1995 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

HAVE BEEN TOLD BY FORMER FORD TEC. THAT THE FRAME BUSHING HAVE FAILED ON A LOT OF WINDSTAR VANS AND THAT THE RUBBER SWRINKS WITH AGE AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO POP ANY TIME THAT THE TIME FRAME IS PUT IN A BIND.*AK

DITSCHMAN FORD SERVICE DEPT FOUND TIMING GEAR COVER GASKET WAS LEAKING, WHILE VAN WAS IN SHOP FOR HEAD GASKET RECALL. WHILE THIS PROBLEM HAS A TSB (961714 IN YOUR DB) DEALER REFUSED TO FIX IT UNLESS I PAID $1100.00 FOR THE SERVICE. SINCE THE LEAK WAS MINOR AND THE DEALER WOULD NOT BUDGE ON THE COST, I DECLINED THE SERVICE AT THAT TIME.

THEY WOULD COVER THE HEAD GASKETS, BUT NOT THE PROBLEMS THAT WERE CAUSED BY THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE-1500 DOLLARS WORTH. I HAVE A LETTER SAYING THEY COVER RELATED PROBLEMS, BUT NOW FORD SAYS IT IS UP TO THE DEALERSHIP. AND THEY AREN'T COVERING THE OTHER PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THE HEAD GASKETS. *AK

WE EXPERIENCED HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON OUR 95 FORD WINDSTAR. ALTHOUGH THE DEALERSHIP HAS AGREED TO PAY FOR THE HEAD GASKETS, THEY REFUSED TO PAY FOR SECONDARY DAMAGE (TIMING COVER GASKET) WE HAD TO PAY $840. SMALL CLAIMS COURT AGAINST FORD ON 12/12/00. HOPE TO GATHER AS MUCH INFO AS POSSIBLE. EMAIL GONZODEB@EROLS.COM. *AK

ON 9/15/00, AFTER ABOUT 3 DAYS OF RESEARCH, JERRY'S FORD OF ANNANDALE (703) 256-5000 CONCLUDED THAT THE NOISE I WAS HEARING AT 35-40MPH, 50MPH, AND 60MPH WAS DUE TO A LEAKING PISTON AND THAT THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT ONLY 85,548 MILES. MY INVOICE READ: NEEDS ENGINE. FORD OFFERED 50/50 SPLIT. OWNER ADVISED. AFTER I WAS TOLD THAT FAILURE WAS NOT IMMINENT, I DECIDED TO WAIT. BY NOVEMBER, THE NOISE HAD WORSENED, BUT JERRYS FORD COULD NOT GET A REPLACEMENT ENGINE UNTIL JANUARY. I CALLED SHEEHY FORD ON 11/3 AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH DAVID GARRETT FOR 11/6. I TOLD DAVID ABOUT THE 50/50 OFFER FROM FORD ON THE INVOICE, SHOWED IT TO HIM ON 11/6 WHEN I DROPPED OFF MY VAN, AND FAXED A COPY THAT DAY. HE CALLED ME LATER AND SAID ALL THE WORK WOULD NOT BE DONE UNTIL NOON ON 11/7 AND THAT IRENE BERRY, THE FORD REGIONAL REP, HAD NOT ANSWERED THEIR CALLS ABOUT THE 50/50 PROMISE. I CALLED SHEEHY DAILY AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT GET HOLD OF IRENE. ON 11/15, I ASKED FOR THE PHONE NUMBER OF IRENES BOSS. HE REFERRRED ME TO FORDS NORTH AMERICAN CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER. THEY SAID FORD POLICY DENIES CUSTOMER SERVICE ACCESS TO THE PHONE NUMBER OF IRENE BERRY OR HER BOSS. THEY PROMISED TO SEND IRENE AN E-MAIL ABOUT MY PREDICAMENT AND MENTION MY REQUEST TO BE REIMBURSED $233.91 FOR A RENTAL CAR DUE TO HER DELAY IN CONTACTING SHEEHY FORD. ON 11/16, SEAN TOLD ME THAT IRENE HAD TO TALK TO JERRYS FORD TO REFRESH HER MEMORY ON THE 50/50 PLEDGE. I CALLED FRED JAVIER AT JERRYS. HE SAID IRENE HAD LEFT A MESSAGE FOR HIM TO CALL HER WITHOUT SAYING WHY. I EXPLAINED MY DILEMMA AND 9-DAY WAIT AND ASKED HIM TO CALL HER. LATER, FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE CALLED TO SAY IRENE APPROVED THE 50/50 PAYMENT, BUT REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE RENTAL CAR. I PICKED UP MY VAN ON 11/16. HOW COULD AN ENGINE FAIL AT 85,548 MILES? *AK

PURCHASED NEW IN LATE 1994, THIS WINDSTAR 3.8L ENGINE BLEW ITS FIRST HEAD GASKET AT 39 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP AND 50,000 MILES. SEVERAL YEARS AFTER PAYING FOR REPAIR FORD FINALLY OFFERED OWNERS REIMBURSEMENT FOR SUCH REPAIRS AND EXTENDED ENGINE WARRANTY TO 100,000 MILES. ALTHOUGH I HAD LOCAL DEALERSHIP CHECK ON LOW FLUIDS AT 97,000 MILES THEY DID NOTHING BUT TOP OFF FLUIDS. AT 103,000 MILES THEY TOLD ME MY HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN AND THAT ENGINE COOLANT WAS GOING INTO ENGINE. FORD WAS CONTACTED AND REFUSED TO HONOR REPAIR WORK UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. ON. *AK

CONSUMER HAS HAD HEAD GASKET REPLACED 3 TIMES STARTING OCTOBER 24TH, 1997. PROBLEM HAS NEVER BEEN RESOLVED. DEALER HAS SENT A LETTER TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY. WARRANTY WAS UP AT 100,000. CONSUMER ONLY HAD 10,000 MILES TO GO. ENGINE BLEWOUT THE FIRST TIME. OTHER PROBLEMS HAVE OCCURRED, SUCH AS THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE.*AK

THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE WAS INSTANTANEOUS AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURIES IF IT OCCURED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.*AK

DELAYED ENGAGEMENT IN TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR TWO YEARS. CRACK IN FORWARD DRUM WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR $900. INTERMITTENT FAILURES WITH STARTER. *AK

FRONT STRUTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. FRONT END ALIGNMENT PERFORMED. CASTER AND CAMBER RESET. THERE IS A SQUEALING NOISE FROM FRONT END WHEN TURNING, DEALER REPLACED OUTER TIE RODS AND RIGHT CONTROL ARM. *TT

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HESITATED TO SHIFT GEARS, AND WHEN IT DID SHIFT GEAR, IT SHIFTED HARD. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS REPLACED 4 TIMES. *JB

BRAKES MAKE A GROWLING NOISE. HAD BRAKES REPAIRED. BRAKES KEEPS WEARING PREMATURELY. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER STATED THE ABS MOTOR WAS NOISY.*JB

WHILE STEPPING ON BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER THE WEEK BEFORE TO ADD BRAKE FLUID. BUT, HAD TO REPAIR BRAKE LINE THAT HAD RUSTED THROUGH, CAUSING BRAKES NOT TO OPERATE. *AK

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD SHORT CIRCUIT WHILE DRIVING. ELECTRONIC DASHBOARD BLEW OUT. THIS CAUSED WINDOWS AND DOOR LOCKS NOT TO OPEN AFTER PULLING OVER. SMOKE WAS COMING INSIDE VEHICLE. ALSO, THERE WAS POOR VISIBILITY DUE TO ELECTRICAL FAILURE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SHOP SINCE SEPTEMBER , AND MECHANIC COULD NOT NOT GET INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PARTS FOR REPAIRS. INFORMED ON BACK ORDER. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER & INFORMED CASE WAS DOCUMENTED ONLY.*AK

THE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND MOVED DOWN FROM ITS POSITION AND BEGAN RUBBING AGAINST THE INSIDE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE CAUSING THE TIRE TO SMOKE AND BLOWOUT VIOLENTLY. NLM

I HAD THE HEAD GASKET FIXED UNDER THE FORD RECALL; ONE WEEK LATER THE ENGINE THREW A ROD, AND IT REQUIRED A NEW LONG BLOCK AND ASSORTED PARTS. THEY HAD MY CAR FOR 5 WEEKS, AND NEVER EXPLAINED WETHER IT WAS A DEFECTIVE ENGINE OR A MHUMAN FAILURE. IT THEN, ONE WEEK LATER, STARTED HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, WITH THE CAR SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR ON THE FREEWAY AT 60MPH. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, ONLY TO BE TOLD IT WASNT THEIR FAULT, AND THE REPAIRS WOULD BE AT MY EXPENSE, YET THIS WASNT HAPPENING BEFORE THEY TOOK MY CAR APART. I STILL HAVE THE CAR, DRIVING IT ONLY AS ABSOLUTLE NECESSARY; I CANT AFFORD THE REPAIRS AND DONT FEEL IM RESPONSIBLE. THIS PARTICULAR MODEL HAS A TERRIBLE TRACK RECORD FOR DEFECTS.

WHILE DRIVING 65MPH HOOD CAME OFF AND HIT WINDSHIELD, CAUSING $4000 DAMAGE. THIS WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL 97 V 180 000. *AK

WE HAVE HAD FORD REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET ONCE, AND THE ENTIRE ENGINE HEAD & GASKET ON ANOTHER OCCASSION. NOW, THE ENGINE IS LEAKING COOLANT FROM AROUND THE TIMING BELT HOUSING. I CAN NOT GET ANY SATISFACTION FROM FORD MOTOR CO. MY PERSONAL MECHANIC SAYS THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO WAY THAT COOLANT SHOULD BE LEAKING FROM THAT AREA OF THE ENGINE WITH ONLY 76,000 MILES ON THE CAR! CAN YOU HELP ME? THANKS!*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION GEARS WERE SLIPPING, A REBUILT TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED. *JG

CABLE RATCHET ASSEMBLY THAT HOLDS SPARE TIRE UNDER CAR HAS BROKEN TWICE. VEHICLE HAS A PIECE THAT IS HANGING FROM UNDERCARRIAGE.*AK

THE BRAKE LINES IN THIS VEHICLE WERE ROTTED AND WHEN I HAD TO STOP SHORT IN TRAFFIC, THE BRAKES LINES BURST IN TWO PLACES. I HAD SLOWED FROM ABOUT 40 TO ABOUT 10 MPH WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL FELL TO THE FLOOR AS ALL THE BRAKE FLUID WAS LOST. I STRUCK A CAR STUCK IN FRONT OF ME, AND PUSHED IT INTO A THIRD CAR IN FRONT OF IT. TOTAL BODY DAMAGE TO ALL THREE CARS WAS MORE THAN $6000, WUTH ONE OIF THE DRIVERS ALSO PUTTING IN MEDICAL BILLS FOR ABOUT $400(WHIPLASH). MY INSURANCE COMP[ANY BELIEVED ME, AS THEY HAD SPOKEN TO THE MECHANIC WORKING ON THER CAR THE NEXT MORNING. UNFORTUNEATELY THEY DISCARDED THE BRAKE LINES BEFORE I COULD GET THEM FOR MY INSURANCE CO., AMICA. FORD TURNED DOWN AMICA'S REQUEST THAT THEY SUBROGATE THE COSTS (SURPRISE!). IN RETROSPECT, I GUESS MY FAMILY AND I GOT OFF LUCKY, BUT IT COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE.*AK

RECENTLY HAD HEAD GASKET FAILURE WHICH RESULTED IN A CRACKED HEAD. FORD REIMBURSED THE BILL FOR THIS REPAIR, BUT NOW THE VEHICLE IS IN A SERVICE PROVIDER WITH A NEW PROBLEM. THEY SAY THAT I HAVE A " BAD OR BLOWN" BEARING WHICH MIGHT REQUIRE A NEW MOTOR COSTING UPWARDS OF $4000.00. I'M TOTALLY DISGUSTED WITH THIS VEHICLE. UNDER 60,000 MILES AND I'VE HAD THE HEAD REPLACED AND NOW I'M TOLD THAT THE MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE? IS FORD AWARE OF THIS NEW PROBLEM AND IF SO ARE THEY GOING TO MAKE GOOD??? PLEASE HELP. DESPERATE

TORQUE CONVERTER(FMC* F48Z) HAS BEEN REPAIRED FOUR TIMES IN 12 MONTHS. *AK

THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. FORD REPLACED THE ALUMINUM PISTON WITH A STEEL PISTON ON THE 1996 MODELS...

HAD LEFT FREEWAY & NOTICED A NOISE. PULLED OVER, STOPPED VEHICLE & TURNED IT OFF. RESTARTED VEHICLE & NOISE BECAME LOUDER. WHILE GOING UPHILL, ENGINE FELT SLUGGISH & WAS DRAGGING. TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP & MECHANIC INDICATED THE PROBLEM WAS THAT INNER TIE ROD HAD BROKEN.*AK

THIS VEHICLE IS ON THE 4TH ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED TWICE AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH LUCKILY WITHOUT ACCIDENT. THE BRAKE LINE THAT BUSRT IS LOCATED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. HAVING A BRAKE LINE LOCATED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE CATALYTIC. *AK

WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT 30MPH IN A PANIC STOP PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, CAUSING A COLLISION. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

WE WERE TAKING OUR SON TO USC FOR THE FALL START OF SCHOOL. LEFT GRANTS PASS, OREGON, ON I-5 CLIMBING THE MOUNTAINS WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND CAME OUT OF CRUISE CONTROL. WE SAW NO SMOKE, OR TEMPERATURE CHANGE, BUT HEARD SEVERE KNOCKING AT THE OREGON/CALIFORNIA BORDER. STOPPED AT GAS STATION AND CALLED TOW TRUCK TO TOW CAR TO YREKA FORD DEALER. HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED IN APRIL 1998, BEFORE RECALL NOTICE ISSUED ON OUR PURCHASED RYAN EXTENDED WARRANTY POLICY NO. G938219, WE WERE ONLY REIMBURSED EVENTUALLY FOR THE DEDUCTABLE NO ADDITIONAL AMOUNT EVEN THOUGH WE HAD PAID FOR THE COVERAGE THAT PAID FOR THE REPAIR. EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM REOCCURED, FORD HAS TOLD US, AND TWO SERVICE MANAGERS, THAT THEY HAVE NO OBLIGATION TO US SINCE OUR VEHICLE MILAGE IS OVER THE 100,000 MILE LIMIT. OUR SERVICE MANAGER IN RENTON HAS SAID THAT FORD HAS AGREED TO PROVIDE US WITH A "CUSTOMER APPRECIATION CERTIFICATE" IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,000.00 TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF A REPLACEMENT FORD PRODUCT, UNFORTUNATELY FAR SHORT

THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCED BY OTHER WINDSTAR USERS. I RECEIVED THIS INFORMATION FROM CARTRACKERS. COM ON THEIR WEBSITE. THE LIGHTS WHEN THE DOOR IS SHUT CLOSED STAYS ON INSIDE THE VAN AND THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYS ON AND TURNS OFF AFTER YOU REACH ABOUT 20 MILES PER HOUR AND SOMTIMES IT JUST STAYS ON. PLEASE INFORM ME OF WHAT TO DO IN THIS SITUATION AND INVESTIGAT ANY OTHER PROBLEMS THAT OTHER PEOPLE MAY HAVE HAD WITH THIS VAN. THANK YOU . I LOOK FORWARD TO A REPLY REGARDING THIS MATTER.

TIRE BLOWOUT - ADVISED BY TIRE MANUFACTURER (BIG 0 TIRES) THAT THE REASON THE TIRE BLEWOUT WAS DUE TO A WELD THAT FAILED IN THE STEEL RIM WHICH IN TURN DEFALTED THE TIRE TO A POINT TO CREATE A BLOWOUT. CONTACTED FORD AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE STEEL RIM WELD FAILING ON OTHER WINDSTAR VANS.*AK

TRANSMISSION IN THIS VEHICLE FAILS TO SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND AT TIMES. VEHICLE WILL NOT BUILD UP SPEED WHEN ENTERING A HIGHWAY. AFTER IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN A WHILE IT SHIFTS OK, BUT I FEAR I WILL HAVE A REAR END ACCIDENT IF THE CAR DOES NOT SHIFT WHILE IN TRAFFIC. I UNDERSTAND FORD HAS HAD MANY FAILURES ON THEIR WINDSTAR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH THIS FOR SEVERAL YEARS. BEFORE AND AFTER THE DATE I HAVE LISTED ON THE FORM. I FEEL FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD REPAIR THIS PROBLEM SINCE MANY OF THE WINDSTAR VANS HAVE THE SAME SYMPTOMS. THANK YOU FOR READING THIS. *AK

