1998 FORD WINDSTAR Complaints

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND MY TIRE CAME OFF OF MY CAR. ALL OF THE LUGS TO MY DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL BROKE. I CALLED A MECHANICAL SHOP THAT OWNS THEIR OWN WRECKER. THEY REPAIRED THE WHEEL, WHICH INCLUDED ROTOR, LUG WORK. MY VEHICLE WAS ALSO DAMAGED IN THE BODY. THE FENDER , THE DOOR,THE PARTS ALL AROUND THE AREA WHERE THE TIRE FLUNG OFF. I HAVE DISCOVERED ON THE INTERNET THAT THERE EXISTS A RECALL ON VEHICLES THE SAME YEAR MAKE AND MODEL AS MY VEHICLE. *TR

1998 WINDSTAR VAN WAS PARKED IN THE FRONT YARD KEY OUT OF IT I WAS INSIDE I HEARD A NOISE LOOKED OUT THE ENGINE PART WAS ON FIRE I WAS MOVING MY PERSONAL THINGS I LOST EVERYTHING I OWN I LEFT EVERYTHING IN THE VAN INCLUDING MY PURSE W/ MY MONEY AND ID INSIDE. *TR

THE ABS ENGAGES ON DRY PAVEMENT UNDER NORMAL BRAKING CONDITIONS. THE ABS LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. MY MECHANIC CHANGED TWO OF THE ABS SENSORS TO NO AVAIL. AFTER THE ABS LIGHT REMAINED ON, I BROUGHT IT TO THE FORD DEALER. THEY CHANGED THE LEFT FRONT ABS SENSOR. THE ABS LIGHT WENT OUT, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS UNDER NORMAL BRAKING ON DRY PAVEMENT. I AM SORRY I DID NOT LEAVE IT ALONE WHEN THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AS THE BRAKES WORKED FINE. I WOULD RATHER HAVE THE ABS NOT WORKING THAN WORKING IMPROPERLY. I GREW UP ON VEHICLES WITHOUT ABS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL SENSOR ON THE SLIDING DOOR OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE BEEPING SOUND DOES NOT TURN OFF. IN ADDITION, THE DOOR AJAR INDICATOR AND DOME LIGHT DO NOT DIM. THERE IS A SWITCH THAT NEEDS TO BE BYPASSED OR REWIRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ISSUED FOR THESE FAILURES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURES OCCUR EVERYTIME THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. SHE HAS RESEARCHED OTHER CONSUMERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

DINGING FROM FAULTY SWITCH WHILE DRIVING - INTERFERES WITH DRIVERS CONCENTRATION AND EMERGENCY WARNING SIRENS AND HORNS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING STEERING FAILURE EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. HE HEARS LOUD, SQUEAKY NOISES EVERYTIME HE TURNS THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED BY A PRIVATE MECHANIC APPROXIMATELY FIVE TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V165000 (STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. ON TWO OCCASIONS WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE DRAMATICALLY ACCELERATED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY AND A CRASH WERE SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND NO ERROR CODES WERE PROVIDED FROM THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTS. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,000. UPDATED 03-06-09 *BF UPDATED 03/09/09*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT OBSERVED RED LIQUID LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, SHE DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V097000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION), BUT WAS UNAWARE IF HER VIN WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL OR IF PREVIOUS RECALL REPAIRS HAD BEEN PERFORMED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 124,528. UPDATED 02/24/09. *LJ UPDATED 02/24/09. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE BRAKE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WHENEVER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A BRAKE FLUID LEAK. THE TECHNICIAN FURTHER STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER FAILURE WAS LINKED TO BRAKE FLUID INGRESSED INTO THE ABS MODULE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND AN INVESTIGATION NUMBER PE08035 FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE INVESTIGATION WAS CLOSED WITH NO RECALL ISSUED, BUT HE BELIEVES THAT THE INVESTIGATION SHOULD HAVE LED TO A RECALL. THE MECHANIC REPLACED A VEHICLE SPEED DEACTIVATION SWITCH TO STOP THE LEAKING; HOWEVER, THE ABS MODULE STILL NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 82,818.

BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM CRUISE CONTROL RESET SWITCH, FLUID DRIPPING ON WIRING AND CONTROLLER SWITCH FOR TRANSMISSION. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT FIRE POTENTIAL WITH THE BRAKE FLUID DRIPPING ON ELECTRICAL WIRES AND CONTACTS THAT HAVE CONSTANT 12 VOLT SOURCE. THIS SAME DESIGN HAS CAUSED DEATHS DO TO FIRES..... *TR