1998 FORD WINDSTAR Complaints

WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WITHOUT WARNING CONSUMER SMELLED GAS FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *AK THE SEAL BETWEEN THE GAS TANK AND THE FUEL PUMP FAILED BECAUSE THE GAS TANK COLLAPSED. THE GAS TANK WAS REPLACED AT THE DEALER. THE FUEL GAUGE ACCURACY PROBLEM THAT WAS CORRECTED WHEN THE NEW GAS TANK WAS INSTALLED. *SCC

CONSUMER OWNED A 1998 WINDSTAR THAT LOST LUGS IN THREE INSTANCES SINCE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT. THIS ALWAYS HAPPENED TO THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. CONSUMER MAINTAINED THAT REPLACING THE LUGS WAS NOT A SOLUTION SINCE THE LUGS ON THAT TIRE WERE REPLACED TWICE. THE LUGS WON'T REMAIN TIGHT. OVER TIGHTEN THEM AND THEY WOULD BREAK. UNDER TIGHTEN THEM ,AND THE LUGS NUTS WOULD LOOSEN, AND THEN LUGS WOULD BREAK. THERE WAS NO MIDDLE GROUND EXCEPT TO CONSTANTLY CHECK THEM FOR TIGHTNESS. *AK

AT 112,000 MILES, MY FORD WINDSTAR HAS DEVELOPED A HEAD GASKET LEAK INTERNALLY WHICH HAS RESULTED IN EXTENSIVE INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE THAT NOW REQUIRES COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. I HAVE 2 PROFESSIONAL REPAIR SHOPS DIAGNOSIS AND BOTH AGREE THAT IT NEEDS AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT FOR THE REASONS STATED ABOVE.*AK

CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED MY 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. I TOLD THE SERVICE ADVISOR I HAD A COOLANT LEAK. WHEN THE MECHANIC DID THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST HE SAID THE LEAK WAS AT THE VALVE COVERS AND INTAKE. THE GASKETS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A PRICE OF OVER $900. IT APPEARS TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM OF THE 1998 FORD WINDSTAR WHICH IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE DEFECT WARRANTY. MY WINDSTAR HAD JUST OVER 50,000 MILES ON WHEN THIS DEFECT HAPPENED. *AK

EXTENSIVE PEELING OF PAINT ATOP OF VAN EXPOSING SURFACE THUS CREATING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE REQUIRING EXPENSIVE REPAIR.*AK

WHILE DRIVING LEFT FRONT TIRE CAME OFF THE VEHICLE AND ROLLED INTO THE PATH OF ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH STRUCK THE TIRE (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *MR *NM

VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED. ENGINE DEVELOPES A ROUGH IDLE AT STOP WHILE DRIVING AND HAS ON OCASSIONS STALLED COMPLETELY. NOT IN WARRANTY AT PRESENT TIME. TAKEN TO INDEPENDANT REPAIR SHOP AND DIAGNOSED WITH FORD TSB 01205. REPLACE MANIFOLD GASKET AND BOLTS, ETC. FORD MOTOR NEEDS TO ISSUSE RECALL ON THE PROBLEM ASAP.

FUEL TANK COLLAPSED. AS A RESULT, THE 22 GALLON TANK CAN ONLY TAKE IN 13 GALLONS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A GROANING NOISE. TIE ROD ENDS WERE CRACKED. VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT.

CONSUMER NOTICED SOMETHING HANGING DOWN FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE VAPOR RECOVERY SYSTEM BRACKET RUSTED.*AK