When my windstar passes through a puddle of water, power steering is lost for 5 to 10 seconds. If the vehicle is negotiating a curve and enters water during the turn the vehicle would lose control which would prevent the driver from staying within his/her lane and causing a head on collision or exit the road surface.
1999 Ford Windstar steering complaints
Page 3 of 7: complaints 41 to 70 of 184, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Have now replaced the rack and pinion system and power steering pump twice in our 99 ford windstar. First time was at 68,660 miles, and just replaced again at 156,912 miles. Have seen other complaints on your website related to this problem and wanted the federal safety agency to be aware that this is a serious defect in this vehicle.
When parked on a hill, the vehicle rolled back. *bf when the vehicle rolled, it went a big field and caused damage to the drivers door and muffler. The second incident, the vehicle was sitting in the consumers driveway on a little hill when it rolled and hit a tree and caused damage to the fender and bumper. The consumer stated when both accidents happened the air bags never deployed. Also the steering wheel never locked.
Transmission problem with 1999 ford windstar on several occasion. *bf (transmission slippage) these problems have existed since the vehicle was first purchased; engine trouble, vaporization leaks, and a broken gear. There were also worn front brakes, steering was inoperative, and there was a vacuum leak due to the upper intake manifold. *sc
I was driving down the road and all of the sudden I have no warning and no steering. Power steering fluid was everywhere. It took my wife and I too turn ths van into a parking lot. Unfortunately I had my 3 children in this van with me. I have not had the money to replace the rack and pinion or the power steering pump. I am not even sure if I should or not. I also would like to know if there is anyway to know if the previous owner(s) got the recalls taken care of.
Rack and pinion steering failed. Leaked fluid until there none was left. This caused power steering to fail.
Consumer states that she lost control of her vehicle after the steering went out. She indicated that his was not the first time. The first time this occurred the vehicle was repaired by the dealer. Now it has gone out again causing her to hit a wall in the garage. The vehicle started pulling to the left and the consumer could not bring it back. The air bags did not deploy. *nm the dealer claimed they repaired the vehicle but the invoice didn't state what was replaced.
When the consumer made a turn, the vehicle made a noise. Please provide further information.
Two problems occurred in one month. First, the power steering went crazy. The ford dealer told me that it was leaking and had to replace the entire power steering assembly. But I was not sure because I do not know if ford dealer was trying to rip me off. Then I took it to carx in racine, wi to take a look at it. He said same thing but he can't fix it because he had to order the part. Then I decided to wait and leave. About 2 miles later, the transmission blew up in the middle of the road. The engine was running but can't drive or gear. I had it towed to towne ford inc. In racine, wi. The towne ford inc said that he found the problem. The problem was one of the gears snapped off the metal part. They had no idea why it happened. So, my option is to replace the entire transmission instead of several parts because of the cost and warranty coverage. But my van isn't old yet. It is 1999 ford windstar and it has 50,000 miles on it. It is still kind of new. Why did the transmission blow up at 50,000 miles? What is the life expectancy on transmission? By miles or age? Also, why did power steering get leaking?
Power steering leaking at steering rack on 1999 ford windstar. Approx. 63,000 miles on vehicle. Intial inquiry with mechanic; replacement of rack. Vehicle should not be driven until repaired, loss of power steering at driving speeds can cause loss of control. What is being done regarding this premature failure?
Strange noise coming from van when I turn, rack and pinions gone bad, ford refuses to do anything and told me that I would never get anything from them for reibursement of repairs and that they don't care what the federal safety agency or goverment say. I only have 36,000 miles on my van even though it is a 1999 windstar this should never have happened. For does not care about their reputation or product or consumers.
The consumer stated the vehicle rolled off a hill, went across the highway into a field there was damage to the drivers door and the muffler. The second time the incident happened the vehicle was in the consumers driveway and crashed into a tree, the vehicle sustained damaged to the fender. In both cases the consumer stated the air bags did not deploy. The steering wheel never locked on the vehicle as well. *ak
My van started making a screeching noise everytime we made any turns, we checked the power steering fluid and it was fine. Van sat in the yard cause it was embrassing to drive with the loud screeching noise and since we had a 2nd car we just left it in the driveway. Then when my husbands car got hit by another car we had no choice and had to drive it. As soon as we try and drive it out of the driveway we new something major is wrong it took 2 people to turn the wheel on the van just to back out of the driveway. So I called my step dad and explained what it was doing and he said sounds like the power sterring pump went out on it so we take it to a very reliable mechanic and found out not only is the power sterring pump bad the rack and pinons are gone also. I can't believe with a van that is not that old to have this happen so quickly. I have been numerous forums about the ford windstar and I see pages and pages of complaints about the same thing I'm dealing with now. What does it take before a company stands behind there product and issue a recall.
While driving at 45 MPH consumer noticed that the vehicle was running roughly. Several seconds later, engine check light came on. Vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed consumer that the intake manifold gasket needed to be replaced. The intake manifold gasket was sucked into the engine, causing the engine to bind. *ak dealer also made repairs on front end, power steering, electrical system, and tie rod ends. A 4-wheel alignment was also performed by the dealer.
Rack and pinion steering had to be replaced at 42,000 miles due to an end seal failure. Most of the power steering fluid leaked out within 2 days of the leak. There is a know problem with this by ford they have issued 2 tsb's. This part should never fail at this mileage, it is a poor design with either wrong materials selected for the seal and no life testing was conducted to verify the design. Ford should be embarrassed to talk about quality when cramp like this happens.
Steering makes a groaning or rubbing type of noise when turning the steering wheel. Doesn't seem to have any impact on performance of the steering but is a god-awful noise and I don't know what it is!!!*ak thanks!!
1999 ford windstar: tie rod ends degraded at 60,000 miles, sending bits of metal through the seals in the rack and pinyon steering system; generated very expensive repair. Could have caused dangerous accident. Mechanics first replaced power steering pump , whcih did not correct problem. Second repair was replacement of r&p steering system. Repair was over $1,000.
Rack and pinion steering system failed. I have read of numerous other ford vehicles manufactured within a few years of mine having this problem. Even a neighbor had the same problem. My vehicle is a 1999 with 56,000 miles. Not even 5 years old when the problem occured. This componet should last for a vehicles' lifetime. When I contacted ford, they offered no help. I would love to see an investigation! It cost over $800 dollars to repair, and being that it was replaced with another ford rack and pinion system, I should probably start saving my money now for future repairs. Our mechanic told us to not reward ford anymore, and buy from a different manufacturer.
I own a 1999 ford windstar which I purchased new. At 35,700 miles the rack and pinion steering needed to be replaced (luckily it was still under warranty) now at 59,000 miles I'm experiencing the same problem. I also replaced a tie rod, and the front end is always creaking, but no one can find the source.
Steering rack failure on 1999 ford winstar (internal seal failure - 48,182 miles).
My windstar starting making a whining noise and it began to get worse and worse.he noise was one thing, but the driving of the vehicle became extremely dangerous... It started to pull when brakes were applied.*ak steering became very dangerous.
Grinding noise when turning.
* vehicle leans since purchased sept 13, 2003. * allignment problems. * transmission does not properly change gears. * low treads on tires. * a frame problems. * suspension steering makes a clunking noise. * brakes must be pumped to stop, and make a ticking noise when applied. * vehicle has overheated. * power steering fluid leaked. * gears do not shift properly. * primer scotch guard on seats wearing after coat applied.
Heat failed in july, pin to flap in evaporator case assembly had broken off. Whole assembly has to be replaced requiring tearing apart the dashboard. Part alone cost $326.40 check engine light kept coming on - found pressure leak at gasket. Had complained about engine sluggishness for years and was told the computer could find nothing wrong...after gasket was fixed, no more engine sluggishness. Ford would not cover saying the problems could not be tied together to justify warranty repair!! Power steering went. First attempted flushing system. After failed again, replaced pump, after that did not fix the problem, had to replace entire system. Ford replied to my request for coverage that this was the first case they had heard of this problem in a windstar and to keep my receipts so that I might get consideration if they do something in the future. I feel these problems are excessive for a 50,000 mile car...ford agrees but says the average number of problems is much lower so they still class their car as very reliable!!!
We purchased the 1999 windstar in dec 1998. From the first weeks of ownership, we have complained about the transmission. Dealer changed transmission fluid and said nothing was wrong. Problems were as follows: loud clunks when shifting from park to reverse, while foot pressing firmly on brake pedal; transmission hesitates when down shifting going around corners; as a passenger I felt as if the whole car was lunging causing dizziness to motion sickness (did not occur while I was driving); hard shifts between first & second; rear window wiper failed; power steering pump replaced which caused the rack & pinion seals to fail, which resulted in a new rack installed; egr valve rubber boot kept popping off until I placed a small hose clamp to hold it in place; check engine light stays on every since 15,000 miles; o/d button never worked; o/d light flashed repeatedly minutes prior to the transmission going out. Now the ford dealer said I needed a new upper plenum, egr valve, pfe, valve cover gasket, battery cable and this was found while checking the transmission problem. I told them to forget it! $3k is enough to spend on a five year old car! This is all I can think of at this point.
We have taken this van in for repair fivetimesin one year. The first month we had it the head was replaced. The power steering has gone out for now the fifth time. I actually lost controlof the vehicle due to beingunable to turn the steering. My husband has to drive me everywhere because only he can turn the steering wheel. Each time we take it for repair we are charged a deductible and I can not do this anymore. This is obviously a lemon. Marshall mize ford in chattanooga tennessee is where the vehicle was purchased in january of 2001. They also have performed all service on this vehicle. Ford has not been understanding of why my payments have been late, but when you are having these kinds of issues such as electrical, transmission, air conditioning, and engine malfunctions, it does not take a genius to figure out why a woman with a family who depends on this vehicle as reliable, safe means of transportation is having difficulty. Maybe if their product was of better quality, my children would be in a safe vehicle, and ford would get their money on time.
Left rear and left front hub and bearing assemblies began making loud humming/grinding sounds suddenly at 51,000 miles. Ford dealership diagnosed and replaced defective hub and bearing assemblies for the standard price as it is no longer under warranty. This item should last much longer without failing. Steering pump began intermittently making whining/hissing sounds when the slightest turning input was applied. By the time the failed power steering pump was diagnosed, and the whining was constant, it had caused the rack and pinion seals to fail and steering fluid to leak from the rack and pinion sleeves. When steering fluid got low and steering was no longer power assisted, my wife almost had a collision with a vehicle full of children. Not trusting ford anymore, I ordered the parts myself and hired a local mechanic to replace the power steering pump and rack and pinion. In most vehicles these components should last beyond 100,000 miles. Upon further investigation I found that failing power steering pumps, leading to failed rack and pinion seals, is a consistent problem on 1999 windstars, and that ford is aware of the problem and trying avoid addressing it.
Transmission is primary issue has shifting problem at low speed, has over 8 tsb on the issue and has new transmission installed but still have problem the other issues are clearly common for this model as well, but this transmissionand fords lack of support from their service and dealers is unacceptable.
The transmission went out again on 6-21-03 with just under 60000 miles on van. Both transmission failures wre sudden without any warning slippage etc. Both trans failures left the vehicle with no forward gears, but reverese worked each time. The fluid has been changed properly and the van is well maintained.
Consumer complained about tie rod and steering gear box problems.
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