1999 Ford Windstar LX 3.8 Liter
Summary:
Get an Extended Warranty!!
Faults:
I bought this van about 5 months before the manufacturer's warranty expired. I didn't have any problems during this time. After reading some horror stories about this van on the Internet, I decided to purchase the additional 3 year/36,000 mile warranty for $1,300.00. Within ONE month after purchasing this warranty, I think I may have already gotten my money's worth out of it.
The engine light came on, so I took it to the dealer. He said I needed a new Air Flow Sensor. The installed price would have been $380.00. I paid the $50.00 deductible and was on my way. Two miles after I left the dealership, the engine light turned on again. I called the dealership from my cell phone to let them know. They scheduled me for the next day and said the technician may have forgotten to reset the computer.
After they took a look at the van, they determined the technician did, in fact, reset the sensor and that something else was wrong. They checked it out and found that the van needs to have the complete intake manifold replaced. It took them a week to get in and it is in the shop right now getting repaired. I don't know how much it costs to have this replaced yet... but I imagine it will probably cost at least the balance of my contract which is $920.00. Thank goodness I still have two years and 10 months to go on the contract. Ford will more than likely lose money on this contract.
General Comments:
The van is beautiful. We actually love it. It's loaded with all the goodies. It rides pretty good. Sometimes at low accelerations, the transmission clunks. The seats are easy to pull out and move around. The power door is very convenient. However, the van is not very comfortable to ride in for extended rides. The seats are very hard and stiff. It's hard to get comfortable. I find myself continuously adjusting the seat.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know
Review Date: 4th December, 2002
17th Mar 2003, 23:08
Thanks for your comment on the 1999 Ford Windstar.
The comment you wrote is almost identical to the same problems that I am having.
I bought my van with about 18000 miles on it in 2000. I also purchase the extended warranty from my lender with a 5 year 50000 warranty. I currently have on 37000 miles on the van. My problems also started with the check engine light. The van was running
Fine and it appear to be a minor problem. The van ran smooth without any noticeable problems. In my opinion, the problem appeared to be very minor.
I took the van in to the Ford dealer for service. The dealer determine that the upper intake o-ring isolator bolts, fuel pressure regulatory vacuum hose and update valve cover
Work would need to be done ($445). I paid the bill and after about 2 weeks the check engine light came on again. For the next 3 months the engine light would come on about
Every 2 to 3 weeks. Each time we brought the van back to the dealer, the computer was checked and reset. Each time the dealer could not find any thing wrong. After about
5 times, the dealer determined the problem was not a upper intake problem, but a lower intake valve problem (about $1200 not cover by my warranty). The dealer performed the service, however is been about 1 week now and my van is still in the shop. The dealer informed that the van is cutting off when idling and they cannot determine why. I think I may have lost the my van. I don't think I will get the van back in as reliable condition as it was before the check engine light first came on. We also loved our van before all of this happened.