1996 Ford Windstar 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

DEAR FORD MY MOTHER AND I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET ANSWERS FROM THE DEALER AND SINCE THEY GAVE UP. BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT FIX IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME. EVEN THE SECOND OR THIRD TIME. THE VAN A 1996 WINDSTAR WITH 59,000 MILES ON IT AND IT STARTED THE ENGINE STARTED STALLING, WHEN MAKING SLOW TURNS NOT TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL LOSES POWER STEERING. MY MOM ALMOST WENT INTO A DITCH TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER CAR. WITH LITTLE INTERNET SEARCHING FOUND HUNDREDS OF VANS WITH SAME PROBLEMS, AND APPEARS THERE IS NOT ONE RESOLVED. AND SINCE THIS HAS GONE ON FOR OVER A MONTH. THE LAST VISIT TO THE FORD DEALER IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIX THE STALLING. . THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE IS NEW, AND MASS AIR FLOW IS CLEAN SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN REPLACED ALSO. I CHECKED THE AIR FILTER WAS CLEAN, THE FUEL FILTER IS ORIGINAL SO I REPLACED IT. I STARTED LOOKING AT THE THROTTLE BODY, AND NOTICED THAT THE THROTTLE PLATE SCREW WAS ALL GOUGED UP. WHILE I WAS SITTING IN DRIVE WAY WITH ENGINE RUNNING AND UNLESS FORD ENGINES ARE ONLY GOOD FOR 60,000 MILES, WITH ALL THE STALLING AND LOW ENGINE IDLE THAT KEEPS OIL PRESSURE IN THE ENGINE LUBRICATING THE CRANK SHAFT.!! SO WHEN ENGINE STALLED AT VERY LOW IDLE THERE WAS NO OIL GETTING THROUGH THE ENGINE. THIS ENGINE NOW HAS LOWER END KNOCK, WHICH I VERIFIED BY PULLING VAN ONTO FLOOR RAMPS, TEST DROVE AND CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM, IS CRITICAL. EACH TIME I SLOWED DOWN TO TURN ENGINE STALLED EVERY TIME, LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BECAUSE FORD IS IGNORING THIS PROBLEM.. AND THIS ALSO ANSWERS WHY OTHER COMPLAINTS WERE ABOUT ENGINE FAILURES AND VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. THIS LETTER WILL BE PUT ON ALL SOCIAL NETWORKS, TO WARN OTHERS THIS COULD HAPPEN TO THEM BE AWARE. THEY SAID THE ECU/PCM COMPUTER WAS UPDATED. COULD NOT FIND UPDATE ON INVOICES, OR IN HISTORY I CAN ACCESS. *TR

ABS LIGHT ON DASHBOARD COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY, AFTER 5 MINUTES OF OPERATION LIGHT WILL COME ON, THEN STAY ON, BUT AFTER SHUT OFF VEHICLE AND START AGAIN LIGHT IS FFF AND COMES BACK ON AFTER FEW MINUTES OF TRAVEL. *TR

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

I PURCHASED A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR VAN 3.0 L IN JUNE 2010. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE FROM DAY 1 TO CURRENT MOST DANGEROUS IS THE BLOWING SPARK PLUG WHICH HAS BLOWN OUT 2 TIMES FORCING ME TO DRIVE IT TO A PLACE WHERE IT COULD BE PARKED FOR REPAIR FIRST TIME BLOW OUT WAS 7 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE REPAIRED BY A MECHANIC NOW 2000 MILES LATER AGAIN BLEW OUT FORD SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES FOR IGNORING SUCH A HUGE HAZARD THIS COULD SERIOUSLY IGNITE FUEL FUMES AND CAUSE A MAJOR FIRE, EXPLOSION WHILE SOME ONE IS DRIVING WITH THERE CHILDREN TO FIND A REPAIR SHOP UNAWARE OF THE DANGER AND DAMAGE THIS COULD CAUSE, SECOND ISSUE IS A FAILING SHIFTING MODULE OR TRANNY AND THIS HAS HAPPENED ALOT DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VANS TRANSMISSION SHIFTS TO A 1ST OR 2ND GEAR CAUSING EXTREME CHANGE IN SPEED AND IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WE HAVE ALMOST BEEN REARENDED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THIS ISSUE, VESSIL MUST BE PULLED OVER AND TRANS RESET BY SHIFTING TO PARK AND SOMETIMES SHUTTING OFF THE VEHICLE AND STARTING IT AGAIN.FORD DEALER GAVE US A 3000. ESTIMATE TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AND TOLD US WE WOULD CONTINUE TO REPLACE TRANS APROX EVERY 70,000 MILES THIS IS A CHUMP WAY TO BUILD CARS AND THEY HAVE MANAGED TO GET MORE MONEY OUT OF REPAIRS THAN SALES I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER FORD AGAIN SAFE OR NOT. FORD SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECLAIM ALL THESE DANGEROUS VEHICLES AND REPLACE ALL MONEY SPENT ON REPAIRS AND PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLES DUE TO ENDANGERING AND THERE IS NO WAY THEY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS. *TR

THERE WAS NO CRASH. THERE WAS NO WARNING WHAT SO EVER. I WAS DRIVING A CLIENT HOME FROM A PICNIC AND PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT TO PARK AND SMOKE STARTED ROLLING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I GOT MY PASSENGER WHO WAS IN A WHEELCHAIR TO SAFETY AND OPENED THE HOOD TO FIND FLAMES COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE TRANSAXLES. I PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE "TRANSAXLES RANGE SENSOR" AND PLUG JUST FORWARD OF THE RANGE SENSOR WERE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE WIRING HARNESS ABOVE COMING OUT OF THE BLACK BOX(FUSE BOX) WAS ALSO BURNT. THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE ABOVE 20 MPH. THE SERVICE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000.

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

I BROUGHT KIDS TO SCHOOL AND I WAS PULLING OUT. I HEARD A NOISE AND MY TIRE WENT FLAT. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED HOME. MY HUSBAND CHECKED IT OUT AND FOUND THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND STABBED THE TIRE. I SAW THERE WAS A RECALL SO HOPEFULLY IT IS STILL COVERED BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE 100.00 TO FIX SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY BEEN RECALLED. *LN

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

FORD RECALL LETTER DATED DECEMBER 2011 RECALL NUMBER 09 S 09 SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM MODIFICATION. I RECENTLY TOOK MY FORD WINDSTAR ON JANURARY 3, 2013 FOR A RECALL. ABOUT A MONTH LATER I DROVE OVER RAILROAD TRACKS AND NOW THE VEHICLE IS SLOW AND WON'T PICK UP SPEED IT MAKES A PUT PUT SOUND AND HAS ALMOST NO POWER. I CALLED THE DEALER TO REPORT THE ISSUE AND THEY WANT $90.00 JUST TO LOOK AT IT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS JUST IN THE SHOP FOR THE RECALL. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER COMPLAINT AND ALL THEY SAY IS THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FORD DEALER ACTIONS OR INACTIONS. THE LETTER FROM FORD WAS THE MAIN REASON I TOOK THE VAN IN BECAUSE IT SAYS THERE IS A FIRE HAZARD BUT NOW THE VAN IS A PIECE OF JUNK. FORD REFUSES TO RECHECK THE VEHICLE AND LOCATE THE REAL CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM THE VEHICLE IS THE ONLY WAY FOR ME TO GET AROUND. THANKS FORD FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND LACK OF CONCERN. SIGNED DISSATIFIED VICTIM OF A SCAM. *TR

MY VAN WAS IN GREAT SHAPE AND GREAT CONDITION. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON MAY 6TH 2012 ABOUT 45-50 MPH ENTERED THE I-215 COLLECTOR, STARTED TO SMELL A BURNED RUBBER SMELL, I LOOKED AT THE TEMP GAUGE AND IT WAS NORMAL, THE VAN STARTED TO SPUTTER LIKE RUNNING OUT OF GAS, THE VAN WAS NOT OUT OF GAS ALMOST FULL, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH ON AND OFF, I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, LOOKED AT THE TEMP GAUGE AGAIN AND IT STILL WAS NORMAL, THE BURNED RUBBER SMELL GOT WORSE AND I NOTICED THEN A BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I GOT OUT OF THE VAN AND STOOD AT THE FRONT OF THE VAN TO CALL AAA AND THE ENGINE BURST INTO FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WAS NOT INDICATOR WHAT SO EVER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. THIS ALL OCCURRED IN ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES. THE POLICE CAME AND COULD NOT PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH EXTINGUISHER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. IT BURNED UP MY ENTIRE VEHICLE WITH ALL THE CONTENTS INSIDE. THE FIREMAN STATED THAT EVEN THE FRONT TIRES WERE BURNED UP AND MELTED. I DID GET PICTURES OF WHAT HAPPENED. I ONLY HAD LIABILITY INSURANCE SO I THOUGHT I WAS JUST OUT OF LUCK. A SECURITY SPECIALIST FROM WORK SAID THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE THE FIRE COULD HAVE STARTED DUE TO A FACTORY SAFETY DEFECT AND TOLD ME TO DO SOME RESEARCH. I DID FIND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SPEED SWITCH OR CONTROL ON 1996 FORD WINDSTARS. I ALWAYS USE MY CRUISE CONTROL. I HAVE FILED A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE BASED ON A BURN UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE FIRE OCCURRED DUE TO THE SPEED CONTROL RECALL. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT I CAN DO. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION OF THE RECALL OR I WOULD HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO BE FIXED BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. *TR

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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A VERY STRONG FUEL ODOR INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 240,000.

NOTICED FUEL LEAK WHEN RETURNED AFTER PARKING AT SLANTED PARKING SPACE. INSPECTION BY LICENSED MECHANIC IN COLUMBUS, OHIO CONFIRMED FUEL TANK LEAK. REMOVED TANK FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND FOUND CRACK. REPAIRED BY SAME MECHANIC. TOTAL COST CLOSE TO $300.00. NOW NO GASOLINE LEAK. *TR

I BROUGHT MY 1996 FORD WINDSTAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE, AND WAS TOLD TIE RODS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. , THEN, NEXT DAY, THEY PHONED AND ADVISED ME THAT TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE BECAUSE THE PAN WAS FULL OF SHAVINGS, ALSO, POWER STEERING RACK WAS LEAKING, AND INTAKE GASKET NEEDED REPLACEMENT. , A TOTAL OF $5000 TO FIX THIS VEHICLE. I BOUGHT IT AT 118,000 MILES, AND THIS HAPPENED SHORTLY AFTER OWNING IT FOR ONE YEAR. CURRENTLY, IT HAS 134,000 MILES, AND CANNOT BE DRIVEN. I PARKED VEHICLE THEN STARTED IT AFTER BEING PARKED FOR A WEEK. HEARD A NOISE FROM FRONT, AND THEN WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. I DO BELIEVE THAT PAUL CORNIES, THE DEALER THAT I PURCHASED VEHICLE KNEW THAT THEY WERE SELLING ME A LEMON. IT HAS CAUSED ME A LOT OF HARDSHIP AS I NO LONGER WORK DUE TO HEALTH REASONS. I FILED FOR DISABILITY INSURANCE, AND WAS TOLD THAT I HAD A PREEXISTING DISEASE , AND REFUSED TO PAY THE INSURANCE. CURRENTLY, I HAVE A JUNKER IN MY DRIVEWAY THAT I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX , AND A BILL FOR THE NEXT 3 YEARS, SINCE I STILL OWE FOR IT. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD. *AK

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

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

DT: WINDSHIELD ON PASSENGER'S SIDE WAS HIT BY A TURKEY AND THE TURKEY CAME IN THE CAB OF VAN. CALLER WAS INJURED. WINDSHIELD SHATTERED AND GLASS WENT EVERYWHERE. THE TURKEY CAME IN THROUGH A BIG HOLE. CALLER WANTED TO KNOW IF WINDSHIELD WAS MADE OF SAFETY GLASS. INSURANCE COMPANY TOOK THE VAN, AND CALLER HAD NOT YET HEARD FROM INSURANCE COMPANY. CALLER HAS NOT TALKED TO DEALER OR MANUFACTURER.*AK *SB *NM

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!

THE K FRAME RUSTED OUT WHERE THE CONTROL ARMS MOUNT TO THE FRAME AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MILES PER HOUR ON THE INTERSTATE

COMPLETE BRAKE LOSS WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT WARNING. LUCK HAD IT WE WERE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT WITH A CONCRETE STOP. THE METAL BRAKE LINE LOCATED ABOVE THE GAS TANK RUSTED COMPLETELY. WHILE THE REST OF THE BRAKE LINES LOOK FINE, IT'S THE AREA OF THE BRAKE LINE THAT PASSES OVER THE GAS TANK THAT IS RUSTED. BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF THE GAS TANK, THE LINE ARE HIDDEN FROM NORMAL VIEW OF AN INSPECTION UNLESS THE GAS TANK IS LOWERED. HAD THIS OCCURRED AT A BUSY INTERSECTION OR HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS THIS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED. THE OLD PART IS AVAILABLE. I AM KEEPING THIS AS A REMINDER HOW CLOSE MY FAMILY CAME TO DEATH. *TR

INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON AFTER OPENING HATCH AND NOW SIDE DOOR. DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYS ON ALWAYS. *JB

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

DT: WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS DISCONNECTED. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A BROKEN COLLAR BONE AND BRUISED RIBS. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. IT HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO SEE WHY THIS OCCURRED. *AK

EVENFLO MODEL # 263120-P1, WHEN THE CONSUMER PUSHED THE RELEASE BUTTON TO RELEASE THE STRAPS THE STRAP BUCKLE FELL COMPLETELY APART. THE CLIP WAS STILL HOLDING THE CHILD SAFELY BUT THE CONSUMER COULD NOT REMOVE THE CHILD NORMALLY. *AK

ON JUNE 7 I WAS OUTSIDE OF OUR HOME AND NOTICED I SMELLED GAS NEAR MY WIFE'S VAN. AFTER INSPECTING I SAW THE TANK WAS LEAKING FUEL. I TOOK THE TANK OFF AND NOTICED THERE WAS PRESSURE TO THE TANK FROM THE FRONT STRAP. THE PRESSURE CAUSED WHAT APPEARS TO BE A STRESS CRACK WHERE THE STRAP HOLDS THE TANK. IT APPEARS TO ME THE STRAP IS TOO SMALL FOR THE TANK. FORD REFUSES TO FIX THIS AND WOULD RATHER MY WIFE AND CHILDREN RIDE AROUND IN A GAS LEAKING DANGER MACHINE. THIS VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 95000 MILES AND I FEEL THE SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED HERE AS IN THE 1995 WINDSTAR. *TR

WHILE DRIVING 55 MP BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND WERE TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK

FORD EXTENDED WARRANTY ON 3.8 L ENGINE FOR 1995 MODEL DUE TO ENGINE FAILURE CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE GASKET SETS. HOWEVER, IS NOT DOING SO FOR LIKE FAILURE ON 1996 MODEL 3.8 L ENGINES. ENGINE SEIZED ON OUR VEHICLE WITH APPROXIMATELY 48000 MILES DESPITE MAINTENANCE AND TIMING CHAIN GASKET SET REPLACEMENT AN APPROXIMATELY $1200 REPAIR. DT

SPARE TIRE IS ON OUTSIDE UNDERNEATH VEHICLE RUSTED. THIS CAUSED SPARE TIRE TO BECOME UNUSABLE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS CLEAR PLASTIC LENS. OVER TIME PLASTIC HAS DISCOLORED WHICH DEGRADES LIGHTING . ALSO LAMP ASSEMBLY COLLECTS MOISTURE INSIDE UNIT FURTHER DEGRADING LIGHTING THIS CONDITION PREVALENT NOT ONLY ON MY VEHICLE BUT ALSO ON OTHER CARS I HAVE OBSERVED. *JB

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!

PROBLEMS WITH GAS FUMES COMING FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM.*MR( DORIS STEWART ON BEHALF OF HER PARENTS ROBERT STEWART AND JACQUELINE STEWART).*TS. THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AT IDLE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEAD GASKETS, THE AIR CONDITION STOPPED WORKING AND THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE. *JB

REPLACED RACK AND PINION FOR THE SECOND TIME 8/01 ( BY DEALERSHIP) AND 5/03. ALSO REPLACED FRONT END BEARING IN 1999 AND TRANSMISSION. WIRING HARNESS IN 2000. REAR A/C DOES NOT WORK AND THAT'S ONLY THE ITEMS I CAN REMEBER.*AK