1998 FORD WINDSTAR Complaints

COOPER TIRE RADIAL TIRE TREAD SEPARATION. I WAS DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY TO MURFREESBORO TO VISIT RELATIVES WHEN THE TREAD SEPARATED. THERE WAS MUCH DAMAGE TO MY VAN INCLUDING BODY AS WELL AS FUEL LINE. NOBOY WAS INJURED BUT IT WAS VERY FRIGHTENING. IT HAPPENED ON INTERSTATE 24 JUST BEFORE MONTEAGLE MTN. I DRIVE A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR VAN. I REPLACED THE TIRE WITH A TEMPORARY AND DROVE BACK TO WALMART AT KIMBALL EXIT TO GET NEW TIRES. BECAUSE OF THE FUEL LINE DAMAGE, I WILL NOT DRIVE THE VAN AGAIN UNTIL IT IS REPAIRED.*AK

DOOR ACTUATORS FAILED IN THIS MINIVAN IN 2000. IN 2001 THE RELAY SWITCHES WERE REPLACED AND IN 2002. NOW IN 2004 THEY SAY I NEED TO REPLACE THE DOOR ACTUATORS AGAIN. AS A RESULT THE DOORS DO NOT LOCK AUTOMATICALLY EVERYTHING MUST BE DONE MANUALLY. *NM

A LOUD NOISE CAME FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT SWAY BAR BROKE ON DRIVER'S SIDE. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED, AND BOTH INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PART WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *AK

THE HEAT IN THE 1998 FORD WINDSTAR (82K MILES) STOPPED WORKING... A FEW WEEKS LATER ON OUR WAY HOME FROM A 300 MILE TRIP, THE TEMPERATURE GAGE SOARED TO HOT.. WE PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY TO CHECK THE WATER IN THE RADIATOR. WE FILLED IT (HAVING EXTRA UN-OPENED DRINKING WATER) THINKING THAT WOULD HELP UNTIL WE COULD GET TO LIT SERVICE AREA. ONCE AT THE SERVICE AREA, THE CAR STARTED SHAKING, THE OIL WAS LOW AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY WE NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST. MY HUSBAND TURNED OFF THE CAR IMMEDIATELY AND OUR NIGHTMARE BEGAN. TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION 150 MILES FROM HOME AT 9:00 AT NIGHT, OUR CHILD AND OUR GEAR, WE THEN HAD TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO STAY OR GET HOME SOME HOW. MY BROTHER-IN-LAW MADE A 300 MILE ROUND TRIP TO GET US HOME TO SAFETY. THE GARAGE WORKED WITH US OVER THE PHONE, TO FIX OUR CAR, BUT HALFWAY THROUGH, VIA CONTACT WITH FORD I WAS TOLD THAT FORD WOULD NOT HONOR ANY WORK THE GARAGE DID BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT AN AUTHORIZED FORD DEALER. THE HEAD GASKETS WERE BLOWN AND TOO WARPED TO SHAVE DOWN, SO I HAD TO GET NEW ONES. ADDITIONALLY, FORD SAID THEY DO NOT HAVE A PROGRAM TO REIMBURSE OUR HEAD GASKET 1400.00 BILL FOR THE 1998 YEAR WINDSTAR....JUST THE 1995 WINDSTAR HEAD GASKET PROBLEM...I AM GOING TO CONTINUE TO PURSUE THIS ISSUE AND HOPE THAT FORD WILL OWN UP TO THEIR RESPONISIBILITY. THE "CUSTOMER RELATIONS NUMBER" INDICATED THAT THEY DON'T HAVE MANY COMPLAINTS FOR THE 1998, SO THEY ARE NOT TAKING ACTION. PLEASE COMPLAIN TO FORD IF YOU HAVE HAD THE "PLEASURE" OF OWNING ONE.

I HAVE A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR WITH ABOUT 100,000 MILES ON IT. THE ENGINE IS GOOD, BUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, IT SUDDENLY SHIFTS TO LOW GEAR AND JERKS. INITIALLY, THIS WOULD HAPPEN OCCASSIONALLY, BUT NOW IT HAS REACHED A POINT THAT IT DOWN SHIFTS VERY OFTEN ESPECIALLY WHEN RUNNING AT SLOW SPEED AND THE VEHICLE VIBRATES A LOT. AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE PASSENGERS EXPERIENCE A VERY STRONG JOLTING FORWARD LIKE AS IF SOMEBODY STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AT HIGH SPEED. *JB A VISIT TO MY CERTIFIED MECHANIC REVEALS THAT THIS EXPERIENCE IS VERY COMMON AMONG FORD TRANSMISSIONS ON VARIOUS CARS. IT WILL COST BETWEEN $1,500 - $2,000 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION.

TRANSMISSION ON VAN WENT WITHOUT WARNING, STRANDED THE COMPLAINANT IN A PARKING LOT. VAN HAD TO BE TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THSI WAS THE THRID MAJOR REPAIR TO THIS VEHICLE (REPAIRS COSTING MORE THAN $1,000 EACH). PURCHASED THE USED VEHICLE IN APRIL 2001- HAD 30,000 MILES ON IT, CURRENTLY HAS A LITTLE OVER 100,000 MILES. JUST AFTER THE DEALER WARRANTY EXPIRED THE VAN HAD PARTS REPLACED IN THE TRANSMISSION, THEN PARTS REPLACED IN THE DRIVE TRAIN (EXPENSIVE). ENTIRE RACK AND PINION REPLACEMENT FOLLOWED. THE REAPIRS WERE DONE WITHING 18 MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. EVEN AFTER HAVING THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION AND RIVE TRAIN REPLACED, THERE IS STILL A GROWLING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WHEN IT IDLES AT A STOP SIGN. VEHICLE ALSO HAS ERRATIC SHIFTING WHEN ROUNDING CORNERS AT LOW SPEEDS (CLUNKING SOUNDS AND VEHICLE SHAKES WHEN VAN DROPS INTO GEAR)- ALL OF THIS EVEN AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED! WHAT A LEMON! *AK

AT APPROXIMATELY 57,600 MILES MY 1998 FORD WINDSTAR DEVELOPED AN ANTIFREEZE LEAK. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL GARAGE AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A LEAK AT THE TIMING COVER GASKET. I HAD THIS REPAIRED AT A COST OF $1453. TWO WEEKS LATER, AS I WAS DRIVING TO A BASEBALL GAME, MY CAR BEGAN TO STALL. IT WAS HARD TO START, AND THE OIL LIGHT WAS FLICKERING WHEN THE CAR WAS RUNNING AND THERE WAS A LOUD RATTLE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THERE WAS NO WARNING BEFORE THIS HAPPENED, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS NORMAL, NO RATTLING SOUNDS FROM THE ENGINE,ETC. I HAD THE CAR TOWED BACK TO MY LOCAL GARAGE. MY MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE RATTLING NOISE AS COMING FROM THE LOWER BEARINGS, THE ENGINE BEARINGS WERE FAILING AT 57,800 MILES!!!! I CALLED MY LOCAL FORD DEALER WHERE I HAD BOUGHT THE WINDSTAR AND ASKED THEM IF THERE WERE ANY OPEN PROGRAMS ON THE ENGINE, SINCE WHEN THE TIMING COVER GASKET HAD FAILED, I HAD SEARCHED THE INTERNET TO SEE IF THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE( IT WAS). THE FORD DEALER WAS NO HELP, I THEN CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY WERE NO HELP. I THEN WROTE A LETTER TO WILLIAM CLAY FORD AND HE HAD A BLAINE YUNG CALL ME ON 5/8/2004. MR. YUNG WAS ALSO NO HELP, QUOTING THAT THE WARRANTY WAS 3 YRS./36,000 MILES. MEANWHILE I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR REPAIRED AT A COST OF $4200, NEW REMANUFACTURED ENGINE, TUNE-UP, ETC. I BELIEVE THAT THE DEFECT ON THE TIMING COVER GASKET WHICH CAUSED THE ORIGINAL ANTIFREEZE LEAK, LEAKED ANTIFREEZE INTO THE CRANKSHAFT AND CAUSED THE ENGINE FAILURE. THIS CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN ME AT LEAST TO 120,000 MILES BEFORE I NEED TO REPLACE AN ENGINE. I HAVE OWNED MANY OTHER CARS AND HAVE GOTTEN AT 150,000 MILES OUT OF THEM BEFORE I HAD TO DO ANY MAJOR REPAIRS (ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION). I FEEL FORD SHOULD BACK THEIR PRODUCTS AND OWN UP TO THIS DEFECT. *LA

MY 1998 FORD WINDSTAR HAD A FAILURE OF THE FRONT LEFT LEAF SPRING. THE RESULTING DAMAGE WAS AT LOW SPEEDS BUT THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. IN DEC 2001 I HAD THE RECALL BY FORD ACCOMPLISHED TO INSTALL A GUARD ON THE LEAF SPRINGS. THIS GUARD WAS INSTALLED TO PREVENT THIS TYPE OF DAMAGE. THIS FIRST RECALL WAS A "SAFETY RECALL" AND THE FIX FOR THAT RECALL WAS INEFFECTIVE. THIS SHOULD BE A FULL OUT SAFETY RECALL TO REPLACE THESE SPRINGS BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. IT SHOULDN'T TAKE A DEATH TO CHANGE THE POLICY ON THESE SPRINGS. I BELIEVE THIS FAULT TO BE MORE RELATED TO A MATERIAL DEFECT THEN A RUST OR CORROSION PROBLEM. I HAVE OVER 100,000 MILES ON MY WINDSTAR AND I INSPECT IT PERIODICALLY FOR POSSIBLE DAMAGE. THESE SPRINGS HAVE LITTLE OR NO REST NOR DID THE SPRING AT THE POINT OF BREAK. WITHOUT DETAILED INSPECTION MICROSCOPES A MINUET CRACK COULDN'T BE SEEN WITH THE EYE. THIS IS A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AS NOTED IN THE COMPLAINT SECTION WITH OVER 77 COMPLAINTS. JUST THINK OF THE PROBLEMS THAT AREN'T REGISTERED ON THIS SITE. I'M ONLY CONCERNED FOR THE UNSUSPECTING FAMILY WHO HAS NO IDEA THAT THESE SPRINGS WILL FAIL IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. FORD WILL ONLY REPLACE THEM IF THEY BREAK. THEY WILL BREAK AS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. I FEEL THE SAFETY COUNCIL SHOULD REVISIT THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE SOME VIDEO OF THE DAMAGE TO MY SPRINGS AND TIRE FOR PROOF IF THERE IS ANY NEED FOR SUCH EVIDENCE IN AN ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION. LET ME RESTATE MYSELF THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT IS BEING OVERLOOKED. DON'T LET THIS PROBLEM KILL SOME BEFORE MORE ACTION IS DONE. ONE DEATH FROM THIS PROBLEM IS TOO MUCH. THESE VANS CARRY OUR CHILDREN ON A DAILY BASIS AND A WHOLE FAMILY COULD BE LOST IN JUST ONE ACCIDENT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH AND WITH OUT ANY WARNING REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL SNAPPED OFF. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM BROKE. *AK

CONTINUAL PROBLEMS WITH INTERIOR LIGHTS AND LOCKS BECAUSE OF THE DOOR AJAR MONITOR. ALL DOORS ARE CLOSED AND DOOR ALARM MONITOR REMAINS ON WHICH CAUSES THE INTERIOR LIGHTS TO REMAIN ON AT ALL TIMES. HAVE TO REMOVE #29 FUSE JUST TO GET INTERIOR AND DOME LIGHTS TO SHUT OFF, EVEN AFTER IGNITION IS OFF AND KEY REMOVED. OTHERWISE BATTERY WILL DIE AS LIGHTS DO NOT GO OFF AS THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO. DRIVING WITH DOME LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ON IS A VERY BIG SAFETY HAZARD, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. HOWEVER REMOVING THIS FUSE ALSO RESULTS IN LOSS OF ELECTRIC WINDOW FUNCTION WHICH SHOULD ALSO BE A SAFETY HAZARD. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR AT LEAST FOUR YEARS. EVERYTIME I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER, IT WOULD STOP FOR A SHORT WHILE AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY ACT UP AGAIN. I AM THE SOLE OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND PURCHASED IT NEW IN 1998. I FEEL THESE PARTS SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE CORRECTLY TO BEGIN WITH AND/OR SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED TO BE REPAIRED. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THIS SAFETY HAZARD.*AK