1998 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

IE99059, THE DEFECTIVE STEERING BUSHINGS DOES NOT SUPPORT THE SYSTEM WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE STEERING SYSTEM TO MALFUCTION. ALSO, BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT UNEXPECTEDLY, CAUSE VEHICLE TO STALL. FINALLY, LIFTGATE INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON, BUT THE LIFTGATE REMAINED CLOSED. BRAKES BEEN REPLACE ONCE,AND BUSHINGS 3 TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE STALLS AND THE BRAKES GRIND. HAD TO BE REPLACE BRAKES TWICE AND ENGINE ONCE. CONSUMER IS HEARING A BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AK

PARKING BRAKE MALFUNCTIONS INTERMITTENTLY. YH

TRANSMISSION FAILED. NLM

NEITHER DEALER NOR FORD ZONE REP HELPFUL. PROBABLE CAUSE OF TANK COLLAPSE IS FAILURE IN VAPOR/VENT SYSTEM TO FUEL TANK. SEE ALSO YOUR ODI ID 829866. PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE LIMITED TO 1998 WINDSTAR WITH 25 G TANK. DEALER HAS FOUND ORIG TANK CRUSHED, HAS REPLACED SAME, HAS REPLACED/CHECKED GAUGE SENDER, AND REPLACED GAUGE. PROBELM CONTINUES AS ORIGINALLY REPORTED, AND BELIEVED TO BE RELATED TO VACUUM IN TANK AS PUMP EXTRACTS FUEL, AND EXTERNAL AIR PRESSURE PLUS INTERNAL TANK VACUUM CRUSHED 25 G TANK TO 16 G VOLUME.

WHILE DRIVING A PROGRAM VEHICLE, FRONT END SUSPENSION WOULD MAKE GRINDING NOISES. HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER AT LEAST 12 TIMES FOR PROBLEM. THE DEALER REFUSED TO DO REPAIR WORK WHICH IS UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED/LOCKED UP.

WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES THE PEDAL WILL TRAVEL TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH CAUSED A COLLISION TO OCCUR. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES WITHOUT WARNING. HAD TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL VERY HARD IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ALSO THE VEHICLE WILL REV UP TO 25 RPM. TOOK TO DEALER TWICE, DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK

FAULTY FUEL GAUGE FAILED. YH

MOTOR MOUNT BROKE. *YC

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH STALLING INTERMITTENTLY WHEN MAKING LEFT TURN OR AT A STOP LIGHT. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

THREE MONTHS AFTER OWNERSHIP THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING VIBRATION AND STALLING, THREE SEPARATE VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP TO CORRECT THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE ADJUSTMENTS. *MJS

THERE WAS AN ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKAGE AND THE DEALER FIXED THE LEAK. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WILL SHIFT FROM FIRST GEAR INTO SECOND GEAR, AND FROM SECOND TO FIRST WHILE DRIVING OR SITTING IN TRAFFIC. THE DEALER CAN'T DETEMINE THE PROBLEM, AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP THREE TIMES AND THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE FUEL SYSTEM DOESN'T LET KNOW HOW MUCH FUEL IS IN THE TANK. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE FORD REPAIR SHOP FOUR TIMES. DEALER CANNOT DETERIMINE WHAT THE PROMBLEM IS. *AK

FUEL PUMP FAILED.

VEHICLE JUMPED FORWARD WHEN STOPPING. ACCELERATED BY ITSELF, RESULTING IN A CRASH. BRAKES WHEN APPLIED, SQUEAK LOUDLY. GEARS WERE VERY HARD TO CHANGE. DEALER CONTACTED AND IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PROBLEMS STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

TIE RODS FAILED ON TWO OCCASIONS. MJS

VEHICLE IN PARK POSITON,ENGINE RUNNING,ENGINE STARTED TO BACK OUT UNEXPECTEDLY, JUMPED OUT OF GEAR, CAUSING SIDE DOOR TO HIT SIDE HOUSE, DEALER WILL CHECK TRANSMISSION. *AK

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THERE IS A VERY LOUD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES, AND WHEN STOPPING THE VEHICLE AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY WILL GO STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONER AND THE HEAT HAS BEEN REPAIRED FIVE TIMES, AND THE PROBLEM IS BACK. *AK

CONSUMER RELEASED THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY SURGED FORWARD, CAUSING THE WHEELS TO TURN. OWNER IMMEDIATELY SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

FRONT RIGHT WINDOW FELL OUT. *YC

THE DRIVER SEATBACK DOES NOT LOCK IN POSTION WHICH CAUSES THE SEATBACK TO MOVE UNEXPECTEDLY, AND CAUSES AN ACCIDENT. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED LOW ENGINE IDLE CONDITION ON DECELERATION OR STOP TURNS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR TWICE. *AK

INDIVIDUAL WAS UNLOADING SOMETHING FROM THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE TRUNK LID CAME DOWN AND HIT THE INDIVIUAL IN THE TOP OF THE HEAD, CAUSING INJURIES TO THE SKULL. INDIVIDUAL STATED THAT IT'S A POOR DESIGN IN THE DOOR LID. *AK

THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL RECALLS ISSUED AND I WAS NOT PROPERLY NOTIFIED. BY LOOKING AT THE RECALLS I THINK THAT I MAY HAVE BEEN CHARGED BY THE DEALERSHIP FOR A RECALL ISSUE.

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX 20 MPH OR COMING TO STOP, FEELS LITTLE SHAKING IN STEERING WHEEL, THEN VEHICLE WILL TURN COMPLETELY OFF, NO POWER IN ENGINE OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN GOING UPHILL, OR QUICK STOPPING, IT WILL THEN STOP AND IT WILL RESTART JUST LIKE NORMAL. THIS DEFECT HAS NO SET PATTERN. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS CANNOT FIND PROBLEM. THIS DEFECT CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

POWER STEERING FAILED. NLM

VEHICLE SUPPOSEDLY HAS 25 GALLON GAS TANK. WILL NOT ACCEPT MORE THAN 15 GALLONS WHEN DASH LIGHT INDICATES LOW FUEL ( 1/16 TANK ). DEALER HAS REPLACED TANK 4 TIMES, DONE SEVERAL TSB PROCEDURES. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. STILL NOT RESOLVED. *AK

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY TIME, THE ENGINE JUST DIES. THE VAN HAS BEEN AT DEALERSHIP TWICE FOR REPAIRS ( ON SEPT 19TH & OCT 8TH & 9TH) THAT DID NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. A COMPUTER DEVICE HAS BEEN HOOKED UP TO THE ENGINE TO CAPTURE ANY ERRORS WHEN THE VAN STALLS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IT RAN OUT OF GAS. HAD COASTED TO SIDE OF ROAD. FUEL GAUGE SHOWED FUEL IN TANK, BUT WAS INFORMED NO FUEL IN TANK. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING DOWN ROAD MADE A 90 DEGREE RIGHT TURN BEGAN TO SPEED UP, WHEN HE REACHED 35MPH THE AXLE CAME OF OF THE TRANSMISSION, THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WAS FACE DOWN ON THE GROUND, POPPED BACK UP INSIDE THE WHEEL WELL TO IT'S NORMAL POSITION. CONSUMER THEN LOST ALL CONTROL OF VEHICLE . THE AXLE AND WHEEL CAME OUT OF ITS MOUNTINGS THERE WERE NO UPPER CONTROL ARM BOLTS. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT DOES NOT LOCK IN PLACE, RESULTING IN THE SEAT SLIDING BACKWARD AND FORWARD WHEN DRIVING, ALSO, FORD HAS CHANGED THE DESIGN OF THE SEAT GLIDE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

TRANSMISSION JOLTS CONTINUOUSLY, RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT.

6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VAN'S PROBLEM WITH STALLING OUT WHEN STOPPING AND THEN PROCEEDING THROUGH INTERSECTIONS. IT HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ONCE IN ROANOKE (MAJIC CITY FORD)_ AND AGAIN IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA WITH NO PROBLEMS FOUND. THE CAR COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP WITH 'SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT AND CAN'T BE STARTED UNTIL PUT IN PARK AND THEN STARTED. ALSO, AS ODD AS IT SEEMS, IT ONLY OCCURS WHEN TURNING 'LEFT'. THE AIR CONDITIONING WHEN STARTED (MAX AC- AC- DEFROST SETTINGS) MAKE A BANG NOISE ATT THE RIGHT FRONT UNDERSIDE OF THE VAN. IT OCCURS A FEW TIMES IN A ROW AND THEN STOPS ONLY TO BEGIN WEEKS LATER. THE VAN HAS BEEN BROUGHT INTO BRADY-BUSHEY FOR THIS WITH NO REPAIR WORK PERFORMED BECAUSE IT DID NOT HAPPEN WHEN THEY TESTED IT. THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT BACK WHEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN. BUT THEN, WHEN IT STOPS MAKING THE NOISE HOW AM I SUPPOSE TO PROVE THIS NOISE?

WHEN TRAVELING BETWEEN 60-70 MPH THE BACK OF VEHICLE STARTS SWAYING LIKE HAVING A FLAT TIRE. ALSO WHEN A 18 WHEELER OR 15 FOOT TRUCK PULLS IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE ROCKS. THE DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO DETECT PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSTAR. *AK

ANTI LOCK BRAKE SENSOR ON THE DRVERS SIDE CRACKED.

WHENEVER STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED, VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT. THE STALLING WOULD ALSO OCCUR WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED IN A PANIC STOP. TOOK TO DEALER, TWICE, & INFORMED COULD NOT FIND CAUSE OF STALLING. HOWEVER, ON JANUARY 26, 1998, PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED BY DEALER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, DRIVER'S SEAT WOULD SHIFT ON TRACKS; WOULD NOT LOCK IN. WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR TAKING OFF FROM STATIONERY POSITI0N, SEAT MOVES FORWARD. TOOK BACK TO DEALER WHO REPLACED THE SEAT TRACKS, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE STALLING INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO, TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING WHENEVER VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP. SOMETIMES VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO SHIFT INTO PARK AND BACK INTO DRIVE FOR THE GEAR TO ENGAGE.VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT DEALER SHOP FOR STALLING AND TRANSMISSION SLIPPING ON THREE OCCASIONS EACH. *AK

GAS GAUGE FAILED.

TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED.

FRONT WINDSHIELD DEFECTIVE, CAUSING WINDSHIELD TO MAKE WHISTLING NOISES. *YC

ENGINE. AIR CONDITIONING.

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH FRONT END SUSPENSION INCLUDING ALIGNMENT, BOLTS TO THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS, CASTER AND TIE RODS RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE TIRES AND VIBRATION.

WHILE DRIVING AND PROCEEDING TO COME TO A STOP THE VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY STALL. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS HOWEVER CONTINUES. BRAKE ROTORS WARPED CAUSING GRINDING OF THE BRAKES WHILE STOPPING. *AK

LEFT FRONT CALIPER LOCKS UP AND NOT RETRACTING.

PROBLEMS WITH 1998 FORD WINDSTAR TRANSMISSION.*MR *NM