contacted dealer, and dealer stated therewas nothing they could do.please add vin .
Transmission suddenly started cycling through the gears causing engine to rev up and the gears shifting with hard clunks.afterward, it would not shift into overdrive and we were forced to drive at slow speed on shoulder.transmission shop could not reproduce problem.fluid was clean and no codes were detected on scan.
This vehicle has had two engines, transmission work and a lot of smallerproblems.right nowit is having the drivers seat track and adjustersreplaced.would like to be part of a class action suit. The windstar may be safe, but it isn't reliable.
I have had my 1998 ford windstar for less than one year.it has been out of service for transmission problems 4 times.the first time they replaced the clutch pistons, second time they replaced the transmission.i am continuing to have problems with severe shifting between 1st and 2nd or 2nd to 1st.ford motor company will only offer me an extended warranty, although they say they can not fix the problem.i am concerned for my safety and my the safety of my children.i have several friends having the same problem with their 98 windstar only theirs have now begun to downshift when traveling on the highway!this is a safety hazard and ford doesn't care help!!!
Prior to the total failure, there was no indication that the component was having problems or about to fail.
I have returned multiple times to the dealer with a "hard shift" problem, first to second. I even contacted ford motor company, and they said there was nothing they could do, and referred me back to the dealership. I was told they could not duplicate the problem, one that occurs on a daily basis, at low speeds. The dealer drove my car for a day, but evidently did not notice any problem. As soon as i got the car back, the problem was back. I have spent upwards of $3000, for repairs that i was told would rectify the problem, but it persists. This included extensive front end work that they claimed would fix the problem; this included a front-end alignment and sub-frame shift; power steering flush; replace front struts; replace front shocks; replace front sway bar, links; problem persists.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Dt*: the contact stated a burning smell was present after the vehicle was parked.upon inspection, there was transmission fluid on the ground of the driveway.underneath the vehicle there was fluid leaking out of the servo cover of the transmission.the dealer was contacted and faxed a copy of the nhtsa recall #97v097000.the contact was told that the transmission mechanic stated there was no recalls pertaining to the servo cover and there were never any vehicles repaired at that dealership according to the nhtsa recall.when the dealer was asked to fix the vehicle based on the recall, the contact was told the information meant nothing to them.the manufacturer was contacted who expressed that they could not authorized repairs for the vehicle under the nhtsa recall.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact was driving 25 mph when the transmission failed and the vehicle would no longer operate. The vehicle was towed to the contacts residence and the dealer was contacted. The dealer advised that there were no recalls and they were unable to assist. The manufacturer was contacted and offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 155,000.
The transmission would disengage by itself from drive to neutral position. When accelerating, transmission would pop out of position. In low gear, it would be rough shifting. Also, gas pedal would vibrate. Been to dealer 3 times for problem before finally locating & establishing thatthrottle cable was loose. Mechanic repaired loose throttle cable.
Consumer experiencing ongoing problem with vehicle stalling intermittently.also,transmission is slipping whenever vehicle comes to a stop. Sometimes vehicle would have to shift into park and back into drive for the gear to engage.vehicle been in/out dealer shop for stalling and transmission slipping on three occasions each.
Transmission shifts very hard when slowing down and all shifts very hard when taking off. Sometimes when getting on the freeway and it down shifts into passing gear it hit so hard you can feel it under your feet. Also when slowing down sometimes it will down shift so hard it throws you forward. I was told there was nothing wrong with it and that was normal. Well after reading all the complaints on www.fordwindstar.com i don't believe this to be normal. Please lookinto this if you will. This could be a very dangerous situation,what if we were driving in the rain or snow and it decides to downshift. My wife won't even drive the van anymore. Thank you very much for all your support.
Vehicle inpark positon,engine running,engine started to back out unexpectedly, jumped out of gear, causing side door to hit side house, dealer will check transmission.
I currently own a 1998 ford windstar.i have had this van for two years.i bought it with 38000 miles on it and now have 66000 miles on it.up till about a month ago, i had no problems as i have loved this van.but i did run into a peculiar problem that seems that most people are having with this van as i have checked numerous websites and web posts on the internet as well as my friends that have formerly owned this vehicle.the door ajar censor inside the doors wear, causing the computersto recognize the car doors to be shut.this emits a beeping sound that steadily beeps till you rise above 15 mph.also, the lights stay on and since ford built these vans all the same way, you cannot simply fix it without spending at least 500 dollars if your lucky.also, another problem has risen just recently.my transmission has started to slip.i expected normal wear-and-tear, but it seems that when you reach a certain threshold, as many of other people have experienced once hitting 65000 miles on this particular van, the transmission goes completely.i would like to send an awareness to ford to fix this problem in their newer vans, if a problem emerged and to future buyers of this year of van.this has cost me over 2500 dollars and i must admit, is not worth it.this van is by far the worst investment i have ever made, and i do not recommend buying one.thank you.
On occasion the transmission willl become locked in second and sometimes third gear. It refuses to shift gears properly and when it does shift its shifts roughly and sporatically. My belief is that there is a short in the wiring somewhere.
Transmission stalls during downshifting at low speeds. Shifts hard into gear, causing the vehicle to lunge foward.
While driving automatic transmission slips gears, causing the vehicle to hesitate.
When driving at any speedvehicle started to jerk.also,problem occurred more since transmission filter has been changed. Consumer has contacteddealer, dealer noted that transmission shift gear is slipping within the transmission. Please provide any further details.
Problems with 1998 ford windstar transmission.*mr
Transmission failed.nlm
Transmission on van went without warning, stranded the complainant in a parking lot.van had to be towed to repair shop to have transmission replaced.thsi was the thrid major repair to this vehicle (repairs costing more than $1,000 each).purchased the used vehicle in april 2001- had 30,000 miles on it, currently has a little over 100,000 miles.just after the dealer warranty expired the van had parts replaced in the transmission, then parts replaced in the drive train (expensive).entire rack and pinion replacement followed.the reapirs were done withing 18 months prior to this transmission replacement.even after having the entire transmission and rive train replaced, there is still a growling underneath the vehicle when it idles at a stop sign.vehicle also has erratic shifting when rounding corners at low speeds (clunking sounds and vehicle shakes when van drops into gear)-all of this even after the transmission was replaced!what a lemon!
Multiple problems with transmission kicking while at a stop sign or light, broken piston.
Consumer states has a power train problem from the transaxles while the vehicle is being driven. Consumerstated there is a technical service bulletin on this issued, number #98-15-19.
The consumer is concern she didn't receive a recall #number97v097000 for the a/t fluid sevo cover leak.because her vin number wasn't included but she is experiencing the same problem.dealer is aware of the problem. Mr
Vehicle will not go into gear. Dealer has been notified.when the vehicle is backed out from driveway and engaged in drive mode, a loud clunk noise occured. After driving for half a mile the transmission failed.
Transmission went out after 2,000 miles. Dealer is replacing transmission.
While driving, consumer smelled a funny smell and then saw flames coming up from the hood, consumer was injured in accident, possible transmission leak onto manifold, claim 40-2554-562.
In december 98,consumer experienced transmission being inneutral condition after coming to a stop. Dealer could not dupplicate problem. Also, on april 19, 99, consumer experienced the same problem. Found bulletin #972213, dated 97 which dealt with the same problem.
Total transmission failure at 44,000 miles.
Transmission failed as driver stepped on the gas tocross the highway. Vehicle stopped, almost causing it to be hit.consumer had experienced other problems with the transmission prior to this incident--sometimes would not shift out of first gear, or only work in second gear. Transmission replaced by dealer.*ml
Transmissionhas been replaced five times.first replacement was a 30000 miles. Warranty fixed transmission.mechanic told that vehicle that there was dust and a defect in assembly lane. Dealershipwas aware of problem.
While traveling at 55 mph the transmission failed. Driver was able to pull off the road safely. The problem has been reported to the manufacturer. The transmission will be replaced.
Reporting defective transmission in 1998 ford windstar.
Vehicle exhibited an erratic downshift which almost caused an accident since it occured on a major highway while travelling at 65mph.the incident happened twice and the dealer couldn't find the problem.the dealer told us that the vehicle was safe.since this time, it has happened two more times on a one week period.
While driving on the highway the transmission abruptly downshifted to 2nd gear. After getting off the highway, vehicle would not shift out of 1st gear. This happened, 3 times and hadvehicle had been towed to the dealership twice. The dealership has not been able to find anything wrong, or to duplicate the problem.
At 70 mph vehicle kept slam shifting into gears, did not know what gear to be in, did this beginning on the highway and continued at any speed.
While driving down athighway speedstransmision down shifts into lower gears, 2nd or low gear.which is very dangerous and could cause a very bad accident. I have talked to other people that had the same thing happed with the the same type vehicle! have you hade any other complantes? h ad taken the vehicle to autherized dealer he checked it out said nothing wrong! continued on trip and it keep doing it.this is very dangerous at highiway speeds and with a big truck behind you!! any information or help with this problem would be greatlyappreciated.ford is no help! thank you.
Popping in front end when turning or hitting bumps. The popping sound was often. Had new tires put on, and when i took it in to have front end aligned. Ford tech. Said front springs were broke. Was an est. Of $1200.00onit can't afford. This was 5/20/2011. Contacted mfr about the recall that was issued on this part 7/12/2001. Was told there was nothing they could do, because of a time limit. How can they put a time limit on safety & peoples lives because the springs are broken,they can puncture the tires and cause an accident. Now we are without transportation. And my son is disabled and has numerous dr. Appts. Miles away. But my hands are tied. The mfr. Did advise to have another recall checked out which is the speed control because it can catch fire. When i asked why, you just told me it was unsafe to drive.he advised it could catch fire just setting in the drive not running. I was not notified of either one of these recalls by mail or other wise until i called to complain about the front coil springs. How does these billion dollar company's keep getting by with negligence? there are lots of recalls on this vehicle. Please help!
Insured was traveling when he smelled something funny.flames had start to come up from the hood.insured tried to put fire out but couldn't, possible transmission leak onto manifold, claim 40-2554-562.*jg
Was driving vehicle whentransmission died inmiddle of traffic with 18,000 miles. Second time it died with 95,600 miles. Vehicle did not feel right when shifting. Took to mechanic, andinformedconsumer that transmission had contaminated fluid that was causing it to die/stall out.contaminated fluid needed to be replaced.
While driving consumer heard a loud noise from under the vehicle. Then, vehicle started to decelerate, causingconsumer to pull over. Consumer had made contact with dealer.
After puttingcar into reverse,vehicle went forward into drive. Dealer has not seen vehicle.
Tried to shift gears. Hard to shift into park properly. Makes loud noises when shifting. Also,brakes make loud noises when applied.
Two incidents ofsudden acceleration, one causing damage to our vehicle and the one ahead as i was parking next to a curb.second time was in driveway when entering garage; slammed on brakes to not hit house.numerous incidents of hard 1st to 2nd gear shift at 15 mph; sounds like a hard thud.ford overfilled trans. Fluid 1/2 quart as a fix in november; replacing valve pump now in january.
The consumer has experienced problems withgas tank.the consumer statevehicle doesn't hold the capacity of gas that is stated on the sticker.the gas tank gauge will read emptywhen it has 4+gallonsgas.the manufacturer has been to be contacted.two repair attempts and both failed and currently third repair has been postponed due to lack of parts. The transmission has developed a second leak..et.
While driving, the transmission seal separated from the transmission causing transmission fluid to leak to exhaust pipe, and the torque converter seal came off, dealer was contacted.. Consumer wants to know if her vehicle is involved in the recall 97v097000. *yd
My windstar van, at 58,000 miles, had a premature catastrophic transmission failure while driving 65 mph on highway i-84 east.this event put my young children and myself in danger on the side of the busy highway due to the smoke and steam coming from the vehicle that we had to rapidly evacuate. My van was out of my service for over one full week and has a repair price tag of just under $2,800.i have requested ford to pay the full cost of this repair through one of their "special" programs.ford knows about the defects of these transmissions (i am glad i don't own a 1995 windstar!) and must be made to take responsibility and accountability for not using quality transmission units on these vehicles.
There are two significant safety issues that we continue to experience with our 1998 ford windstar.the transmission continues to intermittently "neutral" at the worst possible times. The effect of this is that the vehicle will begin into an intersection and then the transmission will disengage and the rpm of the engine will race.at this point the transmission might engage after several seconds with a jolt, screeching the tires.in some cases we have had to shift into park and back into drive several times to get the transmission to engage.when this first occurred, we had only owned the car for less than two months and it would only happen every few hundred miles.ford had to place a "flight recorder" in the vehicle to verify that it was happening.ford replaced the transmission in early 1999.we began experiencing the problem again in the summer of 2000 and ford has been unable to repair this problem.we have had it in the shop a total of 12 times with the symptom manifesting itself multiple times in between. The vehicle has been in the shop almost continually since july 15th, 2000 and is still there as of this submission. If it were not for extreme defensive driving and anticipation of the problem that has helped us avoid an accident so far. However, we continue to have the car delivered to us that is supposed to be repaired and we continually have the same problem.the second problem is also reoccurring and deals with the abs brakes continually going out of adjustment.when they are out of adjustment the stopping power of the car in emergency situations is greatly impaired. The brakes are self-adjusting but continue to be out of adjustment.we have had this problem looked at by four different ford dealerships and they readjust the brakes that only corrects the problem for a short period of time.the brakes continue to go out adjustment and ford denies that this is a problem, even though it continues to happen.
1998 ford windstar transmission failed. No warning, no problems prior to failure.
While travelingin warm weather ,making sudden stops/parking and while in stop and go traffic, vehicle would stall without any indication. Please provide further informaiton. Air bag light illuminated due to faulty module, the drivers side door adjar switch was sticking causing the door adjar light to illuminate, outer tie rod failed causing noise in the front end, vehicle experiences loss of power/slipping due to faulty transmission, check engine light illuminated and vehicle stalled, dealer replaced sensor, speedometer was off.nlm
Transmission failed/locked up.
Transmission failed, replacement failed also.
Stopped at traffic light, upon acceleration transmission would not engage. Engine revved as if in neutral. Also occurred as accelerating from a stop to make a turn. Presented a very dangerous situation of being put into the path of on coming traffic. Turning engine off and then back on would allow transmission to engage. Dealer determined that the transmission had failed at 43,621 miles and had to be replaced. After four days in service and a complete new transmission, within 12 hours new transmission developed at least two serious leaks of transmission fluid. Dealer says this is not uncommon. The unit is sealed and can not be serviced by them. I am waiting to hear if i need another complete new transmission.
We were on vacation in pennsylvania after a trip to boston and had pulled into a parking area when we put the car in reverse to straighten out in the parking space and nothing happened.the car was towed to a ford garage where we were told the transmission needed replacing.this took 5 days, when we left pa and drove home to iowa.the miles on this windstar are highway miles and not city driving.
The transmission jumps stongly when accelerating and breaking at slow speeds, have taken to dealer twice.both times they say it drives fine but that ford knows of problem on windstar transmissions and are working on a solution.i asked dealer what i was supposed to do in the meantime and he said wait.i am concerned with safety, and that this jumping will cause other problems in the engine.i told service manager this at dealer and he said hopefully ford will recall before something else happens to my engine.
Had already replaced transmission twice. When approaching a red lightvehicle stalled. .contacteddealer.
Transmission failed at highway speed with no advance warning.transmission simply died, and car would not move.car was purchased new at ford, and maintained at mooney ford.represents premature failure.
After backing out of a driveway,from a complete stop transmission made a grinding sound when shifting to drive.transmission experienced a complete failure after driving 1/2 mile down the road.ford mechanic informed me that an aluminum part was used in this model year,then ford changed it back to steel on rebuilt and subsequent year models.ford never issued a recall on this problem.dealer said they would replace the transmission for $500 plus deductable for an extended service plan.
While traveling 65mph the car downshifted to second gear!
Transmission started slipping and stopped altogether within one day.ph
Vehiclejumps out of gear between 1st and 2nd gear. Dealer has been notified.
Experienced total catastrophic failure of transmission.despite never towing anything and always performing recommended routine maintenance.
Vehicle has been to the dealership 5 times for the same hard shifting, transmission problem since new. Problem is better ,but i expect failure before warranty expires. The transmission has a hard 1-2 shift since i bought it new on 13 jan 98. The lemon law causedfirm to offer me an extended warranty of 5 years/75,000 miles instead of fixing the problem. I'm very dissatisfied with the transmission, and dealership service shop's performance.recently, the brakes have developed a vibration and the engine sometimes stalls at slow speeds. I took the van back to the dealership on monday 5 april 99 for the same transmission problem, and the two new problems.the last several new vehicles i've purchased have been fords. My next vehicle probably won't be a ford.
Transmission failed.nlm
When traveling or when the vehicle is placed on an incline the vehicle will drop out of gear from drive into neutral.. Consumer has contacted the dealer, dealer has replaced sensor, problem still occurs. Please provide any further details.
Reliability issue: 1998 ford windstar automatic transmission failed at 33,000 mi, then their replacement failed after another 65,000 mi, then the $2700 rebuild failed after another 29,000 miles. This is garbage!!! *nlm
The automatic transmission has been replaced on two occasions, after second replacement the transmission was still experiencing problems, the transmission pan assembly was replaced on the third repair, possible design problem of the transmission system. *mjs
Intermittently while driving there was a kicking noise from the transmission, which resulted in the vehicle losing transmission fluid. Transmission jerked and seemed to kick more on turns and acceleration. On one occasion, transmission fluid leaked all over the engine which resulted in smoking.transmission needed to be replaced. *ph
I bought a 1998 ford windstar 3.0 l in 1999.in 2002 i received a recall to install front shields over the coil spring so i did.yesterday the front coil spring punctured the front tire and broke the struts as well.when calling ford, they inform me that they can not tell me when my vehicle was manufactured, just that they will do nothing about it.they issued the warranty for 10 years from manufacturer date even though the recall did not take place until 3-4 years after manufacture date and i took my vehicle in for the recommended cure to the problem.
Transmission modulator valve failed. Mjs
Transmission would jerk as if being rearended. Front end would work itself loose. Had to replace bushings, tracking bar & motor mounts due to being defective. Vehicle is not drivable after being in an accident.
Transmission failed. Mjs
Transmission was rebuilt/remanufactured.attending service technician indicates that ,although it may have come from factory in this condition,it looks like someone considered putting in a transmission cooler, started drilling a hole for a plug, and changed their mind without completing the job.this weak spot failed, spewing transmission fluid, and causing transmission failure.we believe this is a clear-cut instance of defective materials/workmanship.
Transmisson will not shift out of first gear. Dealer notified, and waiting on manufacturer who has a hold on all windstar transmission until further notice. Please provide any further notice.
Transmission "pump failed, causing planet gears to come apart.
Vehicle is slipping out ofgear while driving from 3rd to 2nd gear,causing vehicle to almost stop, rpm's will rev high. Manufacturer has issued a tsb. Please provide further information.
At 45,000 miles on 1998 ford windstar gl,transmission would not shift out of first gear. Had to turn vehicle off for a while then it would shift. Had to stop app. 6 times to travel 8 miles.
Transmission failed.
Transmission failed and cost me $1900 to fix.
Transmission will not shift to fourth gear, dealer replaced solenoid, did not remedy the problem. Transmission needs to be replaced. Mr
Vehicle surges forward,causing the vehicle to jerk violently which could result in an accident. Dealer has overhauled transmission twice.defect is still reoccurring.cannot duplicate defect.
No summary listed for abov evehicle.
Vehicle has a jerk at low speed (1st and 2nd gear).
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar.the contact observed red liquid leaking from the vehicle while attempting to park.through online research, she discovered nhtsa campaign id number 97v097000 (power train:automatic transmission), but was unaware if her vin was included in the recall or if previous recall repairs had been performed.the failure and current mileages were 124,528.updated 02/24/09.*ljupdated 02/24/09.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Transmission operation is poor, bangs into gear, unable to rectify. Mjs
Vehicle downshifted from 4th gear to 3rdgear and lower while driving at 65 mph.dealer's response was that itdid not happen.
The transmission failed while the consumer was traveling.
When we first took our windstar in the front end was making a growling & grinding noise, and the transmission was shifting hard and jumping. The dealership checked the transmission out they said everything appeared to be normal, but they check the transmission fluid and it had "metal" in it. They also tols us that the front left & right tie rods needed to be replaced because they "had a defect" . The dealership has replaced the transmission in my van 2 times now, it still does not shift like it should but they "can't get it to duplicate"and now they want to "flush" my power steering fluid they say the power steering fluid has broken down. When i questioned them about this thay tell me this is normal. I have checked with several independant mechanics and they tell me that my power steering pump is going bad, or the rack & pinion is going out. There has to be something causing this. This van is not 2 years old yet and there are to many problems with this vehicle.
Vehicle has been in the shop seven times in a two and a half years. Repairs included transmission replacement, brake calipers replacement, and the electrical system problems.
While driving automatic transmission would fail to shift properly. Whengas pedal was pressedvehicle would stop. Had it towed to dealership, and was informed that gears broke off.
While traveling noticed transmission was slipping. Technician service stated transmission needed to be replaced. Please provide further infomation.
Transmission jolts continuously, resulted in an accident.
Transmission tr sensor failed.
Took in the vehicle for a routine transmission fluid flush with removing the pan and replacing the filter, etc.at the local transmission shop, they discovered pieces of metal (pieces of a ring & an accumulator part) in the pan when it was removed.serviceman said that it had probably been like that when we purchased.that it was most likely a defective part.he has seen many windstars with the same problem.(our relative had the same problem with a 1997 windstar)he has seen 1995-2001 with these same problems.he said it will cost from $1400 - $4500 if the dealer repairs the problem.i am going to contact the dealer today and possibly the ford company as well.
This van is 3 years old. Corrosion most likely caused the problem with strut rods & sway bar links. Obviously this manufacturer was not concerned with quality b/c of all these problems. The ford company will not reimburse me (my van is no longer covered by factory warranty) unless they issue a recall on any particular problem. I just don't understand why i would have all these problems with a vehicle that was less than 2 yrs old when the problems started. Maybe you can't help me, but i wanted to lodge a complaint.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. While driving approximately 50 mph, the transmission became stuck in overdrive. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer who stated that the main control valve was defective; it was replaced. The contact later began having issues with the brakes as they locked up when the contact applied them to avoid a deer. The vehicle crashed into the woods as a result. A police report was filed. The contact sustained neck injuries. The contact was informed that the abs tone ring seal had cracked; it was repaired. The failure continued and the dealer then replaced the tone ring and sensor. Months later, the brakes began to grab. The entire brake assembly was replaced four times. Furthermore, the contact noticed that the electrical system was defective. The switch assist in all doors was replaced in 2005. In 2011, the contact had the same failure with the switch for the driver side mirror. The dealer replaced the switch on the driver side mirror and checked the latches on the doors because the door light was constantly illuminated. The dealer also replaced all the sensor assists for the doors. The door ajar light was still illuminated. The failure mileage was 4,400 and the current mileage was 72,000.
Transmission is shifting hard and rough, it makes a slamming noise while going into each gear.
When slowing down tostopor turn--there is a downshift/shudder--ifi am driving inoverdrive.out of overdrive, it doesnotdownshift. Ref. 99-18-4 ihave taken itin several timesand all they do is clean the fuel injectors. (tiresize: p215/70r15)
Whenvehicle is indrive gear and driver appliesacceleratorvehicle will notmove, and the rpms will rev high. Eventually, vehicle will move but slowly.
Transmission failed at 44,000 miles.ford will not assist with replacement
Consumer has replaced transmission 3 times within 51,000 miles. Ford was not able to determine cause ofpremature failure of transmission.
The transmission failure occured and the ford said they would replace the transmission if i paid $500 to buy and extended service plan covering upto 75000 for the power train, a requirement for replacing the failed component.i am extremly unhappy that this transmission failure ocurred and is also reported widely by hundereds of ford windstar owners for example look at the internet sites complaining about the failed transmission.(eg., www.fordwindstar.com).ford must fix the transmission problem of these minivans.
Our '98 ford windstar (3.8l) has just experienced a major transmission problem; it drives along just fine on the highway at 65 m.p.h. And then bang -- the transmission shifts from over drive into second (or first!) gear.this sends the engine from a casual 1,500 r.p.m. To a dangerous 5,500 r.p.m., and makes for scary and dangerous highway driving.ford (kachel ford in shillington, pa) says that the valve body or possibly the entire transmission has gone bad, but i have uncovered literally thousands of complaints about this very same, and potentially life-threatening problem with the ford automatic transmission being used in the windstar.something needs to be done about this immediately.contact me at once if you would like full cooperation -- i am willing.*nlm
On the 20th of may i was driving the van when it felt like it hesitated(slipped) and then it proceeded to drive normally.we went half a mile then stopped the van and parked.on returning to the van and starting it, it ran very rough(loud) and would not go past 30mph on our way home.we proceeded to take it to the dealership in the next week and found out the transmission had gone out at only 35000 miles.our warranty had expired on 4/16/01.barely a month out of warranty and a powertrain item had failed on us.we know two other family members that have owned windstar vans that the transmission has gone out with low mileage.the dealership has offered to repair it for $495.this will inlcude an extended warranty on the powertrain for 75,000 miles.we feel with such low mileage, a recently expired warranty and knowing other people in our family that have dealt with the same thing, that ford should stand behind there automobile and repair this free of charge.i am sure this is a more common problem than ford wants to admit.
The transmission stopped working and went into safe mode. The transmission would not downshift and raced at high rpm.torque converter had worn out.
Ford issued a tsb 97-22-13 in oct '97 for this was third serious problem. Yet, when i returned the car to the dealer the dealer said he never heard of this problem and wanted the car till he could discover it. The real issue is that this neutral condition after a stop was not a complete neutral condition but rather the van started up slowly till it reached 3 mph and then would go no faster. Imagine starting across a highway in front of a truck and only finding out that you cannot go faster than 3 mph in drive. Ford should have recalled all models affected and replaced the transmission immediately. It took two dealers visits and a rental car for two days before i got someone to admit that there was a known problem and they would fix it for me. Without the warranty it would have cost me $ 2,500.00.
We have owned two ford windstars, the first being a 1996, the transmission had to be rebuilt on it at 63,000 miles, the van was 3 1/2 years old at the time, we then traded it for a 1998 windstar and at 3 1/2 years old and only 60,000 miles the transmission had to be rebuilt on it!
While driving, consumer smelled a funny smell and then saw flames coming up from the hood, consumer was injured in accident, possible transmission leak onto manifold, claim 40-2554-562.
The transmission failed while the consumer was traveling.
While driving vehicle will not shift from first gear, starts jerking, whichcauses seal pump to malfunction and transmission to blowout.contacted dealer.
Skinner & damulis ford (herkimer, new york), sanford ford (sandford, nc), and crown ford (nc) service centers stated transmission failure is "normal" at 70,000 miles for the ford windstar.i have been driving ford products for 20 years now, never have i experienced a major component failure at high mileage.4 seasons tire & auto center in ilion, new york (315) 894-5087 stated this seems to be a recently recurring problem with taurus & escorts.
I have heard of many problems with transmissions on this model.
I have a 1998 ford windstar with about 100,000 miles on it. The engine is good, but while driving on the highway, it suddenly shifts to low gear and jerks. Initially, this would happen occassionally, but now it has reached a point that it down shifts very often especially when running at slow speed and the vehicle vibrates a lot. As a consequence, the passengers experience a very strong jolting forward like as if somebody stepped on the brakes at high speed.a visit to my certified mechanic reveals that this experience is very common among ford transmissions on various cars. It will cost between $1,500 - $2,000 to replace the transmission.
1998 ford windstar transmission malfunctioned while driving at 55 mph.*mrthe consumer had the transmission replaced 2 1/2 years ago.
Experienced irratic transmission shifting at 65 mph in rain. Car swirved out of control however i was able to recover to side of road. Transmission is stuck in 1st gear it appears. Taking to dealer 10/09/2000 because of holiday wait.
The consumer has been experiencing problems with automatic transmission. Transmission went out after the vehicle had 314 miles.in addition, the consumer has been experiencing problems with cruise control cable.the consumer stated that while driving,cruise control cable wrapped around their accelerator cable, which caused the vehicle to run without being able to stop it.the consumer had to turn the vehicle off in order to stop the vehicle.the manufacturer has been contacted.
Transmission failed, replaced and still continuing to slip.
Automatic transmission failed while driving (60,000 miles on van).
1)all 5 lugs: nutssheared off from the right front passenger hub, causing the wheel to leave the vehicle.the body of the vehicle traveled approximately 200 feet until it stopped.2)the rear brakes had to be replaced with new pads and rotors.dealer couldn't explain why this was a problem. 3) the next day the right passenger mirror electical system no longer worked.4)the parking brake consistently does not disengage after use.we no longer use it, possibly creating a safety hazard. 5) the vehicle intermittently stalls out at low speeds or upon stopping.additionally the initial gears shift hard and loud. 6)the rear seat will not move on the track.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
I am so scared to drive our van- i have no idea what to do.thia van showed be considered a lemon- or ford should repair it.we purchased the van cause we had another little one on the way(making 4 kids) in the past we had old vechilcles.we decided to spend the $$ and have a reliable vechicle since we have 4 kids and travel around town alot.first my air codtioner goes out in july, 99 (electrical- no power to it).we did not have the $ to fix.than in august,99 we started experiencing intermittent neutral condtion after driving and coming to a stop.had to rebuild the transmission- due to a faulty clutch piston that ford knows is causing problems in ax4s windstar 3.8l.engine - stalls usually when driving at low speeds, such as o turns or coming to a stop.scared to death that somesone will run into me.steering- vechile pulls to the right so badly that in seconds i am in another lane. Have had it relighned.the other seroius problem is i will start van or have foot on brake and it itermittally accerates in surges on its own.my foot in not near the gas- i am so scared to death that i will lose control of it resulting into an accident. I am so scared to drive this van and it is only a 98".what am i to do.i do not want to wait for and acident or death to someone.please help!!i need some advice.i have no warranty on van- but yet with so many problems why should the consumer have to pay when ford knows of the problems with the vans- what does it take - death!!!i need to know what is causeing these problems.i can not afford to keep taking them to mechanics and not getting it fix.shouldn't ford have to take this piece of crap back-please help!!
Consumer was traveling, upon making a stop when approaching an intersection, the vehicle shifted gears from drive into netrual.without knowing consumer depressed the accelerator, and the engine raced up and the vehicle was at a dead stop. Consumer contacted the dealer, dealer replaced parts within the transmission. Please provide any further details.
While driving transmission slipped fromdrive into neutral without notice.consumer was unaware and still applyinggas when it jumped back into gear very hard, causing whiplash. Dealer has been contacted.
1. Transmission will shift erratically , and a loud noise will occur and motor will shake. Ford engineering was sent out and determinedtransmission needed work, but no dealer will honor warranty.2. Brakes will fail in the winter and in slippery roads, causing pedal to go to floor and vehicle will not stop.3. All doors lock by themselves/lights flash on and off, and heater and defroster motor will come on even without the key in the igntion. Vehicle will even start up by itself.
We have been reporting transmission problems to the dealers, transmission slamming into gear,. Thel tell me nothing iswrong. We now have a complete transmission failure.
The automatic transmission failed.mrscc
The transmission on a 98 ford windstar failed after only 74482 miles.i had to have the transmission rebuilt at a significant cost.
Right after purchasing the vehicle, i started having problem with it. I addressed the seller, and he told me that the vehicle had no warranty, and so that i should just take the vehicle and take care of the problem by myself. I have had numerous of problems with this vehicle. When i purchased the vehicle, i feel i was used because i am poor, and was desperate for a vehicle. Other people that have purchased a vehicle from them have had the same problem. I don't know what actions can be taken to correct the matter any longer. I haven't given a payment for about 4 months, because i have had to fix the vehicle. Mainly transmissionand electrical problems. I have also had steering wheel problems, and tire problems.*la
Front stabilizer bar broke in half inside bushing none of the auto techs could find the problem for the part 2 years (not even during ny state inspections) so they past the van anyways untill finally one gave a tug on the passangers side of the bar and it came out of the bushing in their hands the tech said he never saw a bar break like that before and that was the cause for having to get the wheel hubs lowerball joints &tie rod ends replaced twice in one year along with the tires on the front of the van so the van sits in the drive way untill it can get fixed (finding the bar is the hard part)dealer said he could not locate one now what????any help would be greatly apreshiatedalso the dealer had to replace the tranny 4 times once about every 12000-17000 miles and one of the trannys only lasted for 325 miles before the van died on the ny state thruway on our way to canada from syracuse,n.y. Then it took the 5 weeks to fix the van and get it back to meso how could i be sure that the breaking of the sawy bar was not caused from the techs removing the unit x amount of times???????????along with the tie rods,wheel hubs,ect.
The gas pedal was pressed while driving 55 mph but the vehicle would not gain any speed.the dealer was contacted and the technician indicated that the transmission needed to be replace.*nlm spoke with consumer 10/16/07 , was told to disregard complaint.vehicle has been traded.*lj
Automatic transmissions failed twice in less than one year.each failure resulted in a replacement transmission from the ford dealer.this vehicle has less than 50,000 miles on it and two transmissions have been replaced.i have requested a replacement vehicle from ford due to the unreliable performance of this vehicle.i was told by the ford consumer hotline that it is not their policy to replace a vehicle, only to repair or fix as needed.
My 1998 windstar has 89,000 miles and the transmission completey broke apart, with no warning at all.no slipping or anything.sitting at a red light, the van jerked like we had been hit in the rear by someone doing 80 miles per hour.it is going to cost me $1800.00 to have it rebuilt.i know numerous complaints are filed with your organization on ford transmissions.i want to register my complaint.
Driving nys thruway @ 65mph about 5:30pm when suddenly without warning transmission dropped from overdrive to first gear.sudden change from highway speed toparking lot speed required great skill of following drivers to aviod running over us and creating a rush hour chain reaction traffic pileup.agency denies type problems with that transmission, ford has not responded to my letter. Help!
Transmission totally collapsed on highway, previously repaired twice.
Vehicle lost power, rpms went up, transmission slipped while travelling 55mph on local expressway.
Transmission fails to stay in lockup mode when travelling at highway speeds and slips and viberates whenever you reach a slight upgrade
I have a 1998 ford windstar van sv, i ave some transmission issues. I have to have a whole transmission overhaul done. I fount out that alot of the other owners of this type of vehicle has suffered the same. What we have fount out is that thatmodel of vans have default transmissions in them. I want to know if i could at least have the transmission repaired or to know any information that will help.
An unexpectedtotal transmission system failure occurred while the minivan was being driven along interstate highway at 65mph. The transmission system had to be totally replcaed. An unexpected incidence of too short life span of a transmission system in a new minivan.
1998 windstar, transmission failure, complete overhaul , $1700.00 dollars, the van was bought for my mother, she's 81 , the van was thought to be dependable and left her on the road.mechanic said the planetary gears were shot, new gears and torque converter, complete overhaul.the van was owned by my mother in law , bought new , when she passed away i gave it to my mother, two women drivers, over 60 years of age, so there was no abuse to the van, always taken to a mechanic for oil changes and maintenance,,,what gives...
Problems with transmission, torque, power steering, and front end stable rods & arms. *mr the transmission and torque had been replaced twice, the power steering once, the font end stable rods and arms twice and remained bad.the battery light had come on and the idler pulley was replaced, there was a creaking/cracking noise when turning the wheel and the outer tie rods were replaced along with the toe being reset, there was a clunk when going over the bumps, there was a vibration underneath due to the transmission, the engine light would come on and off and seemed like the shifts were erratic, the transmission leaked badly, and on some occasions the starter did not engage. *scc
Transmission shutter & hard shift b/t 1-2 gears -transmission replaced twice - ford advises no fix at this time - problem worse and now is going into a neutral like position earratically when going 40-60mph.also very hard downshift (like in drive2) when going downhill - problem still exists
Automatic transmission failure.*la
Ford winstar will not stay in park.
The van stalled on two separate occasions at busy intersections.after stopping and then pressing the accelerator the van crept along.after going through the range of gears several times then it starting moving again.
There was an engine headgasket leakage and the dealer fixed the leak. Also, the vehicle will shift from first gear into second gear, and from second to first while driving or sitting in traffic.the dealer can't detemine the problem, and the vehicle has been in the shop three times and they can't find the problem.
Transmission malfunctioned.
The transmission was replaced, but has still slipped again, i am writing this after hearing the report on tv about the transmission problems with the 95 minivans.this occured when i stopped at a light, and when it would finally go forward, it gave us all a real hard jerk, then drove it more and about 86 miles later, it did it again.the dealership replaced the transmisssion, but i am still not sure of the safety of this vehicle.i contacted ford motor and no action taken.they had a recall on the day-light on the van.i took it to the dealereship and with the letter and they still have not done anything there.i wonder if the transmission problem is related to the 95 problems???
Premature failure of autotransmission@ 50000 miles & $2200.
When starting out vehicle will pulsate. Feels like it will not catch gears.
Whenever vehicle is shifting from 1st gear to 2nd gear itwould jerk.problem happens at low speeds,20-25mph.can maintain control of vehicle. Had been to 3 different mechanics, and each timewas informed that problemwastorque converter.
Multiple transmission failures.
Vehicle started smoking, andwhen consumer lifted up the hood there was a smell of coolant sprayed all over vehicle, and leaking from underneath onto the ground.transmission was replaced. But problem was still there.
Engine shuts down intermittently when decelerating into a turn.it also shuts down momentarily (vehicle "bucks") or fully (stalls completely) during normal driving, independent of speed.the latter problem is much more common than the former!consequence: several near-miss rear-end collisions,especially at highway speeds.the dealership could not replicate the problem. Anindependent technician replicated but could not properly repair the problem(s).the problems have been occurring for more than two years.
Transmission went out,had to be replaced.
While drivingtransmission could shift gear without prior warning. Had to be replaced due to slip shifting.
While driving, the vehicle stopped in the middle of traffic without warning. The dealer stated the transmission and head gasket needed to be replaced.
Traveling on highway at 65mph.complete loss ofevery gear.was able to pull off and avoid incident, but this was a potentially dangerous situation.needed a complete transmission replacement and was given the option to purchase an extended warranty for $495.
Powertrain failure transmission felt like it dropped into neutral and then would not respond. Family mechanic inspected vehicle and the transmission was completely locked up..$2000. Later transmission was replaced..if this is such a "known issue" with these vehicles why doesnt ford do something to compensate their customers? i used to be a ford gal but not anymore!!!
Vehicle would not shift out of first gear. Had to replace transmission. Dealer contacted.
Transmission failure on 1998 windstar with only 61,000 miles on vehicle.ford refused to give us any type of compensation.after searching this database, it seems bad transmissions are a common problem with windstars.
Transmission failed. Rebuilt transmission installed.rebuilt transmission already showing signs of failure similar to old one. There must be a manufacturing defect with these transmissions - they should last longer than this.
Heard noise from engine and lost transmission power. Car coasted. When i got out there was a lot of transmission oil on the ground. Towed to ford of upland, (calif) . I was shown that the low/intermediate servo cover was blown to the side.i checked for recalls found one recall for 98 windstar. According to ford motor co rep. My veh was manufactured after 3/1/97 namely on 11/26/97 but ford rep said it could be the same problem, as of now he noted my complaint and said i should call you, (nhtsa) you may be able to check further into this. Thanks
The vehicle was on the road when all of a sudden the drive gear popped out, causing the vehicleto slow down and not move. Manufacturer will be contacted by consumer.
Transmission makes a loud clunking noise when shifting from part to reverse.
Transmission failed.
Transmission downshifted while going 60-65 mph.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar.while driving at an unknown speed, the contact noticed smoke.she parked the vehicle, checked under the hood, and found that it was very hot and smelled like burned rubber.fifteen minutes later, there was an engine fire underneath the hood.the vehicle was destroyed.a fire report was filed.nhtsa campaign id number 97v097000 (power train:automatic transmission) was referenced.the purchase date, powertrain, and mileages were unknown. Updated 04-08-08 updated 04/08/08
After having two tires changed, consumer noticed vehicle would shake badly when going over 50 mph, and steering wheel was hard to steer because of vibration. Dealer told consumer it wastransmission.there wasrecall 97v097000 concerningtransmission.
The van will stall as if it is in neutral if the o/d is left on after several miles driving with the o/d on.on several occasions the van has staled at major intersections nearly causing accidents.
While driving at 40 mph car shifted out of gear and the transmission would not reingage beyond 1st. Limped home on highway with flashers. Dealer declared 'internal problem' and $2,400 transmission replaced w/o any factory reimbursement. Customer service rep. At ford contacted and i was told there was nothing they could do about this specific problem with windstar transmissions (other than collect my money) and there were no recalls or tsbs on the transmission. The dealer reported that the transmission fluid looked ok so this was not traced to the failure. The transmission was returned for 'core' credit intact: no reason for the failure was determined.
Transmission problem for third time. Was rebuilt after second time. Slipping and banging 4 months later.
Vehicle would not start, took vehicle to firestone and they replaced the starter. 5 days later, vehicle would not start.firestone stated it was the pin switch that drained the battery.consumer states that the transmission failed at 81000 miles.
Transmission failure at 68000+/- miles.no previous problems.traveling on interstate at 70 mph, heard loud noise, got off at next exit.sounded like engine dropped out and was dragging on ground, van was jumping.made it to a parking lot at which point it would not engage in drive or reverse.dealer didn't know what caused transmission failure, questioned dealer if this is common, "not common, but can't say it doesn't happen"reapir would be $3000.00.called 3 transmission shops for pricing, when told it was a windstar all new what the problem was, down to the noise it made!repairs at independant shops ran $1500.00.ford is no help, claims there is no problem.obviously this is a dangerous problem in the windstar, ford needs to get into gear and get these vehicles taken care of and compensate those who have already paid out of pocket for repairs.
1998 ford windstar vancame to a complete stop and the transmission failed.van would not go forward until i down shifted to 2nd gear. Dealership has not found a problem code and not been able to duplicate the problem.daily cut offs occur on pulling up my steep driveway and coming to a stop.*la
Consumer experiencing numerous problems with torque converter, transmission slipping, and lurching forward, problem is intermittent making it difficult for dealer to diagnose problem.
Insured was traveling when he smelled something funny.flames had start to come up from the hood.insured tried to put fire out but couldn't, possible transmission leak onto manifold, claim 40-2554-562.*jg
The transmission s blown i find that odd for a 3 yr old car with less than 65k miles and well maintained on my part.ford has offered no financial help.
Transmission lunges forward at low speeds.
On several occasions transmission slipped into neutral while at a stop.in this instance, transmission slipped into neutral while driving at approximately 35 m.p.h., causing definite safety hazard on a state route.
The windstar transmission failed at 30349 soshamrock ford rebuilt it. At 40295 it failed at 50 mph on us 223 in adrian about 1 mile from dave knapp ford. I called shamrock ford and asked service department if i sould tow it to them or dave knapp.they said any ford dealer will take of the warrenty problem. The transmission was supposed to be covered for 12months/ 12,000 miles after rebuild.transmission was rebuilt 5 months and 10,000 miles ago. Dealer said it's not under warrenty and will not pay for it .i paid 1,900.00 plus tax and i want my money back.
07/2000 problem involves automatic transmission downshifting causing critical handling situations. In the incidents to date 2 have occurred when traveling approximately 50mph, the vehicle would seem to downshift, the rpm was jump and the engine would be accelerating as a result of this. The other 2 incidents have occurred traveling approximately 70 mph with again the transmission apparently downshifting causing the rpms to jump, the engine to accelerate and a handling problem related to the noted factors. The power control module was reset by a ford dealer after a staff when turning that nearly resulted in an accident. The vehicle would shut down (turn off) during slowing such as stopping for traffic lights or turning into a driveway.
While driving at 60 mph the car downshifted to a low gear causing the rpm's to race and the car to lurch.was able to pull to side of busy highway without incident.ford dealer replaced map sensor and rebuilt/replaced the transmission.ford company paid all but $200 as part of their "customer goodwill program".i think there should be a recall on the transmission and if so, i would like my $200 refunded to me.the tie rod ends failed right after the warranty period.even the dealer alluded to the fact that they were probably factory defects, that they should not go bad then.the 'open door sensor' stays on even though all of the doors are closed.this happens sporadically.it may happen twice a day and then not happen for days.the automatic doorlocks have not worked properly since about 40,000 miles.i have to manually lock/unlock the sliding door.and to top off all of my problems, last week i had a mouse in my glove compartment!the design of the glove compartment lets you look right into the engine, and a mouse got in there and chewed up my maps and clean paper napkins.i am not happy!and that will be a safety issue if i am driving and someone opens my glove box!i bet you have never heard that one!my biggest concern is the transmission.i hope to hear from you about that.thank you very much.nancy
Automatic transmission failed at 65,000 miles. Checked with dealer and they said they had not heard of any problems from ford. I look at this website and find numerous problems. There should be an officialrecall for this problem. I would like my money refunded for the transmission replacement.*la
While driving on highway vehicle downshifted to second gear, and consumer had to drive in second gear.
Vehicle would slip in and out of gear while at a light or stop sign (while in drive gear).required high rpms to engage causing the vehicle to lurch forward.transmission replaced at owner's cost.
Without warning, the speedometer went flat and the engine stayed in low gear and the "check engine light" came on when i was trying to drive up a steep hill. I called my husband and he put a little extra transmission fluid in it. I was able to drive it home. We took it the following day for a oil & air filter change and transmission fluid flush. We only made it a few miles until it broke down again with the same problems. When we had it checked at the shop, we were told it also has a broken motor mount. We called a "transmission specialist" and were told by the description, it sounded like the speed sensor had gone out. We had this van custom-built, no one else has ever owned it. It currently has about 94,000 miles on it. It has had regular mainentence and has never been iinvolved in a collision. Has ford recalled any of this, it seems more than the regular wear and tear?
I am reporting atransmission that has to be rebuilt after having 20,000 miles in the new mini-van.this is just one of 6 windstar minivans of different years whose transmission had to be fixed.one of the mechanics told me that the reason this incident happened is because the engine is too big for the transmission. I have since finished my lease with the ford dealer and purchased another car - a toyota sienna.i would rather patroniz an american manufacturer but i don't really have any luck with them.my husband's ford contour had many problems too. My neighbor had to have her transmission rebuilt too.i have not seen any recall on the car so i am reporting this. I know i am about 1 1/2 years too late in reporting but better late than never.don't get me wrong.i loved the windstar and its safety features.i leased two of them but i needed to buy a more dependable car and it seems that i have one right now with my totyoat sienna.it is made in georgetown, kentucky.thank you.
Design of automatic transmission allows the vehicle t0 roll backward , on incline, while vehicle is in drive.
Vehicle lost power, rpms went up, transmission slipped while travelling 55mph on local expressway.
Transmission seems to "stick" in nuetral and then violently shifts into 1st.intermittent problem. Vehicle taken to dealer 2 times.both times dealer says nothing is wrong!!
After reviewing numerous complaints about this transmission of the ford windstar on various web sites, i am strongly encouraging the nhtsa to look in the continuing failure of ford transmissions in the ford windstar.
Should be covered by ford but they refuse. No safety derfec tlisted for above vehicle.
Transmission: 1998 ford windstar mini van:while trying to turn around in a driveway, i put it in reverse and there was not a reverse or drive gears ,nothing.the motor revved, but could not move.i was stranded with no warning.had to have it towed since it would not move.after doing research online, other owners, this is a common problem with the ford windstar mini van.i feel this is definitely a safety hazard.i agree with so many more consumers, why hasn't this been in a recall.it is very, very dangerous, since it just stops without any warning or problems. I realize it is too late for me since mine is in the shop already.however, i am on a limited income and probably will loose the vehicle due to no funds for the repair.if it had been on a recall, this would not have happened.this is my first ford vehicle and more than likely, will be my last!please do your own research and you will see how common this problem has been. Thank you
While driving if transmission reaches a certain temperature it drops out of 3rd gear down into 2nd.engine rpms increase and vehicle vibrates and shakes.
While traveling vehicle was making a loud noise and would powernot gain due toblown transmission. Please provide further information.
Vehicle experiencing park to reverse failure.
While driving at any speed and slowing down to make any type of turn vehicle jerks real hard and stalls.dealer can't determine the problem.
Complete transmission failure.
While traveling onfreeway at 40 mph vehicle commenced to stop moving while enginewas still running.vehicle towed to dealer for repairs at consumer's cost. Also, manufacturer notified, and informed that vehicle was out of its warranty, and nothing could or will be done. Feel free to provide any further details.
Transmission shifted hard at least daily.
White smoke coming from the exhaust and the engine was missing due to blown head gaskets. Dealer contacted. Also found blown intake manifold gasket. Transmission replaced at 45,000 miles.
Our entire family (two adults, two chilldren both under age 10) were in the car when this incident occurred, and could have easily been killed.we had just exited the outer loop of the washington, d.c. Capital beltway and were in the process of slowing to a stop at the light at the end of the exit ramp, when we heard a loud thud from our transmission.when we started again the car seemed to hesitate. It went another two blocks and then the transmission completely failed in the car, leaving us in the right lane in an intersection with no way to move the vehicle.none of the gears worked.our car spent 12 days in the dealership being fixed.this could be a potential life threatening problem if this occurs while someone is on the highway (as we almost were), and i felt i should report it.i haven't yet contacted ford about this, but i plan to.
At take-off from stop light, transmission failed with no warning. Put into neutral, and got stutter and grind from transaxle. Shop informed me that the planetary gears had disintergrated. I believe this to be a manufacturing problem or defect with the ford 3.8l/axod combo, as these types of problems date back to 1988 and the taurus/sable compatible assemblies.
While traveling 30 to 40 mph transmission started slipping and smoke started coming from underneath hood of vehicle. Consumer pulled off toside ofroad and turned vehicle off. Consumer examinedvehicle and found that there was fluid leaking fromengine , pool of fluid was approximately 2 feet in diameter on the ground.dealership examinedvehicle and could not determine that there was a problem withvehicle.informedconsumer that no fluids leaked fromvehicle. Also, this vehicle was not affected by any recalls.dealer finally replaced transmission with a refurbished one after a field engineer stating it was faulty.
Transmission failed. Mjs
Transmission malfunctioning causing vibration, mph sensor failed causing the gears to stick.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Dealership installed another transmission at 7,000 miles because of our repeated complaints about the bucking sensation/the vehicle is still bucking/other problems developed such as the lunchingforward in second gear, shifting into gear began to produce a grinding noiseand a very obvious vibration in the steering wheel has developed/ford keeps ignoring us after our repeatedly contacting them/we have now filed under the lemon law in the state of connecticut/ we have been treated very shabbily by ford !
Power transmission on 98 ford windstar failed.
1998 windstar jerks when down shifting.
After a full stop vehicle will not move in any gears.problem is intermittent. Engine will still idle like it's in neutral. Dealer can't find what's wrong because won't duplicate.
At 40-60 mph the transmission shifts into neutral unexpectedly.dearel has replaced the transmission twice. Manufacturer notified.
Ihave a ford windstar min van it is a 1998 gl and my husband and i have only had it three and a half years we bought it at best ford in nashua new hampshire.we bought an extended warranty but we were over by 600 miles so they wouldnt honor it.come to find out there were two other mini vans windstars the same type and age in the shop getting transmission work done.this should of never happened to us and i think the company ought to reimburse us for this expensive fix there is obviously problems with these min vans transmission going to early . I hope i get some results on this its rediculous we are not even done paying on it yet karen roy.
Transmission was slow going into gear,was very noisy and would not shift it finally locked up in gear and would not move. It was towed in to a repair shop and i was told the transmission was bad. The van has only 46,000 miles on it. A 30,000 dollar car should last longer than this.
Last year transmission problems started again.i had the van in the garage again in december to replace the pump on the transmission after it blew apart and left me stranded when it wouldn't go into any gear.after 10 days the van would move again.now again the transmission is slipping between 1st and 2nd.the van is famous for downshifting from overdrive into 1st or 2nd gear.the overdrive light is constantly flashing and not working.
The transmission failed while the consumer was traveling.
Dt:the contact states while driving for about five or ten miles ,if the contact goes to make a right turn or stop, the vehicle will stall. This occurs while decelerating. He states that everything works fine while he is driving the vehicle.it just when he goes to stop that he has the problems. He took the vehicle to his personal mechanic , and they replaced the idle control ,and cleaned the injectors. However,vehicle still has this problem. The vehicle shuts off with no warning. It will start back up as soon as it stalls when he puts it in park. The contact states that this has happened more than 100 times.vehicle hasautomatic transmission.the vehicle is regularly maintained.it started about a year ago and it wouldn't do it all the time and now it is doing almost every time you slow down. Has came very close to causing an accident.
Transmission willnot engage whilein park.the dealership told consumer that they couldn't duplicate the problem.
Nar 1/15/2003. The consumer complained that the vehicle had transmission problems. After numerous complaints, the selling dealer offered to buy the vehicle back,but the consumer declined and instead continued to ford and harass the employees to point that they became death threats.
No summary listed for abov evehicle.
The transmission has been replaced, and still has the same problem.
1st to 2nd bang when shifting on slow acceleration (repeats often), fuel pump continually cuts out when parked on slight downhill, still 6+ gallons left. Only since replacement of fueltank and gas pump due to electrical short
While driving and pulling away from a stopvehiclestalls and shuts off.dealer is aware of this problem. The part to correct problemis on national back order.*ml
Ford issued a tsb on this problem. The repair is to reprogram the powertrain control module (pcm).stall during deceleration to a stop, parking and/or coasting during slow speed turns. Vehicles equipped with 3.8 liter engine.my van is doing this but shows no recall with vin #
Consumerwas traveling about 55mph on the highway and it was raining, and abslight came on the dashboard. Also, traction control light was blinking, saying the system was off. Abs brake system stopped working.
Pcm module failed.
While warming vehicle up, it surged forward and then backward, it ran over conumer's toes and the door hit consumer in face, vehicle dragged consumer for about 6 feet before it stopped, it also took out 2 posts of the deck, consumer states a recall regarding the powertrain control module was received and feels this might be the cause of the accident, however vehicle is still at dealer awaiting repairs.
Computer module that controls abs system failed, also affects the traction control feature of the vehicle, that also has failed.cost to replace part is $980. Plus labor.this is a major component of the abs braking system, which is part of the vehicles safety features and a failure so earlier in the life of this vehicle is absurd.the maintenance person at the dealership said there was a bulletin out on this but we can't find it.my sister and brother-in-law have the same year and model of windstar and are having a failure of their traction control feature which is intermittent but their dealer can't find the cause.
I have basically had everything that could go wrong with this vehicle.. Go wrong. It has been in several times for the seal around drivers side door (air flows in). The door ajar indicator continually goes on and the dome light comes on(making it very unsafe to drive at night. Especially when trying to back up. The dome light then stays on causing battery to die. I have had problems with the traction control light to blink have had in shop they say they replaced a sensor. As soon as my warranty was up. It happened again(cost me over $400.00) when either window is rolled down about 3 inches(as soona s it hits that point) a buzzing sound will occur. I had a huge gash on the interior of my right tire(no known cause) i believe the van was 3 months old at this time.... Had to purchase a new tire. I have had work done several times on the front passenger side. Including the bearings replaced.... A sensor ring that had broken in half, tie-rod... I am so disappointed in this vehicle, we bought this because it was convient to tote around 3 children but the fact that i am so afraid to drive it alot of times ins't very convenient at all. I am amazed that it has made it this far (90,000) the back hatch seems to have some electrial problems as whenever it is opened it woll set off the door ajar light and when closed it never goes off.. For some reason it has periods of time that it will stay on for weeks and then when that stops the window buzzing starts. I am not under warranty and am very tired of sinking money into a van that we apid well over 30,000 for. Why is something so expensive........... Such a money pit????? i feel i get no response from the dealers. They seem to be able to word it in a different way when they fix something and you have to take it back in to be re-fixed.. Although it does the same thing??? i guess we will have to do more research on vehicle manufactors when buying our next family vehicle. I have never been so disappointed. Please send recall informat
Consumer was traveling on highway and heard popping noise coming from underneathvehicle.he pulled over toshoulder ofroad, and looked underneath ofvehicle,and noticed that transmission fluid was leaking. Dealership was aware ofproblem.
While parked in park gear, vehicle jumped into reverse and rolled into a bush causing damage.
Vehicle rolled backwards while parked on a slight incline. In an attempt to stop vehicle, one of consumer's fingers was severed, and three badly injured. This occurred whenconsumer tried to open the door to enter the moving vehicle. Consumer spent nine days in the hospital and has to go for treatment once a week.*ph
When keys were removed from ignition and vehicle placed in park, vehicle then rolled down hill without warning. Problem seems to be intermittent.
Nar 03/05/2003 the consumer experienced ongoing problems with moving the column shift from one shift to another.
While traveling between 40 and 65 mph smoke started coming out from underneathhood ofvehicle. Driver stoppedvehicle,raisedhood to discover a fire inengine compartment. Dealership examinedvehicle, and determinedwiring for transmission caused the fire.please provide any additional information / documentation.
Transmission jumped into gear while in park, almost hitting a small child.. Trans stuck in park, vehicle had to towed to dealer. Ford insisted nothing wrong with vehicle while under warranty, although it was looked at more than once. Took vehicle in again and was informed it needed a new transmission and would cost 2600.00 because warranty had run out.
1. 2 year old child was able to move automatic shift lever from park to drive without key in the iginitonwihtout applying brakes.2. Also consumer heard a loud rumbling noise when shifting gears.dealer could determine cause.
Gear shift jumped out of parked gear into reverse resulting in collision.
Two-year old was able to able to turn the key in the ignition, shifted van into reverse without depressing the brake pedal. Van rolled down the hill into a wooded area. Daugher was not hurt in crash.dealer has been notified about the incident. Please provide any further information.
The vehicle was in park position and the key was out of the ignition switch, the vehicle rolled backwards, knocking the consumer down. Then it rolled into the street.contacted the dealer and the vehicle was towed.
While in park child was able to put car in park, consumer indicated that in order to put a car in parkconsumerhas to put foot on the brake. But child was standing in the seat and put car into drive and it went into a chained fence. Consumer says when bringing it out of park or drive it makes a loud poping noise. Took to dealer,they can't find the cause of the problem.
Consumer's child was able to put the keys in the ignition,shift gear into neutral, and vehicle rolled backwards, hitting a parked car. Consumer has contactedmanufacturer.owner believes that you should not be able to switch the vehicle into gear without pressing the brakes. *ml
Vehicle was in a parking lot, no one in the drivers seat. Passenger seat had a person in it, transmission shift gear just went into reverse, and vehicle took off.dealer contacted and cannot duplicate the problem.
I purchased a 1998 windstar van from the ford dealer located in corning ca. I have had nothing but trouble with it passing smog for the oxy sensor. And the transmission has never worked right. The turbo thing is bad. When i went to trade it in i found that the vehicle was out of canada. And these things were part of the recalls reported to you. But, ford of corning said they did nothing to this van before selling it to me. I found 14 things wrong with this vehicle. I acted up a month after purchase.but i was on aware of my rights as a consumer. Also, i was not sure what oms meant. The van is stuck in folsom,ca at aamco transmission repair shop. Financed through fireside bank. Ford of corning said they did nothing to the van before i purchased it but cleaning it.
Whenever vehicle is shifting from 1st gear to 2nd gear itwould jerk.problem happens at low speeds,20-25mph.can maintain control of vehicle. Had been to 3 different mechanics, and each timewas informed that problemwastorque converter.
This vehicle has had numerous braking problems/axles/sway bars/calipers/electrical problems
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact statedwhile reversing into a driveway, the rear axle fractured from the vehicle.the vehicle was taken to a local repair facility where the rear axle was replaced at the contacts expense. The manufacturer was not contacted the failure mileage was 164,948 and the current mileage was approximately 165,200.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. While driving in reverse, she heard a loud popping noise and noticed that the rear left axle was broken. She notified a local mechanic and he stated that he would diagnose the failure at her residence the following day. The dealer stated that there were no related recalls for that year, make and model vehicle. The contact is waiting for a repair estimate. The failure and current mileages were 104000.
My wife pulled out of the driveway onto the road and heard a horrible screeching/squealing sound and smelled rubber burning.she pulled into the center lane, approximately 50 feet from our driveway and stopped.she asked our daughter to get out of the vehicle and see what was wrong.she said, "mom, the tire is touching the rear bumper".my wife turned the vehicle around in the neighbor's driveway and drove back into our driveway.she called me out and i looked at the rear right control arm on the rear axle assembly.it was completely severed and pulled approximately 3 inches apart.the rear right tire was scraping the bumper and had gouges in the tread (the tire is ruined).the left wheel was pushed slightly forward.i know if she had made it to the expressway and this piece had broke at 70 mph, my child, her 3 friends, and my wife would be dead.i am worried that anybody with the same style and year vehicle could have the same defect, and i want it made aware to all.i am petrified to think what could have occurred.i also have digital pictures of the defect which could be e-mailed at your request.
While driving at 20 mph and with out any warning rear passenger side wheel snapped off.vehicle was towed to the dealership, and technician determined that rear axletrailing arm broke.
Rear axle broke, with 4 repair attempts to the powertrain.
Consumer was driving down road made a 90 degree right turn began to speed up, when he reached 35mph the axle came of of the transmission, the left front wheel was face down on the ground, popped back up inside the wheel well to it's normal position.consumer then lost all control of vehicle . The axle and wheel came out of its mountings there were no upper control arm bolts.
While traveling at approximately 10 mph vehicle started pulling toright, and came to a stop. Consumer examinedvehicle, and saw thatleft rear tire was positioned againstbumper ofvehicle.dealership has examinedvehicle and determined thatrear axle/ tie rod broke.please provide any additional information/attachments.
Consumer states has a power train problem from the transaxles while the vehicle is being driven. Consumerstated there is a technical service bulletin on this issued, number #98-15-19.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. While driving at approximately 45 mph, the rear axle broke. The vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop but had not been repaired at the time of the complaint. The failure and current mileages were approximately 156,000.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated that the rear of the vehicle began to sway back and forth. When the contact looked under the vehicle, the rear axle broke on the left side. The vehicle had not been inspected at the time of the complaint. The current and failure mileages were approximately 135,000.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar wagon. While drivingapproximately 30 mph, the contact heard a loud, abnormal bang. He stated he pulled over to inspect the vehicle and noticed that the rear axle had fractured in half on the left side. The vehicle was towed to his place of residence. The manufacture advised that the failure was caused by the weather, road conditions or moisture in the area. The manufacturer did not provide any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 76,576.
The sensor ring for the abs system failed. The entire axle had to be replaced at a cost of over $300.00. I have the part that failed and found that the part had a manufacturing defect. But have been unable to get any compensation from ford motor company.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. While driving at speeds of 40 mph, the vehicle began swaying excessively. The contact moved the vehicle off the roadway and noticed that the rear axle was fractured into two. The vehicle was towed to his place of residence. Neither the manufacturer nor the dealer was contacted regarding the failure. The failure and current mileages were 101,000.updated 11/03/10. *lj
Bearings on the left front of vehicle failed , vehicle could not never be aligned.bearings were a part that should never fail . Dealer changed bearings.
While vehicle was in park, consumer states that a two year old child put vehicle in second gear and vehicle rolled backards into a trash bend.consumer feels like gear should not go into gear without pressing on brake.
I have had my 1998 ford windstar for less than one year.it has been out of service for transmission problems 4 times.the first time they replaced the clutch pistons, second time they replaced the transmission.i am continuing to have problems with severe shifting between 1st and 2nd or 2nd to 1st.ford motor company will only offer me an extended warranty, although they say they can not fix the problem.i am concerned for my safety and my the safety of my children.i have several friends having the same problem with their 98 windstar only theirs have now begun to downshift when traveling on the highway!this is a safety hazard and ford doesn't care help!!!
I own a 1998 ford windstar(manufacture date aug..1997. I have been having problems for a while. My van was making a whining grinding noise. Gear is hard to get out of park bad popping noise when backing up...replaced all 4 wheel bearings and both tie rod ends..still making a bad whining noise.3 days ago i was driving down the highway and the steering started acting weird and shaking and the back of the van started swaying back and forth .. Was told at the shop about the recall on axel i called ford and was told my van is not on the list my van has a excessive amount of corrosion throughout the whole bottom the shop told me this van has been exposed to salt. When i bought the van it had a inspection sticker from previous owner from one of the recall states.(pens) ford would not give me any information onwhat state it was sold in or dealer, what brand of axel that was being recalled (said they didn't know the brand) come on what company spends money on parts and don't even know the brand or manufacture they buy from. I'm scared to death to drive this automobile.. I think ford should honor there promise to its customers and fix this problem on all 1997-2003 windstars not just certain months of 1997 or does someone have to lose there life before they do something?ford>>> you took our money for your product now stand behind your product.
Driver front seatbelt malfunctioning, persistent vibration in rt front end at 60-65mph not cured by new struts, sway bar links, springs alignment, multiple wheel balance. Ts
Rear axle is fractured. Its has a 3 inch long crack on the rear axle toward the drivers side. We are the original owners of the van since 1998.
1998 ford windstar has rusted engine subframe, which, if lets go would cause side axle and front tire to separate from van and cause loss of steering control,loss of braking, and possible accident.this was discovered while van was on ramp for oil change . Received recall on rear axle cracking and recall was done today by ford. Brought subframeproblem to the dealers attention and they stated that ford was fully aware of this problem but could do nothing about it because ford had not issued a recall on this time. The service station owner which did my oil change expressed an opinion that he felt that the front subframe rusting was indeed much more of a concern than the cracking of the rear axle which has been recalled by ford. At present i am afraid to drive my windstar with this structural defect and i feel ford should remedy this defect in the same manner that they did with the cracking rear axle.
At take-off from stop light, transmission failed with no warning. Put into neutral, and got stutter and grind from transaxle. Shop informed me that the planetary gears had disintergrated. I believe this to be a manufacturing problem or defect with the ford 3.8l/axod combo, as these types of problems date back to 1988 and the taurus/sable compatible assemblies.
The transmission failed while the consumer was traveling.
The transmission failed while the consumer was traveling.
Vehicle was experiencing a small transmission leak, consumer was informed that everything was fine, however as consumer had all driven 25 miles the transmission went out.
Consumer states the vehicle has transmission problems.
Transmission experienced failure twice.
Transmission speed sensor failed causing erratic shifting.
I bought this van in feb of 1998 and in a few weeks i noticed that the van would lunge forward at low speeds of about 5 to 10 miles per hour. I went to the dealer and was told there was no problem . I went to another dealer same thing. I returned to the original dealer and this time drove the van with a mechanic and showed him the problem. They ordered a new transmission but theproblem has never gone. I wrote fordbut no help. Then i moved to south jersey an dshowed it to the dealer a few times and this past jani was told that the problem will stay and nothing more can be done. So at present every time i star the van and accelerate and then leave the peddle the car lunges. In slow traffic this a real anger because it seems as though the car is not in my control. The change in gearis very rough.
Transmission replaced two times to illiminate slipping 1st and 2nd gears, however the replacements did not rectify transmission problems. Mjs
Transmission failed on highway.
The gear shift would not come out of park after starting the vehicle. Putting the vehicle in neutral before starting it and shifting it to drive corrected the problem.
Consumer stated transmission gasket was leaking and the shifter was hard to get into reverse.
The vehicle would rev up when the accelerator is applied and would not shift gears until the odometer and speedometers began to work which take about 5 miles drive.
While driving onhighway vehicle jerked and made a really strange noise.vehicle then died. Vehicle was towed to dealer, and the dealer stated that a metal piece had broken inside of transmission, and transmission would need to be rebuilt. Please provide any further informmation.
The transmission failed while the consumer was traveling.
While stopped at an intersection, the transmisison shifted into neutral without drivers knowledge, resulting in vehicle rolling backwards when the brake was released, shifting to park then back to drive reengaged the forward gear.nlm
Transmission shift lever failed.
Consumer stated that while driving at any speed and without the transmission failed causing the vehicle not to accelerate. Dealer notified.
(forward clutch piston and seal) when you brake to turn left or right or even come to a stop and then step on the gas, all the vehicle does is rev. It's like the transmission is stuck in gear or slipping and then it eventually drops into place. It's a pretty hazardous situation if turning into oncoming traffic. I feel this part should have been on a recall because of what happens when all you are doing is braking or slowing down. Please, please look into this problem. I have two children and would hate for someone to lose a child because of a wreck that could have been prevented by issuing a recall. Thank you for providing this site to list problems.( dot number: apm3jeuu02 tire size: 215/70r15 )
While consumer was pulling into driveway transmission completely failed. *et
Transmission failed.nlm
The gear shift would not come out of park after starting the vehicle. Putting the vehicle in neutral before starting it and shifting it to drive corrected the problem.
Vehicle was experiencing a small transmission leak, consumer was informed that everything was fine, however as consumer had all driven 25 miles the transmission went out.
Consumer is driving and pulled up to an incline, if he takes his foot off the brakes the vehicle will roll backwards, he's also driven two other windstars that have the same problem. After duplicating the problem ford said that there is not a problem, this is normal.
The driver's side restraints don't retract or buckle properly. The manufacturer has been notified.belt not working properly after parts were replace.
When first purchased vehicle consumer noticed that the drivers seatbelt was inoperative.
Front passenger seat belt tighten on owner's son.as he tried to release the belt, the rachet continued to tighten on his lap.a neighbor pulled the shoulder belt off the son and the rachet tighten some more.the neighbor freed the son by cutting the belt with a knife.
Seat belts in second row/middle seat do not allow occupant to lean forward. Seat belts are too tight. Possible design flaw.
However, we are currently very upset with our local ford dealer over a simple seat belt.we own a 1998 ford windstar.when the car was less than a year old we took it in to have a frayed seat belt repaired.i have the paperwork for this repair.we then had a baby and installed a five point harness car seat in that seat position.the car seat remained there for four years, (removed only when so filthy it had to be cleaned), thus the seat belt remained locked in position and was not pulled out or retracted during that time. That baby is now old enough to need a booster seat (which utilizes the seat belt directly).within six months of starting to use the booster seat daily we noticed that the seat belt was once again fraying.i called the dealer and he told me to bring it in. We took it back to the original repair place (with the paperwork from the first repair) and explained the situation.they told us that since the first repair was at 7138 miles and the van now has 89,123 miles on it that the seat belt was no longer under warranty.i asked for a letter stating this fact (that the seat belt was not under warranty) and they refuse. *nlm
We collided with a 1989 chevrolet truck driven by an intoxicated driver who pulled out in front of us in a 45 mph speed zone.we were in our 1998 ford windstar.our children, ages 18 and 13 were seated in the quad seats behind the front seats, and on impact, both seat belts for their seats came undone.
The plastic covers on the seat belts are worn and have sharp edges.the drivers side belt is cut in half.the driver side rear belt is cut half way through at this time.*jg ts
Dt:the contact states that the seat belt straps are ripping apart.two of the straps have completely ripped.one of the straps is fraying.each of the seat belts is located in a different row.two of the seat belts have been replaced.
Driver front seatbelt malfunctioning, persistent vibration in rt front end at 60-65mph not cured by new struts, sway bar links, springs alignment, multiple wheel balance. Ts
Consumer stated the driver seat belt failed.
Driverside seatbelt fell apart in my hand! then after furthur checking , the middle pass side belt was starting to fray. After 20 days of not having a seatbelt they are finally being replaced.very dissapointed in ford taking its sweet time when it comes to the safety of its owners and there families.
I've been having a problem with the seatbelts (the front passenger and all 5 of the rear seatbelts). I have talk to the dealer and i have sent a email to ford inc. The tell me that there is nothing wrong with the seatbelts. The problem that i'm having is that the seatbelts (except the drivers side) is that they keep locking up. What i mean by that is when you pull the seatbelt out to put it on and snap the two halves together, when you let the extra part of what you pulled out roll back into the roller, after this point, most of the time the seatbelt locks. They will not pull out anymore. You can't lean forward without taking the seatbelt off. I have found that when i or my kids ride in the back seats or front passenger seat, that the seatbelts keep getting tighter as you drive down the road, which in turn makes you take the seatbelt off due to pain from the seatbelt pulling tight. I was told that a rep. From ford looked at this problen and said there is nothing they can do.
Driver's 3-point seat belt fastener failure.
The driver's side/ passenger's side/middle, and rear shoulder belts are coming apart atwebbing. Dealer replaced thema year ago.
Courtesy lights will intermittenly work. They will come on when driving at night, or sometimes they will not come on at all.experiencing other electrical problems with the reverse lights, interior lights, automatic door locks, door check light, and signal lights operating intermittently, consumer states that the engine is noisy and the engine check light is always on, the seat belt is loose, passenger side arm rest is loose, and the back window wiper is inoperative.
Fatigue failure of wire springs which stiffen stalk, and lie next to webbing.sharp ends of broken springs abraded and weakened webbing- concern for belt failure under crash loads.same fatigue failure seen on left and right seats.
Consumer was involved in a collision in which vehicle flipped and crashed into a tree. Seat belt buckle on the passenger's side bench seat broke, causing child and infant seat to be thrown to the floor.vehicle did not flip, it hit water and spun.the buckle shattered and the plastic housing and springs internal to the mechanism broke apart.
All rear seat belts are not loking properly. Manufacturer notified.
Driver's side seat belt does not release from the retractor.
Involved in collision with other vehicle - front drivers side of other vehicle hit front drivers side of my vehicle - both my wife (front passenger) and myself had our seat belts on.at impact my wifes seat belt did not hold her upper body back causing her upper body to go forward and strike her forehead with the rear view mirror.also air bags did not deploy.seat belts at times don't tighten across the upper body.
7- year old child was sitting on passenger's side backrow and ended up getting tangled up with shoudler belt.when she couldn't breathe, she asked for help.another passengerunbuckled seatbelt, but seatbelt was inretracting mode, so it continued to strangle 7-year old child.seatbelt had to be cut off in order to allow child to breathe.consumer felt there should be release button to deactivate retracting mode.
Driver's seatbelt does not retract, which won't protect the occupant in event of a crash.dealer will replace driver's seatbelt.parts are on back order.please provide further information.
Seat belt alarm,light,andcourtesy light would remain on while driving. Dealer was not notified at this time.
Courtesy lights will intermittenly work. They will come on when driving at night, or sometimes they will not come on at all.experiencing other electrical problems with the reverse lights, interior lights, automatic door locks, door check light, and signal lights operating intermittently, consumer states that the engine is noisy and the engine check light is always on, the seat belt is loose, passenger side arm rest is loose, and the back window wiper is inoperative.
Cup holder spills easily. Seat belt rests too high (on neck). Needs another run board so that she can step into vehicle more easily.
Restraint ondriver's side on second row has shreaded fromtop ofrestraint.dealer will be notified.
We own a 1998 ford windstar.when the car was less than a year old we took it in to have a frayed seat belt repaired.i have the paperwork for this repair.we then had a baby and installed a five point harness car seat in that seat position.the car seat remained there for four years, (removed only when so filthy it had to be cleaned), thus the seat belt remained locked in position and was not pulled out or retracted during that time. That baby is now old enough to need a booster seat (which utilizes the seat belt directly).within six months of starting to use the booster seat daily we noticed that the seat belt was once again fraying.i called the dealer and he told me to bring it in. We took it back to the original repair place (with the paperwork from the first repair) and explained the situation.they told us that since the first repair was at 7138 miles and the van now has 89,123 miles on it that the seat belt was no longer under warranty. *nlm
Dt:the contact states that the seat belt straps are ripping apart.two of the straps have completely ripped.one of the straps is fraying.each of the seat belts is located in a different row.two of the seat belts have been replaced.
Child got trapped in the rear seat belt system. The seatbelt was unlocked, but did not release and became tighter as the child struggled with it.it was finally cut to be removed. Dealer has been contacted.
The consumer stated that when she made a sudden stop, her 5 year old child's safety seat came flying to the front of the vehicle.she stated that the safety seatactually came loose from the seat belt. That the child sustain some minor injuries (2 bumps on the head) but never came out of the graco seat because it remained fastened.the seat was originally position on the passenger side third row bench seat.
Seat will not return after 'dump-slide' is used. A lever acutates the seat back to tilt forward and the seat slides forward to let in rear seat passengers on drivers side (no sliding door on drivers side). Seat will not return and slides back and forth when accerating/braking.
Accelerator went down on its own while in reverse, no brakes to stop, resulting in a accident.steering vibrates, recommend rotating the tires.interior seats slightly twisted, door locks works sometime, interior lights work sometimes.
Driver's seat track broke and causeddriver's seat to move upward unexpectedly while driving which almost caused a crash.please provide further information.
This vehicle has had two engines, transmission work and a lot of smallerproblems.right nowit is having the drivers seat track and adjustersreplaced.would like to be part of a class action suit. The windstar may be safe, but it isn't reliable.
Upon accelerating the seat track releases from the setposition, causing the seat tomove to the rear. Consumer feels unsatisfied with the transmission.
While driving vehicle, driver's seat would shift on tracks; would not lock in. When coming to a stop or taking off from stationery positi0n, seat moves forward. Took back to dealer who replaced the seat tracks, but problem still exists.
Head rest malfunctions.yh
A fire had developed underdriver's seat.manufacturer was notified.please provide any further details on this matter.
Driver'sside seat does not lock in place, resulting in the seat sliding backward and forward when driving,also,ford has changed the design of the seat glide. Consumer has contacted the dealer.
The driver seatback does not lock in postion which causes the seatback to move unexpectedly,and causes an accident.
Drivers seat back broke during rearend collision causing more severe injuries to driversneck,back and arms than if it had not broken.
Seat control (latch / switch) failed, resulting in loose seat.
Rear seat latch injured the driver while removing the rear seat.yh
Upon being in a parking lot the front driver's seat caught on firewhich was caused by a mechanism under the seat. Consumer was sitting in the seat when this happened.
Abs light comes on often when i reach speeds of 70mph only.
Brake fluid all leaks out wear hole in brake fluid tube to rear brakes between frame and gas tank. Causing virtually no braking power. Drivers side near rear wheel. Would require 200.00+ to repair.
Abs dashboard light stays onvibration when braking while in motion vibration is proportional to speed
The abs light started coming on after driving for a few minutes then it would go off when the van was turned off.now the abs light comes on when i turn the van on & doesn't go off until i turn the key off.
Abs light is on.
I came to a stop sign. The brake pedal went to floor without any warning. I was able to steer to the shoulder without hitting the car ahead of me. The car finally rolled to a stop with the help of the emergency brake.the vehicle was in motion and on a dual lane highway.
Abs is inoperable vehicle does not brake properly.
1998 ford windstar.abs pump has failed and brakes are not working properly. There was no brake light on dash to denote a problem and nothing coming up when tests were run on computer. All mechanics thought it was the master cylinder and as a results i had 5 put on the van from christmas 2003 to present.called ford directly and said that they would note the problem, but nothing that they can do to fix the problem.i cannot drive my family in the vehicle as afraid of having accident in result of pump not functioning.cost just for pump is $2200.00 not including labor.very upset that ford will not stand behind their product and attempt to help.
From the date of purchase, january 2002, brakes and abs system has failed ,peyton-cramer ford has charged us to replace an abs ring, 2 sensors and a tire.after all of these repairs peyton-cramer ford has failed to correct the braking problem and now they want to charge $1,300 for a new abs system. The vehicle currently has 40k miles. The transmission has currently gone out as well within the past week. I feel that this matter should be investigated because i feel that this vehicle is a lemon due to the low mileage on the vehicle and because of the multiple problems with this vehicle. Peyton cramer ford is unwilling to assist with the current abs problem. The transmission will be covered because i currently have an extended warranty on my vehicle. However, the abs is not covered by my current extended warranty and ford motor is unwilling to offer any goodwill assistance with the repair.
1998 ford windstar; front brakes seem to have continuous shimmy; passenger side door lock uncooperative unlocking with remote; engine light off/on often, doesn't seem to be a reason; electrical panel malfunctioning after 104,000 miles,(engine light constantly on, abs light on, trac light constant flashing, and fuel gauge not reading gas in tank)
On 12/7/01 my abs light came on and the trac off light started blinking.i took it into the inver grove ford, mn and the diagnosis was broken wheel sensor and had to replace the ecu.that cost us $1600.00.then on 12/8/02, the 2 lights came on again.i called ford very upset and was told that there is only a 12 month/12,000 miles warranty on the part.after another diagnostic test, it was determined the ecu again went out.ford offered to pay $500.00 of the $1147.00 estimate, but it infuriates me that automobile companies can get away with this type of "highway robbery" and only warranty such an expensive piece for a short period of time.it is now a safety issue, because my anti-lock brakes do not work!what am i to do?
Took van in for service & was told that the calipers, right & left were real rough even though the pads were only half worn!tech. Replaced pad`s & turned rotors! when moving foreword, making a turn, & braking the steering wheel would shimmy! in 40 years i`ve never seen rotors go bad & the pads be only half worn! cost, $170.27 told not covered by bumper to bumper warranty!
Rear brakes out of adjustment causing, excessive travel before stopping.
Vehicle shakes when applying brake at higher speed, more so when going downhill. Dealer turned rotors once. Did not remedy the problem.mr
The trac light stays on due to broken brake wires.
The sensorpart #sw-6351 get fire under the master cylinder.5/7/08- it appears the nhtsa is staring an investigation into the deactivation switch leaking a causing fires! this is certainly good news and i'm sure will save lives. If you have a old deactivation switch that leaked, please do not throw it away, we may need to collect a few! *gem
On december 16th 2009. I was driving down west 117th towards madison/lakewood in cleveland, ohio and was trying to come to a stop (slow down and stop) to allow an ambulance to pass (there was a car in front of me that was also slowing downa nd that came to a stop at the street lot)this is on a major street near an highway intersection. I put my foot on my brake to slow down the vehicle and come to a stop but it would not slow down or stop. The brake had went out. I ended up hitting the car in front of me hard (an suv) and doing quite a bit of damage to my vehicle. The other driver vehicle was so far as i could tell undamaged. On my vehicle the front light is broken, my bumper is damaged, and my hood is damaged. I, myself and the driver i hit could have gotten seriously injured. So far we are bothfine and no injuries occurred. However he may turn around and come after me if he decides to. And i now can not drive my vehicle. I received a recall notice on my vehicle brake about a month ago around early november. Maybe in end of october. The very day of my accident (happened around 12:15 noon) i was going to go home and call ford about the recall. There is a worldwide recall on my vehicle model and many others. And i have had nothing but problems since i bought it. I have had to make numerous repairs on it and still had problems and this accident. Ford should be held responsible for this and should compensate me with another vehicle in good condition especially since i have spent so much time and money into replacement parts for this windstar. Or give me my money back or something. I'm glad my kids were not with me when this happened and that the man i hit was also alone and is ok. What can be done about this?i have had to replace the following items since i got this vehicle:o2 sensors (both), alternator, belt, windshield wiper blade, and make back blades don't work at all, the transmission, the steering column box, door handle and components inside and more!
Brake malfunction, display of "service engine soon".
We have finally got ford to do something about the cruise control switches on the 1990-2000"s ford windstars i have a 1998 ford windstar ( even though i have been informed by my local dealer that they will only be putting on the harness for the switch when i told them i had already had my switched replaced about a year ago for a brake fluid leak they informed me they would not check my abs system for damage unless i paid for them for the service. The service tech said "quote" ( hold on now we are only putting on the harness anythingelse will cost extra) all there going to do is put in the harness i guess any other damage done by these systems will just have to be just shoved up our tail pipes !!!! even though the ccds system is the cause of all the problems...this seems to be the way of doing business for ford i have all kinds of trouble also with this van like ,door lights signal always on even if the doorsare shut the doom and inside door lights stay on all the time....when i turn on the air it puts out cold air only though the defrost switch and then under the back seat it blows hot air instead ..when i drive for a few miles and turn the van off it sounds like a popping noise from the back around the muffler my mec. Says that the muffler tail pipe system on this model is not worth a flip he says you could not give him one of these van"s there a piece of junkthe doors lock and unlock on there own come on people look at all the signs about the ford windstars like my daddy use to say this is a fire looking for a place to happeni will never buy anotherford again'''''.
I have a 1998 ford windstar van 2 months ago i had a leak of fluidthat caused some wires toburn into under the hood that caused wiring to my head light and overhead light to blow my mechanic had to direct wire one side of my head light andmy cruise control system had to be disconnected as he said it would cause my van to catch fire. My abs and brake system light stays on now as soon as the mechanic repaired the faulty part i started experiencing all the following things,,,ihave lose ofpower . The van stalls in traffic and also as i'm taking off from a stop after putting the van in gear...when i put on the gas it makes a bad rattling sound like a lifter or valve tapping but only when the gas peddleis engaged. The gear shift feels like it gets stuck in park and i have a hard time getting it to release out of park before this problem my van drove greati never had any problems could you please find what the problem is thank you
The trac light stays on due to broken brake wires.
I purchased my 1998 windstar with approx 20,000 km on it in 1999. Just after the warranty expired (at 60,000 km) i noticed 2 large bubbles in the paint on the two front doors. I took the car to the ford dealership where they agreed to pay 80% of the cost of repainting. This was not entirely agreeable to me but i felt i had no choice. My vehicle how has 86,000 km on it and the paint is peeling on the roof and around the sliding door. I have contacted ford canada but have not heard back from them as yet. Other problems encountered include having to replace a motor for the power windows, the fan mechanism (the blower would not move off of defrost), a leaking brake cylinder as well as what i would consider standard maintenance such as brakes, tires. I am also having intermittent problems with the electrical system eg. The warning bell signalling that the lights have been left on or the keys are in the ignition goes off for no reason. This then prevents me from being able to lock the vehicle.
Brake fluid leaking from the speed control pressure switch caused the abs and cruise control to stop working.
I sent the following in an email to ford motor company, and also talked with their "customer service".they said that they could not do anything about this dispute between the dealer rep and myself, as it was a field decision.the original repair was a rebuild of the drum brake on the right rear wheel, the same wheel that later suffered a catastrophic failure of the shoes.luckily, we were driving at over 35 mph, so the wheel did not lock up until we stopped at a friends house.the entire hub assembly had to be rebuilt after the brake siezed.note: this is the second brake rebuild.the car has also suffered from broken tie rods. ======================================================== the parsons dealership that rebuilt my right rear brake last october will not admit that the failure of the brake pads, and subsequent complete failure of the brake assembly last week which required replacing the drum, is covered under their warranty (12,000 or 12 months.) they say it was due to a rusted parking brake cable that seized.i say that is a big load of baloney....even if it was rusted (in a pretty new car!) then they should have seen that last year.the total cost of repair on 9/20/02 was $639.88.i want ford to:1) make parsons return my money, and 2) reprimand parsons for poor customer service.iwill not buy a car from them again, nor will they ever see my car again - despite their admonition at the bottom of theirinvoice that says "warranty 90 days or 4000 miles on adjustments, align, balance.all other repairs covered 12 months or 12000 miles. Customer must return to parsons ford for defective repairs.no refunds if customer takes to another repair facility.i won't go into the delays (a full week to repair the drum and brake assembly).
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact was driving 35 mph and attempted to engage the brakes but the pedal was depressed into the floorboard abnormally with the illumination of the check engine warning light. The contact also mentioned that once he turned on the heater, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who diagnosed that the mass airflow sensor was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 200,816.
Abs brake light came on intermittently for a couple weeks then began to stay on. New brakes & rotors/drums all around. Now problem with brakes but light will not go off. Also airbag light came on about two weeks after the abs light. It will not go off either.
My vehicle is having intermittent braking problems due to the abs/ecm failure problem. The vehicle often brakes normally but occasionally brakes jerky- stopping poorly at best.the abs light comes on intermittently as well. My mechanic thought that the abs control module would need to be replaced. I now see that this problem is widespread among windstar vehicles, and as it is a dangerous condition, i want to know what will be done to repair these errant vehicles? in this economy, i have little money for such an expensive part!i am a very careful driver and i leave a good deal of braking distance just in case my brakes act up. At least until i can afford to fix them - or ford recalls my car and does the right thing.
1998 ford windstar my brake and abs light will not go out.
When we purchased the van, we also bought a diamondkote warranty ,for 499.99$ and told at the time of purchase that is was a good warranty.we then found out that we should not have been sold the warranty and plaza ford lincoln will not honor it, we can't even get a refund, so we spoke to someone at diamondkote and this person told us that we should not have been sold the warranty and have been trying to get a refund ever since,either from plaza ford lincoln or diamondkote. I had intentions of suing ford motor company two years ago when my husband took my two daughters to halifax, because my 8 year old had cancer at the time, she had a appointment at the i.w.k hospital and it was by the grace of god that thay were not killed when the front suspention spring broke in which case my husband lost steering. I spoke to a lawyer who sadly told, because there was no death or injury there was nothing he could do,well my 8 year old who is now cancer free was so scared, shestill gets very scared to get in a vehicle. I could go on but for now this is just the begining. I am going to pursue the matter of the diamondkote warranty further,and possibly more.we have had alot of vehicals before but never a ford with as much trouble as this has been.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. While driving approximately 50 mph, the transmission became stuck in overdrive. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer who stated that the main control valve was defective; it was replaced. The contact later began having issues with the brakes as they locked up when the contact applied them to avoid a deer. The vehicle crashed into the woods as a result. A police report was filed. The contact sustained neck injuries. The contact was informed that the abs tone ring seal had cracked; it was repaired. The failure continued and the dealer then replaced the tone ring and sensor. Months later, the brakes began to grab. The entire brake assembly was replaced four times. Furthermore, the contact noticed that the electrical system was defective. The switch assist in all doors was replaced in 2005. In 2011, the contact had the same failure with the switch for the driver side mirror. The dealer replaced the switch on the driver side mirror and checked the latches on the doors because the door light was constantly illuminated. The dealer also replaced all the sensor assists for the doors. The door ajar light was still illuminated. The failure mileage was 4,400 and the current mileage was 72,000.
The first item listed under other was for a power steeringn leak, which ended up being a power steering rack that needed to be replaced. My car had just gone out of warranty, so a portion was paid for by ford. I also had to get a front end alignment when the new rack was put in. The next day i drove it and it was making the same noise as before. I returned to the dealer where it was determined that they also need to replace the return hose for the power steering. They said they missed that and didn't charge me anymore. My service advisor is an extremely nice and understanding person.august 2003 problems with the rear brakes and master cylinder. The car is not at a ford dealer. That repairis 615.00.i have more problems, but these are the two big ones and the brakes are the current issue.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated that the brakes malfunctioned with the illumination of the abs warning lamp. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who stated that the wheel sensor needed to be replaced and the pump modulator valve was also defective. The manufacturer was not contacted and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 58,822.
Master cylinder and hc unit were replaced in january of 2003, in the shop for 6 weeks. On 9/19 brakes failed again. Result hitting a parked car. Told by dealer that same 2 parts were again bad.
I am seeking action to alleviate the cost of maintenance problems i have experienced with my 1998 3.8l v6 ford windstar gl.over the past few years, my windstar has displayed reoccurring and extensive mechanical problems in the front end, brakes, and engine that have resulted increasing amounts of time and money spent on repairs.from research, i have found that our difficulties are not an isolated event, and are in fact a common problem in the 1998 windstar, and are the same problems found in the 1995 windstar.the most recent event was the requirement to have the head gasket replaced.the local ford dealer provided this service which cost $1500.00 in parts and labor.upon completion of the repairs the van was not roadworthy, a new short block was needed due to damage caused by the faulty head gasket.i have been quoted over $6000.00 for this job.in addition to the mounting repair costs, i am forced to rent a car so that we have transportation while we consider options with our windstar.my windstar has less than 100,000 miles.it is not uncommon these days to have vehicles operate this long before requiring the first tune-up.in order to maintain this van, i have spent the time i have ownwd this vehicle and a lot of money taking my windstar into service centers to have inferior parts, such as the plastic tie-rod ends and brakes, replaced many times.i have also spent a fortune on rental cars while our windstar sat unserviceable.we have born this cost with the expectation that investing money in repair would result in safe, reliable transportation for our family.with this major repair, the months of exhaustive diagnosis and trial repair jobs to fix the problems that arrise, the multiple tie rod end replacements, and brake system repairs, i feel that i am entitled to compensation from the ford motor company.
