1996 Ford Windstar 3.8L from North America
Summary:
Don't buy it used
Faults:
The idler pulley went out and stranded me twice.
Both window motors went out and there is a loose piece of metal in the door near the windows.
The transmission shifts jerkily.
The ABS and overdrive lights have come on many times.
Replaced the alternator and had the brakes completely redone.
The final straw was the leaking of antifreeze into the engine. The dealer said it was through the "water pump gasket", but clearly it is a head gasket failure.
General Comments:
This van was the best choice of those available at the time. It is comfortable to drive and has run well until now. There are so many reports of the same problems that I guess I am lucky to have gotten it as far down the road as far as I did before having head gasket problems.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 25th June, 2004
25th Oct 2004, 10:23
If you have a small puddle on the passenger side of the vehicle then it is either the water pump or the front engine cover gasket. Either one of these repairs is not cheap as you have to lift the engine about 4 inches to access.