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Ford Windstar

804 messages,  Last post on Sep 24, 2012 at 2:07 PM

You are in the Ford Windstar Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Windstar, Ford Windstar Cargo, Van

Messages Page 58 of 81

#564 of 804 Anyone think this is a good deal? Any problems I should be aware of? by gandalf17

Mar 09, 2002 (3:34 pm)

Prices are in Canadian Dollars. I may have an opportunity to purchase.
 
VEHICLE FOR SALE
 
VEHICLE IS SOLD ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE BASIS AND IS SOLD AS IS, WHERE IS
 
VEHICLE IS LOCATED AT TORONTO AUTO AUCTION
 
PLEASE RESPOND NO LATER THAN TUESDAY, MARCH 12TH
 
1998 FORD WINDSTAR CARGO VAN
APPROX. 91,000 KM
EXTERIOR COLOUR: VIBRANT WHITE
INTERIOR COLOUR: GRAPHITE CLOTH
3.8L 6 CYL ENGINE
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AIR CONDITIONING, AM/FM CASSETTE, REAR DEFROSTER, CONVENTIONAL SPARE TIRE,
ABS BRAKES
PRICE: $4,500 + GST AND PST, (NON NEGOTIABLE)

#565 of 804 FORD = Found On Road Dead by tony22r

Mar 10, 2002 (10:18 am)

My 1995 Ford Windstar GL 3.8L V6
Problems, Defects, Recalls
 
* Defective factory Head Gaskets at 60K miles. White smoke, coolant in engine oil. Replaced under Ford Recall but I still had to pay $200 for "fluids & environmental fees".
* "Hood Separation at high speeds" Recall. Dealer applied more Glue to the plastic hood!
* Gas Tank (plastic) needed Reinforcement for hot weather climates. Recall. They installed redesigned straps on the plastic gas tanks.
* Sliding Door needed reinforcement/welding.
* Transmission Oil pan leaked constantly since vehicle was new at 0 miles. I was original owner.
* Engine oil pan started leaking at 10K miles.
* "Check Engine" light came on ALL the time! Usually on long drives or change of altitude. Dealer could never explain, and refused to fix it as there was no "problem".
* Hesitation/Jerking/Loss of power at certain temperatures, elevations, engine speeds. Dealer could never reproduce problem so refused to fix.
* Trim, body panels, weather stripping falling apart. (20K miles)
* Radio buttons and knobs falling off. (20K miles)
* Windows came off their tracks (30K miles)
* Defective rim that leaked Air! There was an Air Leak in the steel Wheel right from the factory! Dealer refused to replace, they said it was a Maintenance item! GRR..
 
I sold my Windstar last year at a loss for $3000. It only had 67K miles on it, yet everything was falling apart. I took the money and ran while the vehicle was still 'running'.
I was the original owner and maintained that vehicle religiously, changing oil every 3K, tranny fluid flushes, air filter every 10K, coolant flush every summer, etc.
 
Bottom line; DON'T buy a FORD!
In the end it will end up owning YOU!
I will Never Ever own another Ford vehicle again!

#566 of 804 Thanks and no thanks on the Deathstar...i mean Windstar. by gandalf17

Mar 11, 2002 (10:53 am)

Tony22r,
 
Appreciate your feedback. Sounds like you got stuck with a really horrible vehicle. You probably should have pursued the lemon law on that one....
 
Although your words alone would not influence my decision at all, I have decided not to purchase this 1998 Windstar. I have done quite a bit of further research, both here and independently and there isn't a chance I would pony up the money for a vehicle with a problem plagued history such as this. I find it exceptionally troubling that years went by and the same issues kept re occurring in the same vehicles. It reinforced to me why i will never buy a car from a North American manufacturer. I have owned Honda's, Mazda's and now a Subaru WRX for the last 10 years. I have never had a major mechanical issue or malfunction in all of that time. I have only had to have regular maintenance and a few minor problems fixed under warranty such as squeaking seats and loose window trimming.
 
Steve Host,
 
Thanks also for the feedback on pricing. I was planning on using this vehicle almost exclusively as transport to my boat which i have docked about an hour north of Toronto. The extra carrying capacity and the fact i didn't have to put mileage on my wife's Mazda Protege ES or my WRX intrigued me. I'm sorry, but the potential for costly transmission and engine repairs just isn't worth it for me.
 
Thanks,

#567 of 804 I just got another Recall from Ford the other day! by tony22r

Mar 11, 2002 (11:43 am)

gandalf17,
 
Agreed... after spending so much time/money/effort on that Ford, I realized that it was a lost cause.
(Note: just the other day I received yet *another* Recall from Ford for defective front coils springs on Windstars! Unbelievable! I forwarded the recall letter to the new owner, hehe, not my problem any more)
 
I contacted the Ford complaint dept MANY times; they just offered their condolences, reiterated some old safety ratings, and offered me a 'coupon' on my next Ford purchase. I told them there Wasn't going to BE a next Ford purchase and that they can shove that coupon up their &$%!
 
With all the time and money I put into it, I could've just started out with a Toyota or Honda to begin with! Some things are just not worth cheaping out on.
Especially now with all the competition and low interest rates amongst all the automakers, us consumers shouldn't have to put up with 3rd rate crap! My hard-earned cash will be going to automakers that will give me Reliability and Quality... not Recalls and TSB's.
 
I just recently bought my wife a brand new Toyota truck, and I bought myself a new Honda V-twin motorcycle. We are happy campers now :o)
I seriously considered the WRX, but most dealers were out of stock a few months ago!
Happy motoring.

#568 of 804 '95 Ford Windstar coupons/incentives/control module, etc. by mikeu42

Mar 17, 2002 (5:52 pm)

Like all too many others, I wish I had this Town Meeting before I bought my 1995 Windstar. I've had basically all the problems written about, and got the same treatment from Ford Customer Service. See my message # 808 at Town Hall "Ford Windstar Problems." QUESTION: Can anyone out there tell me how to go about getting a decent "coupon" from Ford for all the problems and costs I still am incurring. I got $800.00 for the head gaskets I replaced (but got unfairly shut out of the $4,000 purchase incentive for same). After last years "control module?" case in California, is there anything out there for me to offset the cost of replacing this lemon-year vehicle from Ford????? Thanks USA and Canada Windstarers....

#569 of 804 Another 98 Windstar with a bad tranny by djacob62

Apr 01, 2002 (7:43 pm)

Took my 98 Windstar in to the shop today. Needs a new transaxle. Only 60256 miles on it. They are replacing it with a refurbished one with a 2 year 24k mile warranty.
Mechanic says it could've gone out due to neglect (didn't replace filter and fluid at recomended intervals) but even if it did, it's hard telling if it would've lasted or not.
In any case, shouldn't trannys last more than 4 years and 60,000 miles?
Do I have a case with Ford on trying to get some reimbursement for this?
Thanks!

#570 of 804 djacob62 by 5greyhounds

Apr 08, 2002 (3:42 am)

You can give it a shot and see what they say. All they can say is no and you have lost nothing. However, this is another reason for the extended warranty. With the technology in today's cars just replacing a power window motor is $400 or so and if you keep your car as long as we do, 6 to 10 years, something major is bound to fail.
 
Do you notice that if you go to the other boards it seems all the vans and cars seem to have transmission and power steering problems. I guess I am lucky that I do not own an old GM car where the thing could catch on fire.
 
I do pull the routine maint on my transmission. I had a 95 Windstar (totaled by a red light runner) with 135K on it and the transmission was fine. I had the transmission power cleaned ( all fluids removed) and synthetic fluid put in and no problem. Once every 60k.

#571 of 804 reply djacob62 by pluto5

Apr 08, 2002 (4:43 pm)

Suggest you visit:

http://www.lemonaidcars.com/home.htm

#572 of 804 Reply to Pluto5 by djacob62

Apr 10, 2002 (5:14 pm)

Thanks very much for the link to lemonaidcars
very good information.
 
I'm taking a copy of my invoice for the tranny work and a letter to the Ford dealer I bought the van from on Friday. I've already talked to them on the phone. So hopefully they'll do something. I'm not getting my hopes up, but it wont hurt to try.

#573 of 804 97 Windstar Intermittent Chime by smokybear

Apr 13, 2002 (8:43 pm)

I bought a 97 Windstar about 8 months ago and have had numerous problems with it, although nothing serious yet. One of them continues to annoy us. The chime is frequently on for no apparent reason. There are only two factors we have been able to identify: 1) It only stays on at speeds under 20 mph, and 2) It is more frequent with the headlights on (sometimes the chime goes off if I turn my headlights off, but not always).
 
Has anyone else experienced this?

Messages Page 58 of 81

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