Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Ford Windstar submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 23 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
BRAKES CONTINUALLY HAVE FAILED CAUSING ACCIDENTS. PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BEFORE AND AFTER NEW BRAKE PADS AND BRING BLED.THROTTLE IDLE SENSOR CAUSES VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING. ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. NOW THEY JUST STAY ON. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT,IF ANY RECALLS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED OR ANY OPTIONS THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE.
REPLACED FUEL PUMP AND GAS GAUGE IS SHOWING EMPTY WHEN THERE IS 10 GALLONS OF GAS IN THE TANK. I HAVE TRIED TO RESET IT BUT THAT DOESN'T WORK. PLEASE RECALL THIS AND FIX THEM. I DO A LOT OF TRAVELING AND I DO NOT WANT TO TAKE THE CHANCE OF RUNNING OUT OF GAS.
WE HAD OUR LEFT REAR TIRE BLOW OUT AND IT TORE OFF OUR FUEL FILLER PIPE. I IMAGINE THIS COULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IF THE RIM HAD SPARKED IT COULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE. *TR
THESE LIGHTS STAY ON EVEN AFTER REPAIRS ARE DONE. THEY GO OFF FOR A COUPLE DAYS AND THEN COME BACK ON. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR AT LEAST 2 YEARS. I ALSO HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH MY SPEEDOMETER AND GAUGES. I ALSO HAVE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY FUEL VACUUM CAUSING THE GAS TO SPILL OUT WHEN PUMPING AND TANK IS NOT FULL. *TR
REPEATED FAILURE AND REPLACEMENT OF VARIOUS PARTS OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM INCLUDING WIPER MOTOR, REAR WIPER MOTOR, FUEL PUMP, FUEL PUMP FUSES, ALTERNATOR, REPEATED REPLACEMENT OF BATTERY, REPEATED REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE LIGHTS AND LIGHT SOCKETS AND BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, REPEATED FAILURE AND REPLACEMENT OF ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS, REPEATED REPLACEMENT OF COIL WIRE, REPLACEMENT OF EGR VALVE. CONSTANT STALLING OF VEHICLE IN RAIN OR HUMID WEATHER. VEHICLE STALL WHEN AIR CONDITIONER IS IN USE. ROUGH IDLE AND STALLING WHEN VEHICLE IS STOPPED AND ENGINE IS RUNNING. ALL OF THESE COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN CONSTANT AND ONGOING DESPITE REPEATED REPLACEMENT OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SINCE DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE IN DECEMBER OF 2000. *TR
2001 FORD WINDSTAR. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE RECALL *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE SHE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN THE MAIL. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED HER SHE WOULD RECEIVE ANOTHER LETTER IN THE MAIL STATING WHEN TO RETURN WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAS NOT RECEIVED A LETTER. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE IS EMITTING GAS FUMES.. UPDATED 04/26/11
FREQUENT STALLING AND INCONSISTENT ENGINE IDLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN CAR IS STOPPED BUT STILL IN GEAR (AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS, ETC). PARTS REPAIRED AND/OR REPLACED INCLUDE: COIL WIRE, CAM SENSOR, CYLINDER WIRE AND FUEL PUMP. REPEATED BLOWN FUSES FOR FUEL PUMP. EVEN AFTER REPAIRS CAR STILL STALLS WHEN STOPPED AND ENGINE IDLE IS INCONSISTENT, WORSE WHEN STOPPED. HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE 2002. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. WHEN THE CONTACT FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, IT SHUT OFF. THE RINGS IN THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. SHE ALSO HEARD A RUMBLING SOUND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE OPERATING NORMALLY; HOWEVER, AFTER MUCH COMPLAINING, THE CONTACT HAD THE FRONT BRAKES REPLACED. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING AFTER A NEW WINDSHIELD WAS INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE MOTOR WAS FOUND TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MOTOR WAS REPLACED. A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN LEAKING ANTIFREEZE AND WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL INJECTION HOSES WERE LEAKING. THE LEAK WAS REPAIRED. THREE WEEKS LATER, THE VEHICLE WOULD BUCK AND SHUT OFF. SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. LASTLY, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ISSUE WITH THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. IT WOULD FISHTAIL OR WOBBLE WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER INCLUDED IN THE FACTORY WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,056 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000.
FUEL FILLER VENT IS CLOGGED, RESULTING IN FUEL OVERFLOWING WHEN FILLING WITH GASOLINE. IT CAN TAKE UP TO 30 MINUTES TO FILL THE TANK. *TR
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, CODES READ P0171 (LEAN BANK 1). FOLLOWED REPAIR PROCEDURE PER FORD TSB 03-16-1 (REPLACE ISOLATOR BOLTS AND PORT SEALS UNDER UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD). ALSO REPLACED VACUUM LINE FROM FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR TO INTAKE MANIFOLD. *JB
CAR EMISSIONS LIGHT CAME ON. THEN WHEN FILLING UP, GAS BACKS UP AND SPEWS OUT PAST NOZZLE. CAN'T GET CAR TO ACCEPT GAS. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A GASOLINE ODOR EMITTING FROM THE VENTS OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND THE HOOD WAS OPENED FOR INSPECTION. THE PLASTIC FUEL LINE FAILED WHERE THE PLASTIC LINE CONNECTS WITH THE STEEL LINE. AS A RESULT, FUEL SPRAYED ONTO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE FUEL LINE WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED. UPDATED 06/12/06. 8JB
SMELLED GASOLINE AND FOUND BOTH FUEL LINES SPRAYING GAS AT FRONT OF ENGINE. FUEL LINES APPEARED TO HAVE DISINTEGRATED. TOOK CAR TO FORD DEALERSHIP - DON CHALMERS IN RIO RANCHO, NM. DEALER REPLACED FUEL LINES FROM TANK TO ENGINE - HAD TO BE ORDERED FROM MICHIGAN. TOTAL COST $667.03 DEALER RETAINED PARTS. *JB
1) 2001 WINDSTAR MINIVAN STALLED AT LOW IDLE WHILE MAKING A TURN. 2) DRIVER NEARLY WRECKED DUE TO LOSS OF POWER. VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL MORE TIMES WHILE MOVING BEFORE REPAIR WAS DONE. 3) DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS BAD FUEL INTAKE GASKETS WHICH WERE REPLACED. PROBLEM PERSISTED UNTIL IAC VALVE WAS CLEANED. MY CONCLUSION IS THAT THE IAC VALVE IS TO BLAMED, AND COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS DUE TO LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING.*AK
WHILE FILLING THE GAS TANK, THE NOZZLE TURNS OFF, THE GAS BACKS UP AND LEAKS OUT. IT CAN TAKE UP TO A HALF HOUR TO FILL THE TANK.*AK
WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE ENGAGED THEY WILL EITHER WORK FOR A FEW SECONDS AND QUIT OR NOT WORK AT ALL. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE WIPER MOTOR TWICE, AND THE FRONT ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. BUT PROBLEMS STILL EXISTS. RECALL 01V261000 WAS ISSUED, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK ALSO, CLUNKING ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AT LOW SPEED OR WHEN TURNING LEFT. DEALERSHIP CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND LATER REPLACED THE BRAKE ROTOR. STARTER WERE ALSO REPLACED. *LA
FAILURE IN GAS TANK WHICH LED CONSUMER TO BELIEVE THAT IT WAS A DESIGN FAILURE. *LA THE FUEL PUMP/FUEL FILTER ASSEMBLY RUBBED ON THE GAS TANK FROM THE INSIDE WHEN THE TANK WAS FULL, WHICH CAUSED THE GAS TANK TO HAVE A PIN HOLE LEAK, WITH THE LEAK THE SYSTEM WAS UNABLE TO PRESSURIZE, WHICH CAUSED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. *JB
OVER THIRTY SEPARATE WARRANTY REPAIRS OVER TWO YEARS. FAULTY ELECTRICAL DOOR LOCKS (KIDS COULDN'T EXIT), TRANSMISSION LEAKAGE, TRANSMISSION FAILURE, FRONT-END DEFECTS WITH LOUD THUMPING NOISES AND SEVERAL BODY PROBLEMS. MOST NOTABLE BODY PROBLEMS ARE WIND NOISE AND WATER LEAKAGE THROUGH DOORS AND WINDOWS. MOST RECENTLY, THE FUEL PUMP FAILED (@ 37,000 MILES). FORD HAS ALL ALONG REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEMS. NOW THAT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, THEY HAVE AGAIN SAID THEY WILL NOT DOING ANYTHING. THE VEHICLE IS UNRELIABLE AND UNSAFE TO OPERATE.*AK
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD THE VAN IN BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE FIRST TIME THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A FAULTY SENSOR BUT NOW THEY SAY IT IS A CRACKED SEAL IN THE FUEL TANK. WHEN I ASKED THE PART'S GUY WHEN I COULD EXPECT THE PART IN HE TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A "NATIONAL BACKORDER" ON THE FUEL TANK BECAUSE FORD HAS HAD TO REPLACE A LOT OF THEM.
I HAVE REPEATEDLY CONTACTED MY DEALER FOR THE PROBLEMS THAT EXIST WITH MY VEHICLE. THE BRAKES FAIL AFTER PROLONGED PRESSURE AT RED LIGHTS. I WAS TOLD TO SET MY PARKING BRAKES TO ADJUST. I HAD TWO LARGE BUMPS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A BROKEN BEARING AND THEY REPLACED MY STEERING WHEEL AND FIXED THE BROKEN BEARING. THE NEW WHEEL HAS THE EXACT SAME BUMPS. I WAS TOLD NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT. THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS MAKING GRINDING SOUNDS. THE COMPRESSOR WAS REPLACED. THE ENIGE HAS A TICKING NOISE WHEN VEHICLE IS IN GEAR BUT STOPPED WITH BRAKE. I WAS TOLS THIS IS THE INJECTORS AND NOTHING WAS WRONG. THE VAN STALLS AT ANY SPEED FOR NO REASON AFTER LONG PERIODS OF DRIVING. I WAS TOLD IT WAS MY ALTERNATOR. I HAVE HAD MY VAN NOT LONG AND ALREADY HAVE A REBUILT NEW VAN. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND DROVE ANOTHER VAN. NONE OF THE ABOVE PROBLEMS WERE SEEN. I WAS TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THAT I COULD DO BUT TO TRADE IN AND PAY MEGA BUCKS FOR ANOTHER ONE. MY VAN HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR 9 DAYS THE FIRST TIME AND 15 DAYS THE SECOND TIME. I FEEL I HAVE BEEN WRONGED BY THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND I SHOULD BE GIVEN A VEHICLE THAT I CAN DRIVE AND FEEL SAFE IN. I FEEL THAT THE VEHICLE HAS MORE PROBLEMS THEN THE 1980 AEROSTAR THAT I REPLACED WITH THIS ONE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. IF THERE IS NOTHING, THEN PLEASE WARN OTHERS FROM THE PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE ENCURRED.*AK
REOCCURRING ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON AFTER VECHICLE IN FOR FIRST COURTESY SERVICE. DEALERSHIP CANNOT DETERMINE EXACT PROBLEM. SO FAR HAVE REPLACED FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY, PRESSURE TRANSDUCER AND ASBLY FUEL VAPOR CONTROL. NO SUCCESS. REPORTED PROBLEM TO MANUFACTURER AND AWAITING A DESICION FROM REGIONAL ENGINEER FOR A POSSIBLE VEHICLE EXCHANGE.
THIS FORM WAS FILLED OUT TWO DAYS AGO AND I COULDN'T GET THE FORM TO DO WHAT I WANTED. THE FIRST REPORT ON THIS VEHICLE INVOLVED A CRAKED CERAMIC FITTING AT THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK. THIS REPORT INVOLVES A SUDDEN AND RAPID LOSS OF FUEL TO WHICH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FIRE AND A SUBSEQUENT EXPLOSION. PLEASE REFER TO MY REPORT OF TWO DAYS AGO. THANK YOU.*AK
THIS VEHICLE WAS SERVICED ON 7/12 AND ON THE WAY HOME THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR CORRECTION. FINALLY DETERMINED THAT A CERAMIC PLUG AT THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK HAD CRACKED. NEEDED TO REPLACE ENTIRE TANK AND IT WAS. TWO WEEKS LATER DRIVING AND A BIG TIME GAS LEAK DEVELOPED-FIRE DEPT CALLED AND VEHICLE TOWED FOR REPAIR. FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT WE WERE LUCKY THAT THERE WAS NOT A FIRE AND ENSUING EXPLOSION. THERE WAS ANOTHER WINDSTAR AT THE DEALER AT THE SAME TIME WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK
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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