1998 FORD WINDSTAR Complaints

OUR 1998 FORD WINDSTAR VAN ERUPTED IN FIRE WHILE OFF AND PARKED IN DRIVE WAY. IT HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN THAT DAY. THE FIRE BEGAN IN THE DASH ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND SPREAD SO QUICKLY THAT THE VAN WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE, SHE HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR LEFT AXLE WAS BROKEN. SHE NOTIFIED A LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE STATED THAT HE WOULD DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AT HER RESIDENCE THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS FOR THAT YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE CONTACT IS WAITING FOR A REPAIR ESTIMATE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 104000.

1. FORD SENT RECALL NOTICE (01S19/01M03) IN SEPTEMBER, 2001. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE (11/7/01) AND THE RECEIPT INDICATES THAT SAFETY SHIELDS WERE INSTALLED 'TO PREVENT A FRONT SPRING FAILURE FROM PUNCTURING THE FRONT TIRES'. THE NOTICE ALSO STATED THAT 'WHAT FORD WILL DO FOR YOU': "FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL ALSO PAY FAR ANY REPAIRS DIRECTLY RELATING TO THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS OF YOU VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE (PARTS AND LABOR)." IT WAS AT THAT TIME (2001), THE OWNER RECEIVED AN 'EXTENDED COVERAGE TRANSFERABLE WARRANTY NOTICE' ON THE FRONT SPRINGS FOR 10 YEARS FROM THE WARRANTY START DATE, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE". 2. THE SPRINGS MAY HAVE FRACTURED AT A LATER DATE, OR WERE BROKEN AT THAT TIME AND NOT REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS HAD VERY LOW FRONT GROUND CLEARANCE. BECAUSE OF THE LOW GROUND CLEARANCE AND THE INSTALLED SHIELDS, THE SPRING FAILURE WAS NOT NOTED EVEN WHEN NEW TIRES WERE INSTALLED. RETURNING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER IN 2009, AFTER A FRONT BREAK LINE FAILURE, THE OWNER INQUIRED ABOUT CHECKING FOR BROKEN FRONT SPRINGS UNDER THE RECALL CAMPAIGN MENTIONED IN THE NOTICE FROM 2001. THAT IS WHEN HE LEANED THAT THE SAFETY RECALL ISSUE WAS SATISFIED WITH THE "SHIELD INSTALLATION". THIS ACTION APPARENTLY ALSO REMOVED THE VIN FROM THE SAFETY RECALL DATA BASE. THUS, ASSUMING THAT THIS IS NO LONGER A SAFETY ISSUE, THE OWNER CONTINUES TO DRIVE THE LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE (LESS THAN 100,000 MILES). 3. THE COST OF REPLACING THE SPRINGS WAS ESTIMATED AT $400 TO $600 DOLLARS BY THE DEALER AND NO CORRECTIVE ACTION IS BEING TAKEN AS APPARENTLY THIS IS NO LONGER A SAFETY ISSUE. THE VEHICLE IS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR THAT WAS PURCHASED ON 10/16/97, WITH FIVE MILES ON IT. 4. IS THIS VEHICLE SAFE TO DRIVE AS THERE ARE NEARLY 100 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAFETY COMPLAINT WEB SITE? 5. AS THIS VEHICLE DID NOT QUALIFY IN THE CLUNKER PROGRAM, IS SPRING FAILURE A LEMON LAW ISSUE? *TR

1998 FORD WINDSTAR BRAKES FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HIT A GATE IN THE CLOSED TOLL BOOTH LANE. *KB OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT #10-0724-91

ABS BRAKE LIGHT (YELLOW) HAS BEEN ON FOR ATLEAST THE LAST 5 YEARS. MY ABS BRAKE SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. MY MECHANICS HAVE MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT NO LUCK, WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A USED BUT FUNCTIONAL ABS BRAKES FOR MY 1998 FORD WINDSTAR BUT HAVEN'T HAD MUCH LUCK. I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD PRODUCT AGAIN. *TR

WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON JUNE 18, 2007 I REALIZE THE ABS LIGHTS WOULD STAY ON. I CHECK THE FUSES AND RELAYS COULDN"T SOLVE THIS ISSUE. WHEN I LIFTED UP THE HOOD I NOTICE LEAKING FROM DEACTIVATION SENSOR UNDER THE MASTER CYLINDER. I ASSUME THE MASTER CYLINDER WENT OUT ON ME SO I REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER DIDN"T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I WAS FURIOUS MEANING THE VEHICLE I OWN AND I DEPEND ON THIS VAN TO GO TO WORK AND HOME. WHEN BRAKE IS LEAKING DOWN UNDER THE ABS ECM IT CAN CAUSED FIRE BUT I DON'T WANT TO CHANCE IT ME STILL THIS VAN. I DON'T WANT TO EXPERIENCE TRAGEDY OR ANYONE WHO MUST GO THROUGH THIS. SO, I LEFT THE VAN IN GARAGE UNTIL I GET FUNDS TO FIX THIS ISSUE. I ALSO REPLACE THE ABS ECM TWICE BUT IT IS STILL BURNING OUT MY ABS MODULE. OR WE NEED TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE TO FORD DEALERSHIP IM SURE OTHER VICTIMS EXPERIENCE SAME THING. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING WHEN YOU KNOW BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM MASTER CYLINDER. PLEASE FOR SAFETY ISSUES INVESTIGATE THIS WINDSTAR 98 LX MODEL. *TR

1998 FORD WINDSTAR CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED AT DENTIST. FIRE DEPT WAS CALLED AND THE VEHICLE IS TOTALED. *TR

1998 FORD WINDSTAR CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH IS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID ONTO CONNECTORS BELOW CAUSING A FIRE AND SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

1998 FORD WINDSTAR TRANSMISSION FAILED. NO WARNING, NO PROBLEMS PRIOR TO FAILURE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURNING PLASTIC ODOR COMING FROM THE ENGINE. HE EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE SPEED CONTROL PRESSURE SWITCH WAS MELTING AND SMOKING UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN, BUT HE HAD TO DISCONNECT THE SPEED CONTROL PRESSURE SWITCH. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 99,000.