7.8

pretty bad
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
5,752 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.

1996 Ford Windstar engine problems

engine problem

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1996 Ford Windstar Owner Comments (Page 2 of 5)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #68

Aug 192002

Windstar

  • miles

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

Need to replace speedometer head, replaced tie rod, front and rear brakes, cylinders, head gasket and now engine blew need new engine.

- Stone Lake, WI, USA

problem #67

Jun 212002

(reported on)

Windstar

  • miles
Consumer stated that due to a factory defect, the engine had to be replaced. It was brought to consumers attention by the service manager that Ford Motor Company had a factory recall on the 1994 and 1995 models for the same problem.

- Fairborn, OH, USA

problem #66

Jun 152002

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
At 60-65 mph, engine blewout with no warning and could have caused an accident. Cause unknown. Dealer notified. Personal mechanic found broken connecting rod which damaged two cylinders and crankshaft. Connecting rod experienced metal fatigue due to faulty manufacturing. Engine needs to be replaced.

- Napa, CA, USA

problem #65

Jun 041998

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

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

When stopping at a light, engine sometimes will die. Vehicle would lunge forward after pulling off from a stop. Took vehicle to dealer, they replaced something, and two weeks later problem reoccurred. The engine stalls whenever more than one device is turned on at the same time. This problem makes it impossible to turn head lights and windshield wipers on together. The vehicle also shakes violently after being driven for few hours.

- Minneapolis, MN, USA

problem #64

May 252001

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
After driving for 2 minutes the temperature gauge went to hot. Consumer took vehicle to dealer, and they replaced head gasket. Engine overheats due to head gaskets and timing cover gasket failure. Consumer stated that windshield was cracked after repair.

- Cinncanati, OH, USA

problem #63

Aug 272001

(reported on)

Windstar

  • miles
The engine malfunctioned.

- Franklin, VT, USA

problem #62

May 062002

(reported on)

Windstar

  • miles

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

Had on numerous occasion taken my 1996 Ford Windstar for engine light was told problem fixed only to have light come back on. Proceeded to have all work done due to not being able to afford another vehicle. While searching for aditional information concerning this problem discovered that this is known Ford motor problem with this model. If this known by the company as known defect why has nothing been to resolve this beside having the consumer to absorb the financial burden of fixing a known manufacturer's defect.

- Fairborn, OH, USA

problem #61

May 292001

Windstar

  • miles
Engine has gone out, causing smoke to come out of tail pipe.

- Cary, NC, USA

problem #60

Dec 012001

Windstar

  • miles
Consumer states that engine failed, consumer believes engine failure is by factory related defects, also the timing cover gasket failed at 65,454.

- Hope, ME, USA

problem #59

Feb 152002

Windstar

  • miles
While driving vehicle intermittently stalled.

- Colleyville, TX, USA

problem #58

Feb 152002

Windstar

  • miles

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

Vehicle was misfiring. Consumer took vehicle to dealer, and they stated that engine needed to be replaced.

- Colleyville, TX, USA

problem #57

Feb 152002

Windstar

  • miles
Vehicle misfires. Consumer found water in oil and exhaust. Took vehicle to dealer and dealer stated that it was a blown head gasket. Engine needed to be replaced.

- Colleyville, TX, USA

problem #56

Dec 232001

Windstar

  • miles
After driving about 4 hours from Alabama with 1 or 2 stops we stopped at the SC welcome center for 5 minutes. When we restarted the engine, the oil pressure light came on and the engine started making a noise. We drove about 20 miles, then had the van towed to fairway Ford in anderson, SC. We were told the engine needed to be replaced. We authorized a replacement, but asked for a diagnostic to be performed so we would know what caused the old engine to fail. To date, that information has never been revealed to us by Ford. Ford Corp. Has been extremely uncooperative in returning phone calls, and has basically told us "tough luck".

- Southlake, TX, USA

problem #55

Mar 052002

(reported on)

Windstar

  • miles
While driving ride was very rough. After vehicle was turned off; then hours later, tried to restart engine, and there was a stutter/ was not turning on. Also, there was a cloud of steam from engine. Mechanic stated the engine had to be replaced.

- North Royalton, OH, USA

problem #54

Jul 172001

Windstar

  • miles
No summary listed for above vehicle.

- Medina, WA, USA

problem #53

Jan 302002

Windstar

  • miles
Appears to be a known problem with Ford Windstar after 50,000 miles, however Ford refuses to address the problem in existing vechicles.* no safety defect listed.

- Sellersville, PA, USA

problem #52

Nov 102001

Windstar

  • miles
On 11-10-01 noticed cool air coming from heater. Checked coolant level and added way more than just topping it off. The next moring the engine was seized up. Local Ford dealer quoted me $3600 for a new engine. There is water in the oil.

- Dallas, GA, USA

problem #51

Dec 172001

Windstar

  • miles
I brought it while I was living in toronto, Ontario. The exact mileage is 98881km (not K-miles). I have contacted Ford but Ford refused to help on servicing the vehicle. No safety defec tlisted.

- Basking Ridge, NJ, USA

problem #50

Jan 082002

Windstar

  • miles
No summary listed for above vehicle.

- Plainfield, IL, USA

problem #49

Dec 202001

Windstar

  • miles
Major engine failure at 72,201 miles. All maintenance work peerformed by dealer

- Apple Valley, MN, USA

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