1996 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

SPEEDOMETER READOUT NOT RELIABLE. NEEDLE SOMETIMES STICKS ON CERTAIN SPEED WHEN OBVIOUSLY ACCELERATING. NEEDLE OFTEN SWINGS SUDDENLY UP AND DOWN WHEN CRUISING AT STEADY SPEED. NEEDLE HAS CREPT UPWARD SEVERAL MPH WHILE DRIVING WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON. FIRST OCCURRED JUST UNDER 27,000 MI, AND INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. IS NOW REOCCURRING, AND DEALER WANTS $400 TO REPLACE AGAIN 18 MO LATER. DEALER SERVICE SHOPS IN ARKANSAS AND NORTH DAKOTA BOT SAID THEY'VE SEEN A LOT OF THIS - THE PLASTIC PARTS (GEARS?) IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL JUST WEAR OUT. *AK

ABS LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 99V14700 FOR HYDRAULIC CYLINDER SYSTEM. TOOK TO DEALER & HAD ABS CHECKED. HYDRAULIC CONTROL CIRCUIT WENT BAD & NEEDED REPLACING. *AK

THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON. RECALL NOTICE #99V14700 WAS RECEIVED FOR HYDRAULIC CYLINDER SYSTEM. HAD ABS CHECKED AT DEALER & STICKER WAS APPLIED CONTROL UNIT THAT WENT BAD & NEEDED REPLACING. HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE SYSTEM PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE .*AK

WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF, ALL THE POWER WINDOWS WOULD STILL MOVE UP AND DOWN. WILL BE TAKING TO DEALER TO HAVE THEM CHECKED. *AK

THE BRAKE LINING, SLIDERS, ROTORS & 2 CALIPERS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO GRINDING, METAL TO METAL, & EXCESSIVE WEAR. BRAKES NOT HOLDING LIKE THEY SHOULD. HAD SAME PROBLEM 1 1/2 YEARS AGO. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS. *AK

THE ELECTRICAL DOOR LOCK FOR THE BACK TAILGATE , DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY LOCK WHEN VEHICLE IS PUT INTO DRIVE. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED.

COIL SPRING BROKE DAMAGING STRUTS AND TIRE, WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED LATER, ALSO REQUIRED TOWING CHARGES. *AK

COIL SPRING BROKE DAMAGING STRUTS AND TIRE, WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED LATER, ALSO REQUIRED TOWING CHARGES. *AK

POWER STEERING FAILED. NLM

ORIGINAL SPEDOMETER FAILED AT 27000 MILES, REPLACEMENT BY FORD ONLY LASTED 20000 MILES. DEALER AND FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE BOTH REFUSED TO COVER THE REPLACEMENT SAYING IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE AND HAVING READ THE REPORTS ON FORD SPEEDOMETERS, THEY ARE PLACING DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT IN THIER CARS AND ARE NOT LIVING UP TO THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO THEIR CUSTOMERS NOR THEIR SUPPOED COMMITMENT TO QUALITY. *AK

WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. DEALER CHECKED THE VEHICLE OUT, AND THERE WAS A LOT OF METAL IN THE OIL PAN. *AK

DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER DOORS/TAILGATE AND THE SLIDING DOOR ARE DEFECTIVE DUE TO A PIN IN THE HANDLE TO BREAKING OR FALLING APART, CAUSING THE DOORS TO GET STUCK AND THEY WON'T OPEN OR CLOSE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 44,000 MILES,IRRATIC DOWNSHIFTING,REQUIRED REBUILD INCLUDING REPLACEMENT OF FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON, FORD COVERED 60% *AK

TIRE ROD FITTINGS WERE NOT PROPERLY GREASED. WHICH CAN CAUSE A BREAK WHILE TURNING. *AK

SPEEDOMETER ACTS ERRATICALLY WHEN GOING OVER 50 MPH, AND THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE BEHIND THE DASH WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THE SPEEDOMETER HEAD WAS REPLACED WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK

REAR SEAT BELT LOCKED, TRAPPING CHILD IN BELT. NO SAFETY RELEASE VISABLE, OR IN MANUAL. CONTACTED FORD, NO DATA AVAILABLE. FORD REFERED ME TO CONTACT N.H.T.S.A.

REOCCURRING/ ONGOING PROBLEM WITH AUTOMATIC LOCK LOCKING ALL DOORS WITHOUT SYSTEM BEING ON. DOOR SHOULD ONLY LOCK WHEN SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, BUT THERE ARE TIMES IT LOCKS ITSELF WITHOUT CAUSE. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. *YC

TRIED TO STOP VEHICLE DUE TO TRAFFIC AHEAD AND THE VEHICLES BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE CAUSING ME TO DRIVE INTO THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE STOPPED AHEAD OF ME.

COOLANT LEAKING EXTERNALLY FROM ENGINE FRONT COVER. *AK

HAVE FOUGHT WITH FORD ABOUT LOSING POWER AND VEHICLE STALLING SINCE OWNING THE CAR. ALSO FIND THAT MANY OTHERS(ON WEB 'WINDSTAR HEAD DEFECT' SEARCH) HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO HAD TWO FORD MECHANICS UNOFFICIALY ADMIT THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE 1996 WINDSTARS. FORD, AFTER BEING BADGERED, SAID THEY WOULD COVER MY ENGINE TO 100,000 MILES AND ARE RENIGING NOW THAT IT HAS COMPLETELY BLOWN. I JUST WANT A CAR THAT IS SAFE FOR MY FAMILY. HELP ME. *AK

1996 FORD WINDSTAR SWITCHES ARE BAD IN DOORS CAUSING DOOR AJAR LIGHT TO STAY ON. WHEN DRIVING, STAYS ON UNTIL YOU ARE GOING APPROX. 15-18 MILES PER HOUR. THIS IS A HAZARD ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. DUE TO THE GLARE ON THE WINDOWS INSIDE THE VAN. I HAVE WENT TO A DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WOULD BE 400.00 DOLLARS TO FIX IT. I DON'T HAVE 400.00. I WAS ALSO VISITING FAMILY IN INDIANA THIS LAST WEEK AND AN OLD FRIEND OF MINE HAS THE EXACT VAN AND PROBLEM. I CURRENTLY LIVE IN COLORADO AND THOUGHT THAT IT WAS ODD THAT SOMEONE WHO LIVES IN INDIANA HAS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I HAVE WITH OUR WINDSTAR. SO, THEN I DECIDED TO FILE A COMPLAINT. AND MAYBE SOMETHING WILL BE DONE.*AK

WHILE BACKING OUT VEHICLE, IT FELT LIKE IT WAS PULLING. ALSO, IT WOULD MAKE A LOT OF HORRIBLE NOISES PRIOR TO TRANSMISSION BREAKING DOWN. IT CANNOT BE SHIFTED INTO GEAR OR ABLE TO MOVE. *AK

COMPUTER CODES INDICATE A HEAD GASKET FAILURE

NO UMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

AFTER STOPPING OR AT A DECREASED SPEED FOR TURNING VAN STALLS OR MISSES UPON ACCELERATION. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILS TO REENGAGE AFTER COMING TO A STOP. UPON ACCELERATION, MAY SUDDENLY ENGAGE AT A HIGH R.P.M. CAUSING VEHICLE TO LURCH FORWARD. ALSO WILL SLIP INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AND THEN RE-ENGAGES WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

ABS BRAKE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. WOULD ADD BRAKE FLUID & LIGHT GOES OUT. TAKEN TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC A CODE WOULD COME UP, EVEN AFTER BRAKE FLUID HAD BEEN ADDED. THIS HAPPENS EVERY 2 MONTHS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN LOW SPEEDS GAS PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED.BRAKING SYSTEM DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

TRANSMISSION STALLS WHEN DRIVING AND STOPPING AT THE STOP SIGN. ALSO, TRANSMISSION SLIPS PUTTING VEHICLE IN DRIVE FROM PARK. *AK

WHILE DRIVING OVER 30 MPH SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE FLUCTUATES BACK AND FORTH, NOT REGISTERING THE CORRECT SPEED. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *AK

SPEEDOMETER HEAD FAILED TWO TIMES. *

ELECTRICAL FIRE STARTED WHEN I STARTED HEAT IN VEHICLE. UNDER DASH DRIVER'S SIDE FULLY INVOLVED. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

ENGINE LIGHT ON & RUNNING HOT. HEAD GASKET & MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED. MECHANIC LATER SAID RECALL WOULD REIMBURSE FOR COST TO REPAIR. FORD SAID OUR VIN WAS NOT COVERED DUE TO PLACE & DATE OF MANUFACTURE. THIS IS AN ADMITTED MANUFACTURER DESIGN PROBLEM WHICH NEEDS TO BE RECTIFIED. THE FORD MECHANICS EVEN STATE THAT THIS IS THE SAME ENGINE AS THOSE IN THE RECALL. PEOPLE WHO FIND OUT THAT I HAVE A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR ASK IF I'VE HAD MY HEAD GASKET REPLACED YET. HOW WOULD THEY KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IF IT IS NOT WIDESPREAD, NOT TO MENTION A SEVERE DEFICIENCY IN DESIGN. HOW CAN FORD GET AWAY WITH THIS NONSENSE? WHY SHOULD WE BUY AMERICAN? PLEASE HELP.*AK

