1995 Ford Windstar Visibility Problems

THE ENGINE FREEZES UP AND SHUT DOWN WHEN DRIVING. HAD TO CHANGE THE FUEL PUMP AND PUT IN A NEW AC COMPRESSOR.

NHTSA ID

10777831

Incident

Aug 29, 2013

ENGINE HAS BEEN SPUTTERING, FLASHING OVERDRIVE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. REAR PASSENGER FRONT AND REAR WINDOWS WON'T OPEN, RADIO CONSOLE STARTED TO GET REAL HOT AND THEN WENT OUT. ENGINE CONTINUES TO SPUTTER AS THOUGH ITS SKIPPING A GEAR, AND OVERDRIVE LIGHT CONSTANTLY BLINKING.*AK

NHTSA ID

10091308

Incident

Sep 11, 2003

2003 - DOOR AJAR LIGHT 2002 - BLEW HEAD GASKET; 2002 - HEATER CORE REPLACED 2001 - IGNITION COIL PACK & IGNITION LEADS REPLACED 2001 - FRONT TIE ROD ENDS REPLACED 2000 - REFRIGERANT COOLANT LOSS 1998 - EGR VALVE REPLACED 1998 - TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLER HOSES REPLACED 1997 - BLEW HEAD GASKET, REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY

NHTSA ID

10071294

Incident

Nov 15, 2001

Mileage

107,829 mi

THE PAINT IS BLISTERING OFF THE HATCH AND SIDES IN LARGE PATCHES. THE AIRBAG LIGHT BLINKS AND THE POWER WINDOW ON THE DRIVER SIDE FAILS TO CLOSE ALL THE WAY AND STRUGGLES TO OPEN. THE REAR VENT WINDOWS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO .

NHTSA ID

10071201

Incident

Nov 15, 2003

Mileage

95,000 mi

ON 6/13/2003, AT 57049 MILES, OUR 1995 WINDSTAR OVERHEATED AND SEEMED TO BE LOSING COOLANT SO WE TOOK IT TO ZIMMERMAN FORD, ST. CHARLES, IL TO BE CHECKED OUT. THEY REPORTED NO PROBLEM FOUND AND WE PAID $66.79 FOR A COOLING SYSTEM SERVICE AND LUBE SERVICE. ON OCTOBER 4TH,2003, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON OUR WINDSTAR WENT ON. WE TOOK IT TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP TO BE CHECKED. THEY CHARGED $111 FOR SBDS TESTS AND TOLD US WE HAD HEAD GASKET FAILURE AND QUOTED $2100 TO REPAIR. WE CONTACTED FIVE OTHER DEALERSHIPS IN THE CHICAGO AREA WHO QUOTED BETWEEN $900 AND $1600 TO DO THE JOB. OUR VAN IS CURRENTLY WITH FAMILY FORD OF WEST CHICAGO BEING FIXED. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD TO EXPECT A BILL OF ABOUT $1300. MOVING FROM ZIMMERMAN TO FAMILY FORD WAS NOT JUST A COST DECISION. ZIMMERMAN REFUSED POINT PLANK TO HELP US GET HELP FROM FORD. FAMILY FORD HAVE AGREED TO KEEP THE FAULTY PARTS AND HELP US IN ANY WAY THEY CAN. WE HAVE CONTACTED FORD AT SEVERAL LEVELS TRYING TO PERSUADE THEM THAT THEIR 7 YEAR / 100,000 EXTENDED WARRANTY, PLUS THE 6 YEAR / 75,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WE PURCHASED BOTH IMPLY THAT THE HEAD GASKET SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED AT 60,000 MILES AS OURS DID. WE HAVE ALSO PUT FORTH THE ARGUMENT THAT THE ORIGINAL EXTENDED WARRANTY 5 YEAR OR 60,000 STATES OR NOT WHICHEVER COMES FIRST SO WE FEEL WE HAVE A CASE TO BE COVERED UNDER THE TERMS OF THIS WARRANTY, GIVEN THAT WE REPORTED A POSSIBLE PROBLEM AT 57049 MILES. FORD HAS SAID (SEVERAL TIMES BY PHONE AND E-MAIL)THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO HELP AS WE ARE OUTSIDE THE TERMS OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THEY ALSO SAY THAT THEY HAVE VERY FEW COMPLAINTS ON THIS VEHICLE ANY MORE SO THEY WILL NOT MAKE AN EXCEPTION FOR ME. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVE MADE NO EXCEPTIONS OUTSIDE THE 7 YEAR / 100,000 PARAMETERS. I FEEL THAT WE HAVE BEEN PENALIZED BY FORD BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOW MILEAGE ON OUR VEHICLE AND THE POOR ENGINE CONSTRUCTION ON THE 1995 WINDSTAR, IN OUR CASE, STILL FAILED PREMATURELY AT 60,000.

NHTSA ID

10070993

Incident

Oct 15, 2003

Mileage

61,576 mi

I HAVE OWNED THIS VAN SINCE 1999. SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT. I HAVE HAD THE ROTORS TURNED, AND REPLACED AT LEAST 3 TIMES, AND THEY NEED IT AGAIN. I HAVE HAD THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED 3 TIMES AND ONE OF THEM TIMES WAS AT 99,000 MILES WHEN IT WAS UNDER THE WARRENTY. IT HAD BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST ONE TIME BEFORE THAT. MY SLIDING DOOR WON'T STAY CLOSED, EVEN THOUGH I JUST SPENT $300 GETTING A NEW LATCHED PUT ON. MY WINDOWS WON'T WORK. I HAD LARSON MOTORS FIX A HEAD GASKET AND MY ELECTRONIC WINDOWS, COST ME OVER $250 FOR THE WINDOW, THAT ONLY WORKED 2 TIMES. I CALLED, AND SINCE THEY PUT "MAY NOT BE THE PROBLEM" ON THE INVOICE, THEY THINK THAT CLEARS THEM, AND THEY WANTED ME TO SPEND MORE MONEY ON ANOTHER PART. MY SPEEDOMETOR HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE AND IS BROKE AGAIN. THE ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED. I COULD GO ON AND ON. I AM GETTING NO WHERE WITH ANYONE. I HAVE SPENT AROUND 5,000.00 IN REPAIRS, AND CAN'T TRADE THE THING OFF, SINCE I STILL OWE TOO MUCH ON IT, DUE TO A TORNADO THAT HIT OUR HOME, AND WHAT THE INSURANCE DIDN'T COVER, THE BALANCE WAS PUT ON OUR CAR LOAN. WE DON'T HAVE THE BEST CREDIT DO TO HAVING TO SPEND ANYWHERE FROM $100-300+ A MONTH ON REPAIRS TO THIS LEMON CAR. I HAVE A FAMILY AND NEED TO KNOW THAT I HAVE A RELIABLE CAR TO DRIVE. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED WITH MY 3 CHILDREN A MINIMUM OF 4 TIMES THIS PAST YEAR.

NHTSA ID

10069970

Incident

Jan 15, 2003

THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD MORE THAN IT'S SHARE OF PROBLEMS. THE HEAD GASKET WAS BROUGHT IN FOR A RECALL AND IT STILL MALFUNCTIONED.

NHTSA ID

10068948

Incident

Nov 15, 2002

Mileage

118,625 mi

ENGINE FAILED TWICE DUE TO A FAULTY HEAD GASKET. ALSO, ORIGINAL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WAS REBUILT. ABOUT TWO YEARS LATER, TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE DEALER REPLACED IT WITH A NEW TRANSMISSION. ANOTHER TWO YEARS LATER, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN AND WAS REBUILT. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DETERMINED. *AK THE RECALLED ENGINE BLEW AND THE MANIFOLD GASKET BLEW. WHEN THE CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD THEY STATED THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING RIGHT NOW BUT WOULD NOTIFY THEM LATER AND MAYBE THEY COULD HELP. CONSUMER HAD TWO WINDOWS THAT DIDN'T GO UP OR DOWN - REPLACED $412.34. BOTH TIE RODS WERE REPLACED. *PH *JB

NHTSA ID

10040795

Mileage

61,349 mi

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED, THE DEALER REPLACED THE WIPER MOTOR, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED.*JB

NHTSA ID

10008638

Incident

Mar 19, 2001

Mileage

174,000 mi

THE ENTIRE ENGINE WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO HAVE ENGINE PROBLEMS, THE TRANSMISSION SIDE PAN GASKET, HEAT, POWER WINDOW, DEFROSTER, DOOR SWITCH ASSEMBLY, WERE ALL REPLACED, THE DOME LIGHT WOULD STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY, AND THE RIGHT CALIPER WAS LEAKING.*JB

NHTSA ID

8023251

FORD HAS REPLACED HEATER CORE MORE THAN 10 TIMES IN 5 YEAR. HAS REPLACED 3 OR 4 TIMES THIS YEAR ALONE. PROBLEM NEVER FIXED.*AK

NHTSA ID

755251

CONSUMER HAD TROUBLE WITH HEATER CORE. REPLACED HEATER CORE, BUT THAT DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

898178

Incident

Oct 23, 1999

CONSUMER STATES THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS.*YD

NHTSA ID

563786

THE WINDOWS FOG UP AND WILL NOT DEFROST UNLESS THE VAN IS IN ONE SPOT RUNNING. ON BELOW ZERO WEATHER THE WINDOWS FOG UP THEN FROST OVER WE HAD ICE ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDOW. WE HAVE TAKEN THE VAN BACK TO BROWN'S 3 TIMES AND THE HAVE NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM YET. I HAVE 4 CHILDREN AND I'M NOT ABLE TO USE THE VAN IN THE WINTER MONTHS BECAUSE I CAN NOT SEE OUT THE WINDOW. I'VE CONTACTED FORD AND THEY CALL BROWN'S AND TALKED TO MIKE IN SERVCE AND HE SAID HE WOULD GET THE VAN IN AGAIN BUT DIDN'T CONTACT US AT ALL AFTER THAT AND THAT HAS BEEN MONTHS AGO. I NEED THIS PROBLEM FIXED SOON FOR THE SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN. THANK YOU.*AK

NHTSA ID

752817

SIDE VENT WINDOW IS COMING OUT AND NONE OF DIFFERENT MECHANICS WILL TOUCH IT. SEALER WAS TAKING OFF SOME OF THE PAINT ON VEHICLE. MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT CONSUMER CONTACT A FORD DEALER , WHO WOULD KNOW MORE ABOUT IT. DIFFERENT MECHANICS DIDN'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF SEALER WAS USED. THEY DIDN'T WANT TO BREAK WINDOW. *AK

NHTSA ID

887827

Incident

Mar 1, 2001

DOOR SENSOR LEAVES INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS ON AND THE ASSOCIATED RELAY IS HOT TO THE TOUCH. POWER WINDOW MOTOR INOPERATIVE, WAS WORKING INTERMITTENLY UP TO TODAY. IGNITION SWITCH WILL ALLOW THE KEY TO BE REMOVED WHEN IT SHOULDN'T.

NHTSA ID

742571

Incident

Feb 3, 2001

RECALL ON SLIDING DOOR - PROBLEM EVER SINCE REPAIRED. REAR WIPER MOTOR DIED THREE TIMES AND WAS REPLACED. RECALL ON HEAD GASKETS. SINCE FORD DEALER REPLACED THEM, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS BLEW, REPLACED THOSE AT OUR EXPENSE (APPROX. $1000), THEN THE FRONT WATER PUMP GASKET BLEW AND REPLACED THOSE AT OUR EXPENSE (APPROX. ANOTHER $500), THEN THE ENGINE BLEW AND WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE CAUSE WAS WATER AND ANTIFREEZE GOT INTO THE ENGINE AND SPUN THE BEARINGS.... TOLD BY THE PARTS MANAGER THAT IT ALL STARTED BACK WITH THE HEAD GASKETS. FORD IS NOT BACKING THEIR ENGINE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, WAS NOT TOLD THE FIRST TIME WE CAME IN THAT THE REPLACEMENT OF THE HEAD GASKET WOULD CAUSE MORE GASKETS TO BREAK UNTIL AFTER OUR SECOND RETURN TO THE SERVICE CENTER. SINCE THEN, WE AUTHORIZED THEM TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. FORD DOES NOT HAVE ANY ON THE SHELF BECAUSE THEY HAVE GONE THRU SO MANY OF THEM AND IT WOULD BE ANOTHER FOUR WEEKS WAITING PERIOD! MEANWHILE, WE WILL BE WIHTOUT A VEHICLE FOR TWO MONTHS AND IT WILL COST US ANOTHER $1,000.! AS FAR AS THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WOULD MAKE A LOUD THUMPING SOUND WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED....HOWEVER, DEALERSHIP SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. THEREFORE, WE HAD TO PUT UP WITH THE LOUD SOUND, WHICH FRIGHTENED MY PASSENGERS AND MYSELF.

NHTSA ID

740871

Incident

Jan 1, 2000

TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED 3 TIMES, FAULTY PROCESSOR REPLACED ON TWO OF THOSE OCCASIONS. *SLC

NHTSA ID

559409

Incident

Sep 27, 1996

HEATER NOT WORKING PROPERLY. TEMPERATURE GAUGE OVERHEATED. TOOK IT TO DEALER TO CHECK OUT. I WAS INFORMED NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. THE 3.8 LITER V6 HEAD GASKET WAS A PROBLEM THEY WERE KNOWINGLY AWARE OF. THERE IS A SPECIAL PROGRAM PROVIDING COVERAGE FOR 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES. AT 105,000 MILES I DO NOT QUALIFY. MY 5 YEAR OLD VEHICLE NEEDS A NEW ENGINE AT MY EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS RELIGIOUSLY MAINTAINED. THE DEALER, AND SUPPOSED ZONE MANAGER, WON'T BUDGE. WHY DIDN'T THEY RECALL MY CAR AND REPLACE THE FAULTY HEAD GASKET BEFORE THE ENGINE FAILED. UNBELIEVABLE. AS A CONSUMER I FEEL I WAS MISLEAD AND INTENTIONALLY KEPT UNINFORMED. I FAIL TO BELIEVE FORD CAN GET AWAY WITH HAVING A PRODUCT ON THE ROAD THEY KNOW IS AN ENGINE FAILURE TIME BOMB. *AK

NHTSA ID

740104

Incident

Jan 22, 2001

ON FIRST INCIDENT, IN AUGUST OF 1999, I WAS TRAVELLING AT 65 MPH ON I-4 JUST NORTH (EAST) OF ORLANDO, FLORIDA WHEN THE RIGHT , SIDEVIEW MIRROR LENS FLEW OFF, BOUNCED ALONG THE SIDE OF MY CAR, AND FLEW BACK INTO THE TRAFFIC BEHIND ME. I STOPPED, AND NO OTHER CARS STOPPED- THEREFORE I DON'T FEEL THIS MIRROR HIT ANYONE. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED IN JULY OF THIS YEAR, WHERE THE LEFT SIDE-VIEW MIRROR BLEW OFF UNDER IDENTICAL CIRCUMSTANCES. AGAIN, THERE WERE NO INJURIES. WHY DID BOTH SIDE-VIEW MIRRORS FAIL (AND BLOW OFF) WITHIN AN ELEVEN MONTH PERIOD. I'M SURE THE POTENTIAL FOR A SERIOUS, IF NOT FATAL INJURY WAS THERE WITH THIS 3" BY 4" PIECE OF GLASS FLYING AROUND AT 65 MPH. I CONTACTED FORD, AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT THEY WOULD DO NOTHING FOR ME , AS THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. PLEASE NOTIFY ME OF THE RESULTS OF ANY INVESTIGATION REGARDING THIS COMPLAINT. THANKS FRANK RENNER. *AK

NHTSA ID

736967

Incident

Jul 19, 2000

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL ENGINE RELATED FAILURES, THE HEAD GASKET FAILED TWO TIMES, THE DEALER WOULD NOT COMPENSATE FOR THE SECOND FAILURE AND ALSO DID NOT OFFER THE CONSUMER THE $4000.00 CERTIFICATE TOWARDS A NEW VEHICLE, AFTER THE FIRST HEAD GASKET REPAIR, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LOSE COOLANT, THE ENGINE CYLINDERS WERE REPLACED, THE TIMING COVER WAS CRACKED, THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED, AND THE BLOWN GASKET CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT, SHAKE, AND SMOKE. *SLC

NHTSA ID

557383

Incident

Feb 8, 2000

WHEELS - 2 WHEELS (RIMS) WARPED WITHOUT REASON. CAUSED CONSTANT VIBRATION. HAD CHECKED 3 TIMES BEFORE PROBLEM FOUND. FOUND AT NON-FORD GARAGE. REARVIEW MIRROR FELL OFF WHILE PARKED. WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE NEVER WORKED PROPERLY, CONSTANTLY SMEAR. REPLACE AT VARIOUS TIMES.

NHTSA ID

735239

Incident

Jun 1, 2000

VEHICLE OVERHEATED, AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM PIPE. THEN. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHERE TECHNICIAN SAW THAT PROBLEM WAS A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET.*AK TRANSMISSION FAILED THREE TIMES. GAS TANK FAILED. WINDSHIELD IS DEFECTIVE. AND SIDE DOOR CLAMPS FAILED. *YH

NHTSA ID

866090

Incident

Jul 25, 2000

ALL THE POWER WINDOWS IN THE VEHICLE WERE STUCK IN AN UP POSITION DUE TO ALL THE WIRING MELTING TOGETHER. DEALER HAS VEHICLE CURRENTLY.*AK

NHTSA ID

865484

PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT I HEARD A RUBBING NOISE. I PARKED THE VEHICL AND TURNED THE WHEEL. THE TIRE EXPLODED. WHEN I LOOKED THE COIL HAD BROKEN AND ONE END WAS JAMMED THROUGH THE TIRE. I CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID NOTHING COULD BE DONE. I COULD NOT FIND A PART ANY WHERE. I CALLED 3 FORD DELAERSHIPS AND THEY SAID ALL THE PARTS WERE BACK ORDERED AND COULD NOT BE DELIVERED FOR MONTHS. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SEFCIE AS MY CAR WAS BROKEN DOWN 100 MILES FROM MY HOME. THEY SAID TO PUT MY NAME ON AN ORDER FORM AND WAIT FOR THE PART, EVEN THOUGH I WAS PAYING $43.00 A DAY FOR A RENTAL CAR. WHEN TOWING THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR BOTH WINDOWS EXPLODED FRO NO REASON. WE ENDED UP ORDERING A USED SPRING FROM OHIO OVER 600 MILES AWAY AND HAD TO PAY TO HAVE IT SHIPPED. WHEN IT ARRIVED IT WAS THE REAR COIL AND HAD TO BE SENT BACK AND REORDERED. THE NEW PART IS DUE TO BE DELIVERED MONDAY. I WILL BE WITHOUT THE VEHICLE FOR 7 DAYS IF THE PART IS PUT ON TUESDAY.

NHTSA ID

725479

Incident

Jul 12, 2000