1997 Ford Windstar LX from North America - Comments

The interior dome light will intermittently stay on after the door is closed. Door sensors have all been replaced. Some replaced multiple times in the 2 years I've owned the vehicle.

The "door ajar" chime has recently started to accompany the dome light.

Speedometer jumps wildly above 50 MPH.

Dealership has "never heard of these problems" before. My neighbor brought his 1996 Windstar to the same dealership for the same problems / repairs!!

This car is not worth anything! Do not buy one!

I've been a loyal Ford customer for over 30 years, but never again.

I own a 1997 Windstar with a 3.8 l engine. The needle type speedometer is wobbly above 50 Km and does not indicate proper speed. I went to the dealer and they replaced

speedometer cable and gear until they found that the speedometer was defective. They charge $660 can for the "exchange" for a new speedometer.

From the complaints I've seen on the Internet, too many people are having the same problem, therefore it is a bad manufactured device and should be replaced at Ford's expense and Ford should make it a recall. I got arrested

and had to pay a speeding ticket just because the speedometer was not indicating proper speed.

I own a 1997 Ford Wind-star with a 3.8 liter engine.The speedometer needle jumps wildly at 50 mph. The speedometer "head" needed to be replaced and when asked if covered under my extended warranty I was told it was not. Also, the interior light stays on and the door chimes ring constantly. I noticed this especially if it is raining. These items should definitely be a recalled item. Janet W.

My ford windstar also has the problem of the interior light going on and off on it's own. If there are this many people with the same problem, I am surprised that there has not been a recall!

I have a 1997 Windstar, and it has been having the same speedometer problem. Oh happy day.

I own 97 windstar and have the same interior light problem with the warning noise from door ajar. I had it checked out by a Ford dealer, but the problems still existed. I cannot imagine that the driver will get used to this problem as they may think of it as a fault warning, then their kids open the door and fall out of the vehicle! Then it is too late for Ford to regret. A lawsuit could do way more damage then a recall could. Currently, I am unable to go anywhere without carrying a wrench along so I can disconnect the battery cable to prevent it from discharging. Added to this major problem we also suffer from a popping noise in the front suspension when stop and starting while driving. (stop signs or traffic lights, etc.) It is hard to imagine that such a large corporation like Ford would willingly let its loyal customers go unsatisfied. Future vehicles for my family and friends will definitely be persuaded by us and others to choose other than Ford.

I have all the same problems.

I found this site while searching for "ford windstar door sensor". We, too, are having problems with the door-ajar sensor going off (even though all doors have been checked and double-checked) and the interior lights staying on. My husband just disconnected the battery for the night. Not that I want to drive it tomorrow with that BELL going off!

In any case, I agree that this appears to be a problem that should be, or should have been, taken care of with a recall. If anyone decides to take action, we're ready and willing to jump on the bandwagon! luckymom@charter.net.

I also have a 1995 wind star, and the door sensor also stays on when all doors have been checked and rechecked. I have had it to 2 dealers and three different repair shops no one can find the problem. I have taken out the fuse to keep the power to the interior lights off, but it also cuts the power to the electric windows. if any one has a answer please e- mail me at rollatrafficjam@aol.com

thank you

sallie.

1996 windstar

The door ajar light staying on with the continuous chime. I HAVE THAT PROBLEM ALSO!!!

Does anybody know how to disconnect the door ajar chime? There is no way I want to pay for a service call to fix this.

We have owned a 1997 windstar fresh off the assembly line since November 1996. It currently has 140,000km on it... and we have had most of these problems as well. The ABS light, check engine light, both for no reason after being checked by ford mechanics. Most recently my door sensor is showing and sounding that one of the doors is open. No door is open. ALL the interior lights stay on at all times. And the door lock/unlock gizmo at the rear door doesn't work. Now we are experiencing intermittent clunking under the floor boards up front. Because the clunking is intermittent they say they can't do anything about it till it is happening continually. We would never buy a ford windstar again... despite the fact that it is very comfortable for our family of 5.

I have a 1997 Windstar and have had it in numerous times for the interior lights staying on because of faulty door sensors. We now have 99,xxx miles on it and the warranty will be over soon. It is in the shop as now and this will be the last time they will be covered under warranty. I hope we can get this made a recall before I have to pay for it myself next time.

If you are reading these comments and have had the same problem, please add your comment. The more we have the better the ammunition we have to force a recall. Thanks.

Ditto to all this. My ABS light comes on, but is usually fixed if I add some brake fluid. The interior lights will also come on even though all doors are closed, I tried to "lube" up the rear tailgate sensors and it seemed to work. The speedometer problem though is out of control. It first started at speeds of only 65 mph or above, but now if I go over 30 its only a guess. Recently on an interstate trip I was using my stop watch to make sure I wasn't going over 70 mph! The weird thing is that the odometer works fine.

I have a 96 Windstar that just turned 100,000 miles. It too has the bouncing speedometer. The door ajar light goes on and off like it has a mind of its own. I just slam the doors harder. I have replaced the power lock motors on three doors (do you suppose there is any connection?). The front brake pads need replacing every 25,000 miles. The transmission vibrates when cresting a hill at around 60 mph. I have learned to live with these problems. BUT has anyone else had a coil spring shatter on a smooth stretch of road causing the strut to collapse and the spring to rub on the tire setting the tire on fire?

Our 95 Windstar has just reached 102,000 miles. Since we purchased it a few months ago with 86,000 on it, we have had to replace both front brake rotors and pads, rear brake shoes and the right rear wheel bearings. We recently developed a "clunking" under the floorboards, which I hope goes away after the shop replaces the right coil spring which just broke sitting in the parking lot. I assume it has been broken for a while, but "settled" while sitting in the parking lot.

Immediately after I jacked it up to inspect the coil spring, the dome light began to stay on constantly (but no door chime), and the front passenger door has to be slammed to close it. I used the factory provided jack, in the manual specified manner, and I theorize that somehow that sprung something to cause the door sensor to not make proper contact to turn off the light, and to cause the door closing difficulty.

Would love to hear if anyone has successfully resolved the dome light/ door ajar issue!

The doom light problem, is remedied by spraying each door latch with WD40. I went through a can. Make sure that you get both on the back Hatch. Really spray them good. Solved the problem.

But I am now up against the Speedometer problem. Bounces erratically at 50mph.