1995 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

HIGH TEMPERATURE INDICATION DURING DILEING AND 0-15MPH. TOOK TO LOCAL FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT I HAVE A BAD HEAD GASKET THAT WILL REQUIRE ME TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE DEALER TOLD ME COOLANT HAS LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE AND CRANKCASE AND THAT REPLACING THE ENGINE IS THE BEST ALTERNATIVE. REPLACING THE HEAD GASKET WOULD BE A TEMPORARY FIX AS THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED A LOT OF FAILURES WITH THIS ENGINE BEFORE .

THE INTERIOR LIGHTS REMAIN ON AFTER DOOR IS SHUT. THEY TURN OFF AFTER A FEW MINUTES AFTER ENGINE IS STARTED BUT THE DASH LIGHT REMAINS ON. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS REMAIN ON FOR OVER A HALF HOUR AFTER THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF AND WE EXIT THE VAN. MY BROTHER-IN-LAW HAS THE SAME VAN AND HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER (SERVICE) SAID THAT IT WOULD COST OVER $100 TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.

NO SUMMARY.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM TAILPIPE. VEHICLE AT DEALER & INFORMED CONSUMER THAT ENGINEHEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN & NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY RESULTIN A CRASH. COMMON PROBLEM. THERE WAS A TSB BULLETIN BUT IT HAS EXPIRED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. CONSUMER HEARD A RATTLE SOUND. TOOK CAR TO DEALER. DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, AND THE CONSUMER SAW A LOT OF SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. *AK

I HAVE FOUND A PLETHERA OF INFORMATION ON THE WEB ABOUT THIS DEFECTIVE FOWARD CLUTCH PISTON. IT AMAZES ME THAT FORD HAS NOT RECALLED SUCH AN ENGINEERING FAILURE! PLEASE HELP. IF YOU NEED ME TO SEND YOU THE WEB SITE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

THE OXYGEN SENOR WAS NOT WORKING AFTER I PICKED UP MY VAN FROM THE DEALERSHIP AFTER THEY HAD JUST REPLACED MY ENGINE. THIS WAS DONE DUE TO THE HEAD GASKETS FAILING. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS NOT RELATED . BUT THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS WORKING BEFORE THE ENGINE SERVICE WAS PERFORMED. I THOUGHT THIS WAS COVERED UNDER THE 80000 MILE WARRANTY ON THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM. I WAS TOLD IT WASN'T BY THE DEALERSHIP.

HEAD GASKET BLEW WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING, EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE HAD BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED

HEAD GASKET FAILED, MISFIRE ONE CYLINDER DRAINING COOLANT, NO SMOKE THOUGH. 98M01 EXPIRED. NOW WHAT?

A HEAD GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED ON THE CAR AT 69,000 MILES CAUSING ADDITIONAL REPAIRS, I.E: PLUGS, AIR FILTER, COOLANT ETC. THE SERVICE MANAGER ADVISED ME THAT THIS DEFECT HAS BEEN APPARENT ON THE 3.8 LITER ENGINE ON THE WINDSTAR, TAURUS AND SABLE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE DEALERSHIP HAS PERFORMED SERVICE ON THIS PROBLEM AT THE RATE OF 2 AUTOMOBILES PER WEEK SINCE LAST YEAR, AT APPROXIMATELY THE SAME MILEAGE. WE WERE ALSO TOLD THAT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY WAS REPLACING THE HEAD GASKET ON THOSE VEHICLES UNDER 75K MILES AT NO CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER UP UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 1998. BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THE REOCCURRING PROBLEM ON THESE VEHICLES AND HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO HAVE AN OFFICIAL RECALL, WE HAVE FILED COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY WITH THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION AND THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION. THE COMPLAINT IS BASED ON THE FACT THAT THERE IS AN APPARENT DEFECT WITH THE 3.8 LITER ENGINE INVOLVING THE SAME HEAD GASKET, AND THAT A REDESIGNED GASKET IS NOW BEING USED.. MY WINDSTAR WAS SERVICED ON JUNE 24, 1999 FOR A 65K MILE MAINTENANCE CHECK AT A COST OF $255 SHOWING NO APPARENT ENGINE DIFFICULTIES AND THEN I HAD TO INVEST ANOTHER $1,140 AT THE TIME OF THIS REPAIR 3 MONTHS LATER.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE 65MPH ENGINE HAD OVERHEATED AND BLEWOUT. HAD CONTROL OF VEHICLE. HAD IT TOWED TO A GARAGE. INFORMED BY MECHANIC IT WAS NOT A CRACKED ENGINE B LOCK. HAD NO PRIOR WARNING. *AK

TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER 31000 MILES TO HAVE TRANSMISSION CHECKED OUT BECUASE IT WAS SHIFTING HARD. THEY SAID IT WAS FINE. 20000 MILE LATER IT GOES OUT.

THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT COVERED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY LETTER TO 5 YEARS OR 60,000 MILES. SINCE IT WAS A KNOWN DEFECT, WE FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD REIMBURSE AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE REPAIR. WE WERE UNDER THE 5-YEAR LIMIT BUT JUST OVER THE MILEAGE, BUT AGAIN, THIS IS CLEARLY A PRODUCT DEFECT.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

FORD WINDSTAR - 1995 - SECOND HEAD GASKET REPAIR AT 78,330 MILES

THIS TRANSMISSION IS INTERMITTANTLY NOT GOING INTO GEAR AND WHEN IT IS IN GEAR AND YOU ARE REVERSING DIRECTION (REVERSE TO DRIVE), IT INTERMITTANTLY LUNGES FORWARD REQUIRING YOU TO HAVE THE BRAKE ON VERY FIRMLY TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR AHEAD. TRANSMISION DOESN'T ALWAYS ENGAGE FIRMLY WHEN GOING BETWEEN GEARS.

TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ENGAGE AT TIMES AND AT OTHERS DISENGAGES ..... BRINGING TO DEALER THIS WEEK

HEAD GASKET WENT OUT. IT WAS REPLACED WITH RECALL. REAR HATCH LOCK ACUATOR BROKE NOT FIXED YET. WINDSHIELD WASHER WORKS ONLY AFTER IT IS PUSHED REPEATEDLY ABOUT 20 TIMES, NOT FIXED YET. I'M TIRD OF SPENDING MONEY ON A 4 YEAR OLD $25000.00 CAR.

HEAD GASKET BLEW CAUSING A LOT OF STRONG SMELLING, WHITE SMOKE TO COME FROM UNDER THE CAR AND OUT OF THE EXHAUST. MY WIFE HAD FOUR CHILDREN IN THE VAN AT THE TIME. SHE STOPPED THE CAR AND GOT ALL THE CHILDREN OUT OF THE VAN - THINKING IT MIGHT BLOW UP. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER AND FOUND OUT THE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN REQUIRING $1,400 TO $2,500 IN REPAIRS (DEPENDING ON THE SEVERITY). WE CHOSE TO HAVE JUST THE GASKET REPLACED BUT WILL PROBABLY NEED TO HAVE LOWER ENGINE WORK DOWN IN A FEW MONTHS FOR ANOTHER $1,000 OR SO.

HEAD GASKETS BLOWN ON FORD 3.8L ENGINE.

TRANSMISSION FAILED, BURNT FLUID, SHUDDERING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, HARSH ENGAGEMENT WHEN STARTING OUT - REQUIRED A TRANSMISSION REBUILD - FORD CONTACTED BUT PROVIDED NO COMPENSATION

TRANSMISSION - CRACKED ALUMINUM PISTON, NO 1ST OR REVERSE, HAD TO SHIFT TO SECOND,BRAKE, AND INCREASE RPMS TO ENGAGE IN 2ND. FLYWHEEL CRACKED RESULTING IN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER ON RESIDENTIAL STREET. HEAD GASKET BLEW ON RESIDENTIAL STREET WHILE STOPPED. ANTI FREEZE LEAKING OUT OF MUFFLER, ENGINE OVERHEAT.

HEAD GASKET FAILURES - 3 TIMES @ 54,000, @65,000, @74,000 MILES

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED AND THEREFORE THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED. FORD STATED THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW AND THEY EXTENDED THEIR WARRANTY FROM 50,000 MI. TO 60,000 MI. THE ONLY PROBLEM OUR VAN HAD 63902 MI. IT WAS GIONG TO COST US $4000 BUT AFTER PRESSING THE ISSUE FORD AGREED TO PAY $3500. SINCE THEN I HAVE FOUND 7 OTHER SIMILAR CASES OF HEAD GASKET FAILURE AT ABOOUT THE SAME MILEAGE IN THE GREATER DAYTON AREA.

BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THIS WAS A PROPERLY MAINTAINED ENGINE AND THERE WAS NO WARNING OF ANY PROBLEM. I AM FACED WITH BUYING A NEW LONG BLOCK AT A COST OF $4700. FROM FORD.

NO SUMMARY.

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS COMING ON ANYTIME I DROVE ON AN TRIP OVER 60 MILES. AFTER HAVING IT CHECKED OUT AND CHECKED OUT, I COULD NEVER GET AN ANSWER ABOUT THE PROBLEM. FOUND OUT LATER THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE HEAD GASKET BEING BAD AND DUMPING ENGINE COOLANT THROUG THE EXHAUST WHICH IN TURN DESTROYED THE CATATLYTIC CONVERTER AND SENSOR. HOWEVER THE COMPUTER WOULD NEVER GIVE THE CODES THAT THIS WAS THE PROBLEM. WHILE CHECKING THIS PROBLEM OUT, I HAD IT IN A TRANSMISSION SHOP THAT KNEW OF FORD'S TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, AND STATED THAT THIS WINDSTAR HAD ALL THE SIGNS OF A LEAKING ALUMINUM PUMP IN THE TRANSMI. COST WAS JUST UNDER $1000. STILL THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. A GUY SAID TO CHECK THE EXHAUST, SO I HAD THE EXHAUST CHECKED AND FOUND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR HAD MELTED DOWN. HAD THEM REPLACED, STILL THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. MY MECHANIC HAPPENED TO BE TALKING TO THE PARTS DEPT AT A FORD DEALER AND THEY MENTIONED THE SECRET RECALL ON THE MOTOR. SO I CHECKED ON IT AND THEY SAID THE MILEAGE WAS TOO HIGH (KEEP IN MIND THAT THE VAN WAS DOING THIS WHEN I PURCHASED IT AT 82,000). MY MECHANIC PULLED THE HEAD OFF AND REPLACED THE FRONT HEAD GASKET WHERE THE #4 CYLINDER HAD BLOWN THE GASKET. HE REPLACED ALL FLUIDS. SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES LATER THE MOTORS MAIN BEARINGS WENT OUT DUE TO HAVING HAD ENGINE COOLANT MIXED WITH IT FOR SO LONG (TOLD TO ME BY THE SPRINGFIELD, IL FORD DEALER WHERE I WAS WHEN THE MOTOR BLEW AND BY THE SPRINGFIELD, MO FORD DEALER WHERE I LIVE). FORD REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND I CAN GIVE YOU ADDRESSES OF HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM, AND THIS IS JUST A GROUP OF PEOPLE ON THE WEB, HOW MANY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM? FORD CLAIMS TO HAVE SENT OUT RECALLS, BUT I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ONE NOR HAVE ANY OTHERS THAT I HAVE TALKED WITH EXCEPT FOR ONE GUY I WORK WITH. HE BOUGHT HIS VAN USED AND RECEIVED THIS RECALL. I HAVE GOTTEN A RECALL ON MY VAN HOOD SO THEY KNOW WHERE I LIVE. THANKS, DB.

I WAS EXITING A GOLF COURSE PARKING LOT AT ABOUT 10-12 MPH WHEN I HIT A SMALL POT HOLE. I HEARD A NOISE LIKE A SHARP SNAP. I EXITED THE PARKING LOT AND PROCEEDED DOWN A TWO LANE PAVED ROAD AT ABOUT 45 MPH, THE SPEED LIMIT. I HEARD THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BECOME FLAT. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK WHOSE OPERATOR INFORMED ME THAT THE COIL SPRING BROKE. RUSS MILNE FORD REPLACED RT FRONT STRUT, SPRING, &SPRING SEAT. THE RT FRONT TIRE WAS SLASHED BY THE BROKEN SPRING, REQUIRING BOTH FRONT TO BE REPLACED & FRONT TO BE ALIGNED. I BELIEVE THE COIL FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY FAULTY HEAT TREARMENT.

