23 of the 1,855 complaints about the 1996 Ford Windstar are about the lighting — 1% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 94,811 miles.
23
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON AFTER OPENING HATCH AND NOW SIDE DOOR. DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYS ON ALWAYS.
NHTSA complaint #10161348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
THE DOME LIGHT AND THE DOOR AJAR SENSOR LIGHT STAYS ON. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THE BATTERY WILL DRAIN COMPLETELY. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *AK THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE WHEN IT WAS STARTED. ONE INJECTOR WAS CHANGED. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THE OTHER FIVE INJECTORS MAY GO BAD. *SC
NHTSA complaint #10117616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS CLEAR PLASTIC LENS. OVER TIME PLASTIC HAS DISCOLORED WHICH DEGRADES LIGHTING . ALSO LAMP ASSEMBLY COLLECTS MOISTURE INSIDE UNIT FURTHER DEGRADING LIGHTING THIS CONDITION PREVALENT NOT ONLY ON MY VEHICLE BUT ALSO ON OTHER CARS I HAVE OBSERVED.
NHTSA complaint #10110480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE 1996 FORD WINDSTAR CONTINUES TO HAVE DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS AS IN 1994 AND 1995 MODELS. THIS LEAD TO ENGINE FAILURE AT 78,000 MILES! THE COST TO REPLACE THE ENGINE PER MILLER FORD WAS 4,778.00. WE PAID 19,000 FOR THIS VEHICLE AND REFUSE TO PAY FOR A NEW ENGINE! THE NASA HAS STATED THE HEAD GASKET SHOULD LAST AT LEAST 120,000 MILES OR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE HAD THIS FORD WINDSTAR WITH A BLOWN ENGINE DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE SINCE LAST DECEMBER, BUT CONTINUE TO MAKE MONTHLY PAYMENTS ON THIS DEAD FORD WINDSTAR. WE PAY TAXES, INSURANCE, AND MONTLY PAYMENTS TO FORD CREDIT FOR THE NEXT 18 MONTHS OR SO. WE JUST DISCONTINUED REGISTRATION FEES AS THE DMV TOLD US WE COULD DO THIS. FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM AND IS NOT STANDING UP TO IT'S COMMITTMENT OF QUALITY CARE TO IT'S CUSTOMERS. I URGE ANYONE WHO IS CONSIDERING BUYING A FORD TO DO THEIR RESEARCH. FORD IS A COMPANY THAT DOES NOT STAND BEHIND IT'S PROMISES. WE WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER FORD ALTHOUGH OUR FAMILY HAS NEVER OWNED ANYTHING BUT UNTIL NOW. FORD WAKE UP!
NHTSA complaint #10071043 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
WHEN ENGINE IS STARTED AND ALL DOORS ARE CLOSED AND LATCHED, THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYS ON AND INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS STAY ON AS WELL AS THE DOOR AJAR CHIME RINGS. THIS IS CONTINUOUS WHILE DRIVING, AND EVENTUALLY TURNS ITSELF OFF. THIS CREATES A HAZARD ESPECIALLY WHILE BACKING AS IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO SEE BEHIND VEHICLE AT DUSK OR DARK. THERE IS NO CONSISTENCY AS TO WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT HAS BEEN FOUND THAT IF A DOOR IS INDEED AJAR, THAT THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT WILL STAY ON, BUT THE DOME LIGHT WILL GO OFF AS WILL THE CHIME.
NHTSA complaint #10064369 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
OUR 1996 FORD WINDSTAR GL, WHICH WE PURCHASED NEW, HAS 118000. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED A BROKEN (BOUNCING) SPEEDOMETER, DOME LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED, ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED, AND MORE RECENTLY, LEAKING COOLANT WHICH IS LINKED TO A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND CHECK ENGINE WARNINGS. THE COST HAS BEEN ASTRONOMICAL. ACCORDING TO MANY OTHER CONSUMERS, ALL OF THESE ISSUES ARE COMMON WITH THE 96 MODEL. PLEASE INVESTIGATE WHETHER FORD INTENDS TO MAKE ANY RECALLS REGARDING THESE ISSUES.
NHTSA complaint #10051280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
1996 FORD WINDSTAR SWITCHES ARE BAD IN DOORS CAUSING DOOR AJAR LIGHT TO STAY ON. WHEN DRIVING, STAYS ON UNTIL YOU ARE GOING APPROX. 15-18 MILES PER HOUR. THIS IS A HAZARD ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. DUE TO THE GLARE ON THE WINDOWS INSIDE THE VAN. I HAVE WENT TO A DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WOULD BE 400.00 DOLLARS TO FIX IT. I DON'T HAVE 400.00. I WAS ALSO VISITING FAMILY IN INDIANA THIS LAST WEEK AND AN OLD FRIEND OF MINE HAS THE EXACT VAN AND PROBLEM. I CURRENTLY LIVE IN COLORADO AND THOUGHT THAT IT WAS ODD THAT SOMEONE WHO LIVES IN INDIANA HAS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I HAVE WITH OUR WINDSTAR. SO, THEN I DECIDED TO FILE A COMPLAINT. AND MAYBE SOMETHING WILL BE DONE.
NHTSA complaint #10023828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
THE INSIDE COURTESY DID NOT SHUT OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10006949 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
THE LEFT OUTER TIE ROD WAS REPLACE. *YH THE FUEL INJECTOR, TIMING COVER GASKETS AND WIPER BLADES WERE REPLACED. THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT WAS REPLACED . THE SWITCH HEADLIGHT CONTROL WAS REPLACED. THE DRIVERS DOOR AJAR SWITCH WAS REPLACED. UPDATED
NHTSA complaint #565966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
THE LEFT OUTER TIE ROD WAS REPLACE. *YH THE FUEL INJECTOR, TIMING COVER GASKETS AND WIPER BLADES WERE REPLACED. THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT WAS REPLACED . THE SWITCH HEADLIGHT CONTROL WAS REPLACED. THE DRIVERS DOOR AJAR SWITCH WAS REPLACED. UPDATED
NHTSA complaint #565966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
CONSUMER STATES THE RIGHT BRAKE LIGHT, LEFT LICENSE PLATE LAMP BULB, DRIVER'S DOOR AJAR SWITCH FAILED. ALSO THE HEAD LIGHTS GO OFF AT TIMES DUE TO THE HEAD LIGHT SWITCH CONTROL FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #565966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
INTERIOR LIGHT CAME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY, AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING SMOKE WAS COMING FROM HOOD AREA.
NHTSA complaint #8004698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
THE DOME LIGHT ALWAYS STAYED ON.
NHTSA complaint #562713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
DOOR AJAR LIGHT AND COURTESY LIGHT WOULD REMAIN ON AFTER SHUTTING DOORS. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS CONCERNING THAT PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #880441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
DOME LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER STARTING OR CLOSING DOOR - INTERMITTENT PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #740479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
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.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
ENGINE COOLANT NEEDS FILLING EVERY 2-3 DAYS, TRANSMISSION SKIPS, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ALWAYS ILLUMINATED AND INTERIOR DOOR AJAR LIGHT NEVER GOES OFF.
NHTSA complaint #722019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE BRAKE FLUID WAS LOW. YH
NHTSA complaint #551876 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
ELETRICAL SYSTEM SHORTED OUT. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED ONLY WHEN WASHERS WERE BEING USED, DOME LIGHT STAYED ON WHEN DOOR WAS CLOSED AND WON'T GO OFF.
NHTSA complaint #860297 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
BRAKE STOP LIGHT REPLACED. MJS
NHTSA complaint #547654 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
DISC BRAKES ARE WARPING FROM EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILDUP WITHIN THE ABS BRAKES. DEALER CONTACTED, AND STATED THE DESIGN OF CAR HAS SMALL BRAKES. REPAIR WORK DONE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. ALSO, HEADLIGHTS ARE FILLING UP WITH WATER WHEN RAINING, COULD CAUSE MAJOR PROBLEMS/SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #833475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
OUTER HOOD PANEL SEPARATED FROM BODY OF VEHICLE PRIOR TO RECALL (97V-180). IN ADDITION, REPLACED FRONT ELECTRIC DOOR LATCH/MULTIFUNCTIONED WIPER SWITCH/WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH/ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS DUE TO COOLANT LEAK, AND DIFFERENTIAL SEAL.
NHTSA complaint #534624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEAD LIGHT FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #531486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.