1999 FORD WINDSTAR Complaints

MY TRANSMISSION FAILED IN MY 99 FORD WINDSTAR WITH ONLLY 55,OOO. I STOPED AT A STOP SIGN, WHEN I HIT THE GAS I HEARD A THUD AND THE VAN WOULD NOT GO FORWARD. I ONLY HAD REVERSE. I HEAR THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE OF WINDSTAR VANS

I DROVE MY 1999 FORD WINDSTAR LX WITH MY MOTHER AND MY FAMILY (MY 2 CHILDREN, MY NEPHEW AND MY DAUGHTER'S FRIEND) TO ERIE, PA TO VISIT MY SISTER'S FAMILY FOR 2 DAYS, THEN TO SPLASH LAGOON FOR 2 DAYS. THIS WAS A 230 MILE TRIP, EACH WAY, FROM MY HOME IS ELMIRA, NY. WE ARRIVED THERE WITHOUT INCIDENT. ALL FLUIDS WERE CHECKED BEFORE WE LEFT AND WERE IN PRIME CONDITION. THE FOLLOWING DAY, WE GOT IN OUR VEHICLES TO GO SEE THE 15 MILES OF BEACHES ALONG LAKE ERIE. ABOUT A MILE DOWN THEIR ROAD, WE WENT TO CROSS A 4-LANE HIGH-WAY, WHEN MY VEHICLE STOPPED DEAD IN THE MIDDLE, ALMOST KILLING ALL OF US BECAUSE TRAFFIC WAS COMING FROM BOTH DIRECTIONS. MY VEHICLE WOUDN'T MOVE FORWARD NO MATTER WHAT. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, ABRUPTLY, WITHOUT ANY ADVANCE NOTICE, WHATSOEVER! AFTER MUCH ONLINE RESEARCH, I SOON REALIZED MY UNFORTUNATE SITUATION ISN'T UNIQUE TO FORD WINDSTAR OWNERS! THIS "SUDDEN TRANSMISSION FAILURE" IS VERY COMMON. WE COULD HAVE ALL BEEN KILLED. MY BROTHER-IN-LAW HAD TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE BACK TO HIS HOUSE IN REVERSE, AS THAT WAS THE ONLY GEAR THAT WORKED. AFTER THE FAILURE, THE FLUIDS WERE CHECKED AGAIN, AND ALL WAS STILL FULL AND IN GOOD CONDITION (WE SAVED THESE), HOWEVER, HE THOUGHT THAT MAYBE THE FILTER MIGHT NEED TO BE CHANGED, SO HE DID SO, REPLACING THE USED TRANSMISSION FLUID WITH BRAND NEW. KNOWING WE SHOULD NOT HAVE WORK DONE TO THE VEHICLE FOR RISK OF VOIDING THE $1,948.00 EXTENDED SERVICE WARRANTY I PURCHASED FROM THE DEALERSHIP AT THE TIME I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE (LESS THAN 3 YEARS AGO), WE DECIDED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME.

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR LX. THE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE IN HALF . IF CONTACT HAD NOT STOPPED THE VEHICLE IT WOULD HAVE BLOWN OUT THE TIRE. THE SPRING WAS IN THE TIRE. THERE WAS A RECALL ON 1995-1998, BUT IT DID NOT COVER THE 1999 MODELS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIPTO REPLACE THE COIL SPRING. THE COIL SPRING BROKE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE BUT THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING AS WELL BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO BREAK. THE COST OF REPAIRS WAS $900 CHARGED TO THE CONSUMER. *AK

1999 FORD WINDSTAR 135,000 MILES. USED FOR SALES. MASTER CYLINDER (ABS) LIGHT ON AND SHORT AT LINE RUNNING INTO MASTER CYLINDER. PULLED FUSE AFTER BLOWING SEVERAL. AFFECTED PART OF DASH (SPEEDO, AND ODOMITER) AND CRUISE NOW DOES NOT WORK. HAD MY SON CONFIRM WERE SMOKED WIRE WAS WHILE PUTTING IN NEW FUSE AND WATCHING UNDER HOOD WITH MY SON STARTING VAN. NOTE: SAME PROBLEM AS SEE IN NEWS REPORTS ON OTHER FORD PRODUCTS BUT WINDSTAR WAS NOT LISTED. MY MECHINIC DOES NOT DO WIRING BUT HE DID POINT OUT TOSTED HARRNESS AND CONNECTION AT MASTER CYLINDER.

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON MY 1999 FORD WINDSTAR ARE STOPPING HALFWAY THROUGH THE CYCLE AND I PHYSICALLY HAVE TO GET OUT OF MY CAR AND PUSH THEM SO THEY RETURN TO THE BASE. THERE WAS A RECALL ON FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT FORD TOLD ME SINCE IT WAS ALREADY PERFORMED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR IT AGAIN.

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THE # 10 FUSE KEEPS SHORTING OUT. THE SHIFTER CAN BE SHIFTED WITHOUT THE BRAKE BEING APPLIED WHEN THE KEY IS IN THE ON POSITION. THE CONSUMER STATED THIS FUSE CONTROLS THIS SAFETY FEATURE ALONG WITH OTHER THINGS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. A GARAGE TOLD THE CONSUMER THIS WAS AN ONGOING PROBLEM.*AK

I OPENED ELECTRONIC SLIDING DRIVER SIDE DOOR ON MY 1999 FORD WINDSTAR VAN TO LOAD THE CAR FOR A WEEKEND TRIP. I KNEELED IN THE DOOR OPENING TO POSITION THINGS IN THE BACK SEAT. WITHOUT WARNING THE DOOR BEGAN TO SHUT ON ITS OWN. BEFORE I COULD JUMP OUT OF THE CAR, IT HAD MY CALVES STUCK IN THE DOOR. IT DID NOT AUTOMATICALLY OPEN AS I WAS INFORMED IT SHOULD HAVE WHEN IT HIT MY LEGS. MY DAUGHTER WAS ABLE TO PULL THE DOOR OPEN AND ALLOW ME TO ESCAPE. MY RIGHT CALF WAS INJURED, THOUGH IT DID NOT BREAK THE SKIN, I HAVE A LARGE BRUISE FROM THE DOORS IMPACT APPROX. 2 INCHES HIGH AND 4 INCHES LONG. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP (TED BRITT FORD IN FAIRFAX VIRGINIA) WHERE I PURCHASED MY VAN AND CARRY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THEY HAVE HAD MY CAR IN FOR NUMEROUS REPAIRS, ALL RELATED TO THE DOORS MALFUNCTIONING OR OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THERE WAS AN INJURY DUE TO THE DOOR FAILURE. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY STILL IN THE SHOP FOR THIS MALFUNCTION. **ABOUT THE NUMBER OF FAILURES LISTED BELOW: I AM UNCERTAIN IF I SHOULD INDICATE ONE FAILURE WHICH RESULTED IN AN INJURRY OR THE MULTIPLE FAILURES OF THE DOORS OPENING, REFUSING TO OPEN, OR REFUSING TO CLOSE THAT PROCEEDED THIS LAST INCIDENT. I WLL INDICATE ONE FAILURE, MEANING THIS LAST ONE. PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL IF I SHOULD INDICATE ALL THE DOOR FAILURES WE HAVE INCOUNTERED TO DATE. **I AM ALSO A BIT CONCERNED AS THE REPAIR DEPARTMENT AT TED BRITT FORD IN FAIRFAX, WHERE MY VAN IS REGULARLY SERVICED, INDICATED THAT HE BELIEVES IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE DOOR TO SHUT WITHOUT MY HAVING DONE SOMETHING TO CAUSE IT. I AM ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN I COULD NOT HAVE ACCIDENTALLY CLOSE THE DOOR. I AM CONCERNED THEY MAY NOT CHECK OUT THIS PROBLEM ADEQUATELY AND JUST DECIDE IT WAS OPERATOR ERROR. I REMINDED THEM OF THE MULTIPLE OTHER DOOR FAILURES AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. I ALSO LET THEM KNOW THE LIGHTS IN THE VAN (THAT COME ON WHEN YOU OPEN A DOOR), GO ON AND OFF WHEN I GO OVER BUMPS AS I AM DRIVING.

1999 FORD WINDSTAR VAN:: CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. I REMEMBERED SEEING A SPECIAL ON CNN-TV RECENTLY ABOUT FORD F150 AND EXPLORER VEHICLES CATCHING ON FIRE. SUSPECTED CAUSE WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL CUT-OUT SWITCH LOCATED ON THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. SO I DECIDED TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANYTHING I COULD SEE RELATED TO MY PROBLEM. I FOUND THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH THAT'S MOUNTED ON THE BOTTOM FRONT OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER SOAKED WITH BRAKE FLUID. APPARENTLY THE SWITCH'S SEAL FAILED CAUSING BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK THRU THE SWITCH INTO THE POWER CONNECTOR AND RUN DOWN THE WIRING. THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUGHT MY VEHICLE ON FIRE BECAUSE A LIQUID ACROSS A 12 VOLT POWER CONNECTOR TO GROUND IS A HIGH RESISTANCE SHORT TRANSLATING INTO HEAT = FIRE. I TOOK SOME PICTURES WITH A DIGITAL CAMERA AND CAN E-MAIL THEM IF YOU'RE INTERESTED. IN THE MEAN TIME I DISCONNECTED THE POWER CONNECTOR AT THE CRUISE CONTROL CUT-OUT SWITCH FOR SAFETY. I CAN'T FIND ANY RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM ON A 1999 FORD WINSTAR ? I HAVE A 1999 FORD F150 TRUCK ALSO AND IT HAS THE CRUISE CONTROL CUT-OUT SWITCH MOUNTED ON THE END OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER EXCEPT IT'S ON THE TOP. I ALSO DISCONNECTED IT TO BE SAFE. I CALLED FORD AND A NEW SWITCH COSTS ABOUT $15.00 BUT NONE ARE AVAILABLE. SOMEONE NEEDS TO KICK THE ROCK OFF FORD BEING IN TOTAL DENIAL OF THE PROBLEM. IT'S QUITE EASY TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND THEY KEEP SAYING THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S CAUSING IT ??? IF I CAN GET A NEW SWITCH I CAN ALSO SEND THE DEFECTIVE ONE TO SOMEONE TO EVALUATE. THIS IS BASIC ELECTRONICS AND NOT A MYSTERY. THANKS,

STOPPED THE VEHICLE TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, WHEN I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE THEN JUMPED INTO GEAR VIOLENTLY. I MANAGED TO GET TEH VEHICLE INTO A PARKING LOT WHERE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE COULD BE HEARD WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND GEARSHIFT IN PARK. I MOVED THE GEAR SELECTOR INTO DIFFERENT GEARS AND CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CAR HAD A HISTORY OF NOISE WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK INTO ANY GEAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN PARKED ON A INCLINE. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO DOWNSHIFTED HARSHLY WHEN DECELERATING TO COAST THROUGH A TURN. BOTH ISSUES WERE REPORTED TO THE DAN WACHTEL FORD IN ATHENS, AL THAT SERVICES THE VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS FLUSHED AND HAD THE FILTER CHANGED TWICE, THE SECON ONLY 8000 MILES BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. DEALER REPORTS THAT THE CAR NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION WITH ONLY 58,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I PURCHASED AN 5 YEAR/70,000 EXTENDED WARRANTY WHEN WE BOUGHT THE CAR, BUT OF COURSE THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND I AM LOOKING AT A $2800 REPAIR BILL. I LOOKED AT THE FORD SERVICE BULLETINS AND OTHER COMPLAINTS THROUGH THIS SITE AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A HISTORY OF THE SAME TYPE OF OCCURRENCES WITH THE WINDSTAR AND THE TRANSMISSION. SEEKING ASSISTANCE FROM DEALER AND FORD SINCE VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED, HAS LOW MILEAGE CONSIDERING IT IS 6 YEARS OLD AND HAS A HISTORY OF SUCH EVENTS.

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PARK, ESPECIALLY WHEN PARKING BETWEEN TWO VEHICLES AND I NEED TO PROCEED SLOWLY AND WITH CAUTION, MY ENGINE HAS A SUDDEN, MOMEMENTARY SURGE OF APPROXIMATELY 500 RPM EACH TIME I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY LURCH FORWARD. I HAVE HAD A FEW CLOSE CALLS DUE TO THIS SUDDEN MOVEMENT WHEN STOPPED FOR PEDESTRANS TO PASS IN FRONT OF ME, I HAVE TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY AND WHEN THE VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD, THEY LOOK AT ME LIKE I WAS ATTEMPTING TO RUN THEM DOWN. AS OF THIS DATE, I DO NOT KNOW WHY IT IS DOING THIS.