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 passenger side power sliding door opens on its own while the car is moving. It happened twice in one day. I was told that Ford is "aware of the problem" and that they are working on a new hinge assembly. In the meantime, I am afraid to put my kids in the van. I see other complaints for this same issue (738418, 866315, 871988, 730676, 871684). I also know of two other people who had the same problem. Luckily, no one was hurt, but this needs to be addressed.
While traveling on the highway, the door will unexpectedly open without prior warning, dealership is aware of problem... also the driver seat will not move, dealer replaced the fuse, the cruise control was inoperative. And the door ajar light was on.
Sliding side door has a faulty mechanism. While driving door just opened on its own. Please provide any further information, and identification number.
Consumer stated arm rest on the passenger side of the vehicle is broken, cause unknown. Clunk noise in front end while turning or accelerating from a stop, can also be felt with vibration, passenger side dash area hanging. Both sliding door rubber stops missing, driverside sliding door stop replaced. Grinding noise in rear when applying brakes. When heat is on vent smells like something is burning. Wipers will not clear windshield, washer solvent sprays in one spot. Normal operation.
The passenger sliding door mechanism sealed completely on my right thumb. It did not sense that there was an obstruction and my thumb was damaged extensively. When thumb was released, it was completely flat (size of a flat quarter) and had extensive crushing damage. Had no feeling for 4 months. Nail died and took until January 2002 to fall off, causing much discomfort and inability to perform daily tasks for family. Currently, nail has not grown back and may not ever. This door mechanism, when tested shut on plastic cups, sticks, and other small objects. This is a family vehicle and should have an infa red sensor that backs up the door whenever its beam is broken. It currently has a mechanical sensor so only if something substantial (ie: An adults whole body) is wedged in door, will it back up. Even then, it closes considerably (and frighteningly on victom) before opening. I fear that one of my children will get wrist or hand closed and cause serious damage. I still have shooting pain in joint of thumb and no thumb nail. I need help demonstrating product malfunction before my child or someone else's is seriously crushed!
The power rear doors attempt to shut but then fail to latch leaving the doors ajar. This happens regularly during hot weather. My daughter was injured when both doors failed to latch and then the children shut the door manually (non-power assist) injuring her fingers in the door. This problem with the failure to latch has been reported by other Ford Windstar owners we know with 1999 or 2000 models. This time the tempture was in the 70's
Only method of opening vehicle door from outside using a key is through drivers side door or using remote entry system. Consumer complaint is that if driver's door is inoperable, and electrical system is inoperable, there is no way to open vehicle from outside. There should be an option to manually open each of the doors. Eliminating this option was just to save a few dollars on the part of the manufacturee.
The power sliding door does not always close to the "flush" position. The minivan has been brought back to dealership where purchased on three separate occassions. 1st time: Door goes to the closed position then retracts slightly open and stays there. Repeated attempts to powerslide where unsuccfessful. Brought it to the deal and they mad an "adjustment" (details not available). 2nd time: Door retracts slightly after reaching the closed position. Will eventually reach the closed position but only with multiple attempts. Also, detection of object in the path of sliding door not working well. I needed to stop the door from sliding with the entire force of my body (this ould have seriously injured my 3-year old if she had been standing there at the time). A visit to Ford resulting in reprogramming the sensor as they are receiving information from Ford on these repairs on a weekly basis. Tested the sliding door in Ford's parking lot before leaving the dealership and it was working fine. Got home, switched around my carseats, again, the door did not close all the way. Left it alone for a while, went back outside and the door successfully closed on the first attempt. Did not have occassion to use the sliding door for 4 days, open.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Santa Cruise, CA, USA