While driving straight or when making an u turn about any MPH steering wheel will lock up without a prior warning. Then, engine will stall. Dealer said this problem could not be found.
1998 Ford Windstar steering complaints
Page 5 of 6: complaints 101 to 130 of 143, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Some grinding and steering problems when trying to steer.
Rack and pinion steering assembly was not working properly. When turning to left or right there was loud grinding noise. Contacted garage, and garage ordered a new part, problem was remedied.*ak the original equipment failed after two years and poor design is the cause. The consumer believes because of numerous failures of this equipment there should be a recall.
Transmission failed. Nlm
Dealer had to replace both outer tie rods and adjust front toe. Steering started to bind when making a left hand turn, and van steering had felt loose up to the point of failure.
When going though water you lose steering.
Over the past several months, we have experienced problems with the engine stalling during a left hand turn, thus causing the steering wheel to freeze up and we've had close calls on accidents. Luckily we live in a rural area where we have the time to put the car in neutral or park, restart it, then complete the turn. The car has also stalled for no apparent reason when coming to a fast stop at a red light or in a driveway after completing a partial turn. It is very scary. I'm worried that the next time this happens, it may cause an accident. We have two young drivers in the family, and it has happened to them as well. Do you have any suggestions? We live over 3 hours away from the dealer we purchased the car from. Have other windstar owners expereinced this problem? Please advise.
Was driving vehicle & it would go into a low depression. A boring noise could be heard from the springs. It was an intermitten problem. Took to dealer & mechanic could not locate cause of noise. Did change the bushings & struts. *ak noise in front end over bumps due to both outer tie rod failure.
Would hear squealing/howling noises coming from the steering area. Steering was inoperative. Would have no control of vehicle. Took it to dealer & informed consumer tie rod ends have worn out excessively due to a lack of lubricant.*ak no grease fittings.
When driving or making a left or right hand turn consumer noticed a clicking noise. Contacted the dealer. Dealer noted that outer tie rods need to be replaced on both sides, driver and passenger.
On numerous occassions this vehicle while stall when coming to a stop (stop sign/traffic lights). This vehicle has been to the repair shop over 8 times and was last worked on for this problem in june 2000. Then in july 200 while on vacation the power steering pump failed and the emission control failed. Although the dealership has been repairing the problems the vehicle has lost it's creditability as being safe.
Tailgate power lock inoperative. Yh
Steering wheel lock, key locked in steering column
Rack and pinion steering gears may have damaged input shaft bearing. Vehicle not included in recall 97v165001. Please give any further details.
Rack and pinion steering broke when traveling, causing poor steering control. Also, tie rods malfunctioned, almost was involved in a crash. Consumer has contacted dealer.
Power steering pump failed. Yh
While driving the van all of a sudden there was no steering at all. Driver could hardly get the van to the side of the road. Van was towed to the dealerhship. Broken steering: power assist belt was replaced. Please provide any further information.
A loud grinding noise started occurring when the whell was turned. My wife said she heard the noise and thought she needed power steering fluid. I put a little in but the noise didn't go away. Took van to dealer. They called and said the outer tie rods were bad and grinding metal to metal. Had them replaced. When my wife picked up the van, the repair person said to her that since there were no grease joints, so there was nothing I could have done. He said that ford said it was a bad design and they had a model to replace it. This didn't sound good to me and I wondered why I had to pay for their bad design. If the tie rods were grinding metal to metal, it could have LED to a break and steering failure.
Consumer was not aware of recall 97v16500, vehicle was making grinding noise when steering wheel was turned and was hard to turn, power steering pump was replaced that didn't remedy the problem, then dealer finds a bad rack and pinion which he is going to charge consumer for fixing.
Van started to make loud grinding noises when turning wheels and also getting hard to turn. I took it in to the dealer, but was told by service dept. That there was no recall on this van. As I was leaving I spoke to another employee there and was told that there was such a problem with that year van. I then replaced the power steering pump and that did not fix the problem I then took it to another ford dealer and was told that the problem was in the rack and pinion steering and the price to fix it was about 1000.00 I was not able to afford it so I have driving it , however now the van will sometimes shut off when you proceed to make a turn in either direction. I have come very close to having someone hit me from behind. I took it to another mechanic and we are going to have to have it fixed at our expense. I feel that we should not have to pay for a problem that came from the ford motor co. I also took it today 1-4-2000 to see if the dealer would look at it but was told by a man named jerry in the service dept. That they would not do anything .
Transmission has been replaced three times. Nlm
While going around a turn and yielding brakes hardened and steering locked up for about 5 seconds. Dealer could not identify the problem. But if the car had died, they probley could have found the problem easier. If driving at a faster speed and steering locked up there could be a serious accident.
1)all 5 lugs: nuts sheared off from the right front passenger hub, causing the wheel to leave the vehicle. The body of the vehicle traveled approximately 200 feet until it stopped. 2)the rear brakes had to be replaced with new pads and rotors. Dealer couldn't explain why this was a problem. 3) the next day the right passenger mirror electical system no longer worked. 4)the parking brake consistently does not disengage after use. We no longer use it, possibly creating a safety hazard. 5) the vehicle intermittently stalls out at low speeds or upon stopping. Additionally the initial gears shift hard and loud. 6) the rear seat will not move on the track.
The engine was making a noise and it was reported and supposedly fixed by local dealer. However, within one month the alternator failed as well as the power steering box. Since it isn't under warrenty (36,000), dealer won't repair without cost.
Both outer tie rods replaced. Mjs
I am so scared to drive our van- I have no idea what to do. Thia van showed be considered a lemon- or ford should repair it. We purchased the van cause we had another little one on the way(making 4 kids) in the past we had old vechilcles. We decided to spend the $$ and have a reliable vechicle since we have 4 kids and travel around town alot. First my air codtioner goes out in july, 99 (electrical- no power to it). We did not have the $ to fix. Than in august,99 we started experiencing intermittent neutral condtion after driving and coming to a stop. Had to rebuild the transmission- due to a faulty clutch piston that ford knows is causing problems in ax4s windstar 3.8l. Engine - stalls usually when driving at low speeds, such as o turns or coming to a stop. Scared to death that somesone will run into me. Steering- vechile pulls to the right so badly that in seconds I am in another lane. Have had it relighned. The other seroius problem is I will start van or have foot on brake and it itermittally accerates in surges on its own. My foot in not near the gas- I am so scared to death that I will lose control of it resulting into an accident. I am so scared to drive this van and it is only a 98". What am I to do. I do not want to wait for and acident or death to someone. Please help!! I need some advice. I have no warranty on van- but yet with so many problems why should the consumer have to pay when ford knows of the problems with the vans- what does it take - death!!! I need to know what is causeing these problems. I can not afford to keep taking them to mechanics and not getting it fix. Shouldn't ford have to take this piece of crap back-please help!!
Had power steering oil replaced, still noisy pump
While driving at 40 MPH steering gear rack broke, causing loss of steering and a leakage of power steering fluid. Also, vehicle veered to left and right all over the road. Consumer then slowed down and pulled to the side of the road. The manufacturer has been contacted. First failure at 46,561 miles, second at 62,500.
Ie99059, the defective steering bushings does not support the system which causes the vehicle steering system to malfuction. Also, braking system malfunctioned, causing extended stopping distance which may result in a crash. The fuel pump went out unexpectedly, cause vehicle to stall. Finally, liftgate indicator light came on, but the liftgate remained closed. Brakes been replace once,and bushings 3 times. Please provide further information and VIN#.
Power steering pump was noisy.
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