1999 FORD WINDSTAR Complaints

THE TRANSMISSION ON OUR 1999 WINDSTAR HAS FAILED PREMATURELY. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE. I AM SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIRS FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN GIVE ME REGARDING COMPLAINTS FILED BY OTHER FORD CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THANK YOU.*AK

RACK AND PINION STEERING COMPONENT IS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID, RESULTING IN LOSS OF EASE IN CONTROL. VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHECKED BY DEALER.*AK

EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING WHILE MAKING A TURN IN A PARKING LOT. I NEARLY STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, ALL WHILE MAKING LOW SPEED SHARP TURNS. MY SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THE BEARING IN THE POWER STEERING PUMPS FAILS CONTAMINATING THE POWER STEERING FLUID WHICH THEN CAUSES THE FAILURE OF THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR. MY OWN RESEARCH SHOWS THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG ALL FORD VEHICLES USING THIS TYPE OF PUMP. LOSS OF STEERING WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A SHARP TURN IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION.*AK

I HAVE FOUND TOO MANY PERSONS ON THE INTERNET WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

WHEN MAKING TURNS STEERING IS VERY TIGHT DUE TO POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING FROM VEHICLE. RACK AND PINION STEERING WAS REPLACED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 30-40 MPH HEARD A WHINING NOISE. DEALER DETERMINED FIRST AND SECOND GEARS HAVE GONE OUT. TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.*AK

2 AMERI-GS60 TIRES FAILED ON OUR FORD WINDSTAR WITHIN 2 MONTHS. FIRST INCIDENT IN MID APRIL. FRONT DRIVER SIDE TREAD SEPARATED AT 55MPH. OUTSIDE TEMP APPROX 70 DEGREES. TIRE REMAINED INFLATED LONG ENOUGH TO REACH NEARBY DISCOUNT TIRE. THEY REPLACED IT AT NO CHARGE AND KEPT TIRE. SECOND INCIDENT ON SAME VEHICLE ON 6/8/2002 AT 75MPH ON DRIVER REAR TIRE. OUTSIDE TEMP APPROX 75 DEGREES. THREW TREAD AND TIRE WENT FLAT SENDING VAN OUT OF CONTROL ACROSS LANE OF TRAFFIC ON INTERSTATE. NO ACCIDENT, BUT DEPARTING TREAD RUINED WHEEL WELL, BUMPER, AND REAR FENDER. ALSO LODGED PIECE OF TREAD ABOVE GAS LINE AND PULLED GAS FILLER SPOUT PARTIALLY THROUGH THE FENDER AND BROKE OFF GAS CAP. NO INJURIES. I HAVE REMAINDER OF TIRE AND PORTION OF TREAD. COST $120 TOW PLUS YET TO BE DETERMINED (MY GUESS $1500-$1800 DAMAGE) AS WELL AS COSTS (IF ANY) OF REPLACING OTHER 3 AMERI-GS60 TIRES THAT I REFUSE TO LEAVE ON CAR AFTER FIRST 2 FAILURES!*AK

STEERING IS MAKING WEIRD SOUNDS WHICH CAUSES NOISE TO PROGRESS, STEERING WOULD BECOME STIFF WITH SOME BINDING EVEN AFTER POWER STEERING ADDED, CONDITION REMAINED THE SAME. DEALER IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE ACTUAL CAUSE WITH REPLACEMENT OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP/ TIE ROD ENDS, AND RACK ASSEMBLY. *AK *TT

CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AT 55 MP AND, BRAKE PEDAL FELT NORMAL. ABS SYSTEM NEVER KICKED IN. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, WENT INTO DITCH AND ROLLED OVER. PASSENGER SUFFERED 11 FRACTURES/ DRIVER MINOR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES. THEN, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE WENT INTO DITCH AND ROLLED. REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATBELT LATCH PLATE BROKE, AND PASSENGER SUFFERED 11 FRACTURES/ DRIVER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK IT APPEARS THE SEAT BELT ON THE SECOND ROW CAPTAINS CHAIR DID HOLD DURING PART OF THE ROLLOVER BECAUSE OCCUPANT HAD MARKS FROM THE SEAT BELT *YH