1998 Ford Windstar complaints

VEHICLE JUMPS OUT OF GEAR BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

FRONT ABS BRAKES WOULD MAKE GRINDING NOISES. HAD TAKEN TO DEALER & MECHANIC CHANGED BRAKES. WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE & THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK

PRIOR TO THE TOTAL FAILURE, THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE COMPONENT WAS HAVING PROBLEMS OR ABOUT TO FAIL.

DEALERSHIP INSTALLED ANOTHER TRANSMISSION AT 7,000 MILES BECAUSE OF OUR REPEATED COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE BUCKING SENSATION/THE VEHICLE IS STILL BUCKING/OTHER PROBLEMS DEVELOPED SUCH AS THE LUNCHING FORWARD IN SECOND GEAR, SHIFTING INTO GEAR BEGAN TO PRODUCE A GRINDING NOISEAND A VERY OBVIOUS VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL HAS DEVELOPED/FORD KEEPS IGNORING US AFTER OUR REPEATEDLY CONTACTING THEM/WE HAVE NOW FILED UNDER THE LEMON LAW IN THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT/ WE HAVE BEEN TREATED VERY SHABBILY BY FORD !

TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED WHILE GOING 60-65 MPH. *AK

VEHICLE JUMPED FORWARD WHEN STOPPING. ACCELERATED BY ITSELF, RESULTING IN A CRASH. BRAKES WHEN APPLIED, SQUEAK LOUDLY. GEARS WERE VERY HARD TO CHANGE. DEALER CONTACTED AND IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PROBLEMS STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

IN DECEMBER 98, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION BEING IN NEUTRAL CONDITION AFTER COMING TO A STOP. DEALER COULD NOT DUPPLICATE PROBLEM. ALSO, ON APRIL 19, 99, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. FOUND BULLETIN #972213, DATED 97 WHICH DEALT WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

FUEL PUMP FAILED.

VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES FOR THE SAME HARD SHIFTING, TRANSMISSION PROBLEM SINCE NEW. PROBLEM IS BETTER ,BUT I EXPECT FAILURE BEFORE WARRANTY EXPIRES. THE TRANSMISSION HAS A HARD 1-2 SHIFT SINCE I BOUGHT IT NEW ON 13 JAN 98. THE LEMON LAW CAUSED FIRM TO OFFER ME AN EXTENDED WARRANTY OF 5 YEARS/75,000 MILES INSTEAD OF FIXING THE PROBLEM. I'M VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THE TRANSMISSION, AND DEALERSHIP SERVICE SHOP'S PERFORMANCE. RECENTLY, THE BRAKES HAVE DEVELOPED A VIBRATION AND THE ENGINE SOMETIMES STALLS AT SLOW SPEEDS. I TOOK THE VAN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ON MONDAY 5 APRIL 99 FOR THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, AND THE TWO NEW PROBLEMS. THE LAST SEVERAL NEW VEHICLES I'VE PURCHASED HAVE BEEN FORDS. MY NEXT VEHICLE PROBABLY WON'T BE A FORD. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH 2 LUGS: NUTS CAME OFF, AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CONSUMER TOOK OFF THE HUB CAP AND NOTICED THAT TWO OF THE LUGS: NUTS CAME OFF, AND THE OTHER THREE WERE COMING OFF. THE STUDS SHEARED OFF INSIDE THE LUG NUTS. *AK

VIBRATION FROM REAR DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL DUE TO 4 LUG NUTS FALLING OFF WHEEL, WHEEL WAS BEING SECURED BY 1 LOOSE LUG NUT.

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE ANY TYPE OF TURN VEHICLE JERKS REAL HARD AND STALLS. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

TRANSMISSION SPEED SENSOR FAILED CAUSING ERRATIC SHIFTING.

THE AMP TO THE RADIO AND CD KEEPS BURNING OUT AND THE LAST TIME IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT'S BEEN FIXED (AGAIN) BUT I'M STILL SCARED TO DRIVE IT. MY VAN STINKS LIKE ELECTRICAL BURNT TRANSFORMER. THEY SAID THEY FOUND A SHORT, BUT I WONDER??? ALSO, WHY IS MY EXHAUST PUTTING OUT SO MUCH BLACK SOOT ON MY VAN? I CLEAN IT OFF AND EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT, IT BECOMES ALL SOOTED UP AGAIN. MY LEFT TIE ROD WENT OUT TOO. IS THAT NORMAL FOR SUCH LOW MILEAGE? I'M VERY UNHAPPY WITH THIS VEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PARK TO REVERSE FAILURE. *YC

RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO WANDER.

I BOUGHT THIS VAN IN FEB OF98 AND HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END I HAD IT IN THE SHOP TWICE AND THE FIRST TIME IT HAD TO HAVE NEW ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS AND NEW TIRES THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR.THE SECOND TIME THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG BUT IT ATE UP TWO MORE TIRES.THEY SAID IT HAD TO BE THE TIRES. I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SAFETY ADMINISTRATION AND THEN ON FEB 99 THE BRAKES WENT OUT AGAIN.I ALSO TRIED TO WORK WITH COLLEGE FORD. MY HUSBAND DECIDED TO TRADE THE VAN IN ON A TOYOTA CAMERY BECAUSE WE WERE NOT SAFE IN THE VAN AND FORD DID NOT WANT TO HELP US IN ANY WAY. WE PAID $25000.00 FOR A SAFE VEHICLE BUT GOT A LEMON AND NO HELP. $5500.00 OUT OF MY POCKET TO LEASE THE CAMERY AND ALL THE PAYMENTS FOR THE VAN JUST WASTED.I JUST THANK GOD WE WERN'T KILLED.( DOT NUMBER: P215 TIRE SIZE: 70R15 97S )

NO SUMMARY

BRAKES KEEP STICKING,-AND IT FEELS AS IF THE CALIPER HANGS UP WHEN CONSUMER PUTS ON BRAKES. *AK

I HAVE HAD MY 1998 FORD WINDSTAR FOR LESS THAN ONE YEAR. IT HAS BEEN OUT OF SERVICE FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS 4 TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THEY REPLACED THE CLUTCH PISTONS, SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. I AM CONTINUING TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH SEVERE SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND OR 2ND TO 1ST. FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL ONLY OFFER ME AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, ALTHOUGH THEY SAY THEY CAN NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AND MY THE SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN. I HAVE SEVERAL FRIENDS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR 98 WINDSTAR ONLY THEIRS HAVE NOW BEGUN TO DOWNSHIFT WHEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY! THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND FORD DOESN'T CARE HELP!!!

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DECELERATING VEHICLE WILL STALL UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NO SUMMARY

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH FRONT END SUSPENSION INCLUDING ALIGNMENT, BOLTS TO THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS, CASTER AND TIE RODS RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE TIRES AND VIBRATION.

NEITHER DEALER NOR FORD ZONE REP HELPFUL. PROBABLE CAUSE OF TANK COLLAPSE IS FAILURE IN VAPOR/VENT SYSTEM TO FUEL TANK. SEE ALSO YOUR ODI ID 829866. PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE LIMITED TO 1998 WINDSTAR WITH 25 G TANK. DEALER HAS FOUND ORIG TANK CRUSHED, HAS REPLACED SAME, HAS REPLACED/CHECKED GAUGE SENDER, AND REPLACED GAUGE. PROBELM CONTINUES AS ORIGINALLY REPORTED, AND BELIEVED TO BE RELATED TO VACUUM IN TANK AS PUMP EXTRACTS FUEL, AND EXTERNAL AIR PRESSURE PLUS INTERNAL TANK VACUUM CRUSHED 25 G TANK TO 16 G VOLUME.

WHEN USING CRUISE CONTROL AND ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN OR COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, VEHCILE ACCELERATES.

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM FOR THIRD TIME. WAS REBUILT AFTER SECOND TIME. SLIPPING AND BANGING 4 MONTHS LATER.

VEHICLE PULLS TO EITHER THE RIGHT OR LEFT IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS RELEASED FOR ONE SECOND. IT PULLS SO BADLY THAT WHILE DRIVING IT WANDERS INTO OTHER LANES. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

TRIED TO SHIFT GEARS. HARD TO SHIFT INTO PARK PROPERLY. MAKES LOUD NOISES WHEN SHIFTING. ALSO, BRAKES MAKE LOUD NOISES WHEN APPLIED. *AK

TRANSMISSION WOULD JERK AS IF BEING REARENDED. FRONT END WOULD WORK ITSELF LOOSE. HAD TO REPLACE BUSHINGS, TRACKING BAR & MOTOR MOUNTS DUE TO BEING DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVABLE AFTER BEING IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CHECK STEERING. VEHICLE WOULD WANDER OVER THE ROAD. WOULD MAKE POPPING NOISES WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURNS. *AK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS FAILED TWICE IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR. EACH FAILURE RESULTED IN A REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION FROM THE FORD DEALER. THIS VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT AND TWO TRANSMISSIONS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. I HAVE REQUESTED A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE FROM FORD DUE TO THE UNRELIABLE PERFORMANCE OF THIS VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD BY THE FORD CONSUMER HOTLINE THAT IT IS NOT THEIR POLICY TO REPLACE A VEHICLE, ONLY TO REPAIR OR FIX AS NEEDED.

01/04/1999-- !998 FORD WINDSTAR HAD APPROX 95% BRAKE FAILURE WHILE WIFE AND KIDS WERE DRIVING.NO WARNING OR NOISE,JUST "MUSHY PEDAL" STOPPING VEHICLE AT LAST INCH OF BRAKE PEDAL MOVEMENT. AUTOFAIR DEALER SERVICE MGR EXPERIENCED THE CONDITION. REPAIR WAS TO REPLCE MASTER CYLINDER. 01/18/1999--THE SAME BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRED WITH THE SAME DISCRIPTION OF BRAKE PEDAL.CONDITION OF BRAKES WAS EXPERIENCED BY DEALERSHIP AGAIN AS WELL. REPAIR WAS TO CHECK ALL LINES FOR LEAKS AND BLEED THE AIR OUT OF THE LINES. NO REASON GIVEN AS TO HOW THE AIR GOT IN THE SYSTEM. (REMEMBER MASTER CYCLINDER REPLACED 13 DAYS PREVIOUS). 01/28/1999(SUNDAY) DRIVING HOME FROM CHURCH, TRAVELING APPROX 25 MPH THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN CAUSING ME TO GO PAST THE ROAD I WAS GOING TO TURN INTO,NO TRAFFIC. THIS WAS WITHOUT WARNING,NOISE OR WARNING LIGHTS..01/29/1999 AUTOFAIR SAID TO BRING IT BACK IN AGAIN FOR REPAIR. THEY KEPT IT FOR APPROX 3 WEEKS AND COULD NOT GET THE BRAKES TO FAIL AGAIN IN 300 MILES OF DRIVING. THEY WERE UNABLE TO MAKE A PROPER REPAIR OF THE PROBLEM USING THEIR WORDS, BUT HAD TO GIVE ME MY CAR BACK FROM ORDERS FROM FORD REGIONAL REP MIKE HOLT WHO SAID EVEN THOUGH FORD AUTOFAIR SERVICE MGR HAD EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM AND THEY HAD NOT "REPAIRED" THE PROBLEM, (THEY ONLY BLED THE BRAKES, NO CAUSE WHY THIS HAPPENED) AND THAT THE PROBLEM HAD CORRECTED ITSELF JUST AS FAST AS IT HAD OCCURRED, THE CUSTOMER SHOULD HAVE THE AUTO BACK. WE, ALONG WITH THE SERVICE DEPT AND THE VP IN CHARGE OF FORD AT AUTOFAIR

TRANSMISSION FAILED, REPLACEMENT FAILED ALSO.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE TRANSMISSION ABRUPTLY DOWNSHIFTED TO 2ND GEAR. AFTER GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY, VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR. THIS HAPPENED, 3 TIMES AND HAD VEHICLE HAD BEEN TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG, OR TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DECELERATING ENGINE WOULD STALL WITHOUT INDICATIONS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

VEHICLE SUPPOSEDLY HAS 25 GALLON GAS TANK. WILL NOT ACCEPT MORE THAN 15 GALLONS WHEN DASH LIGHT INDICATES LOW FUEL ( 1/16 TANK ). DEALER HAS REPLACED TANK 4 TIMES, DONE SEVERAL TSB PROCEDURES. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. STILL NOT RESOLVED. *AK

THE STEERING COLUMN MOVES UP AND DOWN. ALSO THERE IS A FUNKY NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT END SUSPENSION WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING, LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL RESULTED IN VEHICLE HITTING CURB CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. *AK

POWER STEERING PUMP PULLY ASSEMBLY FAILED.

ANTI LOCK BRAKE SENSOR ON THE DRVERS SIDE CRACKED.

FRONT WINDSHIELD DEFECTIVE, CAUSING WINDSHIELD TO MAKE WHISTLING NOISES. *YC

FRONT DISC BRAKES WORE PREMATURELY.

FRONT CALIPER FAILED. *YC

DRIVER'S 3-POINT SEAT BELT FASTENER FAILURE. *YC

BRAKES FAILED. *YC

TRANSMISSION FAILED. MJS

TRANSMISSION MODULATOR VALVE FAILED. MJS

PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO DOWN. NLM

TRANSMISSION FAILED. MJS

GAS GAUGE FAILED.

TRANSMISSION FAILED. NLM