1996 Ford Windstar complaints

MAJOR ENGINE FAILURE AT 72,201 MILES. ALL MAINTENANCE WORK PEERFORMED BY DEALER

SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

SPEEDOMETER BEGAN FLUCUATING WILDLY AT ALL SPEEDS ALONG WITH A CLICKING NOISE. SINCE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME NATURE, LOOKS LIKE IT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA. DEALER STATES COST TO FIX IS $600. HUNDREDS OF OCCURENCES OF SAME PROBLEM.

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. ROUGH IDLE. TUNE-UP PERFORMED. OXYGEN SENSOR REPLACED. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT IS NOW OFF. TWO DAYS LATER, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT IS BACK ON AND ROUGH IDLE RETURNS. REPLACED OXYGEN SENSOR AND PLUG WIRES. NEXT DAY, DRIVING CAR AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE FALLS ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO COLD SIDE. HEATER BLOWING OUT JUST A LITTLE WARM. PRESSURE TESTED ENGINE. LEAKAGE IN A CYLINDER. UPON TEARDIOWN, HEAD GASKET HAS FAILED LEAKING COOLANT INTO ENGINE.

DOOR TO DEFROSTER HAS BROKEN OFF. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS VERY UNSAFE BECAUSE IT STOPS DEFROSTER FROM CLEARING WINDOWS, VISION BECOMES IMPAIRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

IN DEC. 1997 THE SPEEDOMETER IN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE AND QUIT WORKING. WARRANTY REPLACED PART AT NO CHARGE. IN JANUARY 2000, SPEEDOMETER STARTED VIBRATING AGAIN. TOLD IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH CABLE LUBRICATION. CONTACTED DEALER AND FORD AND THEY AGREED TO PAY A PERCENTAGE OF REPAIR COST. NOVEMBER 2001, SPEEDOMETER HAS STARTED TO VIBRATE AGAIN. CONTACTED FORD. THEY INDICATED THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM. I HAVE CONTACT WITH ANOTHER CAR OWNER (SAME MODEL/YEAR) WHO'S SPEEDOMETER IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND WERE TOLD THE SAME THING I WAS IN JANUARY. THEY HAVE ELECTED NOT TO REPAIR DUE TO THE HIGH COST. QUOTED BETWEEN $600-800 DOLLARS. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM FOR ONE CAR THE HAVE 3 SPEEDOMETERS MALFUNCTION. HOW MANY OTHER OWNERS MAY HAVE NOT REPORTED THIS PROBLEM?PLEASE HELP! *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 TO 55 MPH VEHICLE WAS VIBRATING. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED FUEL FILTER. CURRENTLY, A YELLOW WARNING LIGHT CAME ON INSTRUMENT PANEL. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, AND HE REPLACED HEAD GASKET. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

EXHAUST FUMES ENTERED INTO VEHICLE. *AK

HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN, HAS BEEN REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING METAL SUPPORT SYSTEM COMPLETELY SPLIT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE LEFT FRONT EXCITOR RING OF THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED. DUE TO A CRACK IN THE RING, WHICH ALLOWED THE RING TO SLIDE INWARD ON THE AXLE DISENGAGING FROM THE SENSOR. MY WIFE CAME TO THE END OF OUR DRIVEWAY AND ATTEMPTED TO STOP. THE ANTILOCK SYSTEM PREVENTED THE BRAKES FROM ENGAGING PROPERLY. THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO METRO FORD IN RAYNHAM, MASS. THEY SAID THE RING IS MADE RIGHT ON THE AXLE AND CAN NOT BE REPLACED BY ITSELF. AND REPLACED THE AXLE WITH RING. THAT INFO PROVED TO BE A LIE AS OTHER FORD DEALERS I LATER CALLED SAID THEY REPLACE JUST THE RING ALL THE TIME. I HAVE 25 YEARS OF PROF. MECHANIC EXPERIENCE AND I INSPECTED AND REMOVED THE AXLE TO SEE IF IT SHOWED ANY WEAR. *NLM *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*755180

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM AS PREVIOUS YEAR MODELS CONCERNING ENGINE HEAD GASKETS. A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THAT YEAR. CONSUMER FEELS THAT LATER MODEL YEARS SHOULD BE INCLUDED. *AK *YH

AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINING ON WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE BEEN IN THE DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD INTERMITTENTL/SIMUTANEOUSLY COME ON AND CAUSE LOSS OF ACCELERATION WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT VEHICLE HAD A TRANSMISSION LEAK, THE SPEEDOMETER WAS ACTING ERRACTICALLY, PARKING BRAKE AND BRAKES WERE INOPERATIVE,ALSO THE POWER WINDOWS WERE INOPERATIVE.*SLC

SPEEDOMETER: SHAKES BACK & FORTH ON HIGHWAY . IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW SPEED TRAVELLING( UNLESS EQUIPPED WITH GOOD STOPWATCH & EXCELLENT MATH SKILLS). HEAD GASKET- FAILED .MUST BE REPLACED. DOES NOT MEET ANY EXTENDED WARRANTY CRITERIA. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED, AND THEN SOON AFTER ENGINE STALLED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK

WE BOUGHT THIS VAN 07/25/00, SINCE THEN IT HAS HAD HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT, AND TWO ENGINES, 0-2 SENSORS, HEATER PLUG, NOW THE PCM, WE HAVE ONLY DRIVEN OUR VAN FOR @ 6 MONTHS, ALL REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE AT DEALERSHIP, TODAY IS 11/24/01. AND OUR VAN IS AT THE DEALERSHIP AS I SUBMIT THIS. I HAVE COPY OF ALL RECORDS. THANK YOU, [XXX] PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE THE VEHICLES NEEDLE STARTED TO HUM. THEN NEXT, THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE STARTED TO FLY BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN 40-110MPH. I DID SOME FURTHER RESEARCH ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT ABOUT 20 OTHER INDIVIDUALS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM WERE HAVING TO REPLACE THIS COMPONENT WITH LESS THAN 40,000 MILES USAGE BETWEEN REPLACEMENTS. UP TO TWO OR THREE WERE BEING REPLACED WITHIN THE VEHICLES. NOW IF THERE WERE 20 REPORTS ON ONE WEBSITE ABOUT THIS CONCERN THEN THERE ARE PROBABLY HUNDREDS MORE NOT BEING REPORTED. AN INVESTIGATION IS WARRANTED. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN FOR ALL DRIVERS ON THE ROADS WITH THIS PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER WAS CALLING DEALER IN REGARD TO RECALL #01I007000 FOR FRONT COIL SPRINGS ON PREVIOUS MODEL YEAR VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED FOR REPAIRS, BUT REFUSED TO REPAIR VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AIK

1996 FORD WINDSTAR 3.8L HEAD GASKET FAILURE AT #4 PISTON

I HAVE A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR WITH ONE OF THOSE 3.8L ENGINES. MY PROBLEMS BEGAN WITH AN ANTIFREEZE LEAK RESULTING FROM HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS. I HAVE JUST HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED IN MY VAN AND THE COST WAS $5000. I CONTACTED THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY CONSUMER NUMBER AT THE SUGGESTION OF A FRIEND WHO SAID THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON HER WINDSTAR. I WAS TOLD BY THE FORD REP. THAT MY WINDSTAR HAD THE WRONG VIN NUMBER TO BE RECALLED. I'M HAVING A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING WHY SOME BAD 3.8L ENGINES ARE RECALLED AND REPLACED IF NECESSARY AND OTHERS ARE NOT. CAN YOU HELP? ALSO, THE NEEDLE ON MY SPEEDOMETER FLUCTUATES WILDLY AT SPEEDS OVER 30. I KNOW THAT THIS, TOO, IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH WINDSTARS.*AK

VEHICLE HAS LEAKED 2 1/2 GALLONS OF COOLANT. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STAYS ON, ANDVEHICLE IS HAVING TROUBLE STARTING. HEAT IS WARM BECAUSE COOLANT KEEPS LEAKING OUT. MECHANIC SUGGESTED TO REPLACE ENGINE HEAD BECAUSE LEAKAGE WAS RUINING THE ENGINE.*AK

THERE WAS PREMATURE FAILURE OF HEADGASKETS, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO ENGINE AND INSIDE PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE SPEEDOMETER "BUZZES" AND SWINGS WIDELY AFTER ~ 30 MPH, INDICATING UP TO 100 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN RETURNED, WHEN UNDER WARRANTY, TO THE DEALERSHIP TO FIND AND FIX A BUZZ IN THE DASHBOARD. THE PROBLEM TYPICALLY OCCURRED DURING COLD WEATHER, WHEN THE VEHICLE EXEEDED 30-40 MPH, AND CAME FROM THE VICINITY OF THE SPEEDOMETER. THE DELAER WAS GIVEN THESE SYMPTOMS, BUT COULD NOT REPAIR THE CAUSE. THE PROBLEM WAS MADE WORSE BY THE FACT THAT IT OCCURRED SPORADICALLY . THE BUZZ NEVER WAS ELIMINATED BY THE DEALER. THE BUZZ NOW AUDIBLE WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER SWINGS WIDELY IS A MORE PRONOUNCED VERSION OF THAT SAME BUZZ. THE DEALER AND FORD REFUSED TO PAY TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH I MAINTAIN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

BOUGHT CAR 3/01-IMMEDIATELY REPLACED CAT. CONVERTER. OVERDRIVE LT FLASHING-NEEDED NEW TRANSMISSION, TORQUE CONVERTER, PLANETARY GEARS, SOLENOIDS; HAD TO REALIGN;SPEEDOMETER OFF BY AT LEAST 10 MPH; NEED NEW RACK & PINION-POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING; NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS HAVE SPENT SO MUCH MONEY AND ALSO BEEN WITHOUT CAR FOR OVER A MONTH -ONLY HAD IT 7 MONTHS!

VEHICLE WAS STARTING TO MISS, AND GASKET WAS LEAKING WATER INTO OIL PAN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON A MAIN STREET AND TURNED ON HEAT. VENTS WERE BLOWING OUT COLD AIR,AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON DASHBOARD. VEHICLE WAS NOT LEAKING ANY FLUIDS. THERMOSTAT WAS ON HOT. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED. FORD PROVIDED NEW HEAD GASKETS AND SOMETIMES COMPLETE ENGINES FOR SAME PROBLEM IN 1995 WINDSTARS WITH 3.8L ENGINE, BUT DENIES THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE 1996 SAME MODEL ENGINE. SINCE THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHER IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 1996 WINDSTAR 3.8L ON THIS WEBSITE, I FIND FORD'S DENIALS PRETTY HARD TO BELIEVE! THIS HAS CREATED A SERIOUS FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, AND FORD HAS REFUSED TO COMPENSATE IN ANY WAY FOR THE OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE PART. I AM REQUESTED THAT YOU PROCEED WITH AN INVESTIGATION, AND WILL BE CONTACTING MY SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVE. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AND APPLYING BRAKES THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE. SHE HAS TO PUMP THE BRAKES. ABS BRAKING SYSTEM DOESN'T KICK IN THERE IS A THUMPING NOISE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.,

WHILE DRIVING MOTOR BLEW A HEAD GASKET WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER. CONTACTED DEALER, AND VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED.*AK

THEY HAVE RECALLED 94 AND 1995 VERSIONS OF THE SAME ENGINE. PROBLEM NOT FIXED.*AK

SPEEDOMETER BOUNCES AND IS INACCURATE, ESPECIALLY ABOVE 45MPH. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER WINDSTAR OWNERS REPORT THE SAME THING!*AK

SPEEDOMETER IS ERRATIC AT SPEEDS ABOVE 40 MPH AND VARIES PLUS OR MINUS 30-40 MPH. *AK

ABS FALSE ACTIVATED AT LOW SPEED. PROBABLY TYPICAL FOR A VEHICLE WITH SUCH HIGH MILEAGE.*AK

FAILURE OF THE SPEEDOMETER WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE JUMPS ERRATICALLY WHILE DRIVING FASTER THAN 30MPH. THE SPEEDOMETER WILL EVENTUALLY PEG AT 120MPH, EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE DRIVING AT SLOWER SPEEDS. ACCORDING TO MY REPAIR SHOP, THE SPEED SENSOR BROKE, BUT FORD REQUIRES A VERY COSTLY REPAIR THAT INCLUDES REPLACEMENT OF THE WHOLE SPEEDOMETER HEAD AND SPEED SENSOR. *AK

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH EXCESSIVE WEAR AND REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE SYSTEM. PADS/ ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED ON FIVE OCCASIONS WITHIN FIVE YEARS. REOCCURRING PROBLEM OF A SQUEALING NOISE COMING FROM WHEEL WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER. *AK

HAD JUST PULLED OUT ONTO THE STREET THEN HEARD A SNAP. CHECKED , AND NOTICED LEFT REAR WHEEL HAD KICKED OUT SIDEWAYS AND WAS HITTING THE MUD FLAP. REAR FRAME HOLDING REAR AXLE HAD BROKEN IN HALF. REAR AXLE NEEDED TO BE STRAPPED UP BEFORE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. *AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD. WE PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AND HAD TO STEP OVER THE FLAMES COMMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. WITHIN 1 MINUTE, THE VAN WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES AT WHICH POINT THE GAS TANK EXPLODED. THE VAN IS COMPLETELY BURNT DOWN TO NOTHING BUT A FRAME. FORD REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.

THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND THEN DIED. IT WAS DETERMINED THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE OF FORD'S FAULTY HEAD GASKETS. WE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

HEAD GASKET BLEW ON 3.8L ENGINE WHILE SITTING IN A PARKING LOT. CAUSED ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THE STARTER AND FLYWHEEL WHEEL BROKE.

ENGINE STARTED OVERHEATING, ENGINE CHECK' LIGHT CAME. NOTICED OIL MIXED WITH COOLANT IN RESERVOIR. DEALER CONFIRMED HEAD GASKET FAILURE. *AK

ENGINE WAS RUNNING ROUGH AND WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM TAIL PIPE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. REPAIR SHOP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN OUT. *AK

3.8 V6 ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STAYS ON WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL AND RUNNING ROUGH; VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER AND INFORMED OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

VAN HAD A FAILED HEAD GASKET (A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG WINDSTARS). THE FAILED HEAD GASKET, LEAD TO A THROWN ROD AND TOTALLED ENGINE TO THE TUNE OF $3600.00. WE HAD AT 89K MILES TAKEN THE VAN IN FOR TO THE DEALER BECAUSE A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND A STRANGE SMELL WAS NOTICED. THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. 3 MONTHS LATER THE ENGINE BLEW. *AK

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. VEHICLE JOLTED ABOUT 3 TIMES, AND THEN COASTED TO A STOP. VEHICLE FELT LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL,AND WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY OTHER GEAR.*AK FORD CUSTOMER REPRESENTATIVES ARE DEFENSIVE WHEN CONSUMER TALKS TO THEM REGARDING THE PROBLEMS AND THEY ARE UNWILLING TO HELP IN ANY MATTER. *SLC

SINCE DATE OF ORIGINAL DELIVERY THIS CAR HAS INTERMITTENTLY DEACTIVATED THE TRACTION CONTROL COMPONENT FO THE 4 WHEEL DISK BRAKE OPTION. THIS ENHANCED SAFETY FEATURE WAS PURCHASED AS I BELEIVED IT MADE THE VEHICLE SOMEWHAT SAFER IN AVOIDING PROBLEMS IN POOR TRACTION SITUATIONS. HOWEVER ABOUT ONCE EVERY 700 MILES, INCLUDING DAY OF DELIVERRY WITH ONLY 25 MILES ON THE CLOCK THE TRAC OFF LIGHT STARTS TO FLASH INDICATING THAT I NO LONGER HAVE THE SAFETY ADVANTAGE OF TRACTION CONTROL. I EITHER PULL OFF ROAD AND TURN CAR OFF/ON WHICH RESETS THE TRACTION CONTROL OR CONTINUE TO DRIVE WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF THIS WHILE ALSO SUFFERING THE DISRUPTION OF SEEING A FLASHING ALARM. NEITHER OF THESE ARE SAFE SITUATIONS. A NYS LEMON LAW SUITE WAS INITIATED ABOUT THIS SITUATION 2 YEARS AGO. THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO CORRECT OVER A DOZEN TIMES WITHOUT SUCCESS. OFTEN THEY CLAIM THEY NEED TO GET THE ERROR CODE & AN NOT REMEDY WITHOUT IT. WHILE WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS FAILURES THE DEALER HAS HAD ONLY 2 ATTEMPTS WITH THE LIGHT ON. THEY BLEW ONE AND IN 8/31 THEY DID SUCCEED TO GET A CODE BUT HAVE YET TO CORRECT. ARE THERE OTHER REPORTS OF THIS SAFETY FEATURE ERRONEOUSLY DISARMING ITSELF?*AK

OIL CONTAMINATION. FOUND OIL IN THE COOLNAT. DEALER INSPECTION CONCLUDES THAT THIS IS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. AN EXACT PROBLEM CAUSED A MAJOR RECALL FOR THE SAME ENGINE FOR THE YEARS 94-95. NO RECALL YET FOR YEAR 1996. GROWING AMOUNT OF REPORTS SHOW THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTS ON THE 1996 MODEL THAT CARRIES THE SAME ENGINE. DEALER RECOMMENDS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE BLOCK AT A COST OF $4000. I AM EXPECTING FORD TO PICK UP THESE CHARGES DUE TO THE REASONS STATED ABOVE.*AK