Problems with 1999 Ford Windstar ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Went to pick up food and noticed my 99 ford windstar was smoking. i pulled over, lifted up the hood and it was on fire. it was put out with a fire extinguisher. looked up online that there was a recall. called ford, they were unwilling to help us at all. told us we'd have to pay for a diagnostic/and towing. finally got ahold of someone through ford who got that for no charge. was told that it is the recalled piece that caused the fire. now am told that it could take up to 15 days to find out if i can get a rental until the car is fixed. *tr

1999 ford windstar. consumer writes to express discontent regarding ford motor company *tgw the consumer stated the vehicle had transmission and engine problems. also, the vehicle failed inspection, due to a rusted subframe. ford offered to buy the vehicle back from the consumer.

Was driving a 1999 ford windstar stopped at work went in side a coworker was leaving ran back inside to tell me my 1999 windstar was on fire. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 1999 ford windstar. the contact stated while driving 10 mph and attempting a right turn, the steering wheel would not turn because the cradle that held the motor was severely rusted and causing the motor to fall to the ground. the contact towed the vehicle to his residence where it was inspected by an independent mechanic. the mechanic concluded that the rusted cradle was causing the failure and would need replacing. the vehicle was not repaired. neither the dealer nor manufacturer was contacted to report the failure. the failure mileage was 97,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 1999 ford windstar. while the contact was driving approximately 40 mph, there was a loud noise coming from the front end of the vehicle. suddenly, the vehicle pulled into the right direction and wandered out of the lane causing difficulty in maintaining the steering. when the brakes were engaged, the vehicle pulled toward the left direction with a metal screeching noise. the failure occurred three times. a certified technician inspected the vehicle and stated that the engine cradle and lower control arm were completely rusted. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was unknown.

Complete fracture of passenger side engine cradle causing steering issues. fracture 1 to 2 inches from frame bolt. no other rust or fractures on frame or sub chassis, repairs by ford and goodyear of rack replacement and transmission replacement did not seem to warrant notification to me of pending issue with frame which could have caused major injury to myself or someone else. note this car has been in florida with 1 owner not in salt belt states

1999 ford windstar : engine cradle cracking and has fractured away from motor mount. *ln

On june 17,2010 my boyfriend and i had just arrived home from work and gotten into bed. maybe 10-15min went by when the neighbor was banging on door screaming "your car is on fire" going outside we found the van engulfed in flames ..it had driven beautifully up til this point. the van is total loss. *tr

I have a 1999 ford windstar, which has badly rusted k cradle, which can cause the engine to fall down while being driven as told by the mechanic. i tried to find an used one but couldn't get as they were all rusted out. looks like it has bad material or bad design. its a real safety hazard. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 1999 ford windstar. the contact stated the vehicle stalled without the warning while driving 25 mph. the vehicle was towed to a local mechanic who diagnosed the failure at the engine motor rod. the engine motor was replaced. the manufacturer was contacted but denied assistance with the repair. the failure mileage was 111,000 and the current mileage was 112,000.

1. sub-frame was badly rusted out. it broke while backing out of a parking space and the front tires disengaged. 2. the rocker panel on the left side needs to be replaced. it is badly rusted out and it will not pass inspection anymore. there is some rust on the right rocker panel also. all of the rust in under the vehicle and it is not safe to drive. 3. the check engine light came on last year.

I bought a ford windstar van from a used car dealer by the name of ray price in dec. of '07. we had been looking for a van for some time and i had looked for any recalls before we purchased. i found none listed. we paid off the car last month, and that's when the trouble started. i have taken it to the garage 3 times in the last month because it kept stalling when it would idle for longer periods of time. the mechanic fixed the intake manifold seals and the surrounding parts, replacing them as needed each time. i also had the spark plugs and plug wires replaced just in case. on thursday july 23rd, my husband replaced the brakes on the front. he drove the van all day with no problems other than the occasional stall. we stopped for milk at the grocery store on our way home from my work and had been inside for only 5-10 minutes when the manager called out that our car was on fire. we ran outside, and the firemen got it out, but the car is a total loss. i spoke to my mechanic and the fire investigator and both told me that they had come across a recall that had been out a few years ago about my van. it seems that ford recalled the cruise control mechanism in the engine because it caused electrical fires just like what happened to mine. the fire chief said it looked exactly like what he had seen before when it happened. since then, ford has denied that there was a recall and won't look into the matter. my car had been on this lot for at least a year before we bought it. if the recall went out, it was never fixed, and a lawyer has already said it is ford's responsibility to take care of the matter. can you check on this for me? *tr

