1996 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

LEAKING ANTIFREEZE AT TIMING COVER GASKET. WINDSTARS HAVE BECOME KNOWN FOR HEAD AND TIMING COVER GASKET LEAKS. REPAIRS ESTIMATED TO BE $700 - $900 TO REPLACE A $7 GASKET WHICH FORD KNOWS IT HAS A PROBLEM. FORD SHOULD BE MADE TO REIMBURSE CUSTOMERS EXPENSES AND ISSUE RECALL ON OTHER AFFECTED VEHICLES. FORDS CUSTOMER SERVICE NEEDS ATTENTION. PROBLEM STARTED IN EARLY OCTOBER 2000 WITH LOSS OF HEAT FOR HEATER OPERATION. I NOTICED ANTIFREEZE LEVEL WAS LOW AND REFILLED. HEAT RETURNED. VEHICLE WAS UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY UNTIL NOVEMBER 2000. ABOUT MID NOVEMBER NOTICED ANTIFREEZE LEAKING ONTO DRIVEWAY. GILBOY FORD HAS CONFIRMED TIMING COVER GASKET LEAK. I AM ON FULL TIME DISABILITY AND FEEL FORD SHOULD BE FOOTING THE BILL FOR THIS REPAIR. THANK YOU FOR YOU ASSISTANCE

BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THIS IS A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH FORD'S 94 AND 95 WINDSTARS. IN CONTACTING FORD'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER, THEY INDICATE THAT THESE EARLIER VEHICLES ARE NOW COVERED BY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE NHTSA HAS DETERMINED THAT FORD WAS AT FAULT; HOWEVER, THEY INDICATE THAT NHTSA HAS MADE NO SIMILAR RULING ON THE 1996 MODEL. I HAVE ASKED FORD FOR AN EXPLANATION OF THE DEFECT THAT WAS FOUND IN THE 1994 AND 1995 MODELS AND THE DATE BY WHICH A SPECIFIC, CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS TAKEN TO ENSURE AGAINST SIMILAR FAILURE IN SUBSEQUENT MODELS. THE FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER INDICATES THAT THE DEALER IS THE ONLY SOURCE OF TECHNICAL INFORMATION AND THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO RESPOND TO THIS ISSUE. MY QUESTION TO THE NHTSA IS WHETHER YOU CAN ASSIST IN DOCUMENTING THE SPECIFICS OF THE DEFECT AND THE TIMELINE WITHIN WHICH FORD TOOK CORRECTIVE ACTION TO YOUR SATISFACTION? IT IS POSSIBLE THAT I AM SIMPLY UNFORTUNATE AND THAT THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON MY '96 WINDSTAR--ALTHOUGH IT SEEMS AWFULLY SIMILAR TO THE HEAD GASKET FAILURES ON HUNDREDS (THOUSANDS?) OF 94 AND 95 WINDSTARS--IS ONLY A COINCIDENCE? OR IS IT THE CASE THAT MY VEHICLE HAS SUFFERED THE SAME FATE AS THOSE EARLIER VEHICLES BUT NOT ENOUGH OF THE '96 VEHICLES HAVE REACHED THE POINT OF FAILURE FOR THIS MODEL TO HAVE REACHED STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT LEVELS? IF I KNEW THAT YOU HAD PINPOINTED THE PROBLEM AND THAT FORD HAD CORRECTED IT PRIOR TO THE BUILD DATE OF MY VEHICLE (WHICH I UNDERSTAND TO BE FEB. 1996) OR THE MANUFACTURING DATE OF THE ENGINE COMPONENTS, I WOULD PROBABLY BE LESS FRUSTRATED AT THE $3646.88 BILL FROM FORD TO REPLACE THEIR "DEFECTIVE" ENGINE. AS IT STANDS NOW, THEIR HISTORY OF DENYING THE PROBLEM WITH THE 94 AND 95 VEHICLES, THEIR RELUCTANCE TO EXPLAIN THAT HEAD GASKET PROBLEM AND THE TIMING OF THEIR CORRECTIVE ACTION, AND THE RECENT SERIES OF ISSUES INVOLVING OTHER OF THEIR VEHICLES IN WHICH THEY APPEARED TO PLACE PROFITS AHEAD OF CONSUMER SAFETY ALL LEAVE ME FRUSTRATED. *AK

