1996 Ford Windstar from North America - Comments

It all started the week after I brought it home.

The ABS light will be on for 4 years in October!

The braking system is terrible too. I have had numerous brake problems. New rotors, pads, lines and struts. At 50m miles the regular brake light started going on and off all by itself. It isn't the fluid or new sensors, they have tried it all, but my lights are still on today. After $500 or more in the shop for sensors.

This year I started having trouble with the engine. They told me that it was my O2 sensor and that was $400.00. Then a week later they told me that it was an external timing cover leak, maybe even an internal one (to find that out it would be $300 to drop the oil pan and check). They advised me to have just the cover replaced to see if that would help. That part alone would be $700.00 dollars! They couldn't fit it in the shop for a week and a half, but if it started to smoke to bring it right back. I got in it 2 days later, it wouldn't start. I waited a half hour and it finally did. I took it to an outside mechanic and told him what was going on, he kept it for 2 hours and told me it was definitely an internal head gasket leak and that I shouldn't even be driving it. All he did for $50.00 was pull the spark plugs and took a peak in the engine, the whole thing was filled with coolant fluid. I called a different dealer to see what their reaction would be to the way the original dealer dealt with the problem and they disagreed with the dropping the pan thing. I called them right away and told them to change the work order to include a head gasket replacement too and told them everything. It is in the shop today, I can't get a warranty or help from anyone at Ford to give me any assistance at all. It is a shame that they don't take more pride in their vehicles, service or manner of business.

I could never buy another Ford because I can't trust them (dealers) to be honest and not cheat me out of money. The main company doesn't take their responsibility too seriously in helping their customers or admitting to problems with their vehicles.

I own a "95 Windstar. I also have had many problems with my car. Fortunately, I bought mine new and so had an extended warranty that covered virtually all of the problems. As for the head gasket, Ford issued a recall a few years ago regarding the head gasket, saying that if you had to replace it, they would cover the cost. Mine blew out about 2 weeks after I received the recall notice. I also have had numerous problems with my front disk brakes. I believe that the front brakes are inadequate for the weight of the car. they get very hot when you have to use them to go down a long hill, even when using low gear. I think that the rotors are too small. Ford Replace my rotors once and then machined them again due to warping. now, at 65,000 miles, I have to replace them again. I am replacing them with an after market (non Ford) part to avoid the same problem again (hopefully). Of course, when I asked the dealer if other owners had experienced the same problem, they looked blank and they said that they were not aware of any other similar problems. I don't believe it. I am a normal driver and so I bet there are thousand of us out there. I wonder how you might go about finding out?

Strangely, other than the brakes, I have not had any problems with my car in the last couple of years. I had lots of things done in the first 4 years - even new transmission. The Ford dealer fights every little repair. They only agree to fix something when you are in the car with them with the problem arises, then they cannot claim that they "could not verify" the problem.

I want a Toyota Matrix. American cars look pretty sad next to the new imports!!