1998 Ford Windstar complaints

FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKE WHILE DRIVING 5MPH. NOTICED RUBBING AGAINST TIRE WHICH WAS BECOMING FRAYED. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP , AND MECHANIC INDICATED THAT PROBLEM WAS DEFINITELY FRONT COIL SPRINGS, BUT DID NOT REPLACE THEM. OWNER WORKING WITH DEALERSHIP.*AK

TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES. FIRST REPLACEMENT WAS A 30000 MILES. WARRANTY FIXED TRANSMISSION. MECHANIC TOLD THAT VEHICLE THAT THERE WAS DUST AND A DEFECT IN ASSEMBLY LANE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

I PURCHASED THE EVENFLO MEDALLION CARSEAT (MODEL #2541113P1, MANUFACTURED 25FEB00). MY 16 MONTH OLD SON IS ABLE TO UNCLASP THE CHEST BUCKLE. I HAVE TO TO STOP EVERY FEW BLOCKS TO RELATCH IT. I CONTACTED EVENFLO ABOUT MY PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THAT THE BUCKLE HAD BEEN CHANGED ON THE NEWER MODEL AND THEY WOULD SEND ME THE NEW BUCKLE. BUT, IF I USE THIS BUCKLE AND IT DOES NOT HOLD, EVENFLO WOULD ASSUME NO LIABILITY SINCE I HAD ALTERED THE HARNESS. THEY SAID THIS BUCKLE HAD NOT BEEN TESTED ON MY MODEL CARSEAT SO THEY WOULD NOT GUARANTEE ITS SAFETY ( EVEN THOUGH THEY OFFERED TO GIVE IT TO ME, INTERESTING DON'T YOU THINK?). I WAS TOLD BY THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE REP THAT THE BEST THING TO DO WOULD BE TO BUY A NEW SEAT. THIS SEAT COST ABOUT $100, AND I PURCHASED IT BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THAT A FIVE POINT HARNESS WAS THE SAFEST. I TRULY CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER SEAT ( ALTHOUGH I WILL BUY ONE IF IT IS MY ONLY RECOURSE). PLEASE ADVISE ME ON MY NEXT STEP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.*AK

ALL 4 WHEELS HAVE HAD LUGS: NUTS SHEARED OFF AND HAVE FALLEN INTO THE HUBCAP. *AK

MASTER CYLINDER HAS PREMATURELY FAILED AT ONLY 52,000 MILES WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, CAUSING A COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES, THERE IS A NATIONAL BACKORDER FOR PART AT MINIMUM OF 30 DAYS. *AK AT TIME OF REPLACEMENT, DEALER ALSO REPLACED ABS PUMP DUE TO IT BEING FAULTY AS WELL. *SLC

I HAVE BASICALLY HAD EVERYTHING THAT COULD GO WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE.. GO WRONG. IT HAS BEEN IN SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE SEAL AROUND DRIVERS SIDE DOOR (AIR FLOWS IN). THE DOOR AJAR INDICATOR CONTINUALLY GOES ON AND THE DOME LIGHT COMES ON(MAKING IT VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. ESPECIALLY WHEN TRYING TO BACK UP. THE DOME LIGHT THEN STAYS ON CAUSING BATTERY TO DIE. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT TO BLINK HAVE HAD IN SHOP THEY SAY THEY REPLACED A SENSOR. AS SOON AS MY WARRANTY WAS UP. IT HAPPENED AGAIN(COST ME OVER $400.00) WHEN EITHER WINDOW IS ROLLED DOWN ABOUT 3 INCHES(AS SOONA S IT HITS THAT POINT) A BUZZING SOUND WILL OCCUR. I HAD A HUGE GASH ON THE INTERIOR OF MY RIGHT TIRE(NO KNOWN CAUSE) I BELIEVE THE VAN WAS 3 MONTHS OLD AT THIS TIME.... HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW TIRE. I HAVE HAD WORK DONE SEVERAL TIMES ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. INCLUDING THE BEARINGS REPLACED.... A SENSOR RING THAT HAD BROKEN IN HALF, TIE-ROD... I AM SO DISAPPOINTED IN THIS VEHICLE, WE BOUGHT THIS BECAUSE IT WAS CONVIENT TO TOTE AROUND 3 CHILDREN BUT THE FACT THAT I AM SO AFRAID TO DRIVE IT ALOT OF TIMES INS'T VERY CONVENIENT AT ALL. I AM AMAZED THAT IT HAS MADE IT THIS FAR (90,000) THE BACK HATCH SEEMS TO HAVE SOME ELECTRIAL PROBLEMS AS WHENEVER IT IS OPENED IT WOLL SET OFF THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT AND WHEN CLOSED IT NEVER GOES OFF.. FOR SOME REASON IT HAS PERIODS OF TIME THAT IT WILL STAY ON FOR WEEKS AND THEN WHEN THAT STOPS THE WINDOW BUZZING STARTS. I AM NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND AM VE

WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH COIL SPRINGS POPPED IN TWO SPOTS . CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER ONLY WANTED TO REPLACE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR, NOT BOTH SIDES. THERE WAS A SIMILAR RECALL ON EARLIER MODELS.*AK

WHILE SITTING IN VEHICLE AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION FRONT SPRINGS BROKE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

I HAVE HEARD OF MANY PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSIONS ON THIS MODEL. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP VEHICLE BY APPLYING FORCE TO BRAKE PEDAL, BRAKES DID NOT REPSOND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING CAUSING UNWANTED ACCELERATION, CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER AND PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED, CRUISE CONTROL CEASED OPERATION BUT HAS NOW BEEN REPAIRED, CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY TECHNICIAN THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD WITH WRONG PART. *JB

FIRST THE INTERIOR LIGHT STAY ON AND BLINDS DRIVER AT NIGHT THE DASH LIGHTS FOR DOOR OPEN SHOWS ALL 4 DOOR ARE OPEN BUT THEY ARE CLOSED. IN ADDITION THE SPARE TIRE HOIST WILL NOT GO UP AND BEING THAT THIS PART IS NOT USED BUT FOR EMERGENCIES AND PROPER STORAGE OF AN EMERGENCY ITEM I FEEL THE PART SHOULD LAST FOR MANY YRS.

AFTER HAVING TWO TIRES CHANGED, CONSUMER NOTICED VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE BADLY WHEN GOING OVER 50 MPH, AND STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO STEER BECAUSE OF VIBRATION. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER IT WAS TRANSMISSION. THERE WAS RECALL 97V097000 CONCERNING TRANSMISSION.*AK

WHEN MAKING EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT HAND TURNS THERE IS A CLICKING SOUND FROM STEERING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO INSISTED IT WAS A ROCK IN STEERING COLUMN. DID NOT REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK *JB

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THERE IS A SQUEALING SOUND, BRAKING DISTANCE WAS EXTENDED, DEALER REPLACED REAR CYLINDERS, THEN 2 WEEKS LATER WHILE DRIVING VERY SLOWLY, BRAKES LOCKED UP, AND DRIVER'S REAR DRUM WAS RUSTED. *AK *JB

WHILE PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY AT VERY SLOW SPEED FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE. *AK *JB

VEHICLE IS SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING FROM 3RD TO 2ND GEAR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ALMOST STOP, RPM'S WILL REV HIGH. MANUFACTURER HAS ISSUED A TSB. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

PASSENGER'S SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

CONSUMER HAS REPLACED TRANSMISSION 3 TIMES WITHIN 51,000 MILES. FORD WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF PREMATURE FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION.*AK

VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED FROM 4TH GEAR TO 3RD GEAR AND LOWER WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH. DEALER'S RESPONSE WAS THAT IT DID NOT HAPPEN. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE STRUT WAS RUINED AND FORD PAID FOR ALL REPAIRS. *SLC

