1999 Ford Windstar Visibility & Wipers Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR LX. THE PARTIAL HAVOC BOSCH WHICH WAS A PART OF THE HEAT IN THE VEHICLE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A RADIATOR MECHANIC WHO INFORMED HIM THE PARTIAL HAVOC BOSCH FAIL AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS RELATED TO THE FAILURES AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000. UPDATED 03/03/11 *BF UPDATED 04/28/11

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY, BUT CURRENTLY DO NOT WORK AT ALL. THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V261000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR BURNED THREE TIMES WITHIN THE LAST THREE YEARS. IN 2001, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V261000; HOWEVER, IT DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. FORD STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS ALREADY PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME LIABILITY FOR ANY REPAIRS TO THE WINDSHIELD MOTOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 135,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A WEEK BEFORE THE FIRE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE NOT OPERATING NORMALLY. THE MECHANIC RECOMMENDED THAT SHE CHANGE THE PULLEYS IN THE AIR CONDITIONER. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. HOWEVER, A FORD DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUS EOF THE PROBLEM. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE NOTIFIED, AND WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,152. *AK

NOT ONLY DOES MY 99 WINDSTAR STALL AND JERK AND WILL NOT PICK UP SPEED PROPERLY BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF AND THE ABS LIGHT WILL COME ON AFTER I START THE VAN AND STAY ON AS WELL. IF I DRIVE OVER 55 THE O/D LIGHT FLASHES. WHEN I TAKE OFF FROM A LIGHT THE O/D LIGHT FLASHES AND THE VAN WILL NOT PICK UP SPEED AND THEN IT JERKS INTO GEAR. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY MALFUNCTIONED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXAMINED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT FOUND SIMILAR RECALLS # 01V261000 ABOUT THE VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE.

RECALL #01V261000 WAS RECTIFIED IN FEB 2002. THE MOTOR COVER WAS REPLACED BECAUSE WATER WOULD GET INTO THE MOTOR. TODAY MY HUSBAND REPLACED OUR WIPER MOTOR AND THE OLD ONE WAS FILLED WITH WATER. OBVIOUSLY, THEIR SOLUTION WASN'T ADEQUATE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. INITIALLY THE WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY, HOWEVER THE WIPERS ARE NO LONGER FUNCTIONING AT ALL. THERE IS AN NHTSA RECALL, # 01V261000, REGARDING THE VISIBILITY: WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER: MOTOR. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. UPDATED 8/7/2006 - THE CONSUMER HAS HAD THE WIPER MOTOR AND WIPER SWITCH REPLACED. *NM

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON MY 1999 FORD WINDSTAR ARE STOPPING HALFWAY THROUGH THE CYCLE AND I PHYSICALLY HAVE TO GET OUT OF MY CAR AND PUSH THEM SO THEY RETURN TO THE BASE. THERE WAS A RECALL ON FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT FORD TOLD ME SINCE IT WAS ALREADY PERFORMED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR IT AGAIN.

PASSENGER SIDE ELECTRIC MIRROR DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. WHEN SWITCHED TO RIGHT OR LEFT, THE MIRROR GOES DIAGONALLY UP OR DOWN, ALSO WHEN SWITCHED UP AND DOWN. THE WIRING, SWITCH AND MIRROR WERE CHECKED. THE MIRROR IS NEW, BOUGHT FROM FORD. *JB

DT: REAR BLOWER MOTOR IN THE REAR OF VAN SMELLED LIKE IT WAS BURNING AND THEN STOPPED WORKING. THERE WAS A RECALL ON EXACT MODEL, 1999, FORD, WINDSTAR. THE OWNER'S MALFUNCTIONED PART WAS NOT PRODUCED WHERE THE OTHERS WERE, SO SHE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE BLOWER HAS NOT WORKED FOR A MONTH. THERE WERE NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THE BLOWER. THE OWNER TOOK THE VAN TO A SERVICE STATION, AND THE SERVICE STATION INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS A RECALL, ON EXACTLY WHAT SHE SHOULD BRING TO FORD FOR VEICLE TO BE FIXED. THE SERVICE ADVISED THE OWNER TO GO TO FORD FOR THE RECALL. SHE THEN TRIED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH FORD, AND THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T COVER IT. THE OWNER TRIED TO CONTACT FORD. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR THAT THE AIR HAD BEEN ON. AND THAT WAS WHEN THE BURNING ODOE SHE SMELLED AND THE BLOWER STOPPED WORKING.*AK

ON 5/1/05 MY WIFE DROVE THE VAN TO WORK WHEN SHE ARRIVED AT WORK THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. SHE THEN NOTICED SMOKE COMING FORM UNDER THE DASH. SHE HAD A FRIEND DISCONNECT THE BATTERY (THAT ACT PROBABLY SAVED THE VEHICLE FORM CATCHING FIRE). I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO CLAIR FORD IN SACO, ME. CLAIR FORD TOLD ME THE WIPER MOTOR BURNED OUT DUE TO SOME KIND OF SHORT CIRCUIT THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT TELL WHAT CAUSED THE SHORT CIRCUIT. ON 5/20 I READ ABOUT A RECALL FORM FORD FOR WIPER MOTORS BURNING UP. I CONTACT CUSTOMER SERVICE VIA E-MAIL AND A WOMAN CALLED ME A FEW DAYS LATER AND SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS INVOLVING WIPERS AND FORD WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. I THEN RESEARCHED THE NHTSA WEB SITE IT SHOWED ME THAT FORD HAD RECALLED THE WIPERS IN 2001 UNDER RECALL NUMBER 01S25. *JB

NO HEAT OR DEFROSTER FOR FRONT HALF OF VEHICLE, REAR HEATER WORKS FINE. THERE IS A BLENDING DOOR IN THE HEATER BOX ON THE FIREWALL THAT APPARENTLY HAS A SMALL MOTOR THAT OPERATES THE BLEND DOOR. THE MOTOR IS FINE. MECHANICS TELL ME THAT A SCREW THAT HOLDS THE BOX IN PLACE LOOSENS ALLOWING THE BOX TO WARP WHICH RUBS OR STOPS THE ROD ATTACHED TO THE MOTOR AND THE BLENDING DOOR FROM MOVING SMOOTHLY. MY MOTOR OPERATES FINE BUT HAS BROKEN THE ROD MAKING A CLICKING NOISE WHEN YOU OPERATE THE MANUAL CONTROL FROM COLD TO HOT. THE DOOR STAYS CLOSED IN THE COLD MODE, NO HEAT OR DEFROSTER. *JB

FRONT HEATER DOES NOT WORK. I WENT ON WEB AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS WITH SAME PROBLEM. EITHER HEATER DOOR BEHIND RADIO DOES NOT CLOSE OR GEAR THAT OPERATES DOOR BREAKS. REAR HEATER WORKS, BUT IN COLD WEATHER OR SNOWY WEATHER, ONE CANNOT SEE OUT OF WINDSHIELD WHICH CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *JB

WHILE TURNING ON THE DEFOGGER OR HEAT IT FAILED TO COME ON. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, MECHANIC ADVISED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE FIXED, BUT THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR. *AK IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT HE BLEND AIR DOOR WAS BROKEN WHICH WOULD NOT ALLOW HEAT TO BLOW TROUGH ANY OF THE VENTS. *NM

01 V 261 000/WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR COVER: THE WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, WITHOUT WARNING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *LA *JB

RECENTLY EXPERIENCE WIPER MOTOR/HARNESS CORROSION ON MY 1999 FORD WNSTAR WHICH HAS RESULTED IN INOPERATIVE WIPERS. THE WIPERS FAILED WHILE MY WIFE AND 2 KIDS WERE DRIVING ON I-40 WHICH ALMOST CAUSED THEM TO LEAVE THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CAPITAL FORD DEALER AND THE WIPER FAILURE WAS ANALYZED AT A CHARGE OF $61.00 ON MAY 20, 2004.THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED THAT THE HARNESS AND MOTOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $461.00. THE DEALER HAS BEEN LESS THAN HELPFUL IN EXPLAINING HOW CORROSION DEVELOPED. ON MAY 25, 2004 10:45 EST), I CALLED FORD MOTOR CORP. CUSTOMER RELATIONS (KURL 800-392-3673). I EXPLAINED MY SITUATION AND REFERRED TO RECALL # 01V26100. SHE STATED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO WARRANTEE/RECALL COVERAGE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS WELL OUTSIDE THE 12 MONTHS/12,000. MILES. SHE FURHTER SAID THAT THE RECALL WAS COMPLETED ON MY VEHICLE IN 2001 AND THAT THERE WAS NO RELATIONSHIP TO MY CURRENT MALFUNCTION AND THE RECALL. LOGIC WOULD SUGGEST THAT A RECALL 2 YEARS AFTER MANUFACTURER DATE COULD CONTRIBUTE TO A PROBLEM/MALFUNCTION 5 YEARS LATER. PLEASE ADVISE BY WRITTEN NOTICE OF YOUR FINDINGS OR CONCLUSIONS. THANKS

FORD WINSTAR 1999 WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE DRIVING. CRACK DEVELOPED AT THE BOTTOM, MID-WIDTH AND IS PROGREESING OVER THE LAST TWO DAYS. ABOUT 10 IN. LONG AFTER TWO DAYS.WAS NOT HIT BY STONE. CRACK IS CLEAN, NO DINGS, ETC.*AK

ACTUATOR DOOR MOTOR HAS BROKEN RODS TO BLEND DOOR. WE ARE WITHOUT HEAT, BLOWS COLD AIR ONLY. MUST REPLACE ENTIRE HEATER ASSEMBLY AT EST. COST OF $980.00 DOLLARS. INITIAL COST TO REPLACE THE MOTOR ALONE WAS FOR $225.00 WHICH WAS FIRST DIAGNOSIS OF PROBLEM. *JB