NHTSA complaint: 1999 FORD WINDSTAR — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I BOUGHT A FORD WINDSTAR VAN FROM A USED CAR DEALER BY THE NAME OF RAY PRICE IN DEC. OF '07. WE HAD BEEN LOOKING FOR A VAN FOR SOME TIME AND I HAD LOOKED FOR ANY RECALLS BEFORE WE PURCHASED. I FOUND NONE LISTED. WE PAID OFF THE CAR LAST MONTH, AND THAT'S WHEN THE TROUBLE STARTED. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE GARAGE 3 TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH BECAUSE IT KEPT STALLING WHEN IT WOULD IDLE FOR LONGER PERIODS OF TIME. THE MECHANIC FIXED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD SEALS AND THE SURROUNDING PARTS, REPLACING THEM AS NEEDED EACH TIME. I ALSO HAD THE SPARK PLUGS AND PLUG WIRES REPLACED JUST IN CASE. ON THURSDAY JULY 23RD, MY HUSBAND REPLACED THE BRAKES ON THE FRONT. HE DROVE THE VAN ALL DAY WITH NO PROBLEMS OTHER THAN THE OCCASIONAL STALL. WE STOPPED FOR MILK AT THE GROCERY STORE ON OUR WAY HOME FROM MY WORK AND HAD BEEN INSIDE FOR ONLY 5-10 MINUTES WHEN THE MANAGER CALLED OUT THAT OUR CAR WAS ON FIRE. WE RAN OUTSIDE, AND THE FIREMEN GOT IT OUT, BUT THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. I SPOKE TO MY MECHANIC AND THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR AND BOTH TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD COME ACROSS A RECALL THAT HAD BEEN OUT A FEW YEARS AGO ABOUT MY VAN. IT SEEMS THAT FORD RECALLED THE CRUISE CONTROL MECHANISM IN THE ENGINE BECAUSE IT CAUSED ELECTRICAL FIRES JUST LIKE WHAT HAPPENED TO MINE. THE FIRE CHIEF SAID IT LOOKED EXACTLY LIKE WHAT HE HAD SEEN BEFORE WHEN IT HAPPENED. SINCE THEN, FORD HAS DENIED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL AND WON'T LOOK INTO THE MATTER. MY CAR HAD BEEN ON THIS LOT FOR AT LEAST A YEAR BEFORE WE BOUGHT
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation