NHTSA Complaint #737667 — 1999 FORD WINDSTAR

HORN BUTTON WILL NOT RESPOND WHEN NEEDED IN A "HURRY-UP" SITUATION. EXACT LOCATION MUST BE DEPRESSED FOR HORN TO BLOW. NEVER HAS THE HORN BLOWN WHEN I NEEDED IT IN A HURRY. USE OF THE HEEL OR PALM OF YOUR HAND WILL NOT BLOW THE HORN. YOU MUST LOCATE THE HORN EMBLEM FIRST, THEN DEPRESS THE HORN THERE. IN A HURRY-UP NEED FOR THE HORN, THERE IS NO TIME TO FIND THE BUTTON. THE DEALER STATES THAT THIS IS DUE TO THE AIR BAG INSTALLED WITHIN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THEREFORE THERE IS ONLY A SMALL AREA THAT WILL ACTIVATE THE HORN. IN MY PERSONAL OPINION, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE HAD MANY OCCASSIONS TO BLOW THE HORN FOR SOMEONE GETTING TOO CLOSE TO ME, OR CHANGING LANES WITH A THREAT OF SIDESWIPING ME. WHEN I HIT THE HORN WITH THE HEEL OF MY HAND, THERE IS NO RESPONSE. IN THE 2 YEARS + THAT I'VE HAD THE CAR, I'VE STILL BEEN UNABLE TO OVERCOME THIS BY TRYING TO HIT JUST THE RIGHT SPOT TO BLOW THE HORN. I HAVE INQUIRED WITH OTHER WINDSTAR OWNERS WHEN I SEE ONE IN A PARKING LOT. THEY ALL SAY THE SAME THING. BASICALLY, THEY SAY, AND I AGREE, THE HORN IS NON-FUNCTIONAL WHEN NEEDED IN A HURRY. *AK