1998 Ford Windstar complaints

1998 WINDSTAR, TRANSMISSION FAILURE, COMPLETE OVERHAUL , $1700.00 DOLLARS, THE VAN WAS BOUGHT FOR MY MOTHER, SHE'S 81 , THE VAN WAS THOUGHT TO BE DEPENDABLE AND LEFT HER ON THE ROAD. MECHANIC SAID THE PLANETARY GEARS WERE SHOT, NEW GEARS AND TORQUE CONVERTER, COMPLETE OVERHAUL. THE VAN WAS OWNED BY MY MOTHER IN LAW , BOUGHT NEW , WHEN SHE PASSED AWAY I GAVE IT TO MY MOTHER, TWO WOMEN DRIVERS, OVER 60 YEARS OF AGE, SO THERE WAS NO ABUSE TO THE VAN, ALWAYS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR OIL CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE,,,WHAT GIVES... *TR

ABS FAULT LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT. CRUISE CONTROL INOP. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COIL SPRINGS FAILED AND PUNCTURED THE TIRES. SHE FELT THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE A SERIOUS CRASH COULD HAVE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 168,000.

I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AND HEARD A LOUD CRASH TYPE OF SOUND. CHECKED THE CAR AND FOUND OUT THAT THE REAR AXLE HAD BROKEN IN HALF. *TR

MY WIFE ATTEMPTED TO START 1998 FORD WINDSTAR WHEN SMOKE BEGAN TO ISSUE FROM BENEATH THE HOOD. SHE IMMEDIATELY REMOVOVED HERSELF AND DOG WHEREUPON THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE AND SUBSEQUENTLY EXPLODED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES BUT EVERYTHING FOWRWARD OF THE FIREWALL WAS MELTED DOWN. THE WINDSHIELD HAD EXPLODED AND THE INTERIOR SUFFERED SMOKE DAMAGE. EVERYTHING IN FRONT OF THE FIREWALL WAS AN ENTIRE LOSS. THIS REPORT IS FILED AFTER LEARNING THAT NHTSA IS INVOLVED IN INVESTIGATION OF MORE THAN 130 OTHER REPORTS OF A SIMILAR NATURE. WE WISH TO LEARN IF THERE IS ANY RECOURSE OR CLASS ACTION SUIT AVAILABLE TO US. *TR

I HAVE A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR VAN SV, I AVE SOME TRANSMISSION ISSUES. I HAVE TO HAVE A WHOLE TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL DONE. I FOUNT OUT THAT ALOT OF THE OTHER OWNERS OF THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE HAS SUFFERED THE SAME. WHAT WE HAVE FOUNT OUT IS THAT THAT MODEL OF VANS HAVE DEFAULT TRANSMISSIONS IN THEM. I WANT TO KNOW IF I COULD AT LEAST HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED OR TO KNOW ANY INFORMATION THAT WILL HELP. *TR

I BOUGHT A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR 3.0 L IN 1999. IN 2002 I RECEIVED A RECALL TO INSTALL FRONT SHIELDS OVER THE COIL SPRING SO I DID. YESTERDAY THE FRONT COIL SPRING PUNCTURED THE FRONT TIRE AND BROKE THE STRUTS AS WELL. WHEN CALLING FORD, THEY INFORM ME THAT THEY CAN NOT TELL ME WHEN MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED, JUST THAT THEY WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. THEY ISSUED THE WARRANTY FOR 10 YEARS FROM MANUFACTURER DATE EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL DID NOT TAKE PLACE UNTIL 3-4 YEARS AFTER MANUFACTURE DATE AND I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR THE RECOMMENDED CURE TO THE PROBLEM. *TR

BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE SPEED CONTROL PRESSURE SWITCH CAUSED THE ABS AND CRUISE CONTROL TO STOP WORKING. *TR

BRAKE MALFUNCTION, DISPLAY OF "SERVICE ENGINE SOON". *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF THE CAR. *TR

A FAULTY BRAKE PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL DEACTIVATION! SWITCH IS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID! *TR

INTERIOR LIGHT AS WELL AS BEEPING NOISE RINGING NONSTOP WHILE ALL DOORS ARE SHUT CORRECTLY. DASH LIGHT ALSO STAYS ON COMPUTER ISSUE WITH SYSTEM. *TR

I OWN AN 1998 WINDSTAR 3 LITER ENGINE. ON APRIL 16,2008 I PARKED MY CAR (NOSE DOWN HILL) DURING A RAIN STORM. LATER THAT EVENING I NOTICE THE RUNNING LIGHTS WERE ON AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF. I THEN UNHOOKED THE BATTERY. THE NEXT MORNING I JUMP STARTED THE CAR AND DROVE IT BRIEFLY TO RECHARGE THE BATTERY AND NOTICED A SMELL OF HOT OR BURNING WIRES. I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED POOLING WATER IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AFTER THE ENGINE DRIED COMPLETELY THE SMELL WENT AWAY. WHILE NO FIRE RESULTED I WAS EXTREMELY CONCERNED. I READ THE STORY CONCERNING YOUR INVESTIGATION OF THE WINDSTAR AND THOUGHT IT RELEVANT. *TR

I HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL SET ON MY 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. IT ACTED LIKE THE ENGINE REVVED UP A COUPLE OF TIMES THEN SMOKE STARTED ROLLING OUT FROM UNDER THE DASH. NOW THE TURN SIGNALS DON'T WORK AND THE VAN ISN'T PERFORMING WELL. *TR

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 1998 FORD WINDSTAR ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND SCRAPING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE AREA. THE SOUND STOP SHORTLY AND A SIX INCH LONG CURVED ROD OF METAL HAD FALLEN OUT ONTO THE ROAD WAY. THE FRONT COIL SPRING HAD CRACKED AND A PIECE OF IT HAD COME LOOSE AND EVENTUAL FELL OUT UNDER THE VEHICLE. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT THE COLLAPSED SPRING HAD NOT DAMAGED THE TIRE OR THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING SERVICED TO REPLACE THE BROKEN COIL SPRING AND INSPECTION FOR FURTHER DAMAGE. *TR

MY 1998 FORD WINDSTAR HAS BROKEN BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT COIL SPRINGS. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, MY ABS AND REGULAR BRAKE LIGHT WON'T GO AWAY EVEN AFTER SERVICING. MY OVERDRIVE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND STAYING LIT FOR DAYS. *TR

MALFUNCTIONING CRUISE CONTROL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE. SHE PARKED THE VEHICLE, CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD, AND FOUND THAT IT WAS VERY HOT AND SMELLED LIKE BURNED RUBBER. FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER, THERE WAS AN ENGINE FIRE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V097000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) WAS REFERENCED. THE PURCHASE DATE, POWERTRAIN, AND MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 04-08-08 *BF UPDATED 04/08/08 *TR

TWO WEEKS AGO OUR 1998 FORD WINDSTAR MINIVAN, WITH 220,000 MILES ON IT, CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD WHILE PARKED, AND WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED. WE HAD BEEN CAREFULLY FOLLOWING THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY. DURING THE WEEK BEFORE THE FIRE, WE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE INTERIOR LIGHTS NOT ALWAYS TURNING OFF WHEN WE EXITED THE VAN. *TR

NO PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSTAR BEFORE THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNATTENDED WHEN THE OWNER WAS ALERTED BY OTHER RESIDENTS THAT IT WAS ON FIRE. THE SMOKE WAS WHITE IN COLOR AND COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT AREA OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AT THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, THE FIRE HAD MADE ITS WAY THROUGH THE FIRE WALL INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE INVESTIGATOR DETERMINED THE FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED IN THE FRONT LEFT CORNER OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT EVIDENT BY THE HEAVIER BURNING IN THAT AREA THERE IS A V-PATTERN NOTED ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE RADIATOR POINTING TO THE CENTER OF THE ENGINE. THE FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE BREACHED THE FIRE WALL AT THE AREA WHERE THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS AND STEERING COLUMNS COME THROUGH INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. CAUSE WAS RULED UNDETERMINED. *TR

REPETITIVELY FAILING ABS BY CRACKED ABS RINGS(FOUR TIMES) OR FAULTY ABS SENSOR *JB

CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED AND WAS REPLACE 3 TIMES. AGAIN IT IS SHOT. THIS CAUSES THE VAN TO STALL AND HAVE EXTREMELY HIGH IDLE. CAUSES TO STALL USUALLY WHILE STOPPED, SOMETIMES HESITATES UPON ACCELERATION. ALSO: HAD TO PULL ABS FUSE DUE TO PEDAL NOT DEPRESSING. WORKS EXCELLENT WITHOUT ABS. ALSO:TRANSMISSION DOESN'T UPSHIFT WHEN ACCELERATING AT HIGH SPEEDS/RPM'S. HAVE TO LET OFF GAS AND REPRESS FOR VAN TO SHIFT TO NEXT GEAR. *TR

I HAVE A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR THAT I HAVE OWNED SINCE NEW, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED FUNCTIONING. I DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE SWITCH ON THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED AND WAS CAUSING THE LOSS OF CRUISE CONTROL. I HAVE FOLLOWED THAT FORD HAS A MAJOR RECALL ON THESE SWITCHES ON MANY OF THEIR VEHICLES DO TO ENGINE FIRES. MY CAR IS NOT ON THE RECALL, BUT FLUID IS LEAKING INTO THE SWITCH. I HAVE UNPLUGGED THE SWITCH TO PREVENT THE POTENTIAL FIRE, BUT FORD SAYS THAT THESE SWITCHES DO NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM OF EARLIER SWITCHES, I DISAGREE AS THERE IS THE SAME INDICATION OF FAILURE AND LEAKING FLUID. THEY ARE JUST WAITING FOR MORE FIRES BEFORE THEY ACT....*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LEAKS BRAKE FLUID, WHICH CAUSES HIM TO CONSTANTLY ADD MORE FLUID IN THE VEHICLE. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT OPERATE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CRUISE CONTROL RECALL. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 02-01-08. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE FUSES BLEW OUT IN THE CRUISE CONTROL. UPDATED

UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS THE TREAD OF TIRE OF MY TIRE CAME OFF DOWN THE BELTS, THE TIRE MADE THE VEHICLE HARD TO DRIVE AND COULD OF CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, I WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY @ 55 MPH WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I HAD TO REPLACE MY TIRE. *JB

FORD WINDSTAR THROWING PERSISTENT SES LIGHT P0740. THIS WAS COMMON WITH ALMOST MOST WINDSTARS. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THE MANIFOLDS/GASKET. ROUGH RIDE AND STALLING AT DANGEROUS POINTS. *AK

1998 FORD WINDSTAR VAN. FRONT PASSENGER LUG BOLTS. ALL FIVE LUG BOLT FAILED WITH NO WARNING. VEHICLE MILEAGE 33300. NO NOTICE BEFORE FAILURE. NO SHAKING OR VIBRATIONS. 60 MPH AT TIME OF INCIDENT. ALL PARTS SAVED. REPLACED 5 LUG BOLTS, 5 LUG NUTS, ROTOR. *TR

1998 FORD WINDSTAR - FAILURE OF BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH; CAUSED ALL BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK OUT OF MASTER CYLINDER, AND SUBSEQUENT BRAKE FAILURE. NO ACCIDENT CAUSED (FORTUNATELY), COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS OR FATAL. WIFE NOTICED THAT SHE COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE JUST BEFORE ENTERING THE FREEWAY; USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP AND DRIVE THE WINDSTAR HOME. I DISCOVERED MASSIVE AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID HAD LEAKED ONTO THE SURROUNDING AREA, AND THE #30 FUSE FOR CRUISE CONTROL, AND ABS HAD BLOWN. *JB

THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON DIMLY AND STAYED ON. I TOOK THE 1998 WINDSTAR TO A MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID IN THE ABS MODULE THAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS SITUATION COULD CAUSE A FIRE. FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MY MECHANIC AND THE FORD SERVICE TECHNICIANS AT TWO FORD SERVICE CENTERS THE ABS SYSTEM VALVES WHICH CONTAINED BRAKE FLUID SAT ON TOP OF THE ABS MODULE AND WERE SOMEHOW CONNECTED. THIS DESIGN, APPARENTLY COULD LEAD TO BRAKE FLUID GETTING INTO THE ABS MODULE. I HAVE ASKED FORD REPEATEDLY IF THE BRAKE FLUID IN THE ABS MODULE COULD CAUSE A FIRE, BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED A STRAIGHT ANSWER FROM THEM. MY CONCERN WAS THAT THIS SITUATION COULD CAUSE A FIRE SHOULDN'T IT BE MADE KNOWN TO OWNERS OF THE FORD WINDSTARS OR ANY VEHICLE WITH THIS PARTICULAR ABS SYTSEM DESIGN? *AK

FRONT STABILIZER BAR BROKE IN HALF INSIDE BUSHING NONE OF THE AUTO TECHS COULD FIND THE PROBLEM FOR THE PART 2 YEARS (NOT EVEN DURING NY STATE INSPECTIONS) SO THEY PAST THE VAN ANYWAYS UNTILL FINALLY ONE GAVE A TUG ON THE PASSANGERS SIDE OF THE BAR AND IT CAME OUT OF THE BUSHING IN THEIR HANDS THE TECH SAID HE NEVER SAW A BAR BREAK LIKE THAT BEFORE AND THAT WAS THE CAUSE FOR HAVING TO GET THE WHEEL HUBS LOWERBALL JOINTS &TIE ROD ENDS REPLACED TWICE IN ONE YEAR ALONG WITH THE TIRES ON THE FRONT OF THE VAN SO THE VAN SITS IN THE DRIVE WAY UNTILL IT CAN GET FIXED (FINDING THE BAR IS THE HARD PART)DEALER SAID HE COULD NOT LOCATE ONE NOW WHAT???? ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APRESHIATED. *AK

FRONT STABILIZER BAR BROKE IN HALF INSIDE BUSHING NONE OF THE AUTO TECHS COULD FIND THE PROBLEM FOR THE PART 2 YEARS (NOT EVEN DURING NY STATE INSPECTIONS) SO THEY PAST THE VAN ANYWAYS UNTILL FINALLY ONE GAVE A TUG ON THE PASSANGERS SIDE OF THE BAR AND IT CAME OUT OF THE BUSHING IN THEIR HANDS THE TECH SAID HE NEVER SAW A BAR BREAK LIKE THAT BEFORE AND THAT WAS THE CAUSE FOR HAVING TO GET THE WHEEL HUBS LOWERBALL JOINTS &TIE ROD ENDS REPLACED TWICE IN ONE YEAR ALONG WITH THE TIRES ON THE FRONT OF THE VAN SO THE VAN SITS IN THE DRIVE WAY UNTILL IT CAN GET FIXED (FINDING THE BAR IS THE HARD PART)DEALER SAID HE COULD NOT LOCATE ONE NOW WHAT???? ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APRESHIATED ALSO THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANNY 4 TIMES ONCE ABOUT EVERY 12000-17000 MILES AND ONE OF THE TRANNYS ONLY LASTED FOR 325 MILES BEFORE THE VAN DIED ON THE NY STATE THRUWAY ON OUR WAY TO CANADA FROM SYRACUSE,N.Y. THEN IT TOOK THE 5 WEEKS TO FIX THE VAN AND GET IT BACK TO ME SO HOW COULD I BE SURE THAT THE BREAKING OF THE SAWY BAR WAS NOT CAUSED FROM THE TECHS REMOVING THE UNIT X AMOUNT OF TIMES???????????ALONG WITH THE TIE RODS,WHEEL HUBS,ECT.*AK

