1996 Ford Windstar complaints

THE MOTOR BLEW UP WHILE DRIVING. *PH

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER. VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN ENGINE IS STARTED AND ALL DOORS ARE CLOSED AND LATCHED, THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYS ON AND INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS STAY ON AS WELL AS THE DOOR AJAR CHIME RINGS. THIS IS CONTINUOUS WHILE DRIVING, AND EVENTUALLY TURNS ITSELF OFF. THIS CREATES A HAZARD ESPECIALLY WHILE BACKING AS IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO SEE BEHIND VEHICLE AT DUSK OR DARK. THERE IS NO CONSISTENCY AS TO WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT HAS BEEN FOUND THAT IF A DOOR IS INDEED AJAR, THAT THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT WILL STAY ON, BUT THE DOME LIGHT WILL GO OFF AS WILL THE CHIME. *JB

BLOWN HEAD GASKET. MECHANIC TELLS ME HES SEEN HUNDREDS OF THESE ON THE WINDSTAR BUT THERE IS NO RECALL. WILL NOT BUY A FORD AGAIN.*AK

BLOWN HEAD GASKET - ENGINE FAILURE - 1996 FORD WINDSTAR. *NM

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND OFF, ON AND OFF, ETC. TOOK IT OF SERVICE CENTER. THEY SAID WE HAD BLOWN A HEAD GASKET. TOOK TO ANOTHER SERVICE CENTER THEY SAID IT WAS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS. HAD THEM REPLACED. NOW HAVE AN ANTIFREEZE LEAK IN THE TIMING COVER. SERVICE CENTER SAID THEY DON'T WANT TO FIX IT CAUSE THE ENGINES END UP SEIZING AFTER ABOUT 2 MONTHS AFTER REPAIRING THESE LEAKS. THEY SAID TO JUST KEEP AN EYE ON THE FLUID LEVEL AND KEEP IT FILLED. I WISH WE WOULDN'T HAVE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE.....*NM

VEHICLE BROUGHT IN FOR SMOKE FROM UNDER HOOD. FOUND CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH CAUGHT ON FIRE. SHEEHY FORD RO# 611676

WHILE DRIVING OVER 55 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED. THE NUMBERS FLUCTUATED UP AND DOWN AT HIGH SPEEDS. ONCE THE VEHICLE GOT BELOW 55 MPH THE SYSTEM WENT BACK TO NORMAL. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES AT APPROXIMATELY EVERY 17,000 MILES. THE CAUSE OF THE MALFUNCTION OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT DISCLOSED TO THE CONSUMER BY THE DEALER. *AK

MY 3.8L, 1996 FORD WINDSTAR GL AT ALMOST 100K STARTED LEAKING COOLANT THROUGH A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. I WAS ABLE TO GET HOME SAFELY DESPITE ALMOST COMPLETELY OVERHEATING. I AM NOW WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION FOR ME AND MY FOUR SMALL CHILDREN, WALKING A TOTAL OF 2 MILES A DAY TO GET MY 7 YR OLD DAUGHTER TO/ FROM SCHOOL WITH A 5, 3 AND 1YR OLD. MY HUSBAND'S JOB IS OUR ONLY SOURCE OF INCOME SO THIS WILL BE A *HUGE* FINANCIAL BURDEN GETTING THIS FIXED (NOT TO MENTION THE NEW PROBLEM OVER THE MALFUNCTIONING 'DOOR OPEN' INDICATOR). I HAVE FOUND WINDSTAR HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS ARE VERY COMMON AFTER TALKING WITH SEVERAL MECHANICS. THE ISSUE IS ACKNOWLEDGED BY FORD AS THEY EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE 1995 WINDSTARS. WHY CAN'T THEY OWN UP TO A DEFECTIVE ENGINE AND EXTEND THIS TO THE 1996 WINDSTARS AS WELL?! THIS BLATANT DISREGARD BY FORD WILL GET SOMEONE HURT OR WORSE (GOD FORBID) KILLED. FORD NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF THIS!!*AK

