1998 FORD WINDSTAR Complaints

THE FIRST SIGN OF TROUBLE OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT INTO THE REPAIR SHOP. INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKET, IN WHICH THE RADIATOR FLUID WAS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE AND THAT THE REPAIR COST WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $1,500 (CANADIAN). FORD WAS NOTIFIED BUT REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND TO COMPENSATE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT?S NOT COVERED IN ITS EXTENDED WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH ITS WARRANTY IS FOR SEVEN YEARS OR 160,000 KM. *LA

SUDDEN POWER STEERING LEAK. MAIN LEAK FROM LOW PRESSURE HOSE, BUT FOUND THAT RUSTED HIGH PRESSURE HOSE FITTING ALSO LEAKING A BIT; AND SEAL(S) OF RACK & PINION LEAKING INTO DUST BOOT(S). HAD TO REPLACE HOSES & RACK/PINION AT 81,000 MILES -- 98 WINDSTAR. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS GEARS, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HESITATE. *AK

I HAVE A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR, AND ITS FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. WHEN BROUGHT TO THE DEALER IT WAS SAID THAT THE FUEL TANK COLLAPSED AT THE FUEL PUMP, WHICH CAUSED THE LEAKING. *LA

THE FRAME THAT HOLDS THE FRONT STRUT ROD CRACKED AND CAUSED THE RIGHT WHEEL TO WOBBLE. *AK

BLOWN HEAD GASKET ON 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. HEAD GASKET IS NOT A SERVICE ITEM AND SHOULD LAST FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE FORD 3.8L ENGINE.

IN JULY OF 2002 TWO LUGNUT STUDS FROM MY LEFT FRONT WHEEL BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE. IN MARCH OF 2003 THREE LUGNUT STUDS FROM MY RIGHT FROM WHEEL BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. A FORTH LUGNUT STUD BROKE ON MY RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WHEN I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR MAINTENANCE.

MASTER CYLINDER AND HC UNIT WERE REPLACED IN JANUARY OF 2003, IN THE SHOP FOR 6 WEEKS. ON 9/19 BRAKES FAILED AGAIN. RESULT HITTING A PARKED CAR. TOLD BY DEALER THAT SAME 2 PARTS WERE AGAIN BAD.*JB

WHILE STEERING, THIS VEHICLE TENDS TO ALMOST JUMP WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING AROUND ANY TYPE OF CORNER. I HAVE TO OVER COMPENSATE SO AS NOT TO VEER TOWARD THAT DIRECTION. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME AND IS VERY DANGEROUS. CONSEQUENTLY, I HAVE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC TO GET HIS EVALUATION?*JB

PAINT PEELING ON THE VEHICLE. STARTED AT ROOF AND NOW IS PEELING ALL OVER. ALSO THE FRONT SUSPENSION MAKES A BANGING NOISE WHEN TRAVELING ON BUMPY ROADS. HAVE TRIED TO HAVE FIX BUT 2 OR LESS MONTHS IT STARTS AGAIN.