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There was a TSB issued in 1994 (1 yr before I bought the car) that stated that the aluminum forward clutch pistons were failing and if they did they were to be replaced by a STEEL version. I will be in small claims court next week. My question is: Are there any of you windstar ownwers out there who have succesfully collected on this issue ? It is technically a breach of the warrenty of mechantabillity because they sold the car with a known latent defect.
We have two problems the dealer has not addressed in the visits.
1) The power sliding door is off track and will not close properly, 3 out of 5 attempts, the door reaches 3/4 the way shut and pops back open. The problem first occurred while on vacation @ Martha Vineyard parked in my driveway. The Dealer said someone hit it or a shopping cart hit it, I disagree. anyway I was told I have to bring to a body shop, can you believe it?
2) The Driver side front speaker is blown, seems like a simple problem, not fixed yet.
This is my third Ford, getting a bad taste. Mostly likely will not buy/lease @ Ford anytime soon. Anyone have any solutions for the Door?
I was ready to purchase tomorow, but am having second thoughts due to my concern after reading the horror stories regarding blown engines and head gasket problems on older Windstars. The deal seem very good; x-plan, less $400. not to mention 0% for 60 months!
I also have a 2001 Ford Escape XLT and LOVE IT!!
So it remains the case that Ford is continuing to sell the 3.8 L engine when they know that it does not last much longer than a set of tires.
I have questions as to why. I'm considering buying a Windstar. The GM's, VW and Japanese vans don't fit my needs and I've read and had experience with the Chryslers and they don't appeal to me at all. So here I'm left with the Windstar.
Motor:
1. Is the head gasket failure because the gaskets are sub-standard?
2. Is it that the motor has too much power for that size motor (3.8)?
3. Is the Van too heavy for the motor?
4. Does the antifreeze have anything to do with the eating a way the gasket?
I'm planning on installing a pre-lube system for the motor and using synthetic oil. Do you think this would help the head gasket problem?
Trans:
I see that ford has identified a few transmission hardware problems.
1. Would synthetic trans fluid and a trans cooler help with these transmission problems?
I know if you talk to a dealer they'll try to make a dead mule sound like a new Mercedes so you can't trust them. So does any one know whom I can email about the Windstar problems, like an email address to a Ford Company rep.?
I now have a 99 SE. Good power, quad seats. It is a little loser than the 95 in the ride department and I think at about 30K I will put some after market shocks on it along with a heavier sway bar. We like it. It can hold 4 retired racing greyhounds with room for two more if need be.
I don't think synthetic transmission fluid would have fixed the earlier transmission problems, those were caused by a part that would crack. There seems to be a lot of complaints on the newer windstars with harsh shifting in lower gears.
We have had a 95 that blew the gasket, a 99 with the harsh shifting and persistent pinging problems and now a 2000 that had a clunking in the transmission at various speeds. They replaced the torque converter on that one. Of the 3 the 2000 has been the best. No pinging and the transmission seems better though not perfect. I don't think Ford knows how to build a decent transmission.
I wouldn't go beyond the 3yr/36k mile factory warranty without getting an extended warranty. The torque converter replacement was right at 36k miles.
BTW - you have a very clear case of negligence (seeing that the van was stolen from the Ford Dealership with the keys left in the vehicle by their employee) on your hands. If you did not recover the blue book value of your van, I think it is well worth the small claims $50 filing fee...
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When I took my windstar in to the dealer I allready suspected the forward clutch piston based on what I had read. The dealer confirmed it was the piston when they called me back. The repair was $ 1620. They did replace the aluminum version with the steel part. I asked them for the part they took out and it is aluminum.
I have sued the dealer under the Michigan consumer protection Act. By issuing a TSB in 1994 Ford in effect admitted they knew the part was defective. In dealing with your Dealership you can get all the info you need from the following site. www.magma.ca/~jheinze It just has a ton of history, pictures, small claims court info, ect.
Maybe you can get Ford to chip in and stay out of court. Good luck
Bloemie
Not to be stupid, but again I ask, HOW were they able to tell it was the forward clutch piston? Did they infact tear the transmission down? The dealer found metal shavings in the burnt transmission fluid. I wish now that we had gotten an answer from them about what the shaving were. Feel free to answer at my e-mail address.
All I can recommend is unload the beast soon as you can. I sucked it up and took a beating cost wise, but picked up a 2000 Chevy Venture. It has 26,000 miles on it now and is a Great van, good mileage (25 -26 mpg), good performance, good seating (8 passenger-comfortable) and drives like the Oldsmobiles I've always driven for 250 K miles. It will be a cold day in hell before I ever go back to another Ford. I'm pleased to see them hit hard times now. But, as W.C. Fields said " A sucker is born every day". Based on the windstar experience, it's a few more then one sucker per day! Good Luck
Ford has not fixed the issues we experienced with the 95. This week we took it to the bank and signed it over to them. We don't need more Ford headaches.
The trans shifted the same as our 95 and we were told by a Ford man that the trans in the 95 needed to be replaced.We had only 7000 km on the van, the thing should have been perfect !
The Windstar has been around for a long time. I read a lot about problems but seems mostly in "pre-2000 models" (totally unscientific seat-of-the-pants guestimate). Is this true? If so, is it just that the newer models haven't been driven as much yet?
Question is: are these duds as common in the recent models compared with the older ones? This may be impossible to say for sure, but maybe someone has some insight. Certainly, reading the "Problems" boards here makes me want to buy a skateboard!
Steve
Host
SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
Thanks.
It's the third one we've purchased the ext. warranty on. They've been expensive, as most repairs were done in first 36K.
Yeah, the regular stuff you see on the problems board----transmission replaced on the 98, steering rack replaced, tie rod ends, etc. These problems are a hassle, but it seems all vehicles have them. My wife drives the Windstars, and loves them, so we buy more.
Someone here observed that they've "cut costs" on the floor mats. Boy is that ever true---! The 95 essentially had two layers of carpet. The 98's mats were skimpy, and the rear was vinyl (I missed the two-way visors too). The mats on our 01 Limited are a joke. Dealer tells us there is no rear (cargo area) mat for the 01's, even in the Limited. Is this true?
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)
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!
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,
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 )
I seriously considered the WRX, but most dealers were out of stock a few months ago!
Happy motoring.
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!
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.
http://www.lemonaidcars.com/home.htm
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.
Has anyone else experienced this?