1999 Ford Windstar complaints

UPDATING COMPLAINT 10116674 - MECHANIC INFORMED US THE PLANETARY ASSEMBLY HAS CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED AND SAYS THIS IS RIDICULOUS FOR SUCH A LOW-MILEAGE VEHICLE. HE STATED THERE MUST BE A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. HE WILL SAVE ALL RUINED PARTS - TOTAL WILL BE ABOUT $2,300. WILL FORD HAVE THE INTEGRITY TO STAND BEHIND ITS PRODUCTS? WILL NHTSA FORCE A RECALL DUE TO THE HIGH NUMBER OF FAILURES ON THESE VANS? *AK THE CONSUMER STILL DID NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE FROM FORD. THERE WAS A PLANETARY ASSEMBLY PROBLEM WITH THE CONSUMERS 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. AT 51K MILES, THE PLANETARY ASSEMBLY HAD BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION, TORQUE CONVERTER, SUN GEAR, SOLENOID AND THE REVERSE DRUM. *SC *JB

THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE NOISE WHILE DRIVING. THE GEARS WOULD NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE, AND WAS REPLACED. *AK *SC

1999 FORD EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH RACK AND PINION SYSTEM, AND LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM. *MR ALL OF THE HOLD DOWN BUTTONS WERE STRIPPED OUT AND STRIPPED IN THE GEAR HOUSING CAUSING GEAR FAILURE. *SC *JB

1999 FORD WINDSTAR CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM CAUGHT ON FIRE.*MR

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE, MOVING AT A SPEED OF 65 MPH, THE FUSE (10)CONTROLLING THE SPEED CONTROL MODULE, ABS MODULE, BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK SOLENOID, POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE, ETC. ETC. BLEW. INSTANTLY, I HAD NO SPEEDOMETER, ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND MY REAR A/C BEGAN BLOWING ON ITS OWN. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED #10 FUSE AND IT HAS BLOWN REPEATEDLY. SINCE THIS PAST FRIDAY, I HAVE ALSO LEARNED THAT MY CRUISE CONTROL IS NO LONGER FUNCTIONING. I HAVE DONE THE RESEARCH AND HAVE FOUND FROM MY FELLOW FORD LEMON OWNERS, THAT THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON OCCURANCE. I WILL BE REPLACING THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AND/OR BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH (WHICH IS LOCATED BY THE MASTER CYCLINDER; WHICH COMMONLY SEEMS TO HAVE A SHORT IN THE CIRCUIT DUE TO THE WONDERFUL JOB FORD DID DESIGNING THEIR VEHICLES. *AK

HEAD GASKETS ON MY FORD WINDSTAR 3.8 LITER ARE LEAKING COOLANT AT 83.9K MILES. HAD A 1994 FORD TAURUS WITH SAME PROBLEM. HAD TO JUNK CAR AT 70000. THAT WAS 20000 AFTER I HAD IT FIXED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME AT 38000. FORD HAS HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS 3.8 V-6 BUT DON'T WANT TO ADMIT IT.*AK

OUR 1999 FORD WINDSTAR HAS 51,000 MILES AND TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. YESTERDAY (4/8/05) WHILE DRIVING KIDS HOME FROM SCHOOL THE VAN MADE A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE AND WOULD NOT GO INTO FORWARD OR REVERSE. WAS ABLE TO ROLL TO SHOULDER. WE REPLACED BATTERY A MONTH AGO, AND WHILE DRIVING OVER THE BAY BRIDGE (MARYLAND) EASTER SUNDAY OUR HEADLIGHTS AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS BEGAN TO DIM AND VAN SEEMED AS IF IT WAS GOING TO STALL. BY THE TIME WE DROVE 4 MILES TO HOME ALL LIGHTS WERE OUT AND CAR WAS SPUTTERING, WOULDN'T START. WE THEN REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR. THE O/D LIGHT HAS BEEN FLASHING. INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON SPORADICALLY AS WELL AS DOOR AJAR LIGHT WHEN ALL DOORS ARE CLOSED. INTERIOR LIGHTS SOMETIMES DON'T COME ON WHEN VAN IS PARKED AND DOORS OPENED. NO RHYME OR REASON TO THIS. TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE DUE TO ABNORMAL WEAR. WE ARE GETTING QUOTES OF BETWEEN 1,600 AND 2,800 FOR TRANSMISSION. ALSO WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHERE MIRROR WAS REATTACHED AFTER IT FELL OFF. WHEN WE WERE JUST OVER 3 YEARS AND AT AROUND 25,000 MILES, ALL DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON ALSO WHILE DRIVING ON BAY BRIDGE. TOOK VAN TO DEALER (BOB BELL IN GLEN BURNIE, MD) AND THEY SAID THEY'D HAVE IT DONE THAT DAY BUT KEPT IT A WEEK. I THREW A FIT AND GOT A LOANER - A TIN CAN ON WHEELS. FORD EVENTUALLY COVERED SOME OF THE REPAIRS THROUGH A 'SPECIAL PROGRAM.' I CANNOT BELEIVE THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ON THESE PIECES OF GARBAGE WITH THE NUMBER OF TRANSMISSION FAILURES I SEE ON THIS WEBSITE. NHTSA SHOULD FORCE FORD TO T

CAR ONLY HAS 72000 MILES. HAD CAR AT DEALERSHIP FROM MARCH 17- MARCH 24 FOR VARIOUS PROBLEMS. THEY REPLACED A TIE ROD, 2 CONTROL ARMS FOR $1100 AND WHEN THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE STEERING RACK. CAR WAS STILL NOT RIGHT - HAD APPT TO BRING BACK IN ON FRIDAY APRIL 1ST. ON MARCH 30TH, I WAS ACCELERATING AT A STOPLIGHT AND THE VEHICLE HAD AN ABRUPT TRANSMISSION FAILURE. (WHEN WE GOT IT BACK FROM THE DEALER IT HAD A VIBRATING ISSUE BUT WE DID NOT HAVE WARNING THIS WAS COMING) JUST A HUGE BANG AND THEN IT WOULDN'T MOVE. THE POLICE HAD TO HELP ME REMOVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE INTERSECTION AND ASSIST WITH MY TWO SMALL CHILDREN. IT HAD TO BE TOWED AT MY EXPENSE $70. WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 60K. TOOK IT TO ANOTHER REPAIR ESTABLISHMENT (DUE TO ISSUES WITH THE DEALER) - WILL BE $2200 TO REBUILD ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. WILL BE CONTACTING MANUFACTURER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH TRANSMISSION FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE FORWARD GEARS BECAME INOPERABLE. *AK

WHEN TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 80 MPH. CONSUMER HAD TO PRESS THE BRAKES VERY HARD TO STOP, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED, AND THROTTLE CABLE WAS DISCOVERED TO BE DEFECTIVE. CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS TOO OLD AND HAD TOO MANY MILES.*AK THE THROTTLE STUCK, CAUSING SEVERELY DAMAGED TO BRAKES. CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT FORD DID RECALL ON 932 OF ITS 1999 AND 2000 MODEL FOR THIS PROBLEM. *BF *NM

CONSISTENTLY COMPLAINED ABOUT THE ENGINE LIGHT ON SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. AT 32,000 MILES, THEY REPLACED THE INTAKE GASKETS. ENGINE LIGHT STILL CAME ON, WAS TOLD IT WAS SOMETHING MINOR. I COMPLAINED NUMEROUS TIMES ABOUT THE ENGINE LIGHT. THEY WOULD REPROGRAM THE WARNING AND WITHIN ONE DAY, IT WOULD COME BACK ON. NOW, WITH THE NEW EMISSIONS STANDARDS, MY CAR WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. I WAS TOLD THE INTAKE GASKET HAS TO BE REPLACED. WHEN I SPOKE TO FORD, THEY JUST SAY "WE ARE SORRY IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY". WELL, THEY SHOULD HAVE FIXED IT PROPERLY FROM THE BEGINNING. *JB

1999 FORD WINDSTAR HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION AS WELL AS THE HEATER PIPE AND UPPER INTAKE SEALS.*MR THE CONSUMER HAD TO GIGGLE THE STEERING WHEEL AND/OR SHIFT LEVER TO GET THE KEY TO TURN IN THE IGNITION. *NM

VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR A FEW DAYS WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. MY 1999 FORD WINDSTAR BURST INTO FLAMES AROUND FOUR IN THE MORNING ON MAY 24, 2004. VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED SINCE THE AFTERNOON ON MAY 21 AS WE HAD GONE ON A CAMPING TRIP FOR THE WEEKEND.THE FIRE WAS THE HOTTEST BY THE DRIVER'S SIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT REALLY CAUSED THE FIRE IN MY FORD VAN. THEY DID STATE THAT IT LIKELY STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.*AK

VEHICLE FAILED EMISSIONS DURING A ROUTINE SAFETY INSPECTION. CONSUMER STATED HE DID NOT SMELL ANY FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER, THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK

THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER WILL MAKE CONTACT WITH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, THE TRANSMISSION IN MY WIFE'S 1999 FORD WINDSTAR SE BROKE WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE IN MORNING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING EVALUATED FOR REPAIR COST.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE OVER DRIVE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. BLACK SMOKE POURED OUT OF THE EXHAUST PIPE . CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME BY POURING A QUART OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID INTO TRANSMISSION COOLING UNIT AND LINES. CONSUMER HAD A MECHANIC INSPECT THE VEHICLE, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TORQUE CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WORN OUT PARTS. *AK

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS AND TRANSMISSION HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN THE CONSUMER'S 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. *BF *NM

I WAS STOPPED AT A 4-WAY STOP, STARTED TO ACCELERATE AND HEARD A LOUD BANG FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I THEN HAD NO FORWARD GEARS, BUT REVERSE STILL WORKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL FORD DEALER, WHO INFORMED ME THAT I NEEDED A NEW (REMANUFACTURED) TRANSMISSION AT $2500. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 43,423 MILES AND HAS BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED. I CONTACTED THE FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER, BUT WAS OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE OR "GOODWILL" BECAUSE THE WARRANTY PERIOD HAD EXPIRED. THE NUMBER OF 1999 WINDSTAR TRANSMISSION FAILURES REPORTED AT NHTSA AND OTHER WEBSITES APPEARS TO BE INORDINATELY HIGH. *JB

WHEN MY WINDSTAR PASSES THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER, POWER STEERING IS LOST FOR 5 TO 10 SECONDS. IF THE VEHICLE IS NEGOTIATING A CURVE AND ENTERS WATER DURING THE TURN THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE CONTROL WHICH WOULD PREVENT THE DRIVER FROM STAYING WITHIN HIS/HER LANE AND CAUSING A HEAD ON COLLISION OR EXIT THE ROAD SURFACE. *JB

3.8L V6. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, LEAN CODE. HAD INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS REPLACED AT MY COST IN OCT 03 AT 70K MILES. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AGAIN IN FEB 05 AT 90K MILES. INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS AGAIN. AT MY COST AGAIN. FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS DOES NOT FEEL IT'S A PROBLEM.*AK

WHEN TRYING TO PARK THE VEHICLE IT LAUNCHED FORWARD. THE CONSUMER HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF IN ORDER TO STOP THE LAUNCHING. THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS A GASKET KIT THAT WILL PREVENT THE INTAKE GASKET, GAS LEAK. *AK *SC

TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROBLEM, NO LEAK. HAD SPEED SENSOR REPLACED AND WHILE THERE HAD FLUID FLUSHED AND CHANGED. THE DAY AFTER RETURNING HOME WITH VEHICLE NOTICED SMALL AMOUNT OF FLUID ON CARPORT. RETURNED TO DEALER WITHIN 2-3 DAYS. WAS TOLD THAT MAYBE SOME FLUID HAD SPILLED WHILE CHANGING. SEVERAL DAYS LATER NOTICED MUCH MORE FLUID ON CARPORT. RETURNED TO DEALER. NOW THEY SAY THE TORQUE CONVERTER SEAL WAS CRACKED. IT WAS NOT LEAKING AT ALL BEFORE BEING SERVICED. THIS SEAL JUST MYSTERIOUSLY DECIDED TO LEAK IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS SERVICED?

RECALL # 01 V 262 000/AUXILIARY A/C BLOWER MOTOR WIRING: CONSUMER UNABLE TO GET THE DEALER TO HONOR THIS RECALL SINCE JANUARY 1, 2005. *JB

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 56,000 MILES AND THE SECOND TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED WITH 39,000 MILE ON IT. FORD AND THE DEALERSHIP ARE REFUSING TO DO ANYTHING. THERE IS NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ON THEIR PART THAT THERE IS AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH 1999 WINDSTAR TRANSMISSIONS. AFTER MUCH INTERNET RESEARCH< I SAY THERE IS ! *JB

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IN MY 1999 FORD WINDSTAR CAME ON. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, MY COOLANT WAS DISAPPEARING, IT WAS BEING SUCKED INTO MY ENGINE DUE TO A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. EVENTUALLY THE ENGINE LOCKED UP DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION (COOLANT MIXING WITH OIL). I REPLACED THE ENGINE. THE VAN HAD A 3.8L 6 CYLINDER ENGINE MADE IN CANADA. *JB

WE OWN A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. WE BOUGHT IT IN NOVEMBER OF 2001. WE HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER DOORS. WE HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO THE FORD DEALER REPAIR SHOP TO GET FIXED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, BUT HAVE NEVER HAD THEM WORKING RIGHT. THE DOORS VERY RARELY SHUT TIGHTLY AND WHEN THEY DO THEY POP OPEN WHILE IN DRIVE. ON A FEW OCCASIONS THE DOORS HAVE OPENED COMPLETELY. I WORRY THAT MY CHILDREN MIGHT GET SERIOUSLY INJURED IF THIS IS NOT TAKEN CARE OF. HAS ANYONE ELSE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS?*AK

INTERIOR LIGHTS TURN ON AND/OR FLICKER WHEN CAR IS IN MOTION. ALL DOORS CLOSED TIGHT. THE LIGHTS MADE IT HARD TO SEE OUT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. FORD SAID THEY WOULD NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. *JB

THE VEHICLE'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER. *NM THE ALTERNATOR, RIGHT INNER CV BOOT, ABS MODULE, AND BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WERE REPLACE. *JB

THE VEHICLE'S A/C BLOWER MOTOR FAILED WHICH RESULTED IN AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. *NM THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE'S BLOWER MOTOR AND FEELS THAT IF HE WAS NOTIFIED THE REPAIRS COULD HAVE BEEN MADE AND THE FIRE PREVENTED. *NM

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 1999 FORD WINDSTAR AND WITHOUT ANY PRIOR EVENTS, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO "SLIP" WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A START. SHE PROMPTLY DRIVE HOME 1.5MILES AND BY THE TIME SHE GOT HOME THE VAN COULD NOT BE DRIVEN BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION SHUDDERED SO BAD WHEN YOU STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR. WE HAD THE VAN TOWED THE NEXT DAY AND WERE GIVEN NEWS OF A TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND A $1900 REPAIR BILL. THE CAR ONLY HAD 57,000 MILES.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

THE PLASTIC LENS ON MY 1999 FORD WINDSTAR HEADLIGHTS HAVE CLOUDED (NOT DIRTY) WITH AGE. THE LIGHT EMITTED BY THEM AT NIGHT HAS DECREASED BECAUSE OF THAT. THAT HAS CREATED A SAFETY PROBLEM WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. I CANNOT SEE AS CLEARLY OR AS FAR DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THIS WORRIES ME. FORD HAS DECLINED TO REPLACE THEM FOR FREE SAYING THEY HAVE NO RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. I WORK FOR AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS A FLEET OF FORDS. I HAVE SEEN THAT SAME PROBLEM IN THE OLDER FORDS. FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD REPLACE THE LENS FOR FREE. NO SUCH PROBLEM EXISTED IN CARS WITH GLASS HEADLIGHTS. THANK YOU!. *AK

WE WERE STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT AT THE CORNER OF 7TH AVE. AND PIKE STREET IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, MY HUSBAND PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL. WHEN HE DID THAT, WE HEARD A "THUNK" NOISE, AND THEN THE GEARS STARTED GRINDING AND THE ENGINE STARTED REVVING BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. WE HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO TACOMA TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR FACILITY.

CONSUMER STATES DUE TO CORROSION OF THE FUEL RAIL FUEL LEAKS ONTO THE MANIFOLD. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL CATCH ON FIRE. *AK......THIS VEHICLE IS DRIVEN BY EUGENE PALMER FOR EMPLOYER ASCENT MEDIA OF PALM BEACH, FL. AT LEAST TWO 1999 HAVE HAD THIS FUEL PROBLEM. *AK

JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT CAN GO WRONG WITH A CAR, I'VE EXPERIENCED IT AS THE OWNER OF THIS 1999 FORD WINDSTAR LX. I'VE HAD TRANSMISSION WORK DONE, BRAKE WORK, REPLACED TIRES (TWICE IN 2 YEARS), REPLACE THE BATTERY AND THE STARTER. I CAME TO THIS SITE BECAUSE THE CAR WOULDN'T START, WOULDN'T TAKE A JUMP, WOULDN'T MAKE A SOUND. I CALLED TO HAVE IT TOWED AND THE GENTLEMAN JIGGLED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE CAR STARTED. A FEW DAYS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME NO ONE COULD START IT. TESTING THE BATTERY AND PRIMARY PARTS FOR STARTING THE CAR PROVED THAT THESE PARTS WERE ALL FUNCTIONING NORMAL. A FEW HOURS AND $127.00 LATER (NOT INCLUDING THE COST OF TOWING THE VEHICLE) I'M TOLD THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE. IT IS BROKEN AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT $900.00 WITH A 90-DAY WARRANTY. RECOMMENDATIONS TO ME WERE TO GET RID OF THE CAR. "THIS PARTICULAR PART IN ALL FORD VEHICLES IS POORLY BUILT." I HAVEN'T DECIDED WHAT I'M GOING TO DO AT THIS POINT, HOWEVER, I FEEL PRETTY SURE MY DECISION WILL NOT INVOLVE STAYING WITH FORD. *JB

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AND WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF, PULLING THE AXLE OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE HAS FRONT WHEEL DRIVE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SUB FRAME HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK......ACCORDING TO A FEW DEALERSHIPS THE SUBFRAME HAS HA DNUMEROUS PROBLEMS CAUSING THE MANUFACTURER TO ALTER THE MANNER IN WHICH THE TIE ROD IS MOUNTED ON THE WINDSTAR SUBFRAME WHEN THE TIE ROD FAILED RUSTING COMPLETELY OFF . VEHICLE WAS PULLING OUT FROM A STOP SIGN MAKING ALEFT TURN WHEN THE WHEEL SHIFTED AND BROUGHT VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. IF IT HAPPENED EARLIER IT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED AT 55 WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. COST BY FORD WAS $1155.00. *AK

TRANSMISSION ON OUR 1999 FORD WINDSTAR HAD TO BE REPLACED COSTS US 2500.00. CAR HAS ONLY 56,000 MILES ON IT.*AK

ON OCT 30, 2004 ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TOKE TO DEALER LEAKING HEAD GASKET COSTING $459.00 NOW THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED WHICH IS GOING TO COST 2398.00 TO FIX TWO MAJOR REPAIRS IN 2 WEEKS THIS IS CRAP FORD SO FIX THE PROBLEM WITH A RECALL. *AK

THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH FORD EGINES. WHEN IT IS COLD USUALLY A TEMPERATURE BELOW 20 DEGREES THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS DON'T SEAL CORRECTLY, CAUSING A ENGINE ERROR IN THE COMPUTER. MY DEALER SAYS OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS THEY WILL FIX ABOUT 50 A SEASON AND ALREADY THIS SHORT SEASON THEY HAVE FIXED ABOUT A DOZEN INCLUDING MY 1999 FORD WINDSTAR.*AK

HAVE NOW REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM AND POWER STEERING PUMP TWICE IN OUR 99 FORD WINDSTAR. FIRST TIME WAS AT 68,660 MILES, AND JUST REPLACED AGAIN AT 156,912 MILES. HAVE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ON YOUR WEBSITE RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM AND WANTED NHTSA TO BE AWARE THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT IN THIS VEHICLE. *JB

BOTH SLIDING DOORS ON OUR 1999 FORD WINDSTAR, DO NOT OPEN WITH THE ELECTRIC DOOR OPENER AND THE LEFT SIDE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE. THE RIGHT SIDE DOOR IS DETERIORATING THE SAME AS THE LEFT SIDE. THIS COULD BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION IF SOMEONE WERE IN THE CAR AND NEEDED TO GET OUT QUICKLY FOR ANY REASON. *JB

NO HEAT OR DEFROSTER FOR FRONT HALF OF VEHICLE, REAR HEATER WORKS FINE. THERE IS A BLENDING DOOR IN THE HEATER BOX ON THE FIREWALL THAT APPARENTLY HAS A SMALL MOTOR THAT OPERATES THE BLEND DOOR. THE MOTOR IS FINE. MECHANICS TELL ME THAT A SCREW THAT HOLDS THE BOX IN PLACE LOOSENS ALLOWING THE BOX TO WARP WHICH RUBS OR STOPS THE ROD ATTACHED TO THE MOTOR AND THE BLENDING DOOR FROM MOVING SMOOTHLY. MY MOTOR OPERATES FINE BUT HAS BROKEN THE ROD MAKING A CLICKING NOISE WHEN YOU OPERATE THE MANUAL CONTROL FROM COLD TO HOT. THE DOOR STAYS CLOSED IN THE COLD MODE, NO HEAT OR DEFROSTER. *JB

FRONT HEATER DOES NOT WORK. I WENT ON WEB AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS WITH SAME PROBLEM. EITHER HEATER DOOR BEHIND RADIO DOES NOT CLOSE OR GEAR THAT OPERATES DOOR BREAKS. REAR HEATER WORKS, BUT IN COLD WEATHER OR SNOWY WEATHER, ONE CANNOT SEE OUT OF WINDSHIELD WHICH CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *JB

AT APPROXIMATELY 79,000 MILES, TRANSMISSION FAILED CATASTROHICALLY. I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, AND PROCEEDED FORWARD WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, I FELT A VIOLENT FORWARD JOLT, THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER GO FORWARD, THOUGH IT WOULD REVERSE. I HAD VEHICLE TOWED, AND WAS INFORMED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACED, COSTING $1800 (AND THAT WAS WITH A DISCOUNT FOR BEING FREQUENT CUSTOMERS.) ALSO, THE O/D LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING DAYS AFTER WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED IN 2002. DEALER REPAIRED FREE, BUT INFORMED US THAT THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTED TO THE O/D SWITCH RESTED ON THE ENGINE, WHERE NORMAL VIBRATIONS CAUSED IT TO WEAR THROUGH AND FAIL. THE TECHNICIAN CALLED IT A "DESIGN FLAW."*AK

AT 33,000 MILES, SUDDEN TRANSMISSION FAILURE. REBUILT AT A LOCAL SHOP FOR $2600 ... FORD CONTACTED, BUT REFUSED TO STAND BEHIND ITS PRODUCT.*AK

OVERDRIVE LIGHT WILL FLASH REPEATEDLY AFTER APPROXIMATELY DRIVING 20-25 MILES ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, RPMS INCREASE AND VAN ATTEMPTS TO LUNGE FORWARD. ALSO, WHILE PUTTING VAN INTO GEAR LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. TRANSMISSION WAS FLUSHED COMPLETELY, BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. FIRST OCCURANCE AT 61,000 MILES WHILE DRIVING FAMILY BACK FROM VACATION. 2ND OCCURANCE AT 63,000 MILES AND 3RD OCCURANCE AT 63,800 MILES. *AK

THE POORLY MANUFACTURED ALUMINUM PISTONS IN THE TRANSMISSION FRACTURED AND DESTROYED OTHER COMPONENTS IN THE TRANSMISSION AT 99,000 MILES.*AK

WHEN PARKED ON A HILL, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACK. *BF WHEN THE VEHICLE ROLLED, IT WENT A BIG FIELD AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE DRIVERS DOOR AND MUFFLER. THE SECOND INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN THE CONSUMERS DRIVEWAY ON A LITTLE HILL WHEN IT ROLLED AND HIT A TREE AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FENDER AND BUMPER. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN BOTH ACCIDENTS HAPPENED THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. ALSO THE STEERING WHEEL NEVER LOCKED. *JB