NHTSA Complaint #711667 — 1997 FORD WINDSTAR

I NOTICED THAT MY SPEEDOMETER WAS BEHAVING ERRATICALLY AT ABOUT 41000 MILES. I CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO SAID THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $250 IF I WANTED IT FIXED. I SAID THAT I DIDN'T BELIEVE THE SPEEDOMETER SHOULD FAIL AT THAT LOW MILEAGE. THE MANUFACTURER CONTACTED ME ABOUT THIS AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO (FINANCIALLY) TO HELP WITH THE REPLACEMENT. AT ABOUT 50000 MILES I WAS INFORMED THAT THE RIGHT TIE ROD END WAS WORN AND ADVISED IT SHOULD BE REPLACED. AGAIN, I PROTESTED BECAUSE OF THE LOW MILEAGE. I FINALLY HAD THE REPLACEMENT DONE FOR SAFETY REASONS AT MY EXPENSE. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE RIGHT WHEEL BEARING WAS OUT OF TOLERANCE AT A MILEAGE OF APPROX. 40000 MILES. NONE OF THESE DEFECTS WERE MENTIONED AT THE PRE-36000 MILE SERVICING I HAD DONE OF THE VEHICLE. I AM VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THE DURABILITY OF THE VEHICLE, AND WILL PROBABABLY NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD VEHICLE AGAIN. FORD HAS NOT BEEN HELPFUL IN HELPING WITH THE REPAIR COSTS ON THE VEHICLE AT THIS RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE.