1996 Ford Windstar complaints

SPEEDOMETER WOULD MOVE BACK AND FORTH WHEN VEHICLE REACHES 30 MPH OR MORE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND REPAIRS WERE MADE. *AK SPEEDOMETER WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER NEW SPEEDOMETER MAKES THE SAME ABNORMAL NOISE THAT THE OLD ONE DID PRIOR TO FAILURE, CONSUMER FEELS THIS ONE WILL ALSO FAIL AND SPEED WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BE DETERMINED. *SLC

3.8 LITER ENGINE. PREMATURE WEAR OF HEAD GASKETS. HEAD GASKETS BLEWOUT, CAUSING ENGINE TO GO. DEALER HAS THE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER, REPLACED PASSENGER FRONT COIL SPRING. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING.*AK THE CONSUMER POINTED OUT TO A DEFECT STORY AN INTERNET (1-30-2001) THAT SAID THE US GOVERNMENT WAS INVESTIGATING 926,000 FORD WINDSTAR MINIVANS ABOUT SPRING BREAKING AND PUNCTURING TIRES. *YH

WHILE BACKING INTO A PARKING SPACE, LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED TIRE. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

BOTH OF FRONT COIL SPRINGS ARE BROKEN. I HAVE BEEN HEARING A NOISE IN FRONT END, DRIVER'S SIDE. I TOOK THE WINDSTAR TO A MECHANIC AND HE SHOWED ME T BROKEN SPRING. WE LOOKED AT THE RIGHT-SIDE SPRING, AND THAT ONE WAS BROKEN ALSO. I WENT TO A LOCAL FORD DEALER, THE ROCHESTER AUTO COLLECTION. THEY SAID THEY DON'T HAVE MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE SPRINGS ON THE WINDSTARS. BUT MY MECHANIC SAID THAT HE HAS BEEN DOING A LOT OF SPRING JOBS ON 1996 WINDSTARS. MY SEARCH ON THE INTERNET TURNED UP MANY INCIDENTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THESE SPRINGS. I ALSO SAW THAT THE NHTSA IS ALSO INVESTIGATING THIS SAFETY PROBLEM. IT LOOKS LIKE FORD DOESN'T THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. ARE THEY WAITING FOR PEOPLE TO DIE BEFORE THEY ISSUE A RECALL? THE METAL IS OBVIOUSLY INFERIOR AND DEFECTIVE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW OF ANY UPDATES. THANK YOU.........SANTE DICARLO. *AK

ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL AND SALES STAFF THE BUILT IN CHILD SAFETY SEATS ARE SUPPOSED TO ACCOMIDATE A CHILD UP TO 60 LBS., HOWEVER THE SEAT BELT ONLY FITS AROUND A CHILD APPR. 30-35 LBS, THE CONSUMERS CHILDREN ARE BOTH APPRO 35 LBS OR LESS AND ARE UNABLE TO FIT IN THE SEAT COMFORTABLY, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE PAMPHLETS AND MANUAL ARE FALSE AND MISLEADING. NLM

HEAD GASKET IS ON VERGE OF BLOWING. ANTIFREEZE HAS TO BE ADDED WEEKLY TO KEEP COOLED OFF. DEALER ISN'T DOING ANYTHING UNLESS CONSUMER COVERS COST.*AK

FRONT-LEFT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING BROKEN, POKED INTO TIRE, VEHICLE LOSS CONTROL IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!!*AK

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH COIL SPRING ON PASSENGER'S SIDE BROKE AND PUNCTURED TIRE, NO COLLISION OR INJURIES OCCURRED. *AK *SLC

CONSUMER REPLACED FRONT BRAKE PADS FOR 2ND TIME. PADS WERE SOFT, AND WHEN THEY GOT HOT THEY FADE AND STAY COVERED WITH DUST ALL THE TIME. THIS WAS SECOND TIME IN A YEAR, 6 MONTHS APART. DEALER STATED IT WAS A NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. *AK

THIS IS THE SECOND REPORT FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE RIGHT FRONT SPRING BROKE ON 4/15/2001. NOW ON 6/05/2001 THE LEFT SPRING BROKE. THE CAUSE OF FAILURE IS AS FOLLOWS. THE ORIGINAL SPRING IS PLASTIC COATED, ANY TYPE OF IMPERFECTION IN THIS PLASTIC COATING IS A SITE FOR CORROSION, THE CORROSION"PIT" BECOMES A STRESS RISER WHICH STARTS THE FATIQUE FAILIRE. BOTHE SPRINGS HAVE THE SAME TYPE OF FAILURE.

