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 1999 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the ABS warning light illuminated. He attempted to reset the battery in hopes that it was a defect. Two weeks later, smoke was present under the instrument panel. The speedometer, odometer, and air conditioning failed in the vehicle. There were several recalls listed; however, Ford stated that his VIN was not included in the recalls. Currently, there is an open investigation (NHTSA action number PE08035) for the described failure. The failure mileage was 83,000 and the current mileage was unknown.
My 1999 Ford Windstar has an issue with fuse #10 blowing which affects the speedometer (does not work) as well as A/C which only blows hot air. The ABS brake light stays on and much more instrumentation is inoperable including cruise control. This first happened while on a highway in Colorado. My husband and I pulled over and checked the manual. We replaced fuse #10 and all worked fine for a couple of months. Then the fuse began blowing each time I turned on the car. We bought several extra fuses as we were getting ready to drive to our new home in Arizona. This was July 11, 2008. The car ran for 12 hours on a new fuse with no problem. We stopped and rested for three hours and continued our road trip on July 12th. The fuse blew when I started the car and several new fuses never got it to work again. I had to drive the last leg (four hours) of my trip with no A/C (desert climate) and worst of all no knowledge of how fast I was going. That was scary. I took the car to a mechanic in tucson, AZ and they told me I had some recall issues and that I should go to a Ford dealership. I looked up recalls and found a website with Ford Windstar owners who have similar issues. Apparently, there is currently no recall for them at this time. They state it is under investigation. I hope so as I spent $1300 on A/C and heater problems last winter. My van has 115,000 miles on it and I need it to last me long enough until I get a new job in Arizona. It is unsafe to drive at this time. Thank you.
Ongoing failure of fuse that controls the speedometer/ac and ABS. Leak from under master break cylinder onto switch. Fixed by repair shop. 1999 Ford Windstar.
1999 Ford Windstar brake, ABS brake stays on, cruise control went out, and speedometer/odometer went out. Fuse blew and continues to blow. Ford has a redesigned brake pressure switch, but will not say it is a recall.
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.
- Thibodaux, LA, USA
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I have a 1999 Ford Windstar, 3.8L engine. ABS brake light on, no speedometer, no odometer, no air conditioning. Took to a repair shop, they found fuse #10 was blown. Replaced the fuse and smoke started to come up from the master cylinder area, he removed the electrical connection plug for the brake pressure switch located on the bottom of the master cylinder. Thankfully this did not occur while my wife and children in the vehicle, so no one was injured. I have read on the internet of several Windstar with this same problem, and believe Ford should do something to rectify this problem.
I have a 99 Ford Windstar with the VIN # included in the supposed recall, but when I wrote Ford they said that it was not in that list- it starts with 2. my van has begun to burn under the hood and smoke smelling like wiring on fire. A fire had not actually started. Do I have to wait until it does and someone does for them to admit that there is something wrong with my van" it is at the second service station because I do not trust my Ford dealership, with good reason. I have it in for the second week at a second service station with nothing to drive. How do I get this done expeditiously"
I purchased a 1999 Ford Windstar a few months ago. I have had nothing but problems with it. In fact, I have spent more than half of what I paid for the vehicle in repairs in only 2 months. The reason for my complaint is that the most recent repairs have involved items that I feel are extreme safety concerns. 1- the power doors on my vehicle to not lock/unlock properly, making it unable to open the sliding doors. This was looked at by the Ford mechanic today. I was told that the door latches were bad and were "burning up" the door lock actuators. I'm not sure if this is the reason, but also lately, my door ajar light comes on my dash and the interior lights are coming on intermittently while driving. I have 3 children, two of them in car seats and unable to get them selves out of a car. I am concerned that if something were to happen such as an accident or an emergency situation that I would not be able to get my children out of the vehicle. I am paying to have this repaired at the tune of around $1,000 which I think is a real rip off, due to Ford poorly manufactured vehicle. 2. my brake light stopped working on the left side of my van. I changed the bulb and tested it, and did not fix the problem. I then noticed that my rear tail light is now not working. I had this checked out by the mechanic today, and was told it is the rear electronic control module which is going to cost me nearly $600 to fix. I'm not sure what would cause such a thing to fail, but this is definitely a safety concern, where lights come into play. I could have been rear ended due to this malfunction. I'm beginning to wonder if Ford is in the auto making/selling business, or the service business. It appears to me that they are poorly manufacturing vehicles only providing job security for the mechanics. Please investigate this situation. Any help in remedying this and getting Ford to pay for their mistakes would be greatly appreciated.
First: While traveling 70 mph on an interstate in nc our van died. After safely pulling over, crossing 3 lanes of traffic, we had the van towed home to va and the mechanic said he changes 7-8 transmissions a week in Ford Windstar vans. We had fallen victim to this. We still have problems with the O/D light coming on and having to add transmission fluid frequently. Second: Our van interior and exterior lights dim and blink at random. The alert will also come on saying one of the doors is ajar leaving the interior lights on and doors unlocked. It will randomly change doors while driving. Now the rear turning lights do not flash, the locks do not work, the interior and back exterior lights do not go out even with the key off and out. There will be random beeping and buzzing noises. The rear heat/air turns off and on at random even with the controls in the off position. There is a clicking under the dash when the rear heat or air is running. On inspection the mechanic found the alarm wires under the dash bare, unhooked, and exposed. He taped these hoping it would solve the problem. It has not. The local Ford dealer is not reputable. It is a well known fact in the community that they break something else while fixing another to ensure a return visit. We have to travel 45-60 minutes to another dealer and they are so busy because they have to provide service for a large rural area. Ford has never acknowledged phone calls or letters sent to them. We feel stuck with a lemon!
I bought my 99 Ford Windstar sel in March of this year (2006) and not even a week after I bought it when I would pull out from red lights or stop signs and the van would either die on me in the middle of the road or would continuously hesitate. I brought it back to the dealership and the first time they said that it was my keys so they reprogrammed my keys. Then it happened again as soon as I left the dealership, I brought it back a second time, they told me that they believed it had to do with my theft device. They assured me it was fixed then sent me home with it. A couple of days later it did the same thing again only this time every time I got in my van or closed my driver door from entering or exiting my van it would tell me on my message system that my driver door was ajar which lead to the interior lights being on. It did that the day I took it home from the dealership so I had to bring it back for a third time now for the re-occurring problem I was having and now with the door being said to be open. They finally said they found the problem and that Ford told them that there was a similar incident with another van like mine and said that they had to replace the cip sycronizor. I was able to take my van home again and they problem had been fixed all except the message I still get to this day about my driver door being ajar when it isn't. it didn't do it to me before I took it to the dealership and now they won't fix it when it was a result from them having it. Keep in mind each of the 3 times I had to take it in I had to leave it with them for 1-3 days each time! no loan car was offered to me so I was left with no car and I have 3 small children that I have to care for and need transportation for.
I have been experiencing problems listed in recall numbers 01V261000; 00V351000 and 99V147000, however, my VIN # is somehow not eligible for repair at no cost.
I opened electronic sliding driver side door on my 1999 Ford Windstar van to load the car for a weekend trip. I kneeled in the door opening to position things in the back seat. Without warning the door began to shut on its own. Before I could jump out of the car, it had my calves stuck in the door. It did not automatically open as I was informed it should have when it hit my legs. My daughter was able to pull the door open and allow me to escape. My right calf was injured, though it did not break the skin, I have a large bruise from the doors impact approx. 2 inches high and 4 inches long. I took my car to the dealership (ted britt Ford in fairfax Virginia) where I purchased my van and carry an extended warranty. They have had my car in for numerous repairs, all related to the doors malfunctioning or other electrical problems. This is the first time there was an injury due to the door failure. My car is currently still in the shop for this malfunction. **about the number of failures listed below: I am uncertain if I should indicate one failure which resulted in an injurry or the multiple failures of the doors opening, refusing to open, or refusing to close that proceeded this last incident. I wll indicate one failure, meaning this last one. Please call or email if I should indicate all the door failures we have incountered to date. * am also a bit concerned as the repair department at ted britt Ford in fairfax, where my van is regularly serviced, indicated that he believes it would have been impossible for the door to shut without my having done something to cause it. I am absolutely certain I could not have accidentally close the door. I am concerned they may not check out this problem adequately and just decide it was operator error. I reminded them of the multiple other door failures and electrical problems. I also let them know the lights in the van (that come on when you open a door), go on and off when I go over bumps as I am driving.
Just about everything that can go wrong with a car, I've experienced it as the owner of this 1999 Ford Windstar LX. I've had transmission work done, brake work, replaced tires (twice in 2 years), replace the battery and the starter. I came to this site because the car wouldn't start, wouldn't take a jump, wouldn't make a sound. I called to have it towed and the gentleman jiggled the key in the ignition and the car started. A few days later the same thing happened again. This time no one could start it. Testing the battery and primary parts for starting the car proved that these parts were all functioning normal. A few hours and $127 later (not including the cost of towing the vehicle) I'm told the problem is with the anti-theft device. It is broken and needs to be replaced to the tune of about $900 with a 90-day warranty. Recommendations to me were to get rid of the car. "this particular part in all Ford vehicles is poorly built." I haven't decided what I'm going to do at this point, however, I feel pretty sure my decision will not involve staying with Ford.
While driving through standing water, the vehicle shut off. The vehicle was currently being seen at the dealers. No diagnose has been given at this time. Provide further details.
Electrical problem involving 10 amp fuse for ac, ABS, odometer, speed sensor for trans, and several other components. Fuse blows constantly. Took to dealer 3 times. Clockspring replaced - $605, speed sensor in trans - $300, use of 15 amp fuse on third visit - fuse blew after 7 days. To date, dealer cannot find the source of the problem. It is expensive to replace parts in the hope that they find it, plus the problem remains. Are there similar complaints and is there a known fix that the dealer is unaware of?
Exterior bulb warning light came on left rear running light quit operating. Electical machanic stated rem module needs to be replace. This unit is vehicle specific and a cost of $300 and has to be programed by dealer for another charge.
Interior lighting, radio, rear A/C fan will not turn off when vehicle is off and key removed. Rear fan continues to run, draining battery. This fault is intermittent and was supposedly resolved by the dealer( place motors, webster MA) replacing the battery last spring 2003. Did the dealerships really fix anything?? it cost me a new battery to find out. Chattering of power relays also occurs. Similar description as the other complaints for interior lighting and electrical systems. Rear A/C fan was disconnected to stop battery drain. Everything seems to be worse on rainy days.
While driving at 45 mph consumer noticed that the vehicle was running roughly. Several seconds later, engine check light came on. Vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed consumer that the intake manifold gasket needed to be replaced. The intake manifold gasket was sucked into the engine, causing the engine to bind. Dealer also made repairs on front end, power steering, electrical system, and tie rod ends. A 4-wheel alignment was also performed by the dealer.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Frankford, KY, USA