1999 Ford Windstar complaints

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STAYED ON. DEALER STATED THAT ENGINE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

POWER SLIDING DOOR OPENS WHILE DRIVING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING SOUND. WHEN DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TRAVEL FORWARD AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE THE VEHICLE MOVED BACKWARDS. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *SC

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD "POPPING" SOUND. WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE IT WENT INTO REVERSE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE REACHED HIGH TEMPERATURES. INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THAT HIGH TEMPERATURE WAS DUE TO INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE. *AK

STEERING MAKES A GROANING OR RUBBING TYPE OF NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE ANY IMPACT ON PERFORMANCE OF THE STEERING BUT IS A GOD-AWFUL NOISE AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS!!!*AK THANKS!!

1999 FORD WINDSTAR: TIE ROD ENDS DEGRADED AT 60,000 MILES, SENDING BITS OF METAL THROUGH THE SEALS IN THE RACK AND PINYON STEERING SYSTEM; GENERATED VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. COULD HAVE CAUSED DANGEROUS ACCIDENT. MECHANICS FIRST REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP , WHCIH DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. SECOND REPAIR WAS REPLACEMENT OF R&P STEERING SYSTEM. REPAIR WAS OVER $1,000.

RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM FAILED. I HAVE READ OF NUMEROUS OTHER FORD VEHICLES MANUFACTURED WITHIN A FEW YEARS OF MINE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. EVEN A NEIGHBOR HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE IS A 1999 WITH 56,000 MILES. NOT EVEN 5 YEARS OLD WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURED. THIS COMPONET SHOULD LAST FOR A VEHICLES' LIFETIME. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD, THEY OFFERED NO HELP. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE AN INVESTIGATION! IT COST OVER $800 DOLLARS TO REPAIR, AND BEING THAT IT WAS REPLACED WITH ANOTHER FORD RACK AND PINION SYSTEM, I SHOULD PROBABLY START SAVING MY MONEY NOW FOR FUTURE REPAIRS. OUR MECHANIC TOLD US TO NOT REWARD FORD ANYMORE, AND BUY FROM A DIFFERENT MANUFACTURER.*AK

I TOOK THE VAN TO THE CAR WASH ON SAT. 14TH OF FEB. AS I STARTED TO WASH THE VAN STARTING WITH THE ROOF, THE PAINT STARTED FLAKING OFF ABOVE THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR.*AK

STEERING RACK FAILURE ON 1999 FORD WINSTAR (INTERNAL SEAL FAILURE - 48,182 MILES).*AK

I OWN A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR WHICH I PURCHASED NEW. AT 35,700 MILES THE RACK AND PINION STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (LUCKILY IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY) NOW AT 59,000 MILES I'M EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. I ALSO REPLACED A TIE ROD, AND THE FRONT END IS ALWAYS CREAKING, BUT NO ONE CAN FIND THE SOURCE.*AK

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT LATCH DID NOT LOCK INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP TO FIX THE SEAT BELT LAST YEAR. TWO WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIR SEAT BELT FAILED AGAIN. CONSUMER RECENTLY CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED HIM SEAT BELT COULD BE FIXED AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED BECAUSE THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO PAY THE AMOUNT THAT THE DEALER REQUIRED TO FIX THE SEAT BELT. *AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON 1999 FORD WINDSTAR ON COME ON 4 TIMES IN LAST TWO MONTHS. A "LEAN CONDITION" WAS REPORTED FIRST 3 TIMES FROM SHOP. REPLACED FUEL/AIR FILTER, SPARK PLUGS/WIRES AND SOME HOSES. LIGHT CAME BACK ON AGAIN SAME DAY IT CAME BACK FROM SHOP. SEEMS LIKE MANY OTHER CONSUMERS ARE HAVING SAME PROBLEM (SEE WEBSITE - HTTP://WWW.CARTRACKERS.COM/FORUMS/LIVE/FORD WINDSTAR/493.HTML). WHEN WILL FORD HAVE TO STAND UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE DESIGN INSTEAD OF THE CUSTOMER BEING NICKEL & DIMED TO DEATH (SOME FIXES AREN'T EXACTLY NICKELS AND DIMES EITHER). *JB

MY WINDSTAR STARTING MAKING A WHINING NOISE AND IT BEGAN TO GET WORSE AND WORSE.HE NOISE WAS ONE THING, BUT THE DRIVING OF THE VEHICLE BECAME EXTREMELY DANGEROUS... IT STARTED TO PULL WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED.*AK STEERING BECAME VERY DANGEROUS.

GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING. *LA

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE DID NOT SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR THE WINDOW. THE BLADE TOUCHED THE BOTTOM AND THE TOP OF THE WINDOW, BUT NOT THE CENTER WHERE THE CONSUMER NEEDED IT THE MOST. *AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK VAN INTO SHOP TO HAVE CHECKED. THROUGH DIAGNOSIS AND CONTACT WITH LOCAL FORD DEALER, DETERMINED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS WERE LEAKING, REQUIRING A 700 PLUS DOLLAR REPAIR TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT FORD HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM FOR QUITE SOME TIME, HAVE ISSUED NUMEROUS SERVICE BULLETINS RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM, AND HAVE A " KIT " AVAILABLE TO REPAIR. BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT FORD HAS BEEN FULLY AWARE OF FOR A LONG TIME, AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL SO THE CONSUMER IS NOT BURDENED WITH REPAIR COSTS FOR A PROBLEM THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF LONG AGO. *CB

THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ENGAGE INTO GEAR, CAN MOVE LEVER BUT VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE.

THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AGAIN ON 6-21-03 WITH JUST UNDER 60000 MILES ON VAN. BOTH TRANSMISSION FAILURES WRE SUDDEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING SLIPPAGE ETC. BOTH TRANS FAILURES LEFT THE VEHICLE WITH NO FORWARD GEARS, BUT REVERESE WORKED EACH TIME. THE FLUID HAS BEEN CHANGED PROPERLY AND THE VAN IS WELL MAINTAINED.

TRANSMISSION IS PRIMARY ISSUE HAS SHIFTING PROBLEM AT LOW SPEED, HAS OVER 8 TSB ON THE ISSUE AND HAS NEW TRANSMISSION INSTALLED BUT STILL HAVE PROBLEM THE OTHER ISSUES ARE CLEARLY COMMON FOR THIS MODEL AS WELL, BUT THIS TRANSMISSIONAND FORDS LACK OF SUPPORT FROM THEIR SERVICE AND DEALERS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING. INTERNAL FAILURE OF COMPONENTS.

I WAS JUST OVER MY WARRANTY IN JULY/2002 ON A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR WITH 31,000 MILES. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING WITH MY THREE KIDS THE VAN STALLED. THE TRANSMISSIONS FAILED?

LEFT REAR AND LEFT FRONT HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLIES BEGAN MAKING LOUD HUMMING/GRINDING SOUNDS SUDDENLY AT 51,000 MILES. FORD DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED DEFECTIVE HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLIES FOR THE STANDARD PRICE AS IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THIS ITEM SHOULD LAST MUCH LONGER WITHOUT FAILING. STEERING PUMP BEGAN INTERMITTENTLY MAKING WHINING/HISSING SOUNDS WHEN THE SLIGHTEST TURNING INPUT WAS APPLIED. BY THE TIME THE FAILED POWER STEERING PUMP WAS DIAGNOSED, AND THE WHINING WAS CONSTANT, IT HAD CAUSED THE RACK AND PINION SEALS TO FAIL AND STEERING FLUID TO LEAK FROM THE RACK AND PINION SLEEVES. WHEN STEERING FLUID GOT LOW AND STEERING WAS NO LONGER POWER ASSISTED, MY WIFE ALMOST HAD A COLLISION WITH A VEHICLE FULL OF CHILDREN. NOT TRUSTING FORD ANYMORE, I ORDERED THE PARTS MYSELF AND HIRED A LOCAL MECHANIC TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND RACK AND PINION. IN MOST VEHICLES THESE COMPONENTS SHOULD LAST BEYOND 100,000 MILES. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I FOUND THAT FAILING POWER STEERING PUMPS, LEADING TO FAILED RACK AND PINION SEALS, IS A CONSISTENT PROBLEM ON 1999 WINDSTARS, AND THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND TRYING AVOID ADDRESSING IT.

I AM HAVING LOTS OF TROUBLES WITH 1999 FORD WINDSTAR SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT FROM DEALER (LEW WEBB FORD, GARDEN GROVE). 1. CURRENTLY MY VAN HAS MANIFOLD LEAKAGE. THIS HAS OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FORD DEALER FIXED MY TRANSMISSION LEAKAGE. THE PRICE QUOTED IS $1200 OUT OF WHICH I HAVE TO PAY $540. I HAVE ALREADY SPENT LOTS OF MONEY IN MAINT & REPAIRS. BEFORE THIS I HAD TO TAKE MY VAN TO DEALER FOR FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: TRANSMISSION LEAKAGE AT 37000 MILES. FRONT & BACK BRAKES AT 37000 MILES. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. COUPLE OF RECALLS. CURRENTLY IT HAS APPROXIMATELY 50600 MILES ON ODOMETER AND I HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATING TO & FRO WITH DEALER. FOR THE CURRENT PROBLEM DEALER HAS OFFERED ME 55% IN ASSISTANCE. BUT MY PROBLEM IS I AM WASTING LOTS OF TIME, MONEY & ENERGY TO HAVE ALL THIS PROBLEMS FIXED. I WOULD PREFER TO HAND THIS VAN BACK TO DEALER OR ATLEAST GET MORE ASSISTANCE FROM DEALER OR FORD COMPANY. PLEASE ADVISE ME OF ANY FURTHER ACTION I SHOULD TAKE. MY PHONE NUMBER IS[XXX]. THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR LOOKING INTO THIS MATTER. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WE HAVE TAKEN THIS VAN IN FOR REPAIR FIVETIMESIN ONE YEAR. THE FIRST MONTH WE HAD IT THE HEAD WAS REPLACED. THE POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT FOR NOW THE FIFTH TIME. I ACTUALLY LOST CONTROLOF THE VEHICLE DUE TO BEINGUNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING. MY HUSBAND HAS TO DRIVE ME EVERYWHERE BECAUSE ONLY HE CAN TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. EACH TIME WE TAKE IT FOR REPAIR WE ARE CHARGED A DEDUCTIBLE AND I CAN NOT DO THIS ANYMORE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A LEMON. MARSHALL MIZE FORD IN CHATTANOOGA TENNESSEE IS WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN JANUARY OF 2001. THEY ALSO HAVE PERFORMED ALL SERVICE ON THIS VEHICLE. FORD HAS NOT BEEN UNDERSTANDING OF WHY MY PAYMENTS HAVE BEEN LATE, BUT WHEN YOU ARE HAVING THESE KINDS OF ISSUES SUCH AS ELECTRICAL, TRANSMISSION, AIR CONDITIONING, AND ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS, IT DOES NOT TAKE A GENIUS TO FIGURE OUT WHY A WOMAN WITH A FAMILY WHO DEPENDS ON THIS VEHICLE AS RELIABLE, SAFE MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION IS HAVING DIFFICULTY. MAYBE IF THEIR PRODUCT WAS OF BETTER QUALITY, MY CHILDREN WOULD BE IN A SAFE VEHICLE, AND FORD WOULD GET THEIR MONEY ON TIME.

WE PURCHASED THE 1999 WINDSTAR IN DEC 1998. FROM THE FIRST WEEKS OF OWNERSHIP, WE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION. DEALER CHANGED TRANSMISSION FLUID AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. PROBLEMS WERE AS FOLLOWS: LOUD CLUNKS WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE, WHILE FOOT PRESSING FIRMLY ON BRAKE PEDAL; TRANSMISSION HESITATES WHEN DOWN SHIFTING GOING AROUND CORNERS; AS A PASSENGER I FELT AS IF THE WHOLE CAR WAS LUNGING CAUSING DIZZINESS TO MOTION SICKNESS (DID NOT OCCUR WHILE I WAS DRIVING); HARD SHIFTS BETWEEN FIRST & SECOND; REAR WINDOW WIPER FAILED; POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED WHICH CAUSED THE RACK & PINION SEALS TO FAIL, WHICH RESULTED IN A NEW RACK INSTALLED; EGR VALVE RUBBER BOOT KEPT POPPING OFF UNTIL I PLACED A SMALL HOSE CLAMP TO HOLD IT IN PLACE; CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON EVERY SINCE 15,000 MILES; O/D BUTTON NEVER WORKED; O/D LIGHT FLASHED REPEATEDLY MINUTES PRIOR TO THE TRANSMISSION GOING OUT. NOW THE FORD DEALER SAID I NEEDED A NEW UPPER PLENUM, EGR VALVE, PFE, VALVE COVER GASKET, BATTERY CABLE AND THIS WAS FOUND WHILE CHECKING THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I TOLD THEM TO FORGET IT! $3K IS ENOUGH TO SPEND ON A FIVE YEAR OLD CAR! THIS IS ALL I CAN THINK OF AT THIS POINT.

MILEAGE WAS 49600, TOTAL COST FOR THE REPAIR WAS $2600.00 BUT OUR COST WAS ONLY $2072.00 BECAUSE DREW FORD IN SAN DIEGO, CA HELPED US COVER SOME OF THE COST. THE ITEMIZED BILL SAID THE REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION WAS $1702.28. THE TRANNY WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS AND NO SIGN OF GIVING OUT. MY WIFE USUALLY DRIVES IT BUT I HAD JUST DRIVEN IT THE DAY BEFORE AND I AM IN TUNE WITH ODD NOISES AND THE VAN HAD NONE. 8/22/2003 IN THE EVENING WHEN SHE PULLED INTO OUR GARAGE AND WAS STILL MOVING FORWARD, IT STOPPED. IT DIDN'T MOVE UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS REV'D PRETTY HIGH THEN IT WOULD KICK IN VIOLENTLY. THAT LASTED ABOUT 2 OR 3 TIMES WHILE TRYING TO FINISH MOVING IT INTO THE GARAGE WHEN A HUGE GRINDING SOUND TOOK PLACE AND THE VAN DID NOT MOVE AGAIN UNTIL THE TOW TRUCK TOOK IT AWAY! I AM OUTRAGED THAT THE VAN WAS SO YOUNG WHEN A MAJOR COMPONENT WENT OUT LIKE THE TRANSMISSION. AND AFTER COMBING THE WEB FOR OTHERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS, I FOUND PLENTY OF PEOPLE. I THINK FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD PAY FOR THIS. I FIGURE THEY WON'T, THOUGH.

