Safety, larger cargo/rear crash zone than other minivans during this year. Had 5 star safety rating.

Could just be that it's an old van, but the gas mileage isn't that good.

We bought this vehicle used about 3 years ago. It came from Canada. That's one thing to watch out for. Rust underneath, rims will need to be sanded else you'll get lots of slow leaks in the tires. Waterpump went out as we were under warranty. Some of the computer sys is going out, like cannot always use unlock button, horn doesn't work unless car is shut off, one rear window doesn't close very well. I have felt safe with the large cargo area. No rear A/C has been a challenge. Otherwise I would probably buy another Windstar.

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Nothing just a LeBaron. After having twins & baby in back seat it was time to move up in space/safety.

Comfortable ride. Looks great, lots of room.

Electrical problems, needs lots of TLC. Gas mileage was around 20mpg. I have replaced the following non-wear items:
intake manifold gasket twice, wiper motor twice, wheel bearing, driver side door lock and window motor twice and the valve cover once. I plan to get rid of it soon. I hope they sell it for scrap! I was going to hang on to it another year, but all the normal things on a Windstar have failed except the transmission which happens to most of these vehicles, so I will not take the chance, I am going to rid myself of this vehicle. My advice: pay a little more for a Toyota or Honda van, the money you save up front on the Windstar will be consumed by repairs. Good luck.

We purchased a used windstar two years ago with 85K on it. The previous owner did all the maint. Clean, cheap! In the last two years I have sunk more than $1000 dollars in this thing.

roomy and great under warrantee

problems problems problems. if you buy one, make sure you have an extended warrantee that will be honored.

I bought this car with 11 miles on it. I loved it for the first couple of years. I only had minor problems covered under warrantee. rear window wiper and lock on sliding doors. Then when my warrantee expired we had problems. $2000.00 break job including tie rods. air compressor and the $180 tubing for it. then something cheap that reaked havoc. The cruise control switch went out. It caused abs, break light, o/d off light to come on, it made the speedometer sit on 0 and the odometer flash ----- and the ac blow hot air. 25 dollar part but a pain in the rear. Now my transmission is going out. I am tired of putting money into it and going to trade it in and buy a Toyota.

nice minivan - good comfort features

Defective head gaskets

Engine failed after 38,000 miles due to the well-known head gasket design flaw.

While this is old news I just wanted to warn everyone never to buy a Ford because Ford hides problems from customers, refuses to acknowledge that its defectiveive service procedures caused damage to vehicles, and does not honor its extended warranty.

Ford does not honor their extended service warranty terms. Ford provided a letter to Ford Windstar owners in June 1998. This letter describes a Ford extended warranty coverage Service Program, which Ford has labeled as 98M01. This extended warranty coverage was applicable to 1995 Ford Windstars and some other Ford vehicles equipped with their 3.8 liter front wheel drive engine. We owned a vehicle covered by this warranty. This warranty is not expired as it is good for 5 years or 60,000 miles. The five years has elapsed but the 60000 miles has not. The warranty does not specify “whichever comes first” or any similar conditions.
Ford refused to honor warranty.

Ford knew about its problems but hid information from its customers/Ford owners.
The service procedure, replacement components, and/or installation process used by Ford in the 98M01 service program were not adequate to prevent contamination or to ensure an effective repair. There is a strong likelihood that a subsequent failure of the replacement head gaskets resulted from inadequate surface cleaning, surface preparation, or contamination control, or that parts were damaged during the service due the use of improper tools or procedures.
The service procedure used in 2000 under the second warranty states that their internal audits have revealed problems in following the procedures. It states that some engine assemblies replaced under warranty have been found with internal contamination and that Ford states the scuffed pistons and camshaft bearing damage can result from improper engine gasket preparation.


Another service bulletin issued by Ford in January 2002 – Ford specifically acknowledges that overheating can cause a head to warp or be damaged, and that resurfacing will not correct the damage. It also has strong language against a wide range of techniques for preparing the surface because they could result in scratching and thus leaks. There are warnings against abrasives and sharp objects in capital letters for emphasis.
There were no such warnings in 1998 in the service procedure used for the plaintiff’s car. It is likely that techniques such as grinders were used when the head gasket was replaced on the plaintiff’s car in 1998 because there were not prominent warnings against their use.
There are also specific directions and materials for surface cleaners. These warnings and directions were not evident use in the 1998 procedure.
Another service bulletin issued by Ford in June 2002. This later bulletin identifies yet another potential problem associated with residue preventing an adequate seal on a new head gasket. It also has strong language cautioning against a wide range of techniques for preparing the surface because they could result in scratching and thus leaks. emphasis.
There were no such warnings in 1998 in the service procedure used for the plaintiff’s car. It is possible and likely that techniques such as grinders were used when the head gasket was replaced on the plaintiff’s car in 1998 because there were not prominent warnings against their use.

When it extended the warranty to 100000 miles and 7 years - Ford knew that its defective service procedures were the cause of engine failures but it did not mention this at all in its second letter to owners.

We experienced engine failure in 2003
(past the 7 years) but not past the 60000 miles of the first warranty (only 38000 miles on the car, which was impeccably maintained by Ford dealers through its life)

Roomey, good looking for a manivan and fairly comfortable ride.

Disappointing mechanical engineering. I've had problems with the transmission, electric doors, electric seats, intke manifolds, airconditioning, powwer steering and the alternator. A lot of stuff in onlly six years

At the risk of driving my resale value down even more; I'll air my complaint.

At 118,000 miles on this car our third transmission just quit. Ford replaced the first two under extended warantee but now I'm on my own. This one made it to almost 36,000 miles before it began to slip.

I took the car to a very good transmission shop nearby. The owner said that he repairs lots of low mileage Windstar transmissions. He said that there are some cheap low grade aluminum parts which wears out easly inside these units. He hase been replacing them with some better quality steel parts and has had no complaints or return customers....Why can't Ford do this?

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Audi A4 wagn, VW Passat, VW Golf, Nissans, and Dodge trucks.

Roominess, Adjustable pedal, seatbelt, cruising feature (I really like that).

Trying to put those darn seats in the back down. The glove compartment is so far away I can never reach it and I have long arms (?). I wish the drivers seat would go up and down so I can adjust it when the sun glare comes up.

I purchased this van because of the nice features it has. It's big, roomy, wide. It also drives well. The kids fit. My mother fits. I haven't had any problems yet although reading these reviews I'm noticing alot of dissapointed people.

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Mercury Villager

Nice looking van, very roomy.

EVERYTHING mechanically.

This is by far the WORST minivan I have ever owned! I had it for 3 days and the ignition coil went on it. After 5 days, the fuel pump. The things only has 66k miles on it, and it is nothing but garbage. I will never own another Ford as long as I live. I wouldn't even take a free one. The place I bought it from is being VERY helpful, and are paying for it to be fixed, and allowing me to bring it back for something different!

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1994 Dodge Caravan (226K)

Smooth ride when it actually works

Just about everything

I would NOT recommend buying this vehicle. It has been nothing but trouble from the start. I went on a 12-hour drive to Chicago (1 week after buying it)and had to repair it on the way because the transmission was messing up. The transmission just doesn't shift sometimes so I can't go very fast without it heating up. Another problem is the rear A/C. It stopped working. Instead of blowing cold air, it only blows out hot air. But the front A/C is working fine... Just recently the Cylinder #1 went out, for the second time. The passenger window's switch doesn't work, and the side door doesn't unlock when I push the locks switch. I've also had to spend tons of money on it because I take it to the mechanic every month or two.. I am NOT pleased with this van at all. Do not buy one. I'm seriously thinking about buying a Honda minivan next time.

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Plymouth Grand Caravan, Ford Bronco

Comfortable ride Highway mileage is 23, city is 18 Handles well in the snow Solid body - no rust Cold AC and plenty of heat

Would be nice to have side windows that open like the Aerostar. Dash lights hard to change.

This has been a very reliable van. It has 135,000 miles. The fuel pump failed at about 40,000 miles and the dealer reimbursed the replacement cost. The alternator failed at 120,000 miles. It still has the original exhaust system. This is a Minnesota vehicle and has no rust. We did not rust proof the vehicle. It has the 25 gallon fuel tank and has a highway range of over 500 miles. I changed the oil every 5,000 miles, have flushed the radiator once and the transmission once, plugs changed at 120,000 miles. Tires last about 50,000 miles. This is a very good van and has served us well.

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Ford Aerostar Dodge Caravan

Interior room and ride.

Engine, transmisson, intermitant wiper, rear wiper arm.

Had purchased Winstar new but had less than 80,000 miles. Use for service vehicle for computer company. Very little in town driving. Mostly interstate mileage. At 123,000 miles 1 cylinder hydrauliced from a leaking head gasket which caused the connecting rod to twist and bend. I am 42 years old and have worked on and owned many cars and trucks. I have seen very few if any vehicles that have this type of problem at only 123,000 miles. Sounds like to me that Ford still has not corrected the problem with the 3.8L engine. Luckily I can do the in frame repair myself for the company that I work for. Just changing the head gasket would have cost our company around 1,600.00 dollars. I have not abeen impressed with this vehicle. We had not owned it very long before the transmission went out. We purchased a extended warranty on it luckily. In less than 30 days later the transmission that Ford had put in it went out again. If you are looking for a Minivan I would not recommend the Winstar.

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