Connector coming from the bottom of the sensor on the brake reservoir on my 1999 windstar 3.8 liter is burned - melted. this caused the brake light to come on and the abs to shut down and the light to come on. also, the a/c doesn't work and the fans don't work. *tr

Driving along the nj garden state parkway at 60mph, i experienced a loud popping sound. i had my vehicle towed to my local repairman only to find that the spark plug at the rear of the engine had blown out causing a misfire in the engine. *tr

My 1999 ford windstar experienced a significant engine shift while driving. the garage indicated that my passenger side engine cradle had rusted through causing the engine to shift. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 1999 ford windstar. while driving approximately 45 mph, the vehicle began pulling to the right. the contact heard a noise and the steering wheel was not centered. there were no warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who stated that the failure was related to the main engine cradle assembly. the vehicle was repaired. the contact was concerned of the safety risk involved. the failure mileage was 125,000 and current mileage was 129,000. updated 11/17/08 *cn updated 11/21/08. *jb

Tl*the contact owns a 1999 ford windstar. while driving 60 mph, the check engine light illuminated. the dealer stated that there was a faulty valve cover, and the engine needed an upper intake and driver side valve cover. the cost to repair the vehicle was $500. the dealer did not explain the possible cause of the failure; however, when the valve cover does not fit properly, it causes oil to leak into the motor. the failure and current mileages were 89,946.

I was at a stop light at a major intersection and when the light turned green i heard a loud sound. i tried to accelerate but my car would not move forward. the engine just revved. i thought i ran something over due to the sound so inspected got out to inspect the car. i found nothing. i got back into the car and turned car off and turned back. the car would not drive. i put the car in reverse and managed to get off the road. i had the car towed to the dealership. i was told by the dealer sutton ford in matteson il. that the transmission just broke and would cost me $3000.00. i have had this car less then 2 years. i had an extended warranty that just expired a few months ago. my obd light was on but was told by the dealer it was a sensor. they could turn it off but it wasn't anything major. after reading all the complaints i'm sure it is major. since purchasing this car, i have had to replace tires at least every six months, major engine repair, alternator repair, as well as spring replacement. overall, i've put more then $3000.00 in repair not including the repair of the transmission i now need. i loved my windstar but i am now discovering that it puts my life endanger to drive it. my two kids were in the car when this happened and i feared someone would hit my car. the worst part about all this is i am unable to get rid of this car as i still am buying this car. i am unable to refinance the difference. i was told to just scarp the car by the dealer and just get another car as i am even more in debt trying to repair the car. i don't want to ruin my credit so there has to be another solution. i have no inkling how i'm going to manage to get 3000.00 for a new car and pay my bills and find an alternative method. i really would appreciate it if ford would just do the right thing fix my transmission. split the cost. i did damage my car ...

Tl*the contact owns a 1999 ford windstar. the contact took her vehicle to the dealer because it would start, but then idle, stutter, and stall. the failure also occurred while the vehicle was at a stop sign or traffic light. the vehicle would restart immediately after the failure. the oxygen sensors and all the hoses were replaced, including other repairs. the total repair cost was approximately $1,700. the engine light would also illuminate, but no error code displayed when a diagnostic was performed. the contact then took the vehicle to a family mechanic and was informed of a failure with the valves and intake manifold, of which ford was aware. the failure would deter oil from flowing through the valves. the purchase date was unknown. the current mileage was 61,000 and failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

We were involved in an accident yesterday due to our 1999 ford windstar not operating properly. we had 7 people in our van including small children. luckily, none of us were injured, but the potential for injury was definitely there. as we were approaching a stop light at about 35 mph the abs brake light and battery light came on and we lost all power. we had no brakes or power steering. it was evident we were not going to be able to stop so my husband opted for the ditch. steering was very difficult and we hit a stop light on the right hand side of the road with the left front end of the van and eventually came to a stop about 4 ft. from a utility pole. the van was driving fine with no indication of malfunction prior to losing all power suddenly. we have in the past experienced the battery light or the abs brake light coming on when it was raining or after driving through standing water but have not experienced losing all power until yesterday. we have also had problems with the engine cutting out after driving on the highway for awhile and then driving on city streets at lower speeds. it seems that when your driving on just city streets at lower speeds we don't experience this problem, and also not typically while we are on the highway driving at higher speeds (although we have had it cut out a couple times on the highway). it seems to usually occur after we have been on the highway driving at higher speeds for awhile and then exit on to lower speed roads. the engine just suddenly dies. we can typically start it right back up again, but it will continue to die and start back up several times. *jb

Subject vehicle is a 1999 ford windstar van with 3.8 engine; this vehicle has not been operational since july 15, 2007 due to stalling problem. after reaching operating temperature, it may stall at any time. at speeds above 40 mph you can maintain control of vehicle, but under 35 mph vehicle becomes difficult to control due to engine shutdown and loss of power steering and brake assist. *tr

3 deaths. bet i've got your attention now! i have been reading about the check engine light failures, and my van has the same persistent problem. i understand there is an engine design defect and that although gasket replacement is recommended by the technical service bulletin, it seems customers who have paid to get the tsb fix still have the same problem. i personally have spent over $5000 in the last two years trying to get the issue resolved. at 103k, my van's blue book value is much less. this is not even to mention what i've spent on extra gas at today's high prices due to inefficient engine operation resulting from this design defect. the stalling of the engine which is being reported by a lot of consumers is also due to the long term effects of running the van with this same design defect. it is just a matter of time until someone does die because of this defect, especially with the engines cutting off on the highway. ford should recall the vehicle for this problem and fix it at no cost to consumers. there are enough individuals on this website alone to organize into a class action lawsuit, and i am just the one to take the lead on it. of course, i do not plan to keep this vehicle. i have also had a persistent problem with the engine compartment getting too hot and burning up my alternator. i purchased this van in 2000 and have already replaced the alternator six times (averaging once per year). this is the first ford vehicle i have ever owned and i am less than impressed. i will not buy another ford product again. i have owned dodge caravans and chevrolet vehicles which were designed properly and gave me no where near this amount of problems. i am going to purchase a dodge caravan. *nm

Dt*: the contact stated the check engine light has been illuminated since purchase. the vehicle has been to an independent repair shop that was able to turn the light off for a few days, two separate times. the repair shop determined the intake manifold needs to be replaced.

Cel (check engine light) came on. ford dealer said that the ford company has a bulletin out to dealers recommending the replacement of gaskets and valve cover for the vacuum leaks. which run upward of 600.00 if they are acknowledging this problem, why are they not recalling it? *jb

1999 ford windstar se check engine issue. to make it easier i would like to refer you to the following web site where it explains my same problem from several other individuals. http://www.cartrackers.com/forums/live/fordwindstar/493.html i thank you for your attention to this matter. have a god blessed day. *nm

There seems to be a lot of 99 ford windstar user with this problem. code p0171 & p0174 http://www.cartrackers.com/forums/live/fordwindstar/493.html ford needs to take responsibility for this design defect! a law suit needs to be made against them and all the people that paid up to $731, not to mention the time involved need to be reimbursed. oxnard ford did not care to listen!. someone needs to be held responsible, ford!!!!*jb

1999 windstar,. paint peeling on front hood, replaced the following: transmission (4 times), inner and outer tie rods (2 times) power steering system, intake manifold gaskets and system(twice), interior lights that flicker intermittently and stay on for periods of time for no reason.*ak

Engine seized at 78,568 miles; all preventive maintenance up to date; inspection of engine resulted in 3 fractured pistons, scored cylinder walls, bent rods and large chunks of metal debris secondary to the engine seizure. *jb

Ford windstar 1999- transmission, rack and pinion and manifold ford would not help so i took them to small claims court in ontario and won full cost to all three matters. *jb

Dt: the contact stated the engine hesitated while driving. the engine did not die, but operated at a reduced speed. the check engine light illuminated when this occurred. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer, who performed a diagnostic test. the diagnostic test produced codes. however, no repairs have been made. *ak

Tl*the contact owns a 1999 ford windstar. while driving 15 mph, the vehicle would shut off. the failure occurred when slowing down for a red light or stop sign. the vehicle was taken to a mechanic on three different occasions before it was finally repaired. the contact was informed that the driver's side intake manifold failed. the contact referenced technical service bulletin number 627927 (engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline). the current mileage was 42,000 and failure mileage was 28,306. updated 10/14/08 *bf the engine would shut off and didn't idle properly. updated 10/17/08. *jb

When attempting to park, especially when parking between two vehicles and i need to proceed slowly and with caution, my engine has a sudden, momementary surge of approximately 500 rpm each time i turn the steering wheel. this causes the vehicle to suddenly lurch forward. i have had a few close calls due to this sudden movement when stopped for pedestrans to pass in front of me, i have turned the steering wheel slightly and when the vehicle surges forward, they look at me like i was attempting to run them down. as of this date, i do not know why it is doing this.

