general problems of the 1996 Ford Windstar - part 2

Speedometer malfuctioned. Needle kept bouncing back and forth. Dealer had replaced speedometer at 65,000 miles, and problem reoccurred at 95,000 miles. Feel free to provide any further details on this matter.

Speedometer very erratic and unreliable at speeds of 45mph or over.

When vehicle reaches 30 mph speedometer would commence to bounce back and forth, and a grinding sound from the odmeter area. Manufacturer notified, and informed consumer that the part was out of warranty, and not cover under a recall. Please feel free to provide any further details on this matter.

Speedometer is erratic after 30 mph, therefore, consumer cannot indicate correct speed. No satisfaction from manufacturer.

Speedometer is erratic at speeds above 40 mph and varies plus or minus 30-40 mph.

Speedometer needle floats, cruise control doesn't work. Continues.

While going down interstate 75 car pulled back, rpms went very high to 3 and 4, and speedometer declined very rapidly. Contacted dealer who said that vehicle's speed sensor needed to be repaired.

I have researched this on the internet and it is a problem that has affected many Windstar owners. Ford has even issued a TSB - 99-7-9 re speedometer needle wavers and sticks. That's the problem I have. It costs over $500 to fix - so many people are opting not to fix it. Also, those that repair have the same problem occur over and over again. You shopuld make Ford recall on this issue.

Speedometer became very erratic, jumped all around, had cable replaced but it is not completely working correctly still jumps slightly. Mechanic says we need to service the instrument cluster and Ford would have to repair original cluster. I would take up to at least a week. He has had to service many. (neuberts tire and auto repair, tabernacle, NJ 08088) I know the speedometer is not reading the correct speed.

Consumer has complained to manufacturer about speedometer not working & nothing was being done. Consumer couldn't determine speed, and felt that it was a safety hazard. Consumer informed by mechanic of a TSB issued by Ford regarding this problem, which calls for replacement under 3 yr warranty. This problem occurred in this vehicle just after 3 years, and dealer refuses to repair it under warranty.

Speedometer begins to fluccuate at 50 mph, randomly jumping from 50mph to 80mph - previously went out at 47k miles, and only solution offered by hansel Ford was to replace speedometer/odometer assembly ($400) because of "broken" speedometer head assembly - 52k later, exact same problems, and Ford's only recommendation is replace speedometer/odometer again at my expense - given that the speedometer displays an erroneous reading starting at 50mph and the freeway speed limit is 55+mph, I have no reliable indication of my actual speed, which is particularly worrisome when I tow a tent-trailer. Additionally, I don't know if the odometer is recording mileage correctly. There has been a TSB refering to this problem, but I have not been able to find the details out about it, so I don't know how to begin to correct the problem.

Speedo head jumps. When driving vechicle, the speedometer needle will start waving. You can't tell how fast your traveling. Service center stated this is real common on 1996 Windstar. Windshield wiper motor froze. Can't clean rear window.

I have a 1996 Windstar and the speedometer is unable to indicate speed of vehicle. The speedometer just jumps around. It use to just jump around at round 40-50 mph but it has completed failed now. It jumps around and make a clicking sound all the time.

My neighbor also had her speedometer break on her 1996 Ford Windstar.

The speedometer reads near 100 mph while the vehicle is only traveling at speeds betweem 30 and 70 mph. Nlm.

Speedometer becomes erratic when speed over 45 mph, accompanied by buzzing sound from instrument cluster. Needle jumps up 15-20 mph making it very difficult to judge speed.

Speedometer does not register correctly, speed always erratic. Fails at different speeds at different times during the day. Unknown how many times replaced on vehicle. I bought it used. Have not yet tried to price the repair. Looking to see if any info on help on how to handle. This is very inconvenient.

Speedometer jumps between 70 - 100 mph at low (40) or high (65) speeds. Makes buzzing noise. Very dangerous as it is misleading and distracting (unnerving) to the driver. Dealer "never heard of" this problem. Owner paid $525 repair.

Speedometer does not work properly above 35 miles per hour. Failed at 35 mph-jumps to 60 the to 90mph.

Speedometer does not register properly. Needle would jumps back and forth while driving. Dealer notified, and informed consumer that vehicle was out of warranty, and repairs would only be done at consumer expense.

Speedometer jumps while going 50mph or faster. Also, makes rattling noise.

Speedometer fluctuates at speeds above 40mph. This makes it hard to tell how fast your going.

The speedometer "jumps" above 45 mph. The needle bounces around and we have no idea how fast we are going. This is a safety hazard that has effected thousands of Ford owners. Ford needs to recall the speedometers.

While accelerating, speedometer needle jumps at 20 mph to 40 or 50 mph. The needle continues to waver. Actual speed is much lower than shown speed. Definite safety problem. Dealer will only replace head and not fix. Replacement will break too based on research from reputable speedometer shops.

While driving speedometer does not register the correct level speed due to a malfunction within the speedometer head.

Speedometer jumps to 120mph when traveling at 65mph, seems to work fine until you reach 40mph then it will jump. Cost to repair was $493 Ford would not cover cost even under extra-care extended warranty.

While traveling noticed speedometer reading 40 rpms. Then would jump to 100 rpms without depressing the gas on normal traveling. Also, the reading for how fast the vehicle is travelling jumps around and is inaccurate. Ford is aware of the problem and has issued a TSB.

Speedometer needle jumps, will not indicate correct speed, causing safety hazard. Dealer has been notified.

Whenever vehicle reaches a speed of 50 mph , speedometer cable head malfunctions causing rapid fluctuations on speedometer dial of + or - 30 mph. This makes it extremely difficult to maintain safe and proper highway speeds.

This is a copy of the complaint I sent to Ford regarding problems with the speedometer in my 1996 Windstar. I am starting to have the same problem again. Considering all the things I've read regarding this problem, I find it hard to believe their is not a recall for this yet. I recently purchased this vehicle (June 1999) in folsom, CA from a private party. The van is in excellent condition with 46800+ miles. Recently I started having problems with the speedometer. It would get to approximately fifty miles-per-hour and then start fluctuating +/- five to seven miles-per-hour. The problem gradually became worse, getting to the point that it started swinging wildly and would go all the way to the right. I figured it was probably a speedometer cable. I called my local Ford dealer in yuba city to have them give me an estimate. Without even looking at the van, they told me it was likely not the cable, but the speedometer unit itself. I asked how they could be so sure and I was told that it was common to see the speedometer go bad in this vehicle. I was floored to learn that the cost of a new one was $333. 33, not including labor. Now, I have been around long enough to know that new car parts arent cheap, but $333. 33 seems rather ridiculous. I then called a speedometer specialty shop, speedometer electric, in marysville to have a second opinion. Not that I dont trust the dealer, but because as a technical sergeant in the usaf I just cant afford what the new speedometer cost. Mr. Larry witherow, longtime owner of speedometer electric, verified that it was not the cable, but indeed the speedometer itself. He also told me he has replaced approximately twenty speedometers from Windstars and other Ford vehicles in the past few months. This does not include those who had the same problem but could not afford the repairs. It is because of this and the dealers comments as well that I am writing this letter.

Speedometer very erratic, going 55 will show 90 to 100. At 40 will spike at 60 no way of knowing true speed. To me a definite hazard.

Last year my speedometer began to make a whizzing sound and would jump eractically. So, I took it to Ford and they stated that it might be a speed sensor or the actual gear behind the dash. I had the gear module changed in 99, twice, I went to a professional certified speedo mechanic. Then, close to the year, after the repair, this speedo began doing the same thing. When I took it to the Ford service dept, they wanted to check everything from the cables, the sensor and even the drive gear. I went to my mechanic which has worked for Ford, and all of these things were changed, and the drive gears were inspected and they were fine. So, I called another Ford service tech, and he told me that yes, they had been having alot of incidents with these speedo's, and that the speedo would have to changed again. This has all cost me a fortune and to boot, they increased the part, knowing that it was a defective one. I called the Ford company, and they stated they could not help since the warranty had expired on thisvehicle. This has gotten so out of hand, that I have had to go to the emergency rooms having chest pains and am taking sedatives. . . . . . . I have also checked the internet and it is filled witht he same situations. . . . I am scared that a police officer will stop me, this is my only vehicle and do not work. . . Please help us. .

Speedometer malfunctions intermittently while driving 60mph. Contacted dealer.

This speedo problem is a great safety hazard to the driver and people on the road. A driver may think he is driving at a certain speed and he may infact be exceeding the speed limit or hindering drivers on the road. This puts drivers at risk.

The speedometer gives faulty readings at all speeds. The needle spins ramdomly, and there is the sound similar to a bad ball bearing under the driver's side dashboard. I need to know if there has been a recall for this problem, since nearly every owner of a 1995 - 1997 Windstar that I know has described the same problem, though their problems began while the vehicle was still under warranty.