1999 Ford Windstar Visibility Problems

I HAVE 3 PROBLEMS WITH MY 1999 FORD WINDSTAR WHICH CURRENTLY HAS 60,000 MILES. ONE OF THEM IS THE GLASS IN FRONT WHEN I'M DRIVING IN THE RAIN I HAVE TO TURN ON THE WIPERS THE DRIVER'S SIDE IN THE MIDDLE PART OF THE WIPER STAYS WET WHILE THE PASSENGER SIDE CLEANS VERY WELL. THE OTHER PROBLEM I'VE ALWAYS HAD IS THE POWERSTEERING WHEN I'M DRIVING, I'M GOING TO TURN TO THE SIDE AND THE CAR TURNS OFF THE GUIDE GETS HARD AND I CAN'T STRAIGHTEN IT TO TURN IT ON AGAIN. THE LAST PROBLEM IS THE TRANSMISSION, ONE DAY THE FAMILY WENT ALL TOGETHER IN THE CAR AND SHORTLY AFTER WE REALIZED THAT IT WAS OVERHEATING WE PARKED IN THE GRASS WE TURNED OFF THE CAR AND THE PART OF THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE AFTER THE ACCIDENT WE REALIZED THAT THE TRANSMISSION LIQUEFIED OIL. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED AND BEGAN TO GIVE SOME TIRESOME EVERY TIME I CHANGED GEARS. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY PARKED WITH THE DAMAGED TRANSMISSION. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE TRANSMISSION

NHTSA ID

11282498

Incident

Sep 16, 2014

Mileage

60,000 mi

I HAVE 3 PROBLEMS WITH MY 1999 FORD WINDSTAR WHICH CURRENTLY HAS 60,000 MILES. ONE OF THEM IS THE GLASS IN FRONT WHEN I'M DRIVING IN THE RAIN I HAVE TO TURN ON THE WIPERS THE DRIVER'S SIDE IN THE MIDDLE PART OF THE WIPER STAYS WET WHILE THE PASSENGER SIDE CLEANS VERY WELL. THE OTHER PROBLEM I'VE ALWAYS HAD IS THE POWERSTEERING WHEN I'M DRIVING, I'M GOING TO TURN TO THE SIDE AND THE CAR TURNS OFF THE GUIDE GETS HARD AND I CAN'T STRAIGHTEN IT TO TURN IT ON AGAIN. THE LAST PROBLEM IS THE TRANSMISSION, ONE DAY THE FAMILY WENT ALL TOGETHER IN THE CAR AND SHORTLY AFTER WE REALIZED THAT IT WAS OVERHEATING WE PARKED IN THE GRASS WE TURNED OFF THE CAR AND THE PART OF THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE AFTER THE ACCIDENT WE REALIZED THAT THE TRANSMISSION LIQUEFIED OIL. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED AND BEGAN TO GIVE SOME TIRESOME EVERY TIME I CHANGED GEARS. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY PARKED WITH THE DAMAGED TRANSMISSION. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS TRANSMISSION

NHTSA ID

11282494

Incident

Sep 16, 2014

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR LX. THE PARTIAL HAVOC BOSCH WHICH WAS A PART OF THE HEAT IN THE VEHICLE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A RADIATOR MECHANIC WHO INFORMED HIM THE PARTIAL HAVOC BOSCH FAIL AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS RELATED TO THE FAILURES AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000. UPDATED 03/03/11 *BF UPDATED 04/28/11

NHTSA ID

10370812

Incident

Nov 5, 2010

Mileage

109,000 mi

THE BRAKE DEACTIVATION SWITCH LOCATED UNDER THE MASTER CYLINDER (BEHIND THE AIR FILTER) DEVELOPS A LEAKING AND "ABS" LIGHT TURN ON IN THE DASHBOARD IN MY 1999 WINDSTAR SE VAN SINCE ON SEPT. 29, 2009, THEREFORE MPH IS NOT WORKING ON SPEED-O-METER AND MILEAGE GETS BLANK LIKES "---------". ALSO HEAT & A/C FAN MOTOR IS WORKING FINE BUT HEAT AND A/C DID NOT OPERATE AS WELL. CRUISE CONTROL HAS ALSO QUIT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10286845

Incident

Sep 29, 2009

Mileage

114,850 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR BURNED THREE TIMES WITHIN THE LAST THREE YEARS. IN 2001, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V261000; HOWEVER, IT DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. FORD STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS ALREADY PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME LIABILITY FOR ANY REPAIRS TO THE WINDSHIELD MOTOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 135,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

10274132

Incident

Jul 10, 2007

Mileage

135,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY, BUT CURRENTLY DO NOT WORK AT ALL. THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V261000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.

NHTSA ID

10244510

Incident

May 6, 2008

Mileage

166,000 mi

1999 FORD WINDSTAR FAULTY BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH FOR CRUISE CONTROL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FROM THE WEBSITE, FORD WINDSTAR RECALL: MANY OWNERS OF THESE POPULAR VANS HAVE ENCOUNTERED ANY OF THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS. FORD HAS NOT TAKEN ACTION TO SOLVE THESE CRITICAL PROBLEMS YET. *TR

NHTSA ID

10232935

Incident

Jun 30, 2008

Mileage

79,803 mi

NOT ONLY DOES MY 99 WINDSTAR STALL AND JERK AND WILL NOT PICK UP SPEED PROPERLY BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF AND THE ABS LIGHT WILL COME ON AFTER I START THE VAN AND STAY ON AS WELL. IF I DRIVE OVER 55 THE O/D LIGHT FLASHES. WHEN I TAKE OFF FROM A LIGHT THE O/D LIGHT FLASHES AND THE VAN WILL NOT PICK UP SPEED AND THEN IT JERKS INTO GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10227572

Incident

Jan 1, 2007

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A WEEK BEFORE THE FIRE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE NOT OPERATING NORMALLY. THE MECHANIC RECOMMENDED THAT SHE CHANGE THE PULLEYS IN THE AIR CONDITIONER. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. HOWEVER, A FORD DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUS EOF THE PROBLEM. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE NOTIFIED, AND WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,152. *AK

NHTSA ID

10184432

Incident

Feb 20, 2007

Mileage

100,152 mi

ON 5/1/05 MY WIFE DROVE THE VAN TO WORK WHEN SHE ARRIVED AT WORK THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. SHE THEN NOTICED SMOKE COMING FORM UNDER THE DASH. SHE HAD A FRIEND DISCONNECT THE BATTERY (THAT ACT PROBABLY SAVED THE VEHICLE FORM CATCHING FIRE). I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO CLAIR FORD IN SACO, ME. CLAIR FORD TOLD ME THE WIPER MOTOR BURNED OUT DUE TO SOME KIND OF SHORT CIRCUIT THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT TELL WHAT CAUSED THE SHORT CIRCUIT. ON 5/20 I READ ABOUT A RECALL FORM FORD FOR WIPER MOTORS BURNING UP. I CONTACT CUSTOMER SERVICE VIA E-MAIL AND A WOMAN CALLED ME A FEW DAYS LATER AND SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS INVOLVING WIPERS AND FORD WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. I THEN RESEARCHED THE NHTSA WEB SITE IT SHOWED ME THAT FORD HAD RECALLED THE WIPERS IN 2001 UNDER RECALL NUMBER 01S25. *JB

NHTSA ID

10184119

Incident

May 1, 2005

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY MALFUNCTIONED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXAMINED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT FOUND SIMILAR RECALLS # 01V261000 ABOUT THE VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE.

NHTSA ID

10173476

Incident

Nov 1, 2006

RECALL #01V261000 WAS RECTIFIED IN FEB 2002. THE MOTOR COVER WAS REPLACED BECAUSE WATER WOULD GET INTO THE MOTOR. TODAY MY HUSBAND REPLACED OUR WIPER MOTOR AND THE OLD ONE WAS FILLED WITH WATER. OBVIOUSLY, THEIR SOLUTION WASN'T ADEQUATE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10171435

Incident

Oct 1, 2006

Mileage

74,500 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. INITIALLY THE WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY, HOWEVER THE WIPERS ARE NO LONGER FUNCTIONING AT ALL. THERE IS AN NHTSA RECALL, # 01V261000, REGARDING THE VISIBILITY: WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER: MOTOR. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. UPDATED 8/7/2006 - THE CONSUMER HAS HAD THE WIPER MOTOR AND WIPER SWITCH REPLACED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10163083

Incident

Jul 21, 2006

Mileage

92,000 mi

PASSENGER SIDE ELECTRIC MIRROR DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. WHEN SWITCHED TO RIGHT OR LEFT, THE MIRROR GOES DIAGONALLY UP OR DOWN, ALSO WHEN SWITCHED UP AND DOWN. THE WIRING, SWITCH AND MIRROR WERE CHECKED. THE MIRROR IS NEW, BOUGHT FROM FORD. *JB

NHTSA ID

10136620

Incident

Jun 15, 2005

Mileage

135,000 mi

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON MY 1999 FORD WINDSTAR ARE STOPPING HALFWAY THROUGH THE CYCLE AND I PHYSICALLY HAVE TO GET OUT OF MY CAR AND PUSH THEM SO THEY RETURN TO THE BASE. THERE WAS A RECALL ON FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT FORD TOLD ME SINCE IT WAS ALREADY PERFORMED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR IT AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

10127805

Incident

Jul 7, 2005

DT: REAR BLOWER MOTOR IN THE REAR OF VAN SMELLED LIKE IT WAS BURNING AND THEN STOPPED WORKING. THERE WAS A RECALL ON EXACT MODEL, 1999, FORD, WINDSTAR. THE OWNER'S MALFUNCTIONED PART WAS NOT PRODUCED WHERE THE OTHERS WERE, SO SHE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE BLOWER HAS NOT WORKED FOR A MONTH. THERE WERE NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THE BLOWER. THE OWNER TOOK THE VAN TO A SERVICE STATION, AND THE SERVICE STATION INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS A RECALL, ON EXACTLY WHAT SHE SHOULD BRING TO FORD FOR VEICLE TO BE FIXED. THE SERVICE ADVISED THE OWNER TO GO TO FORD FOR THE RECALL. SHE THEN TRIED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH FORD, AND THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T COVER IT. THE OWNER TRIED TO CONTACT FORD. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR THAT THE AIR HAD BEEN ON. AND THAT WAS WHEN THE BURNING ODOE SHE SMELLED AND THE BLOWER STOPPED WORKING.*AK

NHTSA ID

10125533

Incident

May 15, 2005

Mileage

104,000 mi

FRONT HEATER DOES NOT WORK. I WENT ON WEB AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS WITH SAME PROBLEM. EITHER HEATER DOOR BEHIND RADIO DOES NOT CLOSE OR GEAR THAT OPERATES DOOR BREAKS. REAR HEATER WORKS, BUT IN COLD WEATHER OR SNOWY WEATHER, ONE CANNOT SEE OUT OF WINDSHIELD WHICH CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10098673

Incident

Oct 10, 2004

Mileage

106,000 mi

NO HEAT OR DEFROSTER FOR FRONT HALF OF VEHICLE, REAR HEATER WORKS FINE. THERE IS A BLENDING DOOR IN THE HEATER BOX ON THE FIREWALL THAT APPARENTLY HAS A SMALL MOTOR THAT OPERATES THE BLEND DOOR. THE MOTOR IS FINE. MECHANICS TELL ME THAT A SCREW THAT HOLDS THE BOX IN PLACE LOOSENS ALLOWING THE BOX TO WARP WHICH RUBS OR STOPS THE ROD ATTACHED TO THE MOTOR AND THE BLENDING DOOR FROM MOVING SMOOTHLY. MY MOTOR OPERATES FINE BUT HAS BROKEN THE ROD MAKING A CLICKING NOISE WHEN YOU OPERATE THE MANUAL CONTROL FROM COLD TO HOT. THE DOOR STAYS CLOSED IN THE COLD MODE, NO HEAT OR DEFROSTER. *JB

NHTSA ID

10098644

Incident

Nov 7, 2004

Mileage

104,200 mi

01 V 261 000/WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR COVER: THE WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10096906

Incident

Jun 26, 2004

Mileage

110,900 mi

WHILE TURNING ON THE DEFOGGER OR HEAT IT FAILED TO COME ON. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, MECHANIC ADVISED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE FIXED, BUT THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR. *AK IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT HE BLEND AIR DOOR WAS BROKEN WHICH WOULD NOT ALLOW HEAT TO BLOW TROUGH ANY OF THE VENTS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10090327

Incident

Sep 2, 2004

Mileage

59,151 mi

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, WITHOUT WARNING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *LA *JB

NHTSA ID

10079285

Incident

Jun 10, 2004

Mileage

86,000 mi

FRONT HEATER DOES NOT WORK. THUMPING NOISE FROM DASHBOARD. DEALER (PERSON FORD, LAVERNE, CA) WANTS $500 TO REPLACE HEATING VALVE/FLAP. ABS LIGHT STAYS ON DEALER COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE CAUSE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10074734

Incident

Jan 1, 2004

RECENTLY EXPERIENCE WIPER MOTOR/HARNESS CORROSION ON MY 1999 FORD WNSTAR WHICH HAS RESULTED IN INOPERATIVE WIPERS. THE WIPERS FAILED WHILE MY WIFE AND 2 KIDS WERE DRIVING ON I-40 WHICH ALMOST CAUSED THEM TO LEAVE THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CAPITAL FORD DEALER AND THE WIPER FAILURE WAS ANALYZED AT A CHARGE OF $61.00 ON MAY 20, 2004.THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED THAT THE HARNESS AND MOTOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $461.00. THE DEALER HAS BEEN LESS THAN HELPFUL IN EXPLAINING HOW CORROSION DEVELOPED. ON MAY 25, 2004 10:45 EST), I CALLED FORD MOTOR CORP. CUSTOMER RELATIONS (KURL 800-392-3673). I EXPLAINED MY SITUATION AND REFERRED TO RECALL # 01V26100. SHE STATED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO WARRANTEE/RECALL COVERAGE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS WELL OUTSIDE THE 12 MONTHS/12,000. MILES. SHE FURHTER SAID THAT THE RECALL WAS COMPLETED ON MY VEHICLE IN 2001 AND THAT THERE WAS NO RELATIONSHIP TO MY CURRENT MALFUNCTION AND THE RECALL. LOGIC WOULD SUGGEST THAT A RECALL 2 YEARS AFTER MANUFACTURER DATE COULD CONTRIBUTE TO A PROBLEM/MALFUNCTION 5 YEARS LATER. PLEASE ADVISE BY WRITTEN NOTICE OF YOUR FINDINGS OR CONCLUSIONS. THANKS

NHTSA ID

10073106

Incident

May 19, 2004

Mileage

82,678 mi

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO WORK ON LOW SETTING . WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES BY THE DEALER. IN ADDITION, CONSUMER REPLACED THE MOTOR FOUR TIMES WITH NO CHANGE IN SYSTEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10073482

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE DID NOT SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR THE WINDOW. THE BLADE TOUCHED THE BOTTOM AND THE TOP OF THE WINDOW, BUT NOT THE CENTER WHERE THE CONSUMER NEEDED IT THE MOST. *AK

NHTSA ID

10055430

Incident

Jun 17, 2003

Mileage

70,000 mi