During routine service mechanic noticed headgasket had blown out. Part was replaced. On 10 august 2002, engine check light came on. Vehicle at dealership at this time.
1999 Ford Windstar engine complaints
Page 5 of 6: complaints 101 to 130 of 136, newest first, as owners wrote them.
While driving at highway speeds, consumer took foot off accelerator, the vehicles dash lights illuminated and the engine died. Took vehicle to dealer who replaced the valve throttle assembly. *ak consumer also states that the valve cover was replaced.
At 70mph engine blewout, and antifreeze started to leak from vehicle. Cause unknown. Dealer notified.
Head gasket leaks, causing vehicle to cut off without any warning.
Consumer stated the check engine light would illuminate, the engine would hesitate when accelerating, the dealer replaced the cam sensor, crankshaft sensor, replaced all the plugs with platinum, and replaced the upper and lower intake gaskets.
Consumer noticed condensation in headlights. Dealer has been contacted. Technician stated that the headlights needed to be replaced. *ak the consumer stated that the entire headlight unit had to be replaced. After the three year warranty expired, the transmisson had to be replaced. The engine light had come on, and was told that it was the sensor.
While driving at highway speed and going uphill, engine started to knock. After numerous attempts to correct the problem, it still exists. Mechanic stated to consumer, "some engines just knock". *jg
Engine would make a "pinging" noise while vehicle is being driven at any speed. Dealership examined vehicle and determined a valve cover in engine was corroded, and had to be replaced. Please provide any additional information / documentation.
Insured pulled off the road to stop at a stand and the vehicle caught on fire, fire was found to have resulted from faulty cooling fans/wires, claim 59-v539-348.
While driving at a speed of 40mph. The windstar began to unexpectedly shudder and make a loud rattling noise. Engine check light flashed and the van violently bucked. We managed to get to our house. Van would not start after turning off. Dealer called and van towed.dealer checked problem and found the #5 piston had failed and had caused major engine damage and failure. Est. Replacement cost $4,000. Dealer was not sure if this was related to the earlier model windstar 3.8l v-6 problems causing failure. I am the second owner and warranty is expired. We are waiting to hear from ford but the dealer said they may decline to assist in replacement cost. I now have a $16,000 blue paperweight. The sudden jerkiness of the engine failure almost caused my wife and two kids to run off the road . The piston in the motor dropped down into the oilpan area. Engine now has to be replaced at 48,692.miles. Doing research into your database, from owners of 1995 windstars and a few 1999 models, I noticed a similarity in detail descriptions of the head gasket failure and resulting engine failure. This vehicle was very well maintained, I am the second owner. It was purchased new as a leased vehicle. I bought it after the lease was over. I hope you can investigate this engine flaw/defect with ford and I can get satisfaction
While driving engine ran hot. Engine check sensors failed and this caused the engine to blow. Had contacted dealership for another engine.
Vehicle stalled out and died without warning. Please provide additional information.
Heater blower will turn on and off by itself. When controls are off blower will come on, and sometimes will stay on for a while. Consumer has to turn blower off and on to shut off. This happens intermittently. Contacted dealer, and dealer was unable to duplicate problem.
Engine check light came on. Dealer replaced left valve cover with a updated version of part and fuel regulator supply hose.
This recurring problem continues to fail within one to two weeks after the dealership has replaced a needed part. Each time I get my vehicle back it works for the aforementioned time and the problem comes up again. They replace parts one by one and each time another part on the system fails .another issue I believe to be associated with the series of this entire vaccum system is when I am driving at speeds of 30 -35 MPH, there is considerable noise coming from the engine which sounds like lifter rattle . It happens when I need to acclerate to get onto the highway also. I notice when the vehicle has been serviced for the check engine light (which requires that a part or parts be replaced for the vaccum system), the noise will stop and won't be noticeable for several days and eventually the light will come on again.this issue of the lifter noise has never been addressed by the dealership I am told that they cannnot duplicate the problem, and they have no answer or solution. This problem also causes the comsumption of gas to increase dramatically. The van will use one eighth tank of gas on a normal day of driving when , if the light is on, the vehicle is not working properly I will use about one quarter tank of gas. The consumption is doubled.
The engine light came on after consumer took vehicle in for a recall in which he believes is causing the light to come on, consumer is requesting reimbursemnt that was incurred by the dealer to just examine it.
I have been experiencing engine knock since I purchased the vehicle in june 1999. The first documented service at a ford dealer was in september 1999 at 5,000 miles. The engine knock was apparent at highway acceleration speeds and on slight hills. It became worse over time. After my continued persistence at the dealer over more than a year, a tsb was found and the valve cover was replaced in the july-august 2001 timeframe per a ford tsb (the federal safety agency number sb618552). This did not remedy the problem and the technician at the dealer told me in september 2001 that he still found an abnormal amount of oil in the engine. Ford engineers have suggested replacing the pcv valve and tubing system among other minor adjustments, which the technician doubts will make any difference. At this point, it appears that the valve cover redesign in the tsb does not remedy the problem. This complaint is identical to odi ids: 744509 and 725795.
While driving under wet conditions power assisted steering failed. Dealer has examined vehicle and determined that cover under the vehicle which protects the engine needed to be replaced. Please provide any additional information / attachments.
While driving 60mp vehicle stalled out and died without warning ,resulting in loss of vehicle control. After vehicle had stalled out "low oil pressure" indicator light flashed. Dealer inspected vehicle. *ak dealer could not figure why vehicle stalled, however stated that the PCM was canadian or europian made so it was replaced.
Vehicle will stall at any speed/ any time. Stalled 8 times in 20 minutes. Vehicle at dealer at this time, still trying to find cause. *ak at times the vehicle can not be restarted, this occurs imediately prior to when it stalls, the RPM indicator drops down to zero then within the next 3-5 seconds the car completely dies. Nlm
Consumer states vehicle will stall at low idle, engine always revs very high at start up, then calms down, also engine stall if air condition is on while parked.
This is the 13 major repair on this minivan. I have had so many problems. No afety defect mentioned.
This ford windstar lx has experienced the engine just suddenly quitting while driving on the roadways. The first incident happened the day I purchased the vehicle, whereby I drove it home and even test drove it without incident. However, when I got home my daughter wanted to take it for a spin and got approximately two houses down the street we live on and the engine suddently quit. I attempted to simply drive it around the block to get back home and it quit running two more times. I took it back to the dealer and he called ford and what was done I do not know but one day later I was told it was ready and picked it up. We drove it from the 26th of june until the 29th of june. On the 29th my wife was travelling 40mph down a busy street when the engine suddenly quit again. The dash lights always came on and this time the "check engine" light came on and stayed on. When the engine quits you steere without power sterrin nor power brakes. My wife is 5'1" and 120 lbs and this was very difficult and scarry. I fear if she had been on an interstate and had this occur! Subsequently, I took it back to the dealer on the 2nd of july and todate they fixed the "check engine" light problem, but this was not the problem with the engine suddenly quitting. The mini-van has quit running twice more while at the ford dealer and they do not have a clue as to what the problem is. From the 2nd of july to today 7-13-01 I have no cause nor solution to this safety hazard. I would appreciate any information or if this has been previously reported with this particular mini-van, or if I indeed just have a lemon. I have researched the van and it comes out with a clean bill of health each time. I feel this needs to be reported for the possible accident potential and possible loss of life due to the engine just suddenly quitting to run. I will update your office as to any changes in status and/or resolution of this vehicle problem. Thank you for time and energy in this matter.
When reaching 20mph vehicle will start to shake soon after it will shut off. Consumer has contacted dealer, and dealer was not willing to do anything.
I have had more than 4 problems with this car in past two years that have been major problems. I would just like to see if other people have had as much problems with the steering and the van it's self.
Whenever driving at a high rate of speed would experience a rattling noise near engine area. Vehicle does not shake when this happens. Taken to dealershp at least twice for problem, but mechanic could not locate cause of problem.
Have had repeated service visits for light to extreme engine knocking. Dealer told me to use premium gas to solve knocking. Knocking went away with premium. Dealer then tried computer adjustment and going back to regular gas. Knocking solved for 2 weeks then returned. Dealer said to go back to premium gas. No knocking for a year, then knocking came back. Dealer replaced valve cover with new design. No knocking for 4-6 weeks. Knocking started lightly, now back to severe knocking and lack of acceleration power. Vehicle back at dealer for work. Fed up with windstars. This is 2nd lemon windstar in a row! Ford bought back '98 windstar from me!
The pulley and fan belt are making noise, the dealer claims nothing is wrong with the vehicle. Nlm
Engine knock when any type of load is applied to the engine. Most prevalent at highway speeds and hills.
Steering wheel was making noise while turning. Also, a clunking noise was coming from the engine. Dealer repaired problem under warranty.
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