10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 23,663 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
The dome light and the door ajar sensor light stays on. The consumer is concerned that the battery will drain completely. The cause has yet to be determined. The vehicle would shake when it was started. One injector was changed. The consumer felt that the other five injectors may go bad.
- South Sioux City, NE, USA
When engine is started and all doors are closed and latched, the door ajar light stays on and interior dome lights stay on as well as the door ajar chime rings. This is continuous while driving, and eventually turns itself off. This creates a hazard especially while backing as it is not possible to see behind vehicle at dusk or dark. There is no consistency as to when this happens. It has been found that if a door is indeed ajar, that the door ajar light will stay on, but the dome light will go off as will the chime.
- Burbank, WA, USA
Our 1996 Ford Windstar gl, which we purchased new, has 118000. We have experienced a broken (bouncing) speedometer, dome light malfunctioned, ABS and brake light malfunctioned, and more recently, leaking coolant which is linked to a blown head gasket and check engine warnings. The cost has been astronomical. According to many other consumers, all of these issues are common with the 96 model. Please investigate whether Ford intends to make any recalls regarding these issues.
- South Barre, VT, USA
1996 Ford Windstar switches are bad in doors causing door ajar light to stay on. When driving, stays on until you are going approx. 15-18 miles per hour. This is a hazard especially at night. Due to the glare on the windows inside the van. I have went to a dealer and they said it would be $400 dollars to fix it. I don't have $400. I was also visiting family in Indiana this last week and an old friend of mine has the exact van and problem. I currently live in Colorado and thought that it was odd that someone who lives in Indiana has the same problem that I have with our Windstar. So, then I decided to file a complaint. And maybe something will be done.
- Colorado Springs, CO, USA
The inside courtesy did not shut off.
- Indianapolis, IN, USA
Interior light came on and off intermittently, and without prior warning smoke was coming from hood area.
- Beaverton, OR, USA
The dome light always stayed on.
- Franklin, VT, USA
Door ajar light and courtesy light would remain on after shutting doors. Dealer/manufacturer notified, and informed consumer that there are no recalls concerning that problem.
- Hamilton, OH, USA
Dome light stays on after starting or closing door - intermittent problem.
- Tinley Park, IL, USA
Nothing but problems since purchasing 1)door ajar light constantly illuminated-all doors checked none ajar 2) engine check light occasionally comes on-happened right after purchase and catalytic converter replaced obviously didn't fix problem 3)occasionally power windows/locks and A/C will go out unless adjustable fan speed turned to high 4)recently front passenger door will open at random usually during a turn-luckily no one sits in that seat 5)speedometer will occasionally flicker higher while driving at speeds greater than 65mph all of these problems have surfaced in the past 1-1.5 yrs and have continued since then.
- Andover, IL, USA
Engine coolant needs filling every 2-3 days, transmission skips, engine check light always illuminated and interior door ajar light never goes off.
- Billerica, MA, USA
Eletrical system shorted out. Windshield wipers worked only when washers were being used, dome light stayed on when door was closed and won't go off.
- Proctor, OH, USA
- Middleboro, MA, USA