CONSUMER HAD SEEN WATER LEAKING FROM ENGINE. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE BEFORE TO DEALER TO BE REPAIRED, AND DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY HEAD GASKET WICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILURE, MISFIRING, 'CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON', LOOSING COMPRESSION, NO REPAIRS ARE COVERED, FORD WINDSTARS PRODUCED UP UNTIL THE END OF 1995 ARE BEING RECALLED FOR THIS SAME DEFECT, MY WINDSTAR (BUILD 1/2/1996!!) IS NOT COVERED. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY (I READ ABOUT THE DANGER OF SUDDENLY LOSING SPEED) AND YES, I AM ANGRY ABOUT BEARING THE COST OF REPAIR. *AK

IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS THE TRANSMISSION HAS SLIPPED TWICE. WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP AND ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE PUT INTO PARK AND THEN BACK INTO DRIVE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. THERE IS ONLY 56000 ON VEHICLE. BATTERY LIGHT CONTINUALLY COMES ON THIS CAN BE VERY NERVE WRACKING WHEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. . SPEEDOMETER FLUCTUATES AND FLOPS AROUND AFTER 40MPH, SOMETIME STICKS AT 50MPH. REAR WIPERS WORK WHEN THEY WANT. WE HAVE JUST RETURNED FROM SERVING 8 YEARS OVERSEAS, THIS IS OUR ONLY VEHICLE AND FROM THE RESEARCH WE HAVE JUST BEEN ABLE TO START THIS WINDSTAR IS HEADACHES WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE MY FAMILY TO SEE RELATIVES THEY HAVE NOT SEEN IN OVER 8 YEARS BUT THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE.

I STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL & THE ENGINE REVVES UP BUT THE VAN DOES NOT MOVE FORWARD, THEN AFTER A MINUTE OR SO DELAY SOMETHING MUST ENGAGE AND THE VAN LUNGES FORWARD WITH TERRIFIC SPEED WHICH EVEN CAUSES THE TIRES TO SQUEAL.*AK

3.8L V-6 BLOWN HEAD GASKET 1996 FORD WINDSTAR KNOWN PROBLEM. *AK

HEAD GASKET LEAKING INTO ENGINE. COOLANT ENTERING CYLINDER AND CRANKCASE, PRODUCING STEAM OUT OF THE EXHAUST. CONTACTED FORD DEALER FOR REPAIR ESTIMATE AND WAS QUOTED $600+ FOR LABOR AND ADDITIONAL COST FOR PARTS. HAVE DISCOVERED THROUGH THIS WEBSITE AND OTHERS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD 3.8L V6 ENGINE AND THAT FORD HAS HELPED WITH COSTS ON 1995 VEHICLES, BUT NOT 1996. SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH ONLY 79000 MILES ON VEHICLE, AND SINCE IT SEEMS TO BE COMMON, MANUFACTURER SHOULD COVER COSTS. LAST FORD I WILL OWN.

I SAW THAT IT HAPPENED WITH OTHER OWNERS SO IT MUST BE A MANUFACTURER'S FAULT. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ON THIS VEHICLE AT 15,000 MILES BUT IS NOW STARTING TO ACT UP AGAIN. IT FREQUENTLY SHIFTS HARD WHEN UPSHIFTING AND OFTEN DOWNSHIFTS WHENEVER THE GAS PEDAL IS RELEASED. ALTHOUGH THE TRANSMISSION HASN'T FAILED YET, IT WILL ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME AND THE VEHICLE IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY PROTECTION. I NOTICED WHEN CHECKING THE NHTSA WEB SITE THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE TYPE.*AK

