21 of the
249 complaints about the 1997 Ford Windstar are about the
throttle and cruise control — 8% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
90,051 miles.
D
21
Complaints
1
Crashes
3
Fires
1
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Vehicle Speed Control
1885.7%
Cruise Control
14.8%
Linkages
14.8%
Accelerator Pedal
14.8%
Acceleration & Cruise Control across every Ford Windstar year
MY WINDSTAR GL WOULDN'T START. I REPLACED THE RANGE SELECTOR SWITCH. WHEN I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE I FORGOT THE RECONNECT THE BRAKE PRESSURE SENSOR WIRING CONNECTOR AND THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. I TRIED TO GET THE CODE CLEARED BUT NO-ONE COULD ACCESS THE CODE. I TOOK THE VAN TO THE DEALER FOR A RECALL NOTICE ON THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM AND HAD THEM LOOK INTO WHY THE ABS LIGHT WAS ON. I WAS TOLD THE ABS MODULE HAD QUIT AND NEEDED REPLACED. THE MODULE IS $1500.00 AND $300.00 TO INSTALL. THAT'S MORE THAN THE VAN IS WORTH. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND OUT MANY OTHER WINDSTAR OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM HAS ALSO QUIT AND THE DEALER REP. TELLS ME THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL ALSO GOES THROUGH THIS MODULE. WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF FIRE IT SEEMS RATHER IRRESPONSIBLE FOR FORD TO DO NOTHING MORE THAN INSTALL A FUSIBLE LINK AS A SAFETY MEASURE. I AM LOOKING INTO BUYING A USED MODULE TO REPAIR THE CRUISE AND ABS. THE FAILURE IS TOTAL. NEITHER THE CRUISE CONTROL OR THE ABS SYSTEM WORKS AT THIS TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10349332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Clinton, UT
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAD MY 97 WINDSTAR FAN FIXED DUE TO RECALL # 09S09:SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM MODIFICATION. EVER SINCE THEN THE ABS AND PARKING LIGHTS HAVE BEEN COMING ON. WE HAVE HAD THE CODES RESET, BUT THEY KEEP APPEARING. I HAVE ALSO CALLED THE FORD DEALER WHERE THE REPAIR WAS DONE, BUT THEY SAY IT IS NOT COVERED IN THE RECALL TO CHECK THE SCDS, OR THAT IF IT WASN'T LEAKING THEN, THEY DID NOT HAVE TO REPLACE THAT PART. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED.
NHTSA complaint #10334277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 220,000 milesApex, NCFire
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
OUR 1997 FORD WINDSTAR MINIVAN THAT IS CURRENTLY SUBJECTED TO THE RECALL FOR THE FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH BURNED TO THE GROUND ON FEB 21, 2007 AS THE RESULT FROM A FIRE THAT STARTED IN THE ENGINE AREA.
NHTSA complaint #10289494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 191,000 milesHartselle, AL
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
NOTICED THAT I WAS LEAKING SOME BRAKE FLUID FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS ON MY 1997 FORD WINDSTAR BUT VERY LITTLE AT THAT. ABOUT THE SAME TIME THE CRUISE CONTROL QUIT WORKING. ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED A LOT OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. RAISED THE HOOD BUT THE SMOKE HAD QUIT. GOT BACK HOME AND NOTICED THIS AGAIN WHEN I WAS STOPPED IN THE DRIVEWAY. CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AGAIN AND FOUND THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH WAS SMOKING AND VERY HOT. WENT TO THE FORD DEALER TO CHECK IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS AND THERE WAS NOT . INSTALLED THE REPLACEMENT PART WITH PLUG ADAPTOR AND THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM WITH SMOKING AND THE CRUISE STARTED WORKING AGAIN. NOTICED ON THE NET THIS SAME PART THAT IS IN MY WINDSTAR IS ALSO IN OTHER VEHICLES THAT HAS BEEN RECALLED. WHY IS THIS? THIS COULD HAVE EASILY CAUGHT FIRE AND BEEN A TOTAL LOSS TO THE VAN AND IF IT HAD BEEN PARKED IN THE GARAGE THE HOUSE ALSO.
NHTSA complaint #10227200 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 114,000 milesNorth East, MDFire
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY, AND THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT LOCATED ON THE GEARSHIFT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THIS WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A STRONG SMELL OF SOMETHING ELECTRICAL BURNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SENSOR ON THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE, AND ALSO BURNED THE WIRING HARNESS BETWEEN THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE TRANSMISSION. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE SENSOR ON THE MASTER CYLINDER, ON THE TRANSMISSION, AND THE WIRING HARNESS, WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 05V388000, WHICH PERTAINS TO THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
NHTSA complaint #10175808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 90,102 milesChico, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DRIVING ON INTERSTATE WITH SPEED LIMIT OF 70 MPH... WAS DRIVING ABOUT 77 MPH AT THE TIME... VEHICLE'S FACTORY INSTALLED CRUISE CONTROL WAS IN USE... SPEEDOMETER BEGAN TO FLUCTUATE WILDLY BETWEEN ABOUT 60 MPH AND MAXIMUM (OVER 120 MPH)... VEHICLE'S SPEED REMAINED CONSTANT - TROUBLE WAS JUST WITH THE SPEEDOMETER... VEHICLE HAS 90,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER... 1997 FORD WINDSTAR... SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T FLUCTUATE WILDLY AT MOST SPEEDS OVER 30 MPH... FROM CHECKING ON WEB THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER OWNERS OF FORD WINDSTARS - THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10153795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 75,172 milesBakersfield, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT: THE CONTACT STATES HAS BEEN HAVING SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE SINCE 2002. ON APRIL 28, 2004 THE SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT PROVIDING AN ACCURATE SPEED READING. ON DECEMBER 9, 2004 THE SLIDING DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK OR SLIDE PROPERLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR AND DETERMINED THAT THE SLIDE WHEELS WERE DRY. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE DOOR LATCH, AND NOW IT NEEDED REPLACEMENT AGAIN. ON FEBRUARY 5, 2005 THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED AT 75, 172 MILES, AND ON NOVEMBER 21, 2005 THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. ALL REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE AT CONTACT'S EXPENSE.
NHTSA complaint #10144086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 140,000 milesSAN Angelo, TXFire
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
ON AUGUST 20TH, WHILE IN A REPAIR SHOP HAVING THE MOTORS REPLACED IN THE WINDOWS OF MY FORD WINDSTAR 1997, THERE WAS A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD WHILE THE CAR WAS OFF. THE MECHANIC PUT THE FIRE OUT AND I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC THE SAME DAY. THE CRUISE CONTROL MECHANISM WAS WHAT CAUGHT FIRE. AFTER SEEING MY MECHANIC I CALLED THE FORD HOTLINE AND ASKED ABOUT RECALL INFORMATION. THEY SAID THEY WOULD GET BACK AHOLD OF ME IN TWO DAYS, AND THEY DID NOT. TODAY, AUGUST 30TH, WHILE IN WAL-MART WITH MY CHILDREN I WAS PAGED TO THE PARKING LOT. MY CAR HAD CAUGHT FIRE AGAIN, WHILE OFF AND WITH NO KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE ENGINE WAS DESTROYED, AND LUCKILY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED IN TIME TO PUT THE FIRE OUT BEFORE THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR WAS DESTROYED (CAR SEATS, STROLLERS, ETC.).
NHTSA complaint #10134753 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 53,000 milesWoburn, MA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I OWN A 1997 FORD WINDSTAR GL WITH 53,000 ON THE ODOMETER. THE SPEEDOMETER HAS FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. AT SPEEDS OF 40 MPH AND ABOVE THE SPEEDOMETER FLUCTUATES ERRATICALLY RANGING IN SHOWN SPEEDS OF 60 TO 110 MPH. I HAVE DONE MUCH RESEARCH AND HAVE BECOME AWARE OF THOUSANDS OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS. THIS IS UNCONSCIOUS THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND MAKING A MINT OFF OF THE CONSUMER OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE OF REPAIR. THIS SHOULD BE AN IMMEDIATE SAFETY RECALL OR TSB.
NHTSA complaint #10051513 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 80,000 milesPortageville, MO
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
SPEEDOMETER UNIT IN 1997 WINDSTARS ARE DEFECTIVE. I HAVE HAD MINE REPLACED 4 TIMES WITHIN THE PAST 4 YEARS AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK, JUST SWINGS WILDLY. IT IS UNSAFE AS THE DRIVER DOESN'T KNOW HOW FAST THEY ARE DRIVING. MY FORD DEALER TELLS ME THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH WINDSTARS AND TAURUS BUT NEVER RECALLED.
NHTSA complaint #10014039 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 85,900 milesNorthfield, MN
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN I EXCEED 50 MPH MY SPEEDOMETER FAILS TO KEEP ACCURATE SPEED AND IT "WAVES" WILDLY FROM 20 - 110 MPH. WHEN I CONTACTED MY FORD DEALERSHIP THEY "HAD NEVER HEARD OF THAT BEFORE", BUT WHEN I DID A LITTLE MORE RESEARCH I FOUND AT LEAST 50 MORE COMPLAINTS. I CONTACTED THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY DIRECTLY TO SEE WHY THERE HAD NOT BEEN A RECALL ON WHAT APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT BECAUSE ALL PROBLEMS OF THIS NATURE INVOLVED ONLY THE 96-98 FORD WINDSTAR MODELS. THEY INFORMED ME THEY KNEW OF THE PROBLEM BUT ONLY THE NHTSA COULD INITIATE A RECALL. I HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS AND I DOUBT OTHER OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES DO, EITHER OR THERE WOULD BE MORE COMPLAINTS. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10010330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Portageville, MO
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DEFECTIVE SPEEDOMETER UNITS IN 1997 FORD WINDSTARS.I HAVE HAD MY SPEEDOMETER REPLACED 3 TIMES AND IS IN NEED OF ANOTHER. THE DEALER TOLD ME THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSTARS AND THE TAURUS.YOU CAN NOT JUDGE HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE.ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU REPLACE THE UNIT AND IT KEEPS NEEDING TO BE REPLACED.CAN IT BE RECALLED?
NHTSA complaint #10003593 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Stephenson, MI
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SPEEDOMETER ERRATIC. WHEN DRIVING AT 55 (I THINK) THE NEEDLE BOUNCES BETWEEN 4O AND 110. PROBLEM STARTED AT AROUND 35,000, CORRECTED ITSELF FOR A WHILE AND NOW IS BACK AND MUCH WORSE. SPEEDOMETER IS USELESS. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD.
NHTSA complaint #765574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Suffolk, VA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ERRATIC SPEEDOMETER (EG SPEEDOMETER MOVING TO 80 WHILE VEHICLE PARKED).
NHTSA complaint #740981 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Irmo, SC
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE SURGES FOWARD WHILE DRIVING, AND AT THE SAME IT WILL SPUTTER AND STALL OUT. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON , CAUSE IS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #879994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Edwardsville, IL
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1996 WINDSTAR WAS AT A STOP THEN VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH AND /OR INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #846185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lexington, SC
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE GOES INTO NEUTRAL EVEN THOUGH THE SHIFT INDICATOR IS IN THE DRIVE POSITION. WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE MOVES UNEXPECTEDLY AFTER APPLYING GAS. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #842182 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lexington, SC
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
FORD HAS A TSB 98-22-1 REGARDING A FALSE NEUTRAL AFTER DRIVING. HERE IS WHAT HAPPENS- VEHICLE IS STOPPED IN DRIVE. WHEN THROTTLE IS REAPPLIED THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES DOESN'T MOVE. BUT, IT SOMETIMES ABRUPTLY DROPS BACK INTO DRIVE. THIS HAS CAUSED A SUDDEN UNEXPECTED LURCHING FORWARD COMPLETE WITH TIRE SQUEALING. IT WOULD BE VERY LIKELY TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IN STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC WITH THIS DEFECT. FORD ADMITS THIS DEFECT, THEY JUST DON'T WANT TO FIX IT AFTER 3/36K WARRANTY.
NHTSA complaint #707846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
River Falls, WICrash1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY WINDSTAR ACCELERATED FROM A COMPLETE STOP AND SMASHED THROUGH OUR GARAGE DOOR VEHICLE STOPPED WHEN WE HIT THE FRONT WALL OF THE GARAGE. I DON'T KNOW IF THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK OR DRIVE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I HAD STOPPED TO LOOK FOR THE GARAGE DOOR OPENER. I COULD NOT STOP THE VERHICLE AS IT TOOK OFF AND DO NOT KNOW HOW FAST WE WERE GOING EXCEPT IT WAS VERY FAST AND THERE ARE BIG SKID MARKS ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. MY TWO KIDS WERE IN THEIR CAR SEATS IN THE BACK AND I WAS DRIVING. I BROKE MY HAND & HAD SOME BRUISES. THE KIDS WERE FINE. WE DON'T YET HAVE A MECHANIC'S REPORT SO I CAN'T BE SURE WHAT PART FAILED. IT MAY NOT BE THE ENGINE AS INDICATED ABOVE.
NHTSA complaint #706636 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chicago, IL
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHEN IN CRUISE CONTROL, STEPPED ON ACCELERATOR TO ENGAGE PASSING GEAR, THE PASSING GEAR WOULD NOT DISENGAGE, DRIVER WAS ABLE TO COAST TO SIDE OF ROAD SAFELY IN NEUTRAL.
NHTSA complaint #815514 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Spotswood, NJ
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #516963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.