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 dashboard gauges, tachometer, speedometer, gas, and temperature go haywire constantly. One time on a hill, I could not put the shift lever in park so that I could assist a handicapped family member out of my vehicle. The tachometer needle was pinned to the right, and the shift indicator couldn't move to the right to engage park. I never knew how much gas I had, the speed I was going, or the running temperature of my vehicle. The check engine light ran constantly even though there was no code showing up in the emission code scanner.. $ sets of intake manifold gaskets were installed after I purchased the vehicle. 3 by Ford, one by another mechanic. I have a cracked rear axle, the van sits at the dealership, and I am worried about the front-end sub-frame.
The contact owns a 1999 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the vehicle was abnormally pulling to the right in would sporadically become stuck in park. On a separate occasion the contact was driving 30 mph when the check engine and overdrive warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where unknown repairs were performed yet the failure persisted after the repairs. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer several times where several unknown repairs were made but to no avail. In addition, the contact stated that the battery was replaced five times and the she was recently made aware of two open recalls on the vehicle; NHTSA campaign id numbers: 10V385000 (suspension:rear:axle:non-powered axle assembly) and 09V399000 (vehicle speed control). Neither recall repair had yet been performed on the vehicle. The failure mileage was 127,445 and the approximate current mileage was 150,000.
The contact owns 1999 Ford Windstar. The contact was driving approximately 50 mph when the interior dome lights remained in the on position. The contact made several attempts to turn them off; however, the automatic door locks also failed to lock immediately upon activation of the ignition. The brake and anti-lock brake system warning lights illuminated on the dashboard until the engine was turned off. In addition, the radio would not function properly. The vehicle was taken to the dealer four times for the same failure, and they were unable to detect the problem. The failure mileage and VIN were unavailable.
The contact owns a 1999 Ford Windstar sel. The contact was driving 50 mph when he noticed that the instrument cluster and all the gauges where fluctuating back and forth including the speedometer, fuel and temperature gauges. He stated that the failure was intermittent and persisted for eight months. On occasion, the contact could correct the failure by striking the dashboard with force. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic and the contact was advised that the ABS electronic stability module unit would need replacing. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was advised by an authorized dealer that there were no recalls for the vehicle. The failure mileage was 78,000 and the current mileage was 79,119.
I have 1999 Ford Windstar. I have had problems with the speedometer and the odometer, jumping I have no idea how fast I am going, now my gas hand and temp. Control is doing the same thing. It has been doing this for a year and half. I have had it to two different garages. No one can find the problem.
- Paw Paw, WV, USA
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I own a 1999 Ford Windstar SE - I have had major ongoing electrical issues with it for the past 6 months. I have seen 2 different Ford dealerships and 3 different mechanics and no one can relieve the issue. My ABS break light keeps coming on and off. When this began, I also began to loose other electrical components one by one, my power windows went out, my power mirrors no longer work, and my dash board needles jump all over the place. I've spent 1,700 in repairs and still this problem remains unsolved. Just last month it sat at the Ford dealership for 2 weeks for them to still tell me they have no idea how to fix it or what is causing the issue. Please help!
The ABS and traction control lights go on and off intermittently. Turning off vehicle usually resets. They will come back on when driving after a while and many time after hitting a bump.
99 Ford Windstar has been having numerous battery problems in the last 6 months. Went through 3 batteries and 1 alternator. Took to Ford dealership who couldn't find a problem. Told me there were no recalls for speed control deactivation switch. My 99 Windstar was not included in this recall. Turns out car died today on major highway with electrical problem. Burning smell under hood. I am complaining because I deliberately asked about the speed control deactivation switch recall 2 weeks ago at Ford dealership and was told by dominick that my car was not included in that recall. On Oct. 13 2009 my car was included in that recall. My ABS light has been on for ages... my car has not been at Ford dealership since Oct 13 2009 so I know the recall was not previously performed. The dealer is courtesy Ford in sanford Florida... the car was towed to that location. It is Sunday so the dealership is closed....
The contact owns a 1999 Ford Windstar. The contact stated the speedometer, odometer, air conditioner and heating unit failed. The air bag warning light remained illuminates and would not shut off. The dealer advised the contact to bring the vehicle in for diagnostic testing to determine the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure and current mileages were unknown.
I took my 1999 Ford Windstar in for recall work. They just put in a fuse link. Since then my speedometer and tech have been going wild and I am getting and my ABS light always comes on. My cruise control don't work right either among other issues like lean codes!
On December 17, 2009 we took our 1999 Ford Windstar in to the cerritos Ford dealership in ca. We received a letter from Ford that our vehicle was being recalled (recall # 09S09) and as it turned out the van was leaking and they replaced the leaking switch and harness. Before the work was even done, I told them that we were concerned about the ABS light that was on our dashboard. The recall summary states that the "with a leaking scds, dealers will also inspect the ABS control module connector and repair as necessary. Repairs will be completed free of charge." On our invoice, the dealership failed to note our concern regarding the ABS and never stated whether or not they inspected the ABS control module connector. Although I am aware that there could be other factors causing the ABS light to show up, I am deeply concerned that the recall was not fully completed. I am aware that the issues we are having could result in a car fire. I just want confirmation that the inspection was done and if the connector needs to be repaired, that Ford takes care of it with no out-of-pocket from me. I have contacted both the service manager at cerritos & Ford co. Directly. I was told the recall was completed although they cannot say whether or not the inspection of the ABS control module connector was performed. They said I could pay for an expensive diagnostic test through the dealership where they could determine if there are issues with the ABS that were a result of fraud or poor workmanship. Either way, all of this will cost me a lot of money for something I asked to have taken care of at the time I brought the van in for the recall. I'm really frustrated and concerned about this as well as other issues pertaining to this van that I believe are recall related. Our tail-lights won't work despite new bulbs, our brakes sometimes sputter and don't always stop immediately. We've had 4 close calls related to our brakes and I wonder how much of this is recall-related.
Smoking from under hood, leaking fluid, non-working speedometer, odometer, gas sensor, and oil sensor. Flickering dome lights while driving. Scds is under recall, but the fluid that was leaking from this malfunctioning sensor has caused all sorts of issues. Fluid leaked on to ABS box and the wires causing shorts and blown fuses. All damage has been said to stem from the original recall, but the recall doesn't cover the full damage that has been caused by the faulty scds's.
I was having trouble with the dashboard on my 1999 Ford Windstar last spring. All the gauges would go wacky and the ABS light would come on. I took it into the luther Ford dealer in fargo, nd and they could not figure it out. Offered to replace front board where the gauges are for no charge I would just pay for the labor. I said no. Went this way all summer and then the RPM needle just quit. This van has given me so much trouble regarding the wiring. I also had to replace the board in the back right panel of the van. And am always replacing light bulbs in the back. Disgusted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I did take it in for the recall. The ABS light is off now. Do I have ABS"?????????" I felt they just wanted to get rid of me.
ABS warning light keep coming on. It will go off for a while then come back on. Goodyear said I probably need new computer chip that the ABS one was defective.
The brake deactivation switch located under the master cylinder (behind the air filter) develops a leaking and "ABS" light turn on in the dashboard in my 1999 Windstar SE van since on Sept. 29, 2009, therefore mph is not working on speed-O-meter and mileage gets blank likes "---------". also heat & A/C fan motor is working fine but heat and A/C did not operate as well. Cruise control has also quit.
My speedometer wasn't reading correctly, possibly 10 to 15 miles an hour off, making it impossible to maintain the correct speed. I wasn't aware of the problem until I got a radar ticket in the mail. I knew what speed I was traveling according to the speedometer and it was different than was indicated. I found a web site which described the problem I was experiencing along with other problems that I was having. These were the speedometer, cruise control sometimes not working then quit altogether, ABS light is on, sometimes the brake light would come on then go off, and the air conditioner would sometimes quit working. I thought they were unrelated but after the speeding ticket discovered they were caused by the same problem, a switch connected to the brake master cylinder. I took the measures to fix the problem and the ABS light is still on but the other systems work fine now. The ac works, the speedometer works right, the cruise control works, and the brake light went out.
1999 Ford Windstar. Last week of July/2009, had Ford dealer replaced front rotors & pads + rear shoes & machined rear drums. Within 1st week after brakes job ABS light began cycling on & off. After the 4th week, the ABS light stayed solid. Cruise control is also not functioning. Ford dealer says might have to replace ABS control module. Read somewhere that controls of these two components might be affected by brake fluid leaking from master cylinder into a switch thereafter moisture will accumulate in the switch causing a short blowing fuse #10. Also read that this brake fluid leakage might lead to a fire subsequently. Repairs have been quoted to be high. Will repair once have sufficient money saved.
1999 Ford Windstar- all the instruments like 'odometer', RPM, fuel gauge, engine heat in the instrument panel malfunction. They sometimes randomly go up down, sometimes go to zero and look like dead.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- St. Clair Shores, MI, USA