Radiator Problems of Ford Windstar

The radiator and water pump went bad and the transmission went out as I was driving. The electrical locks on the doors locks us in regularly, while driving it often slides on it's own. There's a good bit of things going on with my car that I don't know about to tell you about.

See all problems of the 2000 Ford Windstar 🔎.

The vehicle stops in the middle of traffic. It will stall out when stopped. The car will not restart. It is not anything that pertains to a tune up or oil change or transmission fluid. The radiator got low a;little but that was not the problem. There was a recall on 2003 Ford Windstar limited edition but mine was not in this recall. I feel that my car should be fixed because it his a safety hazard. Plus the front wheel bearings are bad, which causes my tires to go bald. Ford will not fix the life threatening situation.

See all problems of the 2003 Ford Windstar 🔎.

2003 Ford Windstar 71,000 miles - bought new for $35,000 in December 2003, I purchased a new 2003 Ford Windstar. I am the only only driver of this van, to and from work and a few road trips. In the beginning a few things went wrong but I wasn't too concerned at the time. Since then, here is a list of things that has gone wrong with this van: 1. No heat - bendor actuator 2. Driver's side side window wouldn't roll up or down (fixed) 3. Passenger side window and back windows do not work 4. Interior lights go on and off 5. Gasket replaced on engine because car was dying when I came to a stop. ($450) 6. Rear window defroster doesn't work 7. Rusting out by back tires 8. Transmission failure $2,800. Fluid from the radiator got into the transmission fluid! (now how did that happen other than being defective) 9. 2 safety recalls I am lucky I haven't been killed in this vehicle! the transmission failed with no warning! you would think when I had my car serviced they would have noticed that my transmission fluid did not look right. I am so frustrated with this van that I have worked hard and struggled to pay for, but I did it. My entire family has always stuck by Ford and I have always defended them. I can't afford another vehicle right now so I had to dig deep to pay for these repairs. I have done quite a bit of research on this vehicle and I cannot believe there hasn't been a recall on the transmission. Now I am stuck with driving a $35,000 van that I don't feel safe driving! rhonda elias 7217 agnes Ave kcmo 64132 816-361-7581 816-510-1423 rhonda. Elias@gsaig. Gov copy to: NHTSA (national highway traffic safety administration) missouri attorney general (consumer protection).

No problems with the Windstar before the incident. The vehicle was parked and unattended when the owner was alerted by other residents that it was on fire. The smoke was white in color and coming from the front left area of the engine compartment. At the time the fire department arrived, the fire had made its way through the fire wall into the passenger compartment. The investigator determined the fire appeared to have started in the front left corner of the engine compartment evident by the heavier burning in that area there is a v-pattern noted on the back side of the radiator pointing to the center of the engine. The fire appeared to have breached the fire wall at the area where the main wiring harness and steering columns come through into the passenger compartment. Cause was ruled undetermined.

See all problems of the 1998 Ford Windstar 🔎.

My heat wouldn't come on sometimes, then the hot light came on. Had it in the shop 2 times, everytime said it was fine, only changing out temp gauge. Dec 2005 3rd time took it in, same problem only oil light would also flicker at low idle pulling into parking spot. Took it back in and told them they had to find out what was wrong, it had been going on too long. Told then heavy residue on oil cap, could see dark marks around exhaust pipe. Loosing radiator fluid slowly. I am no mechanic but all I researched showed head gasket. To make story brief, they told me same day all was ok, computer read fine. I told them I was not satisfied and to keep testing. Took 3 days, then they call me to say the problem was that the head gasket had failed. Of course my extended warranty had ended 2 weeks before. They claimed I had been driving it with no oil and tried to get me to buy a new engine! I had been checking the oil myself, never ran low. Oil pan thick with gunk. I had it in for all reg maint, why would it have gotten that bad? $3200. 00 later I had new head gasket water pump, oil pump, and various seals and hoses. Picket it up, following day had it back for not wanting to start, rough idle. Another $175. 00 later I got it back. Unhappy to know this has been an on going issue and my 98 Windstar, fell in the age/miles time frame for the issue. Knowing that one van had this issue they should have know from all my descriptions what the problem was. If found 2 weeks earlier it would have been covered under warranty. Oil light still flickers now and then when pulling into parking spot. I will never but a Ford product again. Company was unwilling to work with me, give me any breaks.

My heating was working intermitently so I brought the vehicle to crown Ford in lynbrook to diagnose the problem. I was told that the head gasket needs to be replaced. The radiator also needs to be replaced due to the head gasket leaking into it. Cost for the repair would be approximately $2300. There was a recall on previous years vehicles and there are many tales of woe regarding this problem posted on the web. I don't believe Ford has fixed this problem sufficiently for the vehicles produced after 1996.

My 1996 Windstar had head gaskets repaired less than two years ago. At the time, the garage doing the work indicated the engine had a design problem, and the gaskets would probably, over time, fail again. This has happened, as radiator fluid has begun leaking once again into the engine block. This is a problem Ford knows exists with the 1996 Windstar, as it did with the 89-95 models, and it needs to be addressed.

See all problems of the 1996 Ford Windstar 🔎.

The first sign of trouble occurred when the vehicle was brought into the repair shop. Informed by the mechanic that there was a problem with the head gasket, in which the radiator fluid was leaking into the engine and that the repair cost would be approximately $1,500 (canadian). Ford was notified but refuses to acknowledge and to compensate the problem because it?s not covered in its extended warranty even though its warranty is for seven years or 160,000 km.

Problems with head gaskets / if compression check had been done bending of piston rods may not have occurred. The consumer experienced, rough idle along with the smell of anti freeze(indicated a head gasket problem), the engine light had come on as a result of a misfire code(the radiator was flushed), there were noises that had come from the engine(lost power/slowed to a crawl), and the consumer was told that something had come loose in the engine. (there was an intermittent miss in cylinder #1) the rough idle and the smell of antifreeze was repaired, the service dealer recommended the consumer replace the engine.

This incident started when I had noticed a small amount of radiator fluid on the garage floor, and a slight smell of radiator fluid when I ran the heater. In addition, the check engine light had come on again in November 2002. I took the van to the apple valley Ford dealer and after diagnosing it, I was told the number 4 spark plug is stuck and the gasket needs to be replaced on the timing cover on the engine (this was the source of the radiator fluid leak). The dealers professional opinion was the head gasket is also bad, the head for the #4 plug would need replacing, and combined with the need to replace the timing cover gasket, they recommended a complete engine replacement at $4,400. I declined and took the van to another local mechanic, who unfortunately confirmed the diagnosis and indicated there were known problems and technical service bulletins for engine gasket replacements with Ford Windstar 3. 8 liter v6 engines in 1995. They also indicated they had started seeing this same problem turning up in 1996 models. They also quoted a similar number & recommended using a jasper engine instead of the Ford engine as the warranty is 75,000 miles. I also declined and the van is now sitting parked in my driveway while I continue to make car payments on a vehicle I can not drive for fear of engine failure.

Engine head gasket blewout, causing blue exhaust to come from tail pipe. This could have caused a fire. Dealer notified. Indicators are that radiator coolant had been leaking into oil causing 02 sensors to fail and be replaced. Dealer advised that entire engine be replaced.

Engine check light was on/ off. Consuemr sent vehicle to a radiator shop, and they referred her to dealer. Dealer has to replace gaskets because they have destroyed engine. Antifreeze was apparently leaking, it has to be filled frequently.

Engine was running rough; a lot of white smoke cme out of tailpipe. Radiator was losing antifreeeze every day. Took to dealership & mechanic would not look at vehicle. Contacted Ford manufacturer & csr indicated not under extended warranty, no repair will be done. Took to another dealership & was placed on diagnostic machine. Was technical service bulletin on head gaskets, but manufacturer was going by VIN.

Water level loss in radiator due to head gasket failure.

Radiator hose.