1998 FORD WINDSTAR Complaints

ON 5/22/03 I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN FEELING THAT THE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE DROPPED AND HEARD SOME OF THE WORST NOISES I HAD EVER HEARD. UPON DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME (SLOWLY) MY HUSBAND CAME HOME AND TOOK OFF THE TIRE. WE DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING OVER THE STRUT HAD COLLAPSED AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. WE PAID OUT OF OUR POCKETS TO GET THE VEHICLE FLAT BEDDED TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. THE PARTS HAVE BEEN ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER AND IT'S BEEN OVER A WEEK. I AM PERSONALLY IN JEOPORDY OF LOOSING MY JOB BECAUSE I HAVE ONLY BEEN ABLE TO WORK 1/2 DAY.(1 VEHICLE LEFT, 2 WORKING PARENTS WITH 3 KIDS) NOW I AM BEING TOLD THAT THE TIRE ON THAT SIDE IS DAMAGED AND CAN NOT BE TRUSTED TO BE DRIVEN ON, AND THE VAN NEEDS A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. FORD IS SAYING THIS IS NOT COVERED AND REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WE RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE 6 DAYS AFTER THE SPRING COLLAPSED. IT IS FOR SPRING SHIELDS, AT THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER TOLD ME THE SHIELDS ARE TO BE INSTALLED SO THAT IF THE SPRING COLLAPSES IT DOESN'T DAMAGE THE REST OF THE FRONT END AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. IS THIS ALL FORD IS RESPONSIBLE TO DO? THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF THESE VANS ON THE ROAD THAT ARE A POTENTIAL DANGER. THEY KNOW THAT THESE SPRINGS ARE A HAZARD AND THEY DON'T COVER TOWING, REPLACE OR REPAIR OF TIRES ETC THAT GET DAMAGED DUE TO THEIR DEFECTIVE PARTS. MY TIRE IS ONLY 1 MONTH OLD. I JUST REPLACED IT. THEIR ONLY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO TRY TO MAKE SURE NO ONE GETS KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE PART ON THEIR VAN. WHY ARE THEY ABLE TO SAY THE GET THE 5 STAR SAFETY RATING FROM THE GOVERNMENT, THAT MAKES PEOPLE THINK THESE VEHICLES ARE SAFE. MY COLLAPSED DOING 50 MPH GOING HOME FROM MY MORNING RUN AS A SCHOOL BUS DRIVER. I HAD JUST DROPPED MY SON OFF TO DAYCARE 10 MINUTES BEFORE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A MUCH WORSE INCIDENT. *AK

TRANSMISSION STALLS DURING DOWN SHIFTING AT LOW SPEEDS. SHIFTS HARD INTO GEAR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD,THREE TIMES HAS BEEN REPAIRED,FIRST TIME @ 32000,3600,65,000. DEALER SAID THAT IT'S A KNOWN PROBLEM,BUT THERE IS NO FIX. *NLM

THE GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GAIN ANY SPEED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACE. *NLM SPOKE WITH CONSUMER 10/16/07 , WAS TOLD TO DISREGARD COMPLAINT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TRADED. *LJ

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THE TRANSMISSION AND HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK *JB

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED. A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED FOR THE EARLIER MODELS. *JB

FUEL TANK BROKEN / PUNCTURED WHEN RAN OVER ON A UNKNOWN OBJECT (SUSPECT TIRE PIECE) DURING NIGHT ON A RAINY DAY. *JB

THE SWAY BAR BROKE OFF INSIDE THE BUSHING. WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO RIDE ROUGH AND BOUNCE UP AND DOWN. *JB

THE HYDRAULIC LIFTS WERE HELD IN PLACE BY A SCREW ON BOTH SIDES OF THE TAILGATE. THE SCREW ON THE LEFT SIDE BROKE. AS A RESULT THE TAILGATE RELEASED AND SLAMMED DOWN VERY HARD. *JB

MY 1998 WINDSTAR CAUGHT FIRE TODAY. THE FIRE APPEARED TO START IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK COMPONENT. THE ENTIRE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS DESTROYED, THE WINDSHIELD MELTED AND CRACKED AND THE CEILING AND DASHBOARD MELTED. THE ENTIRE VAN IS SMOKE-DAMAGED. THE VAN HAD SEVERAL AUTO-LOCK, INSTRUMENTATION AND DOOR AJAR PROBLEMS WHICH HAD BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE DEALERSHIP. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING, THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL LUG NUTS SHEARED COMPLETELY OFF, WHICH CAUSED THE WHEEL TO COME OFF. *JB,,,EXTENSIVE DAMAGE WHICH INCLUDED REPLACING TIRE, WHEEL, LUGS:NUTS AND BODY DAMAGE TO DOOR AND FRONT FENDER FROM SKIDDING ON WHEEL AFTER TIRE FELL OFF. COULD NOT OPEN DRIVER'S DOOR. *AK