There are 53 stored owner reports matching the speed control & cruise leading-label group for the 1996 Ford Windstar in our NHTSA-sourced dataset. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Loaded 50 of 53 matching reports. This is a limited sample of up to 50 reports, ordered by incident date when available, not the complete group. The list controls page through the loaded reports only.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)FORD RECALL LETTER DATED DECEMBER 2011 RECALL NUMBER 09 S 09 SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM MODIFICATION. I RECENTLY TOOK MY FORD WINDSTAR ON JANURARY 3, 2013 FOR A RECALL. ABOUT A MONTH LATER I DROVE OVER RAILROAD TRACKS AND NOW THE VEHICLE IS SLOW AND WON'T PICK UP SPEED IT MAKES A PUT PUT SOUND AND HAS ALMOST NO POWER. I CALLED THE DEALER TO REPORT THE ISSUE AND THEY WANT $90.00 JUST TO LOOK AT IT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS JUST IN THE SHOP FOR THE RECALL. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER COMPLAINT AND ALL THEY SAY IS THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FORD DEALER ACTIONS OR INACTIONS. THE LETTER FROM FORD WAS THE MAIN REASON I TOOK THE VAN IN BECAUSE IT SAYS THERE IS A FIRE HAZARD BUT NOW THE VAN IS A PIECE OF JUNK. FORD REFUSES TO RECHECK THE VEHICLE AND LOCATE THE REAL CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM THE VEHICLE IS THE ONLY WAY FOR ME TO GET AROUND. THANKS FORD FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND LACK OF CONCERN. SIGNED DISSATIFIED VICTIM OF A SCAM. *TR
MY VAN WAS IN GREAT SHAPE AND GREAT CONDITION. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON MAY 6TH 2012 ABOUT 45-50 MPH ENTERED THE I-215 COLLECTOR, STARTED TO SMELL A BURNED RUBBER SMELL, I LOOKED AT THE TEMP GAUGE AND IT WAS NORMAL, THE VAN STARTED TO SPUTTER LIKE RUNNING OUT OF GAS, THE VAN WAS NOT OUT OF GAS ALMOST FULL, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH ON AND OFF, I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, LOOKED AT THE TEMP GAUGE AGAIN AND IT STILL WAS NORMAL, THE BURNED RUBBER SMELL GOT WORSE AND I NOTICED THEN A BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I GOT OUT OF THE VAN AND STOOD AT THE FRONT OF THE VAN TO CALL AAA AND THE ENGINE BURST INTO FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WAS NOT INDICATOR WHAT SO EVER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. THIS ALL OCCURRED IN ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES. THE POLICE CAME AND COULD NOT PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH EXTINGUISHER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. IT BURNED UP MY ENTIRE VEHICLE WITH ALL THE CONTENTS INSIDE. THE FIREMAN STATED THAT EVEN THE FRONT TIRES WERE BURNED UP AND MELTED. I DID GET PICTURES OF WHAT HAPPENED. I ONLY HAD LIABILITY INSURANCE SO I THOUGHT I WAS JUST OUT OF LUCK. A SECURITY SPECIALIST FROM WORK SAID THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE THE FIRE COULD HAVE STARTED DUE TO A FACTORY SAFETY DEFECT AND TOLD ME TO DO SOME RESEARCH. I DID FIND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SPEED SWITCH OR CONTROL ON 1996 FORD WINDSTARS. I ALWAYS USE MY CRUISE CONTROL. I HAVE FILED A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE BASED ON A BURN UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE FIRE OCCURRED DUE TO THE SPEED CONTROL RECALL. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT I CAN DO. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION OF THE RECALL OR I WOULD HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO BE FIXED BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. *TR
I HAVE A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR VAN THAT CAUGHT FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, THEN A BOOM AND THERE WERE FLAMES AROUND THE FIREWALL. THE MASTER CYLINDER, WIRING HARNESS, HOSES ETC. WERE DESTROYED. THE FIRE WAS LOCATED MORE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN MORE THAN PROPERLY MAINTAINED, AND MY MECHANIC CAN ATTEST TO THIS. THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. I WAS NOT INJURED. THIS OCCURRED PRIOR TO THE CURRENT RECALL. *TR
THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATOR SENSOR ON THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER SHORTED OUT DUE TO BRAKE FLUID IN IT. THIS CAUSED THE WIRES TO IT TO BURN OFF THE INSULATION AND A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. ALL REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE OEM LEADING ME TO BELIEVE IT IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM. *TR
THE 1996 WINDSTAR HAD BEEN PARKED IN THE GARAGE (ATTACHED TO THE HOME) WITH THE IGNITION OFF FOR SEVERAL HOURS WHEN FAMES WERE SEEN COMING FROM THE LEFT REAR QUADRENT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IT WAS OBVIOUS THE FIRE COULD NOT BE EXTINGUISHED. THE FAMILY LEFT THE HOME, WHICH WAS SOON COMPLETELY DESTROYED.
OWNER WENT TO START VEHICLE, AND IT STARTED SMOKING. EXAMINATION REVEALED SCDS (SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH) OVERHEATED AND MELTED OFF, CAUSING SMALL FIRE IN LEFT REAR OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR
BRAKE MODULE TO CRUISE CONTROL HARNESS CAUGHT ON FIRE. SIMILAR MODELS HAVE THIS RECALLED BY FORD BUT NOT FOR THE YEAR FOR MY WINDSTAR. *TR
THE SPEED CONTROL PRESSURE SWITCH HAD CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO BEING LOCATED BELOW THE MASTER CYLINDER, NEEDING TO KNOW HOW TO GET REPLACED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR. APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS AGO, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE RISING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS PARKED. HE STATED THAT THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH AND THE WIRING HARNESS WERE MELTED FROM THE INSIDE. THE SWITCH WAS HANGING FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER AND FELL TOWARDS THE FUSE BOX. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FROM A PRIVATE PARTY. THE ENGINE SIZE, FAILURE MILEAGE, AND A VALID VIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR. AFTER PICKING UP HIS VEHICLE FROM THE MECHANIC, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE RISING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. HE PULLED OVER, OPENED THE HOOD, AND NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH THAT CONNECTS TO THE BOTTOM OF THE MASTER CYLINDER. HE NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL. THEY ADVISED HIM TO CALL NHTSA. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH WATER, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SMOKE. THE VEHICLE HAS REMAINED PARKED AT HIS RESIDENCE SINCE AUGUST 6, 2007. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,000.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A PUDDLE WAS OBSERVED UNDER THE VEHICLE. A WEEK LATER, A SMALL FIRE OCCURRED UNDER THE HOOD WHICH WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE CONTACT. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 06V286000, REGARDING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING NOISE FOLLOWED BY A HISSING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE ODOR OF SMOKE WAS PRESENT, THE CONTACT AND PASSENGERS EXITED THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY. FLAMES WERE VISIBLE FROM THE FRONT UNDER HOOD AREA. THE FLAMES PRIMARILY SURROUNDED THE TOP OF THE TRANSMISSION AND MASTER CYLINDER. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED, BUT THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MODERATE FIRE DAMAGE. THE POLICE WERE NOT ALERTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V38800, REGARDING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
MY 1996 FORD WINDSTAR HAS BEEN LEAKING BRAKE FLUID FOR A FEW MONTHS. IT WAS DETERMINED YESTERDAY, BY MY MECHANIC, THAT THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH WAS THE CAUSE OF THE LEAK. HE REPLACED THE PART AND INFORMED ME THAT FORD HAS A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECTIVE PART. I CALLED MY FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE WINDSTAR DOES NOT FALL UNDER THIS RECALL. *JB
DT: CONTACT STATED ON JULY 19, 05 WHILE PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY AND FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE THE CAR RAPIDLY ACCELERATED AND IT RAN INTO THE GARAGE. CONTACT PRESSED ON THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKE DID NOT RESPOND. WHEN SHE COMING TO A STOP THE ENGINE WAS RACED VERY FAST, AND THE ENGINE SOUNDED ABNORMALLY LOUD. CONTACT SPOKE WITH SOMEONE AT DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT, AND THEY DID NOT TOLD HER ANYTHING AS OF YET. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED. *AK
WHILE PARKED, A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE SPEED CONTROL DISCONNECTION SWITCH. *JB
CONSUMER STATES: NEEDLE ON SPEEDOMETER WAS WOBBLING . ALSO, TIRE BLEW OUT WITH ABOUT 20,000 MILES ON IT. THE WHOLE SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE BLEW OUT. 35 PSI, B.F.GOODWRICH, ADVANTAGE PLUS,1996 WINDSTAR VAN. *AK
1996 FORD WINDSTAR CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN.*MR WHILED PARKED WITH THE ENGINE OFF, BUT RADIO RUNNING, CONSUMER SAW SMOKE COMING UNDER HOOD IN FRONT OF STEERING WHEEL. SPEED CONTROL DETECTION SWITCH WAS THE CAUSE OF FIRE. THERE IS RECALL BUT CONSUMER'S VIN IS NOT INCLUDED. *TT
CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSED SMOKE, CAUSED CRUISE CONTROL TO FAIL, REPLACED WITH NEW SWITCH. FORD WOULD NOT REPAIR AS PART OF RECENT PICKIP TRUCK RECALL ON THIS SWITCH. HAD TO PAY FOR REPAIR.*AK I HAVE ORIGINAL FAILED SWITCH WHICH LEAKS BRAKE FLUID INTO SWITCH CAUSING SHORT AND SMOKE.
WHILE DRIVING OVER 55 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED. THE NUMBERS FLUCTUATED UP AND DOWN AT HIGH SPEEDS. ONCE THE VEHICLE GOT BELOW 55 MPH THE SYSTEM WENT BACK TO NORMAL. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE BOUNCES ALL OVER THE SPEED DIAL. PROBLEM CAME ALL OF A SUDDEN. HAPPENS WHEN YOU GO OVER 30 MPH OR SO. THIS HAS BEEN LISTED MANY OTHER NTHSA HOTLINE STATEMENTS ON SAME VEHICLE. WILL ANYTHING BE DONE BY FORD??*AK
Showing 1-20 of 50 loaded complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: May 4, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.