Owner-reported complaints naming the other system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Ford Windstar submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 43 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 43, in the owner's own words
HAD CHANGED BRAKE PADS A WEEK EARLIER. DRIVING 55MPH AND THE CAR CRASHED DOWN ON IT'S AXLE AS THE TIRE AND WHEEL PASSED BY US GOING DOWN HIGHWAY, IN 37 NORTH. STUDS HAD ALL BROKEN OFF. THE DISC BRAKE IS RUINED FROM SKIDDING ON IT. TRAFFIC WAS MODERATELY HEAVY. WE SKIDDED TO A STOP ON A BRIDGE AND FEEL LUCKY NOT TO HAVE CRASHED INTO ANYONE. *TR
THE ORIGINAL WHEELS ON MY 1996 WINDSTAR HAVE DEVELOPED AIR LEAKS AT THE WELDS. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, I WENT TO A SALVAGE YARD FOR A REPLACEMENT, AND THEY SAID WINDSTAR WHEELS ARE SCARCE BECAUSE THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. I HAVE REPLACED ALL FOUR WHEELS WITHIN THE PAST TWO YEARS. I BELIEVE THE OEM WHEELS ARE DEFECTIVE. (IN 34 YEARS OF DRIVING, I'VE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH EVEN ONE WHEEL ON ANY CAR. 4 OUT OF 4 WHEELS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ON THIS VAN TELLS ME SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE PRODUCT.) OUR DRIVING IS ON GOOD ROADS, SO IT CANNOT BE ATTRIBUTED TO ROUGH USE. THE ONLY CONSEQUENCE SO FAR IS THAT TIRE PRESSURE IS SLOWLY LOST, LEADING TO LOW PRESSURE. OUR ONLY EXPENSE SO FAR IS THAT WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL THE WHEELS, ONE AT A TIME. THIS PROBLEM CAUSES INCONVENIENCE AND EXPENSE AT THE VERY LEAST, AND COULD RESULT IN WHEEL FAILURE, INJURY AND DEATH IF NOT ADDRESSED.*AK
PROBLEMS WITH TIRES ON 1996 FORD WINDSTAR.*MR THE CONSUMER PURCHASED A SET OF NEW TIRES FOR HIS VEHICLE. AFTER 50,000 MILES THE CONSUMER HAD A FLAT TIRE SHORTLY WHICH RESULTED FROM RIM SEPARATION (A SEPARATION BETWEEN THE OUTER RIM THAT HOLDS THE TIRE AND THE INNER PART THAT HAS THE LUG HOLES). THE CONSUMER PURCHASED ANOTHER RIM AND EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM TWO MONTHS LATER. TC
CONSUMER STATED THAT ALL FOUR RIMS HAD CRACKS IN THEM. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE RIMS WERE DEFECTIVE. *AK
1996, WINDSTAR EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS BROKEN WHEEL STUDS ON THE LEFT FRONT AND RIGHT FRONT WHEELS. TWO STUDS BROKE ON RIGHT FRONT WHEEL ON FEBRUARY 15, 2004. *AK
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!
CONSUMER STATED THE LUG NUTS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WERE SHEARED OFF. CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHIMMY VIOLENTLY ALMOST OUT OF CONTROL. *PH
THE RIMS INSIDE OF THE WHEEL HAD A HOLE THAT DEVELOPED CRACKS INSIDE OF THE WHEEL WHICH CAUSED IT TO DETERIORATE. *TT
WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE FELL OFF THE VEHICLE. *NLM
THE DRIVER SIDE RIM CRACKED. *JB
LUGS: NUTS HAVE REPEATEDLY BROKEN OFF WHILE CONSUMER HAS DRIVEN VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER HAS ALREADY REPLACED LUGS: BOLTS FOUR TIMES, BUT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO BREAK. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE RIM OF THE TIRE IS CUTTING INSIDE BEAD OF THE TIRE CAUSING A BLOW OUT. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*JB
1. AUTO TRANSMISSION FRONT SEAL PREMATURE FAILURE CAUSING LEAKS. 2. 5.5 X 15 STEEL RIM CRACKED DUE TO MATERIAL DEFECTS, CAUSING DANGEROUS STEELING RESPONSES. BOTH DEFECTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO FORD SAN FRANCISOC REGION, BUT FORD DENY RESPONSIBILITY.
RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BOLTS BROKE OFF WHILE DRIVING. HAD THEM REPLACED 3 TIMES PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRED. *AK *TT
INSURED CLAIMS THE LUG NUTS SHEARED OFF ON THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL FOR NO APPARENT REASON, CLAIM 17-9168-422. *JG
INSURED CALLED IN NOTICING FREQUENCY OF LOSSES TO OTHER VEHICLES, WHILE IN MOTION, THE FRONT WHEEL STARTS TO WOBBLE, STUDS SHEER AND COME OFF THE VEHICLE, CLAIM 55-S367-002. *JG
INSURED STATES THAT ALL FIVE LUG BOLTS BROKE OFF IN THE AREA WHERE THE BACK OF THE WHEEL AND THE BRAKE ROTOR MEETS, CLAIM 17-9180-936. *JG
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL THEN CAME OFF, CLAIM 46-0491-262. *SLC
WHILE DRIVING, THE ENTIRE WHEEL/TIRE FELL OFF OF THE VEHICLE, IT IS UNKNOWN IF IT WAS THE TIRE OR WHEEL THAT FAILED, ONE PERSON WAS INJURED, CLAIM 13-7497-974. *SLC
MY ALUMINUM WHEELS HAVE CORRODED AT THE TIRE BEAD SEAT SEVERELY. THIS PRODUCES TIRE PRESSURE LOSS CONSTANTLY. THE WHEELS ARE NOT CORRODED AT THE FACE BUT AT THE AREA WHERE THE TIRE SEALS. MY LOCAL TIRE STORE IN MICHIGAN SAYS THEY SEE THIS SAME ISSUE REGULARLY. I AM A FORD ENGINEER AND HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS DEFECT TO THE WHEEL ENGINEERS AND THEY SAY THERE IS NO SUCH PROBLEM. THE TIRE STORE ALSO ADDED THAT ALUMINUM WHEELS COMBINED WITH MICHELIN TIRES ARE THE WORST. TWO OF MY WHEELS HAVE THIS PROBLEM NOW WITH THE ORIGINAL TIRES. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AS THEY KEEP LOOSING AIR. I HAVE TO ADD AIR ONCE A WEEK.PLS CALL ME- I CAN SHOW THEM TO YOU. I DISMOUNTED THE REARS AND THE CORROSION IS SEVERE. I TAKE CARE OF MY CARS-THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THIS LEVEL OF CORROSION. THANKS. *AK (TIRESIZE: 215X70X15)
IN 1999 WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT, WE EXPERIENCED A GRINDING NOISE. MY HUSBAND REMOVED THE HUBCAP AND FOUND THE STEEL RIM OF THE WHEEL TO BE CRACKED BADLY. WE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WHO BOTH SAID IT WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM, BUT THAT THE OTHER SHOULD PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED. BECAUSE I PUT MY 3 SMALL CHILDREN IN THE CAR, I PAID TO HAVE IT FIXED. TWO YEARS LATER, WE HAVE FOUND TWO MORE WHEELS HAVE CRACKED. THIS TIME, WE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER AGREED TO HELP PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE SPEEDOMETER WAS THE FIRST "PROBLEM" WE CAME ACROSS WITH THIS CAR. AT SPEEDS OF OVER 40MPH THE NEEDLE WOULD GO SPORACTICALLY BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN ABOUT 35 AND 110MPH. WE WERE TOLD IT WOULD BE $400 TO REPLACE SO, WE HAVE NOT YET HAD IT FIXED. SINCE THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF ITS OCCURANCE, IT ONLY MOVES BACK AND FORTH 5MPH UP OR DOWN OF OUR SPEED. PLEASE RECALL THE SPEEDOMETER PROBLEM. WE HAVE BEEN READING ON THE INTERNET AND IT SEEMS MANY, MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME MAKE OF CAR. THANK YOU.*AK
ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL AND SALES STAFF THE BUILT IN CHILD SAFETY SEATS ARE SUPPOSED TO ACCOMIDATE A CHILD UP TO 60 LBS., HOWEVER THE SEAT BELT ONLY FITS AROUND A CHILD APPR. 30-35 LBS, THE CONSUMERS CHILDREN ARE BOTH APPRO 35 LBS OR LESS AND ARE UNABLE TO FIT IN THE SEAT COMFORTABLY, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE PAMPHLETS AND MANUAL ARE FALSE AND MISLEADING. NLM
STUDS ON RT. FRONT WHEEL SHEARED OFF WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AT LOW SPEED, SEPARATING WHEEL FROM VEHICLE.*AK
FRONT PASSENGER'S WHEEL LUGS: NUTS KEPT GETTING CUT OFF WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED WHEEL TO FALL OFF. LUGS: NUTS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. *AK
WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN, FRONT LEFT WHEEL CAME OFF, VEHICLE DROPPED TO THE LEFT SIDE CAUSING BODY DAMAGE AND POSSIBLE LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION DAMAGE, CLAIM 45-8019-328. *JG
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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