1996 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

DOOR AJAR LIGHT AND COURTESY LIGHT WOULD REMAIN ON AFTER SHUTTING DOORS. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS CONCERNING THAT PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN TRANSMISSION WAS IN DRIVE ENGINE RACED, AND UNEXPECTEDLY SURGED FORWARD. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHEN MAKING TURNS OR IF STOPPING ON A HILL. NO WARNING. LIGHTS CAME ON. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH FEELS LIKE TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING INTO SECOND GEAR. THEN VEHICLE WILL MOVE SLOWLY WITHOUT A WARNING. CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD, THE DEALER REPAIRED THE FAILED SENSOR AT NO COST. *AK.ET.

FAILURE OF HEAD GASKETS ON ENGINE, RESULTING IN REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE ENGINE. SAME ENGINE THAT FORD IS CURRRENTLY REPLACING IN 1994 AND 1995 MODEL YEAR WINDSTARS, FOR THE SAME REASON - PREMATURE FAILURE OF HEAD GASKETS. FORD WILL NOT REIMBURSE FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS OF THIS ENGINE, ALTHOUGH IT IS PERFECTLY CLEAR THAT IT HAS FAILED FOR THE SAME REASONS AS THE 1994 AND 1995 MODEL YEAR. FORD HAS ADMITTED TO THIS PROBLEM BEING PRESENT, YET IS NOT TAKING ANY ACTION TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION FOR OWNERS OF VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ENGINE INSTALLED IN NEWER MODEL YEARS. *AK

ENGINE COOLANT NEEDS FILLING EVERY 2-3 DAYS, TRANSMISSION SKIPS, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ALWAYS ILLUMINATED AND INTERIOR DOOR AJAR LIGHT NEVER GOES OFF. *AK

JULY OF 1999 WHILE ON VACATION IN PENNSYLVANIA THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. A FAMILY FRIEND RECOMMENDED THAT WE NOT WORRY ABOUT THE PROBLEM UNLESS THE LIGHT STAYED ON. THE LIGHT WENT OFF BUT THEN CAME BACK ON A COUPLE OF TIMES OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. FINALLY IN APRIL OF 2000 THE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THE FORD DEALERSHIP INFORMED US THAT THE HEAD GASKETS WERE BLOWN. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD US THAT THEY WOULD PAY MOST OF THE $1400.00 REPAIR BILL BUT WE STILL ENDED UP WITH $600.00 ON OUR PART. WE HAVE CONTACTED FORD TWICE ABOUT THIS FAILURE AT ONLY 53,000 MILES. WE BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED OUR $600.00. WE ARE SHOCKED TO SEE HOW MANY 1996 WINDSTARS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. WE HAVE ASKED FORD TO TELL US THE NUMBER OF GASKET FAILURES THEY HAVE SEEN ON THE 1996'S. THEY HAVE REFUSED TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION. PLEASE HELP US. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION TO THIS PROBLEM. *AK

DEALER HAS TOLD US ENTIRE ENGINE MUST BE REPLACED. *AK

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR REGULAR SERVICE. CONSUMER ASKED MECHANIC WHY CAR WAS STARTING SO ROUGHLY, AND MECHANIC SAID IT NEEDED A HEAD GASKET. CONSUMER WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN RECALL ON HEAD GASKETS ON THE FORD WINDSTAR 1994/ 1995. *AK

BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKE WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED. IT WAS LIKE A MIMNI-=EXPLOSION. SEVERAL NEIGHBORS CAME OUT OF THEIR HOUSES TO CHECK. IN ADDITION, THE BREAKING OF THE SPRINGS ALSO BROKE THE DRIVER'S SIDE CYLINDER FOR THE ABS BREAKING SYSTEM. THE BREAKING OF THE COILS SPRINGS ALSO GOUGED VERY BADLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE. I REPLACED IT. THE BILL FOR THE WORK AND PARTS AND TIRE AMOUNTED TO OVER 500 DOLLARS. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY ON OR ABOUT APRIL 1, 2000. THEIR REP SAID "WE'RE VERY SORRY BUT CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT." IT HAPPENED IN WESLACO, TEXAS, WHERE I SPEND THE WINTERS. I LIVE IN VIRGINIA, MN. TELEPHONE HERE IN TX IS [XXX]. ADDRESS IS [XXX], [XXX]#[XXX], [XXX], TX [XXX]. I'M SENDING THIS TO YOU BECAUSE I READ AN ARTICLE IN THIS MORNING'S PAPER STATEING THAT THIS TYPE OF FAILURE WAS UNDER INVESTIGATION. PLEASE INCLUDE MY SITUATION IN YOUR DOCUMENTATION. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

STITCHING ON PASSENGER SEATBELT COMPLETELY DETERIORIATED AT FLOOR HOLD DOWN. *AK

FORD EXTENDED WARRANTY ON 3.8 L ENGINE FOR 1995 MODEL DUE TO ENGINE FAILURE CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE GASKET SETS. HOWEVER, IS NOT DOING SO FOR LIKE FAILURE ON 1996 MODEL 3.8 L ENGINES. ENGINE SEIZED ON OUR VEHICLE WITH APPROXIMATELY 48000 MILES DESPITE MAINTENANCE AND TIMING CHAIN GASKET SET REPLACEMENT AN APPROXIMATELY $1200 REPAIR. DT

THE CALIPER WAS HANGING UP CAUSING PREMATURE BRAKE FAILURE. YH

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET ANTI-FREEZE HAD LEAKED OUT, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC. MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WHO WERE NOT ABLE TO HELP. *AK

AFTER THREE FAIRLY RELIABLE YEARS AND ONLY 58,000 MILES, I HAVE HAD HEAD GASKETS BLOWN AND A TRANSMISSION THAT IS SHOWING SIGNS OF FAILURE. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET, I SEE THAT I AM NOT ALONE IN HAVING THESE PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSTAR. I HAVE NEVER FELT COMPELLED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT A VEHICLE BEFORE. THE THOUGHT OF THIS CAR LEAVING MY FAMILY STRANDED ON A BUSY STRETCH OF FREEWAY (WHICH IT ALMOST DID) DUE TO A PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE AND FACTORY DEFECT IS INEXCUSABLE.*AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET HEAD REPLACED WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP WITH ORIGINAL OWNER. NOW NEW ENGINE IS NEEDED BECAUSE A SECOND GASKET HEAD HAS CRACKED AND RUINED ENGINE. THIS DOES NOT SEEM REASONABLE WITHIN A FOUR YEAR PERIOD. FORD HAS DENIED CLAIM FOR REPAIRS.

SPEEDO HEAD JUMPS. WHEN DRIVING VECHICLE, THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE WILL START WAVING. YOU CAN'T TELL HOW FAST YOUR TRAVELING. SERVICE CENTER STATED THIS IS REAL COMMON ON 1996 WINDSTAR. WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FROZE. CAN'T CLEAN REAR WINDOW.

VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR WHEN ON AN INCLINE. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THE VEHICLE'S MAKE AND MODEL. HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

3.8 LITER ENGINE 44,000 MILES AND THE HEAD GASKET FAILED. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 1995 WINDSTAR THAT FORD IS NOW ADDRESSING. MY QUOTED PRICE TO GET FIXED WAS OVER $1600. THE DEALERSHIP CONTACTED FORD AND THEY AGREED TO PAY LESS THEN 3/4 OF THE COST. I AM RESPONSIBLE TO PAY $495 TO FIX THE PART. I CONTACTED FORD AND TOLD THEM THAT I THOUGHT THIS WAS OBSCENE THAT A 4 YR OLD VEHICLE DRIVEN AS A FAMILY VEHICLE WITH NO HEAVY DUTY WORK COULD HAVE A CASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. OF COURSE I GOT NOWHERE. I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WILL FIX THE 95 WINDSTAR AND NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR MINE? *AK

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WE TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER, WHO CHECKED IT AND DISCOVERED THAT THE HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN AND THAT THE TIMING COVER GASKET AND THE FRONT ENGINE GASKET WERE NEEDING TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. AND WE SUSPECT THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS ALSO GOING OUT. WE TALKED WITH THE SERVICE ADVISOR WHO TOLD US THAT IT WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL ISSSUED BY FORD MOTOR CO. WE CONTACTED BILL AT FORD MOTOR CO. EMPLOYEE NUMBER 2556 AND HE ALSO INFORMED US THAT THERE REALLY WASN'T ANYTHING THAT THEY COULD DO AS IT WASN'TCOVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY JUST ISSUED BY FORD MOTOR CO. WE HAVE LOOKED ON THE WEB AND HAVE DISCOVERED NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR 1996 FORD WINDSTAR. WE WOULD LIKE SOME HELP IN THIS MATTER. THANKYOU THE ESTIMATED COST FOR ALL REPAIRS ARE $2000.00. *AK

A MAJOR RECALL HAS OCCURRED WITH FORD COVERING THE REPAIR COSTS OR ISSUING $4000 CERTIFICATES TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF A NEW VEHICLE FOR 1995 AND EARLIER MODELS. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE HEAD GASKETS ON ALL FORD 3.8-LITER ENGINES ARE DEFECTIVE AND THE NEW ENGINE DESIGN DID NOT HELP OR ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM THEY HAVE WITH THE EARLIER VERSION. I FEEL FORD SHOULD INCLUDE THE 1996 WINDSTAR IN THE RECALL. 8AK

BOTH OF THE FRONT RIMS DEVELOPED CRACKS. THIS WAS DISCOVERED IN AN INSPECTION TO FIND A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM TIRE AREA. FORD WAS CONTACTED(LOCAL DEALER AND NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICES) THEY DO NOT SEEM CONCERNED AND WERE UNWILLING TO REPLACE THE RIMS. I FEEL THAT 2 (TWO) RIMS CRACKING ON ONE VECHICLE WITHOUT ANY APPARENT CAUSE MAY BE A SIGN OF FAULTY RIMS AND A POTENTIAL HAZARD TO ALL OWNERS OF LIKE RIMS.*AK

FORD REFUSES TO LISTEN TO OUR REQUEST FOR COMPENSATION, SIMPLY BECAUSE WE DID NOT RECEIVE SERVICE AT A FORD GARAGE. WE DID NOT KNOW OR EXPECT THE HEAD GASKET TO HAVE BLOWN. WE WERE STRANDED ON A SUNDAY MORNING IN ONTARIO, SOME 650 MILES FROM HOME. WE WERE TOWED TO THE ONLY SERVICE FACITLITY OPEN ON A SUNDAY (CANADIAN TIRE) WHO COULD POTENTIALLY GET US BACK ON OUR WAY. WE NEVER EXPECTED A MAJOR ENGINE PROBLEM TO OCCUR AT 57,709 MILES. WE FEEL FORD SHOULD COMPENSATE US FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE HEAD GASKET, AS IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND WAS RECALLED ON THE 1995 WINSTARS. APPARENTLY THE 1996 WINDSTARS HAVE THE SAME HEAD GASKET PROBLEM AS THE 1995S, BUT HAVE NOT YET BEEN RECALLED. JUST BECAUSE WE WERE NOT AT A FORD DEALER OR GARAGE SHOULD NOT LET FORD OFF THE HOOK FOR OUR EXPENSE INCURRED ON A DEFECTIVE PART. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WE WERE DRIVING AT APPROX. 45 MPH WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL CAME OFF AND ROLLED INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. MY THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WAS SMASHED AS THE VEHICLE SKIDDED TO A STOP. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE REPAIR TECHNICIAN SAID THAT IT APPEARED THE BOLTS HAD SOMEHOW SHEARED OFF. WE HAD NOT HAD ANY RECENT REPAIRS TO THE WHEELS AND HAD NOT CHANGED TIRES SINCE NOVEMBER 1999. MY HUSBAND AND 2 YOUNG CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE POLICE DROVE BY AND WHEN THEY SAW THAT NO ONE WAS INJURED DID NOT STOP TO TAKE A REPORT. THE ACCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO OUR INSURANCE COMPANY AND WE WERE REQUIRED TO PAY OUR $500.00 DEDUCTIBLE. WE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR, HOWEVER, THEY DENIED ANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. THIS ACCIDENT OCCURED IN MARCH.*AK

WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM TAILPIPE/LOSS OF ANTIFREEZE. TOOK VAN TO DEALER. GOING TO COST OVER 2000 DOLLARS TO FIX. WITH THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENING TO SO MANY PEOPLE WHO OWN 1996 WINDSTAR, YOU WOULD THINK SOMETHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHEN FILLING VEHICLE WITH GASOLINE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WOULD COME ON. THIS HAPPENED TWICE LAST YEAR. OWNER'S MANUAL INDICATED THAT AFTER THREE STARTS ENGINE CHECK LIGHT DID NOT GO OFF. THEN BROUGHT VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE CHECKED. ENGINE WAS RUNNING VERY ROUGH. CONTACTED THE DEALER, ADVISED CONSUMER ON 9-MAR-2000 THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKET.

THE 1994 AND 1995 WINDSTARS WERE RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM. I DONT UNDERSTAND HOW COME THE 1996 WERENT. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED WITHIN SUMMARY. *AK

ENGINE LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING, POSSIBLE HEAD GASKET FAILURE, DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK *NLM

THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE 3.8L ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS FIRST NOTICED BY MYSELF DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION OF MY FLUID LEVELS AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WHAT I NOTICED WAS WHAT APPEARED TO BE A COOLANT LEAK AROUND THE HEAD GASKETS. UNDER MORE CONSTANT SUPERVISION MY WIFE AND I OBSERVED OTHER SYMPTOMS WHICH INCLUDE A MORE CONSTANT DROP IN THE COOLANT LEVEL AND A LOSS OF HEAT WHEN THE HEATING SYSTEM WAS OPERATING. THESE SYMPTOMS SEEMED SERIUOS SO WE DECIDED NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT HAS BEEN SERVICED. THROUGH FRIENDS AND RELATIVES WE HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS OCCURING WITH MANY WINDSTAR OWNERS SO WE HAVE DECIDED TO FURTHER RESEARCH THIS MATTER WHICH IS HOW WE HAVE COME ACROSS YOUR SITE. PLEASE CONTACT US WITH ANY UPDATES YOU MAY HAVE ON THIS MATTER. THANK YOU. *AK

THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS FAILURES OF SYSTEMS IN MY VAN. THE ENGINE MUST BE REPLACED, THE SPEEDOMETER IS OUT AGAIN. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING COOLANT. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY MANUFACTURER THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED BY THE MANUFACTURE IN CANADA, AND THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED TO THE US FOR 7 YRS/ 100000 MILES. *AK

FRONT END GROANS WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. WAS TOLD TIE ROD ENDS HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *AK

VEHICLE BOUGHT IN 3/99 THROTTLE BODY LINKAGE BROKE REPAIRE BILL $500.00 SHORTLY THEREAFTER SENSOR WENT OUT (FUEL)BILL 256.00 LATER NOTICED SQUEKING IN FRONT END ADVISED IT WAS TIE ROD ENDS NOT FIXED YET THIS THING HAS BROKE ME HAVE HAD MANY OCCURENCES WITH SPEED ODOMETER GOING CRAZY AFTER 45MPH RECENTLY NOTICED POPPING WHEN TURNING STEERING OR APPLING THE BRAKES BUT BEFORE I COULD GET IT FIXED TRANSMISSION BEGIN TO EITHER NOT SHIFT UPWARD ,SLIP AT 45MPH AND HAS DOWNSHIFTED AFTER REACHING SPEEDS OF 45MPH (ON I-85) HAS JERKED SEVERAL TIMES ..WAS TOLD ANYWHERE FROM 100.00-2000.00 ? SEEMS I HAVE NOT BEEN ALONE IN MY DISQUEST WITH FORD...ONLY PROBLEM NOT ENCOUNTERED HEAD GASKET THANK GOD PLEASE HELP US WORKING FOLKS AGAINST THIS BIG BOY ON THE BLOCK THANKS

HEAD GASKET LEAKING, MASTER CYLINDER FROZE UP AND CAUSED SMOKE AND DAMAGE TO BRAKE SYSTEM ON 3 WHEELS, ABS LIGHT KEPT COMING ON, IN FOR REPAIRS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND LIGHT WAS DISCONNECTED BY DEALER, ENGINE LIGHT ON: O2 SENSOR REPLACED, SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO REGISTER SPEEDS, DRIVERSIDE WINDOW GOES DOWN WHILE DRIVING, REPLACED BY DEALER, DOOR OPEN LIGHT TURNS ON RANDOMLY, SLIDING DOOR FAILS TO LOCK WITH ELECTRIC LOCKS. WHAT IS GOING TO BE NEXT?

I HAVE A 1996 WINDSTAR AND THE SPEEDOMETER IS UNABLE TO INDICATE SPEED OF VEHICLE. THE SPEEDOMETER JUST JUMPS AROUND. IT USE TO JUST JUMP AROUND AT ROUND 40-50 MPH BUT IT HAS COMPLETED FAILED NOW. IT JUMPS AROUND AND MAKE A CLICKING SOUND ALL THE TIME.*AK

ENGINE MISSED/SURGED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS BEGINNING 4TH QUARTER 1999. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS MADE BY TWO FORD DEALERS TO DETERMINE PROBLEM. LANGDALE FORD FINALLY DIAGNOSED AS BLOWN HEAD GASKET, NUMBER 2 CYLINDER. SAID CHRONIC PROBLEM EXISTS WITH THIS ENGINE AND THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS,BUT NOT FOR OUR SPECIFIC YEAR YET. FORD REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE PROBLEM OR COVER PART (OR ALL)OF COST IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY (2/28/2000) RECALLING THE 1995 VERSION OF OUR ENGINE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ALONG ALL OF SUDDEN VEHICLE EXPERIENCES HARD UPSHIFTING OR DOWN SHIFTING. OCCASIONALY WHEN COMING TO A STOP SIGN THEN PROCEEDING, MOTOR REVS AND TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER IN SEPTEMBER. DEALER REPLACED A SENSOR, BUT STILL HAS NOT TAKEN CARE OF THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE IS NOT LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

FUEL TANK BEGAN TO POUR GAS FROM UNDER VAN TO THE GROUND. I TOOK THE VAN TO TREADWELL FORD AND THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET ME A NEW FUEL TANK. THEY SAY IT WILL TAKE 11 DAYS. THIS WAS A PROBLEM ON THE '95 WINDSTARS AND THEY WERE RECALLED. NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE "96'S. SO I WILL BE WITHOUT TRASNSPORTATION FOR ALMOST TWO WEEKS(IF THEY CAN GET A TANK) AND HAVE THE EXPENSE OF $440.00. WHAT CAN WE DO? *AK

MY NEIGHBOR ALSO HAD HER SPEEDOMETER BREAK ON HER 1996 FORD WINDSTAR. *AK

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD. SUDDENLY EVERYTHING FAILED. THERE WERE NO POWER BRAKES OR STEERING. COULD HEAR MOTOR STILL GOING. ALL DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON. VEHICLE ENDED UP IN SOMEONE ELSES YARD. OWNER CHECKED VEHICLE & FOUND TENSIONER BAR ON THE DRIVE BELT BROKE, CAUSING LOSS 0F CONTROL. *AK *ML

SPEEDOMETER BEGAN JUMPING AROUND ABOVE 40 MPH. FORD DEALER STATED IT WAS A SPEEDOMETER GEAR REPLACEMENT. COST >$400. FORD HAD A RECALL FOR THE SAME ITEM FOR THE 95 WINDSTAR (TSB 94B47) AND A SERVICE BULLETIN TO REPAIR (TSB 99-7-9). NHTSA HAS MORE THAN 30 COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SAME FAILURE. IT APPEARS FORD RECOGNIZED THE SAFETY HAZARD ON THE 1995 WINDSTAR, BUT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM ON THE 1996. *AK

WHEN WE TURNED THE CAR ON, A LOUD GRINDING SOUND CAME FROM THE ENGINE ALONG WITH LARGE SPARKS/FLAMES. WE HAD IT TOWED TO OUR MECHNAIC WHO DISCOVERED THE BOTTOM BOLT OF THE POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY HAD NEVER BEEN TIGHTNED. THE BOLT HAD LOOSEND ITSELF, HIT THE PULLEY AND CAUSED FLAMES. COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE IF WERE ON THE ROAD AT THE TIME. *AK

ANTI-BRAKE LIGHT KEEPS GOING OFF. *AK

THE SPEEDOMETER STARTS MOVING ERRATICALLY ONCE SPEEDS OF 25 MPH ARE REACHED. ALSO, SOMETIMES, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL ONLY WORK ON HIGH SPEED. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND AM TOLD IT WILL BE $500.00 FOR THE SPEEDOMETER. I FEEL THIS, AS WELL AS THE PROBLEMS WITH THE WIPERS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I'VE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH SPEEDOMETERS ON 1996 WINDSTARS, AND I THINK FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS, NOT ME. *AK

I REPORTED ENGINE HESITATION DURING ACCELERATION TO FORD (DEALER)ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THEY ALWAYS CLAIMED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I REPORTED ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE WHEN STARTING, WHICH THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE. I SERVICED THE VEHICLE FREQUENTLY TO KEEP ALL SYSTEMS FUNCTIONING WELL. NOW, THAT THE GASKETS HAVE FAILED, THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT THE HESITATION AND ROUGH RUNNING ARE SYMPTOMS OF HEAD GASKET FAILURE. OF COURSE, NOW I'M OUT OF WARRANTY. SO FORD HAS OFFERED TO REPAIR BOTH FAILED GASKETS AND ALL RELATED REPAIRS AND TO EXTEND MY DRIVETRAIN WARRANTY TO 75K MILES IF I PAY $495.00. I HAVE REFUSED. MY CAR SITS UNUSABLE IN MY DRIVEWAY. *AK

THE SPEEDOMETER READS NEAR 100 MPH WHILE THE VEHICLE IS ONLY TRAVELING AT SPEEDS BETWEEM 30 AND 70 MPH. NLM

LEAKING OIL ONTO ENGINE RESULTING IN ALL NEW SEALS, GASKETS AND HEAD GASKET, DUE TO FAILURE.