1998 Ford Windstar: hesitation when accelerating

Filed Oct 23, 2007 · Engine · 76,000 miles · MN

Camshaft position sensor failed and was replace 3 times. Again it is shot. This causes the van to stall and have extremely high idle. Causes to stall usually while stopped, sometimes hesitates upon acceleration. Also: had to pull ABS fuse due to pedal not depressing. Works excellent without ABS. Also:transmission doesn't upshift when accelerating at high speeds/RPM's. Have to let off gas and repress for van to shift to next gear.

Filed Oct 1, 2003 · Transmission · CA

While driving automatic transmission slips gears, causing the vehicle to hesitate.

Filed Jul 30, 2003 · Engine · 55,800 miles · NY

Current mileage approx. 55,800. . On a recent trip to cape may, nj (approx. 150 miles from our home in bayside, ny ),the engine seized and the car died on the garden state parkway. The car was brought to the nearest ford dealer/ service station, chapman ford (june 31,2003), where it is being serviced currently. The technician could not evaluate the damage until july 2,2003, where he stated that a rod broke causing a puncture in the oil pan therefore causing a loss of fluid and a seize of the engine. At lease inception, we took an extended warranty through ford hempstead with interstate warranty services. This warranty company ordered a complete tear down of the engine to find out why the rod broke, we agreed knowing that it was due to no neglect on our part, the tear down did not occur until july 10th and was examined on july 11th by an inspector hired by interstate. The claim is now being denied, even though we supplied them with all the documentation they requested on the upkeep and maintenance of the car. Their claim is that the last maintenance (oil change, filter and lubricants) were not done. We have the documentation to prove that monahan ford, flushing, ny did this maintenance along with other work in january. Also, hempstead ford, hempstead, ny, did service on the car april 2003 for the exact hesitation in acceleration that we experienced immediately before the engine seized. Unfortunately monahan ford went out of business and we are being told that our car was not kept in good condition when documentation proves it was in two separate dealerships within a sixth month period. I now am faced with a $5000.00+ bill to repair a car that was kept well and has an extended warranty. I am being forced to file suit with monahan ford for fraudulent service and file suit with hempstead ford for failure to correctly analyze the car's problem.

Filed May 28, 2001 · Transmission · TX

On the 20th of may I was driving the van when it felt like it hesitated(slipped) and then it proceeded to drive normally. We went half a mile then stopped the van and parked. On returning to the van and starting it, it ran very rough(loud) and would not go past 30mph on our way home. We proceeded to take it to the dealership in the next week and found out the transmission had gone out at only 35000 miles. Our warranty had expired on 4/16/01. Barely a month out of warranty and a powertrain item had failed on us. We know two other family members that have owned windstar vans that the transmission has gone out with low mileage. The dealership has offered to repair it for $495. This will inlcude an extended warranty on the powertrain for 75,000 miles. We feel with such low mileage, a recently expired warranty and knowing other people in our family that have dealt with the same thing, that ford should stand behind there automobile and repair this free of charge. I am sure this is a more common problem than ford wants to admit.

Filed Mar 1, 2001 · Body, Brakes · AR

Various problem with power lock locking by itself/windshield wipers working intermittently/dome light not operating, and door ajar light staying on. Vehicle been in / out of dealer shop on several occasions, and problems still reoccurring. *ak possible electrical problem with failure of power locks, windshield wipers, dome light, door ajar light, door ajar switch, lift gate door ajar switch, battery saver relay inoperable, and washer light illuminating. Brakes noisy at times, dealer stated this was due to brake dust. Power steering is noisy when turning back and forth, dealer replaced tie rod end. Sliding door rattles while driving over bumps, dealer added foam tape to back side of panel, driver door rattles, sliding door hard to open at times, dealer lubed sliding hinges and latch. Dealer replaced shocks due to rattling noise when riding over bumps. Drivebelt replaced. Maf sensor replaced due to hesitation. Window guide did not fit tight.

Filed Jan 28, 1999 · Transmission · MD

Our entire family (two adults, two chilldren both under age 10) were in the car when this incident occurred, and could have easily been killed. We had just exited the outer loop of the washington, d.c. Capital beltway and were in the process of slowing to a stop at the light at the end of the exit ramp, when we heard a loud thud from our transmission. When we started again the car seemed to hesitate. It went another two blocks and then the transmission completely failed in the car, leaving us in the right lane in an intersection with no way to move the vehicle. None of the gears worked. Our car spent 12 days in the dealership being fixed. This could be a potential life threatening problem if this occurs while someone is on the highway (as we almost were), and I felt I should report it. I haven't yet contacted ford about this, but I plan to.

Filed Dec 18, 1998 · Engine · VA

The engine hesitates or stalls in a slow turn.

Filed Nov 17, 1998 · Engine · MI

The 1998 ford windstar has on several occasions cut off in the middle of left hand turns I've made in intersections. It also cuts off if whenever I have to come to a sudden stop. For example once in september of 1998, in the middle of a left hand turn at a busy intersection another driver driving west ran through the caution light while I was turning. I had to slam on my breaks to keep her from hittting me and my car cut off. When I drive up hills it stalls[my drive way] and cuts off. Three days after I brought the van home it leaked what looked like to be antifreeze. It also hesitates when I slow down.