1998 Ford Windstar complaints

WHILE DRIVING THE DOOR CHIME WILL GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY, INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON AS WELL. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. MR

THE CONSUMER IS CONCERN SHE DIDN'T RECEIVE A RECALL #NUMBER97V097000 FOR THE A/T FLUID SEVO COVER LEAK. BECAUSE HER VIN NUMBER WASN'T INCLUDED BUT SHE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MR

INTERMITENT BRAKE FAILURE. BRAKES GO RIGHT TO FLOOR! GARAGE CAN NOT FIND PROBLEM. REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER NOT THE PROBLEM. HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES FOR 1 YEAR COMES AND GOES. TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT STARTS BLINKING WHEN BRAKES APPLIED SHARPLY. WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS TURNED ON THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COME ON AND THE CRUISE DOES NOT WORK. DT

THE RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 70 MPH. THE INCIDENT RESULTED IN BODY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE (FIRESTONE TUBLPS FR680, TIRE SIZE P205/70R15 AND DOT # W2M01P1118. TIRE MILEAGE WAS 18000). *YH

CONSUMER STATED THAT ALL 5 STUDS ON THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SHEARED OFF WHILE DRIVING. DLR ADVISED THAT ALL STUDS SNAPPED AT THE SAME TREAD LENGTH. TS

FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL FELL OFF AT 40-45 MPH. VEHICLE IS AT DEALERSHIP AT THIS TIME. *TS *TT

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. TS THERE WAS A NOISE THAT EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE BEFORE THE STEERING FAILED. *JG

ALL 5 LEFT FRONT LUG BOLTS SHEARED AND CAR LOST WHEEL AT 70 MPH ON FREEWAY. ROAD WAS STRAIGHT AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL CAR TO RIGHT SHOULDER. I NOTE 29 SIMILAR INCIDENTS OVER LAST 4 YEARS ON NHTSA WEBSITE, BUT NO RECALL. WHY NOT? PREVIOUSLY MY MECHANIC HAD 3 OF RIGHT FRONT LUGS BREAK AT LESS THAN SPEC TORQUE. ALL RIGHT FRONT LUGS WERE REPLACED. AT THAT TIME THE LEFT LUGS TOOK TORQUE AND (UNFORTUNATELY) WERE NOT REPLACED. THESE LUGS CAUSED LIFE THREATENING HAZARD. DT

OUR FUEL PUMP WENT FOR A SECOND TIME IN A THREE MONTH PERIOD. THE CAUSE OF THE FUEL PUMPS MALFUNCTION WAS A SHORT IN THE WIRING WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE FACT THAT THE DEPTH OF THE FUEL TANK WAS NOT WITHIN THE REQUIRED SPECIFICATIONS. THE DEPTH OF THE FUEL TANK WAS ONLY 6 5/8" DEEP. IF THE DEPTH OF THE TANK IS TO SHALLOW, THE WIRING ATOP THE FUEL PUMP CAN BECOME CHAFFED ON THE METAL FUEL HOSE CLAMP. FORD HAD ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS VERY ISSUE. WHAT OCCURRED WITH OUR VAN WAS PRECISELY WHAT THE SERVICE BULLETIN WARNS OF. THE SERVICE BULLETIN STATES THAT IF THEFUEL TANK DEPTH IS LESS THAN 7 3/4" REPLACE THE FUEL TANK 9002 AND FUEL DELIVERY MODULE 9H307. OUR VAN CLEARLY MET THAT CRITERIA, HOWEVER, FORD WOULD NOT REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP OR FUEL TANK AT FORDS EXPENSE. THE SERVICE MANAGER AND TECHNICIAN AT FORD STATED THAT IF I WERE A REGULAR CUSTOMER OF DUDDIE FORD, THAT THEY WOULD NOT LET ME TAKE THE VAN WITH ME BECAUSE OF THE SAFETYISSUES INVOLVED. WHEN I ASKED WHAT EXACTLY THEY MEANT, THEY STATED THAT BECAUSE OF THE CHAFFING OF THE WIRING ON THE FUEL PUMP, A SHORT COULD OCCUR, WHICH COULD IGNITE GASOLINE FUMES AND THEREFORE RESULT IN A CATASTROPHIC TRAGEDY. BASICALLY, THE VAN COULD EXPLODE. AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE AT GRANITE FORD IN ROCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL TANK PER THE SERVICE BULLETIN. THE GRANITE FORD TECHNICIAN ALSO M

THE SENSOR THAT CONTROLS THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM HAS FAILED AND AS A RESULT THE BRAKES NO LONGER FUNCTION PROPERLY. A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN HAS BEEN ISSUED, HOWEVER, FORD REFUSES TO REPLACE THE PART. WE HAVE CONTACTED BOTH THE DEALER AND FORD DIRECTLY TO REQUEST THAT THEY PAY TO REPLACE. THIS PART SHOULD NOT FAIL ON A VEHICLE WITH 43,000 MILES, AND THEY OBVIOUSLY KNOW OF THE PROBLEM BASED ON THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS. I CAN PROVIDE THE VIN NUMBER LATER IF IT WOULD BE HELPFUL. MR

ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2002 MY FORD WINDSTAR BEGAN SMOKING. THE SMOKING WAS CAUSED BY THE LEAKING OF THE POWER STEERING FLUID ON TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM OF THE VAN. AFTER BEING INFORMED BY MY WIFE THAT THE VAN WAS SMOKING I DETERMINED THAT THE SMOKE WAS CAUSED BY THE POWER STREERING FLUID FALLING ON THE EXHAUST SYSTEM OF THE VAN. AFTER DETERMINING THE CAUSE OF THE SMOKE I TURNED OFF THE VAN SO THAT THERE WOULD NOT BE A FIRE. THE VAN WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT POWER STEERING FITTING HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND THE HOSE HAD BEGUN LEAKING. IT WAS ALSO STATED THAT THE HOSE CONNECTED TO THE FITTING WAS ALSO LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID. I QUESTIONED THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND HE STATED THAT OTHER FORD VEHICLES HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. I GAVE APPROVAL TO THE DEALER TO FIX THE PROBLEM WHICH COSTED $551.74. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT SINCE I DID NOT HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE THAT FORD WOULD NOT COVER ANY OF THE REPAIR COST. MR

RIGHT FRONT BRAKE PADS WEAR EXCESSIVELY WITHIN 75,000 MILES WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF (4) SETS OF PADS FOR THE FRONT. ALSO, THE OWNER INDICATES THAT HE REPLACED THE ROTORS TWICE, NEW HIGH QUALITY PADS AND ROTORS WERE INSTALLED, NOW THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SHAKES WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, IT APPEARED THAT HE RIGHT FRONT DOES ALL THE BRAKING. NLM *NLM

WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, THE VAN WOULD VIBRATE. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THEY REPLACED THE MOTOR MOUNTS, HOWEVER THE CONDITION STILL PERSISTS. THE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE REPLACED AGAIN DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM OF UNKNOWN VIBRATION. NLM *JB THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE WORE OUT. THE TIE ROD ENDS WERE REPLACED. *JG

PEELING PAINT ON MOST UPPER SURFACES, INCLUDING ROOF, LIFTGATE, AND SIDE DOOR. MR

MFR# 01S19 & NHTSA# 01 V 199 000/FRONT COIL SPRING CORROSION: CONSUMER STATES WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURE THE TIRE. THE MAKE & MODLE SHOW A RECALL. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

WHILE DRIVING IF TRANSMISSION REACHES A CERTAIN TEMPERATURE IT DROPS OUT OF 3RD GEAR DOWN INTO 2ND. ENGINE RPMS INCREASE AND VEHICLE VIBRATES AND SHAKES.*AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, CONSUMER NOTICED A FLAT TIRE. WHEEL HAD A CRACK IN IT THAT CAUSED THE TIRE TO GO FLAT. CONTACTED DEALER. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, WHICH IS CAUSED BY A DEFECT*AK *JLG

THE TREAD SEPARATED ALL THE WAY AROUND THE TIRE WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN UNDERINFLATED, OVERLOADED OR ABUSED IN ANY WAY.*AK

VEHICLE DIED COMPLETELY WITH POWER STEERING AND ELECTRICAL ALL OFF, LIGHTS AND ALL WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT.*AK

OUR CAR STOPPED RUNNING AFTER REVERSING FROM OUR DRIVEWAY, IT WAS TOWED TO A NEARBY AUTO REPAIR SHOP FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE TRANSMISSION CASE COVER WAS REMOVED. THE GEARS INSIDE WERE IN PIECES. THE CASE HAD THE PROPER OIL AND QUANTITY. THE UNIT JUST DISMEMBERED ITSELF. CLEARLY A LATENT MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE CASE HAD NEVER BEEN OPENED BEFORE AND ALWAYS HAD THE PROPER OIL AND AMOUNT.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

MOUNTING BRACKET OF RIGHT FRONT STRUT SNAPPED, RIGHT FRONT OF CAR COLLAPSED AND BENT SWAY BAR, WHICH GOUGED AND RUINED TIRE. OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED ON SMOOTH PAVEMENT. IF WE HAD BEEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE FAILURE WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. I STILL HAVE PART AND CAN E-MAIL PICTURE OF IT.*AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK *YH

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING TIRE TREAD STARTED TO SEPARATE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HAVE A BLOWOUT. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. SIZE P20570R15, DOT # W2MO *AK THE BLOWN OUT TIRE CAUSED DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE'S SIDE PANEL AND MUD GUARD. *YH

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

RACK AND PINION STEERING IS LEAKING FLUID, AND IS CAUSING CONSUMER TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH POWER STEERING. IT WILL BE HARD TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

TRANSMISSION TOTALLY COLLAPSED ON HIGHWAY, PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED TWICE. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THERE WAS A BAD ODOR COMING FROM VENT AREA. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER STATES AFTER TURNING ON THE AIR CONDITION OR OPENING THE VENT CONTROL THERE IS AN ODOR

VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER HAS CHECKED TO SEE IF THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED. MALFUNCTION CAUSED VEHICLE TO SPEED UP AND MISS JUDGE TURNING WHICH INTERFERED WITH DRIVING ABILITY. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

FUEL PUMP HAS STOPPED WORKING DUE TO INSULATION ON WIRES WORE OFF, WHICH IN SOME CASES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

THERE ARE WIRES GOING THROUGH FUEL TANK THAT HAVE NO COVER, AND IT COULD CAUSE A FIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD STALLED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO WIRES SHORTING OUT IN THE FUEL PUMP. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. YH

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 44,000 MILES. FORD WILL NOT ASSIST WITH REPLACEMENT

THE HEAD GASKETS FAILED AND WERE REPLACED. ALSO, THE COOLANT FLOWING THROUGH THE CYLINDERS CAUSED A MAJOR ENGINE PROBLEM. *YH

OWNER DIDN'T REALIZE THAT EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE DIDN'T RELEASE COMPLETELY. ONCE SHE DID REALIZE THATOWNER RELEASED IT. A 1 1/2 LATER, LOST BRAKES COMPLETELY WHILE GOING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION DUE TO BRAKE FLUID BOILING IN MASTER CYLINDER. ALSO,EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS INTEGRATED WITH HYDRAULIC SYSTEM. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

CONSUMER PLACED KEY INSIDE OF IGNITION,TURNED VEHICLE ON, AND SHE TOOK KEY OUT OF IGNITION.IGNITION SWITCH POPPED OUT. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

BRAKE FLUID LEAKING. HAVE TAKEN IT IN SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY CAN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. SIMULAR TO THE 1996 WINDSTAR RECALL.*AK

