38 of the 1,855 complaints about the 1996 Ford Windstar are about the body and structure — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 96,000 miles.
38
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE K FRAME RUSTED OUT WHERE THE CONTROL ARMS MOUNT TO THE FRAME AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MILES PER HOUR ON THE INTERSTATE
NHTSA complaint #10782238 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
COMPLETE BRAKE LOSS WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT WARNING. LUCK HAD IT WE WERE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT WITH A CONCRETE STOP. THE METAL BRAKE LINE LOCATED ABOVE THE GAS TANK RUSTED COMPLETELY. WHILE THE REST OF THE BRAKE LINES LOOK FINE, IT'S THE AREA OF THE BRAKE LINE THAT PASSES OVER THE GAS TANK THAT IS RUSTED. BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF THE GAS TANK, THE LINE ARE HIDDEN FROM NORMAL VIEW OF AN INSPECTION UNLESS THE GAS TANK IS LOWERED. HAD THIS OCCURRED AT A BUSY INTERSECTION OR HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS THIS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED. THE OLD PART IS AVAILABLE. I AM KEEPING THIS AS A REMINDER HOW CLOSE MY FAMILY CAME TO DEATH.
NHTSA complaint #10218554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH HOOD SEPARATED FROM THE HINGES AND BROKE THE WINDSHIELD. DRIVER PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE HOOD WAS REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10059458 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH HOOD SEPARATED FROM THE OUTER PANEL. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER, CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO CONSUMER'S HOME. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED BY RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10059132 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
1996 FORD WINDSTAR, SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTION. SPEED IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE AS THE NEEDLE FLUCTUATES WILDLY. PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED NOW FOR AT LEAST 50,000 MILES , BUT I JUST LEARNED THAT YOU SHOULD BE NOTIFIED SO THAT FORD CAN BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR POOR QUALITY AND NON SUPPORT. AS I WAS ADVISED THAT REPAIR WOULD BE ABOUT 600.00. AS I HAVE A TACH, I SIMPLY USE THIS TO DETERMINE MY SPEED. I WAS NOT ABOUT TO SPEND THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY ON WHAT I CONSIDER A DESIGN FLAW.
NHTSA complaint #10021299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE FRONT FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS LOOSE. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10020275 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE DEALERSHIP NOTICED A CRACK IN THE SUB FRAME. WHICH COULD HAD CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FALL OUT, IF THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10011486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
PAINT FALLING OFF '96 FORD WINDSTAR
NHTSA complaint #10005480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
FORD EXTENDED WARRANTY ON 3.8 L ENGINE FOR 1995 MODEL DUE TO ENGINE FAILURE CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE GASKET SETS. HOWEVER, IS NOT DOING SO FOR LIKE FAILURE ON 1996 MODEL 3.8 L ENGINES. ENGINE SEIZED ON OUR VEHICLE WITH APPROXIMATELY 48000 MILES DESPITE MAINTENANCE AND TIMING CHAIN GASKET SET REPLACEMENT AN APPROXIMATELY $1200 REPAIR. DT
NHTSA complaint #770568 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
TAIL GATE LOCK ACTUATOR INOPERATIVE. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #566034 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE SUB-FRAME BROKE WHERE THE STRUT ARM CONNECTS IN THE FRONT( IN AREA OF THE STRUT ARM BUSHINGS. AT FIRST THOUGHT THAT THE NOISE WAS FROM AT LOOSE HEAT SHIELD. STRUT ARM RATTLES EVERYTIME VAN IECOUNTERS ROUGH PAVEMENT. THE SPEEDOMETER JUST WENT HAYWIRE. NEEDLE BOUNCES ALL OVER THE PLACE. HAVE FOUND OTHER PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET WITH THE SAME SPEEDOMETER PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT BOTH OF THESE FAILURES ARE A SAFTEY ISSUE. FORD MOTOR DOESN'T.
NHTSA complaint #760881 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
VEHICLE IS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE FROM UNDERNEATH HOOD AREA. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARS ON THE DASHBOARD. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #8004529 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS ON DASHBOARD, AND VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ANTFREEZE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK DEALER FOUND HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN, REPLACED HEAD GASKET AND THERMOSTAT, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE AIR CONDITIONING LEAKS, BRAKES MAKING GRINDING SOUND, DEALER FOUND ANTI-LOCK SENSOR FAILED, REAR FENDER IS RUSTED ON PASSENGER SIDE.
NHTSA complaint #8004208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM LOWER PASSENGER'S SIDE OF VEHICLE. AFTER INSPECTING VEHICLE DEALER DETERMINED SUBFRAME WAS CRACKED.
NHTSA complaint #8002772 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
WHILE DRIVING METAL SUPPORT SYSTEM COMPLETELY SPLIT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #899913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
HAD JUST PULLED OUT ONTO THE STREET THEN HEARD A SNAP. CHECKED , AND NOTICED LEFT REAR WHEEL HAD KICKED OUT SIDEWAYS AND WAS HITTING THE MUD FLAP. REAR FRAME HOLDING REAR AXLE HAD BROKEN IN HALF. REAR AXLE NEEDED TO BE STRAPPED UP BEFORE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP.
NHTSA complaint #897517 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
POWER LOCK ON DRIVER SIDE DOESN'T WORK.
NHTSA complaint #741127 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON VEHICLE SPED UP. WHILE GETTING READY TO EXIT OFF THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE STAYED UNDER CRUISE CONTROL MODULE. AS CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN, VEHICLE WAS MOVING 65 MPH WITHOUT ANY CONTROL FROM CONSUMER. IN ORDER TO MAKE VEHICLE STOP CONSUMER HAD TO PRESS BRAKE PEDAL WITH BOTH FEET, AND SHIFT VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL. EVENTUALLY, VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN, AND CONSUMER TURNED VEHICLE OFF, DEALER REPLACED 2 LOCK TABS BECAUSE ONE HAD SLIPPED ON THE CRUISE CAUSING IT TO STAY ON. TRIP SPEEDOMETER WAS REPLACED, IT WOULD NOT GO PAST 799 MILES. AT 30 MPH AND OVER, THE OVER DRIVE LIGHT WILL FLASH. LEFT FRONT WHEEL COVER WAS REPLACED DUE TO IT MAKING TICKING NOISES AT LOWER SPEEDS. SLIDING DOOR SQUEAKED, DEALER LUBED THE SLIDING DOOR. FRONT ROTORS REPLACED AND REAR DRUMS TURNED, A CLICKING NOISE WAS HEARD. *AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint #873955 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
HEAD GASKET LEAKING, MASTER CYLINDER FROZE UP AND CAUSED SMOKE AND DAMAGE TO BRAKE SYSTEM ON 3 WHEELS, ABS LIGHT KEPT COMING ON, IN FOR REPAIRS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND LIGHT WAS DISCONNECTED BY DEALER, ENGINE LIGHT ON: O2 SENSOR REPLACED, SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO REGISTER SPEEDS, DRIVERSIDE WINDOW GOES DOWN WHILE DRIVING, REPLACED BY DEALER, DOOR OPEN LIGHT TURNS ON RANDOMLY, SLIDING DOOR FAILS TO LOCK WITH ELECTRIC LOCKS. WHAT IS GOING TO BE NEXT?
NHTSA complaint #728247 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASING 1)DOOR AJAR LIGHT CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED-ALL DOORS CHECKED NONE AJAR 2) ENGINE CHECK LIGHT OCCASIONALLY COMES ON-HAPPENED RIGHT AFTER PURCHASE AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T FIX PROBLEM 3)OCCASIONALLY POWER WINDOWS/LOCKS AND A/C WILL GO OUT UNLESS ADJUSTABLE FAN SPEED TURNED TO HIGH 4)RECENTLY FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WILL OPEN AT RANDOM USUALLY DURING A TURN-LUCKILY NO ONE SITS IN THAT SEAT 5)SPEEDOMETER WILL OCCASIONALLY FLICKER HIGHER WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 65MPH ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS HAVE SURFACED IN THE PAST 1-1.5 YRS AND HAVE CONTINUED SINCE THEN.
NHTSA complaint #726844 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
QUALIFIED MECHANIC TRIED TO REPAID WITH ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE BUT THIS DID NOT WORK. LOCKS ARE GRINDING CONSTANTLY SO WE WERE FORCED TO DISCONNECT TO AVOID BURNING IT UP. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL SITUATION.
NHTSA complaint #724717 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TRAILING ARM ATTACHED TO THE BODY OF REAR AXLE FRACTURED WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED. NO EVIDENCE OF ANY IMPACT TO THE TRAILING ARM OR BODY OF THE REAR AXLE. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *AK
NHTSA complaint #864467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
WHEN DRIVING DOOR LOCKS AUTOMATICALLY LOCK UP. ALSO, DOOR PANEL WAS RINGING NOISE.
NHTSA complaint #860856 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
WHILE DRIVING OR WHEN VEHICLE IS IN DIFFERENT GEARS , DOOR AJAR CHIME WILL SOUND WHEN THE DOORS ARE ACTUALLY CLOSED. ALSO, THE ABS BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE ABS SYSTEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #859219 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
REOCCURRING/ ONGOING PROBLEM WITH AUTOMATIC LOCK LOCKING ALL DOORS WITHOUT SYSTEM BEING ON. DOOR SHOULD ONLY LOCK WHEN SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, BUT THERE ARE TIMES IT LOCKS ITSELF WITHOUT CAUSE. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER.
NHTSA complaint #841507 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE FRONT SUBFRAME BUSHING ROTTED / CORRODED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA complaint #844160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
FRONT BRAKE ROTORS: DUE TO ROTORS WARPING, THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. ALL HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER ORIGINAL WARRANTY. NOW, MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, AND THEREFORE, I AM STUCK WITH ANY FUTURE PROBLEMS. PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR: RUST WAS FOUND ON INSIDE BOTTOM OF DOOR. IT WAS TEMPORARILY FIXED; DEALER IS WAITING FOR FORD TO APPROVE NEW DOOR TO BE INSTALLED (UNDER ORIGINAL WARRANTY).
NHTSA complaint #709392 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE ELECTRICAL DOOR LOCK FOR THE BACK TAILGATE , DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY LOCK WHEN VEHICLE IS PUT INTO DRIVE. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED.
NHTSA complaint #841282 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
LIGHT FOR DOOR AJAR, COMES ON WHEN DOOR IS CLOSED. WHEN AT STOP LIGHT/SIGN, DOOR CHIMES WOULD SOUND. WHEN SPEEDING UP, CHIMES GO OFF, BUT DOOR AJAR. AND LIGHT STAYS ON. AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. BEEN TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED WILL NOT CHECK UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #837145 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #704900 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.