231 of the
1,949 complaints about the 1998 Ford Windstar are about the
engine — 12% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
84,500 miles.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND VIBRATIONS COMING FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL TURNED INWARDS AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.
NHTSA complaint #10781592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 182,000 milesFort Worth, TX
ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 182,000.
NHTSA complaint #10682592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 144,000 milesCleveland, TN
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH DURING WARM WEATHER, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.
NHTSA complaint #10651449 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 96,769 milesGroveland, IL
ENGINE
WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD @ 55MPH AND THE SPEEDOMETER SHOT TO 0MPH AND THE TRANS WAS THROWN INTO 1ST. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. I AM LOOKING FOR A RESOLUTION. IT ACTS AS IF VSS ISN'T WORKING. EVEN THREW A CODE. I REPLACED THE SENSOR AND CHECKED THE WIRES ALL THE WAY TO THE ECM. EVERYTHING LOOKS QUITE GOOD. RAN A SCANNER. PICKED UP SEVERAL CODES. VSS AND ABS SENSORS ALL AROUND. PULLED CLUSTER: EVERYTHING LOOKED GREAT. THE ONLY FAULT I CAN THINK OF IS ECM UNLESS ABS SYSTEM HAS THE ABILITY TO AFFECT THE DRIVE LIKE THAT.
NHTSA complaint #10592615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 155,000 milesAiken, SC
ENGINE
MY WINDSTAR HAS ABOUT 155,000 MILES ON IT AND A 25 GALLON TANK. ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO IT CUT OFF ON THE INTERSTATE IN FRONT OF A TRACTOR TRAILER WITH MY DAUGHTER DRIVING. IT HAD JUST TRAVELED ABOUT 200 MILES AND IT WAS RAINING HARD. WE HAD IT TOWED TO A FORD DEALER AND ALL HE REPORTED WAS THE FUEL PUMP FUSE BLEW. THE SECOND EVENT WAS ON VACATION AND AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 175 MILES. AGAIN IT WAS POURING DOWN RAIN. I FIGURED IT WAS MOISTURE RELATED AND LET IT SIT THREE DAYS AND THE IDLE CLOSE TO 1/2 HOUR. FINALLY I DROVE IT ABOUT 45 MINUTES AND IT SEEMED FINE SO WE DROVE HOME. AGAIN AT ABOUT 150 MILES AND HEAVY RAIN IT BLEW THE FUSE ABOUT 5 MILES FROM HOME. AFTER TWO MORE FUSES WE MADE IT HOME. I USED AN AIR COMPRESSOR AND AIR NIBBLER TO CAREFULLY CUT AN ACCESS HOLE IN THE FLOOR OF THE VAN. MY DAUGHTERS CHRYSLER COMES WITH AN ACCESS POINT FOR FUEL PUMP SERVICE. NOW MY VAN HAS ONE TOO. THE ORIGINAL PUMP WAS IN THE TANK. THE WIRES EXPOSED TO FUEL WERE CHAFFED IN 5 SPOTS AND ARCING AT THE PUSH IN CONNECTOR. THE ARCING WAS DUE TO A CRIMP ON A HOSE CLAMP RUBBING THE WIRE NEAR THE PUSH IN PUMP CONNECTOR. THIS RUBBING MAY HAPPEN DUE TO OTHER STORIES I'VE READ ABOUT WHERE THE TANK COLLAPSED FROM VACUUM IN THE TANK. SHAME ON THE PEOPLE WHO DESIGNED THIS PUMP, TANK AND THE ASSEMBLY PROCESS. BY THE WAY I'M A QUALITY ENGINEER AT AN ENGINE FACTORY. I EXPECT A FUEL PUMP TO WEAR OUT -- NOT SHORT OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10533315 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 126,131 milesNicholasville, KY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER HAVING REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V385000 (SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY), THE VEHICLE WOULD START JERKING VIOLENTLY FROM THE REAR TO THE FRONT WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS ABOVE 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BALL JOINTS, BUSHING, INTAKE GASKETS, SPARK PLUGS, AND LOWER CONTROLS ARMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE ALREADY PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,131 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 127,000.
NHTSA complaint #10455127 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 195,000 milesGresham, WIFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND INSPECTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT NOTICED A FLAME COMING FROM THE ALTERNATOR. THE CONTACT USED WATER TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAME. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ALSO REPORTED TO THE SCENE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 195,000.
NHTSA complaint #10451413 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
OAK Park, MI
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES BUT THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED INTO THE FLOORBOARD ABNORMALLY WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT ONCE HE TURNED ON THE HEATER, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200,816.
NHTSA complaint #10435608 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 137,773 milesMerced, CAFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ON JULY 3, 2010, I WAS DRIVING MY 1998 FORD WINDSTAR VAN WITH MY FAMILY. WHILE WAITING FOR A TRAFFIC SIGNAL TO CHANGE, WE OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE VAN. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. THE SMOKE CONTINUED TO GET WORSE UNTIL FLAMES APPEARED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS SUMMONED BUT THE VAN WAS EVENTUALLY DESTROYED BY FIRE BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD PUT OUT THE FIRE. PRIOR TO THIS EVENT, THE VAN WAS RUNNING SMOOTHLY. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGES WERE NORMAL AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ANY MALFUNCTION.
NHTSA complaint #10345784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,130 milesHighland Park, IL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1998 FORD WINDSTAR, 3.8 ENGINE. I HAVE PROBLEMS IT STARTED STALLING WHEN I STOPPED AT A LIGHT OR STOP, SUDDENLY THE CAR STOPPED. ALSO WHEN IT WAS IN THE PARKING . MECHANIC MADE THE TUNE-UP BUT STILL DOING SO, NOW IT IS DOING A WHITE CLOUD OF STEAM, IF I ACCEL, IT COMES WORST, SHOULD I WAIT FOR A RECALL OR IT'S A NORMAL PROBLEM?
NHTSA complaint #10295028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 184,347 milesMemphis, TNFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE PARKING HE SMELLED A BURNING ODOR, AND THEN SAW FLAMES INSIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HE WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE HIMSELF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND HE WAS ADVISED TO CALL NHTSA BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 184,347.
NHTSA complaint #10293312 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Elgin, ILFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
OUR 1998 FORD WINDSTAR VAN ERUPTED IN FIRE WHILE OFF AND PARKED IN DRIVE WAY. IT HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN THAT DAY. THE FIRE BEGAN IN THE DASH ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND SPREAD SO QUICKLY THAT THE VAN WAS A TOTAL LOSS.
NHTSA complaint #10287375 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 140,000 milesBrandenburg, KYFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ON JUNE 13TH, 2009, MY 1998 FORD WINDSTAR VAN CAUGHT FIRE FROM UNDER THE HOOD CAUSING A TOTAL LOSS OF THE VEHICLE AND DAMAGE TO THE HOUSE. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THERE IS A RECALL OF THIS PARTICULAR MAKE AND MODEL RELATING TO ELECTRICAL FIRES UNDER THE HOOD. I WANT FORD TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGE AND THE LOSS OF MY VEHICLE. ABOUT 5500 HUNDRED DOLLARS.
NHTSA complaint #10287436 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 138,000 milesLubbock, TXFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY WIFE ATTEMPTED TO START 1998 FORD WINDSTAR WHEN SMOKE BEGAN TO ISSUE FROM BENEATH THE HOOD. SHE IMMEDIATELY REMOVOVED HERSELF AND DOG WHEREUPON THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE AND SUBSEQUENTLY EXPLODED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES BUT EVERYTHING FOWRWARD OF THE FIREWALL WAS MELTED DOWN. THE WINDSHIELD HAD EXPLODED AND THE INTERIOR SUFFERED SMOKE DAMAGE. EVERYTHING IN FRONT OF THE FIREWALL WAS AN ENTIRE LOSS. THIS REPORT IS FILED AFTER LEARNING THAT NHTSA IS INVOLVED IN INVESTIGATION OF MORE THAN 130 OTHER REPORTS OF A SIMILAR NATURE. WE WISH TO LEARN IF THERE IS ANY RECOURSE OR CLASS ACTION SUIT AVAILABLE TO US.
NHTSA complaint #10238619 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wichita, KS
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BRAKE MALFUNCTION, DISPLAY OF "SERVICE ENGINE SOON".
NHTSA complaint #10232444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 133,549 milesDenver, CO
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I OWN AN 1998 WINDSTAR 3 LITER ENGINE. ON APRIL 16,2008 I PARKED MY CAR (NOSE DOWN HILL) DURING A RAIN STORM. LATER THAT EVENING I NOTICE THE RUNNING LIGHTS WERE ON AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF. I THEN UNHOOKED THE BATTERY. THE NEXT MORNING I JUMP STARTED THE CAR AND DROVE IT BRIEFLY TO RECHARGE THE BATTERY AND NOTICED A SMELL OF HOT OR BURNING WIRES. I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED POOLING WATER IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AFTER THE ENGINE DRIED COMPLETELY THE SMELL WENT AWAY. WHILE NO FIRE RESULTED I WAS EXTREMELY CONCERNED. I READ THE STORY CONCERNING YOUR INVESTIGATION OF THE WINDSTAR AND THOUGHT IT RELEVANT.
NHTSA complaint #10228278 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 220,000 milesSylva, NCFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TWO WEEKS AGO OUR 1998 FORD WINDSTAR MINIVAN, WITH 220,000 MILES ON IT, CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD WHILE PARKED, AND WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED. WE HAD BEEN CAREFULLY FOLLOWING THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY. DURING THE WEEK BEFORE THE FIRE, WE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE INTERIOR LIGHTS NOT ALWAYS TURNING OFF WHEN WE EXITED THE VAN.
NHTSA complaint #10215513 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Iowa City, IAFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
NO PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSTAR BEFORE THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNATTENDED WHEN THE OWNER WAS ALERTED BY OTHER RESIDENTS THAT IT WAS ON FIRE. THE SMOKE WAS WHITE IN COLOR AND COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT AREA OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AT THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, THE FIRE HAD MADE ITS WAY THROUGH THE FIRE WALL INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE INVESTIGATOR DETERMINED THE FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED IN THE FRONT LEFT CORNER OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT EVIDENT BY THE HEAVIER BURNING IN THAT AREA THERE IS A V-PATTERN NOTED ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE RADIATOR POINTING TO THE CENTER OF THE ENGINE. THE FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE BREACHED THE FIRE WALL AT THE AREA WHERE THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS AND STEERING COLUMNS COME THROUGH INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. CAUSE WAS RULED UNDETERMINED.
NHTSA complaint #10208131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 76,000 milesSilver BAY, MN
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED AND WAS REPLACE 3 TIMES. AGAIN IT IS SHOT. THIS CAUSES THE VAN TO STALL AND HAVE EXTREMELY HIGH IDLE. CAUSES TO STALL USUALLY WHILE STOPPED, SOMETIMES HESITATES UPON ACCELERATION. ALSO: HAD TO PULL ABS FUSE DUE TO PEDAL NOT DEPRESSING. WORKS EXCELLENT WITHOUT ABS. ALSO:TRANSMISSION DOESN'T UPSHIFT WHEN ACCELERATING AT HIGH SPEEDS/RPM'S. HAVE TO LET OFF GAS AND REPRESS FOR VAN TO SHIFT TO NEXT GEAR.
NHTSA complaint #10206607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hyattsville, MD
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
FORD WINDSTAR THROWING PERSISTENT SES LIGHT P0740. THIS WAS COMMON WITH ALMOST MOST WINDSTARS. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THE MANIFOLDS/GASKET. ROUGH RIDE AND STALLING AT DANGEROUS POINTS.
NHTSA complaint #10191579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 74,000 milesPainesville, OH
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY HEAT WOULDN'T COME ON SOMETIMES, THEN THE HOT LIGHT CAME ON. HAD IT IN THE SHOP 2 TIMES, EVERYTIME SAID IT WAS FINE, ONLY CHANGING OUT TEMP GAUGE. DEC 2005 3RD TIME TOOK IT IN, SAME PROBLEM ONLY OIL LIGHT WOULD ALSO FLICKER AT LOW IDLE PULLING INTO PARKING SPOT. TOOK IT BACK IN AND TOLD THEM THEY HAD TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG, IT HAD BEEN GOING ON TOO LONG. TOLD THEN HEAVY RESIDUE ON OIL CAP, COULD SEE DARK MARKS AROUND EXHAUST PIPE. LOOSING RADIATOR FLUID SLOWLY. I AM NO MECHANIC BUT ALL I RESEARCHED SHOWED HEAD GASKET. TO MAKE STORY BRIEF, THEY TOLD ME SAME DAY ALL WAS OK, COMPUTER READ FINE. I TOLD THEM I WAS NOT SATISFIED AND TO KEEP TESTING. TOOK 3 DAYS, THEN THEY CALL ME TO SAY THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD FAILED. OF COURSE MY EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD ENDED 2 WEEKS BEFORE. THEY CLAIMED I HAD BEEN DRIVING IT WITH NO OIL AND TRIED TO GET ME TO BUY A NEW ENGINE! I HAD BEEN CHECKING THE OIL MYSELF, NEVER RAN LOW. OIL PAN THICK WITH GUNK. I HAD IT IN FOR ALL REG MAINT, WHY WOULD IT HAVE GOTTEN THAT BAD? $3200.00 LATER I HAD NEW HEAD GASKET WATER PUMP, OIL PUMP, AND VARIOUS SEALS AND HOSES. PICKET IT UP, FOLLOWING DAY HAD IT BACK FOR NOT WANTING TO START, ROUGH IDLE. ANOTHER $175.00 LATER I GOT IT BACK. UNHAPPY TO KNOW THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING ISSUE AND MY 98 WINDSTAR, FELL IN THE AGE/MILES TIME FRAME FOR THE ISSUE. KNOWING THAT ONE VAN HAD THIS ISSUE THEY SHOULD HAVE KNOW FROM ALL MY DESCRIPTIONS WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. IF FOUND 2 WEEKS EARLIER IT WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. OIL LIGHT STILL FLICKERS NOW AND THEN WHEN PULLING INTO PARKING SPOT. I WILL NEVER BUT A FORD PRODUCT AGAIN. COMPANY WAS UNWILLING TO WORK WITH ME, GIVE ME ANY BREAKS.
NHTSA complaint #10182200 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Keniwlroth, NJ
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I JUST FOUND OUT THAT MY HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN ON MY 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. I READ UP ON THIS AND SAW THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH FORD AND THEY HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM NOR DO THEY OFFER YOU A SOLUTION TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AT THEIR EXPENSE.
NHTSA complaint #10179309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 3,700 milesCorning, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
I PURCHASED A 1998 WINDSTAR VAN FROM THE FORD DEALER LOCATED IN CORNING CA. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH IT PASSING SMOG FOR THE OXY SENSOR. AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS NEVER WORKED RIGHT. THE TURBO THING IS BAD. WHEN I WENT TO TRADE IT IN I FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF CANADA. AND THESE THINGS WERE PART OF THE RECALLS REPORTED TO YOU. BUT, FORD OF CORNING SAID THEY DID NOTHING TO THIS VAN BEFORE SELLING IT TO ME. I FOUND 14 THINGS WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE. I ACTED UP A MONTH AFTER PURCHASE. BUT I WAS ON AWARE OF MY RIGHTS AS A CONSUMER. ALSO, I WAS NOT SURE WHAT OMS MEANT. THE VAN IS STUCK IN FOLSOM,CA AT AAMCO TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP. FINANCED THROUGH FIRESIDE BANK. FORD OF CORNING SAID THEY DID NOTHING TO THE VAN BEFORE I PURCHASED IT BUT CLEANING IT.
NHTSA complaint #10171845 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Broadview Hts., OH
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE OIL FOUND IN COOLANT. TIMING COVER GASKET FAILURE. LOUD ENGINE KNOCK FROM REAR VALVE BANK- POSSIBLE WRIST-PIN/LOWER INTAKE GASKETS/VALVE PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #10161011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 90,000 milesButler, PA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR IN WHICH I RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE AN OIL PAN BECAUSE THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IT HAD WARPED AND WAS CAUSING AN OIL LEAK ON THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD OF A FAULTY OIL PAN IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WITH THIS PROBLEM?
NHTSA complaint #10153552 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 76,300 milesRockville, MD
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
FOUND LOT OF WHITE SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST. LEFT AT REPAIR SHOP. REPAIR SHOP CALLED AND MENTIONED THAT IT IS HEAD GASKET DAMAGE. THE REPAIR SHOP ALSO MENTIONED THAT HE HAS SEEN LOT OF SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH 3.8 L FORD WINDSTAR GL MINIVANS. NOT SURE WHAT TO DO SINCE IT MIGHT COST ABOUT $2,000 TO FIX.
NHTSA complaint #10146942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Urbana, IL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND VAN WAS RUNNING ROUGH. DIAGNOSTICS INDICATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFORD RUNNER CONTROL VACUUM MOTOR WAS STUCK. VAN WOULD OVERHEAT IF NOT REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10145217 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 97,276 milesSugar Land, TX
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VEHICLE LOSS COOLANT GRADUALLY OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. I NEVER SAW ANY LEAKS UNDER THE VEHICLE. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE CAR WAS ABRUPTLY PULLED OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE WE THOUGHT IT HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE, BUT WE COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE BURNING SMELL, WE ALSO HAD BROUGHT IT TO A MECHANIC ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TO EVALUATE BUT HE COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CULPRIT. THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED ON OCT19TH AND SPRAYED COOLANT AND STEAM WHICH WAS THE FIRST TIME THERE WAS A PHYSICAL INDICATION THAT THERE TRULY WAS A PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS PRESENTLY IN THE SHOP AT MY EXPENSE TO REPAIR THE HEAD GASKET, INTAKE MANIFOLD AND TIMING CHAIN COVER GASKET.
NHTSA complaint #10141665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 7,000 milesTacoma, WA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
SERVICE BULLETIN #01205 OR NHTSA #625715 I HAVE A FORD WINDSTAR GL 1998 I ONLY HAD IT TURN OVER TO 70,000 AND MY ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND I'M GETTING TROUBLE CODE PO 171 AND I'M ALSO NOTICE THAT FUEL GAGE DON'T NOT GO TO THE FULL MARK AND I HAD TO HAVE ALL 4 H2O SENCER REPLACE AND NOW MY ODEMETER AND TRIP METER QUIT WORKING AND I ONLY HAVE 72,000 ON MY VAN IS THERE SOMETHING I CAN DO WITH THESE VECHILE PROBLEMS THAT I SHOULDN'T HAVE WITH SUCH LOW MILES I JUST BOUGHT THE VAN IN AUG 2004 WITH ONLY 56,000 ARE ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS ON THE RECALL LIST . PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN I CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP REPAIRING MY VAN THAT SHOULD BE A RECALL PROBLEM.THANKS FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME
NHTSA complaint #10130271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 101,721 milesIselin, NJ
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1998 FORD WINDSTAR 3.8L ENGINE, HEAD BOLTS STRETCHED CAUSING COOLANT LEAK INTO ENGINE, HEAD GASKET WAS NOT BLOWN SO WYNN'S SERVICE CONTRACT WILL NOT PAY FOR $1800 REPAIR. THIS IS THE SECOND MAJOR EXPENSE, I HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT 80,000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10125598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.