1997 FORD WINDSTAR

249 complaints filed with NHTSA.

249
Complaints
6
Crashes
11
Fires
5
Injuries
0
Deaths

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS25
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE22
POWER TRAIN20
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL18
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION15
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP10
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING10
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL5
WHEELS:RIM5
SUSPENSION5
SUSPENSION:FRONT5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC4
SEATS4
UNKNOWN OR OTHER4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE4

Recent Complaints

20100601FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I TURNED THE AIR CONDITIONING ON IN THE VAN AND AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES, TURNED IT TO THE 'MAX AC' POSITION. THE HOOD STARTED STEAMING SO I TURNED THE AIR COMPLETELY OFF. AFTER LESS THAN A MINUTE, I NOTICED THE HOOD WAS SMOKING SO I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND EXITED THE VAN AND SAW THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE HOOD WAS ON FIRE. I RAN TO THE PASSENGER SIDE AND OPENED THE SLIDING DOOR, AND GOT MY 18 MONTH OLD AND 4 YEAR OLD OUT OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER

Mileage: 135,000

20100601FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I TURNED THE AIR CONDITIONING ON IN THE VAN AND AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES, TURNED IT TO THE 'MAX AC' POSITION. THE HOOD STARTED STEAMING SO I TURNED THE AIR COMPLETELY OFF. AFTER LESS THAN A MINUTE, I NOTICED THE HOOD WAS SMOKING SO I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND EXITED THE VAN AND SAW THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE HOOD WAS ON FIRE. I RAN TO THE PASSENGER SIDE AND OPENED THE SLIDING DOOR, AND GOT MY 18 MONTH OLD AND 4 YEAR OLD OUT OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER

Mileage: 135,000

20091023FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

OUR 1997 FORD WINDSTAR MINIVAN THAT IS CURRENTLY SUBJECTED TO THE RECALL FOR THE FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH BURNED TO THE GROUND ON FEB 21, 2007 AS THE RESULT FROM A FIRE THAT STARTED IN THE ENGINE AREA. *TR

Mileage: 220,000

20061218FireSEATS

TL*- THE CONTACT WAS SITTING IN VAN , THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VAN STATED TO FILL UP WITH SMOKE. AT WHICH POINT HE LOOKED AT THE DRIVER SEAT AND NOTICED THAT THE VAN WAS ON FIRE. THE HE PUT OUT THE INITIAL FIRE. WHEN HE LOOKED UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT HE NOTICED THERE WERE MORE FLAMES. THE NEXT DAY HE SAW THAT THERE WERE WIRES UNDER THE SEAT. HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VA WITH THE SEAT IS DAMAGED DUE TO THE FIRE. CONTACT DRIVE THE VAN HOME.

Mileage: 115,000

20061211FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY, AND THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT LOCATED ON THE GEARSHIFT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THIS WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A STRONG SMELL OF SOMETHING ELECTRICAL BURNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SENSOR ON THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE, AND ALSO BURNED THE WIRING HARNESS BETWEEN THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE TRANSMISSION. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE SENSOR ON THE MASTER CYLINDER, ON T

Mileage: 114,000

20060726FirePOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IMMOBILE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, SMOKE ERUPTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE ENGINE WAS IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF AND THE VEHICLE WAS VACATED. THE HOOD WAS RAISED AND FLAMES LOOKED AS IF THEY IT WAS COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE HOME OF THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL #97V097000 PERTAINING TO THE POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE IS NOT INCLU

Mileage: 146,000

20051004FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

BEHIND IN PAYMENTS. FORD MOTOR CREDIT ISSUED WRITE OF SUMMONS ON 7/3/03, TRIAL SCHEDULED FOR 9/22/03. ON 7/29/03, WHILE AT WORK, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, DAMAGING 2 OTHER VEHICLES PARKED ON EITHER SIDE OF ME. FIRE MARSHALL INVESTIGATED THE INCIDENT AND FOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. INSURANCE INVESTIGATED AND VEHICLE WAS TOTAL LOSS. INSURANCE PAID FORD MOTOR CREDIT $5,689.25 (CLAIM [XXX]). FORD MOTOR CREDIT OBTAINED JUDGMENT AND WAGES ARE CURRENTLY BEING GARNISHED ON A VEHICLE THAT WAS

20050830FireVISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

ON AUGUST 20TH, WHILE IN A REPAIR SHOP HAVING THE MOTORS REPLACED IN THE WINDOWS OF MY FORD WINDSTAR 1997, THERE WAS A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD WHILE THE CAR WAS OFF. THE MECHANIC PUT THE FIRE OUT AND I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC THE SAME DAY. THE CRUISE CONTROL MECHANISM WAS WHAT CAUGHT FIRE. AFTER SEEING MY MECHANIC I CALLED THE FORD HOTLINE AND ASKED ABOUT RECALL INFORMATION. THEY SAID THEY WOULD GET BACK AHOLD OF ME IN TWO DAYS, AND THEY DID NOT. TODAY, AUGUST 30TH, WHILE IN WAL-MART WITH MY CHI

Mileage: 140,000

20050830FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

ON AUGUST 20TH, WHILE IN A REPAIR SHOP HAVING THE MOTORS REPLACED IN THE WINDOWS OF MY FORD WINDSTAR 1997, THERE WAS A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD WHILE THE CAR WAS OFF. THE MECHANIC PUT THE FIRE OUT AND I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC THE SAME DAY. THE CRUISE CONTROL MECHANISM WAS WHAT CAUGHT FIRE. AFTER SEEING MY MECHANIC I CALLED THE FORD HOTLINE AND ASKED ABOUT RECALL INFORMATION. THEY SAID THEY WOULD GET BACK AHOLD OF ME IN TWO DAYS, AND THEY DID NOT. TODAY, AUGUST 30TH, WHILE IN WAL-MART WITH MY CHI

Mileage: 140,000

20040930WHEELS:RIM

THE CONSUMER NOTICED TWO CRACKED RIMS IN 2001. THE PARTS WERE REPLACED WITH FORD ORIGINAL PART# F58Z1015A. LATER THE CONSUMER NOTICED THREE CRACKED WHEELS WHICH WERE ALSO REPLACED. *AK *SC

Mileage: 70,000

20040322FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

FAILED HEAD GASKET LED TO A PISTON ROD SHOOTING THROUGH THE OIL PAN. VERY DANGEROUS FOR THE CARS BEHIND ME AS OIL WAS SHOOTING OVER THE HIGHWAY. SLIPPERY FOR CARS FOLLOWING, AND WENT ON OTHER CARS PAINT AND WINDSHIELDS. HEAD GASKETS WERE RECALLED IN PREVIOUS 3 YEARS OF VEHICLES 1993-96 FORD WINDSTARS, 1997 WAS NOT ON A RECALL EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER CORRECTLY FIXED. HIGHLY DANGEROUS AND HIGHLY IRRESPONSIBLE OF THE AUTOMAKER TO NOT INCLUDE ADDITIONAL CARS IN THE RECALL EFFORT. *AK

Mileage: 92,300

20040116FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND PULLED OVER. THE DRIVER WENT FOR HELP AND CAME BACK TO FIND THE VEHICLE IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM

Mileage: 170,000

20021209SEAT BELTS:FRONT

ADOLESCENT WAS CAUGHT IN SEAT BELT. IT CONTINUED TO LOCK TIGHTER AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. PARENT HAD TO STOP CAR AND CUT CHILD FREE OF BELT TO AVOID INTERNAL INJURIES. CHILD WENT INTO SHOCK AND WAS DRIVEN TO NEAREST FOR EVALUATION. NO PERMENANT INJURIES WERE NOTED AT THIS TIME. DT

20020903CrashPOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND KEY WAS NOT IN THE IGNITION THE CHILD WAS ABLE TO PUT VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND IT ROLLED, HIT A TREE, PROCEEDED ACROSS THE STREET INTO A UTILITY POLE, THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL.*AK *NLM

20011204CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE COMING TO A STOP VEHICLE BEHIND CONSUMER RAN INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *AK

20010327CrashSTEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

LEFT SIDE TIE ROD BROKE WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS, ALSO, SUSPENSION JOINTS NEEDED TO BE WELDED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER . *AK

19990913CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY A TRACTOR TRAILER 3 TIMES AND KNOCKED THE VEHICLE INTO A CONCRETE DIVIDER. NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

19990518CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

MY WINDSTAR ACCELERATED FROM A COMPLETE STOP AND SMASHED THROUGH OUR GARAGE DOOR VEHICLE STOPPED WHEN WE HIT THE FRONT WALL OF THE GARAGE. I DON'T KNOW IF THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK OR DRIVE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I HAD STOPPED TO LOOK FOR THE GARAGE DOOR OPENER. I COULD NOT STOP THE VERHICLE AS IT TOOK OFF AND DO NOT KNOW HOW FAST WE WERE GOING EXCEPT IT WAS VERY FAST AND THERE ARE BIG SKID MARKS ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. MY TWO KIDS WERE IN THEIR CAR SEATS IN THE BACK AND I WAS DRIVING. I BROKE MY H

19980504CrashSTEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

WHILE DRIVING UP HILL AT 40MPH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. VEHICLE CRASHED INTO GUARDRAIL. *AK