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 purchased a 1996 Ford Windstar van 3.0 L in June 2010. I have had numerous issues with this vehicle from day 1 to current most dangerous is the blowing spark plug which has blown out 2 times forcing me to drive it to a place where it could be parked for repair first time blow out was 7 days after purchase repaired by a mechanic now 2000 miles later again blew out Ford should be ashamed of themselves for ignoring such a huge hazard this could seriously ignite fuel fumes and cause a major fire, explosion while some one is driving with there children to find a repair shop unaware of the danger and damage this could cause, second issue is a failing shifting module or tranny and this has happened alot driving and all of a sudden the vans transmission shifts to a 1st or 2nd gear causing extreme change in speed and in heavy traffic we have almost been rearended several times due to this issue, vessil must be pulled over and trans reset by shifting to park and sometimes shutting off the vehicle and starting it again.Ford dealer gave us a 3000. Estimate to replace transmission and told us we would continue to replace trans aprox every 70,000 miles this is a chump way to build cars and they have managed to get more money out of repairs than sales I will never own another Ford again safe or not. Ford should be forced to reclaim all these dangerous vehicles and replace all money spent on repairs and purchase of the vehicles due to endangering and there is no way they didn't know about these problems.
There was no crash. There was no warning what so ever. I was driving a client home from a picnic and pulled into a parking lot to park and smoke started rolling out of the engine compartment. I got my passenger who was in a wheelchair to safety and opened the hood to find flames coming from the top of the transaxles. I put out the fire. The "transaxles range sensor" and plug just forward of the range sensor were the cause of the fire. The wiring harness above coming out of the black box(fuse box) was also burnt. This problem has not been repaired.
The park pawl shaft occasionally does not engage when the transmission selector lever is placed in the park position or other position. Therefore, the vehicle either does not stay still or does not move when placed in gear.
: the contact stated while driving on normal road conditions at any speed the transmission slipped continously and would not go into overdrive when gas was applied while trying to pass other vehicles. The vehicle was taken to the dealership who advised the contact to take the vehicle to a reputable transmision service. The contact disregarded the option because it was too far and the towing too expensive. A tire was also punctured while repairing a coil spring. After the tire was replaced without being balanced the vehicle lost its aligment.
Start van everything fine. Stop at store, etc. Restart van starts jerking and goes into second gear and will not go back into drive mostly jerking all the way or slips into drive and then back to second with a jerk over and over again. Don't have money to fix if really bad so please what could this be"? give time to sit overnight and start its ok again?"
- Havelock, NC, USA
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I brought my 1996 Ford Windstar in for an oil change, and was told tie rods failed and needed to be replaced., then, next day, they phoned and advised me that transmission was defective because the pan was full of shavings, also, power steering rack was leaking, and intake gasket needed replacement., a total of $5000 to fix this vehicle. I bought it at 118,000 miles, and this happened shortly after owning it for one year. Currently, it has 134,000 miles, and cannot be driven. I parked vehicle then started it after being parked for a week. Heard a noise from front, and then white smoke came out of the tail pipe. I do believe that paul cornies, the dealer that I purchased vehicle knew that they were selling me a lemon. It has caused me a lot of hardship as I no longer work due to health reasons. I filed for disability insurance, and was told that I had a preexisting disease, and refused to pay the insurance. Currently, I have a junker in my driveway that I can't afford to fix, and a bill for the next 3 years, since I still owe for it. I will never buy another Ford.
While driving the consumer was unable to shift gears. The consumer was able to pull over and noticed that fluid was leaking from underneath the vehicle. The dealer informed the consumer that the transmission needed to be replaced.
Automatic transmission had been replaced four times at approximately every 17,000 miles. The cause of the malfunction of the transmission was not disclosed to the consumer by the dealer.
1996 Ford Windstar auto transmission failure. Intermittently will lock in 1st or 2nd gear shifting up. Also transmission, intermittently will down shift into 2nd gear while crusing at 60-70 mph. This sometimes lasts hours and then for no apparent reason desides to shift absolutly fine. I have changed the fluid, filter and gasket. Internally looks very clean minuscule amounts of filings and no apparent contamination. I would like to know what computer modules and or sensers are involved. I have heard of the, transmission control module (tcm) and the-----(PCM)"...what are this ? what is their purpose? are there others?where are they located?what do they cost" I cannot beleive the transmissions needs a $2000 rebuild when it performs perfectly most of the time. Logic convinces me it may very well be as simple as plug and play. Yet no transmission shops want to hear of it, they want to rebuild. My complaint is not with the equiptment but with the experts, especially the dealers taking advantage of customers. Case in point, the head gasket blew out on the Windstar dealer priced the repair no less than $1450 and not to be surprised at final cost upwards of $2200. I had it towed 70 miles to my local mechinic and the costs including the tow job was $237. I wish he was a transmission mech. But he is not.you have my E-mail address I assume you wanted that to help me. Answer my questions about the computer module etc..and please do not give my address to any other sites for that matter to anyone at all. Do this, you will earn my trust, I will be greatful, you just need to ask.
Automatic transmission failure possibly due to low transmission fluid following guidelines in owners guide. After failure and subsequent replacement. I found an article in newspaper quoted from Ford regarding fluid level maintenance which was different than recommendation in the owners guide.
When stopped at stop sign, van hesitated to shift into gear for about 5-10 seconds and then jerked into drive. This happened numerous times..took to dealer and they couldn't tell me what was wrong, just that it needed to be replaced. Had transmission overhauled...$1800 that I didn't have. 1 yr later now having more problems with transmission, when going around corners van seems to slip into neutral until it's straightened out. When proceeding from a stop at a light or stop sign, vehicle feels like it's spinning the tires, but the power isn't getting the tires, after letting off the gas it moves, but this is very hazardous, especially in heavy traffic..will be taking the van to get fixed....again. No more Ford for me!!!!
Replaced rack and pinion for the second time 8/01 ( by dealership) and 5/03. Also replaced front end bearing in 1999 and transmission. Wiring harness in 2000. Rear A/C does not work and that's only the items I can remeber.
Continuous failed transmission. Have had 4 actual rebuilt/replacements. Begged for exteded warranty, received. Shortest lived transmission was 300 mi. 1 mo. Out of warranty, transmission failed again, on highway, 100 mi from home with 3 disabled children in car. Will be vehicles actual 6th transmission. Has now 98K mi, bought new off lot (1st transmission in 1st yr owned). Irionically person 1 mi down the highyway had 1999 Windstar who's tranmission had also just failed. Bought car for children due to safety, is nothing but a lemon and Ford won't do anything about it.
Engine spewing water. Diagnosed as freeze plugs blowing 72,000 miles. At 42,000 miles transmission had to be worked on. Jumped out of drive to neutral. Vehicle has had regular maintenance since purchased new.
Since we drove this car off the lot, it has been plagued with electrical problems. As soon as our warranty ran out, the transmission failed at 44,400. Two adults and 4 children were on our way to a 4th of July celebration when the transmission stalled at an intersection. Lucky for us all traffic was stopped and no major accident occurred. We took it to our dealer and asked for assistance since there was a tsb out on the transmission in Ford Windstar's. we were denied assistance. Our problem was the aluminum piston that were reported in the tsb. In May 2001, the check engine light came on and we took it to a Ford dealer. They replaced the irmc value. Cost $1000. Recently, the check engine light came on again and smoke was coming out of the tail pipe. We took it to crossroads Ford, the dealer we bought the car from. They once again denied to help us with the cost. We towed the van to a quality Ford in durham, nc. They have contacted Ford to see if they will assist us with the cost. The estimated cost is $3500-$4000. ****dimsii IVOQ entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over artemis****761964
Transmission failed internally, causing outside case to crack, and started leaking transmission fluid. Needed to replace transmission for $2400. This at 72,000 miles, and after replacing entire engine (under extended warranty) at 59,000 miles. This vehicle has been serviced per the owner's manual, since buying new. The only satisfaction is that Ford has lost money on this vehicle because of all the warranty work done for the first six years of it's life. Have had major problems with the last 4 Ford I have owned, all at less than 60,000 miles. No more Ford in my future.
Transmission slippage. Occasionally during stop and go transmission will not up shift out of 1st to higher gear. Appears random. Dealer could not re-create problem, and therefore could not find a problem. However, after doing some research, this appears to be a very common problem with 1996 Ford Windstar's. the only solution appears to require a rebuilt transmission. But, again nhsta complaints include owners having to have transmission rebuilt more than once.
The ABS light had flashed periodically, the transmission had burnt out, and the engine had become contaminated with coolant. The consumer had requested reimbursement for the charge of the rebuilt engine. Scc
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- Soap Lake , WA, USA