1999 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

CONSUMER STATED THAT HE WILL FILL IN INFORMATION CONCERNING INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE. *AK

CONSUMER WAS ON ROAD TRAVELING TO FLORIDA AND FOUND A NAIL IN TIRE. CONSUMER WENT TO 4 DIFFERENT TIRE CENTERS TO GET TIRE PLUGGED, AND WAS TOLD THAT TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE, AND THEY COULDN'T HELP. TREAD HAD STARTED SEPERATING ON TIRE. CONSUMER OWNS A 1999, FORD WINDSTAR WITH ORIGINAL 215/70R15, AMERIGS60. *AK CONSUMER SAW THE OTHER 3 TIRES WERE CRACKING. THE TIRES ONLY LASTED 11-12000 MILES BEFORE GETTING SEVERE CRACKING AND TREAD SEPARATION. DOT #'S ACME 44D 368,A3M3 AB7 160 AND ACMS 44D 368. *YH

NO SUMMAER LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

ALL 4 ORIGINAL TIRES SPLIT WITHIN THE TREADS OF THE TIRES. THE SPLITTING WAS DISCOVERED AT 14,155 MILES. THE FORD DEALER INSISTED THAT THE TIRES BE REPLACED PRIOR TO DRIVING THE VEHICLE ANY FURTHER. GENERAL TIRE CO. REQUESTED THAT THE TIRES BE RETURNED TO THE MANUFACTURER.*AK (TIRESIZE: P215/70R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/70R15 )

HAD TO REPLACE RACK AND POWER STEERING PUMP.*AK

CONSUMER WILL FILL IN INFORMATION REGARDING REAR SUPPORT BAR: CROSS TUBE. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE STARTED WHILE ON HIGHWAY @ 60 MPH. SOUNDED LIKE MUFFLER DRAGGING ON PAVEMENT, EXCEPT IT CAME FROM FRONT OF VAN. WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO NEAREST FORD DEALER -- ABOUT 12 MILES. DEALER REPORTED TRANSMISSION "FULL OF DEBRIS" AND REPLACED IT (PART # XF2Z-7000-BARM). *AK

FIRST INDICATION OF PROBLEM WAS "RATTLING" SOUND GOING DOWNHILL @ ABOUT 60 MPH. SOUNDED LIKE MUFFLER CAME LOOSE AND WAS DRAGGING ON PAVEMENT, EXCEPT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. AFTER INVESTIGATING AND FINDING NOTHING, PROCEEDED TO DRIVE TO DESTINATION (ABOUT 12 MI). RATTLE CONTINUED OFF AND ON; OVERDRIVE OFF LIGHT ON DASH STARTED BLINKING OFF AND ON THOUGH OD WAS ENGAGED. DROVE TO A FORD DEALER (UNIVERSITY FORD, PEORIA IL). THEY FOUND "TRANSMISSION FULL OF DEBRIS" AND REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY.

TRANSMISSION JERKS HARSHLY INTO SECOND GEAR AFTER SLOWING DOWN AND ACCELERATING ESPECIALLY ON INCLINE. DEALER REPLACED SOLENOIDS AND TORQUE CONVERTER AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. AFTER RETURNING TO DEALER THEY STATE IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. STEERING MAKES LOUD GRINDING NOISES WHEN TURNING. DEALER REPLACED TIE ROD, PROBLEM RETURNED AFTER 1 WEEK. DEALER THEN REPLACED RACK.*AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT NOISE BEING EMITTED BY VEHICLE WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN AT SPEED. DEALERSHIP HAS PROVIDED NO INFORMATION TO CONSUMER FOR REASON/CAUSE. *AK THE DEALER ORDERED A POWER STREERING LINE PART, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE PROBLEM. *YH

UPON VISUAL INSPECTION CONSUMER NOTICED FLUID ON GROUND AND VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A WHINING NOISE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, AND CONSUMER WAS NOTIFIED THAT RACK AND PINION STEERING WAS BROKEN. *AK

WINDSHIELD HAS A 16 INCH LONG HAIRLINE CRACK HORIZONTALLY NEAR BOTTOM , WAS NOT HIT BY ROCK.

GAS GAUGE HASN'T WORKED A WHILE, AND TRANSMISSION FAILED A FEW DAYS AGO. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH HEARD A LOUD BANG. REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE GLASS ON CARGO DOOR HAD SHATTERED. CORNERS OF WINDOW WERE BROKEN OFF. WINDOW WAS STILL INTACT. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, AND INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT PROBLEM WAS NORMAL. *AK

TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE! FIRST TIME WHEN WE BROUGHT IT IN TO DEALER - THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT COULD MAKE THE RATTLE SOUND (WARRENTY WAS STILL IN EFFECT). IT WAS HAPPENING AROUND 40MPH - WHOLE FRONT END WOULD RATTLE. THEY HAD TRANSMISSION "EXPERT" LOOK AT IT AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NOT THE TRANSMISSION. ABOUT 10,000 MILES LATER - WHAM! COULD NOT DRIVE. TOOK IT BACK (AFTER WARRENTY EXPIRED) AND TRANSMISSION "EXPERT" SAYS IT IS TORQUE CONVERTER AND IT WOULD NEED NEW/REBUILT TRANS - NOT COVERED UNDER WARRENTY. I WENT ELSE WHERE FOR THE REPAIR, NOT A CENT MORE TO FORD - EVER. NEXT, AFTER I GOT MY TRANS REBUILT BY 3RD PARTY, IT FAILED AGAIN 25,000 MILES LATER. THEY GOT ALL THE UPDATES, ETC - AND TRUST ME, THEY DO A GREAT JOB ON TRANS (THEY REPAIR FBI CARS). AFTER 2 REBUILDS LATER - WE ARE UP AND RUNNING AGAIN - BUT, IF SOMEONE OFFERS ME MONEY FOR THIS CAR, THEY CAN HAVE IT! FOUND ON ROAD DEAD - (AND CHANGING THE NAME TO FREESTAR DOES NOT HELP THE COVER UP)

APPROACHED STOP SIGN AND PRESSED BRAKES WHICH MADE A LOUD GRATING METAL SOUND WHICH HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. AS I SLID INTO INTERSECTION I FLIPPED GEARS TO PARK WHICH FINALLY STOPPED THE CAR. TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE REAR BRAKES WERE PRACTICALLY UNUSED AND THE FRONT BRAKES WERE WORN OUT WHICH LED THEM TO BELIEVE THE REAR BRAKES WERE NOT CONNECTED OR FUNCTIONING AND HAD NOT DONE SO FOR SOME TIME. FORD REFUSED TO COVER THIS UNDER OUR BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THERE IS OBVIOUSLY SOME TYPE OF DEFECTIVE FAULTY PART INVOLVED. LUCKILY NO ACCIDENT CAME OF THIS INCIDENT. *AK

AFTER PLACING VEHICLE IN PARK CONSUMER ENTERED HOUSE AND HE WAS NOTIFIED BY HIS NEIGHBOR THAT VEHICLE WAS ON ROAD. VEHICLE MUST BE IN PARK BEFORE KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION. *AK

WHEN STARTING VEHICLE UP THERE IS A NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

ABS LIGHT COMES ON AT TIMES. HAS DONE THIS SINCE ABOUT 30,000 MILES AND VAN HAS 150,000 CURRENTLY. AT FIRST IT WOULD RANDOMLY COME ON ABOUT EVERY OTHER MONTH AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS NORMAL, NOW IT COMES ON EVERY OTHER DAY OR MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY. ABS COMPUTER IS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. FAILURE CODES THAT ARE IN THE ABS COMPUTER: 1145RF WHEEL SPEED INPUT CIRCUIT FAILURE 1185POWER RELAY OUTPUT CIRCUIT FAILURE 1198LF ISOLATION VALVE CIRCUIT FAILURE 1194LF DUMP VALVE CIRCUIT FAILURE 1254RR ISOLATION VALVE CIRCUIT FAILURE 1246RR DUMP VALVE CIRCUIT FAILURE 1250LR ISOLATION VALVE CIRCUIT FAILURE 1242LR DUMP VALVE CIRCUIT FAILURE 1214RF ISOLATION VALVE CIRCUIT FAILURE 1210RF DUMP VALVE CIRCUIT FAILURE AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE CODES THE ABS COMPUTER HAS FAILED. THE ABS COMPUTER WILL BE DEACTIVATED UNTIL A REPLACEMENT CAN BE INSTALLED. *TR

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EV3EHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE MAKES A MOANING AND GROANING NOISE WHEN WHEEL IS BEING TURNED TO PARK, CONSUMER WAS ADVISED MY MECHANIC THAT VEHICLE OPERATES AS ENGINEERED. *JB

THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND DRIVER'S SEAT FAILED. IT FELL COMPLETELY BACK ON THE MIDDLE ROW SEAT. USUALLY MY YOUNGEST CHILD (BABY AT THE TIME) WOULD HAVE BEEN (IN HER CHILD SEAT) IN THE MIDDLE ROW AND I'M SURE SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF SHE HAD BEEN IN THE VAN THAT DAY. *JB

INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH FUEL GAUGE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. GAUGE WOULD REMAIN ON EMPTY SIDE. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP, AND WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM BECAUSE GAUGE WAS WORKING AT THAT TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING UNDER WET CONDITIONS POWER ASSISTED STEERING FAILED. DEALER HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT COVER UNDER THE VEHICLE WHICH PROTECTS THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK

POWER STEERING PUMP UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED ON FOUR OCCASIONS BY DEALER, FROM 28,000 MILES TO PRESENT. CURRENTLY, PROBLEM WAS REOCCURRING. DEALER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PROBLEM STILL EXISTS RIGHT NOW AND THE UNIT WOULD BE REPLACED AGAIN. *YH

WHEN MAKING A TURN STEERING WOULD MAKE A REAL LOUD NOISE. SOON AFTER THAT STEERING WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN AND NOISE CONTINUED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK

CONSUMER HAD RECALL 01V262 REPAIRS COMPLETED, HOWEVER AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED BACK TO CONSUMER THERE WAS NO COOLING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER, CONSUMER STATES THAT THE A/C WORKED PRIOR TO HAVING RECALL REPAIRS MADE. *SLC

STARTING OVER A YEAR AGO MY PASSENGER REAR ELECTRIC DOOR STARTED POPPING OPEN WHIIE I WAS DRIVING (SEVERAL INCHES). I HAVE NOW HAD THIS IN FOR SERVICE TEN TIMES AND THE DOOR CONTINUES TO POP OPEN WHILE I AM DRIVING. 'FORD' SO FAR IS UNWILLING TO TAKE MY VEHICLE BACK OR LET ME OUT OF LEASE. I WILL BE APPLYING FOR ARBITRATION THIS MONTH, NOVEMBER, 2001.

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND GOING UPHILL, ENGINE STARTED TO KNOCK. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, IT STILL EXISTS. MECHANIC STATED TO CONSUMER, "SOME ENGINES JUST KNOCK". *JG *AK

TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT PROPERLY INTO GEARS. PROBLEM OF SHIFTING WAS INTERMITTENT. STEERING IS LEAKING FLUID. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP, MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE CAUSE OF LEAKAGE OR REASON GEARS WOULD LOCK UP.*AK