CONSUMER STATEED BOTH FRONT TIE RODS FAILED AND WERE REPLACED, ALSO THE STEERING RACK WAS REPLACED.*YH

WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL IT WILL MAKE A LOUD NOISE,AND MOTOR FEELS LIKE IT IS STRUGGLING. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

THE VEHICLE WOULD REV UP WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS APPLIED AND WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS UNTIL THE ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETERS BEGAN TO WORK WHICH TAKE ABOUT 5 MILES DRIVE. *YH

FRONT LEFT WHEEL VIBRATED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. INSPECTED LUGS: NUTS AND FOUND 3 BROKEN ONES.*AK

FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED TIRE WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE BEING DRIVEN AT45 MPH, VAN STALLED, RESULTING IN STEERING WHEEL LOCKING AND BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILING WITH NO PRESSURE. OWNER HAD NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO COAST THROUGH AN INTERSECTION WITH LIGHT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

FUSE CONTROLLING ONBOARD COMPUTER AND INGNITION SYSTEM FAILS RANDOMLY WITHOUT WARNING. ENGINE STALLS AS A RESULT AND ALL POWER TO BRAKES AND STEERING IS LOST AS WELL. THIS HAS HAPPENED FIVE TIMES SINCE THE MIDDLE OF MAY 2002. TWICE ON THE HIGHWAY AND ONCE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. WE HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO THREE DIFFERENT MECHANICS, INCLUDING A FORD DEALER (KERRY FORD, 165 KEMPER ROAD, CINCINNATI, OHIO 45246 (513)671-9900). NONE CAN REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. KERRY FORD SAID ALL THEY CAN DO IS START REPLACING PARTS (AT THE COST OF SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS) BASED ON THEIR BEST GUESS AND HOPE IT FIXES THE PROBLEM. I'VE CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY HAVE REFUSED TO PAY FOR ANY OF THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. PLEAS THAT THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY IS INVOLVED FALL ON DEAF EARS. FRANKLY, WE DO NOT HAVE SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS TO PUT INTO THIS CAR HOPING THAT IT WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. MOREOVER, I CAN'T SELL THE VEHICLE WITHOUT DISCLOSING THIS PROBLEM AND PUTTING SOMEONE ELSE'S FAMILY IN DANGER. WE ARE LEFT WITH A CAR THAT IS TOO EXPENSIVE TO FIX AND WORTH ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. THE MANUFACTURER IS UNRESPONSIVE. WE HAVE NOWHERE TO TURN. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED.*AK

ENGINE STALLED; REPORTED TO SHEEHY FORD; REPLACED SENSOR; WITHIN A WEEK VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN AND OFTEN. REPORTED TO DEALER; COULD NOT DUPLICATE STALL CONDITION. STALLING OCCURRED UP TO 13 TIMES A DAY; RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALER. AFTER TWO DAYS DEALER FOUND THAT PLASTIC GAS TANK HAD COLLAPSED, CAUSING A VAPOR LOCK, AFFECTING FUEL FLOW TO ENGINE AND RESULTING IN STALLS. GAS TANK REPLACED AT COST OF $882.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THE WARNING LIGHT WAS ON, THE DEALER TRACED PROBLEM TO A LOOSE HOSE ON THE FUEL TANK, WHICH REQUIRED TIGHTENING A SCREW, THE FUEL FILTER WAS REPLACED.*JB

THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH RACK AND PINION STEERING AS STATED IN RECALL # 97 V165 000. BUT, THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

FUEL CLAPSED WHILE ON VACATION BLOWING FUSES AND RUINING FUEL PUMP HAD TO HAVE BOTH REPLACED. FORD CLAIMES HAS HAD NO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS. *AK

CONSUMER HAS SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL 97V165 000. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WILL START TO LOSE STEERING, AND CONSUMER CAN NOT CONTROL VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK