NHTSA Complaint #738962 — 1999 FORD WINDSTAR

LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING OUR VAN WE HAD TO JUMP START IT AND LOST THE CABLE ON THE POWER SLIDING DOOR. SINCE THEN THE CAR'S ENGINE WAS WORKED ON BUT STILL STALLS OUT SOMETIMES.THE TRANSMISSION STILL JERKS IN PARK.(THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM.) FOR THE POWER SLIDING DOOR, AFTER A NEW CABLE,NUMEROUS ADJUSTINGS,ALIGHNMENTS AND TWO CONTROL MODULES PUT IN. IT STILL WORKS ERATICLEY AND THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO SEE A PROBLEM. THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN, WHEN IT FINALLY OPENS IT WILL NOT SHUT. WHEN IT IS CLOSED IT DOES NOT LATCH AND THE INTERIOR AND DOOR AJAR LIGHTS STAY ON. IT CONSTANTLEY MAKES A RACKET AND POPPING NOISE. ON OCCASION THE DOOR OPENS WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE THREE SMALL CHILDREN AND THIS IS A SAFTEY HAZARD!! WORKING WITH A FORD REP HE STATES THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO BUT TO BRING IT IN "AGAIN" FOR REPAIRS. BUT THEY REALLY CAN'T SEE A PROBLEM. HE DID STATE THAT THEY WOULD GIVE ME 1,500 REBATE TOWARDS ANOTHER VAN OR TRADE IN. I TOLD HIM I WANTED THIS UNSAFE VEHICLE MASHED NO FURTHER OWNERS. HE SAID THAT WOULD NOT HAPPEN. AFTER LOOKING AT YOUR REPORT ON 1999 AND 2000 WINDSTARS AND THE SAME REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH ENGINES AND SLIDING DOORS.THEN COMPARING TO OTHER MAKES OF MINI VANS AND THERE FEW PROBLEMS. I WOULD NOT WANT TO OWN ANOTHER FORD!! I WILL BE SUBMITTING THIS PROBLEM TO THE DISPUTE SETTLEMENT BOARD. I'TS TO BAD FORD DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THERE PRODUCTS.*AK