NHTSA Complaint #10380549 — 1999 FORD WINDSTAR

BOUGHT THE VAN IN SEPT. 2002 WITH 55,000 MILES, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITHIN A WEEK OF HAVING IT. TOOK IT BACK TO CAR LOT WHERE WE BOUGHT IT, THEY TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER, COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING EXCEPT THAT IT CAME UP A LEAN CODE THEY TOLD ME I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO PUT GAS CAP ON THE RIGHT WAY. THAT IS NOT THE PROBLEM. KEPT DEALING WITH LIGHT ON TO THIS DAY. MAY 2003 HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED, GOT IT BACK STARTING HAVING SAME PROBLEMS,TOOK IT BACK THEY SAID THEY FORGOT TO REPLACE A WIRE, STILL HAVING PROBLEMS TO THIS DAY WITH TRANSMISSION IN FACT OCT. 2010 HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED THEY SAID SHAVINGS FOUND IN MOTOR WILL NEED TRANSMISSION REPLACED AGAIN. DOME LIGHTS FLASH ALL THE TIME. THE GAUGES GO HAYWIRE ALL THE TIME, PEG FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER. HAD THAT REPLACED AND DID IT AGAIN. TOOK IT IN FOR RECALL DEC. 28,2010 CRACKED REAR AXLE STILL AT DEALER. NOW JUST HEARD THAT THE RECALL FOR SUB FRAME WILL GET PAPERS IN FEB. GUESS IT WILL BE THERE LONGER. OUR DUMB MISTAKE WE BOUGHT ANOTHER WINDSTAR IN SEPT. 2010 A 2003 ALL WE COULD AFFORD, THAT HAS PROBLEMS WITH ABS LIGHT. TOLD OVER $800 TO FIX. WE NEED TWO NEW CARS, DON'T FEEL SAFE IN EITHER.