1998 FORD WINDSTAR Structure Problems

12 NHTSA complaints on file

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Structure Issues in the 1998 FORD WINDSTAR

12 structure complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. Of these, 1 involved a crash, 0 involved a fire, and 0 resulted in injury.

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

All Structure Complaints

#10550494 | November 1, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A LARGE HOLE IN THE SUB FRAME AND ENGINE CRADLE. THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V030000 (STRUCTURE) PERTAINING TO 1999-2003 WINDSTAR MODEL YEAR VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. ..UPDATED 12-30-13 *BF UPDATED 01/09/14*LJ UPDATED 01/13/14

#10420014 | August 18, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE MOUNT FRACTURED DUE TO RUST, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL AND PASSENGER TIRE TO TURN AT AN ABNORMAL ANGLE. A LOCAL MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE MOUNT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

#10403804 | May 31, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHEN SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE CROSS MEMBER AND SUB FRAME WERE SEVERELY CORRODED AND CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V385000 (SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 52,560.

#10379266 | January 27, 2011

MY FAMILY OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR MINIVAN WHICH IS ALREADY SUBJECT TO THE AXLE RECALL AND WHICH DID SUFFER A COMPLETELY CRACKED AXLE. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE FORD DEALER THAT HAS POSSESSION OF OUR VEHICLE THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING HAS FRACTURED. THIS IS DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SUBJECT TO A RECALL THAT PLACED A COVER OVER THE COIL SPRING. THAT RECALL ONLY PROTECTED FORD FOR REPLACEMENT FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS WHICH HAS EXPIRED. ALSO, THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING VERY HARD STEERING AND A FRONT END CLUNKING NOISE BUT NO CAUSE HAS BEEN FOUND. WE FEEL THE LATEST 1999 AND BEYOND RECALL OF BRACKETS SHOULD ALSO APPLY TO OUR 1998 FORD WINDSTAR AS IT'S BASICALLY THE SAME EXACT VEHICLE. WE FEAR THAT THE CLUNKING AND HARD STEERING COULD BE FROM CORRODED BRACKETS WHICH IS NOT BEING RELAYED TO US. *TR

#10296483 | December 20, 2009 Crash

ON DECEMBER 16TH 2009. I WAS DRIVING DOWN WEST 117TH TOWARDS MADISON/LAKEWOOD IN CLEVELAND, OHIO AND WAS TRYING TO COME TO A STOP (SLOW DOWN AND STOP) TO ALLOW AN AMBULANCE TO PASS (THERE WAS A CAR IN FRONT OF ME THAT WAS ALSO SLOWING DOWNA ND THAT CAME TO A STOP AT THE STREET LOT)THIS IS ON A MAJOR STREET NEAR AN HIGHWAY INTERSECTION. I PUT MY FOOT ON MY BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE AND COME TO A STOP BUT IT WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN OR STOP. THE BRAKE HAD WENT OUT. I ENDED UP HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME HARD (AN SUV) AND DOING QUITE A BIT OF DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. THE OTHER DRIVER VEHICLE WAS SO FAR AS I COULD TELL UNDAMAGED. ON MY VEHICLE THE FRONT LIGHT IS BROKEN, MY BUMPER IS DAMAGED, AND MY HOOD IS DAMAGED. I, MYSELF AND...

#10070259 | April 22, 2004

REAR SWAY BAR BROKE IN HALF ON LOW SPEED TURN IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ON A FREEWAY EXCHANGE OR OFF RAMP THIS WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A ROLLOVER AND POSSIBLE DEATH!

#10070335 | April 22, 2004

A/C OCT. 99 $168.98, DEC. 99 $134.40 SUSPENSION JULY 01 $664.61, DEC. 99 $515.85, JUN 01 $61.78, BODY JUN 01 $443.61 OTHER CD PLAYER JUN 01 $19.50 AND $366.86 TURN SIGNAL JAN 02 $161.04 DOME LIGHT JAN 02 $84.02 JAN 02 $89.72 DOOR OCT 99 $134.52, MAR 03 $285.07 STEERING SEPT.02 $258.82, MAR. 03 569.32 COMPUTER CONTROLS SEPT. 00 $106.02 ENGINE JAN 02 $784.75 COOLANT SMELL (FOUND FRONT COVER GASKET LEAKING) SEPT. 02 85.95 (TOLD THROTTLE BODY WORN OUT, SOLD ME UPDATE COMPUTER SOFTWARE, SEAMS TO RUN BETTER) CURRENTLY IN SHOP FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND A/C SYSTEM INTERMITTENT. MECHANIC FOUND ENGINE PROBLEM, SAYS MAIN BEARINGS OR CRANKSHAFT BAD, POSSIBLY DUE TO COOLANT IN OIL SYSTEM FROM JANUARY 02 PROBLEM

#10071385 | April 22, 2004

WHEN WE PURCHASED THE VAN, WE ALSO BOUGHT A DIAMONDKOTE WARRANTY ,FOR 499.99$ AND TOLD AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE THAT IS WAS A GOOD WARRANTY.WE THEN FOUND OUT THAT WE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SOLD THE WARRANTY AND PLAZA FORD LINCOLN WILL NOT HONOR IT, WE CAN'T EVEN GET A REFUND, SO WE SPOKE TO SOMEONE AT DIAMONDKOTE AND THIS PERSON TOLD US THAT WE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SOLD THE WARRANTY AND HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET A REFUND EVER SINCE,EITHER FROM PLAZA FORD LINCOLN OR DIAMONDKOTE. I HAD INTENTIONS OF SUING FORD MOTOR COMPANY TWO YEARS AGO WHEN MY HUSBAND TOOK MY TWO DAUGHTERS TO HALIFAX, BECAUSE MY 8 YEAR OLD HAD CANCER AT THE TIME, SHE HAD A APPOINTMENT AT THE I.W.K HOSPITAL AND IT WAS BY THE GRACE OF GOD THAT THAY WERE NOT KILLED WHEN THE FRONT SUSPENTION SPRING BROKE IN WHICH CASE MY...

#10061826 | March 10, 2004

THE PAINT IS LITERALLY PEELING OFF OF MY SILVER 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE PAINT ON THE ROOF IS PRACTICALLY GONE AND NOW THE TOP OF THE DOORS ARE STARTING TO PEEL AND RUST. I WAS TOLD BY FORD THAT THEY WILL NOT HELP ME. ALL ESTIMATES I HAVE FOR REPAINTING STATE THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. *AK

#553133 | July 31, 2000

POSSIBLE DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE, WHICH ALLOWS FOR MICE TO ENTER VEHICLE, OWNER HAS TRAPPED TWELVE MICE AND CONTINUES TO HAVE INCIDENTS. *ET

#609130 | September 8, 1999

CUP HOLDER SPILLS EASILY. SEAT BELT RESTS TOO HIGH (ON NECK). NEEDS ANOTHER RUN BOARD SO THAT SHE CAN STEP INTO VEHICLE MORE EASILY.

#833002 | January 5, 1999

RUNNING BOARD ADDED ON BY DEALER IS SO LOW THAT VEHICLE HIT SPEED BUMPS. SOME PLACES VEHICLE CANNOT GO INTO WITHOUT HITTING BUMPS/GAS STATIONS AND BANKS, ETC. DEALER CONTACTED,AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS MISREPRESENTED TO THE OWNER UPON PURCHASE. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Other 1998 FORD WINDSTAR Problem Areas

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