1999 FORD WINDSTAR Complaints

I HAVE HAD MORE THAN 4 PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR IN PAST TWO YEARS THAT HAVE BEEN MAJOR PROBLEMS. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE IF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD AS MUCH PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING AND THE VAN IT'S SELF. *AK

GETTING SPARK KNOCK FROM THE ENGINE AND GOING BACK IN FOR THE FOURTH TIME FOR THE SAME PROBLEM! VERY UNHAPPY FORD CUSTOMER AT THIS POINT. *AK

POWER STEERING HAS BEEN MAKING NOISE FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS. IT IS LOUD ENOUGH THAT OTHERS TURN AND STARE. IN ADDITION, IT NOW SHUDDERS AND GRINDS WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL AT A SLOW SPEED. IT IS NOT AS EASY TO STEER ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT AS HARD AS WITHOUT POWER STEERING. I HAVE BEEN CONTINUALLY TOLD FORD MOTOR IS INVESTIGATING THE PROBLEM BUT IT'S BEEN ALMOST TWO YEARS AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. I'VE HAD SEVERAL SURGERIES ON MY ARM/HAND AND IF I TOTALLY LOSE THE POWER STEERING FUNCTION, I'M NOT SURE I COULD MAINTAIN THE GRIP ON THE WHEEL IF I NEEDED TO DO SOME FAST TURNING. THE DEALER HAS TOLD US THAT THERE ARE MANY WINDSTARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT FORD DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. I'VE ALSO BEEN TOLD IF I BUY ANOTHER NEW ONE, I MAY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS THEY STILL HAVE NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. WE ARE AT A LOSS AS TO HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS. WHO IN THE WORLD WOULD TAKE A TRADE IN CAR THAT COSTS $31,785 NEW BUT NOW SOUNDS LIKE A PIECE OF JUNK. IF I GO BACK TO THE DEALER AND BUY ANOTHER WINDSTAR, I MAY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM ALL OVER AGAIN ACCORDING TO FORD. WE WERE OBVIOUSLY SOLD A DEFECTIVE NEW PRODUCT AND HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THE PROBLEM CORRECTED FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS TO NO AVAIL. *AKTHE DEALER KEEPS TELLING US FORD IS WORKING ON THE PROBLEM AND WHEN THEY FIGURE IT OUT, THEY'LL FIX OUR CAR. IN THE MEANTIME, THE NOISE AND SHUDDERING/GRINDING ARE DRIVING US CRAZY. THE ONLY ASSISTANCE FORD MOTOR HAS OFFERED IS A $2,000 CUSTOMER APPRECIATION CERTIFICATE GOOD ONLY AT JOE MACHENS FORD FOR ANOTHER FORD PRODUCT. SINCE I HAVE NEED OF A MINI VAN AND THEY ARE TELLING ME THE 2001 OR 2001 WINDSTAR MAY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, I FIND THEIR OFFER INSULTING. I'M VERY CONCERNED, WITH THE NUMBER OF MILES I DRIVE, THAT THE POWER STEERING WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL SINCE IT IS NOT AS EASY AS WHEN WE FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. WITH MY ARMS/HANDS THE WAY THEY ARE, I'M REALLY NOT SURE MY GRASP WOULD ALLOW FOR SWIFT TURNING OF THE WHEEL SHOULD THE NEED ARISE. HELP!! *AK

MY MECHANIC HAS SUGGESTED THAT I CONTACT YOU, I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY, AND THEY ARE NOT BEING OF ANY ASSISTANCE. MY MECHANIC HAS STATED THAT WITH THE NUMBER OF MILES ON MY VEHICLE, THE ITEMS THAT HAVE FAILED SHOULD NOT HAVE, AND IS UNSAFE. PLEASE TELL ME HOW TO GO ABOUT GETTING SOME HELP FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY THANK YOU CYNTHIA SORA. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

LUGS: NUTS: BOLTS ON RIGHT FRONT WHEEL HAVE SHEARED OFF. DEALER WILL INSPECT AND CORRECT PROBLEM.*AK

MY WIFE CALLED ME AT WORK STATING THAT THERE WAS A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE VAN AS SHE PARKED IT IN THE GARAGE. I WENT HOME AND POPPED THE HOOD AND DID A VISUAL INSPECTION AND DISCOVERED NOTHING. I WAS GOING TO STAND IN FRONT OF THE VAN AND LISTEN WHILE SHE STARTED IT TO SEE IF I COULD PINPOINT THE SOUND. SHE WAS CONCERNED THAT I SHOULD NOT BE NEAR IT IN CASE "SOMETHING BLEW UP". I AGREED AND DECIDED TO START IT MYSELF AND SEE HOW IT SOUNDED. AS I STARTED THE VAN IT SURGED FORWARD (WHILE IN PARK), MADE A TERRIBLE GRINDING SOUND, AND I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES TO STOP IT. IT JUST TOUCHED THE CHEST FREEZER IN FRONT OF IT IN THE GARAGE. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT IT OFF. STARTED IT AGAIN AND THERE WAS NO SOUND AND THE ENGINE RUN SMOOTHLY. TRIED ALL THE GEARS AND GOT NOTHING. HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO TORE IT DOWN AND STATED THE PLANATERY GEAR HAD SEIZED. HAD I STOOD IN FRONT OF THE VAN TO LISTEN AS MY WIFE STARTED IT I WOULD HAVE BEEN SMASHED AS IT SURGED FORWARD. SEEMS VERY DANGEROUS FOR THE VEHICLE TO SURGE LIKE THAT, EVEN IF THE TRANSMISSION FAILS.*AK

HORN WILL ONLY BLOW IF HORN IS HIT AT DIRECT CENTER AND WITH A LOT OF FORCE. CONSUMER WAS RUN OFF THE ROAD BY ANOTHER VEHICLE SINCE SHE WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE SPOT FOR HORN. *AK

TRANSMISSION JERKS HARSHLY INTO SECOND GEAR AFTER SLOWING DOWN AND ACCELERATING ESPECIALLY ON INCLINE. DEALER REPLACED SOLENOIDS AND TORQUE CONVERTER AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. AFTER RETURNING TO DEALER THEY STATE IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. STEERING MAKES LOUD GRINDING NOISES WHEN TURNING. DEALER REPLACED TIE ROD, PROBLEM RETURNED AFTER 1 WEEK. DEALER THEN REPLACED RACK.*AK

AT ANNUAL INSPECTION ON MAY 4, 2001, WITH 21,000 MILES ON CAR, THE ORIGINAL GENERAL TIRES WERE DECERTIFIED DUE TO DRY ROT, CRACKING, AND VISIBLE WEAR BARS ON TIRES. TIRES WERE JUST SHORT OF 2 YEARS OLD, WITH 21,000 MILES ON THEM.*AK (TIRESIZE: P215/70R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/70R15 )

WHENEVER DRIVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WOULD EXPERIENCE A RATTLING NOISE NEAR ENGINE AREA. VEHICLE DOES NOT SHAKE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. TAKEN TO DEALERSHP AT LEAST TWICE FOR PROBLEM, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE CAUSE OF PROBLEM.*AK