POWER SLIDING DOOR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY OPEN WHILE DRIVING, OR WILL NOT OPEN WHEN NEEDED; VEHICLE BEEN IN THE DEALER SHOP ON SIX OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING.. *AK CONSUMER ALSO STATES BACK SEAT COLLASPED BACKWARDS, ALSO BATTERY DEAD FROM SHORTS IN THE WIRING, LIGHT IN THE INSIDE IS ON WHEN IT SHOULD BE OFF , AND ALSO DOORS THAT MAY OR MAYNOT OPERATE WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, ALSO GETTING FALSE SIGNALS ON INSTRUMENT PANEL.*JB

WHILE DRIVING WITH DRIVER WINDOW DOWN, REAR DOOR WINDOWS SHATTERED FOR UNKNOWN REASON. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK *JG

TRAVELLING AT APPROX. 43 MPH SPEED AND APPLIED BRAKE. VEHICLE ACCELERATED INSTEAD OF SLOWING DOWN TO STOP AS IT SUPPOSED TO DO AND CAUSED AUTO ACCIDENT. AT THE TIME OF ACCIDENT, VEHICLE HAD ONLY 2 PERSON, IF THE MINI VAN WAS FULLY LOADED WITH MAX. WT., RESULT COULD BE MUCH WORSE. TRIED TO TEST THE BRAKE AGAIN ON A STRAIGHT ASPHALTED HIGHWAY UNDER THE SAME SPEED AND CONDITION, PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, VEHICLE ACCELERATE FIRST AND THEN SLOW DOWN TO STOP IN LONG DISTANCE. *AK

CONSUMER STATES HE HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO ACTIVATE HORN, HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO ACTIVATE DURING DANGEROUS NEAR-CRASH SITUATIONS.*JB

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION, IMPACT SPEED OVER 40 MPH IN WHICH NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING INJURIES TO THREE OCCUPANTS OF VEHICLE. *AK

POWER STEERING UNDER CARRIDGE WENTOUT WHICH TAKEN THE POWER STEERING TO THE WHEEL. VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP WAITING FOR PARTS. *AK THE STEREO SYSTEM FAILED. BRAKE MAKES GRINDING NOISE. THE REAR DOOR LIGHT KEEPS FALLING DOWN WHENEVER THE DOOR CLOSED.

INTERMITTENTLY AUTOMATIC SLIDE DOOR WILL MALFUNCTIONED AND OPENED ON ITS OWN. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE THREE TIMES.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

ABRUPT TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITHOUT ANY PREVIOUS SYMPTOMS - FAILED TO ENGAGE FORWARD OR REVERSE.

WHILE TURNING INTO PARKING LOT PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR OPENED, AND PASSENGER FELL OUT. CONSUMER FELT THAT LOCKS ON THE DOOR DID NOT STAY LOCKED WHEN POWER LOCKS HAVE BEEN APPLIED. IF PULLING ON THE LATCH AND AUTOMATIC LOCK WAS ON, DOOR WILL OPEN. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS VERY UNSAFE. *AK

ENTIRE ELE FAILURE, NO STEERING ABILITY ALMOST HIT BY TRUCK FOLLOWING BEHIND IN RAIN, FORD SAYS THEY ARE AWARE AND NO RECALL AS YET

UPON APPROACHING A STATE HIGHWAY FROM A SIDE STREET AT LESS THAN 15 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL ON THIS VAN WAS PUSHED BUT DID NOT RESPOND. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BUT THE VAN WOULD NOT STOP. I PUSHED IT DOWN 2 TIMES AND NEITHER TIME DID THE BRAKES WORK, THOUGH I DID HEAR A "RATTLING" NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE THE ABS SYSTEM WAS TRYING TO KICK IN. I LOOKED UP QUICKLY AND SINCE NO ONE WAS COMING FROM EITHER DIRECTION, I JUST WENT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION WITHOUT STOPPING. COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY IF ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS COMING! WE CONTACTED A LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY CHECKED IT OUT, BUT SAID THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEM WITH THE VAN'S BRAKING SYSTEM, SO NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THEY ALSO SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING ON FORD'S COMPUTER RECORDS OF THIS EVER HAPPENING BEFORE IN A FORD WINDSTAR. BUT IN CHECKING YOUR WEBSITE, WE FOUND THAT IT HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS! WE'RE AFRAID TO DRIVE IT UNTIL IT IS FIXED---COULD HAPPEN AGAIN ANYTIME (WHO KNOWS??) AND THE RESULTS COULD BE TRAGIC THE NEXT TIME.

