1996 Ford Windstar complaints

SPEEDOMETER IS UNRELIABLE WHEN DRIVNG AT SPEEDS OF 45MPH OR OVER DUE TO A DEFECTIVE CABLE.. *AK THE SERVICE STATION REPORTS INDICATED THAT THERE WERE 15 REPAIRS DONE ON THESE MODELS IN ONE YEAR PERIOD. *YH

THE SPEEDOMETER "JUMPS" ABOVE 45 MPH. THE NEEDLE BOUNCES AROUND AND WE HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAST WE ARE GOING. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT HAS EFFECTED THOUSANDS OF FORD OWNERS. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THE SPEEDOMETERS.

FORD REFUSES TO LISTEN TO OUR REQUEST FOR COMPENSATION, SIMPLY BECAUSE WE DID NOT RECEIVE SERVICE AT A FORD GARAGE. WE DID NOT KNOW OR EXPECT THE HEAD GASKET TO HAVE BLOWN. WE WERE STRANDED ON A SUNDAY MORNING IN ONTARIO, SOME 650 MILES FROM HOME. WE WERE TOWED TO THE ONLY SERVICE FACITLITY OPEN ON A SUNDAY (CANADIAN TIRE) WHO COULD POTENTIALLY GET US BACK ON OUR WAY. WE NEVER EXPECTED A MAJOR ENGINE PROBLEM TO OCCUR AT 57,709 MILES. WE FEEL FORD SHOULD COMPENSATE US FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE HEAD GASKET, AS IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND WAS RECALLED ON THE 1995 WINSTARS. APPARENTLY THE 1996 WINDSTARS HAVE THE SAME HEAD GASKET PROBLEM AS THE 1995S, BUT HAVE NOT YET BEEN RECALLED. JUST BECAUSE WE WERE NOT AT A FORD DEALER OR GARAGE SHOULD NOT LET FORD OFF THE HOOK FOR OUR EXPENSE INCURRED ON A DEFECTIVE PART. *AK

HOW MANY OF THESE COMPLAINTS DO YOU NEED. WE NEED HELP. ACCORDING TO YOUR DATA, THIS IS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE PUSHED ASIDE WITHOUT YOUR HELP. I AM OUT $1500 AND A CAR WHILE IT IS BEING FIXED. THANKS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

ENGINE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF COOLANT. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER OF A HEAD GASKET FAILURE WHICH WAS NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. *AK CHECK THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE. *YH

SAME IDENTIFIED PROBLEM AS 1994-95 HEAD GASKET DEFECTS THAT FORD HAS ADMITTED PROBLEM AND PLACED A LIMITED 100,000 MILE WARRANTY, BUT FOR ONLY 94-95 3.8 L ENGINES. *AK

POWER LOCK ON DRIVER SIDE DOESN'T WORK. *AK

SUDDEN LOSS OF CONTROL IN WINTER CONDITIONS, IMPACT WITH TREE, SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK UP, DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OPENED, DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE, DRIVER EJECTED AND HELD OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE IN SEAT BELT. SEVERE RIB, LUNG INJURIES WITH HEART CONTUSION. IMPACT WITH TREE LEFT FRONT QUARTERPANEL, VEHICLE TOTALED. (DOT NUMBER: NOT KNOWN TIRESIZE: 15)

CONSUMER COULD HEAR A WEARD NOISE, THEN SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, FRONT TIRE BLEWOUT BECAUSE OF A COIL SPRING PUNCTURING TIRE.*AK

HEAD GASKET FAILURE; WAS TOLD CAR ENGINE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND TOTAL REPAIR COST WAS OVER $3,500. ASKED TO SPEAK WITH DISTRICT REP BUT TOLD I COULD NOT. TOLD THIS PERSON WOULD CONTACT ME SPEEDOMETER "BOUNCES" AT SPEEDS OVER 40MPH, MAKING IT USELESS FOR DETERMINING ACTUAL SPEED. *AK

DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT/AUDIBLE ALARM GOES OFF AND REMAINS ON FOR EXTENDED TIME DESPITE ALL DOORS SECURELY CLOSED AND LOCKED. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF COOLANT AND ENGINE OVERHEATING. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER OF A OF A HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON ITS 3.8L V6 ENGINE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER.*AK

FAILURE OF DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET, RESULTING IN COOLANT LEAKAGE INTO ENGINE, ENGINE FAILURE.*AK

HEAD GASKET FAILURE. *AK

AFTER HAVING BRAKES REPAIRED, OWNER WAS TOLD BRAKES AS REPAIRED WOULD HAVE REDUCED BRAKING PERFORMANCE BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE ROTORS, MECHANIC STATED THAT A NUMBER OF FORD ROTORS UNDERGO A HARDENING WHEN MACHINE AND THERE IS NO WAY TO KNOW IN ADVANCE WHICH ROTORS WILL MACHINE PROPERLY AND WHICH ONES WILL HARDEN. CJ

DOOR AJAR LIGHT AND COURTESY LIGHT WOULD REMAIN ON AFTER SHUTTING DOORS. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS CONCERNING THAT PROBLEM. *AK

EA OO 027/ SUSPENSION COIL SPRING BREAKAGE; RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE DRIVING AT 55-60 MPH AND PUNCTURED TIRE. REPAIRS MADE AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. *AK REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *SLC

HYDRAULIC LINE RUSTED THROUGH, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE BRAKES. CONSUMER HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKES TO GET HOME. *AK

WHILE BACKING OUT IT SOUNDED LIKE CONSUMER RAN OVER A CHUNK OF ICE, FROM SCRAPING NOISE. CONSUMER STOPPED, AND LOOKED, AND DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING. *AK WHILE THE CONSUMER CONTINUED DRIVING, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE LEFT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE HAD COLLAPSED AND WAS RIDING ON THE TIRE, WHICH LATER ON EXPLODED. BOTH FRONT SPRINGS WERE REPLACED. *YH

BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKE AND ONE RIPPED UP THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE, DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE IN A SAFE MANNER, IT TOOK OVER 2 DAYS TO GET BACK ON ROAD, LOCAL DEALER HAD TROUBLE LOCATING COIL SPRINGS, TOLD THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAD 600 COIL SPRINGS ON BACK ORDER. CJ

DOME LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER STARTING OR CLOSING DOOR - INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *AK

COIL SPRING BROKE DAMAGING STRUTS AND TIRE, WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED LATER, ALSO REQUIRED TOWING CHARGES. *AK

COIL SPRING BROKE DAMAGING STRUTS AND TIRE, WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED LATER, ALSO REQUIRED TOWING CHARGES. *AK

SPEEDOMETER READS UP TO 45MPH, THEN JUMPS ERRATICALLY ABOVE THAT LEVEL. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO READ SPEED BETWEEN 45 AND TOP SPEED. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN 1996 WINDSTARS AND CONSTITUTES A SAFETY DEFECT! *AK

WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE FRONT GASKET COVER IS DAMAGED AND NEEDS TO BE R EPLACED. WE HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS SAME THING ON 1995 MODELS. WE HAVE AN ESTIMATE TO REPAIR AT $2,000. THIS CAR HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND WE SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS KIND OF PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. WE FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD PAY FOR THE COST OF REPAIRING THE ENGINE.

WHILE DRIVING, FRONT COIL SPRING ON PASSENGER SIDE BROKE CAUSING DAMAGE TO 2 TIRES. *SLC

FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE. *AK

PARKED CAR IN DRIVEWAY, NEXT MORNING NOTICED CAR LOW ON RIGHT FRONT, HAD CAR TOWED TO FORD GARAGE. HAD BROKEN COIL SPRING RIGHT SIDE AND FORD HAD NO EXPLANATION WAY IT BROKE. HAD TO HAVE BOTH SPRINGS AND STRUTS REPLACED. SAW AN ARTICLE IN NEWPAPER ABOUT FORD HAVING A PROBLEM WITH COIL SPRINGS AND AN INVESTIGATION BY THE NHTSA AND THINK FORD SHOULD HAVE TO PAID FOR PART OR ALL OF REPLACEMENT

WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION, FRONT END FELL DOWN ON TIRES. TECHNICIAN STATED COIL SPRING BROKE. *SLC

WHILE TRAVELING CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE.THEN, FRONT END OF VEHICLE DIPPED DOWN TO LEFT SIDE DUE T A BROKE COIL SPRING. *AK

FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKE, PUNCTURING TIRE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 20 -25 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A CRUNCHING SOUND. THEN, FELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS RUBBIMG ON WHEEL. FRONT LEFT TIRE BLEWOUT, AND FRONT OF VEHICLE DROPPED TO GROUND, FRONT COIL SPRING HAD BROKEN. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE REACHES 30 MPH SPEEDOMETER WOULD COMMENCE TO BOUNCE BACK AND FORTH, AND A GRINDING SOUND FROM THE ODMETER AREA. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PART WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND NOT COVER UNDER A RECALL. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKE WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED. IT WAS LIKE A MIMNI-=EXPLOSION. SEVERAL NEIGHBORS CAME OUT OF THEIR HOUSES TO CHECK. IN ADDITION, THE BREAKING OF THE SPRINGS ALSO BROKE THE DRIVER'S SIDE CYLINDER FOR THE ABS BREAKING SYSTEM. THE BREAKING OF THE COILS SPRINGS ALSO GOUGED VERY BADLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE. I REPLACED IT. THE BILL FOR THE WORK AND PARTS AND TIRE AMOUNTED TO OVER 500 DOLLARS. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY ON OR ABOUT APRIL 1, 2000. THEIR REP SAID "WE'RE VERY SORRY BUT CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT." IT HAPPENED IN WESLACO, TEXAS, WHERE I SPEND THE WINTERS. I LIVE IN VIRGINIA, MN. TELEPHONE HERE IN TX IS [XXX]. ADDRESS IS [XXX], [XXX]#[XXX], [XXX], TX [XXX]. I'M SENDING THIS TO YOU BECAUSE I READ AN ARTICLE IN THIS MORNING'S PAPER STATEING THAT THIS TYPE OF FAILURE WAS UNDER INVESTIGATION. PLEASE INCLUDE MY SITUATION IN YOUR DOCUMENTATION. *AK 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 AND UPON MAKING A SUDDEN STOP BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL WAY TO FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE . CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER STATED IT WAS NORMAL OPERATION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEMS THESE VEHICLES ARE HAVING BUT THEY REFUSE TO FIX THEM. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

COILD SRING FAILED, CAUSING FRONT TIRE TO BE SHREDDED AND BLOW OUT. *AK

CONSUMER FEELS MANUFACTURER SHOULD EXTEND RECALL REGARDING DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS FOR 1996 MODELS. *SLC

SPEEDOMETER IS ERRATIC AFTER 30 MPH, THEREFORE, CONSUMER CANNOT INDICATE CORRECT SPEED. NO SATISFACTION FROM MANUFACTURER. *AK *SLC

WHEN DRIVING SPEEDOMETER WAS WAVING BACK FROM 20 TO 90 MPH. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER NOTICED TRANSMISSION PAN HAD METAL IN IT WHICH CAUSED TRANSMISSION TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, NOTICED A FUME ODOR IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, AND CONTACTED THE DEALER. DEALER NOTICED THAT COOLANT AND TIMING COVER WERE LEAKING FLUID ONTO HEAD GASKET. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

VEHICLE'S BLOWER WAS WORKING, HOWEVER NO HEAT WAS COMING OUT, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE HEATING PROBLEMS AND DEALER FOUND COOLANT WAS LOW, 2 WEEKS LATER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND SHORT TIME LATER, VEHICLE OVERHEATED, DEALER STATED TO CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. *SLC

LABORATORY OIL ANALYSIS INDICATES FAILED HEAD GASKET BASED ON GLYCOL AND ANTI-FREEZE CHEMICALS IN THE ENGINE OIL. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

FORD SAID MY MOTOR MADE IN AUGUST 95. RECALL ISSUED FOR MOTORS MADE IN JUNE JULY. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

AT 45,000 MILES VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF COOLANT. TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT 3.8L V6 ENGINE HAD AN ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. *AK *SLC

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

AIRBAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED, CAUSING MINOR LONG TERM INJURIES. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

FORD NO HELP. NEED NEW MOTOR. TOLD TO HAVE NICE DAY. WILL GET FIXED,FIGHT WITH FORD AND IF NO SATISFACTION WILL TRADE ON JAPANESE MODEL.LIKE THE WIND STAR , DON'T LIKE BEING TREATED LIKE AN IDIOT. HAD FORDS ALL MY LIFE, THIS IN ALL PROBABILITY, WILL BE MY LAST ONE.QC IS JOB 1 MY ASS.

SPEEDO HEAD JUMPS. WHEN DRIVING VECHICLE, THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE WILL START WAVING. YOU CAN'T TELL HOW FAST YOUR TRAVELING. SERVICE CENTER STATED THIS IS REAL COMMON ON 1996 WINDSTAR. WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FROZE. CAN'T CLEAN REAR WINDOW.

SPEEDOMETER MALFUCTIONED. NEEDLE KEPT BOUNCING BACK AND FORTH. DEALER HAD REPLACED SPEEDOMETER AT 65,000 MILES, AND PROBLEM REOCCURRED AT 95,000 MILES. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK