1999 FORD WINDSTAR Complaints

WHILE DRIVING MY 1999 WINSTAR THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT CAME ON, SO I LOOKED IN MY REARVIEW MIRROR AND SAW SMOKE COMMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. SO, I PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STOP, TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING OUT. MY WINSTAR VAN BROKE DOWN OUT SIDE OF NASHVILLE, TN WITH 70,401 MILES ON IT. THE COSTS AT JOHN BARKER'S TWO RIVERS FORD IN NASHVILLE WAS $2017.81.*AK

THE FRONT SEAT BELTS GET LIGHTLY PINCHED BETWEEN THE INTERIOR DOOR PANELS LOWER STORAGE BIN AND THE CARPET ON THE FLOOR. THIS CAN CAUSE SOMEONE TO THINK THAT THEIR SEAT BELT IS ON CORRECTLY WHEN IN FACT IT IS NOT PROVIDING THEM ANY PROTECTION AT ALL. THE 12-18" OF EXCESS SLACK THAT IS CAUGHT BETWEEN THE INTERIOR DOOR PANEL AND THE CARPET COULD ALLOW A PERSON TO NOT BE SECURED TIGHTLY IN PLACE DURING AN ACCIDENT.*AK

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION AND RACK AND PINION.*MR THE RACK AND PINION TYPE GEAR HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 71,900 MILES. ONE MONTH LATER WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CONSUMER STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A NEAR BY MECHANIC SHOP WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. *JB *NM

WAS DRIVING 40 MPH, THE RIGHT SIDE SLIDING DOOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE DRIVER MANAGED TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF ROAD AND GOT OUT THE OF VEHICLE. ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS PASSING BY AND STOPPED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE . THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH THE SLIDING DOORS. *AK THE FIRE DEPT BELIEVED THE DOOR LOCK MOTOR CAUSED THE FIRE. *JB *NM

HEATER BOX DOOR, PLASTIC? LOCKED IN A/C MODE NO HEAT OR DEFROST CAPABILITY. DEALER SAID NEEDS TO REPLACE BOX TO FIX LITTLE DOOR - PLENUM ? BLEND DOOR / $1000 NEED DEFROST MECHANISM IN NEW ENGLAND FOR COLD WEATHER. FAILURE ON HIGHWAY A DISASTER WAITING TO KILL SOMEONE. *LA

WE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION ON OUR 99 WINDSTAR 4 WEEKS AGO...TWO DAYS AGO THE POWER STEERING STARTED GRINDING AND WE BROUGHT IT IN FOR REPAIRS...REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP WITHIN 30 MILES OF THE DEALER THE NOISE IN THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK AND AFTER PAYING $800.00 FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP THEY WANT TO NOW CHARGE US $600.00 TO REPLACE THE RACK...IN THE LAST 4 WEEKS THE REPAIRS ON THE WINDSTAR HAVE BEEN OVER $4000.00... THIS ON A VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 70,000 MILES...I HAVE PAGES OF WINDSTAR OWNER COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME NATURE...THE TRANSMISSION AND THE POWER STEERING ON THE WINDSTAR IS FAULTY AND I HOPE FORD LISTENS...THIS WILL BE THE LAST FORD WE PURCHASE! *LA

WE BOUGHT OUR 1999 WINDSTAR IN 2002 WITH ONLY 27,000 MILES ON IT; FROM THE BEGINNING THE POWER STEERING WOULD GROAN AND MAKE NOISES. WE COMPLAINED ABOUT IT TO SEVERAL SHOPS, BUT WE WERE ASSURED THAT IT WAS "NORMAL." YESTERDAY THE POWER STEERING NOISE WAS VERY LOUD AND CONSTANT AND THERE WAS DIFFICULTY STEERING. TODAY THE STEERING WENT COMPLETELY OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO WORK. THE REPAIR SHOP SAYS IT IS THE RACK AND PINION. *LA

AFTER ENTERING OUR DRIVEWAY, THE CONNECTING PIECE BETWEEN THE REAR WHEELS BROKE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE TIRES. WITH ONLY 52,000 MILES THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR OUT ON THE HIGHWAY, MAJOR INJURIES AND POSSIBLE DEATHS COULD RESULT. *AKEVERYONE, PLEASE INSPECT YOUR 1999 WINDSTAR.*AK

1999 FORD WINDSTAR. ONLY 60,000 MILES, RACK AND PINION IS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID ON BOTH SIDES. VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX, AND SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING WITH SO FEW MILES ON IT. VEHICLE BECOMES VERY HARD TO STEER, WHEN SITTING AT A STORE AND YOU COME OUT, IT IS HARD TO STEER TO GET IT HOME. *LA

CONSUMER NOTICED ABOUT THREE DAYS AGO THAT THE RIGHT SEAT BELT ON THE MIDDLE BENCH SEAT DID NOT LATCH. THE CONSUMER WILL CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. *AK THE SEAT BELT DID NOT ALWAYS LATCH. THE CONSUMER DID NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO SIT IN THE SEAT. *SCC *JB