1997 Ford Windstar Complaints

I OWN A 1997 FORD WINDSTAR, OVER THE COURSE OF A MONTH MY HUSBAND AND A FEW FRIENDS USED MY VAN TO GO HUNTING. OVER THE COURSE OF THAT MONTH HIS FRIEND WEIGHING IN AT 300 POUND SAT IN THE CENTER REAR SEAT. THE SEAT BELT SNAPS INTO PLACE ON THE SIDE OF THAT SEAT. DURING THAT MONTH OF GETTING IN AND OUT AND PLOPPING DOWN ON IT, IT BROKE AND NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE IT IN ORDER TO USE IT AGAIN. BUT IM AFRAID THAT IF IT COULD BRAKE BECAUSE SOMEONE SAT ON IT THEN HOW EASILY COULD IT BREAK DURING AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO DO AN IN DEPTH INVESTIGATION OF IT BEFORE SOMEONE IS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE SEAT BELT BREAKS AND SOMEONE IS HURT OR WORSE KILLED. *NM

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE WITH SPEED LIMIT OF 70 MPH... WAS DRIVING ABOUT 77 MPH AT THE TIME... VEHICLE'S FACTORY INSTALLED CRUISE CONTROL WAS IN USE... SPEEDOMETER BEGAN TO FLUCTUATE WILDLY BETWEEN ABOUT 60 MPH AND MAXIMUM (OVER 120 MPH)... VEHICLE'S SPEED REMAINED CONSTANT - TROUBLE WAS JUST WITH THE SPEEDOMETER... VEHICLE HAS 90,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER... 1997 FORD WINDSTAR... SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T FLUCTUATE WILDLY AT MOST SPEEDS OVER 30 MPH... FROM CHECKING ON WEB THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER OWNERS OF FORD WINDSTARS - THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *JB

NEXT CARS USA IN BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIA SOLD US A FORD WINDSTAR WHICH WAS DEFECTIVE (A LEMON). WITHIN TWO WEEK AFTER OUR PURCHASE THE VEHICLE CUT OFF JEOPARDIZING THE SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN EACH TIME WE PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. WE HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO NEXT CARS FOR REPAIRS AND TO DATE WE ARE NOW MOVING INTO OUR THIRD MONTH WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION. WHEN WE INQUIRED ABOUT A LOAN VEHICLE JUAN CASILLAS (MANAGER) RESPONSE WAS THAT "WE DON'T DO THAT." WE HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AND WHEN NEXT CARS RECEIVED THE COMPLAINT ON MARCH 8, 2006 JUAN CASILLAS TOLD US THAT "WE JUST STOPPED WORKING ON THE CAR BECAUSE YOU PISSED US OFF." WE ARE AT OUR WITS END AND SO WE ARE SUBMITTING THIS COMPLAINT FOR AN INVESTIGATION. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATES HAS BEEN HAVING SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE SINCE 2002. ON APRIL 28, 2004 THE SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT PROVIDING AN ACCURATE SPEED READING. ON DECEMBER 9, 2004 THE SLIDING DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK OR SLIDE PROPERLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR AND DETERMINED THAT THE SLIDE WHEELS WERE DRY. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE DOOR LATCH, AND NOW IT NEEDED REPLACEMENT AGAIN. ON FEBRUARY 5, 2005 THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED AT 75, 172 MILES, AND ON NOVEMBER 21, 2005 THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. ALL REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE AT CONTACT'S EXPENSE.*AK

BEHIND IN PAYMENTS. FORD MOTOR CREDIT ISSUED WRITE OF SUMMONS ON 7/3/03, TRIAL SCHEDULED FOR 9/22/03. ON 7/29/03, WHILE AT WORK, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, DAMAGING 2 OTHER VEHICLES PARKED ON EITHER SIDE OF ME. FIRE MARSHALL INVESTIGATED THE INCIDENT AND FOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. INSURANCE INVESTIGATED AND VEHICLE WAS TOTAL LOSS. INSURANCE PAID FORD MOTOR CREDIT $5,689.25 (CLAIM [XXX]). FORD MOTOR CREDIT OBTAINED JUDGMENT AND WAGES ARE CURRENTLY BEING GARNISHED ON A VEHICLE THAT WAS CLAIMED A TOTAL LOSS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *JB UPDATED 07/18/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)