1999 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

CONSUMER NOTICED CONTINENTAL GENERAL TIRES WERE LOSING AIR, DEALER INSPECTED THAT TIRES WERE CRACKING BETWEEN THE TREADS, DIVITS WERE ON THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE, AND TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. *SLC

WHEN STOPPING AT A LIGHT VEHICLE REVS AS IF FOOT IS ON GAS PEDAL. *AK

PASSENGER'S REAR MIDDLE ROW SEAT BELT MALFUNCTIONS WHEN A CSS IS BUCKLED. A WEEK LATER, SEAT BELT WILL UNBUCKLE, WHICH WON'T RESTRAINT CSS PROPERLY. DEALER IS REPLACING THE BUCKLE. *AK

HOSE WAS REPLACED AT LEE JARMON FORD IN CARROLLTON, TX (DIFFERENT FROM PURCHASED DEALER GIVEN ABOVE) IN CONJUNCTION WITH A FAILED POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACEMENT. HOSE WAS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT SENT FROM ANOTHER DEALER. HOSE HAS BUILT IN BEND CAUSING IT TO CONTACT EXHAUST MANIFOLD WHEN INSTALLED AND FAIL DUE TO HEAT. FAILED HOSE LEAKED FLUID ONTO CATALYTIC CONVERTER DIRECTLY BELOW AND FIRE RESULTED. DUE TO PROXIMITY TO A LOCAL CAR REPAIR SHOP FIRE EXTINGUISHERS WERE USED TO PUT IT OUT IMMEDIATELY. A 2ND HOSE OBTAINED FROM FORD HAS SAME BEND. LEE JARMON HAS REPLACED WITH 2ND HOSE AND RESTRAINED WITH NYLON CABLE CLAMPS FROM CONTACTING EXHAUST. I HAVE ADVISED TO USE STAINLESS STEEL CLAMP SINCE PROXIMITY OF EXHAUST WILL FAIL NYLON CLAMPS. THIS IS CLEARLY A DESIGN DEFECT WHICH WILL RESULT IN A FIRE TO THE NEXT PERSON WHO HAS A POWER STEERING HOSE REPLACED. MY WIFE AND 3 YEAR OLD WERE SAVED BY OUTSIDE OBSERVERS AND THE VEHICLE SAVED ONLY BY LUCK AND QUICK ACTING CAR REPAIR SHOP EMPLOYEES.

WHEN PUTTING GEAR IN REVERSE VEHICLE WENT FORWARD. CONSUMER HAD TO PUT GEAR BACK INTO PARK TO RESHIFT. CONSUMER STATED THAT GEARS OPERATED ROUGHLY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 15 MPH REAR WINDSHIELD GLASS SHATTERED INTO PIECES INSIDE OF VEHICLE WITHOUT A REASON. *AK

WHILE PULLING UP INTO DRIVEWAY, GOING SLOWLY, APPLIED BRAKES AND VEHICLE DIDN'T STOP, IT CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE DOOR. CONTACTED DEALER. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT ABS BRAKES WERE OKAY. *AK

CONSUMER WAS A THE STOP LIGHT AND WHILE TURNING RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER'S WHEEL FELL OFF. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT WHEEL LUGS: NUTS WERE TOO TIGHT, AND ALL FIVE WERE SEVERED.*AK

WHEN VEHICLE WOULD BE RUN AND THEN SHUT OFF, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START IMMEDIATELY, THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. *SLC

PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT HOLD VEHICLE. DEALER (WESTLIE FORD, CAMAS WA) WOULD NOT ADJUST IT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PARKING IS NOT INTENDED TO HOLD THE VEHICLE. IT IS ONLY THERE TO ASSIST THE "PARK" SETTING ON THE TRANSMISSION! IF THE BRAKE IS NOT TRULY ADJUSTABLE, THEN THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW.*AK

THERE ARE SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH OUT NOW THREE YEAR OLD WINDSTAR THAT HAVE EITHER BEEN CORRECTED TEMPORARILY OR NOT CORRECTED AT ALL. THE MOST PERSISTENT ISSUES ARE WITH THE DRIVETRAIN IN PARTICULAR THE TRANSMISSION WHICH SHIFTS ERRATICALLY WHEN GOING AROUND CORNER OR CLIMBING HILLS AT LOW SPEAD. THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED AT 25K BUT THE TRANSMISSION CONTINUES TO OPERATE POORLY. FORD HAS OFFERED NO SOLUTION OR WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THESE PROBLEMS. THE ENGINE PROBLEMS TO DATE REVOLVE AROUND THE INNABILITY TO USE REGULAR OR MID GRADE FUELS AS ADVERTISED ON THE VEHICLES STICKER, WE HAVE BEEN OFFERED A VALVE COVER REPLACEMENT FOR $500 BUT IN SPEAKING WITH OTHER WINDSTAR OWNERS THIS ONLY FIXES THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY. ALSO IT SEEMS TO ME THIS IS A DEFECT THAT FORD SHOULD FIX NOT THE OWNER. THE OTHER PERSISTENT PROBLEM IS WITH THE DIREVER SIDE POWER DOOR, IN HOT TEMPERATURES THE DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY AND POPS OPEN WHEN DRIVEING. THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED THIS SEVERAL TIMES AND WHILE BETTER THAT IN WAS IT CONTINUES TO BE AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. WE ARE FRUSTRATED WITH THE PROBELMS THIS VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED INCLUDING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE POWER STEERING SYSTEM, RACK, PUMP AND HOSES AND MORE FRUSTRATING IS FORDS UNWILLINGNESS TO STAND BEHIND THE VEHICLE AND ITS FAULT. OUR OVERWHELMING CONCERN IS THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE WILL BOTH FAIL BEFORE WE HAVE RECEIVED ANY USEFULL VALUE FOR OUR MONEY. FORD NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE PRODUCTS THEY DEVELOP, I HOPE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ENFORCE SOME TYPE OF COVERAGE OR WARRANTEE PROTECTION FOR THE CONSUMER.*AK

THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AGAIN ON 6-21-03 WITH JUST UNDER 60000 MILES ON VAN. BOTH TRANSMISSION FAILURES WRE SUDDEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING SLIPPAGE ETC. BOTH TRANS FAILURES LEFT THE VEHICLE WITH NO FORWARD GEARS, BUT REVERESE WORKED EACH TIME. THE FLUID HAS BEEN CHANGED PROPERLY AND THE VAN IS WELL MAINTAINED.

WHILE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED INTO HIS VEHICLE AND REARENDED HIM. HE DROVE TOWARDS THE SHOULDER, AND FRONTAL AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HEAD-ON, AND DRIVER'S AIRBAG DIDN'T GO OFF. *AK

WHILE DRIVING SLIDING DOOR COULD UNLATCH AND OPEN HALF WAY WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING. *AK

WE HAVE EXPERIENCED 5 INCIDENTS WHEN GOING FROM PARK-REVERSE, PARK- DRIVE AND WHEN CORNING THE ENGINE RPM'S WILL GO TO MAXIMUM FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 SECONDS. IT WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER AFTER THESE INCIDENTS AND WAS REVIEWED BY A LOCAL FORD REPRESENTATIVE. HOWEVER, THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE INCIDENT AND THEREFORE COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, IN REVIEWING YOUR DATABASE I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS CASE WHERE THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED. ITS ONLY A MANER OF TIME BEFORE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS OCCUR. PLEASE HELP US TO GET THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED. THANK YOU. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

VAN WAS RUNNING IN PARK AND JUMPED FROM PARK TO REVERSE. PINNED MY LEG TO A TREE, THEN THREW ME TO THE GROUND AND THEN PROCEEDED INTO MY GARAGE THROUGH THE CLOSED DOOR. IT THEN STOPPED. *AK

WHILE PARKED VEHICLE JUMPED FROM PARK TO REVERSE, PINNING MY HUSBAND AGAINST A TREE AND THREW HIM TO THE GROUND AND PROCEEDED THROUGH THE FRONT OF OUR CLOSED GARAGE. *AK

ABS LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON FOR YEARS. FORD TECH COULD NOT FIX, AND HAS CLEARED THE FOLLOWING CODES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS - ALL RELATED TO THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM: C1185, C1194, C1198, C1210, C1214, C1242, C1246, C1250, C1254. *TR

WHILE PUTTING FUEL INTO THE FUEL TANK, THE CABIN FILLS WITH FUEL ODORS, THE ODOR IS VERY STRONG AND STAYS FOR ABOUT 4 OR 5 MINUTES, THE ODOR MAKES THE CONSUMERS SICK, SO THEY ARE REQUESTING A REFUND OR REPLACEMENT BECAUSE THE DEALER HAS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *SLC

FILED FOR LEMON LAW GOING TO ARBITRATION. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

ON THE HIGHWAY UP THE HILL I NOTICE SMOKE COMING OUT FROM BEHIND MY VAN AND WHEN I HALTED I NOTICE TRANSMISSION OIL COMING UNDERNEATH MY VAN AND I CALL ROAD ASSISTANCE. *AK

REAR DEFOGGER IS NOT OPERABLE IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WHEN WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE TURNED ON . THE TOP OF THE WINDOW IS OKAY. BUT AT THE BOTTOM OF WINDOW SNOW AND ICE WOULD STICK *AK

ABS BRAKE PROBLEM; WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AND APPLYING BRAKES ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD, VAN KEPT GOING AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED ON A SMOOTH AND DRY ROAD SURFACE. VAN IS BEING REPAIRED BY THE DEALERSHIP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY SLIDING DOOR ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE POPPED OPEN ABOUT TWO INCHES. VAN HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOUR TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ABLE TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. . PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

LEAVING A FILLING STATION AND RETURNING TO THE STREET ATTEMPTING TO STOP BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC THE TRANSMISSION MADE A GRINDING NOISE, THE CAR KEPT MOVING, THE ENGINE WAS NOT REVING UP BUT THE VAN KEPT MOVING, I STEERED TO THE RIGHT AS MUCH AS I COULD I WAS ALMOST SIDE SIPED BY A 18 WHEELER. AFTER REACHING THE STREET I LET UP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VAN COASTED TO A STOP. I TOOK IT TO THE GARAGE TODAY AND THEY CHECK THE ABS BRAKES BUT FOUND NOTHING WRONG. IT APPEARED TO ME THAT WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE THE TRANSMISSION STYED ENGAGED , BECAUSE WHEN THE CAR CAME TO A STOP THE GRINDING NOISE STOPPED. THE GARAGE DID NOT CHECK THE TRANSMISSION, THEY FELT IT COULDN'T HAPPEN. I'M 74 YEARS OLD IN EXCELLENT HEALTH. THE MOTOR WAS NOT REVING UP SO I DID NOT HAVE ONE FOOT ON THE GAS PEDDLE, AS THEY ASSUMED I DID. I TRIED SAT WITH 1 FOOT ON THE GAS AND THE OTHER ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. SO IN MY OPINON IT HAD TO BE IN THE TRANSMISSON. IF THAT 18 WHEELER WOULD HAVE HIT ME THEY WOULD HAVE SAID THE DRIVER FAILED TO STOP, AND MY WIFE AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD . *AK

THE VAN WAS STRUCK IN THE FRONT -- TOTALING IT. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK

WAS MAKING A LFET TURN RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER'S WHEEL FLEW OFF. THIS WAS CAUSED BY 5 OF THE WHEEL BOLTS BREAKING OFF IN HALF. IT MADE A LOUD BOOM & THEN A BANG TYPE OF NOISE. CONTACTED FORD & INFORMED NOT THEIR FAULT & WILL NOT PAY FOR REPAIRS. *AK

THE POWER STEERING WAS MAKING ALL KINDS NOISES, ESPECIALLY WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN. ALSO, STEERNG WAS REAL TOUGH. VAN WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS PROBLEM. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK *ML

ENGINE KNOCK WHEN ANY TYPE OF LOAD IS APPLIED TO THE ENGINE. MOST PREVALENT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND HILLS. *AK

CONTACTS FOR HORN ARE DIFFICULT TO LOCATE, AND THEY ARE VERY HARD TO PUSH TO SOUND HORN. *AK

ABS MODULE WIRE BURNED OUT; ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER DID NOT WORK. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER HEARD A RATTLING NOISE AND PULLED OVER, THERE WERE 2 LUG NUTS THAT HAD SHEARED OFF, CONSUMER CONTINUED DRIVING WHEN THE WHEEL CAME COMPLETELY OFF, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CEMENT WALL, CLAIM 55-S208-332. *SLC

VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH ACTIVATING THE HORN WHEN NEEDED. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT ALL 99 MODELS HAVE THE SAME DESIGN AND MEET FMVSS SPECIFICATIONS. *AK THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO AIR BAG IN HORN AND FIXING IT IS PRESENTLY NOT POSSIBLE. *YH

THE VAN BEGINS TO SURGE (RPMS JUMP FROM 500 TO 1200) AND THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON THEN THE VAN DIES. THIS OCCURS APPROXIMATELY ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK. ON A MORE ROUTINE BASIS, THE VAN DOES A MILD SURGE AND THEN WHEN YOU STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR TO GO IT ACTS LIKE IT IS GOING TO DIE AND THEN LURCHES FORWARD. THESE PROBLEMS ONLY OCCUR WHEN THE VAN IS COMPLETELY WARMED UP AND IDLING FOR MORE THAN A BRIEF MOMENT (SUCH AS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR A STOP SIGN THAT TAKES A MINUTE TO BE ABLE TO GO.) THIS MAY NOT SOUND LIKE A SERIOUS PROBLEM BUT AS THE DRIVER I WOULD NOT AGREE WITH THAT. WE HAVE PRESENTED OUR CASE TO THE FORD DISPUTE BOARD AND THEY FOUND IT NOT TO BE A "SAFETY" PROBLEM (I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT). WE HAVE TRIED TO DEAL WITH BOTH CORNING FORD AND RED BLUFF FORD WITH NO SUCCESS. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THE CONSUMER CAN BE RAILROADED AND IGNORED WHEN THEY TRY TO GO THROUGH THE SYSTEM THAT IS SUPPOSE TO BE SET UP TO AVOID SUCH MESSES AS THESE. ALL I WANT IS OUT OF THIS VEHICLE BEFORE I GET IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE MY VAN DECIDED NOT TO GO AND SOME OTHER DRIVER DIDN'T KNOW I HAVE A LEMON AND HITS ME. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING 50 MPH LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. AS A RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, HIT VANK HEAD ON AND THE WHOLE FRONT END AND BUMPER COMPLETLY CAME OFF. *AK.ET.

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL TO CLEAR WINDSHIELD WHEN IN USE. WOULD PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD TO CLEAN WINDSHIELD WIPERS OFF. WERE REPLACED 3 TIMES. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, INFORMED BY MECHANIC THEY WERE THE ONLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS MADE FOR WINDSTAR BY MANUFACTURER. CONSUMER WAS LATER ABLE TO PURCHASE EFFECTIVE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FROM AN AUTOMOTIVE STORE. *AK *ML

WHILE DRIVING RACK AND PINION STEERING MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, CAUSE UNKNOWN. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR REPAIRS, TOOK A LONG TIME FOR DEALER TO RECEIVE PARTS, MEANWHILE OWNER HAD TO DRIVE UNSAFE VEHICLE. *AK *ML

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 30MPH STEPPED ON GAS PEDAL AND IT WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR BOARD AND GOT STUCK. CONSUMER HIT THE CURB, NO INJURIES. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER 6 TIMES. THEY ARE ORDERING A NEW GAS PEDAL. *AK *ML

