Door Problems of Ford Windstar - part 2

Nar 03-25-2003. The consumer had to return the vehicle to the vehicle to the dealership on numerous occasions because of a problem with the sliding doors. The first time the vehicle was returned to the dealership, the consumer noticed the driver side rear slider panel was hanging on by a few plastic rivets, the doors would pop back open after the closed button was pushed. The dealer made several attempts to fix the door.

See all problems of the 2003 Ford Windstar 🔎.

Consumer noticed that driver's rear side door did not latch. Vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection and mechanic replaced the door switch. However, the problem recurred, and the vehicle was taken back to the dealer.

See all problems of the 2001 Ford Windstar 🔎.

Sliding door sensor doesn't respond quickly enough when objects are in the way to avoid closing. Consumer's arm was bruised due to getting caught as door was closing. Dealer was notified. *akconsumer is concerned for the safety of her grandchildren. The dealer did not seemed interested in the problem consumer presented to him, stating that is the way they are supposed to be.

See all problems of the 2002 Ford Windstar 🔎.

Both power sliding doors will not retract while being closed if an object is in the doorway. Consumer is concerned young child might get caught in the door. *akconsumer also stated that the manufacturer felt that there was not a way to adjust the sensitivity of the doors. Consumer said that he physically had a chance to test a Chrysler Mini vans slide door sensitivity and it retracted much easier.

While driving down a 2 lane highway, my driver's side automatic door opened on it's own. I immediately pulled to the side of the road, turned off the automatic setting, and shut the door manually. Luckily, I was in the van alone, not with my wife and 3 1/2 year old daughter. I called the dealership and told me to get it to them right away. They could not get it to malfunction while in the service department, but I did inform them that the door, when fully closed, does stick out further than the passenger side. They readjusted the door and said that no other reports of this happening has ever occurred when they talked to Ford engineering. But, I see on this site many reports of a similar nature. Waiting on dealership for possible exchange of vehicle.

The passenger side power sliding door opens on its own while the car is moving. It happened twice in one day. I was told that Ford is "aware of the problem" and that they are working on a new hinge assembly. In the meantime, I am afraid to put my kids in the van. I see other complaints for this same issue (738418, 866315, 871988, 730676, 871684). I also know of two other people who had the same problem. Luckily, no one was hurt, but this needs to be addressed.

The auto locking system on the driver's door only works intemintanly. In short you can not locvk the driver's door with the lock button. If you do it only pops back up . The haeter malfunctioned toady. The heater in the drivers compartment only blows outside air. No heat, however the rear heater works perfectly.

See all problems of the 1999 Ford Windstar 🔎.

When doors were shut/ engine off, interior lights stayed on. Dealer determined a short in left front door.

See all problems of the 1997 Ford Windstar 🔎.

Sliding door behind driver keeps coming open while driving. Dealer has made numerous adjustments and problem keeps occurring. Consumer states vehicle is not safe for children or anyone in the rear. Please provide any further information.

Power sliding doors have sensors to retract upon sensiing object, doors due not retract timely, pressure is felt on a adult arm,wrist, child, infant could be crushed. Tested various other Ford Windstars and all sliding doors had different sensing, some were weak and some were tight, not two the same. If a adult cannot push the door or stop the forward motion, then a child would not stand a chance.

The power sliding doors do not reverse direction when they encounter resistance. My 2 year old son placed his hand in the opening and it was almost crushed. If I hadn't been standing directly behind him and could pull extremely hard to get the door to reverse directions I feel he probably would have suffered severe injury to his hand. Dt.

Right side power sliding door opened (uncommanded) when automatic transmission was movd from park to drive and vehicle speed reach approximately 5 mph.

See all problems of the 2000 Ford Windstar 🔎.

Back doors will not open sometimes, and will not close sometimes. Consumer was informed to call dealership periodically, because the manufacturer was working on a solution, however it has been 8 months and there is still no remedy.

While driving the electric sliding door. Automatically becomes ajar. Sometimes the vehicle can be parked, and the door becomes ajar. Consumer states he has taken the vehicle in about 8 to 12 times over a period of 4 years. The vehicle was taken in to be fixed but after several months the problem comes back. The consumer stated that he has to close the door a couple of times before it latches securely. The door came open while the consumer was driving.

Passenger rear slider door will not stay open when vehicle is parked on a hill. Dealership is aware of problem.

While driving, the automatic sliding door intermittently opens, dealer has replaced automatic door sensor, but that did not remedy the problem.

Power sliding door failed to stay close. While driving along door ajar signal on the dashboard will illumintate to alert that door has popped open. Power sliding door cannot be manually forced to close. Dealer was notified. Please provide more information.

Two rear sliding door locks may remain locked intermittently. Consumer cannot even do it manually preventing rear passengers from exiting vehicle. Contacted dealer.

Right rear power sliding door automatically re-opens after being closed. Contacts on door closure have been checked and re-checked, yet power sliding door still continues to re-open after being closed. This is dangerous since I have a 2 year old child and I don't want her accidentally getting caught in the door or being distracted by it re-opening. Also, sometimes I think I have locked the vehicle only to discover that the power sliding door has re-opened. Manufacturer claims they cannot duplicate problem and that "there is no error code on the computer, so they can't verify problem exists. " .

Sliding door locks malfunctioned, and is unable to unlock. Dealer notified.

The passenger sliding door mechanism sealed completely on my right thumb. It did not sense that there was an obstruction and my thumb was damaged extensively. When thumb was released, it was completely flat (size of a flat quarter) and had extensive crushing damage. Had no feeling for 4 months. Nail died and took until January 2002 to fall off, causing much discomfort and inability to perform daily tasks for family. Currently, nail has not grown back and may not ever. This door mechanism, when tested shut on plastic cups, sticks, and other small objects. This is a family vehicle and should have an infa red sensor that backs up the door whenever its beam is broken. It currently has a mechanical sensor so only if something substantial (an adults whole body) is wedged in door, will it back up. Even then, it closes considerably (and frighteningly on victom) before opening. I fear that one of my children will get wrist or hand closed and cause serious damage. I still have shooting pain in joint of thumb and no thumb nail. I need help demonstrating product malfunction before my child or someone else's is seriously crushed!.

Door has continually malfunctioned including opening while I am driving for 11 months.

The front passenger door would not close without slamming it. It felt like something was caught in the door. A few days later the door popped open while I was driving on the highway. The door was locked. It did not open all of the way. I drove straight to the dealership to have it repaired. No problems since then.

Without warning side electrical door will open and shut without command. Also sensor on door is not functioning accurately, dealer has been notified. Mechanic has serviced vehicle 8 times, and has not resolved the problem. Consumer adds that the passenger side sliding door is the problem. The door will also close or open pathway then change directions. Door motion can go on for 5 minutes. Sensor also failed. Door will push on anything that is in its way.

When parked on an incline manual-sliding door closes easy with slightst touch. Door does not have a locking latch mechanism to keep it opened. Dealer has been notified. Please provide more information.

Automatic sliding doors malfunction on a regular basis. They do not shut on the first attempt and one of the rear doors (passenger side) will open and shut while the van is moving (in reverse). Sometimes it will take up to 10 attempts to get the drivers side sliding door to shut, my kids call it the "open and shut" game. Very annoying in bad weather and also a safety concern with the door that will open and shut while the vehicle is moving.

Power sliding door fails to remain closed and will open automatically. Dealership has examined vehicle three times,and has failed to effectively remedy the problem. Please provide any additional information/attachments.

The problem occurred when the vehicle was in motion, traveling about 25 mph. The right power sliding door opened while the car was in motion. Nobody in the vehicle pressed any button or remote control or did anything to cause the door to open. When I pushed the overhead button to make the door close, it closed almost all the way but then sprung open again. This happened about 5 times before I was able to pull over and stop the vehicle. I got out of the car and closed the door manually. After that the door would not open at all, either manually or with the remote control. I did report the incident to Ford, and the person I spoke with said that she could not find any record of this problem ever happening with any Ford minivan.

While glass window is down and arm out at time of starting engine, doors locks will lock automatically, and at that time will pinch consumer's arm, leaving bruises.

The interior lights stayed on even after the engine was turned off, due to door switch failure.

See all problems of the 1998 Ford Windstar 🔎.

The door developed a squeaky/twisting metal sound. . . As if the hinges were all out of whack. . . The other side is beginning to make similar but not as loud noises.

The power sliding door does not always close to the "flush" position. The minivan has been brought back to dealership where purchased on three separate occassions. 1st time: door goes to the closed position then retracts slightly open and stays there. Repeated attempts to powerslide where unsuccfessful. Brought it to the deal and they mad an "adjustment" (details not available). 2nd time: door retracts slightly after reaching the closed position. Will eventually reach the closed position but only with multiple attempts. Also, detection of object in the path of sliding door not working well. I needed to stop the door from sliding with the entire force of my body (this ould have seriously injured my 3-year old if she had been standing there at the time). A visit to Ford resulting in reprogramming the sensor as they are receiving information from Ford on these repairs on a weekly basis. Tested the sliding door in Ford's parking lot before leaving the dealership and it was working fine. Got home, switched around my carseats, again, the door did not close all the way. Left it alone for a while, went back outside and the door successfully closed on the first attempt. Did not have occassion to use the sliding door for 4 days, open.

Both power sliding doors will not stay closed. Vehicle has been taken to dealer 6 times, hinges and motor have been replaced. Dealer unable to remedy the problem.

Power lock on driver side doesn't work.

See all problems of the 1996 Ford Windstar 🔎.

The door locks on this vehicle are operated by swtiches on the front doors and at the rear storage area. These switches will no longer activate the locks on the two front doors. The dealership checked the problem and advised that the doors need new "actuators" at a cost of $70 per device, plus close to $200 to install them. I am concerned that these locks should fail at this point in the life of the car. I have had similar locks on several cars and never had them fail, much less at such an early date. Please note that I have owned the car less than the 36 months normally covered by warranty, though the 36,000 mile threshold has long since passed. I argued with the dealership, however, that the door locks are not elements of the car so affected by mileage, but more likely by usage over time. They wouldn't budge on fixing them. I am concerned about this from a safety standpoint because the front locks cannot be manually unlocked from the interior. In an accident, this could prove fatal.