I went to ford dealership in dec 09 received inspection on recall # o9s09 and 09so9h only. Now here in feb. 2012the same problems with suspension,right front tire wheel makes alto of noise power steeringfluid is leaking strange noiseis heard when making right turns,ford said my vehicle has had all service it is due . I believe they are wrong all the same problems the recalls reported are my problems i have paper work providing they only ran test on recall #o9s09 and 09s09h my car is in serious weather conditions here in illinois.under the original ownerford stated they are not responsible for any further repair.ford dealership roberts motors 4350 alby alton il 62002.
1998 ford windstar has rusted engine subframe, which, if lets go would cause side axle and front tire to separate from van and cause loss of steering control,loss of braking, and possible accident.this was discovered while van was on ramp for oil change . Received recall on rear axle cracking and recall was done today by ford. Brought subframeproblem to the dealers attention and they stated that ford was fully aware of this problem but could do nothing about it because ford had not issued a recall on this time. The service station owner which did my oil change expressed an opinion that he felt that the front subframe rusting was indeed much more of a concern than the cracking of the rear axle which has been recalled by ford. At present i am afraid to drive my windstar with this structural defect and i feel ford should remedy this defect in the same manner that they did with the cracking rear axle.
While i was driving on june 18, 2007 i realize the abs lights would stay on. I check the fuses and relays couldn"t solve this issue. When i lifted up the hood i notice leaking from deactivation sensor under the master cylinder. I assume the master cylinder went out on me so i replace the master cylinder didn"t solve the problem. I was furious meaning the vehicle i own and i depend on this van to go to work and home. When brake is leaking down under the abs ecm it can caused fire but i don't want to chance it me still this van. I don't want to experience tragedy or anyone who must go through this. So, i left the van in garage until i get funds to fix this issue. I also replace the abs ecm twice but it is still burning out my abs module. Or we need to investigate this issue to ford dealership im sure other victims experience same thing. It is very dangerous driving when you know brake fluid leaking from master cylinder. Please for safety issues investigate this windstar 98 lx model.
A faulty brake pressure differential deactivation! switch is leaking brake fluid!
Abs and brake light on, and no speed control.
Abs brake light (yellow) has been on for atleast the last 5 years. My abs brake system does not work at all. My mechanics have made several attempts to fix the problem but no luck, we have been looking for a used but functional abs brakes for my 1998 ford windstar but haven't had much luck. I will never buy a ford product again.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar.the brake indicator illuminated on the instrument panel.whenever the brake pedal was depressed, the speedometer would malfunction.the contact took the vehicle to a mechanic and was informed that there was a brake fluid leak.the technician further stated that the speedometer failure was linked to brake fluid ingressed into the abs module.the manufacturer has not been notified.through online research, the contact found an investigation number pe08035 for the same failure.the investigation was closed with no recall issued, but he believes that the investigation should have led to a recall.the mechanic replaced a vehicle speed deactivation switch to stop the leaking; however, the abs module still needs to be replaced.the contact believes that the manufacturer should be responsible for the repair.the current and failure mileages were 82,818.
Braking distance suddenly increased, abs light and red brake light both on all the time.trac off flashing.
Head gasket failure. Faulty head gasket design in my opinion abs/traction control unit.current problem tsb states that fuel tank manufactured with incorrect depth - fuel pump wiring is rubbed until electrical short occurs - and fuel pump fuse blows - vehicle is then stuck in traffic, in the middle of an intersection etc. Fords recommended fix is to replace the fuel tank and pump assemblyhowever, they will not contribute anything to the cost of the repairs caused due to their faulty design.
Abs fault light and brake light.cruise control inop.
The abs engages on dry pavement under normal braking conditions.the abs light did not come on.my mechanic changed two of the abs sensors to no avail.after the abs light remained on, i brought it to the ford dealer.they changed the left front abs sensor.the abs light went out, the problem still exists under normal braking on dry pavement.i am sorry i did not leave it alone when the abs light came on as the brakes worked fine.i would rather have the abs not working than working improperly.i grew up on vehicles without abs.
This vehicle was part of a previous recall. All the ford dealer did was install a fusible link in the scds circuit to the abs brake unit. Since that time, the abs brakes have become inoperable and will start pulsating while driving down the road. This causes dangerous driving conditions. We request that ford replace the defective scds switch, which they know is defective.
1998 ford windstar brakes failed causing the vehicle to hit a gate in the closed toll booth lane.ohio traffic crash report #10-0724-91
Leak from abs system causing severe smoking.
"abs" and "trac off" lights come on consistently during warm-weather months at speeds over 60mph. This means abs breaking is disabled until car is shut off and restarted.ford dealer was unable to reproduce the problem.issue common per the below link (see problem #2 section).http://www.fordwindstarrecall.info/.
Recall 09s09 1998 ford windstar- having trouble with speedometer/odometer and abs brakes. Had wired harness installed by ford dealership. I feel as though they didn't do a proper inspection as pertaining to all the problems this seems to be causing for many people. I can't drive my vehicle because my brakes keep locking up and my speedometer suddenly drops to zero and the vehicles transmission sounds awful. Ford told me all they need to replace is the wired harness is this true.i had my vehicle serviced a couple of weeks ago thought it was the brakes. They were done last september 2009. My mechaniccouldn't figure out brakes. Pulled 15 amp fuse for speed control. Put back in after harness was installed still brakes locking up and speedometer acting up.
Car starts out normally. Car sometimes suddenly has a longer braking distance than normal and braking is jerky."trac on" engages for a few seconds and traction is jerky. After that abs light remains on and "trac off " light is flashing. It only happens occasionally. I am planning to take it to ford to correct abs light.
This van has all the defects and complaints listed on thegovt. Recalls the nhtsa site and othersihave too much info to put on this site if there is anyone i can send my complaint to please let me know iam putting it back into the shop againive been thru a nightmare along with trying to assure my 4 kids that they were safe in this vanthankyou angela wallace and by the wat the dealer that sold me this van will not cooperate at all
I have a 1998 ford windstar.the abs brakes are working all the time.even in the middle of summer i can hear them engaging.i can not get them to stop chattering.after about 10 miles of city driving them finally give up and the abs light comes on and then the car stops normally.
Abs brakes failed. Also abs light comes on/off.
Vehicle started making a squeaking noise. When the brakes were press the noise would go away. It has been taken to the dealer 10 times. Dealer said they have done enough & it wasn't anything else they could do. Vehicle was taken to repair shop & they found that the brake pads needed to be rotated and/ orreplaced.
While driving down street car ran stop sign,consume smashed on brakes, but still crashed into other car, upon impact,passenger's side arbag deployed and struck father in face, causing temporary blindness. Also, brakes squeaked,andpulled to right when applied. Dealer test drove vehicle, butfound nothing. Claim forms were to be sent to consumer, but were never sent.
Consumer was traveling ten mphand anti-lock brake system light came ondashboard.abs braking system came on.she turned vehicle off to see iflight would come off.
While driving at any speed and when attempting to stop vehicle by applying force to brake pedal, brakes did not repsond vehicle suddenly accelerated without prior warning causing unwanted acceleration, consumer contacted dealer and problem has been corrected, cruise control ceased operation but has now been repaired, consumer was advised by technician the vehicle was sold with wrong part.
On five occasions, while attempting to stop my vehicle, the brake pedal went to the floor resulting in an extended stopping distance and almost resulted in an accident.we have had the brakes checked by our mechanic and he found no problems or leakage of brake fluid.we have had a variety of brake related concerns and problems since 1999 that were reported to the dealer without resolution.
Anti-lock brakes inoperable.yh
When applying brakes there is a squealing sound,braking distancewas extended, dealer replacedrear cylinders, then 2 weeks later whiledriving very slowly,brakes locked up,and driver's rear drum was rusted.
Computer module that controls abs system failed, also affects the traction control feature of the vehicle, that also has failed.cost to replace part is $980. Plus labor.this is a major component of the abs braking system, which is part of the vehicles safety features and a failure so earlier in the life of this vehicle is absurd.the maintenance person at the dealership said there was a bulletin out on this but we can't find it.my sister and brother-in-law have the same year and model of windstar and are having a failure of their traction control feature which is intermittent but their dealer can't find the cause.
I bought this van in feb of98 and had nothing but problems with the front end i had it in the shop twice and the first time it had to have new rotors and brake pads and new tires that i had to pay for.the second time they said nothing was wrong but it ate up two more tires.they said it had to be the tires. I reported this to the department of transportation safety administration and then on feb 99 the brakes went out again.i also tried to work with college ford. My husband decided to trade the van in on a toyota camery because we were not safe in the van and ford did not want to help us in any way. We paid $25000.00 for a safe vehicle but got a lemon and no help. $5500.00 out of my pocket to lease the camery and all the payments for the van just wasted.i just thank god we wern't killed.( dot number: p215 tire size: 70r15 97s )
Vehicle has been in numerous times for new seals on front right passenger door for wind noise: also been in for failed brake system numerous times and front rotors have been on back order for almost 2 months: in numerous times for front end alignment-checked and rechecked by several ford dealers and they cannot do anything, vehicle has always pulled to the right; engine has died several times and would not start back up; front pads on brake system have been replaced and rotors turned at only 10,000 miles still grinding and will not stop correctly; vehicle feels to me as unsafe for my wife and two younger boys.
The sensor ring for the abs system failed. The entire axle had to be replaced at a cost of over $300.00. I have the part that failed and found that the part had a manufacturing defect. But have been unable to get any compensation from ford motor company.
Consumerwas traveling about 55mph on the highway and it was raining, and abslight came on the dashboard. Also, traction control light was blinking, saying the system was off. Abs brake system stopped working.
When applyingabs brakes on wet and snowy pavement, pedal goes to the floor, causing extended stopping distance. Cause unknown. *ml
I have contacted you to complain about the poor service i have received from numerous ford dealerships in my area.i am a ford windstar owner as well.as i proceeded to complain through the internet site of "ford"i found that it is very difficult to find a customer service link.i am unhappy with my purchase of this mini-van as well as angered by the difficulty of reachihng a customer service link.i work hard and have very little time to complain, but when i go to complain it is more hassle than help.my van also has had problems with the anti-lock brake system since day one, in which has also been a concurring problem.pllease help me keep my sanity.all i would like out of this complaint is for my surrounding area at least to have better customer service--a response to a question within a time range of 5minutes, not a half hour per call.thank you for your attention.ed.
Complete brake failure&stuck accelerator-backing up driveway with feet on brakes-accelerator pedal went down on own van wrapped around tree- reported brake problem on test drive-they fixed it,but no good.
When brakes are appliedvehicle experiences extended stopping distance. Also, dealer has replacedtie rods and the brake system.manufacturer has been notified.
The abs warning light remains on while driving.i had the system checked by a mechanic and was told the abs sensor was detecting a crack in a component used by the abs system.i indicated that this was the result of a manufacturing defect and not wear and tear.the costs of the repairs will exceed $500.00 because the axle will need to be replaced.in my opinion this is a serious safety issue. Like others that have submitted similar complaints to your site, i purchased this vehicle primarily because of its safety features.i should not have to pay the costs of repairs for a manufacturing defect especially related to a safety feature.
Intermitent brake failure. Brakes go right to floor!garage can not find problem. Replaced master cylinder not the problem.have had problems with brakes for 1 year comes and goes.traction control light starts blinking when brakes applied sharply.when cruise control is turned on the traction control light come on and the cruise does not work.dt
Applied brakes and was attempting to accelerateto go into parking lot when anti-lock brakes locked up, and completely froze while driving 5-10mph . This could have caused rear end accident. Complete abs system needed to be replaced.
Abs failed completly along with the rest of the brake system.service dealer says a geared ring that reflects to a sensor cracked. This loosened the ring along the axel shaft so that it was no longer located correctly.the failure was complete, and with no warning left me without braking ability on a small hill terminating onto a very busy highway with my 9 yr old daughter with me.it was only great luck that no truck, bus, or car was coming when i rolled right into the highway instead of stopping.no accident resulted, just a very close call.the service dealer reported that i was the second windstar in the day with the same problem. This is a small town to have two (rare events)! he also inferred that it was rare and thought there was no reason to call ford.how many other dealer are not reporting this failure?
Consumer appliedbrakes and the automobile did not stop. Consumer's wife hit a parked car.
While going around a turn and yieldingbrakes hardened and steering locked up for about 5 seconds. Dealer could not identifythe problem. But if the car had died, they probley could have found the problem easier. If driving at a faster speed and steering locked up there could be a serious accident.
Bugets uses as there repair person collins lincoln - mercury. No safety defect listed.
Vehicle was involved in a collisionbecause the abs failed. Vehicle has been repaired by the dealer.please provide further detail.
There are two significant safety issues that we continue to experience with our 1998 ford windstar.the transmission continues to intermittently "neutral" at the worst possible times. The effect of this is that the vehicle will begin into an intersection and then the transmission will disengage and the rpm of the engine will race.at this point the transmission might engage after several seconds with a jolt, screeching the tires.in some cases we have had to shift into park and back into drive several times to get the transmission to engage.when this first occurred, we had only owned the car for less than two months and it would only happen every few hundred miles.ford had to place a "flight recorder" in the vehicle to verify that it was happening.ford replaced the transmission in early 1999.we began experiencing the problem again in the summer of 2000 and ford has been unable to repair this problem.we have had it in the shop a total of 12 times with the symptom manifesting itself multiple times in between. The vehicle has been in the shop almost continually since july 15th, 2000 and is still there as of this submission. If it were not for extreme defensive driving and anticipation of the problem that has helped us avoid an accident so far. However, we continue to have the car delivered to us that is supposed to be repaired and we continually have the same problem.the second problem is also reoccurring and deals with the abs brakes continually going out of adjustment.when they are out of adjustment the stopping power of the car in emergency situations is greatly impaired. The brakes are self-adjusting but continue to be out of adjustment.we have had this problem looked at by four different ford dealerships and they readjust the brakes that only corrects the problem for a short period of time.the brakes continue to go out adjustment and ford denies that this is a problem, even though it continues to happen.
With no prior warning vehicle stalles while driving 30-35 mph.abs brake light comes on.
Repetitively failing abs by cracked abs rings(four times) or faulty abs sensor
The sensor that controls the abs braking system has failed and as a result the brakes no longer function properly.a technical service bulletin has been issued, however, ford refuses to replace the part.we have contacted both the dealer and ford directly to request that they pay to replace.this part should not fail on a vehicle with 43,000 miles, and they obviously know of the problem based on the technical service bulletins.i can provide the vin number later if it would be helpful. Mr
Antilock brake light comes on after 2 minutes of driving and stays on.car has only 29000 miles and has only just gone over 3 years.
The braking system malfunctioned, causing the brake pedal to fade and extended stopping distance which almost resulted in an accident.dealer cannot determine problem.
Vehicle has been to the dealership 5 times for the same hard shifting, transmission problem since new. Problem is better ,but i expect failure before warranty expires. The transmission has a hard 1-2 shift since i bought it new on 13 jan 98. The lemon law causedfirm to offer me an extended warranty of 5 years/75,000 miles instead of fixing the problem. I'm very dissatisfied with the transmission, and dealership service shop's performance.recently, the brakes have developed a vibration and the engine sometimes stalls at slow speeds. I took the van back to the dealership on monday 5 april 99 for the same transmission problem, and the two new problems.the last several new vehicles i've purchased have been fords. My next vehicle probably won't be a ford.
Right front brake pads wear excessively within 75,000 miles with the replacement of (4) sets of pads for the front.also, the owner indicates that he replaced the rotors twice, new high quality pads and rotors were installed, now the right front wheel shakes when applying the brakes, it appeared that he right front does all the braking. Nlm *nlm
Abs brake warning light remains illuminated, indicating a malfunction within the system, cause unknown.please give any further details.
While driving at 75 mphfront coil spring snapped and broke, puncturing the front drivers side tire. Consumerhad the coil spring replaced once. This was the second time this has happened. The front end of the vehicle completely dropped. Also, there was a brake failure.two nhtsa recalls regardingfront coil springs, recalls 01i007000 and01v199000 were issued.
The consumer has been experiencing problems with brake calipers. When applying the brakes, they make a grinding sound.the defects are described in recall number 98i-003.000 and investigation number ie97054.the manufacturer has been contacted.
Cost to ownerwas $562.48 .complaint is w/product (ford)not with dealer who checked recalls & did not find one ...even thoit was caused by corrosion.serious problem w/no brakes and very expensive remedy for vehicle that is less than 3 yrs old!
I'm having the abs controller repalced which left me with no breaks when it went out.the business which is doing the repairs said he has replaced this controller on other windstars like mine.i can't belive that the break system has already failed after 3 years.i live in ne. Where there is not an ecessive amount of stop/go traffic. The abs system went out overnite. One day its good, next day no brakes what if i were driving down the highway when this part decided to go out?i feel that the brakes should last more than 3 years and maybe only need shoes in heavy conditions, not to have main components go out !!!!
When driving down a slope and applying brakes, the brakes will go straight floor.
On february 19, 2000, i took my 1998 windstar van to broadway ford in idaho falls, idaho because the abs brake light began staying on all the time.they diagnosed the problem and stated that the vehicle required a front axle speed sensor and a new axle.this was causing the abs system to malfunction.the service manager provided me with a quotation of$554.21 (see attached quote) to repair the problem.
Slowing down for trafficvehicle began to make grinding noises. Pulled to side of the road. Also, ,abs system completely locked up,causingvehicle to become totally inoperative, will not move.
Abs sensor ring on right front wheel cracked.abs light comes on. Dealer contacted.
Ie99059, the defective steering bushings does not support the system which causes the vehicle steering system to malfuction. Also, braking system malfunctioned, causing extended stopping distance which may result in a crash.the fuel pump went out unexpectedly, cause vehicle to stall.finally,liftgate indicator light came on, but the liftgateremained closed.brakes been replace once,andbushings3 times.please provide further information and vin#.
Left front caliper locks up and not retracting.
This vehicle has had numerous braking problems/axles/sway bars/calipers/electrical problems
While applying the brakes, consumer noticed grinding noise. Dealer has been notified, can't duplicate problems. Please provide further information.
Cost to ownerwas $562.48 .complaint is w/product (ford)not with dealer who checked recalls & did not find one ...even thoit was caused by corrosion.serious problem w/no brakes and very expensive remedy for vehicle that is less than 3 yrs old!
When depressing the brakes vehicle would go into extended stopping distance. Vehicle was serviced,abs module needed to be replaced.
Anti-lock brake system failed.
When applying brakes there is a very loud grinding noise coming from the brakes, and when stopping the vehicle and applying the brakes they will go straight to the floorboard. Also,air conditioner and the heat has been repaired five times, and the problem is back.
Brakes intermittently fade. Brake pedal goes all the way to the floor. Must pump the brake to stop. Dealer states there is nothing wrong with the brakes.
The abs system has failed on numerous occasions ,twice due to control module failure, and several times due to cracked sensor rings and sensors.i have just had the module replaced for the second time and 3 days later the abs light is on again.the last time it failed, my brakes were inoperative on dry pavement, alternatelylocking up and disengaging, i narrowly avoidedcollisions.i have noticed many similar reports and wonder when a recall is going to be ordered. Additionally i have experienced severe binding and grinding in the steering,particularly in cold weather or when the vehicle sits overnight.a firestone service center feels the problem is probably due to rack and pinion problems.i am told by ford that my vehicle not covered under nhts recall 97v165001. Again i notice many other similar reports .when is nhtsa recall 97v165001 going to be extended to include other production dates.l.
Transmission downshifted while going 60-65 mph.
Within 3 months of each other the right and left front abs (speed sensor) rings cracked in half.i was informed by the repairing ford dealership, chapman ford, pleasantville, nj, that this problem was evidently a defect and could not understand how this could occur under normal driving conditions.i viewed the brokenleft sensor ring.there was no corrosion and no evidence of wear or tear.it was simply cracked in half.this defect causes the automatic braking system to fail.ford refuses to acknowledge there is a problem and refuses assistance with replacing the defective parts.
Front abs brakes would make grinding noises. Had taken to dealer & mechanic changed brakes. Was driving vehicle when rearended another vehicle & the air bags failed to deploy.
Abs system is constantly malfunctioning, brakes give out, traction control is turning off and on.drivers side lock does not work with alarm remote.
No summary listed for abov evehicle.
Anti lock brake transducer failed. Mjs
Consumer lost brakes as she was entering driveway, hitting a wall in the rear of her house.
When applying the abs brakes the pedal will travel to the floor,causing extended stopping distance which caused a collision to occur.dealer cannot identify the problem.please give any further details.
Consumer while backing out of garage felt like carhadbacked over something.rear passenger side brake froze up.anti-lock brake light was on. Back wheel on the passenger's side was not turning while driving vehicle. Consumer says it wassnowing were they were. Took to dealer, and they told consumer to tap with a hammer and put car somewhat warm.
The accident is attributed to a car part failure.no other cause for this one car accident exists.
I have complained about these 2 conditions since day one.now that my warranty has run out, and i'm not working, they tell me i would have to pay.my abs system is tearing away at my brake pads.the vehical grinds to a stop.to me, this is a safty issue, as i have a 13 month old son.i would hate to apply my brakes, and they are not there.my abs light is on.....all the time.i am on disability, and have gone to the dealer regarding this issue.as far as the rear wiperm, it goes on when i put the van in reverse.......weather or not the front wipers are on.. Or not.
While driving 40 mph, consumer attempted to stop vehicle by applying brakes, and brakes failed to slow vehicle down.consumer eventually managed to stop vehicle.no determination has been made as to component that failed.the consumer stated that master cylinder failed and was replaced. Gateway ford stated that the abs was damaged and needs to be replaced.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated that the vehicle taken to a local mechanic for inspection of the sub frame when the contact was advised that the sub frame was severely corroded and that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The contact stated that the brake lines were also found to be corroded. The brake lines were replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the sub frame failure and denied any assistance with the repair. The sub frame was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 114,000.the tie rods, front wheel bearings and battery had to be replaced within one year of owning the vehicle. The wheel cylinders, brake adjusters, spring kit, drums, rotors, shoes, and pads all had to be replaced. Also, the turn signal level stopped working for the left side. When the brake was applied, it went to the floor and then pulsated back up, and then the abs light illuminated. Updated 02/01/12
Master cylinder has prematurely failed at only 52,000 miles while consumer was driving, causing a complete loss of brakes, there is a national backorder for part at minimum of 30 days. At time of replacement, dealer also replaced abs pump due to it being faulty as well.
Ford windstar is experiencing problems with the brake equipment which is creating a safety issue. *mr the anti-lock braking system did not operate properly and would activate 80% of the time.the consumer was toldthat the sensors were the problem on one occasion and on another, the master cylinder, but could not guarantee this. *sc
Abs brake lightswere on for a year. Dealer could not find problem. In december, while brak pedal went to floor at 15 mph, dealer replaced hydraulic unit. 4 days later, pedal went to floor again.also, dealer replaced front caliper.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Tried to shift gears. Hard to shift into park properly. Makes loud noises when shifting. Also,brakes make loud noises when applied.
Whenbrakes were appliedpedal went to the floor,resulting in extended stopping distance. Dealerinspectedvehicle, and put on pads and rotors prior to the incident.
While wife was driving tire blew out, andautomobileaccelerated.driver could not get automobile to stop.-vehicle went into a ditch and flipped over. Driver was injured.
The brake warning light came on dimly and stayed on.i took the 1998 windstar to a mechanic, who informed me that there was brake fluid in the abs module that was causing the problem.i was also told that this situation could cause a fire.from what i have been told by my mechanic and the ford service technicians at two ford service centers the abs system valves which containedbrake fluid sat on top of the abs module andwere somehow connected.this design, apparently could lead to brake fluid getting into the abs module.i have asked ford repeatedly if the brake fluid in the abs module could cause a fire,but have not received a straight answer from them.my concern wasthat this situation could cause a fire shouldn't it be made known to owners of the ford windstars or any vehicle with this particular abs sytsem design?
No summary listed for abov evehicle.
Three (3) abs sensors have gone bad and had to be replaced on this vehicle since ownership. Each sensor cost $175.00 with labor to replace and vehicle is out of service for 1/2 day.*la
While driving about 45 mph the brake warning light came on. Driver applied the brakes and heard a crunching noise. The van pulled to the right, and driver heard a grinding noise. Driver was able to drive the van home. Then it was driven to the dealership, where the brake rotors/ pads and shoes were replaced.
*since purchase new, one tire would go nearly flat weekly.took it to the dealer to have it checked when they checked the window mechanism and the abs sensor light--no problem found.took it to 3 different tire stores (2 goodyear)--no problem found.it went bald after only 18k and 2 rotations.no problem since purchasing 2 new tires.alignment was not a problem--done @ 10k & 21k.weather did not effect air loss, either.*drivers "auto-down" feature has never worked consistantly.has nearly caused accidents & is very frustrating.dealer has checked it too many times to count--same with the *abs light on the dash coming on and not going off.i think they changed fuses once--still happens, but not as often.would that effect safety? i don't know if the system will work properly while the light is flashing.*wiper problem is very intermittent--of course.when on slow intermittent (1 or 2) speed, will speed up on it's own to very fast & then must be turned off & back on again in order to get the correct speed set again.temp & time run does not effect malfunction at all--happens hot or cold & after 3-5 minutes or up to an hour.back wiper has always "chattered" when wiping--worse when cold.*can you change this window?it's hard to tell what you type and very hard to correct errors.( dot number: 97s ? tire size: p215/70r15 )
1. Transmission will shift erratically , and a loud noise will occur and motor will shake. Ford engineering was sent out and determinedtransmission needed work, but no dealer will honor warranty.2. Brakes will fail in the winter and in slippery roads, causing pedal to go to floor and vehicle will not stop.3. All doors lock by themselves/lights flash on and off, and heater and defroster motor will come on even without the key in the igntion. Vehicle will even start up by itself.
While applyingbrakes rear brakes locked up. Dealer has been contacted. Please provide further informaton.
Brake lights and abs lights keep on and off i have 98 ford windstar.
My 1998 ford windstar has broken both right and left coil springs. I've had to replace the transmission, my abs and regular brake light won't go away even after servicing. My overdrive light keeps coming on and staying lit for days.
Anti lock brake sensor on the drvers side cracked.
The brakes suddenly started failing and the brake petal would go to the floor like a defective master cylinder. The master cylinder was replaces 3 times at 2 different shops because they were sure it was the master cylinder and they thought perhaps it was a defective replacement.the defect ended up being the antilock brake system (abs) hydraulic control unit (hcu).if you do an internet search for windstar hcu, you will find windstar reviews rating their brakes as significant problems specifically stating "an occasional problem on this vehicle is failure of the antilock brake system (abs) hydraulic control unit (hcu). The cost to repair the abs hydraulic control unit is estimated at $975.00 for parts, without traction control, and $1,200.00 for parts, with traction control, and $162.50 for labor."this problem also affects the 1997 windstar. Http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/reliability.aspx?year=1998&make=ford&model=windstar and http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/reliability.aspx?year=1997&make=ford&model=windstarthis is potentially a life threatening problem and should be subject to a recall if it is bad enough than in auto reviews they cite it as a problem with ford windstars.
Hydraulic control unit and electronic control unit both had to be replaced with only 40,000 miles on the vehicle. This failure occurred suddenly and caused the vehicle to have very little brakes while driving. An accident was narrowly avoided. The cost to fix this problem was in excess of $1,500.*la
Abs sensor failed.yh
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar.the contact stated that the vehicle leaks brake fluid, which causes him to constantly add more fluid in the vehicle.he also stated that the cruise control does not operate.the manufacturer stated that the vin was not included in the cruise control recall.the recall number was unknown.the current mileage was 100,000 and failure mileage was 90,000.updated 02-01-08.the consumer stated the fuses blew out in the cruise control. Updated
Brake fluid leaking from cruise control reset switch, fluid dripping on wiring and controller switch for transmission.i am very concerned about fire potential with the brake fluid dripping on electrical wires and contacts that have constant 12 volt source.this same design has caused deaths do to fires.....
The brake pedak goes to the floor and is very mushy.the dealer has had the vehicle 4 times and claims the problem is fixed.but the problem remains, now the dealer claims that the brake pedal condition is normal for the vehicle and does not pose a problem, as a police officer and an accidend investigator i am convinced that at anything close to maximum loading those brakes will fail.
Vehicle jumped forward when stopping. Accelerated by itself, resulting in acrash.brakes when applied, squeak loudly. Gears were very hard to change. Dealer contacted and is aware of the problem. Problems still exists. Provide further information.
While driving at any speed the vehicle stalls and the brakesgrind. Had to be replace brakestwice and engineonce. Consumer is hearing a banging noise coming from the vehicle and the vehicle will cut off withoutprior warning.
Brakes has little resistance and are depressed to the floor when applied.this is an on-going problem that the dealer cannot seem to resolve.
While driving 5 mph, brakes completely shutdown.pedal completely went to the floor with no force. Still not stopping the vehicle.. The failure of the brake system was attributed to the failing of the hydraulic control unit.*jg
When applying brake pedal became stiff and the vehicle did not stop or slow down. Has happened 5 times, once resulting in a crash. Also happened in reverse. Dealer has seen vehicle3 times, and thoughit was the leaking battery acidwhichwas causing causing the defect.
When applying the brakes the pedal goes to the floor and stays down. Driver has to apply emergency brake in order to stop. Dlr couldnt duplicate the problem. Mjs
While driving and applying on brakes the pedal continues to merge to the floor, resultingin extended stopping distance.mechanic does not know why brakes are malfunctioning.
Break failure.
Brake pedal goes to low with steady pressure.
While driving at 25 mph applied the brakes andbraked didn't stop vehicle. Consumer was able to slow the vehicle down and bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
Brakes failed when applied and were grabbing and making a loud grinding noise resulting loss of control and an accident.nlm
Brakes failed.
Whenever steering wheel is turned, vehicle would stall out. The stalling would also occur when brakes are applied in a panic stop. Took to dealer, twice, & informed could not find cause of stalling.however, on january 26, 1998, problem was resolved by dealer.
When applying the brakes vehicle experienced brake loss, and eventually the brake pedal fell off.
While being drivenat45 mph, van stalled, resulting in steering wheel locking and brakes completely failing with no pressure.owner had no other choice but to coast through an intersection with light.please describe details.
Brakes failed.yh
Various problem with power lock locking byitself/windshield wipers working intermittently/dome light not operating, anddoor ajar light staying on. Vehicle been in / out of dealer shop on several occasions, and problems still reoccurring. Possible electrical problem with failure of power locks, windshield wipers, dome light, door ajar light, door ajar switch,lift gate door ajar switch, battery saver relay inoperable, and washer light illuminating.brakes noisy at times, dealer stated this was due to brake dust.power steering is noisy when turning back and forth, dealer replaced tie rod end.sliding door rattles while driving over bumps, dealer added foam tape to back side of panel, driver door rattles, sliding door hard to open at times, dealer lubed sliding hinges and latch.dealer replaced shocks due to rattling noise when riding over bumps.drivebelt replaced.maf sensor replaced due to hesitation.window guide did not fit tight.
Consumer states the vehicle has brake problems.
Ongoing probelm withexcessive wear of brake pads /rotors on the left front wheel. Dealer notified. Feel free to provide any further information.
While driving about 45 mph the brake warning light came on. Driver applied the brakes and heard a crunching noise. The van pulled to the right, and driver heard a grinding noise. Driver was able to drive the van home. Then it was driven to the dealership, where the brake rotors/ pads and shoes were replaced.
1)all 5 lugs: nutssheared off from the right front passenger hub, causing the wheel to leave the vehicle.the body of the vehicle traveled approximately 200 feet until it stopped.2)the rear brakes had to be replaced with new pads and rotors.dealer couldn't explain why this was a problem. 3) the next day the right passenger mirror electical system no longer worked.4)the parking brake consistently does not disengage after use.we no longer use it, possibly creating a safety hazard. 5) the vehicle intermittently stalls out at low speeds or upon stopping.additionally the initial gears shift hard and loud. 6)the rear seat will not move on the track.
Both front disk brakes were gone; rotors had to be replaced.
Consumer called complaining aboutfront brake problems. The brakes squeaked for a long time until they werereplaced. Also, front coil springproblems. Consumer startedvehicle and a terrible noise came from the front of the vehicle. She stopped, and had vehicle towed to the dealer. Dealer did an alignment, and told consumer thatfront coils needed to be replaced.
Front disc brakes wore prematurely.
Whenbrakes were appliedpedal went to the floor,resulting in extended stopping distance. Dealerinspectedvehicle, and put on pads and rotors prior to the incident.
Brake pads are being chewed off because of the brake rotors. The dealer has cut the rotors, and problem still exists.
Brakes keep sticking,-and it feels as if the caliper hangs up when consumer puts on brakes.
The consumer has been experiencing problems with brake calipers. When applying the brakes, they make a grinding sound.the defects are described in recall number 98i-003.000 and investigation number ie97054.the manufacturer has been contacted.
Driver's side lower brake caliper disconnected,just fell off. Cause unknown.
Abs brake lightswere on for a year. Dealer could not find problem. In december, while brak pedal went to floor at 15 mph, dealer replaced hydraulic unit. 4 days later, pedal went to floor again.also, dealer replaced front caliper.
Vehicle has been in the shop seven times in a two and a half years. Repairs included transmission replacement, brake calipers replacement, and the electrical system problems.
While traveling approximately 5 mphbrakes failed. Consumer was able to stopvehicle without incident. Component that failed wasbrake caliper.this vehicle was not affected byrecall 98i003000.please provide any additional information / attachments.
Front caliper failed.
This vehicle has had numerous braking problems/axles/sway bars/calipers/electrical problems
The front brakes, rotors and pads were completely worn out but consumer had no warning of the failed components.nlm
Vehicle started making a squeaking noise. When the brakes were press the noise would go away. It has been taken to the dealer 10 times. Dealer said they have done enough & it wasn't anything else they could do. Vehicle was taken to repair shop & they found that the brake pads needed to be rotated and/ orreplaced.
Failure of the pads and rotors cause noise while braking. Yh
I have complained about these 2 conditions since day one.now that my warranty has run out, and i'm not working, they tell me i would have to pay.my abs system is tearing away at my brake pads.the vehical grinds to a stop.to me, this is a safty issue, as i have a 13 month old son.i would hate to apply my brakes, and they are not there.my abs light is on.....all the time.i am on disability, and have gone to the dealer regarding this issue.as far as the rear wiperm, it goes on when i put the van in reverse.......weather or not the front wipers are on.. Or not.
Brake pads are cutting rotors, causing failure.
Consumer experienced rapid wear on front brake pads, passenger side front brake pad was completely worn and grinding into rotor which had to be replaced.*et
The brake rotors and pads were replaced, causing grinding noise. *mjs
Three out of four brake pads broken.
Tie rod and rotorsneeded to be replaced at approximately 35000 miles.please provide any additional information/attachments.
The front brakes, rotors and pads were completely worn out but consumer had no warning of the failed components.nlm
While traveling at approximately 25 mph left front wheel disconnected from vehicle due torotor bolts shearing off.consumer stated that a recall was issued for this problem in canada when aftermarket rotors were put on vehicles in place of ford brake rotors.please provide any additional information/attachments.
1998 ford windstar van. Front passenger lug bolts. All five lug bolt failed with no warning. Vehicle mileage 33300.no notice before failure. No shaking or vibrations. 60 mph at time of incident. All parts saved. Replaced 5 lug bolts, 5 lug nuts, rotor.
Brake pads are cutting rotors, causing failure.
Consumer stated the front rotors were warped.
Manufacturer does not have rotors for vehicle.
While driving and proceeding to come to a stop the vehicle will intermittentlystall. Consumer has contacted the dealer, several repair attempts however continues. Brake rotors warped causing grinding of the brakes while stopping.
Brake rotors failed.yh
Front brake rotors completely rusted through with only 47,000 miles on vehicle. *la
Failure of the pads and rotors cause noise while braking. Yh
The brake rotors and pads were replaced, causing grinding noise. *mjs
Vehicle has been in numerous times for new seals on front right passenger door for wind noise: also been in for failed brake system numerous times and front rotors have been on back order for almost 2 months: in numerous times for front end alignment-checked and rechecked by several ford dealers and they cannot do anything, vehicle has always pulled to the right; engine has died several times and would not start back up; front pads on brake system have been replaced and rotors turned at only 10,000 miles still grinding and will not stop correctly; vehicle feels to me as unsafe for my wife and two younger boys.
Raybes to front brake pads failed after only 13000 miles
When applying brakes there is a squealing sound,braking distancewas extended, dealer replacedrear cylinders, then 2 weeks later whiledriving very slowly,brakes locked up,and driver's rear drum was rusted.
When applying brakes there is a squealing sound,braking distancewas extended, dealer replacedrear cylinders, then 2 weeks later whiledriving very slowly,brakes locked up,and driver's rear drum was rusted.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated that the vehicle taken to a local mechanic for inspection of the sub frame when the contact was advised that the sub frame was severely corroded and that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The contact stated that the brake lines were also found to be corroded. The brake lines were replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the sub frame failure and denied any assistance with the repair. The sub frame was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 114,000.the tie rods, front wheel bearings and battery had to be replaced within one year of owning the vehicle. The wheel cylinders, brake adjusters, spring kit, drums, rotors, shoes, and pads all had to be replaced. Also, the turn signal level stopped working for the left side. When the brake was applied, it went to the floor and then pulsated back up, and then the abs light illuminated. Updated 02/01/12
1998 windstar brake line failure over catalytic converter similar to 1996 ford windstar recall 4/3/0202v101000.local mechanic with knowledge recall on 1996 windstar contacted brockport ford (closest dealer) for information on repair and if any special materials were available to repair. The mechanic was told there wansn't anything available. Throug my own research on your website after repair on 9/3/3, 1996 recall describes specific repair for the 1996. Are and ford sure the same recall isn't necessary on other model years? under other conditions, our failure could have been devestating to my wife and 4 children!!!!
Brake fluid leaking. Have taken it in several times and they can't solve the problem. Simular to the 1996 windstar recall.
The rear brake line above the spare tire was rusted and blew apart when my wife hit the brakes to slow for a turning vehicle. This line is in a very bad spot. It is not visible and there is the greatest chance to hold moisture there. It is a safety issue. It only has 70,000 miles on it.
Brake hose leak caused a sudden total loss of breaking power.amazingly, there was no accident.the gasket failure was attended to at the first hint of a problem, since i had the same problem on my ford taurus one month prior.
Master cylinder and hc unit were replaced in january of 2003, in the shop for 6 weeks. On 9/19 brakes failed again. Result hitting a parked car. Told by dealer that same 2 parts were again bad.
Owner didn't realize that emergency parking brake didn't release completely.once she did realize thatowner released it. A 1 1/2 later, lost brakes completely while going through an intersection due to brake fluid boiling inmaster cylinder.also,emergency brake was integrated withhydraulic system.please describe details.
The master cylinder speed control pressuer swith liking brake oil.
01/04/1999-- !998 ford windstar had approx 95% brake failure while wife and kids were driving.no warning or noise,just "mushy pedal" stopping vehicle at last inch of brake pedal movement. Autofair dealer service mgr experienced the condition. Repair was to replce master cylinder.01/18/1999--the same brake failure occurred with the same discription of brake pedal.condition of brakes was experienced by dealership again as well. Repair was to check all lines for leaks and bleed the air out of the lines. No reason givenas to how the air got in the system. (remember master cyclinder replaced 13 days previous). 01/28/1999(sunday) driving home from church, traveling approx 25 mph the brakes failed again causing me to go past the road i was going to turn into,no traffic.this was without warning,noise or warning lights..01/29/1999 autofair said to bring it back in again for repair.they kept it for approx 3 weeks and could not get the brakes to fail again in 300 miles of driving.they were unable to make a proper repair of the problem using their words, but had to give me my car back from orders from ford regional rep mike holt who said even though ford autofair service mgr had experienced the problem and they had not "repaired" the problem, (they only bled the brakes, no cause why this happened) and that the problem had corrected itself just as fast as it had occurred, the customer should have the auto back.we, along with the service dept and the vp in charge of ford at autofair ford have no confidence in this carand that the brakes will not fail unexpectedly again possibly causing injury to occupants/bystanders or other drivers.
In september, 2002, i had to replace the speed control pressure switch on the master brake cylinder of my 1998 ford windstar, because it started leaking brake fluid. I also had to replace the drivers side tie rod end because the leaking brake fluid damaged the ruber bushing.
When the consumer applied the braked, the pedal went to the floor and the vehicle failed to stop, which caused extended stopping distance. The emergency brake had to be engaged to stopthe vehicle.this was caused by a failure in the master brake cylinder.therear brakes were destroyed because the emergency brake had to be used to stop the vehicle.
While driving 40 mph, consumer attempted to stop vehicle by applying brakes, and brakes failed to slow vehicle down.consumer eventually managed to stop vehicle.no determination has been made as to component that failed.the consumer stated that master cylinder failed and was replaced. Gateway ford stated that the abs was damaged and needs to be replaced.
Consumer has called several dealerships to have four recalls done and they were refusing to honor them.recall # 01v199 concerning front springs:coil spring/ 99v147 000 concerning brake master cylinder/ 00e11 ford's additional warranty for front springs:coil springcorrosion, and01m 03.
1998 ford windstar.abs pump has failed and brakes are not working properly. There was no brake light on dash to denote a problem and nothing coming up when tests were run on computer. All mechanics thought it was the master cylinder and as a results i had 5 put on the van from christmas 2003 to present.called ford directly and said that they would note the problem, but nothing that they can do to fix the problem.i cannot drive my family in the vehicle as afraid of having accident in result of pump not functioning.cost just for pump is $2200.00 not including labor.very upset that ford will not stand behind their product and attempt to help.
Master cylinder has prematurely failed at only 52,000 miles while consumer was driving, causing a complete loss of brakes, there is a national backorder for part at minimum of 30 days. At time of replacement, dealer also replaced abs pump due to it being faulty as well.
When applying the brakes vehicle experienced brake loss, and eventually the brake pedal fell off.
Design of brake pedal and accelerator being too close together caused the driver to intermittently apply them both resulting in an accident.nlm
Vehicle was traveling aproximately 65mph andengine shut down.power brakes and steering went out without warning.brake pedal was pushed to the floor to stopvehicle.dealer stated it would be too expensive to find out what was thecause.
Problems with transmission, torque, power steering, and front end stable rods & arms. *mr the transmission and torque had been replaced twice, the power steering once, the font end stable rods and arms twice and remained bad.the battery light had come on and the idler pulley was replaced, there was a creaking/cracking noise when turning the wheel and the outer tie rods were replaced along with the toe being reset, there was a clunk when going over the bumps, there was a vibration underneath due to the transmission, the engine light would come on and off and seemed like the shifts were erratic, the transmission leaked badly, and on some occasions the starter did not engage. *scc
When making turns in either direction or going over bumps there is a loud squeaking noise. Dealer cannot find the problem.
The steering column moves up and down. Also there is a funky noise coming from thefront left end suspension when turning the steering wheel to the left. The dealer was not able to find out what was causing the problem with the steering, loss of steering control resulted in vehicle hitting curb causingdamage to vehicle.
My front cradle at steering area has completely rusted into from ac leak and road salt van was sold in vermont now is located in virginia unsafe almost undrivable to ford dealer for a rear axle recall for axle braces please investigate this
When tilting the steering wheelwindshield wipers would not work. Dealer notified.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated that the vehicle was leaking power steering fluid. The contact stated that the vehicle needed approximately one bottle of power steering fluid per day for it to operate normally. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the spindle and rack fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced nhtsa campaign number: 97v165000 (steering); however, the vin was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
Power steering pump, steering control system and rack defective has to be replced, rack and pinion was replaced already with only 30,000 miles
Right after purchasing the vehicle, i started having problem with it. I addressed the seller, and he told me that the vehicle had no warranty, and so that i should just take the vehicle and take care of the problem by myself. I have had numerous of problems with this vehicle. When i purchased the vehicle, i feel i was used because i am poor, and was desperate for a vehicle. Other people that have purchased a vehicle from them have had the same problem. I don't know what actions can be taken to correct the matter any longer. I haven't given a payment for about 4 months, because i have had to fix the vehicle. Mainly transmissionand electrical problems. I have also had steering wheel problems, and tire problems.*la
Steering pump and rack and pinion failed.*mj
I bought this van because of the clean condition of it . I have the 3.0 ltr engine which has been excellent. The transmission so far is ok. Steeringis a dangerous mess with almost everything new and 3 alignments. If you take your eyes off the road even for a second you can end up in a ditch.my wife & i both went off the road in a 1 month span. We both have excellent driving records. The front end seems ok to ford. Something serious is wrong with the steering. Won?t let my wife drive it anymore. Has a little vibration that you cannot get rid of. Sending this to you because i called ford and they said there was no safety recall or any steering issues with that van. Had a service bulletin in front of me at that time stating there was. But that is not the problem. Ford denied the all of the above. Am afraid to sell to someone because i think someone will get hurt.don?t know why ford keeps putting in the same bad parts year after year. I have had all the dome light problems and door locks etc. They will still say no problems. Bought it used at a good price thinking it was a bad tire causing the problems. If accident occurs will seek damages
I own a 1998 ford windstar(manufacture date aug..1997. I have been having problems for a while. My van was making a whining grinding noise. Gear is hard to get out of park bad popping noise when backing up...replaced all 4 wheel bearings and both tie rod ends..still making a bad whining noise.3 days ago i was driving down the highway and the steering started acting weird and shaking and the back of the van started swaying back and forth .. Was told at the shop about the recall on axel i called ford and was told my van is not on the list my van has a excessive amount of corrosion throughout the whole bottom the shop told me this van has been exposed to salt. When i bought the van it had a inspection sticker from previous owner from one of the recall states.(pens) ford would not give me any information onwhat state it was sold in or dealer, what brand of axel that was being recalled (said they didn't know the brand) come on what company spends money on parts and don't even know the brand or manufacture they buy from. I'm scared to death to drive this automobile.. I think ford should honor there promise to its customers and fix this problem on all 1997-2003 windstars not just certain months of 1997 or does someone have to lose there life before they do something?ford>>> you took our money for your product now stand behind your product.
Consumer states the vehicle has steering problems.
Ie99059, the defective steering bushings does not support the system which causes the vehicle steering system to malfuction. Also, braking system malfunctioned, causing extended stopping distance which may result in a crash.the fuel pump went out unexpectedly, cause vehicle to stall.finally,liftgate indicator light came on, but the liftgateremained closed.brakes been replace once,andbushings3 times.please provide further information and vin#.
This van has all the defects and complaints listed on thegovt. Recalls the nhtsa site and othersihave too much info to put on this site if there is anyone i can send my complaint to please let me know iam putting it back into the shop againive been thru a nightmare along with trying to assure my 4 kids that they were safe in this vanthankyou angela wallace and by the wat the dealer that sold me this van will not cooperate at all
Somegrinding and steering problems when trying to steer.
1998 ford windstar has rusted engine subframe, which, if lets go would cause side axle and front tire to separate from van and cause loss of steering control,loss of braking, and possible accident.this was discovered while van was on ramp for oil change . Received recall on rear axle cracking and recall was done today by ford. Brought subframeproblem to the dealers attention and they stated that ford was fully aware of this problem but could do nothing about it because ford had not issued a recall on this time. The service station owner which did my oil change expressed an opinion that he felt that the front subframe rusting was indeed much more of a concern than the cracking of the rear axle which has been recalled by ford. At present i am afraid to drive my windstar with this structural defect and i feel ford should remedy this defect in the same manner that they did with the cracking rear axle.
While steering, this vehicle tends to almost jump while driving and turning around any type of corner. I have to over compensate so as not to veer toward that direction.it happens all the time and is very dangerous. Consequently, i have to take the vehicle to my mechanic to get his evaluation?
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated that he recently had his vehicle state inspected by an independent mechanic. The vehicle passed inspection but the followingday the vehicle could not be driven. The vehicle was towed back to the independent mechanic who stated the "steering knuckle" had to be replaced at the owners expense. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and mentioned there were no open recalls on the vehicle. The approximate failure mileage was 180,354.
While driving my 1998 windstar @ 45mph, ilost total steering control of my vehicle and my vehicle veered into the oncoming lane of a two lane highway. I was able to regain control after turning the steering wheel approx 360 degrees to the right and managed to stop safely. After further investigation, it was found that the drivers side lower control arm bracket that is welded to the subframe broke away from the subframe due to a rusted out subframe. I've owned this vehicle for the past 8 years and never received any information from ford regarding this safety issue as noted in the 1999-2003 ford windstar recall which has the same issue as my vehicle. Although ford is not going to honor a subframe recall for my year vehicle, ford should at least send a notification letter to inform owners of this dangerous issue. Both my wife and kids drive this vehicle, but had i at least known there was a dangerous issue with this vehicle, i would have parked it.
A/c oct. 99 $168.98, dec. 99 $134.40suspensionjuly 01$664.61, dec. 99 $515.85, jun 01 $61.78,bodyjun 01 $443.61othercd player jun 01 $19.50 and $366.86 turn signal jan 02 $161.04 dome light jan 02 $84.02 jan 02 $89.72 door oct 99 $134.52, mar 03 $285.07steeringsept.02 $258.82, mar. 03 569.32computer controls sept. 00 $106.02engine jan 02 $784.75 coolant smell (found front cover gasket leaking) sept. 02 85.95 (told throttle body worn out, sold me update computer software, seams to run better)currently in shop for check engine light and a/c system intermittent.mechanic found engine problem, says main bearings or crankshaft bad, possibly due to coolant in oil system from january 02 problem
On december 16th 2009. I was driving down west 117th towards madison/lakewood in cleveland, ohio and was trying to come to a stop (slow down and stop) to allow an ambulance to pass (there was a car in front of me that was also slowing downa nd that came to a stop at the street lot)this is on a major street near an highway intersection. I put my foot on my brake to slow down the vehicle and come to a stop but it would not slow down or stop. The brake had went out. I ended up hitting the car in front of me hard (an suv) and doing quite a bit of damage to my vehicle. The other driver vehicle was so far as i could tell undamaged. On my vehicle the front light is broken, my bumper is damaged, and my hood is damaged. I, myself and the driver i hit could have gotten seriously injured. So far we are bothfine and no injuries occurred. However he may turn around and come after me if he decides to. And i now can not drive my vehicle. I received a recall notice on my vehicle brake about a month ago around early november. Maybe in end of october. The very day of my accident (happened around 12:15 noon) i was going to go home and call ford about the recall. There is a worldwide recall on my vehicle model and many others. And i have had nothing but problems since i bought it. I have had to make numerous repairs on it and still had problems and this accident. Ford should be held responsible for this and should compensate me with another vehicle in good condition especially since i have spent so much time and money into replacement parts for this windstar. Or give me my money back or something. I'm glad my kids were not with me when this happened and that the man i hit was also alone and is ok. What can be done about this?i have had to replace the following items since i got this vehicle:o2 sensors (both), alternator, belt, windshield wiper blade, and make back blades don't work at all, the transmission, the steering column box, door handle and components inside and more!
When going though water you lose steering.
While driving on the highway at 60mph, i lost control of my vehicle and it started to fishtail and swerve into the next lane as i tried to regain control it spun around and flipped over upside down on top of the guard rail and landed facing traffic.i received minor injuries and my three children were not injured.i was informed that the rear axle snapped in half on my vehicle and that there is a recall on this part.i never received a notice in regards to this.
While going around a turn and yieldingbrakes hardened and steering locked up for about 5 seconds. Dealer could not identifythe problem. But if the car had died, they probley could have found the problem easier. If driving at a faster speed and steering locked up there could be a serious accident.
Vehicle steering begins to vibrate at approximately 50-60 mph.
Steering wheel lock, key locked in steering column
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar.the contact stated that he has been experiencing steering failure ever since the vehicle was purchased.he hears loud, squeaky noises everytime he turns the steering wheel.the vehicle has been repaired by a private mechanic approximately five times, but the failure still persists.his vin was not included in nhtsa campaign id number 97v165000 (steering:gear box:shaft sector).the failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 120,000.
When making either right orleft hand turns there is a clicking sound fromsteering.took vehicle to dealer, who insisted it was a rockinsteering column.did not remedy problem.
Popping in front end when turning or hitting bumps. The popping sound was often. Had new tires put on, and when i took it in to have front end aligned. Ford tech. Said front springs were broke. Was an est. Of $1200.00onit can't afford. This was 5/20/2011. Contacted mfr about the recall that was issued on this part 7/12/2001. Was told there was nothing they could do, because of a time limit. How can they put a time limit on safety & peoples lives because the springs are broken,they can puncture the tires and cause an accident. Now we are without transportation. And my son is disabled and has numerous dr. Appts. Miles away. But my hands are tied. The mfr. Did advise to have another recall checked out which is the speed control because it can catch fire. When i asked why, you just told me it was unsafe to drive.he advised it could catch fire just setting in the drive not running. I was not notified of either one of these recalls by mail or other wise until i called to complain about the front coil springs. How does these billion dollar company's keep getting by with negligence? there are lots of recalls on this vehicle. Please help!
The steering wheel was difficult to turn.
Steering column sticks,has to jerk steering wheels. Alsovehicle pulls to the left. Consumercan hear a whistling sound onleft side.contacted dealer.dealer kept vehicle for about one hour, and told consumer it wasn't anything wrong with vehicle.
While being drivenat45 mph, van stalled, resulting in steering wheel locking and brakes completely failing with no pressure.owner had no other choice but to coast through an intersection with light.please describe details.
While driving straight or when making an u turn about any mphsteering wheel will lock up without a prior warning.then, engine will stall. Dealer said this problem could not be found.
While making a right turn the vehicle cut off and the steering wheel locked up,causing loss of vehicle control. Cause unknown. Please give any further details.
Accelerator went down on its own while in reverse, no brakes to stop, resulting in a accident.steering vibrates, recommend rotating the tires.interior seats slightly twisted, door locks works sometime, interior lights work sometimes.
When turning steering wheel it will make a loud noise,and motor feels like it is struggling. Please provide more information.
I am so scared to drive our van- i have no idea what to do.thia van showed be considered a lemon- or ford should repair it.we purchased the van cause we had another little one on the way(making 4 kids) in the past we had old vechilcles.we decided to spend the $$ and have a reliable vechicle since we have 4 kids and travel around town alot.first my air codtioner goes out in july, 99 (electrical- no power to it).we did not have the $ to fix.than in august,99 we started experiencing intermittent neutral condtion after driving and coming to a stop.had to rebuild the transmission- due to a faulty clutch piston that ford knows is causing problems in ax4s windstar 3.8l.engine - stalls usually when driving at low speeds, such as o turns or coming to a stop.scared to death that somesone will run into me.steering- vechile pulls to the right so badly that in seconds i am in another lane. Have had it relighned.the other seroius problem is i will start van or have foot on brake and it itermittally accerates in surges on its own.my foot in not near the gas- i am so scared to death that i will lose control of it resulting into an accident. I am so scared to drive this van and it is only a 98".what am i to do.i do not want to wait for and acident or death to someone.please help!!i need some advice.i have no warranty on van- but yet with so many problems why should the consumer have to pay when ford knows of the problems with the vans- what does it take - death!!!i need to know what is causeing these problems.i can not afford to keep taking them to mechanics and not getting it fix.shouldn't ford have to take this piece of crap back-please help!!
Over the past several months, we have experienced problems with the engine stalling during a left hand turn, thus causing the steering wheel to freeze up and we've had close calls on accidents. Luckily we live in a rural area where we have the time to put the car in neutral or park, restart it, then complete the turn. The car has also stalled for no apparent reason when coming to a fast stop at a red light or in a driveway after completing a partial turn. It is very scary. I'm worried that the next time this happens, it may cause an accident. We have two young drivers in the family, and it has happened to them as well.do you have any suggestions? we live over 3 hours away from the dealer we purchased the car from. Have other windstar owners expereinced this problem? please advise.
While drivingat 45mph turned right and consumer lostcontrol. Dealer notified.
Nhtsa recall campaign 97v165000; ford issued a steering gear recall. This vehicle was not included in the recall due to vin,but had same gear steering problems as mentioned in the recall.
Received recall 97v165001 concerning steering gear. When turning steering wheel in right or left it was making a loud noise likevehiclewas out of power steering fluid.but vehiclewas completely full. Consumer took vehicle to dealer, and they stated other consumers were having the same problem.
1)all 5 lugs: nutssheared off from the right front passenger hub, causing the wheel to leave the vehicle.the body of the vehicle traveled approximately 200 feet until it stopped.2)the rear brakes had to be replaced with new pads and rotors.dealer couldn't explain why this was a problem. 3) the next day the right passenger mirror electical system no longer worked.4)the parking brake consistently does not disengage after use.we no longer use it, possibly creating a safety hazard. 5) the vehicle intermittently stalls out at low speeds or upon stopping.additionally the initial gears shift hard and loud. 6)the rear seat will not move on the track.
Consumer has same problemas stated in recall97v165 000. This vehicle was not part of recalldue to vin.
Consumer's vehicleexperienced the same problems as mentioned in recall97v165000 concerningsteering gear box failure.the dealership will not repair free of charge because the vin was not included.
The engine was making a noise and it was reported and supposedly fixed by local dealer. However, within one month the alternator failed as well as the power steering box. Since it isn't under warrenty (36,000), dealer won't repair without cost.
Vehicle has a dangerous rack and pinion input shaft steering gear. This is covered under recall 97v-165000, however, after contacting the dealer and ford motor company several times they refuse all responsibility in correcting this problem. This is a safety issue and ford refuses to take any and all corrective actions. Nhtsa was useless in helping the situation.
Dt*: the contact stated there was a grinding noise from the steering wheel when turned.the steering wheel pulled to the right or left without warning while driving 40 mph.the service dealer and manufacturer were notified, but informed the contact the vehicle was not included in recall # 97v165000 regarding the steering:gear box:shaft sector due to the vin, although the vehicle had the same problems.
The vehicle experienced the same problem as stated in recall 97 v 165 000, however the vehicle identification number was not included in the recall.
1:steering on vehicle is not working properly2:steering wheel takes extra effort to turn vehicle leading to loss of control of vehicle sometimes.3:ford recalled certain vin numbered vehicles of this model year,but mine did not get recalled,but still has the condition.
Consumer was not aware of recall 97v16500, vehicle was making grinding noise when steering wheel was turned and was hard to turn, power steering pump was replaced that didn't remedy the problem, then dealer finds a bad rack and pinion which he is going to charge consumer for fixing.
The vehicle made a grinding noise and was hard to turn.the mechanic stated there was a recall, however the vehicle was not included for the rack and pinion. Please provide additional information.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The vehicle had failures regarding the steering control. The contact was able to locate a recall in regards to the failure (nhtsa campaign id number: 97v165000-steering: gear box: shaft sector) yet when contacting the dealer, they were unaware of such recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 166,593.
On september 1, 2002 my ford windstar began smoking. The smoking was caused by the leaking of the power steering fluid on to the exhaust system of the van. After being informed by my wife that the van was smokingi determined that the smoke was caused by the power streering fluid falling on the exhaust system of the van. After determining the cause of the smokei turned off the van so that there would not be a fire. The van was taken to the dealer who stated that power steering fitting had rusted through and the hose had begun leaking. Itwas also stated that the hose connected to the fitting was also leaking power steering fluid. I questioned the service representative about the problem and he stated that other ford vehicles had experienced the same problem. I gave approval to the dealer to fix the problem which costed $551.74. The service representative stated that since i did not have an extended warranty on the vehicle that ford would not cover any of the repair cost. Mr
The power steering had metal pieces in the steering fluid causing smoke to pour into the vehicle and rendering the power steering useless on two occasions. Nlm
While driving at any speed vehicle will start to lose steering, andconsumer can not control vehicle. Contacted dealer.
Vehicle was traveling aproximately 65mph andengine shut down.power brakes and steering went out without warning.brake pedal was pushed to the floor to stopvehicle.dealer stated it would be too expensive to find out what was thecause.
The power steering failed.
Consumer states that while driving and withoutwarning the power steering went out. Dealer has been notified.tsthere was a noise that emitted from the engine before the steering failed.*jg
The power steering line of my minivan brushed slightly against the mountable curb as we backed from the driveway to the street in front of our house.this mountable curb and gutter is typically used in residential neighborhoods.eden pairie's standard plate shows a curb height of 4 inches. Ourdriveway is not on any type of an incline.the bump was so slight that it did not concern me at the time.i proceeded to drive forward and to enter the highway.luckily it was the part of the highway that still has stoplights, so my speed was very slow.the car made a groaning noise, i had a complete failure of the power steering sysem of my motor vehicle, and black smoke began pouring out of my vehicle.the ford dealership said the slight bump had crimped the powersteering line causing a great pressure in the power steering lines which in turn exploded pouring power steering fluid all over the engine.the engine had to be degreased and the powersteering pump was damaged due to the sudden lack of powersteering fluid.ford would not cover this under warranty saying that the slight bump was an accident that caused the powersteering lines to be damaged.this experience felt so lide threatening that i began to investigate the problem further.i found the placement of these lines to be so low in the front of the vehicle that they were at the level of the spoiler or even slightly lower.the minivan's with the tow package are lower than the other vans.i have had mechanics, engineers, and product liability expers examine the vehicle.they agree that this is a design defect that could likely result in death.the experts say this ;fluid could hit the catalytic converter which would bring the temperature high enough to cause a fire which burns much hotter than gasoline.additionally, the slightest bump causes a complete failure of the powersteering system.this design defect is likely to cause death or serious bodily injury.
Power steering line malfunctioned while driving, rendering vehicle difficult to steer, dealer has repaired vehicle.consumer also stated the air conditioner was not cooling, there was a loose connection at compressor, the doors would not lock, the power door actuator was the cause of the doors not working,windows would not go down because of a bad window motor.
Consumer has experienced several problems with the transmission, dealer has replaced it once, however problems continue, consumer has filed for a request for arbitration, vehicle bucks, jerks, and jumps into gear before taking off.vehicle shimmies from one side to another upon acceleration, there is a thumping sound heard also at times while driving.vehicle experienced a speed sensor circuit problem.speedometer jumps.problem with power steering, dealer adjusted rack and pinion and made other repairs to steering mechanism.right side brake light bulb failed.battery failed.consumer stated it felt as if vehicle was going to stall sometimes, engine has no power at acceleration, engine belt was noisy and was replaced.tire had a slow leak due to loose tire valve.
Power steering failed.nlm
Had power steering oil replaced, still noisy pump
Rack and pinion steeringis leakingfluid, and is causingconsumer to have problems withpower steering.it will be hard to control the vehicle. Dealer notified.
Vehicle is experiencing power steering leakage, dealer found two hydraulic lines rusted.however, repairs could not be performed due to lack of parts. Vehicle has been in shop for 10 days.
Power steering hose ripped open upon driving slowly off a low curb, causing all fluid to leak out.
The return line corroded near the r&p valve,ford told me it would take approx. 10 to 30 days due to nationwide backorder i am worried that,due to such a backorder ther is defect in that part.another reason for concern is that i had to get the part from an auto recycling facility and noticed that a repair was made to the line exactly where my line failed due to corrosion.this is my family sole means of transportation ,any research or findings would be greatly appreciated.
Power steering return line from rack to cooler rubbed on frame of 98 ford windstar until a hole resulted in loss of most ps fluid.drastic loss of fluid occurred descending blue ridge mountains.windstar had about 125,000 miles, and the damage to the hose was not visible from normal inspection.fluid sprayed over hot engine parts but did not ignite.
Sudden power steering leak. Main leak from low pressure hose, but found that rusted high pressure hose fitting also leaking a bit; and seal(s) of rack & pinion leaking into dust boot(s).had to replace hoses & rack/pinion at 81,000 miles -- 98 windstar.
For the second time in one year, our 1998 ford windstar (vin [xxx])is in need of repair to correct a power steering fluid leak. I understand there are two service bulletins that have been issued on this defect (bc3150970219 and 0156). Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Consumer stated while parking and without any indication vehicle lost power steering. Vehicle was serviced, technician noticed steering fitting was rusted which caused the power steeering fluid to leak.the hood was difficult to open.the dealer lubed the latch. *nlm
Rack and pinion assembly began leaking power steering fluid.had to replace rack-and-pinion assembly and power steering pump.
Consumer stated vehicle steers hard, dealer replaced the power steering pump.
Rack and pinionsteering was replaced at 50,000 miles at dealer for a cost of $1,500, and it failed again. Steering rack should not malfunctionin such a short period of time. Also,boot leaks caused power steering pump to malfunction.
Power steering pump pully assembly failed.
Power steering pump was noisy.
Van started to make loud grinding noises when turning wheels and also getting hard to turn. I took it in to the dealer, but was told by service dept. That there was no recall on this van. As i was leaving i spoke to another employee there and was told that there was such a problemwith that yearvan.i then replaced the power steering pump and that did not fix the problem i then took it to another ford dealer and was told that the problem was in the rack and pinion steeringand the price to fix it was about 1000.00i was not able to afford it so ihave driving it , however now the van will sometimes shut off when you proceed to make a turn in either direction. I have come very close to having someone hit me from behind. I took it to another mechanic and we are going to have to have it fixed at our expense. I feel that we should not have to pay for a problem that came from the ford motor co. I also took it today 1-4-2000 to see if the dealer would look at it but was told by a man named jerry in the service dept. That they wouldnot do anything .
I have replaced the rack and pinion steering twice and the power steering pump once on my 1998 ford windstar.
Right hand side ofpower steering pump has rusted through, resulting in difficult steering. Dealer has been contatced. Please provide further details.
At 35 thousand miles power steering went out.mechanic replaced steering pump at 38-39 thousand miles, power steering went out again. Mechanic researched problem,found out that tie rod end rods were too tight, putting extra strain on power steering.
On numerous occassions this vehicle while stall when coming to a stop (stop sign/traffic lights). This vehicle has been to the repair shop over 8 times and was last worked on for this problem in june 2000. Then in july200 while on vacation the power steering pump failed and the emission control failed. Although the dealership has been repairing the problems the vehicle has lost it's creditability as being safe.
Consumer stated vehicle steers hard, dealer replaced the power steering pump.
Power steering pump failed. Yh
Power steering pump failed twice.nlm
While driving the van all of a sudden there was no steering at all.driver could hardly get the van to the side of the road.van was towed to the dealerhship. Brokensteering: power assist beltwas replaced.please provide any further information.
Inner and end tie rods have been replaced 6 times in 2 years. First time at 16000 miles. Consumer hears noise fromfront end, then, has vehicle inspected by dealer, who then findstie rods are breaking.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
The amp to the radio and cd keeps burning out and the last time it caught onfire. It's been fixed (again) but i'm still scared to drive it. My van stinks like electrical burnt transformer. They said they found a short, but i wonder??? also, why is my exhaust putting out so much black soot on my van? i clean it off and every time i drive it, it becomes all sooted up again.my left tie rod went out too.is that normal for such low mileage? i'm very unhappy with this vehicle.
While traveling at approximately 10 mph vehicle started pulling toright, and came to a stop. Consumer examinedvehicle, and saw thatleft rear tire was positioned againstbumper ofvehicle.dealership has examinedvehicle and determined thatrear axle/ tie rod broke.please provide any additional information/attachments.
6th time in 6 months lugs: bolts have sheared, normal driving w/ no incident.wheels, hubs, tie rods and lug bolts have all been replaced w/ no change in regularity of event.no substantive vibration experienced.mechanics have all been advised of history.cowles ford, c&j auto, d&b auto, aaa and and firestone have serviced the incidents.requested review on tsb's and other complaints to ford - to no avail.real serious - one to four lugs have sheared on each incident; involved both front wheel assys and one rear assy.
There is a grinding noise coming fromfront ofvehicle when traveling slowly and making a turn. Dealership examinedvehicle and informedconsumer that tie rods were defective.a firestone service center informed consumer thatproblem was due torack and pinionsteering. Therewas nhtsa recall 97v165001; however,manufacturer informedconsumer thatthis vehicle was not included inrecall due to vin.
Tie rod and rotorsneeded to be replaced at approximately 35000 miles.please provide any additional information/attachments.
Wheneversteering wheel is being turned, left or rightit would make a great deal of noise. Had taken vehicle to dealer for diagnostics & was informed it was the tie rod. Had taken vehicle to private mechanic who statedthat it was the rack & pinion thatneeded to be replaced.
About two years ago i started to notice a noise from the front end of the car. Over time it gradually became louder and more frequent.when i went to my local garage , the noise would not initally be present. Finally it became more present and the local mechanic said that it was probably the tie rods and that ford was known to frequently have that problem. He also indicated that it would probably be fixed by the dealer under warranty. At that time i had about 40,000 miles on t he car. I took it to the ford dealer and told them what the mechanic said. They repaired the car and charged me for the repair since they claimed that there was no warranty on the car (hidden or otherwise) since i had pressed this point with the service manager and later with his manager. Note: i had previously seen many complaints on your web site regarding this same problem. It does seem that tie rods should not be failing at 38-40,000 miles. And, that ultimate failure could result in serious crashes and injuries.
When brakes are appliedvehicle experiences extended stopping distance. Also, dealer has replacedtie rods and the brake system.manufacturer has been notified.
Was driving vehicle & it would go into a low depression. A boring noise could be heard from the springs. It was an intermitten problem. Took to dealer & mechanic could not locate cause of noise. Did change the bushings & struts.noise in front end over bumps due to both outer tie rod failure.
While travelingin warm weather ,making sudden stops/parking and while in stop and go traffic, vehicle would stall without any indication. Please provide further informaiton. Air bag light illuminated due to faulty module, the drivers side door adjar switch was sticking causing the door adjar light to illuminate, outer tie rod failed causing noise in the front end, vehicle experiences loss of power/slipping due to faulty transmission, check engine light illuminated and vehicle stalled, dealer replaced sensor, speedometer was off.nlm
When shifting from 1st to 2nd gear, the van would vibrate.the dealership stated they replaced the motor mounts, however the condition still persists.the motor mounts were replaced again due to the same problem of unknown vibration. Nlm the passenger side front tire wore out.the tie rod ends were replaced.*jg
Both outer tie rods replaced. Mjs
Consumer took vehicle torepair shop becausefront tire tires were balled inside.mechanic toldconsumer that upperball joints and tire rod ends were defective.consumer replaced them. Therewas no accident.
Various problem with power lock locking byitself/windshield wipers working intermittently/dome light not operating, anddoor ajar light staying on. Vehicle been in / out of dealer shop on several occasions, and problems still reoccurring. Possible electrical problem with failure of power locks, windshield wipers, dome light, door ajar light, door ajar switch,lift gate door ajar switch, battery saver relay inoperable, and washer light illuminating.brakes noisy at times, dealer stated this was due to brake dust.power steering is noisy when turning back and forth, dealer replaced tie rod end.sliding door rattles while driving over bumps, dealer added foam tape to back side of panel, driver door rattles, sliding door hard to open at times, dealer lubed sliding hinges and latch.dealer replaced shocks due to rattling noise when riding over bumps.drivebelt replaced.maf sensor replaced due to hesitation.window guide did not fit tight.
Dealer had to replace both outer tie rods and adjust front toe. Steering started to bind when making a left hand turn,and van steering had felt loose up to the point of failure.
The outer tie rods created a grinding noise when the vehicle turned at low speeds and likely due to lack of adequate lubrication.the failure of the right inner tie rod was much more serious, in that it created a very bad vibration at highway speeds, was a scary situation, and could very well have resulted in loss of vehicle control.
While driving consumer heard a groaning noise.tie rod ends were cracked. Vehicle will be taken to the dealer for further assessment.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated that the vehicle taken to a local mechanic for inspection of the sub frame when the contact was advised that the sub frame was severely corroded and that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The contact stated that the brake lines were also found to be corroded. The brake lines were replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the sub frame failure and denied any assistance with the repair. The sub frame was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 114,000.the tie rods, front wheel bearings and battery had to be replaced within one year of owning the vehicle. The wheel cylinders, brake adjusters, spring kit, drums, rotors, shoes, and pads all had to be replaced. Also, the turn signal level stopped working for the left side. When the brake was applied, it went to the floor and then pulsated back up, and then the abs light illuminated. Updated 02/01/12
Tie rod end started to wear and made a squeaking sound when making a turn. Dealer contacted.
Tie rod ends are failing. Dealership service representative advised us this model was designed with no lubrication fittings; and that failure typically occurs between 50 to 60 thousands miles. I consider this a hazard that was deliberately designed into the vehicle in order to save money at the expense of the consumers safety.
While vehicle is in operation and making any type of turn, there is a loud "metal to metal" sound coming fromfront ofvehicle. A private mechanic has replaced tie rodin an effort to repair problem.
A loud grinding noise started occurring when the whell was turned. My wife said she heard the noise and thought she needed power steering fluid. I put a little in but the noise didn't go away. Took van to dealer. They called and said the outer tie rods were bad and grinding metal to metal. Had them replaced. When my wife picked up the van, the repair person said to her that since there were no grease joints, so there was nothing i could have done. He said that ford said it was a bad design and they had a model to replace it. This didn't sound good to me and i wondered why i had to pay for their bad design. If the tie rods were grinding metal to metal, it could have led to a break and steering failure.
Both outer tie rods replaced. Mjs
Every 3,000 milefront tie rod end breaks which may cause loss of vehicle control.been replaced 3times. Dealer cannot determinecaus eof the problem. Please provide further information.
At 35 thousand miles power steering went out.mechanic replaced steering pump at 38-39 thousand miles, power steering went out again. Mechanic researched problem,found out that tie rod end rods were too tight, putting extra strain on power steering.
The vehicle had noise in the front end. The dealer indicated that the noise was due to tie rod end failures.
I had a metalic grinding noise when i steered to the right or left. I took it to my ford dealer for repair and found that the right and left tie rod ends were binding and had to be replaced. I have always had my van lubricated and have found out that these tie rods have no grease fitting for lubrication. I view this as a safety hazard and could result in a serious accident if left unattended.
The tie rod ends failed. Yh
Both front tie-rods totally failed and had to be replaced at only 50,000 miles.*la
When making turns in either direction there was a loud grinding noise. While at dealership to have a recall performed, mechanic noticedfront tie rod joints needed to be replaced. No grease at all on joints.
When driving or making a left or right hand turn consumer noticed a clicking noise. Contacted the dealer.dealer noted that outer tie rods need to be replaced on both sides, driver and passenger.
Consumer stateed both front tie rods failed and were replaced, also the steering rack was replaced.
Would hear squealing/howling noises coming from the steering area.steering was inoperative. Would have no control of vehicle. Took it to dealer & informed consumertie rod ends have worn out excessively due to a lack of lubricant.no grease fittings.
Both outer tie rods replaced. Mjs
While braking there was a clanking noise in front end.tookvehicle to ford, ford replaced subframe bushings and tie rod ends.please provide any further information. Ts.
Tie rods failed on two occasions. Mjs
Consumer states power steering fluid stays low, consumer requested that it be checked for leaks, mechanic discovered that rack and pinion was leaking from left boot area, this part has failed 4 times.
Rack and pinion steering has failed. There was a recall issued on the description,but this vehiclewas not included.
While drivingvehicle becomes very difficult to steer,vehicle rides extremely rough, and at times is hard to control.dealer states that problem occurs withinrack and pinion.
While diving and makingleft or right turns steering wheel will make a loud noise. Dealer has been notified. Mechanic statedbolts onrack and pinion steering are coming loose.
Steering rack failure.
Rack and pinion steering gears may have damaged input shaft bearing. Vehicle not included in recall 97v165001.please give any further details.
The steering rack and pinionfailed and had to be replaced. I am told by my mechanic this is unusual for a vehicle with this mileage.i also found that ford had a recall for the steering rack,put into vehicles manufactured in september 1997.my vehicle was manufacured in june 1997.perhaps i had one on the bad ones put in before the problem was caught.anyway it cost me $667.00 fr the repair.
Rack and pinionsteering was replaced at 50,000 miles at dealer for a cost of $1,500, and it failed again. Steering rack should not malfunctionin such a short period of time. Also,boot leaks caused power steering pump to malfunction.
I have replaced the rack and pinion steering twice and the power steering pump once on my 1998 ford windstar.
Wheneversteering wheel is being turned, left or rightit would make a great deal of noise. Had taken vehicle to dealer for diagnostics & was informed it was the tie rod. Had taken vehicle to private mechanic who statedthat it was the rack & pinion thatneeded to be replaced.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. While driving at an unknown speed, the steering wheel became difficult to turn and made a winding noise. The vehicle was taken to several mechanics for inspection and it was discovered that the rack and pinion failed and was leaking fluid. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 130,000.
Rack and pinion steering failed causing the vehicle to wander.
Rack and pinion steering assemblywas not working properly. When turning toleft or right there was loud grinding noise. Contacted garage, and garage ordereda new part,problem was remedied.the original equipment failed after two years and poor design is the cause.the consumer believes because of numerous failures of this equipment there should be a recall.
Ford is saying its my responsibility cause the warranty has lapsed but the car is only three years old.no safety defec tlisted.
It was hard to steer vehicle, and it was noisy. Consumer went to anindependent mechanic who found that fluid inrack and pinion was very dirty.shaft bearings and gears were damaged byfluid again after they test drove vehicle.consumer contacted ford regarding recall 97v165000/manufacturer's recall 97s85. But this vehicle was not included, due to vin.
Rack and pinion steering broke when traveling, causing poor steering control. Also, tie rods malfunctioned, almost was involved in a crash. Consumer has contacteddealer.
Rack and pinion steering may have a damaged input shaft bearing from a service bulletin owners letter # 97s85 .also,bulletin was given by the dealer. Consumer's vehiclewas experiencing similar problems, but ford stated nothing could be done untilthere wasa recall.
When turning left or right, the driver heard a loud knocking noise coming from the front. The driver has difficulty making turns, the steering wheel locks. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection. The mechanic informed the driver that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. Please provide further details.
Rack and pinion assembly began leaking power steering fluid.had to replace rack-and-pinion assembly and power steering pump.
There is a grinding noise coming fromfront ofvehicle when traveling slowly and making a turn. Dealership examinedvehicle and informedconsumer that tie rods were defective.a firestone service center informed consumer thatproblem was due torack and pinionsteering. Therewas nhtsa recall 97v165001; however,manufacturer informedconsumer thatthis vehicle was not included inrecall due to vin.
Consumer stateed both front tie rods failed and were replaced, also the steering rack was replaced.
Rack and pinion steeringis leakingfluid, and is causingconsumer to have problems withpower steering.it will be hard to control the vehicle. Dealer notified.
I have had 5 steering racks replaced since sept 2000.i cannot get anyone to help me with this problem.
Van started to make loud grinding noises when turning wheels and also getting hard to turn. I took it in to the dealer, but was told by service dept. That there was no recall on this van. As i was leaving i spoke to another employee there and was told that there was such a problemwith that yearvan.i then replaced the power steering pump and that did not fix the problem i then took it to another ford dealer and was told that the problem was in the rack and pinion steeringand the price to fix it was about 1000.00i was not able to afford it so ihave driving it , however now the van will sometimes shut off when you proceed to make a turn in either direction. I have come very close to having someone hit me from behind. I took it to another mechanic and we are going to have to have it fixed at our expense. I feel that we should not have to pay for a problem that came from the ford motor co. I also took it today 1-4-2000 to see if the dealer would look at it but was told by a man named jerry in the service dept. That they wouldnot do anything .
When turning steering wheel left or right it will make a terrible grinding noise. Dealer has replaced rack and pinion steering, but noise has reoccurred again.
Internal rack and pinion problem with the steering, difficulty aligning the vehicle, after two alignment steering still squealing and pulling to the left.
This vehicle has the same problem with rack and pinion steering asstated in recall # 97 v165 000. But, thisvehicle is not includedin recall due to vin.
Consumer complained about having problems with vehicle,rack an pinionsteering locking.
Sudden power steering leak. Main leak from low pressure hose, but found that rusted high pressure hose fitting also leaking a bit; and seal(s) of rack & pinion leaking into dust boot(s).had to replace hoses & rack/pinion at 81,000 miles -- 98 windstar.
Rack and pinion failed. Yh
While driving at 40 mphsteering gear rack broke, causing loss of steering and a leakage of power steering fluid. Also, vehicle veered to left and right all over the road. Consumer then slowed down and pulled to the side of the road. The manufacturer has been contacted.first failure at 46,561 miles, second at 62,500.
Power steering leak, black power steering fluid, loud when turning left or right,brought to mechanic,replaced power steering rack.still have black power steering fluid ,car still loud when turning wheel.
Running board added on by dealer is so low that vehicle hit speed bumps. Some places vehicle cannot go into without hitting bumps/gas stations and banks, etc. Dealer contacted,and cannot remedy the problem. The vehicle was misrepresented to the owner upon purchase. Provide further information.
Rear sway bar broke in half on low speed turn if this would have happened on a freeway exchange or off ramp this would have resulted in a rollover and possible death!
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated the vehicle was being inspected by an independent repair shop when she was informed that the engine cross member and sub frame were severely corroded and cracked. The vehicle was then taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the recall associated with nhtsa campaign id number 10v385000 (suspension:rear:axle:non-powered axle assembly). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 52,560.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar.the contact stated that the engine mount fractured due to rust, causing the steering wheel and passenger tire to turn at an abnormal angle.a local mechanic diagnosed that the engine mount would need to be replaced.neither the dealer nor manufacturer was made aware of the failure and the vehicle was not repaired.the failure and current mileage was 115,000. The vin was unavailable.
On december 16th 2009. I was driving down west 117th towards madison/lakewood in cleveland, ohio and was trying to come to a stop (slow down and stop) to allow an ambulance to pass (there was a car in front of me that was also slowing downa nd that came to a stop at the street lot)this is on a major street near an highway intersection. I put my foot on my brake to slow down the vehicle and come to a stop but it would not slow down or stop. The brake had went out. I ended up hitting the car in front of me hard (an suv) and doing quite a bit of damage to my vehicle. The other driver vehicle was so far as i could tell undamaged. On my vehicle the front light is broken, my bumper is damaged, and my hood is damaged. I, myself and the driver i hit could have gotten seriously injured. So far we are bothfine and no injuries occurred. However he may turn around and come after me if he decides to. And i now can not drive my vehicle. I received a recall notice on my vehicle brake about a month ago around early november. Maybe in end of october. The very day of my accident (happened around 12:15 noon) i was going to go home and call ford about the recall. There is a worldwide recall on my vehicle model and many others. And i have had nothing but problems since i bought it. I have had to make numerous repairs on it and still had problems and this accident. Ford should be held responsible for this and should compensate me with another vehicle in good condition especially since i have spent so much time and money into replacement parts for this windstar. Or give me my money back or something. I'm glad my kids were not with me when this happened and that the man i hit was also alone and is ok. What can be done about this?i have had to replace the following items since i got this vehicle:o2 sensors (both), alternator, belt, windshield wiper blade, and make back blades don't work at all, the transmission, the steering column box, door handle and components inside and more!
The paint is literally peeling off of my silver 1998 ford windstar.the paint on the roof is practically gone and now the top of the doors are starting to peel and rust. I was told by ford that they will not help me.all estimates i have for repainting state that this is a manufacturer defect.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated there was a large hole in the sub frame and engine cradle. The manufacturer issued a recall under nhtsa campaign id number 11v030000 (structure) pertaining to 1999-2003 windstar model year vehicles. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000. ..updated 12-30-13updated 01/09/14*ljupdated 01/13/14
Possible design problem with the vehicle, which allows for mice to enter vehicle, owner has trapped twelve mice and continues to have incidents. *et
A/c oct. 99 $168.98, dec. 99 $134.40suspensionjuly 01$664.61, dec. 99 $515.85, jun 01 $61.78,bodyjun 01 $443.61othercd player jun 01 $19.50 and $366.86 turn signal jan 02 $161.04 dome light jan 02 $84.02 jan 02 $89.72 door oct 99 $134.52, mar 03 $285.07steeringsept.02 $258.82, mar. 03 569.32computer controls sept. 00 $106.02engine jan 02 $784.75 coolant smell (found front cover gasket leaking) sept. 02 85.95 (told throttle body worn out, sold me update computer software, seams to run better)currently in shop for check engine light and a/c system intermittent.mechanic found engine problem, says main bearings or crankshaft bad, possibly due to coolant in oil system from january 02 problem
Cup holder spills easily. Seat belt rests too high (on neck). Needs another run board so that she can step into vehicle more easily.
My family owns a 1998 ford windstar minivan which is already subject to the axle recall and which did suffer a completely cracked axle. We have been told by the ford dealer that has possession of our vehicle that the front coil spring has fractured. This is despite the fact that the vehicle was previously subject to a recall that placed a cover over the coil spring. That recall only protected ford for replacement for a period of 10 years which has expired. Also, this vehicle has been experiencing very hard steering and a front end clunking noise but no cause has been found. We feel the latest 1999 and beyond recall of brackets should also apply to our 1998 ford windstar as it's basically the same exact vehicle. We fear that the clunking and hard steering could be from corroded brackets which is not being relayed to us.
When we purchased the van, we also bought a diamondkote warranty ,for 499.99$ and told at the time of purchase that is was a good warranty.we then found out that we should not have been sold the warranty and plaza ford lincoln will not honor it, we can't even get a refund, so we spoke to someone at diamondkote and this person told us that we should not have been sold the warranty and have been trying to get a refund ever since,either from plaza ford lincoln or diamondkote. I had intentions of suing ford motor company two years ago when my husband took my two daughters to halifax, because my 8 year old had cancer at the time, she had a appointment at the i.w.k hospital and it was by the grace of god that thay were not killed when the front suspention spring broke in which case my husband lost steering. I spoke to a lawyer who sadly told, because there was no death or injury there was nothing he could do,well my 8 year old who is now cancer free was so scared, shestill gets very scared to get in a vehicle. I could go on but for now this is just the begining. I am going to pursue the matter of the diamondkote warranty further,and possibly more.we have had alot of vehicals before but never a ford with as much trouble as this has been.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. While driving approximately 5 mph, the contact heard an unusual noise underneath the vehicle. The contact pulled to the side of the road, looked under the vehicle, and noticed that the front passenger side was completely rusted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who confirmed the excessive rust and advised the contact not to drive the vehicle until it was repaired. The contact was unable to find a used part. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but did not provide any assistance. There was no recall for the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 160,376.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated that after performing routine maintenance on the vehicle, he noticed that the front sub frame was completely rusted and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted in regard to this issue and advised him that his year vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign id number 11v030000 (structure: frame and members:underbody shields). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 23,982. The vin was unavailable.
Rear axel broke in half while driving down a flat road. Ford dealerships telling me it will take at least a month to fix. No talk of providing a rental vehicle. They were even saying they might or might not pay for fixing it.i called ford customer service who said i would get a day car rental and if it takes longer than a day, the dealership needs to get a rental preapproved by ford and pay for as long as it takes to repair. She said to call them that they were waiting to set things up.i called them, was transferred to 3 people and then a voicemail. Left message and no one called. I then called back and they said i would be transferred to head manager and again given a voice mail.i called the customer service again and explained all this. The guy answering was breathing on the line, would not say anything or respond after i had finished and put me thru to survey which i gave him all 1s. I called back and a case was opened. I need help. Please help
Subframe rusted on left front passenger side. 1998 ford windstar. I had a popping noise when i made a left turn and loud crunching noise and steering wheel pulled to left. I had taken it to a auto shop and they replaced struts.sway bars and brakes . No one told me about the rust issue with the sub frame. I drove it home from shop. Same problem. Returned the vehicle to same repair shop and the had a welder attach steel bracket to hold up sub frame. 2 days later worse. I had a second mechanic look at it and he told me the first repair should not have asked me to repair anything on the van. Sub frame is failed at 128,436 miles. I notified ford motor co . Of the failure, was givin a case number. Engine will fall out of bottom with corrosion of sub frame. Vehicle is not safe to drive
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated that while having routine maintenance performed, the mechanic notified him that the sub frame was completely corroded. As a result, there was a possibility that the engine could possibly fall out from the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was not included in any recalls. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 170,000.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated that he was informed by an authorized dealer that the frame was severely rusted. As a result, the fuel lines, brake lines and piping were also rusted and corroded. The brake lines were replaced. The dealer advised the contact that the failure was common in his year, make and model.the failure mileage was 123,000 and the current mileage was 133,000.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated that the vehicle taken to a local mechanic for inspection of the sub frame when the contact was advised that the sub frame was severely corroded and that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The contact stated that the brake lines were also found to be corroded. The brake lines were replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the sub frame failure and denied any assistance with the repair. The sub frame was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 114,000.the tie rods, front wheel bearings and battery had to be replaced within one year of owning the vehicle. The wheel cylinders, brake adjusters, spring kit, drums, rotors, shoes, and pads all had to be replaced. Also, the turn signal level stopped working for the left side. When the brake was applied, it went to the floor and then pulsated back up, and then the abs light illuminated. Updated 02/01/12
During normal highway operation, the overhead console fell from the roof of the car, striking the driver in the head. The driver almost lost control of the car. There are 5 fasteners which hold the console to the roof and 3 of the 5 were broken off. 2 of the fasteners were never inserted properly into the mounting slots. When it fell, the wiring held it, causing it to swing inside the vehicle.
1. Ford sent recall notice (01s19/01m03) in september, 2001. Vehicle was taken in for service (11/7/01) and the receipt indicates that safety shields were installed 'to prevent a front spring failure from puncturing the front tires'. The notice also stated that 'what ford will do for you': "ford motor company will also pay far any repairs directly relating to the front coil springs of you vehicle free of charge (parts and labor)." it was at that time (2001), the owner received an 'extended coverage transferable warranty notice' on the front springs for 10 years from the warranty start date, regardless of mileage".2. The springs may have fractured at a later date, or were broken at that time and not replaced. The vehicle has always had very low front ground clearance. Because of the low ground clearance and the installed shields, the spring failure was not noted even when new tires were installed.returning the vehicle to the dealer in 2009, after a front break line failure, the owner inquired about checking for broken front springs under the recall campaign mentioned in the notice from 2001. That is when he leaned that the safety recall issue was satisfied with the "shield installation". This action apparently also removed the vin from the safety recall data base.thus, assuming that this is no longer a safety issue, the owner continues to drive the low mileage vehicle (less than 100,000 miles). 3. The cost of replacing the springs was estimated at $400 to $600 dollarsby the dealer and no corrective action is being taken as apparently this is no longer a safety issue. The vehicle is a 1998 ford windstar that was purchased on 10/16/97, with five miles on it.4. Is this vehicle safe to drive as there are nearly 100 similar complaints on this safety complaint web site?5. As this vehicle did not qualify in the clunker program, is spring failure a lemon law issue?
Vehicle has front axle hub and speed sensor replaced due to antilock warning signal continuing to stay on. Recall# 01i007000. There was a noise in the front right wheel and on another occasion a loud bang had come from the vehicle due to the left front spring exploding.the service department stated on another occasion that the sub from had rusted badly. *sc
Consumer states that paint is peeling off.consumer feels the interior may eventually fall and paint chips may get into passengers eyes.
Took vehicle in to a mechanic for repair work. When mechanic placed the vehicle on the lift, he noted that the subframe that cradles the engine and transmission and serves as the attachment point for the front suspension was extremely rusted. The corrosion has caused large and numerous holes in the subframe. He stated that the vehicle is unsafe to drive in its current condition and would not work on the vehicle because it was unsafe. He stated that the engine could actually fall though the subframe, or the subframe could brake at the suspension connection points causing loss of control of the vehicle.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated that while having the vehicle examined by an independent mechanic, she was informed that the frame on the front driver's side was rusted through. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but offered no assistance. The failure and the current mileages were 97,500.
Peeling paint on most upper surfaces, including roof, liftgate, and side door. Mr
Extensive peeling of paint atop of van exposing surface thus creating extensive damage to vehicle requiring expensive repair.
Upon inspection of vehicle for inspection, it was determind vehicle was unsafe to drive because of badly corroded subframe on passenger side of vehicle. Also, coil spring on passenger side was broken posing a driving hazard. Vehicle has approximately 80,000 miles.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 to 15 mph, she suddenly lost control of the vehicle and the rear end of the vehicle dropped downward. The vehicle was unable to be towed, so an independent mechanic came to the location to examine the vehicle. The mechanic stated that the frame fractured in half and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified and they offered no assistance. The failure and current mileages were approximately 160,000. The vin was unavailable.
There ispeeling paint on most of the topmost surfaces of this vehicle, including the lift gate, above and around the top of the side sliding door, and along the luggage rack. The paint is peeling off the primer layer.
I have (had) a 1998 ford windstar that transports not only my own three childrenbut two other children from time to time.after pulling out of the garage one day the rear of the mini-van made a horrible sound.i looked out the door and saw myrear tire in a very precarious position.after further review i noticed that what one would think could never happen, sure as '!@#$% did, the rear axle was cracked in half.i did some searching on the net and found that i am not alone.ford says it is not their problem (until someone's family dies) because it is past the 5 year warranty.the root of the problem seems to be a manufacturer defect that allows water to enter the axle and not escape.this event causes the axle to rust from the inside out.not very happy here, but really don't want to see anyoneget hurt or killed!!!!!!!!
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken for routine brake service when he noticed that the sub frame was rusted and hanging from the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified and informed the contact that there were no recalls for the issue. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked and was no longer being driven as a result. The failure mileage was 65,000.
Paint began peeling off liftgate, roof and side door in medium to large size strips and has continued to worsen, revealing the white primer below.there is a defect with the paint adhesive.the contrast in tone between the dark blue paint and large uneven patches of white primer is distracting to other drivers, since it looks so odd, and has potential to cause an accident.the entire mini-van needs to be repainted.i note that 4 of the total of 6 complaints of structural defects reported to nhtsa to date for this vehicle make, model and year , not including this one, are also for peeling paint on upper surfaces.this is obviously a manufacturer's defect and should be corrected.(incident date only indicates the time around when i first observed the problem.)
Paint peeling on the vehicle. Started at roof and now is peeling all over. Also the front suspension makes a banging noise when traveling on bumpy roads. Have tried to have fix but 2 or less months it starts again.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. While driving, the steering wheel shook and the vehicle pulled to the left and right. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the front driver side subframe was rusted due to corrosion and the subframe needed to be replaced. The contact called john kennedy ford- pottstown at (800) 790-8132 (located at 3189 w ridge pike, pottstown, pa 19464) where the dealer referenced nhtsa campaign number: 10v385000 (suspension), but not for the subframe. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the vehicle was not included in a recall. No further assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 100,197.
I have a 1998 ford windstar. It first started with my cruise control switch catching on fire and causing wires under my hood to burn... Now for the last year i have been having problems with my passenger sliding door..the sensor on the dash would show that the door was ajar(not closed) i could take the battery cable off for a while and the door light would go off. Now i have had to remove all the bulbs in the lights inside the van to keep my battery from running down this morning i get up and my battery is dead and acid from the battery is all over the post and cable wires. I talk to my mechanic he says this is due to some problem in the electrical system he said he has had to work on several windstars for the same problemsome kind of sensor fault defect.
The interior lights stayed on even after the engine was turned off, due to door switch failure.
Vehicle has been in numerous times for new seals on front right passenger door for wind noise: also been in for failed brake system numerous times and front rotors have been on back order for almost 2 months: in numerous times for front end alignment-checked and rechecked by several ford dealers and they cannot do anything, vehicle has always pulled to the right; engine has died several times and would not start back up; front pads on brake system have been replaced and rotors turned at only 10,000 miles still grinding and will not stop correctly; vehicle feels to me as unsafe for my wife and two younger boys.
Door open indicator stays on, causes interior light to stay on. Every other 1998 ford i know has same problem (7 vehicles). Nieghbor has had thier van (98) worked on 4 times in one year. Dealer not helpfull. Ford has blinders on, acts as if they know nothing about thos problem. All i wanted is ford to say they knew it was a problem, and they were working on a solution. Fords integrity is in question with me.
Various problem with power lock locking byitself/windshield wipers working intermittently/dome light not operating, anddoor ajar light staying on. Vehicle been in / out of dealer shop on several occasions, and problems still reoccurring. Possible electrical problem with failure of power locks, windshield wipers, dome light, door ajar light, door ajar switch,lift gate door ajar switch, battery saver relay inoperable, and washer light illuminating.brakes noisy at times, dealer stated this was due to brake dust.power steering is noisy when turning back and forth, dealer replaced tie rod end.sliding door rattles while driving over bumps, dealer added foam tape to back side of panel, driver door rattles, sliding door hard to open at times, dealer lubed sliding hinges and latch.dealer replaced shocks due to rattling noise when riding over bumps.drivebelt replaced.maf sensor replaced due to hesitation.window guide did not fit tight.
Door ajar light on dash is on constantly when all doors are shut. Chime is also going off at all times.when chime is on it is not possible to lockdoors. Vehicle at dealership at this time.
Door panel assembly failed causing, drivers door not to fit properly.
Door lock mulfunctioned.yh
The passenger door contact was corroded causing the interior lights to come on and an alart on the dash that the door is "open".reported to dealership but never repaired or replaced under waranty. This is a danger to the driver that the door is open and distracks the drivers attention to immediately turn around to visually check.this alert also causes the interior lights to automatically come on when this "open door" indication is given.this is also a distraction.both the dealership and ford were contacted but nothing was done.i will never buy a ford product again.
1. Transmission will shift erratically , and a loud noise will occur and motor will shake. Ford engineering was sent out and determinedtransmission needed work, but no dealer will honor warranty.2. Brakes will fail in the winter and in slippery roads, causing pedal to go to floor and vehicle will not stop.3. All doors lock by themselves/lights flash on and off, and heater and defroster motor will come on even without the key in the igntion. Vehicle will even start up by itself.
Power door locks failed.yh
Door sensor replaced in 1999 "just goes bad" rick hunt ford in warrenton va. Says.went bad again. Interior lights stay on up to twenty mph.sometimes the chimes are on the same way , sometimes the chimes and all interior lights come on at traffic lights and cut off again at20 mph, but dip down to15 mph and they all start on again. Sometimes the door locks pop to unlock position also.do i have the only vehical like this?
Door locks are not working properly.they will lock at times, and not lock at other times. Also, instrument panel will illuminate showing thatdoor is not closed when it is. Please provide more information.
The door locks on this vehicle are operated by swtiches on the front doors and at the rear storage area. These switches will no longer activate the locks on the two front doors. The dealership checked the problem and advised that the doors need new "actuators" at a cost of $70 per device, plus close to $200 to install them.i am concerned that these locks should fail at this point in the life of the car.i have had similar locks on several cars and never had them fail, much less at such an early date. Please note that i have owned the car less than the 36 months normally covered by warranty, though the 36,000 mile threshold has long since passed. I argued with the dealership, however, that the door locks are not elements of the car so affected by mileage, but more likely by usage over time.they wouldn't budge on fixing them.i am concerned about this from a safety standpoint because the front locks cannot be manually unlocked from the interior.in an accident, this could prove fatal.
Ongoing problem with door ajar light staying on while all doors are properly closed.dealer notified, and informed consumer that vehicle was out of its warranty, and nothing would be done.
Without prior warning door warning light comes onpanel,andlight will stay on. Interior light will go off, but the sound of the chime will not stop.dealerlership is aware ofproblem.*aik
Driver side sliding door failes to lock from either inside or outside due to an electrical problem. Consumer has contacteddealer. Please provide further information.
The front window area fits poorly causing, flapping noise and installed foam strips under windshield weathrestrip.
I have basically had everything that could go wrong with this vehicle.. Go wrong. It has been in several times for the seal around drivers side door (air flows in). The door ajar indicator continually goes on and the dome light comes on(making it very unsafe to drive at night. Especially when trying to back up. The dome light then stays on causing battery to die. I have had problems with the traction control light to blink have had in shop they say they replaced a sensor. As soon as my warranty was up. It happened again(cost me over $400.00) when either window is rolled down about 3 inches(as soona s it hits that point) a buzzing sound will occur. I had a huge gash on the interior of my right tire(no known cause) i believe the van was 3 months old at this time.... Had to purchase a new tire. I have had work done several times on the front passenger side. Including the bearings replaced.... A sensor ring that had broken in half, tie-rod... I am so disappointed in this vehicle, we bought this because it was convient to tote around 3 children but the fact that i am so afraid to drive it alot of times ins't very convenient at all. I am amazed that it has made it this far (90,000) the back hatch seems to have some electrial problems as whenever it is opened it woll set off the door ajar light and when closed it never goes off.. For some reason it has periods of time that it will stay on for weeks and then when that stops the window buzzing starts. I am not under warranty and am very tired of sinking money into a van that we apid well over 30,000 for. Why is something so expensive........... Such a money pit????? i feel i get no response from the dealers. They seem to be able to word it in a different way when they fix something and you have to take it back in to be re-fixed.. Although it does the same thing??? i guess we will have to do more research on vehicle manufactors when buying our next family vehicle. I have never been so disappointed. Please send recall informat
Auto lock failed.yh
Tailgate power lock inoperative.yh
Light that indicates door is open stays illuminated.light gets so hot thatit may cause a fire. The switches have been replaced.the ford company is aware of the problem and doesn't want to fix unless consumer pays out of pocket.the sliding door was replaced.*jg
Vehcile will stall when motor is hot, putting consumer in a dangerous situation. Sliding door malfunctions.
The interior lights stayed on even after the engine was turned off, due to door switch failure.
My 98 ford windstar was involved in an accident where a chevy tahoe ran a red light and t-boned the right rear passenger side of my van.upon impact the side door of my van flew off and ended up 15 feet from the vehicle.all occupants were wearing seat belts (my wife and our 5 children) so no one was ejected from the vehicle.our son who was sitting in the back seat on the passengers side was hospitalized with multiple life threatening injuries.the failure was not corrected as the vehicle was totaled.
Courtesy lights will intermittenly work. They will come on when driving at night, or sometimes they will not come on at all.experiencing other electrical problems with the reverse lights, interior lights, automatic door locks, door check light, and signal lights operating intermittently, consumer states that the engine is noisy and the engine check light is always on, the seat belt is loose, passenger side arm rest is loose, and the back window wiper is inoperative.
Hood area was bent and caused vehicle to lean unevenly. The structure of the vehicle was poorly designed.
Ie99059, the defective steering bushings does not support the system which causes the vehicle steering system to malfuction. Also, braking system malfunctioned, causing extended stopping distance which may result in a crash.the fuel pump went out unexpectedly, cause vehicle to stall.finally,liftgate indicator light came on, but the liftgateremained closed.brakes been replace once,andbushings3 times.please provide further information and vin#.
Individual was unloading something from the trunk of the vehicle when the trunk lid came down and hit the indiviual in the top of the head, causing injuries to the skull.individual stated that it's a poor design in the door lid.
The vehicle makes noise while turning due to rear sub frame mount failure. Yh
1998 ford windstar has rusted engine subframe, which, if lets go would cause side axle and front tire to separate from van and cause loss of steering control,loss of braking, and possible accident.this was discovered while van was on ramp for oil change . Received recall on rear axle cracking and recall was done today by ford. Brought subframeproblem to the dealers attention and they stated that ford was fully aware of this problem but could do nothing about it because ford had not issued a recall on this time. The service station owner which did my oil change expressed an opinion that he felt that the front subframe rusting was indeed much more of a concern than the cracking of the rear axle which has been recalled by ford. At present i am afraid to drive my windstar with this structural defect and i feel ford should remedy this defect in the same manner that they did with the cracking rear axle.
The rear axle is cracked and almost separated.don't know when or how it happened.has not been repaired.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated there was a large hole in the sub frame and engine cradle. The manufacturer issued a recall under nhtsa campaign id number 11v030000 (structure) pertaining to 1999-2003 windstar model year vehicles. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000. ..updated 12-30-13updated 01/09/14*ljupdated 01/13/14
I have a 1998 ford windstar, in which the rear axle broke in half shortly after coming off the highway. I pulled into a customer lot and heard a noise, but i thought i ran over a hose that was on the ground. It was not until a worker came in an told me my rear wheels were at a 45 degree angle, and the axle it was split down the middle. I had to get my wife to pick me up and take me back to work, and then home. The car had to be left at the customers and i hadittowed the next day to my mechanic. He showed me the damage one and pointed out the rust and the break. I was blessed this did not happen on the highway, for i had just taken my son to work. The cost estimatefor a new axle was $600.00, and a used axle was $275.00 and this did not include additional parts and labor.this happen on july 22 2010 at 3:00 p.m. The final bill including parts ,labor, and towing was about $950.00.
Was driving 25mph when suddenly driver lost control of vehicle. Managed to get to side of road after going from west bound crossing to east bound lane. Had vehicle towed to dealership. Was informed by mechanic that rear frame bolts had sheared off and causedframe to separate.
A spring under car came loose and was dangling aroung under vehicle.this part could have punctured a tire and caused a serious accident.
When driving vehicle/ either turning or coming to a stop there is a knocking sound near front wheels.took vehicle to dealer, and they said that subframe strut sleeves need to be welded.please provide any further information.
Front sub frame completely rusted out.ford has sub frame recall for the 1999-2003 but not the 1998.
Without any warning signs that i could see, the rear axle on my 1998 ford windstar broke in half while my wife was driving home from the grocery store.she was able to pull off the road and call me for help. The rear wheels were tilted inward so much that we had to have the auto towed to a local mechanic, where the rear axle and related parts where replaced. This incident happened almost 9 months ago, and every since then i am reluctant to drive this auto anywhere near a highway. Because the engine seems to be very sound. We simply use the vehicle to drive around town. One of the main reasons i feel i need to register this complaint, is because i noticed an investigation that has been initiated for 1999 and later windstars. Because we have a 1998, i felt this information would be helpful with this investigation.
I own a 1998 ford windstar(manufacture date aug..1997. I have been having problems for a while. My van was making a whining grinding noise. Gear is hard to get out of park bad popping noise when backing up...replaced all 4 wheel bearings and both tie rod ends..still making a bad whining noise.3 days ago i was driving down the highway and the steering started acting weird and shaking and the back of the van started swaying back and forth .. Was told at the shop about the recall on axel i called ford and was told my van is not on the list my van has a excessive amount of corrosion throughout the whole bottom the shop told me this van has been exposed to salt. When i bought the van it had a inspection sticker from previous owner from one of the recall states.(pens) ford would not give me any information onwhat state it was sold in or dealer, what brand of axel that was being recalled (said they didn't know the brand) come on what company spends money on parts and don't even know the brand or manufacture they buy from. I'm scared to death to drive this automobile.. I think ford should honor there promise to its customers and fix this problem on all 1997-2003 windstars not just certain months of 1997 or does someone have to lose there life before they do something?ford>>> you took our money for your product now stand behind your product.
The dealership service departmentstated the "front subframe sleeves were loose; welding of the radius arm sleeves was required. They stated this problem was very common for windstar and even taurus models. If so, this is a potentially serious and widespread problem in these cars.
I puchased my van on 2/24/02 with 55k on it from cavalier fordin chesapeake ,va. The van was takenback to cavalier ford in chesapeake, va. On 2/12/03 because of a popping sound coming from the front area when breaks are applied and sometimes while turning. The mechanic discovered severe cracking in sub frame where right strut rod attaches. The mechanic has never seen one do this and said i could lose my steering if it cracks all the way while i am driving. He said could be manufactuer defect. Est. Cost for repairs $3,000.00. I only have 65k on the van and havent even had it a year yet. There is no evidence of van being in a wreck. This is not coverd under my extended warrenty . Has this been a problem with other windstars and what do you suggest that i can do? l.j.va. Beach,virginia
I received a letter earlier this year regarding my 1998 ford windstar for a rear axle recall.i had it serviced at malouf ford in north brunswick, nj.when my son picked it up, he was told there was a new recall for the front right subframe rusting out (similar problem as the rear axle).they checked the subframe on my car and it was severely rusted.he was told they would call us when the parts came in to fix it.i had an appointment to fix the subframe this past tuesday (24/may).the service department called and said that while the subframe was definitely rusted out, and that it was due to the same defect as described, that particular recall was for 1999-2003 windstars and since mine is a 1998, they will not fix it. Please note i had no clue of the recall or the damage.the ford dealership advised me of it.i waited for the parts and brought the car in when they asked.now, though they confirm that this rusted-out subframe on the passenger side is exactly what the recall is for, and there is the potential for a deadly crash if that subframe fails, they are not "authorized" to repair a 1998 windstar. I don't know if my car is a late-model 1998, but it was manufactured at the same ontario, canada plant as the cars that qualify for the recall, and a rusted right subframe is not a normal wear-and-tear condition.it is beyond negligent to acknowledge the problem in a 1999 windstar, but pretent the same exact problem in a 1998 windstar from the same plant is not their problem.
Nut and underbolt failed causing noise in front end.
I brought the vehicleto walker ford on 3/14/202 for a protective spring shield, recall #01s19. We noticed a clunking noise from the passenger side front shorrtly after. We brought the vehicle back to walker ford on 5/3/02. Upon inspection, we were told the weld for the sub frame was broken. This holds up the transmission,engine, suspension,.. This is definieetly a severe safety issue and gone unchecked, i believe it could have led to a major accident and possible injuries, not just to myself, but others who may be driving a vehicle with a similar problem. This is not something that needs to be fixed as part of routine maintenance and is very rare and uncommon for this to break, as confirmed by another mechanic. I believe the weld was defective. This vehicel is well maintained and there is no cause for this type of problem other than a defect.
Recall 01f090000 was done in april 2002. Shields were installed within 1/8 inch of tire, new tires will rub on the shields.consumer stated that the gas filler hoses are exposed to flying stones from the wheels after 98 fords added a shield to cover their hose.
Was informed that sub-frame (also called engine cradle) is rusting away on my van. After looking online, it seems this is a common issue among these vans, which is caused by the use of inferior steel and an ac line running over the sub-frame. My engine can now literally fall out unless i pay out-of-pocket to replace this.i know nhtsa has an investigation into this, but i can't wait months for a recall while my family uses this vehicle daily!please recall this promptly, many people are paying thousand for out-of-pocket repairs on an issue ford should have to cover.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated that there was significant rust within the front subframe area. The authorized dealer was notified and they informed the contact that there was no recall related to the defect for his vehicle, although there was a recall on the 1999-2003 model years under nhtsa campaign id number 11v030000 (structure: frame and members:underbody shields). The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 165,000. Updated 03/02/11 updated 03/08/11
The vehicle was taken to the dealership for a leaking hose. While being inspected the ford mechanic found that the driver side front subframe was almost completely rusted through. The dealership stated the vehicle was unsafe and would not repair it. There is a recall on 1999-2003 windstars for this reason. The 1998 and earlier are not included as the subframe on the 1999-2003 is "tubular" and the 1998 and older is "stamped". While the construction is different, the problem seems to be the same as i was advised by the ford mechanic that the stamped subframe rusts out frequently too. My father-in-law was the original owner of this vehicle and he willed it to me upon his death. The vehicle has been well maintained and always been an "indiana" vehicle. The subframe on the other side is fine and still has paint on it.
While driving my 1998 windstar @ 45mph, ilost total steering control of my vehicle and my vehicle veered into the oncoming lane of a two lane highway. I was able to regain control after turning the steering wheel approx 360 degrees to the right and managed to stop safely. After further investigation, it was found that the drivers side lower control arm bracket that is welded to the subframe broke away from the subframe due to a rusted out subframe. I've owned this vehicle for the past 8 years and never received any information from ford regarding this safety issue as noted in the 1999-2003 ford windstar recall which has the same issue as my vehicle. Although ford is not going to honor a subframe recall for my year vehicle, ford should at least send a notification letter to inform owners of this dangerous issue. Both my wife and kids drive this vehicle, but had i at least known there was a dangerous issue with this vehicle, i would have parked it.
I noticed my van was 'feeling weird' when i drove it-almost like i was driving on a slippery road and the back end was sliding.this went on for about4 days.i had to drive my son to visit his father on an extremely snowy day.the roads were drivable but did have some snow on them.when i proceeded down the hill i live on, the sliding sensation was extremely exaggerated.the further i drove, the worse it got.i had to drive in 1st gear going less than 20 m.p.h. With the back end of my van fishtailing.i thought for sure we were going to roll over.thank god i was passing the mechanic's garage i use, and i was able to pull in.i have just been informed that the rear axle has snapped and the vehicle is not drivable.upon searching for how much a rear axle is going to cost, i was surprised to find a site where people list the problems they've had with the same vehicle.this is not an unusual thing to have occur!!!!people could very easily be killed when this breaks.it was only by the grace of god that we didn't wreck.ford needs to further investigate this and put a recall on the rear axle.
After it was put into reverse and i went to park there was a loud noise and i couldn't move the van. Got out and look at it and saw it was the rear axel completely broken.
While braking there was a clanking noise in front end.tookvehicle to ford, ford replaced subframe bushings and tie rod ends.please provide any further information. Ts.
Consumer stated the front end of the vehicle was bouncing, also the front hub bearings were replaced.
Right front strut failed.yh
Was informed that sub-frame (also called engine cradle) is rusting away on my van. After looking online, it seems this is a common issue among these vans, which is caused by the use of inferior steel and an ac line running over the sub-frame. My engine can now literally fall out unless i pay out-of-pocket to replace this.i know nhtsa has an investigation into this, but i can't wait months for a recall while my family uses this vehicle daily!please recall this promptly, many people are paying thousand for out-of-pocket repairs on an issue ford should have to cover.
I went to ford dealership in dec 09 received inspection on recall # o9s09 and 09so9h only. Now here in feb. 2012the same problems with suspension,right front tire wheel makes alto of noise power steeringfluid is leaking strange noiseis heard when making right turns,ford said my vehicle has had all service it is due . I believe they are wrong all the same problems the recalls reported are my problems i have paper work providing they only ran test on recall #o9s09 and 09s09h my car is in serious weather conditions here in illinois.under the original ownerford stated they are not responsible for any further repair.ford dealership roberts motors 4350 alby alton il 62002.
While driving at 60 mph severe vibrations occurs, causing safe handling ofvehicle to become extremely difficult, cause unknown. Consumer states local dealer has tried various things such as tire balancing, alignment and changing all four tires but nothing has resolved the problem, local dealer stated that this particular vehicle has this problem and they dont know what to do to correct it.
No recall on my vin # but i am having this issue.suspension:front:springs:coil springs rubbing tires.causingto use up tires fast. Make a rubbing noise when turning.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated that while in reverse, the contact heard a loud sound from underneath the vehicle. Upon inspection, the contact noticed that the rear axle fractured and caused the rear tires to bend outward. The manufacturer stated the vin was not included in nhtsa campaign i.d. Number 12v195000 (suspension). The failure mileage was 180,000. Updated 10/22/13updated 10/25/2013
Persistent loud groan or rubbing sound occurs when steering wheel is turned to left and when turning to right when straightening out from left turn. Front end shop advised struts and strut support brackets require replacement at cost of $588. Vehicle is 6,000 miles out of warranty. Shop supervisor expressed suprise that such components require replacement. Because of service back-ups dealer has not yet advised on proper solution.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated that while performing a routine maintenance check up on the vehicle, the dealer found the middle of the rear axle was cracked due to corrosion nd rust. The vehicle was repaired by having the rear axle replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact referenced nhtsa campaign id number: 10v385000 (suspension: rear: axle: non-powered axle assembly) however the vin was not included under the recall. The current and failure mileage was 130,139.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. While driving approximately 30 mph, the contact heard a hissing sound coming from the vehicle, but could not identify where the sound originated. The contact also began to smell a burning rubber odor. The contact pulled into a nearby driveway and placed the vehicle in park. The contact was unable to identify any failures with the vehicle. The contact called a certified mechanic; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failures were similar to nhtsa campaign number: 10v385000 (suspension). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.
My wife was turing left at a red light and was waiting for pedistrians to cross the street. As she turned the corner the right front tire snapped off of the hub and almost hit a lawyer! all five of the studs broke off, the metal indicated they were fresh breaks. There was not any indication of the nuts being lose, the nuts were still screwed on the studs. The wheel and nuts did not look scared as if they had been lose. Pior to the wheel coming off there had been no shimmy or vibration at all. I had driven the vehicle the previous night and had not felt anything out of the ordinary.she had only accelerated from the left turn position about 15ft and could not have been going faster than 5 mph. The vehicle had not been serviced after we purchased it. Thank god she was not on the interstate in 5'oclock traffic!
The vehicle was taken to the dealership for a leaking hose. While being inspected the ford mechanic found that the driver side front subframe was almost completely rusted through. The dealership stated the vehicle was unsafe and would not repair it. There is a recall on 1999-2003 windstars for this reason. The 1998 and earlier are not included as the subframe on the 1999-2003 is "tubular" and the 1998 and older is "stamped". While the construction is different, the problem seems to be the same as i was advised by the ford mechanic that the stamped subframe rusts out frequently too. My father-in-law was the original owner of this vehicle and he willed it to me upon his death. The vehicle has been well maintained and always been an "indiana" vehicle. The subframe on the other side is fine and still has paint on it.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated that the rear axle fractured in half while driving 5 mph. The vehicle exhibited an abnormally loud noise as the contact merged the vehicle to the shoulder. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic where they inspected the failure and informed her that the axle was fractured and the vehicle was not drivable. The manufacturer was contacted and informed her they would contact her at a later date. The failure mileage was 150,000.
The rear axle broke into two separate pieces while coming to a stop in my driveway.the rear wheels were canted in at the top as a result, completely disabling the car.the vehicle had to be towed for repairs and a new rear axle from ford motor co was installed.fomoco has denied my claim for repair because denver, co is not in the recall area issued 8-26-2010 and expanded on 11-30-2010."vin not identified for this field service action."i am the original owner and the vehicle continues to be driven daily.(gs for dennis dolan)
While driving my 1998 windstar @ 45mph, ilost total steering control of my vehicle and my vehicle veered into the oncoming lane of a two lane highway. I was able to regain control after turning the steering wheel approx 360 degrees to the right and managed to stop safely. After further investigation, it was found that the drivers side lower control arm bracket that is welded to the subframe broke away from the subframe due to a rusted out subframe. I've owned this vehicle for the past 8 years and never received any information from ford regarding this safety issue as noted in the 1999-2003 ford windstar recall which has the same issue as my vehicle. Although ford is not going to honor a subframe recall for my year vehicle, ford should at least send a notification letter to inform owners of this dangerous issue. Both my wife and kids drive this vehicle, but had i at least known there was a dangerous issue with this vehicle, i would have parked it.
Reading on-line because my mechanic's puzzled about the noises, i find that it's not only the 1999+ windstars that have had a problem, but -- if you would look at #2 and #3 here at this link:http://www.aboutautomobile.com/complaint/1998/ford/windstar/suspensionit's apparent that this axle breakage has occurred in 1998's as well.that is what i have, in which i'm hearing similar noises.living in a salt-belt state, this is scary; don't even dare take it on the freeway!hard to get out of town (such as to a graduation this weekend) without freeways.very sad ... & hard to replace it, too, while on only social security.something should be done to include 1998s (see link above) in this investigation, too, it appears.i didn't pay nearly $4000 to only drive a vehicle in town, and not be able to go anyplace!:o([xxx] ps * didn't give "day" b/c this has been occurring the last few months, and finally asked the mechanic last month, once i was driving more again (in winter don't do much, and then at other times drive ma's car taking her places).well, it insists on a date, after all, so will put on there, arbitrarily. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated that while driving 20 mph, she heard a loud clunking noise. After inspecting the vehicle,the contact noticed that the rear driver side axle was fractured in half. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who verified the failure but was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 100,000.
I own a 1998 ford windstar(manufacture date aug..1997. I have been having problems for a while. My van was making a whining grinding noise. Gear is hard to get out of park bad popping noise when backing up...replaced all 4 wheel bearings and both tie rod ends..still making a bad whining noise.3 days ago i was driving down the highway and the steering started acting weird and shaking and the back of the van started swaying back and forth .. Was told at the shop about the recall on axel i called ford and was told my van is not on the list my van has a excessive amount of corrosion throughout the whole bottom the shop told me this van has been exposed to salt. When i bought the van it had a inspection sticker from previous owner from one of the recall states.(pens) ford would not give me any information onwhat state it was sold in or dealer, what brand of axel that was being recalled (said they didn't know the brand) come on what company spends money on parts and don't even know the brand or manufacture they buy from. I'm scared to death to drive this automobile.. I think ford should honor there promise to its customers and fix this problem on all 1997-2003 windstars not just certain months of 1997 or does someone have to lose there life before they do something?ford>>> you took our money for your product now stand behind your product.
My front cradle at steering area has completely rusted into from ac leak and road salt van was sold in vermont now is located in virginia unsafe almost undrivable to ford dealer for a rear axle recall for axle braces please investigate this
Took vehicle in to a mechanic for repair work. When mechanic placed the vehicle on the lift, he noted that the subframe that cradles the engine and transmission and serves as the attachment point for the front suspension was extremely rusted. The corrosion has caused large and numerous holes in the subframe. He stated that the vehicle is unsafe to drive in its current condition and would not work on the vehicle because it was unsafe. He stated that the engine could actually fall though the subframe, or the subframe could brake at the suspension connection points causing loss of control of the vehicle.
Rear axle beam crack.
Problems with transmission, torque, power steering, and front end stable rods & arms. *mr the transmission and torque had been replaced twice, the power steering once, the font end stable rods and arms twice and remained bad.the battery light had come on and the idler pulley was replaced, there was a creaking/cracking noise when turning the wheel and the outer tie rods were replaced along with the toe being reset, there was a clunk when going over the bumps, there was a vibration underneath due to the transmission, the engine light would come on and off and seemed like the shifts were erratic, the transmission leaked badly, and on some occasions the starter did not engage. *scc
When we purchased the van, we also bought a diamondkote warranty ,for 499.99$ and told at the time of purchase that is was a good warranty.we then found out that we should not have been sold the warranty and plaza ford lincoln will not honor it, we can't even get a refund, so we spoke to someone at diamondkote and this person told us that we should not have been sold the warranty and have been trying to get a refund ever since,either from plaza ford lincoln or diamondkote. I had intentions of suing ford motor company two years ago when my husband took my two daughters to halifax, because my 8 year old had cancer at the time, she had a appointment at the i.w.k hospital and it was by the grace of god that thay were not killed when the front suspention spring broke in which case my husband lost steering. I spoke to a lawyer who sadly told, because there was no death or injury there was nothing he could do,well my 8 year old who is now cancer free was so scared, shestill gets very scared to get in a vehicle. I could go on but for now this is just the begining. I am going to pursue the matter of the diamondkote warranty further,and possibly more.we have had alot of vehicals before but never a ford with as much trouble as this has been.
1998 ford windstar. Consumer writes in regards to several recent recalls and states she has had problems with jerking and tire ware *tgwthe consumer stated the rear axle wa inspected and no problems were found. However, she continued to experience problems.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. While driving approximately 40 mph, the contact heard a loud clanking noise outside the vehicle and immediately the vehicle was driven to the side of the road. The contact noticed the rear axle was completely fractured. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for diagnosis and the technician advised him there was a recall associated with nhtsa campaign id number 10v385000(suspension:rear:axle:non-powered axle assembly). The vehicle was then towed to an authorized dealer who stated the vehicle was ineligible for the recall repair due to the date range mentioned in the recall summary. The manufacturer was made aware of the problem. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 194,000.
While driving on the highway at 60mph, i lost control of my vehicle and it started to fishtail and swerve into the next lane as i tried to regain control it spun around and flipped over upside down on top of the guard rail and landed facing traffic.i received minor injuries and my three children were not injured.i was informed that the rear axle snapped in half on my vehicle and that there is a recall on this part.i never received a notice in regards to this.
Vehicle pulls to either the right or left if the steering wheel is released for one second. It pulls so badly that while driving it wanders into other lanes. Dealer has not been contacted.
Loud crackin and popping from sway bar attached fo rusted out cradle drivers side rear cradle that has rusted out and broken and has dropped down 1/2 inch and also rusted rear axle just tagged and registered it in va then noticed all the rust to subframe and rear axle van has manufactured in canada on door and a vermontcar dealer emblem on backdangerous vehicleam icovered by recalls on this safty hazards
The vehicle was driving normal and began to make noises in the front end.i had the vehicle inspected at a service garage and told thefront coil springs are fractured.
This van is 3 years old. Corrosion most likely caused the problem with strut rods & sway bar links. Obviously this manufacturer was not concerned with quality b/c of all these problems. The ford company will not reimburse me (my van is no longer covered by factory warranty) unless they issue a recall on any particular problem. I just don't understand why i would have all these problems with a vehicle that was less than 2 yrs old when the problems started. Maybe you can't help me, but i wanted to lodge a complaint.
Rear sway bar broke in half on low speed turn if this would have happened on a freeway exchange or off ramp this would have resulted in a rollover and possible death!
A/c oct. 99 $168.98, dec. 99 $134.40suspensionjuly 01$664.61, dec. 99 $515.85, jun 01 $61.78,bodyjun 01 $443.61othercd player jun 01 $19.50 and $366.86 turn signal jan 02 $161.04 dome light jan 02 $84.02 jan 02 $89.72 door oct 99 $134.52, mar 03 $285.07steeringsept.02 $258.82, mar. 03 569.32computer controls sept. 00 $106.02engine jan 02 $784.75 coolant smell (found front cover gasket leaking) sept. 02 85.95 (told throttle body worn out, sold me update computer software, seams to run better)currently in shop for check engine light and a/c system intermittent.mechanic found engine problem, says main bearings or crankshaft bad, possibly due to coolant in oil system from january 02 problem
When traveling approximately 55mph or more vehicle would vibrate. Went to dealer & had the wheels changed 5 different times. The steering wheel would shake, but vehicle was controlable. There would be clunking noise going into drive or reverse. Has been an intermittent problem.
November 2010 my vehicle was serviced for a recall which 2 reinforcement brackets were placed on the rear axle.the recall was for rear axles that were cracked or broken.mine was not replaced just reinforced.on 4-9-13 my rear axle cracked, and i can no longer drive the van. Upon calling ford and speaking with customer service, i was informed they did their part by placing brackets in 2010 and even though the axle cracked anyway it is now at my cost.thankfully this did not happen while i was driving with my children, but i am very upset ford knows this is a problem with the rear axle, and chose to place brackets that did not "fix" the problem.
Broken axle while driving.thankfully was not driving at highway speeds or this could have been devastating.ford will no longer honor 3rd recall after installing safety plates and saying axle looked ok.
I was backing out of a parking spot and heard a loud crash type of sound.checked the car and found out that the rear axle had broken in half.
I bought this van because of the clean condition of it . I have the 3.0 ltr engine which has been excellent. The transmission so far is ok. Steeringis a dangerous mess with almost everything new and 3 alignments. If you take your eyes off the road even for a second you can end up in a ditch.my wife & i both went off the road in a 1 month span. We both have excellent driving records. The front end seems ok to ford. Something serious is wrong with the steering. Won?t let my wife drive it anymore. Has a little vibration that you cannot get rid of. Sending this to you because i called ford and they said there was no safety recall or any steering issues with that van. Had a service bulletin in front of me at that time stating there was. But that is not the problem. Ford denied the all of the above. Am afraid to sell to someone because i think someone will get hurt.don?t know why ford keeps putting in the same bad parts year after year. I have had all the dome light problems and door locks etc. They will still say no problems. Bought it used at a good price thinking it was a bad tire causing the problems. If accident occurs will seek damages
My wife was taking my youngest two children to school in our vehicle when smoke started pouring in through the vents of the vehicle and at the same time she lost control of the steering sliding off onto the shoulder of the road. Once my wife made sure everyone was out of the smoke filled vehicle she noticed the tire was completely shredded on the passenger front side of the vehicle. She notified me and we had the van towed to a mechanics shop where we found out that the front passenger spring had busted causing the tire to be shredded. The mechanic advised buying two new tires for the front of vehicle, he also advised buying two new springs and replacing both of them on the front. The van was fixed and we paid for the bill and tire cost out of our own pocket.the manufacturer of the vehicle informed me today that they will not compensate for any of these costs even when a recall letter 01s19/01m03 states "we will install protective shields around the front coil springs of your vehicle. These shields will prevent the possibility of tire puncture should the spring fracture.---- motor company will also pay for any repairs directly relating to the front coil springs of your vehicle free of charge ( parts and labor)so to me this is a failure of the respected company from full filling what i see in my eyes as a obligation to the consumer. I also feel the recall should have been to replace the springs..not install shields which i am sure was a much cheaper route.i have all receipts that concern this matter.thanks!
Front sub frame completely rusted out.ford has sub frame recall for the 1999-2003 but not the 1998.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. While driving, the steering wheel shook and the vehicle pulled to the left and right. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the front driver side subframe was rusted due to corrosion and the subframe needed to be replaced. The contact called john kennedy ford- pottstown at (800) 790-8132 (located at 3189 w ridge pike, pottstown, pa 19464) where the dealer referenced nhtsa campaign number: 10v385000 (suspension), but not for the subframe. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the vehicle was not included in a recall. No further assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 100,197.
Front struts broke while driving on the hwy at 30-35 mph on a snowy road condition. Dealer notified and repairs wer emade at consumer's cost.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated that while driving at 57 mph, the contact heard a noise coming from the front of the vehicle. Upon further inspection, the contact noticed that the sub frame in the front of the vehicle had corroded and fractured. In addition, the contact stated that the arm of the sub frame behind the driver's side front tire had corroded. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vin was included in nhtsa campaign number: 10v385000 (suspension). The failure mileage was 141,000.
Upon inspection of vehicle for inspection, it was determind vehicle was unsafe to drive because of badly corroded subframe on passenger side of vehicle. Also, coil spring on passenger side was broken posing a driving hazard. Vehicle has approximately 80,000 miles.
Suspension system poor stability, feels as if it will turn over on occasions.
While consumer was traveling on the highwayvehicle startedshaking, andlost contol. Hit a guardrail, and flipped over three times.the consumer was traumatized, and didn't remember anything.
We have always had trouble with this van - we bought it used(1 yr old) so we had no recourse as far as warranties go. We finally were able to take it in to the ford dealership and have the light problem looked at - they replaced a sensor for $140 and as soon as we drove 45 miles it started up again! we were on our way on a road trip and i called to tell them it failed, but when we got back two weeks later they claimed that it must be something different... Interior lights do not shut off, removed door ajar chime so we didn't have to listen to that while driving all the time,door ajar light has been on continuously for more than 3 years, we've had to remove the dome lights and turn the other lights to "off" so our battery doesn't go dead over night - the passenger floor lights remain on however and get very hot... The doors do not lock because the car thinks it's doors are open! the car has become dangerous to drive and the problem has stumped too many mechanics to list - when driving above 40 mph the right wheel starts making a 'thumping' noise and when turning left or accelerating it becomes almost deafening, now it's making a very loud screech if, but don't want to sell this death-trap to anyone else either you turn too sharply - there is a continuous squeaking noise coming from the same area. Please help!! thank you, [xxx]ps... Cruise control doesn't work and the back wiper only works if you're backing up... Have had the van realigned continually and i just bought another set of tires in june and the left front tire is already worn out... The right passenger's window sometimes doesn't roll back up and the service engine light stays onsometimes for months for no reason as well as the brake light... Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in for routine service, it was informed that the bracket support for the suspension was corroded and needed to be repaired. The vehicle was previously repaired under nhtsa campaign number: 15v608000 (suspension). The contact was informed that the vehicle was unsafe to repair and was unsafe to be driven. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure was 158,000.
Vehicle unstable when going down the road.
Windstar subframe is completely corroded and unsafe. This is caused by roadsalt, nothing i did. Ford refuses to cover this as a recall.vehicle is completely unsafe to drive, and ford won't stand behind it.
Had taken vehicle to dealer to check steering. Vehicle would wander over the road. Would make popping noises when making right turns.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated that after having repairs performed on the vehicle under nhtsa campaign id number: 10v385000 (suspension:rear:axle:non-powered axle assembly), the vehicle would start jerking violently from the rear to the front when driving at speeds above 60 mph. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the ball joints, bushing, intake gaskets, spark plugs, and lower controls arms needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance since the recall repairs were already performed. The vehicle was repaired at the contact's expense. The failure mileage was 126,131 and the current mileage was 127,000.
Loose nuts and bolts attaching the tension bar bushing retainer.
Front drifts to the right at slower speeds and to the left at high speeds.
Front end noise when turning or braking.
Front end caster split causing vehicle to pull.
Consume r was traveling a low speed making a turn andthere was a moaning sound like a grinding noise,alignment was off peak. Dealership was aware of problem.-
While driving a program vehicle, front end suspensionwould make grinding noises. Has taken vehicle to dealer at least 12 times for problem. The dealer refused to do repair work which is under warranty.
While driving at 40 mphsteering gear rack broke, causing loss of steering and a leakage of power steering fluid. Also, vehicle veered to left and right all over the road. Consumer then slowed down and pulled to the side of the road. The manufacturer has been contacted.first failure at 46,561 miles, second at 62,500.
Consumer has experienced several problems with the transmission, dealer has replaced it once, however problems continue, consumer has filed for a request for arbitration, vehicle bucks, jerks, and jumps into gear before taking off.vehicle shimmies from one side to another upon acceleration, there is a thumping sound heard also at times while driving.vehicle experienced a speed sensor circuit problem.speedometer jumps.problem with power steering, dealer adjusted rack and pinion and made other repairs to steering mechanism.right side brake light bulb failed.battery failed.consumer stated it felt as if vehicle was going to stall sometimes, engine has no power at acceleration, engine belt was noisy and was replaced.tire had a slow leak due to loose tire valve.
I had backed out of a parking spot and was proceeding forward when the front of car, left side, dropped down abuptly.van ground to a stop and i hopped out to investigate.the left front fender was much lower than the right, but it was dark so i couldn't see much else.wanting to get the van back to my home, i tried to drive it farther, but it made a loud grinding noise that sounded similar to a train on a track, and began to smell like burnt rubber.at this point i decided it best to stop and had the van towed to my mechanic.the mechanic advised that the coil spring was broke and on his advise i had both front coil springs replaced as well as the struts.he said i was fortunate to be moving at such a slow speed because i would have lost control due to the spring rubbing against the tire and rim.we also replaced the tire.we contacted the dealership and showed the service manager the broken coil spring and wrote a request for assistance.the area inspector, who never saw the part, turned down the request because i didn't take the van to the ford dealer.the vehicle wasn't under warranty and i needed it fix right away, plus the dealer was 20 miles away, so i made a quick decision to have it towed to my mechanic who was close.i didn't know what was wrong, i'm not a mechanic! after alot of run-around, the dealership has offered to cover half the repair bill and i think that is as good as it will get.i'm still concerned that others may not be as lucky as i was to be in a parknig lot and moving so slow.i saw the usa today press release and knew this had to be reported.thank-you!!!
Front end alignment was performed due to tire wear and drivability.
Front end alignment was performed due to tire wear and drivability.
Dealer had to replace both outer tie rods and adjust front toe. Steering started to bind when making a left hand turn,and van steering had felt loose up to the point of failure.
Automatic transmissions failed twice in less than one year.each failure resulted in a replacement transmission from the ford dealer.this vehicle has less than 50,000 miles on it and two transmissions have been replaced.i have requested a replacement vehicle from ford due to the unreliable performance of this vehicle.i was told by the ford consumer hotline that it is not their policy to replace a vehicle, only to repair or fix as needed.
I am seeking action to alleviate the cost of maintenance problems i have experienced with my 1998 3.8l v6 ford windstar gl.over the past few years, my windstar has displayed reoccurring and extensive mechanical problems in the front end, brakes, and engine that have resulted increasing amounts of time and money spent on repairs.from research, i have found that our difficulties are not an isolated event, and are in fact a common problem in the 1998 windstar, and are the same problems found in the 1995 windstar.the most recent event was the requirement to have the head gasket replaced.the local ford dealer provided this service which cost $1500.00 in parts and labor.upon completion of the repairs the van was not roadworthy, a new short block was needed due to damage caused by the faulty head gasket.i have been quoted over $6000.00 for this job.in addition to the mounting repair costs, i am forced to rent a car so that we have transportation while we consider options with our windstar.my windstar has less than 100,000 miles.it is not uncommon these days to have vehicles operate this long before requiring the first tune-up.in order to maintain this van, i have spent the time i have ownwd this vehicle and a lot of money taking my windstar into service centers to have inferior parts, such as the plastic tie-rod ends and brakes, replaced many times.i have also spent a fortune on rental cars while our windstar sat unserviceable.we have born this cost with the expectation that investing money in repair would result in safe, reliable transportation for our family.with this major repair, the months of exhaustive diagnosis and trial repair jobs to fix the problems that arrise, the multiple tie rod end replacements, and brake system repairs, i feel that i am entitled to compensation from the ford motor company.
Steering column sticks,has to jerk steering wheels. Alsovehicle pulls to the left. Consumercan hear a whistling sound onleft side.contacted dealer.dealer kept vehicle for about one hour, and told consumer it wasn't anything wrong with vehicle.
Popping in front end when turning or hitting bumps. The popping sound was often. Had new tires put on, and when i took it in to have front end aligned. Ford tech. Said front springs were broke. Was an est. Of $1200.00onit can't afford. This was 5/20/2011. Contacted mfr about the recall that was issued on this part 7/12/2001. Was told there was nothing they could do, because of a time limit. How can they put a time limit on safety & peoples lives because the springs are broken,they can puncture the tires and cause an accident. Now we are without transportation. And my son is disabled and has numerous dr. Appts. Miles away. But my hands are tied. The mfr. Did advise to have another recall checked out which is the speed control because it can catch fire. When i asked why, you just told me it was unsafe to drive.he advised it could catch fire just setting in the drive not running. I was not notified of either one of these recalls by mail or other wise until i called to complain about the front coil springs. How does these billion dollar company's keep getting by with negligence? there are lots of recalls on this vehicle. Please help!
Vehicle has been in numerous times for new seals on front right passenger door for wind noise: also been in for failed brake system numerous times and front rotors have been on back order for almost 2 months: in numerous times for front end alignment-checked and rechecked by several ford dealers and they cannot do anything, vehicle has always pulled to the right; engine has died several times and would not start back up; front pads on brake system have been replaced and rotors turned at only 10,000 miles still grinding and will not stop correctly; vehicle feels to me as unsafe for my wife and two younger boys.
The steering column moves up and down. Also there is a funky noise coming from thefront left end suspension when turning the steering wheel to the left. The dealer was not able to find out what was causing the problem with the steering, loss of steering control resulted in vehicle hitting curb causingdamage to vehicle.
Clunking noise in the front end.dealer inspected and found strut rod bushing retainer loose and the subframe cracked.repairs not covered under warranty, suspected that failures due to earlier transmission work on vehicle.ford contacted.*ml
Transmission would jerk as if being rearended. Front end would work itself loose. Had to replace bushings, tracking bar & motor mounts due to being defective. Vehicle is not drivable after being in an accident.
Front end suspension continually experinced noise, several repair and replacements to various suspension components however continous. Yh
I bought a 1998 ford windstar 3.0 l in 1999.in 2002 i received a recall to install front shields over the coil spring so i did.yesterday the front coil spring punctured the front tire and broke the struts as well.when calling ford, they inform me that they can not tell me when my vehicle was manufactured, just that they will do nothing about it.they issued the warranty for 10 years from manufacturer date even though the recall did not take place until 3-4 years after manufacture date and i took my vehicle in for the recommended cure to the problem.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated that controlling the vehicle would often become difficult. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection where the contact was advised that the front passenger side axle shaft needed to be replaced. The contact believed the failure was a manufacturing defect. The failure and current mileage was 155,500.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact was driving 5 mph in a parking lot when the vehicle exhibited a loud noise and was not drivable.the vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the front axle fractured as a result of corrosion. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was not included in any recalls. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 100,000.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar.the contact stated that the coil springs failed and punctured the tires.she felt that this was a safety issue because a serious crash could have occurred.the vehicle has not yet been repaired.the current and failure mileages were 168,000.
Shock absorber (strut) and coil spring broke ...none in stock in all of usa!2weeks have gone with no repairs because of lack of spring nationwide! dealer in mo (car still there) told us part was on order for 3 days...after missing work for 4 days and paying for hotel in eureka, mo we ended up renting a car and driving back home to michigan.will have to rent another car and overnight hotel bill to return to pick up van when (if ) completed...all the while we still are making mo/payments on vehicle we can't even drive!!!
No summary listed for above vehicle.
1. Ford sent recall notice (01s19/01m03) in september, 2001. Vehicle was taken in for service (11/7/01) and the receipt indicates that safety shields were installed 'to prevent a front spring failure from puncturing the front tires'. The notice also stated that 'what ford will do for you': "ford motor company will also pay far any repairs directly relating to the front coil springs of you vehicle free of charge (parts and labor)." it was at that time (2001), the owner received an 'extended coverage transferable warranty notice' on the front springs for 10 years from the warranty start date, regardless of mileage".2. The springs may have fractured at a later date, or were broken at that time and not replaced. The vehicle has always had very low front ground clearance. Because of the low ground clearance and the installed shields, the spring failure was not noted even when new tires were installed.returning the vehicle to the dealer in 2009, after a front break line failure, the owner inquired about checking for broken front springs under the recall campaign mentioned in the notice from 2001. That is when he leaned that the safety recall issue was satisfied with the "shield installation". This action apparently also removed the vin from the safety recall data base.thus, assuming that this is no longer a safety issue, the owner continues to drive the low mileage vehicle (less than 100,000 miles). 3. The cost of replacing the springs was estimated at $400 to $600 dollarsby the dealer and no corrective action is being taken as apparently this is no longer a safety issue. The vehicle is a 1998 ford windstar that was purchased on 10/16/97, with five miles on it.4. Is this vehicle safe to drive as there are nearly 100 similar complaints on this safety complaint web site?5. As this vehicle did not qualify in the clunker program, is spring failure a lemon law issue?
I have a 98 windstar mini van . After the minivan has been running for awhile and you go to stop it will go dead or what you call stalls.so after i crank it back up and try to take off again it will stall again.so therefore i have to make sure there is no traffic coming,because there has been some close calls of me and my children getting into a wreck due to this piece of $#*$.the interior lights will not go off, so my husband had to take the light bulbs out: also the passenger side window will not go down or up.this thing is so bad i wish jimm skinner ford would have just kept the piece of $#*$.
Vehicle shook continuously when being driven.front end was aligned, the bearings,shaft, and the ball joints werereplaced.
Ford mo said they cannot fix my suspension problem after working on my car since the first service call.this has beensince 1999.there have been many service calls, parts replaced,andi was told that if i traded in the car that they would give me$3,000 toward another car, which amounted to me buying a new van for the regular listed price.i have been putting up with these excuses that they didn't want my car as a trade in as they could'nt resell it.now i am stuck with a car that i can't sell as it is defective.what is a consumer like myself to do about this.i have gone toarbitration and they said they couldn't help.the lemon laws only applies to the first year of purchase and i spent the first year with ford telling me they were working on my problem and that it would always be covered by warranty.now they tell me they can't fix it.the car has such a bad shimmy, pounding in the front end that no one would take thisvan as a trade.
Consumer was traveling 15mph on a two lane ramp and heard something popped, andsteering column was difficult to steer.she was able to pull over toshoulders, and noticed that a coil spring had fallen out and puntcuredright tire. Consumer states left and right front coil spring was replaced.
Somegrinding and steering problems when trying to steer.
Defect happened while normal backing out of driveway.know ofat least one other exactincident with another winstar in this area. No safety defec tmentioned.
Clunking noise in front suspension at 32,000 mile due to wornout bushing.then at 74,000 miles noise was due to radius arm sockets that needed to be welded.the problem started at 74,000 miles but was not found and fixed unitl 82,000 miles.the car has not been in any accidents.i feel this vehicles front suspension is defective base on repairs needed in 80,000 miles of highway and city driving. Ford has brushed me off working through their customer service channels! i am the origional owner.
My front end sounds as if left front wheel is going to fall off.when we drive the van shakes all over,feels very unsafe we're no longer driving it until its repaired.
When turning to the right there's a loud squeaking noise.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for repairs under nhtsa campaign id number: 01v199000 (suspension: front:springs: coil springs). The technician stated that they heated and sprayed penetrating oil onto the sway bar in order to remove the bar to complete the recall but they were unsuccessful in doing so. The technician stated that the sway bar links would need to be cut out in order to perform the recall repairs and the removal costs of the sway bar links would not be covered under the recall. The manufacturer was contacted and stated they could not override the decision made by the dealer and provide no assistance because the part was not covered under warranty or the recall. The vehicle was repaired at the contacts expense. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
While vehicle is in operation and making any type of turn, there is a loud "metal to metal" sound coming fromfront ofvehicle. A private mechanic has replaced tie rodin an effort to repair problem.
A loud noise came from the front of the vehicle while driving 55 mph. Vehicle pulled to the left. Consumer noticed that sway bar broke ondriver's side.dealer and the manufacturer were contacted, and both informed the consumer that the part was not covered under a recall.
Vehicle experiences continued problems with front end suspension including alignment, bolts to the lower control arms, caster and tie rods resulting in excessive wear of the tires and vibration.
While traveling at 25 mphcontrol armbroke.if going any faster vehicle would have rolled over and crashed.
Was driving vehicle & it would go into a low depression. A boring noise could be heard from the springs. It was an intermitten problem. Took to dealer & mechanic could not locate cause of noise. Did change the bushings & struts.noise in front end over bumps due to both outer tie rod failure.
Front right control arm broke once, andleft control armhas broken three time in the past two months.dealer has been making the repairs.
There was a noise that had come from the wheel when turning, as the consumer traveled on the highway.tsthe ball joints failed, both left and right on the front end.scc
Grease in the front ball joints has dried up, causing the ball joints to malfunction.please give any further details.
Consumer took vehicle torepair shop becausefront tire tires were balled inside.mechanic toldconsumer that upperball joints and tire rod ends were defective.consumer replaced them. Therewas no accident.
The vehicle had noise in the front end. The dealer indicated that the noise was due to strut failures.
The frame that holds the front strut rod cracked and caused theright wheel to wobble.
Recall 01i007000; moisture and corrosionaffectingfront coil springs. Also, can affectstrut bearings.contacted dealer, and dealer stated all they have to do was to putshield around and check coil springs.
Mounting bracket of right front strut snapped, right front of car collapsed and bent sway bar, which gouged and ruined tire.occurred at low speed on smooth pavement.if we had been traveling at highway speed, the failure would have been catastrophic.i still have part and can e-mail picture of it.
Various problem with power lock locking byitself/windshield wipers working intermittently/dome light not operating, anddoor ajar light staying on. Vehicle been in / out of dealer shop on several occasions, and problems still reoccurring. Possible electrical problem with failure of power locks, windshield wipers, dome light, door ajar light, door ajar switch,lift gate door ajar switch, battery saver relay inoperable, and washer light illuminating.brakes noisy at times, dealer stated this was due to brake dust.power steering is noisy when turning back and forth, dealer replaced tie rod end.sliding door rattles while driving over bumps, dealer added foam tape to back side of panel, driver door rattles, sliding door hard to open at times, dealer lubed sliding hinges and latch.dealer replaced shocks due to rattling noise when riding over bumps.drivebelt replaced.maf sensor replaced due to hesitation.window guide did not fit tight.
Consumer complained about left front spring breaking. Vehicle was towed to the dealer, and the spring was replaced, butdealerrefused to change the other onesunless they broke.did not feel that this vehicle was safe to be driving again.
This vehicle was recalled a while ago to install a protective shield between the coil springs and the tire, so that if the spring failed the tire would not be damaged.this modification did not function as intended.we experienced a failure of the spring as well as the shield which shredded the tire and damaged a brake line.ford needs to recall their recall, this is a reprehensible act on their part.
While pulling out ofdriveway the coil spring broke.also, spring puncturedleft front tire, and blewtire completely out. Consumer has contacteddealer.
While driving at 75 mphfront coil spring snapped and broke, puncturing the front drivers side tire. Consumerhad the coil spring replaced once. This was the second time this has happened. The front end of the vehicle completely dropped. Also, there was a brake failure.two nhtsa recalls regardingfront coil springs, recalls 01i007000 and01v199000 were issued.
Consumer called complaining about having problems with the left front springbreaking. The vehicle was towed to the shop and the springs were replaced but the shields for the spring were not replaced.the consumer does not feel safe driving the vehicle because the same problem may occur.*nlm
Consumer states vehicle was experiencing a problem with the tire rubbing on the spring.the vehicle was taken in to have the recall (01v199000) work performed.consumer began experiencing problems again with the recall related issue.the dealer refused to look at the vehicle, stating that the problem was not related to the spring, without even looking at the car.*yd
Driving to church with my family and the coil spring broke. Now just a couple of weeks later tie rod problem.also there is a very loud squeaking in the brakes when in reverse.i am terribly disappointed with this vehicle.
Left front of vehicle dropped to ground. Had vehicle towed to dealer. Front coil spring broke. Coil spring sliced tire when it came down, dealer would not pay for tire, alignment, or all of towing.
While driving, left front tire experienced a blowout, no specific tire information given, a year later, consumer receives recall 01s19 regarding the front coil springs corroding, possibly causing tire damage, consumer does not want this vehicle anymore.
While driving, left front tire experienced a blowout, no specific tire information given, a year later, consumer receives recall 01s19 regarding the front coil springs corroding, possibly causing tire damage, consumer does not want this vehicle anymore.
Ea00027; left front coil spring broke, causing tire to ride in fender.
The front coil springs failed after the recall was performed.
Recall 01 v 199 00/ front coil springs. Sincerecall repairs were done snow tires were not to be installed onvehicle. Please feel free to provide further details.
Mfr# 01s19 & nhtsa# 01 v 199 000/front coil spring corrosion: consumer states while pulling into a parking lot right front coil spring broke and puncture the tire. The make & modle show a recall. Dealer notified. Feel free to provide any further information.
Ea-00-027 ; front coil spring which is part ofsuspension,broke. This, in return, split and cut tire,causingtire to go flat.
Consumer stated that upon receiving a safety recall for spring coil replacement, recall #01v199000, cnsumer called the dealer to ask if she could order the spring coils to have them ready for the appointment, dealer told her that was impossible, consumer made appointment and went to the dealer to fix the recall remedy, dealer told her that a spring coil replacement was unnecessary in nashville, instead of following the recall instruction from ford they installed protective shields which caused crunching sounds over the smallest bump, when turned the wheel to the right the tire made sounds of heavy friction, consumer believes the two tire blow out that she has expereinced has somthing to do with the shields that were installed on vehicle, and the deterioration of the drivers side tire from what appears to be constant friction and rubbing, however, consumer needs the shields to be remove and the problem to be corrected as quickly as true to the original recall specification as possible. *yd
Front coil spring broke. Local mechanick has noy seen a broken spring since the 1960"s. I know of other ford products that have had spring problems.
Left front coil spring broke and imbedded itself inleft wall oftire when backing out of a parking space.there was very loud groaning noise coming from front end when the consumer started to drive the vehicle, and the front end collapsed soon afterbecause the front left tire had deflated as the result of the coil spring breaking and slashing the tire.
Broken front spring.front strut spring broke causing groaning noise in the front whell area, broke spring also caused the van to lean tot he left.nlm 4/12-01
My wife was driving our 1998 ford windstar on the highway when she heard a loud noise and scraping sound coming from the front driver side tire area.the sound stop shortly and a six inch long curved rod of metal had fallen out onto the road way.the front coil spring had cracked and a piece of it had come loose and eventual fell out under the vehicle. I was fortunate that the collapsed spring had not damaged the tire or the brakes.the vehicle is currently being serviced to replace the broken coil spring and inspection for further damage.
Nhtsa recall 01 v 199 000 and manufacturer's recall 01s19/front coil spring: dealer; prestige ford; mount dora, fl; phone# 352/357-5522)is not honorin recall as outlined.dealer only inspectedvehicle, and informed consumer that nothing could be found.also,no repairs were necessary. Feel free to provide any further information concerning this matter.
While pulling out of driveway front left coil spring broke, puncturing the tire.no parts available for repair.*ml
Front left coil spring broke while van was parked. See nhtsa ea00027 and pe00024.
Left front coil springbroke whilevehicle was just starting to accelerate forward after backing out of a driveway. Ford dealershipstated thatspring had rusted, and thiscausedcomponent to break.
Consumer has called several dealerships to have four recalls done and they were refusing to honor them.recall # 01v199 concerning front springs:coil spring/ 99v147 000 concerning brake master cylinder/ 00e11 ford's additional warranty for front springs:coil springcorrosion, and01m 03.
While driving van approaching a major highway the left front coil spring broke without any warning causing the left front tire to be sliced off it's rim.the driver lost control of van but was able to eventually control it.when the spring was examined there was no rust on the outer portion of it.it was coated completely with factory paint.it did however show signs that it cracked prior to it breaking as there was a very slight amount of rust 3/4 of the way through actual crosssection of the spring.other reports of this happening in salt belt states.i believe this may be temperature related as it is cold in all the salt belt states.it is apparant that this spring may be too brittle and the cold weather makes it worse.the major problem is when it slices the tire off the rim at highway speeds.i have pictures of spring and tire.arentatent thatture related break.
Consumer was traveling 15mph on a two lane ramp and heard something popped, andsteering column was difficult to steer.she was able to pull over toshoulders, and noticed that a coil spring had fallen out and puntcuredright tire. Consumer states left and right front coil spring was replaced.
While pulling out of a parking space, the front right spring broke.had to have car towed to repair shop.i was told i needed to replace coil springs on both front sides.repair could not be made on same day becasue ford is the only manufacturer of the spring and no one in town had the replacement springs.i had to rent a car for the weekend.
No recall on my vin # but i am having this issue.suspension:front:springs:coil springs rubbing tires.causingto use up tires fast. Make a rubbing noise when turning.
Faulty installation of left front spring guard that was on recall caused noise.
Pe 00 024/suspension coil spring: while traveling at 40 mphfront coil spring broke and punctured driver's side tire. No injuries reported.vehicle towed to dealer, and repairs were doneat consumer's expense.
Front coil springs on driver's side broke in half, htting front tires, andresulting in fronttire s blowingout.
While sitting in vehicle andwithout any indication frontspringsbroke. Please provide further information.
While driving the vehicle and no warning front left spring coil cracked, causing the vehicle to fall to the ground. Dealer notified.
While in motion the front coil springs fractured and were in need of emergency repair.consumer had the vehicle taken to a local mechanic who repaired the vehicle.a recall was issued for installing protective shields to protect the coil springs from fracturing.consumer would like to be reimbursed for monies paid, but ford dealer will not honor the request for reimbursement, because the repairs were not made at the dealership.*jg
Front coil springs broke while driving 5mph. Noticed rubbing against tire which was becoming frayed. Took to dealership , and mechanic indicated that problem was definitely front coil springs,but did not replace them. Owner working with dealership.
Recall 01 v 199 000/front coil spring corrosion: dealer ; capitol ford; goldsboro, nc; phone# 919/735-8411 refused to do any repairs not until sign of defect/corrosion appeared onvehicle. Feel free to provide any further information concerning this matter.
Passenger's side coil spring broke while backing out ofdriveway.dealer notified, and informed consumer that vehicle was not covered under a manufacturer'srecall.feel free to provide any further details on this matter.
The consumer had to replace front coil springs-may 2000.(reason unknown)in september, the consumer received a recall notice on this repair, but the dealer would not issue reibursement, in the amount of $228.17.the consumer was given the run around and feels that ford would rather stay behind their dealer, than to stand behind their customer.(though satisfied w/the vehicle, but unsatisfied w/the treatment.*scc
Front coil spring broke and it was rubbing against tire so badly that it was difficult to drive. Took vehicle to dealer for recall 01v1999000 repairs on coil spring. A shield was put around the spring. Driver did not see a spring shield around coil. Driver only saw a plate to prevent tire from being punctured again. Please provide any further information.
Consumer was traveling about 45-50mph &front coil spring broke. Broken spring went into the left tire ,caused a blowout, but no onewas injured. Dealersaid that coil spring had to have been defective.vehicle currently at the dealer.
On 5/22/03 i was driving down the highway and experienced a sudden feeling that the front end of my vehicle dropped and heard some of the worst noises i had ever heard.upon driving the vehicle home (slowly) my husband came home and took off the tire.we discovered that the front coil spring over the strut had collapsed and the vehicle could not be driven. We paid out of our pockets to get the vehicle flat bedded to the local ford dealership.the parts have been on national back order and it's been over a week.i am personally in jeopordy of loosing my job because i have only been able to work 1/2 day.(1 vehicle left, 2 working parents with 3 kids) now i am being told that the tire on that side is damaged and can not be trusted to be driven on, and the van needs a front end alignment.ford is saying this is not covered and refuses to do anything about it.we received the recall notice 6 days after the spring collapsed.it is for spring shields, at the ford customer service number told me the shields are to be installed so that if the spring collapses it doesn't damage the rest of the front end and cause an accident.is this all ford is responsible to do?there are thousands of these vans on the road that are a potential danger.they know that these springs are a hazard and they don't cover towing, replace or repair of tires etc that get damaged due to their defective parts.my tire is only 1 month old.i just replaced it.their only responsibility is to try to make sure no one gets killed in an accident caused by a defective part on their van.why are they able to say the get the 5 star safety rating from the government, that makes people think these vehicles are safe.my collapsed doing 50 mph going home from my morning run as a school bus driver.i had just dropped my son off to daycare 10 minutes before.this could have been a much worse incident.
Consumer received notification thatvehicle was affected by recall campaign 01v199000. Dealership only examined vehicle for corrosion, and failed to install protective shields aroundcoil springs percorrective action forrecall.please provide any additional information / documentation.
While driving 5 mphfrontdriver's side coil spring broke. Consumer states that the strut was ruined and ford paid for all repairs.
Front coil spring broke and ruptured front right tire of the vehicle.dealership has not informed consumer for reason of defect.please provide any additional information/attachments.
My 1998 ford windstar had a failure of the front left leaf spring. The resulting damage was at low speeds but the left front tire was damaged beyond repair. In dec 2001 i had the recall by ford accomplished to install a guard on the leaf springs. This guard was installed to prevent this type of damage. This first recall was a "safety recall" and the fix for that recall was ineffective. This should be a full out safety recall to replace these springs before someone dies. It shouldn't take a death to change the policy on these springs. I believe this fault to be more related to a material defect then a rust or corrosion problem. I have over 100,000 miles on my windstar and i inspect it periodically for possible damage. These springs have little or no rest nor did the spring at the point of break. Without detailed inspection microscopes a minuet crack couldn't be seen with the eye. This is a consistent problem with this vehicle as noted in the complaint section with over 77 complaints. Just think of the problems that aren't registered on this site. I'm only concerned for the unsuspecting family who has no idea that these springs will fail it's only a matter of time. Ford will only replace them if they break. They will break as a manufacture defect. I feel the safety council should revisit this problem. I have some video of the damage to my springs and tire for proof if there is any need for such evidence in an accident investigation. Let me restate myself this is a very serious problem that is being overlooked. Don't let this problem kill some before more action is done. One death from this problem is too much. These vans carry our children on a daily basis and a whole family could be lost in just one accident.
Vehicle has front axle hub and speed sensor replaced due to antilock warning signal continuing to stay on. Recall# 01i007000. There was a noise in the front right wheel and on another occasion a loud bang had come from the vehicle due to the left front spring exploding.the service department stated on another occasion that the sub from had rusted badly. *sc
Front left coil spring broke and puncturedtire while pulling into a parking lot. Dealer contacted. Feel free to provide any further information.
The right front coil spring failed while driving.nlm
While traveling 35 mph right front coil spring had broken, causing front end to drop 6 inches. Please provide further information.
The spring on the drivers side of vehicle had ruptured while consumers wife was driving.when the spring ruptured, it forced the guard into the tire (which happens to be one month old), and ruined the tire.consumer was told that the spring had been recalled and ford would replace them.(in which ford said that the spring on this vehicle had been replaced already and they would not replace anything).*scc
Front right coil spring brokewhileconsumer's daughter was driving at approximately 10 mph.whencoil spring broke, it causedfront right tire to blowout. Consumer replacedoriginal tire with a spare, resulting inspare being destroyed because ofbroken coil spring.
Left front coil spring broke.dealer andmanufacturer were not notified. Feel free to provide any further information.
Faulty installation of left front spring guard that was on recall caused noise.
Dealership did not perform recall 01v199000 repairs correctly forfront coil spring,and is refusing to correct the problem.
Consumer contacted dealership for recall #01i007000 repairs,but dealership refused to repair vehicle. Please provide furtherdetails.
Driver noticed a noise infront end of the vehicle when making turns. This was due tofront coil springs breaking.needed new coil springs.
Recall 01i007000; moisture and corrosionaffectingfront coil springs. Also, can affectstrut bearings.contacted dealer, and dealer stated all they have to do was to putshield around and check coil springs.
Consumer took vehicle in to dealer for a recall repairs onfront spring. Same day consumer received car back, there was a banging noise when consumer hit a bump.consumer had not contacted dealer. Please provide any further informayion.
While pulling vehicle out of garage vehicle dropped on driver's side.tire was shredded.also, thisbroke the strut.vehicle was towed to dealer.driver's side coil spring had to be replaced. Coil spring broke ripping the sidewall of the tire and bending the strut and strut mounting plate, dealer would not cover repairs and ford said they had no record of the problem.nlm
Left front coil spring broke while the vehicle was parked. Dealer was notified, and informed consumer vehicle was out of its warranty, and any repairs would be at consumer's expense. There was evidence of a flaw in the metal. 2-3 inches on each broken end of the coil spring was rusted.
Vehicle was takento dealer two years ago forcoil springrecall repairs. A spring shield was put into vehicleto prevent thetires from being punctured. While traveling at 70 mphcoilspring punctureda tire.recall repairs did not work, the same thing happened again.
Consumer received a recall notice 01v99000 that the front coil springs may corrode and fracture.recall repair was done by consumer's local mechanic. However, when consumer requested reimbursement, the manufacturer denied reimbursement claim stating that the repairs were done after the date of the recall letter (september 2001), there were no indication that the springs were broken, and the recall only covers the springs if they actually fractured and that the repairs were not done by a ford dealer. Consumer is seeking some assistance with this matter.
Recall 01v199000 concerning front coil spring corrosion. After the vehicle was repaired for this recall a popping noise could be heard while driving at low speed or applying brakes.
Consumer called complaining aboutfront brake problems. The brakes squeaked for a long time until they werereplaced. Also, front coil springproblems. Consumer startedvehicle and a terrible noise came from the front of the vehicle. She stopped, and had vehicle towed to the dealer. Dealer did an alignment, and told consumer thatfront coils needed to be replaced.
Consumer was traveling 45mph onhighway and she was approaching a major highway onramp, and heard a booming noise.spring broke and piercedleft right driver's side tires. She was able to pull over toshoulders. The consumer believes the cause of the spring breaking was cold temperature rather than corrossion.however, the consmer also indicted that springs were breaking only in area of heavy salt roads.
Consumer took the vehicle to the repair station. The driver heard a clanking noise from the left wheel. The mechanic noticed that struts and coils springs needed replacing due to corrosion.the consumer's vehicle identification number was not included the recall. The recall number 01-i-007-000
Consumer states that the dealership wicker ford; ticonderoga ny; 518-585-2888 is refusing to honor the recall for the protection shield front coil 01f 121 000. Ts
While driving 35 mphfront two coil springs broke and vehicle's front dropped. Also a tire on the right side blew out.the spring was replaced.
After parking vehicle driver noticed that vehicle looked like it had a flat tire. Took to dealer,and notified owner that coil spring was broken onfront left and right, needed to be replaced.both were replaced.the vehicle also needed struts and tie rod ends to be replaced.
I purchased a 1998 windstar van from the ford dealer located in corning ca. I have had nothing but trouble with it passing smog for the oxy sensor. And the transmission has never worked right. The turbo thing is bad. When i went to trade it in i found that the vehicle was out of canada. And these things were part of the recalls reported to you. But, ford of corning said they did nothing to this van before selling it to me. I found 14 things wrong with this vehicle. I acted up a month after purchase.but i was on aware of my rights as a consumer. Also, i was not sure what oms meant. The van is stuck in folsom,ca at aamco transmission repair shop. Financed through fireside bank. Ford of corning said they did nothing to the van before i purchased it but cleaning it.
After recall 01v199000for front coil springcorrosion was completed problem reoccurred.
Left front coil spring broke, while parked. Car undrivable, frame collapsed on tire. Replaced by dealer at owners cost.
Recall 01f090000 was done in april 2002. Shields were installed within 1/8 inch of tire, new tires will rub on the shields.consumer stated that the gas filler hoses are exposed to flying stones from the wheels after 98 fords added a shield to cover their hose.
Van parked in driveway, both front coil springs broke simultaneously causing front of vehicle to drop 5 inches and nearly piercing sidewalls of both front tires.
Nhtsa recall 01 v 199 000/manufacturer's recall 01s19 concerning front coil spring corrosion, consumer states dealer, wally edward ford, port henry, ny; phone# 518/546-9911 is refusing to honor recall notice.the ford motor company says the dealership is responsible for the safety recall repairs.consuemr has complained of the transmission and no dealership within a 100 mile radius will attempt to access the problem.*jg
Consumer was backing out of driveway andheard a clunking noise.vehicle had to be towed since front coil spring had broken off.the dealer replaced the front suspension.
Consumer was riding for a period of time and stopped to rest. Consumer was heading back onroad and 1 minutefrom where he was, front of vehicle went down. Consumer thought it was a flat tire. A tow truck cameand foundcoil spring had broken. Would have to go to a ford dealershop to be repaired. Consumer wantedmanufacturer to coverrepairs.a letter was sent,butresponse from them was they couldn't do anything for consumer. Vehicle had been taken to dealer several times prior to incident due to a strange noise that was occurring in the front end, dealer inspected front end extensively and never found anything wrong.there are plastic hub covers on the wheels, consumer has had 3 blowouts which have ruined the covers, they are not able to handle the repeated wear and tear.
While pulling out of driveway at very slow speed front coil spring broke.
After starting vehicle consumerheard grinding sound, front coil spring had broken.
The left front spring broke causing noise from the wheel area, the consumer requested reimburesement.nlm
While driving at 20 mphcoil springs popped in two spots . Contacted dealer,dealer only wanted to replaceleft side of the car, not both sides.there was a similar recall on earlier models.
Consumer was driving approx. 5mph when the coil spring broke, once mechanic checked there was rustover half of the spring, on 1/4 of an in. Was left.
My 1998 ford windstar has broken both right and left coil springs. I've had to replace the transmission, my abs and regular brake light won't go away even after servicing. My overdrive light keeps coming on and staying lit for days.
Both front coil springs broke. The first one broke at 60,000 miles and cut the side wall out of the tire. The second one broke at 63,000 miles and cut the side wall out of the tire instantly. Both incidents occurred at slow speeds. If it would have occurred at highway speed, a roll over may have taken place.
While driving 60 mph front coil springs broke.was able to get vehicle on the shoulder.dealer replacedfront coil spring.the front passenger side tire was punctured by the broken spring.the jack failedwhile raising the vehicle to change the tire.
The left front coil spring failed abruptly when braking for a traffic light, sliced the sidewall off the left front tire (blowing it out), severed the mcferson strut and dropped the vehicle to the pavement. If the failure had occured 100 yards later at the entrance of the high speed connector (which is a sweeping right turn) the vehicle would have flipped into the on-coming lane of traffic. Since spring breakage problems have been recorded on windstars since the model intro. In 1996, why has this not prompted action from ford??
The sway bar broke, which caused the vehicle to pull to the left.
The sway bar broke off inside the bushing. Which caused the vehicle to ride rough and bounce up and down.
While vehicle was parked consumer sawfront sway bar hanging down on passenger's side of vehicle.
Front stabilizer bar broke in half inside bushing none of the auto techs could find the problem for the part 2 years (not even during ny state inspections) so they past the van anyways untill finally one gave a tug on the passangers side of the bar and it came out of the bushing in their hands the tech said he never saw a bar break like that before and that was the cause for having to get the wheel hubs lowerball joints &tie rod ends replaced twice in one year along with the tires on the front of the van so the van sits in the drive way untill it can get fixed (finding the bar is the hard part)dealer said he could not locate one now what????any help would be greatly apreshiatedalso the dealer had to replace the tranny 4 times once about every 12000-17000 miles and one of the trannys only lasted for 325 miles before the van died on the ny state thruway on our way to canada from syracuse,n.y. Then it took the 5 weeks to fix the van and get it back to meso how could i be sure that the breaking of the sawy bar was not caused from the techs removing the unit x amount of times???????????along with the tie rods,wheel hubs,ect.
Consumer staes insulation bushing/stabelizer bar was replaced twice with in present mileage.provide any additional information. Ts
Front stabilizer bar broke in half inside bushing none of the auto techs could find the problem for the part 2 years (not even during ny state inspections) so they past the van anyways untill finally one gave a tug on the passangers side of the bar and it came out of the bushing in their hands the tech said he never saw a bar break like that before and that was the cause for having to get the wheel hubs lowerball joints &tie rod ends replaced twice in one year along with the tires on the front of the van so the van sits in the drive way untill it can get fixed (finding the bar is the hard part)dealer said he could not locate one now what????any help would be greatly apreshiated.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated that the vehicle taken to a local mechanic for inspection of the sub frame when the contact was advised that the sub frame was severely corroded and that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The contact stated that the brake lines were also found to be corroded. The brake lines were replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the sub frame failure and denied any assistance with the repair. The sub frame was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 114,000.the tie rods, front wheel bearings and battery had to be replaced within one year of owning the vehicle. The wheel cylinders, brake adjusters, spring kit, drums, rotors, shoes, and pads all had to be replaced. Also, the turn signal level stopped working for the left side. When the brake was applied, it went to the floor and then pulsated back up, and then the abs light illuminated. Updated 02/01/12
While driving the vehicle wouldpull to the left side of the road. Dealer notified. Ph
Backed out of driveway and put into gear front wheel jumps and loud thunk heard. Dealer replaces bushing problem still there.
I purchased a 1998 windstar van from the ford dealer located in corning ca. I have had nothing but trouble with it passing smog for the oxy sensor. And the transmission has never worked right. The turbo thing is bad. When i went to trade it in i found that the vehicle was out of canada. And these things were part of the recalls reported to you. But, ford of corning said they did nothing to this van before selling it to me. I found 14 things wrong with this vehicle. I acted up a month after purchase.but i was on aware of my rights as a consumer. Also, i was not sure what oms meant. The van is stuck in folsom,ca at aamco transmission repair shop. Financed through fireside bank. Ford of corning said they did nothing to the van before i purchased it but cleaning it.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated the vehicle was being inspected by an independent repair shop when she was informed that the engine cross member and sub frame were severely corroded and cracked. The vehicle was then taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the recall associated with nhtsa campaign id number 10v385000 (suspension:rear:axle:non-powered axle assembly). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 52,560.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated that while driving 40 mph, the rear end of the vehicle began to fishtail unexpectantly. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer and the contact was informed that the rear axle was fractured and exhibited excessive corrosion from the inside out. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 81,000.
This has happened on the inner roads and near from my house. I had heard the creaking noise coming from the rear and thought about my car's shocks are shot. Then suddenly i lost control and stopped the car, luckily no injuries either to me or the nearby property. With hazard lights on i drove the car very slowly home and looked under the car. What i saw really shocked me. The rear axle beam of my ford windstar(1998) cracked approximately 18"-24" from the driver side rear wheel and the entire welding (?)has separated from the mid portion. I could see the right portion of the beam welded and intact. I had just repaired the break fluid line for almost $600 and the mechanic never said a word about this crack before the repairs.i believe the rear axle / beam is a part of the vehicle that should last the lifetime of the vehicle and at least should not crack without giving any sign on the dashboard.thanks
Our 1998 ford windstar mini van rear axle broke.we were returning home.when we returned i went online to check how much it would cost to repair and was surprised to find that this van was not the only 98 to have this problem.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar wagon. The contact stated that the rear axle was corroded and fractured in half.the contact referenced nhtsa campaign id number: 10v385000 (suspension: rear:axle:non-powered axle assembly) but was advised by the dealer that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The current and failure mileage was 136,000.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated that while driving over a speed bump, the rear axle broke in half. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, who inspected the vehicle and determiend that the rear axle broke due to corrosion. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign id number 10v385000 (suspension:rear:axle:non-powered axle assembly). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileages were 216,000.
I have a 1998 ford windstar and just noticed that the rear axle has cracked.as i checked online i noticed that this was being investigated for1999 - 2007 windstars, and i just thought i would add my 1998 model to the list.iwould like to see 98 models included in any recall.
My 98 ford windstar rear axle split in two pulling into my work . I had noticed a noise from the back a few days before. I just put new tires on the van and noticed while a fellow employee was welding my axle so i could get home that the insides of my new tires were wore down already .i can not afford a new axle now and i have kids .i'm also aware that this is not the first windstar to have this problem i'm glad i was not going down the highway with my family and that happen. This is a ford problem and i should not have to fix a steel axle because water gets in it and it rusts it should of been put together so water cant get in it. Thank u please take care of this.
I have replaced the rear axle now for the third time. The first time it broke in half coming into my home driveway. The second time i heard a thumping noise from the rear of the van and looked to find a crack in the axle,i replaced it yet again. This last time the same thing happened,clunking noise to find yet another crack. The van has 130,000 miles has some body rust,but no reason for something critical like this to be happening.
1998 ford windstar's rear axle broke while driving on the road.no apparent reason for failure.the consequence of the failure is the loss of the ability to drive or handle the car. Axle snapped completely into two pieces and dragged against road.rear wheels were at a 45 degree angle to the road. Rear axle had to be replaced.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact received a recall notification associated with nhtsa campaign id number 10v385000 (suspension: rear: axle: non-powered axle assembly). The authorized dealer was notified and they informed that the part was unavailable for the recall repair until late november of 2010. The contact stated the recall notification specified the urgency of the repair; and expressed his concern of the potential safety hazard. There was no failure mileage. The vin was unavailable
1998 ford windstar - rear axle broken in two pieces.
While entering the merge ramp of the northern state parkway rear axle snapped in two.
When traveling between 60-70 mph the back of vehiclestarts swaying likehaving a flat tire. Also when a 18 wheeler or 15 foot truck pulls in front of the vehicle, the vehicle rocks. The dealer is not able to detect problem with the windstar.
Broken rear axle on a 98 ford windstar with only 90,100 miles on it.
This vehicle has had numerous braking problems/axles/sway bars/calipers/electrical problems
My 1998 ford windstar gl rear axle broke in two with no prior warning such as noise, handling problems or vibration. Being only 12 miles from home i was able to drive very slowlyuntil we got home. By the time we got to our driveway we had also lost almost all brake pedal.the following day i raised the rear of the van and found the crack in the rear axle about 18 inches from the drivers side rear tire, and the abnormal movement after the break had caused the brake line to the rear tires to separate.total replacement cost so far has been 500.00dollars and i did all work myself. I have not yet finished the brake lines and shocks which will be even more costs. I kept the axle and willbe glad to submit it for testing and/or send photos if requested.
The rear axle of our 1998 ford windstar gl, with only 99,630 miles, broke while going down a road going about 30 mph. I hit small pothole, heard a clunk and then noticed that the vehicle was not handling properly. Not knowing what was wrong and since i was close to home, i drove it home and looked underneath and noted that the rear axle was split about 75% through. The rear wheels were sitting tilted toward the vehicle. We had a tow truck take the van to have it fixed.
My wife called me at work today because she was stranded along the road.when i got there what i found was a major surprise.the rear axle of out 1998 ford windstar had broke in 2 and was lying on the ground.she said that earlier she had heard a noise coming from the rear and stopped to check to see if she had a flat tire because the steering felt weird.not seeing an flat tires she decided to drive home seeing that she was only a mile from home.about 3/4 of the way home she made a turn onto our road and there was a load noise and she was not able to easily control the van and ended up on the bank of a neighbors yard.half the car on the bank and the other half on the road.i have contact ford via email and i am waiting for a reply.i am trying to decide if i should fix the minivan or purchase a new automobile.an axle snapping in 2 is not something that should ever happen unless the automobile is in an accident.if my wife and 3 kids would have been on the highway things would have been much worse and probably deadly.
This van is 3 years old. Corrosion most likely caused the problem with strut rods & sway bar links. Obviously this manufacturer was not concerned with quality b/c of all these problems. The ford company will not reimburse me (my van is no longer covered by factory warranty) unless they issue a recall on any particular problem. I just don't understand why i would have all these problems with a vehicle that was less than 2 yrs old when the problems started. Maybe you can't help me, but i wanted to lodge a complaint.
Popping in front end when turning or hitting bumps. The popping sound was often. Had new tires put on, and when i took it in to have front end aligned. Ford tech. Said front springs were broke. Was an est. Of $1200.00onit can't afford. This was 5/20/2011. Contacted mfr about the recall that was issued on this part 7/12/2001. Was told there was nothing they could do, because of a time limit. How can they put a time limit on safety & peoples lives because the springs are broken,they can puncture the tires and cause an accident. Now we are without transportation. And my son is disabled and has numerous dr. Appts. Miles away. But my hands are tied. The mfr. Did advise to have another recall checked out which is the speed control because it can catch fire. When i asked why, you just told me it was unsafe to drive.he advised it could catch fire just setting in the drive not running. I was not notified of either one of these recalls by mail or other wise until i called to complain about the front coil springs. How does these billion dollar company's keep getting by with negligence? there are lots of recalls on this vehicle. Please help!
Reading on-line because my mechanic's puzzled about the noises, i find that it's not only the 1999+ windstars that have had a problem, but -- if you would look at #2 and #3 here at this link:http://www.aboutautomobile.com/complaint/1998/ford/windstar/suspensionit's apparent that this axle breakage has occurred in 1998's as well.that is what i have, in which i'm hearing similar noises.living in a salt-belt state, this is scary; don't even dare take it on the freeway!hard to get out of town (such as to a graduation this weekend) without freeways.very sad ... & hard to replace it, too, while on only social security.something should be done to include 1998s (see link above) in this investigation, too, it appears.i didn't pay nearly $4000 to only drive a vehicle in town, and not be able to go anyplace!:o([xxx] ps * didn't give "day" b/c this has been occurring the last few months, and finally asked the mechanic last month, once i was driving more again (in winter don't do much, and then at other times drive ma's car taking her places).well, it insists on a date, after all, so will put on there, arbitrarily. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
1998 ford windstar mini van rear axle broke ...vehicle was state inspected two months previous and passed without issue .. Noticed a vibration in rear area .. Replaced shocks thinking that was culprit .. Issue got worse ... Less then 700 miles after completed passed state inspection axle broke allowing rear tires to rub inner wheel well .. Van became uncontrollable at 55 mph ... Was lucky to get it slowed down to 25 and limped into my driveway .. I was sole occupation when this happened .. Looked underneath and found issue. Went online and found recall notice for vehicles of this year for salt use areas .. These included west virginia .. 8 miles from where i live ... Maryland .. 12 miles from where i live and the district of columbia .. 50 miles from where i live .. But virginia was not covered ... Even though this areauses salt as a regular ice and snow removal tool. The axle failure was close to causing a complete loss of control of the vehicle .. I was lucky to be on a dual highway driving the speed limit with no other vehicles in my vicinity .. The van weaved several times back and forth across the road before i got slowed up and under control .. The axle breaking could have easily have caused a serious accident.
I believe ford has a serious problem with sway bar links.i own a 1995 taurus, 1998 windstar, and 2000 taurus.they all have the same exact problem.the links on the 2000 have been repaired under warranty.i also know other ford owners that have the same problem.i am also aware of a recall on explorers for sway bar links.
The rear axle on my 1998 ford windstar cracked. I was lucky enough to catch it before it completely broke in half.
I have a 98 for windstar gl. On oct 9th i was coming back from work and the rear of the car kept fish tailing / slipping to oneside and as well as that night when i had to take my son to the hospital and back. Almost lost control coming back from the hospital. I did not get in the car at all that 10th cause of that.on oct 11th 2009 i was backing out from my parking spot in my apartment complex with my family in the car. As i backed up and as i put it in drive i heard a loud bang like i backed up into a car. Got out to see my back tires bent in. I pulled up slowly and looked underneath it and saw that my rear axel assy split in half. My mechanic never saw anything like it.i searched the web to see if there was any recalls but there wasn't any but found a bunch of people having the same problem from 98 to 02 windstars esp. While driving. So my van still sits. I think their should be a recall the rear axel assy split in half. Nothing was done yet part is going to cost 400 dollar and to get it installed will cost as much.part was available through ford.but looking for part in junk yard for the van.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact was driving approximately 40 mph when the vehicle exhibited an abnormal noise from the rear. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnosis or repairs. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under nhtsa campaign id number: 01i007000 (suspension:front:springs:coil springs) and beleived the rear suspension had experienced the same failure. The approximate failure mileage was 222,000.
1998 ford windstar. Consumer writes to follow up to an inspection for the rear axle recall *tgwthe dealer informed the consumer that her vehicle did not have a broken axle.the consumer inquired as to whether or not a sealant or protective coating should have been applied to prevent the axle from failing in the future.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated that while driving 35 mph, the rear axle broke. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer who repaired the rear axle. The contact referenced recall 10v385000 (suspension: rear: axle: non-powered axle assembly) but was informed by the manufacturer that the vehicle was not included. The failure mileage was 194,000.the consumer stated she had to pay a deductible and some f the repair cost.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated that after receiving a recall letter for recall 10v385000 (: rear: axle: nonpowered axle assembly), he called three local dealers all who did have parts to perform the repair. The dealer would not inspect the vehicle as stated in the recall notice. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.updated 01/12/11*lj
1998 ford windstar. Consumer writes regarding notice of defect *tgw
1998 ford windstar. Consumer states problems with rear axle *tgwthe consumer stated her husband was in the process of exiting a garage, when suddenly the rear axle completely broke in half. He then discovered the axle was defective due to it being severely corroded in the middle. The consumer has since received a recall notice and is now requesting reimbursement. The consumer is only seeking reimbursement for the part, because the repair was doneby a non-ford repair facility. Updated 02/10/11updated 04/16/13
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. While in the parking lot the contact noticed that the rear axle was fractured. The contact stated that he was having the same problem as recall 10v385000 (suspension:rear:axle:non-powered axle assembly). The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the vin was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 180,000.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact noticed that the right rear wheel was sinking into the wheel well. The contact lifted the vehicle and saw that the rear axle was cracked. The contact tried to weld the axle together and was informed that there was a recall on the rear axle. The contact spoke with the manufacturer and was told that the vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign id number: 10v385000 (suspension: rear: axle: non-powered axle assembly). The failure mileage and current mileage was 201,000.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. While driving atapproximately 40 mph, a rattling noise was heard coming from the rear of the vehicle. Upon examining the vehicle the contactnoticed the rear axle was cracked about 12 inches left of the center. The vehicle was not taken to an authorized dealer to be examined. The failure and current mileages were 126,000. Updated 10/28/10. *ljthe consumer stated the a plate was welded to the axle which was a temporary fix so he could drive the vehicle home. Updated 10/28/10
1998 ford windstar gl. Consumer writes in regards to being unsuccessful in reaching a fair and equitable settlement on his claim for the damage as per recall to the automobile *tgwthe consumer stated the settlement ford offered of $2000 was unacceptable as the vehicle is a handicapped accessible van, with handicap equipment.
While traveling about 40mph on the highway and without prior warningleft passenger side coil spring broke.
This failure would have resulted in a rollover if the broken spring had ruptured the tire. The spring stopped just short of contacting the tire. There are scuff marks, but not to where the tire needs replaced. I have the original coil springs for analysis if required.( both were replaced after the incident.)
Front left firestone tireon ford, windstar, 1998 blewout.firestone fr680 p205/70r15, dot# e4027490, consumer received notification from claims precessing stating consumer would receive a decision within 30 days, however has heard nothing, consumer states 1 person was injured.
The transmission failed after having the fluid and pan gasket changed within the previous 6 months. Since it is a '98 and although it has the same transmission as earlier years (whose transmissions have been replaced at no cost to the owner because of either recalls or secret warranties) ford refused to replace this transmission at cost.
While driving 10 mph the vehicles right front tire fell off. *nlm
Consumerexperienced problems with three goodyear tires size: p215/70r15, dot: 4bn3ddwr037 on 1998, ford, windstar.first tire had 23,000 miles on it, andbelts bunched up in it, distorting the shape of the tire, egg shaped. Second tire had 30,000 miles on it, and the steel belt came through sidewall oftire. Third tire had 46,000 miles on it, andsteel belt bunched up, allowing a bubble to form in tread of tire. Goodyear invicta gs.
This van has all the defects and complaints listed on thegovt. Recalls the nhtsa site and othersihave too much info to put on this site if there is anyone i can send my complaint to please let me know iam putting it back into the shop againive been thru a nightmare along with trying to assure my 4 kids that they were safe in this vanthankyou angela wallace and by the wat the dealer that sold me this van will not cooperate at all
Just an angry citizen who hopes that maybe you can steer me in a proper direction.i was traveling through california to santa cruz for vacation.i own a 1992 mazda extended cab 4x4 and was the last of four cars in a very serious accident in which a brand new looking (i don't know the actual year) blew a tire (or lost front wheel) and flipped.my vehicle is totalled and it will cost me thousands to replace since my insurance will not cover all damages.police filled out reports, people taken away in helicopters.... Yet my insurance company can't seem to find any police reports.do i have any rights to pursue as the consumer?shouldn't ford or the insurance company of the minivan pay for my losses?i don't mean to sound selfish or cold since many people were hurt, but i am currently being partially covered by my insurance for losses that were not of my fault.
Tire blew out on a hot day while traveling after 1.5 hours.( dot number: tire size: 15/235r )
I went to purchase 2 new tires after an average road hazard blowout at costco for myfwd windstar w/ antilockbrakes. They refused to put the new tires on the front, even though the tires not being replaced had good tread wear remaining.they sighted an article on the counter and a handout from michelin stating it was their "policy" to place the tires on the rear. This makes no sence!.it appears to be a ploy to sell more tires by leaving old tires on the front where they wear faster, extend the warranty on the new tires by letting them wear less on the rear, and decreasing possible tire liability by having the new tires not control (steer) the vehicle!do you have any information that this practice is safer or is it a marketing ploy that is out of control??.
Tire blew up while i was driving on the freeway.(tiresize: p20570r15)
On feb. 27 of this year, the right front tire blew out( dot number: tire size: p205/70r15 )
Tires blew out on highway speeds.
When shifting from 1st to 2nd gear, the van would vibrate.the dealership stated they replaced the motor mounts, however the condition still persists.the motor mounts were replaced again due to the same problem of unknown vibration. Nlm the passenger side front tire wore out.the tie rod ends were replaced.*jg
*since purchase new, one tire would go nearly flat weekly.took it to the dealer to have it checked when they checked the window mechanism and the abs sensor light--no problem found.took it to 3 different tire stores (2 goodyear)--no problem found.it went bald after only 18k and 2 rotations.no problem since purchasing 2 new tires.alignment was not a problem--done @ 10k & 21k.weather did not effect air loss, either.*drivers "auto-down" feature has never worked consistantly.has nearly caused accidents & is very frustrating.dealer has checked it too many times to count--same with the *abs light on the dash coming on and not going off.i think they changed fuses once--still happens, but not as often.would that effect safety? i don't know if the system will work properly while the light is flashing.*wiper problem is very intermittent--of course.when on slow intermittent (1 or 2) speed, will speed up on it's own to very fast & then must be turned off & back on again in order to get the correct speed set again.temp & time run does not effect malfunction at all--happens hot or cold & after 3-5 minutes or up to an hour.back wiper has always "chattered" when wiping--worse when cold.*can you change this window?it's hard to tell what you type and very hard to correct errors.( dot number: 97s ? tire size: p215/70r15 )
Front right coil spring brokewhileconsumer's daughter was driving at approximately 10 mph.whencoil spring broke, it causedfront right tire to blowout. Consumer replacedoriginal tire with a spare, resulting inspare being destroyed because ofbroken coil spring.
Tire rim leaking.yh
Purchased tire from t & t tire on 6/23/2000. Tire separation at 75 mph. Store sold tire to me as new when it was 9 years old. Michelin is working with me on it but store owner doesn't seem to feel that he is responsible for damage done to vehicle and future debts to be assessed to get body damage repaired. Do not feel this is right and would like to see changes made to hold the store owner liable for all damages when knowingly sell a tire that should have been removed from stock. (dot number: 1991tiresize: p215/70r15)
On 9/7/00 i went to the local firestone dealer telling them we were leaving for vacation in florida on the 9th and to please do an early oil change and rotate the tires, making sure the tires were in good condition (because of all the problems with firestone tires).i was told the tires were fine and actually watched while they rotated them.we got to fl and, because of the rocky ride down in the rain, my husband took the van to sears to get it aligned.he was horrified to learn that the two front tires were 'out of round' and that one of those firestone tires had tread that was on the verge of separating.this is what has killed so many people.our van is not on the recall list.we brought the tires back with us and they are stored in our garage, so i can get the necessary numbers, etc., for you if you wish.i took the tires to the firestone dealer.the manager agreed we should never have driven that far with that tire, and he apologized; however, his only action will be to "adjust" the cost of new firestone tires when we need them (we bought two new michelin tires).this tire only had 26,000 miles on it.we have a 2 1/2-year-old son, and we are petrified knowing this tire could have caused an accident and killed our entire family.when i called firestone this morning, they said no one else with a '98 ford windstar has reported this problem.( dot number: )
I have experianced "rapid depressurization" of the lr tire on my mini-van causing the vehicle to cross the centerline . I was able to return to the right side of the highway avoiding an accident. After i came to a stop there was a hole in the sidewall 11/2 in. Wide by 3" high. These tires have not been abused, always properly inflated, not overloaded and properly rotated and inspected. The cause (per goodyear dealer) was ply seperation where the tread meets the sidewall.( dot number: tire size: p235-70r15 )
On feb. 27 of this year, the right front tire blew out( dot number: tire size: p205/70r15 )
No summary listed for above vehicle. (tiresize: p215/70r15)( dot number:tire size: p215/70r15 )
Two tires blew out and the third was caught just before failure.tread separation was evident on the third tire.all tires had been well cared for and had 67% tread remaining.tire pressure maintained between 30 and 36 psi.dealer who identified failure mode and replaced tires is:alpine tire co., 2750 s glen ave, glenwood springs, co (970)945-6662.the dealer was going to retain the tires for adjustment from goodyear (tiresize: p215/70r15)( dot number: tire size: p215/70r15 )
While driving 35 mphfront two coil springs broke and vehicle's front dropped. Also a tire on the right side blew out.the spring was replaced.
Consumer took vehicle torepair shop becausefront tire tires were balled inside.mechanic toldconsumer that upperball joints and tire rod ends were defective.consumer replaced them. Therewas no accident.
- the contact stated that while driving his 1998 ford winstarat35 mph on june26, 2005 the passenger side front tire came offthe vehicle and fell to the ground, the vehicle ran over the tire.on january 15, 2007 the passenger side front tire fell off and went behind the vehicle then hit a fence across the road.the front passenger side went into the ground and the vehicle spun around once and came to a complete stop.the vehicle was towed and repaired on both occasions.
Tires blew (firestone).
Had two tires worn to steel belt within 3 months in same location. Ford says its the tires! it seems odd to me that 2 tires in same location would wear down to belt in same spot . The 2nd time it happened within 3 months. This is dangerous and ford has been uncooperative in handling a serious concern! (tiresize: 21570r15)( dot number:tire size: 21570r15 )
While wife was driving tire blew out, andautomobileaccelerated.driver could not get automobile to stop.-vehicle went into a ditch and flipped over. Driver was injured.
On 9/7/00 i went to the local firestone dealer telling them we were leaving for vacation in florida on the 9th and to please do an early oil change and rotate the tires, making sure the tires were in good condition (because of all the problems with firestone tires).i was told the tires were fine and actually watched while they rotated them.we got to fl and, because of the rocky ride down in the rain, my husband took the van to sears to get it aligned.he was horrified to learn that the two front tires were 'out of round' and that one of those firestone tires had tread that was on the verge of separating.this is what has killed so many people.our van is not on the recall list.we brought the tires back with us and they are stored in our garage, so i can get the necessary numbers, etc., for you if you wish.i took the tires to the firestone dealer.the manager agreed we should never have driven that far with that tire, and he apologized; however, his only action will be to "adjust" the cost of new firestone tires when we need them (we bought two new michelin tires).this tire only had 26,000 miles on it.we have a 2 1/2-year-old son, and we are petrified knowing this tire could have caused an accident and killed our entire family.when i called firestone this morning, they said no one else with a '98 ford windstar has reported this problem.( dot number: )
Right passenger's side tire veered toright.dealershipwas aware of problem. Had tires replaced withbrand new ones.dealership changed the tires toleft.
Rear tire blew.
My wife pulled out of the driveway onto the road and heard a horrible screeching/squealing sound and smelled rubber burning.she pulled into the center lane, approximately 50 feet from our driveway and stopped.she asked our daughter to get out of the vehicle and see what was wrong.she said, "mom, the tire is touching the rear bumper".my wife turned the vehicle around in the neighbor's driveway and drove back into our driveway.she called me out and i looked at the rear right control arm on the rear axle assembly.it was completely severed and pulled approximately 3 inches apart.the rear right tire was scraping the bumper and had gouges in the tread (the tire is ruined).the left wheel was pushed slightly forward.i know if she had made it to the expressway and this piece had broke at 70 mph, my child, her 3 friends, and my wife would be dead.i am worried that anybody with the same style and year vehicle could have the same defect, and i want it made aware to all.i am petrified to think what could have occurred.i also have digital pictures of the defect which could be e-mailed at your request.
While driving the vehicle's tire rod squeaks when wheel is turning. Please provide additional information. Ts
Both front wheels show sign of cracks withinbeads of the wheels. Manufacturer was notified. Feel free to provide any further information.
Firestone fr680 tire (p205 70 r15) is experiencing sidewall separation.
Original tires, firestone 20570r15, consumer states while traveling at highway speeds heard a big boom, vehicle started to vibrate, and consumer states it was had to keep control of vehicle. The tread seperated from left rear tire.consumer states the weather was very hot.please provide any further information.
Original equipment on a 98 windstar, size p215/70r15,right rear tire tread separated at highway speeds.2 other goodyear invicta tires dot#pdm3dder317 experienced irrepairable bulges.
While driving, firestoneright rear tire p205/70r15 experienced tread separation, tire still had pressure after separation.
The right rear tire tread separated while the consumer was driving at 70 mph. The incident resulted in body damage to the vehicle (firestone tublps fr680, tire size p205/70r15 and dot # w2m01p1118. Tire mileage was 18000).
The tread separated all the way around the tire which has never been underinflated, overloaded or abused in any way.
While driving and with no warning, tread separated from tire.p20570t15.dot w2m01p1188.
While driving and without warning tire tread started to separate, causing vehicle to have a blowout. Consumer had to pull over. Dealer notified. Size p20570r15, dot # w2mothe blown out tire caused damages to the vehicle's side panel and mud guard.
I believe you should add the firestone tires that were standard equipment on the 1998 windstar to your investigation.the circumstances seem pretty similar.our tire shredded on highway at 70 mph . Tread wrapped around rear axle. Fortunately i was able to get the car to the side of the road and there were no injuries but this occured in a rural area in 100 degree weather.if not for mobile phone and service we could have died of heat stroke.car was towed by aaa to sheridan, wyoming goodyear dealer.we were told that it was definite tire failure.firestone dealer in las vegas examined tread and refused to replace at no charge or admit defect.after many calls and complaints, firestone customer service finally refunded us $40.00 and nothing towards the towing or other costs involved.( dot number: tire size: p20570rx15 )
3 of my 4 tires separated due to a factory defect - the belts separated, causing them to be unsafe enough not to pass virginia state inspection.the tread wear on all of them was 67%.my failed tires caused me to have to buy 4 brand new tires, even though the problem was a factory defect.we did not get into an accident - yet.these tires should be recalled if they are not safe.(dot number: 4bm3ddwr38tiresize: 2157015)
I noticed recently a vibration in the steering wheel while driving.from past experience, i thought one of the tires needed balancing, since i did not feel any problems with the brake rotors.i went to have the tires checked, and the goodyear dealer said the tires had a defect in the belts.he recommended replacing all 4 tires, because he said they all looked bad.i made an appointment for the next day (10/12/01) to have them replaced, but wouldn't you know it, i went to drive to work on the freeway on 10/11/01 and the rear passenger side tire blew up.i think that goodyear should replace these tires at "no charge" instead of pro-rating them, but that probably won't happen without a recall right?i would not want this to happen to anybody else driving on the freeway.what if they have bad tires, but did not notice any vibration like i did?can these tires blow up without any warning to other drivers? (tiresize: p215 70r15)
Tread on the front right goodyear eagle ls tire, size: p215/70r15, dot: unknown on a 1990, ford, windstar is starting to separate, there are approximately 44,000 miles on the tires.consumer states the tire did separate and decided to replaced the left front tire which also had separated, consumer then replaced all four tires.
Tire size p205/70r15, original equipment on a ford, windstar, 1998;while driving 60 mph tread on driver's side tire separated. Firestone tire dot number w2m01p1087.
Consumer has experienced several problems with the transmission, dealer has replaced it once, however problems continue, consumer has filed for a request for arbitration, vehicle bucks, jerks, and jumps into gear before taking off.vehicle shimmies from one side to another upon acceleration, there is a thumping sound heard also at times while driving.vehicle experienced a speed sensor circuit problem.speedometer jumps.problem with power steering, dealer adjusted rack and pinion and made other repairs to steering mechanism.right side brake light bulb failed.battery failed.consumer stated it felt as if vehicle was going to stall sometimes, engine has no power at acceleration, engine belt was noisy and was replaced.tire had a slow leak due to loose tire valve.
"abs" and "trac off" lights come on consistently during warm-weather months at speeds over 60mph. This means abs breaking is disabled until car is shut off and restarted.ford dealer was unable to reproduce the problem.issue common per the below link (see problem #2 section).http://www.fordwindstarrecall.info/.
For several years the abs light and the tracking light have automatically lit up, although there is no brake problems.
Driver of the vehicle discovered there was a malfunction with the front of the camper were it seems to be very low and the rear of the camper was very high. The driver pulled off and discovered that 2 of the 4 bolts of the hitch had torn through the frame.
While driving there is excessive smoke coming out of the tail pipe, mechanic does not have solution for consumer concern.dealer replaced defective bank #2 hego sensor. But consumer states problem still exist. Door light on dash board illuminated. A special part was ordered.
There have been several recalls issued and i was not properly notified.by looking at the recalls i think that i may have been charged by the dealership for a recall issue.
The interior courtesy lamps do not go out when doors are closed. Door ajar light comes on. Ford is well aware of this problem and its a safety issue as driver cannot see during night driving unless fuse is pulled. Interior lights cannot be shut off with the dimmer switch!!.. Dealers play dumb when you discuss this issue. Three neighbors have same problem. This is an accident waiting to happen!!!!!!!!
No summary listed for abov evehicle.
A/c oct. 99 $168.98, dec. 99 $134.40suspensionjuly 01$664.61, dec. 99 $515.85, jun 01 $61.78,bodyjun 01 $443.61othercd player jun 01 $19.50 and $366.86 turn signal jan 02 $161.04 dome light jan 02 $84.02 jan 02 $89.72 door oct 99 $134.52, mar 03 $285.07steeringsept.02 $258.82, mar. 03 569.32computer controls sept. 00 $106.02engine jan 02 $784.75 coolant smell (found front cover gasket leaking) sept. 02 85.95 (told throttle body worn out, sold me update computer software, seams to run better)currently in shop for check engine light and a/c system intermittent.mechanic found engine problem, says main bearings or crankshaft bad, possibly due to coolant in oil system from january 02 problem
Took vehicle in to a mechanic for repair work. When mechanic placed the vehicle on the lift, he noted that the subframe that cradles the engine and transmission and serves as the attachment point for the front suspension was extremely rusted. The corrosion has caused large and numerous holes in the subframe. He stated that the vehicle is unsafe to drive in its current condition and would not work on the vehicle because it was unsafe. He stated that the engine could actually fall though the subframe, or the subframe could brake at the suspension connection points causing loss of control of the vehicle.
Loss of front right wheel while driving.*mrwhile driving the front passenger side wheel separated from the vehicle.the separation caused damage to the front passenger side fender.it was later determined the wheel in question separated from the vehicle as a result of inappropriate clamping force to the assembly. It also appeared that the lack of clamping force was the result of an under torqued wheel or a wheel and a brake rotor combination the was inappropriately seated.the rear wipers were defective and the air conditioner was inoperative.*nlm
The paint on the roof of the van is peeling that it looks like someone took a can opener to it.
While driving vehicle stalls. When vehicle shuts off, engine checkand battery lights come on.
Sorry, about this but it is not a complaint. I want to ley you know that the cae discribed is not working anymore i sent it to the junk.
Was traveling 35mph when brakes were applied, the brake pedal went to the floor. Happened twice. Took to dealer & mechanic could not locate problem. Intermittent problem.
Some type of computer chip failed that enable the vehicle to shift gears. Vehicle was taken to dealership and was repaired at no cost to me. We were told by the service advisor that a recall was done on the part. However i was never notified, the amount of the repair was unknown. Now the paint is falling off & rusting everywhere! started to rust on top of the van roof then paint started "chipping" on the roof side, was small at first then one day we had a lot of rain and all of the sudden at the end of the day i noticed a lot more paint missing.i take excellent care of my vehicle and this is not usual for any of my cars.
My heating was working intermitently so i brought the vehicle to crown ford in lynbrook to diagnose the problem.i was told that the head gasket needs to be replaced.the radiator also needs to be replaced due to the head gasket leaking into it.cost for the repair would be approximately $2300.there was a recall on previous years vehicles and there are many tales of woe regarding this problem posted on the web.i don't believe ford has fixed this problem sufficiently for the vehicles produced after 1996.
No summary listed for abov evehicle.
Paint is peeling off large areas of roof and sides
I bought this van because of the clean condition of it . I have the 3.0 ltr engine which has been excellent. The transmission so far is ok. Steeringis a dangerous mess with almost everything new and 3 alignments. If you take your eyes off the road even for a second you can end up in a ditch.my wife & i both went off the road in a 1 month span. We both have excellent driving records. The front end seems ok to ford. Something serious is wrong with the steering. Won?t let my wife drive it anymore. Has a little vibration that you cannot get rid of. Sending this to you because i called ford and they said there was no safety recall or any steering issues with that van. Had a service bulletin in front of me at that time stating there was. But that is not the problem. Ford denied the all of the above. Am afraid to sell to someone because i think someone will get hurt.don?t know why ford keeps putting in the same bad parts year after year. I have had all the dome light problems and door locks etc. They will still say no problems. Bought it used at a good price thinking it was a bad tire causing the problems. If accident occurs will seek damages
While driving the door chime will go off intermittently, interior lights come on as well. Please provide additional information.mr
Inaccurate gas guage - guage only goes up to 3/4 full. When guage shows empty, there's still 1/4 tank of gas.
Front passenger side weather strip failed.
The first item listed under other was for a power steeringn leak, which ended up being a power steering rack that needed to be replaced. My car had just gone out of warranty, so a portion was paid for by ford. I also had to get a front end alignment when the new rack was put in. The next day i drove it and it was making the same noise as before. I returned to the dealer where it was determined that they also need to replace the return hose for the power steering. They said they missed that and didn't charge me anymore. My service advisor is an extremely nice and understanding person.august 2003 problems with the rear brakes and master cylinder. The car is not at a ford dealer. That repairis 615.00.i have more problems, but these are the two big ones and the brakes are the current issue.
Faulty fuel gauge failed.yh
The front subframe to which the engine and steering components are mounted is rusted to an extent that a dangerous accident could occur.ford has issued recalls for the 1999 through 2003 models for this problem.since my windstar has the same problem as issued for the later models, i believe it should receive the same remedy.since complete failure of the subframe has not yet occured, it is not possible to state whether it will occur whether the vehicle is stationary or in motion
This van has all the defects and complaints listed on thegovt. Recalls the nhtsa site and othersihave too much info to put on this site if there is anyone i can send my complaint to please let me know iam putting it back into the shop againive been thru a nightmare along with trying to assure my 4 kids that they were safe in this vanthankyou angela wallace and by the wat the dealer that sold me this van will not cooperate at all
Failed component is unknown. However, a recall notice from ford arrived in mid-december, over a month after fire occurred,stating that the speed control system needed modification. Additional recall information accessed online states that the speed control deactivation switch could cause a vehicle fire.on november 3, 2010, the van began to smoke, driver parked it, turned engine off and opened hood.he saw small fire near the windshield area of engine, ran to get help and within 2 minutes returned to find engine fully engulfed in flames. The vehicle has since been junked (prior to receiving recall notice) because fiberglass hood melted into engine and water damage caused from fire department assistance totalled the vehicle.
I purchased my 1998 windstar with approx 20,000 km on it in 1999. Just after the warranty expired (at 60,000 km) i noticed 2 large bubbles in the paint on the two front doors. I took the car to the ford dealership where they agreed to pay 80% of the cost of repainting. This was not entirely agreeable to me but i felt i had no choice. My vehicle how has 86,000 km on it and the paint is peeling on the roof and around the sliding door. I have contacted ford canada but have not heard back from them as yet. Other problems encountered include having to replace a motor for the power windows, the fan mechanism (the blower would not move off of defrost), a leaking brake cylinder as well as what i would consider standard maintenance such as brakes, tires. I am also having intermittent problems with the electrical system eg. The warning bell signalling that the lights have been left on or the keys are in the ignition goes off for no reason. This then prevents me from being able to lock the vehicle.
This van is 3 years old. Corrosion most likely caused the problem with strut rods & sway bar links. Obviously this manufacturer was not concerned with quality b/c of all these problems. The ford company will not reimburse me (my van is no longer covered by factory warranty) unless they issue a recall on any particular problem. I just don't understand why i would have all these problems with a vehicle that was less than 2 yrs old when the problems started. Maybe you can't help me, but i wanted to lodge a complaint.
Regarding ford motor company safety recall notice 15s27: ford motor company is refusing to repair my rear axle which fractured due to a poorly designed axle that has been the subject of numerous recalls, including the installation of axle reinforcement brackets (which had been done and later inspected at phil's ford in port jervis, ny -winter of 2015). I was told the bracket reinforcement repair had been properly installed, however the axle still broke on 8/17/17 while i was driving at 65 mph on the interstate - an incredibly dangerous situation! the break occurred at and within the reinforcement bracket. Eventually, someone will be hurt or killed because of ford's neglect to fix this problem. The more i see of ford's resistance to take care of this safety issue the greater my concern is for other drivers (of a van designed for families with children) who are unaware of the danger they are in due to the company's neglect. They are telling people that their windstar vans are safe to drive after the bracket reinforcement repair. They are not safe to drive.my local ford dealership (healey brothers ford in goshen, ny) is refusing to honor the earlier recall, ford motor company customer relations is refusing to honor the earlier recall claiming that the offer to repair my vehicle has expired.
My mini van lights would flicker while i'm driving and even after replacing the starter in the car, it still turns off while i'm driving. There's rust coming from under the car, i smell a burnt smell when i'm driving. I'm having electrical issues, my car stops when it wants to in the middle of the highway, .. It makes noises when i'm turning, i have rust coming from under my car. The signal lights flicker.while driving the windshield washer, seat belt, and door ajar warning lights flash on and off. While this is happening the wiper blades stop working,front brake rotors is causing steering wheel to shimmy when the brakes are applied.now when i turn my wheel to the left, it makes this loud nose. What is that?!
Contacted ford, they don't seem to want to fix this problem because warrenty is out. Vehicle two years old. Should not have this problem. No safety defect listed within summary.
1998 ford windstar van with sub frame rotted right thru. Because it is one year older than recall ford will not take care of it. Does not care about hurting or killing their customers.
I have a 1998 ford windstar in which i recently had to replace an oil pan because the mechanic told me that it had warped and was causing an oil leak on the exhaust system. No one has ever heard of a faulty oil pan is there anyone else with this problem?
Paint is flaking from roof and driver's side door.progessiveley getting worse.
I needed the starter replaced, my brakes, i'm having electrical issues, my car stops when it wants to in the middle of the highway,.. It makes noises when i'm turning, i have rust coming from under my car. The signal lights flickers
Paint is peeling off of van interor remain on panel shows door open when its not and the lights will not go out until you reach about 20mph try driving at night with this.
No summary listed for above vehicles.
When we purchased the van, we also bought a diamondkote warranty ,for 499.99$ and told at the time of purchase that is was a good warranty.we then found out that we should not have been sold the warranty and plaza ford lincoln will not honor it, we can't even get a refund, so we spoke to someone at diamondkote and this person told us that we should not have been sold the warranty and have been trying to get a refund ever since,either from plaza ford lincoln or diamondkote. I had intentions of suing ford motor company two years ago when my husband took my two daughters to halifax, because my 8 year old had cancer at the time, she had a appointment at the i.w.k hospital and it was by the grace of god that thay were not killed when the front suspention spring broke in which case my husband lost steering. I spoke to a lawyer who sadly told, because there was no death or injury there was nothing he could do,well my 8 year old who is now cancer free was so scared, shestill gets very scared to get in a vehicle. I could go on but for now this is just the begining. I am going to pursue the matter of the diamondkote warranty further,and possibly more.we have had alot of vehicals before but never a ford with as much trouble as this has been.
Never notified of any defects as on nhtsa website
When a turn was made or the brakes were applied there was a loud popping noise. The location of thenoise was unknown, therefore the dealer was unable to correct the problem.
Paint is peeling on roof, and sides of the vehicle
My rear axle broke and then my door ajar constantly goes off even when doors are closed. The axle broke rear drivers side leaving me stranded. I was driving in town 20 mph.
While wife was driving tire blew out, andautomobileaccelerated.driver could not get automobile to stop.-vehicle went into a ditch and flipped over. Driver was injured.
When using cruise control and attempting to slow down or come to a complete stop, vehcile accelerates.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. While driving 55 mph, the contact applied the brakes but the vehicle surged forward and crashed. The vehicle was destroyed. The police and ambulance arrived at the scene and one person was injured. The contact stated that the night before the crash, the cruise control activated on its own. The vehicle was towed to a local repair shop for inspection. The vin was not available. The current and failure mileages were approximately 96,000.
While driving at any speed and when attempting to stop vehicle by applying force to brake pedal,brakes did not respond.vehicle suddenly accelerated without prior warning, causing unwanted and unexpected acceleration. Consumer has contacted dealer, dealer corrected problem. Consumer currently noticed that curise control was inoperable.
Vehicle starts to accelerate on its own whenever consumer is trying to slow down. Not taken to dealer yet.
While driving at 60 mph the car downshifted to a low gear causing the rpm's to race and the car to lurch.was able to pull to side of busy highway without incident.ford dealer replaced map sensor and rebuilt/replaced the transmission.ford company paid all but $200 as part of their "customer goodwill program".i think there should be a recall on the transmission and if so, i would like my $200 refunded to me.the tie rod ends failed right after the warranty period.even the dealer alluded to the fact that they were probably factory defects, that they should not go bad then.the 'open door sensor' stays on even though all of the doors are closed.this happens sporadically.it may happen twice a day and then not happen for days.the automatic doorlocks have not worked properly since about 40,000 miles.i have to manually lock/unlock the sliding door.and to top off all of my problems, last week i had a mouse in my glove compartment!the design of the glove compartment lets you look right into the engine, and a mouse got in there and chewed up my maps and clean paper napkins.i am not happy!and that will be a safety issue if i am driving and someone opens my glove box!i bet you have never heard that one!my biggest concern is the transmission.i hope to hear from you about that.thank you very much.nancy
While driving at a low speed the vehicle suddenly accelerated forward at full speed, nearly resulting in a collision,cause unknown.please give any further details.
Abs fault light and brake light.cruise control inop.
Stopped at traffic light, upon acceleration transmission would not engage. Engine revved as if in neutral. Also occurred as accelerating from a stop to make a turn. Presented a very dangerous situation of being put into the path of on coming traffic. Turning engine off and then back on would allow transmission to engage. Dealer determined that the transmission had failed at 43,621 miles and had to be replaced. After four days in service and a complete new transmission, within 12 hours new transmission developed at least two serious leaks of transmission fluid. Dealer says this is not uncommon. The unit is sealed and can not be serviced by them. I am waiting to hear if i need another complete new transmission.
The vehicle suddenly and without warning lurches forward when the vehicle is at a stop, the vehicle has been taken to the dealer on two occasions but the problem has not been successfully repaired (attorney for client).nlm
The vehicle suddenly and without warning lurches forward when the vehicle is at a stop, the vehicle has been taken to the dealer on two occasions but the problem has not been successfully repaired (attorney for client).nlm
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar.on two occasions when the brake pedal was depressed, the vehicle dramatically accelerated.there were no warning indicators illuminated prior to the failure.the risk of serious injury and a crash were significantly increased.the dealer could not duplicate the failure and no error codes were provided from the diagnostic tests.the contact is in the process of notifying the manufacturer for assistance.the failure and current mileages were 130,000. Updated 03-06-09 updated 03/09/09
Recall 09s09 1998 ford windstar- having trouble with speedometer/odometer and abs brakes. Had wired harness installed by ford dealership. I feel as though they didn't do a proper inspection as pertaining to all the problems this seems to be causing for many people. I can't drive my vehicle because my brakes keep locking up and my speedometer suddenly drops to zero and the vehicles transmission sounds awful. Ford told me all they need to replace is the wired harness is this true.i had my vehicle serviced a couple of weeks ago thought it was the brakes. They were done last september 2009. My mechaniccouldn't figure out brakes. Pulled 15 amp fuse for speed control. Put back in after harness was installed still brakes locking up and speedometer acting up.
I had the cruise control set on my 1998 ford windstar.it acted like the engine revved up a couple of times then smoke started rolling out from under the dash.now the turn signals don't work and the van isn't performing well.
Upon slowing down in traffic and appylingbrakesvehicle suddenly accelerated, causing a collision. Please give any further details.
Sudden acceleration while backing out of a parking space. Dealer notified, and unable to locatecause.please feel free to provide any further details on this matter.
Two incidents ofsudden acceleration, one causing damage to our vehicle and the one ahead as i was parking next to a curb.second time was in driveway when entering garage; slammed on brakes to not hit house.numerous incidents of hard 1st to 2nd gear shift at 15 mph; sounds like a hard thud.ford overfilled trans. Fluid 1/2 quart as a fix in november; replacing valve pump now in january.
Vehicle experienced sudden acceleration on two separate occasions, one incident resulted in minor damage to vehicle. Mjs
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar.the contact stated that the vehicle leaks brake fluid, which causes him to constantly add more fluid in the vehicle.he also stated that the cruise control does not operate.the manufacturer stated that the vin was not included in the cruise control recall.the recall number was unknown.the current mileage was 100,000 and failure mileage was 90,000.updated 02-01-08.the consumer stated the fuses blew out in the cruise control. Updated
Abs and brake light on, and no speed control.
I am so scared to drive our van- i have no idea what to do.thia van showed be considered a lemon- or ford should repair it.we purchased the van cause we had another little one on the way(making 4 kids) in the past we had old vechilcles.we decided to spend the $$ and have a reliable vechicle since we have 4 kids and travel around town alot.first my air codtioner goes out in july, 99 (electrical- no power to it).we did not have the $ to fix.than in august,99 we started experiencing intermittent neutral condtion after driving and coming to a stop.had to rebuild the transmission- due to a faulty clutch piston that ford knows is causing problems in ax4s windstar 3.8l.engine - stalls usually when driving at low speeds, such as o turns or coming to a stop.scared to death that somesone will run into me.steering- vechile pulls to the right so badly that in seconds i am in another lane. Have had it relighned.the other seroius problem is i will start van or have foot on brake and it itermittally accerates in surges on its own.my foot in not near the gas- i am so scared to death that i will lose control of it resulting into an accident. I am so scared to drive this van and it is only a 98".what am i to do.i do not want to wait for and acident or death to someone.please help!!i need some advice.i have no warranty on van- but yet with so many problems why should the consumer have to pay when ford knows of the problems with the vans- what does it take - death!!!i need to know what is causeing these problems.i can not afford to keep taking them to mechanics and not getting it fix.shouldn't ford have to take this piece of crap back-please help!!
On july 6, 2009, my ford windstar minivan burned up. I was driving to pick up supper when the cruise control stopped working. I went on, picked up supper, and started the car again. Immediately smoke started billowing. I pulled around the corner in the parking lot, parked again, and popped the hood. There was a small fire in the alternator area. I took my toddler out of the car and ran into a store to call the fire department. By the time they got there, the car was destroyed and a total loss. We had the car towed and given to mcdonald's towing. The fire department didn't know what caused it, but that it looked like possible leaking brake fluid.
While driving at any speed and when attempting to stop vehicle by applying force to brake pedal, brakes did not repsond vehicle suddenly accelerated without prior warning causing unwanted acceleration, consumer contacted dealer and problem has been corrected, cruise control ceased operation but has now been repaired, consumer was advised by technician the vehicle was sold with wrong part.
Vehicle is slipping out ofgear while driving from 3rd to 2nd gear,causing vehicle to almost stop, rpm's will rev high. Manufacturer has issued a tsb. Please provide further information.
Accelerator went down on its own while in reverse, no brakes to stop, resulting in a accident.steering vibrates, recommend rotating the tires.interior seats slightly twisted, door locks works sometime, interior lights work sometimes.
The vehicle suddenly and without warning lurches forward when the vehicle is at a stop, the vehicle has been taken to the dealer on two occasions but the problem has not been successfully repaired (attorney for client).nlm
I have a 1998 ford windstar van 2 months ago i had a leak of fluidthat caused some wires toburn into under the hood that caused wiring to my head light and overhead light to blow my mechanic had to direct wire one side of my head light andmy cruise control system had to be disconnected as he said it would cause my van to catch fire. My abs and brake system light stays on now as soon as the mechanic repaired the faulty part i started experiencing all the following things,,,ihave lose ofpower . The van stalls in traffic and also as i'm taking off from a stop after putting the van in gear...when i put on the gas it makes a bad rattling sound like a lifter or valve tapping but only when the gas peddleis engaged. The gear shift feels like it gets stuck in park and i have a hard time getting it to release out of park before this problem my van drove greati never had any problems could you please find what the problem is thank you
Engine ramped up by itself during high-speed drive.
Although there have never been any accidents or injuries, we fear there is a good possibility for a rear-end collision.intermittently, the vehicle does not react when depressing on the accelerator, the engine does not race.then, the vehicle lurches forward, almost as if the clutch was released quickly.after each occurrence, we have taken the vehicle to a repair shop.to date, they have not been able to detect the problem.
While at a stop vehicle suddenly surged, causinga collision.the dealer has not been able to duplicate or find cause of problem.
Consumerreleased the emergency parking brakethe vehicle violently surged forward, causing the wheels to turn. Owner immediately slammed on thebrakes. The dealer has been notified.
The cruise control failed.nlm
Vehicle would slip in and out of gear while at a light or stop sign (while in drive gear).required high rpms to engage causing the vehicle to lurch forward.transmission replaced at owner's cost.
Had the recall for the cruise,a potential fire hazard, the recall was done on 11/25/2009, recall # 09s09, after 11 day and only 146 miles the alternator caught fire.
Vehicle surges forward,causing the vehicle to jerk violently which could result in an accident. Dealer has overhauled transmission twice.defect is still reoccurring.cannot duplicate defect.
Vehicle lost power, rpms went up, transmission slipped while travelling 55mph on local expressway.
Dt:the contact states while driving for about five or ten miles ,if the contact goes to make a right turn or stop, the vehicle will stall. This occurs while decelerating. He states that everything works fine while he is driving the vehicle.it just when he goes to stop that he has the problems. He took the vehicle to his personal mechanic , and they replaced the idle control ,and cleaned the injectors. However,vehicle still has this problem. The vehicle shuts off with no warning. It will start back up as soon as it stalls when he puts it in park. The contact states that this has happened more than 100 times.vehicle hasautomatic transmission.the vehicle is regularly maintained.it started about a year ago and it wouldn't do it all the time and now it is doing almost every time you slow down. Has came very close to causing an accident.
Vehicle intermittently stalls when deceleration and also at acceleration.occurs most often when turning.left my family of five along with 2 of their friends stalled in incoming traffic.other stalling events also required other drivers to take action to avoid hitting front or rear of vehicle.dealer performed pcm reprogramming in accordance with tsb 98-25-6 and corrected stalling problem.while wife reported stalling infrequently when under warranty, the stalling frequency increased to 1-2 times a day after transmission service by dealer at approx 47,000 miles.i am happy that the car is now fixed but ford has not offered to pay for reprogramming which is a known problem with the windstars.this should be a safety recall item.three other problems which have occured with this car is goodyear invicta tire separation (tires replaced prior to failure); power steering pump fluid contamination; and noisy tie end rods.tire replacementprorated.power steering fluid flushed at my expense.tie end rods replaced under bumper-to-bumper warranty.please investigate stalling problem as a safety recall.i am still trying thru ford customer service to get reimbursed for correcting the stalling associated with tsb 98-25-6. (tiresize: 21570r15)( dot number:tire size: 21570r15 )
Vehicle surged forward while driving. Consumer has checked to see if the cruise control was engaged. Malfunction caused vehicle to speed up and miss judge turning which interfered withdriving ability.dealer was contacted. Please provide more information.
Consumer was traveling, upon making a stop when approaching an intersection, the vehicle shifted gears from drive into netrual.without knowing consumer depressed the accelerator, and the engine raced up and the vehicle was at a dead stop. Consumer contacted the dealer, dealer replaced parts within the transmission. Please provide any further details.
The contact owns a 1998 ford wind star.while driving with the vehicle speed cruise control activated at 52 mph the rpmsincreased to four.she deactivated the cruise control, but then all of the warning lights illuminated on the instrument control panel. The vehicle began to decelerate, then there was an under-hood fire.the fire department extinguished the flames. The vehicle was towed to a center where an investigator from the city inspected the vehicle.he speculated that the cause of the failure was the vehicle speed cruise control switch. She will receive a report in ten days. The insurance company stated because it was a cruise control fire the manufacture was responsible. The manufacturer was notified, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 95,000.
Vehicle jumped forward when stopping. Accelerated by itself, resulting in acrash.brakes when applied, squeak loudly. Gears were very hard to change. Dealer contacted and is aware of the problem. Problems still exists. Provide further information.
As i was driving home, my car accelerated without my stepping on the gas.when i stepped on the brake, it continued to accelerate.i managed to get off the very busy road i was on and since i could not stop the car, i decided to hit a tree, hoping the car would stop.it did not.it went over a cliff, after knocking the tree down.i was very badly injured and remain disabled.the car was a ford windstar 1998.i was told that there has been many accidents like this with the ford windstar but ford never did a recall.i have since been told that ford and toyota use the same manufacturer for some of their parts.my car still exists if it needs to be examined.
Dt*: the contact stated while the vehicle was idling the abs and parking warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed the vehicle needed to be inspected by an authorized service dealer. The service dealer mechanic replaced some fuses and the cruise control deactivation switch. There was a recall #06v286000 pertaining to the deactivation switch. The vehicle was not included in the recall due to the vin.
Vehicle lost power, rpms went up, transmission slipped while travelling 55mph on local expressway.
Speed control would not disengage while driving 75mph.i tried turning it off from the steering wheel as well as by braking.at this point i realized i had no braking power and managed to use an exit ramp slowing down but not stopping completely by using the emergency brake.engine was still revving at 75mph when i shut it off.car was towed to tamiami ford in naples,fl.they could not fin any problems.test drove at highway speed without incident.please notify me as to any similar problems.thank god my children and iwere not injured.
1998 ford windstar cruise control deactivation switch is leaking brake fluid onto connectors below causing a fire and safety hazard.
Engine stoped when coming to stop or making turns, due to failure of the throttle body assembly.yh
While driving if transmission reaches a certain temperature it drops out of 3rd gear down into 2nd.engine rpms increase and vehicle vibrates and shakes.
I have a 1998 ford windstar that i have owned since new, and the cruise control stopped functioning.i determined that the brake switch on the master cylinder failed and was causing the loss of cruise control.i have followed that ford has a major recall on these switches on many of their vehicles do to engine fires.my car is not on the recall, but fluid is leaking into the switch.i have unplugged the switch to prevent the potential fire, but ford says that these switches do not have the problem of earlier switches, i disagree as there is the same indication of failure and leaking fluid.they are just waiting for more fires before they act....
When stopping and starting up the engine revs but the car does not move. Dealerhas not seen .
Was driving down the road @ 55mph and the speedometer shot to 0mph and the trans was thrown into 1st. This happened several times. I am looking for a resolution.it acts as if vss isn't working. Even threw a code. I replaced the sensor and checked the wires all the way to the ecm. Everything looks quite good.ran a scanner. Picked up several codes. Vss and abs sensors all around.pulled cluster: everything looked great. The only fault i can think of is ecm unless abs system has the ability to affect the drive like that.
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar.the contact noticed a burning plastic odor coming from the engine.he exited the vehicle and noticed that the speed control pressure switch was melting and smoking underneath the hood.the vehicle was able to be driven, but he had to disconnect the speed control pressure switch.the contact is in the process of taking the vehicle to the dealer for inspection.the manufacturer will be notified.the failure and current mileages were 99,000.
When driving on the highway at 60 mph the windstar speedometer dropped to zero, the engine revved and thecar lost forward drive for a few seconds.this occurs intermittenly.crossroads lincoln-mercury rebuilt the transmission about 3 weeks ago and charged $2400.last wednesday while driving on the highway at 60 it again lost power and seemed to be out of gear again, for a few seconds. It again would not move forward.this occurred twice more in the next few minutes.we pulled to the side of the highway and were able to get it to drive again.we returned it to crossroads lincoln mercury last thursday.they still have it and say it doesn't do it when they drive it.they have not opened up the transmission to look at it again. The electrical problem is that sometimes the interior lights don't shut off. The door ajar light on the dashboard stays on.the chimes stay on under 15 mph.the locks can't be locked.when the locks are locked with the door lock buttons, they automatically unlock.
I went to ford dealership in dec 09 received inspection on recall # o9s09 and 09so9h only. Now here in feb. 2012the same problems with suspension,right front tire wheel makes alto of noise power steeringfluid is leaking strange noiseis heard when making right turns,ford said my vehicle has had all service it is due . I believe they are wrong all the same problems the recalls reported are my problems i have paper work providing they only ran test on recall #o9s09 and 09s09h my car is in serious weather conditions here in illinois.under the original ownerford stated they are not responsible for any further repair.ford dealership roberts motors 4350 alby alton il 62002.
We were stopped at an intersection.when the light turned green, the transmission locked up, and the engine revved as if it was in neutral.i took two men to push it to the side of the road on a downward slope.the dealership claimed to know of no problem with 1998 windstar transmissions.we know of 3 other owners of these vehicles who have had the same problem.
While driving the vehicle accelerates without warning.had to press the brake pedal very hard in order to stop the vehicle.also the vehicle will rev up to 25 rpm.took to dealer twice, dealer cannot determine problem.
Complete brake failure&stuck accelerator-backing up driveway with feet on brakes-accelerator pedal went down on own van wrapped around tree- reported brake problem on test drive-they fixed it,but no good.
Accelerator stuck causing sudden acceleration resulting in accident and injuries.
After coming to completestop and applying accelerator pedal again, vehicle will not respond. Engine revvs, but will not move forward. This happens 2-3 times, then vehicle will move forward again. This happens frequently.vehicle taken to dealer twice, cannot find problem.
When depressing the accelerator ,vehicle will only go about 2 mph even with vehicle in drive gear. Manufacturer has tsb #98-2-1out for defect. *ml
Vehicle does not shift down into gear at stop, resulting in vehicle rocking backwards until gas pedal is depressed to go forward which results in car lurching forward violently.inspected by jenkins and wynn ford dealership on diagnostic computer.it was found to have a defective aluminum drum and piston assembly which sticks if there is not enough pressure built up for it to go forward. This was confirmed by the service manager john cornejo at jenkins-wynn on 08/27/01.at this time ford motor company refuses to replace transmission as was recommended by the service staff at this location in clarksville, tn.a ford motor company representative was contacted and told of the problem.she then contacted larry bryant, service manager at this location, who then proceeded to give erroneous information to the representative.the ford motorrepresentative then became indifferent to our situation.we requested to speak to someone of a higher authority and were told that we would be contacted back by her supervisor within 48 hours.meanwhile mr. Cornejo, stating that the first option of flushing out the transmission would not benefit us, as originally suggested to us by mr. Bryant as an alternative to a rebuilt transmission, admitted that this was not a remedy for this type of defective part.we are currently awaiting mr. Cornejo to contact us on 08/28/01 regarding this fact after he consults with mr. Bryant.as ford motor corp. Customers, we are expected to foot the bill on a defective part that will cost us $2500 to repair through no fault of our own.defective part is made of aluminum.ford motor only makes this replacement part in steel now due to the realization that aluminum will fail at some point.
On various occasions when coming to a stop, the van attempts to accelerate. The van will not move forward. Upon pressing on the accelerator, the engine revs up. After 10-15 seconds, the van shifts into gear and lunges forward. This is a problem because there's no indication when this type of movement will occur. On occasions when breaking to slow the vehicle down, the vehicle slips into neutral and willnot accelerate without warning. It goes back into drive mode. This again causes another safety hazard. The vehicle has almost been rear-ended nearly causing an accident.
The transmission would disengage by itself from drive to neutral position. When accelerating, transmission would pop out of position. In low gear, it would be rough shifting. Also, gas pedal would vibrate. Been to dealer 3 times for problem before finally locating & establishing thatthrottle cable was loose. Mechanic repaired loose throttle cable.
In september, 2002, i had to replace the speed control pressure switch on the master brake cylinder of my 1998 ford windstar, because it started leaking brake fluid. I also had to replace the drivers side tie rod end because the leaking brake fluid damaged the ruber bushing.
On 4/12/02 59,173 miles.windstar had abs & brake light on.disc brakes replaced and rotors machined. 2/26/04 82,240 miles all abs sensors,disc brakes,brake fluid reservoir/float assembly replaced,rotors machined.95,487 miles brake light on. 3/05 cruise control on and off.abs light flicker on & off.dealer said not worth money to fix.9/04/05 fire under battery tray.van off 2 to 3 minutes. Dealer said cruise control module ignited fire. Brake fluid leaked into it. The abs pump overheated wire caused leak.our van is now at chapman ford awaiting our approval to repair problems at a cost of $2200.00.we are now without a vehicle and don't want to approve repairs without talking to someone from your office.please respond and let us know what our next step should be.we are a one income family so getting a new vehicle is not an option.your prompt attention would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Malfunctioning cruise control.
Even though the van i just purchased does not seem to have a recall on it i had total brake failure due to complete leaking out of all the brake fluid through the cruise control deactivation switch,the dual master cylinder is supposed to prevent this but it didn't.the switch on the bottom of the master cylinder and the fact that the rear wheel cylinders were seeping allowed all the fluid to leave after only three weeks of driving. I just purchased the vehicle.i had mechanics check it out and the switch is the same type that is causing the fires.i have to wonder if the leaking dripping on to hot motor parts could cause the fires as well as some electrical overload due to the brake fluid eating through plastic and rubber .i truly regret purchasing this vehicle before researching.i may be asking the dealer to trade me into another vehicle just due to not wanting to die at an early age due to fords lack of quality control it is a shame that any manufacturer can build any piece of junk without regards to end result and only worrying about the profit of selling and the fact that risk management after the fact of waiting for many to be effected by death or loss of vehicle to have a recall forced and fixing a bad design once pressed to do so.i feel the master cylinders whole safety is in that one chamber is most likely functional under most system failures of wheel cylinders , hoses, etc but having a part directly attached to the front chamber and with the common likelihood of rear wheel cylinder leakage at some point could lead to total system failure like i experienced.the fact that this master cylinder is hidden from easy view does not allow the owner to easily visualize a leak at this part.why is brake fluid needed to actuate a deactivation of the cruise control wouldn't a switch (electrical or mechanical) placed with the brake pedal arm activating it a simpler way of making this happen.
Cruise control malfunctioned & turned on causing vehicle to begin to speed up.i was in the wal-mart parking lot, when my van suddenly revved up & raced towards 2 pedestrians.i first tried the regular brake - no luck, so i threw the van in park & turned the ignition off.when i would turn the van on again the rpms would jump up immediately to 4000+. I had to be towed in.i did not have the cruise control on at all during the trip so i (as well as the repair shop) was surprised that the cruise control module was the culprit.
Cruise control deactivation switch caught on fire.
Consumer has a question as to whether or not the 1998 ford windstar cruise control switch will be recalled.*mr
1. Transmission:the vehicle would act as if it were in neutral after coming to a stop.sometimes this would happen right as i pulled into an intersection, leaving me in the path of oncoming traffic with no power.2. A/c:the control module failed to engage the a/c but still cycled the idle speed.this was dangerous because the braking required to hold the vehicle at a stop was insufficient when the idle randomly surged to high.both failures had potential to cause accident but were repaired before any incident occurred.
Sudden acceleration while braking into a curved parking space, causingvehicle to rearend another vehicle in front.dealer notified. Provide further details.
The consumer has been experiencing problems with automatic transmission. Transmission went out after the vehicle had 314 miles.in addition, the consumer has been experiencing problems with cruise control cable.the consumer stated that while driving,cruise control cable wrapped around their accelerator cable, which caused the vehicle to run without being able to stop it.the consumer had to turn the vehicle off in order to stop the vehicle.the manufacturer has been contacted.
When at a stoplight transmission goes into neutral unnoticed, but when you step on the gas the engine revvs up and then suddenly jumps back into gear and shoots out into traffic with out warning. Ford knows of the problem , and told me it was a aluminum piston that fails in the trans. But wants over 2000.00 dollars to fix it because i didn't report it soon enough. I was lucky that the intersection was empty, or it could have been a bad accident! this is clearly a safetyproblem that ford does not want to deal with. I want to know if there are any others out there with this problem? i called several transmission shops and they all knew of the problem, even some of the ford dealers admitted that the transmission is defective! for $26000.00 the trans. Only lasted 2yrs. Is there anything i can do?
When coming to a complete stop andbrakesapplied,engine will suddenly start to rev, causing vehicle to accelerate.dealer has been contacted.
Vehicle is a 1998 ford windstar. While driving the windshield washer,seat belt,and door ajar warning lights flash on and off. While this is happening the wiper blades stop working,power windows will not operate and on a few occasions the headlights will blink with the warning lights. I understand that this is an old vehicle but i have researched this issue and have found hundreds of complaints about the same problem. Not just restricted to this year. It is also an issue that happens just after a few years of service. I would think that wiper blades malfunctioning due to an electrical issue would be a safety concern.
I have a 98 ford windstar family van vin# [xxx] i purchased the van in june of 2002 it is still under warranty and had a full inspection by the service dept according to the dealership when purchased, i was driving by myself on a sunday returning from visiting my elderly parents and as i was driving the interstate a huge noise scared me and i looked to the rear of the van and a window on the passenger side rear vent window was gone, the temp was very cold and no one was around it thank goodness, it could have at a different time cost a motorcycle rider or anyone it could of hit their life or serious injury, i took the van to the ford dealership i bought it from and explained what happened for them to report and also explained i should not have to pay for the repair, i had to pay for it and contacted the ford motor co three times and they do not seem to believe they should take care of this issue, it was a electric window latch that moves the window in and out as a vent that malfunctioned and broke, it is also the only thing that holds it in. I believe i could not have anticipated this to happenand it was clearly a defect and i should be reimbursed and some now that they have caused me so much aggravation.information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
On december 16th 2009. I was driving down west 117th towards madison/lakewood in cleveland, ohio and was trying to come to a stop (slow down and stop) to allow an ambulance to pass (there was a car in front of me that was also slowing downa nd that came to a stop at the street lot)this is on a major street near an highway intersection. I put my foot on my brake to slow down the vehicle and come to a stop but it would not slow down or stop. The brake had went out. I ended up hitting the car in front of me hard (an suv) and doing quite a bit of damage to my vehicle. The other driver vehicle was so far as i could tell undamaged. On my vehicle the front light is broken, my bumper is damaged, and my hood is damaged. I, myself and the driver i hit could have gotten seriously injured. So far we are bothfine and no injuries occurred. However he may turn around and come after me if he decides to. And i now can not drive my vehicle. I received a recall notice on my vehicle brake about a month ago around early november. Maybe in end of october. The very day of my accident (happened around 12:15 noon) i was going to go home and call ford about the recall. There is a worldwide recall on my vehicle model and many others. And i have had nothing but problems since i bought it. I have had to make numerous repairs on it and still had problems and this accident. Ford should be held responsible for this and should compensate me with another vehicle in good condition especially since i have spent so much time and money into replacement parts for this windstar. Or give me my money back or something. I'm glad my kids were not with me when this happened and that the man i hit was also alone and is ok. What can be done about this?i have had to replace the following items since i got this vehicle:o2 sensors (both), alternator, belt, windshield wiper blade, and make back blades don't work at all, the transmission, the steering column box, door handle and components inside and more!
When applying brakes there is a very loud grinding noise coming from the brakes, and when stopping the vehicle and applying the brakes they will go straight to the floorboard. Also,air conditioner and the heat has been repaired five times, and the problem is back.
1998 windstar defroster blend door failure, which causes the windshield to ice up and we are unable to see. It appears to be a design problem and ford wants $1000 to replace the entire heating unit.
1. Transmission will shift erratically , and a loud noise will occur and motor will shake. Ford engineering was sent out and determinedtransmission needed work, but no dealer will honor warranty.2. Brakes will fail in the winter and in slippery roads, causing pedal to go to floor and vehicle will not stop.3. All doors lock by themselves/lights flash on and off, and heater and defroster motor will come on even without the key in the igntion. Vehicle will even start up by itself.
The problem seems to be related to a blend door which blends heated air with a/c. The door apparently does not position properly and so a cold mixture is delivered o the front compartment. The rear ventilation controls work perfectly (this is the extra capacity heat & a/c option).repairs have been attempted in severn visits to two different dealerships over the past eight months but the problem still persists. Although the blend has been replaced the problem has not been fixed.the dealer indicates that this is a problem that ford needs to fix.ford has not accepted responsibility for the problem to date and i am without heat in the front compartment.
I am a letter carrier for the united states postal service in whitestone, ny.we have 331998 ford windstars in our fleet.i have noticed 3 recurrent problems in our vans, in the three years that we have had them.first, the vehicles have manual crank windows, not power windows.the driver side window regulator has failed on several vehicles, perhaps 6 of them, and on a few of them, failed more than once.there has got to be better material used in these window regulators for the future.the failure rate is really unacceptable.the second problem that i have noticed, is a squealing noise coming from the front suspension. I have heard this on many vehicles so it seems that this is also an engineering defect. The third recurrent problem is a strange one.when the weather gets warm, the computer reads that there is an open door, yet all of the doors are securely locked.the reminder chimes will ding, the icon will appear on the dash, and the interior lights stay on.strangely enough, when the speed is over 15mph, the chimes will stop dinging, but the dashboard icon will stay lit. One of our vehicles has been to the shop 8 times for this problem, and they still can'tfigure out what the problem is!if i see these recurrent problems on a small sample of 32 vehicles, i can only imagine that the same problem must happen all over the country wherever windstars are being used. Somebody in authority, please investigate these problems! thanks.
Front right window fell out.
My 1998 ford windstar has broken both right and left coil springs. I've had to replace the transmission, my abs and regular brake light won't go away even after servicing. My overdrive light keeps coming on and staying lit for days.
This van has all the defects and complaints listed on thegovt. Recalls the nhtsa site and othersihave too much info to put on this site if there is anyone i can send my complaint to please let me know iam putting it back into the shop againive been thru a nightmare along with trying to assure my 4 kids that they were safe in this vanthankyou angela wallace and by the wat the dealer that sold me this van will not cooperate at all
Electric window motor failed. Mjs
Power steering line malfunctioned while driving, rendering vehicle difficult to steer, dealer has repaired vehicle.consumer also stated the air conditioner was not cooling, there was a loose connection at compressor, the doors would not lock, the power door actuator was the cause of the doors not working,windows would not go down because of a bad window motor.
Rear sway bar broke in half on low speed turn if this would have happened on a freeway exchange or off ramp this would have resulted in a rollover and possible death!
At 55,000 miles my 1998 windstar with the 232 cubic inch engine, you guessed it, blew a head gasket. After reading about the problems with previous models, it looks as though ford has more problems a"head" (sorry had to). What steps should i take to help the other consumers make complaints so we aren't out thousands of dollars for repair costs that is obviously a ford problem? what steps can i take to get ford to cover the costs of this repair? sincerely,
*since purchase new, one tire would go nearly flat weekly.took it to the dealer to have it checked when they checked the window mechanism and the abs sensor light--no problem found.took it to 3 different tire stores (2 goodyear)--no problem found.it went bald after only 18k and 2 rotations.no problem since purchasing 2 new tires.alignment was not a problem--done @ 10k & 21k.weather did not effect air loss, either.*drivers "auto-down" feature has never worked consistantly.has nearly caused accidents & is very frustrating.dealer has checked it too many times to count--same with the *abs light on the dash coming on and not going off.i think they changed fuses once--still happens, but not as often.would that effect safety? i don't know if the system will work properly while the light is flashing.*wiper problem is very intermittent--of course.when on slow intermittent (1 or 2) speed, will speed up on it's own to very fast & then must be turned off & back on again in order to get the correct speed set again.temp & time run does not effect malfunction at all--happens hot or cold & after 3-5 minutes or up to an hour.back wiper has always "chattered" when wiping--worse when cold.*can you change this window?it's hard to tell what you type and very hard to correct errors.( dot number: 97s ? tire size: p215/70r15 )
I purchased my 1998 windstar with approx 20,000 km on it in 1999. Just after the warranty expired (at 60,000 km) i noticed 2 large bubbles in the paint on the two front doors. I took the car to the ford dealership where they agreed to pay 80% of the cost of repainting. This was not entirely agreeable to me but i felt i had no choice. My vehicle how has 86,000 km on it and the paint is peeling on the roof and around the sliding door. I have contacted ford canada but have not heard back from them as yet. Other problems encountered include having to replace a motor for the power windows, the fan mechanism (the blower would not move off of defrost), a leaking brake cylinder as well as what i would consider standard maintenance such as brakes, tires. I am also having intermittent problems with the electrical system eg. The warning bell signalling that the lights have been left on or the keys are in the ignition goes off for no reason. This then prevents me from being able to lock the vehicle.
Electric windows only work with key off and out of ignition.
The transmission failed after having the fluid and pan gasket changed within the previous 6 months. Since it is a '98 and although it has the same transmission as earlier years (whose transmissions have been replaced at no cost to the owner because of either recalls or secret warranties) ford refused to replace this transmission at cost.
I owe 3 windstars all three have problems with power windows not going down.
When we purchased the van, we also bought a diamondkote warranty ,for 499.99$ and told at the time of purchase that is was a good warranty.we then found out that we should not have been sold the warranty and plaza ford lincoln will not honor it, we can't even get a refund, so we spoke to someone at diamondkote and this person told us that we should not have been sold the warranty and have been trying to get a refund ever since,either from plaza ford lincoln or diamondkote. I had intentions of suing ford motor company two years ago when my husband took my two daughters to halifax, because my 8 year old had cancer at the time, she had a appointment at the i.w.k hospital and it was by the grace of god that thay were not killed when the front suspention spring broke in which case my husband lost steering. I spoke to a lawyer who sadly told, because there was no death or injury there was nothing he could do,well my 8 year old who is now cancer free was so scared, shestill gets very scared to get in a vehicle. I could go on but for now this is just the begining. I am going to pursue the matter of the diamondkote warranty further,and possibly more.we have had alot of vehicals before but never a ford with as much trouble as this has been.
Paint is peeling off of van interor remain on panel shows door open when its not and the lights will not go out until you reach about 20mph try driving at night with this.
I bought this van because of the clean condition of it . I have the 3.0 ltr engine which has been excellent. The transmission so far is ok. Steeringis a dangerous mess with almost everything new and 3 alignments. If you take your eyes off the road even for a second you can end up in a ditch.my wife & i both went off the road in a 1 month span. We both have excellent driving records. The front end seems ok to ford. Something serious is wrong with the steering. Won?t let my wife drive it anymore. Has a little vibration that you cannot get rid of. Sending this to you because i called ford and they said there was no safety recall or any steering issues with that van. Had a service bulletin in front of me at that time stating there was. But that is not the problem. Ford denied the all of the above. Am afraid to sell to someone because i think someone will get hurt.don?t know why ford keeps putting in the same bad parts year after year. I have had all the dome light problems and door locks etc. They will still say no problems. Bought it used at a good price thinking it was a bad tire causing the problems. If accident occurs will seek damages
A/c oct. 99 $168.98, dec. 99 $134.40suspensionjuly 01$664.61, dec. 99 $515.85, jun 01 $61.78,bodyjun 01 $443.61othercd player jun 01 $19.50 and $366.86 turn signal jan 02 $161.04 dome light jan 02 $84.02 jan 02 $89.72 door oct 99 $134.52, mar 03 $285.07steeringsept.02 $258.82, mar. 03 569.32computer controls sept. 00 $106.02engine jan 02 $784.75 coolant smell (found front cover gasket leaking) sept. 02 85.95 (told throttle body worn out, sold me update computer software, seams to run better)currently in shop for check engine light and a/c system intermittent.mechanic found engine problem, says main bearings or crankshaft bad, possibly due to coolant in oil system from january 02 problem
I own two 1998 ford windstar minivans,both of them have the same problem with the sliding door causing the panel light to come on and the car interior lights to stay on for up to two hours after you have exited the vehicle. I have read in a report that this has been a problem with some of these vehicles.i have a sister that also owns a windstar and a brother that just traded his in.they have never had this problem to my knowledge.what is causing this and how is the problem fixed?the dealer's mechanic where i purchased it from told me that it is supposed to be like this, but i know it is not.12 second delay is normal not two hours.i think he was just as stumped as my husband and i have been with this problem.again please let me know what is causing this to happen and how it can be repaired.
Courtesy lights will intermittenly work. They will come on when driving at night, or sometimes they will not come on at all.experiencing other electrical problems with the reverse lights, interior lights, automatic door locks, door check light, and signal lights operating intermittently, consumer states that the engine is noisy and the engine check light is always on, the seat belt is loose, passenger side arm rest is loose, and the back window wiper is inoperative.
Electronics-door ajar warning light stays on specifically when weather is damp or mild. This causes door locks to unlock by themselves even when vehicle is in motion, also door chime keeps chimming. Battery looses power because dome lamp stays on for extended period of time.rear windshield wipers will not work if illuminated door ajar warning is caused by opening or closing rear liftgate.repairs have been made to driver door switch at the cost of $100 parts and labor, however the passenger door, side slider and rear liftgate have the same problem.im not sure if doors are really closed or not.since the doors wont stay locked, i believe this poses as a safety hazard to all passengers.mechanics have told me that this is a common problem with mini vans.
Loss of front right wheel while driving.*mrwhile driving the front passenger side wheel separated from the vehicle.the separation caused damage to the front passenger side fender.it was later determined the wheel in question separated from the vehicle as a result of inappropriate clamping force to the assembly. It also appeared that the lack of clamping force was the result of an under torqued wheel or a wheel and a brake rotor combination the was inappropriately seated.the rear wipers were defective and the air conditioner was inoperative.*nlm
1)all 5 lugs: nutssheared off from the right front passenger hub, causing the wheel to leave the vehicle.the body of the vehicle traveled approximately 200 feet until it stopped.2)the rear brakes had to be replaced with new pads and rotors.dealer couldn't explain why this was a problem. 3) the next day the right passenger mirror electical system no longer worked.4)the parking brake consistently does not disengage after use.we no longer use it, possibly creating a safety hazard. 5) the vehicle intermittently stalls out at low speeds or upon stopping.additionally the initial gears shift hard and loud. 6)the rear seat will not move on the track.
Exterior rearview mirror switch failed. Mjs
There is rust located on both sides and the top of the windshield.the rust wasn't visible under the molding until replacement had begun.*jg *nlm
Various problem with power lock locking byitself/windshield wipers working intermittently/dome light not operating, anddoor ajar light staying on. Vehicle been in / out of dealer shop on several occasions, and problems still reoccurring. Possible electrical problem with failure of power locks, windshield wipers, dome light, door ajar light, door ajar switch,lift gate door ajar switch, battery saver relay inoperable, and washer light illuminating.brakes noisy at times, dealer stated this was due to brake dust.power steering is noisy when turning back and forth, dealer replaced tie rod end.sliding door rattles while driving over bumps, dealer added foam tape to back side of panel, driver door rattles, sliding door hard to open at times, dealer lubed sliding hinges and latch.dealer replaced shocks due to rattling noise when riding over bumps.drivebelt replaced.maf sensor replaced due to hesitation.window guide did not fit tight.
Passenger side window will not go down.nlm
Rear windshield exploded from inside which may have caused injuries.common problem.dealer cannot determine the cause.please provide further information.
While driving 50 mphpassenger took a magazine and gently swatted at a mosquito onwindshield. Windshield shattered, outside temperature was 50. No injuries.
Front windshield defective, causing windshield to make whistling noises.
Driver side wiper failed during a major downpour in rush hour traffic. Visibility was next to zero.managed to get vehicle to the side of the road without incident. In checking wiper arm i found the nut attaching the wiper arm to the wiper motor assembly had come lose.because of the loose condition, wiper arm would not move more than 1-2 inches.a simple washer or lock washer under the nut would have prevented this failure.
The windshield washer failed and was replaced.
Windshield washer inoperative.
When tilting the steering wheelwindshield wipers would not work. Dealer notified.
Windshield wipers failed.
Wiper harness failed.yh
You can call me to get details or ford can call.both wiper and seat were safety items and caused us to drive this new van in a very unsafe mannor .the wiper motor had to be replaced first then some module.took about one week to get the wipers fixed.the driver seat tilts and slides forward so people can get in and out the back.the retaining nut fell off the stud that holds the cable on.since two push nuts were under the seat and both would not stay on the stud i think the studs are undersized.once the cable pops off the seat tilts forward and the slide is free to move forward or back but no way to lock the slide or tip the seat back.i had to drive like this to get home. Face about 2 - 3 inches from the steering wheel. Call for more details if you want.
*since purchase new, one tire would go nearly flat weekly.took it to the dealer to have it checked when they checked the window mechanism and the abs sensor light--no problem found.took it to 3 different tire stores (2 goodyear)--no problem found.it went bald after only 18k and 2 rotations.no problem since purchasing 2 new tires.alignment was not a problem--done @ 10k & 21k.weather did not effect air loss, either.*drivers "auto-down" feature has never worked consistantly.has nearly caused accidents & is very frustrating.dealer has checked it too many times to count--same with the *abs light on the dash coming on and not going off.i think they changed fuses once--still happens, but not as often.would that effect safety? i don't know if the system will work properly while the light is flashing.*wiper problem is very intermittent--of course.when on slow intermittent (1 or 2) speed, will speed up on it's own to very fast & then must be turned off & back on again in order to get the correct speed set again.temp & time run does not effect malfunction at all--happens hot or cold & after 3-5 minutes or up to an hour.back wiper has always "chattered" when wiping--worse when cold.*can you change this window?it's hard to tell what you type and very hard to correct errors.( dot number: 97s ? tire size: p215/70r15 )
Replacement windshield wiper (pass) does not seem to fit correctly-none of the wipers in dealer stock fits with same positive locking action as the orginal wiper blade.appears that wipe blade assy can pop off under some conditions
Various problem with power lock locking byitself/windshield wipers working intermittently/dome light not operating, anddoor ajar light staying on. Vehicle been in / out of dealer shop on several occasions, and problems still reoccurring. Possible electrical problem with failure of power locks, windshield wipers, dome light, door ajar light, door ajar switch,lift gate door ajar switch, battery saver relay inoperable, and washer light illuminating.brakes noisy at times, dealer stated this was due to brake dust.power steering is noisy when turning back and forth, dealer replaced tie rod end.sliding door rattles while driving over bumps, dealer added foam tape to back side of panel, driver door rattles, sliding door hard to open at times, dealer lubed sliding hinges and latch.dealer replaced shocks due to rattling noise when riding over bumps.drivebelt replaced.maf sensor replaced due to hesitation.window guide did not fit tight.
Repeated incidents of unusual tire wear; this vehicle now has 21,900 miles on it and it is on literally its third set of tires.the tires keep cupping and causing the van to become misaligned; caribou ford has had this vehicle in its shop in excess of 10 times for this and other related problems.the shift cable then broke (thankfully) when i was stopped in a parking lot, and the vehicle was in park.i don't know what i would have done if i'd been on the highway or elsewhere, moving.please let me know if you have had any similar complaint concerning the tire wear/misalignment problem.the vehicle vibrates significantly at highway speeds and lower as a result of this problem, which i do consider a safety problem.you can literally see the steering wheel shake.i appreciate your investigating this problem.thank you for your time.( dot number: tire size: p215/7 )
Consumer stated while driving, the right fron wheel separated from the vehicle, causing damage to the front fender.(claim#25-5525-512)
Was taking kids to school rear end started to wiggle over bump & left rear tire went into body. Found where ford did re-call snapped under their clamps.
No summary listed for above vehicle,
Front passenger wheel fell off at 40-45 mph. Vehicle is at dealership at this time.
Insured was traveling 65 mph when all of a sudden the wheel flew off the vehicle, claim 13-7144-933.*jg
My wife was taking my youngest two children to school in our vehicle when smoke started pouring in through the vents of the vehicle and at the same time she lost control of the steering sliding off onto the shoulder of the road. Once my wife made sure everyone was out of the smoke filled vehicle she noticed the tire was completely shredded on the passenger front side of the vehicle. She notified me and we had the van towed to a mechanics shop where we found out that the front passenger spring had busted causing the tire to be shredded. The mechanic advised buying two new tires for the front of vehicle, he also advised buying two new springs and replacing both of them on the front. The van was fixed and we paid for the bill and tire cost out of our own pocket.the manufacturer of the vehicle informed me today that they will not compensate for any of these costs even when a recall letter 01s19/01m03 states "we will install protective shields around the front coil springs of your vehicle. These shields will prevent the possibility of tire puncture should the spring fracture.---- motor company will also pay for any repairs directly relating to the front coil springs of your vehicle free of charge ( parts and labor)so to me this is a failure of the respected company from full filling what i see in my eyes as a obligation to the consumer. I also feel the recall should have been to replace the springs..not install shields which i am sure was a much cheaper route.i have all receipts that concern this matter.thanks!
I was driving on the interstate and my tire came off of my car. All of the lugs to my driver side front wheel broke. I called a mechanical shop that owns their own wrecker. They repaired the wheel, which included rotor, lug work. My vehicle was also damaged in the body. The fender , the door,the parts all around the area where the tire flung off. I have discovered on the internet that there exists a recall on vehicles the same year make and model as my vehicle.
While driving at 35 mph passenger's side wheel came off. This caused loss of control.
This van has all the defects and complaints listed on thegovt. Recalls the nhtsa site and othersihave too much info to put on this site if there is anyone i can send my complaint to please let me know iam putting it back into the shop againive been thru a nightmare along with trying to assure my 4 kids that they were safe in this vanthankyou angela wallace and by the wat the dealer that sold me this van will not cooperate at all
While vehicle was parked, consumer noticed a flat tire. Wheel had a crack in it that caused the tire to go flat. Contacted dealer. This is a common problem, which is caused by a defect *jlg
While driving my mini van the right rear wheel (the complete wheel) fell off!upon safely parking the van, i came to realize theentire rear axel had sheared in half! by a stroke of luck i found out there was a recall for this and also for the cruise control. I am having it replaced/fixed at dealers cost.since this vehicle was bought used off a used dealers lot, i would like to make the followingsuggestion...there should be some type of mandatory law that all dealers, new and used, should have access to this website and be legally forced to check each and every vehicle prior to being sold.
While the insured was traveling the right front wheel broke off and the vehicle wheel rolled backwards into wheel well causing fender damage. Claim# 43-r781-260
At the 75000 mile check up with henry curtis ford, we asked that they check out an abnormal noise in the front left wheel.they reported that they could not hear any problem.we drove the van to utah the next week.on the way back the noise became increasingly worse.we drove it locally for two weeks with the noise becoming worse.we called for another appointment after it sounded like something broke.we tried driving to the dealership but ended up needing a tow when the wheel broke.about six weeks later the right front tire began to lose air.thinking that we had picked up a nail we went to the tire shop to get the tire repaired.the shop discovered that the wheel was leaking air at the welds.after calling around to find a new wheel they came and told us that wheels were hard to find because so many were leaking and breaking at the welds.quite frankly i am afraid to let my wife put herself and our children at risk of the wheels breaking while she is going somewhere.i went to the dealer to see what they knew about this and they said they knew nothing.i asked who the manufacturer of the wheels is and they were not able to give me that information.i am under the impression that this is the only wheel for that car.i am concerned for the safety of other families who might be traveling in a van that they feel is safe when the dealer can't even find the problem and sends them off to their destination with a false idea of safety.i shudder to think what would happen to a family traveling at 75 mph down a mountain pass in nevada and a wheel breaks.have you had other reports of this nature?
Metal part of wheels - all four- cracked. Two were inbad shape. Forunatly no accidents. Heard cracking sound first then inspected an noticed cracks
The contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. While driving at approximately 40 mph, there was an abnormal noise and vibrations coming from the rear driver side of the vehicle. The contact observed that the rear driver side wheel turned inwards and the check engine warning indicator illuminated continuously. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
While driving on the highway the right front wheel came off the car.
In the past four years we have had the wheel bolts on the right front wheel break off six times.the last time, the fix was to replace the wheel.that was done in may 2003 and no problem since with that wheel but its only been two months.now in july 2003 we have had the bolts break on the left front wheel twice!on july 22 2003, we had a new wheel and all five bolts replaced on the left front.one week later the van is again at the ford dealership because three bolts have broken on the newly replaced left front again.
Consumer was riding for a period of time and stopped to rest. Consumer was heading back onroad and 1 minutefrom where he was, front of vehicle went down. Consumer thought it was a flat tire. A tow truck cameand foundcoil spring had broken. Would have to go to a ford dealershop to be repaired. Consumer wantedmanufacturer to coverrepairs.a letter was sent,butresponse from them was they couldn't do anything for consumer. Vehicle had been taken to dealer several times prior to incident due to a strange noise that was occurring in the front end, dealer inspected front end extensively and never found anything wrong.there are plastic hub covers on the wheels, consumer has had 3 blowouts which have ruined the covers, they are not able to handle the repeated wear and tear.
Hub cap clips on all caps are damaged.
Front wheel bolts fell off, and tire came off.
While the insured was driving the tire fell off due to two lug nuts had cracked. Claim# 33-0348-233
While driving, the studs broke off the wheel, causing thevehicle to strike the ground.(claim#33-0269-919)
In july of 2002 two lugnut studs from my left front wheel broke while i was driving my vehicle.in march of 2003 three lugnut studs from my right from wheel broke while i was driving.a forth lugnut stud broke on my right front wheel when i took my car in for maintenance.
Vibration from rear drivers side wheel due to 4 lug nuts falling off wheel, wheel was being secured by 1 loose lug nut.
1998 ford windstar. Passenger side tire fell off while slowing to almost 1 km/h (luckily).all 5 studs sheared completely off.replaced all studs from ford parts and 3 weeks later 2 studs showing.very scary, still working on problem.
All 5 left front lug bolts sheared and car lost wheel at 70 mph on freeway.road was straight and i was able to pull car to right shoulder. I note 29 similar incidents over last 4 years on nhtsa website, but no recall.why not? previously my mechanic had 3 of right front lugs break at less than spec torque.all right front lugs were replaced.at that time the left lugs took torque and (unfortunately) were not replaced.these lugs caused life threatening hazard.dt
While driving left front tire came off the vehicle and rolled into the path of another vehicle which struck the tire(ohio traffic crash report).*mr
6th time in 6 months lugs: bolts have sheared, normal driving w/ no incident.wheels, hubs, tie rods and lug bolts have all been replaced w/ no change in regularity of event.no substantive vibration experienced.mechanics have all been advised of history.cowles ford, c&j auto, d&b auto, aaa and and firestone have serviced the incidents.requested review on tsb's and other complaints to ford - to no avail.real serious - one to four lugs have sheared on each incident; involved both front wheel assys and one rear assy.
Front left wheel vibrated at highway speeds.inspected lugs: nuts and found 3 broken ones.
Left front wheel lug bolts sheared off causing the tire and wheel to come off and hit another vehicle, consumer requests reimbursement.
1998 ford windstar. 2 driver side wheel lug bolts broke off while driving. Both studs sheared completely off.replaced both studs from ford parts and 3 weeks later 1 of the new replacement lug bolts broke off.
The left wheel lugs: nuts broke off or sheared off which may cause the wheel to fall off.occurred twice. Please provide further information.
My concern is why all five studs that hold the wheel on broke at once, resulting in lose of steering. The body shop and the insurance agent could offer no good reason for this failure, they said maybe the lug nuts were over tight. Now i'm concern about it happening again to another wheel if something is defective.
Consumer states the bolts on the right front wheel sheared off.(claim#27-7046-604)
While driving, the wheel bolts sheared off, causing wheel to separate from the vehicle and strike the roadway.(claim#02-0442-821)
Consumer possibly experienced problems with the wheel studs breaking off.(claim#38-j687-126)
Reported problem in may 2001, now replaced lugs: nut sheared off wheel,help!
Left front wheel lug bolts sheared off causing the tire and wheel to come off and hit another vehicle, consumer requests reimbursement.
While driving at 70 mph 2lugs: nuts came off, and the consumer had to pull over to the side of the road. Consumer took off the hub cap and noticed that two of the lugs: nuts came off, and the other three were coming off.the studs sheared off inside the lug nuts.
All 4 wheels have hadlugs: nuts sheared off and have fallen into the hubcap.
On two separate occasions, while driving at 60 mph, the front lug nuts that hold the tire in place fell off from the driver's side and passenger's side, almost causing loss of tires.personal mechanic replaced lug nuts and studs.
The front passenger wheel departed (i.e. Fell off) the vehicle while traveling 40 mph on a paved road.the vehicle stopped on a soft shoulder at the side of the road.all five studs holding the wheel on were sheered off.the wheel itself was not damaged, however major body damage was made to the wheel well and front door.the vehicle was repaired (except for the body damage) at the cost of $1300, replacing the rotor, brake, spindle and strut.
While driving down the freeway the front passenger side wheel seperated from the vehicle due to all five studs snapping off.*mr
Missing or improperly adjusted lug nuts are a factory problem on 1998 units manufactured in canada.
While driving, the lug nuts on the front wheel broke off, causing the wheel to separate from the vehicle.(claim#43-r774-617)
While driving, the right wheel separated from the vehicle causing vehicle to slide.(claim#60-c263-071)
Lugs nuts keep breaking off.happens about every 2 to 3 thousand miles.usually 2 to 3 lugnuts break off each time.i'm scared to drive the car.was told to mention mention that there is an onging investigation going on with this.the investigation # is 3983673 - action # ea03004.
Four of five lugs:nuts detached from the wheel unexpectedly causing the wheel to vibrate and almost detach from the vehicle. Taken to dealer for checkup and repairs.
While driving at highway speedlugs andnuts popped off.dealer stated therewas nothing they could do.
While in motion, passenger tire came off vehicle due to lug nuts breaking off, causing vehicle to slam to the ground, skidding into a vacant lot, hitting a 2x4 board, claim 48-5214-929.*jg
We were about 30 miles from home on our return trip from ohio to iowa when, while accelerating out of a rest area, steering column began shaking vigorously.we began to slow from 60-65mph and merged into the right lane.while the vehicle was going around 50mph the right front end dropped and the right front tire bounced off into a field.we retained control of the vehicle and pulled over without injury.upon examination, the tire studs had all broken clean off.all except two were lost.the two had a locking mechanism.the damage due to the collision with the road after the wheel fell off was covered by our insurance, though technically the initail mechanical failure did was not, though since the studs were part of the rotor which was damaged they were replaced with the rotor.the parts damaged and replaced include the rotor, front brakes, control/stabilizing arm, right fender and passenger door.
Consumer stated that all 5 studs on the right front wheel sheared off while driving.dlr advised that all studs snapped at the same tread length. Ts
While driving, the studs on the hub broke off, causing damage to the wheel and vehicle,claim 25-5623-634
While driving, the left front wheel lug nuts sheared completely off, which caused the wheel to come off. ,,,extensive damage which included replacing tire, wheel, lugs:nuts and body damage to door and front fender from skidding on wheel after tire fell off. Could not open driver's door.
My wife was turing left at a red light and was waiting for pedistrians to cross the street. As she turned the corner the right front tire snapped off of the hub and almost hit a lawyer! all five of the studs broke off, the metal indicated they were fresh breaks. There was not any indication of the nuts being lose, the nuts were still screwed on the studs. The wheel and nuts did not look scared as if they had been lose. Pior to the wheel coming off there had been no shimmy or vibration at all. I had driven the vehicle the previous night and had not felt anything out of the ordinary.she had only accelerated from the left turn position about 15ft and could not have been going faster than 5 mph. The vehicle had not been serviced after we purchased it. Thank god she was not on the interstate in 5'oclock traffic!
Since april 2001 i have had my 1998 ford windstar in the shop nine times to replace front wheel studs that had sheared off.my hometown mechanic after replacing studs on the right front five times finally suggested we replace the wheel because several of the holes appeared oval instead of round.this seemed to have eliminated the problem on the right but since then i have had three incidents of studs shearing off on the left front wheel.at a ford dealership in cincinnati, oh, i had to replace (in the left front) 3 studs and at that time had a new wheel put on.after driving from cincinnati to atlanta georgia i again was at a ford dealership in conyers georgia with three more broken studs (on the left front) and this time they also replaced the hub assembly.now after over $1300.00 in repairs my windstar is again in the shop having broken studs replaced on the left front wheel.by the way none of the ford dealerships would admit ever hearing of this problem before.
I was driving at 65 mph and felt a vibration as though i may have a flat tire,checked and the tires were fine so i proceeded forward only to have the front left wheel collapse inward, all 5 lugs were sheared completely off, the service center had no explanation for this occurrence, one month to the day the same thing occurred again and i was again charged the repair cost and new bolts and lugs were installed along with the tire being rotated to the back,this lasted for 6 months and the lugs broke again, i am just now learning that there are other consumers with this problem.lug nuts should not be sheared off as though a hot knife cut through butter.i purchased my vehicle when it was 2 years old and though i have had no other major problems but this is one that could cost me or my children our lives. *la
1)all 5 lugs: nutssheared off from the right front passenger hub, causing the wheel to leave the vehicle.the body of the vehicle traveled approximately 200 feet until it stopped.2)the rear brakes had to be replaced with new pads and rotors.dealer couldn't explain why this was a problem. 3) the next day the right passenger mirror electical system no longer worked.4)the parking brake consistently does not disengage after use.we no longer use it, possibly creating a safety hazard. 5) the vehicle intermittently stalls out at low speeds or upon stopping.additionally the initial gears shift hard and loud. 6)the rear seat will not move on the track.
On 4/16/06 i was driving the vehicle and felt something strange in the right front wheel.i checked to see if the tire was flat and found nothing noticeable.i continued on my way drove about one more mile when all five lugs of the passenger side front tire broke causing the tire to fall off.the tire damaged the fender and door.the vehicle was towed to a repair shop.the mechanic inspected and replaced the lugs.he could not find any reason for the lugs to break.1998 ford windstar.
A vibration began suddenly in the steering wheel while driving. After getting rapidly worse, the right front wheel came off of my 1998 ford windstar at 45 mph when the lug bolts broke, causing the vehicle to crash into the ground. I retrieved the wheel and found all five lugs, with their lug nuts still attached, captured between the hubcap and the wheel. The police officer who responded repeatedly stated that he was amazed that the vehicle did not roll over and that i was lucky there were no injuries.
Front passenger side tire has fallen off three times while the consumerwas driving.bolts that hold tire in place kept breaking off the lugs: nuts. Contacted dealer, and the dealer did not know what the problemwas.
Passenger's side front tire bolts sheared off and wheel rolled down the highway. Car rested on front disc brake. Then itcame to a stop.mechanic said the bolts broke off, and nutswere still on them.
Lug nuts broke off of right front tire and hub of wheel/brake drum, resulting in tire falling off of vehicle and causing damage to vehicle. (ohio traffic crash report). Mjs
1998 ford windstar van. Front passenger lug bolts. All five lug bolt failed with no warning. Vehicle mileage 33300.no notice before failure. No shaking or vibrations. 60 mph at time of incident. All parts saved. Replaced 5 lug bolts, 5 lug nuts, rotor.
1998 windstar lug nuts sheared off.the left front wheelcame off the vehicle as a result of the lug nut shearing off.the vehicle landed on it's wheel.
1998 windstar's front right wheelslug bolts sheered off causing wheel to fly off while driving on highway.*nlm
Consumer owned a 1998 windstar thatlost lugs in three instances since vehicle was bought. This always happened to the right front tire.consumer maintained thatreplacing the lugs was not a solution since thelugs on that tire were replaced twice. The lugs won't remain tight.over tighten them and they would break. Under tighten them ,and the lugs nuts would loosen, and then lugswould break. There was no middle ground except to constantly check them for tightness.
While driving 35 mph heard a noise frompassenger's side front wheel.he pulled over, and took off hubcap to check tire. As soon as hubcap was off, 3 of the 5 lugs: nuts fell off withpost attached.
My front passenger wheel came off my car when i came to a stop to allow a car pass by, i went to make a left handed turn when my entire wheel came off my car and shot across the road.my husband came to look at the car and well as a tow truck had to take our car home, both made the comment that all five bolts scheered off.state farm our insurance company plugged this information into their system and said that it is a ford issue and that i need to fill out this complaint form for ya'll to investigate.state farm is saying that it has to do with the rotar and vibration if the wrong parts are installed this situtation could happen.well i told state farm and i will tell you, the rotars are from the factory and so the "wrong parts" were not used and it is not a possiblity because it did happen to me.forturnately i was not injured and my precious girls were not in the car with me, but i don't want this to happen to anyone else or for that matter who is to say the other rotar won't do this on the other side.please call me if you have any questions or need additional information.thank you for your time with this matter.
While traveling on ohio turnpike front left wheel came off vehicle, crossed the median, and hit a car traveling in the opposite direction.
Dt:the contact owns a 1998 ford wind star. In 8-03 his wife was making a slow left hand ascending turn at 15-20 mph and the front right wheel sheared off. All five lugs:bolts broke off. It happened again on 9-13-05 after it had been repaired by ford. She was making a slow ascending turn when all of the five lugs:bolts broke off again.
While driving at 70 mphfront right wheel lugs sheared off causingwheel to come off.
Front driver's side rim began to leak. Then two weeks later, front passenger side rim began to leak. Dealer has been contacted, but is unable to remedyproblem untilnew year.also, contacted sears and was told thatwelding for rims is unacceptable. Please provide further details.
My front driver side wheel was making a clunking noise. Thought it was something inside. I took it to a les swabb tire dealer to have it looked at. The reason for the noise was a cracked rim, about 6 inches long. They said this is not supposed to happen, very dangerous. It costed me $45.00 to replace the rim. They suggested to look into other reports. On your web site i found several reports of others having the same problem, some had to replace all 4 rims. They said if this cracked all around my tire would of fell off. Scary thought for my family and other drivers on the highways,etc. I called ford to report this and requested them to replace all 4 rims. They refused to take responcibility for this. Tried to blame it on my tires and my driving. Tires are all new and driving shouldn't crack the rim like it did. I think it is sad they are not concerned nor care this could cause a fatal crash. I am going to call king 5 news. I am not comfortable driving my van now. This should be a recall, dangerous. Please make ford take responcibility for this, before a fatal crash if has not happened already.
During oil change mechanic discovered cracks inleft front and rearrim.please add further comments.right rear rim cracked and was replaced, now the left rear and left front are cracking.
Wheel rim is causing a leakage intire dealer is aware and waiting onparts. Left front tire exploded while driving and was replaced with new tire.that new tire became flat. A bad wheel rim was determined as the cause.
All four of wheel rims are cracked. Please provide more information.
While driving 25 mph consumer heard a noise and noticedright rear rim had cracked.
Rims will develop cracks.consumer had to already replaceright front wheel for this problem, and currentlyhas to replaceleft front wheel.
Three of rim wheel bases have cracked. This caused a clonking sound when driving.dealr has been contacted.wheels usually crack 6-7 months after brakes were serviced.tire tread separation and out of round are caused by the faulty wheels.
2 of 4 wheels on our windstar developed wheel leaks on the weld line joining the tire bead flange to the center hub section of the wheel (original suspicion was tire or valve stem leak, but soaping rim shows air bubbling through weld).first failed wheel replaced by dealer.second wheel replaced by local garage (dealer wanted $50 deductable) and is available for examination.i've never heard of such a defect, but ford dealer mechanic volunteered that they've "seen windstar wheels leak".garage replacing second wheel made similar comment.a friend with 1996 windstar had two wheels fail with same problem.dealer rejected claim of accelerated tire wear caused by first failure ($80 replacement cost).second tire has wear on outer edges and will need premature replacement ($80!).as a safety-related defect (loss of tire pressure due to wheel leakage could lead to tire failure and potential loss of vehicle control) ford logically should be responsible for all costs related to correcting this defect.based on the limited sample i've seen (4 of 8 wheels on two vans failed;factory and independent mechanics specifically aware of problem with windstar wheels), logically qualifies it as an epidemic failure (albeit with a low sampling certainty, pending expansion of the sample base).it's likely that ford motor co. Has service records to confirm these observations.
Numerous problems with hatch, mechanic says wheel mounting bent,accident or frame defect
We have had to replace the rim on our 1998 windstar's right front wheel three times due to rim breakage and subsequent tire deflation. Two different tire repair shops reported seeing this problem frequently in ford windstars. The ford dealer where the car was purchased denied any problem or responsibility. *la
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