NHTSA Complaint #708454 — 1995 FORD WINDSTAR

WE PURCHASED THE VAN WITH 42,00 MILES ON IT. SINCE THEN THE FOLLOWING REPAIRS HAVE BEEN PREFORMED SINCE APRIL 1998: BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED, ROTORS WERE WARPPED BECAUSE OF HEAT, WE BOUGHT EXTENDED WARRANTY ON VAN TO COVER COST OF REPAIRS INCLUDING ELECTRICAL TO FIND OUT IT COVERS ZIP. A SENOR IS CONSIDERED A COMPUTER CHIP AND NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED, THEN AFTER THE 90 DAY WARRANTY WAS UP THE SENOR IN THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE DOOR SENORS ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE TURN SIGNAL/CURSE CONTROL SENOR HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON ABOUT AN AVERAGE OF EVERY TWO MONTHS IN THIS CAR AND IT COSTS US AT LEAST $180.00 EACH TIME TO HAVE IT FIXED. I JUST HAD THE VAN IN TO CHECK OUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND HAVE THE CAR SMOGED THE FIRST WEEK IN JUNE 1999 THEN TWO AND A HALF WEEKS LATER AS I WAS DRIVING HOME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, FUMES COME IN THROGH THE VENTS AND CAR STARTS CUTTING OUT. HAD TO WAIT TIL THIS WEEK TO TAKE TO SHOP SO I COULD AFFORD TO FIX IT AS THE SHOPS DON'T TAKE PAYMENTS. CONTACTED THE 1800 # FOR FORD AND THEY SUGESTED I TRADE THE CAR IN. I STILL HAVE 2.5 YRS TO PAY ON THIS PIECE OF FORD. THIS CAR HAS BEEN DOWN TOTALING 8.6 MONTHS SIN THE LAST 15 MONTHS. I FIND THAT THE SENORS ARE A MAJOR DEFECT IN THIS VAN, MAYBE SOMEONE SHOULD CHECK OUT THE PROBLEM HERE. ALSO HAD TO TAKE VAN IN FOR A RECALL ON HEADGASKET. I AM FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A BACK UP CAR OR I WOULD HAVE LOST MY JOB DUE TO THIS CARS COST AND REPAIRS TO ME, NOT ONLY DO I HAVE TO MAKE THE PAYMENT BUT ALSO THE COSTLY REPAIRS. THIS TIME IT IS COSTING ME OVER $700.00 TO FIX AND IT HAS ONLY BEEN OUT OF THE SHOP LESS THEN A MONTH.