1998 FORD WINDSTAR Complaints

TOOK VAN IN TO HAVE ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND COOLANT REPLACED. REPAIR SHOP SAID THE HEAD GASKETS WERE GONE. CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE THEY SAID SORRY BUT NO HELP WAS AVAILABLE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. BILL TO REPAIR ESTIMATED AT 1400 USD. VAN HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AND GIVEN GOOD SERVICE. DON'T THINK HEAD GASKETS SHOULD LEAK AT 76000 MILES.*AK

CONCERNED ABOUT FUEL TANK FILLER HOSE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON STATES LOOSE FUEL CAP. FUEL CAP HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. PROBLEM PERSISTS. IS THERE A 1999 RECALL ON WINDSTAR FUEL TANKS? WHAT DOES IT ENTAIL? WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE.*AK

VEHICLE HAS FRONT AXLE HUB AND SPEED SENSOR REPLACED DUE TO ANTILOCK WARNING SIGNAL CONTINUING TO STAY ON. *BF RECALL# 01I007000. THERE WAS A NOISE IN THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL AND ON ANOTHER OCCASION A LOUD BANG HAD COME FROM THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE LEFT FRONT SPRING EXPLODING. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED ON ANOTHER OCCASION THAT THE SUB FROM HAD RUSTED BADLY. *SC

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BLOWN HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. ANTI- FREEZE WAS MIXING WITH THE OIL, CAUSING WHITE EXHAUST FUMES. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM OVER THE PHONE. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER IT WILL COST $1500.00 TO REPAIR. THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

MY HEATING WAS WORKING INTERMITENTLY SO I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO CROWN FORD IN LYNBROOK TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE RADIATOR ALSO NEEDS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE HEAD GASKET LEAKING INTO IT. COST FOR THE REPAIR WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $2300. THERE WAS A RECALL ON PREVIOUS YEARS VEHICLES AND THERE ARE MANY TALES OF WOE REGARDING THIS PROBLEM POSTED ON THE WEB. I DON'T BELIEVE FORD HAS FIXED THIS PROBLEM SUFFICIENTLY FOR THE VEHICLES PRODUCED AFTER 1996.*AK

CONSUMER SMELLED A BURNING ODOR THAT GOT STRONGER AS TIME PROGRESSED. A BLACKISH COLOR SMOKE CAME FROM THE VENTS. THEN, THERE WERE FLAMES FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT, AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE.*AK *TC

WHILE DRIVING SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE VENTS AND FROM THE HOOD. CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER, LIFTED UP THE HOOD, AND SAW FLAMES. VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK

1: STEERING ON VEHICLE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY 2: STEERING WHEEL TAKES EXTRA EFFORT TO TURN VEHICLE LEADING TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE SOMETIMES. 3: FORD RECALLED CERTAIN VIN NUMBERED VEHICLES OF THIS MODEL YEAR, BUT MINE DID NOT GET RECALLED, BUT STILL HAS THE CONDITION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH OCCUPANTS STARTED SMELLING SMOKE THAT WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD. WITHIN SECONDS OF PULLING OFF THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE MARSHALL COULDN'T FIND THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE BECAUSE THE FRONT OF THE VAN WAS SEVERELY BURNT. *AK....*AK

RECALL 01V199000 CONCERNING FRONT COIL SPRING CORROSION. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THIS RECALL A POPPING NOISE COULD BE HEARD WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED OR APPLYING BRAKES. *AK