1998 Ford Windstar: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Jul 13, 2011 · Electrical · 55,000 miles · PA · fire

About 10 minutes after parking and turning off my 1998 ford windstar the car filled with smoke coming from steering column. Later car would not start from keyswitch.

Filed Dec 26, 2010 · NY · fire

Failed component is unknown. However, a recall notice from ford arrived in mid-december, over a month after fire occurred, stating that the speed control system needed modification. Additional recall information accessed online states that the speed control deactivation switch could cause a vehicle fire. On november 3, 2010, the van began to smoke, driver parked it, turned engine off and opened hood. He saw small fire near the windshield area of engine, ran to get help and within 2 minutes returned to find engine fully engulfed in flames. The vehicle has since been junked (prior to receiving recall notice) because fiberglass hood melted into engine and water damage caused from fire department assistance totalled the vehicle.

Filed Jul 28, 2010 · Engine · 137,773 miles · CA · fire

On july 3, 2010, I was driving my 1998 ford windstar van with my family. While waiting for a traffic signal to change, we observed smoke coming from under the van. I immediately pulled into a parking lot and turned off the engine. The smoke continued to get worse until flames appeared from under the hood. The fire department was summoned but the van was eventually destroyed by fire before the fire department could put out the fire. Prior to this event, the van was running smoothly. The temperature gauges were normal and there was no indication of any malfunction.

Filed May 24, 2010 · Body, Electrical · MS

I have a 1998 ford windstar. It first started with my cruise control switch catching on fire and causing wires under my hood to burn... Now for the last year I have been having problems with my passenger sliding door..the sensor on the dash would show that the door was ajar(not closed) I could take the battery cable off for a while and the door light would go off. Now I have had to remove all the bulbs in the lights inside the van to keep my battery from running down this morning I get up and my battery is dead and acid from the battery is all over the post and cable wires. I talk to my mechanic he says this is due to some problem in the electrical system he said he has had to work on several windstars for the same problemsome kind of sensor fault defect.

Filed Dec 8, 2009 · Acceleration · 97,826 miles · MT · fire

Had the recall for the cruise,a potential fire hazard, the recall was done on 11/25/2009, recall # 09s09, after 11 day and only 146 miles the alternator caught fire.

Filed Nov 23, 2009 · Engine · 184,347 miles · TN · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. While parking he smelled a burning odor, and then saw flames inside of the engine compartment. He was able to extinguish the fire himself. The manufacturer was notified, and he was advised to call the federal safety agency because they would not provide assistance. No repairs were made. The failure and current mileages were under 184,347.

Filed Oct 15, 2009 · Acceleration · 95,000 miles · TX · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 ford wind star. While driving with the vehicle speed cruise control activated at 52 MPH the rpms increased to four. She deactivated the cruise control, but then all of the warning lights illuminated on the instrument control panel. The vehicle began to decelerate, then there was an under-hood fire. The fire department extinguished the flames. The vehicle was towed to a center where an investigator from the city inspected the vehicle. He speculated that the cause of the failure was the vehicle speed cruise control switch. She will receive a report in ten days. The insurance company stated because it was a cruise control fire the manufacture was responsible. The manufacturer was notified, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 95,000.

Filed Oct 14, 2009 · Engine · 140,000 miles · KY · fire

On june 13th, 2009, my 1998 ford windstar van caught fire from under the hood causing a total loss of the vehicle and damage to the house. I have since learned that there is a recall of this particular make and model relating to electrical fires under the hood. I want ford to pay for the damage and the loss of my vehicle. About 5500 hundred dollars.

Filed Jul 29, 2009 · Electrical · 200,000 miles · KS · fire

1998 ford windstar caught on fire while parked at dentist. Fire dept was called and the vehicle is totaled.

Filed Jun 3, 2009 · Electrical · 102,000 miles · FL · fire

1998 windstar van was parked in the front yard key out of it I was inside I heard a noise looked out the engine part was on fire I was moving my personal things I lost everything I own I left everything in the van including my purse w/ my money and id inside.

Filed Aug 18, 2008 · Engine · 138,000 miles · TX · fire

My wife attempted to start 1998 ford windstar when smoke began to issue from beneath the hood. She immediately removoved herself and dog whereupon the engine caught fire and subsequently exploded. The fire department was called to extinguish the flames but everything fowrward of the firewall was melted down. The windshield had exploded and the interior suffered smoke damage. Everything in front of the firewall was an entire loss. This report is filed after learning that the federal safety agency is involved in investigation of more than 130 other reports of a similar nature. We wish to learn if there is any recourse or class action suit available to us.

Filed Jan 21, 2008 · Engine, Lights · 220,000 miles · NC · fire

Two weeks ago our 1998 ford windstar minivan, with 220,000 miles on it, caught fire under the hood while parked, and was totally destroyed. We had been carefully following the maintenance schedule from ford motor company. During the week before the fire, we had problems with the interior lights not always turning off when we exited the van.