NHTSA Complaint #748393 — 1999 FORD WINDSTAR

THIS FORD WINDSTAR LX HAS EXPERIENCED THE ENGINE JUST SUDDENLY QUITTING WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROADWAYS. THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED THE DAY I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, WHEREBY I DROVE IT HOME AND EVEN TEST DROVE IT WITHOUT INCIDENT. HOWEVER, WHEN I GOT HOME MY DAUGHTER WANTED TO TAKE IT FOR A SPIN AND GOT APPROXIMATELY TWO HOUSES DOWN THE STREET WE LIVE ON AND THE ENGINE SUDDENTLY QUIT. I ATTEMPTED TO SIMPLY DRIVE IT AROUND THE BLOCK TO GET BACK HOME AND IT QUIT RUNNING TWO MORE TIMES. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND HE CALLED FORD AND WHAT WAS DONE I DO NOT KNOW BUT ONE DAY LATER I WAS TOLD IT WAS READY AND PICKED IT UP. WE DROVE IT FROM THE 26TH OF JUNE UNTIL THE 29TH OF JUNE. ON THE 29TH MY WIFE WAS TRAVELLING 40MPH DOWN A BUSY STREET WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY QUIT AGAIN. THE DASH LIGHTS ALWAYS CAME ON AND THIS TIME THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. WHEN THE ENGINE QUITS YOU STEERE WITHOUT POWER STERRIN NOR POWER BRAKES. MY WIFE IS 5'1" AND 120 LBS AND THIS WAS VERY DIFFICULT AND SCARRY. I FEAR IF SHE HAD BEEN ON AN INTERSTATE AND HAD THIS OCCUR! SUBSEQUENTLY, I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER ON THE 2ND OF JULY AND TODATE THEY FIXED THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT PROBLEM, BUT THIS WAS NOT THE PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE SUDDENLY QUITTING. THE MINI-VAN HAS QUIT RUNNING TWICE MORE WHILE AT THE FORD DEALER AND THEY DO NOT HAVE A CLUE AS TO WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. FROM THE 2ND OF JULY TO TODAY 7-13-01 I HAVE NO CAUSE NOR SOLUTION TO THIS SAFETY HAZARD. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INFORMATION OR IF THIS HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPORTED WITH THIS PARTICULAR MINI-VAN, OR IF I INDEED JUST HAVE A LEMON. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE VAN AND IT COMES OUT WITH A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH EACH TIME. I FEEL THIS NEEDS TO BE REPORTED FOR THE POSSIBLE ACCIDENT POTENTIAL AND POSSIBLE LOSS OF LIFE DUE TO THE ENGINE JUST SUDDENLY QUITTING TO RUN. I WILL UPDATE YOUR OFFICE AS TO ANY CHANGES IN STATUS AND/OR RESOLUTION OF THIS VEHICLE PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR TIME AND ENERGY IN THIS MATTER.*AK