1998 Ford Windstar complaints

RECALL 01F090000 WAS DONE IN APRIL 2002. SHIELDS WERE INSTALLED WITHIN 1/8 INCH OF TIRE, NEW TIRES WILL RUB ON THE SHIELDS.*AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE GAS FILLER HOSES ARE EXPOSED TO FLYING STONES FROM THE WHEELS AFTER 98 FORDS ADDED A SHIELD TO COVER THEIR HOSE. *YH

FATIGUE FAILURE OF WIRE SPRINGS WHICH STIFFEN STALK, AND LIE NEXT TO WEBBING. SHARP ENDS OF BROKEN SPRINGS ABRADED AND WEAKENED WEBBING- CONCERN FOR BELT FAILURE UNDER CRASH LOADS. SAME FATIGUE FAILURE SEEN ON LEFT AND RIGHT SEATS.*AK

AFTER RECALL 01V199000 FOR FRONT COIL SPRING CORROSION WAS COMPLETED PROBLEM REOCCURRED. *AK

FUEL PUMP INSIDE FUEL TANK IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THERE IS A WIRE INSIDE FUEL TANK CONNECTED TO FUEL PUMP, AND WITHIN 50000 MILES WIRE STARTED TO RUB TOGETHER WITH POTENTIAL OF THERE BEING A FIRE IN FUEL TANK. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

THE VEHICLE HAD NOISE IN THE FRONT END. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE NOISE WAS DUE TO TIE ROD END FAILURES. *YH

WHILE IN MOTION THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS FRACTURED AND WERE IN NEED OF EMERGENCY REPAIR. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR INSTALLING PROTECTIVE SHIELDS TO PROTECT THE COIL SPRINGS FROM FRACTURING. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR MONIES PAID, BUT FORD DEALER WILL NOT HONOR THE REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT, BECAUSE THE REPAIRS WERE NOT MADE AT THE DEALERSHIP. *JG

I WAS DRIVING AFTER MAKING A RIGHT-HAND TURN AND STARTED TO SMELL SOMETHING UNUSUAL. I CHECKED MY WARNING LIGHTS BUT THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF A PROBLEM SO I CONTINUED TO DRIVE HOPING TO MAKE IT HOME. THE WHOLE TIME THAT I CONTINUED TO DRIVE, I KEPT CHECKING MY WARNING LIGHTS BECAUSE A STILL SMELLED SOMETHING. WHEN I HAD TO STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT A FEW MINUTES LATER, I STARTED TO SEE SMOKE AND WAS GOING TO PULL INTO AN ADJACENT PARKING LOT WHEN A BUNCH OF PEOPLE RAN UP TO MY CAR AND YELLED TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. IT WAS ON FIRE. SOMEONE GRABBED MY TODDLER AND I QUICKLY TURNED OFF THE CAR AND GRABBED MY DOG. WE GOT AWAY FROM THE CAR BUT THE FIRE DIED DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY AFTER THE ENGINE WAS OFF. OTHER PEOPLE HAD CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE BY THEN. OTHER PEOPLE PUT OUT WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE FIRE WHILE I CARED FOR MY TERRIFIED CHILD AND CONTACTED THE AUTO CLUB AND RELATIVES TO HELP. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN ONE OF MY LINES THAT LEAKED ONTO THE ENGINE CAUSING THE FIRE. THEY CLAIMED BECAUSE SEVERAL LINES WERE BURNED UP THAT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE WHICH ONE IT WAS. THEY ACTED AS THOUGH FIRES ARE COMMON " BUT 50,000 IS A LITTLE EARLY" FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. IF I DID NOT HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, I WOULD HAVE BEEN PAYING FOR EVERYTHING OUT OF POCKET. AFTER THE INCIDENT, I LOOKED MY CAR UP ON YOUR WEBSITE AND FOUND ODI ID 753227 WHICH SOUNDED LIKE THE SAME SITUATION I HAD. *AK

THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD NUMEROUS BRAKING PROBLEMS/AXLES/SWAY BARS/CALIPERS/ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS

ORIGINAL TIRES, FIRESTONE 20570R15, CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS HEARD A BIG BOOM, VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE, AND CONSUMER STATES IT WAS HAD TO KEEP CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THE TREAD SEPERATED FROM LEFT REAR TIRE. CONSUMER STATES THE WEATHER WAS VERY HOT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED CONSUMER SAW FRONT SWAY BAR HANGING DOWN ON PASSENGER'S SIDE OF VEHICLE.*AK

LIGHT THAT INDICATES DOOR IS OPEN STAYS ILLUMINATED. LIGHT GETS SO HOT THAT IT MAY CAUSE A FIRE. *AK THE SWITCHES HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE FORD COMPANY IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND DOESN'T WANT TO FIX UNLESS CONSUMER PAYS OUT OF POCKET. THE SLIDING DOOR WAS REPLACED. *JG

CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED SEVERAL DEALERS IN REGARD TO RECALL 0110077000, IGNITION CONTROL . ALL DEALERS WERE REFUSING TO PROVIDE SERVICE IN REGARD TO THESE RECALLS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT FROM FIRST GEAR, STARTS JERKING, WHICH CAUSES SEAL PUMP TO MALFUNCTION AND TRANSMISSION TO BLOWOUT. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH THE TIRE RUBBING ON THE SPRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TO HAVE THE RECALL (01V199000) WORK PERFORMED. CONSUMER BEGAN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS AGAIN WITH THE RECALL RELATED ISSUE. THE DEALER REFUSED TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE, STATING THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RELATED TO THE SPRING, WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT THE CAR. *YD *NM

BOTH FRONT WHEELS SHOW SIGN OF CRACKS WITHIN BEADS OF THE WHEELS. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DIVING AND MAKING LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS STEERING WHEEL WILL MAKE A LOUD NOISE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. MECHANIC STATED BOLTS ON RACK AND PINION STEERING ARE COMING LOOSE.*AK

LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE RETURN LINE CORRODED NEAR THE R&P VALVE,FORD TOLD ME IT WOULD TAKE APPROX. 10 TO 30 DAYS DUE TO NATIONWIDE BACKORDER I AM WORRIED THAT,DUE TO SUCH A BACKORDER THER IS DEFECT IN THAT PART.ANOTHER REASON FOR CONCERN IS THAT I HAD TO GET THE PART FROM AN AUTO RECYCLING FACILITY AND NOTICED THAT A REPAIR WAS MADE TO THE LINE EXACTLY WHERE MY LINE FAILED DUE TO CORROSION.THIS IS MY FAMILY SOLE MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION ,ANY RESEARCH OR FINDINGS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *AK

STEERING PUMP AND RACK AND PINION FAILED. *MJ

CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE, IGNITION SWITCH SPUN AROUND AND ALL ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS STAYED ON. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

SKINNER & DAMULIS FORD (HERKIMER, NEW YORK), SANFORD FORD (SANDFORD, NC), AND CROWN FORD (NC) SERVICE CENTERS STATED TRANSMISSION FAILURE IS "NORMAL" AT 70,000 MILES FOR THE FORD WINDSTAR. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FORD PRODUCTS FOR 20 YEARS NOW, NEVER HAVE I EXPERIENCED A MAJOR COMPONENT FAILURE AT HIGH MILEAGE. 4 SEASONS TIRE & AUTO CENTER IN ILION, NEW YORK (315) 894-5087 STATED THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECENTLY RECURRING PROBLEM WITH TAURUS & ESCORTS.*AK

THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THE "FRONT SUBFRAME SLEEVES WERE LOOSE; WELDING OF THE RADIUS ARM SLEEVES WAS REQUIRED. THEY STATED THIS PROBLEM WAS VERY COMMON FOR WINDSTAR AND EVEN TAURUS MODELS. IF SO, THIS IS A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS AND WIDESPREAD PROBLEM IN THESE CARS. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE 01V99000 THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS MAY CORRODE AND FRACTURE. RECALL REPAIR WAS DONE BY CONSUMER'S LOCAL MECHANIC. HOWEVER, WHEN CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT, THE MANUFACTURER DENIED REIMBURSEMENT CLAIM STATING THAT THE REPAIRS WERE DONE AFTER THE DATE OF THE RECALL LETTER (SEPTEMBER 2001), THERE WERE NO INDICATION THAT THE SPRINGS WERE BROKEN, AND THE RECALL ONLY COVERS THE SPRINGS IF THEY ACTUALLY FRACTURED AND THAT THE REPAIRS WERE NOT DONE BY A FORD DEALER. CONSUMER IS SEEKING SOME ASSISTANCE WITH THIS MATTER. *TT *NM

VEHICLE WAS STRUCK WHILE PARKED CAUSING SLIDING DOOR TO CLOSE ONTO CHILD'S HEAD WHILE GETTING OUT OF VEHICLE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

HEAD GASKET FAILURE, COOLANT LEAKED INTO CYLINDAR, BENT CONNECTING ROD.*AK

WHILE DRIVING DOWN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS TRANSMISION DOWN SHIFTS INTO LOWER GEARS, 2ND OR LOW GEAR.WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE A VERY BAD ACCIDENT. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAD THE SAME THING HAPPED WITH THE THE SAME TYPE VEHICLE! HAVE YOU HADE ANY OTHER COMPLANTES? H AD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO AUTHERIZED DEALER HE CHECKED IT OUT SAID NOTHING WRONG! CONTINUED ON TRIP AND IT KEEP DOING IT.THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AT HIGHIWAY SPEEDS AND WITH A BIG TRUCK BEHIND YOU!! ANY INFORMATION OR HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.FORD IS NO HELP! THANK YOU. *AK

VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ERRATIC DOWNSHIFT WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT SINCE IT OCCURED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHILE TRAVELLING AT 65MPH. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED TWICE AND THE DEALER COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER TOLD US THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE. SINCE THIS TIME, IT HAS HAPPENED TWO MORE TIMES ON A ONE WEEK PERIOD.

NHTSA RECALL 01 V 199 000/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 01S19 CONCERNING FRONT COIL SPRING CORROSION, CONSUMER STATES DEALER, WALLY EDWARD FORD, PORT HENRY, NY; PHONE# 518/546-9911 IS REFUSING TO HONOR RECALL NOTICE. *AK THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY SAYS THE DEALERSHIP IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFETY RECALL REPAIRS. CONSUEMR HAS COMPLAINED OF THE TRANSMISSION AND NO DEALERSHIP WITHIN A 100 MILE RADIUS WILL ATTEMPT TO ACCESS THE PROBLEM. *JG

VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, TOOK VEHICLE TO FIRESTONE AND THEY REPLACED THE STARTER. 5 DAYS LATER, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. FIRESTONE STATED IT WAS THE PIN SWITCH THAT DRAINED THE BATTERY. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 81000 MILES. *SLC

VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK *SLC

WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST AND THE ENGINE WAS MISSING DUE TO BLOWN HEAD GASKETS. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK ALSO FOUND BLOWN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 45,000 MILES. *TT

THE VAN STALLED, OR "CUT OUT" WHEN MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS, OR WHILE AT LOW RPM'S. WE TOOK THE VAN BACK TO THE DEALER, AND THEY CONTACTED FORD. FORD SEEMED TO KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM, AND DIRECTED THE TYPE OF REPAIR TO BE MADE, ACCORDING TO WHAT WE WERE TOLD. I GAVE THE DEALER A NEWS ITEM ABOUT THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM FORD HAD IN CALIFORNIA WITH MILLIONS OF CARS STALLING, AND THAT RESULTED IN A RECALL IN CALIFORNIA. "STALLING" IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE RECALLED MY VAN IN THE FIRST PLACE ( RATHER THAN EXPOSE ME AND MY FAMILY TO INJURY) AND FORD SHOULD HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR ( WHICH AMOUNTED TO ABOUT $500). IF THEY KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND IF THEY AGREED TO FIX THE PROBLEM IN CALIFORNIA, WHY SHIFT THE COST OF REPAIR TO ME?*AK

HEADLIGHTS OVER THE PAST YEAR HAVE NOT BEEN CORRECTED. AT NIGHT DIMMER LIGHTS HAVE VERY POOR VISIBILTY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK DEALER ADVISED THAT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TT

WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, CONSUMER STATES THAT A TWO YEAR OLD CHILD PUT VEHICLE IN SECOND GEAR AND VEHICLE ROLLED BACKARDS INTO A TRASH BEND. CONSUMER FEELS LIKE GEAR SHOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR WITHOUT PRESSING ON BRAKE. *JB *TT

WHEN MAKING TURNS IN EITHER DIRECTION OR GOING OVER BUMPS THERE IS A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE. DEALER CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM.*JB

THE INTERIOR COURTESY LAMPS DO NOT GO OUT WHEN DOORS ARE CLOSED. DOOR AJAR LIGHT COMES ON. FORD IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND ITS A SAFETY ISSUE AS DRIVER CANNOT SEE DURING NIGHT DRIVING UNLESS FUSE IS PULLED. INTERIOR LIGHTS CANNOT BE SHUT OFF WITH THE DIMMER SWITCH!!.. DEALERS PLAY DUMB WHEN YOU DISCUSS THIS ISSUE. THREE NEIGHBORS HAVE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN!!!!!!!!*AK

INVOLVED IN COLLISION WITH OTHER VEHICLE - FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OF OTHER VEHICLE HIT FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OF MY VEHICLE - BOTH MY WIFE (FRONT PASSENGER) AND MYSELF HAD OUR SEAT BELTS ON. AT IMPACT MY WIFES SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD HER UPPER BODY BACK CAUSING HER UPPER BODY TO GO FORWARD AND STRIKE HER FOREHEAD WITH THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. ALSO AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SEAT BELTS AT TIMES DON'T TIGHTEN ACROSS THE UPPER BODY.*AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITH NO ADVANCE WARNING. TRANSMISSION SIMPLY DIED, AND CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW AT FORD, AND MAINTAINED AT MOONEY FORD. REPRESENTS PREMATURE FAILURE.*AK

THE SPRING ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF VEHICLE HAD RUPTURED WHILE CONSUMERS WIFE WAS DRIVING. WHEN THE SPRING RUPTURED, IT FORCED THE GUARD INTO THE TIRE (WHICH HAPPENS TO BE ONE MONTH OLD), AND RUINED THE TIRE. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE SPRING HAD BEEN RECALLED AND FORD WOULD REPLACE THEM. (IN WHICH FORD SAID THAT THE SPRING ON THIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPLACED ALREADY AND THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE ANYTHING).*SCC

VEHICLE WAS LOSING ANTI FREEZE , AND ENGINE WOULD KEEP GETTING CLOSE TO OVERHEATING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED HEAD GASKET.*AK

ACCELERATOR WENT DOWN ON ITS OWN WHILE IN REVERSE, NO BRAKES TO STOP, RESULTING IN A ACCIDENT. STEERING VIBRATES, RECOMMEND ROTATING THE TIRES. INTERIOR SEATS SLIGHTLY TWISTED, DOOR LOCKS WORKS SOMETIME, INTERIOR LIGHTS WORK SOMETIMES.

ABS SENSOR RING ON RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CRACKED. ABS LIGHT COMES ON. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK *YH

TIE ROD END STARTED TO WEAR AND MADE A SQUEAKING SOUND WHEN MAKING A TURN. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK *YH

I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO WALKER FORD ON 3/14/202 FOR A PROTECTIVE SPRING SHIELD, RECALL #01S19. WE NOTICED A CLUNKING NOISE FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SHORRTLY AFTER. WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK TO WALKER FORD ON 5/3/02. UPON INSPECTION, WE WERE TOLD THE WELD FOR THE SUB FRAME WAS BROKEN. THIS HOLDS UP THE TRANSMISSION,ENGINE, SUSPENSION,.. THIS IS DEFINIEETLY A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE AND GONE UNCHECKED, I BELIEVE IT COULD HAVE LED TO A MAJOR ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLE INJURIES, NOT JUST TO MYSELF, BUT OTHERS WHO MAY BE DRIVING A VEHICLE WITH A SIMILAR PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED AS PART OF ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND IS VERY RARE AND UNCOMMON FOR THIS TO BREAK, AS CONFIRMED BY ANOTHER MECHANIC. I BELIEVE THE WELD WAS DEFECTIVE. THIS VEHICEL IS WELL MAINTAINED AND THERE IS NO CAUSE FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM OTHER THAN A DEFECT.

I HAVE HAD 5 STEERING RACKS REPLACED SINCE SEPT 2000. I CANNOT GET ANYONE TO HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM.*JB

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, BRAKES COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN. PEDAL COMPLETELY WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO FORCE. STILL NOT STOPPING THE VEHICLE.*AK. THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS ATTRIBUTED TO THE FAILING OF THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT. *JG

WHILE DRIVING, THE LUG NUTS ON THE FRONT WHEEL BROKE OFF, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.(CLAIM#43-R774-617)*JB

CONSUMER STATES THE BOLTS ON THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SHEARED OFF.(CLAIM#27-7046-604)*JB

WHILE IN MOTION, PASSENGER TIRE CAME OFF VEHICLE DUE TO LUG NUTS BREAKING OFF, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLAM TO THE GROUND, SKIDDING INTO A VACANT LOT, HITTING A 2X4 BOARD, CLAIM 48-5214-929. *JG

WHILE THE INSURED WAS DRIVING THE TIRE FELL OFF DUE TO TWO LUG NUTS HAD CRACKED. CLAIM# 33-0348-233 *YH