NHTSA Complaint #10145858 — 2000 FORD WINDSTAR

THE MAIN RECURRING PROBLEM WITH MY WINDSTAR HAS BEEN A LEAK IN THE RIGHT REAR OF THE CARGO AREA, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE HEADLINER AND A BODY CONTROL MODULE THAT WIPED OUT THE LIGHTS, TURN LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, AND DOME LIGHT IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I PURCHASED IT IN OCTOBER OF 2002 AND HAD ISSUES WITH THIS IMMEDIATELY. THE DEALER I BOUGHT THE VAN FROM REPLACED THE CARPET AND ATTEMPTED TO SEAL THE LIFTGATE HINGE AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. THERE WAS STILL A LEAK AND I TOOK IT BACK, THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT I SHOULDN'T TAKE THIS VAN TO A CAR WASH. I TOOK IT TO A MERCURY DEALER AND THEY "FIXED" A RECALL THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE CAR OF THE PROBLEM. DESPITE THE EFFORT, IT HAS BEEN LEAKING FOR THREE YEARS AND I DIDN'T FIND OUT UNTIL MY WIFE TOLD ME THE LIGHTS WENT OUT. THE HEADLINER AND CARPET WERE SOAKED. I ALSO FOUND CORROSION ON THE CASING OF THE BODY CONTROL MODULE, A PART THAT FORD WAS GOING TO CHARGE ME ALMOST $400 FOR. NOT INCLUDING LABOR. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, I ENDED UP TAKING IT TO AN INDEPENDANT BODY SHOP. IT'S GOING TO COST US $350 TO REMOVE THE LIFTGATE AND REPAIR THE DAMAGE TO THE INTEGRITY OF THE BODY AND CORRECT THE LEAK. I WAS "LUCKY" ENOUGH TO FIND A BODY CONTROL MODULE FOR $150 THAT I'LL INSTALL MYSELF. $500 IS A LOT OT SPEND ON SOMETHING THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF ON THE ASSEMBLY LINE, ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS WAS THE SUBJECT OF RECALL. THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A FIRE AND MY WIFE IS DISABLED. I'VE OWNED THREE FORD PRODUCTS AND ALL HAVE HAD WATER LEAKS. ALL OF THESE WERE NEW OR NEWER VEHICLES. ALL OF THE COMPETING BRANDS I'VE OWNED INCLUDING FIAT, GM, DATSUN AND CHRYSLER HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. THE OWNER OF THE BODY SHOP WE TOOK IT TO POINTED OUT THE REPAIRS MADE BY THE MERCURY DEALER HAD ALSO FAILED. HE ALSO COMMENTED THAT THE VAN MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, SOMETHING THAT WAS NEVER DISCLOSED TO ME AT SALE. *NM