1999 FORD WINDSTAR Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE OVER DRIVE OFF WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND BEGAN FLASHING. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE ON THE SHOULDER AND NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.

STARTING ABOUT A YEAR AGO, THE SPEEDOMETER, RPM METER SWINGS AROUND. ODOMETER LIGHT DOESN'T COME ON WHEN YOU START THE CAR AND LITTLE WHILE LATER ODOMETER LIGHT COMES ON. FUEL GUAGE ALSO SHOWS INCORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL. I THINK THE WHOLE ODOMETER CONTROL PANEL IS NON-FUNCTIONAL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE SUB FRAME WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED AND PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V194000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT ANY ADDITIONAL REPAIRS WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

I HAVE HAD THIS VAN FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN A YEAR NOW. AFTER PURCHASING IT I BROUGHT IT TO THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP AND HAD SEVERAL RECALL ISSUES ATTENDED TO, SUPPOSEDLY AT LEAST. SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE HAD MANY ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE, RANGING FROM ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS TO NEUTRAL SWITCHES TO TIE RODS AND MORE. I WAS THINKING OF GIVING UP AND GETTING A NEW VEHICLE, I CAN NOT AFFORD TO KEEP UP WITH REPAIR COSTS. THEN I BROUGHT IT TO ANOTHER SHOP TO GET THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TAKEN CARE OF RECENTLY, THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT MANY OF THESE VANS HAVE BEEN RECALLED, INCLUDING THOSE IN MASSACHUSETTS, AND NOT ONLY THAT BUT THE VAN'S ARE NOTORIOUS FOR THE ELECTRICAL AND OTHER ISSUES I HAD TOLD HIM OF. AFTER INSPECTING THE VAN HE SAID THE DEALERSHIP SHOULDN'T HAVE LET ME LEAVE WITH THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED ME NOT TO DRIVE IT EITHER, HE DEEMED IT UNSAFE. I HAVE USED THIS VEHICLE TO TRANSPORT MY WIFE, OUR FOUR KIDS, AND MANY OTHER FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND ONCE HEARING THOSE WORDS A LITERAL CHILL RAN DOWN MY SPINE AT THE THOUGHT OF WHAT COULD'VE HAPPENED. I HAVE SENT EMAILS OF MY CONCERNS TO FORD THEMSELVES AND WAS REPLIED TO IN A COUPLE OF DAYS, I HAVE SINCE RESPONDED THREE TIMES AND I AM STILL AWAITING A RESPONSE FROM THEM NOW ALMOST A MONTH LATER. I HAVE SINCE LEFT MY VAN AT MY SISTER'S AS MY HOUSE WAS MUCH FURTHER AWAY AND I DIDN'T WANT TO RISK IT. THE ISSUES I HAVE RESEARCHED ABOUT THIS VAN INCLUDE THE MENTIONED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, AS WELL STEERING PROBLEMS, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, BRAKE SYSTEM PROBLEMS AND MORE. I FEEL THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE AND WILL NOT DRIVE IT ANY LONGER, ALSO WHEN NOTICING OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME MODEL I FEEL THEY SHOULD BE NOTIFIED OF THESE ISSUES IMMEDIATELY. FORD KNOWS OF THESE PROBLEMS AS CASES RANGING IN TO 5 MILLION PLUS VEHICLES AFFECTED. *TR

AFTER PURCHASING VAN, NOT EVEN ONE MONTH LATER ALL LIGHTS STARTED TO TURN ON ENGINE, ABS NOW N AND ITS A REAR LIGHT ON GAUGE PANEL ALSO WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRYING TO GET DECENT PRICE FOR THE FREEZE PLUG WHICH ALSO NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THERE IS A LEAK OF COOLANT FROM THE BOTTOM OF VAN. OTHER WISE ITS OK TO DRIVE. ONE I THING I DIDN'T MENTION IS THE SEAT ITS STRUCK IT WONT MOVE BACK OR FORWARD WITH THE ELECTRICAL BUTTON. *TR

MY ABS LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR AND NOW I AM HEARING ABOUT MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IS IT DANGEROUS? *TR

THE ABS LIGHT PERIODICALLY COMES ON. THE BRAKES, FOR NO REASON, OCCASIONALLY SEEM TO GO INTO ABS MODE (AND SEEMS UNRELATED TO THE LIGHT BEING ON OR OFF). THE BRAKES GET SOFTER AND SEEM TO PUMP. I'VE EXPERIENCED REAL ABS WORKING WHEN BRAKING IN NORTH EAST ICE AND SNOW. I'M NOW DRIVING IN THE SOUTH AND THE BRAKING SEEMS PRETTY CLOSE TO WHAT I REMEMBER FOR ACTUAL ABS ACTUATION. I REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND HAD A COMPLETE FLUID CHANGE BUT TO NO EFFECT. *TR

THE ABS LIGHT GOES ON ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES AFTER STARTING. WHEN CAR SHUT OFF & RESTARTED ABS LIGHT IS OFF AND THEN GOES BACK ON AFTER A FEW MINUTES. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY VAN. AT FIRST THE LIGHTS BEEP UP FOR ENGINE AND THEN O/D AND THEN IT STOPS. THERE WAS A LOT OF SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE AND IT LOOK LIKE IT BURNS. AFTER THAT VEHICLE START BUT NOT TACKING GEAR. I FOUND OUT THAT TRANSMISSION WENT BAD. *TR

ACCELERATING FROM A STOPLIGHT TRANSMISSION LETS GO. REVERSE WAS THE ONLY GEAR THE VEHICLE WOULD MOVE IN. I HAD TO BACKUP OFF THE FREEWAY TO THE NEAREST PARKING LOT. MY WIFE JUST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE LAST MONTH FOR WORK BECAUSE IT HAD LOW MILES. NOW IT WILL COST US MORE TO FIX IT ($2500) THAN THE VEHICLE IS WORTH. AND WE JUST SPENT A SMALL FORTUNE REPLACING EVERYTHING IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM BESIDES THE MASTER CYLINDER AND LINES. AFTER RESEARCH, APPARENTLY FORD WAS AWARE THIS TRANSMISSION HAD ISSUES BUT CONTINUED TO INSTALL THEM. THANK YOU FORD, I ENJOY TAKING IT UP THE KAZOO EVERY TIME I HAVE BOUGHT ONE OF YOUR VEHICLES. *TR