1998 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

EXPERIENCED IRRATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTING AT 65 MPH IN RAIN. CAR SWIRVED OUT OF CONTROL HOWEVER I WAS ABLE TO RECOVER TO SIDE OF ROAD. TRANSMISSION IS STUCK IN 1ST GEAR IT APPEARS. TAKING TO DEALER 10/09/2000 BECAUSE OF HOLIDAY WAIT.

FRONT WHEEL BOLTS FELL OFF, AND TIRE CAME OFF. *AK

TOOK VAN IN FOR SERVICE & WAS TOLD THAT THE CALIPERS, RIGHT & LEFT WERE REAL ROUGH EVEN THOUGH THE PADS WERE ONLY HALF WORN! TECH. REPLACED PAD`S & TURNED ROTORS! WHEN MOVING FOREWORD, MAKING A TURN, & BRAKING THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHIMMY! IN 40 YEARS I`VE NEVER SEEN ROTORS GO BAD & THE PADS BE ONLY HALF WORN! COST, $170.27 TOLD NOT COVERED BY BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY!

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THERE IS A SQUEALING SOUND, BRAKING DISTANCE WAS EXTENDED, DEALER REPLACED REAR CYLINDERS, THEN 2 WEEKS LATER WHILE DRIVING VERY SLOWLY, BRAKES LOCKED UP, AND DRIVER'S REAR DRUM WAS RUSTED. *AK *JB

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER HOOD IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 04-1243-985. *SLC

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD, CLAIM 04-1243-985. *JG

I HAVE HAD 5 STEERING RACKS REPLACED SINCE SEPT 2000. I CANNOT GET ANYONE TO HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM.*JB

TWO TIRES BLEW OUT AND THE THIRD WAS CAUGHT JUST BEFORE FAILURE. TREAD SEPARATION WAS EVIDENT ON THE THIRD TIRE. ALL TIRES HAD BEEN WELL CARED FOR AND HAD 67% TREAD REMAINING. TIRE PRESSURE MAINTAINED BETWEEN 30 AND 36 PSI. DEALER WHO IDENTIFIED FAILURE MODE AND REPLACED TIRES IS: ALPINE TIRE CO., 2750 S GLEN AVE, GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO (970)945-6662. THE DEALER WAS GOING TO RETAIN THE TIRES FOR ADJUSTMENT FROM GOODYEAR (TIRESIZE: P215/70R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/70R15 )

HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE, HAD NO HEAT UNDER 30MPH.

WHEN PROCEEDING THROUGH A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN AFTER A STOPPING, VEHICLE WILL DIE. CONSUMER CAN RESTART IT AGAIN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, FIRESTONE RIGHT REAR TIRE P205/70R15 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, TIRE STILL HAD PRESSURE AFTER SEPARATION. *SLC

TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY STARTED CYCLING THROUGH THE GEARS CAUSING ENGINE TO REV UP AND THE GEARS SHIFTING WITH HARD CLUNKS. AFTERWARD, IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE AND WE WERE FORCED TO DRIVE AT SLOW SPEED ON SHOULDER. TRANSMISSION SHOP COULD NOT REPRODUCE PROBLEM. FLUID WAS CLEAN AND NO CODES WERE DETECTED ON SCAN.

NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH HATCH, MECHANIC SAYS WHEEL MOUNTING BENT,ACCIDENT OR FRAME DEFECT

VEHICLE STARTS TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN WHENEVER CONSUMER IS TRYING TO SLOW DOWN. NOT TAKEN TO DEALER YET.

ENGINE STALLED ON AN OFF . CALLED DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID BECAUSE OF THE EMISSION CONTROL WAS ON RECALL CAMPAIN. AFTER THEY FIXED THE EMSSION CONTROL, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. BROUGHT THE CAR IN AND THE DEALER SAID IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THE RECALL JUST DONE ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO THIS YEAR.*AK

LIGHT THAT INDICATES DOOR IS OPEN STAYS ILLUMINATED. LIGHT GETS SO HOT THAT IT MAY CAUSE A FIRE. *AK THE SWITCHES HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE FORD COMPANY IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND DOESN'T WANT TO FIX UNLESS CONSUMER PAYS OUT OF POCKET. THE SLIDING DOOR WAS REPLACED. *JG

FUEL CUT OFF SWITCH WOULD CUT OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 4 TIMES. HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER EACH TIME. IT WAS REPAIRED THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED. THE LAST 2 TIMES BEEN IN CONTACT WITH DEALERSHIP & NOTHING WAS INFORMATIVE ABOUT PROBLEM. VEHICLE DIED OUT. GOT OUT OF VEHICLE & TURNED SWITCH BACK ON TO START VEHICLE AGAIN. *AK

ON OCCASION THE TRANSMISSION WILLL BECOME LOCKED IN SECOND AND SOMETIMES THIRD GEAR. IT REFUSES TO SHIFT GEARS PROPERLY AND WHEN IT DOES SHIFT ITS SHIFTS ROUGHLY AND SPORATICALLY. MY BELIEF IS THAT THERE IS A SHORT IN THE WIRING SOMEWHERE. *AK

1: STEERING ON VEHICLE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY 2: STEERING WHEEL TAKES EXTRA EFFORT TO TURN VEHICLE LEADING TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE SOMETIMES. 3: FORD RECALLED CERTAIN VIN NUMBERED VEHICLES OF THIS MODEL YEAR, BUT MINE DID NOT GET RECALLED, BUT STILL HAS THE CONDITION.*AK

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYING ON WHILE ALL DOORS ARE PROPERLY CLOSED. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY, AND NOTHING WOULD BE DONE. *AK *JB

I HAVE EXPERIANCED "RAPID DEPRESSURIZATION" OF THE LR TIRE ON MY MINI-VAN CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CROSS THE CENTERLINE . I WAS ABLE TO RETURN TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AVOIDING AN ACCIDENT. AFTER I CAME TO A STOP THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE SIDEWALL 11/2 IN. WIDE BY 3" HIGH. THESE TIRES HAVE NOT BEEN ABUSED, ALWAYS PROPERLY INFLATED, NOT OVERLOADED AND PROPERLY ROTATED AND INSPECTED. THE CAUSE (PER GOODYEAR DEALER) WAS PLY SEPERATION WHERE THE TREAD MEETS THE SIDEWALL.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235-70R15 )

DRIVING NYS THRUWAY @ 65MPH ABOUT 5:30PM WHEN SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING TRANSMISSION DROPPED FROM OVERDRIVE TO FIRST GEAR. SUDDEN CHANGE FROM HIGHWAY SPEED TOPARKING LOT SPEED REQUIRED GREAT SKILL OF FOLLOWING DRIVERS TO AVIOD RUNNING OVER US AND CREATING A RUSH HOUR CHAIN REACTION TRAFFIC PILEUP. AGENCY DENIES TYPE PROBLEMS WITH THAT TRANSMISSION, FORD HAS NOT RESPONDED TO MY LETTER. HELP! *AK

WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL IT WILL MAKE A LOUD NOISE,AND MOTOR FEELS LIKE IT IS STRUGGLING. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

VAN WENT ON FIRE UNDER HOOD AT THIS TIME LANDMARK FORD IN TIGARD OREGON DOESNT KNOW THE CAUSE OF THIS FIRE IT IS THERE AT THIS TIME WAITING TO BE REPAIRED

WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR,RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND PUT ON PADS AND ROTORS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. *AK

AT 70 MPH VEHICLE KEPT SLAM SHIFTING INTO GEARS, DID NOT KNOW WHAT GEAR TO BE IN, DID THIS BEGINNING ON THE HIGHWAY AND CONTINUED AT ANY SPEED. *AK

COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE&STUCK ACCELERATOR-BACKING UP DRIVEWAY WITH FEET ON BRAKES-ACCELERATOR PEDAL WENT DOWN ON OWN VAN WRAPPED AROUND TREE- REPORTED BRAKE PROBLEM ON TEST DRIVE-THEY FIXED IT,BUT NO GOOD. *AK

RAYBES TO FRONT BRAKE PADS FAILED AFTER ONLY 13000 MILES

VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES.*AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED. NLM

THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON, THE FUSE, WIRING HARNESS AND BRAKE WIRES WERE FIXED AS POSSIBLE CAUSE BUT THE LIGHT KEEPS ON COMING. *YH

ACCELERATOR WENT DOWN ON ITS OWN WHILE IN REVERSE, NO BRAKES TO STOP, RESULTING IN A ACCIDENT. STEERING VIBRATES, RECOMMEND ROTATING THE TIRES. INTERIOR SEATS SLIGHTLY TWISTED, DOOR LOCKS WORKS SOMETIME, INTERIOR LIGHTS WORK SOMETIMES.

VEHICLE WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BACKED OUT FROM DRIVEWAY AND ENGAGED IN DRIVE MODE, A LOUD CLUNK NOISE OCCURED. AFTER DRIVING FOR HALF A MILE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. *YH

AFTER BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY,FROM A COMPLETE STOP TRANSMISSION MADE A GRINDING SOUND WHEN SHIFTING TO DRIVE.TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE FAILURE AFTER DRIVING 1/2 MILE DOWN THE ROAD.FORD MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT AN ALUMINUM PART WAS USED IN THIS MODEL YEAR,THEN FORD CHANGED IT BACK TO STEEL ON REBUILT AND SUBSEQUENT YEAR MODELS.FORD NEVER ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM.DEALER SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION FOR $500 PLUS DEDUCTABLE FOR AN EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN. *AK

TIRES ARE GOODYEAR INTEGRITY. CONSUMER HAD ALL FOUR TIRES FAIL ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. *JG *JB *NLM

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION IN WHICH VEHICLE FLIPPED AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. SEAT BELT BUCKLE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE BENCH SEAT BROKE, CAUSING CHILD AND INFANT SEAT TO BE THROWN TO THE FLOOR. *AK VEHICLE DID NOT FLIP, IT HIT WATER AND SPUN. *YH THE BUCKLE SHATTERED AND THE PLASTIC HOUSING AND SPRINGS INTERNAL TO THE MECHANISM BROKE APART. *TT

AT THE 75000 MILE CHECK UP WITH HENRY CURTIS FORD, WE ASKED THAT THEY CHECK OUT AN ABNORMAL NOISE IN THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL. THEY REPORTED THAT THEY COULD NOT HEAR ANY PROBLEM. WE DROVE THE VAN TO UTAH THE NEXT WEEK. ON THE WAY BACK THE NOISE BECAME INCREASINGLY WORSE. WE DROVE IT LOCALLY FOR TWO WEEKS WITH THE NOISE BECOMING WORSE. WE CALLED FOR ANOTHER APPOINTMENT AFTER IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING BROKE. WE TRIED DRIVING TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT ENDED UP NEEDING A TOW WHEN THE WHEEL BROKE. ABOUT SIX WEEKS LATER THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BEGAN TO LOSE AIR. THINKING THAT WE HAD PICKED UP A NAIL WE WENT TO THE TIRE SHOP TO GET THE TIRE REPAIRED. THE SHOP DISCOVERED THAT THE WHEEL WAS LEAKING AIR AT THE WELDS. AFTER CALLING AROUND TO FIND A NEW WHEEL THEY CAME AND TOLD US THAT WHEELS WERE HARD TO FIND BECAUSE SO MANY WERE LEAKING AND BREAKING AT THE WELDS. QUITE FRANKLY I AM AFRAID TO LET MY WIFE PUT HERSELF AND OUR CHILDREN AT RISK OF THE WHEELS BREAKING WHILE SHE IS GOING SOMEWHERE. I WENT TO THE DEALER TO SEE WHAT THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS AND THEY SAID THEY KNEW NOTHING. I ASKED WHO THE MANUFACTURER OF THE WHEELS IS AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO GIVE ME THAT INFORMATION. I AM UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THIS IS THE ONLY WHEEL FOR THAT CAR. I AM CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF OTHER FAMILIES WHO MIGHT BE TRAVELING IN A VAN THAT THEY FEEL IS SAFE WHEN THE DEALER CAN'T EVEN FIND THE PROBLEM AND SENDS THEM OFF TO THEIR DESTINATION WITH A FALSE IDEA OF SAFETY. I SHUDDER TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO A FAMILY TRAVELING AT 75 MPH DOWN A MOUNTAIN PASS IN NEVADA AND A WHEEL BREAKS. HAVE YOU HAD OTHER REPORTS OF THIS NATURE?

ALL 4 WHEELS HAVE HAD LUGS: NUTS SHEARED OFF AND HAVE FALLEN INTO THE HUBCAP. *AK

DRIVING FWY SPEED, LEFT MOST LANE, GAS GUAGE READ OVER 1/4 TANK, VEHICLE WAS REALLY OUT OF FUEL (EMPTY) AND STALLED IN LEFT LANE WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC. WAS REPAIRED 2X PREVIOUSLY BY DEALER, DEALER INSISTS THERE'S NO PROBLEM. *AK

07/2000 PROBLEM INVOLVES AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTING CAUSING CRITICAL HANDLING SITUATIONS. IN THE INCIDENTS TO DATE 2 HAVE OCCURRED WHEN TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 50MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD SEEM TO DOWNSHIFT, THE RPM WAS JUMP AND THE ENGINE WOULD BE ACCELERATING AS A RESULT OF THIS. THE OTHER 2 INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WITH AGAIN THE TRANSMISSION APPARENTLY DOWNSHIFTING CAUSING THE RPMS TO JUMP, THE ENGINE TO ACCELERATE AND A HANDLING PROBLEM RELATED TO THE NOTED FACTORS. THE POWER CONTROL MODULE WAS RESET BY A FORD DEALER AFTER A STAFF WHEN TURNING THAT NEARLY RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT DOWN (TURN OFF) DURING SLOWING SUCH AS STOPPING FOR TRAFFIC LIGHTS OR TURNING INTO A DRIVEWAY.*AK

TRANSMISSON WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND WAITING ON MANUFACTURER WHO HAS A HOLD ON ALL WINDSTAR TRANSMISSION UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER NOTICE. *AK

PE 00 024/SUSPENSION COIL SPRING: WHILE TRAVELING AT 40 MPH FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. NO INJURIES REPORTED. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER, AND REPAIRS WERE DONE AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. *AK

SHOCK ABSORBER (STRUT) AND COIL SPRING BROKE ...NONE IN STOCK IN ALL OF USA! 2WEEKS HAVE GONE WITH NO REPAIRS BECAUSE OF LACK OF SPRING NATIONWIDE! DEALER IN MO (CAR STILL THERE) TOLD US PART WAS ON ORDER FOR 3 DAYS...AFTER MISSING WORK FOR 4 DAYS AND PAYING FOR HOTEL IN EUREKA, MO WE ENDED UP RENTING A CAR AND DRIVING BACK HOME TO MICHIGAN. WILL HAVE TO RENT ANOTHER CAR AND OVERNIGHT HOTEL BILL TO RETURN TO PICK UP VAN WHEN (IF ) COMPLETED...ALL THE WHILE WE STILL ARE MAKING MO/PAYMENTS ON VEHICLE WE CAN'T EVEN DRIVE!!!

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT WAS RAINING, AND ABS LIGHT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. ALSO, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WAS BLINKING, SAYING THE SYSTEM WAS OFF. ABS BRAKE SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING. *AK

THIS FAILURE WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A ROLLOVER IF THE BROKEN SPRING HAD RUPTURED THE TIRE. THE SPRING STOPPED JUST SHORT OF CONTACTING THE TIRE. THERE ARE SCUFF MARKS, BUT NOT TO WHERE THE TIRE NEEDS REPLACED. I HAVE THE ORIGINAL COIL SPRINGS FOR ANALYSIS IF REQUIRED.( BOTH WERE REPLACED AFTER THE INCIDENT.)

CONSUMER WAS RIDING FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND STOPPED TO REST. CONSUMER WAS HEADING BACK ON ROAD AND 1 MINUTE FROM WHERE HE WAS, FRONT OF VEHICLE WENT DOWN. CONSUMER THOUGHT IT WAS A FLAT TIRE. A TOW TRUCK CAME AND FOUND COIL SPRING HAD BROKEN. WOULD HAVE TO GO TO A FORD DEALERSHOP TO BE REPAIRED. CONSUMER WANTED MANUFACTURER TO COVER REPAIRS. A LETTER WAS SENT, BUT RESPONSE FROM THEM WAS THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING FOR CONSUMER. *AK VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES PRIOR TO INCIDENT DUE TO A STRANGE NOISE THAT WAS OCCURRING IN THE FRONT END, DEALER INSPECTED FRONT END EXTENSIVELY AND NEVER FOUND ANYTHING WRONG. THERE ARE PLASTIC HUB COVERS ON THE WHEELS, CONSUMER HAS HAD 3 BLOWOUTS WHICH HAVE RUINED THE COVERS, THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO HANDLE THE REPEATED WEAR AND TEAR. *SLC

SEAT WILL NOT RETURN AFTER 'DUMP-SLIDE' IS USED. A LEVER ACUTATES THE SEAT BACK TO TILT FORWARD AND THE SEAT SLIDES FORWARD TO LET IN REAR SEAT PASSENGERS ON DRIVERS SIDE (NO SLIDING DOOR ON DRIVERS SIDE). SEAT WILL NOT RETURN AND SLIDES BACK AND FORTH WHEN ACCERATING/BRAKING.*AK

DURING OPERATION AT ANY SPEED ENGINE WILL STALL UNEXPECTEDLY. PROBLEM OCCURRED A FEW TIMES BEGINNING IN JULY OF 2000, AND IS PROGRESSIVELY INCREASING IN FREQUENCY. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK

THE ACCIDENT IS ATTRIBUTED TO A CAR PART FAILURE. NO OTHER CAUSE FOR THIS ONE CAR ACCIDENT EXISTS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE, CLAIM 53-C579-741. *SLC