1996 Ford Windstar complaints

AFTER FILLING AT GAS STATION, NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM TOP PORTION OF TANK. HAD TANK REPLACED AT LOCAL SHOP. COST OF TANK $250 PLUS LABOR AND MISC. PARTS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH VEHICLE WILL DROP INTO NUETRAL WITHOUT THE INDICATOR EVER MOVING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

HEAD GASKET HAS GONE OUT A COUPLE OF TIMES. CONSUMER HAS HAD SOME OIL LEAKAGE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.

NHTSA RECALL 02-V-101-000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL# 02S36; WHILE DRIVING 35-40MPH AND WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THEY FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE. THIS RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BEFORE RECALL WAS ISSUED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

SPEEDOMETER FAILURE WAS GRADUAL BUT IS TROUBLING BECAUSE THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE STILL MOVES (VERY ERRATICALLY) BUT DOES NOT INDICATE THE RIGHT SPEED. THE NEEDLE BOUNCES AROUND AND THE HIGHER THE SPEED THE MORE IT BOUNCES. THIS FAULTY SPEEDOMETER IS A SAFETY ISSUE IN THAT SOMEONE COULD GLANCE AT THE SPEEDOMETER AND GET AN INACCURATE READING, THEN INCREASE SPEED WHICH MAY CONTRIBUTE TO A SEVERE ACCIDENT. OUR PRIVATE (NON-MANUFACTURER) MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THIS SPEEDOMETER FAILURE IS COMMON FOR THIS VEHICLE. WE STRONGLY BELIEVE FORD SHOULD RECALL OR FIX THESE SPEEDOMETERS AS THEY FAIL. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!*AK

THE LEFT OUTER TIE ROD WAS REPLACE. *YH THE FUEL INJECTOR, TIMING COVER GASKETS AND WIPER BLADES WERE REPLACED. THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT WAS REPLACED . THE SWITCH HEADLIGHT CONTROL WAS REPLACED. THE DRIVERS DOOR AJAR SWITCH WAS REPLACED. UPDATED *JB

WHEN STOPPING AT A LIGHT, ENGINE SOMETIMES WILL DIE. VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD AFTER PULLING OFF FROM A STOP. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, THEY REPLACED SOMETHING, AND TWO WEEKS LATER PROBLEM REOCCURRED. *AK THE ENGINE STALLS WHENEVER MORE THAN ONE DEVICE IS TURNED ON AT THE SAME TIME. THIS PROBLEM MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN HEAD LIGHTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON TOGETHER. THE VEHICLE ALSO SHAKES VIOLENTLY AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR FEW HOURS. *YH

AXLE BROKE AT WHERE WHEEL BAERING IS. CAUSING ABS TEETH GRIND AGAINST STEERING NUCKLE AND LOWER BALL JOINT. THE DRIVE AXLE SHOULD NEVER BREAK THIS WAY. PLEASE LET KNOW WHERE CAN I ATTACH PICTURE.*AK

SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE FLUCTUATES > ~40MPH CAN'T TELL THE SPEED *VERY DANGEROUS* AND *UNSAFE*. *AK

MY WINDSTAR BLEW ITS HEADGASKET WITH 60K MILES ON IT- THE ENGINE NEVER RAN HOT---WHEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON I TOOK IT TO DEALER--BLOWN GASKET 1800 DOLLARS--CHECKED INTERNET AND FOUND AT LEAST 200 PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEM--CALLED FORD BUT THEY REFUSE TO ASSIST. *AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE SWAY BAR BROKE, WITHOUT ANY WARNING. DEALER CONTACTED.*JB *YH

ENGINE LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING, POSSIBLE HEAD GASKET FAILURE, DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK *NLM

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BOLTS BROKE OFF WHILE DRIVING. HAD THEM REPLACED 3 TIMES PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRED. *AK *TT

NHTSA RECALL 02 V 101 000/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 02S36 CONCERNING BRAKE LINE FAILURE WHICH OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING. PROBLEM WAS DUE TO LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

