Safety Recalls & Notices
We found 17 safety recalls for the 1996 Ford Windstar. Recalls are sourced from both NHTSA (US) and Transport Canada databases. Contact your authorized Ford dealer to schedule free repairs.
On certain vehicles, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat, smoke, or burn, potentially resulting in an underhood fire. The condition may occur either when the vehicle is parked or when it is in operation. Correction: Dealers will install a new switch or fused wiring harness. Note: This is an expansion of recall 2005028 (05S28) for vehicles not previously included in the campaign.
On certain Windstars the crossover brake line above the catalytic converter may contact the dash panel insulator. The salt and water absorbed by the insulator may promote corrosion. Exhaust heat can also accelerate the corrosion process which may ultimately lead to a leak in the brake line. These vehicles were originally sold or currently registered in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Correction: Dealers will reposition or replace the line as needed.
Certain vehicles do not comply with the requirements of CMVSS 105 - Hydraulic Brake Systems. The brake fluid warning statement embossed on the side of the brake fluid reservoir is not clearly visible by direct view. Correction: Warning labels, along with installation instructions and wipe materials will be sent to owners. Labels will be installed on the front of the reservoir where they will be entirely visible by direct view.
THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE HAD INCORRECT SERVICE REPLACEMENT BRAKE ROTORS INSTALLED WHICH WILL CAUSE AN IMPROPER WHEEL TO HUB ABUTMENT CONDITION TO OCCUR. WITH AN INCORRECT ROTOR INSTALLED, THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE WHEEL SHUDDER ON BRAKING OR SHIMMY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IF THE VEHICLE IS NOT SERVICED THIS CONDITION COULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE WHEEL STUDS TO BREAK. CORRECTION: FRONT ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS WILL BE REPLACED ON AFFECTED VEHICLES.
UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS THE BOND BETWEEN THE INNER AND OUTER HOOD PANELS CAN BEGIN TO SEPARATE. HIGHWAY DRIVING CAN CAUSE AIR TO ENTER BETWEEN THE INNER AND OUTER PANELS WHICH CAN FORCE THE OUTER PANEL UPWARD, AND COULD RESULT IN TOTAL SEPARATION OF THE OUTER HOOD PANEL. THIS CAN RESULT IN A ROAD HAZARD AND A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CORRECTION: VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED AND THOSE WITH EVIDENCE OF BOND SEPARATION WILL HAVE THE HOOD REPLACED. WHERE THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF BOND SEPARATION, ADDITIONAL ADHESIVE WILL BE APPLIED BETWEEN THE INNER AND OUTER HOOD PANELS.
THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET HAS A SHARP EDGE WHICH MAY CAUSE THE PARKING PAWL TO HANG UP AND NOT ENGAGE THE PARK GEAR. THIS MAY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO MOVE EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR SHOWS THAT THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK. AS A RESULT, UNINTENDED AND UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENT COULD OCCUR WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF PERSONAL INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE. CORRECTION: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET ON AFFECTED VEHICLES.
THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 207 - ANCHORAGE OF SEATS. THE FASTENERS SECURING THE DRIVER SEATS TO THE FLOOR PANS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TORQUED TO SPECIFICATION. CORRECTION: DRIVER'S SEAT TO FLOOR RETAINING NUTS WILL BE TIGHTENED TO CORRECT TORQUE.
NOTE: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FORD AX4S AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES. THE PARK PAWL SHAFT MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY POSITIONED DURING TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PARK PAWL NOT ENGAGING WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION. THIS COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AS IF IN NEUTRAL IF THE VEHICLE OPERATOR DOES NOT APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE. CORRECTION: VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED AND IF NECESSARY THE PARK PAWL SHAFT ROLL PIN AND PARK PAWL SHAFT WILL BE REPLACED.
FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.
FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. DURING ASSEMBLY, SOME BRAKE LINES WERE INSTALLED IN A TWISTED POSITION, CAUSING CONTACT WITH THE DASH PANEL INSULATOR ABOVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THIS CONTACT COULD ABRADE THE BRAKE LINE CORROSION PROTECTION, CONSEQUENTLY, SALT OR WATER ABSORBED IN THE DASH PANEL INSULATOR WOULD PROMOTE CORROSION. THIS CORROSION COULD ULTIMATELY LEAD TO A LEAK IN THE BRAKE LINE.
LEAKAGE OF BRAKE FLUID WILL RESULT IN BRAKE LIGHT ACTIVATION. EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE COULD ALSO RESULT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE LINE FOR CORROSION AND CLEARANCE CONDITIONS. A BRAKE LINE THAT IS NOT CORRODED WILL BE REPOSITIONED. A BRAKE LINE THAT IS CORRODED OR LEAKING WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NYLON COATED BRAKE LINE AND SECURED USING THREE RETAINING CLIPS TO ASSURE CLEARANCE FROM THE INSULATOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 10, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
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