1999 FORD WINDSTAR Complaints

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER RECALL, RECALL#01V262000, BY FORD FOR REPAIRS TO THE HEATER BLOWER AND SOME OTHER PART. THE PROBLEM WAS THE REFUSAL OF FORD DEALERS TO LOAN A VEHICLE FOR THE HALF-DAY OR MORE THEY SAID THEY NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR. *YD

WHEN DRIVING HEARD NOISE COMING FROM FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL. DEALER REPLACED FRONT WHEEL BEARING. *AK

ENGINE WOULD MAKE A "PINGING" NOISE WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN AT ANY SPEED. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED A VALVE COVER IN ENGINE WAS CORRODED, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK

NO WARNING PRIOR TO FORWARD SUN GEAR FAILURE , GEAR HAD SHEARED OFF AT WELDS CLEANLY. *AK

WE KNOW OF NO INCIDENT THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS FAILURE. SEE PHOTO IN EMAIL. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON INCLINE, FACING DOWNWARD, PASSENGER'S SLIDING DOOR FAILED TO LOCK IN PLACE. WOULD SLAM SHUT AFTER BEING OPENED. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON TWICE - CAN'T IDENTIFY PROBLEM, POSSIBLE INTAKE LEAK - WILL HAVE TO REMOVE INTAKE COVERS TO CHECK AT MY EXPENSE WITH NO GUARANTEE THIS IS THE PROBLEM. DOES FORD HAVE ANY SOLUTIONS THAT THEIR DEALERS DON'T KNOW ABOUT?*AK

SLIDING DOOR WILL UNEXPECTEDLY CLOSE WHEN DOOR IS LATCHED IN THE OPEN POSITION. DOOR HAS CLOSED ON A CHILD, BUT HAS NOT CAUSED ANY INJURY. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK

INSURED PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO STOP AT A STAND AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, FIRE WAS FOUND TO HAVE RESULTED FROM FAULTY COOLING FANS/WIRES, CLAIM 59-V539-348. *JG

WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 40MPH. THE WINDSTAR BEGAN TO UNEXPECTEDLY SHUDDER AND MAKE A LOUD RATTLING NOISE. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT FLASHED AND THE VAN VIOLENTLY BUCKED. WE MANAGED TO GET TO OUR HOUSE. VAN WOULD NOT START AFTER TURNING OFF. DEALER CALLED AND VAN TOWED.DEALER CHECKED PROBLEM AND FOUND THE #5 PISTON HAD FAILED AND HAD CAUSED MAJOR ENGINE DAMAGE AND FAILURE. EST. REPLACEMENT COST $4,000. DEALER WAS NOT SURE IF THIS WAS RELATED TO THE EARLIER MODEL WINDSTAR 3.8L V-6 PROBLEMS CAUSING FAILURE. I AM THE SECOND OWNER AND WARRANTY IS EXPIRED. WE ARE WAITING TO HEAR FROM FORD BUT THE DEALER SAID THEY MAY DECLINE TO ASSIST IN REPLACEMENT COST. I NOW HAVE A $16,000 BLUE PAPERWEIGHT. THE SUDDEN JERKINESS OF THE ENGINE FAILURE ALMOST CAUSED MY WIFE AND TWO KIDS TO RUN OFF THE ROAD . THE PISTON IN THE MOTOR DROPPED DOWN INTO THE OILPAN AREA. ENGINE NOW HAS TO BE REPLACED AT 48,692.MILES. DOING RESEARCH INTO YOUR DATABASE, FROM OWNERS OF 1995 WINDSTARS AND A FEW 1999 MODELS, I NOTICED A SIMILARITY IN DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE AND RESULTING ENGINE FAILURE. THIS VEHICLE WAS VERY WELL MAINTAINED, I AM THE SECOND OWNER. IT WAS PURCHASED NEW AS A LEASED VEHICLE. I BOUGHT IT AFTER THE LEASE WAS OVER. I HOPE YOU CAN INVESTIGATE THIS ENGINE FLAW/DEFECT WITH FORD AND I CAN GET SATISFACTION