AFTER DRIVING FOR 2 MINUTES THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT TO HOT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED HEAD GASKET. *AK ENGINE OVERHEATS DUE TO HEAD GASKETS AND TIMING COVER GASKET FAILURE . CONSUMER STATED THAT WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED AFTER REPAIR. *YH

HEAD GASKET FAILED, LEAKING COOLANT INTO CYLINDER, FOULING SPARK PLUGS AND OXYGEN SENSORS. PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE VEHICLE HAD 95,000 MILES. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

WHEN PARKED IN DRIVEWAY (THANK GOD) I STEPPED ON BRAKE AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. LOOKED UNDERNEATH AND FLUID WAS FLOWING OFF OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO NEAREST DEALER (ALLSTAR FORD, PRAIREVILLE, LA) TO FIX. THEY ADVISED SUBJECT LINE FAILED DUE TO CORROSION (I HAVE THE LINE AND IT IS CORROSION). FAILURE FITS NTHSA RECALL 02V101000 EXCEPT THAT VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND REGISTERED IN LOUISIANA, BUT I HAVE CHILDERN IN NJ AND PA AND SPEND TIME THERE EACH WINTER AND HAVE EXPERIENCED SNOW AND SALTED ROADS MANY TIMES. IN ANY CASE THERE SHOULD BE AN IMPLIED CONTRACT WHEN YOU PURCHASE A CAR THAT A CRITICAL COMPONENT WILL NOT FAIL DUE TO A PREVENTABLE DESIGN ERROR, OR IF IT FAILS NOT BE REPAIRED BY THE MANUFACTURER. I BELIEVE ANY VEHICLE WITH THIS FAILURE REGARDLESS OF PLACE OF PURCHASE OR REGISTRATION SHOULD BE COVERED BY THIS RECALL. *AK

SINCE WE DROVE THIS CAR OFF THE LOT, IT HAS BEEN PLAGUED WITH ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. AS SOON AS OUR WARRANTY RAN OUT, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 44,400. TWO ADULTS AND 4 CHILDREN WERE ON OUR WAY TO A 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION WHEN THE TRANSMISSION STALLED AT AN INTERSECTION. LUCKY FOR US ALL TRAFFIC WAS STOPPED AND NO MAJOR ACCIDENT OCCURRED. WE TOOK IT TO OUR DEALER AND ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE SINCE THERE WAS A TSB OUT ON THE TRANSMISSION IN FORD WINDSTAR'S. WE WERE DENIED ASSISTANCE. OUR PROBLEM WAS THE ALUMINUM PISTON THAT WERE REPORTED IN THE TSB. IN MAY 2001, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WE TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALER. THEY REPLACED THE IRMC VALUE. COST $1000. RECENTLY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. WE TOOK IT TO CROSSROADS FORD, THE DEALER WE BOUGHT THE CAR FROM. THEY ONCE AGAIN DENIED TO HELP US WITH THE COST. WE TOWED THE VAN TO A QUALITY FORD IN DURHAM, NC. THEY HAVE CONTACTED FORD TO SEE IF THEY WILL ASSIST US WITH THE COST. THE ESTIMATED COST IS $3500-$4000. *JB ****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER ARTEMIS****761964

SHOULDER RETRACTOR IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY IN THE MIDDLE BENCH SEAT. WILL NOT RETRACT ENOUGH FOR BELT TO GO AROUND CONSUMER. CAN'T PULL OUT MANUALLY. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK *JG

BRAKE CALIPERS FAILED BY GETTING STUCK WITH THE BRAKE PAD CONTACTING THE DISC, CAUSING PREMATURE BRAKE PAD WEAR. MECHANIC REPORTED SEEING IDENTICAL FAILURES OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL. *TT

ENGINE HAS GONE OUT, CAUSING SMOKE TO COME OUT OF TAIL PIPE.*AK

HAD ON NUMEROUS OCCASION TAKEN MY 1996 FORD WINDSTAR FOR ENGINE LIGHT WAS TOLD PROBLEM FIXED ONLY TO HAVE LIGHT COME BACK ON. PROCEEDED TO HAVE ALL WORK DONE DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE. WHILE SEARCHING FOR ADITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS KNOWN FORD MOTOR PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. IF THIS KNOWN BY THE COMPANY AS KNOWN DEFECT WHY HAS NOTHING BEEN TO RESOLVE THIS BESIDE HAVING THE CONSUMER TO ABSORB THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF FIXING A KNOWN MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT.*AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED REPLACING. CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE GASKET SHOULD NOT HAVE WENT OUT, THERE IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH WINSTARS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

CONSUMER REPORTING SPEEDOMETER INOPERATIVE WHILE DRIVING, UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROPER SPEED. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *JB CONSUMER FEELS FORD SHOULD RECALL THESE VEHICLES OR AT LEAST REIMBURSE CONSUMER FOR MONIES PAID FOR REPAIRS. *JG

DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE CHECK, DEALER FOUND HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN AND THE PISTONS BROKE. DEALER REPLACED HEAD GASKET AND CYLINDER HEAD, ALSO CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD RUN HOT AND THEN COOL BACK DOWN DUE TO THE BLOWN HAD GASKET. *TT

STABILIZER BAR COMPLETELY SNAPPED, CAUSING SIGNIFICANT BODY LEAN. REPLACEMENT IS NO LONGER HOLLOW.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THE OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED. *YH

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON REPEATEDLY AND DEALERSHIP TRIED TO FIX AS FOLLOWS: 8,369 MILES - REPLACED SPARK PLUG WIRES; 14,184 MILES REPLACED "BAD" HEGO BANK; 34,442 MILES REPLACES PLUGS 4 AND 5; 34,479 MILES REPLACED HEGO #2; 37,843 MILES REPLACED SPARK PLUG WIRES (AGAIN); 38,111 MILES REPLACED BAD SHAFT IN SYNCHONIZER SENSOR; 44,489 MILES REPLACED "DEFECTIVE" VACUUM ELBOW; 44,552 MILES CLEANED RESISTORS AND REPLACED UPPER INTAKE O RINGS; 47,420 MILES LIGHT CAME ON AND WENT OFF BY ITSELF; 50,000+ MILES LIGHT CAME ON AND WENT OFF WHEN BATTERY WAS REPLACED; 56,000+ MILES NOTICED COOLANT "DISAPPEARING FROM AUXILLARY COOLANT TANK - TOOK IN AND DEALERSHIP COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG BUT PUT IN DYE -- TOOK BACK IN A FEW WEEKS WHEN COOLANT DISAPPEARED AGAIN - DIAGNOSIS: HEAD GASKET FAILURE; HAD HEAD GASKETS REPLACED, BUT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF AND ENGINE WAS MISFIRING -- DIAGNOSIS: BENT ROD . *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN THE COUNTRY WHERE I LIVE WITH THREE CHILDREN AT THE BASE OF THE MOUNTAIN TO HEAD 20 MILES TO MY HOME I PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND WENT NOWHERE. COULD NOT DRIVE OVER 35 MPH. WAS SEEN BY A BODY SHOP AND THEY REPLACED FUEL FILTER AND RETURNED VEHICLE TO ME. SECOND OCCASION DRIVING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN AT 55MPH A STRONG JERK WHIPLASHED MYSELF AND HAS CAUSED INJURY IN MY BACK TOOK TO BODY SHOP AND NEEDS NEW TRANSMISSION AND MUST BE TOWED. VAN STILL SITTING AT BODY SHOP NOW FOR 2 WEEKS AS I HAVE 3 CHILDREN AND NOW NO TRANSPORTATION...THANKS FORD.

INSURED CLAIMS THE LUG NUTS SHEARED OFF ON THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL FOR NO APPARENT REASON, CLAIM 17-9168-422. *JG

INSURED STATES THAT ALL FIVE LUG BOLTS BROKE OFF IN THE AREA WHERE THE BACK OF THE WHEEL AND THE BRAKE ROTOR MEETS, CLAIM 17-9180-936. *JG

INSURED CALLED IN NOTICING FREQUENCY OF LOSSES TO OTHER VEHICLES, WHILE IN MOTION, THE FRONT WHEEL STARTS TO WOBBLE, STUDS SHEER AND COME OFF THE VEHICLE, CLAIM 55-S367-002. *JG

WHILE DRIVING, THE ENTIRE WHEEL/TIRE FELL OFF OF THE VEHICLE, IT IS UNKNOWN IF IT WAS THE TIRE OR WHEEL THAT FAILED, ONE PERSON WAS INJURED, CLAIM 13-7497-974. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL THEN CAME OFF, CLAIM 46-0491-262. *SLC

SPEEDOMETER STARTED READING ERRATICALLY AS OF APPROX. FAILURE DATE GIVEN. HAS NOW BECOME WORSE AND AT SPEEDS >40MPH SPEEDO INDICATOR JUMPS WILDLY. DEALER CHARGED $70 TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM AS FAILED SPEEDOMETER HEAD. SAYS FORD NO LONGER MAKES OR STOCKS THIS PART AND THE HEAD MUST BE REMOVED FROM THE DASH AND SENT OUT FOR REPAIRS. OBTAINED A WRITTEN ESTIMATE FOR THIS REPAIR OF $861.00. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION THE VEHICLE IS ABLE TO BE STARTED UP AGAIN WITH OUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. CONTACTED DEALER. NLM

VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT AT ALL TIME, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR ALIGNMENT. DEALER STATED ALIGNMENT COULD NOT BE DONE, DUE TO THE TIE ROD COUPLING BEING CRACKED. NLM

MY HEAD GASKET FAILED AROUNF 70000 MILES! 94 AND 95 FORD WINDSTARS HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECALLED DUE TO HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS. THERE ARE MANY 1996 FAILURES AS WELL. WHAT CAN WE DO TO GET FORD TO ADDRESS THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 96 WINDSTAR?*AK

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE 3.8 V6 ENGINE WAS LOSING COOLANTS AND RUNNING ROUGH WHILE DRIVING, DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED OF A CRACKED HEAD GASKET. NLM

THE SUB-FRAME BROKE WHERE THE STRUT ARM CONNECTS IN THE FRONT( IN AREA OF THE STRUT ARM BUSHINGS. AT FIRST THOUGHT THAT THE NOISE WAS FROM AT LOOSE HEAT SHIELD. STRUT ARM RATTLES EVERYTIME VAN IECOUNTERS ROUGH PAVEMENT. THE SPEEDOMETER JUST WENT HAYWIRE. NEEDLE BOUNCES ALL OVER THE PLACE. HAVE FOUND OTHER PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET WITH THE SAME SPEEDOMETER PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT BOTH OF THESE FAILURES ARE A SAFTEY ISSUE. FORD MOTOR DOESN'T.*AK

THE CHECKE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. NOTICED A SMALL PUDDLE ON GARAGE FLOOR BENEATH VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. MECHANIC DROPPED OIL PAN. THE BEARINGS HAD TURNED TO COPPER, THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO LEAK ANTIFREEZE. NLM

CYLINDER HEAD GASKET PROBLEM RESULTING IN INTERNAL ANTIFREEZE LEAK, CAUSING BEARINGS TO GO BAD - ENGINE REPLACEMENT REQUIRED.*AK

SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONS WHEN ABOVE 45 MPH. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE HEAD GASKET FAILED. *SLC

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HEAD HASKET FAILURE AND STATES THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION STOPPED THEIR CONCERN AT THE 1995 FORD WINDSTARS, CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE 1996 WINDSTARS SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED SINCE THE 1996 VEHICLE IS IDENTICAL TO THE 1995 EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THEY WERE TITLED FOR 1996, A 1996 WINDSTAR COULD HAVE BEEN BUILT IN LATE 1995 AND THERERFORE THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE.*JB

MY 1996 WINDSTAR HAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *AK

LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE STRUT BUSHINGS FAILED, CAUSING A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION TO EXIST IN THE FRONT END. MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORDS. IF SO, I FEEL THAT THE WHOLE SYSTEM SHOULD BE REPLACED BY THE MANUFACTURER. OTHERWISE, I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REWELDING OF THE BUSHINGS ($100.00).*AK

VEHICLE MISFIRES. CONSUMER FOUND WATER IN OIL AND EXHAUST. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

VEHICLE WAS MISFIRING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK