1995 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE - NO WARNING SIGNS. FORTUNATELY WE WERE ALMOST STATIONARY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION JUST FAILED .*AK

HEAD GASKETS FAILED AT 60,849 MILES. FORD WOULD NOT HONOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DUE TO EXCESS OF MILES. DEALER WANTED $1,000 TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. WHEN WE CONTACTED FORD THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR US. WE PURCHASED THE VAN JUST 2.5 YEARS AGO. THE DEALER COMMENTED THAT IF WE HAD BOUGHT THE VAN BRAND NEW HE MIGHT CONSIDER TRYING TO HELP US. FORD SHOULD HONOR THE 120,000 MILES ORIGINAL LIFETIME STANDARD AND STAND BY "QUALITY IS JOB 1"!! WE ARE LOOKING TO CHANGE TO A DIFFERENT COMPANY SUCH AS DODGE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VAN IT OVERHEATED. WHEN THE VAN WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DEALER ADVISED CONSUMER THAT IT WOULD BE WISE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE ENGINE. THE HEAD GASKET HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT HEAD GASKETS SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE ENGINE, A FAILURE AT 72,000 MILES IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD COVER THIS COMPONENT SINCE SO MANY 3.8 LITERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *AK

HEAD GASKET REPAIRED 1 MONTH BEFORE RECALL WAS EXTENDED TO MY MODEL YEAR. NOW FORD WILL NOT HONOR MY RECEIPT FOR REFUND.*AK

CRUISE CONTROL CABLE WOULD STICK. HAS HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE. HAD SET CRUISE CONTROL ON 62MPH GOING UPHILL, AUTO SHIFTED DOWN. WAS GOING DOWNHILL AND PRESSED ON BRAKES TO RELEASE CRUISE CONTROL. VEHICLE PICKED UP SPEED. CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE. PUT ON BRAKES AND TURNED VEHICLE OFF TO DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL.*AK THE DEALER SENT A HAZARDOUS CONDITION REPORT TO THE MANUFACTURER UPON CONSUMER'S REQUEST. *YH

THE PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE BROKE. HAD TO RELACE THE TIMING COVER SINCE THIS IS WEAR THE PRESSURE FELIEF VALVE IS LOCATED . THIS WAS DONE 3000MILES AFTER THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE HEAD GASKETS GOING. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS VALVE SHOULD OF BEEN REPLACED AT THE TIME THAT THE ENGINE WAS TO AVOID HAVING TO TEAR IT APART RUNNING UP LABOR COSTS.

WE HAVE A RECALL LETTER FROM FORD ON THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM WHICH COVERS THE FIRST 5 YEARS FROM DATE OF PURCHASE OR 60,000 MILES. THE CAR OVERHEATED ON 12/20/99 AND IT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED AT THAT TIME BY OUR MECHANIC AT ANOTHER SHOP IF IT WAS THE HEADGASKET. ON 12/22/99, THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN AND OUR MECHANIC SAID IT WAS DEFINITELY THE HEADGASKET BUT HE DIDN'T THINK THE MOTOR WAS AFFECTED. HE SUGGESTED RETURNING TO THE DEALER, TOUSLEY FORD, FOR REPAIR EVEN THOUGH, TOUSLEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT HONOR THE RECALL AS IT WAS 25 DAYS OUT OF WARRANTY. WE WERE APPROXIMATELY 6400 MILES UNDER THE 60,000. TOUSLEY HAD US CONTACT CUSTOMER SERVICE AT FORD WHO DECLINED TO ALSO HONOR THE WARRANTY. OUR MECHANIC FELT THAT HAVING THE WORK DONE AT THE DEALER WOULD BE THE ONLY WAY WE MIGHT GET ANY MONEY BACK ON THE REPAIR IF FORD WAS REQUIRED TO HONOR THIS RECALL. TOUSLEY TOLD US THE WHOLE MOTOR NEEDED REPLACING, NOT JUST THE HEADGASKET AND THE REPAIR COST $3,538.15 NOT INCLUDING THE $35.75 WE PAID OUR MECHANIC TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. WE DON'T FEEL THIS HAS BEEN FAIR AS OUR MILEAGE WAS CONSIDERABLY UNDER THE 60,000 AND FEEL WE ARE BEING PENALIZED FOR NOT DRIVING ENOUGH AS WE WERE ONLY 25 DAYS OUT OF THE 5 YEAR WARRANTY. FORD KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM BUT THIS ELIMINATES A NUMBER OF OWNERS WHO DON'T USE THEIR VEHICLE ENOUGH AND SAVES THEM A LOT OF MONEY. THIS EXPENSE, FOR US, WAS ONE AND ONE HALF MONTH'S TAKE HOME PAY AND HURT CONSIDERABLY. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS COMMUNICATION WITH YOU WILL HELP US GET A FULL REFUND OR EVEN A PARTIAL REFUND, BUT WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE. I AM ALSO GOING TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH OUR STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE. I DO SEE THE DEALER'S POINT IN THAT THEY CANNOT HONOR WORK NOT APPROVED BY FORD, BUT I DON'T THINK EITHER THE DEALER OR FORD WERE FAIR. THANK YOU. *AK

