1998 Ford Windstar equipment problems

EQUIPMENT

10/16/15 BOUGHT VAN. 10/30/15 STOP HAD TOWED HOME.CALL DEALERSHIP HAD TOWED TO THERE PLACE. THEY RAN A RED WIRE FROM FUSE RELAY TO INSIDE OF DASHBOARD TOOK OVER A WEEK GOT IT BACK. NOT IN EVEN WEEK LATER TRANSMISSION START MESSING UP TOLD THEM WOULDN'T CHANGE GEARS. IT WENT OUT. THEY DIDN'T WANT TO FIX IT FILE COMPLAINT WITH (DMV) INVESTIGATOR GOT IN TOUCH WITH THEM AGREEMENT WAS THEY WILL HAVE IT FIX WE DONT PAY LABOR, WE JUST PAY FOR TRANS AND FLUIDS. HAD IT TOWED THEY BEEN HAD VAN YEAR. 10/2016 THEY FOUND TRANS COST 515.PAID THEM. THEN IN 11/2016 SAID RADIATOR WAS CRACKED WE HAD TO PAY 102.84 ANOTHER MONTH 12/26/2016 GOT VAN. ITS MESSED UP SMOKING BRAKES BURNT UP.THE SPEEDOMETER LINES UNDER VAN NOT CONNECT JUST HANGING DONT MATCH UP ONE BROKE AT THE END. THE ODOMETER NOT HOOK UP. TOLD THEM THEN CARRIED TO INSPECTION FAILED. MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT THEY LIED THE TRANS COST 250 THE GUY THAT WAS WORKING ON IT BUSTED RADIATOR BUSTED IT THEY DIDNT TELL US. THEY RESPONSIBLE .THE MILES HAVE BEEN ROLLED BACK.2 TIMES. 10/15/2015 SAYS 144448.NOW 01/02/17 SAYS 144208. THEY BEEN HAD A YEAR AND THE ODOMETER DISCLOUSUER STATEMENT WAS SIGNED BY THE LADY NOT ME ARE MY WIFE.SHE SAID SHE DIDN'T BUT DID. WANT GIVE US MONEY BACK AND THEY PUT ALL THE INVOICES IN HIS NAME AND DEALERSHIP NAME LIKE WE DIDN'T PAY FOR ANYTHING AND SHE STILL WANT GIVE ME A INVOICE FOR THE 515 FOR TRANS. THE MAN GOING TO TELL ME PUT IT UP FOR SALE CANT THEY MESSED IT UP AND TOOK ALL OUR MONEY WE ONLY GET PAID ONCE A MONTH. WANT OUR MONEY BACK.

NHTSA complaint #10954533 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

SOME TYPE OF COMPUTER CHIP FAILED THAT ENABLE THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT GEARS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS REPAIRED AT NO COST TO ME. WE WERE TOLD BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT A RECALL WAS DONE ON THE PART. HOWEVER I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED, THE AMOUNT OF THE REPAIR WAS UNKNOWN. NOW THE PAINT IS FALLING OFF & RUSTING EVERYWHERE! STARTED TO RUST ON TOP OF THE VAN ROOF THEN PAINT STARTED "CHIPPING" ON THE ROOF SIDE, WAS SMALL AT FIRST THEN ONE DAY WE HAD A LOT OF RAIN AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN AT THE END OF THE DAY I NOTICED A LOT MORE PAINT MISSING. I TAKE EXCELLENT CARE OF MY VEHICLE AND THIS IS NOT USUAL FOR ANY OF MY CARS.

NHTSA complaint #10069262 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

A/C OCT. 99 $168.98, DEC. 99 $134.40 SUSPENSION JULY 01 $664.61, DEC. 99 $515.85, JUN 01 $61.78, BODY JUN 01 $443.61 OTHER CD PLAYER JUN 01 $19.50 AND $366.86 TURN SIGNAL JAN 02 $161.04 DOME LIGHT JAN 02 $84.02 JAN 02 $89.72 DOOR OCT 99 $134.52, MAR 03 $285.07 STEERING SEPT.02 $258.82, MAR. 03 569.32 COMPUTER CONTROLS SEPT. 00 $106.02 ENGINE JAN 02 $784.75 COOLANT SMELL (FOUND FRONT COVER GASKET LEAKING) SEPT. 02 85.95 (TOLD THROTTLE BODY WORN OUT, SOLD ME UPDATE COMPUTER SOFTWARE, SEAMS TO RUN BETTER) CURRENTLY IN SHOP FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND A/C SYSTEM INTERMITTENT. MECHANIC FOUND ENGINE PROBLEM, SAYS MAIN BEARINGS OR CRANKSHAFT BAD, POSSIBLY DUE TO COOLANT IN OIL SYSTEM FROM JANUARY 02 PROBLEM

NHTSA complaint #10070335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT

CONSUMER RECEIVED SEVERAL RECALL/ CAMPAIGN NOTICE 03E003000 REGARDING DS-2000 PRIMARY DRIVING CONTROL SYSTEM. CONSUMER DID NOT AGREE WITH THE CAMPAIGNS THAT THE MANUFACTURER CALLED ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THESE REPAIRS WERE VERY COSTLY, AND DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM WITH DIRT AND FOREIGN MATERIALS ENTERING THE SYSTEM ,AND CAUSING THE SYSTEM TO OPERATE SLOWLY. THE CONTROLS ON THE SYSTEM HAD TO BE PRESSED FIRMLY UNTIL THE FUNCTION, E.G., SHIFTING WAS ACCOMPLISHED.

NHTSA complaint #10055493 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT

TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIME AND IS GOING AGAIN. DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO?

NHTSA complaint #10045550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

LOSS OF FRONT RIGHT WHEEL WHILE DRIVING.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE SEPARATION CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FENDER. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THE WHEEL IN QUESTION SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF INAPPROPRIATE CLAMPING FORCE TO THE ASSEMBLY. IT ALSO APPEARED THAT THE LACK OF CLAMPING FORCE WAS THE RESULT OF AN UNDER TORQUED WHEEL OR A WHEEL AND A BRAKE ROTOR COMBINATION THE WAS INAPPROPRIATELY SEATED. THE REAR WIPERS WERE DEFECTIVE AND THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS INOPERATIVE. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10033847 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

FORD 1998 WINDSTAR POWER TRAIN FAILURE. IN JAN 1999, I PURCHASE A USED 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. ALSO PAID FOR A 72 MONTH/60,000 PREMIUM CARE EXTENDED WARRANTY. IN 2000, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ALMOST CAUSING AND ACCIDENT. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER THAT I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK MORE THAN 5 TIMES STATING THAT THE NEW REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE TRANS WOULD SLIP COMING OUT OF FIRST GEAR AND BANG INTO 2ND GEAR. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY THE CAR WOULD STALL WHEN DOWNSHIFTING COMING OFF AN EXIT. THE DEALER, SPRINGFIELD FORD, STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. ON JULY 18, 2003 THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE JUST STOPPED AND WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. AS A DISABLED INDIVIDUAL THIS WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. WITH MY FLASHERS ON, I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, AND DRIVE OFF THE ROAD AND SAFELY PACK IT. THIS SEEMED STRANGE THAT I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SPRINGFIELD FORD ON JULY 18, 2003. THE DEALER CALLED AND SAID THAT MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND IT WOULD COST $3000.00 TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION. I SPOKE WITH FORD AND THE MANAGER AT SPRINGFIELD FORD. THEY STATED THAT MY WARRANTY EXPIRED IN JUNE OF 2003. I BELIEVE THAT MY WARRANTY IS IN EFFECT THRU 2005. THIS VEHICLE HAS 47,000 MILES ON IT. I BELIEVE THAT A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED IN MY VEHICLE. THIS HAS CREATED A MAJOR SAFTY ISSUE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY. AS OF TODAY FORD HAS NOT OFFERED TO FIX MY CAR, OFFER ME A LOANER CAR, OR OFFER ANY RESOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. AS A DISABLED INDIVIDUAL, THIS VAN IS MY MAIN TRANSPORTATION AND FAMILY CAR. I AM STILL WAITING FOR FORD TO OFFER TO FIX MY CAR, DESCRIBE THE FAILURE, AND PROVIDE A SOLUTION. AT THIS POINT I BELIEVE THAT THE ENTIRE POWER TRAIN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WITH OEM CERTIFIED NEW PARTS INSTALLED AND PAID BY FORD MOTOR CO. THANK YOU L

NHTSA complaint #10030516 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

REAR AIR WILL NOT WORK.

NHTSA complaint #10023610 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT

1998 FORD WINDSTAR I HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT TIE ROD ENDS REPLACED TWICE WITH ONLY 47K MILES. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND TALKING TO REPAIR GARAGES THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH WINDSTAR VANS. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10023498 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

AIR CONDITIONER FAN FAILED DUE TO A/C CONDENSOR FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #567129 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THERE WAS A BAD ODOR COMING FROM VENT AREA. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER STATES AFTER TURNING ON THE AIR CONDITION OR OPENING THE VENT CONTROL THERE IS AN ODOR

NHTSA complaint #8016751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

THIS HEAD GASKET PROBLEM LOOK LIKE FORD KNEW ABOUT IT AS EARLY AS 1995 WITH SOME OF ITS OTHER VEHICLES. DOESN'T SEEM FAIR TO ME.

NHTSA complaint #757211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

POWER STEERING LINE MALFUNCTIONED WHILE DRIVING, RENDERING VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO STEER, DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE.*AK CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS NOT COOLING, THERE WAS A LOOSE CONNECTION AT COMPRESSOR, THE DOORS WOULD NOT LOCK, THE POWER DOOR ACTUATOR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE DOORS NOT WORKING, WINDOWS WOULD NOT GO DOWN BECAUSE OF A BAD WINDOW MOTOR.

NHTSA complaint #888826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK

FIRST THE INTERIOR LIGHT STAY ON AND BLINDS DRIVER AT NIGHT THE DASH LIGHTS FOR DOOR OPEN SHOWS ALL 4 DOOR ARE OPEN BUT THEY ARE CLOSED. IN ADDITION THE SPARE TIRE HOIST WILL NOT GO UP AND BEING THAT THIS PART IS NOT USED BUT FOR EMERGENCIES AND PROPER STORAGE OF AN EMERGENCY ITEM I FEEL THE PART SHOULD LAST FOR MANY YRS.

NHTSA complaint #744296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #743841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKE. WAS ABLE TO GET VEHICLE ON THE SHOULDER. DEALER REPLACED FRONT COIL SPRING.*AK THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS PUNCTURED BY THE BROKEN SPRING. THE JACK FAILED WHILE RAISING THE VEHICLE TO CHANGE THE TIRE.

NHTSA complaint #875492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

THE IGNITION STOPPED AND THIS IS LATER THAN THE REPORTED IGNITION PROBLEMS REPORTED IN THE DETROIT FREE PRESS ON 9-14-00. WHEN THE CAR WENT IN FOR WARRANTY WORK, FORD CLAIMED THAT IT WAS JUST A "COMPUTER PROBLEM." WHEN DRIVING A NEW CAR, I DON'T ENJOY HAVING THE CAR STOP FOR NO REASON, ESPECIALLY IN TRAFFIC. THIS IGNITION PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE OCCURRING IN LATER MODEL CARS AS MY WINDSTAR IS A 1998. I ALSO HAVE A DISGUSTING SMELL THAT EMANATES FROM THE HEATER/AIRCONDITIONER WHICH HAS BEEN REPORTED NUMEROUS TIMES AND HAS NOT EVER BEEN REPAIRED. THEY PUT IN DEODORIZER, BUT THE SMELL STILL REEKS WHEN THE HEAT OR AIR CONDITIONING IS PUT ON AT ANY LEVEL. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?

NHTSA complaint #734417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

1. TRANSMISSION: THE VEHICLE WOULD ACT AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL AFTER COMING TO A STOP. SOMETIMES THIS WOULD HAPPEN RIGHT AS I PULLED INTO AN INTERSECTION, LEAVING ME IN THE PATH OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC WITH NO POWER. 2. A/C: THE CONTROL MODULE FAILED TO ENGAGE THE A/C BUT STILL CYCLED THE IDLE SPEED. THIS WAS DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE BRAKING REQUIRED TO HOLD THE VEHICLE AT A STOP WAS INSUFFICIENT WHEN THE IDLE RANDOMLY SURGED TO HIGH. BOTH FAILURES HAD POTENTIAL TO CAUSE ACCIDENT BUT WERE REPAIRED BEFORE ANY INCIDENT OCCURRED.

NHTSA complaint #734525 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

ALTHOUGH NOT APPARENT ON NEW LABELS, THE COMPOSITION IS PLASTIC COVERING OVER PRINTED BASE, WITH THE BASE HAVING THE NECESSARY ADHESSIVE TO AFFIX TO THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR. WHILE USING A CLEAN, DRY CLOTH TO CLEAN UP AROUND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, I WIPED OVER THE LABELS AND THE PLASTIC OUTER COVERING SLID, SMEARING THE PRINTED INFORMATION AND MAKING THE ENGLISH LABEL ILLEGIBLE. THE BRAKE WARNING STATEMENT IS STILL ENTIRELY VISIBLE, BUT ONLY THE FRENCH VERSION PRINT IS LEGIBLE, SINCE I DID NOT RUB OVER IT. AT THE TIME, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS WARM, SINCE THE ENGINE HAD BEEN RUNNING.

NHTSA complaint #722112 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

THE AIR CONDITIONING LINE LEADING TO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE (FOR REAR COOLING) RUBBED AGAINST THE POWER STEERING LINE, CAUSING THE AIR CONDITIONING LINE TO RUPTURE. IF THIS HAD CAUSED THE RUPTURE OF THE POWER STEERING LINE, SIGNIFICANT SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE OCCURRED. ADDITIONALLY, THE LOSS OF THE TOTAL COOLANT DUE TO THE RUPTURED AIR CONDITIONING LINE IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE. WE BELIEVE THIS IS A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW IN THE VEHICLE AND ONE THAT WARRANTS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE IS LESS THAN THREE YEARS OLD.

NHTSA complaint #722439 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VAN'S PROBLEM WITH STALLING OUT WHEN STOPPING AND THEN PROCEEDING THROUGH INTERSECTIONS. IT HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ONCE IN ROANOKE (MAJIC CITY FORD)_ AND AGAIN IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA WITH NO PROBLEMS FOUND. THE CAR COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP WITH 'SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT AND CAN'T BE STARTED UNTIL PUT IN PARK AND THEN STARTED. ALSO, AS ODD AS IT SEEMS, IT ONLY OCCURS WHEN TURNING 'LEFT'. THE AIR CONDITIONING WHEN STARTED (MAX AC- AC- DEFROST SETTINGS) MAKE A BANG NOISE ATT THE RIGHT FRONT UNDERSIDE OF THE VAN. IT OCCURS A FEW TIMES IN A ROW AND THEN STOPS ONLY TO BEGIN WEEKS LATER. THE VAN HAS BEEN BROUGHT INTO BRADY-BUSHEY FOR THIS WITH NO REPAIR WORK PERFORMED BECAUSE IT DID NOT HAPPEN WHEN THEY TESTED IT. THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT BACK WHEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN. BUT THEN, WHEN IT STOPS MAKING THE NOISE HOW AM I SUPPOSE TO PROVE THIS NOISE?

NHTSA complaint #712302 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

ENGINE. AIR CONDITIONING.

NHTSA complaint #609810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

WHEN RADIO ON, ELECTRICAL NOISE EXISTS WHEN LIGHTS ARE ON. NOISE CHANGES PITCH, VOLUME, AND PHASE WHEN DIMMER SWITCH IS ROTATED. DEALER CLAIMS IT'S NORMAL. ADDITIONAL ELECTRICAL NOISE GIVEN THESE CONDITIONS AND WHICH IS IN SYNC WITH TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN CORRECTED BY DEALER. PROBLEM DOES NOT EXIST WITH INSTALLATION OF NON-FORD RADIO.

NHTSA complaint #708508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

A/C FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #544946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

AIR CONDITIONER MALFUNCTIONED.

NHTSA complaint #539637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TRAILER HITCHES

DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE DISCOVERED THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE FRONT OF THE CAMPER WERE IT SEEMS TO BE VERY LOW AND THE REAR OF THE CAMPER WAS VERY HIGH. THE DRIVER PULLED OFF AND DISCOVERED THAT 2 OF THE 4 BOLTS OF THE HITCH HAD TORN THROUGH THE FRAME.

NHTSA complaint #540756 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSOR. TH WHEN TURNING ON AIR CONDITIONER, IT GIVES OFF A FOUL ODOR. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #830359 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.