PLEASE,WE ARE PARENTS WHIT 3 KIDS,IS VERY HARD FOR US TO PAY THIS EXTRA MONEY FOR THIS DEFECT VEHICLE , TO THIS MOMENT WE CHANGED:TRANSMISSION -TWICE 02SENSOR (TRANSMISSION)-CATYLITIC CONVERTER LEFT/RAIGHT-COIL IGNITION SYSTEM ,WE GET THIS CAR WHIT 48.000MI. ON 1998 .FOR MY ALL FAMILY AND THE GOOD NAME OF THE FORD DELLER TANKS FOR YUO HELP. *AK

EA OO 027/ SUSPENSION COIL SPRING BREAKAGE; RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE DRIVING AT 55-60 MPH AND PUNCTURED TIRE. REPAIRS MADE AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. *AK REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *SLC

THE TRANSMISSION IN THIS VEHICLE FAILED AT AN UNACCEPTABLY LOW MILEAGE. WHEN IT FAILED, IT CAUSED A SURGING THAT WAS DANGEROUS. THE SPEEDOMETER SHOULD NOT FAIL AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE. IT FLUCTUATES WILDLY. WE DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO GET IT FIXED AND CAN'T TELL WHAT SPEED WE ARE DRIVING.*AK

WAS AT STOP SIGN & STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD. SUDDENLY VEHICLE JUST STOPPED/STALLED. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE TRANSMISSION & WOULD NEED TO REPLACE IT.*AK

WATER WAS LEAKING OUT FROM LEFT SIDE OF ENGINE, A MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AT 72000 MILES.*AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 20MPH & HEARD A STRANGE SOUND FROM REAR WHEEL AREA. CONSUMER STOPPED & SAW THE WHEEL UP AGAINST THE WHEEL WELL. UNDERNEATH THE METAL BAR (AXLE) WAS BROKEN. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED,BUT CONSUMER WAS LOOKING FOR SOME TYPE OF REIMBURSTMENT. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DAMAGED FOR THIS TO HAPPEN.*AK

THE PRIMARY HOOD LATCH DOES NOT CATCH. *SLC

SPEEDOMETER IS ERRATIC AFTER 30 MPH, THEREFORE, CONSUMER CANNOT INDICATE CORRECT SPEED. NO SATISFACTION FROM MANUFACTURER. *AK *SLC

SPEEDOMETER IS ERRATIC AT SPEEDS ABOVE 40 MPH AND VARIES PLUS OR MINUS 30-40 MPH. *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO FORD. THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT THEY CLAIM THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO ONE OF THE SPARK PLUG WIRES "ARCHING". THEY COULD NOT OR WOULD NOT TELL ME WHICH ONE WAS ARCHING, BUT WERE WILLING TO CHARGE ME $320 TO CHANGE THE SIX WIRES AND PLUS. I PAID FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND CHANGED THE PLUGS AND WIRES MYSELF. A WEEK LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THIS TIME I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC. HE DID A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH CYLINDER NUMBER FOUR. IT WAS CRACKED. THEY MADE THE REPAIR AND A WEEK LATER I WAS OUT OVER A $1000. MY MECHANIC ALSO ADVISED ME THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TELL ME THIS RIGHT AWAY. FORD WAS WILLING TO REPLACE THE SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES AND I WOULD STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.

