1999 FORD WINDSTAR Complaints

FRONT SUB-FRAME CORROSION COMPLETE SEPARATION OF LOWER CONTROL ARMS . LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. *TR

BRAKING DISTANCE SUDDENLY INCREASED WITH YELLOW ABS BRAKE LIGHT COMING ON. THIS IS CRITICAL IN THAT THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM DOES NOT FUNCTION AS DESIGNED BY FORD. THE ISSUE IS CAUSED BY HEAT IN THE ABS (ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM) ECM (ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE) (2C219) MODULE CAUSING EXPANSION OF A LARGE ALUMINUM PLATE (HEAT SINK) IN THE ECM WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE ECM MAIN CIRCUIT BOARD AT ALL POINTS. THE EXPANSION OCCURS WHEN THE UNIT GETS WARM ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMER MONTHS AND CAUSES INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL CONNECTION IN THE UNIT BECAUSE THE FRAGILE BOARD IS BEING STRETCHED AND MALFORMED RESULTING IN CODE C1185. *TR

1999 FORD WINDSTAR. BEGAN LEAKING BRAKE FLUID FROM SCDS ONTO TRANSAXLE AND DOWN FIREWALL. SCDS HAS SINCE BEEN REPLACED UNDER RECALL. ONCE I BECAME AWARE OF THE SCDS PROBLEM I FOUND BRAKE FLUID SPLATTERED ALL AROUND THE MASTER CYLINDER AREA OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CONCURRENT WITH THE LEAKING FLUID, I NOTICED THE ABS LIGHT WOULD SOMETIMES COME ON, THE SPEEDOMETER BECAME ERRATIC, THE "O/D OFF" LAMP SOMETIMES FLASHED, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS OFTEN NON-FUNCTIONAL. ALL OF THESE THINGS HAVE GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE ABS LIGHT NOW COMES ON ALMOST INSTANTLY, THUS I HAVE NO ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THE SPEEDOMETER IS ALWAYS ERRATIC AND JUMPY, THUS IT IS DIFFICULT TO TELL MY ACTUAL SPEED. THE CRUISE CONTROL TRIES TO FOLLOW THE BOUNCY SPEEDOMETER, AS THUS IS USELESS. *TR

FORD WINDSTAR CRACKED AXLE IN CALIFORNIA. HAD FORD REPLACE THE AXLE----THIS WAS NOT UNDER A RECALL NOTICE 6 MONTHS AGO. AS IT WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY, WE ARE AMAZED THAT CALIFORNIA WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A COLD WEATHER STATE (POOR DESIGNATION, GIVEN THAT CARS MOVE). WE FREQUENTED LAKE TAHOE (CALIF), SIERRA NEVADAS (CALIF), AND NEVADA (HAVE TO CROSS THRU SNOW TO GET THERE) IN OUR FAMILY'S MINIVAN. OUR REPAIR IS ALREADY PAID FOR & VAN SOLD (THIS SCARED US) SO MY MEMO IS NOT FOR MY FAMILY, BUT FOR EVERYONE IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. PLEASE RECONSIDER & ADD CA TO YOUR RECALL. *TR

SEVERELY CRACKED (75%) REAR AXLE BEAM. NOT FIXED YET, LOOKING FOR A SHOP TO REPLACE THE PART WITH A SALVAGE YARD PART. REPLACEMENT AT THE FORD DEALER IS WAY TOO MUCH MONEY. *TR

FRONT FRAME (SHOP CALLED IT A K-MEMBER OR ENGINE CRADLE) WAS RUSTED THRU & BROKE OFF WHERE IT ATTACHED TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING LOCALLY, LUCKILY NOT ON THE FREEWAY. STEERING WHEEL WENT OUT OF ALIGNMENT A FULL 90 TO 120 DEGREES WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING. MOST SHOPS WOULD NOT FIX IT, BUT FOUND A SHOP WHO PUT IN A SALVAGE YARD PART. FORD DEALER WAS LUDICROUSLY HIGH DOLLAR & VERY UNSYMPATHETIC. *TR

MY WIFE AND 2 KIDS WERE GETTING OFF I-696 TO MOUND IN OUR 1999 FORD WINDSTAR WHEN THE REAR AXLE SNAPPED. THE VAN SWERVED AND THEN ROLLED 3 TIMES. THE VAN CAME TO A REST UPSIDE DOWN AND WHEN THE REAR AXLE SNAPPED IT WENT THROUGH THE GAS TANK AND COVERED OUR BABY IN GASOLINE. THIS HAPPENED ON 1-21-2010. I'VE BEEN READING OF THE SAME FAILURE ON OTHER WINDSTARS AND DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU. THE VAN WAS TOTALLED. *TR

WHILE EXITING A HIGHWAY WITHOUT WARNING THE REAR AXLE BEAM OF MY 1999 FORD WINDSTAR BROKE IN HALF CAUSING THE REAR WHEELS TO TILT INWARD AND RUB AGAINST THE INNER WHEEL WELLS. THE VEHICLE CAME TO AN ABRUPT HALT NEARLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME TO REAR END ME. *TR

1999 FORD WINDSTAR HAD PROBLEM CONTROLLING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR HOME BUT WHEN I BACKED THE CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY, I HEARD A RUBBING SOUND . I LOOK TO SEE THAT MY REAR TIRES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR ARE LEANING INTO THE CAR. LOOKING UNDER THE CAR THE REAR AXLE BEAM IS CRACKED 3/4 OF THE WAY THROUGH. IT IS ABOUT 1.5 FEET FROM DRIVES SIDE I AM LOOKING FOR PRICES TO REPAIR THIS AT THIS MOMENT. *TR

FRONT SUB-FRAME CORROSION HAS CAUSED FRAME TO BREAK ON PASSENGER SIDE. BREAK LIKELY OCCURRED WHILE MAKING A HARD RIGHT TURN TO JOIN TRAFFIC ON A 40MPH ROAD AS A NOISE WAS HEARD AT THAT TIME. NOT REALIZING THAT SOME STRUCTURAL FAILURE HAD OCCURRED THE CAR WAS DRIVEN ON TWO MORE OCCASIONS ON THE FOLLOWING DAY AND AT HIGHWAY SPEED. ONE DAY LATER STRANGE NOISE OCCURRED AGAIN WHEN TURNING, SO CAR WAS BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE. REPAIR SHOP HAS INDICATED SUB-FRAME IS SEVERED IN AREA NOTED ABOVE AND CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR