1996 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

OWNER ACCELERATED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE ( VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE) THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE ( TRANSMISSION WAS GONE). *AK *SLC

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 40MPH STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE. THIS CAUSES DRIVING TO BE DIFFICULT. HAVE NOT TAKEN TO DEALER AS OF YET. *AK

WHILE PARKED IN INCLINE POSITION AND THE KEY IS OUT OF THE IGNITION THE CHILD SWITCHED TRANSMISSION GEAR FROM PARK POSITION TO NEUTRAL POSITION WITH THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE ON, THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN ALMOST. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

CONSUMER WAS PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF DUE TO LUGS:NUTS:BOLTS COMING OFF. NO ACCIDENT & NO INJURY. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR WITHOUT COST TO THE CONSUMER. *AK

THE SPEEDOMETER FLUCTUATES ABRUCTLY 10 TO 25 MPH AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS, IT IS DIFFICULT TO JUDGE THE PROPER SPEED. FORD DECLINED TO HELP IN MATTER AND ACTED AS IF THEY NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM OCCURRED IN MY DAUGHTER'S '96 WINDSTAR AS WELL AND REPLACED SAME AT HER EXPENSE FOR $550, FORD WANTED $880. *AK

WHEN GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE CAN START THE VEHICLE UP WITHOUT KEY AND DRIVE OFF. WHEN CHILDREN GET INTO THE VEHICLE THEY CAN START THE VEHICLE UP, AND THAT IS A SAFETY DEFECT. *AK

HAD THE SUB-FRAME INSULATOR REPLACED TWICE. HAD NEW ABS BRAKES PUT ON VEHICLE. THE ROTORS WERE CUT TWICE. THE SUBFRAME BUSHING THREAD LOADER WAS WORN DOWN. TIE RODS REPLACED TWICE, AND THE STRUTS WERE REPLACED TWICE ALSO. *AK

PARKING BRAKE KEEPS FAILING,ADJUSTED 5 TIMES,DEALER REFUSES TO REPLACE

WHEN STOPPING AT A LIGHT, ENGINE SOMETIMES WILL DIE. VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD AFTER PULLING OFF FROM A STOP. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, THEY REPLACED SOMETHING, AND TWO WEEKS LATER PROBLEM REOCCURRED. *AK THE ENGINE STALLS WHENEVER MORE THAN ONE DEVICE IS TURNED ON AT THE SAME TIME. THIS PROBLEM MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN HEAD LIGHTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON TOGETHER. THE VEHICLE ALSO SHAKES VIOLENTLY AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR FEW HOURS. *YH

THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION SHIFTS DOWN WITHOUT NOTICE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO 50 MPH TO 10 MPH OR LESS. THIS CAUSES DRIVER HEAD TO HIT STEERING WHEEL AND THE CHILDREN TO BE JOLSTED. THE VEHICLE TRAVELING BEHIND JUST ESCAPED IMPACTING US IN THE REAR.

THE ALUMINUM PISTON ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO STALL, ESPECIALLY AT STOP SIGNS AND LIGHTS. IN SOME INSTANCES THE VEHICLE ROLLED INTO THE INTERSECTION AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE FOR 5-10 SECONDS OR MORE UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY KICKED INTO GEAR HARD WHICH JOLTED THE CAR FORWARD. THIS CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD IN THE INTERSECTION. APPARENTLY FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS A NEW STEEL PISTON, BUT IT COSTS OWNERS $1600 - $2000 TO HAVE IT FIXED. MANY OF US CANNOT AFFORD SUCH A HIGH AMOUNT FOR REPAIR AND TAKE OUR CHANCES ON SAFETY WHILE WE SAVE UP MONEY FOR THE REPAIR.

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON< GOES OFF< COMES ON< GOES OFF< COMES ON< STAYS ON< GOES OFF! AND THE DEALERSHIP (GREENE FORD, GAINESVILLE, GA.) ALWAYS HAS A DIFFERENT REASON FOR THE PROBLEM AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY. $600 OR MORE TO FIX EACH TIME, TO NO END. THE FIRST TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THE IMRCS WERE SUPPOSE TO BE THE PROBLEM ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIPS DISAGNOSTICS TEST (COST $80.00) THEY REPLACED AND SUPPOSEDLY FIXED THE PROBLEM, (COST $560.00). LIGHT CAME ON NEXT DAY WHILE TAKING A FAMILY VACATION OUT OF STATE. HAD AN INDEPENDENT MACHANIC PERFORM A TUNE UP ON VEHICLE, REPLACED PLUGS, WIRES, OIL CHANGE, THROTTLE BODY CLEANED (COST $223.00) THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON WITHIN TWO DAYS. UPON THE NEXT RETURN TO THE DEALERSHIP THE DIAGNOSTICS TEST (COST ANOTHER $80.00) REPORTED A CODE EGR INSUFFICIENT FLOW AND A #4 CYLINDER MISFIRE (EST. REPAIR COSTS $600.00). HAD A DPFE SENSOR REPLACED ($76.00) THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON! IT IS AMAZING TO ME THAT THESE SO CALLED DEALERSHIPS (EXPERTS) WITH THEIR SO CALLED (DIAGNOSTICS TESTS) HAVE NOT THE FOGGIEST CLUE ABOUT HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. IT IS ALSO DISTURBING THAT AFTER REVEIWING THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE, THAT NHTSA HAS NOT ORDERED FORD TO STOP PLAYING GAMES AND FORCE A RECALL FOR THESE PROBLEMS. IT IS APPARENT THAT OTHERS HAD THE SAME SYMPTOMS AND PROBLEMS IN THE PAST THAT NEVER GET RESOLVED UNTIL THE HEAD GASKETS FAIL AND THE REPAIR BILLS GO FROM $600.00 TO $2000.00. I AM ACCUSING FORD OF KNOWINGLY AND WITHOUT REGARD TO THE BEST INTRESTS OF THEIR CUSTOMERS ALLOWING MAJOR PROBLEMS TO EXIST AND PERSIST IN AN EFFORT TO INCREASE THEIR PROFITS AT THE CUSTOMERS EXPENSE. FORD CORPARATION SHOULD BE ASSAMED, BUT THEY HAVE SHOWN NO ACCEPTANCE OF RESPONABILITY. AND THE DEALERSHIPS ARE NO BETTER, EVERYTIME WE DISCUSS THIS PROBLEM WITH THEM, WE GET DIFFERENT ANSWERS AND COSTS FROM DAY TO DAY AND IT APPEARS IF YOU COMPLAIN TO MUCH YOU GET TO PAY EVEN MORE. THANKS FORD, FOR NOTHING! *JB

NO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER

WHEN WE WERE LEAVING THE CITY WE NOTICED THE MOTOR WAS REVING TOO HIGH. WE STOPPED THE VAN AND NOTICED WHEN WE STARTED THAT IT WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR (IT IS AN AUTOMATIC). LATER, AFTER LETTING IT SIT I DROVE IT AGAIN AND ACCELERATED IT UP TO 65 MPH, IT SHIFTED OK. SUDDENLY IT DOWNSHIFTED INTO 1ST GEAR. TOOK IT TO DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. IT IS WORKING ALRIGHT AT THE MOMENT BUT IN LOOKING OVER THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS DEALING WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS.

WHILE DRIVING THE VAN ABOUT 30 MPH HEARD A POPPING NOISE. WHEN OWNER LOOKED UNDER THE VAN THE REAR CONNECTING ROD WAS BROKEN IN HALF. THE VAN WILL BE REPAIRED. *AK

TRACTION CONTROL SENSORS FAILED CAUSING WHEELS TO LOCK UP ON SLIPPERY SURFACES. (QCAW)

ABS BRAKES; WHEN APPLYING BRAKES IN NORMAL CONDITIONS THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES A LOUD GRINDING NOISE OCCURRED. THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED. *AK ALSO, BRAKE SHOES WERE WORN BADLY ON THE RIGHT WHEEL, ALSO BRAKE SHOES WERE BENT. *SLC

WAS COMING TO A RED LIGHT AFTER DRIVING 35-40MPH & HAD STOPPED. STARTED TO PULL OUT, BUT VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE. THE GEARS DID NOT SHIFT. VEHICLE DID NOT SHUT DOWN. APPLIED ACCELERATOR & NOTHING HAPPENED. IT WAS STILL RUNNING EVEN THOUGH IT STALLED. TOOK TO DEALER & HAD IT CHECKED. MECHANIC FOUND NOTHING WRONG. *AK

SPEEDOMETER INACURATE BY APPROX 9 MPH. HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE.

FUEL PUMP FAILED.

PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED TWICE IN 36,000 MILES, EMERGENCY BRAKE REQUIRES ADJUSTMENT MONTHLY. ABS LIGHT HAS BEEN RESET ONCE.

ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD FAILED DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT.

THE SPEEDOMETER BEGAN TO SHOW ERRATIC MOVEMENTS AT ALL SPEEDS. IT WOULD FLUCTUATE UP TO 10 TO 30 MPH AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS RENDERING IT'S FUNCTION USELESS. FORD DENIES ANY KNOWN DEFECT AND REFUSED AN IMPLIED WARRANTY FOR THE ITEM. DUE TO COST DIFFERENCES I CHOSE TO HAVE IT REPLACED AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP USING A NEW LY PURCHASED SPEEDOMETER HEAD FROM THE FORD DEALERSHIP.*AK

OUTER HOOD PANEL SEPARATED FROM BODY OF VEHICLE PRIOR TO RECALL (97V-180). IN ADDITION, REPLACED FRONT ELECTRIC DOOR LATCH/MULTIFUNCTIONED WIPER SWITCH/WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH/ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS DUE TO COOLANT LEAK, AND DIFFERENTIAL SEAL.

THE FRONT BRAKES FEEL LIKE THEY ARE GRINDING & GRABBING WHEN THEY ARE APPLIED. THIS EXTENDS THE STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO DEALER & HAD WIRING REPAIRED. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WENT OUT. PROBLEM HAD REOCCURRED. WAS ELECTRICAL SHORT IN WIRES. *AK

TRANSMISSION MAKES CLUNKING NOISES WHEN BACKING VEHICLE UP OR WHEN STARTING TO MOVE FORWARD. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK

HEAD LIGHT FAILURE.

SPEEDOMETER ERRATICALLY CHANGES ITS READINGS MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL WHAT SPEED THE VEHICLE IS GOING. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED. DEALER IS REPLACING THE SPEEDOMETER FOR THE SECOND TIME. *ML

WHILE DRIVING THE VAN BETWEEN 55-60 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE CAME OFF THE WHEEL. DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VAN, BUT WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH. BOTH WHEELS AND TIRES ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WERE REPLACED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK

VEHICLE SUDDENLY SLOWER DOWN TO 35-40 MPH WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY, JUST AVOIDED BEING HIT IN THE REAR BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED SENSOR THAT DETERMINES SHIFT LEVER LOCATION. AS CAR HAD 41,000 MILES, DEALER REFUSED TO COVER DEFECT UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THROUGH CAR WAS JUST OVER 2 YEARS OLD.

CONSUMER WAS ATTEMPTING TO STOP ABOUT 15-20 FEET BEHIND OF OTHER VEHICLE WHEN ABS BECAME INOPERATIVE, CAUSING CONSUMER TO REAREND VEHICLE ,HALF OF ENGINE DESTROYED, ALL FRONT END DAMAGED, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY .CONSUMER HAD EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE TO 40-50 FEET. *AK

RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CAME LOOSE UPON FAILURE OF PIN CONNECTING CONTROL ARM TO BALL JOINT. LOSS OF STEERING AND CONTROL OF VEHICLE RESULTED.

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES TAKE LONGER TO STOP, AND THERE'S TOO MUCH PLAY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, INNER TIE ROD BROKE, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL, AND VEHICLE RAN INTO A POLE. *AK

SPEEDOMETER FAILURE

WINDSHIELD WIPER PIVOT ARM NUT BECAME LOOSE WHILE IN USE. WIPER FELL TO LEFT OFF OF WINDSHIELD.

BLOWN ENGINE GASKET AND SPEEDOMETER OFF BY FIVE MILES (RECALLED).

WE TOOK OUR WINDSTAR IN AT THE FIRST INITIAL FAILURE(12-2-97). THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT HAD COME ON, SO WE TOOK IT TO THE FORD GARAGE CLOSEST TO OUR RESIDENCE. WE WERE TOLD AT THAT TIME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG, AND THAT SHOULD THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COME BACK ON THAT IT SHOULD RESET ITSELF IN A FEW DAYS.... NOT TO WORRY. THIS HAPPENED 6-7 TIMES AFTERWARD WITH THE LIGHT ALWAYS GOING OFF AFTER 3 COLD STARTS. BUT WHEN WE WOULD TAKE A LONG TRIP. IT WOULD START ALL OVER. IN OCT. OF THIS YEAR (1999) THE LIGHT CAME AND AND DID NOT GO OFF. WHEN WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT IT, THEY SAID IT NEEDED A TUNE-UP. ($217.00) WE TOOK IT HOME AND THE NEXT DAY WE TOOK IT BACK BECAUSE THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. THE DEALER SAID IT NEEDED A NEW 02 SENSOR (APPROX. $100.00) THE NEXT DAY THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. WE TOOK IT BACK. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE COMPUTER, WHICH THEY REPLACED AT NO COST. LIGHT CAME BACK ON. TOOK IT BACK. SAID THE ALTERNATOR WAS MAGNATIZED. NEW ALTERNATOR DIDN'T HELP. FINALLY THE TOLD US THAT IT POSSIBLY COULD BE THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET. THEIR ESTIMATE IS $1200 WHICH WE CANT AFFORD. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE 1995 WINDSTARS FOR THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. BUT BECAUSE MY WINDSTAR IS A 1996 FORD IS UN-WILLING TO HELP. MY WINDSTAR WAS MANUFACTURED IN JAN OF 1996. SO I AM SURE THAT THAT ENGINE HAS THE SAME DEFECT OF THE 1995 ENGINE. I WANT TO STRESS HOW FUSTRATED I AM WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY IN THEIR STANCE ON THIS MATTER. THEY REALLY DON'T CARE HOW SAFE THE VEHICLE IS. *AK

ABS FAILURE.

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE GEAR SHIFT DISENGAGES. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP, USUALLY TAKES ABOUT 2 CAR LENGTHS BEFORE IT STOPS. BUT IT CAN ALSO VARY, DEPENDING ON THE SPEED. DEALER HAS REPLACED BRAKE PADS 3 TIMES/7 TIMES ROTORS AND CALIPERS. THIS HAS TO BE DONE USUALLY EVERY 1500-3000 MILES DEFECT IS OCCURRING. *AK

SOMEONE RAN INTO CONSUMER HEAD-ON, AND SEAT BELTS DID NOT HOLD HIM. DRIVER/WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN WERE INJURED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THE SHOULDER STRAP BELT DIDN'T STOP THE CONSUMER FROM HITTING THE WINDOW AS ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS COMING HEAD-ON INTO THE CONSUMER. CONSUMER HAD TO TURN AWAY FROM THE OTHER VEHICLE. *AK

LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED, CAUSING RIGHT FRONT WHEEL TO COME OFF.

THE DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF THE AIR INTAKE VALVE LOCATED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OVER THE WHEEL WELL HOUSING, WATER ACCUMULATED AND CLOGGED THE AIR INTAKE VALVE, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

VEHICLE ON 4TH SET OF FRONT BRAKES. VEHICLE HAS BEEN OWNED FOR 21 MONTHS WITH 26000 MILES, DRIVEN IN NORMAL CONDITION.

BRAKE PADS FAILED.