Ask the Car People.SM


Ford Windstar Problems - READ ONLY

2608 messages,  Last post on Oct 27, 2006 at 8:51 PM

You are in the Ford Windstar Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Windstar, Van

Messages Page 139 of 261

#1380 of 2608 Final Grades in on 1995 Windstar by laundryguy

Feb 16, 2004 (8:13 pm)

Figured I would leave some info on a few of the notable failures out of warranty that occurred during my ownership experience, which is gladly ending. Hopefully it may steer an unsuspecting potential buyer away from this model and look for other options. For those who own and are approaching 100k, it may spur them to dump theirs before the real agony sets in. Anyhow, here is the scorecard:
 
39269 miles head gasket blows. Initially $495 out of pocket - FMC gave me $454 back 2 years later when extended warranty comes out (Mar,2000)
 
54761 two outer tie rods and alignment: $184
 
57796 miles transmission piston cracked. Crummy aluminum part replaced by steel part. $1061
 
60495 ABS light comes on. $55 to tell me no problem. I learn to ignore.
 
75870 check engine light (EGR valve too much flow)$55. I learn to ignore again.
 
78875 speedo cable shot: $60. Broke again quickly - learn to live with +/-10 mph
 
87187 crunchy sound turning - bushings/alignment $75 - learn to ignore
 
Average C grade through 100k - tolerable, now the bad stuff:
106146 timing cover gasket and water pump: $640
 
111861 right lower ball joint and align: $250
 
114511 ECU computer rebuilt/new O2 sensors - degas entire exhaust (fuel injector jammed wide open throttle): $1013
 
115080 check engine light back on (does it ever go off!)
 
123194 replace thermostat and fix driver lock: $97
 
125,500 miles:
following issues:
*ABS light on
*check engine light on ($200 of O2 parts +labor)
*broken roof rack (OK - my fault - roof rack on van does not fit in garage!)
*rear wiper broke with snow circa 60k
*cruise control coast button stopped working circa 100k
*trim above sliding door channel won't stay in (repair by FMC was to add "permanent tape" just before warranty expired - wasn't permanent!
*trim pc in front of driver just behind hood flapping in breeze
*wiper pump - which never worked well doesn't work (final straw!) - I'm sure its expensive
 
I look back at the posts above and know I got off easy, but said to myself that I was parting ways at 125k since $2000 in repairs in 15 months to a car worth $2000 (only if I fixed all the busted stuff aabove)was not worth it.
 
This car was a definite A for the first 36,000 miles, a D from 36,000 to 80,000 miles, an B from 80,000 until 105,000, then a big F after 105,000.
 
As the "wholigan" so valiantly stated about 8 months ago in this list:
 
No more Fords. NEVER. Yippie
 
Laundryguy moves on

#1381 of 2608 Front end clunking by mikejojo

Feb 23, 2004 (8:19 pm)

I posted in November 2003 concerning front end clunking in my 1996 Ford Windstar. To this day, the clunking noise seems more noticeable even after doing the repairs I had noted. I was going through some paperwork filed away on the van and remembered the following notice I received from Ford:
 
Program No. 01M093
Model: 1996 Ford Windstar
 
Extended Coverage Info:
The front coil springs on your Ford Windstar are now covered for 10 years from the warranty start date, regardless of mileage. This part may prematurely wear or break, especially when operated in high-corrosion areas of North America (where salt is used on the roadways in winter) for an extended period of time. Coverage is automatically transferred to future vehicles owners.
 
What is covered?
Effective immediately, Ford is providing extended warranty coverage for repairs, including parts and labor, directly related to your vehicle's front coil springs.
 
The notice indicates that the front coil springs may be susceptible to corrosion - which could ultimately lead to spring fracture. What you would most likely notice if your front coil spring fractures is that one side of your vehicle will appear to be lower than the other.
 
I'm not noticing any problem with one side being lower than the other but it's had me wondering if it may be related in some way. I had gone to the local Ford dealer and they told me they checked the springs when I brought the van in for another recall and said everything was fine. I was told that long before I started hearing the front end clunking.
 
FYI, I live in NH so we have plenty of salt use during the winter months but I was hearing the clunking noise prior to the cold winter months.

#1382 of 2608 Spring Recall by beernut

Feb 24, 2004 (6:24 am)

Go back to message 1366. Its probably not the coil springs. I got the same recall notice and had the springs looked at a number of times - they're not the problem. I believe its the bushings discussed in the earlier messages. My front-end noise went down by 90% with the replacement of one of the two links, but as later messages noted, its a Windstar and they have crappy, noisy front-ends - so returning to the quiet it had when new is likely not in the cards. The link noise does not come on slowly. It just starts all of a sudden once the link starts to touch the frame. Also, I seem to remember that the recall was associated with the possibility of the spring breaking and puncturing a tire. So ... have them checked again and again and again and again and again and again.

#1383 of 2608 Front end clunking by laundryguy

Feb 25, 2004 (7:07 pm)

Neighbor replaced tie rods for $300+ to solve his "clunking" - apparently second time, or once every circa 35,000 miles. Other suspension clunking can be the ball joints being shot.
 
I replaced tie rods at 75k and "lifetime" sealed right ball joint at 112k. Left was in bad shape. Happily parting ways with it tomorrow for the tax writeoff. Good luck with your Windstar - you will need it!

#1384 of 2608 looking to buy by tamu2002

Feb 27, 2004 (9:36 am)

Hi all, we're looking to buy a used 1998-2000 windstar in the below $8000 price range, preferably with relatively low milage. My questions are:
 
1. What's the reliability like for these model years? After reading the Edmund's consumer ratings and posts here, I'm a little concerned to say the least. We have four friends who have windstars and are happy with them.
 
2. How does the windstar compare to other domestic models, reliability wise? I'll be happy with average reliability. And we'd like to limit our choices to domestic vans to keep the cost low.
 
Thanks for any input.

#1385 of 2608 To: looking to buy: by mersee

Feb 27, 2004 (10:58 am)

I had a 96 and 01 windstar. Each I can say had virtually no problems at all. They were both thoroughly maintained. I purchased the 96 and sold it in 01 to buy a newer one. I leased the 01 because of the resale value of the 96. The 96 was in prestine condition inside and out and I believe that allowed me to get top dollar back in 01 compared to other 96 minivans selling. It took us about 4 months to sell, but I can safely say the family that bought it from us got them selves a bargain. So I guess like anything else in life, there are good ones and bad ones!
 
The 01 Windstar was a great looking car (for a minivan)! It was the Sport SE model in black, very sharp looking. My kids loved the rear spoilier. I've seen it in red and white also, but the black was the nicest IMHO because the Sport model had black acccents on the wheels and on the body. We just recently purchased a 04 Expedition. I was just "done" with the minivan mode. Not to say that I didn't like it, I just needed a change. I do however miss the ease of getting in and out with the kids. Good luck on your search!

#1387 of 2608 mersee by tamu2002

Feb 27, 2004 (12:05 pm)

Thanks mersee for the input. That's reassuring to hear. I had always had a positive view of the Windstar because we knew quite a few people that were satisfied owners, untill I checked out the edmund's consumer rating and this board. Come to think of it, almost all the people I know that own mini vans have Windstarts with one exception who has a Mercury villager which is essentially a Nissan Quest.
 
The chevy venture seems to have pretty good reliability too. Maybe we'll check that out too. Having two toddlers, minivan is the way to go. I don't buy into that image thing at all, why let others dictate what you think. Plus it'll be the wife's van anyway. The Honda oddysy is just plain expensive.

#1388 of 2608 Tamu by beernut

Feb 27, 2004 (2:41 pm)

What part of the country are you looking in?

Messages Page 139 of 261

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement