NHTSA Complaint #10086371 — 1995 FORD WINDSTAR

MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR STARTED CUTTING OFF ON ME WHEN I WAS DRIVING IT. I USUALLY AM TRANSPORTING MY CHILDREN AND THEIR FRIENDS AROUND AND IT IS DANGEROUS WHEN IN TRAFFIC THE VAN JUST SHUTS OFF. IT STARTS RIGHT BACK UP, BUT I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING IT ANYMORE. AFTER SEVERAL VISITS TO THE DEALER AND OTHER CAR REPAIR PLACES, THE DEALER SENT US HOME WITHOUT FIXING THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE REPLACED THE IAC VALVE, FUEL FILTER, AIR FILTER, MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, AND THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. ONE PLACE WE TOOK IT CHECKED FOR VACUUM LEAKS AND CHECKED THE FUEL FLOW, WHICH ACCORDING TO THEM WAS ALL FINE. WE DID NOT KEEP ANY OF THE OLD PARTS LISTED ABOVE. THERE HAS GOT TO BE A REASON FOR A CAR TO JUST SHUT OFF, BUT EVERYONE SEEMS TO BE BAFFLED. EVENT LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE THE FIRST TIME: GOT IN THE VAN TO TAKE MY SON TO AN ORTHODONTIC APPOINTMENT. AND AS I PULLED INTO THE PARKING PLACE IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING IT JUST TURNED OFF. AFTER THE APPOINTMENT. DRIVING HOME, IT CUT OFF ON ME 3 MORE TIMES. I WAS VERY SCARED SOMEONE WAS GOING TO HIT ME FROM BEHIND OR AS I MADE A TURN IT CUT OFF AND A CAR JUST MISSED MY FRONT END. ANOTHER THING THAT IS SCARY IS WHEN THE ENGINE CUTS OFF, THE STEERING LOCKS UP AND I CAN BARELY GET IT PULLED OVER TO PUT IT IN PARK TO START IT AGAIN. IF YOU CAN HELP I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT. *AK