NHTSA Complaint #10205388 — 1999 FORD WINDSTAR

I PURCHASED A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR A FEW MONTHS AGO. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT. IN FACT, I HAVE SPENT MORE THAN HALF OF WHAT I PAID FOR THE VEHICLE IN REPAIRS IN ONLY 2 MONTHS. THE REASON FOR MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE MOST RECENT REPAIRS HAVE INVOLVED ITEMS THAT I FEEL ARE EXTREME SAFETY CONCERNS. 1- THE POWER DOORS ON MY VEHICLE TO NOT LOCK/UNLOCK PROPERLY, MAKING IT UNABLE TO OPEN THE SLIDING DOORS. THIS WAS LOOKED AT BY THE FORD MECHANIC TODAY. I WAS TOLD THAT THE DOOR LATCHES WERE BAD AND WERE "BURNING UP" THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS. I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE REASON, BUT ALSO LATELY, MY DOOR AJAR LIGHT COMES ON MY DASH AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ARE COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE 3 CHILDREN, TWO OF THEM IN CAR SEATS AND UNABLE TO GET THEM SELVES OUT OF A CAR. I AM CONCERNED THAT IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN SUCH AS AN ACCIDENT OR AN EMERGENCY SITUATION THAT I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET MY CHILDREN OUT OF THE VEHICLE. I AM PAYING TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED AT THE TUNE OF AROUND $1,000.00 WHICH I THINK IS A REAL RIP OFF, DUE TO FORDS POORLY MANUFACTURED VEHICLE. 2. MY BRAKE LIGHT STOPPED WORKING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF MY VAN. I CHANGED THE BULB AND TESTED IT, AND DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I THEN NOTICED THAT MY REAR TAIL LIGHT IS NOW NOT WORKING. I HAD THIS CHECKED OUT BY THE MECHANIC TODAY, AND WAS TOLD IT IS THE REAR ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WHICH IS GOING TO COST ME NEARLY $600 TO FIX. I'M NOT SURE WHAT WOULD CAUSE SUCH A THING TO FAIL, BUT THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY CONCERN, WHERE LIGHTS COME INTO PLAY. I COULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED DUE TO THIS MALFUNCTION. I'M BEGINNING TO WONDER IF FORD IS IN THE AUTO MAKING/SELLING BUSINESS, OR THE SERVICE BUSINESS. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THEY ARE POORLY MANUFACTURING VEHICLES ONLY PROVIDING JOB SECURITY FOR THE MECHANICS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS SITUATION. ANY HELP IN REMEDYING THIS AND GETTING FORD TO PAY FOR THEIR MISTAKES WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *JB