I HAD MY TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP SINCE THE VAN NO LONGER HELD A WARRANTY. THAT IS WHEN I HEARD OF THE ASTRONOMICAL FAILURE RATE OF THESE TRANSMISSIONS. I SEARCHED THE WEB TO VERIFY WHAT I HEARD FROM THE SERVICE TECH. I FOUND THOUSANDS OF LETTERS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE AND IT'S DEFICIENT TRANSMISSION. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND PLAN TO CONTINUE TO FOLLOW UP ON THIS ISSUE UNTIL FORD SHOWS ME THEY CARE ABOUT CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. I WANT TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THIS TRANS REPLACEMENT. *AK

VEHICLE PARKED AFTER JULY,2000 AS PROBLEM COULD NOT BE IDENTIFIED. WAS TAKEN BY AMBULANCE 3 TIMES WHILE IN THE VEHICLE. OCTOBER 31, 2000, SOUGHT A THIRD OPINION-CAR TAKEN TO INVER GROVE FORD. INTERNAL HEAD GASKET LEAK. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE HEAD GASKETS HAD BEEN REPLACED. WHILE DRIVING CAR HOME, IT OVERHEATED AND WAS RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP FOR ENGINE REPLACEMENT. WAS ADVISED THAT THE FLEXPIPE AS CORRODED AND EXHAUSTING INTO THE CAR. WAS TOLE THIS WAS THE PROBABLE SOURCE OF MY GETTING SICK IN THE CAR. EVEN AFTER THE REPAIRS, I AM SO CHEMICALLY SENSITIVE THAT I CAN NOT EVEN GET INTO THE CAR. THIS CAR HAS BEEN PARKED SINCE JULY,2000 AS IT IS TOO TOXIC FOR ME TO BE IN THIUS VAN AT ALL. FORD HAS BEEN CONTACTED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AS WELL AS THE DEALERSHIPS. I ADVISED THEM IN JUNE OF 2000 THAT THIS VAN WAS MAKING ME QUITE SICK AND THEY WERE ADVISED OF THE AMBULANCE CALL AND EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS. I SPECIFICALLY ADVISED THEM OF THE ODORS EXHAUSTING IN THE CAR AND THAT I HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH CHEMICAL SENSITIVITES, PROVIDING FORD WITH MEDICAL DOCUMENTATION, WHICH ALSO ADVISED THAT MY DOCTOR FELT THE CAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE FORWARED CORRESPONDANCE TO THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THE FORD APPEALS BOARD TWICE, AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF MINNESOTA. NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO HELP. THERE ARE MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR INCLUDING PROBABLE MILD IN THE HEATER BOX, AND THE EXHAUSTS AND CHEMICALS IN THE CAR. I HAVE TRIED TO TRADE THE CAR IN BUT DEALERSHIPS, INCLUDING FORD WILL ONLY OFFER A TRADE-IN VALUE ABOUT $6,000 OR LESS THAN THE BOOK VALUE. I AM TOLD OVER AND OVER THAT NO ONE WANTS ANY OF THESE CARS. I DON'T FELL AT ALL COMFORTABLE SELLING THE CAR PERSONALLY SINCE IT HAS MADE ME SO SICK. I COULD GO ON AND ON BUT I WONT.... I WOULD APPRECIATE SOME TYPE OF RESPONSE. THANK-YOU.*AK

FORD HAS ADMITTED THAT THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINES AND YET THEY WILL NOT ASSUME ANY LIABILITY FOR THEM. THE DEALER SAID THAT HE IS SEEING 2 OF THESE EVERY WEEK ! *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED. NLM

FIRST HEAD GASKET FAILURE AT 55,000 MILES, REPLACED BY DEALER WITH SAME FAULTY HEAD GASKET PART. THIS REPLACED HEAD GASKET FAILED 40,000 MILES LATER. FORD AND THE DEALERSHIP ARE BOTH RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DESIGN AND FAILURE TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL HEAD GASKET WITH THE NEW IMPROVED MODEL. CONSUMERS ARE VERY ANGRY AND SHOULD POSE A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST FORD. THIS FAULTY GASKET CAUSES ENGINES TO SIEZE. NOW THE DEALERSHIPS WILL NOT WARRANTY ANY HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT. THEY RECCOMEND ENGINE REPLACEMENT. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ADMITTED BY FORD, YET THEY HAVE NOT ADEQUATELY SOLVED THE PROBLEM. THEY PUT A BANDAID ON IT. *AK

REQUESTED DEALER & MANUFACTURER FOR COMPRESSION TEST FAILURE W/ NO CHARGE, BUT THEY REJECTED. *AK

THE ENGINE PROBLEM IS TWO-FOLD. IN DECEMBER OF 1999 THE HEAD GASKETS WERE REPLACED AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER WE BEGAN HEARING A KNOCKING NOISE AND WERE TOLD THE ROD BEARINGS WERE GOING OUT AND WE WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE. WHEN THE LOCAL FORD DEALER WAS CONTACTED REGARDING AN ESTIMATE THEIR RESPONSE WAS " DON'T FEEL BAD WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF THESE PROBLEMS ON THIS ENGINE". SOME CONSOLATION FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS TO REPLACE AN ENGINE THAT ONLY HAS 70,000 MILES ON IT. THE DEALER CONTACTED WAS NOT THE DEALER WHERE THE VAN WAS PURCHASED. THE SPEEDOMETER HAS NOW FAILED TWICE AND BECAUSE THE READING IS NOT AN ACCURATE MILEAGE TRADE IN ON IT IS DRASTICALLY REDUCED. WHEN CONTACTED ABOUT THE SECOND FAILURE FORD OFFERED NO HELP OR EXPLANATION FOR THE PROBLEM. THE ORIGINAL SPEEDOMETER WAS REPLACED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY AT EASTSIDE MOTORS IN GREENCASTLE, IN. THERE HAS GOT TO BE A PROBLEM THAT TWO SPEEDOMETERS WOULD FAIL ON THE SAME VEHICLE. THE DATES ON MY REPORT ARE APPROXIMATE. THESE ARE THINGS THAT I DIDN'T RECORD BUT I GUESS FROM NOW ON I WILL. THE ODOMETER READING THAT I RECORDED ON THE QUESTIONAIRE IS THE COMBINED MILEAGE OF THE 2 ODOMETERS. THE WHOLE UNIT WAS REPLACED NOT JUST THE SPEEDOMETER. *AK

DUE TO A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET WHICH LEAKED AND CAUSED ENGINE TO OVERHEAT, VEHICLE STALLED. COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

FAILURE TO REPLACE NEW ENGIN EHEAD GASKET BY EITHER DEALER OR MANUFACTURER W/O CHARGE UNDER "M CAMPAINS" WARRANTY. THIS IS VERY SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE FOR EVERYONE TO KNOWS. *AK

THE PISTON CLUTCH FAILED CAUSING SUDDEN GEAR ENGAGEMENT WHICH VIOLENTLY PROJECTED THE VEHICLE FORWARD OR BACKWARD, CONSUMER HAD THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. NLM

HEAD GASKET FAILED REQUIRING UPPER HALF OF ENGINE REPLACED. 1 WEEK AFTER GETTING MINIVAN BACK, SPUN A ROD IN THE ENGINE, REQUIRING ENGINE BEING REPLACED. 1 MONTH AFTER GETTING BACK W/REBUILT ENGINE, TRANSMISSION FAILED REQUIRING NEW TRANSMISSION. DEALER STATES THAT HEAD GASKET AND TRANSMISSION FAILURES I EXPERIENCED ARE VERY COMMON WITH '95 WINDSTAR. FORD NOT INTERESTED IN HELPING ME W/PROBLEMS. *AK

TRANSMISSION REPLACED FIRST TIME 12/17/99, FAILED AGAIN ON 12/24/99 WITH 453 MILES OF USE. BOTH INCIDENTS REQUIRED RENTAL CAR WHICH FORD WILL NOT REIMBURSE. WE MAY NOT HAVE INCURRED RECORDABLE ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES BUT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT DEMANDS A RECALL WITH SIMILIAR TERMS INVOLVE WITH THE FAILED HEAD GASKET IN THE 3.8L WINDSTAR.

BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET AT 61,478 MILES. FORD ONLY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 60K TO COVER THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM, SO THEY REFUSE TO PAY. *AK

FAILED INTAKE TIMING COVER GASKET

I HAVE SEVERAL MORE INCIDENTS BUT THESE ARE THE MAJOR ONES. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAVE BLOWN OUT, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. DAMAGE WA SIN EXCESS 0F $1800. DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. *AK

THIS IS THE CONTINUATION OF PROBLEMS WITH A HIGHLY PROBLEMATIC VEHICLE. 5 YEARS, 90,000 MILES HAVE REPLACED SO FAR: HEAD GASKETS, REAR SUSPENSION TWICE, FRONT SUSPENSION, IGNITION WIRES, O2 SENSORS TWICE, AND NOW INJECTOR AND FUEL PUMP. OVER $3,000 IN OUT OF POCKED EXPENSES OVER WHAT WAS COVERED ON EXTENDED WARRANTEE. VEHICLE IS NOT RELIABLE AND AM LOOKING TO TRADE IN ON ANYTHING OTHER THAN A FORD! AT FORD, QUALITY IS JOB NONE!

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

AT 48,612 MILES TRANSMISSION FAILED. $2338 TO REPLACE. NO SATISFACTION FROM FORD. STOP AT CORNER, STEP ON GAS WOULD NOT ENGAGE, THEN ENGAGED WITH A JERK. HEAD GASKET FAILED AT SAME TIME. *AK

AT $2,200.00 PER FIX THIS IS GREAT BUSINESS FOR THE DEALERSHIPS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED WITHIN SUMMARY. *AK

HEAD GASKETS BLEW AND ENGINE QUIT WHILE DESCENDING HILL. STOPPED AT INTERSECTION, BUT COULD NOT REMOVE VAN FROM TRAFFIC LANES. *AK

FORD HAD A "SECRET WARRANTY" OF 5 YEARS OR 60,000 MILES FOR HEAD GASKETS BECAUSE OF THE HUGE NUMBER OF PROBLEMS. MY PROBLEMS WITH LOW COOLANT LEVELS, AND NO HEAT STARTED BEFORE 60,000 MILES, AND BEFORE THE DECEMBER OF 1999. THEY REFUSE TO HELP ME. IF THIS WAS AN ISOLATED EVENT, OR IF THE VEHICLE HAD 90,000 MILES ON IT, I WOULDN'T SEEK COMPENSATION. BUT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM, AND HEAD GASKETS ON NEWER VEHICLES SHOULD LAST AT LEAST 100,000 MILES. I HAVE COMPLETE DOCUMENTATION OF THIS, PLEASE CONTACT ME IF I CAN BE OF ANY ASSISTANCE. THANK YOU. *AK

EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH TEMPERTURE GAUGE GOING UP & DOWN., AND BLOWER EMITTIING COOL AIR INSTEAD OF HEAT. VEHICLE OPERATED VERY SLUGGISHLY. RADIATOR LEAKED AS WELL. VEHICLE IS BEING SERVICED BY A FORD DEALERSHIP. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN OUT, AND THERE WAS A SERVICE PROGRAM FOR THE SOME MAKE AND MODELS. SINCE VEHICLE HAD EXCEEDED MILEAGE REQUIRMENT, CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *AK

TEMPERATURE INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON, AND ANTI-FREEZE CAME OUT AND SPILLED THROUGHOUT THE RESERVOIR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, FOUND BLOWN HEAD GASKET. VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND OWNER WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *AK *ML

ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKS ANTI-FREEZE INTO THE ENGINE. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. REPORT GIVEN BY MIKE PREVOST(FATHER-IN-LAW) PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER NFORMATION. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET AND THE TRANSMISSION WERE DEFECTIVE. THERE WAS NO HEAT INSIDE OF THE CAR, AND WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. TRANSMISSION WENT INTO NEUTRAL, AND SLIPPED UPON SHIFTING GEARS. ALSO, THERE WAS A CLANKING AND KNOCKING NOISE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

HAVE ATTEMPTED CONTACT WITH FORD MOTOR CORP TO NO AVAIL. THEY CLAIM THAT THE DATE HAS EXPIRED FOR SAID REPAIRS ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM WITH MY HEAD GASKETS UNTIL NOW. *AK

FORD HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS ON THE 3.8 LITER ENGINE ARE DEFICTIVE. YET, THEY WILL NOT ASSIST IN REPAIR COSTS. THIS PROBLEM IS PREVALENT IN 1995 WINSTARS. SOMEONE NEEDS TO MAKE FORD DO THE RIGHT THING.*AK

ENGINE BEGAN TO HEAT UP, TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT UP, AND ANTI-FREEZE BLEW OUT OF THE EXHAUST. CONSUMER PULLED CAR OVER, AND HAD IT TOWED TO A MANUFACTURER. *AK

TOOK MY VAN TO THE GARAGE FOR NEW HEAD GASGETS. ONLY TO FIND OUT IT NEED A NEW ENGINE. A FRIEND TOLD ME HE HEARD THAT FORD HAS KNOWN THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH 1995 WINDSTAR VANS AND THAT THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANITY TO 60,000 MILES. CALLED THE FOD GARAGE TO CHECK THIS OUT AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS TRUE. THEY CONFIRMED THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM BUT I DIDN'T FALL UNDER THE WARRANITY WITH 80,000 MILES. WHEN YOU BUY A VEHICLE THEY SAY 80,000 ISN'T ANYTHING BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A PROBLEM THEY SAY "WELL, YOU HAVE 80,000 MILES." BEING UPSET THAT THIS WAS GOING TO COST ME $3,600.00 AND ONLY BEING NOT 5 YEARS OLD YET I DID SOME PHONE CALLING. FORD MOTOR WOULDN'T GIVE ME THE TIME OF DAY SO I CALLED THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT. THEY CALLED THEIR REP. AND HE WOULD DO NOTHING. THE SERVICE MANAGER OF THE DEARLERSHIP TOLD ME THEY PUT IN AT LEAST 6 NEW MOTORS A MONTH AND IT IS A BIG PROBLEM. USUALLY THE MOTOR GOES AFTER 60,000. SO FORD IS TRYING TO MAKE THEMSELVES LOOK GOOD AND EXTEND THE WARRANITY BUT NOONE BENIFITS FROM IT. ALSO THEY NEVER NOTIFIED ANYONE THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM. SO IF YOU HAD YOUR OWN GARAGE TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM AND WERE UNDER THE 60,000 MILES YOU WOULD HAVE PAID FOR IT ANYWAY. I ALSO CALLED OTHER DEARLERSHIPS AND THEY TOO CONFIRMED THAT THE 1995 FORD WINSTAR VANS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. FORD ADMITS IT BUT WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILTY FOR IT.

HEAD GASKET BLEW UP. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

FREEWAY FORD DEALER REJECTED MY REQUEST FOR THE REFUND OF ($2257 = 96%). PLEASE HELP ME, WHAT I SHOULD DO NEXT. THANK YOU. TWAN. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

PREOBLEMS WITH ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *AK

COST TO REPAIR IS $1,500! NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

APPARENTLY " ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE" VERY COMMON ON THE 1995 WINDSTARS - NEW ENGINE RECOMMENDED BY FORD SERVICE DEPT. - PAST WARRANTY PERIOD. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED. FORD REFUSES TO PAY FOR REPAIRS DESPITE KNOWN PRODUCT DEFECT. *AK

ENGINE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH FOR ABOUT A WEEK, THEN ON 12/4/99 SMOKE CAME FROM EXHAUST WHEN STARTED. WE DROVE IT IMMEDIATELY TO VELDE LINCOLN MERCURY IN PEORIA, IL. WHEN THEY GOT TO LOOK AT IT, IT WOULD NOT START. THE ENGINE WAS LOCKED UP AND THEY TOLD US IT WAS DUE TO A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND WOULD COST ABOUT $1,250 TO FIX. I SINCE HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND FORD EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE TO 60,000 MILES. I HAVE ALSO HEARD MANY COMPLAINTS OF IT GOING OUT SHORTLY AFTER 60,000 AND FORD REFUSING TO COVER ANY REPAIRS. *AK

CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 35 MPH WHEN SHE HEARD A NOISE IN THE ENGINE AND VEHICLE STALLED. THEN SHE TRIED TO RESTART. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED WHERE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT ENGINE HAD INTERNAL PROBLEMS AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

FORD HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE HEAD GASKETS. I HAVE FOUND (VIA THE INTERNET) SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD HEAD GASKETS GO OUT PRE-MATURELY. THE MECHANIC THAT FIXED MY VAN SAID THAT IT IS A FAULTY HEAD GASKETS IN THE 3.8L ENGINE & THAT FORD SHOULD PAY FOR THE HEAD GASKETS, MY RENTAL, AND ALSO THE DAMAGE THAT MAY HAVE OCCURRED BECAUSE OF THEIR NEGLIGENCE. *AK

I KEPT BURNING OUT BRAKES EVERY 6 MONTHS UNTIL THE WHOLE BRAKE LINE BLEW UP CAUSED FROM HEAT. MECHANIC SAID BRAKE LINE MELTED DUE TO PLACEMENT NEXT TO HEAT FROM CATALYTIC CONVERTER. A VERY SERIOUS MANUFACTURERS DEFAULT. POTENTIAL FIRE AND FATALITY SAFETY ISSUE! LINE NEEDS HEAT RESISTER SHIELD NEXT TO CONVERTER. HEAD GASKET BLEW BUT DEALER CLAIMS RECALL ONLY GOES TO 100K MILES AND WON'T COVER BLOWN ENGINE. JUST PAID VAN OFF NOW THE ENGINE IS GONE! EXPECTED MORE THAN 5 YEARS OUT OF IT. THE VAN SHOULD BE RECALLED! *AK