1999 Ford Windstar engine and engine cooling problems

“WENT TO PICK UP FOOD AND NOTICED MY 99 FORD WINDSTAR WAS SMOKING. I PULLED OVER, LIFTED UP THE HOOD AND IT WAS ON FIRE. IT WAS PUT OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. LOOKED UP ONLINE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL. CALLED FORD, THEY WERE UNWILLING TO HELP US AT ALL. TOLD US WE'D HAVE TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC/AND TOWING. FINALLY GOT AHOLD OF SOMEONE THROUGH FORD WHO GOT THAT FOR NO CHARGE. WAS TOLD THAT IT IS THE RECALLED PIECE THAT CAUSED THE FIRE. NOW AM TOLD THAT IT COULD TAKE UP TO 15 DAYS TO FIND OUT IF I CAN GET A RENTAL UNTIL THE CAR IS FIXED. *TR”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT THE WARNING WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AT THE ENGINE MOTOR ROD. THE ENGINE MOTOR WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,000.”

“1. SUB-FRAME WAS BADLY RUSTED OUT. IT BROKE WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND THE FRONT TIRES DISENGAGED. 2. THE ROCKER PANEL ON THE LEFT SIDE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT IS BADLY RUSTED OUT AND IT WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION ANYMORE. THERE IS SOME RUST ON THE RIGHT ROCKER PANEL ALSO. ALL OF THE RUST IN UNDER THE VEHICLE AND IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. 3. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON LAST YEAR.”

“1999 FORD WINDSTAR. CONSUMER WRITES TO EXPRESS DISCONTENT REGARDING FORD MOTOR COMPANY *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE PROBLEMS. ALSO, THE VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION, DUE TO A RUSTED SUBFRAME. FORD OFFERED TO BUY THE VEHICLE BACK FROM THE CONSUMER.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN BECAUSE THE CRADLE THAT HELD THE MOTOR WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND CAUSING THE MOTOR TO FALL TO THE GROUND. THE CONTACT TOWED THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC CONCLUDED THAT THE RUSTED CRADLE WAS CAUSING THE FAILURE AND WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED TO REPORT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.”

“BOUGHT THE VAN IN SEPT. 2002 WITH 55,000 MILES, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITHIN A WEEK OF HAVING IT. TOOK IT BACK TO CAR LOT WHERE WE BOUGHT IT, THEY TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER, COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING EXCEPT THAT IT CAME UP A LEAN CODE THEY TOLD ME I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO PUT GAS CAP ON THE RIGHT WAY. THAT IS NOT THE PROBLEM. KEPT DEALING WITH LIGHT ON TO THIS DAY. MAY 2003 HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED, GOT IT BACK STARTING HAVING SAME PROBLEMS,TOOK IT BACK THEY SAID THEY FORGOT TO REPLACE A WIRE, STILL HAVING PROBLEMS TO THIS DAY WITH TRANSMISSION IN FACT OCT. 2010 HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED THEY SAID SHAVINGS FOUND IN MOTOR WILL NEED TRANSMISSION REPLACED AGAIN. DOME LIGHTS FLASH ALL THE TIME. THE GAUGES GO HAYWIRE ALL THE TIME, PEG FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER. HAD THAT REPLACED AND DID IT AGAIN. TOOK IT IN FOR RECALL DEC. 28,2010 CRACKED REAR AXLE STILL AT DEALER. NOW JUST HEARD THAT THE RECALL FOR SUB FRAME WILL GET PAPERS IN FEB. GUESS IT WILL BE THERE LONGER. OUR DUMB MISTAKE WE BOUGHT ANOTHER WINDSTAR IN SEPT. 2010 A 2003 ALL WE COULD AFFORD, THAT HAS PROBLEMS WITH ABS LIGHT. TOLD OVER $800 TO FIX. WE NEED TWO NEW CARS, DON'T FEEL SAFE IN EITHER.”