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.
Engine check light came on. Rough idle. Tune-up performed. Oxygen sensor replaced. Engine check light is now off. Two days later, engine check light is back on and rough idle returns. Replaced oxygen sensor and plug wires. Next day, driving car and temperature gauge falls almost all the way to cold side. Heater blowing out just a little warm. Pressure tested engine. Leakage in a cylinder. Upon teardiown, head gasket has failed leaking coolant into engine.
Engine check light and the air bag light would intermittentl/simutaneously come on and cause loss of acceleration while traveling at highway speed. Dealer notified. Consumer was informed that vehicle had a transmission leak, the speedometer was acting erractically, parking brake and brakes were inoperative, also the power windows were inoperative.
Oil contamination. Found oil in the coolnat. Dealer inspection concludes that this is a blown head gasket. An exact problem caused a major recall for the same engine for the years 94-95. No recall yet for year 1996. Growing amount of reports show that this problem exists on the 1996 model that carries the same engine. Dealer recommends to replace the engine block at a cost of $4000. I am expecting Ford to pick up these charges due to the reasons stated above.
Engine stalls unexpectedly on warm to hot days. Causes loss of steering and braking and handling of vehicle. Engine stalls during normal operation, at intersections, needing to steer off the road to avoid collisions. Engine needs to cool down for 20 minutes before it will turn over. Recent newspaper article reported major collisons leading in death or severe injury because of this engine failure. Cases pending in California. Ford needs to be pressured by the NHTSA to have a recall of this tfi module which is positioned improperly on engine before more incidents occur or the tfi module needs to be redesigned to withstand more heat so that engine does not shut down while driving. We are afraid to drive the vehicle and need to have action taken now before something serious happens.
Have fought with Ford about losing power and vehicle stalling since owning the car. Also find that many others(on web 'Windstar head defect' search) have had the same problem. I have also had two Ford mechanics unofficialy admit that there is a design flaw in the 1996 Windstar. Ford, after being badgered, said they would cover my engine to 100,000 miles and are reniging now that it has completely blown. I just want a car that is safe for my family. Help me.
Original transmission failed at 37900 mi. - detected when trans fluid leaked onto hot engine part and smoked. Original warranty expired at 36,000 mi. Dealer told me that fmc would sell me an "extended powertrain warranty" for $250. The warranty would cover the previously diagnosed transmission failure and would cover any other major trans/engine problems up to 75,000 miles, provided I am still the owner of the vehicle. I purchased the extended warranty and was glad I did when the replaced trans failed ta 42,952 miles. The dealer replaced that trans, I had to pay a $50 deductible. In Jan. 2001 (58,100 miles) the warranty had to be used again. This time it was for "upper and lower manifold seals". however, this time it would cost me $213 because they also had to replace the spark plugs, which were not covered by the extended warranty. Just last month, 6/22/2001 the vehicles engine light came on again, just as it had in January 2001. The vehicle was running rough, stalling, engine was 'misfiring". the end result this time was replacement of the spark plug wires, coil assembly, A-S sensor, and a spark plug. This vehicle was sold to me as "not needing a tune-up until 100,000 miles". sure sounds to me like I've already had that tune-up and I'm only 1T 65,000 miles!! then theres the A/C problem(s). In June the A/C was only blowing air through my defrost vents on top of the dash. The dealer repaired a "vacuum leak" and now they replaced a high psi switch, cost was $100 each time.
While driving vehicle just all of a suuden stopped running, consumer had vehicle towed to dealership and it was determined that a new engine was needed, according to mechanic there was no oil pressure.
Took vehicle to dealer 6 times since October 2000 for engine knocking/ shaking/ engine light on, and engine missing. Dealer could not remedy. Then on 31 Mar ch, 2001 vehicle was started. Driven about 10 yards when consumer heard a big bang, engine stalled. Towed to dealer who found coolant was coming out of exhaust. Engine needed to be replaced.
Check engine light flashes and at times remains on. The engine hesitates while acceleration. Per the dealer the engine head gasket has developed a small crack which allows coolant to seep into the engine and cause an occational misfire. The dealer stated that this is not covered under the warranty and will cost $1,800 to repair. Per NHTSA recall report in 1995 the same engine and in Windstar were recalled for the same issue. Also simlar issue noted in 1996 Windstar complaintss.
White smoke coming from tailpipe/loss of antifreeze. Took van to dealer. Going to cost over 2000 dollars to fix. With the same problem happening to so many people who own 1996 Windstar, you would think something could be done about this. No safety defect listed.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Calumet City, IL, USA