PURCHASED USED 11/15/02. UPON 2ND ROUTINE OIL CHANGE WAS ADVISED THAT I HAD A TRANS. LEAK PAN GASKET. TOOK THE VAN TO DEALERSHIP (NEMER FORD) WHERE PURCHASED, ADVISED THEM THAT THE VAN WAS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY IN ADDITION TO THE GASKET NEEDING REPLACEMENT.THEY ADVISED ME THAT THE GASKET DID NEED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT I SHOULD HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED AND SERVICED, I AGREED TO THIS SERVICE. THERE WAS STILL SLIGHT SHUDDERING WHEN SHIFTING, BUT NOT LIKE IT WAS. UPON TAKING IT IN FOR THE 3RD ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, I ADVISED THEM THAT NOT ONLY WAS THE SHUDDERING GETTING WORSE, BUT NOW THE O/D LIGHT IS FLASHING AND THE RPM'S ARE JUMPING AROUND. ALSO TOLD THEM THAT WHEN YOU INITIALLY START THE VEHICLE THERE IS A MOMENTARY GRINDING NOISE. PICKED UP THE VAN AND RETURNED IT FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUES 19 DAYS LATER. I HAVE YET TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AS WE ARE STILL EXPERIENCING ALL OF THE EXACT SAME ISSUES, WITH THE ADDED TWISTS OF INTERIOR LIGHTS COMING ON WHEN WE HIT BUMPS AND TURNING OFF WHEN WE HIT THE NEXT BUMP, WHEN USING THE RIGHT HAND TURN SIGNAL, UPON STRAIGHTENING OUT FROM THE TURN THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL COMES ON ALL BY ITSELF, AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST THERE IS AN ODOR THAT CAN ONLY BE COMPARED TO RAW SEWER COMING FROM UNDER MY HOOD, NOT SULFER, BUT SEWER. TO DATE THE SOLENOID HAS BEEN REPLACED, AS HAS THE TORQUE CONVERTER, (WITH MUCH RESISTANCE FROM THE WARRANTY COMPANY) I HAVE A HARD TIME BELIEVING THAT THE FORD CORPORATION IS UNAWARE OF THESE PROBLEMS, AS I AM CL

WE FIRST HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT 49000 MILES FOR $2000.00. JUST A FEW MONTHS LATER THE ENGINE FAILED AT 53000 MILES. TO SAVE MONEY, WE PURCHASED A USED ENGINE FROM A WRECKED WINDSTAR VAN FOR $900.00. MY HUSBAND AND FATHER DID THE LABOR THEMSELVES. THEN IN JULY 2003 WE HAD TO REPLACE THE SHIFT SOLENOIDS WHICH COST $500.00 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. NOW, JUST A LITTLE OVER A YEAR FROM REPLACING THE FIRST TRANSMISSION, THE VAN IS IN THE SHOP AGAIN WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. ANY ADVICE YOU CAN OFFER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATE. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

THE REAR AC UNIT WENT OUT AROUND 75K NEVER GOT IT FIXED BUT WHEN WE HAD THE CAR SERVICED THE COMPUTER PANEL WAS RESET AND IT WORKED AGAIN AT 96K. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED AND WE NEVER GOT IT FIXED. THE GAS GAUGE LIGHT CAME ON AND WE HAD IT FIXED AT 98K AND I DON'T KNOW THE COST. THE VAN WAS RECALLED BECAUSE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND THE REAR AC UNIT. THERE WASN'T NO COST.THE DETAILS OF THE FIRE. MY WIFE GOT OUT HER CAR FOR WORK AND ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER THE FIRE TRUCKS WERE THERE. OUR ADJUSTER SAID THE FIRE INITIATED BEHIND THE PASSENGER SEAT IN THE AC AND HEATING CONTROL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED ON 12 SEPT. THE VEHICLE HAD 119K ON IT NOW. IF THERE IS ANYTHING ELSE YOU LIKE TO ASK ME FEEL FREE TO. I AM REALLY UPSET WITH FORD ON THE WAY THEY HANDLED THIS ENTIRE SITUATION ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTED FIRES FROM RECALLS LOCATED ON THE WEB SITES. I

HEAT FAILED IN JULY, PIN TO FLAP IN EVAPORATOR CASE ASSEMBLY HAD BROKEN OFF. WHOLE ASSEMBLY HAS TO BE REPLACED REQUIRING TEARING APART THE DASHBOARD. PART ALONE COST $326.40 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON - FOUND PRESSURE LEAK AT GASKET. HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT ENGINE SLUGGISHNESS FOR YEARS AND WAS TOLD THE COMPUTER COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG...AFTER GASKET WAS FIXED, NO MORE ENGINE SLUGGISHNESS. FORD WOULD NOT COVER SAYING THE PROBLEMS COULD NOT BE TIED TOGETHER TO JUSTIFY WARRANTY REPAIR!! POWER STEERING WENT. FIRST ATTEMPTED FLUSHING SYSTEM. AFTER FAILED AGAIN, REPLACED PUMP, AFTER THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, HAD TO REPLACE ENTIRE SYSTEM. FORD REPLIED TO MY REQUEST FOR COVERAGE THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST CASE THEY HAD HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM IN A WINDSTAR AND TO KEEP MY RECEIPTS SO THAT I MIGHT GET CONSIDERATION IF THEY DO SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE. I FEEL THESE PROBLEMS ARE EXCESSIVE FOR A 50,000 MILE CAR...FORD AGREES BUT SAYS THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF PROBLEMS IS MUCH LOWER SO THEY STILL CLASS THEIR CAR AS VERY RELIABLE!!!

* VEHICLE LEANS SINCE PURCHASED SEPT 13, 2003. * ALLIGNMENT PROBLEMS. * TRANSMISSION DOES NOT PROPERLY CHANGE GEARS. * LOW TREADS ON TIRES. * A FRAME PROBLEMS. * SUSPENSION STEERING MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE. * BRAKES MUST BE PUMPED TO STOP, AND MAKE A TICKING NOISE WHEN APPLIED. * VEHICLE HAS OVERHEATED. * POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED. * GEARS DO NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. * PRIMER SCOTCH GUARD ON SEATS WEARING AFTER COAT APPLIED.

I JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE MAY 2003. I WAS HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WOULDN'T ACCELERATE PAST 40 KM'S THEN WOULD REV REALLY HIGH THEN KICK INTO GEAR. I FOUND OUT FROM ANOTHER DEALERSHIP THAT THE VEHICLE HAS HAD A TRANSMISSION PUT IN DEC'02 AT 68,000KMS THEN ANOTHER WENT IN JAN'03 WITH 974 KM'S ON THAT ONE & FOUND OUT TODAY I NEED A NEW ONE. I AM FIGHTING WITH THE DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD ME THIS VEHICLE THAT I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. THAT THEY OBVIOUSLY KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH IT WHEN THEY SOLD IT TO ME. STILL WAITING TO SEE WHO'S GOING TO PAY FOR IT. BEEN WAITING FOR TUESDAY WILL BE A WEEK. DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM WAS TOTEM FORD MERCURY.

THE ENGINE COOLANT IS MISSING AND #4 SPARK PLUG IS GETTING DAMP CAUSING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON.

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT TIE ROD AND STEERING GEAR BOX PROBLEMS. *AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED REPEATEDLY ABOUT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, BUT NOTHING WAS DONE BECAUSE THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE DOOR LOCK WAS INOPERATIVE WITH THE KEY, WHEN DRIVEN AT LOW SPEEDS A CLUNK NOISE WAS HEARD, BUT IT WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, THE VEHICLE LURCHED IN LOW GEAR AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO DOWNSHIFT WHEN GOING UP HILL. *SC *JB

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON MY 1999 WINDSTAR VAN ...HAS 61,300 MILES ON IT....WAS PUTTING IT IN DRIVE FROM A STOPPED POSTION AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND ALMOST SOUNDED LIKE EXPLOSION OF SORTS....LIKE A BACKFIRE IN MUFFLER....DOES NOT GO IN DRIVE AT ALL....SPEEDOMETER DOESNT WORK WHEN MOTOR IS REVVED ...*AK

WHEEL STUD BREAKAGE IN MY 1999 FORD WINDSTAR VEHICLES. *LA

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 75000 MILES. SUDDEN LOSS OF FORWARD GEARS. REVERSE WORKS. THIS TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 21,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN REBUILT AT THE FORD DEALER AS WELL. THE WINDSTAR TRANSMISSION IS A LEMON. *LA

ENGINE TROUBLE LIGHT COMES ON WITH LEAN DIAGNOSTIC CODES. DEALER HAS TRIED THREE FIXES AND TROUBLE IS STILL HAPPENING

SEVERE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK DUE TO RACK AND PINION FAILURE.

FORD WINSTAR 1999 WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE DRIVING. CRACK DEVELOPED AT THE BOTTOM, MID-WIDTH AND IS PROGREESING OVER THE LAST TWO DAYS. ABOUT 10 IN. LONG AFTER TWO DAYS.WAS NOT HIT BY STONE. CRACK IS CLEAN, NO DINGS, ETC.*AK

THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT AND MADE A TICKING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS CONSTANTLY IN THE REPAIR SHOP BUT THE MECHANIC ARE WAS UNABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK ALSO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED PASSENGER'S SLIDING DOOR OPENED UP WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

I HAVE A 1999 WINDSTAR, WITH ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THAT ARE UNRESOLVED AFTER 3 WEEKS IN TWO DIFFERENT GARAGES. THE NUMBER 10 FUSE KEEPS BLOWING. SO I HAVE NO HEAT, OR AIR, WILL NOT OPEN BACK DOORS AND A NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS. IT IS WINTER AND I CAN'T DRIVE IT WITHOUT HEAT. AND WILL NOT BE FUN IN THE SUMMER WITH NO AIR. THE AIR WON'T WORK WITH THE FUSE BLOWN. IT BLOWS, EVEN WHEN ALL OF THE THINGS, LISTED IN THE BOOK ARE DISCONNECTED. IT STILL BLOWS.*AK

AT 71,876 MILES THE RACK AND PINION STEERING AND POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED ON MY 1999 FORD WINDSTAR, LEAVING ME WITHOUT POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. ON A CAR OF THIS SIZE IT IS, I BELIEVE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING.*AK

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. A RECALL WAS ISSUED; HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

WHEN WE OPEN THE DOORS, SOMETIMES THE INTERIOR LIGHTING DOES NOT COME ON. OTHER TIMES IT BLINKS ON AND THEN GOES OFF. EVEN OTHER TIMES IT WILL BLINK QUICKLY. SOMETIMES THE LIGHTS COME ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF AFTER DOORS HAVE BEEN CLOSED. WHILE DRIVING THE DASHBOARD LIGHTING WILL SOMETIMES BLINK ON AND OFF AS WELL. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM FOR THE SHORT TIME THEY HAD THE VEHICLE. THIS MAKES SINCE BECAUSE OF THE INTERMITTENT NATURE OF THIS PROBLEM. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE DASHBOARD LIGHTING COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE OR IF THE PROBLEM MOVES TO OTHER SYSTEMS SUCH AS EXTERIOR LIGHTING. *LA

SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING...1999 FORD WINDSTAR 68000 MILE NEED DRIVING PUMP & RACK REPLACED @ $1000. AFTER SPEAKING WITH NUMBER OF FRIENDS AND VISITING FORUMS, NOTE THAT THIS SAFETY PROBLEM APPEARS WIDESPREAD. APPARENT DESIGN DEFECT. AK

ACTUATOR DOOR MOTOR HAS BROKEN RODS TO BLEND DOOR. WE ARE WITHOUT HEAT, BLOWS COLD AIR ONLY. MUST REPLACE ENTIRE HEATER ASSEMBLY AT EST. COST OF $980.00 DOLLARS. INITIAL COST TO REPLACE THE MOTOR ALONE WAS FOR $225.00 WHICH WAS FIRST DIAGNOSIS OF PROBLEM. *JB