1993 FORD WINDSTAR

0 recalls, 12 complaints - 6 TSBs

No recalls found for this vehicle.

Complaint Statistics

12 total complaints 1 crashes 1 fires

Top Reported Components

Component	Complaints
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE	3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION	1
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL	1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS	1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR	1
CHILD SEAT	1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS	1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS	1

Incident date: Jan 6, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD JAYCO. THE VAN CAUGHT FIRE WHILE OFF AND PARKED. THE FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED BY THE FIRE DEPT. BUT NOT THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE CONTACT NO... Read more

Fire

Incident date: May 15, 2003

3.8L HEAD GASKET

Incident date: May 27, 2002

LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE, SHREDDING THE TIRE. DEALER HAS REPLACED COIL SPRING AND TIRE.*AK. CONSUMER STATED AS HE PUT THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE COIL SPRINGS.*JB

Incident date: Apr 1, 2002

CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO FLOOR. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

Incident date: Dec 5, 2000

FORD KNOWS THAT THESE HEAD GASKETS HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE. THEY HAVE HAD A RECALL BUT ONLY FROM 1994 AND ONLY MADE IN A CERTAIN PLANT. *AK

Incident date: Mar 14, 2000

THE ALUMINUM ENGINE HEAD GASKETS ARE SEPARATING AND LEAKING, ALLOWING COOLANT AND OIL TO MIX, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THESE ENGINES ARE RECALLED IN THE 94-95 MODELS, BUT NOT IN THE 93 MODEL WITH THE SAME ENGINE. OWNER HAS RECEIVED NO HELP FROM FORD. *AK *ML

Incident date: Nov 29, 1999

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET ON A 3.8L ENGINE; NOTICED LOTS OF COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER CONSUMER WITH SAME PROBLEM. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED.*AK

INTEGRATED CHILD SAFETY SEAT IS DESIGNED IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE SAFETY HARNESS IS TOO SHORT AND TIGHT. FORD AGREES THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM.

Incident date: Jan 1, 1996

ABS, BRAKE FAILURE, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THE FRONT END PULSATE, AND HAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, IN FOR REPAIR AND REPLACED DISC PADS AND ROTORS. *AK

Incident date: Jan 1, 1996

ABS, BRAKE FAILURE, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THE FRONT END PULSATE, AND HAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, IN FOR REPAIR AND REPLACED DISC PADS AND ROTORS. *AK

Incident date: Dec 9, 1996

DRIVING ALONG APPROXIMATELY 30MPH, VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF US AND HIT ON DRIVER'S SIDE. THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK AND HELD PASSENGERS IN PLACE AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

Crash

Incident date: Jun 28, 1996

VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED WHILE DRIVING AND WILL GO UP HILL WHEN APPLYING ACCELEATOR WILL NOT PICKUP SPEED. *AK

Technical Service Bulletins, 1993 FORD WINDSTAR

6 manufacturer communications from 6 unique bulletins. TSBs describe known problems and recommended fixes from the manufacturer.

Most Affected Components

Component	Bulletins
980000 UNKNOWN OR OTHER	2
102000 POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION	1
101100 POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)	1
100000 POWER TRAIN	1
160000 STRUCTURE	1

160000 STRUCTURE

For 1999-2003 Windstar vehicles Safety Recall 11S16 has been issued for vehicles that are operated in high corrosion areas for an extended period, where a front subframe lower control arm (LCA) rear attaching flange or rear body mount could

101100 POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)

CONCERNS WITH REVERSE CLUTCH THAT COULD BECOME SHEARED OR TORN IN EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES. *TT

980000 UNKNOWN OR OTHER

SPECIAL FIELD ACTION REGARDING REVISED WARANTY INFORMATION. *TT

100000 POWER TRAIN

INFORMATION REGARDING TSB 98-5A-12 (TRANSAXLE/TRANSMISSION/TRANSFER CASE-VEHICLES TOWED BEHIND RECREATIONAL VEHICLES-RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES) DOES NOT LIST TOWING INFORMATION FOR CERTAIN MODEL VEHICLES. *MJS

980000 UNKNOWN OR OTHER

AUTHORIZED WARRANTY PART REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE PADS TO CORRECT EXCESSIVE BRAKE NOISE. *TW

102000 POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

INFORMATION ON AODE/4R7W TRANSMISSION MAIN CONTROL & CASE REPLACEMENT. *TT

NHTSA Safety Investigations, FORD WINDSTAR

Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.

EA, Closed , Model Year: 1999

Front Subframe Corrosion Failures

In a January 26, 2011 Defect Information Report, Ford Motor Company (Ford) notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that it will conduct a safety recall to address corrosion related fractures in the front lower control arm rear attaching brackets and body mount attachments... Read more

DP, Closed , Model Year: 2003

Rear Axle Fracture Recall Scope

On November 5, 2010, NHTSA received a Defect Petition from the owner of a MY 2003 Ford Windstar vehicle registered in the state of New York requesting that the scope of Recall 10V-385 be expanded to include additional MY 2003 vehicles experiencing the defect condition.The petitioner initially filed ... Read more

PE, Closed , Model Year: 1999

Front Subframe Corrosion Failures

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has identified 346 complaints to ODI and Ford alleging fracture, cracking and or excessive corrosion of the front subframes in model year (MY) 1999 through 2003 Ford Windstar vehicles.Approximately 97 percent of these complaints (334) involve vehicles that h... ave been operated in Salt Belt states, which make up approximately 60 percent of the subject vehicle sales in the United States.The front subframe, sometimes referred to as the engine cradle, is a structural component of the Windstar vehicles that carries the engine, transaxle, steering rack and certain front suspension components (e.g., lower control arm).For complaints with sufficient information to identify the location of the failure, most describe problems with the rear mounting bracket for the front passenger-side lower control arm with some related to the rear body mount attachment located in the same general area of the subframe (right-rear section near the front passenger wheel).The remainder of the reports allege fracture of the front subframe at other or, most often, unspecified locations.Almost all of the complaints that specified the side of the vehicle indicated that the problem occurred on the right/passenger side (106), with only a few indicating the left/driver side (2) or both sides (3) were affected.Ford and several complainants attributed the right-side failures to the routing of the air-conditioning lines above the front subframe on that side of the vehicle, further noting that condensation has been observed dripping onto the front subframe in the area of the affected components (the A/C drain tube is also located on the right side, near the front subframe).ODI has identified 93 complaints related to lower control arm attachments, including 80 that appear to involve complete separations.All but one of these involved vehicles from Salt Belt states.All three crash incidents appear to be related to lower control arm separations, including one road departure into a road-side sign resulting in a totalled vehicle and a lane departure into another vehicle.Almost half of the ODI complaints related to control arm separation occurred at speeds greater than 20 mph and about a quarter occurred at highway speeds.Three-quarters of these complaints allege experiencing difficulty controlling the vehicle and about 40 percent appear to have resulted in departures from the intended lane of travel.Testing by both Ford and NHTSA have demonstrated that lower control arm separation from the rear attachment bracket results in significant toe out of the affected wheel, which affects the driver's ability to control vehicle direction.According to Ford, moderate braking improved vehicle controllability by reducing the amount of toe out, possibly explaining incidents that did not allege a loss of control.ODI's analysis of complaints related to the rear body mount identified 41 complaints (ODI only).These complaints generally report experiencing progressively worsening noise concerns when turning, accelerating or braking.Although, some of the complaints that appeared to involve a complete separation of the body mount alleged difficulty steering, the effects on vehicle control from this failure mode do not appear to be as great as those resulting from control arm separation.However, ODI is seeking more information regarding two complaints which alleged that body mount failure resulted in disconnection of the steering wheel from the steering rack (one occurred during vehicle service).This investigation has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA10-007) for subject vehicles sold or currently reRead more

PE, Closed , Model Year: 1998

Rear Axle Cracking

In a letter dated August 26, 2010, Ford Motor Company (Ford) submitted a Defect Information Report notifying NHTSA that it will conduct a safety recall (NHTSA Recall No. 10V-385) to address a rear axle defect in model year (MY) 1998 through 2003 Ford Windstar vehicles built at the Oakville assembly ... plant from September 1, 1997 through February 28, 2003 and either sold or currently registered in high corrosion (Salt-Belt) states where the use of salt and other corrosive chemicals may be used to treat snow/ice covered roads.The following states are included in Ford's recall:Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin. The subject vehicles utilize a Stamped/Formed axle assembly manufactured by Benteler automotive Corporation of Galesburg, MI.According to Ford, after many years of vehicle service in the Salt-Belt states, corrosion can weaken the rear axle, making it susceptible to torsional stress.There is a risk that the combined effects of corrosion and stress can lead to cracks which, if undetected, can propagate and result in a complete fracture of the axle.A completely fractured axle can affect vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.To correct the safety defect, Ford will initially inspect all of the subject vehicles brought into Ford/Lincoln-Mercury dealerships for possible cracked axles.Owners of vehicles without cracked axles will be notified when to return for the installation of reinforcement brackets to extend the axle durability in the presence of corrosion.Owners who have vehicles with cracked axles will either be offered a repair or alternative transportation until parts become available. On May 13, 2010, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE10-016 to investigate complaints of rear axle cracking in MY 1999 through 2003 Ford Windstar minivans.Combining ODI and Ford complaint data, ODI is aware of a total 891 complaints alleging rear axle cracking in the subject vehicles.Over a third of the complaints (334) allege that the cracking progressed to a complete fracture of the rear axle, including 8 allegations of crashes resulting in 3 injuries. Approximately 57 percent of the subject vehicles (524,661) were sold in Salt-Belt states covered by Ford's recall and Ford estimates that approximately 463,000 of these remain in service.Ninety-six percent of the complaints (858) and all of the complaints alleging complete fracture were from the recall region.The action taken by Ford is sufficient to resolve the issues raised by this investigation.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.Read more

EA, Closed , Model Year: 1995

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

EA08-021 IS CLOSED WITH FORD'S ACTIONS IN RECALL 09V-399 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 4.5 MILLION VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCHES (SCDS).WITH THIS RECALL FORD HAS NOW RECALLED ALL OF THE APPROXIMATE 16 MILLION FORD MODEL VEHICLES THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MY... Read more

PE, Closed , Model Year: 1995

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

ODI HAS RECEIVED 134 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS, 285 MANUFACTURER COMPLAINTS, AND 137 MANUFACTURER WARRANTY CLAIMS ALLEGING INCIDENTS OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1995 THRU 2003 FORD WINDSTAR VEHICLES.TWO OF THE ODI COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THE FIRES CAUSED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE COMPLAINANT'S ... Read more

RQ, Closed , Model Year: 1995

HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE FAILURE

ON APRIL 4, 2002, FORD MOTOR COMPANY NOTIFIED ODI OF A DEFECT CONDITION THAT COULD RESULT IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES IN APPROXIMATELY 250 THOUSAND MODEL YEAR (MY) 1995 AND 1996 WINDSTAR MINIVANS SOLD OR REGISTERED IN SALT BELT STATES (RECALL 02V-101).ACCORDING TO FORD, IMPROPER BRAKE LINE ROUTIN... Read more

PE, Closed , Model Year: 1999

POWER SLIDING DOOR OPENING

THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH SINGLE OR DUAL POWER SLIDING DOORS (PSD).APPROXIMATELY 111,000 VEHICLES HAVE DUAL POWER SLIDING DOORS.THE PSD IS OPENED BY ANY OF 5 METHODS, THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE MANUAL DOOR HANDLE, THE KEY FOB, THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE SWITCH AND THE B-PILLAR SWITCH.THE DOOR MAY ... BE OPENED ONLY UNDER THESE CONDITIONS: IGNITION KEY IS IN OFF/ACCESSORIES/ON/START POSITION, GEAR SELECTOR IN PARK, VEHICLE SPEED LESS THAN 6 MPH, AND DOOR UNLOCKED.THE PSD LATCH IS LOCATED AT THE REAR OF THE DOOR AND HAS A SECONDARY AND PRIMARY LATCH POSITION.FULL AND PROPER CLOSURE ENGAGES BOTH THE SECONDARY AND PRIMARY LATCH.WITH THE IGNITION IN THE ON POSITION, AS THE GEAR SELECTOR IS MOVED OUT OF PARK THE DOOR AUTOMATICALLY LOCKS AND THAT ACTION MECHANICALLY ISOLATES THE LATCH, SECONDARY AND PRIMARY, FROM ALL LATCH RELEASE CONNECTIONS.IN ADDITION TO THE REPORTS ALLEGING DOOR OPENING WHILE DRIVING, FORD HAS RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY 5,700 REPORTS THAT ALLEGE THE DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY OR POPS OPEN WITH NO MENTION OF WHILE DRIVING.FORD'S INVESTIGATION INTO THESE REPORT INCLUDED OWNER INTERVIEWS, VEHICLE BY-BACKS AND TESTING OF CONSUMER VEHICLES.IT FOUND THAT ALLEGATIONS OF DOOR OPENING WHILE DRIVING WERE IN FACT REPORTS OF DOORS NOT BEING PROPERLY CLOSED INITIALLY AND SUBSEQUENTLY OPENING TO THE SECONDARY LATCH POSITION AS A RESULT OF VEHICLE VIBRATIONS OR DRIVING MANEUVERS.FORD'S TESTING OF CONSUMER VEHICLES DID NOT RESULT IN ANY RECURRENCE OF PSD OPENING WHILE BEING DRIVEN.ODI INTERVIEWS WITH OWNERS AFFIRMED THE ALLEGATIONS OF PSD OPENING WHILE DRIVING; HOWEVER OWNERS INDICATED THE EVENT IS NOT A REGULAR OCCURRENCE (I.E.,IT OCCURRED ONLY ONCE OR HAS NOT OCCURRED RECENTLY) AND THAT THE UNINTENDED PSD OPENING MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BE DUPLICATED.IN CONTRAST, THE IMPROPER CLOSING OF THE PSD (LATCHING ON THE SECONDARY BUT NOT THE PRIMARY LATCH) CAN BE DUPLICATED, AND ODI VERIFIED THIS DURING AN INSPECTION OF A CONSUMER VEHICLE.IN THIS CONDITION (SECONDARY BUT NO PRIMARY LATCH), WHEN THE VEHICLE'S GEAR SELECTOR IS MOVED OUT OF PARK POSITION, A WARNING CHIME SOUNDS AND WARNING MESSAGE APPEARS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.MOST REPORTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS WERE FILED IN THE EARLY SERVICE-LIFE OF THE VEHICLE AND PEAKED AROUND THE 18-MONTH IN-SERVICE TIME PERIOD.ODI AND MFR COMPLAINT TRENDS ARE DECLINING OVER THE LAST 8 QUARTERS.THERE IS NO ALLEGED INJURY ASSOCIATED WITH OCCUPANT FALLING OUT WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.NO FAILURE MODE CAUSING FULL DOOR OPENING WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION HAS BEEN VERIFIED (REPRODUCED BY ODI OR BY TRAINED SERVICE TECHNICIANS AT DEALERSHIPS) DURING THIS INVESTIGATION.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL MONITOR THIS ISSUE AND RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.Read more

EA, Closed , Model Year: 1997

WHEEL STUD FRACTURE

THE SUBJECT VEHICLES RANGE IN AGE FROM 4?7 YEARS IN SERVICE, WITH AVERAGE MILEAGES ESTIMATED TO RANGE FROM 50 TO 100 THOUSAND MILES.AT THESE MILEAGES, THE SUBJECT WHEELS ARE LIKELY TO HAVE BEEN REMOVED AND REINSTALLED MULTIPLE TIMES FOR VARIOUS SERVICE PROCEDURES.ODI IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE HIGH WHEE... Read more

PE, Closed , Model Year: 1998

WHEEL STUD FRACTURE

ANALYSIS OF ODI AND FORD DATA HAS IDENTIFIED 1619 INCIDENTS OF WHEEL STUD FRACTURE IN MY 1998 THROUGH 2000 FORD WINDSTAR VEHICLES, INCLUDING 69 WHEEL SEPARATIONS AND 11 CRASHES.FORD HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY ANY DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING DEFECTS IN ITS ANALYZIS OF THE PROBLEM.FORD MAINTAINS THAT T... Read more

RQ, Closed , Model Year: 1995

FUEL TANK FATIGUE CRACKING

SEE ATTACHED REPORT.

EA, Closed , Model Year: 1995

SUSPENSION COIL SPRING BREAKAGE