Faults:

Rear window defogger never worked.

Transmission failed at 75000.

Head gasket failed at 92000.

ABS brakes alarm light came on at 80000, 83000, 85000

90000, 93000, 99000.

Engine operating at high tempeture and low tempeture, 30000.

Tire ware was normal.

Replaced 3 oxygen sensors 35,000.

Water pump failed at 38000.

General Comments:

The rear window defogger never worked in this car do to a broken wire in the rear window defogger.

Auto Transmission started shifting into gear hard upon purchase. Auto dealer said there was no problem with the transmission, but agreed to change the oil. The transmission failed at 75000 miles. Cost is about $4000 to replace.

Ford will not warranty this problem. The extended warranty purchased with the Winstar will not pay for replacement, due to the fact that I did not save the reciept for the transmission oil changes that were done at recommended intervals.

Head gasket failed, and the engine was replaced with a short block, at 92000 miles. Head gasket failed again, at 3000 miles on new rebuilt short block installed and rebuilt for Ford Motor Company. New replacement engine gets terrible fuel millage, and the local Ford dealer wants $90 to annalise the problem with the engine, that they rebuilt and installed.

ABS brake system has been nothing but problems. The brake ABS warning light has been coming on at regular intervales. The sensors have been the problem and was repalced under the extended warranty.

When this car was purchased the dealer was notified that the engine tempeture was operating all over the place. The dealer claimed that the sensor was bad and repalced it. This continued to be a problem so they then decided that it was the tempeture gauge. The gauge was not the problem at all, but a lose wire that I found on the sending unit.

Oxygen sensors turned out to be a problem on a trip across country at 35000 miles and was repalced under the extended warranty.

The Water Pump failed at 38000 miles and was replaced under the extended warranty.

Faults:

The air conditioning went at 70,000. Ford wanted to replace the compressor and the evaporator at the tune of $1200. I took it for a second opinion and found that the evaporator had a very small leak, so I have had Freon added on two different occasions at less than $20 each time.

The head gasket blew at 90,000. Ford did fix it under warranty. Luckily, my mechanic knew about the warranty and sent me on my way to the Ford dealership.

The ABS light stays on and has been on since 45,000. The ABS system still works, I refuse to pay $250 for a sensor.

The alternator and compressor was replaced at 100,000 miles.

It's in the shop right now with a check engine light, no air conditioning and raw fuel being blown through the engine. We suspect a stuck fuel injector.

General Comments:

I am a very gentle driver. I take scrupulous care of my vehicles and I have owned Fords since I was 17 years old, I am now 44. I purchased the Windstar for the room and comfort of a mini-van and I owned a Dodge Caravan at one time. The problems with the Dodge were minimal and it was very comfortable. I should have bought another one instead of the Windstar. The cost in dollars of owning the Windstar is disturbing, but not as much as the un-reliability. I am a single mother with two children under 12 years old and my biggest fear is being stuck out on the road somewhere with them.