Head gaskets on my ford windstar 3.8 liter are leaking coolant at 83.9k miles. had a 1994 ford taurus with same problem. had to junk car at 70000. that was 20000 after i had it fixed for the same problem the first time at 38000. ford has had many problems with this 3.8 v-6 but don't want to admit it.*ak

Vehicle failed emissions during a routine safety inspection. consumer stated he did not smell any fumes inside the vehicle, however, the exhaust system was defective.*ak

3.8l v6. check engine light, lean code. had intake manifold gaskets replaced at my cost in oct 03 at 70k miles. check engine light again in feb 05 at 90k miles. intake manifold gaskets again. at my cost again. ford customer relations does not feel it's a problem.*ak

The check engine light in my 1999 ford windstar came on. shortly after that, my coolant was disappearing, it was being sucked into my engine due to a blown head gasket. eventually the engine locked up due to insufficient lubrication (coolant mixing with oil). i replaced the engine. the van had a 3.8l 6 cylinder engine made in canada. *jb

There is a problem with ford egines. when it is cold usually a temperature below 20 degrees the intake manifold gaskets don't seal correctly, causing a engine error in the computer. my dealer says over the last 3 years they will fix about 50 a season and already this short season they have fixed about a dozen including my 1999 ford windstar.*ak

When trying to park the vehicle it launched forward. the consumer had to turn the vehicle off in order to stop the launching. the dealer stated there was a gasket kit that will prevent the intake gasket, gas leak. *ak *sc

Dt: the contact stated the check engine light continued to illuminate. she took the vehicle to an independent repair shop numerous times. the repair shop cleared the check engine light code. after multiple attempts to correct the problem she was referred to an authorized ford dealer. the dealer cleared the check engine light code. afterwards the check engine light came on again. she went back to the dealer. the dealer could not diagnose the problem, and said not to worry about it. no further repairs have been made at this time. *ak updated 04/06/06

Transmission problem with 1999 ford windstar on several occasion. *bf (transmission slippage) these problems have existed since the vehicle was first purchased; engine trouble, vaporization leaks, and a broken gear. there were also worn front brakes, steering was inoperative, and there was a vacuum leak due to the upper intake manifold. *sc *jb

While driving the check engine light appeared on the dashboard and remained on. the driver was able to drive it to the dealer for inspection. the mechanic informed the driver that the vehicle was placed on a diagnostic machine. the mechanic informed the driver that the gasket intake seal and manifold valve cover needed replacement. please fill in additional information.

1999 ford windstar suddenly spurts antifreeze from intake valve gasket. ford dealer notified and i was told that they knew it was a problem with the 3.8l v6 and they would not fix the problem because they could not guarantee the work since it was a design problem. also, told that "extended warranty" for the problem was expired. *ak

Vehicle was taken for the emission test inspection, and did not pass the inspection's test. the dealer was notified. *ak the failure was due to a faulty design of the valve cover which was sending oil to the pcv system. intake gaskets were also replaced. *la

Engine check light stayed on. dealer stated that engine head gasket needed to be replaced. *ak

While driving vehicle reached high temperatures. independent repair shop determined that high temperature was due to intake manifold failure. *ak

Check engine light on 1999 ford windstar on come on 4 times in last two months. a "lean condition" was reported first 3 times from shop. replaced fuel/air filter, spark plugs/wires and some hoses. light came back on again same day it came back from shop. seems like many other consumers are having same problem (see website - http://www.cartrackers.com/forums/live/ford windstar/493.html). when will ford have to stand up and take responsibility for their defective design instead of the customer being nickel & dimed to death (some fixes aren't exactly nickels and dimes either). *jb

While driving at 45 mph consumer noticed that the vehicle was running roughly. several seconds later, engine check light came on. vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed consumer that the intake manifold gasket needed to be replaced. the intake manifold gasket was sucked into the engine, causing the engine to bind. *ak dealer also made repairs on front end, power steering, electrical system, and tie rod ends. a 4-wheel alignment was also performed by the dealer. *la

Engine trouble light comes on with lean diagnostic codes. dealer has tried three fixes and trouble is still happening

* vehicle leans since purchased sept 13, 2003. * allignment problems. * transmission does not properly change gears. * low treads on tires. * a frame problems. * suspension steering makes a clunking noise. * brakes must be pumped to stop, and make a ticking noise when applied. * vehicle has overheated. * power steering fluid leaked. * gears do not shift properly. * primer scotch guard on seats wearing after coat applied.

The consumer complained about an alignment problem. the vehicle pulled to the left and made a ticking noise underneath the vehicle when the brakes were applied. the vehicle was constantly in the repair shop but the mechanic are was unable to solve the problem. *ak also the check engine light illuminated. *jb