Page 22 of 29 · complaints 1,051–1,100 of 1,433

1998 Ford Windstar complaints

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 →

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 31, 2000MA

WHEN VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE GEAR AND DRIVER APPLIES ACCELERATOR VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE, AND THE RPMS WILL REV HIGH. EVENTUALLY, VEHICLE WILL MOVE BUT SLOWLY.*AK

Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs
Filed Jul 31, 2000OH

PE 00 024/SUSPENSION COIL SPRING: WHILE TRAVELING AT 40 MPH FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. NO INJURIES REPORTED. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER, AND REPAIRS WERE DONE AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 31, 2000IL

TRANSMISSION SHIFTED HARD AT LEAST DAILY. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Jul 31, 2000NM

VAN STALLED TWICE WHEN IN SLOW TURN, USULLY WOULD RESTART NOW IT IS STALLING AND WILL NOT RESTART AT ALL.

Suspension › Rear › Springs › Leaf Spring Assembly
Filed Jul 29, 2000NY

THIS FAILURE WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A ROLLOVER IF THE BROKEN SPRING HAD RUPTURED THE TIRE. THE SPRING STOPPED JUST SHORT OF CONTACTING THE TIRE. THERE ARE SCUFF MARKS, BUT NOT TO WHERE THE TIRE NEEDS REPLACED. I HAVE THE ORIGINAL COIL SPRINGS FOR ANALYSIS IF REQUIRED.( BOTH WERE REPLACED AFTER THE INCIDENT.)

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 29, 2000TN

THE VAN WILL STALL AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL IF THE O/D IS LEFT ON AFTER SEVERAL MILES DRIVING WITH THE O/D ON. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE VAN HAS STALED AT MAJOR INTERSECTIONS NEARLY CAUSING ACCIDENTS. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 28, 2000WY

TRANSMISSON WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND WAITING ON MANUFACTURER WHO HAS A HOLD ON ALL WINDSTAR TRANSMISSION UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER NOTICE. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 27, 2000OH

TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT 65MPH. COMPLETE LOSS OF EVERY GEAR. WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF AND AVOID INCIDENT, BUT THIS WAS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. NEEDED A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT AND WAS GIVEN THE OPTION TO PURCHASE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR $495. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 26, 2000OH

TRANSMISSION FAILED @ APPROX. 24,000 MILES WITHOUT WARNING, HAD TO BE TOWED, TOOK 3 WEEKS FOR DEALER TO REPLACE, TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN WITH APPROX. 49,000 MILES, UNABLE TO GET OUT OF 1ST GEAR, DROVE TO DEALER FOR REPAIR - TRANSMISSION HAS NEVER SEEMED RIGHT ON THIS CAR - AT A REGUARLY SCHEDULED SERVICE APPOINTMENT WE SPECIFICALLY ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION, THEY SAID IT WAS FINE AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE TRANSMISSION FAILED - UPON REVIEW OF THE OTHER REPORTED COMPLAINTS RE: TRANSMISSIONS FOR THE 98 WINDSTAR,I DO NOT FEEL I DRIVE A RELIABLE CAR - I HAVE ALSO HAD BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE - THEY STARTED SMOKING WHEN DRIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS - I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH POWER WINDOW LOCKS AS WELL AS PROBLEMS WITH OIL LEAKAGE *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash3 injured
Filed Jul 25, 2000MD

THE ACCIDENT IS ATTRIBUTED TO A CAR PART FAILURE. NO OTHER CAUSE FOR THIS ONE CAR ACCIDENT EXISTS. *AK

Structure
Filed Jul 21, 2000OR

POSSIBLE DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE, WHICH ALLOWS FOR MICE TO ENTER VEHICLE, OWNER HAS TRAPPED TWELVE MICE AND CONTINUES TO HAVE INCIDENTS. *ET

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Jul 21, 2000FL

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 21, 2000AL

07/2000 PROBLEM INVOLVES AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTING CAUSING CRITICAL HANDLING SITUATIONS. IN THE INCIDENTS TO DATE 2 HAVE OCCURRED WHEN TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 50MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD SEEM TO DOWNSHIFT, THE RPM WAS JUMP AND THE ENGINE WOULD BE ACCELERATING AS A RESULT OF THIS. THE OTHER 2 INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WITH AGAIN THE TRANSMISSION APPARENTLY DOWNSHIFTING CAUSING THE RPMS TO JUMP, THE ENGINE TO ACCELERATE AND A HANDLING PROBLEM RELATED TO THE NOTED FACTORS. THE POWER CONTROL MODULE WAS RESET BY A FORD DEALER AFTER A STAFF WHEN TURNING THAT NEARLY RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT DOWN (TURN OFF) DURING SLOWING SUCH AS STOPPING FOR TRAFFIC LIGHTS OR TURNING INTO A DRIVEWAY.*AK

Fuel System, Other
Filed Jul 20, 2000CA

DRIVING FWY SPEED, LEFT MOST LANE, GAS GUAGE READ OVER 1/4 TANK, VEHICLE WAS REALLY OUT OF FUEL (EMPTY) AND STALLED IN LEFT LANE WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC. WAS REPAIRED 2X PREVIOUSLY BY DEALER, DEALER INSISTS THERE'S NO PROBLEM. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 19, 2000IL

I AM REPORTING A TRANSMISSION THAT HAS TO BE REBUILT AFTER HAVING 20,000 MILES IN THE NEW MINI-VAN. THIS IS JUST ONE OF 6 WINDSTAR MINIVANS OF DIFFERENT YEARS WHOSE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE FIXED. ONE OF THE MECHANICS TOLD ME THAT THE REASON THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED IS BECAUSE THE ENGINE IS TOO BIG FOR THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE SINCE FINISHED MY LEASE WITH THE FORD DEALER AND PURCHASED ANOTHER CAR - A TOYOTA SIENNA. I WOULD RATHER PATRONIZ AN AMERICAN MANUFACTURER BUT I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY LUCK WITH THEM. MY HUSBAND'S FORD CONTOUR HAD MANY PROBLEMS TOO. MY NEIGHBOR HAD TO HAVE HER TRANSMISSION REBUILT TOO. I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY RECALL ON THE CAR SO I AM REPORTING THIS. I KNOW I AM ABOUT 1 1/2 YEARS TOO LATE IN REPORTING BUT BETTER LATE THAN NEVER. DON'T GET ME WRONG. I LOVED THE WINDSTAR AND ITS SAFETY FEATURES. I LEASED TWO OF THEM BUT I NEEDED TO BUY A MORE DEPENDABLE CAR AND IT SEEMS THAT I HAVE ONE RIGHT NOW WITH MY TOTYOAT SIENNA. IT IS MADE IN GEORGETOWN, KENTUCKY. THANK YOU.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jul 17, 2000WA

VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A SQUEAKING NOISE. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE PRESS THE NOISE WOULD GO AWAY. IT HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER 10 TIMES. DEALER SAID THEY HAVE DONE ENOUGH & IT WASN'T ANYTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP & THEY FOUND THAT THE BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE ROTATED AND/ OR REPLACED. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jul 17, 2000NY

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT WAS RAINING, AND ABS LIGHT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. ALSO, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WAS BLINKING, SAYING THE SYSTEM WAS OFF. ABS BRAKE SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING. *AK

Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs
Filed Jul 17, 2000OH

DRIVING TO CHURCH WITH MY FAMILY AND THE COIL SPRING BROKE. NOW JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER TIE ROD PROBLEM. ALSO THERE IS A VERY LOUD SQUEAKING IN THE BRAKES WHEN IN REVERSE. I AM TERRIBLY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS VEHICLE.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip1 killed
Filed Jul 10, 2000IN

THE SENSOR RING FOR THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED. THE ENTIRE AXLE HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $300.00. I HAVE THE PART THAT FAILED AND FOUND THAT THE PART HAD A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. BUT HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET ANY COMPENSATION FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY.

Seats
Filed Jul 8, 2000MI

SEAT WILL NOT RETURN AFTER 'DUMP-SLIDE' IS USED. A LEVER ACUTATES THE SEAT BACK TO TILT FORWARD AND THE SEAT SLIDES FORWARD TO LET IN REAR SEAT PASSENGERS ON DRIVERS SIDE (NO SLIDING DOOR ON DRIVERS SIDE). SEAT WILL NOT RETURN AND SLIDES BACK AND FORTH WHEN ACCERATING/BRAKING.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Jul 7, 2000NY

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY, WHICH WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR GOING THROUGH A DRIVE TROUGH MAY CAUSE A REAR END COLLISION. BEEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs
Filed Jun 30, 2000MN

FRONT COIL SPRINGS ON DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE IN HALF, HTTING FRONT TIRES, AND RESULTING IN FRONT TIRE S BLOWINGOUT. *AK

SuspensionCrash
Filed Jun 30, 2000CA

WHILE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING, AND LOST CONTOL. HIT A GUARDRAIL, AND FLIPPED OVER THREE TIMES. THE CONSUMER WAS TRAUMATIZED, AND DIDN'T REMEMBER ANYTHING.

Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs
Filed Jun 28, 2000NY

WHILE PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING BROKE, PUNCTURING THE TIRE. NO PARTS AVAILABLE FOR REPAIR. *AK *ML

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › GasolineFire
Filed Jun 26, 2000TX

WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE, CLAIM 53-C579-741. *SLC

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Jun 22, 2000CA

WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs
Filed Jun 20, 2000IA

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45-50MPH & FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE. BROKEN SPRING WENT INTO THE LEFT TIRE , CAUSED A BLOWOUT, BUT NO ONE WAS INJURED. DEALER SAID THAT COIL SPRING HAD TO HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 14, 2000NY

WHILE TRAVELING VEHICLE WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE AND WOULD POWER NOT GAIN DUE TO BLOWN TRANSMISSION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Suspension › Front
Filed Jun 5, 2000NY

CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT END. DEALER INSPECTED AND FOUND STRUT ROD BUSHING RETAINER LOOSE AND THE SUBFRAME CRACKED. REPAIRS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, SUSPECTED THAT FAILURES DUE TO EARLIER TRANSMISSION WORK ON VEHICLE. FORD CONTACTED. *AK *ML

Unknown or Other
Filed Jun 5, 2000OH

CONTACTED FORD, THEY DON'T SEEM TO WANT TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE WARRENTY IS OUT. VEHICLE TWO YEARS OLD. SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED WITHIN SUMMARY. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System
Filed May 31, 2000NC

FUEL WILL LEAK WHEN FILLING UP GAS TANK TO FULL, POSSIBLY DUE TO FAILURE OF O-RING. TANK STILL LEAKED AFTER O-RING REPLACED. OWNER HAS NOT REPLACED TANK. *AK *ML

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed May 27, 2000DE

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Wheels › Rim
Filed May 22, 2000CA

2 OF 4 WHEELS ON OUR WINDSTAR DEVELOPED WHEEL LEAKS ON THE WELD LINE JOINING THE TIRE BEAD FLANGE TO THE CENTER HUB SECTION OF THE WHEEL (ORIGINAL SUSPICION WAS TIRE OR VALVE STEM LEAK, BUT SOAPING RIM SHOWS AIR BUBBLING THROUGH WELD). FIRST FAILED WHEEL REPLACED BY DEALER. SECOND WHEEL REPLACED BY LOCAL GARAGE (DEALER WANTED $50 DEDUCTABLE) AND IS AVAILABLE FOR EXAMINATION. I'VE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A DEFECT, BUT FORD DEALER MECHANIC VOLUNTEERED THAT THEY'VE "SEEN WINDSTAR WHEELS LEAK". GARAGE REPLACING SECOND WHEEL MADE SIMILAR COMMENT. A FRIEND WITH 1996 WINDSTAR HAD TWO WHEELS FAIL WITH SAME PROBLEM. DEALER REJECTED CLAIM OF ACCELERATED TIRE WEAR CAUSED BY FIRST FAILURE ($80 REPLACEMENT COST). SECOND TIRE HAS WEAR ON OUTER EDGES AND WILL NEED PREMATURE REPLACEMENT ($80!). AS A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT (LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE DUE TO WHEEL LEAKAGE COULD LEAD TO TIRE FAILURE AND POTENTIAL LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL) FORD LOGICALLY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL COSTS RELATED TO CORRECTING THIS DEFECT. BASED ON THE LIMITED SAMPLE I'VE SEEN (4 OF 8 WHEELS ON TWO VANS FAILED; FACTORY AND INDEPENDENT MECHANICS SPECIFICALLY AWARE OF PROBLEM WITH WINDSTAR WHEELS), LOGICALLY QUALIFIES IT AS AN EPIDEMIC FAILURE (ALBEIT WITH A LOW SAMPLING CERTAINTY, PENDING EXPANSION OF THE SAMPLE BASE). IT'S LIKELY THAT FORD MOTOR CO. HAS SERVICE RECORDS TO CONFIRM THESE OBSERVATIONS.

Vehicle Speed Control › LinkagesCrash
Filed May 12, 2000CA

SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE BRAKING INTO A CURVED PARKING SPACE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO REAREND ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT. DEALER NOTIFIED. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner
Filed May 9, 2000MI

THE AIR CONDITIONING LINE LEADING TO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE (FOR REAR COOLING) RUBBED AGAINST THE POWER STEERING LINE, CAUSING THE AIR CONDITIONING LINE TO RUPTURE. IF THIS HAD CAUSED THE RUPTURE OF THE POWER STEERING LINE, SIGNIFICANT SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE OCCURRED. ADDITIONALLY, THE LOSS OF THE TOTAL COOLANT DUE TO THE RUPTURED AIR CONDITIONING LINE IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE. WE BELIEVE THIS IS A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW IN THE VEHICLE AND ONE THAT WARRANTS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE IS LESS THAN THREE YEARS OLD.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed May 7, 2000MO

COMPUTER MODULE THAT CONTROLS ABS SYSTEM FAILED, ALSO AFFECTS THE TRACTION CONTROL FEATURE OF THE VEHICLE, THAT ALSO HAS FAILED. COST TO REPLACE PART IS $980. PLUS LABOR. THIS IS A MAJOR COMPONENT OF THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM, WHICH IS PART OF THE VEHICLES SAFETY FEATURES AND A FAILURE SO EARLIER IN THE LIFE OF THIS VEHICLE IS ABSURD. THE MAINTENANCE PERSON AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WAS A BULLETIN OUT ON THIS BUT WE CAN'T FIND IT. MY SISTER AND BROTHER-IN-LAW HAVE THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL OF WINDSTAR AND ARE HAVING A FAILURE OF THEIR TRACTION CONTROL FEATURE WHICH IS INTERMITTENT BUT THEIR DEALER CAN'T FIND THE CAUSE. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed May 6, 2000NJ

1ST TO 2ND BANG WHEN SHIFTING ON SLOW ACCELERATION (REPEATS OFTEN), FUEL PUMP CONTINUALLY CUTS OUT WHEN PARKED ON SLIGHT DOWNHILL, STILL 6+ GALLONS LEFT. ONLY SINCE REPLACEMENT OF FUELTANK AND GAS PUMP DUE TO ELECTRICAL SHORT

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Park/Neutral Start Interlock SwitchCrash
Filed May 1, 2000ME

CONSUMER'S CHILD WAS ABLE TO PUT THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION, SHIFT GEAR INTO NEUTRAL, AND VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS, HITTING A PARKED CAR. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED MANUFACTURER. OWNER BELIEVES THAT YOU SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SWITCH THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR WITHOUT PRESSING THE BRAKES. *AK *ML

Equipment › Other › Labels
Filed Apr 30, 2000MD

ALTHOUGH NOT APPARENT ON NEW LABELS, THE COMPOSITION IS PLASTIC COVERING OVER PRINTED BASE, WITH THE BASE HAVING THE NECESSARY ADHESSIVE TO AFFIX TO THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR. WHILE USING A CLEAN, DRY CLOTH TO CLEAN UP AROUND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, I WIPED OVER THE LABELS AND THE PLASTIC OUTER COVERING SLID, SMEARING THE PRINTED INFORMATION AND MAKING THE ENGLISH LABEL ILLEGIBLE. THE BRAKE WARNING STATEMENT IS STILL ENTIRELY VISIBLE, BUT ONLY THE FRENCH VERSION PRINT IS LEGIBLE, SINCE I DID NOT RUB OVER IT. AT THE TIME, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS WARM, SINCE THE ENGINE HAD BEEN RUNNING. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash
Filed Apr 20, 2000IL

CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AND THE AUTOMOBILE DID NOT STOP. CONSUMER'S WIFE HIT A PARKED CAR. *AK

Child Seat
Filed Apr 19, 2000VA

I HAD DIFFICULTY FINDING AN INFANT CAR SEAT THAT I COULD ANCHOR PROPERLY IN MY CAR. I TRIED JUST ABOUT EVERY MAJOR MANUFACTURER'S INFANT SEAT, AND THEY ALL FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE SEAT PROPERLY AGINST A FRONT END CRASH. FINALLY, I FOUND A SEAT MADE BY BRITAX CALLED "HANDLE WITH CARE". THIS SEAT HAD A TEATHER STRAP THAT ENABLED ME TO PROPERLY SECURE THE SEAT TO WITHSTAND A FRONT END COLLISION. I RECOMMEND THAT YOU CONSIDER REQUIRING ALL MANUFACTURERS OF INFANT (REAR FACING) SEATS TO ALSO PROVIDE TEATHER STRAPS. THE BRITAX SEAT COST $140.00. MOST CONSUMERS WON'T BE ABLE TO AFFORD SUCH A SEAT. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL ME AND I WILL BE GLAD TO PROVIDE THE DETAILS. THANKS, RANDY HAUFE. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Apr 12, 2000NY

VEHICLE IS STALLING WHEN SLOWING DOWN/TURNING AND IN PARKING MANEUVERS POSSIBLY DUE TO COMPUTER MISFIRE AND CARBON BUILD IN ENGINE. 3 TSBS HAVE BEEN ISSUED. *AK

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Apr 12, 2000CO

TAILGATE POWER LOCK INOPERATIVE. YH

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 11, 2000OK

WHEN WE FIRST TOOK OUR WINDSTAR IN THE FRONT END WAS MAKING A GROWLING & GRINDING NOISE, AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING HARD AND JUMPING. THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED THE TRANSMISSION OUT THEY SAID EVERYTHING APPEARED TO BE NORMAL, BUT THEY CHECK THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND IT HAD "METAL" IN IT. THEY ALSO TOLS US THAT THE FRONT LEFT & RIGHT TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY "HAD A DEFECT" . THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION IN MY VAN 2 TIMES NOW, IT STILL DOES NOT SHIFT LIKE IT SHOULD BUT THEY "CAN'T GET IT TO DUPLICATE" AND NOW THEY WANT TO "FLUSH" MY POWER STEERING FLUID THEY SAY THE POWER STEERING FLUID HAS BROKEN DOWN. WHEN I QUESTIONED THEM ABOUT THIS THAY TELL ME THIS IS NORMAL. I HAVE CHECKED WITH SEVERAL INDEPENDANT MECHANICS AND THEY TELL ME THAT MY POWER STEERING PUMP IS GOING BAD, OR THE RACK & PINION IS GOING OUT. THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING CAUSING THIS. THIS VAN IS NOT 2 YEARS OLD YET AND THERE ARE TO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 7, 2000AL

EXPERIENCED TOTAL CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION. DESPITE NEVER TOWING ANYTHING AND ALWAYS PERFORMING RECOMMENDED ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly › Filler Pipe and Cap
Filed Apr 6, 2000NY

FUEL SPITTING BACK OUT OF FILLER NECK WHILE FILLING FUEL TANK. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE'S PROBLEM WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. *AK *ML

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Apr 4, 2000DE

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH THE CAR DOWNSHIFTED TO A LOW GEAR CAUSING THE RPM'S TO RACE AND THE CAR TO LURCH. WAS ABLE TO PULL TO SIDE OF BUSY HIGHWAY WITHOUT INCIDENT. FORD DEALER REPLACED MAP SENSOR AND REBUILT/REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. FORD COMPANY PAID ALL BUT $200 AS PART OF THEIR "CUSTOMER GOODWILL PROGRAM". I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION AND IF SO, I WOULD LIKE MY $200 REFUNDED TO ME. THE TIE ROD ENDS FAILED RIGHT AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD. EVEN THE DEALER ALLUDED TO THE FACT THAT THEY WERE PROBABLY FACTORY DEFECTS, THAT THEY SHOULD NOT GO BAD THEN. THE 'OPEN DOOR SENSOR' STAYS ON EVEN THOUGH ALL OF THE DOORS ARE CLOSED. THIS HAPPENS SPORADICALLY. IT MAY HAPPEN TWICE A DAY AND THEN NOT HAPPEN FOR DAYS. THE AUTOMATIC DOORLOCKS HAVE NOT WORKED PROPERLY SINCE ABOUT 40,000 MILES. I HAVE TO MANUALLY LOCK/UNLOCK THE SLIDING DOOR. AND TO TOP OFF ALL OF MY PROBLEMS, LAST WEEK I HAD A MOUSE IN MY GLOVE COMPARTMENT! THE DESIGN OF THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT LETS YOU LOOK RIGHT INTO THE ENGINE, AND A MOUSE GOT IN THERE AND CHEWED UP MY MAPS AND CLEAN PAPER NAPKINS. I AM NOT HAPPY! AND THAT WILL BE A SAFETY ISSUE IF I AM DRIVING AND SOMEONE OPENS MY GLOVE BOX! I BET YOU HAVE NEVER HEARD THAT ONE! MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THE TRANSMISSION. I HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NANCY

Wheels
Filed Mar 29, 2000CA

METAL PART OF WHEELS - ALL FOUR- CRACKED. TWO WERE IN BAD SHAPE. FORUNATLY NO ACCIDENTS. HEARD CRACKING SOUND FIRST THEN INSPECTED AN NOTICED CRACKS

Suspension › Front
Filed Mar 28, 2000AZ

MY FRONT END SOUNDS AS IF LEFT FRONT WHEEL IS GOING TO FALL OFF. WHEN WE DRIVE THE VAN SHAKES ALL OVER, FEELS VERY UNSAFE WE'RE NO LONGER DRIVING IT UNTIL ITS REPAIRED. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Mar 24, 2000NY

WHILE APPLYING BRAKES REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK

Reading these

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.

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