2000 Ford Windstar Visibility & Wipers Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SMOKE BEGAN TO EMIT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT DID NOT SEE FLAMES, BUT POURED WATER UNDER THE HOOD TO PUT OUT THE SMOKE. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR STOPPED FUNCTIONING AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT WATER ENTERED THE WIPER MOTOR AND STARTED A FIRE. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V261000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR), THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000. UPDATED 02/22/12

A/C SYSTEM WAS FOUND TO BE TOTALLY LOW ON FREON. AFTER REPLACING FREON, IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THE REAR AC LOW PRESSURE PIPE HAD A LEAK LOCATED NEXT TO THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL. THERE WAS NOTHING IN THIS AREA THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS PIPE LEAK TO OCCUR, SUCH AS ANOTHER PIPE RUBBING AGAINST IT OR OTHER FORM OF FRICTION. IT IS ASSUMED THAT THE PIPE WAS STRUCTURALLY DEFECTIVE. *TR

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 3 YEARS I HAVE TO REPLACE MY TAILGATE WINDOW FOR MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. 2007 JULY, IT JUST SHATTERED WITHOUT ANY SIGN/ WARNING WHEN I WAS ON MY TRIP TO THE PROVINCIAL PARK. I REPLACED IT THINKING ABOUT I MAY BE THE 'LUCKY ONE'! LAST NIGHT AGAIN ON MY WAY TO OTTAWA AROUND KINGSTON ON HWY 401, IT STARTED FROM THE WIPER/ BRAKE LIGHT AREA AND SHATTERED. MY DAUGHTER WAS SO AFRAID BECAUSE SHE WAS SEATING AT THE BACK 2 TIMES IN A ROW!! I WAS QUESTIONING ABOUT THE OCCURANCE AND FREQUENCY??? I HAVE TO PAY $400 FOR EACH REPLACEMENT!! *TR

I HAVE A 2000 FORD MODEL SEL - MY WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. I TOOK IT TOO FORD TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED SINCE I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON MY VEHICLE (INTERCONTINENTAL WARRANTY SERVICES -IWS - 1-800-333-3028) IWS FIRST AGREED TO COVER THE REPAIRS TO THE BURNED OUT WIPER MOTOR. FORD (305-266-3000) CALLED IWS TO GET AN ADDITIONAL CABLE TO BE COVERED AS WELL SINCE THE PINS THAT WERE ATTACHED TO THAT CABLE WHERE ALSO ATTACHED TO THE WIPER MOTOR AND BROKE OFF. THEY GOT CORRODED WITH WATER AND RUST BUILD UP. IWS THEN DECIDED TO REJECT COVERAGE SINCE WATER DAMAGE IS NOT COVERED IN THEIR POLICY. I SPOKE WITH IWS AND THEY GAVE ME RECALL #01S25 AND ADVISED ME FORD WOULD HAVE TO COVER THE REPAIRS. I CALLED FORD BACK AND THEY ADVISED ME THAT NO RECALLS SHOW UP FOR MY VIN#. HOWEVER, I FIND THAT THE SAME ISSUE OF THIS RECALL IS AFFECTING MY VEHICLE AS WELL AND FEEL IT NEEDS TO BE COVERED BY FORD OR IWS. WWW.CUSTOMERSASKFORD.COM PER MIKE (AT FORD, NO RECALL SHOWS UP FOR MY VIN#). I CHECKED ON THE FORD WEBSITE AND WAS ADVISED THAT NO RECALL SHOWS FOR MY CAR. *TR

EVERY TIME WE GET HEAVY RAINS MY FRONT WINDSHIELD LEAKS. WHILE CHECKING RECALLS I HAVE COME ACROSS THIS PROBLEM WHICH MY MECHANIC EXPLAINED TO ME EXACTLY AS THE RECALL READS. FORD WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE IS NO RECALL ON THEIR SITE. I WAS TOLD IT COULD BE BECAUSE THE RECALL WAS TOO OLD OR IT WAS ALREADY TAKEN CARE OF BUT THEY DON'T KNOW WHICH. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FROM A FORD DEALER ALMOST A YEAR AGO. I WAS TOLD IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT MY WINDSHIELD MAY COME LOOSE BECAUSE OF THE BONDING AND COULD RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SUDDENLY FAILED AND IMPAIRED VISIBILITY. 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 CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 136,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. THE WIPERS AND WIPER PARK FUNCTION WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. AS OF NOVEMBER 23, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V261000 (VISIBILITY: WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER: MOTOR). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,900 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN ON I-5 SEATTLE WASHINGTON, FAILURE MODE IS SIMILAR TO PRIOR RECALL # 01V261000. IT APPEARS THAT THE RECALL IMPLEMENTED IN 2001/2002 WAS EITHER INEFFECTIVE OR WIPER MOTOR WAS ALREADY DAMAGED. THE DEALER REPAIRED WIPER BY REPLACING DAMAGED MOTOR AND WIRING HARNESS. CORROSION WAS EXTENSIVE. AS IN THE ORIGINAL RECALL IT LOOKS LIKE HEATING MAY HAVE OCCURRED. WIPER FAILED AND LEFT BLADE STUCK IN A POSITION THAT OBSTRUCTED DRIVERS VIEW. *TR

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR IN THIS VEHICLE TWICE SO FAR AND NOW IT HAS MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN AND I WILL NOW NEED TO REPLACED IT AGAIN. THAT MAKES FOUR WIPER MOTORS IN ONE CAR. FORD DISAVOWS ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS IN MY WINDSTAR, EVEN THOUGH IT HAS RECALLED THIS MOTOR IN OTHER 2000 WINDSTAR'S. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WON'T BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MINE. IT DOES ALL THE THINGS LISTED IN THE RECALL OF 2001, LOSES INTERMITTENT, FAILS TO WORK AT ALL, TURNS ON WHEN I HAVE IT IS ON "OFF," AND ONCE, IT EVEN CAUGHT ON FIRE WHEN IT WAS TURNED OFF AND NOT IN USE. NEEDING 4 NEW WIPER MOTORS IN ONE VEHICLE IS CLEARLY A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE CLEARLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE 2001 RECALL FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM. HOW CAN I MAKE FORD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND FIX THIS REPEATED PROBLEM ONCE AND FOR ALL? THANK YOU. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND THE KEYS WERE OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ENGAGED BY THEMSELVES. BLACK AND WHITE SMOKE ERUPTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT RAISED THE HOOD AND DISCONNECTED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WHICH STOPPED THE WIPERS. ALTHOUGH SMOKE WAS PRESENT, NO VISIBLE FLAMES OR FIRE WAS OBSERVED. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, HEAT DAMAGED THE WIRING HARNESS AND THROTTLE BODY. THE CONTACT DETERMINED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR SHORTED OUT. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER WAS ALERTED, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED.

DT: VEHICLE WAS PARKED FRIDAY ALL DAY AND ON SATURDAY MORNING CONSUMER NOTICED A SHEPARD HOOK CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS A RECALL, BUT ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL.*AK *NM

DT: THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENLY AND THEN QUIT WORKING COMPLETELY. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT THID VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

2000 FORD WINDSTAR DRIVER SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED. *TS THE PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR WINDOW SHATTERED BUT DID NOT BREAK. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE ON THE GLASS OF ANY SORT OF IMPACT. IT WAS STILL INTACT AND PERFECTLY FLAT (NO INDENTATIONS, MARKS, SCUFF ETC). *NM

REAR WINDOW BLEW OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *AK

REAR HATCH WINDOW EXPLODED WHILE WAITING TO PULL INTO DISABLED PARKING--SENDING GLASS THROUGHOUT VEHICLE AND EMBEDDING GLASS IN MY HEAD AS WELL AS CAUSING STROKE SYMPTOMS...WITH 18 RECORDED INCIDENTS THIS IS A DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND FORD SHOULD BE CHARGED FOR THIS CONDITION WITH REAR HATCH WINDOW. *JB

THE HEATER BLOWER CHAMBER MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING DEFROSTER/ DEFOGGER AND THE HEAT SYSTEM TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. THUS, REDUCING CONSUMER'S VISIBILITY. THE ENTIRE HEATER BLOWER CHAMBER HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK *SC

PASSENGER'S SIDE MIDDLE WINDOW LOCATED ON THE SLIDING DOOR BLEW OUT WHEN THE CONSUMER SHUT THE DOOR. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED AND UNDER NORMAL WEATHER CONDITIONS REAR WINDOW BURST WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED REAR WINDOW BURST UNEXPECTEDLY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING DURING RAINY WEATHER, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED IN AUGUST 2001. RECALL# 01V261000. A FEW MONTHS LATER WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, THE WIPERS QUIT. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE WIPERS FAILED AGAIN DURING A THUNDERSTORM WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD AND AGAIN THEY REFUSED TO FIX THEM. *SC *JB