1995 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

HEAD GASKET FAILED CAUSING LEAK, AFTER REPAIR OF THE GASKET THE ENGINE FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. NLM

ENGINE FAILURE SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER HEAD GASKET FAILURE. FORD HAS SERIOUS QUALITY PROBLEM THAT IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED

FORD HAS ADVISED US THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT COVERED BY ANY RECALL OR REBATE. WHY??? WE HAVE HAD 4 TRANSMISSIONS PUT IN OVER THE PAST 2 & 1/2 YRS. FORTUNATELY, 2 OF THEM WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.

ON FIRST INCIDENT, IN AUGUST OF 1999, I WAS TRAVELLING AT 65 MPH ON I-4 JUST NORTH (EAST) OF ORLANDO, FLORIDA WHEN THE RIGHT , SIDEVIEW MIRROR LENS FLEW OFF, BOUNCED ALONG THE SIDE OF MY CAR, AND FLEW BACK INTO THE TRAFFIC BEHIND ME. I STOPPED, AND NO OTHER CARS STOPPED- THEREFORE I DON'T FEEL THIS MIRROR HIT ANYONE. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED IN JULY OF THIS YEAR, WHERE THE LEFT SIDE-VIEW MIRROR BLEW OFF UNDER IDENTICAL CIRCUMSTANCES. AGAIN, THERE WERE NO INJURIES. WHY DID BOTH SIDE-VIEW MIRRORS FAIL (AND BLOW OFF) WITHIN AN ELEVEN MONTH PERIOD. I'M SURE THE POTENTIAL FOR A SERIOUS, IF NOT FATAL INJURY WAS THERE WITH THIS 3" BY 4" PIECE OF GLASS FLYING AROUND AT 65 MPH. I CONTACTED FORD, AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT THEY WOULD DO NOTHING FOR ME , AS THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. PLEASE NOTIFY ME OF THE RESULTS OF ANY INVESTIGATION REGARDING THIS COMPLAINT. THANKS FRANK RENNER. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 51K MILES . THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE FORWARD CLUTCH PISTION CRACKED BECUASE IT WAS ALUMINUM AND NOT CAPABLE OF DEALING WITH THE STRESSES OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM IS SO BAD THAT ATRA HAS A TECH BULLETIN STATING TO REPLACE THE PART ( BULLETIN 267). HIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED BY MANY OTHER FORD OWNERS YET FORD WILL NOT DO ANYHTING ABOUT IT. I AM AWAITING YOUR RESPONSE AS TO WHAT ACTION CAN BE TAKEN AGAINST FORD.

AFTER PURCHASING A USED 95 WINDSTAR JUST 58 DAYS AGO FROM PUNDMAN FORD WHILE TRAVELING 35-40 MILES AN HOUR ON 61-67 IN IMPERIAL MO. WITH FOUR PASSENGERS (2 ADULT COUPLES) AFTER CHANGING INTO THE CURB LANE TO BE PREPARED FOR A RIGHT TURN SOME WAYS DOWN THE ROAD THERE WAS A SUDDEN JOLT/DROP AS BEST I CAN DESCRIBE AND IMMEDIATELY THE VAN WAS SWERVING,SKIDDING,AND TRAVELING SIDEWAYS OUT OF CONTROL. IT WAS ALL I (DRIVER) COULD DO TO STRUGGLE AND FIGHT WITH THE STEERING TO MANUVERE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN A VACANT PARKING LOT.(AVOIDING A HORRIFIC ACCIDENT) THE PASSENGERS WERE HYSTERICAL AND AMAZED THAT I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN COMPOSE LONG ENOUGH TO BRING IT TO A SAFE STOP. WE THOUGHT WE MUST HAVE BLOWN A TIRE BUT ONCE THE HYSTERIA HAD DISSIPATED AND THE MEN BEGAN A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE VAN THEY FOUND THE TIRES WERE INTACT. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION IT WAS NOTICED BENEATH THE CAR SOMETHING WAS INDEED BROKEN AND THE LEFT REAR TIRE WAS NOW WEDGES INTO THE REAR BUMPER.WHEN AAA CAME TO TOW US TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER HE TOO WAS AMAZED WE WERE ABLE TO AVIOD THE TRAFFIC (THE LORD WAS ALL OVER THIS ORDEAL)AND A MAJOR COLLISION HE SAID THAT THIS WAS A FIRST FOR HIM SEEING ANYTHING LIKE THIS. THE CAR IS NOW ON RUTHERMAN FORD'S LOT ON RICHARDSON RD. IN IMPERIAL,MO.WAITING TO BE LOOKED AT ON MONDAY (THIS HAPPENED ON A SAT. EVENING). *AK

REAR STABLIZABER BAR BROKE, CAUSING THE REAR AXLE TO SHIFT AND CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WE PURCHASED A 1995 WINDSTAR GL FROM HILCHER FORD (NOW TEXAN) IN AUGUST 1994. WE

PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT I HEARD A RUBBING NOISE. I PARKED THE VEHICL AND TURNED THE WHEEL. THE TIRE EXPLODED. WHEN I LOOKED THE COIL HAD BROKEN AND ONE END WAS JAMMED THROUGH THE TIRE. I CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID NOTHING COULD BE DONE. I COULD NOT FIND A PART ANY WHERE. I CALLED 3 FORD DELAERSHIPS AND THEY SAID ALL THE PARTS WERE BACK ORDERED AND COULD NOT BE DELIVERED FOR MONTHS. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SEFCIE AS MY CAR WAS BROKEN DOWN 100 MILES FROM MY HOME. THEY SAID TO PUT MY NAME ON AN ORDER FORM AND WAIT FOR THE PART, EVEN THOUGH I WAS PAYING $43.00 A DAY FOR A RENTAL CAR. WHEN TOWING THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR BOTH WINDOWS EXPLODED FRO NO REASON. WE ENDED UP ORDERING A USED SPRING FROM OHIO OVER 600 MILES AWAY AND HAD TO PAY TO HAVE IT SHIPPED. WHEN IT ARRIVED IT WAS THE REAR COIL AND HAD TO BE SENT BACK AND REORDERED. THE NEW PART IS DUE TO BE DELIVERED MONDAY. I WILL BE WITHOUT THE VEHICLE FOR 7 DAYS IF THE PART IS PUT ON TUESDAY.

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND AIR CONDITIONER WAS BLOWING HOT AIR . VEHICLE OVERHEATED ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLOWING OUT. *AK

WHEN DRIVING ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH AND UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO COME TO A GRADUAL STOP, ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STICKING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. *AK THROTTLE RETURN SPRING CAME OFF POST ON THE THROTTLE LINKAGE. *YH

THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SINCE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED. FORD HAS TRIED NUMBEROUS TIMES TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. ENGINE FAILURE OCCURS INTERMITENTLY WHILE MAKING TURNS SOMETIMES GOING DOWN STEEP HILLS LEAVING THE DRIVER WITH NO STEERING AND VERY LITTLE BRAKES. THIS VAN IS DANGEROUS. CLOSE CALLS FROM BEING REARENDED FROM CARS BEHIND YOU WHO DO NOT KNOW THE VAN IS GOING TO LOSE ALL ENGINE POWER.*AK

AFTER STOPPING AT STOP LIGHT VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ABOVE 40 MPH UNTIL IT STOPPED OPERATING WHICH LEFT VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER. *AK THE DEALER DID THE REPAIR JOB BUT NO POWER TO ACELERATE AGAIN WHILE ON HIGHWAY. THE TRANSMISSION SEAL BLEW OUT DUE TO PRESSURE BUILD IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID STALLING THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY. *YH

ENGINE FAILED WHILE DRIVING, LUCKILY THE ENGINE WAS COVERED UNDER RECALL NOTICE BUT THE CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO RENT VEHICLES DURING REPAIR, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR RENTAL VEHICLES. NLM

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH WHEN VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT A WARNING. PROBLEM WAS REOCCURRING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, AND THEY TOLD CONSUMER THAT PROBLEM WAS WITH A TIMING COVER LEAK. *AK *ML

LEHIGH VALLEY FORD REPLACED THE RECALLED HEADGASKET AND THE PROBLEMS STARTED THEN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, I TOOK IT BACK TO THE SAME DEALER THEY REPLACED THE COMPUTER FOR $400. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THEY TOOK IN THEY REPLACED THE COMPUTER AGAIN, BUT THEY SAID THERE WAS STILL A PROBLEM THEY DECIDED TO WITHOUT ASKING TO REPLACE THE MAIN ELECTRICAL HARNESS. I PICKED MY VAN UP TODAY, THE NICE PEOPLE THERE ASKED TO TEST DRIVE FOR A WEEK AND THEN COME BACK TO DISCUSS THE CHARGES. I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT L.V.FORD ARE VERY GOOD PEOPLE TO DEAL WITH BUT I DON'T FEEL IT IS FAIR TO BE CHARGED ANYTHING AFTER I FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SAME HARNESS, AND BEFORE REPLACING THE HEADGASKIT I DID NOT FACE ANY PROBLEM WITH THE VAN, I AM NOT SAYING THESE PROBLEMS RELATED TO THAT IN ANY WAY.

PERSISTENT FAILURE OF HEADGASKET DUE TO ERROR IN ENGINE DESIGN.*AK

CONSUMER VEHICLE HAD A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE HEAD GASKET. DAMAGE WAS DONE ANTIFREEZE AND OIL MIX UP TOGETHER AND THE HEAD GASKET BLEW. AND THE REAR AND FRONT BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. THE ENGINE CRACKED. *AK

BLOWN HEAD GASKET ON 95 FORD WINDSTAR. I'VE NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE 3.8 CYLINDER ENGINES. THE FORD DEALER IS TELLING ME THAT ITS TOO LATE TO FIX THE PROBLEM NOW. DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROBLEM?*AK

THIS WILL BE THE 3RD ENGINE WITHIN A YEAR FOR THIS VAN. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO DO THIS AGAIN AND WE NEED HELP. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE IS AT OPERATING TEMPERATURE, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILS TO ENGAGE PROPERLY FROM A STANDING START. SEVERAL SECOND DELAY WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STANDING START. TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. UPON INVESTIGATING IN VARIOUS WEB-SITES APPEARS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. HOPE OTHERS ARE COMPLAINING TOO. TRANSMISSION FLUID IS AT PROPER LEVEL. SUFFERED THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. ENGINE WAS REPLACED IN DECEMBER 1999.*AK

ABS SYSTEM MOTOR OPERATES INTERMITENTLY AT LOW SPEED NORMAL STOPS. ALL SENSORS HAVE BEEN CLEANED AND CHECKED, BUT THE ABS WILL OPERATE INTERMITENTLY AND CAUSE DISCOMFORT WHILE BREAKING: EFFECTIVENESS DOES NOT SEEMTO BE REDUCED, BUT THE SURPRISE OF THE PEDAL PULSATING MIGHT CAUSE A REDUCTION IN PEDAL PRESSURE AND RESULT IN A REDUCTION OF BRAKING EFFICIENCY.

OUR VAN WAS IN THE SHOP 6 TIMES IN 1999. THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT RIGHT NOW AND SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT START AT ALL DUE TO ANOTHER PROBLEM. I HATE TO PUT ANY MORE MONEY INTO THIS VAN BUT I WILL HAVE TO I GUESS. I CAN'T AFFORD TO TRADE IT IN THEY DON'T WANT TO GIVE YOU ANYTHING FOR IT. THE TRANSMISSION IS DANGEROUS IN THAT YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WON;T GO.*AK

ANTILOCK BRAKE LIGHT IGNITED ON TWO OCCASIONS, FILLING WITH BRAKE FLUID FIXED THIS PROBLEM. NOW THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE LIGHT INTERMITTANTLY COMES ON. WHEN LIGHT IS NOT ACTIVATED, THE ANTILOCK BRAKES ARE ACTIVATED WITH EVERY USE OF THE BRAKE, CAUSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS. ONCE THE BRAKE GOES BEYOND THIS POINT, THE PEDAL WILL DEPRESS TO THE FLOOR AND PRESSURE WILL PUSH THE PEDAL BACK UP AND PULSATE. WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP THE BRAKES WILL MAKE A GRINDING SOUND FROM THE RIGHT FRONT. WHEN THE LIGHT IS IGNITED AND THE ANTILOCK BRAKES ARE NOT OPERATIONAL, THE BRAKES WORK NORMAL, BUT STILL GRIND WHEN A COMPLETE STOP IS MADE. THERE IS A WIRE AT THE STARTER CONNECTION THAT WORKS ITSELF LOOSE OCCASSIONALLY CAUSING THE ENGINE NOT TO START. WHEN THIS OCCURS YOU NEED TO JIGGLE THE WIRE AND TIGHTEN TO GET TO START. THIS PROBLEM HAD BEEN LOOKED AT AND SERVICED IN SEPT 2000, BUT STILL OCCURS APPROXIMATELY EVERY FOUR MONTHS. THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT AND DOME LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ACTIVATE. THIS SEEMS TO BE FALSE AS ALL DOORS ARE CLOSED. AGAIN, SOME PLAYING AROUND WITH CONNECTIONS SEEM TO FIX THIS PROBLEM ALSO. ALL PROBLEMS SEEM TO HAVE OCCURED AFTER THE VEHICLE REACHED 75,000 MILES. WE DO HAVE ACQUAINTANCES WHO ALSO OWN WINDSTARS OF THE SAME YEAR AND HAVE THE SAME ANTILOCK BRAKE PROBLEM.*AK

CRACK IN ALUMINUM FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON IN THE TRANSMISSION

AT 75,000 MILES TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILD DUE TO TRANSMSSION FAILURE. AT 123,000 MILES TRANSMSSION LOST REVERSE, AND REPAIRS MADE AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIRS SHOP. BELIEVED PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION; DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK

ENGINE SEIZED AFTER HEAD GASKET FAILURE IN DEC 1998. STENGERS FORD (NOW OUT OF BUSINESS) TOOK IN EXCESS OF ONE MONTH TO REPAIR. THEY ADMITTED THIS WAS THEIR FIRST ATTEMPT TO REPLACE WINDSTAR ENGINE. WITHIN A FEW WEEKS OF RECEIVING WINDSTAR BACK. ALSO, TRANSMISSION FAILED. *AK

THERE IS A RECALL IN PROCESS FOR THIS, HOWEVER, I WAS TOLD THAT IT ONLY COVERED VEHICLES WITH 100,000 MILES OR LESS ON THEM. THE VAN HAD 96,000 MILES ON IT WHEN WE PURCHASED IT, AND NOW NEITHER FORD NOR WYNN'S WARRANTY ARE GOING TO COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIRS FOR A PROBLEM THAT WAS SO COMMON THAT A RECALL HAD TO BE ISSUED.AK

5548 MILES OVER THE RECALL (HEAD GASKET RECALL) DEALER LOCKED AT IT AND SAID IT WAS OK, 500 MILES LATER THE ENGINE WENT OUT DUE TO THE RECALL.

WHILE DRVING ENGINE HEAD GASKET STARTED TO LEAK. WATER WAS GETTING INTO THE OIL. THIS CAUSED VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER. ALSO, TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP, AND IT TOOK TOO LONG TO SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR FROM 1ST GEAR. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & MECHANIC INDICATED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED COMPLETE OVERHAUL. ALSO, WOULD CHECK HEAD GASKET.*AK

THE COIL SPRING FAILED DURING NIGHT-TIME STORAGE IN OUR GARAGE. THE BROKEN SPRING WAS RESTING ON THE FRONT LEFT TIRE. BREAKAGE AT HIGHWAY SPEED COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC.*AK

MAJOR HEAD GASKET PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE NOW PROBLEM WITH FRONT ENGINE COVER DUE TO POOR WORKMANSHIP WHEN ENGINE WAS REPLACED. FORD NEEDS TO ADMIT THAT THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM AND FULLY COMPENSATE FOR REPAIRS . COIL SPRING FAILURE IS VERY DANGEROUS. I AM GLAD THAT IT HAPPENED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS GOING INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND NOT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS LIKE WHEN THE ENGINE BLEW. IT IS TWO BAD THIS MODEL YEAR WAS A DISASTER AND FORD PLAY SUCH A GAME WITH A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.A M. *AK

CONSUMER TO FILL UP.

WHILE BACKING FROM PARKING SPOT, DRIVER HEARD A LARGE BANG. DRIVER SMELLED BURNING RUBBER DURING 3 MILE DRIVE HOME. BROKEN SPRING WAS FOUND WHICH DESTROYED FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE.

LEFT FRONT SPRING BROKE, CAUSING A PUNCTURE IN TIRE WHICH THEN BURST. DEALER CLAIMED THERE WAS NO NEW SPRING AVAILABLE, THAT THE BEST THEY COULD DO WAS TO PROVIDE CONSUMER WITH A USED SPRING. *AK *ML

BROUGHT CAR TO BELL FORD ON 10/3/00 FOR RECALL SERVICE REPAIR AFTER LOCAL SVC MECHANIC INDICATED ENGINE PROBLEM IS ONE THAT FORD INITIATED A RECALL FOR IN MAY 2000. BELL REFUSED DUE TO CURRENT MILEAGE OF 106000 ON VEHICLE EXCEEDING RECALL LIMITATION OF 100000, AND REPAIR DEADLINE OF 10/1/00. FORD REFUSES TO COVER THE $1400-1500 REPAIR UNDER THE RECALL. WE HAD NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, ALTHOUGH FORD INSISTS THAT THEY SENT US ONE IN MAY 2000.

THIS IS ACTULAY THE SECOND PROBLEM THE FIRST WAS HEAD GASKETS IN NOV OF 99 THAT WAS RESOLVED WITH FORD AFTER FIGHTING WITH THEM A MONTH NOW ITS THE TRANSMISSION THATS GOING OUT I HAVE DONE SOME RESERCH ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND FILL IT SCHOULD BE A RECALL . I HAD THE TRANSMISSION SLIP AT A STOP LIGHT AND WAS ALMOST REARENDED BY A SEMI AND TRAILER.THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMON ON THE WINDSTAR AND TAURSE AND I FILL FORD THAT THIS WILL NOT BE HANDLED BY FORD ON THERE OWN. THIS IS NOT ONLY PUTING PEOPLE IN FINANCAL STRAIN BUT ALSO PERSNAL DANGER. THE WORST PART ABOUT THIS IT THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THIS BUT DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THEIR COSTUMERS IN ANY WAY . I WOULD LIKE TO SEE LEAGLE ACTION AGAINST THEM .*AK

VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND ROUTINELY SERVICED PER MANUFACTURERS RECOMMENATIONS AND DOES NOT HAVE TOWING CAPABILITY. TRANSMISSION WOULD OCCASIONLY BEHAVE AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A COMPLETE STOP. IT FINALLY LOST ALL DRIVE IN FIRST AND REVERSE GEARS, RESULTING IN A $ 2000 TRANSMISSION REPAIR AT THE DEALER. THE FAULTY PART WAS A CRACKED ALUMINIUM FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON, WHICH IS NOW REPLACED BY A STEEL PART .(I HAVE THE DAMAGED PART.) THE TRANSMISSION TROUBLES STARTED AFTER THE MAIN HEAD GASKETS BLEW AND OVERHEATED THE ENGINE. I HAD TO REPAIR THE HEAD GASKETS MYSELF BECAUSE MY VEHICLE WAS 4 MONTHS BEYOND THE ORIGINAL RECALL NOTICE LIMITATIONS. AFTER I REPAIRED THE HEAD GASKETS WITH THE NEW FORD PARTS, I JUST RECENTLY RECEIVED THE RECALL EXTENSION NOTICE IN THE MAIL APPROX 2 MONTHS AGO. WHAT LOUSEY TIMING.*AK

I HAVE REPEATEDLY TRIED TO GET MY VECHICLE REPAIRED BUT THE DEALER INSISTS THAT HE WILL NOT GIVE ME SERVICE.THE SERVICE MNGR. HAS REFUSED TO EVEN LOOK AT THE VECHICLE TO DETERMINE IF LOANER IS NECESSARY. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

WHERE'S FORD'S ACCOUNTABILITY? I'VE CHANGED A GASKET IN THE MOTOR 2 WEEKS AGO AND NOW THAT $801 REPAIR WILL BE THROWN OUT WHEN THE MOTOR IS REPLACED. FORD BUILT TOUGH & TO LAST HAS NOW DIED AT 99001 MILES. I THINK FORD SHOULD PAY FOR A NEW MOTOR AND REIMBURSE ME $801 FOR A USELESS GASKET., PLUS $450.50 FOR A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND HOSE THAT GOT BLOWN BEC. OF IT. *AK

SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE FLUCTUATES BACK AND FORTH. DRIVER IS NOT ABLE TO VERIFY CORRECT DRIVING SPEED. VAN HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. DEALERSHIP IS NOT ABLE TO KEEP THIS PART IS STOCK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

DEFECTIVE REAR AXLE SHEARED OFF, CAUSING REAR TO DROP WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

VEHICLE FAILED ON THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE AT SOMERSET, PA. VEHICLE TOWED TO BEDFORD FORD DEALERSHIP LOCATED IN BEDFORD, PA. SERVICE MANAGER (PAUL WEISS) ADMITTED THAT ENGINE HEAD GASKET ON 3.8 LITER FORD ENGINES ARE NOTORIOUS FOR EARLY FAILURE. SERVICE MANAGER REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY FINANCIAL RELIEF. SERVICE MANAGER REFUSED TO PROVIDE NAME OR CONTACT POINT OF FORD DISTRICT SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE. THE FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE 800-NUMBER IS NOT AUTHORIZED TO PROVIDE ANY FINANCIAL RELIEF...THEY CAN ONLY RECORD AN INDIVIDUAL OWNER'S COMPLAINT. DOES NHTSA HAVE ANY AUTHORITY TO COMPEL FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A SUBSTANDARD DEFECTIVE ENGINE COMPONENT AND REIMBURSE THE OWNER FOR A PREMATURE HEAD GASKET *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET IS DEFECTIVE

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 55MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER MAINTAINED CONTROL OF VEHICLE, BUT VEERED OFF THE ROAD ONTO THE SHOULDER. ALSO, REAR TWO WINDOWS BLEW OUT/DASHBOARD CAME APART, AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAG CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED. DEALER CONTACTED, SAID VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK *ML

OVERDRIVE LIGHT BLINKING, WE BROUGHT VEHICLE TO FORD DEALERSHIP. THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1500-$2100 (2 QUOTES FROM 2 DIFFERENT FORD DEALERSHIPS). TOLD US THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS ONLY COVERED UP TO 75K UNDER SPECIAL WARRANTY, WE HAD 80K. WE CHOOSE TO LET THE VEHICLE SIT IN THE DRIVEWAY. A WEEK LATER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO ANOTHER FORD DEALER, TOLD US THE HEAD GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED AGAIN (WE REPAIRED IT LAST YEAR). FORD WON'T LET US USE THE BUY-BACK OPTION AS STATED IN THE MARCH 2000 LETTER TO WINDSTAR OWNERS WHO HAVE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. THE DEALERSHIP AND A FORD MOTOR CORP CUSTOMER SERVICE REP SAID THAT ONCE WE ACCEPTED THE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE FIRST HEAD GASKET REPAIR, SUBSEQUENT HEAD GASKET FAILURES COULD ONLY BE REPAIRED, THE BUY-BACK OPTION WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE LETTER FROM FORD DOES NOT STATE THIS AND WE WERE NOT INFORMED AT THE TIME OF THE FIRST REPAIR THAT THIS COULD BE A REOCCURRING PROBLEM AND THAT WE WONT HAVE THAT OPTION LATER TO USE THE BUY-BACK PROGRAM INSTEAD OF REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. CAR IS NOW SITTING IN DRIVEWAY UNTIL WE FIGURE OUT WHAT OUR RIGHTS ARE. WE WOULD LIKE FORD TO BUY BACK OUR WINDSTAR FOR WHAT WE OWE*AK.

AFTER OPERATING THE VEHICLE FOR A WHILE, TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ENGAGE INTO DRIVE AND SOMETIMES WILL NOT ENGAGE INTO REVERSE. OVERDRIVE LIGHT THEN STARTED TO FLASH. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION DOES ENGAGE, THE VEHICLE TENDS TO LURCH FORWARD IN AN UNSAFE MANNER. BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE. THEY CHANGED THE ECM (ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE) AT A COST OF $650.00 PARTS AND LABOR. WE LEFT FOR A WEEK VACATION THE NEXT DAY ONLY TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM OCCUR. GARAGE INSISTED THAT THE ECM WAS DEFECTIVE AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS A SEPARATE ISSUE. BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO DEALER (SHAMROCK FORD). WITHIN A COUPLE OF HOURS, WE RECIEVED A CALL THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED. COST: $2600.00. UPON SEARCHING THE INTERNET, WE FOUND THAT A LOT OF 1995 WINDSTAR EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS NOT ONLY AN ISSUE OF MANUFACTURER DEFECT BUT ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE, SOMETHING THE NHTSA SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN. FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS NOT BEEN RECEPTIVE TO OUR COMPLAINS AND REQUESTS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN THE REPAIR ALTHOUGH, WE BELIEVE, THAT THEY ARE FULLY AWARE OF THE DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION AS EVIDENCED BY THEIR PROMPT DIAGNOSIS OF THE PROBLEM . WE OWN A 1995 TOYOTA CELICA WITH 245,000 MILES AND A 1988 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH 264,000 MILES. WE FEEL THAT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE CAR OWNERS AND THAT OUR VEHICLES ARE NOT SUBJECTED TO ABUSE AND MISUSE. WE BOUGHT THE FORD WINDSTAR WITH THE BELIEF THAT FINALLY, AMERICAN CAR MANUFACTURERS HAS ACHIEVED A LEVEL OF RELIABILITY EQUIVALENT TO THEIR FOREIGN CAR COMPETITORS. IT NOW APPEARS THAT AT LEAST ONE COMPANY, FORD MOTORS, HAS NOT.*AK

WHEELS - 2 WHEELS (RIMS) WARPED WITHOUT REASON. CAUSED CONSTANT VIBRATION. HAD CHECKED 3 TIMES BEFORE PROBLEM FOUND. FOUND AT NON-FORD GARAGE. REARVIEW MIRROR FELL OFF WHILE PARKED. WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE NEVER WORKED PROPERLY, CONSTANTLY SMEAR. REPLACE AT VARIOUS TIMES.

DRIVER SIDE FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING BROKE. INITIALLY VEHICLE WAS DRIVABLE BUT EVENTUALLY THE SPRING COLLAPSED ENOUGH TO CAUSE RUBBING ON THE TIRE. SPRING WAS REPLACED AFTER A 3 MONTH WAIT DUE TO FORD NOT HAVING ANY. THIS IS ON TOP OF 2 HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENTS AND A TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE IS A LEMON, FORD KNOWS IT, AND THE CONSUMER GETS SCREWED. .*AK

THE SPEEDOMETER FLUCTUATES WITHIN A 20- TO 30-MPH RANGE. IT WAS FIXED ONCE AND ALL THEY DID WAS REPLACE THE CABLE. THERE ARE NOW SAYING IT IS THE ENTIRE SPEEDOMETER. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS!. *AK