MY HEAT WOULDN'T COME ON SOMETIMES, THEN THE HOT LIGHT CAME ON. HAD IT IN THE SHOP 2 TIMES, EVERYTIME SAID IT WAS FINE, ONLY CHANGING OUT TEMP GAUGE. DEC 2005 3RD TIME TOOK IT IN, SAME PROBLEM ONLY OIL LIGHT WOULD ALSO FLICKER AT LOW IDLE PULLING INTO PARKING SPOT. TOOK IT BACK IN AND TOLD THEM THEY HAD TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG, IT HAD BEEN GOING ON TOO LONG. TOLD THEN HEAVY RESIDUE ON OIL CAP, COULD SEE DARK MARKS AROUND EXHAUST PIPE. LOOSING RADIATOR FLUID SLOWLY. I AM NO MECHANIC BUT ALL I RESEARCHED SHOWED HEAD GASKET. TO MAKE STORY BRIEF, THEY TOLD ME SAME DAY ALL WAS OK, COMPUTER READ FINE. I TOLD THEM I WAS NOT SATISFIED AND TO KEEP TESTING. TOOK 3 DAYS, THEN THEY CALL ME TO SAY THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD FAILED. OF COURSE MY EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD ENDED 2 WEEKS BEFORE. THEY CLAIMED I HAD BEEN DRIVING IT WITH NO OIL AND TRIED TO GET ME TO BUY A NEW ENGINE! I HAD BEEN CHECKING THE OIL MYSELF, NEVER RAN LOW. OIL PAN THICK WITH GUNK. I HAD IT IN FOR ALL REG MAINT, WHY WOULD IT HAVE GOTTEN THAT BAD? $3200.00 LATER I HAD NEW HEAD GASKET WATER PUMP, OIL PUMP, AND VARIOUS SEALS AND HOSES. PICKET IT UP, FOLLOWING DAY HAD IT BACK FOR NOT WANTING TO START, ROUGH IDLE. ANOTHER $175.00 LATER I GOT IT BACK. UNHAPPY TO KNOW THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING ISSUE AND MY 98 WINDSTAR, FELL IN THE AGE/MILES TIME FRAME FOR THE ISSUE. KNOWING THAT ONE VAN HAD THIS ISSUE THEY SHOULD HAVE KNOW FROM ALL MY DESCRIPTIONS WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. IF FOUND 2 WEEKS EARLIER IT WOULD HAVE BEEN

I JUST FOUND OUT THAT MY HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN ON MY 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. I READ UP ON THIS AND SAW THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH FORD AND THEY HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM NOR DO THEY OFFER YOU A SOLUTION TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AT THEIR EXPENSE. *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING HIS 1998 FORD WINSTAR AT 35 MPH ON JUNE 26, 2005 THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE CAME OFF THE VEHICLE AND FELL TO THE GROUND, THE VEHICLE RAN OVER THE TIRE. ON JANUARY 15, 2007 THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE FELL OFF AND WENT BEHIND THE VEHICLE THEN HIT A FENCE ACROSS THE ROAD. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WENT INTO THE GROUND AND THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND ONCE AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND REPAIRED ON BOTH OCCASIONS. *AK

STEERING RACK FAILURE. *JB

I WAS DRIVING OUR 1998 FORD WINDSTAR NORTHWOODS EDITION FROM THE SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT ON 12-24-06 WHEN THE VAN BEGAN TO SMOKE. THE SMOKE CAME INTO THE CAR AS I TURNED ON THE HEATER. I PULLED THE CAR IMMEDIATELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED 911. WITHIN MINUTES THE CAR WAS FULLY ON FIRE. THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. I BELIEVE THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE RIGHT FRONT NEAR THE DASHBOARD,THE FIRE CAME THROUGH THE FIREWALL AT THAT POINT, AND THAT IS WHERE THE SMOKE STARTED AND THE FLAME FIRST CAME OUT AND WHERE THE MOST INTENSE DAMAGE IS. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE CAR IS TOTALED AND WE ARE NOW WITHOUT A MUCH NEEDED VEHICLE. THE TOW TRUCK OPERATOR STATED THIS WAS THE THIRD FORD WINDSTAR IN THIS AREA TO BURN LIKE THIS.

1998 WINDSTAR JERKS WHEN DOWN SHIFTING. *TS *NM

I PURCHASED A 1998 WINDSTAR VAN FROM THE FORD DEALER LOCATED IN CORNING CA. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH IT PASSING SMOG FOR THE OXY SENSOR. AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS NEVER WORKED RIGHT. THE TURBO THING IS BAD. WHEN I WENT TO TRADE IT IN I FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF CANADA. AND THESE THINGS WERE PART OF THE RECALLS REPORTED TO YOU. BUT, FORD OF CORNING SAID THEY DID NOTHING TO THIS VAN BEFORE SELLING IT TO ME. I FOUND 14 THINGS WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE. I ACTED UP A MONTH AFTER PURCHASE. BUT I WAS ON AWARE OF MY RIGHTS AS A CONSUMER. ALSO, I WAS NOT SURE WHAT OMS MEANT. THE VAN IS STUCK IN FOLSOM,CA AT AAMCO TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP. FINANCED THROUGH FIRESIDE BANK. FORD OF CORNING SAID THEY DID NOTHING TO THE VAN BEFORE I PURCHASED IT BUT CLEANING IT. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN TURNED. THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT INFORMED THE CONTACT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL # 97V165000 REGARDING THE STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR DUE TO THE VIN, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A BURNING SMELL WAS PRESENT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. UPON INSPECTION, THERE WAS TRANSMISSION FLUID ON THE GROUND OF THE DRIVEWAY. UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE THERE WAS FLUID LEAKING OUT OF THE SERVO COVER OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND FAXED A COPY OF THE NHTSA RECALL #97V097000. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION MECHANIC STATED THERE WAS NO RECALLS PERTAINING TO THE SERVO COVER AND THERE WERE NEVER ANY VEHICLES REPAIRED AT THAT DEALERSHIP ACCORDING TO THE NHTSA RECALL. WHEN THE DEALER WAS ASKED TO FIX THE VEHICLE BASED ON THE RECALL, THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THE INFORMATION MEANT NOTHING TO THEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO EXPRESSED THAT THEY COULD NOT AUTHORIZED REPAIRS FOR THE VEHICLE UNDER THE NHTSA RECALL. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT HOOD UNLATCHED FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH. THE HOOD BLEW OFF, AND WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD NEARLY CAUSING INJURIES.

THURSDAY OCT. 5, 2006 AT 7:00 PM, MY VAN WAS SITTING IN THE PARKING LOT AT MY SON'S HIGH SCHOOL WHERE IT CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH MY WINDSTAR VAN. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR SIX HOURS, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE EXPLODED. ALSO, THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE TIRE AND DETERMINED THE CONTACT OVER INFLATED THE TIRE, RESULTING IN THE TIRE EXPLODING. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TIRE, BUT REFUSED TO GIVE THE DAMAGED TIRE BACK TO THE CONTACT. THE TIRE WAS SIZE: P21570R15. THE BRAND NAME WAS AN ALL SEASON COOPER DOMINATOR.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 10 MPH, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND THE CONTACT NOTICED A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT WAITED FOR THE FIRE TO EXTINGUISH ITSELF, AND THEN THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC. *AK

EVEN THOUGH THE VAN I JUST PURCHASED DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE A RECALL ON IT I HAD TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO COMPLETE LEAKING OUT OF ALL THE BRAKE FLUID THROUGH THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH, THE DUAL MASTER CYLINDER IS SUPPOSED TO PREVENT THIS BUT IT DIDN'T. THE SWITCH ON THE BOTTOM OF THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE FACT THAT THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS WERE SEEPING ALLOWED ALL THE FLUID TO LEAVE AFTER ONLY THREE WEEKS OF DRIVING. I JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I HAD MECHANICS CHECK IT OUT AND THE SWITCH IS THE SAME TYPE THAT IS CAUSING THE FIRES. I HAVE TO WONDER IF THE LEAKING DRIPPING ON TO HOT MOTOR PARTS COULD CAUSE THE FIRES AS WELL AS SOME ELECTRICAL OVERLOAD DUE TO THE BRAKE FLUID EATING THROUGH PLASTIC AND RUBBER . I TRULY REGRET PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE BEFORE RESEARCHING. I MAY BE ASKING THE DEALER TO TRADE ME INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE JUST DUE TO NOT WANTING TO DIE AT AN EARLY AGE DUE TO FORDS LACK OF QUALITY CONTROL IT IS A SHAME THAT ANY MANUFACTURER CAN BUILD ANY PIECE OF JUNK WITHOUT REGARDS TO END RESULT AND ONLY WORRYING ABOUT THE PROFIT OF SELLING AND THE FACT THAT RISK MANAGEMENT AFTER THE FACT OF WAITING FOR MANY TO BE EFFECTED BY DEATH OR LOSS OF VEHICLE TO HAVE A RECALL FORCED AND FIXING A BAD DESIGN ONCE PRESSED TO DO SO. I FEEL THE MASTER CYLINDERS WHOLE SAFETY IS IN THAT ONE CHAMBER IS MOST LIKELY FUNCTIONAL UNDER MOST SYSTEM FAILURES OF WHEEL CYLINDERS , HOSES, ETC BUT HAVING A PART DIRECTLY ATTACHED TO THE FRONT CHAMBER AND WITH THE COMMON LIKELIHOOD OF

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING THE ABS AND PARKING WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE INSPECTED BY AN AUTHORIZED SERVICE DEALER. THE SERVICE DEALER MECHANIC REPLACED SOME FUSES AND THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. THERE WAS A RECALL #06V286000 PERTAINING TO THE DEACTIVATION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

1998 WINDSTAR LUG NUTS SHEARED OFF. *TS THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF THE VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF THE LUG NUT SHEARING OFF. THE VEHICLE LANDED ON IT'S WHEEL. *NM

THE BRAKES SUDDENLY STARTED FAILING AND THE BRAKE PETAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR LIKE A DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDER. THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACES 3 TIMES AT 2 DIFFERENT SHOPS BECAUSE THEY WERE SURE IT WAS THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THEY THOUGHT PERHAPS IT WAS A DEFECTIVE REPLACEMENT. THE DEFECT ENDED UP BEING THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT (HCU). IF YOU DO AN INTERNET SEARCH FOR WINDSTAR HCU, YOU WILL FIND WINDSTAR REVIEWS RATING THEIR BRAKES AS SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS SPECIFICALLY STATING "AN OCCASIONAL PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE IS FAILURE OF THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT (HCU). THE COST TO REPAIR THE ABS HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT IS ESTIMATED AT $975.00 FOR PARTS, WITHOUT TRACTION CONTROL, AND $1,200.00 FOR PARTS, WITH TRACTION CONTROL, AND $162.50 FOR LABOR." THIS PROBLEM ALSO AFFECTS THE 1997 WINDSTAR. HTTP://AUTOS.MSN.COM/RESEARCH/VIP/RELIABILITY.ASPX?YEAR=1998&MAKE=FORD&MODEL=WINDSTAR AND HTTP://AUTOS.MSN.COM/RESEARCH/VIP/RELIABILITY.ASPX?YEAR=1997&MAKE=FORD&MODEL=WINDSTAR THIS IS POTENTIALLY A LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO A RECALL IF IT IS BAD ENOUGH THAN IN AUTO REVIEWS THEY CITE IT AS A PROBLEM WITH FORD WINDSTARS. *NM

ENGINE OIL FOUND IN COOLANT. TIMING COVER GASKET FAILURE. LOUD ENGINE KNOCK FROM REAR VALVE BANK- POSSIBLE WRIST-PIN/LOWER INTAKE GASKETS/VALVE PROBLEMS. *NM

1998 WINDSTAR HEADLIGHTS ARE EXTREMELY CLOUDED MAKING LOW BEAMS USELESS. *TS THE HEADLIGHT ARE CLOUDY ON THE INSIDE AND THE OUTSIDE AND CANNOT BE POLISHED. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. *NM