1998 Ford Windstar complaints

WHEN APPLYING ABS BRAKES ON WET AND SNOWY PAVEMENT, PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK *ML

STEERING WHEEL LOCK, KEY LOCKED IN STEERING COLUMN

RACK AND PINION STEERING GEARS MAY HAVE DAMAGED INPUT SHAFT BEARING. VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 97V165001. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHEN MOVING SLOWLY TO TURN OR TO PARK, ORFULLY WARMED UP,1/2-FULL TANK OF GAS. VEHICLE STALLED OR SHUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS AN AIR LEAK. DEALER MADE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. *AK.ET.

WHILE DRIVING AND PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP VEHICLE STALLS AND SHUTS OFF. DEALER IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE PART TO CORRECT PROBLEM IS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. *AK *ML

PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE BOLTS SHEARED OFF AND WHEEL ROLLED DOWN THE HIGHWAY. CAR RESTED ON FRONT DISC BRAKE. THEN IT CAME TO A STOP. MECHANIC SAID THE BOLTS BROKE OFF, AND NUTS WERE STILL ON THEM. *AK

RACK AND PINION STEERING BROKE WHEN TRAVELING, CAUSING POOR STEERING CONTROL. ALSO, TIE RODS MALFUNCTIONED, ALMOST WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

THE VAN STALLED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS AT BUSY INTERSECTIONS. AFTER STOPPING AND THEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR THE VAN CREPT ALONG. AFTER GOING THROUGH THE RANGE OF GEARS SEVERAL TIMES THEN IT STARTING MOVING AGAIN. *AK

PERSISTENT LOUD GROAN OR RUBBING SOUND OCCURS WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED TO LEFT AND WHEN TURNING TO RIGHT WHEN STRAIGHTENING OUT FROM LEFT TURN. FRONT END SHOP ADVISED STRUTS AND STRUT SUPPORT BRACKETS REQUIRE REPLACEMENT AT COST OF $588. VEHICLE IS 6,000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. SHOP SUPERVISOR EXPRESSED SUPRISE THAT SUCH COMPONENTS REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. BECAUSE OF SERVICE BACK-UPS DEALER HAS NOT YET ADVISED ON PROPER SOLUTION.

WHEN I STOPPED MY VAN, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF AND THE DASHBOARD SHOWED AN OPEN DOOR, THOUGH ALL DOORS WERE TIGHTLY CLOSED. THIS CONDITION PERSISTED EVEN WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. WE HAD TO PULL THE INTERIOR FUSE SO WE COULD DRIVE AT NIGHT - A DANGEROUS SITUATION INDEED! THE SAN JOSE (CALIFORNIA) MERCURY NEWSPAPER HAS AN "ACTION LINE" COLUMN WHERE I SAW OTHERS WHO HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS MINE. I TOOK IN MY CAR TO A FORD DEALER, BUT THEY CHARGED ME $85 FOR NOT EVEN FINDING THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE IT. I THINK FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS BUT WON'T ISSUE A RECALL. PLEASE HELP! *AK

EXIT LINE FROM THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM IS LEAKING FUEL ONTO THE ENGINE , CAUSING A VERY STRONG GAS ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. THIS COULD LEAD TO A FIRE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING 65MPH THE CAR DOWNSHIFTED TO SECOND GEAR! *AK

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. YH

ABS BRAKE WARNING LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VAN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS NO STEERING AT ALL. DRIVER COULD HARDLY GET THE VAN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. VAN WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERHSHIP. BROKEN STEERING: POWER ASSIST BELT WAS REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING. AS A RESULT, WHEN DRIVING SPEED CANNOT BE DETERMINED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

A LOUD GRINDING NOISE STARTED OCCURRING WHEN THE WHELL WAS TURNED. MY WIFE SAID SHE HEARD THE NOISE AND THOUGHT SHE NEEDED POWER STEERING FLUID. I PUT A LITTLE IN BUT THE NOISE DIDN'T GO AWAY. TOOK VAN TO DEALER. THEY CALLED AND SAID THE OUTER TIE RODS WERE BAD AND GRINDING METAL TO METAL. HAD THEM REPLACED. WHEN MY WIFE PICKED UP THE VAN, THE REPAIR PERSON SAID TO HER THAT SINCE THERE WERE NO GREASE JOINTS, SO THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD HAVE DONE. HE SAID THAT FORD SAID IT WAS A BAD DESIGN AND THEY HAD A MODEL TO REPLACE IT. THIS DIDN'T SOUND GOOD TO ME AND I WONDERED WHY I HAD TO PAY FOR THEIR BAD DESIGN. IF THE TIE RODS WERE GRINDING METAL TO METAL, IT COULD HAVE LED TO A BREAK AND STEERING FAILURE.

WHILE DRIVING DOWN STREET CAR RAN STOP SIGN, CONSUME SMASHED ON BRAKES, BUT STILL CRASHED INTO OTHER CAR, UPON IMPACT, PASSENGER'S SIDE AR BAG DEPLOYED AND STRUCK FATHER IN FACE, CAUSING TEMPORARY BLINDNESS. ALSO, BRAKES SQUEAKED, AND PULLED TO RIGHT WHEN APPLIED. DEALER TEST DROVE VEHICLE, BUT FOUND NOTHING. CLAIM FORMS WERE TO BE SENT TO CONSUMER, BUT WERE NEVER SENT. *AK

TWO INCIDENTS OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION, ONE CAUSING DAMAGE TO OUR VEHICLE AND THE ONE AHEAD AS I WAS PARKING NEXT TO A CURB. SECOND TIME WAS IN DRIVEWAY WHEN ENTERING GARAGE; SLAMMED ON BRAKES TO NOT HIT HOUSE. NUMEROUS INCIDENTS OF HARD 1ST TO 2ND GEAR SHIFT AT 15 MPH; SOUNDS LIKE A HARD THUD. FORD OVERFILLED TRANS. FLUID 1/2 QUART AS A FIX IN NOVEMBER; REPLACING VALVE PUMP NOW IN JANUARY. *AK

MY WIFE WAS TURING LEFT AT A RED LIGHT AND WAS WAITING FOR PEDISTRIANS TO CROSS THE STREET. AS SHE TURNED THE CORNER THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE SNAPPED OFF OF THE HUB AND ALMOST HIT A LAWYER! ALL FIVE OF THE STUDS BROKE OFF, THE METAL INDICATED THEY WERE FRESH BREAKS. THERE WAS NOT ANY INDICATION OF THE NUTS BEING LOSE, THE NUTS WERE STILL SCREWED ON THE STUDS. THE WHEEL AND NUTS DID NOT LOOK SCARED AS IF THEY HAD BEEN LOSE. PIOR TO THE WHEEL COMING OFF THERE HAD BEEN NO SHIMMY OR VIBRATION AT ALL. I HAD DRIVEN THE VEHICLE THE PREVIOUS NIGHT AND HAD NOT FELT ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. SHE HAD ONLY ACCELERATED FROM THE LEFT TURN POSITION ABOUT 15FT AND COULD NOT HAVE BEEN GOING FASTER THAN 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN SERVICED AFTER WE PURCHASED IT. THANK GOD SHE WAS NOT ON THE INTERSTATE IN 5'OCLOCK TRAFFIC! *AK

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH HAD A FRONTAL IMPACT WITH A DEER AND DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID DEPLOYED, BUT IT DID NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY, WHICH SEEMED AS IF AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ALL THE WAY. OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE LEFT WHEEL LUGS: NUTS BROKE OFF OR SHEARED OFF WHICH MAY CAUSE THE WHEEL TO FALL OFF. OCCURRED TWICE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED AS DRIVER STEPPED ON THE GAS TO CROSS THE HIGHWAY. VEHICLE STOPPED, ALMOST CAUSING IT TO BE HIT. CONSUMER HAD EXPERIENCED OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT--SOMETIMES WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR, OR ONLY WORK IN SECOND GEAR. TRANSMISSION REPLACED BY DEALER. *AK *ML

FAILURE OF THE PADS AND ROTORS CAUSE NOISE WHILE BRAKING. YH

VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN NUMEROUS TIMES FOR NEW SEALS ON FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR FOR WIND NOISE: ALSO BEEN IN FOR FAILED BRAKE SYSTEM NUMEROUS TIMES AND FRONT ROTORS HAVE BEEN ON BACK ORDER FOR ALMOST 2 MONTHS: IN NUMEROUS TIMES FOR FRONT END ALIGNMENT-CHECKED AND RECHECKED BY SEVERAL FORD DEALERS AND THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING, VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS PULLED TO THE RIGHT; ENGINE HAS DIED SEVERAL TIMES AND WOULD NOT START BACK UP; FRONT PADS ON BRAKE SYSTEM HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND ROTORS TURNED AT ONLY 10,000 MILES STILL GRINDING AND WILL NOT STOP CORRECTLY; VEHICLE FEELS TO ME AS UNSAFE FOR MY WIFE AND TWO YOUNGER BOYS. *AK

VEHICLE HAS A JERK AT LOW SPEED (1ST AND 2ND GEAR). *AK

VAN STARTED TO MAKE LOUD GRINDING NOISES WHEN TURNING WHEELS AND ALSO GETTING HARD TO TURN. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS TOLD BY SERVICE DEPT. THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS VAN. AS I WAS LEAVING I SPOKE TO ANOTHER EMPLOYEE THERE AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS SUCH A PROBLEM WITH THAT YEAR VAN. I THEN REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM I THEN TOOK IT TO ANOTHER FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING AND THE PRICE TO FIX IT WAS ABOUT 1000.00 I WAS NOT ABLE TO AFFORD IT SO I HAVE DRIVING IT , HOWEVER NOW THE VAN WILL SOMETIMES SHUT OFF WHEN YOU PROCEED TO MAKE A TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. I HAVE COME VERY CLOSE TO HAVING SOMEONE HIT ME FROM BEHIND. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE IT FIXED AT OUR EXPENSE. I FEEL THAT WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A PROBLEM THAT CAME FROM THE FORD MOTOR CO. I ALSO TOOK IT TODAY 1-4-2000 TO SEE IF THE DEALER WOULD LOOK AT IT BUT WAS TOLD BY A MAN NAMED JERRY IN THE SERVICE DEPT. THAT THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING .*AK

CONSUMER WAS NOT AWARE OF RECALL 97V16500, VEHICLE WAS MAKING GRINDING NOISE WHEN STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED AND WAS HARD TO TURN, POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED THAT DIDN'T REMEDY THE PROBLEM, THEN DEALER FINDS A BAD RACK AND PINION WHICH HE IS GOING TO CHARGE CONSUMER FOR FIXING. *SLC

TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. NLM

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, CONSUMER NOTICED GRINDING NOISE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, CAN'T DUPLICATE PROBLEMS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK *YC

FRONT STRUTS BROKE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HWY AT 30-35 MPH ON A SNOWY ROAD CONDITION. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REPAIRS WER EMADE AT CONSUMER'S COST. *AK

VEHICLE STALLS OUT WHEN IDLING OR CRUISING INTO A TURN, MOSTLY WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS NOT APPLIED. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED 10 TIMES. *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION BECAUSE THE ABS FAILED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAIL. *AK

CONSUMER WHILE BACKING OUT OF GARAGE FELT LIKE CAR HAD BACKED OVER SOMETHING.REAR PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE FROZE UP. ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT WAS ON. BACK WHEEL ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WAS NOT TURNING WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. CONSUMER SAYS IT WAS SNOWING WERE THEY WERE. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY TOLD CONSUMER TO TAP WITH A HAMMER AND PUT CAR SOMEWHAT WARM. *AK

SERVICE MANAGER AT FORD OF OCALA TELLS US THERE IS A FORD TECHNICAL BULLETIN ABOUT A CHAFED ELECTRICAL WIRE IN OR NEAR THE FUEL TANKS ON THESE VEHICLES...THIS GIVEN AS A POSSIBLE REASON MY 98 WINDSTAR IS HAVING FUEL PROBLEMS. *AK

WHILE WIFE WAS DRIVING TIRE BLEW OUT, AND AUTOMOBILE ACCELERATED. DRIVER COULD NOT GET AUTOMOBILE TO STOP.- VEHICLE WENT INTO A DITCH AND FLIPPED OVER. DRIVER WAS INJURED. *AK

WHILE GOING AROUND A TURN AND YIELDING BRAKES HARDENED AND STEERING LOCKED UP FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS. DEALER COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. BUT IF THE CAR HAD DIED, THEY PROBLEY COULD HAVE FOUND THE PROBLEM EASIER. IF DRIVING AT A FASTER SPEED AND STEERING LOCKED UP THERE COULD BE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *AK

VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SEVEN TIMES IN A TWO AND A HALF YEARS. REPAIRS INCLUDED TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT, BRAKE CALIPERS REPLACEMENT, AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEMS. *AK

VEHICLE CONTINUALLY STALLING, UNABLE TO BE FIXED. MJS

MANUFACTURER DOES NOT HAVE ROTORS FOR VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

TRANSMISSION "PUMP FAILED, CAUSING PLANET GEARS TO COME APART. *AK

WITHIN 3 MONTHS OF EACH OTHER THE RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT ABS (SPEED SENSOR) RINGS CRACKED IN HALF. I WAS INFORMED BY THE REPAIRING FORD DEALERSHIP, CHAPMAN FORD, PLEASANTVILLE, NJ, THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS EVIDENTLY A DEFECT AND COULD NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS COULD OCCUR UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. I VIEWED THE BROKEN LEFT SENSOR RING. THERE WAS NO CORROSION AND NO EVIDENCE OF WEAR OR TEAR. IT WAS SIMPLY CRACKED IN HALF. THIS DEFECT CAUSES THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM TO FAIL. FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM AND REFUSES ASSISTANCE WITH REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE PARTS.

*SINCE PURCHASE NEW, ONE TIRE WOULD GO NEARLY FLAT WEEKLY. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED WHEN THEY CHECKED THE WINDOW MECHANISM AND THE ABS SENSOR LIGHT--NO PROBLEM FOUND. TOOK IT TO 3 DIFFERENT TIRE STORES (2 GOODYEAR)--NO PROBLEM FOUND. IT WENT BALD AFTER ONLY 18K AND 2 ROTATIONS. NO PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASING 2 NEW TIRES. ALIGNMENT WAS NOT A PROBLEM--DONE @ 10K & 21K. WEATHER DID NOT EFFECT AIR LOSS, EITHER. *DRIVERS "AUTO-DOWN" FEATURE HAS NEVER WORKED CONSISTANTLY. HAS NEARLY CAUSED ACCIDENTS & IS VERY FRUSTRATING. DEALER HAS CHECKED IT TOO MANY TIMES TO COUNT--SAME WITH THE *ABS LIGHT ON THE DASH COMING ON AND NOT GOING OFF. I THINK THEY CHANGED FUSES ONCE--STILL HAPPENS, BUT NOT AS OFTEN. WOULD THAT EFFECT SAFETY? I DON'T KNOW IF THE SYSTEM WILL WORK PROPERLY WHILE THE LIGHT IS FLASHING. *WIPER PROBLEM IS VERY INTERMITTENT--OF COURSE. WHEN ON SLOW INTERMITTENT (1 OR 2) SPEED, WILL SPEED UP ON IT'S OWN TO VERY FAST & THEN MUST BE TURNED OFF & BACK ON AGAIN IN ORDER TO GET THE CORRECT SPEED SET AGAIN. TEMP & TIME RUN DOES NOT EFFECT MALFUNCTION AT ALL--HAPPENS HOT OR COLD & AFTER 3-5 MINUTES OR UP TO AN HOUR. BACK WIPER HAS ALWAYS "CHATTERED" WHEN WIPING--WORSE WHEN COLD. *CAN YOU CHANGE THIS WINDOW? IT'S HARD TO TELL WHAT YOU TYPE AND VERY HARD TO CORRECT ERRORS.( DOT NUMBER: 97S ? TIRE SIZE: P215/70R15 )

1)ALL 5 LUGS: NUTS SHEARED OFF FROM THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER HUB, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE. THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET UNTIL IT STOPPED. 2)THE REAR BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH NEW PADS AND ROTORS. DEALER COULDN'T EXPLAIN WHY THIS WAS A PROBLEM. 3) THE NEXT DAY THE RIGHT PASSENGER MIRROR ELECTICAL SYSTEM NO LONGER WORKED. 4)THE PARKING BRAKE CONSISTENTLY DOES NOT DISENGAGE AFTER USE. WE NO LONGER USE IT, POSSIBLY CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD. 5) THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLS OUT AT LOW SPEEDS OR UPON STOPPING. ADDITIONALLY THE INITIAL GEARS SHIFT HARD AND LOUD. 6) THE REAR SEAT WILL NOT MOVE ON THE TRACK. *AK

NE LAMP LIGHT ON- AL MAROONE FORD ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR 4 TIMES, BUT WAS UNABLE. 5TH TIME SVC ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED, THE VAN BROKE DOWN WITH A BLOWN ENGINE. FLUID LEAKED INTO OIL, CAUSING GASKET TO BLOW THROUGH ENGINE BLOCK. FORD WILL NOT ADMIT PAST PROBLEM

WHILE IN PARK CHILD WAS ABLE TO PUT CAR IN PARK, CONSUMER INDICATED THAT IN ORDER TO PUT A CAR IN PARK CONSUMER HAS TO PUT FOOT ON THE BRAKE. BUT CHILD WAS STANDING IN THE SEAT AND PUT CAR INTO DRIVE AND IT WENT INTO A CHAINED FENCE. CONSUMER SAYS WHEN BRINGING IT OUT OF PARK OR DRIVE IT MAKES A LOUD POPING NOISE. TOOK TO DEALER, THEY CAN'T FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED RAPID WEAR ON FRONT BRAKE PADS, PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BRAKE PAD WAS COMPLETELY WORN AND GRINDING INTO ROTOR WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED.*ET