THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A FUSE BLOWN. HOWEVER, MY WIFE WAS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND A BIG PUFF OF SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR. WE TOOK IT TO A FRIEND WHO WORKED FOR A FORD DEALERSHIP. HE STATED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID FROM THE RESERVOIR HAD LEAKED ONTO THE MODULES BELOW AND THEY HAD SHORTED OUT. HE HAD SEEN THIS MANY TIMES BEFORE AND TOLD US IT WOULD BE ABOUT $1300 TO GET IT FIXED. AS OF TODAY, WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD THE REPAIR. WE FEEL IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE; CONSEQUENTLY, THE CAR AWAITS A RECALL OR A LOTTERY WIN BY US TO GET IT REPAIRED. I AM THANKFUL THAT MY WIFE AND OTHER DRIVERS WERE NOT INJURED WHEN THIS HAPPENED. ENGINEERS PRIDE THEMSELVES ON HAVING AN ENGINEERING SOLUTION FOR EVERY PROBLEM. MY HOPE IS THAT THIS COMPLAINT WILL HELP THEM SEE THE NEED, ALONG WITH THE OTHERS, TO BEAR THE BURDEN OF THIS REPAIR, AND PROBABLY ENGINEER CARS THAT ARE NOT SLOW-TICKING TIME BOMBS. *TR
1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WENT TO PICK UP FOOD AND NOTICED MY 99 FORD WINDSTAR WAS SMOKING. I PULLED OVER, LIFTED UP THE HOOD AND IT WAS ON FIRE. IT WAS PUT OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. LOOKED UP ONLINE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL. CALLED FORD, THEY WERE UNWILLING TO HELP US AT ALL. TOLD US WE'D HAVE TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC/AND TOWING. FINALLY GOT AHOLD OF SOMEONE THROUGH FORD WHO GOT THAT FOR NO CHARGE. WAS TOLD THAT IT IS THE RECALLED PIECE THAT CAUSED THE FIRE. NOW AM TOLD THAT IT COULD TAKE UP TO 15 DAYS TO FIND OUT IF I CAN GET A RENTAL UNTIL THE CAR IS FIXED. *TR