Faults:

Needed to have the front brake callipers replaced at 160,000 km followed by repairs to the intake manifold (leaking coolant!!!) and now it looks like the front end ball joints need to be replaced.... The minor items that have gone wrong include the ABS light coming on occasionally and the rear hatch door switch sticking (results in interior lights staying on).

General Comments:

I love the ride in the vehicle but more than likely won't be buying another Windstar..... too many headaches (and too many withdrawals from the bank account).

Faults:

1. Sliding door reinforcement bracket recall (warranty).

2. Sliding door electrical contacts (warranty).

3. Radio negative volume control (warranty).

4. Starter motor cable assembly coroded (warranty).

5. Head gasket leakage tested under recall (no work required).

6. Head Gasket replaced under Ford extended recall. Symptoms were intermittent heat in vehicle and fluctuating engine temperature.

7. Rear brake cylinders leak. Replaced at my cost.

8. ABS light on prematurely

9. Hand brake light intermittent due to ABS light being on.

General Comments:

Although Ford has stood behind its' product up to this point it seems, I am generally worried and disappointed at the types of problems I have seen. It is my first Ford vehicle and it is very likely to be my last. It boggles the mind that Ford could possibly screw-up the design of an engine or a transmission. This has to be pretty straight forward stuff these days. The only options left are that they either don't attract the best engineers or they do it intentionally. Is the service business this good? Somewhere, somebody at Ford has a business case with a very positive net present value that is based on some number of vehicles being defective. These problems are not manufacturing problems, they are design problems. After I get my Windstar back from the shop this Wednesday, I'm selling it and either buying a Japanese mini-van or a sedan. You drive this off the lot, change the oil, and do nothing else for at least 5-6 years.

Faults:

Transmission.

Rear power door lock motor.

Passenger window motor.

ABS light constantly on.

General Comments:

Avoid this vehicle!!! It may also be advisable to avoid FORD--they have yet to respond in over 5 months to 3 letters.

"Quality is Job One" should be removed from Ford's advertisements since it is obviously misleading the public.

Faults:

Transmission: 40,000 - forward clutch piston and forward clutch plate, 65,000 - reverse clutch pack.

Steering: rack, lower column coupler, u-joint connector.

O2 sensor.

Alternator.

Radio.

Windshield washer switch.

Sliding door.

Shift interlock.

General Comments:

I'm seeing all the same types of problems posted in other forums. In my opinion, the Windstar has several major defects that Ford will not stand behind. Don't buy a Windstar!!!

Faults:

Have had to have the CV Shaft replaced twice. Dealer nor Ford can explain why!

Took it in for 60k check and found out it needed transmission overhauled, headgaskets replaced (For a rough idle?)

General Comments:

The vehicle overall is good.. It has been reliable; But it bothers me to find out when I took it in for its scheduled check-up it has all the problems that the Ford dealer was aware of but we were never told of them. The Ford 1-800 pepole were of no help what so ever when I called them with my concerns. I was told the notice for the recall on the head gasket was being mailed out to me after I called them. Luckily we bought an extended warranty. 3/36 is just is not adequate.