CONSUMER PULLED OFF OF THE ROAD TO A VEGETABLE STAND AND VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, FIRE WAS FOUND TO HAVE RESULTED FROM FAULTY COOLING LINES, CLAIM 59-V539-348. *SLC

INSURED PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO STOP AT A STAND AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, FIRE WAS FOUND TO HAVE RESULTED FROM FAULTY COOLING FANS/WIRES, CLAIM 59-V539-348. *JG

GRINDING NOISE WHICH IS IN TIME WITH THE TIRE ROTATION, DEALER IS ASSUMING THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION, VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED YET. *MJS

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM - PROBLEM BEGAN WITH SOME"ROUGH" SHIFTS, NOTICEABLE AT 20 AND 40 MPH. WHEN WENT TO MERGE ONTO TOLLWAY, CAR WAS UNABLE TO GO ABOVE 40 MPH, UNTIL AS I WAS ABOUT TO PULL OVER, CAR JERKED AND BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. I KNEW SOMETHING WAS SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH CAR THEN, SO MADE APPOINTMENT AT DEALERSHIP. IT HAS BEEN AT DEALER FOR 2 WEEKS WAITING FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. DRIVER SLIDING DOOR DOESN'T ALWAYS WANT TO CLOSE. TRY TO CLOSE, AND IT EITHER CLICKS, OR CLOSES A COUPLE OF INCHES AND THEN REOPENS. SHAKE CAR, AND EVENTUALLY IT WILL CLOSE. IT IS AT DEALERSHIP FOR THE 4TH TIME, IN HOPES OF A REPAIR. WHAT HAPPENS IF CAN'T CLOSE DOOR AT ALL? CAN'T DRIVE CAR FULL OF LITTLE KIDS WITH DOOR OPEN. FUEL PUMP WOULDN'T WORK, CAR HAD TO BE TOWED FROM A PARKING LOT. NO PRIOR WARNING TO THIS PROBLEM, WHAT IF THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING?

THE REAR SEATBELTS ON BOTH SIDES HAVE CRACKED WHEN INSTALLING CAR SEATS, IT HAS HAPPENED TO EACH SIDE ONCE, REPORTED TO FORD, NO REPLY, REPLACED BY DEALER. I SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BREAK THIS PIECE PUTTING IN A CAR SEAT AND TIGHTENING IT. OTHER PROBEM, SEVERAL TIMES VEHICLE HAS DIED AT A STOP IN MAJOR INTERSECTIONS AND THEN WILL NOT RE-START, WILL TURN OVER BUT NOT FIRE, LIKE IT IS OUT OF GAS. HAD IT INTO DEALER TWICE AND THEY SAY THEY CANNOT FIND A PROBLEM.

WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY. AFTER TAKING IT TO GET A NEW ONE PUT IN WE FOUND THAT IT WAS NEVER SEALED/MOUNTED ON THE BOTTOM. ABSOLUTLY NO ADHESIVE CONTACT WHAT SO EVER. ALSO AT 28755 MILES THE O/D LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND THE CAR CLUCKED WHILE MAKING TURNS AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTTY AND NOW AT 37000 MILES IT DOING THEM SAME THING AGAIN. *AK

POWER STEERING KEEPS GOING OUT, MAKING IT HARD TO CONTROL VEHICLE. *AK THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING AFTER THREE TIMES FAILURE. *YH

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK