1996 Ford Windstar GL review from North America

Speedometer at 90,000.

Serpentine Belt at 80,000 miles and 136,000 miles.

Belt tensioner at 136,000 miles.

Check Engine light coming on/off intermittently from day one, dealer could never fix it, said ignore it.

I got this van new, and it was a company car. I put 79,000 miles on it in 18 months, then bought it for a family car.

It stranded my wife in 1998 when the serpentine belt broke, and stranded us agin last December when the belt tensioner failed and the belt broke again.

That's the only time it has ever let us down.

As far as maintenance, I originally changed the oil at 500 miles, then every 3000 miles, using Mobil 1 10w30 synthetic.

Transmission fluid was changed at 40,000, 80,000, and 120,000 miles. Not just the 4 quarts in the pan, but all 14 quarts, and I used good transmission fluid, Mobil 1 full synthetic.

Spark plugs were changed at 92,000 miles and 135,000 miles.

It still has the original brake rotors and drums, the pads have been changed once, and it's due again.

It's not perfect, in that it's had an annoying habit of the check engine light coming on once-in-a-while, and the first time I took it in the dealer said it was just emissions, and that it would go off by itself, and it did, and it still does, because every now and then, for no apparent reason it comes on again.

At 90,000 miles the speedometer started wavering at speed, so I sent it in to Speedometer Plus in Los Angelas and they rebuilt it for less than $100.00. What choice did I have - the dealer wanted $350.00.

It's on it's second windshield, and is due for a 3rd now.