1999 FORD WINDSTAR Complaints

WENT OVER RUMBLE STRIP ON ROADWAY AND ABS LIGHT CAME ON, BRAKE PEDAL BECAME HARD TO PUSH. THIS HAPPENED ON MONDAY 9/22/2014 MY MOTHER IN LAW WHO OWNS THE VEHICLE SAID THAT THIS HAD BEEN HAPPENING QUITE FREQUENTLY OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS. I PUT MY SCAN TOOL ON THE VEHICLE AND GOT 3 ABS CODES C1235, C1236, AND C1185. THE FIRST TWO CODES PERTAIN TO REAR WHEEL SENSORS AND THE THIRD PERTAINS TO A POWER RELAY FOR THE ABS. WE HAVE FOUND PAPER WORK FOR THREE RECALLS, ONE RELATED TO SUB FRAME CORROSION ONE FOR THE REAR AXLE, AND ONE FOR AN ABS SENSOR WIRE. FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN READING THIS PROBLEM COULD BE RELATED TO THE FIRST ABS PROBLEM WITH THE HARNESS REPLACEMENT. *TR

THE BRAKE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. HAD BEEN ON AND OFF DURING THE MORNING. IN TOWN AND STOPPING FOR A REGULAR TRAFFIC LIGHT- DURING THE BEGINNING OF THE STOP THAT WAS ON A WET ROAD - TRAVELING 28 MPH: WINDSTAR VAN LOCKED UP RIGHT REAR TIRE AND VEHICLE DID NOT STOP - TIRE SKIDDED -WHEEL / TIRE WAS LOCKED AND SCREECHING WHILE ALL THE OTHER TIRES WERE TURNING. VAN DID NOT STOP AS EXPECTED AND TOOK ABOUT 125 FEET TO STOP - ALL THE TIME SCREECHING THE 1 RIGHT REAR TIRE. VEHICLE JUST WOULD NOT STOP. I WAS SHOCKED. NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE IN ALL THE YEARS. OWNED FOR ABOUT 14+ YEARS. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. PURCHASED FORD WINDSTAR NEW. ABS LIGHT REMAINS ON. IT WAS AS IF I HAD NO BRAKES THEN. I DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE OTHER 3 WHEELS / BRAKES DID NOT SLOW AND STOP THE VEHICLE? THE WINDSTAR FINALLY DID STOP AND I WAS RIGHT AT THE STOP LINE AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT. VERY SCARY. *TR

THE SUB FRAME IS BEING REPLACED BY CAR DOCTOR JR BECAUSE IT WAS ROTTED THRU 2 YEARS AGO THE FORD DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THEIR WAS NO ISSUE WITH THE SUBFRAME. AND THEIR WAS NO RECALL

I HAVE A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR MINI VAN . MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GOES CRAZY ALL GAUGES JUST GO UP AND DOWN UNCONTROLLABLY. I NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE OR HOW FAST I AM GOING AND MY ABS BRAKE LITE STAYS ON ALWAYS. AND MY FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM IS BENDING. *TR

AFTER A TRIP TO THE LAKE,MY FAMILY AND I WERE HEADED HOME AND APPROACHED A STOP SIGN.(23 MILES FROM HOME.) I MADE A COMPLETE STOP AND PROCEEDED TO APPLY GAS AND THE WINDSTAR WOULD NOT MOVE. WHEN I RELEASE THE BREAKS IT JUST ROLLS BACKWARDS,PRETTY SCARY. HOWEVER AFTER A RESTART IT WOULD MOVE AGAIN BUT ONLY FOR A FEW FEET,THEN IT FALLS OUT OF GEAR AGAIN. TOWED IT HOME,AND DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. WE HAD NO WARNING LIGHTS OR WARNING AT ALL WHATS SO EVER. *TR

DRIVING DOWN 2 LANE HWY AT 35 MILES AN HOUR . AFTER CROSSING SMOOTH RAIL ROAD TRACKS REAR AXLE BROKE. RECALL REPAIR WAS DONE BUT AXLE SNAPPED AT THAT LOCATION. BRACKET PUT ON TO KEEP FROM AXLE FROM SNAPPING DIDN'T HELP. *TR

ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS COME ON AND WILL NOT CLEAR WITH A SCAN TOOL. THERE ARE 11 CODES SHOWING, ALL TO DO WITH ABS/TRACTION CONTROL. NORMAL BRAKING SEEMS FINE, NOT SURE WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH A SKID OR LOSS OF TRACTION IN ICE OR SNOW. I AM TOLD THERE IS A RECALL ON THE BRAKE SYSTEM ON THIS VAN. DO I NEED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THESE WARNING LIGHTS? *TR

CHRONIC VIBRATION / SHUTTER NOTICED DURING MODERATE BRAKING. NEW RACK & PINION INSTALLED IN 2009; NEW BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS INSTALLED IN 2012, OFFERING SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT. WIFE HEARD "CRACKING NOISE, EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY MAKING LEFT TURNS & DROVE ABOUT 45 MILES, PARKED AT HOUSE, FRONT SUBFRAME FRACTURE / SEPARATION PASSENGER SIDE, RESULTING IN STEERING RACK TILT UP APPROX. 3/4" ON RIGHT SIDE AND EXTREME TOE OUT ON RIGHT FRONT TIRE (APPROX 20 DEGREES VS. LEFT). NOTICED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BACK UP - UNDRIVEABLE CONDITION. COLLATERAL DAMAGE TO STEERING SHAFT BOOT, RACK & PINION SEAL (FATIGUE / LEAKAGE), AND O2 SENSOR CABLE (SEVERED). DISCOVERED MISSING LEFT REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTING BOLT. CAR MANUFACTURED IN CANADA. NOTICEABLE EXPOSURE / DRIPPAGE OF AMBIENT CONDENSATION ON TOP OF SUB-FRAME, BELOW REFRIGERATION LINES / FREON DRYER CANISTER, DURING A/C OPERATION (GULF COAST HIGH HUMIDITY / SALT AIR EXPOSURE COULD BE AN INFLUENCING FACTOR FOR CORROSION). REFERENCE PREVIOUS NHTSA ACTION #PE10-026 (7/20/10); FORD FRONT SUBFRAME ENGINEERING ANALYSIS EA10-007 (SALT BELT STATES); RECALL 11S16. FRACTURE AREA OCCURRED IN CURVED PORTION OF SUBFRAME BRACKET / STEERING RACK MOUNT (FORD PART #3F2Z5C145CA - $2100 MATERIAL + LABOR $715). STREAK OF RUST IS CLEARLY EVIDENT ALONG WHAT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A VERTICAL CRACK LEADING TO THE FRACTURE / SEPARATION SITE BENEATH THE STEERING RACK BOOT. PHOTOS AND PARTS DIAGRAM AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE CASE # CAS5113626 DECLINED. TOLD TO WRITE LETTER. SEEKING MANUFACTURER BUY-BACK RELIEF.

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 40 MPH IT FELT LIKE A TIRE BLEW ON THE REAR. WHEN I PULLED OVER AD GOT OUT TO CHECK IT THE TIRES WERE FINE BUT THE REAR WHEELS WERE AT A BAD ANGLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION THE REAR AXLE BEAM HAS SPLIT RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNDRIVEABLE. I HAVE FOUND THAT FORD HAS RECALLED THIS PART ON MAY WINDSTAR MINIVANS UNDER 10S13. BUT NOT THIS ONE. I FIND THIS ODD. *TR

ABS LIGHTS COME ON RANDOMLY, ABS NO LONGER WORK AT THAT TIME. ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS ON ICE. *TR