NHTSA Complaint #10052311 — 2001 FORD WINDSTAR

WE PURCHASED OUR 2001 FORD WINDSTAR WITH APPROXIMATELY 24,000 MILES ON IT. ONE WEEK AFTER WE PURCHASED THE VAN THE INDICATOR LIGHT FOR THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT GO OFF. WE TOOK THE VAN TO THE DEALER AND THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM. SHORTLY AFTER THAT INCIDENT THE REAR HEAT AND A/C WOULD NOT OPERATE. WE TOOK THE VAN TO THE LOCAL DEALER AGAIN AND THEY REPAIRED THE PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY. A FEW WEEKS AFTER THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THEY TRIED TO FIX IT BUT IT CAME BACK ON. THEY CHARGED US FOR THAT VISIT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON WE NOW HAVE AROUND 70,000 MILES ON THE VAN. WHEN THE VAN HAD ACCUMULATED ABOUT 35,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SHUDDERING. THE VAN WOULD SHAKE ALL OVER DURING DRIVING. RECENTLY I HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THERE IS A LEAK AROUND THE PASSENGER DOOR ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VAN. THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE WHEN I BRAKE THAT NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT IT IS OR HOW TO FIX IT. NOW THERE IS A LOUD HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE AUTOMATIC POWER STEERING FLUID PUMP. IT IS SO LOUD THAT IT CAN BE HEARD EVEN WHEN THE RADIO IS TURNED ON. IT USED TO BE LOUD WHEN I TURNED A CORNER OR ONTO ANOTHER STREET BUT NOW IT IS LOUD WHEN I AM SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT. WHEN WE FIRST PURCHASED THE VAN THERE WAS A FOUL ODOR COMING FROM THE VENTING SYSTEM. I ASKED THE SERVICE TECH AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS BUT HE DID NOT KNOW WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING. WE STILL HAVE AN ODOR EVEN AFTER CHANGING THE FILTER TWICE FOR THE VENT SYSTEM. WE ARE VERY UNHAPPY WITH OUR PURCHASE AND WOULD NEVER CONSIDER BUYING ANOTHER WINDSTAR.*AK