1998 FORD WINDSTAR Complaints

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH THE TIRE RUBBING ON THE SPRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TO HAVE THE RECALL (01V199000) WORK PERFORMED. CONSUMER BEGAN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS AGAIN WITH THE RECALL RELATED ISSUE. THE DEALER REFUSED TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE, STATING THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RELATED TO THE SPRING, WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT THE CAR. *YD *NM

BOTH FRONT WHEELS SHOW SIGN OF CRACKS WITHIN BEADS OF THE WHEELS. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DIVING AND MAKING LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS STEERING WHEEL WILL MAKE A LOUD NOISE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. MECHANIC STATED BOLTS ON RACK AND PINION STEERING ARE COMING LOOSE.*AK

LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE RETURN LINE CORRODED NEAR THE R&P VALVE,FORD TOLD ME IT WOULD TAKE APPROX. 10 TO 30 DAYS DUE TO NATIONWIDE BACKORDER I AM WORRIED THAT,DUE TO SUCH A BACKORDER THER IS DEFECT IN THAT PART.ANOTHER REASON FOR CONCERN IS THAT I HAD TO GET THE PART FROM AN AUTO RECYCLING FACILITY AND NOTICED THAT A REPAIR WAS MADE TO THE LINE EXACTLY WHERE MY LINE FAILED DUE TO CORROSION.THIS IS MY FAMILY SOLE MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION ,ANY RESEARCH OR FINDINGS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *AK

CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE, IGNITION SWITCH SPUN AROUND AND ALL ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS STAYED ON. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

SKINNER & DAMULIS FORD (HERKIMER, NEW YORK), SANFORD FORD (SANDFORD, NC), AND CROWN FORD (NC) SERVICE CENTERS STATED TRANSMISSION FAILURE IS "NORMAL" AT 70,000 MILES FOR THE FORD WINDSTAR. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FORD PRODUCTS FOR 20 YEARS NOW, NEVER HAVE I EXPERIENCED A MAJOR COMPONENT FAILURE AT HIGH MILEAGE. 4 SEASONS TIRE & AUTO CENTER IN ILION, NEW YORK (315) 894-5087 STATED THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECENTLY RECURRING PROBLEM WITH TAURUS & ESCORTS.*AK

THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THE "FRONT SUBFRAME SLEEVES WERE LOOSE; WELDING OF THE RADIUS ARM SLEEVES WAS REQUIRED. THEY STATED THIS PROBLEM WAS VERY COMMON FOR WINDSTAR AND EVEN TAURUS MODELS. IF SO, THIS IS A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS AND WIDESPREAD PROBLEM IN THESE CARS. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE 01V99000 THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS MAY CORRODE AND FRACTURE. RECALL REPAIR WAS DONE BY CONSUMER'S LOCAL MECHANIC. HOWEVER, WHEN CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT, THE MANUFACTURER DENIED REIMBURSEMENT CLAIM STATING THAT THE REPAIRS WERE DONE AFTER THE DATE OF THE RECALL LETTER (SEPTEMBER 2001), THERE WERE NO INDICATION THAT THE SPRINGS WERE BROKEN, AND THE RECALL ONLY COVERS THE SPRINGS IF THEY ACTUALLY FRACTURED AND THAT THE REPAIRS WERE NOT DONE BY A FORD DEALER. CONSUMER IS SEEKING SOME ASSISTANCE WITH THIS MATTER. *TT *NM

VEHICLE WAS STRUCK WHILE PARKED CAUSING SLIDING DOOR TO CLOSE ONTO CHILD'S HEAD WHILE GETTING OUT OF VEHICLE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK