25th Dec 2004, 11:12

Just replaced the rack and pinion on my 2000 Windstar.

We bought the van new in april of 2000 and noticed a grinding noise in the front-end at about 20,000 miles.

Dealer said the steering assembly needed lubrication and sent us on our way. Had it back several times for the same problem and finally had to replace the rack and pinion at an $800 cost to us. Dealer mentioned problems with the 2000 windstar, but said Ford had not authorized any warranty repairs. I contacted Ford and they told me it was normal with a car that has 52000 miles on it. Won't be buying any new Fords!!!

20th Jun 2006, 12:25

I have a 2000 Ford Windstar, which I purchased new in April of 2000. I had to replace the rack and pinion at 32,000 miles. I had to have the transmission rebuilt at 74,000 miles. I had this vehicle in the shop 15 times in the first 4 years I owned it. I only keep it because I paid cash for it, so it is not worth me trading in. At this point I figure I have fixed most everything.

6th Dec 2006, 11:51

Just the facts:

I have two Ford Windstar LX.

I bought the first one new, and it has 199,000 miles.

I drive 200 miles a day to and from work, that is from Richmond to DC.

I love my Windstar so much I bought another one.

I am looking to buy 10 for my shuttle business.

Just the fact, there is nothing wrong with my Windstar.

Morara.

27th Aug 2007, 08:38

I own a 2003 Windstar and will never EVER buy another Ford product again. The issues with my van are, let's see...

#1-New AC unit put in at about 80k miles.

#2-Rear windows motors replaced three times, each side. Kept burning out. They are burned out now, but I refuse to pay out of my pocket to have them fixed.

#3-Brakes went out at about 30k miles-needed new rotors and everything.

#4-New transmission put in at 95k miles. About 2000 miles after the extended warranty ran out. AFTER I had taken it in (while the warranty was still current-they said it "ran like a dream) Nice timing huh?

#5-Rack and pinions just went and will be replaced today.

My van has 100,000 miles on it. It sucks and so does Ford's customer service department.

13th Sep 2007, 10:55

I have a 2003 Ford Windstar with 86,000 miles on it.

*Sometimes the cabin lights flash for no reason

*3 major A/C services. 1 with the main unit and 2 with the rear A/C

*Major ABS repair where the ABS Module and AB Control was replaced. ($2,000.00)

*Problems with the rear speakers going off and on and making white noise

*Transmission shakes the car when shifting into 4th gear.

*Have had to replace the battery twice after we let the Ford Dealer touch our car, or needed to be jump started to leave their lot.

Paid $1,600 for Premium Care extended warranty to 100,000 miles with $100.00 deductible... I would tell EVERYONE to buy this. It has paid for itself over and over again.

No, we will never buy a Ford EVER again. They have some of the WORST mechanics and customer service.

21st Sep 2007, 19:05

A year ago we purchased a used 2003 Windstar. It currently has 177,000 miles. We recently found that the rack and pinion was about to go out. As we were getting ready to replace that the A/C went out. As we were contemplating that, the transmission went out. I was driving down the interstate and the transmission just seemed to disengage from driving the wheels. The battery immediately drained and it does not seem to shift into any gear at all. I was wondering if this is somehow all related to each other. I tranny man said that if the rack and pinion overheat it could cause a transmission shut down. He said it may not even be the tranny until they look at it. After spending $200 in towing and another $200 in rental fees we are staggering to find out how much the cost of repairs is going to be. We've been given estimates of $1,600+ for a new tranny, $500 for a new rack and pinion, and up to $1,200 for a new A/C. We still owe the bank 5K on the thing and we're $$$ poor. Has anyone had an experience like this and any idea's about what to fix first?

24th Sep 2007, 10:58

You must have met a great sales man a year ago. Let's guess you did 20 K miles in that year. That means he sold you a vehicle with 157000 miles for more than $5000? and you took out a loan for that? Did you do any research at all?

In all likelihood your Windstar will cost more and more in repairs. But you may be lucky... Work with your best mechanic on the least expensive strategy. And start saving money for a better used vehicle.

27th May 2008, 11:11

I own a 2000 Winstar with less than 70,000 miles and have interior lights flash, A/C not working, ticking noise in the engine, rack and pinion going bad and brake problems. I too agree that the Winstar is junk. I owned a Aerostar and had close to 200,000 miles before I traded it on the Winstar. What a mistake, the Aerostar was a great vehicle and probably still running somewhere.

16th Jul 2008, 20:18

We bought a 2000 Windstar with 10,000 miles in 2003. We had to do a new transmission at 50,000 miles, and now the whole rack and pinion system and steering pump need to be replaced. This is after paying to have a new steering pump put in 1 1/2 years ago. Each time we have it inspected, each year, per PA state requirements, it costs $600- $800. We only got 5 years out of it and I am ready to junk it. My husband thinks paying the current $1300 repair fees will keep us on the road. I think we are throwing good money after bad. We have three small children but I am tempted to buy a smaller vehicle. Any comments?

27th Oct 2008, 13:24

Come on people! If your steering rack goes out at 170k, it's because it's worn out! Not because of Ford! Things on cars wear out just like everything. The American public is convinced that Toyota, Honda, Nissan all make better cars than Domestics. Do you know why? All the imports require that you do routine maintenance i.e. timing chain, radiator flush, brake service (before the brakes go bad), tranny flush and many more items. Customers are told if you don't do the maintenance, that your warranty will not cover these items if they fail.

Now when a customer walks into a Ford dealer and the service dept. tells them they should do a trans flush or a timing chain for normal maintenance, 90% time they say no. But when that timing chain goes bad they are the first ones to say that Ford should pay for it.

Take responsibly for your purchase!!