general problems of the 1998 Ford Windstar

We woke up this morning to the driver's side completely burned and melted. It had been parked sinced Monday. Fire inspector said it was definitely an electrical issue coming from the seat.

There's an electric shortage thats stopping my van from fully starting.

Abs and brake light on, and no speed control.

Abs brake light came on intermittently for a couple weeks then began to stay on. New brakes & rotors/drums all around. Now problem with brakes but light will not go off. Also airbag light came on about two weeks after the abs light. It will not go off either.

Vehicle is a 1998 Ford Windstar. While driving the windshield washer,seat belt,and door ajar warning lights flash on and off. While this is happening the wiper blades stop working,power windows will not operate and on a few occasions the headlights will blink with the warning lights. I understand that this is an old vehicle but I have researched this issue and have found hundreds of complaints about the same problem. Not just restricted to this year. It is also an issue that happens just after a few years of service. I would think that wiper blades malfunctioning due to an electrical issue would be a safety concern.

1998 Ford Windstar caught on fire while parked at dentist. Fire dept was called and the vehicle is totaled.

1998 Windstar van was parked in the front yard key out of it I was inside I heard a noise looked out the engine part was on fire I was moving my personal things I lost everything I own I left everything in the van including my purse w/ my money and id inside.

The contact owns a 1998 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that there is an electrical sensor on the sliding door of the vehicle. While driving at any speed, the beeping sound does not turn off. In addition, the door ajar indicator and dome light do not dim. There is a switch that needs to be bypassed or rewired. The dealer stated that there was no recall issued for these failures. The contact stated that the failures occur everytime the vehicle is started. She has researched other consumers experiencing the same failures. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure mileage was 126,000 and current mileage was 127,000.

For several years the abs light and the tracking light have automatically lit up, although there is no brake problems.

Thursday oct. 5, 2006 at 7:00 pm, my van was sitting in the parking lot at my son's high school where it caught fire and was completely destroyed. I was not notified of any problems with my Windstar van.

Dt: while parked on the street, somehow in the night, an electrical fire ignited on the left passenger seat behind the driver seat located at the second electrical outlet. It was so hot it melted the car seat and paneling near the armrest. The glass didn't break but paint to outside of car is peeling off. Center and console was destroyed. The fire went out somewhere near the front. No repairs have been made.

I purchased my van from my grandfather's estate. On Saturday, February 12, 2005, I was driving my 1998 Ford Windstar. I was traveling from a school function where I teach with my seven-year-old daughter in the van. My van seemed to have smoke coming from under the hood. I was stuck in traffic on highway 183 heading north toward cedar park where I live. I couldn't make the light at the junction of 620 to pull into a parking lot, so I went past the light and turned into the construction area just north of that intersection. I had already called my husband to meet me because I was concerned about the van. When I pulled in, I popped the hood and saw small flames and smoke coming from the driver side rear section under the hood. I dropped the hood and grabbed my daughter from the car. I then called 911 and they dispatched the fire department. While I waited, I pulled a bottle of water from the van, popped the hood and sprinkled water on the flames. When the fire department found me, the fire was smaller. They finished putting out the fire and told me that I probably saved my van by sprinkling water on it. It appeared to be electrical and near the area where the cruise control is located. I was in tears by the time my husband arrived and it was a horrible experience. I am grateful that we were not injured, but am furious that Ford has not recalled my van. I did have it repaired at computer age automotive in cedar park and my insurance agent is ryan with state farm whom I did submit the claim. I was told that state farm does not have plans to pursue Ford. I don't want another family to have this problem. It could have been a extremely bad situation.

Door ajar light stays on, door ajar bell rings continually when parked or driving under 17 mph, interior will not go off, problem seemed to come and go but now it seems to be here for good. Unsafe to drive at night.

I currently own a 1998 Ford Windstar. I have had this van for two years. I bought it with 38000 miles on it and now have 66000 miles on it. Up till about a month ago, I had no problems as I have loved this van. But I did run into a peculiar problem that seems that most people are having with this van as I have checked numerous websites and web posts on the internet as well as my friends that have formerly owned this vehicle. The door ajar censor inside the doors wear, causing the computers to recognize the car doors to be shut. This emits a beeping sound that steadily beeps till you rise above 15 mph. Also, the lights stay on and since Ford built these vans all the same way, you cannot simply fix it without spending at least 500 dollars if your lucky. Also, another problem has risen just recently. My transmission has started to slip. I expected normal wear-and-tear, but it seems that when you reach a certain threshold, as many of other people have experienced once hitting 65000 miles on this particular van, the transmission goes completely. I would like to send an awareness to Ford to fix this problem in their newer vans, if a problem emerged and to future buyers of this year of van. This has cost me over 2500 dollars and I must admit, is not worth it. This van is by far the worst investment I have ever made, and I do not recommend buying one. Thank you.

Right after purchasing the vehicle, I started having problem with it. I addressed the seller, and he told me that the vehicle had no warranty, and so that I should just take the vehicle and take care of the problem by myself. I have had numerous of problems with this vehicle. When I purchased the vehicle, I feel I was used because I am poor, and was desperate for a vehicle. Other people that have purchased a vehicle from them have had the same problem. I don't know what actions can be taken to correct the matter any longer. I haven't given a payment for about 4 months, because I have had to fix the vehicle. Mainly transmission and electrical problems. I have also had steering wheel problems, and tire problems.

I purchased a 1998 Windstar van from the Ford dealer located in corning CA. I have had nothing but trouble with it passing smog for the oxy sensor. And the transmission has never worked right. The turbo thing is bad. When I went to trade it in I found that the vehicle was out of canada. And these things were part of the recalls reported to you. But, Ford of corning said they did nothing to this van before selling it to me. I found 14 things wrong with this vehicle. I acted up a month after purchase. But I was on aware of my rights as a consumer. Also, I was not sure what oms meant. The van is stuck in folsom,CA at aamco transmission repair shop. Financed through fireside bank. Ford of corning said they did nothing to the van before I purchased it but cleaning it.

My 1998 Windstar caught fire today. The fire appeared to start in the driver's door lock component. The entire driver's seat was destroyed, the windshield melted and cracked and the ceiling and dashboard melted. The entire van is smoke-damaged. The van had several auto-lock, instrumentation and door ajar problems which had been addressed by the dealership.

After stopping a my van, the interior lights do not turn off and the dashboard shows an open door although all doors are closed. The beeping noise indicating the door is opened continues to make noise. The doors no longer lock. This condition continued even when the car is running. The dealer said to just remove the interior bulbs or just pull the fuse. When the dealer pulled the fused the brake lights no longer worked and the car could no longer go out of park but the interior lights went out. The dealer said I must start the car with gear shift half way between park and neutral. The dealer said this is a very unique problem and is caused by something that I did. I stated that's absurd. The Ford dealer mechanic then said it must be one of sensors probably the drivers door. Now I see there are others that have the exact same problem. This is a very serious and dangerous problem.

Abs system is constantly malfunctioning, brakes give out, traction control is turning off and on. Drivers side lock does not work with alarm remote.

Courtesy lights will intermittenly work. They will come on when driving at night, or sometimes they will not come on at all. Experiencing other electrical problems with the reverse lights, interior lights, automatic door locks, door check light, and signal lights operating intermittently, consumer states that the engine is noisy and the engine check light is always on, the seat belt is loose, passenger side arm rest is loose, and the back window wiper is inoperative.

1998 Ford Windstar; front brakes seem to have continuous shimmy; passenger side door lock uncooperative unlocking with remote; engine light off/on often, doesn't seem to be a reason; electrical panel malfunctioning after 104,000 miles,(engine light constantly on, abs light on, trac light constant flashing, and fuel gauge not reading gas in tank).

Vehicle has been in the shop seven times in a two and a half years. Repairs included transmission replacement, brake calipers replacement, and the electrical system problems.

The contact owns a 1998 Ford Windstar. While driving approximately 50 mph, the transmission became stuck in overdrive. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer who stated that the main control valve was defective; it was replaced. The contact later began having issues with the brakes as they locked up when the contact applied them to avoid a deer. The vehicle crashed into the woods as a result. A police report was filed. The contact sustained neck injuries. The contact was informed that the abs tone ring seal had cracked; it was repaired. The failure continued and the dealer then replaced the tone ring and sensor. Months later, the brakes began to grab. The entire brake assembly was replaced four times. Furthermore, the contact noticed that the electrical system was defective. The switch assist in all doors was replaced in 2005. In 2011, the contact had the same failure with the switch for the driver side mirror. The dealer replaced the switch on the driver side mirror and checked the latches on the doors because the door light was constantly illuminated. The dealer also replaced all the sensor assists for the doors. The door ajar light was still illuminated. The failure mileage was 4,400 and the current mileage was 72,000.

Consumer called complaining about the recall received on the vehicle. Also stated that she had this problem but the dealer never paid attention to the complaints. Ts.

Consumer states the vehicle has electrical problems.