1999 FORD WINDSTAR Complaints

CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE LOST CONTROL OF HER VEHICLE AFTER THE STEERING WENT OUT. SHE INDICATED THAT HIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME. THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. NOW IT HAS GONE OUT AGAIN CAUSING HER TO HIT A WALL IN THE GARAGE. THE VEHICLE STARTED PULLING TO THE LEFT AND THE CONSUMER COULD NOT BRING IT BACK. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *NM THE DEALER CLAIMED THEY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE BUT THE INVOICE DIDN'T STATE WHAT WAS REPLACED. *NM

WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *AK

FIRST, THE O/D LIGHT FLASHED. A FEW DAYS LATER, WHIE DRIVING ON THE HIGWAY WITH ALL MY KIDS IN THE VAN, I SAW TONS OF SMOKE COMING FROM BEHIND THE VAN. I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND SAW ALL THE TRANSMISSION FLUID POURING OUT UNDER THE FRONT END. I DROVE TO AN EXIT, CALLED FOR A RIDE HOME (IT TOOK TWO SEPARATE DRIVERS TO COME AND GET ME AND THE KIDS!) AND GOT THE VAN TOWED. THE TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH WENT, AND THEN CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AS WELL--AT 74,000 MILES. EVERY GARAGE I CALLED SAID THAT THIS IS A BAD TRANSMISSION, AND THEY REPLACE/REBUILD IT ALL THE TIME. *AK

WHEN THE CONSUMER MADE A TURN, THE VEHICLE MADE A NOISE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB

TWO PROBLEMS OCCURRED IN ONE MONTH. FIRST, THE POWER STEERING WENT CRAZY. THE FORD DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT WAS LEAKING AND HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY. BUT I WAS NOT SURE BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW IF FORD DEALER WAS TRYING TO RIP ME OFF. THEN I TOOK IT TO CARX IN RACINE, WI TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT. HE SAID SAME THING BUT HE CAN'T FIX IT BECAUSE HE HAD TO ORDER THE PART. THEN I DECIDED TO WAIT AND LEAVE. ABOUT 2 MILES LATER, THE TRANSMISSION BLEW UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING BUT CAN'T DRIVE OR GEAR. I HAD IT TOWED TO TOWNE FORD INC. IN RACINE, WI. THE TOWNE FORD INC SAID THAT HE FOUND THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM WAS ONE OF THE GEARS SNAPPED OFF THE METAL PART. THEY HAD NO IDEA WHY IT HAPPENED. SO, MY OPTION IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION INSTEAD OF SEVERAL PARTS BECAUSE OF THE COST AND WARRANTY COVERAGE. BUT MY VAN ISN'T OLD YET. IT IS 1999 FORD WINDSTAR AND IT HAS 50,000 MILES ON IT. IT IS STILL KIND OF NEW. WHY DID THE TRANSMISSION BLOW UP AT 50,000 MILES? WHAT IS THE LIFE EXPECTANCY ON TRANSMISSION? BY MILES OR AGE? ALSO, WHY DID POWER STEERING GET LEAKING?*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM THE SIDE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER WAS INJURED. *AK

POWER STEERING LEAKING AT STEERING RACK ON 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. APPROX. 63,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. INTIAL INQUIRY WITH MECHANIC; REPLACEMENT OF RACK. VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL REPAIRED, LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT DRIVING SPEEDS CAN CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL. WHAT IS BEING DONE REGARDING THIS PREMATURE FAILURE?*AK

CONSUMER WAS AT A RED LIGHT OF A MAJOR INTERSECTION, HEARD A VERY LOUD EXPLOSION SOUND, AND THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE. TRANSMISSION LITERALLY EXPLODED FOR NO REASON AND NO WARNING. DANGER BECAUSE OF OUR LOCATION CAUSING TRAFFIC PROBLEMS. CAR ONLY HAS 55000 MILES ON IT. WE HAD THE TRANS REBUILT - STEEL PART EXPLODED. COSTING CONSUMER $2400. FORD IS NOT WILLING TO HELP OR ACKNOWLEDGE SAFETY PROBLEMS WHEN A CAR JUST DIES - COULD CAUSE MAJOR ACCIDENTS AND INJURY, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO STOP OR DIE NEXT ON YOU. AFRAID TO DRIVE IT NOW WITH MY FAMILY. SECOND TIME IN 4 MONTHS THIS CAR HAS CAUSED PROBLEMS ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE AND INTERSECTION.*AK

STRANGE NOISE COMING FROM VAN WHEN I TURN, RACK AND PINIONS GONE BAD, FORD REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING AND TOLD ME THAT I WOULD NEVER GET ANYTHING FROM THEM FOR REIBURSEMENT OF REPAIRS AND THAT THEY DON'T CARE WHAT THE NHTSA OR GOVERMENT SAY. I ONLY HAVE 36,000 MILES ON MY VAN EVEN THOUGH IT IS A 1999 WINDSTAR THIS SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED. FOR DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THEIR REPUTATION OR PRODUCT OR CONSUMERS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, WITHOUT WARNING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *LA *JB