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 contact owns a 1999 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked when he noticed that the rear passenger's side door was smoking. The contact assumed that he door was smoking due to an electrical failure. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnosis. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 168,000.
All the gauges on the instrument panel begin erratic behavior. They click back and forth independently. Sometimes they all just stop working, and sometimes they all jump back and forth, but it happens every time I drive the car.
ABS and trac failure lights come on, windows won't go up and down, cruise control cuts in and out and the check engine light flashes when cruise is on. Ford refuses to deal with this situation and stand by their product.
Starting about a year ago, the speedometer, RPM meter swings around. Odometer light doesn't come on when you start the car and little while later odometer light comes on. Fuel guage also shows incorrect amount of fuel. I think the whole odometer control panel is non-functional.
After purchasing van, not even one month later all lights started to turn on engine, ABS now N and its a rear light on gauge panel also we are in the middle of trying to get decent price for the freeze plug which also needs to be replaced because there is a leak of coolant from the bottom of van. Other wise its ok to drive. One I thing I didn't mention is the seat its struck it wont move back or forward with the electrical button.
In March, 2007, the transmission in my 1999 Ford Windstar died at 106,653 miles. I paid $2,985.91 to have the transmission replaced at the local Ford dealership in lebanon, Oregon. In may of 2012, at 174,000 miles, I started having problems with the transmission again. The first repair shop I took it to told me the transmission was dead and that I needed to replace it. The second repair shop I took it to told me that the computer chip was bad and that it had probably damaged the transmission. I was told that I could replace the computer chip and see how long the transmission would last before it totally died.
The contact owns a 1999 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the vehicle emitted white smoke and caught on fire. There were no injuries as a result of the fire however, the vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle was inspected and the failure was located at the wiring harness and the ABS pump module, which was leaking brake fluid. The failure caused the wiring harness to become burned. The failure and the current mileage was 86,037.
The Windstar was parked in our driveway outside. Engine cold and turned off. Our son saw smoke outside coming from the engine compartment. We raised the hood carefully and put fire out with fire ext. And garden hose. Fire was under the brake master cylinder on the drivers side engine compartment. Wiring harness burned and other components by speed control deactivation switch catching fire. We had this switch replaced in a Ford recall, but appears the repair was done incorrectly (fuse installed on wrong side of wiring harness, allowing the switch to remain hot). So fortunate that the car was not parked in the garage, for I would not be writing this review today!
I start my 99 Ford Windstar with my wife inside the vehicle and my two daugthers and my son when I saw smoke comming true the hood then I open the hood and my surprise was the brake pressure differential deactivation switch on fire I was so scared then I just take my kids and wife out of the vehicle and comback to stop the fire thanks god I have fire extinguisher close but we have to stop this from happening to someone else.
The antilock brakes light stays on, and ABS does not work. Ford did recall related to the brakes fluid causing a fire, now the cruise control does not work.ABS is a safety issue. This is a manufacturer defect and should be corrected. Please don't wait until more people die. Recall this shabby workmanship.
1999 Ford Windstar: The brake pressure differential deactivation switch (scds) (2B264) located under the master cylinder (behind the air filter) has leaked an excessive amount of brake fluid. The fluid accumulates on the power connectors for the ABS brake system which are powered by fuses 101 and 102 and are both 40 amp. The cruise control has failed and we are fearful that this leaking brake fluid will cause a fire.
The contact owns a 1999 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the cruise control, speedometer, odometer, tacometer and the fuel gauge were inoperable. The contact also stated that the anti lock braking light was constantly illuminated. In addition, the contact had to replace the brake fluid numerous times. The vehicle was not taken to have the failures diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was 40,000.
Intermittent problem: Problems indicated by on board message center reads "check brake lamps", "check tail lamps" check head lamps" check rear turn lamps", "check front turn lamps", noticed that interior lights will not work, auto locks will not work, key remote will not lock or unlock vehicle or open doors. Get no codes from O B D II. Scanner. Have replaced battery because it was 6 years old and wasn't putting out proper amps. Thought would solve problem. It didn't. thought disconnecting battery for 30 min. Would reset computer. Seamed to work a couple of times, however, now believe it was just coincidence. Sometimes when I start the vehicle everything is fine, however while driving, the message reappears and none the above mentioned, no longer work again. This is a driving hazard.
ABS light is on continuously. Overdrive jumping in and out of gear after driving it 30 minutes or more. I read the recall and safety report that brake fluid leaks on the ABS switch connected to the master cylinder which can cause a catastrophic fire. I didn't receive anything in the mail from Ford on my vehicle on this problem as of yet. Also the coolant line that ran under port injection was welded leaking water where it connects to the thermostat housing.
Erratic behavior of the instrument cluster. All of the gauges; e.g, the speedometer and RPM gauges jump rapidly from 0 mph all the way as far as it will go, the gas gage jumps rapidly from empty to full and back again, temp from cold to hot etc. This happens often and then resumes normal activity again for a uncertain time. It's really frightening when occurring. The Ford dealer here, Yukon ok, states the only cure is to replace the whole thing at a ridiculous cost of $ $632. The problem started in April of 2011 and continues today. We try not to drive it when this is going on.
My vehicle was running (while parked) and quit. The lights were still on, the radio still worked, and the heater was still blowing. The ignition key was off and out. I had to unhook the battery to shut the three off. Replaced: Ignition switch, PCM, control module under the dash and nothing has changed the outcome. This is a 1999 Ford Windstar.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Chicago, IL, USA