1998 Ford Windstar complaints

POWERTRAIN FAILURE TRANSMISSION FELT LIKE IT DROPPED INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN WOULD NOT RESPOND. FAMILY MECHANIC INSPECTED VEHICLE AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY LOCKED UP..$2000. LATER TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED..IF THIS IS SUCH A "KNOWN ISSUE" WITH THESE VEHICLES WHY DOESNT FORD DO SOMETHING TO COMPENSATE THEIR CUSTOMERS? I USED TO BE A FORD GAL BUT NOT ANYMORE!!!*AK

I AM SEEKING ACTION TO ALLEVIATE THE COST OF MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS I HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH MY 1998 3.8L V6 FORD WINDSTAR GL. OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, MY WINDSTAR HAS DISPLAYED REOCCURRING AND EXTENSIVE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS IN THE FRONT END, BRAKES, AND ENGINE THAT HAVE RESULTED INCREASING AMOUNTS OF TIME AND MONEY SPENT ON REPAIRS. FROM RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND THAT OUR DIFFICULTIES ARE NOT AN ISOLATED EVENT, AND ARE IN FACT A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE 1998 WINDSTAR, AND ARE THE SAME PROBLEMS FOUND IN THE 1995 WINDSTAR. THE MOST RECENT EVENT WAS THE REQUIREMENT TO HAVE THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER PROVIDED THIS SERVICE WHICH COST $1500.00 IN PARTS AND LABOR. UPON COMPLETION OF THE REPAIRS THE VAN WAS NOT ROADWORTHY, A NEW SHORT BLOCK WAS NEEDED DUE TO DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE FAULTY HEAD GASKET. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED OVER $6000.00 FOR THIS JOB. IN ADDITION TO THE MOUNTING REPAIR COSTS, I AM FORCED TO RENT A CAR SO THAT WE HAVE TRANSPORTATION WHILE WE CONSIDER OPTIONS WITH OUR WINDSTAR. MY WINDSTAR HAS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES. IT IS NOT UNCOMMON THESE DAYS TO HAVE VEHICLES OPERATE THIS LONG BEFORE REQUIRING THE FIRST TUNE-UP. IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THIS VAN, I HAVE SPENT THE TIME I HAVE OWNWD THIS VEHICLE AND A LOT OF MONEY TAKING MY WINDSTAR INTO SERVICE CENTERS TO HAVE INFERIOR PARTS, SUCH AS THE PLASTIC TIE-ROD ENDS AND BRAKES, REPLACED MANY TIMES. I HAVE ALSO SPENT A FORTUNE ON RENTAL CARS WHILE OUR WINDSTAR SAT UNSERVICEABLE. WE HAVE BORN THIS COST WITH THE EXPECTATION

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE STARTED IDLING HIGH AND RUNNING ROUGH. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A KICKING NOISE FROM THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE LOSING TRANSMISSION FLUID.*AK TRANSMISSION JERKED AND SEEMED TO KICK MORE ON TURNS AND ACCELERATION. ON ONE OCCASION, TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED ALL OVER THE ENGINE WHICH RESULTED IN SMOKING. TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *PH *JB

RACK AND PINION STEERING HAS FAILED. THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED ON THE DESCRIPTION, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED.*AK

MY 1998 WINDSTAR HAS 89,000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETEY BROKE APART, WITH NO WARNING AT ALL. NO SLIPPING OR ANYTHING. SITTING AT A RED LIGHT, THE VAN JERKED LIKE WE HAD BEEN HIT IN THE REAR BY SOMEONE DOING 80 MILES PER HOUR. IT IS GOING TO COST ME $1800.00 TO HAVE IT REBUILT. I KNOW NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ARE FILED WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION ON FORD TRANSMISSIONS. I WANT TO REGISTER MY COMPLAINT.*AK

DEALERSHIP DID NOT PERFORM RECALL 01V199000 REPAIRS CORRECTLY FOR FRONT COIL SPRING, AND IS REFUSING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

I FILED A COMPLAINT ON 2/10/03 (ODI # 10005590) RELATING TO THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID IN OUR 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE DEALERSHIP, AT THAT TIME, USED A REPAIR KIT (RATHER THAN A COMPLETE REPLACEMENT) FOR THE SECOND TIME IN A YEAR. IN EARLY AUGUST, 2003, THE REPAIR KIT FAILED AGAIN AND WE HAD NO POWER STEERING FLUID LEFT AT ALL. THREE FAILURES IN A CRITICAL SAFETY DEVICE IN 18 MONTHS VERY CLEARLY INDICATES THAT THE MANUFACTURER'S REMEDIAL PLAN IS INADEQUATE AND A RECALL IS NECESSARY. *NLM

HOWEVER, WE ARE CURRENTLY VERY UPSET WITH OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER OVER A SIMPLE SEAT BELT. WE OWN A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. WHEN THE CAR WAS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD WE TOOK IT IN TO HAVE A FRAYED SEAT BELT REPAIRED. I HAVE THE PAPERWORK FOR THIS REPAIR. WE THEN HAD A BABY AND INSTALLED A FIVE POINT HARNESS CAR SEAT IN THAT SEAT POSITION. THE CAR SEAT REMAINED THERE FOR FOUR YEARS, (REMOVED ONLY WHEN SO FILTHY IT HAD TO BE CLEANED), THUS THE SEAT BELT REMAINED LOCKED IN POSITION AND WAS NOT PULLED OUT OR RETRACTED DURING THAT TIME. THAT BABY IS NOW OLD ENOUGH TO NEED A BOOSTER SEAT (WHICH UTILIZES THE SEAT BELT DIRECTLY). WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF STARTING TO USE THE BOOSTER SEAT DAILY WE NOTICED THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS ONCE AGAIN FRAYING. I CALLED THE DEALER AND HE TOLD ME TO BRING IT IN. WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE ORIGINAL REPAIR PLACE (WITH THE PAPERWORK FROM THE FIRST REPAIR) AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION. THEY TOLD US THAT SINCE THE FIRST REPAIR WAS AT 7138 MILES AND THE VAN NOW HAS 89,123 MILES ON IT THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I ASKED FOR A LETTER STATING THIS FACT (THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY) AND THEY REFUSE. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH TURNED RIGHT AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE APPLYING BRAKES SUDDENLY CHILD SAFETY SEAT'S SHIELS SNAPPED . MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK

FORD 1998 WINDSTAR POWER TRAIN FAILURE. IN JAN 1999, I PURCHASE A USED 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. ALSO PAID FOR A 72 MONTH/60,000 PREMIUM CARE EXTENDED WARRANTY. IN 2000, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ALMOST CAUSING AND ACCIDENT. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER THAT I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK MORE THAN 5 TIMES STATING THAT THE NEW REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE TRANS WOULD SLIP COMING OUT OF FIRST GEAR AND BANG INTO 2ND GEAR. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY THE CAR WOULD STALL WHEN DOWNSHIFTING COMING OFF AN EXIT. THE DEALER, SPRINGFIELD FORD, STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. ON JULY 18, 2003 THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE JUST STOPPED AND WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. AS A DISABLED INDIVIDUAL THIS WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. WITH MY FLASHERS ON, I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, AND DRIVE OFF THE ROAD AND SAFELY PACK IT. THIS SEEMED STRANGE THAT I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SPRINGFIELD FORD ON JULY 18, 2003. THE DEALER CALLED AND SAID THAT MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND IT WOULD COST $3000.00 TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION. I SPOKE WITH FORD AND THE MANAGER AT SPRINGFIELD FORD. THEY STATED THAT MY WARRANTY EXPIRED IN JUNE OF 2003. I BELIEVE THAT MY WARRANTY IS IN EFFECT THRU 2005. THIS VEHICLE HAS 47,000 MILES ON IT. I BELIEVE THAT A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED IN MY VEHICLE. THIS HAS CREATED A MAJOR SA