1996 FORD WINDSTAR VIN [XXX] MFTD. 08/95 FORD MOTOR CO OF CANADA. HEAD GASKET FAILURE ALLOWING COOLANT AND ENGINE OIL TO MIX, WITH MAIN RESULT BEING LOST OF COOLANT. I HAVE TO KEEP FILLING COOLANT RESOVOIR. *JB *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH HOOD SEPARATED FROM THE HINGES AND BROKE THE WINDSHIELD. DRIVER PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE HOOD WAS REPLACED. *AK

1996, WINDSTAR EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS BROKEN WHEEL STUDS ON THE LEFT FRONT AND RIGHT FRONT WHEELS. TWO STUDS BROKE ON RIGHT FRONT WHEEL ON FEBRUARY 15, 2004. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH HOOD SEPARATED FROM THE OUTER PANEL. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER, CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO CONSUMER'S HOME. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED BY RECALL. *AK

INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON RUNNING THE BATTERY DOWN. DOORBELL & INT. LIGHTS STAY ON UNTIL 20 MPH.

MY 1996 WINDSTAR HAD HEAD GASKETS REPAIRED LESS THAN TWO YEARS AGO. AT THE TIME, THE GARAGE DOING THE WORK INDICATED THE ENGINE HAD A DESIGN PROBLEM, AND THE GASKETS WOULD PROBABLY, OVER TIME, FAIL AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED, AS RADIATOR FLUID HAS BEGUN LEAKING ONCE AGAIN INTO THE ENGINE BLOCK. THIS IS A PROBLEM FORD KNOWS EXISTS WITH THE 1996 WINDSTAR, AS IT DID WITH THE 89-95 MODELS, AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *AK

I'VE HAD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SINCE 9/98 (6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE)-APPROX 40000 MILES. I'VE SPENT OVER $2000 OVER 5 TRIPS TO THE SHOP- LAST ONE 11/27/03- TRYING TO HAVE THIS FIXED. I JUST HAD MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT FOR ADDT'L $1600 (JAN 2004) AND NOW I HAVE THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. I AM DESPARATE FOR SOME ASSISTANCE AS I HAVE NO OTHER TRANSPORTATION AND HAVE INVESTED WAY TOO MUCH MONEY INTO THIS VAN TO REPLACE IT WITH MORE CAR PAYMENTS.

FUEL WAS LEAKING INTO THE CONVERTER. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT, AND SMOKE STARTED TO COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER OF THE PROBLEM, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE IT. *AK

THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE OWNER THAT THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED. *NM

HEAD GASKET FAILURE IN 3.8 I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR IF THE ENGINES WERE HAVING PROBLEMS. HE TOLD ME NO. I TOOK HIM ON HIS WORD AND NOW I HAVE A CAR THAT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. I HAVE A 1994 T-BIRD THAT HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD WAS GREAT TO WORK WITH. I WISH THEY WOULD STAND BEHIND THIS ENGINE AS WELL. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED.

THE CONSUMER STATED GAS LEAKED FROM ONE OF THE STRAPS WHICH SUPPORTED THE FUEL TANK. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. *JB

1996 FORD WINDSTAR WITH PREMATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURE.

HEAD GASKET FAILURE. TOOK CAR TO DEALER, GOLF MILL FORD IN AUGUST. THEY MISDIAGNOSED PROBLEM AND CHARGED ME $1300. A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND TOOK IT BACK. HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED ANOTHER $1400. HAVE WRITTEN NUMEROUS LETTERS TO FORD AND DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE DENYING LIABILITY OR COMPENSATION. I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN ON A LIMITED INCOME, HAVE ALWAYS OWNED FORDS AND AM APPALLED BY THEIR TREATMENT. INTEND TO TAKE THEM TO SMALL CLAIMS COURT

PROBLEM WITH WATER SEEPING IN AND SOAKING THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR PADDING AND CARPET.

HEAD GASKET FAILURE.

MISFIRING AND LOSING COOLANT. AM SURE IT IS A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. FATHER-IN-LAW CURRENTLY IN DISPUTE WITH FORD FOR SAME MODEL/YEAR AND THEY WON'T REIMBURSE HIM. MAY ATTEMPT REPAIR MYSELF IF FORD UNWILLING TO RECALL OR PUT RIGHT. ALSO, SPEEDOMETER FAILURE INTERMITTENT OR INCORRECT READING.

12-15-97 AT 21,145 MILES I REPORTED NOTICING THE COOLANT LEVEL ALWAYS BEING LOW. NO LEAK WAS FOUND AND I WAS TOLD THERE MUST BE A LEAK SOMEWHERE IN THE RADIATOR. 12-27-99 AT 56,526 MILES I BEGAN HAVING A "COLD START" PROBLEM. IT ACTED LIKE IT WAS NOT GETTING FUEL. 12-1200 AT 74,306 MILES I HAD THE SAME "COLD START" PROBLEM AND THE FUEL FILTER WAS REPACED. 12-22-00 AT 74,930 A NEW THERMOSTAT & GASKET. 12-29-00 AT 75,113 A FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. 03-02-01 AT 77,569 MILES A NEW FUEL PUMP RELAY(CCRM), FUEL PUMP AND PVC VALVE. 09-11-01 AT 87,907 MILES A MULT-FUNCTION SWITCH. 01-31-02 AT 95,069 MILES A SECOND CCRM RELAY. 03-06-02 AT 99,348 MILES ON AN 80 DEGREE DAY "NO START" SAME SYMPTOMS AS "COLD START" PROBLEM. INSTEAD OF NOT GETTING FUEL IT IS SUSPECTED IT IS FLOODING. 4-23-02 AT 99,348 MILES COLD START PROBLEM, FUEL INJECTORS CLEANED. 05-30-02 AT 101,330 MILES WOULDN'T START, NO FUEL PRESSURE-INTERMITTENT. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. 6-7-02 AT 101,388 MILES "NO START" PROBLEM. NEW FUEL FILTER, FUEL PUMP AND SENDER O-RING. 12-01-2-01 109,530 MILES VAN STARTED STEAMING - APPEARED TO BE A COOLANT LEAK OR BROKEN HOSE. ADDED COOLANT DIRECT IN RADIATOR. I HAVE CARRIED OWN COOLANT AND ADDED FREQUENLTY SINCE 1997, WHEN I WAS TOLD THERE MUST BE A LEAK IN THE RADIATOR. I COULD NOT FIND ANY TRACE OF SUCH A LEAK BY PUTTING CARDBOARD UNDER VAN. SUSPECTED THE PLASTIC COOLANT CONTAINER HAD A LEAK. NO COOLANT LEAKS WHERE EVER FOUND DURING ROUTINE OIL CHANGES

THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED! THE 1996 WINDSTAR 3.8 LITRE V-6 ENGINE HAS HEAD GASKET LEAKS. I AM NOT DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNTIL FORD AGREES TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. FORD DID PAY FOR REPAIRS TO '94 & '95 WINDSTAR OWNERS, BUT HAS NOT AND WILL NOT PAY FOR THE '96 MODELS. THE VEHICLE EMITS CLOUDS OF WHITE SMOKE AND CONSUMES ANTIFREEZE. THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL, BUT STATES THAT FORD WILL REJECT CLAIMS ON IT.

I HAD SYMPTOMS OF WATER IN THE EXHAUST, ROUGH IDLE, AND HYDRAULIC LOCK OF THE ENGINE. TOOK TO THE SHOP, THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN ON #1 CYLINDER, AND THE CONNECTING ROD WAS BENT ON THE CYLINDER, WHICH HAS NECESSITATED REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE. FORD HAS BEEN CONTACTED BY ME AND BY THE DEALER TO THE DISTRICT REP, TO NO AVAIL. AFTER READING ALL THE LITERATURE ON THE WEB ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, AND IT'S CONTINUING THRU THE 95 MODELS WHICH ARE COVERED TO THE 96 MODELS WHICH AREN'T; I NEED FURTHER HELP.

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, WHITE SMOKE EMITTING FROM TAILPIPE, MISSING, WILDLY ERRATIC SPEEDOMETER AT 35-40, REAR AIR BLOWS HOT. REPLACEMENTS: HAD GASKETS, LOWER INTAKE GASKETS, UPPER INTAKE GASKETS, SPARK PLUGS, WIRES, THERMOSTAT, GASKET, ? BELT, TIMING COVER, TIMING COVER GASKET, WATER PUMP. SPEEDOMETER AND A/C PROBLEM NOT YET FIXED.

MY 1996 FORD WINDSTAR VAN'S ENGINE ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED DUE TO PERSISTENT INTERNAL COOLANT LOSS INTO THE ENGINE, DESPITE REPEATED TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH COMPLAINTS OF CLASSIC HEAD-GASKET SYMPTOMS. FORD DISPLAYED BLATANT NEGLEGENCE AND DISHONESTY IN ITS DEALINGS WITH ME. I TOOK MY VAN TO DEALERSHIP TWICE FOR HEAD-GASKET-LIKE SYMPTOMS: EXCESSIVE LOSS OF COOLANT WITH NO EXTERNAL LEAKAGE, GRAY SMOKE OUT OF EXHAUST, AND ENGINE RUNNING ROUGH. THE FIRST TIME THE DEALERSHIP SAID NO PROBLEMS COULD BE FOUND. TWO WEEKS LATER I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS, ONLY THIS TIME MORE OBVIOUS, AND THE CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED MY ENGINE HAD OVERHEATED AND THAT COOLANT WAS LOST VIA THE TIMING COVER GASKET, WHICH THEY REPLACED AND THEN RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO ME. EXACTLY ONE THOUSAND MILES LATER I HAD TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AT WHICH POINT THEY CONDEMNED MY ENGINE DUE TO COOLANT ENTERING THE #1 CYLINDAR. THEY OFFERED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE FOR $3,650, WHICH INCLUDES A 20% DISCOUNT FOR THE TIMING COVER GASKET WORK THAT WAS DONE FOR NOTHING. I REFUSED THE OFFER AND MANAGED TO BARELY DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME, WHERE IT NOW SITS, UNDRIVABLE. AWARE OF THE WINDSTAR HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS FROM THE BEGINNING, I REPEATEDLY STRESSED TO THE DEALERSHIP MY CONCERN THAT THIS WAS A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM, BUT THEY REPEATEDLY EXPLAINED THIS WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. THEY LIED BY SAYING NO KNOWN GASKET PROBLEMS EXIST ON THE 1996 WINDSTAR, BUT I

ENGINE: HEAD GASKET FAILURE @ 62,218 MILES. NEEDED TO REPLACE BOTH CYLINDER GASKET HEADS AND RESURFACE SAME. POWER DOOR: FAILURE OF POWER DOOR LOCK ON PASSENGER SIDE. TRANSMISSION: WAS REPLACED TWICE UNDER WARRANTY. OTHER: IGNITION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED REPLACEMENT. HAVE BEEN ADVISED ENGINE HAS A SLUDGE CONDITION DESPITE REGULAR OIL CHANGES PER FORD GUIDELINES.

OTHER IS THE HEAD GASKET WENT AND LEAKED OIL IN MY ENGINE CAUSING IT TO BE REPLACED. FORD DENIED ANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS AND I BELIEVED THEM UNTIL I READ YOUR WEB SITE ARTICLE ON THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM WITH 1995 WINDSTARS. I CALLED FORD THIS MORNING AGAIN AND READ THE ARTICLE AND THEY STILL WILL NOT STEP UP TO THE PLATE ON THIS. NOTHING ELSE HAS GONE WRONG WITH MY CAR.

PROBLEM: POWER SEAT WIRING SHORT CIRCUIT FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT MAIN FUSE AND RELAY PANEL, 60 AMP FUSE REPEATEDLY BLOWS. PROBLEM WAS FIRST INTERMITTENT, THEN AFTER SECOND FUSE CHANGE CHANGE, SHORT CIRCUIT BECAME CONTINUOUS. WIRING IS SHORTED OUT BETWEEN THE MAIN FUSE PANEL AND THE POWER SEAT CONNECTOR. POWER SEAT ITSELF HAS NO ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. MODEL HAS A NHTSA RECALL HISTORY: 1995: WIRING-HARNESS INSULATION CAN ABRADE ON A BRACE BETWEEN INSTRUMENT PANEL AND COWL, RESULTING IN SHORT-CIRCUIT AND POSSIBLE FIRE.

TIMING COVER GASKET FAILURE ALLOWED COOLANT TO MIX WITH ENGINE OIL. GASKET REPLACED BUT ENGINE DAMAGE MAY HAVE ALREADY BEEN DONE. SPEEDOMETER WAVERS BETWEEN 20 AND 60 MPH AT 30 MPH, HEADLIGHT LENSES HAVE YELLOWED TO THE POINT THAT THE HEADLIGHTS ARE USELESS. MOST FORD VEHICLES FROM 1990 TO 2000 HAVE THE YELLOWING HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AS A SAFETY PROBLEM.

THE 1996 FORD WINDSTAR CONTINUES TO HAVE DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS AS IN 1994 AND 1995 MODELS. THIS LEAD TO ENGINE FAILURE AT 78,000 MILES! THE COST TO REPLACE THE ENGINE PER MILLER FORD WAS 4,778.00. WE PAID 19,000 FOR THIS VEHICLE AND REFUSE TO PAY FOR A NEW ENGINE! THE NASA HAS STATED THE HEAD GASKET SHOULD LAST AT LEAST 120,000 MILES OR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE HAD THIS FORD WINDSTAR WITH A BLOWN ENGINE DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE SINCE LAST DECEMBER, BUT CONTINUE TO MAKE MONTHLY PAYMENTS ON THIS DEAD FORD WINDSTAR. WE PAY TAXES, INSURANCE, AND MONTLY PAYMENTS TO FORD CREDIT FOR THE NEXT 18 MONTHS OR SO. WE JUST DISCONTINUED REGISTRATION FEES AS THE DMV TOLD US WE COULD DO THIS. FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM AND IS NOT STANDING UP TO IT'S COMMITTMENT OF QUALITY CARE TO IT'S CUSTOMERS. I URGE ANYONE WHO IS CONSIDERING BUYING A FORD TO DO THEIR RESEARCH. FORD IS A COMPANY THAT DOES NOT STAND BEHIND IT'S PROMISES. WE WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER FORD ALTHOUGH OUR FAMILY HAS NEVER OWNED ANYTHING BUT UNTIL NOW. FORD WAKE UP!

I MAINTAINED MY WINDSTAR PROPERLY. IT BEGAN TO LEAK COOLANT AND ENGINE LIGHT. FORD DEALERSHIP STATED IT NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. DUE TO FAULTY HEAD GASKET CAUSING LEAK OF COOLANT. FORD CANADA AGREED TO COVER SOME OF THE COST BUT NOT ALL OF IT. SAID IF I DECLINED THEIR OFFER THEY WOULD WITHDRAW ALL OFFERS. SO I TOOK IT. I COULDN'T AFFORD THE BILL AS IT WAS. I HAVE SINCE SEEN A SMALL CLAIMS COURT IN QUEBEC FOUND THAT FORD WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS RELATED TO THE HEAD GASKET. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD CANADA CUSTOMER COMPLAINT CENTER. AND TOLD THEY WILL NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR THE EXPENSES. AND THAT ALTHOUGH THEY LOST THE COMPLAINT IN QUEBEC IN ALL OTHER CANADIAN PROVIENCES THEY HAVE ONE. EVEN A CLASS ACTION SUIT. WHY WOULD THEY PAY A PORTION OF THE REPAIR IF THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE??? I FEEL THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FULL COST OF THE ENGINE REPAIR.

THE ENGINE GASKET BLEW OUT DUE TO ENGINE OVERHEATING AND BOILING THE COOLANT. CONSUMER FILLED VEHICLE WITH COOLANT TWICE A WEEK. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED, SAME PROBLEM AS 95, WHICH WERE REPAIRED. I WAS TEACHING MY TEEN AGE DAUGHTER TO DRIVE AND THE ENGINE COULD HAVE EASILY FAILED CAUSING A VERY INEXPERIENCED DRIVER TO CRASH. IN A LETTER TO FORD AND A SEVERAL CONSERVATIONS, THEY STATE THAT THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. PERSUSAL THROUGH NUMEROUS CAR WEB SITES INDICATES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. FORD TOLD ME IT WAS MY PROBLEM. *AK

OUR 1996 FORD WINDSTAR GL, WHICH WE PURCHASED NEW, HAS 118000. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED A BROKEN (BOUNCING) SPEEDOMETER, DOME LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED, ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED, AND MORE RECENTLY, LEAKING COOLANT WHICH IS LINKED TO A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND CHECK ENGINE WARNINGS. THE COST HAS BEEN ASTRONOMICAL. ACCORDING TO MANY OTHER CONSUMERS, ALL OF THESE ISSUES ARE COMMON WITH THE 96 MODEL. PLEASE INVESTIGATE WHETHER FORD INTENDS TO MAKE ANY RECALLS REGARDING THESE ISSUES. *AK

SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE BOUNCES ALL OVER THE SPEED DIAL. PROBLEM CAME ALL OF A SUDDEN. HAPPENS WHEN YOU GO OVER 30 MPH OR SO. THIS HAS BEEN LISTED MANY OTHER NTHSA HOTLINE STATEMENTS ON SAME VEHICLE. WILL ANYTHING BE DONE BY FORD??*AK

1996 FORD WINDSTAR, 3.8 L, LOWN HEAD GASKET. *AK

MY WIFE AND I OWN A 1996 WINDSTAR. GREAT VEHICLE, WE NOW HAVE 140000 MILES. COMPLAINT: FORD CAMPAIGN #01I007000 (FRONT COIL SPRINGS) MY REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT WAS DENIED VIA LLOYD-MANWELL FORD DEALERSHIP. THE SPRING BROKE ON THE HIGHWAY, LUCKY I (OR FAMILY) NOT INJURED. TOOK VEHICLE FOR REPAIR TO 3RD PARTY. FORD HAS THE FILE DETAILS. INCREDIBLE THAT FORD WOULD DENY A $200 CLAIM ON A TECHNICALITY AND THUS RISK A LIFETIME CUSTOMER. I WILL APPEAL ALL THE WAY TO BILL FORD IF NECESSARY.*AK

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN. CONSUMER SMELLED RUBBER BURNING ,THEN SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SPEED CONTROL LINKAGES WERE COMPLETELY BURNED. A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR SPEED CONTROL LINKAGES, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED. *JB *PH *NLM

THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED WENT TO THE FLOOR AND SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE VAN. THIS OCCURRED WHILE IN PARK WITH THE ENGINE STILL RUNNING. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE BY A MECHANIC, THEY NOTICED A PIN HOLE IN THE BRAKE LINE. THERE'S A RECALL FOR THE BRAKE LINE 02V10100, WHICH THE DEALERSHIP DID INSPECT THE VAN'S BRAKE LINE AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL LETTER, BUT NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND AT THAT TIME SO THE PART WASN'T REPLACED. *PH

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE. DRIVER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR ANALYSIS, AND MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

ENGINE FRONT COVER GASKET FAILED IN LINE WITH RECALL 99B29. FORD DOES NOT INCLUDE MY WINDSTAR MODEL, BUILT IN 03/96 IN RECALL CAMPAIGN 99B29, INDICATING THAT THE ORIGINAL RECALL HAS BEEN INADEQUATE." *AK

I HAVE SEVERAL SERVICE ISSUES THAT FALL UNDER THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS FOR MY 1996 WINDSTAR. MOST RECENTLY I TOOK THE VAN TO MIKE SHAD FORD IN JACKSONVILLE, FL BECAUSE THEY HAD REPLACED THE PLUGS AND WIRES EARLIER THIS YEAR. THE ENGINE CONTINUES TO SPUTTER AND AFTER DIAGNOSIS, I AM TOLD THAT IT NEEDS THE FOLLOWING: 02 SENSORS - PCV TUBE- EGR PORTS INTAKE GASKETS. SINCE THE REASON I TOOK IT TO FORD IN THE FIRST PLACE WAS BECAUSE OF THE SPUTTERING AND MY SERVICE ADVISOR TOM SUMMERS WHEN I TOLD HIM I WANTED A TUNE-UP ASKED ME WHAT I WANTED DONE AS IF I WAS THE MECHANIC AND KNEW WHAT WAS WRONG NEVER BOTHERED TO HAVE THE VAN CHECKED OUT. AS THE ADVISOR, I WOULD EXPECT HIM TO INFORM ME AS TO THE PROBLEM. HE SAID THAT THEY JUST DO WHAT THE CUSTOMER ASKS OF THEM. I ASKED THAT THE PLUGS AND WIRES BE CHANGED AS THAT IS ALL I KNEW TO TELL HIM. THERE IS THE INCIDENCE OF MY LOCKS GOING HAYWIRE AND REAR WINDOWS BEING STUCK ALSO THE SPEEDOMETER HAD TO BE REPLACED AS IT STUCK. ALL OF THESE ARE ON THEIR VARIOUS TSB. SHOULD THEY NOT HAVE REPAIRED THEM AT NO CHARGE TO ME? WHAT IS THE FUNCTION OF A TSB AS OPPOSED TO A RECALL? THIS VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY WHEN I PURCHASED IT. ALL OF THE INCIDENCES LISTED HERE DID NOT OCCUR AT THE SAME TIME. I HAVE LISTED THEM NEVER-THE-LESS. THE INCIDENT DATE IS FOR INTAKE GASKET. IT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE, I APPRECIATE YOUR EARLIEST RESPONSE. *LA

1996 FORD WINDSTAR AUTO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. INTERMITTENTLY WILL LOCK IN 1ST OR 2ND GEAR SHIFTING UP. ALSO TRANSMISSION, INTERMITTENTLY WILL DOWN SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR WHILE CRUSING AT 60-70 MPH. THIS SOMETIMES LASTS HOURS AND THEN FOR NO APPARENT REASON DESIDES TO SHIFT ABSOLUTLY FINE. I HAVE CHANGED THE FLUID, FILTER AND GASKET. INTERNALLY LOOKS VERY CLEAN MINUSCULE AMOUNTS OF FILINGS AND NO APPARENT CONTAMINATION. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT COMPUTER MODULES AND OR SENSERS ARE INVOLVED. I HAVE HEARD OF THE,TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (TCM) AND THE-----(PCM)?...WHAT ARE THIS ? WHAT IS THEIR PURPOSE? ARE THERE OTHERS?WHERE ARE THEY LOCATED?WHAT DO THEY COST? I CANNOT BELEIVE THE TRANSMISSIONS NEEDS A $2000 REBUILD WHEN IT PERFORMS PERFECTLY MOST OF THE TIME. LOGIC CONVINCES ME IT MAY VERY WELL BE AS SIMPLE AS PLUG AND PLAY. YET NO TRANSMISSION SHOPS WANT TO HEAR OF IT, THEY WANT TO REBUILD. MY COMPLAINT IS NOT WITH THE EQUIPTMENT BUT WITH THE EXPERTS , ESPECIALLY THE DEALERS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF CUSTOMERS. CASE IN POINT, THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT ON THE WINDSTAR DEALER PRICED THE REPAIR NO LESS THAN $1450.00 AND NOT TO BE SURPRISED AT FINAL COST UPWARDS OF $2200.00. I HAD IT TOWED 70 MILES TO MY LOCAL MECHINIC AND THE COSTS INCLUDING THE TOW JOB WAS $237.00. I WISH HE WAS A TRANSMISSION MECH. BUT HE IS NOT.YOU HAVE MY E-MAIL ADDRESS I ASSUME YOU WANTED THAT TO HELP ME. ANSWER MY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COMPUTER MODULE ETC..AND PLEASE DO NOT GIVE MY ADDRESS TO ANY OTHER SITES FOR THAT