Intake manifold needs replaced and valve cover. $1500 this is obviously a manufacturer defect/poor design. A 6 year old car should not need the intake manifold replaced.

- Harrison, TN, USA

My 2000 Ford Windstar will stall, while driving, without warning causing a loss of power to the engine, braking system and steering system in a 3800 pound vehicle. This is an intermittent problem, but repeats itself every 2 or 3 weeks or so. The last time it caused my wife to transverse into a stop sign controlled intersection in a populated residential area of los angeles county without brakes or steering. It has happened 15 times to myself and my wife and twice to South bay Ford since approximately Nov of 2004. I believe that Ford dispatched engineers to South bay Ford in hawthorne California who stated that this is an issue of fuel tank design and is not correctable. South bay Ford and Ford Motor Company together appear to be ready to return the vehicle to me with the instructions "don't let the fuel tank drop below 1/4 of a tank". the stated reason is that the Ford Windstar has a rectangular fuel tank that when driving on grades can cause the fuel to move to a part of the tank that will not pump the gas to the engine (this is supposedly a known bug and possibly associated with a service bulletin). I asked why, assuming that my driving habits (and my wife's) have not changed in relation to our letting our tank get below 1/4 tank, then why has this only surfaced as a problem in the last 4 or 5 months" why not the first 3.5 years?!" this car is covered by an extended warranty for one more year. The car has been in the shop for nearly three weeks now. Ford can not fix the problem, but will not take ownership of it either.

- Redondo Beach, CA, USA

We have owned this 2000 Ford Windstar since February of 2002. I have lost count of how many times we have taken it back to the dealer because of the poor gas mileage. It was getting 13 mpg and the dealer said that was normal. But over the past 3 months we have taken it back to the dealer 8 times because of the check engine light. The dealership has replaced the upper/lower intake gaskets, fuel pump, fuel filter, fuel line, mass oxygen flow sensor, both O2 sensors, valve cover gaskets, and a couple of other things too. The gas mileage actually got worse after several of the repairs. We are averaging between 9 - 10 mpg. In addition to the engine problems, our door locks don't work right and the interior lights don't work at all automatically...we have to turn them on and off. The door locks on the sliding doors have to worked by hand. I am so sick and tired of this car. We have had to cancel two road trips because of the problems, because I don't trust the car out of town. It already left me stranded overnight because the transmission blew up two months after we bought it.

- Castleton, NY, USA

Transmission will downshift very roughly, driver gets thrown forward. Dealer cannot find cause. The transmission was down shifting with a terrible jolt at low speed. The vehicle was difficult to start when cold and damp, also when the ignition was switched off and then back to start the engine fires and runs. The vehicle stalling was determined to be fuel pump failure. The gas mileage dropped from 23 mpg to 16 mpg and the vehicle burns more oil. The lights flicker when driving at night and A/C is on, also the vehicle shakes while idling with the A/C on. The driver"S seat cut and slashed the consumer?S clothing. There was a weak green light from the battery. Vehicle vibrates at high speed. The driver"S door was difficult to shut.

- Irvine, CA, USA

Vehicle stalls at any speed. It has been examined by dealer 15 times. Dealer cannot correct the problem, computer shows no error code.

- Irvine, CA, USA

Manufacturer states; van is built to their specifactions, thus there is nothing wrong with it. No safety defect listed.

- Irvine, CA, USA

At 35 mph engine will make a clunking noise with no warning. Cause unknown. Dealer notified.

- Seymour, WI, USA

Vehicle is using 1 quart of oil in 1000 miles. Vehicle inspected by Ford tech engineer. Found no exterior oil leakage and states vehicle operating as designed at this time. Transmission fluid was leaking from the pan gasket. The servo cover was resealed. Updated

- Shoreham, NY, USA

A ticking noise continues to come from engine when running and while driving. Vehicle been to the dealer on two occasions, and problem is reoccurring. Feel free to provide any further information.

- Rock Hill, SC, USA

After hitting brakes vehicle appears to lose power, and feels like it's going to lurch forward.

- Fairdale, NY, USA

There was a churping noise on right driver's side of car, took to dealer, and they replaced housing for motor.

- Miami, FL, USA

Since vehicle's last motor was put in, when shifting gears, it sounded like engine was ready to fall out. Consumer ended up trading vehicle, dealer offered a buy back.

- Cherokee, NC, USA

Motor replaced at 20000 miles. 2 weeks later, new motor was knocking like first one after 500 miles. Currently, third motor will be installed. Consumer trying to give vehicle back.

- Cherokee, NC, USA

The engine shut off while turning left. Nearly hit by oncoming traffic. Despite reassurance from dealer that this problem has been fixed, we are concerned the vehicle remains unsafe. These concerns were heightened by the September 12, 2000 article in the New York times.

- Malvern, PA, USA

While driving engine will begin to stall and suddenly die out, causing a loss of all power. Dealer has been contacted.

- Glenarm, IL, USA

Soon after parking vehicle consumer noticed that vehicle was on fire without any indication in car port. Consumer heard loud noise like a high- pressure leak and in a manner of seconds a white smoke turned to black and then to flames. Flames was comming from under the hood.

- Morgan, TX, USA