NO SUMMARY

WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF TAILPIPE & ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER TOLD CONSUMER THAT IT WAS NOT A SAFETY PROBLEM. *AK

ON AUGUST 16, 2000 I WAS THE VICTIM OF A MINOR AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT THAT OCCURRED WHEN A NEW FR440 TUWSPS21570R15 TIRE, PURCHASED ON MAY 22, 2000 AND LOCATED ON THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, EXPLICABLY BURST WHILE I WAS TRAVELING AROUND A CORNER AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED. MY MINIVAN SLID OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INTO A TREE, DOING DAMAGE TO THE BODY AND THE FRAME. THE TIRE WAS SO SHREDDED AFTER SLIDING OFF THE ROAD IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL WHAT CAUSED IT TO BURST. HOWEVER, I HAD PURCHASED ROAD HAZARD INSURANCE ON THE TIRES (AFTER REPLACING TIRES I HAD JUST BOUGHT IN APRIL THAT WERE PUNCTURED BY A SHARP STONE). A FIRESTONE TIRE CENTER WOULD NOT FIX THE DAMAGE CAUSED IN THE ACCIDENT AND I WAS FORCED TO UTILIZE INSURANCE TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE. THE TIRE HAD APPROXIMATELY 5,000 MILES IN USAGE WHEN IT BURST.*AK (TIRESIZE: 21570R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 21570R15 )

HEADGASKET REPLACEMENT.SAME PROBLEMS W/ OTHER WINDSTARS-FORD WON'T FIX.

WATER LEVEL LOSS IN RADIATOR DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE. *AK

HAVE HAD THE MINIVAN IN SEVERAL TIMES FOR SYMPTOMS OF THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE ONLY TO FIND PROBLEM AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. TRANSMISSION HAS ALWAYS "CLUNKED" WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE, THIS IS A DAILY PROBLEM THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT "FIND". WINDSHIELD CRACKED OVERNIGHT IN NOVEMBER. WE DON'T THINK THE WINDSHIELD SHOULD HAVE BEEN SO FRAGILE.

NO SUMMARY

FORD DEALER MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT HE HAS REPAIRED MANY OF THESE TRANSMISSIONS AT PREMATURE MILEAGE LEVELS (LESS THAN 80,000 MILES). FORD HAS AUTHORIZED REPLACEMENT OF MANY ORIGINAL PARTS WITH NEW DESIGNS TO RECONCILE THE SUBSTANDARD ORIGINAL DESIGN. FOR MY TRANSMISSION THE MECHANIC SAID FAILURE WAS THE RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE ALUMINUM PISTON, A PROBLEM THAT HAS DEVELOPED IN MANY FORD TRANSMISSIONS. *AK

NO SUMMARY

DUE TO HEAD GASKET WHICH HAD A CRACK AND CAUSED THE OIL AND THE ANTI FREEZE TO LEAK AND MIX TOGETHER. DEALER HAD TO WELD THE HEAD TO FIX THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE FLOATS, CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK. CONTINUES.

NO SUMMARY

NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASING 1)DOOR AJAR LIGHT CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED-ALL DOORS CHECKED NONE AJAR 2) ENGINE CHECK LIGHT OCCASIONALLY COMES ON-HAPPENED RIGHT AFTER PURCHASE AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T FIX PROBLEM 3)OCCASIONALLY POWER WINDOWS/LOCKS AND A/C WILL GO OUT UNLESS ADJUSTABLE FAN SPEED TURNED TO HIGH 4)RECENTLY FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WILL OPEN AT RANDOM USUALLY DURING A TURN-LUCKILY NO ONE SITS IN THAT SEAT 5)SPEEDOMETER WILL OCCASIONALLY FLICKER HIGHER WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 65MPH ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS HAVE SURFACED IN THE PAST 1-1.5 YRS AND HAVE CONTINUED SINCE THEN. *AK

TRANSMISSION REPLACED AROUND 40000 MILES DUE TO ITS JUMPING, RPM'S WENT UP AND DOWN. CURRENTLY, HAPPENING AGAIN. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN REPLACED SIX TIMES BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT SOLVED. AS THE RESULT THE CONSUMER WAS VERY MUCH CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY. *YH

PE 00 024/SUSPENSION COIL SPRING BREAKAGES: RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE PULLING OUT OF PARKING LOT. VEHICLE TOWED TO INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND STILL WAITING ON PARTS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE LUG NUTS ON THE VEHICLE BROKE CAUSING THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL TO FALL OFF OF THE VEHICLE, LOSS OF CONTROL RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE STRIKING THE GUARDRAIL. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *MJS

FOUR TIRERIMS HAVE CRACKS ON THEM, CAUSING TIRES TO LEAK AIR AT ALL TIMES. *AK

TRANSMISSION REBUILT TWICE WITHIN A YEAR, AND NEW ENGINE

ENGINE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY ON WARM TO HOT DAYS. CAUSES LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKING AND HANDLING OF VEHICLE. ENGINE STALLS DURING NORMAL OPERATION, AT INTERSECTIONS, NEEDING TO STEER OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID COLLISIONS. ENGINE NEEDS TO COOL DOWN FOR 20 MINUTES BEFORE IT WILL TURN OVER. RECENT NEWSPAPER ARTICLE REPORTED MAJOR COLLISONS LEADING IN DEATH OR SEVERE INJURY BECAUSE OF THIS ENGINE FAILURE. CASES PENDING IN CALIFORNIA. FORD NEEDS TO BE PRESSURED BY THE NHTSA TO HAVE A RECALL OF THIS TFI MODULE WHICH IS POSITIONED IMPROPERLY ON ENGINE BEFORE MORE INCIDENTS OCCUR OR THE TFI MODULE NEEDS TO BE REDESIGNED TO WITHSTAND MORE HEAT SO THAT ENGINE DOES NOT SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND NEED TO HAVE ACTION TAKEN NOW BEFORE SOMETHING SERIOUS HAPPENS.*AK

ENGINE LIGHT ON, ENGINE MISFIRES,ROUGH

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL EITHER REFUSE TO SHIFT INTO THE HIGHER GEAR OR WILL DOWNSHIFT ON ITS OWN. CONTINUING SO THAT EVENTUALLY (AFTER 10 TO 15 MINUTES) IT WILL NO LONGER SHIFT FROM FIRST INTO SECOND. THE PROBLEM IS NOT CONTINUAL. THE DEALSHIP HAD THE VAN FOR THREE DAYS AFTER IT FIRST OCCURRED. THEY WERE UNABLE TO GET THE PROBLEM TO REOCCUR FOR THEM. THE DAY AFTER WE PICKED THE VAN UP FROM THEM THE PROBLEM AROSE ONCE AGAIN. AT PRESENT WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT STEP TO TAKE, WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE AND HOW TO GET THE PROBLEM TO REOCCUR WHILE AT THE DEALER. OF, COUSE THE PROBLEM ALWAYS OCCURS ON THE WEEKEND OR IN THE EVENING AFTER CLOSING. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT BLINKED ON AND OFF ON THE DASHBOARD. ALSO, TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR. COMPUTER CHIP WAS REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM STILL CONTINUED. ANTI-FREEZE WAS LEAKING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. IN ADDITION, SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED, AND HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK COMPUTOR DIAGNOSIS INDICATED THAT CYLINDER #4 MALFUNCTION. THE DEALER SAID THAT DOING TUNE UP WILL SOLVE THIS PROBLEM BUT DID NOT. *YH

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. VEHICLE TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT ENGINE NEEDS REPLACEMENT DUE TO A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

TRANSMISSION SLIPPING INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE DROPS TO 45 MPH AND RPM GOES TO 5000 AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ON SOME OCCASSION DURING STOP AND GO TRANSMISSION DOES NOT CHANGE FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND THEY CANNOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. THIS IS BECOMING A DANGEROUS SITUTATION. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY DOING ABOUT 65MPH. VEHICLE STARTED TO SHIMMER. CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO INSPECT VEHICLE TO SEE IF THE TIRES HAD ANY FLATS. ALL TIRES WERE FINE. WHEN CONSUMER GOT BACK IN TO TAKE OFF, VEHICLE WOULDN'T MOVE, IT JUST ROCKED BACK & FORTH. RIGHT FRONT TIRE CAME OFF. CONSUMER FOUND OUT THAT LUGS: NUTS SHEARED IN HALF. HALF OF ALL FIVE WERE ON THE ROAD & THE OTHERS WERE ON THE WHEEL AXLE. DEALER SAID THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TOO MUCH. A TORK WRENCH WAS USED TO PREVENT OVER OR UNDER TIGHTENING. *AK

SPEEDOMETER FLUCTUATED ALL OVER DIAL WHEN CAR WENT OVER 30 MPH; TRANSMISSION JUST FAILED WHILE CAR WAS BEING OPERATED, IT FAILED TO SHIFT AND DID NOT MOVE WHILE IN TRAFFIC; BRAKES FADE WHEN COMING TO A STOP ALL THE TIME (I HAVE REQUESTED REPAIRS REPEATEDLY, TOLD NO PROBLEM DETECTED); CAR CONTINUES TO ROLL 6-8 INCHES WHEN PARKED ON AN INCLINE; REAR SUSPENSION CREAKS WHEN GETTING IN AND OUT OF CAR; SEVERAL LEAKS IN ENGINE HAD TO BE REPAIRED (GASKET??). *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON A BUSY INTERSTATE, ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. VAN LOST SPEED AND STARTED OVERHEATING. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT OFF HIGHWAY. VAN DIED HAD TO BE TOWED. TOLD IT WAS CRACKED HEAD DUE TO COOLANT LEAKAGE. WARRANTY COMPANY REFUSES TO PAY CLAIM.. SPEEDOMETER FLIPS AROUND, ESTIMATE REPAIR COST IS $475. WARRANTY COMPANY REFUSEE TO PAY.

1996 FORD WINDSTARS HAVE MAJOR TRANSMISSION TROUBLE. WE HAVE ONLY HAD OUR VAN FOR 2 YEARS AND IT IS VERY UPSETTING THAT A CAR MANUFACTURER CANNOT MAKE A VEHICLE THAT WILL MAKE IT TO 100,000 MILES. FORD STATES THAT YOU CAN GO 100,000 MILES BEFORE NEEDING A TUNE UP BUT THEY DON'Y MENTION THAT THEIR TRANSMISSIONS WON'T MAKE IT THAT FAR. I HAVE BEEN ON THE INTERNET RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE FOUND THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM BUT FORD DOES NOT REPLY WITH ANY HELP OR HOPE. THE FORD TRANSMISSION PROBLEM EXPANDS OUTWARD, NOT JUST ON THE WINDSTAR VANS. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL OR SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE BECAUSE MOST OF THE OWNERS ARE STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON THESE "NEW " VEHICLES THAT ARE SUPPOSE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT FOR 100,000 MILES. ON THE SITES I SEARCHED, ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVE ONLY GOTTEN 40,000-55,000 MILES ON THEIR VEHICLES BEFORE THE PROBLEMS BEGAN. THIS IS NOT ORDINARY AND CANNOT BE LOOKED UPON AS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR BECAUSE IT HAS HAPPENED TO TOO MANY PEOPLE. FORD NEEDS TO BE MADE TO RECALL AND CORRECT THEIR VEHICLES. THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT THEY BUILD AND SELL. WE HAVE ALREADY TAKEN OUR VAN TO THE SHOP 2 TIMES, AND THE 3RD IS IN THE NEAR FUTURE BECAUSE IT STILL IS NOT FIXED.PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS AND SEE IF SOMETHING CAN BE DONE TO GET OUR VEHICLES REPAIRED SO WE DON'T HAVE TO TAKE OUT LOANS TO PAY FOR REPAIRS THAT SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY FORD, ON A VEHICLE WE ARE STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ONLY . THANK YOU.

FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEMS THESE VEHICLES ARE HAVING BUT THEY REFUSE TO FIX THEM. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE, SECOND FAILURE DUE TO ACCUMULATOR SEALS, COMPLETE OVERHAUL.