2003 Ford Windstar LX from North America - Comments

First, I purchased the vehicle while experiencing a life altering event (mother was diagnosed congestive heart failure and I needed a vehicle quick... what a mistake) After meeting with every specialists and advocates and morticians I took the Windstar in for tires and brakes.

That's not my first mistake!!!

My first mistake was Purchasing...

My right wheel rod cracked when.

I went in to get new tires and brakes ($800.00) Had to pay for tires and brakes first and scheduled rod work for 2 weeks later.

While working the rod they got a check code for the transmission.

Then I needed gasket cleaning or ($940.00) I couldn't pass plus fluids and filters and inspection at the tune on $1140.00 total (second visit)

4 (four) days later I take my son to school, stop at the

local coffee shop, parked the car, get my favorite cup

of "joe", do my civic duty and "donate" to a homeless

man, put the key in the ignition and... nothing well the

radio and the vents and windows work, but nothing else.

I was considering speaking to a local consumer reporter

and requesting they place cameras under the hood for

another visit to the shop (maybe I was being conned)

but after reading the previous reviews maybe the

it's just the make and model!!!

Don't Buy!!!Found On Road Dead!!! Honda and Toyota

Here I Come (as soon as I fix the piece of junk...trade

it...sell it... Bury It!!!

Sounds to me like you found a shady dealer.

I've never ever heard of a wheel rod.

Brakes shouldn't cost $400 for this car, brakes should only run in the neighborhood of $200ish, machining the rotors included.

Been driving my 2000 Windstar for years and haven't had any issues, except my parents cooking the transmission in Yosemite. They forgot to turn the overdrive off for the hill climbs and didn't have a transmission cooler.

I agree that the mechanic was ripping you off, possibly taking advantage of your vulnerable emotional state. I'm sorry for that. I don't believe that the vehicle was the problem; I do believe that the mechanic was just "trying to find things" in order to keep you coming back like a cash cow.

1) Never heard of a "cracked wheel rod" (or even an un-cracked wheel rod)

2) Brakes and tires should not cost $800 for a Windstar. Let me guess: it was their suggestion that you needed extensive brake work?

3) Gasket cleaning? Uh-uh. No such thing.

4) Couldn't pass fluid and filters? I don't even know where to begin...

5) Did they tell you that it wouldn't pass inspection unless they did a bunch of work? You should report these guys to the BBB and also the State DMV.

6) Sounds like it didn't start because of a corroded battery clamp -- regular maintenance issue.

I don't think there is anything necessarily wrong with your van. These ripoff artists just made you think there is. I guarantee, if you take your new Honda or Toyota to them, they will "find" a lot wrong with it, too.

What if the reviewer got a few terms mixed up? "Wheel rod" could mean tie rod ends. "Gasket cleaning" may have been her way of remembering: Transmission fluid flush, r&r transmission filter, r&r transmission pan gasket?

Why is $800 bucks too much for a set of quality tires, valve stems, balancing, plus front and rear brake jobs?

I just have been quoted $500 for a rear brake job involving new shoes, wheel cylinders and drum turning. I politely declined.

The reviewers mistake was not to have the vehicle inspected prior to purchase.

It sounds like you failed to have the vehicle inspected prior to purchase, & the previous owner failed to take care of some extensive maintenance prior to the sale, which is probably the reason they sold it in the first place. Good luck with your next vehicle!

It's typical of Ford. I had one of this same model year and it wasn't this bad, but it was not a good car by any means. But there's no such thing as a wheel rod or a gasket cleaning I'm sorry to say.

1) Never heard of a "cracked wheel rod" (or even an un-cracked wheel rod)

I had to replace the muffler bearing twice on my car! LOL.

I had to replace my worbler spindle bearing regulator. Man that was hard to find. I was right next to the piston return spring adjuster.