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.
My 2000 Ford Windstar had transmission problems that started in late 2008. Automatic transmission lever was hard too shift into any gear. A few months later the transmission started leaking. As the months went by the leaking got worse. In may of 2009 there was now quite a bit of transmission fluid leaking from the transmission, causing the need for fluid to be added in order for the transmission to work. Problem fixed in July of 2009. Transmission oil seal was defective on the van, even though it only had 75,000 miles on it. Head gasket needed replaced as well. Total price: $1700.
Since buying my Windstar, 2000; used, 57,000 miles I have had one problem after another. Within two weeks after purchase my transmission would jump then straighten out and go on. I had it checked by five different places and all stated there was nothing wrong. It stopped completely during a family trip and I had to purchase a new transmission. It had a knock in the engine ever since I bought it but it finally got so bad I thought the prudent thing to do was to get it overhauled. There crank shaft was not smooth and had to be machined and rebuilt. I have had several different issues concerning the electrical system; ABS stays on, sliding door lock failure, interior lights come on while driving and will not go off, all instrument dash lights flash on and then seem to recover, now my whole electrical system is acting up. The radio always went off when you cut off the engine and open the door, but now my battery is dead and while charging it the head light came on, (but none of the switches were turned on), oh and about 10 months ago I had to replace the alternator. No warning except right before it died the light started cutting off and on. I cannot afford another purchase at this time. I am sick of this.
My check engine light came on, and I had it diagnosed with codes P0171, and P0174, engine too lean. I have been told from the Ford dealer, and other mechanics I called that it is a common thing on Ford Windstar, and that it's not a if it will happen problem, it's a when it will happen problem. It's a design flaw in the intake manifolds, which prices ranging from $800 to $1500 to repair. Ford should do a recall on all Windstar and have these problems fixed for their customers at no charge.
The intake went at 58,000 miles brought to Ford dealer and it was covered under warranty. 1 year later had same problem and van was out of warranty and Ford refused to cover had to pay $1,800 dollars. Then last year the transmission went van had 78,000 miles. Ford will not fix they would not repo it. They are now trying to sue me for a defective vehicle.
Contact owns a 2000 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the check engine light illuminated. The mechanic stated that the vehicle needed to have the upper input and the upper gasket replaced. The mechanic changed the fuel filter, performed a tune up, and replaced the ignition wire. The contact was responsible for the cost of the repairs, which totaled $900. The diagnosis listed code PO133, sensor slow response. After the repair was performed another failure occurred. The vehicle accelerated without warning while driving 40 mph. The failure occurred while the contact's foot depressed the brake pedal or when the vehicle idled. The RPM needle also fluctuated from high to low. The current and failure mileages were 101,016.
- Romeoville, IL, USA
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: the contact stated the vehicle's check engine light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to an independent repair shop for inspection. The independent mechanic determined the left valve covers and upper intake gaskets were wrong for this type of vehicle and needed to be replaced.
I just did a copy/paste of what I sent to Ford:--description of issue/concern: I took my van in for service. The check engine light was on and I could smell and see oil on the left side of the engine. Turns out it was the front valve cover, and I'm told that there was a tsb on this problem. It cost me $1000 to get this repaired. This is obviously a known problem, my in-laws have the same model Windstar and they had the same problem, it cost them more. I should not have to pay for repairs to parts that were made/engineered wrong by Ford. Now I hear of a problem with the cruise control causing fire, even without driving the van. It could be sitting in my driveway in the middle of the night and catch fire, and Ford is not going to fix this problem either. A fire in the van parked next to my house while me, my wife, and kids are sleeping, that's not a problem you are willing to fix?
While driving, the engine light came. We took the car to the dealership the next day. Service dept said that the valve cover allowed the oil to leak into the system. The repair cost was $636. I asked the service man, how do we know this will not happen again? he replied, Ford designed a new valve cover that would prevent this from happening again.
My 2000 Ford Windstar, still under extended warranty, has a life-threatening bug. The engine, without warning, will stall while driving. It is intermittent, and very odd, but at whatever speed you are. Traveling, suddenly you realize that you have lost power to the engine, braking system and steering system, yet you are moving at the speed of traffic in a 3000+ pound vehicle without control. The vehicle has been taken to South bay Ford multiple times and they state that there diagnosis of the car shows the vehicle to be in good heath. Yet, it keeps happening and will likely result in an accident if it continues. Vehicle is covered under warranty.
While driving 35 mph, the vehicle stalls. The consumer managed to pull over and restart the vehicle. The dealership was notified, but did not red resolve the problem. The cause was not determined.
While driving the driver could smell a burning odor and the engine light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who determined that the intake gasket failed and was causing oil to leak.
We have owned this 2000 Ford Windstar since February of 2002. I have lost count of how many times we have taken it back to the dealer because of the poor gas mileage. It was getting 13 mpg and the dealer said that was normal. But over the past 3 months we have taken it back to the dealer 8 times because of the check engine light. The dealership has replaced the upper/lower intake gaskets, fuel pump, fuel filter, fuel line, mass oxygen flow sensor, both O2 sensors, valve cover gaskets, and a couple of other things too. The gas mileage actually got worse after several of the repairs. We are averaging between 9 - 10 mpg. In addition to the engine problems, our door locks don't work right and the interior lights don't work at all automatically...we have to turn them on and off. The door locks on the sliding doors have to worked by hand. I am so sick and tired of this car. We have had to cancel two road trips because of the problems, because I don't trust the car out of town. It already left me stranded overnight because the transmission blew up two months after we bought it.
Engine pings and stutters. Engine check shows carbon build-up dealer -- marshall Ford replaced intake hoses and a long list of other things and now 2 years later I am stuck with a van with the engine light on and since the warranty is up, they refused to fix or tried to fix anything when this is the same problem that I had from day of purchase. Carbon builds up no matter what I do. The dealer had the van in for repair off and on a total of over two months.
Per dealer repair: Trace to lower vacuum leak, R&R lower intake gaskets, install undated parts cost of $600. This was on top of a $2000 transmission repair at same time, separate complaint, and also after two tie rods replaced.
The truck idles ruff. The wrong engine motor valve cover bolts were used at time of the truck being manufactured. As a result the bolts caused an oil leak in the engine. The dealership replaced the bolts. There were eight bolts covered with plastic which melted and caused oil to enter the engine and run rough. Mechanic informed the consumer that many of these bolts have been replaced. The consumer feels Ford should cover the cost of repairs, not him.
The air flow unit attached to the top of the engine makes a clattering noise. The dealer/service dept. Inspected and described the noise caused by a piston driven mechanism inside this air flow chamber. Apparently this unit helps with fuel efficiency. It needs to be replaced and Ford Motor Co. Will not replace it.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Elyria, OH, USA