1996 Ford Windstar complaints

WHEN FILLING VEHICLE WITH GASOLINE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WOULD COME ON. THIS HAPPENED TWICE LAST YEAR. OWNER'S MANUAL INDICATED THAT AFTER THREE STARTS ENGINE CHECK LIGHT DID NOT GO OFF. THEN BROUGHT VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE CHECKED. ENGINE WAS RUNNING VERY ROUGH. CONTACTED THE DEALER, ADVISED CONSUMER ON 9-MAR-2000 THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKET.

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WE TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER, WHO CHECKED IT AND DISCOVERED THAT THE HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN AND THAT THE TIMING COVER GASKET AND THE FRONT ENGINE GASKET WERE NEEDING TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. AND WE SUSPECT THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS ALSO GOING OUT. WE TALKED WITH THE SERVICE ADVISOR WHO TOLD US THAT IT WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL ISSSUED BY FORD MOTOR CO. WE CONTACTED BILL AT FORD MOTOR CO. EMPLOYEE NUMBER 2556 AND HE ALSO INFORMED US THAT THERE REALLY WASN'T ANYTHING THAT THEY COULD DO AS IT WASN'TCOVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY JUST ISSUED BY FORD MOTOR CO. WE HAVE LOOKED ON THE WEB AND HAVE DISCOVERED NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR 1996 FORD WINDSTAR. WE WOULD LIKE SOME HELP IN THIS MATTER. THANKYOU THE ESTIMATED COST FOR ALL REPAIRS ARE $2000.00. *AK

THE SPEEDOMETER WAVERS WILDLY FROM 55 TO 110 WITH NO INCREASE IN VEHICLE SPEED. THIS MAY BE CAUSED BY OIL NOT BEING INJECTED PROPERLY DURING MANUFACTURING. NLM

TRANSMISSION FAILED. YH

3.8 LITER ENGINE 44,000 MILES AND THE HEAD GASKET FAILED. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 1995 WINDSTAR THAT FORD IS NOW ADDRESSING. MY QUOTED PRICE TO GET FIXED WAS OVER $1600. THE DEALERSHIP CONTACTED FORD AND THEY AGREED TO PAY LESS THEN 3/4 OF THE COST. I AM RESPONSIBLE TO PAY $495 TO FIX THE PART. I CONTACTED FORD AND TOLD THEM THAT I THOUGHT THIS WAS OBSCENE THAT A 4 YR OLD VEHICLE DRIVEN AS A FAMILY VEHICLE WITH NO HEAVY DUTY WORK COULD HAVE A CASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. OF COURSE I GOT NOWHERE. I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WILL FIX THE 95 WINDSTAR AND NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR MINE? *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED A VERY BAD ODOR IN THE PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK *ML

THE 1994 AND 1995 WINDSTARS WERE RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM. I DONT UNDERSTAND HOW COME THE 1996 WERENT. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED WITHIN SUMMARY. *AK

HEADGASKET FAILURE. FORD IS HOLDING TO THEIR MILEAGE LIMIT, ALTHOUGH MILEAGE HAS NO BEARING (NO MOVING PARTS). 95 AND 96 WINDSTARS W/ 3.8L HAVE HORRIBLE HISTORY OF HEADGASKET FAILURES. FORD'S OWN SERVICE PLAN ALLOWED UNLIMITED MILEAGE FOR 95'S THROUGH 98. NO SIMILAR PLAN FOR 96'S. FORD ALSO REFUSES TO REPLY IN WRITING. WILL ONLY REPLY VIA PHONE. *AK

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD. SUDDENLY EVERYTHING FAILED. THERE WERE NO POWER BRAKES OR STEERING. COULD HEAR MOTOR STILL GOING. ALL DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON. VEHICLE ENDED UP IN SOMEONE ELSES YARD. OWNER CHECKED VEHICLE & FOUND TENSIONER BAR ON THE DRIVE BELT BROKE, CAUSING LOSS 0F CONTROL. *AK *ML

WHILE DRIVING ALONG ALL OF SUDDEN VEHICLE EXPERIENCES HARD UPSHIFTING OR DOWN SHIFTING. OCCASIONALY WHEN COMING TO A STOP SIGN THEN PROCEEDING, MOTOR REVS AND TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER IN SEPTEMBER. DEALER REPLACED A SENSOR, BUT STILL HAS NOT TAKEN CARE OF THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE IS NOT LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED SPEEDOMETER WORKS ERATICALLY. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED SPEEDOMETER READING 40 RPMS. THEN WOULD JUMP TO 100 RPMS WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE GAS ON NORMAL TRAVELING. ALSO, THE READING FOR HOW FAST THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELLING JUMPS AROUND AND IS INACCURATE. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS ISSUED A TSB. *AK *ML

BRAKING HAS BEEN FADING FOR THE PAST YEAR RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER CHECKED BRAKES, FOUND: "BRAKE ARE GOOD". MY WIFE HAD A FRONT-END COLLISION WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER HIT A 3RD CAR CUTTING INTO THEIR LANE. *AK

WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR IN PARK, ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD OR BACKWARD (DEPENDING UPON INCLINE OF VECHICLE ON A HILL) AND THE SLIDING DOOR, IF OPENED, FORCEFULLY ROLLS AND SLAMS SHUT. SOMEONE EXITING THE VEHICLE CAN BE SERIOUSLY INJURED, AS CAN ANYONE (ESPECIALLY CHILDREN) STANDING IN FRONT OR BEHIND THE VEHICLE WHEN IT LURCHES. MY SON WAS INJURED WHEN THE DOOR SLAMMED SHUT AS HE WAS EXITING THE CAR AFTER I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BUT BEFORE I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL. I HAVE ASKED THE DEALER TO CORRECT THIS OBVIOUS DANGEROUS CONDITION SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THEIR RESPONSE HAS BEEN THAT I SHOULD ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BEFORE I PUT THE VEHICLE IN "PARK" - A PROCESS MOST PEOPLE DO NOT USE WHEN PARKING A CAR. *AK

WHEN CLOSING THE SLIDING DOOR ALL OTHER DOORS LOCK WITHOUT OPERATOR OPERATING THE DOOR LOCK FUNCTION, THUS, LOCKING THE PARENTS OUT VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE PROBLEM IS THE WELD ON THE WHEEL. THE FIRST ONE BROKE APART AT THE WELD. THE SECOND ONE DEVELOPED A PINHOLE AT THE WELD. THE THIRD ONE ALSO DEVELOPED A PINHOLE AT THE WELD. ALL WERE ORIGINAL FORD WHEELS. IN ALL MY YEARS OF DRIVING I HAVE NEVER HAD ONE WHEEL BREAK AT THE WELD UNTIL I BOUGHT THIS VAN. NOW I HAVE HAD THREE IN APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS. THESE VANS ARE DESIGNED FOR CARRYING CHILDREN SO TO ME THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. FORD HOWEVER REFUSES TO LOOK INTO IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT HAD ENOUGH COMPLAINTS THEYALSO REFUSE TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE REPLACEMENT WHEELS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME ,I HOPE YOU WILL LOOK IN TO THIS. *AK

SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE JUMPS, WILL NOT INDICATE CORRECT SPEED, CAUSING SAFETY HAZARD.DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

WAS TRAVELING 40-45MPH IN FOGGY WEATHER WHEN A DEER APPEARED IN THE ROAD. HIT DEER & BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED,CAUSING THE DRIVER TO SUFFER BURNS ON THE FACE & ARMS. ALSO, FRONT SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE DRIVER. *AK

PARKING BRAKE DID NOT RELEASE COMPLETELY. NO WARNING LIGHT ON. LEVER DOWN. BURNED UP ALL 4 BRAKES AND CAR WOULD NOT STOP. *AK

ENGINE MISSED/SURGED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS BEGINNING 4TH QUARTER 1999. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS MADE BY TWO FORD DEALERS TO DETERMINE PROBLEM. LANGDALE FORD FINALLY DIAGNOSED AS BLOWN HEAD GASKET, NUMBER 2 CYLINDER. SAID CHRONIC PROBLEM EXISTS WITH THIS ENGINE AND THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS,BUT NOT FOR OUR SPECIFIC YEAR YET. FORD REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE PROBLEM OR COVER PART (OR ALL)OF COST IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY (2/28/2000) RECALLING THE 1995 VERSION OF OUR ENGINE. *AK

FUEL TANK BEGAN TO POUR GAS FROM UNDER VAN TO THE GROUND. I TOOK THE VAN TO TREADWELL FORD AND THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET ME A NEW FUEL TANK. THEY SAY IT WILL TAKE 11 DAYS. THIS WAS A PROBLEM ON THE '95 WINDSTARS AND THEY WERE RECALLED. NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE "96'S. SO I WILL BE WITHOUT TRASNSPORTATION FOR ALMOST TWO WEEKS(IF THEY CAN GET A TANK) AND HAVE THE EXPENSE OF $440.00. WHAT CAN WE DO? *AK

MY NEIGHBOR ALSO HAD HER SPEEDOMETER BREAK ON HER 1996 FORD WINDSTAR. *AK

I REPORTED ENGINE HESITATION DURING ACCELERATION TO FORD (DEALER)ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THEY ALWAYS CLAIMED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I REPORTED ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE WHEN STARTING, WHICH THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE. I SERVICED THE VEHICLE FREQUENTLY TO KEEP ALL SYSTEMS FUNCTIONING WELL. NOW, THAT THE GASKETS HAVE FAILED, THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT THE HESITATION AND ROUGH RUNNING ARE SYMPTOMS OF HEAD GASKET FAILURE. OF COURSE, NOW I'M OUT OF WARRANTY. SO FORD HAS OFFERED TO REPAIR BOTH FAILED GASKETS AND ALL RELATED REPAIRS AND TO EXTEND MY DRIVETRAIN WARRANTY TO 75K MILES IF I PAY $495.00. I HAVE REFUSED. MY CAR SITS UNUSABLE IN MY DRIVEWAY. *AK

SPEEDOMETER BEGAN JUMPING AROUND ABOVE 40 MPH. FORD DEALER STATED IT WAS A SPEEDOMETER GEAR REPLACEMENT. COST >$400. FORD HAD A RECALL FOR THE SAME ITEM FOR THE 95 WINDSTAR (TSB 94B47) AND A SERVICE BULLETIN TO REPAIR (TSB 99-7-9). NHTSA HAS MORE THAN 30 COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SAME FAILURE. IT APPEARS FORD RECOGNIZED THE SAFETY HAZARD ON THE 1995 WINDSTAR, BUT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM ON THE 1996. *AK

SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED WHEN IT GETS UP TO 45 MPH OR MORE. YH

COOLANT LEAKING EXTERNALLY FROM ENGINE FRONT COVER. *AK

THIS FAILURE STRANDED MY WIFE AND CHILDREN ALONG THE SIDE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY. IT WAS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE MAIN HEAD GASKET AND HAS RESULTED IN REPAIR COST EXCEEDING 2200 DOLLARS AT THIS POINT. FORD IS NOT WILLING TO ADMIT THE DEFECT, EVEN THOUGH MY PRELIMINARY RESEARCH INDICATES THAT HUNDREDS OF OTHER WINDSTAR OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM OF PREMATURE FAILURE. PLEASE HELP US GET JUSTICE BY FORCING FORD TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS AT REDUCED OR NO COST!!! *AK

WHEN WE TURNED THE CAR ON, A LOUD GRINDING SOUND CAME FROM THE ENGINE ALONG WITH LARGE SPARKS/FLAMES. WE HAD IT TOWED TO OUR MECHNAIC WHO DISCOVERED THE BOTTOM BOLT OF THE POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY HAD NEVER BEEN TIGHTNED. THE BOLT HAD LOOSEND ITSELF, HIT THE PULLEY AND CAUSED FLAMES. COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE IF WERE ON THE ROAD AT THE TIME. *AK

WHILE ACCELERATING, SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE JUMPS AT 20 MPH TO 40 OR 50 MPH. THE NEEDLE CONTINUES TO WAVER. ACTUAL SPEED IS MUCH LOWER THAN SHOWN SPEED. DEFINITE SAFETY PROBLEM. DEALER WILL ONLY REPLACE HEAD AND NOT FIX. REPLACEMENT WILL BREAK TOO BASED ON RESEARCH FROM REPUTABLE SPEEDOMETER SHOPS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT REGISTER THE CORRECT LEVEL SPEED DUE TO A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SPEEDOMETER HEAD. *AK

ANTI-BRAKE LIGHT KEEPS GOING OFF. *AK

SPEEDOMETER FLOATS. WHEN DRIVING THE NEEDLE WILL JUMP UP AND READ 90 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ONLY GOING 40MPH. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

TRANSMISSION STALLS WHEN DRIVING AND STOPPING AT THE STOP SIGN. ALSO, TRANSMISSION SLIPS PUTTING VEHICLE IN DRIVE FROM PARK. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

AFTER STOPPING OR AT A DECREASED SPEED FOR TURNING VAN STALLS OR MISSES UPON ACCELERATION. *AK

SPEEDOMETER FLOATS AND DOES NOT READ THE RIGHT SPEED THAT THE VEHICLE IS REALLY TRAVELING. IT READS 20MPH MORE THAN WHAT IT IS DOING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

BOTH ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAVE BLOWN AT 69,000 MILES, CAUSING ANTI-FREEZE TO LEAK ONTO SPARK PLUGS. OWNER WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *AK *ML

AUOTMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF GEAR INTO A NEUTRAL AFTER YOU COME TO A STOP. YOU THEN HAVE TO PUT IT IN A LOW GEAR TO GET IN BACK IN DRIVE. THIS CAN BE A HAZARD IN TRAFFIC. THE POWER STEERINNG PUMP MAKES A LOUD GRINDING NOISE MUCH LOUDER THAN THE NORMAL SOUND THE PUMP MAKES, THE DEALER HAS SAID PREVIOUSLY THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR THE WINDSTAR. THE PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW HAS STOPPED WORKING, UNK REASON HAS NOT BEEN LOOKED AT. THESE PROBLEMS ARE OCCURRING IN OTHER WINDSTARS OF THE SAME YEAR .

RIGHT FRONT BRAKE WORN OUT, DAMAGING ROTOR, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. LEFT FRONT BRAKE WORN OUT, BUT ROTOR SALVAGEABLE. NO AUDIBLE INDICATION UP TO FAILURE WARNING OF WORN PADS. LOOKS LIKE BRAKES SHOULD HAVE LASTED LONGER ALSO. VEHICLE NOT DRIVEN ON HIGHWAY OR HEAVY TRAFFIC. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED ON IN THE START POSITION KEY CAN BE REMOVED WITHOUT RETURNING TO THE OFF POSITION. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, THE IGNITION HAS BEEN CHANGED, AND NEW KEYS HAS BEEN MADE. THIS TILL HAPPENS. *AK

FORD HAS BEEN GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND ABOUT REPAIRING MY WINDSTAR. THEY CLAIM THAT IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THEIR SILENT EXTENDED WARANTEE BECAUSE IT WAS BUILT IN THE WRONG PLACE. THEY CONTEND THAT VANS BUILT WHERE MINE WAS WERE FINE AS FAR AS THE HEAD GASKET IS CONCERNED. ALSO, THE WAYSIDE FORD DEALERSHIP IN MARLBORO MA LIED TO ME AND TOLD ME THAT THE COVERAGE WAS FOR 50,000 AND NOT 60,000 MILES, SO I DIDNT QUALIFY. *AK

TRANSMISSION ALSO WENT WHEN CAR WAS I YR OLD. OBVIOUSLY A LEMON. HELP. *AK

BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AND NO BRAKES IN NORMAL STOP ON DRY PAVEMENT. THEN BRAKES WERE FINE. 2 WKS LATER HAPPENED AGAIN SO TOOK TO FORD. FORD REPLACED ALL BRAKES DUE TO HEAT FROM SLIGHTLY SET EMERGENCY BRAKE (WARNING LIGHT WAS BURNED OUT THEY SAID). BRAKES TO FLOOR, BUT MANUEL BRAKES THE NEXT DAY. FORD DRAINED BRAKE LINES. HAPPENDED AGAIN. FORD SAID YOU WILL HAVE MANUEL BRAKES--IT TAKES A WHILE FOR NEW BRAKES TO SETTLE IN. KEPT HAPPENING-PEDAL TO FLOOR, MANUEL BRAKES, THEN NORMAL BRAKING. NO IMPROVEMENT IN 2 MONTHS SO RETURNED TO FORD. FORD SAID NO PROBLEM. ON 12-22 REAR ENDED A TRUCK AS BRAKES FAILED WITH NO MANUEL BRAKES AVAILABLE. FORD SAYS NO PROBLEM. FORD ENGINEER REFUSES TO TALK WITH ME AND SENDS THE MESSAGE THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN CAUSE THAT KIND OF PROBLEM. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. *AK

WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35MPH AND TRANSMISSION BLEW UP. HEARD A RATTLING NOISE PRIOR TO THE BLOW UP. PULLED OFF ROAD & VEHICLE DIED. WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD. TRANSMISSION WAS GOINE. SMOKE HAD APPEARED LATER. VEHICLE TOWED. MECHANIC INFORMED OWNER LOOKED LIKE A GRENADE HAD EXPLODED INSIDE. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER & TOLD VEHICLE OVER 36,000 MILES & NOT UNDER WARRANTY. NOTHING COULD BE DONE. TRANSMISSION NOT REPAIRABLE. *AK

DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF SPEEDOMETER OWNER HAD TO REPLACE IT 3 TIMES, AND THE PREVIOUS OWNER ONCE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE RIGHT REAR SPEED SENSOR QUIT WORKING AND WAS DETERMINED AS NEEDING REPLACEMENT BY JOE MAHAN FORD IN PARIS, TN. THE COST IS APPROXIMATELY $100, BUT I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE WITHOUT IT WORKING, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WILL NOT WORK. ALSO, THE SPEEDOMETER IS BROKEN. WHILE DRIVING OVER 30MPH, THE NEEDLE JUMPS AROUND TO 80 OR MORE AND THE CORRECT SPEED CANNOT BE DETERMINED. AGAIN, THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE SPEED SHOULD BE KNOWN AT ALL TIMES. I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPARTMENT, BUT THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD BE OF NO ASSISTANCE. I REALLY NEED THESE ITEMS FIXED, BUT THE COMBINED COST IS GREATER THAN $400 AND I FEEL FORD SHOULD AT LEAST SHARE IN THE COST. *AK

FUEL INJECTORS HUNG OPEN, CAUSING RAW FUEL TO BE EMITTED THROUGH EXHAUST SYSTEM. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK