Manifold/header/muffler/tail Pipe Problems of Ford Windstar - part 2

Check engine light came on. . Took to Ford service dealer. . . Told me seal to intake manifold was leaking. They do them all the time!! problem is it only requires a few inexpensive seals to repair. Ford will only sell the complete intake manifold with seals. The intake manifold costs @ $600 so the cost of replacing a few faulty seals is 800-$1000. Why does Ford not recall these seals or at least come out with a seal repair kit, so the consumer does not have to throw away a good intake manifold. I have owned this van since new, and I see that I am not the only one that has filed a complaint on this same item. If Ford will not attempt to rectify this small problem, I will definitely be shopping elsewhere.

See all problems of the 2000 Ford Windstar 🔎.

Vehicle's back end swayed left and right, making it difficult to maintain control. The cause was undetermined. The consumer stated that the rear control arm broke while driving. The bolt was replaced and a rattling noise was heard coming from the rear of the vehicle. The lower rear tight side bolt was no good. The conusmer stated that the engine light was on. Tests found vacuum leaking from the intake manifold. Lower and upper intake manifold gaskets were replaced. Idle speed control was replaced. The brakes squeaked . When taking off from a stop light the vehicle idles high.

See all problems of the 2001 Ford Windstar 🔎.

1) there were 2 major problems with our Ford Windstar 2001 which we bought brand new from our dealer. The first problem: we thought there was a lot of smoke coming out of exhaust. It looked like it was burning oil. Took it in to the dealer the first time and they replaced a seal. We took a trip and took it back to the dealer and they said there was coolant leaking into the intake manifold and we would need a new engine. We ended up spending about $3500 on the car. The second problem was related to the abs brain failed and we would need to replace it and that would be about $1200. It was at this point, we decided we would not pursue that repair as that would mean we would have put in about 5k into our car within a year. 3) Ford went in "half" with us on the engine replacement. I do not recall the exact date for the first failure. The second failure was approximately January 2005.

Transmission problem with 1999 Ford Windstar on several occasion. (transmission slippage) these problems have existed since the vehicle was first purchased; engine trouble, vaporization leaks, and a broken gear. There were also worn front brakes, steering was inoperative, and there was a vacuum leak due to the upper intake manifold.

See all problems of the 1999 Ford Windstar 🔎.

Consumer stated that emission light came on. She took the vehicle to the mechanic to be checked. After checking the vehicle, she was told that the intake manifold was leaking. Also, mechanic stated that vehicle was too new to have this problem.

While driving the check engine light appeared on the dashboard and remained on. The driver was able to drive it to the dealer for inspection. The mechanic informed the driver that the vehicle was placed on a diagnostic machine. The mechanic informed the driver that the gasket intake seal and manifold valve cover needed replacement. Please fill in additional information.

The check engine went on and the codes p0171 and p0174 were found. There was an extreme loss in gas mileage leading up to this situation, down to ~10mpg. The gasket manifold, the line leading to it, and the cover assembly for a rocker arm were all replaced at a cost of $543. 10. This on a 4yr old vehicle with only 47,000 miles. The dealer acknowledged that they had seen this before in the Windstar. Kind of got the idea it was a chronic problem that should be covered by Ford! in the course of repairing this they also determined that the left front axle seal was leaking and the servo cover gasket was leaking also. These were estimated to cost $465 so I will be spending over $1000. 00 on this vehicle for defects in less than 5 years and under 50,000 miles. What a pile of junk! it will be a long time before I go back to Ford if ever.

The van started to idle very rough, from complete stall to racing, intermitently, then check engine light came on, to compensate, car needed to be placed in neutral at complete stops, dealer service indicated intake manifold gasket failed, caused, in part because of original manufacture of a plastic part that is no longer availble. Replacement part is indicated to be aluminum , several other gaskets replaced in a costly repair that Ford refused to cover under warranty on van with only 41,500 miles.

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. While driving approximately between 35-40 mph on normal road conditions; pressure was applied to the brake pedal the front btakes locked and the driver was unable to turn the steering wheel. The vehicle also skidded without warning. The failure continued to occur intemittently. The "brake" and "abs" warning light indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. The warning indicator remained illuminated until the engine was shut off by the driver. The contact was able to drive the vehicle with caution; however, there was an increase in the engine rpms. An authorized dealer replaced the intake manifold gasket and the alternator. On a separate occasion, the the air bag system failed to deploy with a level of impact to the rear of the vehicle. There were no personal injuries. The contact had concerns of the safety risk involved. The failure mileage was 70,000 and the current mileage was 119,336. The VIN number was rejected from the system which will be updated upon receipt of the safety complaint form.

See all problems of the 2002 Ford Windstar 🔎.

Twice my vehicle went in for repair for engine running lean. The first time they said it was a faulty mass flow sensor, $ 400. 00 to repair. A few months latter the same code comes up I took it back to the dealer. This time they said Ford had issued a repair for the vehicle. It seems the valve cover was faulty and allowing oil to drip down and caused the gasket on the intake manifold to leak causing air to leak in the engine, which caused the engine running lean copde to come on. They have had quite a few Windstars with this problem. That is why they came out with the service bulletin to make the repair. Which included a new valve cover and other parts. Which cost another $ 700. 00 to repair. I believe that Ford should be responsible for the repair as there was a faulty valve cover that caused the engine running lean code to appear.

See all problems of the 2003 Ford Windstar 🔎.

I brought my 1996 Ford Windstar in for an oil change, and was told tie rods failed and needed to be replaced. , then, next day, they phoned and advised me that transmission was defective because the pan was full of shavings, also, power steering rack was leaking, and intake gasket needed replacement. , a total of $5000 to fix this vehicle. I bought it at 118,000 miles, and this happened shortly after owning it for one year. Currently, it has 134,000 miles, and cannot be driven. I parked vehicle then started it after being parked for a week. Heard a noise from front, and then white smoke came out of the tail pipe. I do believe that paul cornies, the dealer that I purchased vehicle knew that they were selling me a lemon. It has caused me a lot of hardship as I no longer work due to health reasons. I filed for disability insurance, and was told that I had a preexisting disease , and refused to pay the insurance. Currently, I have a junker in my driveway that I can't afford to fix , and a bill for the next 3 years, since I still owe for it. I will never buy another Ford.

See all problems of the 1996 Ford Windstar 🔎.

While driving at low speed and turning, the vehicle stalled with out any warning. Also has problem with the steering wheel and the turn signal working intermittently. The dealer replaced the upper intake manifold gasket and the idle air control valve, however the vehicle stalled again and the dealer replaced idle air control valve again. The power steering fluid was low.

The consumer noticed oil was leaking from the vehicle. The mechanic informed the consumer that the oil was leaking from the intake manifold. Please provide more information.

I bought this vehicle in Nov 2003 from pacific coast Ford in federal way wa. It is now March 2004, I have in the past 4 months had to replace the battery, which would not hold a charge. The tires replaced due to the front pasenger side tire blowing out while driving on the freeway. Next thing was the brakes front and back. The van started all of a sudden making a terrible grinding noise. When I took it in to have it looked at they said it needs brakes. Next I had to have my back windshield replaced due to it shattering with no explanation. The van had not been driven since Friday. Sunday morning my neighbors came to my door to tell me that they were standing outside smoking when all of a sudden my back window had shattered. Following that I had to have the head gasket replaced along with the spark plugs. Which is a manufacture defect on Ford's end. When I took my van into the dealer they told me what was the problem also gave me a bulletin update on the problem. The original exhaust manifold gasket has a small hole in it, then new exhaust manifold does not have this hole. If you ask me Ford should be fixing that! since I have bought this van and had all this trouble I have been online looking up everybody else's comments on this van and all are the same. Faulty head gaskets, brakes, wiring, doors, battery, glass not being installed properly, tires bulging causing blowouts. It seems to me that Ford should own up to these problems. Before this I had financed a brand new 2000 Ford escort drove it down to California from washington when there was a sudden death in the family and never had not 1 problem with it. The only reason I upgraded to a van is because I have 3 kids and sometimes I have a friend of theirs or something so really we need the room of a van, but with all of this trouble I am thinking about going back to a car! can anyone help me nail Ford on these issues? I am compiling a file and mailing it to headquarters.

While driving vehicle reached high temperatures. Independent repair shop determined that high temperature was due to intake manifold failure.

While driving at 30 mph vehicle stalled. Smoke was coming from the tail pipe. Driver drove the vehicle to dealer for analysis, and mechanic noticed that the head gasket blew out, and the engine needed to be replaced.

I have several service issues that fall under the technical service bulletins for my 1996 Windstar. Most recently I took the van to mike shad Ford in jacksonville, FL because they had replaced the plugs and wires earlier this year. The engine continues to sputter and after diagnosis, I am told that it needs the following: 02 sensors - pcv tube- egr ports intake gaskets. Since the reason I took it to Ford in the first place was because of the sputtering and my service advisor tom summers when I told him I wanted a tune-up asked me what I wanted done as if I was the mechanic and knew what was wrong never bothered to have the van checked out. As the advisor, I would expect him to inform me as to the problem. He said that they just do what the customer asks of them. I asked that the plugs and wires be changed as that is all I knew to tell him. There is the incidence of my locks going haywire and rear windows being stuck also the speedometer had to be replaced as it stuck. All of these are on their various TSB. Should they not have repaired them at no charge to me? what is the function of a TSB as opposed to a recall? this vehicle was still under warranty when I purchased it. All of the incidences listed here did not occur at the same time. I have listed them never-the-less. The incident date is for intake gasket. It has not been repaired. Thanking you in advance, I appreciate your earliest response.

1996 Ford Windstar engine failure - systemic head gasket problem with the v6 3. 8l engine, which Ford has known about for many years. Symptoms: hard to start, rough idle, white smoke from tail pipe, engine coolant dripping from exhaust, oil looks like brown mayonnaise.

2000 Ford Windstar van check engine light coming on and rough idling, took van to Ford and the problem was intake manifold gasket $850. 00 repair van had 40000. 0 miles, what was funny is my boss has the same van and same thing happened to him at 43000. 0 miles. I think this is happening more than 4 occurences as stated.

Manifold gasket leak. Tbs article no. 03-16-1. This repair was done 7 months earlier than this and we paid a $200. 00 deductable and our warranty company paid the rest. 7 months and 13,800 miles later it went again and they never did the tbs to it the first time and they wouldn't pay for their error in not taking care of the problem the first time. Our warranty company would not pay as it's a faulty part from Ford and it should have been addressed at the 7 month prior apt. I had also brought it in a few months prior to this oct. Visit as the engine light was on and they said it was because my gas cap wasn't on tight enough and was charged $85. 00 for this visit. I wonder if this was a sign of what was happening. We we're treated terribly by Ford not only with not paying for their error but disrepectfull and uncalled for language and behavior.

Vehicle check engine light is illuminated. Engine developes a rough idle at stop while driving and has on ocassions stalled completely. Not in warranty at present time. Taken to independant repair shop and diagnosed with Ford TSB 01205. Replace manifold gasket and bolts, etc. Ford motor needs to issuse recall on the problem ASAP.

See all problems of the 1998 Ford Windstar 🔎.

1999 Fordwindstar steering rack replaced at 62000 miles, transmission replaced at 75000 miles and intake gasket rplaced at 75000 miles.

Consumer states that vacuum motor switch fails. He also states that the rubber diaphram fails all the time. This part of the auto is suppose to be working in relations with the intake manifold.

While traveling on the highway carbon fuel intake into manifold clogged up, causing fumes and bad smoke.

While traveling on the highway carbon fuel intake manifold clogged up, causing the fuel not to burn properly.

Current mileage approx. 55,800. . On a recent trip to cape may, NJ (approx. 150 miles from our home in bayside, NY ),the engine seized and the car died on the garden state parkway. The car was brought to the nearest Ford dealer/ service station, chapman Ford (June 31,2003), where it is being serviced currently. The technician could not evaluate the damage until July 2,2003, where he stated that a rod broke causing a puncture in the oil pan therefore causing a loss of fluid and a seize of the engine. At lease inception, we took an extended warranty through Ford hempstead with interstate warranty services. This warranty company ordered a complete tear down of the engine to find out why the rod broke, we agreed knowing that it was due to no neglect on our part, the tear down did not occur until July 10th and was examined on July 11th by an inspector hired by interstate. The claim is now being denied, even though we supplied them with all the documentation they requested on the upkeep and maintenance of the car. Their claim is that the last maintenance (oil change, filter and lubricants) were not done. We have the documentation to prove that monahan Ford, flushing, NY did this maintenance along with other work in January. Also, hempstead Ford, hempstead, NY, did service on the car April 2003 for the exact hesitation in acceleration that we experienced immediately before the engine seized. Unfortunately monahan Ford went out of business and we are being told that our car was not kept in good condition when documentation proves it was in two separate dealerships within a sixth month period. I now am faced with a $5000. 00+ bill to repair a car that was kept well and has an extended warranty. I am being forced to file suit with monahan Ford for fraudulent service and file suit with hempstead Ford for failure to correctly analyze the car's problem.

2000 Ford Windstar, 47,000 miles. Check engine light comes on. One item diagnosed is a leak in the intake manifold spacer. Ford service says intake manifold spacer is not covered under warranty. A)intake manifold is covered for 7 years, 70,000 miles in CA b)intake manifold is in two pieces, upper and lower. The spacer is what goes between both pieces of intake manifold. C)you cannot use one part of the intake manifold without the other, you must have that spacer, therefore it is part of the intake manifold unit. In addition, TSB 01-20-5 was issued for Windstar years 1997-2001 stating that there is a known issue with a leak in the intake manifold. That's five years that this was a problem.

