Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | |||||
| 03181 | 09/15/2003 | 10004027 | Remote keyless entry (rke) - service tips. *tt | 11/14/2003 | |
| 12227 | 12/01/1998 | 615488 | For all vehicles with generic electronic module (gem) concerns that require a module replacement, the technician must call for approval before removing and / or replacing the module. *tt | 01/17/2001 | |
| 98246 | 12/07/1998 | 604059 | Ford motor company has released a new electrical grease ( f8az - 19g208-aa ) to reduce the possibility of moisture corrosion at the terminals. *yc | 03/16/1999 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS | |||||
| BC3370972301 | 01/23/1997 | 51450 | The illumination of malfunction indicator light, on and diagnostic trouble codes p1131, p1151, p1132, p1152. *jd | 06/27/1997 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - MODULE | |||||
| 97613 | 03/17/1997 | 51995 | Transaxle- ax4s/ax4n- diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs) 628, p0741 and/or p1744 stored in memory after transaxle exchange. *jd | 07/17/1997 | |
| BC0313961101 | 11/01/1996 | 50721 | Check engine light, code p030x, with no driveability complaint. *tw | 06/17/1997 | |
| 962510 | 12/02/1996 | 50967 | Malfunction indicator lamp (mil) - diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs) p0300, p0301, p0302, p0303, p0304, p0305, p0306, p0307 and/or p0308 stored in memory. *tw | 06/17/1997 | |
| 96265 | 12/16/1996 | 50991 | Malfunction indicator lamp (mil) - diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs) p0300, p0301, p0302, p0303, p0304, p0305, p0306, p0307, and/or p0308 stored in memory. *tw | 06/17/1997 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - STARTER ASSEMBLY | |||||
| 97111097234 | 11/10/1997 | 53660 | Vehicles exhibiting a squeaking or chirping from the blower motor at low blower motor speeds. *yc | 03/30/1998 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING | |||||
| 99222 | 10/18/1999 | 6089681 | Subject on a wire harness terminal repair kit available for repairing electrical wiring harnesses. *tt | 02/11/2000 | |
| 96246 | 11/18/1996 | 50905 | Wiring - electrical diode identification and service replacements. *tw | 06/17/1997 | |
Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | ||||||
| PE08035 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 05/13/2008 | 09/17/2008 | ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES | ||
| Odi has received 134 consumer complaints, 285 manufacturer complaints, and 137 manufacturer warranty claims alleging incidents of engine compartment fire in model year (my) 1995 thru 2003 ford windstar vehicles.two of the odi complaints allege the fires caused structural damage to the complainant's home.of the 134 odi complaints, 36 allege the fire occurred while the vehicle was parked, 72 allege the fire occurred while the vehicle was running and 26 of the complaints do not specify if the vehicle was running or not.further review of the odi complaints shows that 72 allege that the speed control deactivation switch (scds) caused the fire and 10 allege that the scds leaked brake fluid on to the abs module resulting in the fire.there were 52 that did not identify a cause or that identified miscellaneous other causes.odi has also received 89 complaints ( not counted in this resume) alleging that the scds developed a brake fluid leak.thirteen of these complaints say that the leak at the scds resulted in braked fluid reaching the abs module.this pe has been upgraded to an engineering analysis (ea) to further evaluate the cause of the fires and assess the scope, frequency, and safety consequences of the alleged defect. | ||||||
| EA08021 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 09/17/2008 | 10/14/2009 | ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES | 09V399000 | |
| Ea08-021 is closed with ford's actions in recall 09v-399 recalling approximately 4.5 million vehicles equipped with texas instruments speed control deactivation switches (scds).with this recall ford has now recalled all of the approximate 16 million ford model vehicles that were manufactured from my 1992 through 2003 with a texas instruments scds.nhtsa will continue to monitor the recalled vehicles to ensure remedies installed by ford tomitigate the potential for scds related fires are effective.the agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.see attached closing report for further details. | ||||||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING | ||||||
| PE08035 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 05/13/2008 | 09/17/2008 | ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES | ||
| Odi has received 134 consumer complaints, 285 manufacturer complaints, and 137 manufacturer warranty claims alleging incidents of engine compartment fire in model year (my) 1995 thru 2003 ford windstar vehicles.two of the odi complaints allege the fires caused structural damage to the complainant's home.of the 134 odi complaints, 36 allege the fire occurred while the vehicle was parked, 72 allege the fire occurred while the vehicle was running and 26 of the complaints do not specify if the vehicle was running or not.further review of the odi complaints shows that 72 allege that the speed control deactivation switch (scds) caused the fire and 10 allege that the scds leaked brake fluid on to the abs module resulting in the fire.there were 52 that did not identify a cause or that identified miscellaneous other causes.odi has also received 89 complaints ( not counted in this resume) alleging that the scds developed a brake fluid leak.thirteen of these complaints say that the leak at the scds resulted in braked fluid reaching the abs module.this pe has been upgraded to an engineering analysis (ea) to further evaluate the cause of the fires and assess the scope, frequency, and safety consequences of the alleged defect. | ||||||
| EA08021 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 09/17/2008 | 10/14/2009 | ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES | 09V399000 | |
| Ea08-021 is closed with ford's actions in recall 09v-399 recalling approximately 4.5 million vehicles equipped with texas instruments speed control deactivation switches (scds).with this recall ford has now recalled all of the approximate 16 million ford model vehicles that were manufactured from my 1992 through 2003 with a texas instruments scds.nhtsa will continue to monitor the recalled vehicles to ensure remedies installed by ford tomitigate the potential for scds related fires are effective.the agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.see attached closing report for further details. | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | |||
| 12/20/2010 | 100000 | ||
| Ford windstar brake, abs brake, cruise control, and speedometer/odometer electrical problems rear axle cracks! | |||
| 01/03/2009 | 80004 | 1 | |
| Brake pressure differential deactivation switch located under the master cylinder leaks, causing a short which activates the abs light on the dash. this short creates a severe fire risk. this switch also interacts with and can cause problems with the cruise control, speedometer and odometer. *tr | |||
| 02/28/2008 | 100000 | 1 | |
| Tl*the contact owns a 1996 ford windstar. the vehicle caught fire after being parked for an hour. there were no prior warnings or failures. the fire originated in the front end of the vehicle and was extinguished by the fire department. the vehicle was towed. the cause of the failure was unknown. the purchase date was unknown. the current and failure mileages were 100,000. | |||
| 10/30/2004 | 1 | 10/30/2004 | |
| Lemon car. *nm | |||
| 07/01/2005 | 72000 | 6 | 02/03/1997 |
| Engine dies after either very short (1 second or less) or no misfire. always on hot afternoon after long period highway driving, typically interstate with speed in the 70's. only once on a secondary road speeds of 45 - 50. all times in the rolling hills of utah, wyoming, and western north dakota. all six incidents occurred during a cross country trip in july, 2005 with odometer readings in the 70,000's. typically, when it happens, the engine speed and throttle are continually adjusting to maintain speed across the hills. first indication often is simply the car slowing down rather that cruising along. all other electrical (air, radio, windows, etc) not affected. this is very dangerous. other than sometimes a one second misfire, there is no warning. the car may be passing a truck, in a middle freeway lane, on on a road with no shoulder when it happens. wherever and whenever it happens, the car simply coasts as the driver pulls off the road to extent possible. the engine will not restart for 15 minutes or so. then it starts as if nothing ever happened, and car is good until the next incident. i made detailed notes of each incident, and can provide additional info on specifics of what was going on with car at the time. i took car to a ford dealer. the dealer did diagnostics and could not identify problem. i have refrained from driving under similar highway conditions since then. the van was purchased new in connecticut in feb, 1997. *nm | |||
| 06/12/2005 | 1 | ||
| 1996 ford windstar caught on fire underneath the hood.****no answer required*** *mr the consumer noticed a faint smell then viewed smoke coming from under the hood on the driver's side of the vehicle. the consumer felt that maybe the problem was due to the speed control per research. *sc | |||
| 06/28/1997 | 63000 | 1 | 09/01/1995 |
| Dt: 1996 ford windstar was parked when an explosion occurred. the consumer discovered the vehicle was on fire. the fire dept was called. the consumer felt the air bag may have exploded. the insurance investigator checked the vehicle to cover expenses. the vehicle was totaled. consumer contacted ford about this problem. ford investigators picked up the vehicle. the consumer has not heard from the investigators. *ak | |||
| 08/08/2004 | 4 | 09/26/2000 | |
| The vehicle's door locks locked and unlocked on their own. *nm there were problems with the front driver side wheel and the engine light and the abs light was intermittent. the consumer experienced an accident which may be due to the brake lines. refer to recall#02v101000. *sc the sway bar rattled, the tie rods were replaced. *jb | |||
| 11/15/2004 | 1 | ||
| Complaint received via e-mail. my wife was driving to church when the electrical system caught on fire. my two kids were in the car. they were able to put out the fire, and had the car towed to an automotive center. the brake monitor system caught on fire. *ak | |||
| 01/01/1901 | 18 | ||
| Vehicle had constant engine problems along with other problems that surfaced and ended its life cycle. *la the consumer experienced coolant leaks, hard starting, electrical noises, radio noises, vibration upon acceleration along with thumping noises, erratic dash light illumination, intermittent door ajar light, bearing noise and the engine blew out prematurely. *sc *jb from a normal sitting position the consumer could not see that the check engine light was on. it wasn't until he dropped something on the floor and looked up that he saw the light on. *nm | |||
| 02/12/2004 | 01/15/1998 | ||
| Interior lights stay on running the battery down. doorbell & int. lights stay on until 20 mph. | |||
| 07/01/2003 | 1 | ||
| Electrical system fails intermittently.*ak | |||
| 05/06/2002 | 44400 | 2 | 06/01/1996 |
| Since we drove this car off the lot, it has been plagued with electrical problems. as soon as our warranty ran out, the transmission failed at 44,400. two adults and 4 children were on our way to a 4th of july celebration when the transmission stalled at an intersection. lucky for us all traffic was stopped and no major accident occurred. we took it to our dealer and asked for assistance since there was a tsb out on the transmission in ford windstar's. we were denied assistance. our problem was the aluminum piston that were reported in the tsb. in may 2001, the check engine light came on and we took it to a ford dealer. they replaced the irmc value. cost $1000. recently, the check engine light came on again and smoke was coming out of the tail pipe. we took it to crossroads ford, the dealer we bought the car from. they once again denied to help us with the cost. we towed the van to a quality ford in durham, nc. they have contacted ford to see if they will assist us with the cost. the estimated cost is $3500-$4000. *jb ****dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over artemis****761964 | |||
| 05/31/2003 | 1 | ||
| Interior light will not go off and door ajar chime rings non-stop. all doors are closed and secured. from searching the internet this seems to be a common problem with ford windstar's. *nlm | |||
| 1 | |||
| The vehicle experienced an electrical failure. *jb | |||
| 01/14/2001 | 62000 | 3 | 04/12/1999 |
| Abs and check engine light constant, replaced o2 sensor, replaced abs brakes, transmission problems causing vehicle to jerk and not change gears when running or parked, coolant leaking and door sensors are bad. all document known issues on.*jb http://www.carsurvey.org/modelyear_ford_windstar_1996.html - something needs to be done about this. this has gone on far to long and is putting peoples life at stake. i have children in my van and all of these are big issues that need to be address immediately. | |||
| 1 | 01/01/2002 | ||
| Consumer stated the interior lights would not go off in the vehicle, the dealer had to replace the sensons in the rear door panel.*jb | |||
| 06/04/1998 | 1 | ||
| When stopping at a light, engine sometimes will die. vehicle would lunge forward after pulling off from a stop. took vehicle to dealer, they replaced something, and two weeks later problem reoccurred. *ak the engine stalls whenever more than one device is turned on at the same time. this problem makes it impossible to turn head lights and windshield wipers on together. the vehicle also shakes violently after being driven for few hours. *yh | |||
| 11/18/1999 | |||
| 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.*ak | |||
| Door ajar, lights intermittently operate. lights stay on, and at night are a distraction to driver. even when vehicle is off, lights remain on, and run battery down. dealer contacted. consumer repaired lights at his own expense. *ak | |||
| 04/12/1997 | |||
| When driving the brakes went straight to the floorboard, and the brake light came on. conumer had to pump the brakes to get the vehicle to stop. also, when applying the brakes there is a loud noise. the brakes had been replaced three times. dealer told the consumer that brakes have to be replaced every year. consumer stated that there is another safety problem involving the electricalsystem. the lights keep coming on , as well as the light's on the dashboard keep coming on. in addition, gas gauge failed to indicate the proper amount of gas left in the tank. *ak | |||
| 11/01/1996 | 5 | 04/01/1996 | |
| Horn is continually shorting out due to electrical failure which is also causing power window and door latch failure. | |||
| 1 | 12/26/1996 | ||
| Electrical system failure. | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | |||
| 12/02/1997 | 5 | 04/01/1997 | |
| We took our windstar in at the first initial failure(12-2-97). the engine check light had come on, so we took it to the ford garage closest to our residence. we were told at that time that there was nothing wrong, and that should the engine check light come back on that it should reset itself in a few days.... not to worry. this happened 6-7 times afterward with the light always going off after 3 cold starts. but when we would take a long trip. it would start all over. in oct. of this year (1999) the light came and and did not go off. when we took it to the dealer where we bought it, they said it needed a tune-up. ($217.00) we took it home and the next day we took it back because the light came back on. the dealer said it needed a new 02 sensor (approx. $100.00) the next day the light came on again. we took it back. the dealer said it was the computer, which they replaced at no cost. light came back on. took it back. said the alternator was magnatized. new alternator didn't help. finally the told us that it possibly could be the engine head gasket. their estimate is $1200 which we cant afford. there was a recall for the 1995 windstars for the same exact problem. but because my windstar is a 1996 ford is un-willing to help. my windstar was manufactured in jan of 1996. so i am sure that that engine has the same defect of the 1995 engine. i want to stress how fustrated i am with ford motor company in their stance on this matter. they really don't care how safe the vehicle is. *ak | |||
| 06/26/1997 | |||
| While vehicle wa parked it caught on fire in the engine compartment dueto a possible defective electrical alternator wire. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY | |||
| 04/07/2005 | 91623 | 7 | 03/01/2004 |
| 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 *jb | |||
| 10/15/2003 | 77000 | ||
| 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! | |||
| 05/15/2003 | 50000 | ||
| Problem: power seat wiring short circuit from engine compartment main fuse and relay panel, 60 amp fuse repeatedly blows. problem was first intermittent, then after second fuse change change, short circuit became continuous. wiring is shorted out between the main fuse panel and the power seat connector. power seat itself has no electrical problem. model has a nhtsa recall history: 1995: wiring-harness insulation can abrade on a brace between instrument panel and cowl, resulting in short-circuit and possible fire. | |||
| 07/05/2002 | 2 | ||
| Engine check light remains on constantly, vehicle has been checked by dealer several times, but consumer was advised light was not reading a code. head gasket blewout, and dealer advised consumer that light was reading a problem with the head gasket, which was leaking. *ak also the battery was replaced.*jb | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS | |||
| 3 | |||
| Fuse continues to burn for the overdrive cancel switch on the gearshift. | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION | |||
| 08/13/2003 | 105000 | 1 | |
| I have been having problems with my check engine light coming on and staying on since sept. 2000 when vehicle had under 100,000 miles on it. took it to dealer while under warranty. now have a private certified auto tech who does my repairs and code read outs. i have had a tune up at 95,000 miles, and had to have another one at 121,000 miles. had problems with engine stalling while driving down the interstate and up a hlll. in summer of 2001, i had the iac valve changed which corrected the stalling problem. have replaced o-2 sensors at least twice. in past 6 months, the enging has been running very rough and i have a strong smell of gasoline . 2nd tune-up and coil replaced about 2 weeks ago. engine now running very rough and gasoline odor is so strong that you could not light a match in the vehicle. check engine light on again as well as brake and abs light. radiator completely empty for the 2nd time in 2 weeks.*ak | |||
| 07/10/2002 | 4 | 02/01/2000 | |
| Please check into these problems thank you wayne kelley. no safety defect listed. *ak | |||
| 06/26/2001 | 1 | 05/01/2000 | |
| Engine light illuminated, dealer replaced spark plugs. *slc | |||
| 06/10/2002 | 20 | 02/01/2096 | |
| This should never happen. the ignition system no longer turns the engine off, this is very dangerous!! i am very mad. *ak | |||
| 05/01/2002 | |||
| Head gasket failed, leaking coolant into cylinder, fouling spark plugs and oxygen sensors. problem has been ongoing since vehicle had 95,000 miles. dealer was notified. please provide more information.*ak | |||
| 10 | 07/01/2096 | ||
| Check engine light came on repeatedly and dealership tried to fix as follows: 8,369 miles - replaced spark plug wires; 14,184 miles replaced bad hego bank; 34,442 miles replaces plugs 4 and 5; 34,479 miles replaced hego #2; 37,843 miles replaced spark plug wires (again); 38,111 miles replaced bad shaft in synchonizer sensor; 44,489 miles replaced defective vacuum elbow; 44,552 miles cleaned resistors and replaced upper intake o rings; 47,420 miles light came on and went off by itself; 50,000+ miles light came on and went off when battery was replaced; 56,000+ miles noticed coolant disappearing from auxillary coolant tank - took in and dealership couldn't find anything wrong but put in dye -- took back in a few weeks when coolant disappeared again - diagnosis: head gasket failure; had head gaskets replaced, but check engine light would not go off and engine was misfiring -- diagnosis: bent rod . *ak | |||
| 04/16/2002 | 1 | ||
| Consumer states that when removing the key from the ignition the vehicle is able to be started up again with out the key in the ignition. contacted dealer. nlm | |||
| 01/01/2002 | 1 | 11/01/1996 | |
| No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak | |||
| 06/08/2001 | 1 | 06/01/1997 | |
| Premature failure of head gasket causing engine coolant to leak into the #1 cylnder causing a miss fire and the vehicle to run rough. engine light came on and i brought it to the dealer. the dealer had it for a few days, replced the spark plugs and said it was fine. on the ride back from the dealer the engine light came back on. the dealer then kept it for another two days and found the coolant in the #1 sparkplug well. brought to an independent repair shop where it was determnined to be a head gasket failure. | |||
| 01/18/2001 | 1 | 01/01/1997 | |
| Original transmission failed at 37900 mi. - detected when trans fluid leaked onto hot engine part and smoked. original warranty expired at 36,000 mi. dealer told me that fmc would sell me an extended powertrain warranty for $250. the warranty would cover the previously diagnosed transmission failure and would cover any other major trans/engine problems up to 75,000 miles, provided i am still the owner of the vehicle. i purchased the extended warranty and was glad i did when the replaced trans failed ta 42,952 miles. the dealer replaced that trans, i had to pay a $50 deductible. in jan. 2001 (58,100 miles) the warranty had to be used again. this time it was for upper and lower manifold seals. however, this time it would cost me $213 because they also had to replace the spark plugs, which were not covered by the extended warranty. just last month, 6/22/2001 the vehicles engine light came on again, just as it had in january 2001. the vehicle was running rough, stalling, engine was 'misfiring. the end result this time was replacement of the spark plug wires, coil assembly, a-s sensor, and a spark plug. this vehicle was sold to me as not needing a tune-up until 100,000 miles. sure sounds to me like i've already had that tune-up and i'm only 1t 65,000 miles!! then theres the a/c problem(s). in june the a/c was only blowing air through my defrost vents on top of the dash. the dealer repaired a vacuum leak and now they replaced a high psi switch, cost was $100 each time. *ak | |||
| 1 | |||
| While driving engine check light was illuminating on dashboard. consumer contacted dealer to have vehicle inspected, and mechanic replaced spark plugs and other parts. later, mechanic discovered that head gasket malfunctioned, causing the problem. *ak consumer states head gasket was replaced, subsequently since the repair the check engine light has come on twice.*jb | |||
| 09/12/2000 | 1 | 01/01/1998 | |
| Please,we are parents whit 3 kids,is very hard for us to pay this extra money for this defect vehicle , to this moment we changed:transmission -twice 02sensor (transmission)-catylitic converter left/raight-coil ignition system ,we get this car whit 48.000mi. on 1998 .for my all family and the good name of the ford deller tanks for yuo help. *ak | |||
| 09/01/1999 | |||
| Due to a defective transmission, while applying the gas pedal, the vehicle hesistated and lunged forward which may have caused a crash. dealer had replaced transmission with a rebuilt transmission. engine check light comes on. also,dealer replaced coil and a spark plugs, but problem is still occurring. dealer could nt determine the cause of the problem. please provide further information. *ak | |||
| 07/15/1996 | 1 | 04/08/1996 | |
| When key is removed from ignition the ignition can still be turned over if the wheel is not locked. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - MODULE | |||
| 08/29/2002 | 04/01/2098 | ||
| Engine failure at 88,000 miles, rough idle at times, computer replaced at 75,000 miles, head gasket blew, causing engine to fail.*ak | |||
| 01/15/2002 | 05/01/1997 | ||
| The abs light and check engine lights were on. the dealer mechanic replaced speed sensors and then told me the computer was also bad. he also told me that the main seal was leaking and said that ford had lots of problems with the 3.8l v6 engine. he told me i should get rid of the car. *ak | |||
| 03/03/2001 | 1 | 02/01/1999 | |
| Engine check came on took to an independent service shop to have diagnostics run. was told it needed a tune up, new spark plugs and cables, fuel filter, air filter, fuel injectors cleaned and i also had oil changed since it was time for it. picked up vehicle paid 444.00 for the service next morning drove to work, oil light came on. i have never had the oil light flickered on. checked oil, in my parking space was dark so all i could see is there was fluid at the correct level. started it up that evening to go home drove aproximately 40 miles, stopped at a red light and the oil light came on the the engine began making a knocking noise. i pulled off the road had to towed back to the shop that did the work. was told they could find nothing wrong with it, oil light did not come on. i refused to accept the answer knowing thenoise the engine was making to cause me to have it towed in. they test drove for and let run for approximately 30 min. before the oil light did come on. they then told me it was an engine problem and did not do engine work. had it towed immediately to a ford dealer and was told the oild pan was full of coolant and bearings were washed in engine and would have to have a new engine. no one wants to claim responsibility for this problem. i have just been made aware that there has been an on going problem with this particular model motor (and not by the dealership). what can be done next? | |||
| 11/20/2000 | 1 | 05/01/1996 | |
| Ford windstar (1996): a local mechanic said that our rough idle, engine light, and smell of antifreeze indicated a head-gasket problem. hill and sanders ford service station checked for pressure leaks, but could only suggest that it was bad plugs causing the misfire code in the computer. after $318, we got new spark plugs and a reset warning light. within a week, the check engine light came on, and the rough idle and smell of antifreeze reappeared. we returned it to h&s and mentioned that it was a continuation of the previous, with a new symptom of discolored antifreeze in the overflow container (oil color). h&s said the engine light was a result of a misfire code but didn't know why. the only thing h&s did was flush the radiator for $100, and admitted they don't know what else it could be. a few days later the engine light came on. on nov. 20, 2000 the van started making mechanical noises from the engine, lost power, and slowed to a crawl. my wife got it to a safe location where she and the kids could wait to have it towed to h&s. a note referenced the previous 2 h&s visits for related problems. h&s's told me that something inside the engine came loose and that he recommends we replace the engine for $5050! he didn't know what was wrong. we called h&s (steve lund) the next day and told him that we felt that h&s should be responsible for the damages due to their inability to detect and fix the problem, and sending us away with a feeling that the problem was fixed or inconsequential. h&s felt that they were not responsible. our original mechanic was amazed that h&s didn't suspect something was wrong when oil was found in the antifreeze, and that they only flushed the system! we feel helpless and taken advantage of. anything we can do to recover our loss? mike & jill scanlon vin 2fmda5145tbb75128 jill123@erols.com | |||
| 08/28/2000 | 1 | 07/01/1996 | |
| Engine check light came on and the vehicle was taken back to ford. they did a diagnostic test that they claim the failure was due to one of the spark plug wires arching. they could not or would not tell me which one was arching, but were willing to charge me $320 to change the six wires and plus. i paid for the diagnostic test and changed the plugs and wires myself. a week later, the check engine light came on again. this time i took it to my mechanic. he did a diagnostic test on the vehicle and advised that the problem was with cylinder number four. it was cracked. they made the repair and a week later i was out over a $1000. my mechanic also advised me that ford should have been able to tell me this right away. ford was willing to replace the spark plugs and wires and i would still have the same problem. | |||
| 07/13/2000 | 1 | 01/01/1998 | |
| Consumer was traveling about 55mph and engine check light blinked on and off on the dashboard. also, transmission slipped out of gear. computer chip was replaced, but problem still continued. anti-freeze was leaking from the transmission. in addition, spark plugs were replaced, and head gasket needed to be replaced. *ak computor diagnosis indicated that cylinder #4 malfunction. the dealer said that doing tune up will solve this problem but did not. *yh | |||
| 05/08/2000 | 1 | 01/01/1997 | |
| 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. | |||
| 09/01/1999 | |||
| Due to a defective transmission, while applying the gas pedal, the vehicle hesistated and lunged forward which may have caused a crash. dealer had replaced transmission with a rebuilt transmission. engine check light comes on. also,dealer replaced coil and a spark plugs, but problem is still occurring. dealer could nt determine the cause of the problem. please provide further information. *ak | |||
| 12/02/1997 | 5 | 04/01/1997 | |
| We took our windstar in at the first initial failure(12-2-97). the engine check light had come on, so we took it to the ford garage closest to our residence. we were told at that time that there was nothing wrong, and that should the engine check light come back on that it should reset itself in a few days.... not to worry. this happened 6-7 times afterward with the light always going off after 3 cold starts. but when we would take a long trip. it would start all over. in oct. of this year (1999) the light came and and did not go off. when we took it to the dealer where we bought it, they said it needed a tune-up. ($217.00) we took it home and the next day we took it back because the light came back on. the dealer said it needed a new 02 sensor (approx. $100.00) the next day the light came on again. we took it back. the dealer said it was the computer, which they replaced at no cost. light came back on. took it back. said the alternator was magnatized. new alternator didn't help. finally the told us that it possibly could be the engine head gasket. their estimate is $1200 which we cant afford. there was a recall for the 1995 windstars for the same exact problem. but because my windstar is a 1996 ford is un-willing to help. my windstar was manufactured in jan of 1996. so i am sure that that engine has the same defect of the 1995 engine. i want to stress how fustrated i am with ford motor company in their stance on this matter. they really don't care how safe the vehicle is. *ak | |||
| 01/12/1998 | 1 | 06/01/1996 | |
| Pcm failed. | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - SWITCH | |||
| 05/30/2006 | 109000 | 2 | 01/20/2002 |
| We own a 1996 ford windstar. in december of 2005 the van was parked in our driveway with the engine off. while my wife and i worked in the front yard, the van spontaneously started. i got in, put it in gear and it died. it ran fine for a time after that. we spoke to our independent mechanic who had never heard of such a thing. we basically forgot about it until may 30, 2006. this time it happened in the garage with all of the doors shut. my daughter came in the house asking why the van was running. we did the same thing to again make it stop. the garage was filled with exhaust and a black exhaust stain on the floor. this time we brought it to our local ford dealer. he diagnosed it as a faulty transmission range switch. charge for the repair for parts and labor was $175. the dealership would not help because there had not been a recall of the item and it was no longer under warranty. i called ford's customer service department and they would not help citing the same excuse as the dealer. i feel this is a significant safety issue. had we not caught it in time we could have experienced significant carbon monoxide poisoning or even death of our pets in the garage or family members in the house. we've been very disappointed with ford through the years. we have had gasket problems with our van, yet the recall for that item extends only through 1995 and they have not stood behind the 96's. *nm | |||
| When vehicle is turned on in the start position key can be removed without returning to the off position. dealer has been contacted, the ignition has been changed, and new keys has been made. this till happens. *ak | |||
| The key can be removed from the ignition without vehicle cutting off. dealer replaced ignition switch the first time. problem exists again. *ak | |||
| 06/12/1998 | |||
| When getting into the vehicle can start the vehicle up without key and drive off. when children get into the vehicle they can start the vehicle up, and that is a safety defect. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - STARTER ASSEMBLY | |||
| 08/07/2001 | 1 | 06/01/1997 | |
| Head gasket blew on 3.8l engine while sitting in a parking lot. caused additional damage to the starter and flywheel wheel broke. | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING | |||
| 09/03/2005 | 168400 | 2 | 06/01/1996 |
| I smelled some type of plastic burning while waiting at a stop light. after turning into the store i discovered the smell stayed with my car. after parking, i noticed smoke pouring from under the hood. i lifted the hood and discovered a connector was overheating and melting. i pulled the connector with a wet paper towel and the smoke cleared. i later learned it was the speed control switch located on the bottom of the master cylinder shorted and caused an overheating problem causing the connector to start smoking and melting. a few days later i could smell the burning again and decided to cut the connector completely off to prevent any further shorting. a couple of days later i heard about a similar recall and decided to notify you as my model was not part of the original recall.*jb | |||
| 07/30/2005 | 1 | ||
| We parked the car at ruby tuesday parking lot and we went inside to eat and early dinner. less than five minutes people started screaming to call 911. they said car on fire. when i looked out at the window, my 96 ford winstar was on fire at the front part, engine area of the vehicle. fire department and police had to put down the fire. good news, nobody was hurt. would you please look in to it? thanks sione. *jb | |||
| 03/03/2001 | 1 | 02/01/1999 | |
| Engine check came on took to an independent service shop to have diagnostics run. was told it needed a tune up, new spark plugs and cables, fuel filter, air filter, fuel injectors cleaned and i also had oil changed since it was time for it. picked up vehicle paid 444.00 for the service next morning drove to work, oil light came on. i have never had the oil light flickered on. checked oil, in my parking space was dark so all i could see is there was fluid at the correct level. started it up that evening to go home drove aproximately 40 miles, stopped at a red light and the oil light came on the the engine began making a knocking noise. i pulled off the road had to towed back to the shop that did the work. was told they could find nothing wrong with it, oil light did not come on. i refused to accept the answer knowing thenoise the engine was making to cause me to have it towed in. they test drove for and let run for approximately 30 min. before the oil light did come on. they then told me it was an engine problem and did not do engine work. had it towed immediately to a ford dealer and was told the oild pan was full of coolant and bearings were washed in engine and would have to have a new engine. no one wants to claim responsibility for this problem. i have just been made aware that there has been an on going problem with this particular model motor (and not by the dealership). what can be done next? | |||
| 11/22/2000 | 1 | 06/01/1996 | |
| The abs light has come on over 3 occasions. the first two times occurred within 2 years after the purchase of the van therefore the repair was under warranty. the most recent incident was 06/2000 due to a wire short and the repair costed $219. also, we just noticed that a piece of bar was broken off near the front alignment. took the van to the shop and found out the sway bar was broken off. the repair shop indicated that this part usually lasts the life of the van unless we hit something hard. this was not the case and the repair will cost $430. *ak | |||
| 02/14/1998 | 3 | ||
| While driving engine check light came on. took to dealer & had wiring repaired. the dashboard lights went out. problem had reoccurred. was electrical short in wires. *ak | |||
| 07/27/1997 | |||
| The vehicle parked for two days had a defective rear a/c wire which was too short, and caused an overload on that rear a/c wire, causing a fire without warning. prior to this incident, engine light did come on, but light went off. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - FRONT UNDERHOOD | |||
| 09/02/2006 | 85000 | 1 | 01/05/2005 |
| Dt*: the contact stated while parked in a driveway, the vehicle was started up, and smoke was noticed coming from under the hood. the vehicle was shut off, the hood was opened, and the contact noticed the wires located below the master cylinder had melted. there were no lights illuminated on the instrument panel and no warnings prior to the incident. the vehicle was taken to the service dealer, who determined that the vehicle should have been part of a recall. there were no recalls on the vehicle. the contact planned to contact the manufacturer after filing a complaint with the nhtsa. *ak | |||
| 03/28/2006 | 98000 | 1 | 12/01/1997 |
| Dt*: the contact stated after exiting the driveway, smoke was observed coming from under the hood. upon further inspection, under the hood a fire was also observed and extinguished. the vehicle as then parked and has not been inspected by a mechanic. *ak | |||
| 10/17/2005 | 1 | ||
| I discovered burnt wiring near the master cylinder on my 1996 ford windstar. i took the van to the local ford dealer, paradise ford in cocoa florida, they told me that the sensor/switch, that is attached to the bottom of the master cylinder, had malfuntioned and shorted out causing the wire and connector to burn until the wire was no longer connected to the sensor/switch. *jb | |||
| 10/14/2005 | 08/01/2001 | ||
| Fire on the speed control switch, which is connected to the master break cylender while driving. i managed to put the fire off before it spread. the fire destroyd the speed control switch and the wires connected to it. | |||
| 07/12/2005 | 1 | ||
| Dt: consumer owned a 1996 ford windstar. after parking the vehicle consumer smelled burning, and noticed smoke coming from under the hood. the engine compartment was completely destroyed. consumer called ford, and they declined to inspect the vehicle. ford sent a letter stating they did not have any responsibility in the matter. the vehicle was inspected by the cambria, california fire chief. the fire report has not been received yet. the insurance company did not inspect the vehicle. this occurred on july 12, 2005. there was no injuries. *ak | |||
| 05/13/2005 | 106000 | 1 | |
| While driving, a sudden engine fire occurred in a 1996 windstar. the ford dealer (sound ford, renton wa) states that the fire originated in the cruise control cutout switch. it is clear from the burn pattern that this was indeed the cause. the single occupant was able to exit the vehicle, and the fire was extinguished using a dry chemical fire extinguisher from a local merchant (westmarine, seattle, wa). the ford dealer has been unable so far to repair the vehicle (it's been over three weeks). | |||
| 12/07/2003 | 105000 | 1 | |
| Vehicle caught on fire while stopping at a stop sign. consumer smelled rubber burning ,then smoke started coming from under the hood. speed control linkages were completely burned. a recall was issued for speed control linkages, but this vehicle was not included due to vin. *ak | |||
| 1 | |||
| While driving driver smelled burning wires. shortly afterwards vehicle caught on fire under the hood. owner contacted the fire department and they put out the flames. vehicle was totaled. *ak | |||
| 06/07/2003 | |||
| Consumer had just parked and exited vehicle when it caught on fire under the hood without warning.*ak | |||
| 02/25/2002 | |||
| Interior light came on and off intermittently, and without prior warning smoke was coming from hood area.*ak | |||
| 09/24/2001 | 10/01/1999 | ||
| Check engine light came on and smoke started to come out from under the dashboard. we pulled over immediately and had to step over the flames comming out from underneath the vehicle to get out of the car. within 1 minute, the van was completely engulfed in flames at which point the gas tank exploded. the van is completely burnt down to nothing but a frame. ford refuses to take responsibility. | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | |||
| 10/15/2000 | 08/01/2001 | ||
| In hotter conditions, the key in the ignition alarm rings even while driving, the check engine light burns continuously. i know of three windstars that are doing this. *la temperature or moisture seems to affect the key alarm and it continues to sound. one friend who is a mechanic, has to pull the fuse nightly on the check engine light or her battery runs down. i was told to replace the starter because it would not start on the evening so i did. it's still not starting right. acts as if the battery has been drained. tried to disconnect the check engine light but same fuse runs the wipers. *la | |||
| 07/31/2003 | 65421 | 500 | 09/03/2002 |
| With doors securely closed the door adjar light comes on. this can last for minutes to hours, the same with the battery check light. lastly, the chimes will intermittently come on. this is starting to become more and more frequent and continue for longer and longer periods of time. i have had it looked at numerous times and it is still not resolved. i have heard many other complaints of the same nature and occurrences ie, complaint # 10020993. electrical problems are generally hard to pinpoint but can be very serious in nature. electrical fires start and spread fast. i have a family with young children and i am very concerned. ford claims that they have no complaints of this nature. *ph i find that hard to believe. | |||
| 06/19/2002 | 1 | 11/01/2096 | |
| Wiring harness diagnosed as causing fire under dash. six replacement harness's have been installed, none fit. been without my van now for two months waiting for the correct part. have experienced electrical problems (off and on) since buying the van.*ak | |||
| While driving smoke came from the dash area of vehicle, causing wiring within the wiring harness assembly to melt together, cause unknown. please give any further details.*ak | |||
| 03/22/1999 | 1 | 11/01/1996 | |
| Electrical fire started when i started heat in vehicle. under dash driver's side fully involved. *ak | |||