1998 FORD WINDSTAR Complaints

NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 97V165000; FORD ISSUED A STEERING GEAR RECALL. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN, BUT HAD SAME GEAR STEERING PROBLEMS AS MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. *AK

ENGINE SHUTS DOWN INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DECELERATING INTO A TURN. IT ALSO SHUTS DOWN MOMENTARILY (VEHICLE "BUCKS") OR FULLY (STALLS COMPLETELY) DURING NORMAL DRIVING, INDEPENDENT OF SPEED. THE LATTER PROBLEM IS MUCH MORE COMMON THAN THE FORMER! CONSEQUENCE: SEVERAL NEAR-MISS REAR-END COLLISIONS, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. AN INDEPENDENT TECHNICIAN REPLICATED BUT COULD NOT PROPERLY REPAIR THE PROBLEM(S). THE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN OCCURRING FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS. *NM

THE TRANSMISSION ON A 98 FORD WINDSTAR FAILED AFTER ONLY 74482 MILES. I HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT AT A SIGNIFICANT COST. *NM

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS AS MENTIONED IN RECALL97V165000 CONCERNING STEERING GEAR BOX FAILURE. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK *NM

CONSUMER STATED EXCESSIVE FUEL WAS LEAKING . DEALER INDICATED THAT TOP OF THE FUEL TANK BROKE APART. *AK

I HAVE REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION STEERING TWICE AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP ONCE ON MY 1998 FORD WINDSTAR.*AK

I HAVE A 98 WINDSTAR MINI VAN . AFTER THE MINIVAN HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR AWHILE AND YOU GO TO STOP IT WILL GO DEAD OR WHAT YOU CALL STALLS. SO AFTER I CRANK IT BACK UP AND TRY TO TAKE OFF AGAIN IT WILL STALL AGAIN. SO THEREFORE I HAVE TO MAKE SURE THERE IS NO TRAFFIC COMING,BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN SOME CLOSE CALLS OF ME AND MY CHILDREN GETTING INTO A WRECK DUE TO THIS PIECE OF $#*$.THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WILL NOT GO OFF, SO MY HUSBAND HAD TO TAKE THE LIGHT BULBS OUT: ALSO THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO DOWN OR UP. THIS THING IS SO BAD I WISH JIMM SKINNER FORD WOULD HAVE JUST KEPT THE PIECE OF $#*$. *NM

FOUR OF FIVE LUGS:NUTS DETACHED FROM THE WHEEL UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSING THE WHEEL TO VIBRATE AND ALMOST DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE. TAKEN TO DEALER FOR CHECKUP AND REPAIRS. *AK

HEARD NOISE FROM ENGINE AND LOST TRANSMISSION POWER. CAR COASTED. WHEN I GOT OUT THERE WAS A LOT OF TRANSMISSION OIL ON THE GROUND. TOWED TO FORD OF UPLAND, (CALIF) . I WAS SHOWN THAT THE LOW/INTERMEDIATE SERVO COVER WAS BLOWN TO THE SIDE. I CHECKED FOR RECALLS FOUND ONE RECALL FOR 98 WINDSTAR. ACCORDING TO FORD MOTOR CO REP. MY VEH WAS MANUFACTURED AFTER 3/1/97 NAMELY ON 11/26/97 BUT FORD REP SAID IT COULD BE THE SAME PROBLEM, AS OF NOW HE NOTED MY COMPLAINT AND SAID I SHOULD CALL YOU, (NHTSA) YOU MAY BE ABLE TO CHECK FURTHER INTO THIS. THANKS *JB

THE VEHICLE MADE A GRINDING NOISE AND WAS HARD TO TURN. THE MECHANIC STATED THERE WAS A RECALL, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED FOR THE RACK AND PINION. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB