1999 FORD WINDSTAR Complaints

FORD WINDSTAR SEEMS TO HAVE A DESIGN THAT IS A DEFINITE HAZARD WITH THE REAR AXLE MEMBER. THE STAMPED REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY WILL FAIL AFTER 100,00 MILE BY CRACKING AND FAILURE IS QUICK TO COME. THERE ARE NUMEROUS INCIDENTS OF IT FROM 1996 TO PRESENT, I HAVE A 1999 AND MY WIFE KEPT TELLING ME ABOUT A RUBBING SOUND SHE HEARS WHEN TURNING INTO THE ALLEY AND I COULD NOT TRACE ANYTHING DOWN. I THEN TURNED OUT OF OUR ALLEY AND THEN IT BROKE 95% THROUGH. I THOUGHT IT WAS A FLAT AT FIRST AND THEN FOUND THE CRACK IN THE AXLE ASSEMBLY. PRAISE GOD I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 65 MPH. I AM WAITING TO GET INTO THE MECHANICS 12-30-2009 AND WILL CAST AROUND $1000 PARTS, LABOR AND TOW AND 2 NEW TIRES. *TR

OUR FAMILY WAS IN OUR 1999 FORD WINDSTAR LX 3.8L V6 WHEN WE WERE LOOSING CONTROL OVER THE REAR END OF OUR VAN. WE THOUGHT WE HAD A TIRE PROBLEM. WE DROVE TO THE TIRE STORE. THEY SHOWED US THAT OUR REAR AXLE HAD ALMOST BROKEN COMPLETELY IN HALF. WITH SOME RESEARCH, WE FOUND THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY FAMILIES AND WE COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED. THANK GOD WE MADE IT TO THE SHOP IN TIME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, HE HEARD A BANG NOISE, AND THEN HE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULT STEERING. HE NOTICED THAT THE TIRES WERE BENT INWARD. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY HAD CRACKED. HE WAS WAITING FOR THE PARTS TO BE SHIPPED FOR REPAIRS. HE HAD NOT CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP NOR THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 148,000.

1999 FORD WINDSTAR, CONTROL ARM BROKE OFF SUB FRAME CAUSING VEHICLE TO COME TO A DEAD STOP AND FRONT END TO DROP. THERE WAS NO WARNING EXCEPT THE VEHICLE STARTED TO PULL TO THE RIGHT A LITTLE. TO FIX THE PROBLEM, HAD TO REPLACE SUB FRAME. THE BRACKET WHERE THE CONTROL ARM SHOULD BE WAS COMPLETELY GONE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE....IT WAS STILL TOGETHER AND INTACT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. YOU LOSE TOTAL CONTROL AND CANNOT STEER THE VEHICLE. *TR

WE WERE DRIVING WHEN WE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT DISPLAYED ON THE DASH AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN WE STOPPED AND LIFTED UP THE HOOD THERE WERE FLAMES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THERE IS WHAT WE THINK IS A SENSOR UNDER MASTER CYLINDER IT WAS ON FIRE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. DURING ROUTINE INSPECTION A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REAR AXLE HAD FRACTURED. PRIOR TO THE INSPECTION NO SYMPTOMS WERE PRESENT. HE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT AN OF EXPENSE $1500.00. HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. HE STILL HAS POSSESSION OF THE FAILED COMPONENT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 116,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH THE ABS LIGHT AND TRACTION WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. SHE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED AT AN EXPENSE OF $ 825.00 DOLLARS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.

I HAVE A FORD WINDSTAR 1999 WITH ABS LIGHT COMES ON. I RECENTLY RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD FOR RECALL OF A SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH AS IT POSES A LEAK IN BRAKE FLUID WHICH MAY CAUSE FIRE. I WENT TO DEALER CLOSE BY AND HE SAID HE CHANGE THE WIRE HARNESS AND AS FAR AS THE ABS LIGHT DIAGNOSIS HE CHARGE ME $46.95 AND COME UP WITH A CODE C1185WHICH PINPOINT TO ABS MODULE FAILURE AND HE GAVE ME ESTIMATE TO REPLACE IT ~$800. AFTER I WENT BACK HOME AND LOOKING AT THE SAFETY REPORT AND OTHER REPORT FROM CUSTOMER LIKE ME I UNDERSTAND THE RECALL . SO I DID CALL THE DEALER 'S SERVICE AND EXPLAIN TO HIM WHY HE DID NOT TELL ME THAT THERE IS A LINK BETWEEN ABS AND THE DEACTIVATION SWITCH AND BRAKE FLUID LEAK , HE TOLD ME THAT HE WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY SUCH PROBLEM AS WELL AS NO LETTER FROM FORD EXPLAIN THE SUCH CONNECTION HE PROMISE ME TO LOOK AT IT MORE CAREFUL NEXT DAY AND I WAIT TO HEAR THE NEWS BUT NO SATISFACTION AS HE COMES UP THAT THE ABS MODULE FAILURE IS NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL SWITCH . SO I DECIDE TO CALL THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WITH ALONG DISCUSSION THEY DENIED ME THE RIGHT TO FIX THE ABS MODULE OR TO DEAL WITH MY PROBLEM OR T LEAST GIVE ME BACK THE DIAGNOSTIC FEES FOR THE ABS LIGHT I FEEL THERE IS A COVER BY FORD SERVICE TO DENIED ANY DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE LEAK TO THE ABS MODULE OR CONNECTOR AND THEY FIGHT SO HARD ON ALL LEVELS TO DENIED SUCH RIGHT PLEASE HELP IN INCLUDING THE STATEMENT OF CHECKING THE ABS MODULE AND CONNECTOR WITH THE RECALL ONCE FOR GOOD AND STOP THEM FROM MANIPULATE THE SAFETY ORDER FOR THE RECALL. *TR

SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER BEING TRANSMITTED FROM THE ENGINE TO THE WHEELS (LATER DETERMINED TO BE A FAILED TORQUE CONVERTER THAT ALSO DESTROYED THE TRANSMISSION). *TR

SPEEDOMETER AND RPM GAUGES INTERMITTENTLY GO 'HAYWIRE' - SWEEPING BACK AND FORTH FOR UP TO 20 SECONDS AT A TIME. *TR