ALUMINUM WHEELS CORRODE AT TIRE BEAD SEAT-TIRES LOOSE AIR- NO REPAIR IS LASTING. SALT MAY BE A FACTOR.*AK (TIRESIZE: 215X70R15)

AFTER EXITING THE PASSENGER WAS LEFT IN THE VEHICLE AS THE PASSENGER WENT TO TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION ,THE VEHICLE JUMPED INTO THE REVERSE GEAR AND BACK INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE . DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

I AM UNABLE TO ATTAIN A REPLACEMENT PART FROM THE DEALERSHIPS IN THE AREA. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE PARTS ARE ON EMERGENCY BACK ORDER AND THAT IT WILL TAKE 4-6 WEEKS TO GET THE PART. CURRENTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE EXCEEDS 30MPH THE SPEEDOMETER JUMPS ALL OVER THE PLACE, AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE A RATE OF SPPED. I AM WONDERING ABOUT A EQUIPMENT RECALL, ETC. SINCE IT APPEARS THAT A GREAT DEMAND FOR THIS FAILED COMPONENT EXISTS. IS FORD TAKING ANY CORRECTIVE ACTION? THE WAIT FOR THE PART SEEMS EXCESSIVE. *AK

SPEEDODOMETER IS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN CONSUMER IS DRIVING HE CAN'T DETERMINE THE SPEED HE IS TRAVELING. *AK

3 TRANSMISSION FAILURES IN LESS THAN 18 MONTHS

VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE GOING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION, NO PRIOR WARNING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. *AK

I AM REPORTING THIS PROBLEM DUE TO THE FACT THAT FORD MOTOR FAILS TO ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM. I HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY GARAGES IN THE CINCINNATI AREA AND THEY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MANY HEAD GASKETS. THE MECHANICS AT CASTRUCCI FORD SAID THEY HAVE REPAIRED TWO WINDSTARS AND WERE WORKING ON THE THIRD. THIS PROBLEM COULD CAUSE CATASTOPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AND POSSIBLY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT!!!! I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD RECALL THESE VEHICLES.

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHENEVER CRUISE CONTROL IS ENGAGED. DEALER NOTIFIED AND SOME REPAIRS WERE MADE. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK *ML

BRAKES FAILED (WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING WITH OUR 6 YEAR OLD SON WITH HER) WITH NO WARNING, PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AND ONLY SLOWED THE VAN WHEN YOUR FOOT WAS ALL THE WAY DOWN. BROUGHT IT TO TWO FORD DEALERS BEFORE THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS/HCU IS NOT WORKING, REPLACEMENT PART AND LABOR IS EST. AT $1,400. OUT OF MY POCKET, PLUS I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT VEHICLE FOR 3 WEEKS AND COUNTING, AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. ALSO THE FIRST LOCAL GARAGE REPLACED THE MASTER CYL IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIX IT ANOTHER $300.

VEHICLE BEEN EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH OVERDRIVE SLIPPING. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED . CAN NHTSA PROVIDE ADDTIONAL INFORMATION OR HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

CRUISE CONTROL WOULD DECELERATE BY ITSELF AT 45 MPH, AND ACCELERATE BY ITSELF BACK TO ORIGINAL SPEED, INTERMITTENT OCCURRENCE. DEALER CONTACTED AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PREMATURE TIE ROD FAILURE AT 47,000 MILES, CAUSING A POTENTIAL SAFTY HAZARD. *AK

DOOR LOCKS ACTIVATE WHILE EXITING VEHICLE (AS TO CLOSE A GARAGE DOOR) WITH ENGINE RUNNING AFTER BACKING UP . THIS LEAVES DRIVER LOCKED OUT OF VEHICLE WITH ENGINE RUNNING AND KEY IN IGNITION. IMAGINE THE SITUATION IF AN INFANT IS IN THE CAR AND MOM IS LOCKED OUT!!! DEALER SAYS IT IS THE WAY VEHICLE IS DESIGNED. *AK

THREE SETS OF FRONT BRAKE PADS IN 30,000 MILES OR REPLACED EVERY 8 MONTHS. DRIVING STYLE IS CONSIDERED CONSERVATIVE. *AK