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 →
IN A FRONTAL IMPACT DRIVER'S AIR BAG MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY TO THE SIDE, AND CAUSING INJURIES TO THE DRIVER. ALSO, PASSENGER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND EXPLODED, CAUSING THE PASSENGER TO BE BLIND. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUS EOF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
THE ENGINE WAS MAKING A NOISE AND IT WAS REPORTED AND SUPPOSEDLY FIXED BY LOCAL DEALER. HOWEVER, WITHIN ONE MONTH THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AS WELL AS THE POWER STEERING BOX. SINCE IT ISN'T UNDER WARRENTY (36,000), DEALER WON'T REPAIR WITHOUT COST.
WHEN DRIVING DOWN A SLOPE AND APPLYING BRAKES, THE BRAKES WILL GO STRAIGHT FLOOR. *AK
WHEN MAKING A TURN / REVERSE THERE IS A NOISE PRESENT. DEALER REPLACED THE MOUNTS TO CORRECT PROBLEM. *YC
WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60MPH WITH REAR DEFROSTER ON. VEHICLE OVERHEATED & BLEW A HOLE THROUGH REAR WINDOW, CAUSING A FIRE WHICH MELTED THE PLASTIC INTERIOR OF VEHICLE. OWNER THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. VEHICLE AT DEALERSHIP NOW FOR REPAIRS. *AK
BOTH OUTER TIE RODS REPLACED. MJS
THE EXHAUST WAS EMITTING BLACK SMOKE. THE TAIL PIPE HAD BLACK SOOT INSIDE. TOOK TO DEALER & MECHANIC CUT TAIL PIPE ON SIDE. ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTIONS, IT WOULD RUN IT UNDERNEATH VAN & THEN TURN DOWN. ITS AN ENGINE MANIFOLD DESIGN FLAW.
AT 40-60 MPH THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL UNEXPECTEDLY.DEAREL HAS REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION TWICE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK
TRANSMISSION WILLNOT ENGAGE WHILE IN PARK. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD CONSUMER THAT THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
TRANSMISSION SHUTTER & HARD SHIFT B/T 1-2 GEARS -TRANSMISSION REPLACED TWICE - FORD ADVISES NO FIX AT THIS TIME - PROBLEM WORSE AND NOW IS GOING INTO A NEUTRAL LIKE POSITION EARRATICALLY WHEN GOING 40-60MPH. ALSO VERY HARD DOWNSHIFT (LIKE IN DRIVE2) WHEN GOING DOWNHILL - PROBLEM STILL EXISTS
BRAKES FAILED WHEN APPLIED AND WERE GRABBING AND MAKING A LOUD GRINDING NOISE RESULTING LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT. NLM
ROUTING OF HOSE CAUSED CONTACT WITH BATTERY TRAY CORNER CAUSINGHOLE IN HOSE
THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE OCCURED AND THE FORD SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION IF I PAID $500 TO BUY AND EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN COVERING UPTO 75000 FOR THE POWER TRAIN, A REQUIREMENT FOR REPLACING THE FAILED COMPONENT. I AM EXTREMLY UNHAPPY THAT THIS TRANSMISSION FAILURE OCURRED AND IS ALSO REPORTED WIDELY BY HUNDEREDS OF FORD WINDSTAR OWNERS FOR EXAMPLE LOOK AT THE INTERNET SITES COMPLAINING ABOUT THE FAILED TRANSMISSION.(EG., WWW.FORDWINDSTAR.COM). FORD MUST FIX THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM OF THESE MINIVANS.
THE WINDSTAR TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 30349 SO SHAMROCK FORD REBUILT IT. AT 40295 IT FAILED AT 50 MPH ON US 223 IN ADRIAN ABOUT 1 MILE FROM DAVE KNAPP FORD. I CALLED SHAMROCK FORD AND ASKED SERVICE DEPARTMENT IF I SOULD TOW IT TO THEM OR DAVE KNAPP. THEY SAID ANY FORD DEALER WILL TAKE OF THE WARRENTY PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION WAS SUPPOSED TO BE COVERED FOR 12MONTHS/ 12,000 MILES AFTER REBUILD. TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT 5 MONTHS AND 10,000 MILES AGO. DEALER SAID IT'S NOT UNDER WARRENTY AND WILL NOT PAY FOR IT . I PAID 1,900.00 PLUS TAX AND I WANT MY MONEY BACK.
I AM SO SCARED TO DRIVE OUR VAN- I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO. THIA VAN SHOWED BE CONSIDERED A LEMON- OR FORD SHOULD REPAIR IT. WE PURCHASED THE VAN CAUSE WE HAD ANOTHER LITTLE ONE ON THE WAY(MAKING 4 KIDS) IN THE PAST WE HAD OLD VECHILCLES. WE DECIDED TO SPEND THE $$ AND HAVE A RELIABLE VECHICLE SINCE WE HAVE 4 KIDS AND TRAVEL AROUND TOWN ALOT. FIRST MY AIR CODTIONER GOES OUT IN JULY, 99 (ELECTRICAL- NO POWER TO IT). WE DID NOT HAVE THE $ TO FIX. THAN IN AUGUST,99 WE STARTED EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT NEUTRAL CONDTION AFTER DRIVING AND COMING TO A STOP. HAD TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION- DUE TO A FAULTY CLUTCH PISTON THAT FORD KNOWS IS CAUSING PROBLEMS IN AX4S WINDSTAR 3.8L. ENGINE - STALLS USUALLY WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, SUCH AS O TURNS OR COMING TO A STOP. SCARED TO DEATH THAT SOMESONE WILL RUN INTO ME. STEERING- VECHILE PULLS TO THE RIGHT SO BADLY THAT IN SECONDS I AM IN ANOTHER LANE. HAVE HAD IT RELIGHNED. THE OTHER SEROIUS PROBLEM IS I WILL START VAN OR HAVE FOOT ON BRAKE AND IT ITERMITTALLY ACCERATES IN SURGES ON ITS OWN. MY FOOT IN NOT NEAR THE GAS- I AM SO SCARED TO DEATH THAT I WILL LOSE CONTROL OF IT RESULTING INTO AN ACCIDENT. I AM SO SCARED TO DRIVE THIS VAN AND IT IS ONLY A 98". WHAT AM I TO DO. I DO NOT WANT TO WAIT FOR AND ACIDENT OR DEATH TO SOMEONE. PLEASE HELP!! I NEED SOME ADVICE. I HAVE NO WARRANTY ON VAN- BUT YET WITH SO MANY PROBLEMS WHY SHOULD THE CONSUMER HAVE TO PAY WHEN FORD KNOWS OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE VANS- WHAT DOES IT TAKE - DEATH!!! I NEED TO K
HAD POWER STEERING OIL REPLACED, STILL NOISY PUMP
REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD WIPER (PASS) DOES NOT SEEM TO FIT CORRECTLY-NONE OF THE WIPERS IN DEALER STOCK FITS WITH SAME POSITIVE LOCKING ACTION AS THE ORGINAL WIPER BLADE. APPEARS THAT WIPE BLADE ASSY CAN POP OFF UNDER SOME CONDITIONS
THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING AND WENT INTO SAFE MODE. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT DOWNSHIFT AND RACED AT HIGH RPM. TORQUE CONVERTER HAD WORN OUT.
TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING. MJS
TWO-YEAR OLD WAS ABLE TO ABLE TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, SHIFTED VAN INTO REVERSE WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. VAN ROLLED DOWN THE HILL INTO A WOODED AREA. DAUGHER WAS NOT HURT IN CRASH. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THE INCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHEN FIRST PURCHASED VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE DRIVERS SEATBELT WAS INOPERATIVE. *AK
THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT A LOW SPEED AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES AND WAS BLINDED. THE ONLY DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WAS TO INTERIOR. DEALE RHAS SEEN VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH STEERING GEAR RACK BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING AND A LEAKAGE OF POWER STEERING FLUID. ALSO, VEHICLE VEERED TO LEFT AND RIGHT ALL OVER THE ROAD. CONSUMER THEN SLOWED DOWN AND PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. FIRST FAILURE AT 46,561 MILES, SECOND AT 62,500. *AK
SLOWING FROM CUISING SPEED TO MAKE A TURN ONTO A SIDE STREET, THE ENGINE STALLED CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT. STALLING CAUSED THE POWER STEERING TO FAIL MAKING THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO MANUVER THROUGH THE TURN AND LOSS OF POWER CREATED THE POSSIBILITY THAT I MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CLEAR TRAFFIC. IF MY WIFE HAD BEEN DRIVING THE MINIVAN SHE SURELY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO AVOID ONCOMING TRAFFIC.
6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VAN'S PROBLEM WITH STALLING OUT WHEN STOPPING AND THEN PROCEEDING THROUGH INTERSECTIONS. IT HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ONCE IN ROANOKE (MAJIC CITY FORD)_ AND AGAIN IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA WITH NO PROBLEMS FOUND. THE CAR COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP WITH 'SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT AND CAN'T BE STARTED UNTIL PUT IN PARK AND THEN STARTED. ALSO, AS ODD AS IT SEEMS, IT ONLY OCCURS WHEN TURNING 'LEFT'. THE AIR CONDITIONING WHEN STARTED (MAX AC- AC- DEFROST SETTINGS) MAKE A BANG NOISE ATT THE RIGHT FRONT UNDERSIDE OF THE VAN. IT OCCURS A FEW TIMES IN A ROW AND THEN STOPS ONLY TO BEGIN WEEKS LATER. THE VAN HAS BEEN BROUGHT INTO BRADY-BUSHEY FOR THIS WITH NO REPAIR WORK PERFORMED BECAUSE IT DID NOT HAPPEN WHEN THEY TESTED IT. THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT BACK WHEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN. BUT THEN, WHEN IT STOPS MAKING THE NOISE HOW AM I SUPPOSE TO PROVE THIS NOISE?
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND STAYS DOWN. DRIVER HAS TO APPLY EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP. DLR COULDNT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. MJS
INACCURATE GAS GUAGE - GUAGE ONLY GOES UP TO 3/4 FULL. WHEN GUAGE SHOWS EMPTY, THERE'S STILL 1/4 TANK OF GAS.
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING, VEHICLE IS STALLS AND CUTS OFF. *AK
I BOUGHT THIS VAN IN FEB OF 1998 AND IN A FEW WEEKS I NOTICED THAT THE VAN WOULD LUNGE FORWARD AT LOW SPEEDS OF ABOUT 5 TO 10 MILES PER HOUR. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEM . I WENT TO ANOTHER DEALER SAME THING. I RETURNED TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER AND THIS TIME DROVE THE VAN WITH A MECHANIC AND SHOWED HIM THE PROBLEM. THEY ORDERED A NEW TRANSMISSION BUT THE PROBLEM HAS NEVER GONE. I WROTE FORD BUT NO HELP. THEN I MOVED TO SOUTH JERSEY AN DSHOWED IT TO THE DEALER A FEW TIMES AND THIS PAST JAN I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WILL STAY AND NOTHING MORE CAN BE DONE. SO AT PRESENT EVERY TIME I STAR THE VAN AND ACCELERATE AND THEN LEAVE THE PEDDLE THE CAR LUNGES. IN SLOW TRAFFIC THIS A REAL ANGER BECAUSE IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE CAR IS NOT IN MY CONTROL. THE CHANGE IN GEAR IS VERY ROUGH.
WE HAVE BEEN TO ARBITRATION ON THIS DEFECT. WE HAVE THE 25 G. GAS TANK AND FORD SAYS THE MISREADING IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE WAY IT IS.
IE99059, THE DEFECTIVE STEERING BUSHINGS DOES NOT SUPPORT THE SYSTEM WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE STEERING SYSTEM TO MALFUCTION. ALSO, BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT UNEXPECTEDLY, CAUSE VEHICLE TO STALL. FINALLY, LIFTGATE INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON, BUT THE LIFTGATE REMAINED CLOSED. BRAKES BEEN REPLACE ONCE,AND BUSHINGS 3 TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK
NO SUMMARY
THE DRIVER'S SIDE RESTRAINTS DON'T RETRACT OR BUCKLE PROPERLY. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. BELT NOT WORKING PROPERLY AFTER PARTS WERE REPLACE. *AK
THE TRANSMISSION WOULD DISENGAGE BY ITSELF FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL POSITION. WHEN ACCELERATING, TRANSMISSION WOULD POP OUT OF POSITION. IN LOW GEAR, IT WOULD BE ROUGH SHIFTING. ALSO, GAS PEDAL WOULD VIBRATE. BEEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES FOR PROBLEM BEFORE FINALLY LOCATING & ESTABLISHING THAT THROTTLE CABLE WAS LOOSE. MECHANIC REPAIRED LOOSE THROTTLE CABLE. *AK
WITH NO PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE STALLES WHILE DRIVING 30-35 MPH. ABS BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON. *AK
TAIL LIGHTS AND GASKET.
POWER STEERING PUMP WAS NOISY.
RADIATOR HOSE.
GAS GAUGE.
ENGINE. AIR CONDITIONING.
CUP HOLDER SPILLS EASILY. SEAT BELT RESTS TOO HIGH (ON NECK). NEEDS ANOTHER RUN BOARD SO THAT SHE CAN STEP INTO VEHICLE MORE EASILY.
BOTH FRONT DISK BRAKES WERE GONE; ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED.
AN UNEXPECTED TOTAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEM FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE THE MINIVAN WAS BEING DRIVEN ALONG INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT 65MPH. THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM HAD TO BE TOTALLY REPLCAED. AN UNEXPECTED INCIDENCE OF TOO SHORT LIFE SPAN OF A TRANSMISSION SYSTEM IN A NEW MINIVAN.
VEHICLE STALLED WHILE SITTING IDLE IN A DRIVE THROUGH RESTAURANT. ALSO HAPPENED 10 MONTHS EARLIER IN MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN.TOLD BY FORD SERVICE THAT PROGRAMMING ERROR IN COMPUTER THAT CAUSES SYSTEM TO SHUT OFF AT LOW OR IDLE SPEED. SERVICE HAS REPROGRAMMED COMPUTER AND SAYS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. WHY ISN'T THIS A RECALL ISSUE IF THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS AND POTENTIAL FOR INJURY IS GREAT?
HAD ALREADY REPLACED TRANSMISSION TWICE. WHEN APPROACHING A RED LIGHT VEHICLE STALLED. .CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
FRONT DRIFTS TO THE RIGHT AT SLOWER SPEEDS AND TO THE LEFT AT HIGH SPEEDS.
FULE TANK SENDING UNIT IS LEAKING FUEL. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
TRAVELING AT NIGHT WITH LIGHTS ON. ACTIVATING RIGHT TURN SIGNAL CAUSED HEADLIGHTS TO TURN OFF (PARKING LIGHTS STAYED ON). TURNING LIGHT SWTICH OFF THEN BACK ON AGAIN DID NOT CORRECT. HAD TO FLASH HIGHBEAMS FOR HEADLIGHTS TO TURN BACK ON. TESTING RIGHT TURN SIGNAL AGAIN SHUT OFF HEALIGHTS. AGAIN, ONLY WAY TO GET THEM BACK ON WAS TO FLASH AND RELEASE HI-BEAMS.
YOU CAN CALL ME TO GET DETAILS OR FORD CAN CALL. BOTH WIPER AND SEAT WERE SAFETY ITEMS AND CAUSED US TO DRIVE THIS NEW VAN IN A VERY UNSAFE MANNOR . THE WIPER MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED FIRST THEN SOME MODULE. TOOK ABOUT ONE WEEK TO GET THE WIPERS FIXED. THE DRIVER SEAT TILTS AND SLIDES FORWARD SO PEOPLE CAN GET IN AND OUT THE BACK. THE RETAINING NUT FELL OFF THE STUD THAT HOLDS THE CABLE ON. SINCE TWO PUSH NUTS WERE UNDER THE SEAT AND BOTH WOULD NOT STAY ON THE STUD I THINK THE STUDS ARE UNDERSIZED. ONCE THE CABLE POPS OFF THE SEAT TILTS FORWARD AND THE SLIDE IS FREE TO MOVE FORWARD OR BACK BUT NO WAY TO LOCK THE SLIDE OR TIP THE SEAT BACK. I HAD TO DRIVE LIKE THIS TO GET HOME. FACE ABOUT 2 - 3 INCHES FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. CALL FOR MORE DETAILS IF YOU WANT.
DRIVER'S SEATBELT DOES NOT RETRACT, WHICH WON'T PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF A CRASH. DEALER WILL REPLACE DRIVER'S SEATBELT. PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *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 →