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.
I have had several different problems with my '95 Windstar since I bought it used in Jan of 1997. The scary thing is I don't know what all has already been replaced on it, but here is my list head gaskets replaced, speedometer replaced & is now making noise again, rear heat and air repaired, trouble with ignition switch, steering is making noises hopefully this isn't a problem with the suspension spring you are already investigating, bells are rining all the time, door adjar light stays on periodically causing interior lights to stay on so you can't drive at night and your battery goes dead.most recently my transmission is giving me problems, it goes out of gear at a stop and then slams into it hard when you try to go forward also shifts hard from 1st to 2nd. This is very dangerous when entering a busy intersection or street. I did some home work on the internet only to find that it seems all of these problems are very common and everyone seems to have them at some point or another. I have been thinking of re pairing my transmission but I have read of several people repairing theirs only to put 2 or even 3 more in. What is it with this vehicle?no safety defect mentioned.
Was experiencing problems with head gasket leaking on 01 Jan 00. Had vehicle towed to mechanic & informed head consumer that gasket was repaired previously. Problem caused engine to be damaged. Mechanic indicated vehicle is driveable, but engine was dying & had owner drive off lot. Returned vehicle & engine was replaced. New engine started to have electrical problems. Air conditioner did not work & dome light came on and off.
The brakes were repaired prior to us ever taking possesion of the vehicle, 1 week after purchase the transmissions and electrical system were under repair for 3 wks, electric sys still does not fnction properly, A/C never worked in car, brought in for repair and engine is damaged due to recall - will not be fixed for 5 to 12 weeks. I want a comparable replacement vehicle
Consumer was traveling about 60mph on the highway and air conditioner was blowing hot air. Vehicle overheated on the highway due to engine head gasket blowing out.
- Puyallup, WA, USA
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Water pump leaks coolant and timing case cover leaks antifreeze. Cause unknown. Other failures include left and right tie rods, ignition key lock, A/C, and head gasket.
Rear shocks failed at 3000 mi. A/C compressor relay failed summer of 1996 (hasn't work reliably since). Tailgate lock motor failed, pass window motor faled, sliding door elec contacts replaced, head gaskets failed 3 times in 80000 mi. And many other problems that the dealers have fixed under warranty or service bulletins. How much will it take for Ford to take responsibility for the 1995 lemon Windstar !!!
At 30,170 miles, transmission was replaced. At 45,472 miles the air conditioner would work when the van would first start and then the A/C would cut off. While awaiting for the parts to fix the A/C to arrive at the dealership, the van began missing during idle. I was driving out of my driveway on July 11, 1999 when the check engine light came on. I immediately pulled back into the driveway where the van sat until Monday, July 12, 1999 at 7:00 P.M. per the service dept at the Ford dealership, we were advised to drive the van there, if we could get it that far. Upon leaving our home with my husband driving the van and me following in a reliable vehicle, we started out for the dealership only to stop midway because the van was overheating. We waited for it to cool and started for the dealership once again. My husband turned the van off as he pulled into the dealership and had to let it coast the rest of the way because again, it was overheating. They diagnosed the blown head gasket and intake gasket the next day. On Dec 7, 1999, I was using the van to go home on my lunch hour. It started to die as I pulled out of my parking space but continued to run. I headed for home and within 2 blocks, while sitting at a stop light, the van died. I managed to start it back up only to have it die again. The van had to be towed this time. They diagnosed that the air flow tube had fallen off of the filter housing. On 12-16-1999, I was pulling from my parking space to go home from work for the day, only to have the van die. It started up again only to make it to the street out of the parking lot. It started again and I made it 1/2 a block before it died again. I started again and made it one full block this time before it died again. I had to start the van approx. 5-6 more times only to have it die each time in order to get into a local hotel parking lot. I called the service manager at the Ford dealership and he came to check things out. He could.
Due to a defective moisture punger modulator wiring harness kit, there is a mildew fungus type that grows in the air conditioner evaporator which causes the driver and occupants to breath dififcult, and may result in occupants fainting or possible death. There is a tsp bulletin 98-10-2 regarding this problem. Manufacturer is only willing to pay half for this known problem.
IE98-080; while traveling at 65 mph with the air condtioning on, the air conditioner cut off. Also, engine operated erratically and white smoke come from the exhaust pipe. Consumer contacted the dealer. Dealer stated that engine head gasket blew out. Dealer has replaced engine head gasket and other parts. Engine overheated very quickly.
Currently our vehicle is awaiting a new engine after having the head gasket replaced on a recall notice from Ford last October. While we have an extended warranty on this vehicle, we feel it is not fair they should have to provide replacement in light of other similar complaints about the same problem on other Ford Windstar. This vehicle only has 34,489 miles on it. We have had transmission concerns about this van as well, however the dealer has never been able to duplicate the problems experienced. We are very concerned that this van is infact a lemon, and we have contacted the Ford customer service line, which advised us that no assistance would be provided because the vehicle was out of manufacturers warranty by time, not by miles.
Engine - both head gaskets were replaced by dealer, then engine replaced, tranmission showed burnt fluid and was replaced 3 months following engine replacement, air conditioner failed to work 3 days after transmission replacement.
Engine head gasket/radiator replaced, domn lights won't shut off, water in rear tail light, hood wont shut, airconditioning switch replaced, brakes making noise after being just replaced, didnt solve problem, . seat belt seems loose.
Brakes replaced, vehicle computer chip failed, air conditioner malfunctioned, the motor started missing, at 36,000 miles the vehicle started making chirping noises, belt frayed and a warbeling sound started in the tires and front end.
Vehicle experiencing following problems: Faulty computer chip/transmission missing from 1st to 2nd gear/inside door paneling came loose, and faulty air conditioner.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Richmond Hill, NY, USA