1998 Ford Windstar complaints

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ENGINE LOCKED UP WITHOUT WARNING , LEAVING THE CONSUMER WITHOUT POWER. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM. *AK

WHEN A TURN WAS MADE OR THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING NOISE. THE LOCATION OF THE NOISE WAS UNKNOWN, THEREFORE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *JB

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. *NLM

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE LEFT FRONT SPRING BREAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SHOP AND THE SPRINGS WERE REPLACED BUT THE SHIELDS FOR THE SPRING WERE NOT REPLACED. THE CONSUMER DOES NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE SAME PROBLEM MAY OCCUR. *NLM

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING (60,000 MILES ON VAN). *JB

RELIABILITY ISSUE: 1998 FORD WINDSTAR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 33,000 MI, THEN THEIR REPLACEMENT FAILED AFTER ANOTHER 65,000 MI, THEN THE $2700 REBUILD FAILED AFTER ANOTHER 29,000 MILES. THIS IS GARBAGE!!! *NLM

DOOR AJAR BELL AND LIGHTS DO NOT GO OUT, LOCKS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY IN PASSENGER REAR DOOR. DOORS CLOSE FINE BUT BELL AND LIGHTS PERSIST AT ALL TIMES. FUSE HAD TO BE REMOVED FOR NIGHT DRIVING AND TO PREVENT A DEAD BATTERY. I CANT HEAR THINGS AROUND ME OUTSIDE DUE TO DOOR AJAR BELL. BELL TONE IS LOUD AND CAUSING HEADACHES. *JB

DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. CHIMES STAY ON WHEN CAR IS STARTED UNTIL THE SPEED REACHES AROUND 15 MPH. BUT AS SOON AS I SLOW DOWN AND STOP, THE CHIMES COME ON AGAIN. *JB

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *TT *JB *TS

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL 97 V 165 000, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.*JB

NAR 03/05/2003 THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH MOVING THE COLUMN SHIFT FROM ONE SHIFT TO ANOTHER. *CB

ABS SYSTEM IS CONSTANTLY MALFUNCTIONING, BRAKES GIVE OUT, TRACTION CONTROL IS TURNING OFF AND ON. DRIVERS SIDE LOCK DOES NOT WORK WITH ALARM REMOTE.*JB

THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN.*JB

I PUCHASED MY VAN ON 2/24/02 WITH 55K ON IT FROM CAVALIER FORD IN CHESAPEAKE ,VA. THE VAN WAS TAKEN BACK TO CAVALIER FORD IN CHESAPEAKE, VA. ON 2/12/03 BECAUSE OF A POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT AREA WHEN BREAKS ARE APPLIED AND SOMETIMES WHILE TURNING. THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED SEVERE CRACKING IN SUB FRAME WHERE RIGHT STRUT ROD ATTACHES. THE MECHANIC HAS NEVER SEEN ONE DO THIS AND SAID I COULD LOSE MY STEERING IF IT CRACKS ALL THE WAY WHILE I AM DRIVING. HE SAID COULD BE MANUFACTUER DEFECT. EST. COST FOR REPAIRS $3,000.00. I ONLY HAVE 65K ON THE VAN AND HAVENT EVEN HAD IT A YEAR YET. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF VAN BEING IN A WRECK. THIS IS NOT COVERD UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRENTY . HAS THIS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH OTHER WINDSTARS AND WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST THAT I CAN DO? L.J. VA. BEACH,VIRGINIA

TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND STOPPED ALTOGETHER WITHIN ONE DAY. PH

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. MR SCC

THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS FAILED AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED.*JB

THE SWAY BAR BROKE, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE LEFT.*JB

FOR THE SECOND TIME IN ONE YEAR, OUR 1998 FORD WINDSTAR (VIN [XXX]) IS IN NEED OF REPAIR TO CORRECT A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK. I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE TWO SERVICE BULLETINS THAT HAVE BEEN ISSUED ON THIS DEFECT (BC3150970219 AND 0156). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

AT 45,000 MILES ON 1998 FORD WINDSTAR GL,TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. HAD TO TURN VEHICLE OFF FOR A WHILE THEN IT WOULD SHIFT. HAD TO STOP APP. 6 TIMES TO TRAVEL 8 MILES.

INTERIOR DOME LIGHT STAYS ON UNTIL 15-20MPH IS REACHED. DASH LIGHT INDICATOR SAYS DOOR IS OPEN. ISOLATED PROBLEM TO SLIDING DOOR ON PASSENGER SIDE. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. TAKE TO FORD DEALERSHIPS ON 3 SEPERATE OCASSIONS AND ALL 3 TIMES THE PROBLEM MYSTERIOUSLY WENT AWAY. ALSO WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE REAR WIPER DOESN'T WORK ALL THE TIME.

1998 FORD WINDSTAR; FRONT BRAKES SEEM TO HAVE CONTINUOUS SHIMMY; PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK UNCOOPERATIVE UNLOCKING WITH REMOTE; ENGINE LIGHT OFF/ON OFTEN, DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A REASON; ELECTRICAL PANEL MALFUNCTIONING AFTER 104,000 MILES,(ENGINE LIGHT CONSTANTLY ON, ABS LIGHT ON, TRAC LIGHT CONSTANT FLASHING, AND FUEL GAUGE NOT READING GAS IN TANK)

CAR STALLS AND CUTS OFF WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO STOP - MAKING SHARP TURNS - WHEN COMPLETELY FILLING GAS TANK UP - AT THE HALF WAY POINT ON FUEL GAUGE

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD. DEALER NOTIFIED. PH

WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING, TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE. P20570T15. DOT W2M01P1188. *TT

ON 12/7/01 MY ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND THE TRAC OFF LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. I TOOK IT INTO THE INVER GROVE FORD, MN AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS BROKEN WHEEL SENSOR AND HAD TO REPLACE THE ECU. THAT COST US $1600.00. THEN ON 12/8/02, THE 2 LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. I CALLED FORD VERY UPSET AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS ONLY A 12 MONTH/12,000 MILES WARRANTY ON THE PART. AFTER ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC TEST, IT WAS DETERMINED THE ECU AGAIN WENT OUT. FORD OFFERED TO PAY $500.00 OF THE $1147.00 ESTIMATE, BUT IT INFURIATES ME THAT AUTOMOBILE COMPANIES CAN GET AWAY WITH THIS TYPE OF "HIGHWAY ROBBERY" AND ONLY WARRANTY SUCH AN EXPENSIVE PIECE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. IT IS NOW A SAFETY ISSUE, BECAUSE MY ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DO NOT WORK! WHAT AM I TO DO?

AFTER STOPPING A MY VAN, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS DO NOT TURN OFF AND THE DASHBOARD SHOWS AN OPEN DOOR ALTHOUGH ALL DOORS ARE CLOSED. THE BEEPING NOISE INDICATING THE DOOR IS OPENED CONTINUES TO MAKE NOISE. THE DOORS NO LONGER LOCK. THIS CONDITION CONTINUED EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING. THE DEALER SAID TO JUST REMOVE THE INTERIOR BULBS OR JUST PULL THE FUSE. WHEN THE DEALER PULLED THE FUSED THE BRAKE LIGHTS NO LONGER WORKED AND THE CAR COULD NO LONGER GO OUT OF PARK BUT THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WENT OUT. THE DEALER SAID I MUST START THE CAR WITH GEAR SHIFT HALF WAY BETWEEN PARK AND NEUTRAL. THE DEALER SAID THIS IS A VERY UNIQUE PROBLEM AND IS CAUSED BY SOMETHING THAT I DID. I STATED THAT'S ABSURD. THE FORD DEALER MECHANIC THEN SAID IT MUST BE ONE OF SENSORS PROBABLY THE DRIVERS DOOR. NOW I SEE THERE ARE OTHERS THAT HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *JB

REAR ENDED CAUSING A FRONT-END COLLISION AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

I HAVE A 98 FORD WINDSTAR FAMILY VAN VIN# [XXX] I PURCHASED THE VAN IN JUNE OF 2002 IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND HAD A FULL INSPECTION BY THE SERVICE DEPT ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP WHEN PURCHASED, I WAS DRIVING BY MYSELF ON A SUNDAY RETURNING FROM VISITING MY ELDERLY PARENTS AND AS I WAS DRIVING THE INTERSTATE A HUGE NOISE SCARED ME AND I LOOKED TO THE REAR OF THE VAN AND A WINDOW ON THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR VENT WINDOW WAS GONE, THE TEMP WAS VERY COLD AND NO ONE WAS AROUND IT THANK GOODNESS, IT COULD HAVE AT A DIFFERENT TIME COST A MOTORCYCLE RIDER OR ANYONE IT COULD OF HIT THEIR LIFE OR SERIOUS INJURY, I TOOK THE VAN TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED FOR THEM TO REPORT AND ALSO EXPLAINED I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR, I HAD TO PAY FOR IT AND CONTACTED THE FORD MOTOR CO THREE TIMES AND THEY DO NOT SEEM TO BELIEVE THEY SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS ISSUE, IT WAS A ELECTRIC WINDOW LATCH THAT MOVES THE WINDOW IN AND OUT AS A VENT THAT MALFUNCTIONED AND BROKE, IT IS ALSO THE ONLY THING THAT HOLDS IT IN. I BELIEVE I COULD NOT HAVE ANTICIPATED THIS TO HAPPEN AND IT WAS CLEARLY A DEFECT AND I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED AND SOME NOW THAT THEY HAVE CAUSED ME SO MUCH AGGRAVATION. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP, STEERING CONTROL SYSTEM AND RACK DEFECTIVE HAS TO BE REPLCED, RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED ALREADY WITH ONLY 30,000 MILES

DRIVING AT ABOUT 35 MPH IN MODERATE TRAFFIC, ENGINE SLOWED, OIL AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ENGINE BEGAN MAKING A SPUTTERING SOUND AND WHITE SMOKE BILLOWED FROM THE TAIL PIPE. VEHICLE DECREASED SPEED RAPIDLY, ENDANGERING THREE CHILDREN. ENGINE DIAGNOSITC PROVED BLOWN HEAD GASKET.

ABS LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY AND RED BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON CONSTANTLY. WHILE THIS IS HAPPENING, THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER WILL NOT SHUT OFF, AND THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK. THE CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON. THE TURN SIGNALS ARE BLINKING RAPIDLY OR NOT WORKING ON SOME OCCASIONS. MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AS OF LAST YEAR. THE TRANSMISSION HAS ALREADY BEEN REBUILT AND WE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHTS NOT GOING OFF AND THE DOOR LOCK MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE AT FIRST THEY WERE LOCKING ON THEIR OWN REPEATEDLY. I FEEL LIKE THESE WERE ALL A RESULT OF WIRING PROBLEMS, BUT WE HAD SUCH A HARD TIME GETTING ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS REPAIRED THAT I'M NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN A LEMON THE WHOLE TIME WE HAVE OWNED IT.

I HAVE MAINTAINED MY 1998 FORD WINDSTAR VERY WELL - HAVING ALL RECOMMENDED MAINTENACE PERFORMED. IT HAS ONLY 80,000 MILES ON IT AND THE HEAD GASKET NOW HAS A LEAK. COOLANT HAS LEAKED INTO THE #4 CYLINDER. THE DEALER WANTS $3500-4500 TO PUT A NEW ENGINE IN IT. THE HEAD GASKET LEAKING IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH WINDSTARS. FORD HAS HAS A PROGRAM FOR EARLIER MODELS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. BUT FORD HAS YET TO APPLY THE PROGRAM TO THE 1998 MODELS. I EXPECT A FORD VEHICLE TO GET AT LEAST 180,000 MILES WHEN THE OWNER HAS ALL RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE COMPLETED. I WANT FORD TO PAY FOR A NEW ENGINE! I WAS TO PUT ANOTHER 100,000 MILES ON THAT VAN.

