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Ford Windstar Problems - READ ONLY

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

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What is this discussion about? Ford Windstar, Van

Messages Page 58 of 261

#571 of 2608 '95 Ford Windstar... 7 Factory Recalls, and counting! by tony22r

Jun 02, 2001 (12:57 am)

FORD SUCKS! (and so does chevy)
i will NEVER EVER buy a Ford or GM-made vehicle ever again!
DON'T BUY Ford...:
If you want a Reliable car, if you care about your Family's Safety, if you want Quality, if you Don't want to mess with Factory Recalls EVERY year!, if you don't like engine/transmission problems, if you don't like your trim\body panels falling apart, if you don't want to be Fixing your Car every WEEK...
Do NOT Buy a FORD!
 
I bought my 1995 Ford Windstar GL 3.8L V-6 brand new. I am original owner. I take GOOD care of ALL my vehicles. I enjoy cars, am an auto enthusiast, have raced/built/rebuilt all kinds of cars since I was 13 yrs old. I am proud of my rides and take great care of my stable of vehicles; I change oil Religiously every 3000 miles, rotate tires every 10K, flush radiators every summer, keep my engines so Meticulously Clean you could Eat off them!, wash my cars every other week.
 
But despite all the care and attention, the Ford Windstar has been one of the WORST!
It has gotten no less than 7 Factor Recalls in the first 3 years of ownership!
All sorts of Problems ranging from...:
 
* Defective factory Head Gasket.
* Hood Separation at high speeds.
* Gas Tank (plastic) needed Reinforcement for hot weather climates.
* Sliding Door needed reinforcement/welding.
* Transmission Oil pan leak.
* "Check Engine" light comes on ALL the time!
* Hesitation/Jerking/Loss of power at certain temperatures, elevations, engine speeds.
* Trim, body panels, weather stripping falling apart.
 
My friends, neighbors, co-workers, and I have ALL had nightmare stories about Fords... Taurus/Sable, Windstar, Aerostar, Mustang, Escort, Thunderbird, you name it!
 
OK, if you're just leasing/renting for a year or two, have at it, go and buy yourself a Ford Explorer with Firestone tires if you like.
It won't matter anyways, after a couple years it'll be someone else's problem not yours.
 
But if you plan to own the car for more than a couple years, Don't buy a Ford! It'll end up Owning YOU!
Spend a couple thousand extra and buy yourself a Toyota, Honda, Nissan, etc. Trust me it'll be worth it, because it won't be sitting on jackstands in your front yard in a few years.
If you buy a Ford you'll spend Thousands of dollars on repairs, recalls, wasted time, trouble, and headaches.
Fords are just huge money pits.
 
p.s.
a couple weeks ago i just noticed i was losing radiator fluid Fast! now my check engine light is on Constantly, the engine is chugging bad... feeling like i'm running on only 3 cylinders... GRR More head gasket problems!

#572 of 2608 1996 Ford Windstar Head Gasket Problem by ruby44

Jun 02, 2001 (8:14 am)

EVERYONE NEEDS TO CALL and put in a complaint to Ford Customer Service Center at 1-800-392-3673 if you are having any type of head gasket problems on your 1996 Ford Windstar (leaking engine coolant, etc.) It only takes 2 MINUTES to call. The more of us who file a complaint Ford will have to take action to extend the warranty on the head gasket problem. If we don't call, NOTHING will happen. I called and filed a complaint and they told me if they get enough complaints that they will do something about it - extend the head gasket warranty. Take 2 minutes and call as soon as you can. Thanks.

#573 of 2608 Continuing 2000 Windstar problems/Crappy service by jsiedhoff

Jun 04, 2001 (1:06 pm)

I posted the previous messages (#515 & #523)about the squeaking in the 2000 Windstar. I had the van at the dealer again on Friday 6/1 and when I got it back, the problem still exists. This is the 6th or 7th time I had it in for the same problem. I have had several technicians ride with me to hear the problem as well as the service manager. The dealership is Jack Schmitt Ford in Collinsville, Illinois. I am starting to think they are incompetent. They seem very nonchalant and like the do not care about the problem. They keep telling me "we do not purposely not fix a problem just so you keep coming back" but I am starting to feel like that is not true. I have been dealing with their regional manager and he asked me to bring it in again tomorrow. I removed the middle passenger seat (where the squeak sounds like it is coming from) and I pushed on the floorboard under the seat with my hands and the squeak is very audible and it travels all the way back to the rear wheel. The last time I had it in, they told me it was a bushing in the rear suspension and they cut off some excess rubber and lubricated it with a new lubricant that Ford recommended. That did not help!! If anyone who reads this has had problems with Jack Schmitt in Collinsville, IL, please reply and let me know. I am ready to take legal action if necessary. Does anyone know if this will qualify for the lemon law? I am concerned that it could be a structural problem.

#574 of 2608 96 WS fuel tank leak by dumith

Jun 06, 2001 (10:01 am)

Have any one had a tank split I mail me gdumthhotmail.com

#575 of 2608 98 Ford Windstar transmission failure by everdell

Jun 08, 2001 (5:42 pm)

My 1998 Ford Windstar just had its transmission completely fail at 83,000 miles and just under four years old. It has been taken care of meticulously with regular scheduled maintenance for the last four years. I have had to completely replace the transmission at great expense. Has anyone else out there had this problem?

#576 of 2608 99 Windstar by jordekidd

Jun 11, 2001 (9:13 am)

Can anyone give me info on the 99 Windstar. I am thinking if purchasing a low mileage (24K) for about 17,000. It is an SEL model and is very clean. What can anyone tell me as I don't know much about the windstar. It seems as though their are alot of problems with these or has it been exaggerated?

#577 of 2608 Windstar door ajar problem by rgould22

Jun 14, 2001 (3:57 am)

Does anyone know where Ford is hiding the switches on the door that turn on the dome lights and the door ajar light. I now have a problem where the dome lights don't go out. Great for the battery. '99 Winstar.

#578 of 2608 Head Gasket "Warranty" on '95 Windstars extended to 7yrs/100,000miles? by tony22r

Jun 14, 2001 (10:04 am)

I just got off the phone with Ford Customer Service (800)392-3673.
She told me that under Recall# M09 (i think), head gaskets on '95 Windstars are covered for 7 years/100,000 miles whichever comes First.
So tonight after work i am towing my '95 Windstar in to the dealership. It only has 65,200 miles and I am original owner. I took great care of my Windstar but the head gaskets still blew.
 
About a month ago my Check Engine light was coming on Constantly, my engine began to chug/hesitate really bad, felt like it was running on only 3 cylinders, i noticed i was losing coolant fast (1 gallon per week).
Knocking/detonation on acceleration.
Now it is sitting on jackstands on my frontyard.
 
I will NEVER buy a Ford again. We want to get rid of this pile of garbage as soon as we can. It is just a huge money pit and taking up our time.
I hope it gets rear-ended like the other Windstar on this board.
$6000 from the insurance would be Great!

#579 of 2608 No problems w/ my Windstar by chp1

Jun 15, 2001 (1:26 pm)

I feel sorry for all of you that have had so many problems with your W/S I but I have a 2000 SEL hat has had absolutely no problems whatever in 10,000 Mi. My brother has a 95 with 160,000 mi and he too has had only normal matainence services required.
Since there are hundred's of thousands W/S out there, I just felt dutybound to mention that they can be a very enjoyable dependable vehicle.

#580 of 2608 1999 Windstar Transmission Problems by csjk

Jun 15, 2001 (9:21 pm)

Harsh shifting at low speeds like being hit from behind. I have had it in 4 times with no luck. I am looking at going down the Lemon Law path. Any one have any success?

Messages Page 58 of 261

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