2000 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

I BOUGH T A 2000 WINDSTAR 1 MONTH AGO AND I HAD A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL AND FOUND A LEAK ABOVE THE LEFT REAR TIRE WHICH I SAW MYSELF. THE FUEL SYSTEM PROVED TO BE FAULTY AS PER THE DEALER'S REPORT. I LOST MY TRUST TO THE VEHICLE, AND I AM UNCOMFORTABLY USING IT FOR MY FAMILY, AND UNCOMFORTABLY SELLING IT TO ANY BODY DUE TO SAFETY REASONS. I AM SCARED DUE TO THE FOLLOWING: NO RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM. THE STORY I HEARD ABOUT THE FAMILY WHO WAS PREVIOUSLY BURNED IN A GM CAR DUE TO FAULTY FUEL SYSTEM. HEREWAS A FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEM IDENTIFIED IN WINDSTAR 2000 AT THE NHTSA WEBSITE. *AK

TL*CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO HAVE THE UPPER INPUT AND THE UPPER GASKET REPLACED. THE MECHANIC CHANGED THE FUEL FILTER, PERFORMED A TUNE UP, AND REPLACED THE IGNITION WIRE. THE CONTACT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIRS ,WHICH TOTALED $900. THE DIAGNOSIS LISTED CODE PO133 , SENSOR SLOW RESPONSE. AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ANOTHER FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE THE CONTACT'S FOOT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL OR WHEN THE VEHICLE IDLED. THE RPM NEEDLE ALSO FLUCTUATED FROM HIGH TO LOW. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 101,016. *AK

DRIVERS SIDE DOORS SHOW CORROSION FROM WATER SEEPING DOWN WINDOWS ON DRIVERS SIDE OF THE 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. *KB

MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR WITH APPX 79500 MILES HAD THE REAR AXLE NEARLY SEVERED (APPX 80 %) ON APR 24, 2007 WHILE PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. MY LOCAL FORD DEALER SERVICE MGR STATES THAT HE HAS SEEN AT LEAST 5 OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN HIGHLY MAINTAINED, GARAGE STORED, AND UNDER BODY FLUSHED TWICE A YEAR SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN THE SPRING OF 2000. UPON INSPECTION OF THE AXLE, IT WAS APPARENT THAT CORROSION WAS PRESENT IN AN APPX 1/2 INCH AREA, AND THE ROADSIDE CURB CAUSED THE CRACK FROM THIS WEAKENED SPOT. OBVIOUSLY, IF A LESS OBSERVANT DRIVER HAD NOT NOTICED THE INSTABILITY AND HAD TAKEN IT ON A HIGH SPEED HIGHWAY, A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT WOULD LIKELY HAVE OCCURRED. KENNY ROSS FORD SOUTH REPLACED THE AXLE (FOR $1135.74), AND I HAVE RETAINED THE OLD ONE FOR MY NEXT COURSE OF ACTION.

ABS LIGHT IS ON AND THE ABS SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *TR

WE OWN A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR VAN. THIS VAN HAS HAD INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS LIGHT COMING ON AND STAYING ON DURING THE DURATION OF DRIVING THE VAN. THE VAN HAS ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH ROUGH IDLING AND PROBLEMS WITH VALVE SEALS THAT ARE AROUND THE INJECTORS GOING BAD (TWICE). RECENTLY WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE WARNING ERR*F CAME ON AND THEN A WARNING OF "FUEL COMPUTER DATA ERROR" AND "OIL LIFE DATA ERROR" REMAINED ON. I ALSO LOST A/C POWER, ODOMETER READING, AND SPEEDOMETER READING. THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKING SYSTEMS SEEMED TO BE OUT. WHEN RESTARTING THE VAN, THE IDLE WAS VERY ROUGH. THE VAN DID RUN WITH THE TACHOMETER OPERATIONAL. I HOPE THE FUEL GAUGE, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE WERE WORKING. AFTER RESEARCH, WE DETERMINED THE #10 FUSE WAS BLOWN. WHEN I TRIED TO REPLACE IT, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE AIR FILTER AREA. THERE IS A CONNECTOR UNDER THE MASTER CYLINDER THAT HAS CORROSION, BRAKE FLUID AND APPEARS TO BE BURNT ON THE INSIDE. WHEN I DISCONNECTED THE CONNECTOR, AND RESTARTED THE VAN, THE PROBLEMS HAVE APPEARED TO BE GONE. I AM AFRAID THAT THIS WILL ONLY LEAD TO MORE PROBLEMS AND MORE COSTLY ONES IN THE FUTURE. *TR

I SLOWLY WENT OVER RAILROAD TRACKS AND THE CAR JUST DIED AS I WAS DRIVING. I HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. PUT IN PARK, STARTED UP AGAIN, UNTIL I GOT TO THE RED LIGHT, AND IT DIED AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 5 MORE TIMES - I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE ROAD AND INTO A PARKING LOT.*AK

TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING FOUR GOOD YEAR TIRES. THE MODEL NAME WAS ASSURANCE. THE CONTACT INFLATED THE TIRES AND TWO DAYS LATER THE AIR PRESSURE WAS LOW. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A GOOD YEAR DEALER AND WAS THE TIRES WERE FOUND TO HAVE DRY ROT. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE TIRE MILEAGE WAS 24,655. THE DEALER KEPT THE TIRES. THE DOT INFORMATION AND VIN FOR VEHICLE WERE UNAVAILABLE. UPDATE 05/21/07*TR

2000 FORD WINDSTAR WITH BROKEN AXLE CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE AXLE SNAPPED IN HALF FOR NO APPARENT REASON**CC THE CONSUMER ALSO OWNED A 199 FORD TAURUS. THERE WAS A CONSTANT LEAK COMING FROM THE FORD TAURUS AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. CONSEQUENTLY, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A RECALL ON THE FORD TAURUS REGARDING THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM. *JB

ABS LIGHT YELLOW AND STAYS ON. *TR

I PURCHASED A USED 2000 FORD WINDSTAR IN DECEMBER OF 2006. THIS COMPLAINT IS REGARDING THE ABS SYSTEM. ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO, AT 85,000 MILES, THE ABS LIGHT BEGAN ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY. AFTER CHECKING THE CODES, AND DOING SOME RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED THAT I AMONG THE MANY, MANY OWNERS FACED WITH AN EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT OF THE ECU. I HAVE NOT SPENT THE MONEY TO REPLACE THE UNIT AS I AM AWAITING POSSIBLE RESTITUTION BY FORD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. THE VEHICLE'S DOOR LOCKS AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCK WITHOUT WARNING. THE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS FAIL TO REMAIN LOCKED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE OCCURS EACH TIME THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 98,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2000 FORD WINDSTAR VAN HOME WHEN SHE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SOON AFTER SEEING THE SMOKE, SHE SAW FIRE. SHE QUICKLY PULLED THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING LOT, GOT OUR 2 KIDS ( AGE 5 AND 7 ) OUT OF THE VEHICLE. SHE THEN ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE FROM A BUSINESS . THEY PROCEEDED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL FORD DEALER. IT WAS THERE THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED US THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE SAME FAULTY PART THAT IS CURRENTLY UNDER RECALL IN THE F-150'S AND OTHER FORD PRODUCTS. I WAS TOLD IT IS THE SAME REPLACEMENT PART AND THE REPAIR PROCEDURE FOR THE BURNT WIRING IS A FORD AUTHORIZED REPAIR. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND THEY INFORMED ME THERE IS NOT CAUSE FOR ALARM OR CONCERN WITH THE WINDSTAR. THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THAT ONLY THE NHTSA CAN ISSUE A RECALL. FORD DID NOT OFFER ANY HELP WITH OUR EXPENSES THAT WE INCURRED DUE TO THIS FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL CUTOFF SWITCH LOCATED ON THE MASTER CYLINDER. WE ARE VERY LUCKY THAT NO ONE WAS HURT IN THIS INCIDENT. I JUST HOPE AND PRAY THAT NO ONE ELSE HAS TO GO THROUGH THIS TERRIFYING ORDEAL. *JB

ABS LIGHT COMES ON IS WARMER WEATHER DUE TO ECM MODULE EXPANDING ALONG WITH HEAT SINK IN WARMER WEATHER CAUSING LOSS OF ANTI-LOCK BRAKING. *TR

VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED IN APRIL OF 2006. ABS SYSTEM WAS FUNCTIONING FINE FROM THAT TIME UNTIL MARCH 2007. THE ABS SYSTEM FAILS WHEN AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 35 DEGREES F. THERE IS NO ABS LIGHT AND SYSTEM FUNCTIONS CORRECTLY WHEN TEMP IS BELOW 35. ABS LIGHT COMES ON IMMEDIATELY AT START UP IN SUMMER TIME (TEMPS AROUND 80 DEGREES) AND MALFUNCTIONS. ABS TIME TO FAILURE CORRELATES TO AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IN THAT IT TAKES LONGER TO MALFUNCTION CLOSER TO 35 DEGREES, AND SHORT TIME TO MALFUNCTION AT GREATER TEMPERATURES. I HAVE TAKEN NO CORRECTIVE ACTION AT THIS TIME AS I AM WAITING FOR FORD TO DO A RECALL. SYSTEM CONTINUES TO MALFUNCTION DAILY. THE WEBSITE I FOUND THAT ENCOURAGED FILING THIS COMPLAINT SAYS THAT WINDSTARS FROM MODEL YEAR 1999 THROUGH 2003 ARE EXPERIENCING THIS SAME WIDESPREAD DEFECT. (HEAT RELATED DUE TO EXPANSION OF AN ALUMINUM HEAT SINK IN THE ABS ECM. *TR

ABS ECM FAILURE - ABS BRAKE LIGHT. THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM DOES NOT FUNCTION AS DESIGNED BY FORD. THE ISSUE SEEMS TO BE CAUSED BY HEAT IN THE ABS (ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM) ECM (ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE) (2C219) MODULE CAUSING EXPANSION OF A LARGE ALUMINUM PLATE (HEAT SINK) IN THE ECM WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE ECM MAIN CIRCUIT BOARD AT ALL POINTS. THE EXPANSION OCCURS WHEN THE UNIT GETS WARM ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMER MONTHS AND CAUSES INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL CONNECTION IN THE UNIT BECAUSE THE FRAGILE BOARD IS BEING STRETCHED AND MALFORMED. THE CODE SCANS AS CODE C1185 AND SHOWS ON THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS AS A YELLOW ABS BRAKE LIGHT. IT APPEARS THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WORKS ONLY ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS DEPENDING ON THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE. THIS IS NOT VERY SAFE AND CREATES A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT HIS SPEED CONTROL SWITCH IS BURNED OUT. THERE IS A RECALL OUT ON THIS ISSUE BUT NOT ON HIS VIN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000. JP

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE AT 50 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED REPEATEDLY. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000. RECEIVED 12/12/07 64200. *TR *UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF

THE INTAKE WENT AT 58,000 MILES BROUGHT TO FORD DEALER AND IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY . 1 YEAR LATER HAD SAME PROBLEM AND VAN WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND FORD REFUSED TO COVER HAD TO PAY $1,800 DOLLARS. THEN LAST YEAR THE TRANSMISSION WENT VAN HAD 78,000 MILES. FORD WILL NOT FIX THEY WOULD NOT REPO IT. THEY ARE NOW TRYING TO SUE ME FOR A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. *TR

ENGINE COOLANT DISAPPEARING WITHOUT EXPLANATION. TOOK INTO DEALER TO LEARN IT WAS A COMMON LEAK IN THE FRONT COVER GASKET THAT COULD LEAD TO ENGINE FAILURE. I OWN A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR WITH A 3.8L V-6. *JB

I HAD BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS STARTING MY 200 FORD WINDSTAR SE. ON MONDAY, JAN. 8, 2007, I DROVE MY VAN TO GET COFFEE, CAME HOME AND PARKED IT IN THE DRIVEWAY. A FEW MINUTES LATER, I NOTICED SMOKE AND FLAMES. THE CAR BURNED OUT, DESPITE THE EFFORTS OF OUR LOCAL FIRE DEPT. *NM

CRUISE CONTROL RELAY SWITCH,LEAKING BRAKE FLUID UNDER THE MASTER CYLINDER ON 2000 WINDSTAR,CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK ANY MORE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE HAS FAILED. THE AIR CONDITIONING, SPEEDOMETER, ABS, AND CRUISE CONTROL HAVE ALL BEEN AFFECTED DUE TO THE FAILURE. THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. HE FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE ABS COULD CAUSE A CRASH. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 120,000.

ABS LIGHT COMES ON SPORADICALLY, MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL FAILURES IN VEHICLE (LIGHTS, LOCKS, WINDOWS) - THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN ONGOING FOR 2-3 YEARS. ALSO, THE BRAKING DISTANCE SUDDENLY INCREASED. THE BRAKES SOMETIMES GET EXTREMELY HARD AND BARELY MOVE AND OTHER TIMES GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BEFORE STOPPING THE VEHICLE. RECALL # 09S09 HAS BEEN DONE BUT THE PROBLEMS REMAIN ONGOING.

ABS HAS BEEN ON FOR YEARS. *TR

INTERMITTENT ABS BRAKE LIGHT AND FORD TROUBLE CODE C1185 PROBLEM GOES AWAY DURING COLD WEATHER - RETURNS IN WARM WEATHER. *TR

CONTACT STATES THAT IT WAS A DRY AN CLEAR DAY. HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING UP A HILL ONE OF THE RODS TORE AWAY FROM THE SUB FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER THIS SEPARATION IT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A SCREECHING HALT. THE CONTACT GAINED THIS INFORMATION AFTER HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE CONTACT HAS ALREADY CONTACTED FORD ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WITH WINDSTAR VAN, BUT THEY ARE SAYING THAT IT IS OUTSIDE OF HIS WARRANTY.

VEHICLE: 2000 FORD WINDSTAR SE MINI-VAN COMPLAINT: VEHICLE STOP LIGHT SWITCH STICKS AND STAYS ON, DRAINING THE BATTERY AND CREATING A CONFUSING SITUATION TO FOLLOWING DRIVERS THUS BEING A SAFETY HAZARD. THIS DRAINED MY BATTERY 3 TIMES. FORD DEALER WANTS A LOT OF MONEY TO FIX THIS. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE SAME YEAR FORD TAURUS AND SABLE VEHICLES. THE DEALERSHIRS HAVE A REPAIR POLICY NUMBER AND SERVICE BULLETIN AND WILL FIX THIS FOR FREE ON THESE VEHICLES. THE FORD WINDSTAR VANS SHOULD BE RECALLED AS WELL. I WANT AN ANSWER FROM FORD ABOUT THIS. I WOULD EVEN ACCEPT AN OFFER FOR THEM TO PICK UP PART OF THE COST. I REALLY FEEL THOUGH THAT THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE THE SERVICE REP FROM FORD SHOULD CALL ME AND TELL ME TO COME ON IN TO A DEALER AND WE WILL FIX IT FOR FREE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT, THERE WAS A LOSS OF ALL VEHICLE POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF ROAD, AND WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

I HAD TO STOP ABRUPTLY FOR A CHILD THAT RAN INTO THE STREET. MY BRAKES WHEN TO THE FLOOR. AFTER THIS TOOK PLACE I CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY BRAKES; NO OR LITTLE BRAKE PRESSURE, LOW BRAKE FLUID EVEN AFTER FILLING THIS. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG BUT FELT MAYBE THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS BAD, THIS WAS REPLACED. I CONTINUALLY STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES; NO OR LITTLE BRAKE PRESSURE AND THE BRAKE FLUID NEEDING TO BE FILLED. *JB

YELLOW ABS WARNING LIGHT CONSISTENTLY COMES ON. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HE PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND SMALL FLAMES WERE PRESENT. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED WITH A RAG. THE UNDERHOOD OF THE VEHICLE WAS BURNED. A WORKER AT A LOCAL DEALER ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND DISCONNECTED THE DEACTIVATION SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 97,000. UPDATED 02-13-08 *BF

1- THERE WAS NOT ANY SYMPTOM LEADING UP TO FAILURE. 2- THE FAILURE WAS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL. THE WELD ON ONE OF THE CONTROL ARMS ACTUALLY BROKE OFF THE FRAME. AS A RESULT THE WHEEL WAS ALLOWED MOVE IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION THEN THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THIS FORCED THE VEHICLE OFF THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN A VERY IMMEDIATE UNCONTROLLED MANNER. 3- THERE WAS NOTHING DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM AS OF YET. DEALER DOESN'T HAVE ANY INTEREST IN FIXING THE VEHICLE UNLESS WE PAY FOR IT. *NM

FUEL RAIL LEAKING GASOLINE, DO NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THIS AS THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE CRACKS, LEAK IS NEAR ELECTRIC STUFF, STRONG ODOR AND SOME LIQUID GAS. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED GAS AND FUMES LEAKED CONSISTENTLY WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION OR PARKED. THE FUEL FILTER WAS REPLACED, BUT THAT DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL #00V164000 REGARDING FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, AND AVOIDING TO HIT A DEER, THE SUB FRAME OF THE ENGINE MANIFOLD FELL OUT. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT BODY SHOP, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE SUB FRAME RUSTED COMPLETELY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE VIN # DID NOT FIT UNDER ANY RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT THE BODY SHOP WAITING FOR REPAIRS. THE BALL JOINTS AND BRAKES WERE REPLACED AS WELL. UPDATED 12/01/06. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, SMOKE WAS OBSERVED COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNALS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. UPON INSPECTION, THE SMOKE ORIGINATED FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE UNDER THE HOOD. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF IMMEDIATELY AND THE SMOKE SEIZED. AFTER TWO HOURS, THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND THE SMOKE STARTED IMMEDIATELY ERUPTING FROM THE SAME AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH STARTED TO BURN AND THE BRAKE WIRE JUMPER KIT WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THE INFORMATION WAS FORWARDED TO THE CONSUMER RELATIONS DEPARTMENT. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, BLACK SMOKE EMANATED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. UPON STOPPING THE VEHICLE; THE AIR CONDITIONER, ODOMETER, AND SPEEDOMETER FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE, WHILE THE MECHANIC WAS REPLACING A FUSE, THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WAS FAULTY, AND REPLACED IT. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 05V388000 PERTAINING TO THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

THE ABS (YELLOW) LIGHT STARTED COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY AND THE CODE C1185 IS DETECTED. AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS THE LIGHT STOPPED BEING INTERMITENT AND IS NOW ON CONSTANTLY. THE VAN NOW HAS 185K MILES AND A PERMINATE YELLOW LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, AND AIR CONDITIONER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP WHO REPLACED THE FUSE. THIS PROBLEM REOCCURRED AND THE FUSE WAS REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO DETERMINED THE BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH WAS LEAKING. THE BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 10/06/06.*JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, METAL WAS OBSERVED STICKING OUT OF THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRES. THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS REGULARLY CHECKED, AND THE TIRES WERE ROTATED AT 6,300 MILES. THERE WAS NEITHER VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING NOR ABNORMAL BULGING IN TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE INDEPENDENT SHOP WHO DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. MAKE: BIG "O", MODEL: EURO TOUR, SIZE: P215-70-15. *AK

1. BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD TO HAVE THE BRAKE RESERVOIR FILLED. 2. BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM PRESSURE SWITCH. IT CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, WHICH CAUSED A FIRE WHILE THE VAN WAS IN THE BASEMENT GARAGE. I NOTICED THE SMELL OF SMOKE WHILE UNLOADING THE VAN AND WAS ABLE TO LOCATE ITS SOURCE AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY CABLES. 3. I CALLED THE FORD DEALER I PURCHASED THE VAN FROM, THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY VAN AT THIS TIME, AND THEY COULD SELL ME A PRESSURE SWITCH. I PURCHASED THE SWITCH. THEN DROPPED THE VAN OFF AT THE MECHANIC I USE, AND HE REPLACED IT. *JB

MY REAR PASSENGER POWER SLIDING DOOR HAS NOT BEEN CLOSING AND LOCKING. DOOR WILL POP OPEN. AS OF LABOR DAY 2006 THIS DOOR IS LOCKED AND NOW WILL NOT UNLOCK OR OPEN. THIS IS FORCING MY CHILDREN TO EXIT THE VEHICLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. *NM

ON THE REAR SLIDING DOORS,DRIVERS SIDE, THE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK, WHEN YOU HIT THE BUTTON TO UNLOCK, IT KEEPS STICKING AND IT WILL NOT LET YOU PULL IT BY HAND AND WILL NOT WORK AT ALL WITH THE REMOTE, IT DOES IT EVERY TIME WE USE THE VAN, WHICH IS PRACTICALLY EVERY DAY MAKING IT HARD AND AGGRAVATING TO GET MY 2 YEAR OLD OUT OF HIS CAR SEAT,IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET HIM OUT IN TIME. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. DURING THE TIME THAT THE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE RAN NORMALLY. WHILE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE WAS SLUGGISH, AND WOULD NOT RUN SMOOTHLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM BECAME WORSE.

2000 WINDSTAR CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE. *TS THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE WAS FOUND TO BE THE SPEED CONTROL ACTIVATION SWITCH. *JB

I HAVE A PROBLEM WHERE MY ABS LIGHT COMES ON AT INTERMITTENT INTERVALS (ALMOST DAILY NOW). I HAVE HAD A LOT OF WORK DONE ON MY BRAKES. THE LIGHT HAS COME ON LIKE THIS FOR MORE THAN 2 YEARS. *TR

CALIFORNIA VERSION OF THE WINDSTAR; CATALYTIC CONVERTER NOT OPERATING CORRECTLY, CAUSING BACK PRESSURE TO THE ENGINE, CAUSED ENGINE INPUT AIR CONTROL VALVE TO BECOME OVERLOADED WITH CARBON DEPOSITS WHICH IN TURN ALSO FAILED. FOR 3 MONTHS CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACEMENT PARTS HAVE NOT BEEN AVAILABLE $1400 ESTIMATED REPAIR BILL FOR CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. *JB

UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS REPLACED TWICE, FIRST AT 30K THEN AT 50K

THESE CARS ARE NOT RELIABLE AND TOTALLY UNSAFE AFTER 1 YEAR OF BUYING MY FORD WINDSTAR 2000 MY BRAKE LIGHTS WHEN OUT COMPLETELY THEN ALL MY LIGHTS WENT OUT EVEN THE INTERIOR LIGHTS. THE ABS AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHTS STAYS ON ALL THE TIME I'M AFRAID GET FORD TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS. *TR