AS EARLY AS JUNE/JULY 2000, WHILE IN CRUISE CONTROL AND/OR MANUAL SPEED CONTROL AT SPEEDS RANGING FROM 35 - 65 MPH. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD DISENGAGE ALLOWING THE RPM TO CREEP UP. RESOLUTION WAS TO REMOVE FOOT FROM ACCELERATOR AND ALLOW ENGINE SPEED TO DECLINE AND RESTABILIZE AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION WOULD REINGAGE. THIS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR WAS IDENTIFIED BY FORD SERVICE AS THE CULPRIT AND WAS REPLACED ON 8/18/2000. A FEW DAYS FOLLOWING THE REPLACEMENT, THE SCENARIO REOCURRED. FURTHER EVALUATION/SERVICE IS SCHEDULED FOR THIS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1,2000. WHEN TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF GEAR, THE ENGINE IS FREE WITHOUT ANY RESTRAINT AND NO ACCELERATION/DECELERATION OF AUTOMOBILE SPEED IS POSSIBLE. THIS COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY IF ATTEMPTING TO MERGE INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC OR PASS INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AT THE MOMENT OF FAILURE.

VEHICLE PURCHASED USED ON 1/31/00 FROM NEIL HONDA WITH 40771 MILES. CALLED 2/01/00 TO REPORT A PROBLEM OF INABILITY TO ACCELERATE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. OCCURRING SPORADICALLY RESULTING IN CAR LOSING ACCELERATION WHILE CROSSING INTERSECTIONS . CAR SERVICED 2/14/00 WITH DEALER UNABLE TO INDENTIFY A PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND WORSENED AND RETURNED FOR SERVICING ON 3/06/00 AT 42126 MILEAGE. DIGANOSIS AND REPAIR OF A FOWRWARD DRUM FAILURE, OVERHAUL TRANSMISSION-REPLACE TORQUE CONVERTER, SUBLET UNIVERSAL CALIM NUMBER 562398304322. WHILE ON VACACTION, CROSSING A BRIDGE THE CAR DIED SPEWING COOLANT ALL OVER THE ENGINE ON 8/17/00. WAS TOWED BY AAA TO FORD DEALERSHIP IN GANSEVOORT, NY. DEALING WITH A WAYNE RIZZO AT 518-798-8834. THE CAR WAS LEFT ON THAT THURSDAY AND WE DID NOT FIND OUT UNTIL MONDAY 8/21 THAT IT MAY BE A RECALL ON THE HEAD GASKET. THE FOLLOWING MONDAY OR TUESDAY 8/28 OR29 CALLED TO FIND OUT WHEN THE CAR WOULD BE READY AND WAS TOLD THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT THE ENTIRE ENGINE AND THEY WOULD HAVE IT AT LEAST 6 MORE WEEKS. WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BECAUSE WE CANNOT BE WITHOUT A VEHICLE. WHEN REQUESTING A RENTAL FOR THE TIME THE VAN IS BEING REPAIRED THEY DO NOT RETURN THE PHONE CALL. THE CAR IS A 4 HOUR DRIVE AWAY AND WE CAN ONLY RELY ON THE PHONE CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT OUR RIGHTS ARE. DO WE HAVE A RIGHT TO A REFUND BY NEIL HONDA FOR SELLING A VEHICLE THEY KNEW HAD A RECALL OR SHALL I SAY WHEN THEY GAVE US A PRINT OUT OF THE VANS REPAIR HISTORY ALL THAT WAS ON IT WAS OIL AND FILTER CHANGES AND NYS INSPECTIONS. NOTHING WAS MENTIONED WHEN ASKED ABOUT ANY RECALL WHEN PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. UNFORTUNATELY FOR US WE ONLY FOUND OUT IN A LOCAL PAPER ON APRIL 9,2000. IN THAT ARTICLE FORD STATES THEY WOULD OFFER MONEY TOWARDS PURCHASE OF A NEW VEHICLE INSTEASD OF REPAIR OF THE OLD. WHERE DO I STAND? WHO SHOULD I BE DEALING WITH? FORD? NEAL HONDA? THE PERSON WHO HAS THE VAN? THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR TIME WITH REGARDS TO THIS MATTER.

SLIDING DOOR FALLS OFF VEHICLE. TOP ATTACHMENT OF DOOR ONTO VEHICLE IS BROKEN WHY???? WE HAVE NORMAL USE BY FAMILY OF THREE. THE ROLLERS ON THE TOP SEEM TO BE WORN DOWN--SOME ARE SMALLER THAN OTHERS. WE TOOK TO DEALER FOR REPAIR--"THEY NEVER SAW THAT BEFORE" DID NOT WANT TO FIX DID NOT HAVE PARTS TO FIX THE "TRIED" TO WELD SOME PART ON. COST US ABOUT $300 TO FIX. DOOR HAS COME OFF 2 MORE TIMES. THEY WANT MORE MONEY AND WILL TRY AGAIN. THEY DONT KNOW WHICH PART TO ORDER TO FIX THIS DOOR. I DON'T WANT THE DOOR TO FALL ON ANYONE AND I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO FALL OUT OF THE CAR. PLEASE HELP. VE COME OFF 2 MORETIMES. *AK

COOLANT HAS POSSIBLY LEAKED VIA THE HEAD GASKET TO THE OIL SYSTEM AND THEREFORE MAIN ENGINE MAY BE RUINED.

FAILURE OF HEAD GASKETS WAS ORIGINALLY REPAIRED ABOUT MARCH 2000, SECOND OCCURANCE ON AUGUST 10, 2000. VEHICLE IS STILL AT DEALERSHIP AWAITING PARTS. FORD MOTORS CANNOT TELL DEALER OR MYSELF WHEN TO EXPECT PART OR REPAIR TO BE COMPLETED. ONLY RESPONSE FROMFORD WAS AFTER I WENT TO THE TROUBLE OF CONTACTING THEM THROUGH THEIR WEB SITE. I AM NOT HAPPY WITH THE AMBIGOUS RESPONSE I WAS GIEN AT THIS TIME. "YOUR PART IS ON EMERGENCY ORDER & WILL BE SHIPPED IT HAS TO COME FROM BACK EAST." *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND ENGINE JUST STOPPED/ VEHICLE SHUT DOWN, NO ELECTRICAL POWER. COOLANT AND WATER WAS RUNNING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. HEADGASKET BLEW OUT. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED.*AK

TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR AFTER STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL. AFTER REVEING ENGINE, IT CAUGHT HOLD SUDDENLY. I BARELY MISSED TRAFFIC THAT MOVED WHILE I WAS STOPPED. PROBLEM IS BROKEN PISTON-RTANS FORWARD CLUTCH. ALUMINUM PART HAS BEEN REPLACED BY STEEL BY FORD AT OWNER'S EXPENSE SINCE 1994 (SB94247) IF TRANSMISSION FAILS, BUT IT SHOULD BE RECALLED.*AK

AFTER TOTAL FAILURE OF ONE TIRE, I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO A GOODYEAR SERVICE CENTER AND WAS INFORMED THAT 3 OF MY 4 TIRES SUFFERED FROM SIDEWALL CRACKING. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE PURCHASED AND MOUNTED ONTO MY VAN AT 54381 MILES ON 22 AUGUST 1998. THE DEFECTIVE TIRES WERE REMOVED FROM MY VAN WHEN IT HAD 85611 MILES. THE TIRES HAD COLLECTED A TOTAL OF 31230 MILES. I BELIEVE THE TIRES WERE RATED FOR 65000 MILES.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/70R15 )

TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING DAY AFTER PURCHASED, NEW TRANSMISSION INSTALLED 2 WEEKS LATER TRANSMISSION STARTED DOWNSHIFTING WHILE WE WERE DRIVING 65 MPH, VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED SUDDENLY TO 30 MPH, PROBLEM CONTINUED IS CURRENTLY IN SHOP , FIRESTONE SAYS THEY WILL HAVE TO INSTALL ANOTHER TRANSMISSION. *AK

COIL SPRING BROKE AND PIERCED THE TIRE CAUSING IT TO BLOW. POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS ACCIDENT

HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES CORRODED, CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE. *AK BRAKE LINE IS LOCATED OVER CATALYTIC CONVERTOR. THE A/C CONDENSATION DRIPS ON THE STEEL BRAKE LINE (NOT STAINLESS STEEL). THE MOISTURE AND EXCESSIVE HEAT CORRODED THE BRAKE LINE. IT WAS DISCOVERED WHEN THE DRIVER STOPPED FOR BRAKE PEDAL GOING TO THE FLOOR. *YH

I HAVE HEARD OF MANY WINDSTAR OWNERS WHO HAVE ALSO HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE MECHANIC WE GO TO SAID TO EXPECT TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION - WE THOUGHT, OH, NOT OUR CAR. $2200 LATER, WE FIND IT MAY HAVE BEEN A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM INSTEAD.

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 10 MPH FRONT OF VEHICLE STARTED MAKING NOISE LIKE CRANKING HARD, AND ENGINE LOST POWER. THEN, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHERE THEY SAID THAT IT WAS A HEAD GASKET FAILURE. THEY COULD NOT TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A RECALL BECAUSE THERE WAS TOO MANY MILES ON VEHICLE. *AK

SPEEDOMETER WILL START TO BOUNCE FROM SPEED TO SPEED ONCE SPEED REACHS ABOUT 50 MPH. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER IS WILLING TO CHANGE PIECE, BUT WILL NOT COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

I HAVE HAD SEVERAL DIFFERENT PROBLEMS WITH MY '95 WINDSTAR SINCE I BOUGHT IT USED IN JAN OF 1997. THE SCARY THING IS I DON'T KNOW WHAT ALL HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED ON IT , BUT HERE IS MY LIST HEAD GASKETS REPLACED, SPEEDOMETER REPLACED & IS NOW MAKING NOISE AGAIN, REAR HEAT AND AIR REPAIRED,TROUBLE WITH IGNITION SWITCH, STEERING IS MAKING NOISES HOPEFULLY THIS ISN'T A PROBLEM WITH THE SUSPENSION SPRING YOU ARE ALREADY INVESTIGATING, BELLS ARE RINING ALL THE TIME, DOOR ADJAR LIGHT STAYS ON PERIODICALLY CAUSING INTERIOR LIGHTS TO STAY ON SO YOU CAN'T DRIVE AT NIGHT AND YOUR BATTERY GOES DEAD.MOST RECENTLY MY TRANSMISSION IS GIVING ME PROBLEMS, IT GOES OUT OF GEAR AT A STOP AND THEN SLAMS INTO IT HARD WHEN YOU TRY TO GO FORWARD ALSO SHIFTS HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN ENTERING A BUSY INTERSECTION OR STREET. I DID SOME HOME WORK ON THE INTERNET ONLY TO FIND THAT IT SEEMS ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE VERY COMMON AND EVERYONE SEEMS TO HAVE THEM AT SOME POINT OR ANOTHER. I HAVE BEEN THINKING OF RE PAIRING MY TRANSMISSION BUT I HAVE READ OF SEVERAL PEOPLE REPAIRING THEIRS ONLY TO PUT 2 OR EVEN 3 MORE IN. WHAT IS IT WITH THIS VEHICLE?NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

I'M ON MY 3RD TRANSMISSION AND IT IS GOING OUT! DANGEROUS, BECAUSE VEHICLE SLIPS AT CRUCIAL MOMENTS NEEDED FOR ACCELERATION. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PRODUCT! IT WILL CAUSE LIVES (IF IT HASN'T ALREADY). WIFE WON'T DRIVE BECAUSE SHE'S TOO FRIGHTENED BY IT'S INCONSISTENT ACCELERATION. WHAT IF IT SLIPPED WHILE NEAR RAILROAD TRACKS? WHAT IF IT SLIPPED/DISENGAGED WHILE ENTERING FREEWAY? VERY DANGEROUS. *AK

VEHICLE OVERHEATED, AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM PIPE. THEN. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHERE TECHNICIAN SAW THAT PROBLEM WAS A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET.*AK TRANSMISSION FAILED THREE TIMES. GAS TANK FAILED. WINDSHIELD IS DEFECTIVE. AND SIDE DOOR CLAMPS FAILED. *YH

RECALL 97V180000/HOODS : DEALER INFORMED THAT RECALL REPAIRS DONE. BUT, CONSUMER NOTICED A GAP AT THE LEADING EDGE OF THE HOOD. DEALER REFUSED TO TAKE NOTICE, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT REPAIRS WERE DONE AS PER DEALER CORRECTIVE ACTION. ASKING NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER.*AK

HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACE ON 5/10/00. DEALER SAYS NO CORRELATION TO BLOWN ENGINE. TRAVELING OUT OF STATE, WHILE ON VACATION AT 60MPH. LOSS OF POWER. WAS TRAVELING WITH MY MOTHER AND TWO SMALL CHILDREN. STRANDED FOR 3 DAYS, NO CAR. CAR REMIANS IN PA, I IN NY. WILL TAKE 8-12 WEEKS TO REPAIR. FORD IS DOING NOTHING FOR ME. NOT ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS, NO LOANER CAR, NOTHING.