12 problems related to engine and engine cooling have been reported for the 1996 Ford Windstar. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
The contact owns a 1996 Ford Windstar gl (na). The contact stated that while waiting a stop sign, the vehicle suddenly died and the engine engulfed into flames. There were no injuries. The police and fire departments were called but no police report was filed. The vehicle had not been inspected or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
I went to go to the store may 26th, 2010 6:30 - 7:00 pm, I got in my vehicle with my two year old daughter and I proceeded to go down my driveway which its a long driveway and I started to smell a faint smell of plastic burning and I got to the road and I started to go and I decided I should maybe pull over to see if I could see anything on the outside of vehicle causing smell then when got back in car saw the steam coming from hood and I decided to turn around and have my boyfriend take a look before I left. When got to house saw little steam but nothing big, turned off van and got my daughter from car seat and walked inside home not but 5 minutes later my other daughter ran screaming out her room, mom the vans on fire. When opened the door the flames were shooting out of the hood and tried to open hood, while other half going for fire extinguishers but motor was engulfed in flames and within 5 minutes got fire out with 2 fire extinguishers. Nothing indicated before fire other then the faint smell that I smelled while going down driveway. The fire came from the wiring and it is definitely a safety issue cause if me and my daughter had this happen to us while on the road it could of seriously injured or killed us. I haven't done anything to fix the van yet cause I only had liability insurance on the van and the fire wasn't covered. I also do not financially have the means to fix the van myself so I am without transportation right now! my boyfriend did feel after looking at van the fire started with the wiring over the top of the center of the motor.
My 1996 Ford Windstar caught fire in the engine compartment while driving and burned up within 10 minutes. I did not know about the fire danger recall until I heard about it on the new a few days after the event. The only accessory that was on was the airconditioning which was working properly. I noticed a smell followed by smoke from under the hood. I pulled over to investigate and the smoke intensified followed by flames. By the time the fire department arrived (5 minutes) flames were pouring out from under the hood and thick black smoke had filled the passenger compartment. The fire had completely destroyed the engine and had begun to burn into the passenger compartment. The dashboard has melted along with parts of the roof as far back as the middle seats. Up to the event the car had been running normally with no problems. I had never been contacted by Ford about the recall and only found out about it on the news a few days after the event. Needless to say, the car was considered "totaled" by the insurance company.
: the contact stated that the engine died at 21,000 miles. The contact expressed the engine should not have died at 21000 miles. There were no failures that lead to this incident. The problem has not been repaired.
Ford Windstar with a 3. 8 l v-8 blew the head gasket at 75,000 miles. The car was being driven on the expressway at the time.
I also have a 1996 Windstar will all of the mentioned head gasket problems. Van sits in rear, am currently driving Toyota with 200+ I pulled from back yard after being stagnent for 3 years. No money to repair,causing hardship in family. I believe to be Fords problem but doesnt look like they are going to admit as a trouble, will not buy another and will not support 6 family members when they lose their jobs do to this problem. My van was also manufactured in canada 12/96 and VIN seems to be in sequence with others. Van just turned 100,000 a week ago.
I purchased a 1996 Ford Windstar and five days later found out that it had a bad engine (blown head gasket). It left myself and 6 children stranded on the side of the road.
1996 Ford Windstar, 3. 8 l, lown head gasket.
Misfiring and losing coolant. Am sure it is a head gasket problem. Father-in-law currently in dispute with Ford for same model/year and they won't reimburse him. May attempt repair myself if Ford unwilling to recall or put right. Also, speedometer failure intermittent or incorrect reading.
While driving and without warning head gasket/timing chain snapped, causing fluid to leak. Dealer notified. Ts.
Blows headgasket every35000 miles.
The brake system and it's components failed, the abs light had come on constantly, the transmission burned out, and the engine was contaminated with coolant. The consumer requested a new vehicle or a new engine. Mr scc.