1999 FORD WINDSTAR Complaints

THE 1999 FORD WINDSTARS FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM AND SUB FRAME (CHASSIS) MAJOR CORROSION-RELATED FRACTURES. FAILURE RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF STEERING. IN ITS REPORT TO THE N.H.T.S.A. FORD SAID IT DID NOT CONCLUDE THAT THE LOW RATE OF REPORTED INCIDENTS INVOLVING THE CONTROL ARM INDICATED A GREATER SAFETY PROBLEM, BUT THE RECALL WOULD BE UNDERTAKEN ANYWAY TO CONFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO SAFETY AND TO ADDRESS ANY POTENTIAL VEHICLE OWNER CONCERNS. *TR

MY BATTERY HAS BEEN DYING DUE TO BAD SENSORS, WHEN I DID GET IT STARTED IT BECAME STUCK HIGH REVVING ,THE CAR ACCELERATED AND SMASHED INTO THE CURB IN FRONT OF ME, AND THE BRAKES WOULDN'T WORK SO EVEN WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES TO PUT IN REVERSE THE CAR WENT FLYING INTO THE CURB BEHIND ME, I FINALLY GOT THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP BY PULLING UP THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THEN I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY HOUSE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR END AXLE BECAME FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FIR REPAIRS OR DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EMIT A LOUD PITCH SOUND AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. THE CONTACT MERGED OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR AXLE HAD COLLAPSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V193000 (POWER TRAIN), THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THAT WOULD BE DONE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 187,000.

WE WERE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT AND SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND RAISED THE HOOD. I AM FAMILIAR WITH AUTOMOBILES AND DETERMINED THAT IT WAS NOT OIL OR COOLANT SMOKE BUT AN ELECTRICAL BURN IN THE MAKING. I RAPIDLY DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME. AT THE HOUSE, I RECONNECTED THE BATTERY AND NOTHING HAPPENED,THEN DROVE IT FOR ABOUT 5 MILES AND THE SMOKE CAME BACK. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE HOUSE ( WAS VERY CLOSE) AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AGAIN. THE SMOKE IS COMING FROM THE ABS CONTROLLER. I HAVE DONE SOME ONLINE RESEARCH AND DETERMINED THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE, SO I CALLED FORD. THEY TOLD ME THAT MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. I THEN CALLED THE FACTORY HELP LINE AND ADVISED THEM OF THE SITUATION. THEY WANTED ME TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, PAY THE BILL AND SUBMIT IT FOR CONSIDERATION. I AM NOT INCLUDED TO DO SO, AS I AM AFRAID THAT THE VEHICLE WILL CATCH FIRE. *TR

THE ABS LIGHT TURNED ON AND WON'T GO OFF. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN FOR REPAIR AND I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED. *TR

ABS LIGHT IS ON, HAS BEEN ON FOR THE PAST 4-5 YEARS THAT I AM AWARE OF. MY MECHANIC IS HAVING A HARD TIME TRACKING THE PROBLEM DOWN. THE ENGINE SEIZED, DESPITE REGULAR MAINT, REQUIRING A REBUILT ENGINE FROM FORD. *TR

ABS DASH LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON AND THERE IS NO ABS FUNCTION ON ICE. BRAKES FUNCTION OKAY OTHERWISE. THE LOSS OF THE ABS FEATURE IS TROUBLING AS I HAVE TO DRIVE ON THE INTERSTATE AS WELL AS RURAL ROADS WHICH DON'T GET CLEARED QUICKLY IN THE WINTER. LOCAL FORD SERVICE WRITER INDICATED APPROXIMATELY $99.00 TO HOOK UP TO TESTER WITH NO GUARANTEE OF REPAIR, JUST CANCELLATION OF THE CODE!!! I HAVE RUN INTO NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH FAULTY FORD CONNECTORS, (CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTION, FUEL GAUGE GIVING INCORRECT READING, RUNNING OUT OF GAS WITH GAUGE SHOWING 1/4 TANK, REQUIRING A TOW!). *TR

MY 19YR OLD DAUGHTER WAS TRAVELING TO NEW JERSEY FROM INDIANA ON RT.70. WHEN USING THE CRUISE CONTROL ATTEMPTED TO EXIT FOR A REST STOP WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BREAK THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT DISENGAGE. SHE HAD COMMITTED TO THE EXIT RAMP THANK GOD SHE WAS ABLE TO MOVE BACK OFF THE RAMP JUST IN TIME TO MISS THE OVER PASS BARRIER. SHE HAD TO RIDE THE SHOULDER SHUTTING DOWN THE IGNITION ONCE SHE DID THAT SHE WAS ABLE TOB RESUE. SHE DID NOT USE THE CRUISE CONTROL AGAIN AND BUT THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON A COLD START. I CHECK THE CODE AND DTCS FOUND WADE BANK ONE AND TWO LEAN FOUND A BAD PCV VALVE AND REPLACED IT. BUT WHEN READING THE CODES FOUND 9 ADDITIONAL CODES C1185 C1198 C1194 C1254 C1256 C1250 C1242 C1214 AND C1210. I THEN CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND CHECKED FOR RECALLS. FINDING 3 I FOLLOWED UP HAVING TWO BEING SERIOUS AND HAVING TO DO WITH SPEED CONTROL REAR SUBFRAME AND REAR SUPPORT. WHEN ASKING THE SERVICE ADVISOR WHAT THESE CODES MEANT HE HAD NO CLUE HE SAID AND WITHOUT A COSTLY SCANNER CHARGE THE TECH HAD NO IDEA. SO AS ALWAYS I HIT THE INTER NET ANDEASILY FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS . . . I WAS A SERVICE ADVISOR FOR HONDA FOR 5YRS AND A TECH FOR 10 PRIOR. I NEVER PUT MY CUSTOMERS LIFE ON THE LINE WTH? IS FORD TEACHING THESE MEN? I WILL HAVE TO INSPECT AND REPAIR THIS VEHICLE MYSELF BEING DISABLED THIS WILL NOT COME EASY. I DON'T TRUST THEM AT ALL ANYMORE. MY FAMILY'S LIFE IS TO IMPORTANT TO HAVE A MONEY HUNGRY COMPANY KILL THEM. AND ONCE REPAIRS ARE FINISHED I WILL SELL IT AND BUY A HONDA. YES HONDA IS NOT PERFECT BUT I HAVE NEVER SEEN THE COMPANY EVER MISLEAD CUSTOMERS INTENTIONALLY AS THIS AND WHEN THEY MESSUP THEY COVER THEIR CUSTOMERS AND FIX IT RIGHT.UNREAL. *TR

GAUGES RANDOMLY START SWINGING ALL OVER THE PLACE. TACHOMETER JAMMED INTO PARKING INDICATOR AND BOTH THE TACHOMETER AND PARKING NEEDLES ARE NOW BROKEN OFF. IT IS HARD TO TELL WHAT GEAR THE VAN IS IN WITHOUT COUNTING THE CLICKS. I AM GOING TO HAVE THE GAUGE CLUSTER REBUILT. I WILL DO THE REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION MYSELF TO SAVE MONEY. I WILL ALSO HAVE TO INSTALL A NEW SHIFT INDICATOR. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THIS CAR, AND THOUGH IT IS QUITE OLD NOW, IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY FORD. *TR