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

TIE ROD AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT APPROXIMATELY 35000 MILES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

EA-00-027 ; FRONT COIL SPRING WHICH IS PART OF SUSPENSION, BROKE. THIS, IN RETURN, SPLIT AND CUT TIRE,CAUSING TIRE TO GO FLAT. *AK

FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND RUPTURED FRONT RIGHT TIRE OF THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT INFORMED CONSUMER FOR REASON OF DEFECT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

CONSUMER WAS ISSUED RECALL 00V168000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 00S14 FOR DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. VEHICLE WAS MADE IN ACCORDING TO CANADIAN STANDARDS. FORD WANTED CONSUMER TO SIGN A STATEMENT SAYING THAT THEY WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR NOT NOT DISCONNECTING VEHICLE, IT COULD CATCH ON FIRE. CONSUMER JUST WANTED IT REPAIRED.*AK CONSUMER IS REQUESTING THAT LIGHTS BE FIXED AND NOT BLOCKED. *SLC

STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT, UPON ACCELERATION TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE. ENGINE REVVED AS IF IN NEUTRAL. ALSO OCCURRED AS ACCELERATING FROM A STOP TO MAKE A TURN. PRESENTED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION OF BEING PUT INTO THE PATH OF ON COMING TRAFFIC. TURNING ENGINE OFF AND THEN BACK ON WOULD ALLOW TRANSMISSION TO ENGAGE. DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AT 43,621 MILES AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. AFTER FOUR DAYS IN SERVICE AND A COMPLETE NEW TRANSMISSION, WITHIN 12 HOURS NEW TRANSMISSION DEVELOPED AT LEAST TWO SERIOUS LEAKS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID. DEALER SAYS THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON. THE UNIT IS SEALED AND CAN NOT BE SERVICED BY THEM. I AM WAITING TO HEAR IF I NEED ANOTHER COMPLETE NEW TRANSMISSION.*AK

VAN PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKE SIMULTANEOUSLY CAUSING FRONT OF VEHICLE TO DROP 5 INCHES AND NEARLY PIERCING SIDEWALLS OF BOTH FRONT TIRES. *AK

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYING ON WHILE ALL DOORS ARE PROPERLY CLOSED. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY, AND NOTHING WOULD BE DONE. *AK *JB

WHILE DRIVING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD FAIL TO SHIFT PROPERLY. WHEN GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED VEHICLE WOULD STOP. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED THAT GEARS BROKE OFF. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK. ALSO, PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE SINCE TRANSMISSION FILTER HAS BEEN CHANGED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER NOTED THAT TRANSMISSION SHIFT GEAR IS SLIPPING WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

I HAVE RETURNED MULTIPLE TIMES TO THE DEALER WITH A "HARD SHIFT" PROBLEM, FIRST TO SECOND. I EVEN CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, AND REFERRED ME BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, ONE THAT OCCURS ON A DAILY BASIS, AT LOW SPEEDS. THE DEALER DROVE MY CAR FOR A DAY, BUT EVIDENTLY DID NOT NOTICE ANY PROBLEM. AS SOON AS I GOT THE CAR BACK, THE PROBLEM WAS BACK. I HAVE SPENT UPWARDS OF $3000, FOR REPAIRS THAT I WAS TOLD WOULD RECTIFY THE PROBLEM, BUT IT PERSISTS. THIS INCLUDED EXTENSIVE FRONT END WORK THAT THEY CLAIMED WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM; THIS INCLUDED A FRONT-END ALIGNMENT AND SUB-FRAME SHIFT; POWER STEERING FLUSH; REPLACE FRONT STRUTS; REPLACE FRONT SHOCKS; REPLACE FRONT SWAY BAR, LINKS; PROBLEM PERSISTS. *AK

