1996 Ford Windstar complaints

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED. *AK

MY ALUMINUM WHEELS HAVE CORRODED AT THE TIRE BEAD SEAT SEVERELY. THIS PRODUCES TIRE PRESSURE LOSS CONSTANTLY. THE WHEELS ARE NOT CORRODED AT THE FACE BUT AT THE AREA WHERE THE TIRE SEALS. MY LOCAL TIRE STORE IN MICHIGAN SAYS THEY SEE THIS SAME ISSUE REGULARLY. I AM A FORD ENGINEER AND HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS DEFECT TO THE WHEEL ENGINEERS AND THEY SAY THERE IS NO SUCH PROBLEM. THE TIRE STORE ALSO ADDED THAT ALUMINUM WHEELS COMBINED WITH MICHELIN TIRES ARE THE WORST. TWO OF MY WHEELS HAVE THIS PROBLEM NOW WITH THE ORIGINAL TIRES. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AS THEY KEEP LOOSING AIR. I HAVE TO ADD AIR ONCE A WEEK.PLS CALL ME- I CAN SHOW THEM TO YOU. I DISMOUNTED THE REARS AND THE CORROSION IS SEVERE. I TAKE CARE OF MY CARS-THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THIS LEVEL OF CORROSION. THANKS. *AK (TIRESIZE: 215X70X15)

THIS IS A COPY OF THE COMPLAINT I SENT TO FORD REGARDING PROBLEMS WITH THE SPEEDOMETER IN MY 1996 WINDSTAR. I AM STARTING TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. CONSIDERING ALL THE THINGS I'VE READ REGARDING THIS PROBLEM, I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THEIR IS NOT A RECALL FOR THIS YET. I RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE (JUNE 1999) IN FOLSOM, CA FROM A PRIVATE PARTY. THE VAN IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION WITH 46800+ MILES. RECENTLY I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SPEEDOMETER. IT WOULD GET TO APPROXIMATELY FIFTY MILES-PER-HOUR AND THEN START FLUCTUATING +/- FIVE TO SEVEN MILES-PER-HOUR. THE PROBLEM GRADUALLY BECAME WORSE, GETTING TO THE POINT THAT IT STARTED SWINGING WILDLY AND WOULD GO ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT. I FIGURED IT WAS PROBABLY A SPEEDOMETER CABLE. I CALLED MY LOCAL FORD DEALER IN YUBA CITY TO HAVE THEM GIVE ME AN ESTIMATE. WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT THE VAN, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS LIKELY NOT THE CABLE, BUT THE SPEEDOMETER UNIT ITSELF. I ASKED HOW THEY COULD BE SO SURE AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS COMMON TO SEE THE SPEEDOMETER GO BAD IN THIS VEHICLE. I WAS FLOORED TO LEARN THAT THE COST OF A NEW ONE WAS $333.33, NOT INCLUDING LABOR. NOW, I HAVE BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT NEW CAR PARTS ARENT CHEAP, BUT $333.33 SEEMS RATHER RIDICULOUS.I THEN CALLED A SPEEDOMETER SPECIALTY SHOP, SPEEDOMETER ELECTRIC, IN MARYSVILLE TO HAVE A SECOND OPINION. NOT THAT I DONT TRUST THE DEALER, BUT BECAUSE AS A TECHNICAL SERGEANT IN THE USAF I JUST CANT AFFORD WHAT THE NEW SPEEDOMETER COST. MR. LAR

NOTICED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON IN DECEMBER 2001. LOOKED IN MANUAL AND SAID NEEDED TO COMPLETE 3 COOLED COMPLETE CYCLES, BUT LIGHT DIDN'T GO OFF. STARTED LEAKING COOLANT AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD GO TO HOT. HEATER WOULD BLOW OUT COLD AIR. TOOK TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD IT HAD A CRACKED BLOCK AND THAT FORD HAS HAD THESE SAME PROBLEMS WITH PREVIOUS YEARS. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING TO HELP OUT. AM IN THE PROCESS OF CONTACTING FORD COMPANY TO SEE IF THEY WILL BE WILLING TO HELP. PLEASE FOLLOW UP WITH ANY INFORMATION. AT THIS POINT MY FAMILY OF 5 IS DRIVING AROUND IN A SMALL PICK UP TRUCK BEAUSE I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VAN SINCE TOLD IT COULD STOP ON ME AT ANYTIME AND CAUSE EVEN MORE DAMAGE.*AK

