1999 Ford Windstar Engine Problems

The contact owns a 1999 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel started pulling to one side, almost causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the motor mounts were damaged and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance because the vehicle was not under Warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAM SENSOR HAD FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000. *TR UPDATED 8/26/13 *CN

WENT TO PICK UP FOOD AND NOTICED MY 99 FORD WINDSTAR WAS SMOKING. I PULLED OVER, LIFTED UP THE HOOD AND IT WAS ON FIRE. IT WAS PUT OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. LOOKED UP ONLINE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL. CALLED FORD, THEY WERE UNWILLING TO HELP US AT ALL. TOLD US WE'D HAVE TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC/AND TOWING. FINALLY GOT AHOLD OF SOMEONE THROUGH FORD WHO GOT THAT FOR NO CHARGE. WAS TOLD THAT IT IS THE RECALLED PIECE THAT CAUSED THE FIRE. NOW AM TOLD THAT IT COULD TAKE UP TO 15 DAYS TO FIND OUT IF I CAN GET A RENTAL UNTIL THE CAR IS FIXED. *TR

1999 FORD WINDSTAR. CONSUMER WRITES TO EXPRESS DISCONTENT REGARDING FORD MOTOR COMPANY *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE PROBLEMS. ALSO, THE VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION, DUE TO A RUSTED SUBFRAME. FORD OFFERED TO BUY THE VEHICLE BACK FROM THE CONSUMER.

WAS DRIVING A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR STOPPED AT WORK WENT IN SIDE A COWORKER WAS LEAVING RAN BACK INSIDE TO TELL ME MY 1999 WINDSTAR WAS ON FIRE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN BECAUSE THE CRADLE THAT HELD THE MOTOR WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND CAUSING THE MOTOR TO FALL TO THE GROUND. THE CONTACT TOWED THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC CONCLUDED THAT THE RUSTED CRADLE WAS CAUSING THE FAILURE AND WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED TO REPORT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

1999 FORD WINDSTAR : ENGINE CRADLE CRACKING AND HAS FRACTURED AWAY FROM MOTOR MOUNT. *LN

ON JUNE 17,2010 MY BOYFRIEND AND I HAD JUST ARRIVED HOME FROM WORK AND GOTTEN INTO BED. MAYBE 10-15MIN WENT BY WHEN THE NEIGHBOR WAS BANGING ON DOOR SCREAMING "YOUR CAR IS ON FIRE" GOING OUTSIDE WE FOUND THE VAN ENGULFED IN FLAMES ..IT HAD DRIVEN BEAUTIFULLY UP TIL THIS POINT. THE VAN IS TOTAL LOSS. *TR

I HAVE A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR, WHICH HAS BADLY RUSTED K CRADLE, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO FALL DOWN WHILE BEING DRIVEN AS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC. I TRIED TO FIND AN USED ONE BUT COULDN'T GET AS THEY WERE ALL RUSTED OUT. LOOKS LIKE IT HAS BAD MATERIAL OR BAD DESIGN. ITS A REAL SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT THE WARNING WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AT THE ENGINE MOTOR ROD. THE ENGINE MOTOR WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

1. SUB-FRAME WAS BADLY RUSTED OUT. IT BROKE WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND THE FRONT TIRES DISENGAGED. 2. THE ROCKER PANEL ON THE LEFT SIDE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT IS BADLY RUSTED OUT AND IT WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION ANYMORE. THERE IS SOME RUST ON THE RIGHT ROCKER PANEL ALSO. ALL OF THE RUST IN UNDER THE VEHICLE AND IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. 3. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON LAST YEAR.

I BOUGHT A FORD WINDSTAR VAN FROM A USED CAR DEALER BY THE NAME OF RAY PRICE IN DEC. OF '07. WE HAD BEEN LOOKING FOR A VAN FOR SOME TIME AND I HAD LOOKED FOR ANY RECALLS BEFORE WE PURCHASED. I FOUND NONE LISTED. WE PAID OFF THE CAR LAST MONTH, AND THAT'S WHEN THE TROUBLE STARTED. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE GARAGE 3 TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH BECAUSE IT KEPT STALLING WHEN IT WOULD IDLE FOR LONGER PERIODS OF TIME. THE MECHANIC FIXED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD SEALS AND THE SURROUNDING PARTS, REPLACING THEM AS NEEDED EACH TIME. I ALSO HAD THE SPARK PLUGS AND PLUG WIRES REPLACED JUST IN CASE. ON THURSDAY JULY 23RD, MY HUSBAND REPLACED THE BRAKES ON THE FRONT. HE DROVE THE VAN ALL DAY WITH NO PROBLEMS OTHER THAN THE OCCASIONAL STALL. WE STOPPED FOR MILK AT THE GROCERY STORE ON OUR WAY HOME FROM MY WORK AND HAD BEEN INSIDE FOR ONLY 5-10 MINUTES WHEN THE MANAGER CALLED OUT THAT OUR CAR WAS ON FIRE. WE RAN OUTSIDE, AND THE FIREMEN GOT IT OUT, BUT THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. I SPOKE TO MY MECHANIC AND THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR AND BOTH TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD COME ACROSS A RECALL THAT HAD BEEN OUT A FEW YEARS AGO ABOUT MY VAN. IT SEEMS THAT FORD RECALLED THE CRUISE CONTROL MECHANISM IN THE ENGINE BECAUSE IT CAUSED ELECTRICAL FIRES JUST LIKE WHAT HAPPENED TO MINE. THE FIRE CHIEF SAID IT LOOKED EXACTLY LIKE WHAT HE HAD SEEN BEFORE WHEN IT HAPPENED. SINCE THEN, FORD HAS DENIED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL AND WON'T LOOK INTO THE MATTER. MY CAR HAD BEEN ON THIS LOT FOR AT LEAST A YEAR BEFORE WE BOUGHT IT. IF THE RECALL WENT OUT, IT WAS NEVER FIXED, AND A LAWYER HAS ALREADY SAID IT IS FORD'S RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE CARE OF THE MATTER. CAN YOU CHECK ON THIS FOR ME? *TR

DRIVING ALONG THE NJ GARDEN STATE PARKWAY AT 60MPH, I EXPERIENCED A LOUD POPPING SOUND. I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO MY LOCAL REPAIRMAN ONLY TO FIND THAT THE SPARK PLUG AT THE REAR OF THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN OUT CAUSING A MISFIRE IN THE ENGINE. *TR

MY 1999 FORD WINDSTAR EXPERIENCED A SIGNIFICANT ENGINE SHIFT WHILE DRIVING. THE GARAGE INDICATED THAT MY PASSENGER SIDE ENGINE CRADLE HAD RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SHIFT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT CENTERED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE MAIN ENGINE CRADLE ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 129,000. UPDATED 11/17/08 *CN UPDATED 11/21/08. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY VALVE COVER, AND THE ENGINE NEEDED AN UPPER INTAKE AND DRIVER SIDE VALVE COVER. THE COST TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS $500. THE DEALER DID NOT EXPLAIN THE POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, WHEN THE VALVE COVER DOES NOT FIT PROPERLY, IT CAUSES OIL TO LEAK INTO THE MOTOR. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 89,946.

I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT AT A MAJOR INTERSECTION AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I HEARD A LOUD SOUND. I TRIED TO ACCELERATE BUT MY CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. THE ENGINE JUST REVVED. I THOUGHT I RAN SOMETHING OVER DUE TO THE SOUND SO INSPECTED GOT OUT TO INSPECT THE CAR. I FOUND NOTHING. I GOT BACK INTO THE CAR AND TURNED CAR OFF AND TURNED BACK. THE CAR WOULD NOT DRIVE. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND MANAGED TO GET OFF THE ROAD. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER SUTTON FORD IN MATTESON IL. THAT THE TRANSMISSION JUST BROKE AND WOULD COST ME $3000.00. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR LESS THEN 2 YEARS. I HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT JUST EXPIRED A FEW MONTHS AGO. MY OBD LIGHT WAS ON BUT WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER IT WAS A SENSOR. THEY COULD TURN IT OFF BUT IT WASN'T ANYTHING MAJOR. AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS I'M SURE IT IS MAJOR. SINCE PURCHASING THIS CAR, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE TIRES AT LEAST EVERY SIX MONTHS, MAJOR ENGINE REPAIR, ALTERNATOR REPAIR, AS WELL AS SPRING REPLACEMENT. OVERALL, I'VE PUT MORE THEN $3000.00 IN REPAIR NOT INCLUDING THE REPAIR OF THE TRANSMISSION I NOW NEED. I LOVED MY WINDSTAR BUT I AM NOW DISCOVERING THAT IT PUTS MY LIFE ENDANGER TO DRIVE IT. MY TWO KIDS WERE IN THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND I FEARED SOMEONE WOULD HIT MY CAR. THE WORST PART ABOUT ALL THIS IS I AM UNABLE TO GET RID OF THIS CAR AS I STILL AM BUYING THIS CAR. I AM UNABLE TO REFINANCE THE DIFFERENCE. I WAS TOLD TO JUST SCARP THE CAR BY THE DEALER AND JUST GET ANOTHER CAR AS I AM EVEN MORE IN DEBT TRYING TO REPAIR THE CAR. I DON'T WANT TO RUIN MY CREDIT SO THERE HAS TO BE ANOTHER SOLUTION. I HAVE NO INKLING HOW I'M GOING TO MANAGE TO GET 3000.00 FOR A NEW CAR AND PAY MY BILLS AND FIND AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD. I REALLY WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF FORD WOULD JUST DO THE RIGHT THING FIX MY TRANSMISSION. SPLIT THE COST. I DID DAMAGE MY CAR IN THE MIST OF ALL THIS AND JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE TO WORK UNTIL THE CAR IS PAID OFF.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE IT WOULD START, BUT THEN IDLE, STUTTER, AND STALL. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FAILURE. THE OXYGEN SENSORS AND ALL THE HOSES WERE REPLACED, INCLUDING OTHER REPAIRS. THE TOTAL REPAIR COST WAS APPROXIMATELY $1,700. THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ALSO ILLUMINATE, BUT NO ERROR CODE DISPLAYED WHEN A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A FAMILY MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED OF A FAILURE WITH THE VALVES AND INTAKE MANIFOLD, OF WHICH FORD WAS AWARE. THE FAILURE WOULD DETER OIL FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE VALVES. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.

WE WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT YESTERDAY DUE TO OUR 1999 FORD WINDSTAR NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. WE HAD 7 PEOPLE IN OUR VAN INCLUDING SMALL CHILDREN. LUCKILY, NONE OF US WERE INJURED, BUT THE POTENTIAL FOR INJURY WAS DEFINITELY THERE. AS WE WERE APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT AT ABOUT 35 MPH THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND WE LOST ALL POWER. WE HAD NO BRAKES OR POWER STEERING. IT WAS EVIDENT WE WERE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO STOP SO MY HUSBAND OPTED FOR THE DITCH. STEERING WAS VERY DIFFICULT AND WE HIT A STOP LIGHT ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH THE LEFT FRONT END OF THE VAN AND EVENTUALLY CAME TO A STOP ABOUT 4 FT. FROM A UTILITY POLE. THE VAN WAS DRIVING FINE WITH NO INDICATION OF MALFUNCTION PRIOR TO LOSING ALL POWER SUDDENLY. WE HAVE IN THE PAST EXPERIENCED THE BATTERY LIGHT OR THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT COMING ON WHEN IT WAS RAINING OR AFTER DRIVING THROUGH STANDING WATER BUT HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED LOSING ALL POWER UNTIL YESTERDAY. WE HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE CUTTING OUT AFTER DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY FOR AWHILE AND THEN DRIVING ON CITY STREETS AT LOWER SPEEDS. IT SEEMS THAT WHEN YOUR DRIVING ON JUST CITY STREETS AT LOWER SPEEDS WE DON'T EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM, AND ALSO NOT TYPICALLY WHILE WE ARE ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS (ALTHOUGH WE HAVE HAD IT CUT OUT A COUPLE TIMES ON THE HIGHWAY). IT SEEMS TO USUALLY OCCUR AFTER WE HAVE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS FOR AWHILE AND THEN EXIT ON TO LOWER SPEED ROADS. THE ENGINE JUST SUDDENLY DIES. WE CAN TYPICALLY START IT RIGHT BACK UP AGAIN, BUT IT WILL CONTINUE TO DIE AND START BACK UP SEVERAL TIMES. *JB