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 paint is blistering off the hatch and sides in large patches. The airbag light blinks and the power window on the driver side fails to close all the way and struggles to open. The rear vent windows work when they want to.
On 6/13/2003, at 57049 miles, our 1995 Windstar overheated and seemed to be losing coolant so we took it to zimmerman Ford, St. Charles, il to be checked out. They reported no problem found and we paid $66.79 for a cooling system service and lube service. On October 4th,2003, the check engine light on our Windstar went on. We took it to the same dealership to be checked. They charged $111 for sbds tests and told us we had head gasket failure and quoted $2100 to repair. We contacted five other dealerships in the Chicago area who quoted between $900 and $1600 to do the job. Our van is currently with family Ford of West Chicago being fixed. We have been told to expect a bill of about $1300. Moving from zimmerman to family Ford was not just a cost decision. Zimmerman refused point plank to help us get help from Ford. Family Ford have agreed to keep the faulty parts and help us in any way they can. We have contacted Ford at several levels trying to persuade them that their 7 year / 100,000 extended warranty, plus the 6 year / 75,000 mile extended warranty that we purchased both imply that the head gasket should not have failed at 60,000 miles as ours did. We have also put forth the argument that the original extended warranty 5 year or 60,000 states or not whichever comes first so we feel we have a case to be covered under the terms of this warranty, given that we reported a possible problem at 57049 miles. Ford has said (several times by phone and E-mail)that they are unable to help as we are outside the terms of the extended warranty. They also say that they have very few complaints on this vehicle any more so they will not make an exception for me. I was told that they have made no exceptions outside the 7 year / 100,000 parameters. I feel that we have been penalized by Ford because we have a low mileage on our vehicle and the poor engine construction on the 1995 Windstar, in our case, still failed prematurely at 60,000.
I have owned this van since 1999. Since I have owned it we have had nothing but problems with it. I have had the rotors turned, and replaced at least 3 times, and they need it again. I have had the head gasket replaced 3 times and one of them times was at 99,000 miles when it was under the warrenty. It had been replaced at least one time before that. My sliding door won't stay closed, even though I just spent $300 getting a new latched put on. My windows won't work. I had larson motors fix a head gasket and my electronic windows, cost me over $250 for the window, that only worked 2 times. I called, and since they put "may not be the problem" on the invoice, they think that clears them, and they wanted me to spend more money on another part. My speedometor has been replaced once and is broke again. The alternator has been replaced. I could go on and on. I am getting no where with anyone. I have spent around $5,000 in repairs, and can't trade the thing off, since I still owe too much on it, due to a tornado that hit our home, and what the insurance didn't cover, the balance was put on our car loan. We don't have the best credit do to having to spend anywhere from $100-300+ a month on repairs to this lemon car. I have a family and need to know that I have a reliable car to drive. I have been stranded with my 3 children a minimum of 4 times this past year.
The entire engine was replaced, however the vehicle continued to have engine problems, the transmission side pan gasket, heat, power window, defroster, door switch assembly, were all replaced, the dome light would stay on continuously, and the right caliper was leaking.
Door sensor leaves interior dome lights on and the associated relay is hot to the touch. Power window motor inoperative, was working intermittenly up to today. Ignition switch will allow the key to be removed when it shouldn't.
- Mesa, AZ, USA
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Pulling out of a parking lot I heard a rubbing noise. I parked the vehicl and turned the wheel. The tire exploded. When I looked the coil had broken and one end was jammed through the tire. I called Ford and they said nothing could be done. I could not find a part any where. I called 3 Ford delaerships and they said all the parts were back ordered and could not be delivered for months. I called Ford customer sefcie as my car was broken down 100 miles from my home. They said to put my name on an order form and wait for the part, even though I was paying $43 a day for a rental car. When towing the car to a dealership for repair both windows exploded fro no reason. We ended up ordering a used spring from Ohio over 600 miles away and had to pay to have it shipped. When it arrived it was the rear coil and had to be sent back and reordered. The new part is due to be delivered Monday. I will be without the vehicle for 7 days if the part is put on Tuesday.
Ford and the dealership were not helpful at all. Ford tried to make me happy in the end with an additional warranty for 24 months or 24,000. But would not pay for repairs. To sorry to bad they said. This past year we had more problems, it was very very very stressful and expensive. We had to charge repairs and put some on heme equity. Think of the interest $. I was scared to drive. I have since sold van. I will still pursue this to get back $ and to tell others. No safety defect listed in summary.
This minivan was my worst nightmare. After having the head gaskets checked and transmission serviced at 58702 miles my gaskets went @ 66940, transmission @68420, engine replaced at 71843 miles. All this happened at our busiest time of year. My daughter is a softball pitcher and the tranny went on my way to a rural town tourny, the engine went over 100 miles from home on our way to state tourney which we sent our daughter with the coach. But we missed it. After having the enginge replaced with a used one pulling into my driveway my poer steering went and the car caught fire from the fluid spraying onto the engine. The original hose was used with the replacement engine. New hose was routed a different way so the hose wasn't so close to the exhaust pipe. I was lucky this happened in my driveway. All this happened within a few months and Ford or the dealership were not helpfull. I sold the van and will never buy another Ford.
This minivan was my worst nightmare. After having the head gaskets checked and transmission serviced at 58702 miles my gaskets went @ 66940, transmission @68420, engine replaced at 71843 miles. All this happened at our busiest time of year. My daughter is a softball pitcher and the tranny went on my way to a rural town tourny, the engine went over 100 miles from home on our way to state tourney which we sent our daughter with the coach. But we missed it. After having the enginge replaced with a used one pulling into my driveway my poer steering went and the car caught fire from the fluid spraying onto the engine. The original hose was used with the replacement engine. New hose was routed a different way so the hose wasn't so close to the exhaust pipe. I was lucky this happened in my driveway. All this happened within a few months and Ford or the dealership were not helpfull. I sold the van and will never buy another Ford.
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 !!!
Transmission went at 70K no help from Ford. Head gasket leaking 120K no assistance or help from Ford. Window motor do not work no help from Ford. Steering problems no one can find a problem, but I keep replacing tire prematurly. I paid for the tramsmission $1500. Now the van is in the shop at sam galloway Ford for a head gasket. The only reason I had it towed into sam galloway is because they said there was a recall on the head gasket and they will take care of it. Covered by the recall. They called after looking at it and said $1700 to repair the gasket and others problems caused by the leaking head gasket. Recall states 60K 0R Dec 31 2000 wich ever comes first. If they are putting faulty products in their vehicles they are causeing safety concerns and they should be responsible for repairs.
Fuel indicator quit working - rear door does not register as being shut unless slammed-power window in passenger door is dead-speedometer is inaccurate over 70 mph, flucuates
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Brick, NJ, USA