NHTSA Complaint #766390 — 1999 FORD WINDSTAR

MOST RECENT INCIDENT - ENGINE STALLED WITH COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER WHEN REDUCING FROM HIGHWAY SPEED TO ~25 MPH DUE TO TRAFFIC CONJESTION ON NORTH SIDE OF CHICAGO AFTER DRIVING ~45 MINUTES IN 95 DEGREE WEATHER WITH AIR CONDITIONING OPERATION. VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. ILLINOIS DOT PUSHED VEHICLE TO SHOULDER. AFTER TOTAL WAIT ~20 MINUTES, ENGINE RESTARTED. DROVE WITH AIR CONDITIONING OFF AND HEATER ON FULL THROUGH REMAINING CONGESTION (~45 MINUTES). DROVE REMAINING TRIP (TOTAL OF 3.5 HOURS) WITH NO FUTHER INCIDENT. PRIOR OCCURRENCE ON 07/29/02. SIMILAR WEATHER/DRIVING CONDITIONS. AFTER 2.5 HOURS AT HIGHWAY SPEED, EXITED TO SIDE ROAD. VEHICLE STALLED SHORTLY AFTER EXIT. RESTARTED AFTER 15 MINUTES. NO REPEATED INCIDENT IN REMAINING 15 MINUTES OF DRIVE. RETURN TRIP HAD NO INCIDENT. PRIOR INCIDENT IN NOVEMBER, 2001. IN COOL WEATHER, SEVERAL SHORT ERRANT TRIPS - VEHICLE STALLED. RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL HOUR WAIT. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. NO FAILURE CODES DETERMINED, NO DIAGNOSIS OF REASON FOR ENGINE FAILURE. DEALER REPLACED ALTERNATOR UNDER WARRANTY.*AK