1999 FORD WINDSTAR Complaints

FIRST: WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH ON AN INTERSTATE IN NC OUR VAN DIED. AFTER SAFELY PULLING OVER, CROSSING 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC, WE HAD THE VAN TOWED HOME TO VA AND THE MECHANIC SAID HE CHANGES 7-8 TRANSMISSIONS A WEEK IN FORD WINDSTAR VANS. WE HAD FALLEN VICTIM TO THIS. WE STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE O/D LIGHT COMING ON AND HAVING TO ADD TRANSMISSION FLUID FREQUENTLY. SECOND: OUR VAN INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS DIM AND BLINK AT RANDOM. THE ALERT WILL ALSO COME ON SAYING ONE OF THE DOORS IS AJAR LEAVING THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ON AND DOORS UNLOCKED. IT WILL RANDOMLY CHANGE DOORS WHILE DRIVING. NOW THE REAR TURNING LIGHTS DO NOT FLASH, THE LOCKS DO NOT WORK, THE INTERIOR AND BACK EXTERIOR LIGHTS DO NOT GO OUT EVEN WITH THE KEY OFF AND OUT. THERE WILL BE RANDOM BEEPING AND BUZZING NOISES. THE REAR HEAT/AIR TURNS OFF AND ON AT RANDOM EVEN WITH THE CONTROLS IN THE OFF POSITION. THERE IS A CLICKING UNDER THE DASH WHEN THE REAR HEAT OR AIR IS RUNNING. ON INSPECTION THE MECHANIC FOUND THE ALARM WIRES UNDER THE DASH BARE, UNHOOKED, AND EXPOSED. HE TAPED THESE HOPING IT WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. IT HAS NOT. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER IS NOT REPUTABLE. IT IS A WELL KNOWN FACT IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY BREAK SOMETHING ELSE WHILE FIXING ANOTHER TO ENSURE A RETURN VISIT. WE HAVE TO TRAVEL 45-60 MINUTES TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THEY ARE SO BUSY BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE SERVICE FOR A LARGE RURAL AREA. FORD HAS NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED PHONE CALLS OR LETTERS SENT TO THEM. WE FEEL STUCK WITH A LEMON! *TR

I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT AT A MAJOR INTERSECTION AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I HEARD A LOUD SOUND. I TRIED TO ACCELERATE BUT MY CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. THE ENGINE JUST REVVED. I THOUGHT I RAN SOMETHING OVER DUE TO THE SOUND SO INSPECTED GOT OUT TO INSPECT THE CAR. I FOUND NOTHING. I GOT BACK INTO THE CAR AND TURNED CAR OFF AND TURNED BACK. THE CAR WOULD NOT DRIVE. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND MANAGED TO GET OFF THE ROAD. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER SUTTON FORD IN MATTESON IL. THAT THE TRANSMISSION JUST BROKE AND WOULD COST ME $3000.00. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR LESS THEN 2 YEARS. I HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT JUST EXPIRED A FEW MONTHS AGO. MY OBD LIGHT WAS ON BUT WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER IT WAS A SENSOR. THEY COULD TURN IT OFF BUT IT WASN'T ANYTHING MAJOR. AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS I'M SURE IT IS MAJOR. SINCE PURCHASING THIS CAR, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE TIRES AT LEAST EVERY SIX MONTHS, MAJOR ENGINE REPAIR, ALTERNATOR REPAIR, AS WELL AS SPRING REPLACEMENT. OVERALL, I'VE PUT MORE THEN $3000.00 IN REPAIR NOT INCLUDING THE REPAIR OF THE TRANSMISSION I NOW NEED. I LOVED MY WINDSTAR BUT I AM NOW DISCOVERING THAT IT PUTS MY LIFE ENDANGER TO DRIVE IT. MY TWO KIDS WERE IN THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND I FEARED SOMEONE WOULD HIT MY CAR. THE WORST PART ABOUT ALL THIS IS I AM UNABLE TO GET RID OF THIS CAR AS I STILL AM BUYING THIS CAR. I AM UNABLE TO REFINANCE THE DIFFERENCE. I WAS TOLD TO JUST SCARP THE CAR BY THE DEALER AND JUST GET ANOTHER CAR AS I AM EVEN MORE IN DEBT TRYING TO REPAIR THE CAR. I DON'T WANT TO RUIN MY CREDIT SO THERE HAS TO BE ANOTHER SOLUTION. I HAVE NO INKLING HOW I'M GOING TO MANAGE TO GET 3000.00 FOR A NEW CAR AND PAY MY BILLS AND FIND AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD. I REALLY WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF FORD WOULD JUST DO THE RIGHT THING FIX MY TRANSMISSION. SPLIT THE COST. I DID DAMAGE MY CAR IN THE MIST OF ALL THIS AND JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE TO WORK UNTIL THE CAR IS PAID OFF.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED SMOKE. HE PULLED OVER AND EXITED THE VEHICLE, BUT DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. HE RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE AND DROVE OFF WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. WHEN HE ARRIVED TO HIS DESTINATION, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND RATTLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WAS BURNT. AFTER DRIVING HOME FROM THE MECHANIC, THE FAILURE INTENSIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,500.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED A PARKED VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA TO THE CHEST AND ABDOMEN. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A DISLOCATED HIP ON HER RIGHT SIDE AND BRUISING FROM THE SEAT BELT ON HER LEFT SHOULDER AND CHEST AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. HER ATTORNEY ADVISED HER NOT TO COMMUNICATE WITH FORD. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 69,000.

WE WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT YESTERDAY DUE TO OUR 1999 FORD WINDSTAR NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. WE HAD 7 PEOPLE IN OUR VAN INCLUDING SMALL CHILDREN. LUCKILY, NONE OF US WERE INJURED, BUT THE POTENTIAL FOR INJURY WAS DEFINITELY THERE. AS WE WERE APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT AT ABOUT 35 MPH THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND WE LOST ALL POWER. WE HAD NO BRAKES OR POWER STEERING. IT WAS EVIDENT WE WERE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO STOP SO MY HUSBAND OPTED FOR THE DITCH. STEERING WAS VERY DIFFICULT AND WE HIT A STOP LIGHT ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH THE LEFT FRONT END OF THE VAN AND EVENTUALLY CAME TO A STOP ABOUT 4 FT. FROM A UTILITY POLE. THE VAN WAS DRIVING FINE WITH NO INDICATION OF MALFUNCTION PRIOR TO LOSING ALL POWER SUDDENLY. WE HAVE IN THE PAST EXPERIENCED THE BATTERY LIGHT OR THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT COMING ON WHEN IT WAS RAINING OR AFTER DRIVING THROUGH STANDING WATER BUT HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED LOSING ALL POWER UNTIL YESTERDAY. WE HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE CUTTING OUT AFTER DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY FOR AWHILE AND THEN DRIVING ON CITY STREETS AT LOWER SPEEDS. IT SEEMS THAT WHEN YOUR DRIVING ON JUST CITY STREETS AT LOWER SPEEDS WE DON'T EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM, AND ALSO NOT TYPICALLY WHILE WE ARE ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS (ALTHOUGH WE HAVE HAD IT CUT OUT A COUPLE TIMES ON THE HIGHWAY). IT SEEMS TO USUALLY OCCUR AFTER WE HAVE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS FOR AWHILE AND THEN EXIT ON TO LOWER SPEED ROADS. THE ENGINE JUST SUDDENLY DIES. WE CAN TYPICALLY START IT RIGHT BACK UP AGAIN, BUT IT WILL CONTINUE TO DIE AND START BACK UP SEVERAL TIMES. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINNEBAGO BRAVE. THE MODEL OF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT LISTED IN THE DROP DOWN MENU AT THE TIME OF THIS COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK. AFTER USING THE COMPONENT, HE CANNOT GET THE DEVICE TO SET AGAIN. HE STATED THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS COMPONENT, BUT IS UNAWARE IF THE RECALL APPLIES TO HIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. THE ENGINE SIZE AND A VALID VIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 40,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT AND THE REAR MIDDLE SEAT BELT WILL NOT LOCK. FORD STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND ADVISED HER THAT SHE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY COSTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 169,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

