NHTSA Complaint #10220975 — 2003 FORD WINDSTAR

MY WIFE AND I BOUGHT OUR VAN AFTER OWNING A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. I USED TO WORK FOR A FORD DEALERSHIP AND HAVE ONLY OWNED FORD VEHICLES MOST OF MY LIFE. THIS VAN HAS CHANGED MY MIND AND I WILL HAVE TO THINK LONG AND HARD BEFORE BUYING ANOTHER FORD. OUR VAN HAS BEEN A PROBLEM EVER SINCE WE DROVE IT OFF THE LOT. ON THE WAY HOME THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR WINDOW QUIT WORKING AND TOOK TWO TRIPS TO THE DEALER TO REPAIR. LIKE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID THE ELECTRIC SIDE DOORS HAVE A MIND OF THERE OWN OPENING A CLOSING ON THERE OWN. THERE IS A LOUD POP EVERY TIME THE SIDE DOORS OPEN. AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE DEALER NOTHING WAS DONE. THE ENGINE KEEPS REVVING UP TO THE POINT THAT YOU HAVE TO STAND ON THE BRAKES AT A RED LIGHT TO KEEP IT FROM RUNNING INTO THE INTERSECTION. THE DEALER AGAIN LOOKED AT THE SEVERAL TIMES AND NOTHING HAS BEEN FOUND. AS A FORMER MECHANIC I HAVE BEEN FOOLED BY THIS ALSO AND HAVE REPLACED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR HOPING THAT WOULD FIX IT WITH NO LUCK. THE VAN WOULD NOT START AT TIMES AND WOULD HAVE TO BE JUMPED OFF. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE BECAUSE THIS IS MY WIFE AND KIDS IN THIS CAR AND I WANT TO TAKE NO CHANCES. FINELY I WAS AROUND ONE TIME IT WOULD NOT START AND FOUND THE ALTERNATOR TO BE BAD. REPLACING IT AND NIGHTMARE BUT THAT ANOTHER STORY. NOW THE VAN STILL IDLES HIGH AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND OR LOOSE FUEL CAP LIGHT IS ON. THIS VAN IS A PIECE OF JUNK AND I REGRET THE DAY I BOUGHT IT. I AM IN MY FOURTEENTH YEAR AS A DEPUTY SHERIFF. I DO NOT WANT ANY THING BUT A FORD AS MY PATROL UNIT AFTER WORKING ON AND DRIVING EVERY KIND OF CAR OUT THERE. IT WILL BE HARD TO BUY ANOTHER FORD AS THE VEHICLE MY WIFE AND CHILDREN RIDE IN. *TR