CONSUMER WAS MOVING OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND REAR OF VEHICLE DROPPED. CONSUMER GOT OUT OF VEHICLE, THINKING IT WAS A FLAT TIRE. REAR COIL SPRING ON LEFT SIDE BROKE AND PUNCTURED TIRE. DEALER DIAGNOISED THAT VEHICLE NEEDED REAR COIL SPRINGS AND STRUTS. A MEHANIC REPAIRED VEHICLE USING FORD PARTS ORDERED BY THE CONSUMER. BOTH SETS OF COIL SPRINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

FRONT LEFT MACPHERSON STRUT SPRING BROKE. DEALER WAS INSPECTING VEHICLE.*AK *SLC

THE FRONT RIGHT COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. DUE TO THE LOW MILEAGE AND REPORTED PROBLEMS WITH SPRING COILS ON OTHER FORD MODELS I AM BRINGING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION.*AK

FORD SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL THE '96'S AS WELL AS THE '95'S. SAME ENGINE SAME PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS JUST EMISSIONS. NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT . HEAD GASKET FAILURE IS SOMETHING TO WORRY ABOUT. REPAIRS ARE $1000.00. *AK

VEHICLE SHIFTS VERY HARD WHEN CHANGING GEARS. *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, TOOK TO REPAIR SHOP THEY CONFIRMED BLOWN HEADGASKET, I UNDERSTAND THIS YEAR AND MODEL OF VAN AND THE ENGINE ARE DEFECTIVE, HOW DO I GET FORD TO PAY FOR REPAIRS?*AK

SPEEDOMETOR NEEDLE IS ERRATIC AFTER 55 MPH NEEDLE BOUNCES BETWEEN 95-60 MPH ALSO MAKES A IRRATATING BUZZING NOISE

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

I AM ALSO ONE THAT HAD TO SPEND $1933.07 BEAUSE OF HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED MY BRAKE PAD 5 TIMES. I HAVE ALSO BOUGHT NEW FRONT TIRES 3 TIMES IN 3 YEARS. THE TIRE WEAR IS UNREAL. I ALSO HAVE THE PROBLEM OF THE ODOMETER NOT WORKING. THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES AND ENGINE RUNNING SLUGGISH HAVE BEEN SINCE I PURCHASED THE VAN. THE ODD THING IS YOU DON'T GET WARNING SIGNS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON - GO OFF. IN ORDER FOR THE DEALER TO KNOW WHAT IS WRONG THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT MUST BE ON. NEVER HAD ANY SIGN OF THE ENGINE OVERHEATING. GREAT DRIVING VAN BUT MANY, MANY, MANY, MANY, MANY PROBLEMS.

ENGINE (3.8L) WAS LEAKING COOLANT ONTO ENGINE CYLINDER. ALSO, OXYGEN SENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN HEAD GASKETS BLEWOUT.STARTED TO LOSE ANTIFREEZE; THIS CAUSED ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. TOOK VEHICLE TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, AND INFORMED CONSUMER PROBLEM OF HEAD GASKETS CAN BE REPAIRED.*AK CONSUMER ALSO HAD A CHECK ENGINE PROBLEM DUE TO CYLINDER, FORD COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, SO CONSUMER HAS HIS PERSONAL MECHANIC TO RESET THE ENGINE WHEN THE LIGHT COMES ON.*JB

DRIVER HEARD BANG, THEN RUBBING NOISE. SMELLED AND SAW SMOKE AND PULLED OVER THINKING CAR WAS ON FIRE. AFTER COMING TO A STOP, DRIVER AND PASSENGER HEARD EXPLOSION. FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING BROKE AND RUBBED INNER TIRE SIDE WALL CAUSING BLOWOUT.*AK

I HAVE A 1996 WINDSTAR WITH JUST OVER 40,000 MILES - V-8 ENGINE. THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, AND I STOPPED DRIVING AND DROPPED THE CAR OFF AT THE DEALER. HE SAID IT HAS BLOWN HEAD GASKETS AND AFTER RESEARCH ONLINE, I FIND THAT THIS IS AN ENGINE PROBLEM THAT FORD HAS WITH WINDSTARS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A RECALL ORDERED ON ALL FORD 3.8 ENGINES HAVING THIS PROBLEM.*AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY. MY MECHANIC HAD TO REPLACE MY FUEL INJECTOR AND GASKETS. ALSO HE SAID I NEED A NEW FUEL PUMP WHICH IS LOCATED IN MY GAS TANK BUT THAT I CAN WAIT TILL NEXT OIL CHANGE DUE TO EXPENCE. MY CAR ONLY HAS UNDER 40,000 MILES!!!!!

FORD HAS EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR 1995 WINDSTAR HEAD GASKET FAILURES, BUT REFUSES TO DO THE SAME FOR 1996 WINDSTARS DESPITE THE THOUSANDS OF 1996 WINDSTAR OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME HEAD GASKET FAILURES WITH THEIR 3.8 ENGINES. THE REPAIR BILL IS $1300! FORD IS TRYING TO COVER UP ITS HEAD GASKET DEFECT. PLEASE FORCE FORD TO ISSUE A RECALL. THANKS.*AK

GEARS SWITCHED FROM DRIVE TO SECOND, THEN IT STAYED IN SECOND. TOOK VEHICLETO A MECHANIC, AND HE SAID THAT METAL CHIPS WERE ALL IN TRANSMISSION AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

VEHICLE STARTED OPERATING ABOVE THE NORMAL TEMPERATURE. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL LEAK. THERE WAS A CYLINDER THAT WAS WARPED AND HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK CONSUMER STATES BECAUSE OF THE LOW MILEAGE AND CONDITION OF THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER BELIEVES THERE IS A EFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE. *JB

TRANSMISSION QUIT OPERATING AT 85,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 4000 MILES. CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 10 TO 15 MILES ON HIGHWAY. DEALERSHIP WA SAWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

LOSS OF COOLANT AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON. TOOK TO LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO IS FORD CERTIFIED. TOLD OF RECALL ON WINDSTARS FOR THIS PROBLEM. O'MEARA FORD DIAGNOSED AS HEAD GASKET CRACK. RECALL WOULD NOT INCLUDE VANS AFTER 1995. OURS WAS MANUFACTURED IN MARCH OF 1996. CALLED FORD. THEY WOULD NOT HONOR OR REGARD THIS AS THEIR PROBLEM. RETURNED TO OUR PERSONAL MECHANIC. HE MADE REPAIRS AND FOUND ALL OF THE "OLD" PARTS AS USED IN VANS UNDER RECALL. HE REPLACED THE PARTS WITH THE NEWER DESIGN FORD NOW USES TO ELIMINATE THIS PROBLEM. COST TO US WAS EXTREME-$1600, WHICH WAS ALMOST $1000 LESS THAN WHAT O'MEARA FORD WAS ESTIMATING. WE ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH FORD DEALERSHIP AND FORD MOTOR CO. NOT PLANNING TO EVER PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD VEHICLE IN THE FUTURE. *AK

OUR ENGINE FAILED AS A RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE GASKET OF WHICH FORD MOTOR CO. IS FULLY AWARE BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT.*AK

