1996 FORD WINDSTAR Complaints

I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON AND STAYING ON SINCE SEPT. 2000 WHEN VEHICLE HAD UNDER 100,000 MILES ON IT. TOOK IT TO DEALER WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. NOW HAVE A PRIVATE CERTIFIED AUTO TECH WHO DOES MY REPAIRS AND CODE READ OUTS. I HAVE HAD A TUNE UP AT 95,000 MILES, AND HAD TO HAVE ANOTHER ONE AT 121,000 MILES. HAD PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE STALLING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND UP A HLLL. IN SUMMER OF 2001, I HAD THE IAC VALVE CHANGED WHICH CORRECTED THE STALLING PROBLEM. HAVE REPLACED O-2 SENSORS AT LEAST TWICE. IN PAST 6 MONTHS, THE ENGING HAS BEEN RUNNING VERY ROUGH AND I HAVE A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE . 2ND TUNE-UP AND COIL REPLACED ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO. ENGINE NOW RUNNING VERY ROUGH AND GASOLINE ODOR IS SO STRONG THAT YOU COULD NOT LIGHT A MATCH IN THE VEHICLE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AGAIN AS WELL AS BRAKE AND ABS LIGHT. RADIATOR COMPLETELY EMPTY FOR THE 2ND TIME IN 2 WEEKS.*AK

BRAKE PEDAL WHEN TO FLOOR. RESULTING IN NO BRAKES. METAL BRAKE LINE CORROSION WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THE LUG NUTS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WERE SHEARED OFF. CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHIMMY VIOLENTLY ALMOST OUT OF CONTROL. *PH

REPLACED RACK AND PINION FOR THE SECOND TIME 8/01 ( BY DEALERSHIP) AND 5/03. ALSO REPLACED FRONT END BEARING IN 1999 AND TRANSMISSION. WIRING HARNESS IN 2000. REAR A/C DOES NOT WORK AND THAT'S ONLY THE ITEMS I CAN REMEBER.*AK

WITH DOORS SECURELY CLOSED THE DOOR ADJAR LIGHT COMES ON. THIS CAN LAST FOR MINUTES TO HOURS, THE SAME WITH THE BATTERY CHECK LIGHT. LASTLY, THE CHIMES WILL INTERMITTENTLY COME ON. THIS IS STARTING TO BECOME MORE AND MORE FREQUENT AND CONTINUE FOR LONGER AND LONGER PERIODS OF TIME. I HAVE HAD IT LOOKED AT NUMEROUS TIMES AND IT IS STILL NOT RESOLVED. I HAVE HEARD MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME NATURE AND OCCURRENCES IE, COMPLAINT # 10020993. ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ARE GENERALLY HARD TO PINPOINT BUT CAN BE VERY SERIOUS IN NATURE. ELECTRICAL FIRES START AND SPREAD FAST. I HAVE A FAMILY WITH YOUNG CHILDREN AND I AM VERY CONCERNED. FORD CLAIMS THAT THEY HAVE NO COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE. *PH I FIND THAT HARD TO BELIEVE.

CONSUMER STATED THAT HEAD GASKET IS CRACKED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

1996 FORD WINDSTAR VAN HAS REAR BRAKE LINE IMMEDIATELY ABOVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAUSING BRAKELINE FAILURE. BRAKELINE GETS VERY HOT AND CAUSES IT TO RUS,T DETERIORATE AND LEAK ON CATALYTIC CONVERTER. FORTUNATELY THIS FAILURE DID NOT RESULT IN A ACCIDENT.THE CAR IS PRESENTLY BEING REPAIRED AT A GOODYEAR REPAIR CENTER. NO RECALL NOTICE OR OTHER WARNING HAS EVER BEEN RECEIVED FROM FORD REGARDING THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT. I HAVE THE BRAKELINE AND IT CLEARLY SHOWS THE EFFECT OF THE EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM THE CONVERTER. *AK

THE FRONT STABILIZER BAR HAS BROKEN ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AT THE POINT WHERE THE BAR ATTACHES TO THE FRAME.*AK

CONTINUOUS FAILED TRANSMISSION. HAVE HAD 4 ACTUAL REBUILT/REPLACEMENTS. BEGGED FOR EXTEDED WARRANTY, RECEIVED. SHORTEST LIVED TRANSMISSION WAS 300 MI. 1 MO. OUT OF WARRANTY, TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN, ON HIGHWAY, 100 MI FROM HOME WITH 3 DISABLED CHILDREN IN CAR. WILL BE VEHICLES ACTUAL 6TH TRANSMISSION. HAS NOW 98K MI, BOUGHT NEW OFF LOT (1ST TRANSMISSION IN 1ST YR OWNED). IRIONICALLY PERSON 1 MI DOWN THE HIGHYWAY HAD 1999 WINDSTAR WHO'S TRANMISSION HAD ALSO JUST FAILED. BOUGHT CAR FOR CHILDREN DUE TO SAFETY, IS NOTHING BUT A LEMON AND FORD WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.*AK

1996 FORD WINDSTAR SWITCHES ARE BAD IN DOORS CAUSING DOOR AJAR LIGHT TO STAY ON. WHEN DRIVING, STAYS ON UNTIL YOU ARE GOING APPROX. 15-18 MILES PER HOUR. THIS IS A HAZARD ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. DUE TO THE GLARE ON THE WINDOWS INSIDE THE VAN. I HAVE WENT TO A DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WOULD BE 400.00 DOLLARS TO FIX IT. I DON'T HAVE 400.00. I WAS ALSO VISITING FAMILY IN INDIANA THIS LAST WEEK AND AN OLD FRIEND OF MINE HAS THE EXACT VAN AND PROBLEM. I CURRENTLY LIVE IN COLORADO AND THOUGHT THAT IT WAS ODD THAT SOMEONE WHO LIVES IN INDIANA HAS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I HAVE WITH OUR WINDSTAR. SO, THEN I DECIDED TO FILE A COMPLAINT. AND MAYBE SOMETHING WILL BE DONE.*AK