NHTSA Complaint #10198648 — 1999 FORD WINDSTAR

WE WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT YESTERDAY DUE TO OUR 1999 FORD WINDSTAR NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. WE HAD 7 PEOPLE IN OUR VAN INCLUDING SMALL CHILDREN. LUCKILY, NONE OF US WERE INJURED, BUT THE POTENTIAL FOR INJURY WAS DEFINITELY THERE. AS WE WERE APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT AT ABOUT 35 MPH THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND WE LOST ALL POWER. WE HAD NO BRAKES OR POWER STEERING. IT WAS EVIDENT WE WERE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO STOP SO MY HUSBAND OPTED FOR THE DITCH. STEERING WAS VERY DIFFICULT AND WE HIT A STOP LIGHT ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH THE LEFT FRONT END OF THE VAN AND EVENTUALLY CAME TO A STOP ABOUT 4 FT. FROM A UTILITY POLE. THE VAN WAS DRIVING FINE WITH NO INDICATION OF MALFUNCTION PRIOR TO LOSING ALL POWER SUDDENLY. WE HAVE IN THE PAST EXPERIENCED THE BATTERY LIGHT OR THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT COMING ON WHEN IT WAS RAINING OR AFTER DRIVING THROUGH STANDING WATER BUT HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED LOSING ALL POWER UNTIL YESTERDAY. WE HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE CUTTING OUT AFTER DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY FOR AWHILE AND THEN DRIVING ON CITY STREETS AT LOWER SPEEDS. IT SEEMS THAT WHEN YOUR DRIVING ON JUST CITY STREETS AT LOWER SPEEDS WE DON'T EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM, AND ALSO NOT TYPICALLY WHILE WE ARE ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS (ALTHOUGH WE HAVE HAD IT CUT OUT A COUPLE TIMES ON THE HIGHWAY). IT SEEMS TO USUALLY OCCUR AFTER WE HAVE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS FOR AWHILE AND THEN EXIT ON TO LOWER SPEED ROADS. THE ENGINE JUST SUDDENLY DIES. WE CAN TYPICALLY START IT RIGHT BACK UP AGAIN, BUT IT WILL CONTINUE TO DIE AND START BACK UP SEVERAL TIMES. *JB