1996 FORD WINDSTAR Complaints

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL THEN CAME OFF, CLAIM 46-0491-262. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING, THE ENTIRE WHEEL/TIRE FELL OFF OF THE VEHICLE, IT IS UNKNOWN IF IT WAS THE TIRE OR WHEEL THAT FAILED, ONE PERSON WAS INJURED, CLAIM 13-7497-974. *SLC

SPEEDOMETER STARTED READING ERRATICALLY AS OF APPROX. FAILURE DATE GIVEN. HAS NOW BECOME WORSE AND AT SPEEDS >40MPH SPEEDO INDICATOR JUMPS WILDLY. DEALER CHARGED $70 TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM AS FAILED SPEEDOMETER HEAD. SAYS FORD NO LONGER MAKES OR STOCKS THIS PART AND THE HEAD MUST BE REMOVED FROM THE DASH AND SENT OUT FOR REPAIRS. OBTAINED A WRITTEN ESTIMATE FOR THIS REPAIR OF $861.00. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT AT ALL TIME, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR ALIGNMENT. DEALER STATED ALIGNMENT COULD NOT BE DONE, DUE TO THE TIE ROD COUPLING BEING CRACKED. NLM

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION THE VEHICLE IS ABLE TO BE STARTED UP AGAIN WITH OUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. CONTACTED DEALER. NLM

MY HEAD GASKET FAILED AROUNF 70000 MILES! 94 AND 95 FORD WINDSTARS HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECALLED DUE TO HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS. THERE ARE MANY 1996 FAILURES AS WELL. WHAT CAN WE DO TO GET FORD TO ADDRESS THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 96 WINDSTAR?*AK

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE 3.8 V6 ENGINE WAS LOSING COOLANTS AND RUNNING ROUGH WHILE DRIVING, DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED OF A CRACKED HEAD GASKET. NLM

THE SUB-FRAME BROKE WHERE THE STRUT ARM CONNECTS IN THE FRONT( IN AREA OF THE STRUT ARM BUSHINGS. AT FIRST THOUGHT THAT THE NOISE WAS FROM AT LOOSE HEAT SHIELD. STRUT ARM RATTLES EVERYTIME VAN IECOUNTERS ROUGH PAVEMENT. THE SPEEDOMETER JUST WENT HAYWIRE. NEEDLE BOUNCES ALL OVER THE PLACE. HAVE FOUND OTHER PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET WITH THE SAME SPEEDOMETER PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT BOTH OF THESE FAILURES ARE A SAFTEY ISSUE. FORD MOTOR DOESN'T.*AK

THE CHECKE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. NOTICED A SMALL PUDDLE ON GARAGE FLOOR BENEATH VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. MECHANIC DROPPED OIL PAN. THE BEARINGS HAD TURNED TO COPPER, THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO LEAK ANTIFREEZE. NLM

CYLINDER HEAD GASKET PROBLEM RESULTING IN INTERNAL ANTIFREEZE LEAK, CAUSING BEARINGS TO GO BAD - ENGINE REPLACEMENT REQUIRED.*AK