1996 Ford Windstar vehicle speed control problems

“FORD RECALL LETTER DATED DECEMBER 2011 RECALL NUMBER 09 S 09 SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM MODIFICATION. I RECENTLY TOOK MY FORD WINDSTAR ON JANURARY 3, 2013 FOR A RECALL. ABOUT A MONTH LATER I DROVE OVER RAILROAD TRACKS AND NOW THE VEHICLE IS SLOW AND WON'T PICK UP SPEED IT MAKES A PUT PUT SOUND AND HAS ALMOST NO POWER. I CALLED THE DEALER TO REPORT THE ISSUE AND THEY WANT $90.00 JUST TO LOOK AT IT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS JUST IN THE SHOP FOR THE RECALL. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER COMPLAINT AND ALL THEY SAY IS THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FORD DEALER ACTIONS OR INACTIONS. THE LETTER FROM FORD WAS THE MAIN REASON I TOOK THE VAN IN BECAUSE IT SAYS THERE IS A FIRE HAZARD BUT NOW THE VAN IS A PIECE OF JUNK. FORD REFUSES TO RECHECK THE VEHICLE AND LOCATE THE REAL CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM THE VEHICLE IS THE ONLY WAY FOR ME TO GET AROUND. THANKS FORD FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND LACK OF CONCERN. SIGNED DISSATIFIED VICTIM OF A SCAM. *TR”

“MY VAN WAS IN GREAT SHAPE AND GREAT CONDITION. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON MAY 6TH 2012 ABOUT 45-50 MPH ENTERED THE I-215 COLLECTOR, STARTED TO SMELL A BURNED RUBBER SMELL, I LOOKED AT THE TEMP GAUGE AND IT WAS NORMAL, THE VAN STARTED TO SPUTTER LIKE RUNNING OUT OF GAS, THE VAN WAS NOT OUT OF GAS ALMOST FULL, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH ON AND OFF, I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, LOOKED AT THE TEMP GAUGE AGAIN AND IT STILL WAS NORMAL, THE BURNED RUBBER SMELL GOT WORSE AND I NOTICED THEN A BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I GOT OUT OF THE VAN AND STOOD AT THE FRONT OF THE VAN TO CALL AAA AND THE ENGINE BURST INTO FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WAS NOT INDICATOR WHAT SO EVER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. THIS ALL OCCURRED IN ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES. THE POLICE CAME AND COULD NOT PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH EXTINGUISHER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. IT BURNED UP MY ENTIRE VEHICLE WITH ALL THE CONTENTS INSIDE. THE FIREMAN STATED THAT EVEN THE FRONT TIRES WERE BURNED UP AND MELTED. I DID GET PICTURES OF WHAT HAPPENED. I ONLY HAD LIABILITY INSURANCE SO I THOUGHT I WAS JUST OUT OF LUCK. A SECURITY SPECIALIST FROM…”

“THE 1996 WINDSTAR HAD BEEN PARKED IN THE GARAGE (ATTACHED TO THE HOME) WITH THE IGNITION OFF FOR SEVERAL HOURS WHEN FAMES WERE SEEN COMING FROM THE LEFT REAR QUADRENT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IT WAS OBVIOUS THE FIRE COULD NOT BE EXTINGUISHED. THE FAMILY LEFT THE HOME, WHICH WAS SOON COMPLETELY DESTROYED.”

“I HAVE A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR VAN THAT CAUGHT FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, THEN A BOOM AND THERE WERE FLAMES AROUND THE FIREWALL. THE MASTER CYLINDER, WIRING HARNESS, HOSES ETC. WERE DESTROYED. THE FIRE WAS LOCATED MORE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN MORE THAN PROPERLY MAINTAINED, AND MY MECHANIC CAN ATTEST TO THIS. THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. I WAS NOT INJURED. THIS OCCURRED PRIOR TO THE CURRENT RECALL. *TR”

“THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATOR SENSOR ON THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER SHORTED OUT DUE TO BRAKE FLUID IN IT. THIS CAUSED THE WIRES TO IT TO BURN OFF THE INSULATION AND A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. ALL REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE OEM LEADING ME TO BELIEVE IT IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM. *TR”

“OWNER WENT TO START VEHICLE, AND IT STARTED SMOKING. EXAMINATION REVEALED SCDS (SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH) OVERHEATED AND MELTED OFF, CAUSING SMALL FIRE IN LEFT REAR OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR”