2000 Ford Windstar visibility problems

“The contact owns a 2000 Ford Windstar. The contact stated the vehicle failed to start, and the rear glass was out of the frame by about three-quarters of an inch. Additionally, the front driver's and passenger’s side windows failed to go up or roll down and were inoperable. The contact also stated that the instrument panel and anti-theft system were inoperable. The service engine, anti-theft, overdrive, speedometer, ABS system, and door ajar warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 00V351000 (Electrical System) and 00V020000 (Visibility). The contact called the dealer and was referred to the manufacturer for assistance. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and confirmed there were no associated recalls with the VIN and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.”

“I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR IN THIS VEHICLE TWICE SO FAR AND NOW IT HAS MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN AND I WILL NOW NEED TO REPLACED IT AGAIN. THAT MAKES FOUR WIPER MOTORS IN ONE CAR. FORD DISAVOWS ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS IN MY WINDSTAR, EVEN THOUGH IT HAS RECALLED THIS MOTOR IN OTHER 2000 WINDSTAR'S. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WON'T BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MINE. IT DOES ALL THE THINGS LISTED IN THE RECALL OF 2001, LOSES INTERMITTENT, FAILS TO WORK AT ALL, TURNS ON WHEN I HAVE IT IS ON "OFF," AND ONCE, IT EVEN CAUGHT ON FIRE WHEN IT WAS TURNED OFF AND NOT IN USE. NEEDING 4 NEW WIPER MOTORS IN ONE VEHICLE IS CLEARLY A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE CLEARLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE 2001 RECALL FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM. HOW CAN I MAKE FORD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND FIX THIS REPEATED PROBLEM ONCE AND FOR ALL? THANK YOU. *JB”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SMOKE BEGAN TO EMIT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT DID NOT SEE FLAMES, BUT POURED WATER UNDER THE HOOD TO PUT OUT THE SMOKE. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR STOPPED FUNCTIONING AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT WATER ENTERED THE WIPER MOTOR AND STARTED A FIRE. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V261000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR), THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000. UPDATED 02/22/12”

“I OWN A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE QUIT WORKING FOR THE THIRD TIME. THIS ALWAYS SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHILE I AM DRIVING IN THE RAIN, WHICH IS NOT SAFE AT ALL, BUT YESTERDAY IT HAPPENED DURING A VERY HEAVY THUNDERSTORM WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH! IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN WIPER MOTOR FAILURE AND THE MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE SEEN A RECALL IN THE PAST ON THE 2000 FORD WINDSTAR FOR THIS SAME COMPLAINT. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT MY WINDSTAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. AS MUCH OF A HASSLE AND AN EXPENSE IT IS TO HAVE THE WIPER MOTOR REPLACED, IT'S STILL NOT AS MUCH A HASSLE AS IT IS DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT NOT ONLY DO THE WIPERS RANDOMLY QUIT WORKING WITHOUT ANY WARNING BUT THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL WILL KICK OFF ALL THE TIME AND FORD WON'T FIX OR DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE FAILURES THAT SO MANY OTHER WINDSTAR OWNERS CONTINUE TO HAVE. HOW MANY RECALLS ON SAFETY ISSUES DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE BEFORE THE ENTIRE VEHICLE IS RECALLED? THE FRAME, THE SUSPENSION, THE WIPERS, THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM AND THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM, ALL THE THINGS THAT A DRIVER TRULY NEEDS TO SAFELY TRANSPORT…”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS: 10V385000 (SUSPENSION: REAR:AXLE: NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY), 00V351000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH) AND 01V261000 (VISIBILITY: WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER: MOTOR) AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT WITH THE DEALER FOR OVER A MONTH AND ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RELEASED TO THE CONTACT, THE POWER STEERING WOULD ABNORMALLY PULL THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT. IN ADDITION, THE WINDSHIELD WASHER WOULD ONLY SPRAY TO ONE SIDE INSTEAD OF BOTH. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WAS ALSO ILLUMINATING ON A CONSISTENT BASIS. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM TO JUNK THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 159,000.”

“A/C SYSTEM WAS FOUND TO BE TOTALLY LOW ON FREON. AFTER REPLACING FREON, IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THE REAR AC LOW PRESSURE PIPE HAD A LEAK LOCATED NEXT TO THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL. THERE WAS NOTHING IN THIS AREA THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS PIPE LEAK TO OCCUR, SUCH AS ANOTHER PIPE RUBBING AGAINST IT OR OTHER FORM OF FRICTION. IT IS ASSUMED THAT THE PIPE WAS STRUCTURALLY DEFECTIVE. *TR”