This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 1996 Ford Windstar gl (na). The contact stated that while waiting a stop sign, the vehicle suddenly died and the engine engulfed into flames. There were no injuries. The police and fire departments were called but no police report was filed. The vehicle had not been inspected or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
I went to go to the store May 26th, 2010 6:30 - 7:00 pm, I got in my vehicle with my two year old daughter and I proceeded to go down my driveway which its a long driveway and I started to smell a faint smell of plastic burning and I got to the road and I started to go and I decided I should maybe pull over to see if I could see anything on the outside of vehicle causing smell then when got back in car saw the steam coming from hood and I decided to turn around and have my boyfriend take a look before I left. When got to house saw little steam but nothing big, turned off van and got my daughter from car seat and walked inside home not but 5 minutes later my other daughter ran screaming out her room, mom the vans on fire. When opened the door the flames were shooting out of the hood and tried to open hood, while other half going for fire extinguishers but motor was engulfed in flames and within 5 minutes got fire out with 2 fire extinguishers. Nothing indicated before fire other then the faint smell that I smelled while going down driveway. The fire came from the wiring and it is definitely a safety issue cause if me and my daughter had this happen to us while on the road it could of seriously injured or killed us. I haven't done anything to fix the van yet cause I only had liability insurance on the van and the fire wasn't covered. I also do not financially have the means to fix the van myself so I am without transportation right now! my boyfriend did feel after looking at van the fire started with the wiring over the top of the center of the motor.
My 1996 Ford Windstar caught fire in the engine compartment while driving and burned up within 10 minutes. I did not know about the fire danger recall until I heard about it on the new a few days after the event. The only accessory that was on was the airconditioning which was working properly. I noticed a smell followed by smoke from under the hood. I pulled over to investigate and the smoke intensified followed by flames. By the time the fire department arrived (5 minutes) flames were pouring out from under the hood and thick black smoke had filled the passenger compartment. The fire had completely destroyed the engine and had begun to burn into the passenger compartment. The dashboard has melted along with parts of the roof as far back as the middle seats. Up to the event the car had been running normally with no problems. I had never been contacted by Ford about the recall and only found out about it on the news a few days after the event. Needless to say, the car was considered "totaled" by the insurance company.
I have a 3.8 engine that has had to have heads repaired/replaced 3 times. The last time the engine now requires replacing, it has been at garage for 2 years. Due to cost involved it is not cost effective ro repair. It has overheated in all cases and the second time it was determined that a faulty Ford water pump may have been cause. I have notified Ford and dealer multiple times without response.
- Rocky Point, NC, USA
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: the contact stated that the engine died at 21,000 miles. The contact expressed the engine should not have died at 21000 miles. There were no failures that lead to this incident. The problem has not been repaired.
1996 Ford Windstar head gasket failure leading to complete engine failure. There was no prior indication. After the van sat for one week we started it and the headgasket blew allowing coolant into the engine.
I purchased a 1996 Ford Windstar and five days later found out that it had a bad engine (blown head gasket). It left myself and 6 children stranded on the side of the road.
I also have a 1996 Windstar will all of the mentioned head gasket problems.van sits in rear, am currently driving Toyota with 200+ I pulled from back yard after being stagnent for 3 years. No money to repair, causing hardship in family.I believe to be Ford problem but doesnt look like they are going to admit as a trouble, will not buy another and will not support 6 family members when they lose their jobs do to this problem. My van was also manufactured in Canada 12/96 and VIN seems to be in sequence with others. Van just turned 100,000 a week ago.
1996 Ford Windstar, misfired under normal highway driving, the check engine light started flashing. This is indicative of a misfire according to the owners manual. Upon further research, this is a very common problem to the 1996 model. The computer will say the engine is misfire in cylinder X when it is actually a misfire in cylinder Y. have been told that this is anything from a faulty spark plug to a blown piston ring, causing a loss of compression in a cylinder. Seems to be a very very very common problem among 1996 Windstar.
The head gasket blew out while driving, causing anti freeze to leak into the engine. Also, there was a strong anti freeze odor coming into the cabin of the vehicle while driving. Ford changed the gasket and since that time a blown head gasket have been a major failure.
1996 Ford Windstar with headgasket problem. I have contacted fors, but they say there is no record of the 1996 engines having premature head gasket failure. My Windstar, bought new has 68,000 miles. I have been smelling antifreeze for the past 3 years, but it has now gotten much worse. Brought car to mechaninc due to engine misfiring, one of the sysmptoms listed for the head gasket failure. The reapiar will cost over $2,000.
Vehicle had constant engine problems along with other problems that surfaced and ended its life cycle. 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. 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.
Vehicle has been loosing coolant for many years. The vehicle was taken in for a routine oil change but ended up having major repairs. Approximately eight months after the repair, the engine quit and the consumer was informed by two dealers that the vehicle needed a short block installed. There was also noise in the steering and a coolant leak. The intake upper and lower manifold gaskets were also replaced.
Consumer stated that while traveling vehicle slowed down/stopped, and then stalled. Consumer could not travel where there were any inclines or hills. Consumer took vehicle to several mechanics, and had vehicle on diagnostic machines, and no one could repair it.
I maintained my Windstar properly. It began to leak coolant and engine light. Ford dealership stated it needed a new engine. Due to faulty head gasket causing leak of coolant. Ford Canada agreed to cover some of the cost but not all of it. Said if I declined their offer they would withdraw all offers. So I took it. I couldn't afford the bill as it was. I have since seen a small claims court in quebec found that Ford was responsible for the repairs related to the head gasket. I have contacted Ford Canada customer complaint center. And told they will not reimburse me for the expenses. And that although they lost the complaint in quebec in all other Canadian proviences they have one. Even a class action suit. Why would they pay a portion of the repair if they were not responsible"?" I feel they are responsible for the full cost of the engine repair.
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. 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!
Timing cover gasket failure allowed coolant to mix with engine oil. Gasket replaced but engine damage may have already been done. Speedometer wavers between 20 and 60 mph at 30 mph, headlight lenses have yellowed to the point that the headlights are useless. Most Ford vehicles from 1990 to 2000 have the yellowing headlight problems and should be recalled as a safety problem.
Other is the head gasket went and leaked oil in my engine causing it to be replaced. Ford denied any problems with this and I believed them until I read your web site article on the head gasket problem with 1995 Windstar. I called Ford this morning again and read the article and they still will not step up to the plate on this. Nothing else has gone wrong with my car.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Massillon, OH, USA