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Ford WindstarIntroduced in the mid-1990s, the front-wheel-drive Ford Windstar minivan campaigned with an emphasis on, and reputation for, safety. And in the hotly contested family minivan market of the time, that was an especially solid piece of ground to be on. As long as buyers didn't need to haul adults in back on a regular basis, the Windstar served a family's needs just fine.
drbrucedc, you forgot or accidently deleted the first tag for the quote... It confused me for a little bit, I though you were schizophrenic for a moment. It's all good though.
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1998 Ford Windstar GL 3.8L 253,100 miles
2005 Toyota Prius Package 6 1.5L 135,000 miles
2006 Toyota Sienna LE 3.3L 36,000 miles
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Happy WCstar, I bought a 96 WS new and still own it and maintain it by the book. Overall it has taken me from the Rockies twice, to Maine, to Niagara and to the Keys in Florida. I am not complaining but I was surprised to see that I was not the only one with the weird problems I have encountered.
Check engine lights blinking, brakes locking up, oil in the coolant, door ajar alarms going off while you are driving, alternator failure, brights going on when you use the left turn signal, erratic speedo readings, rust, interior fans running full blast after the car is shut off, ignition coil going bad, 3 tie rod end replacements, crunching noise when you put it in drive if you are on a slight hill (use the hand brake to eliminate), etc. Now I have an intermittent "flat-tire-like" rumbling in the front end only on the highway. Still I would say it is quiet and it got my family around safe to where we are going.
It can be a little frustrating however and it helps to hear others talk who share these experiences. For the life of me I cannot figure why, if yours is working fine, you are on this forum (to complain about us) unless you are from FORD. Be Happy and join back when YOU (best ever-stop crying) have something to discuss other than YOUR meaningless complaining about us expressing some frustration. In the end we all want to be like you. Once my front end gets fixed, I am with you, except of course to help other suckers, I mean, Brothers, with Windstars. Please do not take offense as we are not doing this for giggles but to get some honest advice. It is a user forum, get used to it.
Last edited by emiguel; 10-28-2007 at 11:30 AM.
Reason: clarification of who it was for.
Well, I'll toss my hat into the ring.
We've only got 127,000 miles on our '03 Windstar. Bought it new, it's been a very good car for us.
Wife hauls the 3 kids to school and back every day, plus band practice, dance rehersal, karate practice, Girl Scouts, etc.
I change the engine oil every 3,000, change the transmission fluid every 60,000 (new filter & full fluid change), I replaced the tires at 80,000 miles, front brake pads at 115,000, alternator at 120,000 (I hosed it down while it was hot & running, I think the thermal shock cracked a diode, as one stator circuit failed).
After about 5 million open-and-close cycles, the RH rear power door sometimes does not want to latch... the front latch is fine, the rear latch is the reluctant one... I signed on to noodle around and see if anyone else has been through this, any tips or tricks.
Sorry to see the bad experiences some people are having. Like I said, my Windstar has been one fine vehicle. The nightmares I have personally seen are one friend with a Dodge van, another friend with a GM van, another friend with a Toyota Corolla.
See ya around on the forum.... I'll noodle around and try to offer 'helpful' advice when I can.
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