1998 Ford Windstar latches/locks/linkages problems

“I HAVE A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. IT FIRST STARTED WITH MY CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH CATCHING ON FIRE AND CAUSING WIRES UNDER MY HOOD TO BURN... NOW FOR THE LAST YEAR I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR..THE SENSOR ON THE DASH WOULD SHOW THAT THE DOOR WAS AJAR(NOT CLOSED) I COULD TAKE THE BATTERY CABLE OFF FOR A WHILE AND THE DOOR LIGHT WOULD GO OFF. NOW I HAVE HAD TO REMOVE ALL THE BULBS IN THE LIGHTS INSIDE THE VAN TO KEEP MY BATTERY FROM RUNNING DOWN THIS MORNING I GET UP AND MY BATTERY IS DEAD AND ACID FROM THE BATTERY IS ALL OVER THE POST AND CABLE WIRES. I TALK TO MY MECHANIC HE SAYS THIS IS DUE TO SOME PROBLEM IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HE SAID HE HAS HAD TO WORK ON SEVERAL WINDSTARS FOR THE SAME PROBLEMSOME KIND OF SENSOR FAULT DEFECT. *TR”

“FIRST, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS AND RUNNING LIGHTS WOULD NOT POWER OFF WHILE ALL DOORS WERE CLOSED, DOOR AJAR INDICATOR WAS ON. TOOK TO DEALER PROBLEM RESOLVED FOR A MONTH OR SO. NOW NEED TO SPRAY WD40 ON LATCHES RELIGIOUSLY. DEALER ALSO REPLACED CRUISE CONTROL HARNESS AT THIS TIME. THEN CAME THE RADIO AND HEATER RUNNING WITH THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. BEEPS AND CLICKS AND BAD SMELLS COMING FROM UNDER DASH. AGAIN TO THE DEALER, NO CODES FOUND FOR THE ISSUES I WAS HAVING. BATTERY DRAINING OCCURRING FREQUENTLY NOW AND NO RESOLUTION. I NOW HAVE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY EVERYNIGHT. NOW WHEN I DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD I GET THE MANY FAILURE LIGHTS FLASHING ON THE DASH, THE WINDOWS WON'T WORK, SPEEDOMETER FAILS, TRUCK LOSES POWER AND THE TRANSMISSON SHIFTS STRANGELY. I WAS HOURS FROM HOME AND DOING 70MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN EVIDENCING DECIDED TO NOT WORK AT THE SAME TIME. THEN I REALIZE THAT THIS IS OCCURRING ONLY WHEN IT RAINS OR IS VERY WET OUT. AND I WAS TRULY AFRAID FOR MY LIFE AND THE OTHERS THAT WERE ON THE ROAD WITH ME. I HAD TO DRIFT ACROSS A LANE OF TRAFFIC WITH NO POWER TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I PUT THE TRUCK IN PARK AND PUT MY HEAD DOWN, WHEW, AND THE…”

“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT HOOD UNLATCHED FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH. THE HOOD BLEW OFF, AND WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD NEARLY CAUSING INJURIES.”

“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER SEAT MECHANISM DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY, RESULTING IN DRIVER'S INABILITY TO VIEW THE ROAD. THE SEAT MOVES UP AND DOWN, BUT WILL NOT GO FORWARD OR BACKWARD. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 3/17/2006 - RIGHT FRONT AXLE LEAKED, WINDSHIELD WASHERS FAILED. THE GLASS IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT GO UP. THE DOOR LOCKS LOCKED THE CONSUMER OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE HORN WAS DIFFICULT TO LOCATE. THE REAR TAILGATE WINDOW EXPLODED. *NM”

“ELECTRONICS-DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON SPECIFICALLY WHEN WEATHER IS DAMP OR MILD. THIS CAUSES DOOR LOCKS TO UNLOCK BY THEMSELVES EVEN WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, ALSO DOOR CHIME KEEPS CHIMMING. BATTERY LOOSES POWER BECAUSE DOME LAMP STAYS ON FOR EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT WORK IF ILLUMINATED DOOR AJAR WARNING IS CAUSED BY OPENING OR CLOSING REAR LIFTGATE. REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO DRIVER DOOR SWITCH AT THE COST OF $100 PARTS AND LABOR, HOWEVER THE PASSENGER DOOR, SIDE SLIDER AND REAR LIFTGATE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IM NOT SURE IF DOORS ARE REALLY CLOSED OR NOT. SINCE THE DOORS WONT STAY LOCKED, I BELIEVE THIS POSES AS A SAFETY HAZARD TO ALL PASSENGERS. MECHANICS HAVE TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MINI VANS. *NM”

“DOOR ACTUATORS FAILED IN THIS MINIVAN IN 2000. IN 2001 THE RELAY SWITCHES WERE REPLACED AND IN 2002. NOW IN 2004 THEY SAY I NEED TO REPLACE THE DOOR ACTUATORS AGAIN. AS A RESULT THE DOORS DO NOT LOCK AUTOMATICALLY EVERYTHING MUST BE DONE MANUALLY. *NM”