1999 FORD WINDSTAR Structurebodydoor Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR, DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR BUT TO NO AVAIL. IN ADDITION, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WAS COVERED IN AN UNKNOWN OIL EACH TIME IT WAS RETRACTED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR ANY OF THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000.

I PURCHASED A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR A FEW MONTHS AGO. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT. IN FACT, I HAVE SPENT MORE THAN HALF OF WHAT I PAID FOR THE VEHICLE IN REPAIRS IN ONLY 2 MONTHS. THE REASON FOR MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE MOST RECENT REPAIRS HAVE INVOLVED ITEMS THAT I FEEL ARE EXTREME SAFETY CONCERNS. 1- THE POWER DOORS ON MY VEHICLE TO NOT LOCK/UNLOCK PROPERLY, MAKING IT UNABLE TO OPEN THE SLIDING DOORS. THIS WAS LOOKED AT BY THE FORD MECHANIC TODAY. I WAS TOLD THAT THE DOOR LATCHES WERE BAD AND WERE "BURNING UP" THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS. I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE REASON, BUT ALSO LATELY, MY DOOR AJAR LIGHT COMES ON MY DASH AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ARE COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE 3 CHILDREN, TWO OF THEM IN CAR SEATS AND UNABLE TO GET THEM SELVES...

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN DRIVING THE SLIDING DOORS POP COMPLETELY OPEN. ALSO, THE DOORS DO THE SAME THING WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED. CONSUMER HAS TO PHYSICALLY GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND SHUT THE DOORS CLOSE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES, BUT WHEN THE DEALERS HAS THE VEHICLE, THE PROBLEM WILL NOT MANIFEST ITSELF. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED PASSENGER'S SLIDING DOOR OPENED UP WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

THE DOOR FAILED TO CLOSE ALL THE WAY, AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION THE DOOR WAS AJAR. *JB

ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, THE SLIDING DOOR FAILED TO CLOSE PROPERLY.*JB

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SLIDDING DOORS. ALSO STATED THAT IF SHE OPENS THE DOOR WHILE THE CAR IS NOT RUNNING THE BATTERY WILL DIE ON THE VEHICLE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT NOT TO OPEN THE DOOR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS NOT RUNNING ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM BUT CAN NOT FIXED YET. TS

CONSUMER STATED THE DOOR HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE.*JB

THERE ARE SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH OUT NOW THREE YEAR OLD WINDSTAR THAT HAVE EITHER BEEN CORRECTED TEMPORARILY OR NOT CORRECTED AT ALL. THE MOST PERSISTENT ISSUES ARE WITH THE DRIVETRAIN IN PARTICULAR THE TRANSMISSION WHICH SHIFTS ERRATICALLY WHEN GOING AROUND CORNER OR CLIMBING HILLS AT LOW SPEAD. THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED AT 25K BUT THE TRANSMISSION CONTINUES TO OPERATE POORLY. FORD HAS OFFERED NO SOLUTION OR WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THESE PROBLEMS. THE ENGINE PROBLEMS TO DATE REVOLVE AROUND THE INNABILITY TO USE REGULAR OR MID GRADE FUELS AS ADVERTISED ON THE VEHICLES STICKER, WE HAVE BEEN OFFERED A VALVE COVER REPLACEMENT FOR $500 BUT IN SPEAKING WITH OTHER WINDSTAR OWNERS THIS ONLY FIXES THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY. ALSO IT SEEMS TO ME THIS IS A DEFECT THAT FORD SHOULD FIX NOT THE OWNER. THE OTHER PERSISTENT PROBLEM IS WITH THE DIREVER SIDE POWER DOOR, IN HOT TEMPERATURES THE DOOR DOES NOT...

POWER SLIDE DOOR AFTER BEING LOCKED DOESN'T STAY LOCKED, OPENS WHILE DRIVING, WHILE IN DRIVEWAY AND IN PUBLIC PLACES. *AK *MJ

POWER OPERATED SLIDING DOOR MADE A VERY LOUD GRINDING NOISE, THEN UNEXPECTEDLY OPENED, CAUSE IS UNKNOWN.*AK *JB

THE AUTO LOCKING SYSTEM ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR ONLY WORKS INTEMINTANLY. IN SHORT YOU CAN NOT LOCVK THE DRIVER'S DOOR WITH THE LOCK BUTTON. IF YOU DO IT ONLY POPS BACK UP . THE HAETER MALFUNCTIONED TOADY. THE HEATER IN THE DRIVERS COMPARTMENT ONLY BLOWS OUTSIDE AIR. NO HEAT, HOWEVER THE REAR HEATER WORKS PERFECTLY.*AK

PASSENGER'S SLIDING DOOR FAILED TO CLOSE PROPERLY. PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT. KEYLESS REMOTE CONTROL COULD SOMETIMES OPEN AND CLOSE DOOR. THIS CAUSED BATTERY TO BE DRAINED, AND VEHICLE NOT ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. HAD TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 3 TIMES FOR PROBLEM. EACH TIME MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO LOCATE CAUSE OF DOOR PROBLEM. *AK

STARTING OVER A YEAR AGO MY PASSENGER REAR ELECTRIC DOOR STARTED POPPING OPEN WHIIE I WAS DRIVING (SEVERAL INCHES). I HAVE NOW HAD THIS IN FOR SERVICE TEN TIMES AND THE DOOR CONTINUES TO POP OPEN WHILE I AM DRIVING. 'FORD' SO FAR IS UNWILLING TO TAKE MY VEHICLE BACK OR LET ME OUT OF LEASE. I WILL BE APPLYING FOR ARBITRATION THIS MONTH, NOVEMBER, 2001.

THE POWER SLIDING DOORS WILL OPEN WITH THE REMOTE OR CONSOLE CONTROL, BUT GET STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION AND WILL NOT CLOSE WITH THE REMOTE OR CONSOLE CONTROL, CLOSING THE DOORS MANUALLY IS VERY DIFFICULT AND THEY DO NOT ALWAYS CLOSE ON THE FIRST OR SECOND TRY MANUALLY, THE DOOR CAN APPEAR TO BE CLOSED WHEN CLOSED MANUALLY, BUT THE DOOR IS NOT SECURE AND HAS SLID OPEN WHEN DRIVING, CONSUMER STATES THE DOOR MOTOR HAS BEEN REPLACED AND STILL DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY.*JB

DOOR HAS CONTINUALLY MALFUNCTIONED INCLUDING OPENING WHILE I AM DRIVING FOR 11 MONTHS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK.AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AN OFF ONCE EVERY THREE WEEKS. ALSO, LOCKS STARTED TO LOCK AND UNLOCK BY THEMSELVES. HEADLIGHTS WERE FLICKERING OFF AND ON. FINALLY, THEN HORN FAILED. CONSUMER REPLACED HORN, AND HORN STILL DID NOT WORK. CONSUMER FELT PROBLEMS MAY HAVE BEEN RELATED TO CLOCK SPRING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK CONSUMER WROTE IN SAYING THE NAME AND ADDRESS BELONGS TO HER, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IS NOT HERS, NOR IS ANY OF THE INFORMATION ALONG WITH IT. *SLC

THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE WITHOUT SLAMMING IT. IT FELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS CAUGHT IN THE DOOR. A FEW DAYS LATER THE DOOR POPPED OPEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE DOOR WAS LOCKED. IT DID NOT OPEN ALL OF THE WAY. I DROVE STRAIGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. NO PROBLEMS SINCE THEN.

AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOORS MALFUNCTION ON A REGULAR BASIS. THEY DO NOT SHUT ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT AND ONE OF THE REAR DOORS (PASSENGER SIDE) WILL OPEN AND SHUT WHILE THE VAN IS MOVING (IN REVERSE). SOMETIMES IT WILL TAKE UP TO 10 ATTEMPTS TO GET THE DRIVERS SIDE SLIDING DOOR TO SHUT, MY KIDS CALL IT THE "OPEN AND SHUT" GAME. VERY ANNOYING IN BAD WEATHER AND ALSO A SAFETY CONCERN WITH THE DOOR THAT WILL OPEN AND SHUT WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING.*AK

PASSENGER POWER DOOR UNLATCHES WHILE DRIVING, SPECIFICALLY AROUND CORNERS. SLOW SPEEDS-PULLING OUT OF PARKING LOTS. DOOR IS ALSO NOT SHUTTING. MUST BE PHYSICALLY CLOSED. INTERIOR LIGHTS FLASH ON AN OFF WHILE IN A PARKED POSITION WITH KEY IN IGNITION. CLICKING SOUND FROM TURN SIGNAL COMES ON SPORADICALLY EVEN THOUGH TURN SIGNAL IS NOT ENGAGED.*AK

POWER SLIDDING DOOR ON PASSENGER'S SIDE WILL NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. DEALER HAS ADJUSTED DOOR, BUT IT WILL ONLY WORK FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. DEFECT ALWAYS REOCCURRED. DEALER HAS HAD VEHICLE 5-6 TIMES .*AK

POWER SLIDING DOOR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY OPEN WHILE DRIVING, OR WILL NOT OPEN WHEN NEEDED; VEHICLE BEEN IN THE DEALER SHOP ON SIX OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING.. *AK CONSUMER ALSO STATES BACK SEAT COLLASPED BACKWARDS, ALSO BATTERY DEAD FROM SHORTS IN THE WIRING, LIGHT IN THE INSIDE IS ON WHEN IT SHOULD BE OFF , AND ALSO DOORS THAT MAY OR MAYNOT OPERATE WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, ALSO GETTING FALSE SIGNALS ON INSTRUMENT PANEL.*JB

WHEN WEATHER IS HOT AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE SLIDING ELECTRICAL DOOR, DOOR POPS BACK UPON. PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS IN HOT WEATHER CONDITIONS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EV3EHICLE. *AK

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....

SAFETY PROBLEM: PASSENGER SIDE REAR POWERED SLIDING DOOR. DRIVE CABLE COVER BECOMES LOOSE AND JAMS IN GUIDE HOLE PREVENTING DOOR FROM OPENING PRESENTING SAFETY PROBLEM TO REAR SEAT PASSENGERS. TOOK OVER TWO WEEKS FOR SERVICING DEALER TO GET PARTS AND IN MEANTIME REAR SEARS WERE UNUSABLE FOR PASSENGERS. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY SLIDING DOOR OPENS WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE THREE TIMES, AND PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

NO SUMMARY

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM - PROBLEM BEGAN WITH SOME"ROUGH" SHIFTS, NOTICEABLE AT 20 AND 40 MPH. WHEN WENT TO MERGE ONTO TOLLWAY, CAR WAS UNABLE TO GO ABOVE 40 MPH, UNTIL AS I WAS ABOUT TO PULL OVER, CAR JERKED AND BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. I KNEW SOMETHING WAS SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH CAR THEN, SO MADE APPOINTMENT AT DEALERSHIP. IT HAS BEEN AT DEALER FOR 2 WEEKS WAITING FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. DRIVER SLIDING DOOR DOESN'T ALWAYS WANT TO CLOSE. TRY TO CLOSE, AND IT EITHER CLICKS, OR CLOSES A COUPLE OF INCHES AND THEN REOPENS. SHAKE CAR, AND EVENTUALLY IT WILL CLOSE. IT IS AT DEALERSHIP FOR THE 4TH TIME, IN HOPES OF A REPAIR. WHAT HAPPENS IF CAN'T CLOSE DOOR AT ALL? CAN'T DRIVE CAR FULL OF LITTLE KIDS WITH DOOR OPEN. FUEL PUMP WOULDN'T WORK, CAR HAD TO BE TOWED FROM A PARKING LOT. NO PRIOR WARNING TO THIS PROBLEM,...

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM - PROBLEM BEGAN WITH SOME"ROUGH" SHIFTS, NOTICEABLE AT 20 AND 40 MPH. WHEN WENT TO MERGE ONTO TOLLWAY, CAR WAS UNABLE TO GO ABOVE 40 MPH, UNTIL AS I WAS ABOUT TO PULL OVER, CAR JERKED AND BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. I KNEW SOMETHING WAS SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH CAR THEN, SO MADE APPOINTMENT AT DEALERSHIP. IT HAS BEEN AT DEALER FOR 2 WEEKS WAITING FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. DRIVER SLIDING DOOR DOESN'T ALWAYS WANT TO CLOSE. TRY TO CLOSE, AND IT EITHER CLICKS, OR CLOSES A COUPLE OF INCHES AND THEN REOPENS. SHAKE CAR, AND EVENTUALLY IT WILL CLOSE. IT IS AT DEALERSHIP FOR THE 4TH TIME, IN HOPES OF A REPAIR. WHAT HAPPENS IF CAN'T CLOSE DOOR AT ALL? CAN'T DRIVE CAR FULL OF LITTLE KIDS WITH DOOR OPEN. FUEL PUMP WOULDN'T WORK, CAR HAD TO BE TOWED FROM A PARKING LOT. NO PRIOR WARNING TO THIS PROBLEM,...

INTERMITTENTLY AUTOMATIC SLIDE DOOR WILL MALFUNCTIONED AND OPENED ON ITS OWN. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE THREE TIMES.*AK

WHILE TURNING INTO PARKING LOT PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR OPENED, AND PASSENGER FELL OUT. CONSUMER FELT THAT LOCKS ON THE DOOR DID NOT STAY LOCKED WHEN POWER LOCKS HAVE BEEN APPLIED. IF PULLING ON THE LATCH AND AUTOMATIC LOCK WAS ON, DOOR WILL OPEN. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS VERY UNSAFE. *AK

DOOR WAS INADVERTENTLY CLOSED ON CHILDS ARM

FRONT AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK PLUNGER WILL LOCK DOWN. BUT IF CONSUMER HAS ARM LYING AGAINST IT ,IT WILL ALSO PULL IN SKIN WITH IT DOWN INTO THE HOLE, CAUSING INJURIES AND LACERATIONS. *AK

RIGHT SIDE REAR SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE. NLM

CONSUMER HAD PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION TWICE. TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T SHIFT DUE TO A CABLE BEING LOOSE, AND DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION TWICE. ALSO, DEALERSHIP REPLACED A CABLE ON THE SLIDING DOOR, AND INSTRUMENT PANEL PERFORMS ERRATICALLY. *AK

RE: SLIDING DOORS- WILL NOT OPEN RELIABLY SINCE NEW- TROUBLE INTERMITTENT-DEALER LAKELAND FORD REPLACED DOOR SWITCHES WHEN I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE INTERMITTENT CONDITION(NOT EASY)DEALER CONTACTED FORD WHO TOLD THEM THAT THE DOORS WERE DESIGNED TO OPERATE THAT WAY TO CONSERVE BATTERY!(BELIEVE IT) FORD DESIGN ENGINEER SAID THE POWER TO THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES WAS CUT OFF AFTER 30 MINUTES OF NO USE TO CONSERVE THE BATTERY, FURTHER, THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED NO OTHER COMPLAINTS.. THIS IS SIMPLY NOT SO. THE VAN CAN SIT FOR 24 HOURS AND THE DOORS WILL OPEN , MOST OF THE TIME. RE HORN BUTTON: MOST PEOPLE USE THE PALM OR HEEL OF THE HAND TO OPERATE THE HORN. I HAVE HAD THREE CLOSE CALLS BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO SOUND THE HORN TO ALERT OTHER DRIVERS. IT CAN ONLY BE OPERATED BY USING THE THUMB OR INDEX FINGER DIRECTLY OVER THE HORN...

SLIDING DOOR IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT MAKING IT HARD TO CLOSE AND ONCE CLOSED IT STAYS AJAR CAUSING INTERIOR LIGHT TO STAY ON. NLM

WHEN USING THE POWER BUTTON TO CLOSE THE POWER SLIDING DOOR, IT DOESN'T CLOSE ALL THEY WAY. DEALER HAS VEHICLE NOW. *AK

SLIDING DOOR WILL OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. IT WILL ALSO STICK, AND WILL NOT CLOSE, CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE OF DEFECT. HAD TIGHTENED AND CLEANED DOOR ASSEMLY. BUT DEFECT STILL OCCURS.

THE INTERNALLY MOUNTED LATCH LOST ALL (3) SCREWS WHICH FASTEN IT TO THE DOOR CAUSING THE PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR TO FAIL. *YC

HORN REQUIRES EXTREME FORCE TO OPERATE. PASS REAR SLIDING DOOR, INSIDE PANEL RUBS AGAINST REAR FENDER SCRATCHING SURFACE.

BOTH REAR SLIDING DOORS HAVE FAILED, DEALER REQUESTED WE DRIVE VEHICLE TO SHOP WITH REAR DOORS OPENED

DESIGN OF SLIDING DOOR HANDLE IS DANGEROUS CAUSING EXTENDED FINGERS TO BECOME CAUGHT BETWEEN DOOR AND THE DOORFRAME, IN THIS CASE A SEVERE BRUISE AND LOSS OF A FINGERNAIL RESULTED. NLM

SIDE SLIDING DOOR SLAMS SHUT WHEN ON A DOWN GRADE.

CONSUMER MUST HIT THE HORN AT EXACT SPOT WITH EXTREME FORCE BEFORE HORN WILL BLOW WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. ALSO, DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S POWER WINDOWS, AT FREEZING POINT UNDER 30 DEGREES WITH DRY FROST, WILL NOT OPERATE. CONSUMER MUST WAIT UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY WARMED UP. *AK

HAD NOTIFIED THE DEALER OF PROBLEM. THE POWER DOORS CAN BE ACTIVATED BY A CHILD. THEY KEEP CLOSING & DO NOT STOP UNTIL THEY ARE CLOSED & LOCKED. CAN HAPPENS EVEN WHEN SOMETHING OR SOMEONE IS IN THE DOORWAY. *AK