ON JULY 1, 2007 DURING THE OPERATION OF MY 1999 FORD WINDSTAR, SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND SHUTDOWN AT WHICH TIME THE SMOKE STOPPED. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS INSPECTED BY MYSELF AT THAT TIME AND I FOUND NOTHING THAT APPEARED ABNORMAL. RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE SMOKE DID NOT REAPPEAR BUT THE ODOMETER READINGS WENT TO DASHES, SPEEDOMETER WAS INOPERATIVE, THE ABS LIGHT WAS ON, AND THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS INOPERATIVE. DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND PERFORMED A MORE DETAILED INSPECTION OF IT. THIS INSPECTION REVEALED A BLOWN FUSE, AS #10 OF THE INTERIOR FUSE BLOCK. THIS FUSE WAS REPLACED AND THE VEHICLES IGNITION SWITCH WAS TURNED ON, AGAIN SMOKE CAME OUT FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE AND I DETERMINED AT THAT TIME IT WAS CAUSED BY THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH CONNECTOR. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS TURNED OFF IMMEDIATELY AND THE CONNECTOR WAS DISCONNECTED FROM THE DEACTIVATION SWITCH LOCATED ON THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. I FOUND THE CONNECTOR BOTH INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY WET WITH BRAKE FLUID. THE CONNECTOR SHOWED SIGNS OF OVERHEATING AS IT WAS PARTIALLY MELTED ON THE INSIDE. CLEANED ALL THE BRAKE FLUID FROM THE DEACTIVATION SWITCH CONNECTOR AND THE DEACTIVATION SWITCH ITSELF. I LEFT THE CONNECTOR DISCONNECTED FROM THE SWITCH AND TURNED ON THE IGNITION SWITCH. THIS RESULTED IN NO SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONNECTOR WAS LEFT DISCONNECTED FROM THE SWITCH BUT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT BE USED UNTIL I HAVE PERFORMED OR FORD PERFORMS REPAIRS TO IT. I FOUND THAT FORD HAD RECALLED SEVERAL VEHICLES FOR WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I HAVE WITH MY 1999 WINDSTAR BUT IT WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. I FEEL THAT THIS COULD HAVE DEVELOPED INTO A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR MY FAMILY. I WOULD LIKE TO STATE THAT I AM A CERTIFICATED AIR FRAME AND POWER PLANT TECHNICIAN BY THE FAA AND HAVE WORKED IN THAT CAPACITY FOR 28 YEARS FOR FEDEX EXPRESS ON THEIR AIRCRAFT. *AK

MY FORD WINDSTAR 1999 HAS THE FRONT SPRING COIL FRACTURED CAUSING THE SPRING TO BARELY TOUCH THE TIRE AND EVENTUALLY WOULD DEFLATE THE TIRE. THIS FRONT SPRING COIL PROBLEM IS CURRENTLY THE RECALL FOR WINDSTAR 1997-98, BUT NOT 1999. THE RECALL FOR 1997-98 IS NHTSA RECALL NO. 01V199/FORD RECALL NO. 01S19. THIS RECALL SHOULD APPLY TO 1999 TOO SINCE IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE HAD FLATTENED. UPON CHANGING THE TIRE, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE COIL SPRING HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP. THE FAILURE RECURRED AT 116,948 MILES WITH THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 119,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,948. THE CONSUMER STATED THE FIRST INCIDENT LOST CONTROL NEAR INTERSECTION GOING 40 MPH AND INSPECTED VEHICLE FOUND TIRE BLEW OUT AND LEFT FRONT COIL IN TIRE. THE CONSUMER FURTHER STATED THE 2ND INCIDENT WAS IN A PARKING LOT GOING 10-15MPH AND TIRE BLEW OUT FOUND BROKEN RIGHT FRONT COIL IN TIRE. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED REPAIR INVOICES. UPDATED 09/05/07 *TR