1997 Ford Windstar LX from North America - Comments

I also have a 1996 Winstar that is possessed. It just turned 100,000 miles. The lights stay on and the dings ding. The speedometer starts jumping at 30 mph and goes completely out of control at 70 mph. We also had to have the transmission overhauled at 90,000 ($1500).

My prayer is that Ford will find this website and help the people that have trusted in them for a dependable vehicle.

I have(or have had) "all of the above " on my 96 Windstar bu now the AC condensation drain seems to be plugged up and I can't find where the drain hose runs to clean it out. Does anybody know? Thanks for your comments. This site has been helpul!

I think we made a mistake buying our Ford Windstar too. All the same problems. We may just junk it. Life is too short. At least there are plenty of used parts available. It appears as though like lots of others have had the same (junk it) idea. Check www.car-part.com and enter your year, make model, which part you need, all states, etc. There are whopping 82 pages of used (right front) doors, for example...

Hi there!

I have a 96 Windstar also, and have all the same problems. The WD-40 fixed the door ajar and dome light problem. I have the jumpy speedometer, finally had it diagnosed yesterday at a local dealership, it is a bad VSS (variable speed sensor) That along with other minor work will run $332.84. I have also experienced the strange possessed like happenings. Yesterday I was driving along and the doors locked, then they would not unlock for awhile, then just a bit later they seemed to work fine. However, later that day while shopping, I came out to find that my doors had unlocked while I was in the store, keys out to boot. I know I had locked it as I made sure because I had already done some shopping. Therefore, off to the dealership garage, all the strange happenings seem to be due to a bad GEM (generic electric module. The serviceman said it can cause LOTS of weird things, horns honking, lights flashing, window failure...etc..etc.. Cost for the Module change $311.72. Overall it has been a good van for me, I bought it 2 years ago for $3000 it now has 157,500 miles on it. I am just waiting for the bottom to fall out. No doubt, it will when I take it from OK to FL next week. Good luck to all of us!

Hello, I ALSO have a jumpy speedometer, ABS light on, clunking front end, and non-working cruise control in a 96 windstar with 110000 miles. To the previous comment.. it is actually called a vss 'vehicle speed sensor' and I just replaced it myself in mine today (very ugly job) and I still have a jumpy speedometer. The only thing that I don't have is the door switch problem...Yet. I bought this van as a reposessed vehicle to recondition and resale (aspiring car dealer) and my profit margin even after doing all the work myself continues to get smaller and smaller. After working on this van I would never buy one to drive personally, but the sad part is I have to try and sell it to some poor guy now. I have never been a ford person before, but this just puts the last nail in the coffin for me. Good luck to you all.

Hi I have a 2003 Windstar the vehicle is less than a year old. I have had problems with the electrical system in this thing from day one. My frist week I returned the vehicle to Lucas Ford motor Co. in Burlington NJ. because the Pass. side window would not go down and every once in a while when you closed the doors with the keys in the ignition the doors would lock. Well they said they fixed the problem. Well here it is 10 months later and guess what the windows still don't work. It seems that every time I drop off my car the problem fixes itself in the parking lot by the next morning. Ford says that they cannot "DUPLICATE" the problem and will not pay one of thier mechs. more than an hour to look at it. has anyone else had this problem.

Oh yeah I will never by another ford product again.

I cannot believe so many people seem to be having the same problems. My husband and I am at the end of our rope. We are about ready to junk our '98 ford wind star. We have the same problem with the interior overhead light staying on, and have pulled fuses, had to get a boost because the battery would be dead in the morning when trying to take the kids to school. Also, our brake light always stays on.

We have been having a very, very frustrating problem for the past two weeks. We have spent almost $600.00 so far, and the problem is still not fixed. If anyone has any suggestions, PLEASE respond!!! Here goes;

When we press the brake pedal, it slowly goes completely to the floor. We replaced the master cylinder, bled that first, also bread the brake lines, then we were told that the computer at a garage showed that the ABS module was bad. It wasn't even showing up on the computer. So, we went out and bought a used ABS module for $300.00. We installed that, (the master was bought new), and bled it, etc., and still the SAME PROBLEM!!! It is pretty scary when you are sitting at a light, and you have to keep pumping the brake, afraid you are going to hit the car in front of you!!! Now, my husband tried working on it again today, and the brake was fine when the car was off, but when it is running, it goes completely to the floor again!! He called a mechanic, and the mechanic said that in order for it to work when the car is running, that you have to bleed the lines in a certain order, and have them hooked up to the computer while you are bleeding the lines.

PLEASE HELP!!! This van is a huge piece of disappointment. I will NEVER, EVER buy a Ford again!!! However, at this time, with four children, going to school, etc., finances are a little tight, and we need to try to hold onto it for a little while longer.

Thanks for any input!!!

Cynthia M.

Lyn-brook , NY.

It was gratifying to read about the same issues we've had with our '97 Ford Wind Star. The speedometer started jerking also, then completely stopped working. The local San Jose Ford dealership said the housing had melted into the transmission, and that the transmission needed to be replaced. We have friends that purchased the same model, same year with the same problem. They refused to take any responsibility for such a malfunction, and it was of course out of warranty.

After spending $3,000 for a rebuilt transmission, the speedometer is still jerking. Now all the power windows have stopped working. we also experience the clunking and squealing sounds with the steering wheels.

There must be something we can all do to require Ford to take responsibility for defective parts.

San Jose, Ca.

Oct. 2004.

Now I don't feel like a Lone Ranger. My 1996 Windstar started out with the chattering speedometer. When checked by Ford they claimed that the left axle was cracked. When repaired cruise control went out and noise kept on. Then the open door light started pinging away. Driving me crazy. Tried the 10W30 fix - didn't work. Now the transmission keeps trying to shift while driving at all speeds. All this happened within 18 months. Now I remember why it was a long time before I bought a Ford product. Any help out there?

I also have a problem with my 96 Windstar that the inner lights stay on after I shut the engine, although I don't get the chiming. Then when I start the car the dashboard shows that a door is open when all doors are obviously closed, and the inner lights stay on until I drive a bit then they go off. It happens if I open the back hatch, after slamming the back door numerous times the inner lights finally go off. The problem resurfaces inconsistently when I open the back hatch, I just think I will never reopen it, but that's a big pain. I will try the WD-40. If anyone has a definite answer I'd like to hear it. pinchust@hotmail.com.

As the owner of a 1998 Windstar, I'm really glad I ran into this site. I was beginning to think the piece of junk was out to drive me crazy. We've had all the same door chime and interior light problems. It's sitting in the drive right now with the interior lights on. I can't get them to go out. It's happened before, but this time, nothing works. Guess I'll go try the WD-40.There will never be another Ford in my life. GO Chevrolet!!!

I've owned a '97 Windstar GL for 6 years & it's been 'fairly' dependable. However have recently tried troubleshooting the interior light/door ajar dilemma. The WD40 thing would work only for short time & have replaced 1 (so far) sensor(& 2 lock actuators in 3 yrs). Has anyone had any luck replacing the delay relay or accessory relay near the under-dash fuse panel? Am considering a try at this, looks like an economical attempt. Am just thinking I bess' DUMP this thing before I get to the nightmare some of you other folks have had. Somehow I feel fortunate now. BEBswISHER@aol.com.

I am glad I found this sight I was starting to think that I was going crazy!After reading through all of your comments it is nice to know I am not all alone.

We purchased a 98 wind-star at auction It has been a very good reliable purchase, but the Gremlins with the Dome light and door ajar light have been driving me crazy I thank those of you who gave the info about the GEM I will check into that tomorrow with my OHM meter!

Thanks again

Brent.

P.S. Funny side note the wife typed in "door ajar light" I didn't think that it would get us anything. Little did I know it took us right here with no problem.

Last month (November), I purchased a 1997 Windstar to use as a work van. It was wonderful the first morning when I went out to go to work at 5:30am and the battery was dead. I have the dome light/door ajar problem as well. It is driving me crazy. I've now been through 6 cans of WD-40 and it has not helped. Had I known about this problem a month ago, I'd have never bought a Ford.

It does make getting into my Jeep Grand Cherokee even that much more enjoyable!

I have all the same problems. the spedo has been acting up for three years. last week it stopped working and the trans started to shife erratically. the dealer wanted 4300.00 to fix it. he actually gave me the price with a straight face. I took it a mile down the road to a trans shop and they replaced a small shaft and gear which fixed all the problems including the spedo for 113.00

of course I still have the dinging door chime problem...

Just oiled the doors again... sometimes it works...