ENGINE FAILURE 1 MONTH AFTER HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT AND APPROXIMATELY 2000 MILES. *AK

DOOR OPEN INDICATOR STAYS ON, CAUSES INTERIOR LIGHT TO STAY ON. EVERY OTHER 1998 FORD I KNOW HAS SAME PROBLEM (7 VEHICLES). NIEGHBOR HAS HAD THIER VAN (98) WORKED ON 4 TIMES IN ONE YEAR. DEALER NOT HELPFULL. FORD HAS BLINDERS ON, ACTS AS IF THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THOS PROBLEM. ALL I WANTED IS FORD TO SAY THEY KNEW IT WAS A PROBLEM, AND THEY WERE WORKING ON A SOLUTION. FORDS INTEGRITY IS IN QUESTION WITH ME.*AK

JUST AN ANGRY CITIZEN WHO HOPES THAT MAYBE YOU CAN STEER ME IN A PROPER DIRECTION. I WAS TRAVELING THROUGH CALIFORNIA TO SANTA CRUZ FOR VACATION. I OWN A 1992 MAZDA EXTENDED CAB 4X4 AND WAS THE LAST OF FOUR CARS IN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT IN WHICH A BRAND NEW LOOKING (I DON'T KNOW THE ACTUAL YEAR) BLEW A TIRE (OR LOST FRONT WHEEL) AND FLIPPED. MY VEHICLE IS TOTALLED AND IT WILL COST ME THOUSANDS TO REPLACE SINCE MY INSURANCE WILL NOT COVER ALL DAMAGES. POLICE FILLED OUT REPORTS, PEOPLE TAKEN AWAY IN HELICOPTERS.... YET MY INSURANCE COMPANY CAN'T SEEM TO FIND ANY POLICE REPORTS. DO I HAVE ANY RIGHTS TO PURSUE AS THE CONSUMER? SHOULDN'T FORD OR THE INSURANCE COMPANY OF THE MINIVAN PAY FOR MY LOSSES? I DON'T MEAN TO SOUND SELFISH OR COLD SINCE MANY PEOPLE WERE HURT, BUT I AM CURRENTLY BEING PARTIALLY COVERED BY MY INSURANCE FOR LOSSES THAT WERE NOT OF MY FAULT.*AK

FRONT LEFT FIRESTONE TIRE ON FORD, WINDSTAR, 1998 BLEWOUT. *AK FIRESTONE FR680 P205/70R15, DOT# E4027490, CONSUMER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM CLAIMS PRECESSING STATING CONSUMER WOULD RECEIVE A DECISION WITHIN 30 DAYS, HOWEVER HAS HEARD NOTHING, CONSUMER STATES 1 PERSON WAS INJURED. *SLC

TOOK IN THE VEHICLE FOR A ROUTINE TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSH WITH REMOVING THE PAN AND REPLACING THE FILTER, ETC. AT THE LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP, THEY DISCOVERED PIECES OF METAL (PIECES OF A RING & AN ACCUMULATOR PART) IN THE PAN WHEN IT WAS REMOVED. SERVICEMAN SAID THAT IT HAD PROBABLY BEEN LIKE THAT WHEN WE PURCHASED. THAT IT WAS MOST LIKELY A DEFECTIVE PART. HE HAS SEEN MANY WINDSTARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. (OUR RELATIVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH A 1997 WINDSTAR) HE HAS SEEN 1995-2001 WITH THESE SAME PROBLEMS. HE SAID IT WILL COST FROM $1400 - $4500 IF THE DEALER REPAIRS THE PROBLEM. I AM GOING TO CONTACT THE DEALER TODAY AND POSSIBLY THE FORD COMPANY AS WELL. *AK

THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING FAILED WHILE DRIVING. NLM

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP VEHICLE BY APPLYING FORCE TO BRAKE PEDAL, BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND. VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, CAUSING UNWANTED AND UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER CORRECTED PROBLEM. CONSUMER CURRENTLY NOTICED THAT CURISE CONTROL WAS INOPERABLE. *AK *YH

APPLIED BRAKES AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE TO GO INTO PARKING LOT WHEN ANTI-LOCK BRAKES LOCKED UP, AND COMPLETELY FROZE WHILE DRIVING 5-10MPH . THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED REAR END ACCIDENT. COMPLETE ABS SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

EA00027; LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE, CAUSING TIRE TO RIDE IN FENDER.*AK *SLC

BROKEN FRONT SPRING. *AK FRONT STRUT SPRING BROKE CAUSING GROANING NOISE IN THE FRONT WHELL AREA, BROKE SPRING ALSO CAUSED THE VAN TO LEAN TOT HE LEFT. NLM 4/12-01

LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND IMBEDDED ITSELF IN LEFT WALL OF TIRE WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. *AK THERE WAS VERY LOUD GROANING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END WHEN THE CONSUMER STARTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, AND THE FRONT END COLLAPSED SOON AFTER BECAUSE THE FRONT LEFT TIRE HAD DEFLATED AS THE RESULT OF THE COIL SPRING BREAKING AND SLASHING THE TIRE. *YH

CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, DEALER HAS REPLACED IT ONCE, HOWEVER PROBLEMS CONTINUE, CONSUMER HAS FILED FOR A REQUEST FOR ARBITRATION, VEHICLE BUCKS, JERKS, AND JUMPS INTO GEAR BEFORE TAKING OFF. VEHICLE SHIMMIES FROM ONE SIDE TO ANOTHER UPON ACCELERATION, THERE IS A THUMPING SOUND HEARD ALSO AT TIMES WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SPEED SENSOR CIRCUIT PROBLEM. SPEEDOMETER JUMPS. PROBLEM WITH POWER STEERING, DEALER ADJUSTED RACK AND PINION AND MADE OTHER REPAIRS TO STEERING MECHANISM. RIGHT SIDE BRAKE LIGHT BULB FAILED. BATTERY FAILED. CONSUMER STATED IT FELT AS IF VEHICLE WAS GOING TO STALL SOMETIMES, ENGINE HAS NO POWER AT ACCELERATION, ENGINE BELT WAS NOISY AND WAS REPLACED. TIRE HAD A SLOW LEAK DUE TO LOOSE TIRE VALVE. *SLC

WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT IT WILL MAKE A TERRIBLE GRINDING NOISE. DEALER HAS REPLACED RACK AND PINION STEERING, BUT NOISE HAS REOCCURRED AGAIN.*AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 59-V719-855. *SLC

CONSUME R WAS TRAVELING A LOW SPEED MAKING A TURN AND THERE WAS A MOANING SOUND LIKE A GRINDING NOISE, ALIGNMENT WAS OFF PEAK. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.-*AK

TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING HARD AND ROUGH, IT MAKES A SLAMMING NOISE WHILE GOING INTO EACH GEAR.*AK

THE TRANSMISSION S BLOWN I FIND THAT ODD FOR A 3 YR OLD CAR WITH LESS THAN 65K MILES AND WELL MAINTAINED ON MY PART. FORD HAS OFFERED NO FINANCIAL HELP. *AK

DOOR SENSOR REPLACED IN 1999 "JUST GOES BAD" RICK HUNT FORD IN WARRENTON VA. SAYS.WENT BAD AGAIN. INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON UP TO TWENTY MPH. SOMETIMES THE CHIMES ARE ON THE SAME WAY , SOMETIMES THE CHIMES AND ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND CUT OFF AGAIN AT20 MPH, BUT DIP DOWN TO15 MPH AND THEY ALL START ON AGAIN. SOMETIMES THE DOOR LOCKS POP TO UNLOCK POSITION ALSO.DO I HAVE THE ONLY VEHICAL LIKE THIS?*AK