1998 FORD WINDSTAR Complaints

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR SIX HOURS, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE EXPLODED. ALSO, THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE TIRE AND DETERMINED THE CONTACT OVER INFLATED THE TIRE, RESULTING IN THE TIRE EXPLODING. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TIRE, BUT REFUSED TO GIVE THE DAMAGED TIRE BACK TO THE CONTACT. THE TIRE WAS SIZE: P21570R15. THE BRAND NAME WAS AN ALL SEASON COOPER DOMINATOR.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 10 MPH, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND THE CONTACT NOTICED A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT WAITED FOR THE FIRE TO EXTINGUISH ITSELF, AND THEN THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC. *AK

EVEN THOUGH THE VAN I JUST PURCHASED DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE A RECALL ON IT I HAD TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO COMPLETE LEAKING OUT OF ALL THE BRAKE FLUID THROUGH THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH, THE DUAL MASTER CYLINDER IS SUPPOSED TO PREVENT THIS BUT IT DIDN'T. THE SWITCH ON THE BOTTOM OF THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE FACT THAT THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS WERE SEEPING ALLOWED ALL THE FLUID TO LEAVE AFTER ONLY THREE WEEKS OF DRIVING. I JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I HAD MECHANICS CHECK IT OUT AND THE SWITCH IS THE SAME TYPE THAT IS CAUSING THE FIRES. I HAVE TO WONDER IF THE LEAKING DRIPPING ON TO HOT MOTOR PARTS COULD CAUSE THE FIRES AS WELL AS SOME ELECTRICAL OVERLOAD DUE TO THE BRAKE FLUID EATING THROUGH PLASTIC AND RUBBER . I TRULY REGRET PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE BEFORE RESEARCHING. I MAY BE ASKING THE DEALER TO TRADE ME INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE JUST DUE TO NOT WANTING TO DIE AT AN EARLY AGE DUE TO FORDS LACK OF QUALITY CONTROL IT IS A SHAME THAT ANY MANUFACTURER CAN BUILD ANY PIECE OF JUNK WITHOUT REGARDS TO END RESULT AND ONLY WORRYING ABOUT THE PROFIT OF SELLING AND THE FACT THAT RISK MANAGEMENT AFTER THE FACT OF WAITING FOR MANY TO BE EFFECTED BY DEATH OR LOSS OF VEHICLE TO HAVE A RECALL FORCED AND FIXING A BAD DESIGN ONCE PRESSED TO DO SO. I FEEL THE MASTER CYLINDERS WHOLE SAFETY IS IN THAT ONE CHAMBER IS MOST LIKELY FUNCTIONAL UNDER MOST SYSTEM FAILURES OF WHEEL CYLINDERS , HOSES, ETC BUT HAVING A PART DIRECTLY ATTACHED TO THE FRONT CHAMBER AND WITH THE COMMON LIKELIHOOD OF REAR WHEEL CYLINDER LEAKAGE AT SOME POINT COULD LEAD TO TOTAL SYSTEM FAILURE LIKE I EXPERIENCED. THE FACT THAT THIS MASTER CYLINDER IS HIDDEN FROM EASY VIEW DOES NOT ALLOW THE OWNER TO EASILY VISUALIZE A LEAK AT THIS PART. WHY IS BRAKE FLUID NEEDED TO ACTUATE A DEACTIVATION OF THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULDN'T A SWITCH (ELECTRICAL OR MECHANICAL) PLACED WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL ARM ACTIVATING IT A SIMPLER WAY OF MAKING THIS HAPPEN. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING THE ABS AND PARKING WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE INSPECTED BY AN AUTHORIZED SERVICE DEALER. THE SERVICE DEALER MECHANIC REPLACED SOME FUSES AND THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. THERE WAS A RECALL #06V286000 PERTAINING TO THE DEACTIVATION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

1998 WINDSTAR LUG NUTS SHEARED OFF. *TS THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF THE VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF THE LUG NUT SHEARING OFF. THE VEHICLE LANDED ON IT'S WHEEL. *NM

THE BRAKES SUDDENLY STARTED FAILING AND THE BRAKE PETAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR LIKE A DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDER. THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACES 3 TIMES AT 2 DIFFERENT SHOPS BECAUSE THEY WERE SURE IT WAS THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THEY THOUGHT PERHAPS IT WAS A DEFECTIVE REPLACEMENT. THE DEFECT ENDED UP BEING THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT (HCU). IF YOU DO AN INTERNET SEARCH FOR WINDSTAR HCU, YOU WILL FIND WINDSTAR REVIEWS RATING THEIR BRAKES AS SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS SPECIFICALLY STATING "AN OCCASIONAL PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE IS FAILURE OF THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT (HCU). THE COST TO REPAIR THE ABS HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT IS ESTIMATED AT $975.00 FOR PARTS, WITHOUT TRACTION CONTROL, AND $1,200.00 FOR PARTS, WITH TRACTION CONTROL, AND $162.50 FOR LABOR." THIS PROBLEM ALSO AFFECTS THE 1997 WINDSTAR. HTTP://AUTOS.MSN.COM/RESEARCH/VIP/RELIABILITY.ASPX?YEAR=1998&MAKE=FORD&MODEL=WINDSTAR AND HTTP://AUTOS.MSN.COM/RESEARCH/VIP/RELIABILITY.ASPX?YEAR=1997&MAKE=FORD&MODEL=WINDSTAR THIS IS POTENTIALLY A LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO A RECALL IF IT IS BAD ENOUGH THAN IN AUTO REVIEWS THEY CITE IT AS A PROBLEM WITH FORD WINDSTARS. *NM

ENGINE OIL FOUND IN COOLANT. TIMING COVER GASKET FAILURE. LOUD ENGINE KNOCK FROM REAR VALVE BANK- POSSIBLE WRIST-PIN/LOWER INTAKE GASKETS/VALVE PROBLEMS. *NM

1998 WINDSTAR HEADLIGHTS ARE EXTREMELY CLOUDED MAKING LOW BEAMS USELESS. *TS THE HEADLIGHT ARE CLOUDY ON THE INSIDE AND THE OUTSIDE AND CANNOT BE POLISHED. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. *NM

ON 4/16/06 I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND FELT SOMETHING STRANGE IN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. I CHECKED TO SEE IF THE TIRE WAS FLAT AND FOUND NOTHING NOTICEABLE. I CONTINUED ON MY WAY DROVE ABOUT ONE MORE MILE WHEN ALL FIVE LUGS OF THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE BROKE CAUSING THE TIRE TO FALL OFF. THE TIRE DAMAGED THE FENDER AND DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC INSPECTED AND REPLACED THE LUGS. HE COULD NOT FIND ANY REASON FOR THE LUGS TO BREAK. 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. *NM

I HAVE A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR IN WHICH I RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE AN OIL PAN BECAUSE THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IT HAD WARPED AND WAS CAUSING AN OIL LEAK ON THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD OF A FAULTY OIL PAN IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WITH THIS PROBLEM?*JB