NHTSA Complaint #717672 — 1999 FORD WINDSTAR

RE: SLIDING DOORS- WILL NOT OPEN RELIABLY SINCE NEW- TROUBLE INTERMITTENT-DEALER LAKELAND FORD REPLACED DOOR SWITCHES WHEN I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE INTERMITTENT CONDITION(NOT EASY)DEALER CONTACTED FORD WHO TOLD THEM THAT THE DOORS WERE DESIGNED TO OPERATE THAT WAY TO CONSERVE BATTERY!(BELIEVE IT) FORD DESIGN ENGINEER SAID THE POWER TO THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES WAS CUT OFF AFTER 30 MINUTES OF NO USE TO CONSERVE THE BATTERY, FURTHER, THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED NO OTHER COMPLAINTS.. THIS IS SIMPLY NOT SO. THE VAN CAN SIT FOR 24 HOURS AND THE DOORS WILL OPEN , MOST OF THE TIME. RE HORN BUTTON: MOST PEOPLE USE THE PALM OR HEEL OF THE HAND TO OPERATE THE HORN. I HAVE HAD THREE CLOSE CALLS BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO SOUND THE HORN TO ALERT OTHER DRIVERS. IT CAN ONLY BE OPERATED BY USING THE THUMB OR INDEX FINGER DIRECTLY OVER THE HORN SYMBOL. THIS CONSTITUTES AN AREA OF SLIGHTLY MORE THAN ONE SQUARE INCH. RE EMISSION CONTROL:ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER THIS NOISE IS CAUSED BY ONE OF THE EMISSION CONTROLS UNDER THE HOOD. IT CAUSES A WHIRRING SOUND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN GEAR AND MAKES A SQUACK LIKE A DUCK WHEN THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF. SERVICE MANAGER SAID THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. HAD IDENTICAL TROUBLE IN '96 WINDSTAR, TURNED OUT TO BE COMPUTER AND TRANSMISSION RELATED.*AK