10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
52,741 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

1998 Ford Windstar fuel system problems

fuel system problem

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1998 Ford Windstar Owner Comments

problem #8

Jul 052013

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 155,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My Windstar has about 155,000 miles on it and a 25 gallon tank. About six months ago it cut off on the interstate in front of a tractor trailer with my daughter driving. It had just traveled about 200 miles and it was raining hard. We had it towed to a Ford dealer and all he reported was the fuel pump fuse blew. The second event was on vacation and after driving about 175 miles. Again it was pouring down rain. I figured it was moisture related and let it sit three days and the idle close to 1/2 hour. Finally I drove it about 45 minutes and it seemed fine so we drove home. Again at about 150 miles and heavy rain it blew the fuse about 5 miles from home. After two more fuses we made it home. I used an air compressor and air nibbler to carefully cut an access hole in the floor of the van. My daughters Chrysler comes with an access point for fuel pump service. Now my van has one too. The original pump was in the tank. The wires exposed to fuel were chaffed in 5 spots and arcing at the push in connector. The arcing was due to a crimp on a hose clamp rubbing the wire near the push in pump connector. This rubbing may happen due to other stories I've read about where the tank collapsed from vacuum in the tank. Shame on the people who designed this pump, tank and the assembly process. By the way I'm a quality engineer at an engine factory. I expect a fuel pump to wear out -- not short out.

- Aiken, SC, USA

problem #7

Jan 032011

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
1998 Ford Windstar. Consumer states issues with repairs the consumer stated the gas he put in his vehicle, turned out to be bad, which caused the vehicle shake. (consumers handwriting is extremely illegible. )

- Jersey City, NJ, USA

problem #6

Dec 151999

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,930 miles
A/C Oct. 99 $168.98, Dec. 99 $134.40 suspension July 01 $664.61, Dec. 99 $515.85, Jun 01 $61.78, body Jun 01 $443.61 other cd player Jun 01 $19.50 and $366.86 turn signal Jan 02 $161.04 dome light Jan 02 $84.02 Jan 02 $89.72 door Oct 99 $134.52, Mar 03 $285.07 steering Sept.02 $258.82, Mar. 03 $569.32 computer controls Sept. 00 $106.02 engine Jan 02 $784.75 coolant smell (found front cover gasket leaking) Sept. 02 $85.95 (told throttle body worn out, sold me update computer software, seams to run better) currently in shop for check engine light and A/C system intermittent. Mechanic found engine problem, says main bearings or crankshaft bad, possibly due to coolant in oil system from January 02 problem

- Fargo, ND, USA

problem #5

May 152001

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • 37,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This van has all the defects and complaints listed on thegovt. Recalls the NHTSA site and others ihave too much info to put on this site if there is anyone I can send my complaint to please let me know iam putting it back into the shop again ive been thru a nightmare along with trying to assure my 4 kids that they were safe in this van thankyou angela wallace and by the wat the dealer that sold me this van will not cooperate at all

- Phippsburg, ME, USA

problem #4

Nov 152002

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • 84,000 miles
Head gasket failure. Faulty head gasket design in my opinion ABS/traction control unit. Current problem tsb states that fuel tank manufactured with incorrect depth - fuel pump wiring is rubbed until electrical short occurs - and fuel pump fuse blows - vehicle is then stuck in traffic, in the middle of an intersection etc. Fords recommended fix is to replace the fuel tank and pump assembly however, they will not contribute anything to the cost of the repairs caused due to their faulty design.

- Grand Island, NY, USA

problem #3

Sep 262003

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • 95,000 miles
While driving at various speeds and without warning consumer smelled gas fumes inside the vehicle. Cause has yet to be determined. The seal between the gas tank and the fuel pump failed because the gas tank collapsed. The gas tank was replaced at the dealer. The fuel gauge accuracy problem that was corrected when the new gas tank was installed.

- Newark, OH, USA

problem #2

Jul 012002

Windstar

  • miles
Consumer states the warning light was on, the dealer traced problem to a loose hose on the fuel tank, which required tightening a screw, the fuel filter was replaced.

- Florence, AL, USA

problem #1

Jul 202002

Windstar

  • miles
Engine stalled; reported to sheehy Ford; replaced sensor; within a week vehicle stalled again and often. Reported to dealer; could not duplicate stall condition. Stalling occurred up to 13 times a day; returned vehicle to dealer. After two days dealer found that plastic gas tank had collapsed, causing a vapor lock, affecting fuel flow to engine and resulting in stalls. Gas tank replaced at cost of $882.

- Gaithersburg, MD, USA

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