1995 Ford Windstar: grinding or squealing brakes

Filed Jan 15, 2010 · Engine · 140,000 miles · WV · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 1995 ford windstar. While driving 40 MPH she noticed that the brake light appeared on the dashboard and that the temperature gauge had risen; within a few minutes, an explosion occurred in the vehicle causing black smoke to fill the interior of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the contacts residence. The next morning, the contact heard an explosion outside of her home and noticed that the front end of the vehicle was on fire. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle has not been diagnosed for the failure. The contact previously noticed that the vehicle was making a squealing sound moments before the brake light appeared on the dashboard. The current and failure mileages were 140000.

Filed May 19, 2005 · Steering · MI

Tie rods were replaced at 50,000 miles. They need replacement again. Loud squeaky noise while turning the steering.

Filed Apr 4, 2005 · Suspension · 175,000 miles · CT

1995 ford windstar - without warning the front end of van dropped slightly. Heard scraping and grinding sounds from front right. Removed tire and found broken coil spring with sharp point about 1 inch above tire tread. Mounted spare tire, drove to dealership. They replaced both front springs under ford "safety improvement campaign". There was no recall in efect for these dangerous defective parts. Dealer kept old part. Ford is aware of defective springs and notified owners in 2001 about "safety improvement campaign". They should recall and replace all of these dangerous springs regardless of mileage and length of service on the vehicles.

Filed Apr 17, 2004 · Acceleration, Lights · 49,780 miles · MA

Speedometer inoperable above 45 MPH (bounces and grinding noises); outer door locks inoperable (except drivers door), key only opens drivers door; door ajar sensor and interior lights stay on when all doors are closed.

Filed Aug 12, 2003 · Transmission · 105,000 miles · MN

First of all we have had to have the head gasket repaired on our van twice. The first time it took the dealership almost 3 months. Now when we are driving on the highway at the speed limit of 65 MPH, transmission slips back into 2nd gear and makes a grinding noise. The tachometer grows up and down. Sometimes it does not even go out of 2nd to accelerate. I do not feel like this is a very "safe" vehicle to have anymore. And all the dealerships state there is no recall. However many of the people we know with the same vehicle have the same problem.

Filed Mar 14, 2003 · Brakes, Suspension · 70,000 miles · NH

Abs locks and vehicle does not stop. Have spent over $2000 trying to fix braking issue. Tone rings, struts, suspension, front brakes, rear brakes, bearings, cv joints, master cylinder, among other replacements. Over bumps, small hills, straight roads, anytime coming to a stop, vehicle intermittently fails to stop completely. Have pumped brakes and found that brake pedal gets hard and loud, still does not help to stop vehicle. Steering wheel feels loose at when this happens. Brake pedal also kicks back, sometimes with excessive force, makes a load grinding noise. Controlling the car becomes difficult as loss of brake pressure and steering wheel rocking (on decent of small hill) combined make for a deadly combination. I am being forced to purchase a better vehicle, not ever ford again.

Filed Dec 3, 2002 · Brakes · NH

The brake system has failures that can not be found by either a dealer service department or brake specialist. Have spent over $1500 trying to fix the brakes. What happens is that when brakes are depressed they rumble and jump and no brake to stop. Then brakes kick in and tires squeal from the quick stop. All windstars I have spoke to are having the same issue. This needs to be investigated, this is a car that families are traveling in. Children can and will be injured. Dt

Filed Sep 17, 2002 · Body, Brakes · IL

Front struts had to be replaced. Front end alignment performed. Caster and camber reset. There is a squealing noise from front end when turning, dealer replaced outer tie rods and right control arm.

Filed Feb 1, 2002 · Brakes · NY

Consumer has potentially fatal problems with the brakes on this vehicle, they do not hold and often make a loud grinding noise when pressed.

Filed Apr 2, 2001 · Brakes · NY

Intermittent braking problems. At various speeds, without warning, ABS would kick in and the brake becomes hard and harsh. And the whole braking system makes a very loud grinding noise. The repair shop could not find the source of the problem. I do believe there is a brake design problem here because I have never encountered a similar problem in other cars.

Filed Feb 22, 2001 · Brakes, Electrical · WI

Antilock brake light ignited on two occasions, filling with brake fluid fixed this problem. Now the anti lock brake light intermittantly comes on. When light is not activated, the antilock brakes are activated with every use of the brake, causing the brake pedal to become very difficult to depress. Once the brake goes beyond this point, the pedal will depress to the floor and pressure will push the pedal back up and pulsate. When coming to a complete stop the brakes will make a grinding sound from the right front. When the light is ignited and the antilock brakes are not operational, the brakes work normal, but still grind when a complete stop is made. There is a wire at the starter connection that works itself loose occassionally causing the engine not to start. When this occurs you need to jiggle the wire and tighten to get to start. This problem had been looked at and serviced in sept 2000, but still occurs approximately every four months. The door ajar light and dome light intermittently activate. This seems to be false as all doors are closed. Again, some playing around with connections seem to fix this problem also. All problems seem to have occured after the vehicle reached 75,000 miles. We do have acquaintances who also own windstars of the same year and have the same antilock brake problem.

Filed Nov 6, 2000 · Brakes · FL

Have had brakes redone 6 times in 18 months-constantly returns to squealing. Any other complaints on this?