1999 Ford Windstar complaints

I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY SAID THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM BUT HE TRANSMISSION STILL SLIPS. THE LAST VAN I HAD DID THE SAME THING IT WAS A 1998 WINDSTAR. THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT AND IN 3 MONTHS I HAD TO HAVE THE WHOLE THING REBUILT. *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*768017

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR. HAD VEHICLE TOWED. TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *MR

INTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKER FREQUENTLY FOR NO APPARENT REASON. LIGHT SWITCH MANIPULATED BUT DOES NOT SEEM TO AFFECT IT. RADIO VOLUME CHANGES. FAILURE OCCURRENCE SEVERAL TIMES PER DAY. LAST OCCURRENCE WAS YESTERDAY (9/26/02) WHERE THE LIGHTS FLICKERED THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. TS

HORN ASSEMBLY IS HARD TO LOCATE ON STEERING WHEEL. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITHIN 50,000 MILES BY DEALER. HOWEVER, PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, BOTH REAR DOORS HAVE FAILED TO OPEN. ONE TIME ONE OF THE REAR DOORS SPONTANEOUSLY AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, AND HAD A CHILD IN THE BACK SEAT. PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN FIXED EACH TIME BY DEALER UNDER THE WARRANTY BUT PROBLEMS REAPPEAR EVERY TIME.*AK

WHEN STOPPING AT A LIGHT VEHICLE REVS AS IF FOOT IS ON GAS PEDAL. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE IS STOPPED AT A LIGHT ENGINE REVS AND VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THERE ARE SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH OUT NOW THREE YEAR OLD WINDSTAR THAT HAVE EITHER BEEN CORRECTED TEMPORARILY OR NOT CORRECTED AT ALL. THE MOST PERSISTENT ISSUES ARE WITH THE DRIVETRAIN IN PARTICULAR THE TRANSMISSION WHICH SHIFTS ERRATICALLY WHEN GOING AROUND CORNER OR CLIMBING HILLS AT LOW SPEAD. THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED AT 25K BUT THE TRANSMISSION CONTINUES TO OPERATE POORLY. FORD HAS OFFERED NO SOLUTION OR WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THESE PROBLEMS. THE ENGINE PROBLEMS TO DATE REVOLVE AROUND THE INNABILITY TO USE REGULAR OR MID GRADE FUELS AS ADVERTISED ON THE VEHICLES STICKER, WE HAVE BEEN OFFERED A VALVE COVER REPLACEMENT FOR $500 BUT IN SPEAKING WITH OTHER WINDSTAR OWNERS THIS ONLY FIXES THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY. ALSO IT SEEMS TO ME THIS IS A DEFECT THAT FORD SHOULD FIX NOT THE OWNER. THE OTHER PERSISTENT PROBLEM IS WITH THE DIREVER SIDE POWER DOOR, IN HOT TEMPERATURES THE DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY AND POPS OPEN WHEN DRIVEING. THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED THIS SEVERAL TIMES AND WHILE BETTER THAT IN WAS IT CONTINUES TO BE AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. WE ARE FRUSTRATED WITH THE PROBELMS THIS VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED INCLUDING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE POWER STEERING SYSTEM, RACK, PUMP AND HOSES AND MORE FRUSTRATING IS FORDS UNWILLINGNESS TO STAND BEHIND THE VEHICLE AND ITS FAULT. OUR OVERWHELMING CONCERN IS THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE WILL BOTH FAIL BEFORE WE HAVE RECEIVED ANY USEFULL VALUE FOR OUR MONEY. FORD NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE PRODUCTS THEY DEVELOP, I HOPE

THE VALVE ON THE RACK AND PINION STEERING DRIED OUT AND NOW LEAKS. THE ENTIRE RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM MUST BE REPLACED NOW AT A COST OF $600. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IT IS THE 4TH WINDSTAR HE HAS SEEN WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. I CONTACTED FORD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY LOGGED IT IN BUT ARE DOING NOTHING FOR ME AT THIS TIME.*AK

I TOOK MY VAN TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER TOLD ME THE REASON WHY MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON BECAUSE A GASKET IS CLOGGED AND IT NEEDS TO BE UNCLOGGED. THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME $625 BUT I COMPLAINED. I FEEL THAT I SHOULD NOT BE HAVE ANY KIND CAR PROBLEM BECAUSE I ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 8 MONTHS. I GAVE THEM A TRADE IN A 1995 BUICK SKYLARK WITH 80000 MILES THAT VEHICLE NEVER GAVE ME ANY TROUBLE AND I HAD THAT CAR FOR 18 MONTHS. I FEEL RIPPED OFF. I GAVE GOOD BROTHERS FORD $500 DOLLARS DOWN AND A GOOD TRADE IN VEHICLE THAT I DIDNT GET THE ESTIMATED BLUE BOOK COST AND A CHECK FOR $15,000 WHICH EVERY TOTALED $16966.NOW EIGHT MONTHS LATER I HAVE TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO THIS VEHICLE. I AM VERY UNHAPPY WITH THIS SITUATION

FIRE UNDER HOOD: PREVIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS: INTERIORS LIGHTS COMING ON AND STAYING ON, DEALERS UNABLE TO FIND PROBLEM OR DUPLICATE. RADIO TURNING ON AND CHANGING STATIONS, COMPONENTS ON ITS OWN. REPLACED ON 03/06/2000. SLIDING DOORS OPENING WHILE VEHICLE IS MOVING AND REFUSING TO CLOSE. DEALER UNABLE TO FIND CAUSE. COMPUTERIZES KEYS NOT WORKING IN IGNITION ON TWO OCCASIONS. SYSTEM BEING REPROGRAM BOTH TIMES. AM SIDE OF RADIO NOT WORKING AT NIGHT FIVE DAYS BEFORE FIRE. NOTED THAT WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED OFF, AM WORKS, BUT WHEN TURNED BACK ON NOTHING BUT STATIC. 2) TRANSMISSION: SEVERAL OCCASSIONS IT WOULD HARDLY PULL UP A HILL, OTHERS THE CAR WOULD STAY AT ONE SPEED ALTHOUGH MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. EXTRA BRAKING WAS NEEDED TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN OR STOP. 3) COMPUTER MODULE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES AND STILL WORKED ERRACTIC THROUGH 08/16/2002. 4) SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER PERFORMED ERRACTIC UNTIL RELACED TO INCLUDE MILEAGE DOUBLING FOR ANY MILEAGE DRIVEN ON A GIVEN DAY. 5) SUSPENSION PROBLEMS: SPINDLE CONNECTING ROD REPLACED 03/07/2002, STRUTS AND BALL JOINTS REPLACED 05/29/2002, AND LOWER ARMS AND TIE ROD ENDS REPLACED 06/07/2002.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 5-10 MPH CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, BEFORE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED VEHICLE BURNED TO THE GROUND.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

MOST RECENT INCIDENT - ENGINE STALLED WITH COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER WHEN REDUCING FROM HIGHWAY SPEED TO ~25 MPH DUE TO TRAFFIC CONJESTION ON NORTH SIDE OF CHICAGO AFTER DRIVING ~45 MINUTES IN 95 DEGREE WEATHER WITH AIR CONDITIONING OPERATION. VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. ILLINOIS DOT PUSHED VEHICLE TO SHOULDER. AFTER TOTAL WAIT ~20 MINUTES, ENGINE RESTARTED. DROVE WITH AIR CONDITIONING OFF AND HEATER ON FULL THROUGH REMAINING CONGESTION (~45 MINUTES). DROVE REMAINING TRIP (TOTAL OF 3.5 HOURS) WITH NO FUTHER INCIDENT. PRIOR OCCURRENCE ON 07/29/02. SIMILAR WEATHER/DRIVING CONDITIONS. AFTER 2.5 HOURS AT HIGHWAY SPEED, EXITED TO SIDE ROAD. VEHICLE STALLED SHORTLY AFTER EXIT. RESTARTED AFTER 15 MINUTES. NO REPEATED INCIDENT IN REMAINING 15 MINUTES OF DRIVE. RETURN TRIP HAD NO INCIDENT. PRIOR INCIDENT IN NOVEMBER, 2001. IN COOL WEATHER, SEVERAL SHORT ERRANT TRIPS - VEHICLE STALLED. RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL HOUR WAIT. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. NO FAILURE CODES DETERMINED, NO DIAGNOSIS OF REASON FOR ENGINE FAILURE. DEALER REPLACED ALTERNATOR UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT HAS A PIECE OF METAL THAT HAS PIERCED THROUGH THE SEAT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED PART WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE, AND SEAT WOULD BE PATCHED UP. METAL IS DANGEROUS AND TEARS CLOTHES UP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THERE IS A SHARP METAL PIECE THAT STICKS OUT OF DRIVER'S SEAT, CUTTING CONSUMER WHEN ENTERING AND EXITING VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

ENGINE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING AT MULTIPLE SPEED OR WHEN SLOWING DOWN. VEHICLE BEEN TO A DEALER ONCE, AND ON THREE OCCASIONS AT A REPAIR SHOP, BUT PROBLEM STILLOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

ALL 4 TIRES CRACKED BETWEEN THE TREADS AND WERE DELAMINATING. *AK

CONSUMER APPLIED ACCELERATOR AT INTERSECTION ENGINE REVVED, BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. DEALER REBUILT TRANSMISSION. IN JULY 2002, TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR AT START UP, AGAIN TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT.*AK

DURING ROUTINE SERVICE MECHANIC NOTICED HEADGASKET HAD BLOWN OUT. PART WAS REPLACED. ON 10 AUGUST 2002, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE AT DEALERSHIP AT THIS TIME.*AK

WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN VEHICLE STALLS. IT IS HARD FOR CONSUMER TO KEEP CONTROL VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY WHEEL LOCKED UP. VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND THEY INFORMED CONSUMER THAT RACK AND PINION STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

1999 FORD WINDSTAR *PH *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**765507

AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP HIT GAS PEDAL TO PULL OFF AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELARATE.ALSO, TRANSMISSION HAD BLOWN. HAD TRANSMISSION REPLACED 3 TIMES; HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. . CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, SLOWED TO MAKE A TURN AND STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN, MAKING AN AWKWARD SOUND. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 20MPH FRONT PAX WHEEL CAME OFF.*AK CONSUMER STATED ALL 5 LUGS SNAPPED AT THE ROTOR, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE, INDICATING THAT THE LUGS WERE LOOSE.*JB

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL PULL, THERE WILL BE CLICKING NOISE. THEN, WILL LOSE STEERING.CONTACTED DEALER. RACK AND PINON STEERING WENT OUT.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL SHUTTER WHEN SPEEDS REACH 35-50 MPH. DEALERSHIP HAS MADE 3 TO 4 ATTEMPTS TO RECTIFY FAILURE, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE MAKES UNPLEASANT RUBBING, GROANING NOISES WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED, THE DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE TIE ROD ENDS ARE DEFECTIVE.*JB

THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAKES GRUNTING/HUMMING NOISES WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURNED. THE MIN-VAN IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD AND 44,000 MILES. THIS REPAIR SHOULD BE COVERED BY A RECALL.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, CONSUMER TOOK FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLES DASH LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE DIED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHO REPLACED THE VALVE THROTTLE ASSEMBLY. *AK CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT THE VALVE COVER WAS REPLACED. *SLC

HORN DOES NOT WORK. DEALER CHECKED VEHICLE, AND INSTALLED A NEW HORN ASSEMBLY, BUT HORN STILL DOES NOT FUNCTION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN REMOVING FEET FROM GAS PEDAL VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF AND LOSE POWER STEERING. RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION ON OUR 1999 WINDSTAR HAS FAILED PREMATURELY. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE. I AM SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIRS FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN GIVE ME REGARDING COMPLAINTS FILED BY OTHER FORD CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THANK YOU.*AK

RACK AND PINION STEERING COMPONENT IS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID, RESULTING IN LOSS OF EASE IN CONTROL. VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHECKED BY DEALER.*AK

EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING WHILE MAKING A TURN IN A PARKING LOT. I NEARLY STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, ALL WHILE MAKING LOW SPEED SHARP TURNS. MY SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THE BEARING IN THE POWER STEERING PUMPS FAILS CONTAMINATING THE POWER STEERING FLUID WHICH THEN CAUSES THE FAILURE OF THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR. MY OWN RESEARCH SHOWS THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG ALL FORD VEHICLES USING THIS TYPE OF PUMP. LOSS OF STEERING WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A SHARP TURN IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION.*AK

I HAVE FOUND TOO MANY PERSONS ON THE INTERNET WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW UNABLE TO ALIGN VEHICLE.DEALER CONTACTED.*AK

WHEN MAKING TURNS STEERING IS VERY TIGHT DUE TO POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING FROM VEHICLE. RACK AND PINION STEERING WAS REPLACED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 30-40 MPH HEARD A WHINING NOISE. DEALER DETERMINED FIRST AND SECOND GEARS HAVE GONE OUT. TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.*AK

2 AMERI-GS60 TIRES FAILED ON OUR FORD WINDSTAR WITHIN 2 MONTHS. FIRST INCIDENT IN MID APRIL. FRONT DRIVER SIDE TREAD SEPARATED AT 55MPH. OUTSIDE TEMP APPROX 70 DEGREES. TIRE REMAINED INFLATED LONG ENOUGH TO REACH NEARBY DISCOUNT TIRE. THEY REPLACED IT AT NO CHARGE AND KEPT TIRE. SECOND INCIDENT ON SAME VEHICLE ON 6/8/2002 AT 75MPH ON DRIVER REAR TIRE. OUTSIDE TEMP APPROX 75 DEGREES. THREW TREAD AND TIRE WENT FLAT SENDING VAN OUT OF CONTROL ACROSS LANE OF TRAFFIC ON INTERSTATE. NO ACCIDENT, BUT DEPARTING TREAD RUINED WHEEL WELL, BUMPER, AND REAR FENDER. ALSO LODGED PIECE OF TREAD ABOVE GAS LINE AND PULLED GAS FILLER SPOUT PARTIALLY THROUGH THE FENDER AND BROKE OFF GAS CAP. NO INJURIES. I HAVE REMAINDER OF TIRE AND PORTION OF TREAD. COST $120 TOW PLUS YET TO BE DETERMINED (MY GUESS $1500-$1800 DAMAGE) AS WELL AS COSTS (IF ANY) OF REPLACING OTHER 3 AMERI-GS60 TIRES THAT I REFUSE TO LEAVE ON CAR AFTER FIRST 2 FAILURES!*AK

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES. THEN, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE WENT INTO DITCH AND ROLLED. REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATBELT LATCH PLATE BROKE, AND PASSENGER SUFFERED 11 FRACTURES/ DRIVER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK IT APPEARS THE SEAT BELT ON THE SECOND ROW CAPTAINS CHAIR DID HOLD DURING PART OF THE ROLLOVER BECAUSE OCCUPANT HAD MARKS FROM THE SEAT BELT *YH

CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AT 55 MP AND, BRAKE PEDAL FELT NORMAL. ABS SYSTEM NEVER KICKED IN. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, WENT INTO DITCH AND ROLLED OVER. PASSENGER SUFFERED 11 FRACTURES/ DRIVER MINOR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK

STEERING IS MAKING WEIRD SOUNDS WHICH CAUSES NOISE TO PROGRESS, STEERING WOULD BECOME STIFF WITH SOME BINDING EVEN AFTER POWER STEERING ADDED, CONDITION REMAINED THE SAME. DEALER IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE ACTUAL CAUSE WITH REPLACEMENT OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP/ TIE ROD ENDS, AND RACK ASSEMBLY. *AK *TT

VEHICLE STOPPED FOR A LIGHT, AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF, VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. CONSUMERS FOOT WAS PRESSED ON GAS PEDAL, AND VEHICLE JUST MADE A NOISE AND WOULD NOT GO. *AK CONSUMER ADDS EVEN THOUGH RECALL 00B51 WAS PERFORMED ON VEHICLE, THE TRANNY, WHICH IS POSSIBLY RELATED TO THE RECALL, FAILED. *TT

AT 70MPH ENGINE BLEWOUT, AND ANTIFREEZE STARTED TO LEAK FROM VEHICLE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK