1995 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

TEMPERATURE GUAGE SHOT UP TO HIGH AND THERE WAS NO HEAT. I WAS ON MY HOME FROM WORK AND DRIVING ON THE X-PRESSWAY. WHEN I REACHED HOME I CALLED DEALER IMMEDIATELY. I WAS TOLD NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR. THE CAR REMAINED IN OUR GARAGE FOR A DAY AND THEN WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER. I WAS TOLD THAT THE HEAD GASKETS NEEDED REPLACING FOR A TOTAL COST OF $1400. THIS CAR HAS ONLY 66,000 MILES ON IT AND FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN AND HEARD THIS IS A PROBLEM FORD HAS WITH THIS VAN. WARRANTY WAS UP AT 60,000 MILES. I NEED TO KNOW IF THEY TIMED THIS FAILURE TO OCCUR UNTIL THE WARRANTY RAN OUT. I EVEN HAD THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, WHICH OF COURSE IS GOOD FOR NOTHING. THIS CAR DOES NOT HAVE THAT MANY MILES ON IT TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF COSTLY REPAIR. *AK

VEHICLE OVERHEATED IN SECONDS AND ENGINE SEIZED. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAS CRACKED, CAUSING SAFETY HAZARD. DEALER AND FORD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILURE. NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE OF PROBLEM EXTENDING WARRANTY TO 60000K. FORD SAYS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WILL NOT ASSIST. DEALER REPAIRED AT VERY HIGH RATE OF FAILURE AND REPAIRS ABOUT 1 A WEEK. SAID NOTHING HE COULD DO TO ASSIST.*AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED 3 TIMES, HEAD GASKETS FAILED 2 TIMES, FORD DOESN'T CARE! *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

SPEEDOMETER HAS BEEN REPLACED ON THREE OCCASIONS. ALSO, SPEEDOMTER READING WAS NOT ACURATE. THE NEEDLE FLICKERED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED PARTS. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

I HAVE A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR WHICH HAD A RECALL ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO TO REPLACE HEAD GASKETS THAT HAD DEFECTS. THIS WAS REPLACED UNDER AN "EXTENDED WARRANTY" . ONE YEAR AND A HALF LATER THE TIMING COVER GASKET FAILED. THIS REQUIRES AN ENGINE TO BE LIFTED AND IS A $1400 JOB QUOTED FROM MY DEALER. I JUST RECEIVED A SERVICE BULLETEN ABOUT FORD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 100,000 MILES, HOWEVER IT IS ONLY FOR HEAD GASKETS AND NOT FOR TIMING COVER GASKETS. IT APPEARS, AFTER REASEARCHING THIS ON THE INTERNET THAT THE TIMING COVER GASKET PROBLEM IS JUST AS PREVELANT AS THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. HAS THE NHTSA INVESTIGATED WHETHER OR NOT THESE GASKETS HAVE THE SAME DEFECT? IT APPEARS THAT THE CARS ARE HAVING THE TIMING COVER PROBLEM JUST AS MUCH AS THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. I HAVE NEVER OWNED A VEHICLE THAT NEEDED TWO MAJOR REPAIRS. FORD BASICALLY SAID, TOO BAD..DOES THE NHTSA HAVE ANY POWER OVER THESE COMPANIES? NO WONDER WE ARE BUYING JAPANESE CARS. ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

WHEN BRAKING ANT- LOCK SYSTEM COMES ON MAKING LOUD NOISES WHICH FORD NOW SAYS IS NORMAL FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, AND WHITE SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT. THEN VEHICLE STARTED TO SPUTTER AND OVERHEATED. *AK

ON TWO OCCASIONS THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE REACHED THE HOT ZONE AND DROPPED. THE VEHICLE ALSO STARTED TO SMOKE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE UNDER MANUFACTURERS HEAD GASKET RECALL, BUT THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED, THEN THE DEALER REPLACED SENSOR AND THERMOSTAT. FINALLY THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME, BUT FORD WILL NOT PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS. *YH

FORD DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REIMBURSE DESPITE BEING A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, VERY CONCERNED FOR FAMILY SAFETY, WHEN/WHERE WILL ENGINE DIE AGAIN? NHTSA, WHEN WILL YOU TAKE ACTION AGAINST FORD. *AK

ENGINE SHUT OFF, ALMOST LOST CONTROL. *AK

A LOSS OF HEAT PLUS AN OVERHEATING ENGINE WERE THE FIRST SYMPTOMS OF AN ENGINE PROBLEM. A NEW THERMOSTAT WAS INSTALLED, BUT (8) DAYS LATER THE SAME SYMPTOMS WERE OBSERVED. A SERVICE CENTER TESTING CONFIRMED THAT THE HEAD GASKET(S) WERE BLOWN AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. FORD HAD EXTENDED ITS WARRANTY TO 60,000 MILES, BUT FAILURE OCCURRED AT 70,000 MILES. FORD REFUSES TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS REPAIR. THIS IS THE SECOND 3.8 L ENGINE THAT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM IN OUR FAMILY. A 1993 THUNDERBIRD WITH THE SAME ENGINE TYPE HAD TO BE REPAIRED AT A COST OF $1100.*AK

SUDDENLY OVERHEATED.BLOWN HEADGASKET. ENGINE WAS DESTROYED. *AK

WHEN THE INSURED PULLED THE VEHICLE INTO PARKING LOT THE FRONT PASENGER TIRE SHEARED OFF 5 LUG NUTS CAUSING DAMAGE TO ROTOR AND BUMPER. CLAIM #13-9132-767 *YH

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. ABOUT TWENTY MINUTES LATER THE CAR DIED. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

PROBLEM IS SO WELL KNOW...FORD IS WARNING DEALERS ON TRADE-INS.NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

SOMETIME DURING THE LAST YEAR, BOTH HEADLIGHTS HAVE BECOME SO FULL OF MOISTURE, DIRT, AND GRIM AS TO MAKE THEM NOT GIVE OFF MUCH LIGHT TO SEE FOR NIGHT DRIVING. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING ON HIGH BEAMS AND EVEN THAT DOES NOT HELP. HOWEVER THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY IS MADE, THE UNITS HAVE COME "UNSEALED". IT IS MORE THAN A NUSANCE, BECAUSE IT AFFECTS THE ABILITY TO DRIVE SAFELY AT NIGHT. I HAVE SEEN THIS SITUATION ON OTHER WINDSTARS AND OTHERS STILL HAVE NICE CLEAR LENSES. HAS FORD OR NHTSA DONE ANYTHING? IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO BEFORE I HAVE AN ACCIDENT AT NIGHT RUNNING INTO OR OVER SOMETHING? THANK YOU. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE OVERHEATED WITHOUT A REASON; NO LEAKS OF ANTI-FREEZE, AND THE WEATHER WAS IN SINGLE DIGITS. *AK *ML

HEAD GASKET BLEW AT ABOUT 55,000 MILES. *AK

MY 1995 WINDSTAR OVERHEATED AND ANTI-FREEZE BLEW OUT TO THE TAIL PIPE LIKE A BIG CUMULUS CLOUD. MY WIFE AND KID GOT SO FRIGHTEN. I FOUND OUT LATER THAT THE 1995 WINDSTARS HAVE A HISTORY OF FAILURE IN HEAD GASKET. I AM WRITING THIS BECAUSE I WANT TO HELP OTHER WINDSTARS OWNER IN THE FUTURE WHEN THEY ARE IN THE SAME PROBLEM. NHTSA SHOULD DEMAND A RECALL ON THE 1995 WINDSTAR AND FORD SHOULD COVERED THIS PART TO 100,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT .VEHICLE ONLY HAD 34,000 MILLES. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

HEAD GASKET BLOWN CAUSING $3460.00 IN REPARS> FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY FAULT. *AK

CONSUMER HAD NO IDEA VEHICLE WAS LEAKING COOLANT WHILE DRIVING. HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. CONSUMER RECEIVED LETTER ABOUT EXTENDED WARRANTY UP TO 100,000 MILES. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN WITH 104,000 MILES ON IT, AND DEALER WOULD NOT COVER HEAD GASKET REPAIRS, ACCORDING TO LETTER. CONSUMER SPOKE WITH FORD REP AND WAS TOLD THAT ALL SHE COULD DO WAS TO HOLD ON TO HER SERVICE BILL, THE WARRANTY MIGHT BE EXTENDED. *AK

THIS VAN HAD A REBUILT TRANSMISSION AT 36000 MILES, AND NEW BRAKE ROTORS AT 45000, WHT IS FORD ALLOWED TO MARKET SUCH SHODDY PRODUCTS? *AK

WHILE DROPPING OFF MY CHILD AT PRESCHOOL, THE VAN'S SLIDING DOOR DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND FELL SIDEWAYS ONTO THE GRASS. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE FORD REPAIR SHOP HERE, AND THEY HAVE TOLD ME I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE $200 REPAIR. MY FEELING IS THAT A SLIDING DOOR TO A FIVE-YEAR-OLD VAN SHOULD NOT JUST BE FALLING OFF, AND THAT WE ARE ALL VERY LUCKY MY LITTLE BOY WAS NOT STANDING BESIDE IT WHEN IT DID.

WE PURCHASED THIS 1995 WINDSTAR NEW FROM THE DEALER AND PAID CASH UP FRONT EXPECTING THIS VEHICLE TO BE OUR MAIN FAMILY CAR FOR AT LEAST 10 YEARS. WHEN WE EXPERIENCED AN INTERMITTENT HEATER AROUND 75000 MILES, THE DEALER REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT AT A COST OF $107.77 AND SAID NOTHING ABOUT THE HEADGASKET. TWO DAYS LATER THE HEATER WAS AGAIN INTERMITTENT AND WHEN EXAMINED BY THE DEALER I WAS TOLD THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS DEFECTIVE. ACTUALLY THEY MISDIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME I BROUGHT IN THE VEHICLE FOR AN INTERMITTENT HEATER. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT I HAD TO PAY $495.00 OR THE COST OF AN EXTENDED SERVICE AGREEMENT TO FIX THE HEAD GASKET AND FORD WILL PAY THE BALANCE. THE EXTENDED SERVICE AGREEMENT WOULD COVER MY VEHICLE ONLY TO 75000 MILES. I HAVE 75115 MILES ON MY WINDSTAR NOW. I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD PAY THE FULL AMOUNT OF REPAIRS IN THIS CASE BECAUSE OF THE HEAD GASKET DESIGN FLAW DESCRIBED IN THE 1998 HEAD GASKET RECALL. WE ARE VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THE UNFAIR WAY FORD IS TREATING ITS BEST CUSTOMERS. JOHN AND KAREN TAYLOR. *AK

ENGINE BLEW A HEAD GASKET. ALSO, WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. *AK

HEAD GASKET AND TIMING COVER GASKET FAILED. YH

HEAD GASKET AND TIMING COVER LEAK (DEALER ESTIMATE TO FIX = $3600). PREVIOUSLY COMPLAINED TO DEALER AND FORD (10/4/99 AT 58207 MILES) ABOUT A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THAT I NOW THINK WAS RELATED TO THE CURRENT HEAD GASKET/TIMING COVER PROBLEM (IN ANOTHER REPORT HERE, THE HEAD GASKET/TIMING COVER WAS LISTED AS A SOLUTION FOR TRANSMISSION SYMPTOMS THAT WERE THE SAME AS ONE'S I HAD EXPERIENCED AND REPORTED). *AK

THERE WAS A RECALL ON HEAD GASKETS - FORD FAILED TO NOTIFY US BY MAIL NOR DID THEY NOTIFY US WHEN WE TOOK IT IN FOR ROUTINE SERVICES. NOW THEY WON'T FIX IT BECAUSE IT'S PAST 60,000 MILES. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC, WHO FIXED THE PROBLEM AT A COST OF OVER $800.00. THE OTHER MECHANIC IS HOW I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL - FORD SHARED THAT INFORMATION WITH HIM - HOWEVER, THEY FAILED TO LET US IN ON THE SECRET. *AK

AFTER OWNER NOTICED VAN WAS LEAKING VAN WAS DRIVEN AROUND AND BEGAN TO SMOKE. AFTER CONTACTING SEVERAL MECHANICS, VAN WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE, AFTER BEING ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE. VAN WAS CHECKED FOR PROBLEMS, AND ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS FOUND TO BE BLOWN. ENGINE HEAD GASKET WILL BE REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

FORD PROGRAM 98M01 SAYS IT IS VALID FOR 5 YEARS OR 60,000 MILES. MY 5 YEARS IS NOT UP - YET THEY ALSO SAY IT EXPIRED IN DECEMBER 1998, 4 YEASR AFTER THE CAR WAS FIRST OFFERED. THEY OFFER NO COVERAGE FOR A KNOWN PROBLEM. NO SAFETY DEFECT (S) LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

UP TO NOW I FOUND TWO WINDSTAR-OWNERS, WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER AND FORD TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE. *AK

THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT, FORD ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED DUE TO THE MILEAGE BEING OVER 60000. *MJS

I GOT MY 95 WINDSTAR FROM MY DAD 3 MONTHS AGO. HE HAD BEEN THE SOLE/ORIGINAL OWNER. THE HEAT GAUGE STARTED GOING WAY UP AND THEN BACK TO NORMAL ON JAN 20, 2000. IT WOULD GO UP AND DOWN SOMETIMES 8 TIMES IN A 30 MINUTE RIDE! I CHECKED THE EASIEST, AND LEAST EXPENSIVE THINGS FIRST - ENGINE COOLANT, RADIATOR, AND THERMOSTAT. BUT IT KEPT DOING IT. FINALLY, ON JAN 27, 2000 IT OVERHEATED AND STAYED HOT. I CALLED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER (HELGESEN'S OF EVANSVILLE, WI) AND THEY GOT IT IN ON THE FOLLOWING MON. THE 31ST. THEY SAID IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET AND MENTIONED THE RECALL ON IT. I TALKED TO MY DAD, WHO BOUGHT THE VAN NEW AND IS VERY METICULOUS ABOUT SAVING PAPERS, AND MAINTAINING HIS AUTOMOBILES. HE SAID THAT HE NEVER GOT A RECALL LETTER ON IT AND CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE HAD IT CHECKED OUT IF HE HAD. IN FACT, WHEN I GOT THE VAN FROM HIM, HE GAVE ME HIS WHOLE FILE OF INFO ON IT, WHICH CONSISTED OF THE ORIGINAL SALES & ORDER PAPERS, AND OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS, BUT NO REPAIRS OR RECALL INFO OF ANY KIND. I WILL BE CALLING FORD TOMORROW AS I JUST FOUND A WEB SITE WITH THE RECALL # AND PHONE # ON IT TONITE. OBVIOUSLY, I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM! THANK YOU FOR YOUR "EAR"... SUE HERMAN

FAULTY SWITCHES CAUSE "DOOR AJAR" & INTERIOR LIGHTS TO REMAIN ON, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT.

DRIVER SEAT BELT DID NOT WORK PROPERLY DURING COLLISION RESULTING IN INJURY TO HEAD,NECK AND BACK FROM BEING THROWN FORWARD. *MJS

FRONT SPRING IN THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM BROKE AND PUNCTURED TIRE WHILE BACKING OUT OF GARAGE. NLM

I HAVE OWNED MY VAN SINCE JANUARY 2000. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING, MY VAN HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET, WHICH WAS FIXED UNDER THE FORD RECALL. STILL WITHIN THE RECALL, A HEAD GASKET BLEW AGAIN. FORD TOLD ME THE RECALL ONLY ALLOWS FOR A ONE TIME REPAIR. SINCE THEN, MY VAN IS ON ITS THIRD ENGINE AND THIRD TRANSMISSION. MOST RECENTLY WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE MAIN COMPUTER AS WELL. WE HAVE SPENT MORE MONEY FIXING THE VAN THAN WHAT WE PAID FOR IT. *AK

ENGINE SEALS RELEASED ANTI-FREEZE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

IN NOVEMBER OF 1998, THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED AFTER VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TO DEALER FOR ANTIFREEZE LEAK. DEALER INFORMED US THAT HEAD GASKETS WERE NOT YET "BAD" BUT ADVISED US TO REPLACE THEM BEFORE FURTHER DAMAGE WAS DONE TO ENGINE. WE COMPLIED AND HAD THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED TO AVOID FURTHER PROBLEMS. WHEN WE TOOK THE WINDSTAR IN ON JANUARY 17, 2000, WE WERE INFORMED THAT WE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. THE PREVENTATIVE HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT IN 1998 SHOULD HAVE AVOIDED THE ENGINE FAILURE, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. APPARENTLY, THERE IS MUCH MORE GOING ON WITH THIS ENGINE THAN WE ARE AWARE OF. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP PUTTING MONEY INTO THIS VEHICLE, AND WE HOPE THAT FORD WILL ISSUE A RECALL ON THE PRODUCT. INCIDENTALLY, OUR SERVICE PERSON AT VENUS FORD (WILLIE WILLETT) HAS HEARD OF THOUSANDS OF 1995 FORD WINDSTAR OWNERS WITH IDENTICAL PROBLEMS. VISITS TO VARIOUS SITES ON THE INTERNET CONFIRM THIS. WHY IS NO ONE TAKING ANY POSITIVE ACTION ON THIS MAJOR PROBLEM? *AK

A PART OR BOLT BROKE OFF AND FELL IN TO THE OIL PAN WHICH CAUSED ENGINE PROBLEMS. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING IT CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

I WAS TOLD THIS HAD BEEN UNDER A LIMITED RECALL, PROBABLY IN 96, WHICH I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT. I HAVE RECEIVED 2 RECALLS AND WISH I KNEW ABOUT THE RECALL ON THE MOTOR (HEAD GASKETS). *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT, SMOKE OUT TAIL PIPE, ANTIFREEZE ODOR AT EXHAUST. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK