1998 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

RIGHT FRONT BRAKE PADS WEAR EXCESSIVELY WITHIN 75,000 MILES WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF (4) SETS OF PADS FOR THE FRONT. ALSO, THE OWNER INDICATES THAT HE REPLACED THE ROTORS TWICE, NEW HIGH QUALITY PADS AND ROTORS WERE INSTALLED, NOW THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SHAKES WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, IT APPEARED THAT HE RIGHT FRONT DOES ALL THE BRAKING. NLM *NLM

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE CALIPERS. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THEY MAKE A GRINDING SOUND. THE DEFECTS ARE DESCRIBED IN RECALL NUMBER 98I-003.000 AND INVESTIGATION NUMBER IE97054. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WAS TRAVELING 35MPH WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. HAPPENED TWICE. TOOK TO DEALER & MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE PROBLEM. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *AK

TAILGATE POWER LOCK INOPERATIVE. YH

CHILD GOT TRAPPED IN THE REAR SEAT BELT SYSTEM. THE SEATBELT WAS UNLOCKED, BUT DID NOT RELEASE AND BECAME TIGHTER AS THE CHILD STRUGGLED WITH IT. IT WAS FINALLY CUT TO BE REMOVED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

GAS TANK SENSOR UNIT FAILED. YH

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DECELERATING VEHICLE WILL STALL UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN RADIO ON, ELECTRICAL NOISE EXISTS WHEN LIGHTS ARE ON. NOISE CHANGES PITCH, VOLUME, AND PHASE WHEN DIMMER SWITCH IS ROTATED. DEALER CLAIMS IT'S NORMAL. ADDITIONAL ELECTRICAL NOISE GIVEN THESE CONDITIONS AND WHICH IS IN SYNC WITH TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN CORRECTED BY DEALER. PROBLEM DOES NOT EXIST WITH INSTALLATION OF NON-FORD RADIO.

WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD SAFELY. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE REPLACED. *AK

VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JERK VIOLENTLY WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER HAS OVERHAULED TRANSMISSION TWICE. DEFECT IS STILL REOCCURRING. CANNOT DUPLICATE DEFECT. *AK

NONE

BRAKES INTERMITTENTLY FADE. BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. MUST PUMP THE BRAKE TO STOP. DEALER STATES THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES.

VEHICLE STALLS AT LOW SPEEDS, TOOK BACK TO THE DEALER TWICE AND THEY REPROGRAMED THE COMPUTER. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.

NO SUMMARY

REPEATED INCIDENTS OF UNUSUAL TIRE WEAR; THIS VEHICLE NOW HAS 21,900 MILES ON IT AND IT IS ON LITERALLY ITS THIRD SET OF TIRES. THE TIRES KEEP CUPPING AND CAUSING THE VAN TO BECOME MISALIGNED; CARIBOU FORD HAS HAD THIS VEHICLE IN ITS SHOP IN EXCESS OF 10 TIMES FOR THIS AND OTHER RELATED PROBLEMS. THE SHIFT CABLE THEN BROKE (THANKFULLY) WHEN I WAS STOPPED IN A PARKING LOT, AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD HAVE DONE IF I'D BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY OR ELSEWHERE, MOVING. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE HAD ANY SIMILAR COMPLAINT CONCERNING THE TIRE WEAR/MISALIGNMENT PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE VIBRATES SIGNIFICANTLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND LOWER AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM, WHICH I DO CONSIDER A SAFETY PROBLEM. YOU CAN LITERALLY SEE THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKE. I APPRECIATE YOUR INVESTIGATING THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/7 )

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD 314 MILES. IN ADDITION, THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH CRUISE CONTROL CABLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, CRUISE CONTROL CABLE WRAPPED AROUND THEIR ACCELERATOR CABLE, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO RUN WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO STOP IT. THE CONSUMER HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.

FRONT DISC BRAKES WORE PREMATURELY.

BRAKE PADS ARE CUTTING ROTORS, CAUSING FAILURE. *YC

ALL REAR SEAT BELTS ARE NOT LOKING PROPERLY. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK

TRANSMISSION LUNGES FORWARD AT LOW SPEEDS.*AK

TIRES BLEW (FIRESTONE). *YC

TRIED TO SHIFT GEARS. HARD TO SHIFT INTO PARK PROPERLY. MAKES LOUD NOISES WHEN SHIFTING. ALSO, BRAKES MAKE LOUD NOISES WHEN APPLIED. *AK

HORN & AIR BAG, MY HORN WILL NOT BLOW AND THE AIR BAG WILL LIGHT IS ON AND IT STAY`S ON WHICH MEANS IT IS NOT WORKING . THE HORN I TRIED TO HAVE SOME ONE LOCATE THE PROBLEM AND THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE LOCATED . *TR

WHEN DRIVING AND COMING TO A STOP, AND WHEN PULLING OUT, THE ENIGINE STALLS OR SHUTS DOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

THREE OUT OF FOUR BRAKE PADS BROKEN. *YC

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED. *YC

TRANSMISSION FAILED. MJS

VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN NUMEROUS TIMES FOR NEW SEALS ON FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR FOR WIND NOISE: ALSO BEEN IN FOR FAILED BRAKE SYSTEM NUMEROUS TIMES AND FRONT ROTORS HAVE BEEN ON BACK ORDER FOR ALMOST 2 MONTHS: IN NUMEROUS TIMES FOR FRONT END ALIGNMENT-CHECKED AND RECHECKED BY SEVERAL FORD DEALERS AND THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING, VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS PULLED TO THE RIGHT; ENGINE HAS DIED SEVERAL TIMES AND WOULD NOT START BACK UP; FRONT PADS ON BRAKE SYSTEM HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND ROTORS TURNED AT ONLY 10,000 MILES STILL GRINDING AND WILL NOT STOP CORRECTLY; VEHICLE FEELS TO ME AS UNSAFE FOR MY WIFE AND TWO YOUNGER BOYS. *AK

POWER STEERING PUMP PULLY ASSEMBLY FAILED.

DRIVERS SEAT BACK BROKE DURING REAREND COLLISION CAUSING MORE SEVERE INJURIES TO DRIVERS NECK,BACK AND ARMS THAN IF IT HAD NOT BROKEN.

VEHICLE WAS IN A PARKING LOT, NO ONE IN THE DRIVERS SEAT. PASSENGER SEAT HAD A PERSON IN IT, TRANSMISSION SHIFT GEAR JUST WENT INTO REVERSE, AND VEHICLE TOOK OFF. DEALER CONTACTED AND CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE RECEIVED FROM DEALER, THE REAR A/C -HEATER UNIT FAN INOP. DEALER REPORTED "REPLACED FUSE". 4 WEEKS LATER REAR HEATER, A/C UNIT AGAIN INOP. DUE TO LACK OF FAITH IN DEALER ABILITIES, OWNER REPAIRED FAULT. FOUND 60 AMP CURRENT LIMITER BLOWN. TRACED FAULT TO MAIN POWER WIRE BETWEEN FUSE BLOCK AND A/C CONTROL PANEL CHAFED/BURNED TO CHASSIS WELD POINT LOCATED UNDER CARPET BY DRIVERS LEFT FOOT REST. WIRING REPAIRED, WELD POINT GROUND FLUSH, 60 AMP CURRENT LIMITER REPLACED.*AK

FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WEATHER STRIP FAILED.

WHEN DRIVING AND TURNING CORNER THE VEHICLE JUST CUT OFF AND WOULD NOT START BACK UP. HAD TO BE TOWED. A FUSE LEADING TO THE FUEL PUMP BLEW OUT. DEALER CONTACTED, AND HAS NOT REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. *AK

TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER FAILED.

THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK POSITION AND THE KEY WAS OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS, KNOCKING THE CONSUMER DOWN. THEN IT ROLLED INTO THE STREET. CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. *AK

INACCURATE GAS GUAGE - GUAGE ONLY GOES UP TO 3/4 FULL. WHEN GUAGE SHOWS EMPTY, THERE'S STILL 1/4 TANK OF GAS.

BREAK FAILURE.

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND HEARD A CRUNCHING NOISE. THE VAN PULLED TO THE RIGHT, AND DRIVER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VAN HOME. THEN IT WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THE BRAKE ROTORS/ PADS AND SHOES WERE REPLACED. *AK

25 GALLON OIL TANKS ARE COLLAPSING, LEAVING ROOM FOR ONLY 16 OR 17 GALLONS OF GASOLINE. DEALER CONTACTED, AND STATED THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEFECT. *AK

DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE DISCOVERED THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE FRONT OF THE CAMPER WERE IT SEEMS TO BE VERY LOW AND THE REAR OF THE CAMPER WAS VERY HIGH. THE DRIVER PULLED OFF AND DISCOVERED THAT 2 OF THE 4 BOLTS OF THE HITCH HAD TORN THROUGH THE FRAME.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION BECAME STUCK IN OVERDRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE MAIN CONTROL VALVE WAS DEFECTIVE; IT WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT LATER BEGAN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE BRAKES AS THEY LOCKED UP WHEN THE CONTACT APPLIED THEM TO AVOID A DEER. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE WOODS AS A RESULT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ABS TONE RING SEAL HAD CRACKED; IT WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND THE DEALER THEN REPLACED THE TONE RING AND SENSOR. MONTHS LATER, THE BRAKES BEGAN TO GRAB. THE ENTIRE BRAKE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED FOUR TIMES. FURTHERMORE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE. THE SWITCH ASSIST IN ALL DOORS WAS REPLACED IN 2005. IN 2011, THE CONTACT HAD THE SAME FAILURE WITH THE SWITCH FOR THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SWITCH ON THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR AND CHECKED THE LATCHES ON THE DOORS BECAUSE THE DOOR LIGHT WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER ALSO REPLACED ALL THE SENSOR ASSISTS FOR THE DOORS. THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT WAS STILL ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,400 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

THE ENGINE HESITATES OR STALLS IN A SLOW TURN.

GEAR SHIFT JUMPED OUT OF PARKED GEAR INTO REVERSE RESULTING IN COLLISION.

TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONING CAUSING VIBRATION, MPH SENSOR FAILED CAUSING THE GEARS TO STICK.

DURING NORMAL HIGHWAY OPERATION, THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE FELL FROM THE ROOF OF THE CAR, STRIKING THE DRIVER IN THE HEAD. THE DRIVER ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. THERE ARE 5 FASTENERS WHICH HOLD THE CONSOLE TO THE ROOF AND 3 OF THE 5 WERE BROKEN OFF. 2 OF THE FASTENERS WERE NEVER INSERTED PROPERLY INTO THE MOUNTING SLOTS. WHEN IT FELL, THE WIRING HELD IT, CAUSING IT TO SWING INSIDE THE VEHICLE.

TRANSMISSION FAILED ON HIGHWAY.

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY HARD WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND ALL SHIFTS VERY HARD WHEN TAKING OFF. SOMETIMES WHEN GETTING ON THE FREEWAY AND IT DOWN SHIFTS INTO PASSING GEAR IT HIT SO HARD YOU CAN FEEL IT UNDER YOUR FEET. ALSO WHEN SLOWING DOWN SOMETIMES IT WILL DOWN SHIFT SO HARD IT THROWS YOU FORWARD. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT AND THAT WAS NORMAL. WELL AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON WWW.FORDWINDSTAR.COM I DON'T BELIEVE THIS TO BE NORMAL. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS IF YOU WILL. THIS COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION,WHAT IF WE WERE DRIVING IN THE RAIN OR SNOW AND IT DECIDES TO DOWNSHIFT. MY WIFE WON'T EVEN DRIVE THE VAN ANYMORE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT.

PROBLEM ORIGINATED IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASE. WAS TAKEN IN 3 TIMES FOR REPAIR. FUEL GAUGE WOULD NOT REGISTER FULL WHEN FILLED AND FILLING UP WITH ONLY 12 TO 14 GALLONS WHEN AT 1/4 OF A TANK OR LESS. PROBLEM SUPPOSEDLY FIXED BUT STILL HAD OCCASIONAL ERRATIC MOVEMENT AND IMPROPER FUEL GAUGE READINGS OVER A PERIOD OF 1 1/2 YEARS. PROBLEM BECAME MUCH WORSE IN JULY 2000. HAD ERRATIC MOVEMENT IN FUEL GAUGE, WOULD FILL TANK, GAUGE WOULD GO TO FULL, THEN DROP 1/8, THEN GO BACK UP TO FULL, THE DROP 1/8 AGAIN. FILLING UP AT 1/4 OF A TANK OR LESS WITH 12 TO 14 GALLONS AGAIN. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALERS 5 TIMES, TO DATE. CONTINUALLY SAY THAT IT IS FIXED BUT WHEN I FILL UP WITH GAS THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE.

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH DOWN HILL THE FUEL PUMP WILL SHUTDOWN, WHICH WAS CAUSED BY A SHORT IN THE SENSOR OF THE FUEL TANK. DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND THE TANK. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TANK WAS A 25 GALLON TANK, HOWEVER THE SENSOR WAS CAUSING THE LOW FUEL LIGHT TO COME ON WHEN ONLY 16-17 GALLONS HAD BEEN CONSUMED. *SLC