Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1996 record →
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 30MPH ON SIDE STREET AND HEARD A NOISE. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, AND PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE STARTED PULLING TO RIGHT, SHE WAS ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. MECHANIC STATED THAT LEFT REAR BACKING PLATE AND BRAKE SHOE ANCHOR RIVETS SHEARED OFF. *AK
THE FRONT COIL SPRING OF THE VEHICLE BROKE TEARING THE BRAKE LINE AND RIPPING OUT DRIVER SIDE TIRE AND THE FRONT END WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING. *YH
WHILE DRIVING COULD SEE THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED. THEN, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY FOUND AN ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE JUST LIKE INDICATED IN RECALL FOR 1995 VEHICLES. *AK *TT
THE CAR HAS BEEN RIDING ROUGH AND WHEN YOU WENT OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD OR THE SURFACE WAS NOT EVEN, THE ENGINE FELT LIKE IT WAS ABOUT TO FALL OUT OF THE CAR. I HAD THE SHOCKS AND STRUTS CHECKED AND THEY WERE FINE. I DID RECEIVE AN EXTENDED COVERAGE ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE MAIL ON 8/2001 (PROGRAM #01M03) FOR THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS AND ASSUMED THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. I BROUGHT IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE SPRINGS WERE FINE BUT, THEY HAD TO "WELD BOTH OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARE BRACKETS BACK ON TO THE CAR". THEY DID NOT GO INTO ANY EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED BUT I GOT THE FEELING FROM THEIR TONE OF VOICE AND BODY LANGUAGE THAT THIS WAS NOT SUPPOSE TO HAPPEN.*AK
ENGINE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY ON WARM TO HOT DAYS. CAUSES LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKING AND HANDLING OF VEHICLE. ENGINE STALLS DURING NORMAL OPERATION, AT INTERSECTIONS, NEEDING TO STEER OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID COLLISIONS. ENGINE NEEDS TO COOL DOWN FOR 20 MINUTES BEFORE IT WILL TURN OVER. RECENT NEWSPAPER ARTICLE REPORTED MAJOR COLLISONS LEADING IN DEATH OR SEVERE INJURY BECAUSE OF THIS ENGINE FAILURE. CASES PENDING IN CALIFORNIA. FORD NEEDS TO BE PRESSURED BY THE NHTSA TO HAVE A RECALL OF THIS TFI MODULE WHICH IS POSITIONED IMPROPERLY ON ENGINE BEFORE MORE INCIDENTS OCCUR OR THE TFI MODULE NEEDS TO BE REDESIGNED TO WITHSTAND MORE HEAT SO THAT ENGINE DOES NOT SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND NEED TO HAVE ACTION TAKEN NOW BEFORE SOMETHING SERIOUS HAPPENS.*AK
AT APPROXIMATELY 7:20PM ON WEDNESDAY EVENING, AUGUST 22, 2001, I WAS TRAVELING AT THE SPEED LIMIT, 75MPH, SOUTH ON INTERSTATE 70, NEAR RICHFIELD, UT, WHEN, WITHOUT WARNING, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE DELAMINATED. I MANAGED TO KEEP CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AND GOT IT TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. THE TIRE'S TREAD WAS COMPLETELY GONE, HAVING DEFORMED, BLACKENED AND TAKEN PAINT OFF THE LEFT FRONT FENDER, DETACHED THE LEFT PORTION OF THE BUMPER FROM THE FENDER, DESTROYING AND CASTING AWAY THE MAJORITY OF THE INNER FENDER SKIRT, BADLY DENTING THE REAR PORTION OF THE WHEEL WELL/FENDER, AND SHREDDING THE MUD GUARD THERE TO THE EXTENT THAT MOST OF IT HAD TO BE CUT OFF LATER. THE TIRE CONTINUED TO HOLD AIR THOUGH SO I WAS ABLE TO CREEP ALONG THE SHOULDER THE APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE TO THE FIRST RICHFIELD EXIT. I PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT OF A LARGE GAS STATION JUST OFF THE INTERSTATE AND GOT THE BY-NOW-DEFLATED-DE-LAMINATED TIRE OFF THE VEHICLE, AND THE "SPARE" TIRE ON IN ITS PLACE. I THEN PROCEEDED INTO RICHFIELD WHERE I FOUND A TIRE DEALER WHO WAS WILLING TO SELL, MOUNT, BALANCE AND INSTALL TWO REPLACEMENT TIRES FOR ME, CHARGING ME A $55 "AFTER HOURS" FEE IN ADDITION TO THE PRICE OF THE TWO TIRES. THE FORD DEALER IN RICHFIELD, THE FOLLOWING MORNING, GAVE ME LITTLE HOPE THAT MICHELIN WOULD ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE INCIDENT, AND THERE WAS NO MICHELIN DEALER IN RICHFIELD THAT I COULD CONTACT. SINCE RETURNING HOME LAST FRIDAY, I HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO GET ESTIMATES FOR REPAIRS, BUT,
VEHICLE HAS ITS SECOND REPLACEMENT ON SPEEDOMETER SINCE 54,000 MILES. WHEN VEHICLE REACHES 30 MPH OR MORE NEEDLE WOULD BOUNCE BACK AND FORTH. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK
ALUMINUM WHEELS CORRODE AT TIRE BEAD SEAT-TIRES LOOSE AIR- NO REPAIR IS LASTING. SALT MAY BE A FACTOR.*AK (TIRESIZE: 215X70R15)
THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED. *YH
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND NOTICED THAT TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT UP AND WAS RED. HE PULLED OVER TO SHOULDERS AND LIFTED HOOD. CHECKED COOLANT, AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS NO COOLANT INSIDE OF VEHICLE. *AK HEADGASKET LEAK CAUSED THE TEMPRATURE GAUGE TO GO UP. *YH
WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE FAILS TO SHIFT INTO GEARS WHICH HAS CAUSED PROBLEMS WHEN ACCELERATING. ALSO, WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED A NOISE OCCURS IN FRONT END OF VEHICLE CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND PASSENGER'S DOOR CAME OPEN WITHOUT TOUCHING ELECTRICAL WINDOWS. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. ALSO, COIL SPRING FAILED DURING INSTALLATION. VEHICLE HAD SIX INCH SUSPENSION. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEMS. *AK
TIMING COVER SEAL WAS LEAKING, UPON HAVING THIS PROBLEM FIXED, THE ENGINE BEGAN MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE, ENGINE WAS REPLACED. *SLC
AFTER DRIVING TO STATE OF VIRGINIA AND PARKING IT FOR 5 DAYS. WHEN CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO START VEHICLE HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT. *AK
FRONT SPRING FRACTURED FOR NO REASON OTHER THAN IT WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT.FORTUNATE FOR US THE VAN WAS PARKED WHEN THE SPRING BROKE .HAD WE BEEN DRIVING WHEN THE SPRING BROKE ,IT WOULD HAVE PUCTURED THE FRONT TIRE AND POSSIBLY CAUSE ME TO LOOSE CONTROLL OF THE VAN .I PURCHASED A NEW SPRING FROM A FORD DEALER AND REPLACED THE FRACTURED SPRING .MY CONCERN IS I HAVE LEARNED THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THE FRONT SPRINGS AND THAT NOTHING IS BEING DONE TO HOLD FORD ACCOUNTABLE TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE SPRINGS.THIS SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM. THANK YOU. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEAR FROM YOU IN REGARDS TO THIS PROBLEM.*AK
HAVE COMPLAINED SEVERAL TIMES TO DEALER WHILE VAN IS IN FOR SERVICE, THAT I SMELL GAS BY LEFT REAR WHEEL WELL AND FUEL FILLER DOOR. THE SHOP CLAIMS NO LEAKS FOUND WITH ELECTRONIC SNIFFER. GAS SMELL STRONGEST WHEN TANK IS 3/4 FULL OR MORE. PROBLEM HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 1998. NO VISIBLE SIGNS OF LEAKAGE.*AK
THE FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING ON DRIVER SIDE SNAPPED AND WENT INTO TIRE, HOWEVER THE TIRE WAS NOT DAMAGED.*YH
MY VEHICLE WENT CRAZY. IT LUNGED BACKWARDS AND THEN ROCKETED FORWARD STRAIGHT RIGHT INTO THE WALL OF A FURNITURE STORE. IT FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING 500 MPH. I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR. IT WENT CRAZY. I AM TOTALLY SERIOUS. IT WAS THE SCARYIST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE! PLEASE HELP ME REPORT IT TO ALL WHO NEED TO KNOW.*AK
20 GALLON TANK HAS CRACKS IN IT. FUEL IS LEAKING ALL OVER THE GROUND. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE INTO DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
HAVE FOUGHT WITH FORD ABOUT LOSING POWER AND VEHICLE STALLING SINCE OWNING THE CAR. ALSO FIND THAT MANY OTHERS(ON WEB 'WINDSTAR HEAD DEFECT' SEARCH) HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO HAD TWO FORD MECHANICS UNOFFICIALY ADMIT THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE 1996 WINDSTARS. FORD, AFTER BEING BADGERED, SAID THEY WOULD COVER MY ENGINE TO 100,000 MILES AND ARE RENIGING NOW THAT IT HAS COMPLETELY BLOWN. I JUST WANT A CAR THAT IS SAFE FOR MY FAMILY. HELP ME. *AK
IT APPEARS THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED "THE PROBLEM" WITH MY VAN. LIKE EVERYONE ELSE WHO HAS LODGED COMPLAINTS THE VEHICLE STARTED SMELLING LIKE IT WAS OVERHEATING. THE COOLANT LEVEL WAS CHECKD AND NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. THEN THE ROUGH IDLE STARTED. THEN THE DEALER FOUND OUT THAT THE HEAD GASKETS WERE BAD, AND A ROD WAS BENT AND THE MOTOR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. AND IT ALL STARTED AT 60K MILES. THE PROBLEMS ARE WELL DOCUMENTED AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO GET WORSE. MOST OF THE VEHICLES OF THIS YEAR ARE PROBABLY GETTING CLOSE TO THE RIGHT MILEAGE FOR THE GASKETS TO BLOW. FORD WILL HAVE TO RAMP UP PRODUCTION ON REPLACEMENT ENGINES BECAUSE EVERY VEHICLE WILL HAVE TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED AND IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW WELL IT HAS BEEN MAINTAINED. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE THAT A COMPANY WOULD KNOWINGLY AND WILLINGLY LET THIS HAPPEN. AS LONG AS PEOPLE AREN'T DYING WHO CARES ABOUT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS SPENT ON REPAIRS BY CONSUMERS. WHAT A JOKE!*AK
IN 1999 WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT, WE EXPERIENCED A GRINDING NOISE. MY HUSBAND REMOVED THE HUBCAP AND FOUND THE STEEL RIM OF THE WHEEL TO BE CRACKED BADLY. WE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WHO BOTH SAID IT WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM, BUT THAT THE OTHER SHOULD PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED. BECAUSE I PUT MY 3 SMALL CHILDREN IN THE CAR, I PAID TO HAVE IT FIXED. TWO YEARS LATER, WE HAVE FOUND TWO MORE WHEELS HAVE CRACKED. THIS TIME, WE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER AGREED TO HELP PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE SPEEDOMETER WAS THE FIRST "PROBLEM" WE CAME ACROSS WITH THIS CAR. AT SPEEDS OF OVER 40MPH THE NEEDLE WOULD GO SPORACTICALLY BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN ABOUT 35 AND 110MPH. WE WERE TOLD IT WOULD BE $400 TO REPLACE SO, WE HAVE NOT YET HAD IT FIXED. SINCE THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF ITS OCCURANCE, IT ONLY MOVES BACK AND FORTH 5MPH UP OR DOWN OF OUR SPEED. PLEASE RECALL THE SPEEDOMETER PROBLEM. WE HAVE BEEN READING ON THE INTERNET AND IT SEEMS MANY, MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME MAKE OF CAR. THANK YOU.*AK
BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *AK
CHECK THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE 1995 WINDSTARS HAD BEEN ISSUED A RECALL NOTICE BUT WHEN THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY WERE UNWILLING TO HELP WITH THE COST OF REPAIR, THE CONSUMERS TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE PARTS WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED PART. YH
1995 WINDSTAR 3.8L ENGINES HAVE GOTTEN EXTENDED WARRANTIES ON BLOWN HEAD GASKETS IN THEIR ENGINES. IT IS APPARENT THE 1996 WINDSTAR 3.8L ENGINE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM BUT FORD HAS NOT EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THIS MODEL YEAR. REQUEST THE NHTSA FORCE FORD TO BACK UP THEIR PRODUCTS THAT ARE KNOWN TO BE DEFECTIVE. *AK
FUEL TANK LEAK, MAY HAVE CAUSED EXTENSIVE FIRE. *AK
AFTER THE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED WE INQUIRED OF THE MECHANIC IF THE TANK CRACKED DUE TO MISUSE. THE MACHANIC COULD NOT SEE ANY SIGNS OF MISUSE, THE TANK WAS PROPERLY MOUNTED AND THE CRACK WAS ON THE UPPER PORTION OF THE TANK. WE NOTICED ONT HE NEWS RECENTLY A RECALL FOR FORD ECONOLINE VANS FROM THE SAME PERIOD WERE BEING RECALLED DUE TO CRACKED GAS TANKS. DOES FORD USE THE SAME GAS TANK ON THE WINDSTAR? HAS ANYONE ELSE COMPLAINED OF THIS PROBLEM?*AK
CONSUME RWAS TRAVELING ON A MAIN HIGHWAY AND HEARD A NOISE, REAR PASSENGER TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. TIRES WERE BOUGHT ON JULY 16, AND TIRE BLEWOUT. TIRE SIZE P20570 R15. HANCOCK TIRES DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE, IT SLIPS INTO OTHER GEAR THATIS NOT SPECIFIED, DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS IN SHOP MORE THAN FIVE TIMES.*AK
HEAD GASKETS FAILED MECHANIC HAS REPLACED SEVERAL FORD 3.8L HEAD GASKETS, CALLED FORD THEY REFUSED TO PAY $1256.13 BILL. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
PREMATURE FAILURE OF HEAD GASKET CAUSING ENGINE COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE #1 CYLNDER CAUSING A MISS FIRE AND THE VEHICLE TO RUN ROUGH. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER HAD IT FOR A FEW DAYS, REPLCED THE SPARK PLUGS AND SAID IT WAS FINE. ON THE RIDE BACK FROM THE DEALER THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. THE DEALER THEN KEPT IT FOR ANOTHER TWO DAYS AND FOUND THE COOLANT IN THE #1 SPARKPLUG WELL. BROUGHT TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DETERMNINED TO BE A HEAD GASKET FAILURE.
PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIIFCATION (96S50) VEHICLE WOULD GO IN AND OUT OF GEAR WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF OVER 50 MPH, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR RECALL TO BE PERFORMED, HOWEVER TRANSMISSION CONSEQUENTLY FAILED, CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT FORD KNEW THAT THEY BUILT A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION.*JB
WHILE WAITING AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE WHEN GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED. THIS IS 3RD TIME IT HAPPENED IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE ENGINE REVVED UP BUT THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO MOVE AT ALL.
COOLANT LEAKED INTO ENGINE CAUSING COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE BLOWING THE HEAD GASKETS AND CRACKING THE ENGINE BLOCK. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THERE WAS A COMPLETE POWER LOSS IN THE STEERING AND BRAKING OF THE VEHICLE. MY WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN WERE IN THE VAN AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. FORTUNATLY THEY WERE NOT ON THE INTERSTATE OR MAJOR HIGHWAY BECAUSE THERES NO TELLING WHAT THE RESULT WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THIS CASE. I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A RECALLED PROBLEM FOR THE 94 AND 95 YEARS FOR THE SAME MODEL THAT I HAVE BUT NOT THE 96. THIS IS NOT JUST A PROBLEM WITH WINDSTAR BUT HAS ALSO HAPPENED WITH THE MUSTANGS AND LINCON TOWN CARS WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A DESIGN ERROR WITH-IN THOSE YEARS IN QUESTION WITH MANY FORD MODELS. THIS WILL COST ME NEARLY $4500 TO REPAIR AS QUOTED FROM A FORD DEALERSHIP AND IT COST ME $80 JUST TO TELL ME SOMETHING I ALREADY PAID FOR AT GOODYEAR, I NEED A NEW ENGINE. SEEING THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR PREVIOUS YEARS FOR THIS MODEL I WOULD APPRIECIATE IT IF YOU COULD TELL FORD TO CONSIDER RECALLING THE OTHER AFFECTED MODELS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM THAT THEY KNOW ABOUT BUT REFUSE TO ADMIT.*AK
PLASTIC FUEL TANK HAS SPLIT CAUSING FUEL LEAKAGE. CONSUMER IS STATING FUEL TANK SHOULD NOT BE MADE OUT OF PLASTIC.
AT SPEEDS OF 40-50 MPH SPEEDOMETER WILL JUMP FROM 30-90 MPH INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE NOT TAKEN TO DEALER YET.*AK
TRANSMISSION SELF DESTRUCTED AT 60950 MILES. WANTED TO ADD THIS TO YOU LIST OF FAILED WINDSTAR TRANSMISSIONS IN THE HOPE THAT A RECALL MAY SOMEDAY HAPPEN. FORD SEEMS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT WANTS TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. I AM OUT $2300.00. THIS WAS THE COST TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT. AT THE PRESENT TIME I HAVE RECIEVED NO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM FORD. I WILL KEEP TRYING UNTIL I GET THE MONEY I SPENT TO GET MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT BACK, EVEN IF I HAVE TO USE THE LEGAL SYSTEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.*AK
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATING ON DASHBOARD. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER TO HAVE VEHICLE INSPECTED, AND MECHANIC REPLACED SPARK PLUGS AND OTHER PARTS. LATER, MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT HEAD GASKET MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATES HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED, SUBSEQUENTLY SINCE THE REPAIR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON TWICE.*JB
CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH FUEL LINES. FUEL LINES ARE WRAPPED WHICH IS CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK. HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER.*AK
CONSUMER STATES NEW HEAD GASKETS WERE NEEDED AND VEHICLE HAD RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE, FORD WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY FINANCIAL HELP, SO CONSUMER HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO TRADE VEHICLE IN. *SLC
ON JUNE 6TH AS I WAS LEAVING MY DRIVEWAY TO GO TO WORK THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE SPRING BROKE OFF CAUSING THE LEFT FRONT TO DROP DOWN ON THE TIRE. AFTER CALLING THE DEALERSHIP (ARTINO FORD IN HURON, OHIO) I FOUND OUT THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I ASKED THEM IF THEY HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH OTHER WINDSTARS AND THEY SAID "A FEW". I CALLED OUR LOCAL GARAGE TO SEE IF THEY COULD GET MY VAN IN TO REPAIR IT AND THEY SAID YES BUT DON'T DRIVE IT BECAUSE THEY HAD ANOTHER ONE THERE JUST LIKE IT AND THEY DROVE IT IN AND TORE THE BRAKE LINE OFF. I CALLED FORD MOTOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE NOT DOING ANY WARRANTY ON THIS PROBLEM "AT THIS TIME"., SHE ALSO SAID THAT THEY ARE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT SPRINGS. ALSO, I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT SPRINGS BECAUSE AFTER 5 YEARS AND 55,000 MILES, THE RIGHT SIDE SAT LOWER THAN THE LEFT SIDE AFTER REPLACEMENT, CREATING ANOTHER SAFETY PROBLEM. BESIDES, WHO KNOWS HOW LONG BEFORE THE OTHER SPRING FAILS. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS THE 3RD WINDSTAR WITRH THE SAME PROBLEM HE HAS HAD TO PICK UP JUST IN OUR AREA. I THINK THIS IS A SATETY PROBLEM THAT FORD SHOULD ADDRESS RIGHT AWAY. WE ALREADY HAVE 5 IN OUR AREA ALONE. I WONDER HOW MANY MORE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM ACROSS THE U.S. PLEASE KEEP ME INFORMED.*AK
ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 37900 MI. - DETECTED WHEN TRANS FLUID LEAKED ONTO HOT ENGINE PART AND SMOKED. ORIGINAL WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 36,000 MI. DEALER TOLD ME THAT FMC WOULD SELL ME AN "EXTENDED POWERTRAIN WARRANTY" FOR $250. THE WARRANTY WOULD COVER THE PREVIOUSLY DIAGNOSED TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND WOULD COVER ANY OTHER MAJOR TRANS/ENGINE PROBLEMS UP TO 75,000 MILES, PROVIDED I AM STILL THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND WAS GLAD I DID WHEN THE REPLACED TRANS FAILED TA 42,952 MILES. THE DEALER REPLACED THAT TRANS, I HAD TO PAY A $50 DEDUCTIBLE. IN JAN. 2001 (58,100 MILES) THE WARRANTY HAD TO BE USED AGAIN. THIS TIME IT WAS FOR "UPPER AND LOWER MANIFOLD SEALS". HOWEVER, THIS TIME IT WOULD COST ME $213 BECAUSE THEY ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE SPARK PLUGS, WHICH WERE NOT COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. JUST LAST MONTH, 6/22/2001 THE VEHICLES ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, JUST AS IT HAD IN JANUARY 2001. THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ROUGH, STALLING, ENGINE WAS 'MISFIRING". THE END RESULT THIS TIME WAS REPLACEMENT OF THE SPARK PLUG WIRES, COIL ASSEMBLY, A-S SENSOR, AND A SPARK PLUG. THIS VEHICLE WAS SOLD TO ME AS "NOT NEEDING A TUNE-UP UNTIL 100,000 MILES". SURE SOUNDS TO ME LIKE I'VE ALREADY HAD THAT TUNE-UP AND I'M ONLY 1T 65,000 MILES!! THEN THERES THE A/C PROBLEM(S). IN JUNE THE A/C WAS ONLY BLOWING AIR THROUGH MY DEFROST VENTS ON TOP OF THE DASH. THE DEALER REPAIRED A "VACUUM LEAK" AND NOW THEY REPLACED A HIGH PSI SWITCH, COST WAS $100 EACH TIME. *AK
IT WAS AT THE BEGINNING OF MARCH AND I NOTICED THAT AS I WAS DRIVING THE HEATER WOULD BLOW WARM AIR AND THEN FOR NO REASON IT WOULD BLOW COLD AIR. I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS PROBABLY A BAD HEATER CORE OR THERMOSTAT SO I TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL MECHANIC. HE CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID THAT IT WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. HE SUGGESTED THAT WE CHECK WITH OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER BECAUSE HE HAD HEARD THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 3.8 LITER ENGINE. WE CHECKED WITH THEM AND OF COURSE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO TELL US MUCH UNTIL AFTER WE BROUGHT IT TO THEM AND THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTICS TEST WHICH WOULD COST US $125 AND IF IT WASN'T UNDER THE RECALL IT WOULD BE SOME WHERE BETWEEN $1800 - $2200 TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET. OBVIOUSLY WE CHOSE OUR LOCAL MECHANIC AT $1150.08 AND CHOSE TO PERSUE CUSTOMER SERVICE. WE WERE TOLD BY ONE OF THE REPS. THAT THEY WOULD LOOK INTO IT AND GET BACK WITH US. WHEN THEY CALLED US BACK WE WERE INFORMED THAT OUR VAN WAS NOT ONE OF THE VEHICLES THAT WERE ON RECALL. OF COURSE, I WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THIS DECISION AND ASKED TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE HIGHER UP. I WAS GIVEN THE CUSTOMER SERVICE SUPERVISOR AND SHE INFORMED ME THAT THEY INTENDED TO STICK BY THEIR EARLIER DECISION AND THAT SHE HAD THE FINAL SAY AND THAT I HAD TO FURTHER RECOURSE. I WAS ANGRY BUT I FELT THAT I HAD JUST BEEN DEALT A RAW DEAL BY FORD AND I DID NOT HAVE THE TIME TO WAIT BECAUSE WE HAVE A LARGE FAMILY AND I COULD NOT BE WITHOUT MY VEHICLE ANY LONGER.*AK
PROBLEM 1- ENGINE BLEW A HEAD GASKET AS BACKING OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY, WE HAVE ONLY 72000 MILES ON IT AND WERE TOLD THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 1995 FORD ENGINE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS REPAIR IS GOING TO COST $1,000.00. FORD HAS GIVEN US NO OPTIONS. 2ND-PROBLEM- ON THE SAME VEHICLE A MONTH BEFORE, AGAIN AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVE THE FRONT SPRING BROKE, PUNCTURED MY TIRE AND COLLAPSED THE SHOCKS, THAT COST $600.00. AGAIN, WHEN WE CALLED FORD WE WERE TOLD THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THE TAURUS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT IT WASN'T FOR THE WINDSTAR. NOW II HAVE A PROBLEM BELIEVING THAT THAY CAN RECALL ONE PRODUCT WITHOUT COVERING THE OTHER WHEN THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM OCCURED WITH MY VEHICLE. PLEASE ADVISE WHAT FURTHER ACTION I CAN TAKE. THANKS. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN CONSUMER NOTICED THAT FRONT LEFT WAS LOWER THAN RIGHT. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK
CONSUMER STATED THAT FORD WILL NOT REINBURSE FOR PASSENGER'S AND DRIVER'S COIL SPRINGS REPAIRS THAT WERE NEEDED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHUR DETAILS.*AK
SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT READ ACTUAL SPEED DRIVEN. ALSO, SPEEDOMETER JUMPS AT TIMES. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. *AK *SLC
EA 00 027/ SUSPENSION COIL SPRING BREAKAGE: WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY RIGHT SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE. VEHICLE TOWED TO A INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR REPAIRS. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERENOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. .*AK FRONT COIL SPRING BROKEN TWICE WHILE DRIVING. *YH
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1996 Ford Windstar → · Every Windstar year → · How the figures are calculated →