Blown head gasket and intake manifold gasket at 70,700 miles took in to mechanic repair bill is approximately. $1200. 00. I only had this vehicle since June 2002. It is now March 2003. Found out that there was a new engine put in my van February of 2001.

Local garage diagnosed that our 1996 Ford Windstar van's 3. 8l engine had a blown head gasket, which was causing the check engine light to continually come on. Combustion gases were in the cooling system, as was oil residue. Oil also found in the top part of the engine in the intake manifold. It is suspected that coolant and maybe water have found their way into the cylinders. Don't know yet what damage is done internally to the engine. Local Ford dealership indicated that it was a $2000 charge to repair. Engine not under the warranty program issued by Ford for the 1995 Windstars even though it's the same 3. 8l engine. Ford customer assistance logged my call but said that they were not treating this issue as a warranty item and that I was on my own to fix it.

I am haveing lots of troubles with 1999 Ford winstar since the day I bought from dealer (lew webb Ford, garden grove). 1. Currently my van has manifold leakage. This has occurred immediately after the Ford dealer fixed my transmission leakage. The price quoted is $1200 out of which I have to pay $540. I have already spent lots of money in maint & repairs. Before this I had to take my van to dealer for following problems: transmission leakage at 37000 miles. Front & back brakes at 37000 miles. Electrical system failure. Couple of recalls. Currently it has approximately 50600 miles on odometer and I have been communicating to & fro with dealer. For the current problem dealer has offered me 55% in assisstance. But my problem is I am wasting lots of time, money & energy to have all this problems fixed. I would prefer to hand this van back to dealer or atleast get more assisstance from dealer or Ford company. Please advise me of any furthur action I should take. My phone number is 714-832-2200 ext 34. Thanks in advance for looking into this matter.

Vehicle was experiencing a recurring check engine light condition. Dealer replaced upper and lower intake manifold gaskets at our expense (at 48,000 miles). Check engine light has come on several times since. Vehicle is now stalling when stopped or at slow speeds, such as parking. Engine has a knock/rattle at open throttle. At 53,000 miles I feel as though the enging is starting to come apart.

96 Windstar, 3. 8l engine, 65,000 miles. Failure of head gasket and intake manifold gasket. $1700 to replace gaskets and related problems caused by the faiure.

Check engine light came on. Took van into shop to have checked. Through diagnosis and contact with local Ford dealer, determined that intake manifold gaskets were leaking, requiring a 700 plus dollar repair to correct the problem. Have since found out that Ford has been aware of this problem for quite some time, have issued numerous service bulletins related to this problem, and have a " kit " available to repair. Believe that this is a manufacturing defect that Ford has been fully aware of for a long time, and there should be a recall so the consumer is not burdened with repair costs for a problem that Ford should have taken care of long ago.

Driving at about 35 mph in moderate traffic, engine slowed, oil and check engine light came on. Engine began making a sputtering sound and white smoke billowed from the tail pipe. Vehicle decreased speed rapidly, endangering three children. Engine diagnositc proved blown head gasket.

On 12-13-02 I was told by mile one where I purchased my warranty to have my van towed to a Ford dealship because it had a mechanical breakdown. The service manager john locket said that the van had what he called an intermix in the engine,he said that coolant and the oil had somehow mixed together. I asked him what caused that to happened and he said that it could be a blown headgasket or a cracked cylinderhead. I called him on 12-23-02 and he said told me that the mechanic said that he couldn't tell what the problem was so I would have to give my permission for them to break down the engine at my own expenses and I was told the samething by mile one,I agreed. I contacted the service manager sam steward of kia of glen burnie where I purchased the van and he agreed to call and speak to the service manager john locket at the Ford dealership. He told him that he would have everything worked out after christmas. Mr. Steward told me to keep in touch and to let him know if I needed anymore assistance. I contacted him again the first part of January and I told him that they still couldn't find the problem so I made a conference call to mr. Locket with mr. Steward's permission. Mr. Locket explained to mr. Steward and myself that I would have to give my permission to have the engine pulled out to have the blocked checked to see if it is cracked I agreed again. Mr. Steward asked mr. Locket why was it taking so long to find the problem and he said that he was short on help. I spent over 1200 dollars on a rental van and had to catch rides with friends to and from the babysitters and work. I am stress out and I feel like mile one do not want to honor the warranty. I was told today by the Ford dealership service manager john locket that I had to pay a 1000 dollar deductible and they would pay the rest to replace the engine. The engine is covered under the warranty so why do I have to pay a 1000 dollar deductable.