STEERING WHEEL WAS MAKING NOISE WHILE TURNING. ALSO, A CLUNKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. DEALER REPAIRED PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY. *ML

UPON TURNING ON THE IGNITION SWITCH VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO RUN INTO A NEIGHBOR'S HOME. DRIVER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK

PASSENGER POWER DOOR UNLATCHES WHILE DRIVING, SPECIFICALLY AROUND CORNERS. SLOW SPEEDS-PULLING OUT OF PARKING LOTS. DOOR IS ALSO NOT SHUTTING. MUST BE PHYSICALLY CLOSED. INTERIOR LIGHTS FLASH ON AN OFF WHILE IN A PARKED POSITION WITH KEY IN IGNITION. CLICKING SOUND FROM TURN SIGNAL COMES ON SPORADICALLY EVEN THOUGH TURN SIGNAL IS NOT ENGAGED.*AK

SLIDING DOOR WILL UNEXPECTEDLY CLOSE WHEN DOOR IS LATCHED IN THE OPEN POSITION. DOOR HAS CLOSED ON A CHILD, BUT HAS NOT CAUSED ANY INJURY. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK

CONSUMER PULLED NOZZLE FROM GAS TANK, WHEN A BURST OF FLAMES SHOT OUT OF THE TANK, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY STATIC ELECTRICITY. *SLC

VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE & VIBRATED AS THOUGH IT WAS OUT OF POWER . DEALER HAS INSPECTED IT & HAS BLED THE LINE, AND THAT DIDN'T HELP. DEALER HASN'T BEEN TELLING CONSUMER THAT FORD WAS WORKING ON A SOLUTION. CONSUMER HAS BEEN CALLING DEALER TO SEE IF SOLUTION HAS BEEN FOUND. *AK

ON THE 21ST OF DEC 99, MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN OUR WINDSTAR. THIS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF THE HORN WERE USEABLE. THE WAY THE HORN BUTTON IS NOW YOU WILL HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME TRYING TO FIND THE EXACT SPOT TO PUSH TO GET THE HORN TO SOUND. WHEN TIME IS CRITICAL IN THE OUTCOME, SEARCHING FOR THAT EXACT SPOT ISN'T A PLAYER. THIS WAS THE CASE ON THE 21ST. WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL TRIED TO CROSS THE HIGHWAY HE HIT OUR VAN ON THE RIGHT SIDE CAUSING $6500 IN DAMAGE. PRIOR TO THE IMPACT SHE TRIED TO HIT THE HORN BUT COULD NOT FIND IT WHEN IT WAS NEEDED MOST. WE ARE ALMOST 100% POSITIVE THAT IF SHE COULD HAVE FOUND THE HORN SHE COULD HAVE SOUNDED IT, AND THE OTHER DRIVER WOULD HAVE SEEN HER COMING. LUCKILY MY 18 MONTH OLD AND 5 YR OLD DAUGHTERS WERE NOT WITH HER AT THE TIME. NOW I HAVE A $30,000 MINIVAN THAT WILL NEVER BE OF ANY VALUE AGAIN. SURE IT WILL BE FIXED, BUT WHO WOULD EVER WANT A VEHICLE LIKE THAT THAT HAS HAD EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. I GUESS THATS MY LOSS THOUGH.

BRAKES FAILED AND WAS UNABLE TO STOP. PUT VEHICLE IN PARK WHILE MOVING, AND FINALLY STOPPED ON SIDEWALK, AT A SCHOOL WHERE THE PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN DESASTERIOUS.

WHILE THE VAN WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, REAR WINDOW ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE JUST BLEW OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. WINDOW WILL BE REPLACED UNDER OWNER'S INSURANCE. OWNER CONCERNED ABOUT A POSSIBLE DEFECT IN THE GLASS. *AK *ML

I HAVE HAD MORE THAN 4 PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR IN PAST TWO YEARS THAT HAVE BEEN MAJOR PROBLEMS. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE IF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD AS MUCH PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING AND THE VAN IT'S SELF. *AK