Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1998 record →
THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING LURCHES FORWARD WHEN THE VEHICLE IS AT A STOP, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS BUT THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN SUCCESSFULLY REPAIRED (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT). NLM
TRANSMISSION FAILED. NLM
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING TEN MPH AND ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON DASHBOARD. ABS BRAKING SYSTEM CAME ON. SHE TURNED VEHICLE OFF TO SEE IF LIGHT WOULD COME OFF. *AK
FRONT WHEEL BOLTS FELL OFF, AND TIRE CAME OFF. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH CAR SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT REINGAGE BEYOND 1ST. LIMPED HOME ON HIGHWAY WITH FLASHERS. DEALER DECLARED 'INTERNAL PROBLEM' AND $2,400 TRANSMISSION REPLACED W/O ANY FACTORY REIMBURSEMENT. CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. AT FORD CONTACTED AND I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM WITH WINDSTAR TRANSMISSIONS (OTHER THAN COLLECT MY MONEY) AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR TSBS ON THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER REPORTED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LOOKED OK SO THIS WAS NOT TRACED TO THE FAILURE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS RETURNED FOR 'CORE' CREDIT INTACT: NO REASON FOR THE FAILURE WAS DETERMINED.*AK
LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE, WHILE PARKED. CAR UNDRIVABLE, FRAME COLLAPSED ON TIRE. REPLACED BY DEALER AT OWNERS COST.
WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE AND NOTICED RIGHT REAR RIM HAD CRACKED. *AK
FRONT HEAD ON COLLISION AT 35-40 MPH NO DEPLOYMENT OF ANY AIRBAG. UNSURE OF AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO VEHICLE AS ACCIDENT OCCURRED DAY BEFORE REPORT FILED. *AK
ON OCCASION THE TRANSMISSION WILLL BECOME LOCKED IN SECOND AND SOMETIMES THIRD GEAR. IT REFUSES TO SHIFT GEARS PROPERLY AND WHEN IT DOES SHIFT ITS SHIFTS ROUGHLY AND SPORATICALLY. MY BELIEF IS THAT THERE IS A SHORT IN THE WIRING SOMEWHERE. *AK
THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, BUT HAS STILL SLIPPED AGAIN, I AM WRITING THIS AFTER HEARING THE REPORT ON TV ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THE 95 MINIVANS. THIS OCCURED WHEN I STOPPED AT A LIGHT, AND WHEN IT WOULD FINALLY GO FORWARD, IT GAVE US ALL A REAL HARD JERK, THEN DROVE IT MORE AND ABOUT 86 MILES LATER, IT DID IT AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TRANSMISSSION, BUT I AM STILL NOT SURE OF THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR AND NO ACTION TAKEN. THEY HAD A RECALL ON THE DAY-LIGHT ON THE VAN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERESHIP AND WITH THE LETTER AND THEY STILL HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING THERE. I WONDER IF THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE 95 PROBLEMS???*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE, *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKE. WAS ABLE TO GET VEHICLE ON THE SHOULDER. DEALER REPLACED FRONT COIL SPRING.*AK THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS PUNCTURED BY THE BROKEN SPRING. THE JACK FAILED WHILE RAISING THE VEHICLE TO CHANGE THE TIRE. *YH
FUEL PUMP FUSE BLEW WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. *SLC
DEALER HAD TO REPLACE BOTH OUTER TIE RODS AND ADJUST FRONT TOE. STEERING STARTED TO BIND WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, AND VAN STEERING HAD FELT LOOSE UP TO THE POINT OF FAILURE. *AK
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AT ANY GIVEN TIME AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE CUT OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF ALL POWER. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED PARTS, PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH STALLING INTERMITTENTLY WHEN MAKING LEFT TURN OR AT A STOP LIGHT. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
FIRESTONE FR680 TIRE (P205 70 R15) IS EXPERIENCING SIDEWALL SEPARATION. *SLC
WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AND BRAKES APPLIED, ENGINE WILL SUDDENLY START TO REV, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
VEHICLE STALLS OUT INTERMITTENTLY ,THERE IS NO PRIOR WARNING , WHEN VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLS IT WILL LOSE ALLPOWER BRAKES AND STEERING. MANUFACTURER SENT OUT TSB, STATING COMPUTER NEEDS TO BE REPROGRAMED.*AK
1. 2 YEAR OLD CHILD WAS ABLE TO MOVE AUTOMATIC SHIFT LEVER FROM PARK TO DRIVE WITHOUT KEY IN THE IGINITON WIHTOUT APPLYING BRAKES. 2. ALSO CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD RUMBLING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. DEALER COULD DETERMINE CAUSE.*AK
7- YEAR OLD CHILD WAS SITTING ON PASSENGER'S SIDE BACKROW AND ENDED UP GETTING TANGLED UP WITH SHOUDLER BELT. WHEN SHE COULDN'T BREATHE, SHE ASKED FOR HELP. ANOTHER PASSENGER UNBUCKLED SEATBELT, BUT SEATBELT WAS IN RETRACTING MODE, SO IT CONTINUED TO STRANGLE 7-YEAR OLD CHILD. SEATBELT HAD TO BE CUT OFF IN ORDER TO ALLOW CHILD TO BREATHE. CONSUMER FELT THERE SHOULD BE RELEASE BUTTON TO DEACTIVATE RETRACTING MODE.*AK
HAD TWO TIRES WORN TO STEEL BELT WITHIN 3 MONTHS IN SAME LOCATION. FORD SAYS ITS THE TIRES! IT SEEMS ODD TO ME THAT 2 TIRES IN SAME LOCATION WOULD WEAR DOWN TO BELT IN SAME SPOT . THE 2ND TIME IT HAPPENED WITHIN 3 MONTHS. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND FORD HAS BEEN UNCOOPERATIVE IN HANDLING A SERIOUS CONCERN! *AK (TIRESIZE: 21570R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 21570R15 )
THE VAN WOULD STALL OUT AT LOW SPEEDS, PARTICULARLY WHEN TURNING. THIS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND WHILE TURNING ACROSS A LANE OF TRAFFIC. THE FORD DEALER SAID THERE HAD BEEN A SERVICE BULLETIN, BUT NO RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. THEY CHARGED ME TO REPROGRAM THE P CM MODULE. I WROTE TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY, SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR BECAUSE I CONSIDERED IT A SAFETY ISSUE. FURTHER, THE COMPANY WAS APPARENTLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THEY REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE REPAIR. *AK
ON FIVE OCCASIONS, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP MY VEHICLE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR RESULTING IN AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. WE HAVE HAD THE BRAKES CHECKED BY OUR MECHANIC AND HE FOUND NO PROBLEMS OR LEAKAGE OF BRAKE FLUID. WE HAVE HAD A VARIETY OF BRAKE RELATED CONCERNS AND PROBLEMS SINCE 1999 THAT WERE REPORTED TO THE DEALER WITHOUT RESOLUTION.*AK
AFTER EACH FILL UP CAR STALLS AFTER ONE BLOCK WHILE DRIVING, BUT THE CAR RESTARTS. INTERIOR AND HEADLITES AT TIMES WILL NOT GO ON, DELAYS ABOUT 10 MINS THEN GOES ON THIS IS INTERMIT. PROBLEM. REAR WINDOWS ALSO INTERMIT. OPENS AFTER A FEW TIMES WHEN BUTTON IS DEPRESSED. USED CAR DEALER WILL CHECK ON NOV. 2ND. IS THIS A PROBLEM WITH FORD?
WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH CONTROL ARM BROKE. IF GOING ANY FASTER VEHICLE WOULD HAVE ROLLED OVER AND CRASHED. *AK
INTERMITTENT STALLING WHILE DRIVING OR AT A STOP POSITION. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON ONE OCCASION ,AND INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS. BUT, PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING.*AK
THE ENGINE STALLED AT LOW SPEED, FOLLOWED BY BRAKE & STEERING FAILURES. THIS HAS OCCURED 2 TIMES.*AK
VAN EXPERIENCES STALLING AT STOPS AND WHILE MOVING, FORD STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH BAD PROGRAMMING WHEN THE VAN WAS NEW, BUT THEY WILL NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM SINCE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, CONSUMER FEELS IF THIS WAS A PROBLEM WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW AND FORD WAS AWARE OF IT, THEN THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. *SLC
WHEN GOING THOUGH WATER YOU LOSE STEERING. *AK
LOCKING CLIP HARNESS OF INTEGRATED CHILD SAFETY SEAT BROKE. NLM
WHILE TRAVELING ON FREEWAY AT 40 MPH VEHICLE COMMENCED TO STOP MOVING WHILE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS AT CONSUMER'S COST. ALSO, MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY, AND NOTHING COULD OR WILL BE DONE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
VEHCILE WILL STALL WHEN MOTOR IS HOT, PUTTING CONSUMER IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION.*AK SLIDING DOOR MALFUNCTIONS. *YH
TWO TIRES BLEW OUT AND THE THIRD WAS CAUGHT JUST BEFORE FAILURE. TREAD SEPARATION WAS EVIDENT ON THE THIRD TIRE. ALL TIRES HAD BEEN WELL CARED FOR AND HAD 67% TREAD REMAINING. TIRE PRESSURE MAINTAINED BETWEEN 30 AND 36 PSI. DEALER WHO IDENTIFIED FAILURE MODE AND REPLACED TIRES IS: ALPINE TIRE CO., 2750 S GLEN AVE, GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO (970)945-6662. THE DEALER WAS GOING TO RETAIN THE TIRES FOR ADJUSTMENT FROM GOODYEAR (TIRESIZE: P215/70R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/70R15 )
ENGINE WILL HAVE LOWER THAN NORMAL RPM WHEN FIRST COMING TO A STOP. HAS STALLED 3 SEPERATE TIMES.
ABS FAILED COMPLETLY ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. SERVICE DEALER SAYS A GEARED RING THAT REFLECTS TO A SENSOR CRACKED. THIS LOOSENED THE RING ALONG THE AXEL SHAFT SO THAT IT WAS NO LONGER LOCATED CORRECTLY. THE FAILURE WAS COMPLETE, AND WITH NO WARNING LEFT ME WITHOUT BRAKING ABILITY ON A SMALL HILL TERMINATING ONTO A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY WITH MY 9 YR OLD DAUGHTER WITH ME. IT WAS ONLY GREAT LUCK THAT NO TRUCK, BUS, OR CAR WAS COMING WHEN I ROLLED RIGHT INTO THE HIGHWAY INSTEAD OF STOPPING. NO ACCIDENT RESULTED, JUST A VERY CLOSE CALL. THE SERVICE DEALER REPORTED THAT I WAS THE SECOND WINDSTAR IN THE DAY WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A SMALL TOWN TO HAVE TWO (RARE EVENTS)! HE ALSO INFERRED THAT IT WAS RARE AND THOUGHT THERE WAS NO REASON TO CALL FORD. HOW MANY OTHER DEALER ARE NOT REPORTING THIS FAILURE?
WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH FRONT RIGHT WHEEL LUGS SHEARED OFF CAUSING WHEEL TO COME OFF.*AK *SLC
UPON SLOWING DOWN IN TRAFFIC AND APPYLING BRAKES VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING A COLLISION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
1. TRANSMISSION: THE VEHICLE WOULD ACT AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL AFTER COMING TO A STOP. SOMETIMES THIS WOULD HAPPEN RIGHT AS I PULLED INTO AN INTERSECTION, LEAVING ME IN THE PATH OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC WITH NO POWER. 2. A/C: THE CONTROL MODULE FAILED TO ENGAGE THE A/C BUT STILL CYCLED THE IDLE SPEED. THIS WAS DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE BRAKING REQUIRED TO HOLD THE VEHICLE AT A STOP WAS INSUFFICIENT WHEN THE IDLE RANDOMLY SURGED TO HIGH. BOTH FAILURES HAD POTENTIAL TO CAUSE ACCIDENT BUT WERE REPAIRED BEFORE ANY INCIDENT OCCURRED.
RECURRING PROBLEM CONCERNING THE FUEL SYSTEM, OFTEN WHEN WE REACH ABOUT A QUARTER TANK OF FUEL ABOUT THE TIME THE LOW FUEL LIGHT COMES ON IF WE COME TO A STOP THE VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF AND IT WILL BLOW THE FUSE THAT CONTROLS THE FUEL SYSTEM AND AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THE FUSE IT WILL CONTINUE TO BLOW UNTIL WE PUT IN MORE GAS
FUEL TANK IS LEAKING, CAUSING A FIRE HAZARD. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
THE IGNITION STOPPED AND THIS IS LATER THAN THE REPORTED IGNITION PROBLEMS REPORTED IN THE DETROIT FREE PRESS ON 9-14-00. WHEN THE CAR WENT IN FOR WARRANTY WORK, FORD CLAIMED THAT IT WAS JUST A "COMPUTER PROBLEM." WHEN DRIVING A NEW CAR, I DON'T ENJOY HAVING THE CAR STOP FOR NO REASON, ESPECIALLY IN TRAFFIC. THIS IGNITION PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE OCCURRING IN LATER MODEL CARS AS MY WINDSTAR IS A 1998. I ALSO HAVE A DISGUSTING SMELL THAT EMANATES FROM THE HEATER/AIRCONDITIONER WHICH HAS BEEN REPORTED NUMEROUS TIMES AND HAS NOT EVER BEEN REPAIRED. THEY PUT IN DEODORIZER, BUT THE SMELL STILL REEKS WHEN THE HEAT OR AIR CONDITIONING IS PUT ON AT ANY LEVEL. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?
I HAVE HAD 2 WINDSTARS - THE FIRST A 1995 HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS. THE DEALER - PREMIER FORD WOULD NOT FIX THE VAN AND FORD'S COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT WAS TEDIOUS AND UNRESPONSIVE. THEREFORE, I TURNED TO ARBITRATION WHICH RESULTED IN REPLACEMENT OF THE VEHICLE UNDER THE LEMON LAW IN NC. BECAUSE OF THIS, I RELUCTANTLY PURCHASED A 1998 WINDSTAR. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED BEFORE IT HAD 36,000 MILES. IT STARTED STALLING. THE VAN WAS TAKEN TO LEE MOTOR, A FORD DEALER IN WILSON, NC. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. SINCE THAT TIME, IT HAS CONTINUED TO STALL AT LEAST 5 TIMES THAT I CAN DOCUMENT. IT HAS CONCERNED ME THAT THE RECENT NEWS REGARDING STALLING INCLUDES UP TO 1995 WINDSTARS. THERE IS A VERY GREAT SAFETY ISSUE HERE - AS GREAT IF NOT WORSE THAN THE PROBLEMS WITH THE MUCH PUBLICIZED TIRE RECALL.
THERE ARE TWO SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUES THAT WE CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE WITH OUR 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE TRANSMISSION CONTINUES TO INTERMITTENTLY "NEUTRAL" AT THE WORST POSSIBLE TIMES. THE EFFECT OF THIS IS THAT THE VEHICLE WILL BEGIN INTO AN INTERSECTION AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION WILL DISENGAGE AND THE RPM OF THE ENGINE WILL RACE. AT THIS POINT THE TRANSMISSION MIGHT ENGAGE AFTER SEVERAL SECONDS WITH A JOLT, SCREECHING THE TIRES. IN SOME CASES WE HAVE HAD TO SHIFT INTO PARK AND BACK INTO DRIVE SEVERAL TIMES TO GET THE TRANSMISSION TO ENGAGE. WHEN THIS FIRST OCCURRED, WE HAD ONLY OWNED THE CAR FOR LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AND IT WOULD ONLY HAPPEN EVERY FEW HUNDRED MILES. FORD HAD TO PLACE A "FLIGHT RECORDER" IN THE VEHICLE TO VERIFY THAT IT WAS HAPPENING. FORD REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION IN EARLY 1999. WE BEGAN EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM AGAIN IN THE SUMMER OF 2000 AND FORD HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. WE HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP A TOTAL OF 12 TIMES WITH THE SYMPTOM MANIFESTING ITSELF MULTIPLE TIMES IN BETWEEN. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP ALMOST CONTINUALLY SINCE JULY 15TH, 2000 AND IS STILL THERE AS OF THIS SUBMISSION. IF IT WERE NOT FOR EXTREME DEFENSIVE DRIVING AND ANTICIPATION OF THE PROBLEM THAT HAS HELPED US AVOID AN ACCIDENT SO FAR. HOWEVER, WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THE CAR DELIVERED TO US THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE REPAIRED AND WE CONTINUALLY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS ALSO REOCCURRING AND DEALS WITH THE ABS BRAKES CONTINUALLY GOING OUT OF ADJUSTMENT. W
INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE STALLS AND DIES WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AK
ENGINE STALLS WHEN WHEEL TURNED TO FAR LEFT/RIGHT.
WHILE CONSUMER WAS PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED. *ET
FUEL CUT OFF SWITCH WOULD CUT OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 4 TIMES. HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER EACH TIME. IT WAS REPAIRED THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED. THE LAST 2 TIMES BEEN IN CONTACT WITH DEALERSHIP & NOTHING WAS INFORMATIVE ABOUT PROBLEM. VEHICLE DIED OUT. GOT OUT OF VEHICLE & TURNED SWITCH BACK ON TO START VEHICLE AGAIN. *AK
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1998 Ford Windstar → · Every Windstar year → · How the figures are calculated →