HEADGASKET PROBLEMS NEED NEW ENGINE, JUST LIKE THE 1995 RECALL BUT FORD WONT HONOR THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 1996. *AK

AT ORIGINAL NEW CAR DELIVER AND RECURRING AT APPROX. 800 MILE INCREMENTS, THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM (AN COMPONENT OF THE 4 WHEEL DISK ABS OPTION) DISABLES ITSELF AND CEASES TO FUNCTION. THE CAR HAS BEEN RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS TO FORD HAVE ALSO BEEN ISSUES. I LOSS THE VALUE OF TRACTION CONTROL WHICH IS ONE OF THE REASONS I PURCHSED THIS VEHICLE AND PAID A SUBSTANTIAL UPGRADE FEE FOR THIS OPTION. DESPITE MANY ATTEMTPS TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES. TRACTION CONTROL REMAINS DISABLED UNTIL THE CAR CAN BE SHUT DOWN AND RESTARTED. THIS IS DANGEROUS TO DO ON A HIGHWAY AND MEANS I GO WITHOUT TRACTION CONTROL FOR LONG PERIODS. THIS PROBLEM WAS ALSO THE SOURCE OF A NYS LEMON LAW ACTION. MORE THAN 4 FORD DEALERSHIPS HAVE BEEN ASKED TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM WITHOUT SUCCESS.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT ENGINE FAILED, CONSUMER BELIEVES ENGINE FAILURE IS BY FACTORY RELATED DEFECTS, ALSO THE TIMING COVER GASKET FAILED AT 65,454. *YD

VEHICLE WAS PUT IN PARK WITH ENGINE RUNNING. CONSUMER GOT OUT AND WALKED AROUND THE SIDE, AND NOTICED VEHICLE ROLLING FORWARD. CONSUMER JUMPED IN VEHICLE AND APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND VEHICLE HIT GARAGE DOOR. CAUSE WAS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 4 HOURS FROM ALABAMA WITH 1 OR 2 STOPS WE STOPPED AT THE SC WELCOME CENTER FOR 5 MINUTES. WHEN WE RESTARTED THE ENGINE, THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING A NOISE. WE DROVE ABOUT 20 MILES, THEN HAD THE VAN TOWED TO FAIRWAY FORD IN ANDERSON, SC. WE WERE TOLD THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WE AUTHORIZED A REPLACEMENT, BUT ASKED FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TO BE PERFORMED SO WE WOULD KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE OLD ENGINE TO FAIL. TO DATE, THAT INFORMATION HAS NEVER BEEN REVEALED TO US BY FORD. FORD CORP. HAS BEEN EXTREMELY UNCOOPERATIVE IN RETURNING PHONE CALLS, AND HAS BASICALLY TOLD US "TOUGH LUCK".*AK

THIS CAR HAS BARELY 75,000 MILES ON IT. WE ARE TOLD IT COSTS $2,800 FOR A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. UPON INVESTIGATION ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND THAT TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN THE WINDSTAR IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM (ALONG WITH THE DOOR LOCKS AND REAR HATCH FAILING). I BELIEVE THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE RECALLED. JUST FYI-OUR EXTENDED WARRENTLY EXPIRED ONE YEAR AGO. *AK

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH 3.8L V6 ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMING ON, RUNNING ROUGH AND LOSS OF COOLANT. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

A HEAD GASKET FAILURE UNDER 80,000 MILES OF WEAR. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFROMATION.*AK

VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING WHILE DRIVING,.DEALER NOTIFIED , AND REPLACED WATER PUMP AND THE TIMING COVER. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

DEALER INFORMED THAT ENGINE SHOT A BEARING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMNATION.*AK

SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO READ THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. SPEEDOMETER HAS BEEN REPLACED. *AK *YH

WHILE DRIVING RIDE WAS VERY ROUGH. AFTER VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF; THEN HOURS LATER, TRIED TO RESTART ENGINE, AND THERE WAS A STUTTER/ WAS NOT TURNING ON. ALSO, THERE WAS A CLOUD OF STEAM FROM ENGINE. MECHANIC STATED THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT HEAD GASKET BLEW UP. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE, SECOND FAILURE DUE TO ACCUMULATOR SEALS, COMPLETE OVERHAUL.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

INTERIOR LIGHT CAME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY, AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING SMOKE WAS COMING FROM HOOD AREA.*AK

THE ABS LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS WERE ON. THE DEALER MECHANIC REPLACED SPEED SENSORS AND THEN TOLD ME THE COMPUTER WAS ALSO BAD. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE MAIN SEAL WAS LEAKING AND SAID THAT FORD HAD LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THE 3.8L V6 ENGINE. HE TOLD ME I SHOULD GET RID OF THE CAR. *AK

VEHICLE IS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE FROM UNDERNEATH HOOD AREA. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARS ON THE DASHBOARD. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

WHEN PLACING CHILD IN REAR BENCH SEAT ON A BOOSTER SEAT CHILD'S HEAD IS OVER THE HEADREST. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS ON DASHBOARD, AND VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ANTFREEZE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK DEALER FOUND HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN, REPLACED HEAD GASKET AND THERMOSTAT, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE AIR CONDITIONING LEAKS, BRAKES MAKING GRINDING SOUND, DEALER FOUND ANTI-LOCK SENSOR FAILED, REAR FENDER IS RUSTED ON PASSENGER SIDE. *TT

THE TRANSMISSION IN THIS VEHICLE FAILED AT AN UNACCEPTABLY LOW MILEAGE. WHEN IT FAILED, IT CAUSED A SURGING THAT WAS DANGEROUS. THE SPEEDOMETER SHOULD NOT FAIL AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE. IT FLUCTUATES WILDLY. WE DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO GET IT FIXED AND CAN'T TELL WHAT SPEED WE ARE DRIVING.*AK

GASKET FAILURE LEAKED COOLANT INTO ENGINE OIL DAMAGING ENGINE. *AK

VEHICLE IS RIDING EXTREMELY ROUGH, CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN STEERING VEHICLE. MECHANIC STATED HEAD GASKETS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE NEEDS A REPLACEMENT HEAD GASKET. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES FOR REPEATED "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" ILLUMINATING. RECENT REPAIR DONE TO VEHICLE WAS ON THE INTAKE GASKET AND O2 SENSOR. *JG *YD

TOOK IN FOR SERVICE AS A RESULT OF NO HEAT. LOSS OF COOLANT, OIL PRESENT IN COOLANT, LEAK OF OIL AND WATER AT TIMING COVER SEAL, LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD AND SUSPECT ENGINE OIL COOLER. AUTO REPAIR SHOP INDICATES THAT IT HAS A CRACKED BLOCK AND WILL NEED A NEW ENGINE.

THESE 3.8 L ENGINES ARE KNOWN FOR BLOWN HEADGASKET PROBLEMS, AND FOR FORDS LACK OF STANDING BEHIND ITS SO CALLED QUALITY PRODUCTS , I'M NOT A BELIEVER OF THAT : THATS WHY I WILL NEVER OWN A FORD PRODUCT AGAIN. *AK

ON DECEMBER 13, 2001 MY WIFE RETURNED FROM A VISIT WITH HER MOTHER IN GALESBURG ILLINOIS. AS USUAL SHE PARKED OUR 1996 FORD WINDSTAR IN THE GARAGE. SINCE MY SON AND I HAD TO MAKE A TRIP TO IOWA CITY THE NEXT DAY, I DECIDED TO FILL THE VAN UP WITH GAS. UPON TRYING TRYING TO START THE VAN I NOTICE THAT THE HEAT GAUGE WAS INDICATING THAT THE VAN WAS OVERHEATING. I QUESTION MY WIFE ABOUT THIS AND SHE SAID THAT THE VAN HAD NOT SHOWN ANY SIGNS OF OVERHEATING ON THE WAY HOME. I TOOK THE VAN TO DENNISON FORD IN BLOOMINGTON ILLINOIS ON DECEMBER 17, 2001 AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN AND THAT IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATEL $1700.00 TO REPAIR. ON DECEMBER 22, 2001 I AUTHORIZED DENNISONS TO MAKE THE REPAIRS. I GOT THE VAN BACK THE SAME DAY. ON FEBURARY 1, 2002 MY DAUGHTER TOOK THE VAN TO CHAMPAIGN ILLINOIS TO PICK UP MY SON. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THE VAN HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY SINCE THE HEAD GASKETS HAD BEEN REPLACED. I RECEIVE A CALL FROM MY DAUGHTER FROM CHAMPAIGN TELLING ME THAT THE VAN HAD DIED AND THEY COULDN'T GET IT STARTED. ON THE WAY TO CHAMPAIGN I CALLED MY DAUGHTER AND FOUND OUT THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THE VAN STARTED AND WERE AT MY SON'S DORM. WHEN I ARRIVED AT CHAMPAIGN I INSPECTED THE VAN AND DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, THERE WERE NO LIGHT OR ANY WARNING INDICATIONS. I DECIDED TO DRIVE THE VAN HOME AND GAVE MY VEHICAL TO MY KIDS. ON THE WAY HOME, APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES FROM MY SON'S DORM, I ATTEMPTED TO PASS A SEMI. WHILE PASSING THE ENGINE DIED. TH

ACCORDING TO JERRY'S FORD LINCOLN MERCURY, AN AUTHORIZED FORD DEALER IN LEESBURG, VIRGINIA, MY ENGINE BLEW A HEAD GASKET. THIS HAPPENED WHEN I STARTED THE CAR. THERE WERE 2 PASSENGERS, AGES 15 AND 16, AND MYSELF, THE DRIVER IN THE CAR AT THE TIME THIS OCCURRED. I CONTACTED FORD AND WAS TOLD THAT THE BUILD DATE OF MY ENGINE WAS 12/19/95 AND THAT THE ENGINE HAD BEEN BUILT IN THEIR OAKVILLE PLANT IN ONTARIO, CANANDA. ORSON, FORD EMPLOYEE BADGE #2092 ACKNOWLEDGED THAT A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED ON ENGINES BUILT IN 1995 WITH THIS PROBLEM, BUT THAT NO 1996 VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED. I EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT I APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED AS WELL. HE STATED THAT FORD WOULD NOT OFFER ME ANY ASSISTANCE, GOODWILL OR OTHERWISE, WITH THIS DEFECT AND THAT I SHOULD CONTACT WILLIAM CLAY FORD, JR. IN DEARBORN, MICHIGAN IF I WISHED TO PURSUE THE MATTER FURTHER.*AK

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD. *AK

SPEEDOMETER 'BOUNCES' ABOVE 45MPH, CANNOT TELL WHAT SPEED IS,UNREADABLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WINDSHIELD STARTED TO FOG UP. DRIVER ROLLED DOWN WINDOW FOR DRIVER'S DOOR WHEN A "POPPING" NOISE COULD BE HEARD, AND FLAMES COULD BE SEEN COMING FROM VEHICLE. WHEN VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, HEAVY SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AND VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. A FIRE LIEUTENANT SUSPECTED THAT FIRE WAS DUE TO LEAKING FUEL IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER OR INSURANCE COMPANY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK

APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH FORD WINDSTARS AFTER 50,000 MILES, HOWEVER FORD REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM IN EXISTING VECHICLES.* NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM LOWER PASSENGER'S SIDE OF VEHICLE. AFTER INSPECTING VEHICLE DEALER DETERMINED SUBFRAME WAS CRACKED. *AK

AFTER VEHICLE IS STARTED ENGINE CHECK LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. DEALER REPLACED HEAD GASKESTS WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

ON 11-10-01 NOTICED COOL AIR COMING FROM HEATER. CHECKED COOLANT LEVEL AND ADDED WAY MORE THAN JUST TOPPING IT OFF. THE NEXT MORING THE ENGINE WAS SEIZED UP. LOCAL FORD DEALER QUOTED ME 3600.00 FOR A NEW ENGINE. THERE IS WATER IN THE OIL. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

I BROUGHT IT WHILE I WAS LIVING IN TORONTO, ONTARIO. THE EXACT MILEAGE IS 98881KM (NOT K-MILES). I HAVE CONTACTED FORD BUT FORD REFUSED TO HELP ON SERVICING THE VEHICLE. NO SAFETY DEFEC TLISTED. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED WATER LEAKING FROM UNDER VEHICLE, VEHICLE WAS SERVICED. TECHNICIAN NOTICED HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *YD

I HAVE A 1996 3.8L WINDSTAR WITH HEAD GASKET FAILURE. I SEE THAT THE 1995'S WERE RECALLED BUT NOTHING SO FAR ON THE 1996'S. THESE ARE THE SAME ENGINE ALL THE WAY TO 98. FORD COMPANY WILL DO NOTHING SINCE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRENTY. I WAS TOLD BY A SERVICE MANAGER TO SELL THE VEHICLE TO SOMEONE AND NOT DISCLOSE THE MECHANICAL PROBLEM. I CALLED THE MAIN COMPANY AND THEY TOOK MY INFORMATION BUT SAID THERE IS NO PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE WITH 1996 WINDSTARS. I POINTED OUT THAT THEY NEED O CHECK THE INTERNET IF THEY WANT SOME FEEDBACK. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BECAUSE OF IT'S SAFETY RECORD TO TRANSPORT MY WIFE AND KIDS. NOW, AFTER LOOKING AT THE INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET, I KNOW THIS ENGINE IS NEITHER SAFE NOR RELIABLE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BUT THE COMPANY WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS. I'M JUST THANKFUL THE ENGINE FAILED IN A PARKING LOT AND NOT ON SOME BUSY FREEWAY WITH MY FAMILY INSIDE. *AK

1996 FORD WINDSTAR WITH BLOWN HEAD GASKET. SAME ENGINE AND PARTS AS RECALLED 1995'S. WAS STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF A HIGHWAY. NO ASSISTANCE FROM FORD. HAVE READ 100'S OF INTERNET ACCOUNTS OF SAME PROBLEM. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFTEY HAZARD. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

ENGINE COOLANT LEAKAGE AT INTAKE MANIFOLD & HEAD GASKET. SINCE WE BOUGHT,BEEN HAVING MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH ENGINE LIGHT ON & VARIOUS WORK DONE AT DEALERSHIP. ON 11/3/01 INTAKE GASKET REPLACED FOR WHITE EXHAUST SMOKE & ENGINE LIGHT ON. RETURNED 12/7/01 FOR ENGINE LIGHT ON & 02 SENSOR REPLACED. 1/3/02 HEATER BLOWING COOL AIR- DEALER STS HEAD GASKET BAD. CORPORATE FORD REFUSES TO DO GOODWILL GESTURE/PAY.(MILEAGE TO DATE APPROX SINCE CAR STILL IN SHOP).

SPEEDOMETER CLICKING AND REPORTING A HIGHER SPPED THAN ACTUALLY TRAVELING... CANNOT TELL WHAT THE ACTUAL SPEED OF THE VEHICLE IS.*AK

MY 1996 FORD WINDSTAR HAS AN ERRATIC SPEEDOMETER ABOVE 40MPH MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE HOW FAST I AM GOING.*AK