1999 FORD WINDSTAR Complaints

POWER STEERING KEEPS GOING OUT, MAKING IT HARD TO CONTROL VEHICLE. *AK THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING AFTER THREE TIMES FAILURE. *YH

ENGINE KNOCK WHEN ANY TYPE OF LOAD IS APPLIED TO THE ENGINE. MOST PREVALENT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND HILLS. *AK

CONSUMER HAS A FEW PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE & IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES. THE SLIDING DOOR DOESN'T SHUT COMPLETELY & THE STEERING HAS A NOISE FROM THE INSIDE AROUND THE DASHBOARD. MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT HAS NO REMEDY.*AK

FILED FOR LEMON LAW GOING TO ARBITRATION. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

HOSE WAS REPLACED AT LEE JARMON FORD IN CARROLLTON, TX (DIFFERENT FROM PURCHASED DEALER GIVEN ABOVE) IN CONJUNCTION WITH A FAILED POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACEMENT. HOSE WAS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT SENT FROM ANOTHER DEALER. HOSE HAS BUILT IN BEND CAUSING IT TO CONTACT EXHAUST MANIFOLD WHEN INSTALLED AND FAIL DUE TO HEAT. FAILED HOSE LEAKED FLUID ONTO CATALYTIC CONVERTER DIRECTLY BELOW AND FIRE RESULTED. DUE TO PROXIMITY TO A LOCAL CAR REPAIR SHOP FIRE EXTINGUISHERS WERE USED TO PUT IT OUT IMMEDIATELY. A 2ND HOSE OBTAINED FROM FORD HAS SAME BEND. LEE JARMON HAS REPLACED WITH 2ND HOSE AND RESTRAINED WITH NYLON CABLE CLAMPS FROM CONTACTING EXHAUST. I HAVE ADVISED TO USE STAINLESS STEEL CLAMP SINCE PROXIMITY OF EXHAUST WILL FAIL NYLON CLAMPS. THIS IS CLEARLY A DESIGN DEFECT WHICH WILL RESULT IN A FIRE TO THE NEXT PERSON WHO HAS A POWER STEERING HOSE REPLACED. MY WIFE AND 3 YEAR OLD WERE SAVED BY OUTSIDE OBSERVERS AND THE VEHICLE SAVED ONLY BY LUCK AND QUICK ACTING CAR REPAIR SHOP EMPLOYEES.

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN OR STOPPED CONSUMER APPLYING THE BRAKES, AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY UP TO 4 FEET, WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A REAR END COLLISION. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING OR CLOSING BOTH SLIDING DOOR, SLIDING DOOR WOULD POP BACK OPEN/AND NOT CLOSING THE DOORS PROPERLY. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM, BUT SUGGESTED TO BY A NEW 2000 WINDSTAR. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH ACTIVATING THE HORN WHEN NEEDED. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT ALL 99 MODELS HAVE THE SAME DESIGN AND MEET FMVSS SPECIFICATIONS. *AK THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO AIR BAG IN HORN AND FIXING IT IS PRESENTLY NOT POSSIBLE. *YH

PASSENGER'S REAR MIDDLE ROW SEAT BELT MALFUNCTIONS WHEN A CSS IS BUCKLED. A WEEK LATER, SEAT BELT WILL UNBUCKLE, WHICH WON'T RESTRAINT CSS PROPERLY. DEALER IS REPLACING THE BUCKLE. *AK

CONSUMER WAS A THE STOP LIGHT AND WHILE TURNING RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER'S WHEEL FELL OFF. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT WHEEL LUGS: NUTS WERE TOO TIGHT, AND ALL FIVE WERE SEVERED.*AK