CURRENT MILEAGE APPROX. 55,800. . ON A RECENT TRIP TO CAPE MAY, NJ (APPROX. 150 MILES FROM OUR HOME IN BAYSIDE, NY ),THE ENGINE SEIZED AND THE CAR DIED ON THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER/ SERVICE STATION, CHAPMAN FORD (JUNE 31,2003), WHERE IT IS BEING SERVICED CURRENTLY. THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT EVALUATE THE DAMAGE UNTIL JULY 2,2003, WHERE HE STATED THAT A ROD BROKE CAUSING A PUNCTURE IN THE OIL PAN THEREFORE CAUSING A LOSS OF FLUID AND A SEIZE OF THE ENGINE. AT LEASE INCEPTION, WE TOOK AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THROUGH FORD HEMPSTEAD WITH INTERSTATE WARRANTY SERVICES. THIS WARRANTY COMPANY ORDERED A COMPLETE TEAR DOWN OF THE ENGINE TO FIND OUT WHY THE ROD BROKE, WE AGREED KNOWING THAT IT WAS DUE TO NO NEGLECT ON OUR PART, THE TEAR DOWN DID NOT OCCUR UNTIL JULY 10TH AND WAS EXAMINED ON JULY 11TH BY AN INSPECTOR HIRED BY INTERSTATE. THE CLAIM IS NOW BEING DENIED, EVEN THOUGH WE SUPPLIED THEM WITH ALL THE DOCUMENTATION THEY REQUESTED ON THE UPKEEP AND MAINTENANCE OF THE CAR. THEIR CLAIM IS THAT THE LAST MAINTENANCE (OIL CHANGE, FILTER AND LUBRICANTS) WERE NOT DONE. WE HAVE THE DOCUMENTATION TO PROVE THAT MONAHAN FORD, FLUSHING, NY DID THIS MAINTENANCE ALONG WITH OTHER WORK IN JANUARY. ALSO, HEMPSTEAD FORD, HEMPSTEAD, NY, DID SERVICE ON THE CAR APRIL 2003 FOR THE EXACT HESITATION IN ACCELERATION THAT WE EXPERIENCED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE ENGINE SEIZED. UNFORTUNATELY MONAHAN FORD WENT OUT OF BUSINESS AND WE ARE BEING TOLD THAT OUR CAR WAS NOT K

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND THE ABILITY TO SHIFT GEARS. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

CLUNKING NOISE IN FRONT SUSPENSION AT 32,000 MILE DUE TO WORNOUT BUSHING. THEN AT 74,000 MILES NOISE WAS DUE TO RADIUS ARM SOCKETS THAT NEEDED TO BE WELDED. THE PROBLEM STARTED AT 74,000 MILES BUT WAS NOT FOUND AND FIXED UNITL 82,000 MILES. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS. I FEEL THIS VEHICLES FRONT SUSPENSION IS DEFECTIVE BASE ON REPAIRS NEEDED IN 80,000 MILES OF HIGHWAY AND CITY DRIVING. FORD HAS BRUSHED ME OFF WORKING THROUGH THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE CHANNELS! I AM THE ORIGIONAL OWNER.

BLOWN HEAD GASKET ON 1998 FORD WINDSTAR AT 85,000 MILES. *AK

WHILE IN MOTION, THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD PEELED OFF AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. SIZE P215/70R14, DOT 30913URBW16895-1, ORIGINAL TIRES WITH 10,000-15000 MILES ON THEM. *AK THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD EXPLODED. THE CONSUMER WAS PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE LEFT PASSING LANE WHEN THE TREAD SEPARATED. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND SAW THE TIRE WAS NOT DEFLATED AND THE TREAD WAS TIGHTLY WRAPPED UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER'S WIFE BROUGHT TO HIS ATTENTION, THE OTHER BAD EXPERIENCES WITH THE TIRES. ONE HAD BLOWN OUT THROUGH THE TREAD AND THE SECOND TIRE DEVELOPED A BULGED THAT CAUSED A WOBBLE IN THE STEERING. *SCC *JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT PAINT IS PEELING OFF. CONSUMER FEELS THE INTERIOR MAY EVENTUALLY FALL AND PAINT CHIPS MAY GET INTO PASSENGERS EYES. *AK

FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE, JANUARY 2002, BRAKES AND ABS SYSTEM HAS FAILED ,PEYTON-CRAMER FORD HAS CHARGED US TO REPLACE AN ABS RING, 2 SENSORS AND A TIRE. AFTER ALL OF THESE REPAIRS PEYTON-CRAMER FORD HAS FAILED TO CORRECT THE BRAKING PROBLEM AND NOW THEY WANT TO CHARGE $1,300 FOR A NEW ABS SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 40K MILES. THE TRANSMISSION HAS CURRENTLY GONE OUT AS WELL WITHIN THE PAST WEEK. I FEEL THAT THIS MATTER SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BECAUSE I FEEL THAT THIS VEHICLE IS A LEMON DUE TO THE LOW MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE AND BECAUSE OF THE MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. PEYTON CRAMER FORD IS UNWILLING TO ASSIST WITH THE CURRENT ABS PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE COVERED BECAUSE I CURRENTLY HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON MY VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE ABS IS NOT COVERED BY MY CURRENT EXTENDED WARRANTY AND FORD MOTOR IS UNWILLING TO OFFER ANY GOODWILL ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED AND COST ME $1900 TO FIX. *AK

LOSS OF FRONT RIGHT WHEEL WHILE DRIVING.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE SEPARATION CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FENDER. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THE WHEEL IN QUESTION SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF INAPPROPRIATE CLAMPING FORCE TO THE ASSEMBLY. IT ALSO APPEARED THAT THE LACK OF CLAMPING FORCE WAS THE RESULT OF AN UNDER TORQUED WHEEL OR A WHEEL AND A BRAKE ROTOR COMBINATION THE WAS INAPPROPRIATELY SEATED. THE REAR WIPERS WERE DEFECTIVE AND THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS INOPERATIVE. *NLM *JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT VACUUM MOTOR SWITCH FAILS. HE ALSO STATES THAT THE RUBBER DIAPHRAM FAILS ALL THE TIME. THIS PART OF THE AUTO IS SUPPOSE TO BE WORKING IN RELATIONS WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD.*AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON 1998 WINDSTAR WITH ONLY 61,000 MILES ON VEHICLE.FORD REFUSED TO GIVE US ANY TYPE OF COMPENSATION. AFTER SEARCHING THIS DATABASE, IT SEEMS BAD TRANSMISSIONS ARE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH WINDSTARS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH THE VEHICLES RIGHT FRONT TIRE FELL OFF. *NLM

CONSUMER STATES HAS A POWER TRAIN PROBLEM FROM THE TRANSAXLES WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. CONSUMER STATED THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS ISSUED, NUMBER #98-15-19. *AK

REAR AIR WILL NOT WORK. *JB

1998 FORD WINDSTAR I HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT TIE ROD ENDS REPLACED TWICE WITH ONLY 47K MILES. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND TALKING TO REPAIR GARAGES THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH WINDSTAR VANS. *NLM

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT LEFT FRONT SPRING BREAKING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND THE SPRING WAS REPLACED, BUT DEALER REFUSED TO CHANGE THE OTHER ONES UNLESS THEY BROKE. DID NOT FEEL THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO BE DRIVING AGAIN.*AK

OUR '98 FORD WINDSTAR (3.8L) HAS JUST EXPERIENCED A MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEM; IT DRIVES ALONG JUST FINE ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 M.P.H. AND THEN BANG -- THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FROM OVER DRIVE INTO SECOND (OR FIRST!) GEAR. THIS SENDS THE ENGINE FROM A CASUAL 1,500 R.P.M. TO A DANGEROUS 5,500 R.P.M., AND MAKES FOR SCARY AND DANGEROUS HIGHWAY DRIVING. FORD (KACHEL FORD IN SHILLINGTON, PA) SAYS THAT THE VALVE BODY OR POSSIBLY THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE BAD, BUT I HAVE UNCOVERED LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VERY SAME, AND POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING PROBLEM WITH THE FORD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEING USED IN THE WINDSTAR. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS IMMEDIATELY. CONTACT ME AT ONCE IF YOU WOULD LIKE FULL COOPERATION -- I AM WILLING. *NLM

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 40MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING LEFT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE. *AK

WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES VEHICLE WOULD GO INTO EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE, RACK AN PINION STEERING LOCKING.*AK

CONSUMER HAS CALLED SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS TO HAVE FOUR RECALLS DONE AND THEY WERE REFUSING TO HONOR THEM. RECALL # 01V199 CONCERNING FRONT SPRINGS:COIL SPRING/ 99V147 000 CONCERNING BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER/ 00E11 FORD'S ADDITIONAL WARRANTY FOR FRONT SPRINGS:COIL SPRING CORROSION, AND 01M 03.*AK

WHEN TILTING THE STEERING WHEEL WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND NO WARNING FRONT LEFT SPRING COIL CRACKED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FALL TO THE GROUND. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL CAME OFF. THIS CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK

ON 5/22/03 I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN FEELING THAT THE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE DROPPED AND HEARD SOME OF THE WORST NOISES I HAD EVER HEARD. UPON DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME (SLOWLY) MY HUSBAND CAME HOME AND TOOK OFF THE TIRE. WE DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING OVER THE STRUT HAD COLLAPSED AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. WE PAID OUT OF OUR POCKETS TO GET THE VEHICLE FLAT BEDDED TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. THE PARTS HAVE BEEN ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER AND IT'S BEEN OVER A WEEK. I AM PERSONALLY IN JEOPORDY OF LOOSING MY JOB BECAUSE I HAVE ONLY BEEN ABLE TO WORK 1/2 DAY.(1 VEHICLE LEFT, 2 WORKING PARENTS WITH 3 KIDS) NOW I AM BEING TOLD THAT THE TIRE ON THAT SIDE IS DAMAGED AND CAN NOT BE TRUSTED TO BE DRIVEN ON, AND THE VAN NEEDS A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. FORD IS SAYING THIS IS NOT COVERED AND REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WE RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE 6 DAYS AFTER THE SPRING COLLAPSED. IT IS FOR SPRING SHIELDS, AT THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER TOLD ME THE SHIELDS ARE TO BE INSTALLED SO THAT IF THE SPRING COLLAPSES IT DOESN'T DAMAGE THE REST OF THE FRONT END AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. IS THIS ALL FORD IS RESPONSIBLE TO DO? THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF THESE VANS ON THE ROAD THAT ARE A POTENTIAL DANGER. THEY KNOW THAT THESE SPRINGS ARE A HAZARD AND THEY DON'T COVER TOWING, REPLACE OR REPAIR OF TIRES ETC THAT GET DAMAGED DUE TO THEIR DEFECTIVE PARTS. MY TIRE IS ONLY 1 MONTH OLD. I JUST REPLACED IT. THEIR ONLY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO TRY TO MAKE SURE NO ON

CONTINUAL PROBLEMS WITH INTERIOR LIGHTS AND LOCKS BECAUSE OF THE DOOR AJAR MONITOR. HAVE TO USE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR TO ENTER BECAUSE DRIVERS DOOR NORMALLY SETS IT OFF, AND HAVE TO UNPLUG BATTERY TO LET SYSTEM RESET, SO BATTERY DOES NOT GO DEAD WHICH NORMALLY TAKES A COUPLE OF DAYS. LOCKS WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK ON THEIR OWN WHILE DRIVING. DOOR AJAR WILL ALSO ACTIVATE WITH THE OTHER DOORS ON ITS OWN WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS. EVERYTIME I WANTED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER, IT WOULD STOP AND THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD DO NOTHING UNLESS IT WAS HAPPENING AT THE TIME. *AK

TRANSMISSION STALLS DURING DOWN SHIFTING AT LOW SPEEDS. SHIFTS HARD INTO GEAR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD,THREE TIMES HAS BEEN REPAIRED,FIRST TIME @ 32000,3600,65,000. DEALER SAID THAT IT'S A KNOWN PROBLEM,BUT THERE IS NO FIX. *NLM

THE GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GAIN ANY SPEED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACE. *NLM SPOKE WITH CONSUMER 10/16/07 , WAS TOLD TO DISREGARD COMPLAINT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TRADED. *LJ

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THE TRANSMISSION AND HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK *JB

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED. A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED FOR THE EARLIER MODELS. *JB

THE VEHICLE JERKED WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. *JB

FUEL TANK BROKEN / PUNCTURED WHEN RAN OVER ON A UNKNOWN OBJECT (SUSPECT TIRE PIECE) DURING NIGHT ON A RAINY DAY. *JB

THE HYDRAULIC LIFTS WERE HELD IN PLACE BY A SCREW ON BOTH SIDES OF THE TAILGATE. THE SCREW ON THE LEFT SIDE BROKE. AS A RESULT THE TAILGATE RELEASED AND SLAMMED DOWN VERY HARD. *JB

THE SWAY BAR BROKE OFF INSIDE THE BUSHING. WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO RIDE ROUGH AND BOUNCE UP AND DOWN. *JB

MY 1998 WINDSTAR CAUGHT FIRE TODAY. THE FIRE APPEARED TO START IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK COMPONENT. THE ENTIRE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS DESTROYED, THE WINDSHIELD MELTED AND CRACKED AND THE CEILING AND DASHBOARD MELTED. THE ENTIRE VAN IS SMOKE-DAMAGED. THE VAN HAD SEVERAL AUTO-LOCK, INSTRUMENTATION AND DOOR AJAR PROBLEMS WHICH HAD BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE DEALERSHIP. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING, THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL LUG NUTS SHEARED COMPLETELY OFF, WHICH CAUSED THE WHEEL TO COME OFF. *JB,,,EXTENSIVE DAMAGE WHICH INCLUDED REPLACING TIRE, WHEEL, LUGS:NUTS AND BODY DAMAGE TO DOOR AND FRONT FENDER FROM SKIDDING ON WHEEL AFTER TIRE FELL OFF. COULD NOT OPEN DRIVER'S DOOR. *AK

POWER TRANSMISSION ON 98 FORD WINDSTAR FAILED. *JB