1996 Ford Windstar GL review from North America
"It served its purpose"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Car may have a minor head gasket problem. So far I use Prestone superseal about 20K miles ago as preventive. Not burning any water now.
Looks like I got check engine light with some type of sensor messed up. Barely passed smog test. Got to sell it now.
Right door lock does not work. That's probably due to alarm that opens and closes all locks.
Alternator replaced after seven years. That is to be expected after 97K.
Door sensors did not work, use pencil eraser to run contacts. It works.
Brake leak at sensor. That affects cruise control. Leak caught fire, but I put it out with water bottle. Easy to fix. run good now. Brake leak also causes ABS light.
General comments?
Big car that has been good for my family. Not a perfect vehicle. At 97K the engine values can be heard, but the car runs strong.
Considering all the bad reviews... I guess I am lucky.
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| First year of ownership | 1996 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | 3.8L Automatic |
| Performance marks | 8/10 |
| Reliability marks | 7/10 |
| Comfort marks | 9/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 7/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 9/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 7 miles |
| Most recent distance | 97000 miles |
| Previous car | Chevrolet Corsica |
| Date of Entry | 10th September, 2003 |