1998 FORD WINDSTAR Suspensionfront Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE WOULD OFTEN BECOME DIFFICULT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AXLE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 155,500.

POPPING IN FRONT END WHEN TURNING OR HITTING BUMPS. THE POPPING SOUND WAS OFTEN. HAD NEW TIRES PUT ON, AND WHEN I TOOK IT IN TO HAVE FRONT END ALIGNED. FORD TECH. SAID FRONT SPRINGS WERE BROKE. WAS AN EST. OF $1200.00 ON IT CAN'T AFFORD. THIS WAS 5/20/2011. CONTACTED MFR ABOUT THE RECALL THAT WAS ISSUED ON THIS PART 7/12/2001. WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, BECAUSE OF A TIME LIMIT. HOW CAN THEY PUT A TIME LIMIT ON SAFETY & PEOPLES LIVES BECAUSE THE SPRINGS ARE BROKEN,THEY CAN PUNCTURE THE TIRES AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. NOW WE ARE WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION. AND MY SON IS DISABLED AND HAS NUMEROUS DR. APPTS. MILES AWAY. BUT MY HANDS ARE TIED. THE MFR. DID ADVISE TO HAVE ANOTHER RECALL CHECKED OUT WHICH IS THE SPEED CONTROL BECAUSE IT CAN CATCH FIRE. WHEN I ASKED WHY, YOU JUST TOLD ME IT...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH IN A PARKING LOT WHEN THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A LOUD NOISE AND WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT AXLE FRACTURED AS A RESULT OF CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 01V199000 (SUSPENSION: FRONT:SPRINGS: COIL SPRINGS). THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THEY HEATED AND SPRAYED PENETRATING OIL ONTO THE SWAY BAR IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE BAR TO COMPLETE THE RECALL BUT THEY WERE UNSUCCESSFUL IN DOING SO. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE SWAY BAR LINKS WOULD NEED TO BE CUT OUT IN ORDER TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIRS AND THE REMOVAL COSTS OF THE SWAY BAR LINKS WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THEY COULD NOT OVERRIDE THE DECISION MADE BY THE DEALER AND PROVIDE NO ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE PART WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

1. FORD SENT RECALL NOTICE (01S19/01M03) IN SEPTEMBER, 2001. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE (11/7/01) AND THE RECEIPT INDICATES THAT SAFETY SHIELDS WERE INSTALLED 'TO PREVENT A FRONT SPRING FAILURE FROM PUNCTURING THE FRONT TIRES'. THE NOTICE ALSO STATED THAT 'WHAT FORD WILL DO FOR YOU': "FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL ALSO PAY FAR ANY REPAIRS DIRECTLY RELATING TO THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS OF YOU VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE (PARTS AND LABOR)." IT WAS AT THAT TIME (2001), THE OWNER RECEIVED AN 'EXTENDED COVERAGE TRANSFERABLE WARRANTY NOTICE' ON THE FRONT SPRINGS FOR 10 YEARS FROM THE WARRANTY START DATE, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE". 2. THE SPRINGS MAY HAVE FRACTURED AT A LATER DATE, OR WERE BROKEN AT THAT TIME AND NOT REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS HAD VERY LOW FRONT GROUND CLEARANCE. BECAUSE OF THE LOW GROUND CLEARANCE AND THE INSTALLED SHIELDS, THE SPRING FAILURE WAS NOT NOTED EVEN WHEN NEW...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COIL SPRINGS FAILED AND PUNCTURED THE TIRES. SHE FELT THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE A SERIOUS CRASH COULD HAVE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 168,000.

I BOUGHT A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR 3.0 L IN 1999. IN 2002 I RECEIVED A RECALL TO INSTALL FRONT SHIELDS OVER THE COIL SPRING SO I DID. YESTERDAY THE FRONT COIL SPRING PUNCTURED THE FRONT TIRE AND BROKE THE STRUTS AS WELL. WHEN CALLING FORD, THEY INFORM ME THAT THEY CAN NOT TELL ME WHEN MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED, JUST THAT THEY WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. THEY ISSUED THE WARRANTY FOR 10 YEARS FROM MANUFACTURER DATE EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL DID NOT TAKE PLACE UNTIL 3-4 YEARS AFTER MANUFACTURE DATE AND I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR THE RECOMMENDED CURE TO THE PROBLEM. *TR

VEHICLE SHOOK CONTINUOUSLY WHEN BEING DRIVEN. FRONT END WAS ALIGNED, THE BEARINGS, SHAFT, AND THE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. *AK

I HAVE A 98 WINDSTAR MINI VAN . AFTER THE MINIVAN HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR AWHILE AND YOU GO TO STOP IT WILL GO DEAD OR WHAT YOU CALL STALLS. SO AFTER I CRANK IT BACK UP AND TRY TO TAKE OFF AGAIN IT WILL STALL AGAIN. SO THEREFORE I HAVE TO MAKE SURE THERE IS NO TRAFFIC COMING,BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN SOME CLOSE CALLS OF ME AND MY CHILDREN GETTING INTO A WRECK DUE TO THIS PIECE OF $#*$.THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WILL NOT GO OFF, SO MY HUSBAND HAD TO TAKE THE LIGHT BULBS OUT: ALSO THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO DOWN OR UP. THIS THING IS SO BAD I WISH JIMM SKINNER FORD WOULD HAVE JUST KEPT THE PIECE OF $#*$. *NM

A LOUD NOISE CAME FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT SWAY BAR BROKE ON DRIVER'S SIDE. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED, AND BOTH INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PART WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *AK

I AM SEEKING ACTION TO ALLEVIATE THE COST OF MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS I HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH MY 1998 3.8L V6 FORD WINDSTAR GL. OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, MY WINDSTAR HAS DISPLAYED REOCCURRING AND EXTENSIVE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS IN THE FRONT END, BRAKES, AND ENGINE THAT HAVE RESULTED INCREASING AMOUNTS OF TIME AND MONEY SPENT ON REPAIRS. FROM RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND THAT OUR DIFFICULTIES ARE NOT AN ISOLATED EVENT, AND ARE IN FACT A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE 1998 WINDSTAR, AND ARE THE SAME PROBLEMS FOUND IN THE 1995 WINDSTAR. THE MOST RECENT EVENT WAS THE REQUIREMENT TO HAVE THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER PROVIDED THIS SERVICE WHICH COST $1500.00 IN PARTS AND LABOR. UPON COMPLETION OF THE REPAIRS THE VAN WAS NOT ROADWORTHY, A NEW SHORT BLOCK WAS NEEDED DUE TO DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE FAULTY HEAD GASKET. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED OVER $6000.00 FOR THIS JOB....

CLUNKING NOISE IN FRONT SUSPENSION AT 32,000 MILE DUE TO WORNOUT BUSHING. THEN AT 74,000 MILES NOISE WAS DUE TO RADIUS ARM SOCKETS THAT NEEDED TO BE WELDED. THE PROBLEM STARTED AT 74,000 MILES BUT WAS NOT FOUND AND FIXED UNITL 82,000 MILES. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS. I FEEL THIS VEHICLES FRONT SUSPENSION IS DEFECTIVE BASE ON REPAIRS NEEDED IN 80,000 MILES OF HIGHWAY AND CITY DRIVING. FORD HAS BRUSHED ME OFF WORKING THROUGH THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE CHANNELS! I AM THE ORIGIONAL OWNER.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

FRONT END ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED DUE TO TIRE WEAR AND DRIVABILITY.*JB

FORD MO SAID THEY CANNOT FIX MY SUSPENSION PROBLEM AFTER WORKING ON MY CAR SINCE THE FIRST SERVICE CALL. THIS HAS BEEN SINCE 1999. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY SERVICE CALLS, PARTS REPLACED, AND I WAS TOLD THAT IF I TRADED IN THE CAR THAT THEY WOULD GIVE ME $3,000 TOWARD ANOTHER CAR, WHICH AMOUNTED TO ME BUYING A NEW VAN FOR THE REGULAR LISTED PRICE. I HAVE BEEN PUTTING UP WITH THESE EXCUSES THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT MY CAR AS A TRADE IN AS THEY COULD'NT RESELL IT. NOW I AM STUCK WITH A CAR THAT I CAN'T SELL AS IT IS DEFECTIVE. WHAT IS A CONSUMER LIKE MYSELF TO DO ABOUT THIS. I HAVE GONE TO ARBITRATION AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T HELP. THE LEMON LAWS ONLY APPLIES TO THE FIRST YEAR OF PURCHASE AND I SPENT THE FIRST YEAR WITH FORD TELLING ME THEY WERE WORKING ON MY...

FRONT END ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED DUE TO TIRE WEAR AND DRIVABILITY.*JB

STEERING COLUMN STICKS, HAS TO JERK STEERING WHEELS. ALSO VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT. CONSUMER CAN HEAR A WHISTLING SOUND ON LEFT SIDE. CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER KEPT VEHICLE FOR ABOUT ONE HOUR, AND TOLD CONSUMER IT WASN'T ANYTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE. *AK

DEFECT HAPPENED WHILE NORMAL BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. KNOW OF AT LEAST ONE OTHER EXACT INCIDENT WITH ANOTHER WINSTAR IN THIS AREA. NO SAFETY DEFEC TMENTIONED. *AK

WHILE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION AND MAKING ANY TYPE OF TURN, THERE IS A LOUD "METAL TO METAL" SOUND COMING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. A PRIVATE MECHANIC HAS REPLACED TIE ROD IN AN EFFORT TO REPAIR PROBLEM. *AK *JB

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 15MPH ON A TWO LANE RAMP AND HEARD SOMETHING POPPED, AND STEERING COLUMN WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER. SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDERS, AND NOTICED THAT A COIL SPRING HAD FALLEN OUT AND PUNTCURED RIGHT TIRE. *AK CONSUMER STATES LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING WAS REPLACED.*JB

CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, DEALER HAS REPLACED IT ONCE, HOWEVER PROBLEMS CONTINUE, CONSUMER HAS FILED FOR A REQUEST FOR ARBITRATION, VEHICLE BUCKS, JERKS, AND JUMPS INTO GEAR BEFORE TAKING OFF. VEHICLE SHIMMIES FROM ONE SIDE TO ANOTHER UPON ACCELERATION, THERE IS A THUMPING SOUND HEARD ALSO AT TIMES WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SPEED SENSOR CIRCUIT PROBLEM. SPEEDOMETER JUMPS. PROBLEM WITH POWER STEERING, DEALER ADJUSTED RACK AND PINION AND MADE OTHER REPAIRS TO STEERING MECHANISM. RIGHT SIDE BRAKE LIGHT BULB FAILED. BATTERY FAILED. CONSUMER STATED IT FELT AS IF VEHICLE WAS GOING TO STALL SOMETIMES, ENGINE HAS NO POWER AT ACCELERATION, ENGINE BELT WAS NOISY AND WAS REPLACED. TIRE HAD A SLOW LEAK DUE TO LOOSE TIRE VALVE. *SLC

CONSUME R WAS TRAVELING A LOW SPEED MAKING A TURN AND THERE WAS A MOANING SOUND LIKE A GRINDING NOISE, ALIGNMENT WAS OFF PEAK. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.-*AK

WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT THERE'S A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE.*AK

I HAD BACKED OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AND WAS PROCEEDING FORWARD WHEN THE FRONT OF CAR, LEFT SIDE, DROPPED DOWN ABUPTLY. VAN GROUND TO A STOP AND I HOPPED OUT TO INVESTIGATE. THE LEFT FRONT FENDER WAS MUCH LOWER THAN THE RIGHT, BUT IT WAS DARK SO I COULDN'T SEE MUCH ELSE. WANTING TO GET THE VAN BACK TO MY HOME, I TRIED TO DRIVE IT FARTHER, BUT IT MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE THAT SOUNDED SIMILAR TO A TRAIN ON A TRACK, AND BEGAN TO SMELL LIKE BURNT RUBBER. AT THIS POINT I DECIDED IT BEST TO STOP AND HAD THE VAN TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE COIL SPRING WAS BROKE AND ON HIS ADVISE I HAD BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS REPLACED AS WELL AS THE STRUTS. HE SAID I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE MOVING AT SUCH A SLOW SPEED BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE...

SOME GRINDING AND STEERING PROBLEMS WHEN TRYING TO STEER. *AK

DEALER HAD TO REPLACE BOTH OUTER TIE RODS AND ADJUST FRONT TOE. STEERING STARTED TO BIND WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, AND VAN STEERING HAD FELT LOOSE UP TO THE POINT OF FAILURE. *AK

SHOCK ABSORBER (STRUT) AND COIL SPRING BROKE ...NONE IN STOCK IN ALL OF USA! 2WEEKS HAVE GONE WITH NO REPAIRS BECAUSE OF LACK OF SPRING NATIONWIDE! DEALER IN MO (CAR STILL THERE) TOLD US PART WAS ON ORDER FOR 3 DAYS...AFTER MISSING WORK FOR 4 DAYS AND PAYING FOR HOTEL IN EUREKA, MO WE ENDED UP RENTING A CAR AND DRIVING BACK HOME TO MICHIGAN. WILL HAVE TO RENT ANOTHER CAR AND OVERNIGHT HOTEL BILL TO RETURN TO PICK UP VAN WHEN (IF ) COMPLETED...ALL THE WHILE WE STILL ARE MAKING MO/PAYMENTS ON VEHICLE WE CAN'T EVEN DRIVE!!!

CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT END. DEALER INSPECTED AND FOUND STRUT ROD BUSHING RETAINER LOOSE AND THE SUBFRAME CRACKED. REPAIRS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, SUSPECTED THAT FAILURES DUE TO EARLIER TRANSMISSION WORK ON VEHICLE. FORD CONTACTED. *AK *ML

MY FRONT END SOUNDS AS IF LEFT FRONT WHEEL IS GOING TO FALL OFF. WHEN WE DRIVE THE VAN SHAKES ALL OVER, FEELS VERY UNSAFE WE'RE NO LONGER DRIVING IT UNTIL ITS REPAIRED. *AK

FRONT DRIFTS TO THE RIGHT AT SLOWER SPEEDS AND TO THE LEFT AT HIGH SPEEDS.

FRONT END SUSPENSION CONTINUALLY EXPERINCED NOISE, SEVERAL REPAIR AND REPLACEMENTS TO VARIOUS SUSPENSION COMPONENTS HOWEVER CONTINOUS. YH

VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN NUMEROUS TIMES FOR NEW SEALS ON FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR FOR WIND NOISE: ALSO BEEN IN FOR FAILED BRAKE SYSTEM NUMEROUS TIMES AND FRONT ROTORS HAVE BEEN ON BACK ORDER FOR ALMOST 2 MONTHS: IN NUMEROUS TIMES FOR FRONT END ALIGNMENT-CHECKED AND RECHECKED BY SEVERAL FORD DEALERS AND THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING, VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS PULLED TO THE RIGHT; ENGINE HAS DIED SEVERAL TIMES AND WOULD NOT START BACK UP; FRONT PADS ON BRAKE SYSTEM HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND ROTORS TURNED AT ONLY 10,000 MILES STILL GRINDING AND WILL NOT STOP CORRECTLY; VEHICLE FEELS TO ME AS UNSAFE FOR MY WIFE AND TWO YOUNGER BOYS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH STEERING GEAR RACK BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING AND A LEAKAGE OF POWER STEERING FLUID. ALSO, VEHICLE VEERED TO LEFT AND RIGHT ALL OVER THE ROAD. CONSUMER THEN SLOWED DOWN AND PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. FIRST FAILURE AT 46,561 MILES, SECOND AT 62,500. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH FRONT END SUSPENSION INCLUDING ALIGNMENT, BOLTS TO THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS, CASTER AND TIE RODS RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE TIRES AND VIBRATION.

FRONT END CASTER SPLIT CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL.

LOOSE NUTS AND BOLTS ATTACHING THE TENSION BAR BUSHING RETAINER.

TRANSMISSION WOULD JERK AS IF BEING REARENDED. FRONT END WOULD WORK ITSELF LOOSE. HAD TO REPLACE BUSHINGS, TRACKING BAR & MOTOR MOUNTS DUE TO BEING DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVABLE AFTER BEING IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS FAILED TWICE IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR. EACH FAILURE RESULTED IN A REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION FROM THE FORD DEALER. THIS VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT AND TWO TRANSMISSIONS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. I HAVE REQUESTED A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE FROM FORD DUE TO THE UNRELIABLE PERFORMANCE OF THIS VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD BY THE FORD CONSUMER HOTLINE THAT IT IS NOT THEIR POLICY TO REPLACE A VEHICLE, ONLY TO REPAIR OR FIX AS NEEDED.

THE STEERING COLUMN MOVES UP AND DOWN. ALSO THERE IS A FUNKY NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT END SUSPENSION WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING, LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL RESULTED IN VEHICLE HITTING CURB CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING A PROGRAM VEHICLE, FRONT END SUSPENSION WOULD MAKE GRINDING NOISES. HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER AT LEAST 12 TIMES FOR PROBLEM. THE DEALER REFUSED TO DO REPAIR WORK WHICH IS UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

FRONT END NOISE WHEN TURNING OR BRAKING.