1999 Ford Windstar Fuel System Problems

JUST A FEW MINUTES AFTER STARTING MY 1999 WINDSTAR, IT LEAKS FUEL FROM THE FITTINGS (FOR THE FUEL LINES) ON TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP. I AM A MECHANIC AND THIS IS NOT SUPPOSE TO HAPPEN. THE FITTINGS HAVE A SEAM THAT HAS OPENED UP BECAUSE OF A DEFECT IN WORKMANSHIP. THERE IS A STRONG ODOR OF GAS AND A LARGE PUDDLE OF GAS UNDER THE VEHICLE. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS FIRE HAZARD. I BELIEVE FORD GOT OVER ON THE NHTSA AND THE AMERICAN CONSUMER. TYPICALLY THE CONSUMER WILL HAVE THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED BEFORE THEIR MANUFACTURING FLAW IS DISCOVERED. ALSO, THERE WAS A RECALL ON DIFFERENT YEAR MODELS AND ONLY IN CERTAIN STATES. I DON'T SEE HOW "WHAT STATE YOU LIVE IN" HAS TO DO WITH A SPLIT IN PLASTIC ON THE TOP OF YOUR GAS TANK. I WILL UPLOAD PICTURES OF THE FLAWS ON THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK FITTINGS.

MY 19YR OLD DAUGHTER WAS TRAVELING TO NEW JERSEY FROM INDIANA ON RT.70. WHEN USING THE CRUISE CONTROL ATTEMPTED TO EXIT FOR A REST STOP WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BREAK THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT DISENGAGE. SHE HAD COMMITTED TO THE EXIT RAMP THANK GOD SHE WAS ABLE TO MOVE BACK OFF THE RAMP JUST IN TIME TO MISS THE OVER PASS BARRIER. SHE HAD TO RIDE THE SHOULDER SHUTTING DOWN THE IGNITION ONCE SHE DID THAT SHE WAS ABLE TOB RESUE. SHE DID NOT USE THE CRUISE CONTROL AGAIN AND BUT THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON A COLD START. I CHECK THE CODE AND DTCS FOUND WADE BANK ONE AND TWO LEAN FOUND A BAD PCV VALVE AND REPLACED IT. BUT WHEN READING THE CODES FOUND 9 ADDITIONAL CODES C1185 C1198 C1194 C1254 C1256 C1250 C1242 C1214 AND C1210. I THEN CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND CHECKED FOR RECALLS. FINDING 3 I FOLLOWED UP HAVING TWO BEING SERIOUS AND HAVING TO DO WITH SPEED CONTROL REAR SUBFRAME AND REAR SUPPORT. WHEN ASKING THE SERVICE ADVISOR WHAT THESE CODES MEANT HE HAD NO CLUE HE SAID AND WITHOUT A COSTLY SCANNER CHARGE THE TECH HAD NO IDEA. SO AS ALWAYS I HIT THE INTER NET ANDEASILY FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS . . . I WAS A SERVICE ADVISOR FOR HONDA FOR 5YRS AND A TECH FOR 10 PRIOR. I NEVER PUT MY CUSTOMERS LIFE ON THE LINE WTH? IS FORD TEACHING THESE MEN? I WILL HAVE TO INSPECT AND REPAIR THIS VEHICLE MYSELF BEING DISABLED THIS WILL NOT COME EASY. I DON'T TRUST THEM AT ALL ANYMORE. MY FAMILY'S LIFE IS TO IMPORTANT TO HAVE A MONEY HUNGRY COMPANY KILL THEM. AND ONCE REPAIRS ARE FINISHED I WILL SELL IT AND BUY A HONDA. YES HONDA IS NOT PERFECT BUT I HAVE NEVER SEEN THE COMPANY EVER MISLEAD CUSTOMERS INTENTIONALLY AS THIS AND WHEN THEY MESSUP THEY COVER THEIR CUSTOMERS AND FIX IT RIGHT.UNREAL. *TR

VAN CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TR

CRACKED FUEL RAIL LEAKING GAS ON TO MANIFOLD LEAKING AT WELDED JOINT. *NM

CONSUMER STATES DUE TO CORROSION OF THE FUEL RAIL FUEL LEAKS ONTO THE MANIFOLD. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL CATCH ON FIRE. *AK......THIS VEHICLE IS DRIVEN BY EUGENE PALMER FOR EMPLOYER ASCENT MEDIA OF PALM BEACH, FL. AT LEAST TWO 1999 HAVE HAD THIS FUEL PROBLEM. *AK

AT 33,000 MILES, SUDDEN TRANSMISSION FAILURE. REBUILT AT A LOCAL SHOP FOR $2600 ... FORD CONTACTED, BUT REFUSED TO STAND BEHIND ITS PRODUCT.*AK

THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT ON MY VAN. LUCKILY I WAS AT HOME IN MY DRIVEWAY. CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NO COMPLAINTS AND THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT. SO I AM HAVING TO HAVE IT FIXED MY SELF. THE VEHICLE IS 4 YEARS OLD, I PERSONALLY DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE PUMP SHOULD BE BAD.

MY VAN WAS BARELY OUT OF WARRANTY WHEN THE O/D OFF LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE FORD DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS A RESULT OF A BROKEN SENSOR WELD ON MY INTAKE MANIFOLD TO THE TUNE OF APPROX. $900. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THE O/D OFF LIGHT MEANT THAT THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $2,700. ALL THIS FOR BEING 1 MONTH AND 500 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. PLUS, I SEE THAT MANY PEOPLE WITH FORD WINDSTARS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING AT 35,000 MILES AND 70,000 (TWICE) SO I SEE THAT I WILL UNDOUBTEDLY HAVE SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO WHEN THE WARRANTY RUNS OUT ON THE TRANSMISSION... ALMOST LIKE THE DARNED THING IS DELIBERATELY DESIGNED TO CREATE A HUGE REPAIR BILL THE MOMENT IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY.

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON TWICE - CAN'T IDENTIFY PROBLEM, POSSIBLE INTAKE LEAK - WILL HAVE TO REMOVE INTAKE COVERS TO CHECK AT MY EXPENSE WITH NO GUARANTEE THIS IS THE PROBLEM. DOES FORD HAVE ANY SOLUTIONS THAT THEIR DEALERS DON'T KNOW ABOUT?*AK

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION WOULD START TO SHUTTER AT HIGH SPEEDS. CONSUMER STATED THAT AT 53000 MILES TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT NEED REPLACING. *AK *SLC

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

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

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

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

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 STALLS DUE TO FUEL SYSTEM VAPOR LOCK FAILURE. THE DEALER HAS SHORTNED THE FILLER HOSE ON THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE STILLS STALLS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK

FUEL TANK HAS 26 GALLONS AND TANK ONLY TAKES 21 GALLONS. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE GAS IS GOING SOMEWHERE. *AK

WHEN TRYING TO PUT GAS INTO THE TANK THE PUMP DOES NOT FIT PROPERLY. IF CONSUMER PUTS THE PUMP ALL THE WAY IN THE TANK, THERE IS AN AUTOMATIC SHUT OFF THAT KEEPS CONSUMER FROM PUMPING . TO PUMP GAS CONSUMER HAS TO HOLD THE PUMP 1/3 OF AN INCH IN THE TANK. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE FILLING VEHICLE WITH GAS SOME SPILLED AROUND FILLER ASSEMBLY . CONSUMER NOTICED A SMELL INSIDE OF VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. LEAKING FUEL DRAINS INSIDE BODY MOLDING. IT THEN EVAPORATES AND SOME GOES INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *AK *ML

WHILE FILLING THE GAS TANK FIRE STARTED TO COME UP FROM THE OPENING, AROUND THE GAS NOZZLE. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK