1996 Ford Windstar Electrical Problems

THIS IS A SECOND CALL FOR HELP FORD CORPORATE WILL NOT EMAIL ME BACK. WILL NOT VERIFY IF PCM HAS BEEN UPDATED. THE VAN ONLY HAS UNDER 59,000 MILES ON IT . IT SHOULD NOT BREAK THIS BAD THIS SOON MAKES ME TELL ANYONE ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND OUR LOCAL NEWS MEDIA AND CLARK HOWARDS TEAM. I DO NOT WANT TO CALL FORD UNLESS IT IS AGREED THE PHONE WILL BE RECORDED FOR COURT PURPOSES. I EVEN ASKED IS THE WOULD LET ME USE THE UPDATER. I SURE DO NOT WANT DON RICH FORD IN VILLA RICA EVER AGAIN. THEY STRIPPED THE SCREW. THAT SET MIN CLEARANCE ON THROTTLE PLATE. NO SHIFTS FUNNY AND SPUTTERS AND TERRIBLE NOISE IN OIL PAN AREA. ROD S KNOCKING. INTERNET HAS TONS OF COMPLAINTS OF PISTONS EXITING ENGINE OIL PAN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10522986

Incident

Jul 2, 2013

Mileage

58,958 mi

FORD WINDSTAR BRAKE, ABS BRAKE, CRUISE CONTROL, AND SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS REAR AXLE CRACKS! *TR

NHTSA ID

10371989

Incident

Dec 20, 2010

Mileage

100,000 mi

MY ABS LIGHT STAYS ITS BEEN ON FOR 6 MONTHS NOW, MY CRUISE CONTROL WONT WORK, AND MY SPEEDOMETER GOES CRAZY, NO LIGHTS IN MY DASH AND GOT TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL ON SEVERAL OF THESE ITEMS AND I WANT TO KNOW HOW TO GET PAST RECALLS ON MY VAN I'VE HAVE SEEN ALL KINDS OF RECALLS AND NEVER SENT NOTHING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10359908

Incident

Oct 10, 2010

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

NHTSA ID

10256320

Incident

Jan 3, 2009

Mileage

80,004 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR. HE HEARD THE HORN BLOWING WHILE HE WAS INSIDE HIS HOME AND THE DASHBOARD WAS ON FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE POLICE WAS NOT NOTIFIED AND THERE ARE NO PHOTOS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 153000.

NHTSA ID

10226731

Incident

May 4, 2008

Mileage

153,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10220134

Incident

Feb 28, 2008

Mileage

100,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10172548

Incident

Sep 2, 2006

Mileage

85,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10159193

Incident

May 30, 2006

Mileage

109,000 mi

SPEEDOMETER FAILURE SPEEDOMETER FLUCTUATES ERRATICALLY STARTING AT SPEEDS OF 35 MPH GAUGE JUMPS IN INCREMENTS OF 5-10-50 SPEEDOMETER SHOWS 65-85 WHEN ACTUALLY GOING 45-50 HAZARDOUS TO DRIVER AND ALL OCCUPANTS IN VEHICLE AND OTHER DRIVERS ON ROAD WAY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10156959

Incident

May 2, 2006

Mileage

141,000 mi

LEMON CAR. *NM

NHTSA ID

10155881

Incident

Oct 30, 2004

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

NHTSA ID

10153899

Incident

Mar 28, 2006

Mileage

98,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10152067

Incident

Jul 1, 2005

Mileage

72,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10140107

Incident

Oct 17, 2005

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.

NHTSA ID

10139727

Incident

Oct 14, 2005

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

NHTSA ID

10074121

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

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

NHTSA ID

10136744

Incident

Sep 3, 2005

Mileage

168,400 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10134509

Incident

Jun 12, 2005

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

NHTSA ID

10130880

Incident

Jul 12, 2005

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

NHTSA ID

10130672

Incident

Jul 30, 2005

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

NHTSA ID

10127137

Incident

Jun 28, 1997

Mileage

63,000 mi

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).

NHTSA ID

10124475

Incident

May 13, 2005

Mileage

106,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10117616

Incident

Apr 7, 2005

Mileage

91,623 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10109574

Incident

Aug 8, 2004

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

NHTSA ID

10101015

Incident

Nov 15, 2004

INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON RUNNING THE BATTERY DOWN. DOORBELL & INT. LIGHTS STAY ON UNTIL 20 MPH.

NHTSA ID

10057085

Incident

Feb 12, 2004