CONSUMER STATEDTHERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. PH

THERE IS RUST LOCATED ON BOTH SIDES AND THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE RUST WASN'T VISIBLE UNDER THE MOLDING UNTIL REPLACEMENT HAD BEGUN. *JG *JB *NLM

TIRES ARE GOODYEAR INTEGRITY. CONSUMER HAD ALL FOUR TIRES FAIL ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. *JG *JB *NLM

SWITCH OF REAR DEFROSTER SHORTED OUT, CAUSING DASH PANEL TO MELT. TS. *AK

DRIVER FRONT SEATBELT MALFUNCTIONING, PERSISTENT VIBRATION IN RT FRONT END AT 60-65MPH NOT CURED BY NEW STRUTS, SWAY BAR LINKS, SPRINGS ALIGNMENT, MULTIPLE WHEEL BALANCE. TS

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE'S TIRE ROD SQUEAKS WHEN WHEEL IS TURNING. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALERSHIP WICKER FORD; TICONDEROGA NY; 518-585-2888 IS REFUSING TO HONOR THE RECALL FOR THE PROTECTION SHIELD FRONT COIL 01 F 121 000. TS

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT THE RECALL RECEIVED ON THE VEHICLE. ALSO STATED THAT SHE HAD THIS PROBLEM BUT THE DEALER NEVER PAID ATTENTION TO THE COMPLAINTS. TS

NAR 1/15/2003. THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. AFTER NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS, THE SELLING DEALER OFFERED TO BUY THE VEHICLE BACK, BUT THE CONSUMER DECLINED AND INSTEAD CONTINUED TO FORD AND HARASS THE EMPLOYEES TO POINT THAT THEY BECAME DEATH THREATS. *JB

WHILE BRAKING THERE WAS A CLANKING NOISE IN FRONT END. TOOK VEHICLE TO FORD, FORD REPLACED SUBFRAME BUSHINGS AND TIE ROD ENDS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS. *AK

1998 FORD WINDSTAR. ACCORDING TO DEALER REPAIR DEPT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE FUEL TANK CAUSED BY CORROSION RELATING TO THE EMISSION TUBING. HAD TO REPLACE FUEL TANK. REPORTED TO FORD, THEY HAVE NOTHING TO REPORT. DEALER PERSON SAID THEY HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL OF THESE AND THIS IS IN A SMALL RURAL TOWN. TANK WAS BACK ORDERED FOR A MONTH. I WOULD THINK THAT A HOLE IN A GASOLINE TANK WOULD BE HAZARDOUS, AND GIVEN THE STATEMENT OF SEEING SEVERAL OF THESE IN ONE DEALERSHIP PLUS THE BACKORDER SITUATION INDICATES THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM.

THERE WAS A NOISE THAT HAD COME FROM THE WHEEL WHEN TURNING, AS THE CONSUMER TRAVELED ON THE HIGHWAY. TS THE BALL JOINTS FAILED, BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT ON THE FRONT END. SCC

CONSUMER STAES INSULATION BUSHING/STABELIZER BAR WAS REPLACED TWICE WITH IN PRESENT MILEAGE. PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

THE PLASTIC COVERS ON THE SEAT BELTS ARE WORN AND HAVE SHARP EDGES. THE DRIVERS SIDE BELT IS CUT IN HALF. THE DRIVER SIDE REAR BELT IS CUT HALF WAY THROUGH AT THIS TIME. *JG TS

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO ACCELERATE. DEALER NOTIFIED.

TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT TO FOURTH GEAR, DEALER REPLACED SOLENOID, DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MR

VEHICLE SHAKES WHEN APPLYING BRAKE AT HIGHER SPEED, MORE SO WHEN GOING DOWNHILL. DEALER TURNED ROTORS ONCE. DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. MR