THIS VAN HAS BEEN AN ALBATROSS! I HAD TO TAKE IT IN 3 OR 4 TIMES AND GET NASTY BEFORE THE DEALERSHIP WOULD ADMIT THAT THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM- AND THEN AGREE TO FIX IT. I KNOW THEY WERE WAITING FOR MY BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY TO EXPIRE. THE HEAD GASKET/ENGINE PROBLEM ABSOLUTELY FRIES ME. NO VEHICLE WITH 62,000 MILES ON IT SHOULD REQUIRE A NEW ENGINE AND HEAD GASKETS. THAT REPAIR COST ME $5000.00 AND NO ONE WILL HELP ME. WE ALL KNOW ABOUT THE 94 AND 95 RECALLS. WHAT ABOUT THE 96'S??? THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. I HAVE CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES, AND HAVE TRIED THE DEALER FOR HELP. NO ONE WILL HELP ME. THE CONCENSUS IS THIS: FORD MOTOR COMPANY DOES NOT CARE ENOUGH ABOUT THE PRODUCTS THEY PRODUCE (OR THE CUSTOMERS WHO PURCHASE THEM) TO MAKE AN INTOLERABLE SITUATION RIGHT. I HAVE HEARD OF SO MANY CASES LIKE MINE- FORD HAS DEFINATELY LOST A CUSTOMER. IF THEY WON'T STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUSTS, I CERTAINLY WON'T BUY ANOTHER ONE!*AK

SPRING BROKE AS THE CAR WAS BEING JACKED UP TO DO A BRAKE PAD REPLACEMENT.*AK

CANNOT UP SHIFT TO 3RD GEAR. RPMS GO UP AND DOWN WHEN VEHICLE IS ON A SLIGHT INCLINE.*AK

HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWNOUT, CAUSING DAMAGE TO ENGINE WHICH OCCURRED OVER NIGHT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE JUST ALL OF A SUUDEN STOPPED RUNNING, CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED, ACCORDING TO MECHANIC THERE WAS NO OIL PRESSURE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING REAR AXLE CRACKED IN TWO PARTS. NO REASON WAS FOUND, AND DEALER /MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING WHEEL OR WITH ANY MOVEMENT IN STEERING THERE COMES A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE, CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT THERE COULD BE A PROBLEM WITH BALL JOINTS.*AK PROBLEM BEGAN ABOUT 50000 MILES. ALSO THIS VEHICLE HAS A FAULTY SPEEDOMETER. *YH

WHILE DRIVING AND HAVING ANY MOVEMENT IN STEERING WHEEL THERE COMES A LOUD SPUEAKING NOISE FROM WHEEL, CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER NOTED THAT THERE COULD BE SOME PROBLEMS WITH BALL JOINTS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THERE CAME A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE FROM STEERING AREA. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER NOTED THAT THERE COULD BE PROBLEMS WITH TIE RODS. *AK PROBLEM BEGAN ABOUT 50000 MILES. *YH

THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER ON 3-16-01, DUE TO A CRACK AND LEAKING COOLANT. THE CAR HAD NEVER OVERHEATED OR SHOWN OBVIOUS SIGNS OF THIS, ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AFTER LONG TRIPS AND THE DEALER SAID THIS WAS O2 SENSORS. 3 WEEKS AFTER THE HEADGASKET REPLACEMENT, THE WHOLE ENGINE BLEW WHILE ON I-81 AT 65MPH. WE LOST ALL POWER AND HAD TO COAST TO A NARROW SHOULDER. THIS SOUNDS EXACTLY LIKE THE 1995 WINDSTAR HEAD GASKET PROBLEM, BUT THEY HAVE NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THE 96 AS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND DID NOT RECALL THE 95 EITHER.*AK

TRANSMISSION WILL FAIL TO ENGAGE AFTER MAKING A STOP. ON THE FIRST INCIDENT, DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DETERMINE THAT THERE WAS A CAUSE BECAUSE NO COMPUTER CODE CAME UP WHEN EXAMINING VEHICLE, AND THERE WAS NOT A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST AVAILABLE. A SECOND DEALERSHIP/MECHANIC OBSERVED THE DEFECT, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE DUE TO NO COMPUTER CODE SHOWING ON VEHICLE. A SEPARATE MECHANIC ADVISED CONSUMER THAT DEFECT COULD BE A RESULT FROM A PISTON WITHIN TRANSMISSION CRACKING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK

DEALER SAID HEAD GASKET NEEDED REPLACING. IN READING THE NHTSA FILES FOR THE WINDSTAR, I NOTICED A PREPONDERANCE OF HEAD GASKET FAILURES AND PROBLEMS, RIGHT AROUND THE 100,000 MILE MARK (I.E. OUT OF ANY WARRANTY). ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON INDICATING VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE EMISSION SYSTEM. I HAD VARIOUS REPAIRS RELATED TO THIS.*AK

SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE FLOATS, CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK. CONTINUES.

THE COIL SPRING AROUND THE DRIVERS SIDE STRUT BROKE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE TIME THE SPRING BROKE. THE REPAIR SHOP I CALLED ABOUT REPAIR SAID THIS IS THE THIRD WINDSTAR IN A FEW WEEKS HE HAS REPAIRED WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE OTHER TWO WERE 1995 WINDSTARS. I AM GRATEFUL THAT I WAS NOT DRIVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE REPAIR SHOP INFORMED ME THAT WHEN THESE SPRINGS BREAK THEY USUALLY ALSO PUNCTURE THE TIRE. MY CONCERN IS THAT IF SOMEONE IS NOT AS LUCKY AS I TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN IN THIER DRIVEWAY , THAT THIS COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS IF NOT FATAL ACCIDENT. IF THIS IS A COMMON OCCURANCE I FEEL THAT OTHER WINDSTAR OWNERS SHOULD BE NOTIFIED. THANK YOU.

HEAD GASKET FAILURE LEAD TO DESTRUCTION OF ENGINE, THIS IS SAME AS 95 WINDSTARS, WHY ARE 96'S NOT INCLUDED IN RE-CALL! COST OF THIS REPAIR $3500 (CANADIAN) WE ARE A FAMILY OF FIVE STRUGGLING TO MAKE IT EVERYDAY, HOW CAN WE SWALLOW THIS????*AK

I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ON THE INTERNET AND IT IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS AFFECTED MANY WINDSTAR OWNERS. FORD HAS EVEN ISSUED A TSB - 99-7-9 RE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE WAVERS AND STICKS. THAT'S THE PROBLEM I HAVE. IT COSTS OVER $500 TO FIX - SO MANY PEOPLE ARE OPTING NOT TO FIX IT. ALSO, THOSE THAT REPAIR HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM OCCUR OVER AND OVER AGAIN. YOU SHOPULD MAKE FORD RECALL ON THIS ISSUE.*AK

I HAVE A 1996 WINDSTAR AND THE SPEEDOMETER IS UNABLE TO INDICATE SPEED OF VEHICLE. THE SPEEDOMETER JUST JUMPS AROUND. IT USE TO JUST JUMP AROUND AT ROUND 40-50 MPH BUT IT HAS COMPLETED FAILED NOW. IT JUMPS AROUND AND MAKE A CLICKING SOUND ALL THE TIME.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION FRONT COIL SPRING HAD BROKEN, CAUSING FRONT END OF VEHICLE TO DROP TO GROUND. *AK *SLC

WHEN DRIVERS SIDE COIL SPRING (OF THE STRUT) BROKE I ASKED THE DEALER IF THEY SHOULD REPLACE THE PASS. SIDE. THEY SAID THE WARRENTY WOULD NOT COVER IT. LUCKLY WHEN THE COIL SPRING WENT, BOTH TIMES THE CAR WAS PARKED. THE SPRING COULD HAVE POPPED THE TIRE WHILE DRIVING THUS CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE COIL SPRINGS SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED WITH LESS THAN 60,000 MILES, THEIR MUST BE SOMETHING WRONG IN THE METAL OF THE SPRING.*AK