THE FUEL TANK WOULD LEAK FUEL AFTER BEING FILLED. SMELLED FUMES INSIDE OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED & HAD NOTICED A LARGE PUDDLE OF FUEL UNDER VEHICLE. BEEN TO DEALER & INFORMED A STRESS HAD DEVELOPED ON TOP OF TANK WHERE IT WAS STRAPPED. FUEL TANK WAS REDESIGNED. MECHANIC REPLACED FUEL TANK AND FUEL PUMP SINCE IT WOULD FIT OLD TANK. *AK

NO SUMMARU LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL AT STOP THEN LURCHES FORWARD OR ROLLS BACKWARD. *AK

THE FAILURE IS A PLANETARY GEAR. THIS PROBLEM FROM WHAT I HAVE UNCOVERED IS DUE TO ALUMINUM PISTON VALVES AND INSUFICIENT HOSE/ORFICE FOR THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. HAVE FOUND OUT THROUGH THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM DUE TO DESIGN FLAWS. WHAT IS FORD DOING FOR THOSE OF US WHO OWN 1995 WINDSTARS?

HEARD THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST FORD FOR THIS ITEM!

MINI-VAN WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR ILLUMINATED "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT". CONCURRENT WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THERE WAS A GAS SMELL AROUND CAR. DEALER INDICATED THAT "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" WAS NOT RELATED TO GAS SMELL AND THAT THE GAS TANK HAD SPLIT A SEAM. DEALER INDICATED THAT TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND A CAUSE FOR THE SPLIT SEAM, THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO TANK TO INDICATE THAT WE HAD HIT SOMETHING TO CAUSE THE SEAM TO SPLIT.

VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL WIRING SYSTEM. ALSO, BRAKES/ HORN , AND AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILED DUE TO WIRES SHORTING OUT. *AK

FORD ISSUED A LETTER TO OWNERS DATED JUNE 1998 AND THEY ACKOWLEDGED THE FAILURE AND OFFERED TO INCREASE THE WARRANTY TO 5 YEARS OR 60,000 MILES. THEY NOW DO NOT CONSENT TO TAKING THE 5 YEAR PORTION AFTER THEY HAVE ADMITTED THE PROBLEM WAS THE FAILURE OF A HEAD GASKET. I HAVE TO PAY $5,000 TO REPAIR THE ENGINE AND ON THE INTERNET I HAVE NOTICED MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM AND EVEN CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS BEING INITIATED BY SEVERAL ATTORNEYS.

NO SUMMARY.

THIS PART WAS ON RECALL, BUT FORD SAYS THAT IT IS PAST THE MILEAGE FOR THE RECALL, AND FOR THEM TO REPAIR THE DAMAGES. IF THIS PART IS ON RECALL THE COMPANY KNOWS THAT IT IS DEFECTIVE. I FEEL THEY ARE NOT STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AT ANY COST. I FEEL THEY SHOULD BE PAYING FOR MY REPAIRS SINCE IT IS THEIR FAULTY WORKMANSHIP THAT CAUSED THE DAMAGE. *AK

REAR VIEW MIRROR FELL OFF 4 TIMES/TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 60000 MILES, AND ENGINE HEAD GASKETS REPLACED AT 63000 MILES. COSTLY REPAIRS AND HAVE BEEN WITHOUT VEHICLE FOR OVER 2 WEEKS JUST FOR THESE PROBLEMS. *AK

WE JUST HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACE IN OUR WINDSTAR. OUR REPAIR MAN TOLD US THAT DUE TO A ALUMINUM PART THAT FAILS UNDER NORMAL USE IS THE REASON FOR THIS . I HAVE BEEN CHECKING THIS OUT AND FOUND MANY WINDSTAR OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS HAS GOT TO STOP. FORD CAN NOT GET AWAY WITH SELLING SUCH CRAP!! AND NOW TWO DAYS AFTER WE SPET 1,500 DOLLARS ON THE TRANSMISSION WE FIND THAT OUR HEAD GASKET IS SHOT. TWO MAJOR REPAIRS IN A MATTER OF A WEEK IS INSANE.

HAD JUST TAKEN OFF FROM A STOP SIGN & HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE INTERSECTION. HIT OTHER VEHICLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE REAR. UPON IMPACT WITH OTHER VEHICLE, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK

WHEN DRIVING UP THE HILL VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE. CONTACTED DEALER AND HE REPLACED ENGINE HEAD GASKET. WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65MPH VEHICLE HESITATED AND JERKED AGAIN. STOPPED, AND USED FUEL INJECTION FLUID. CONTACTED DEALER AGAIN, AND REPLACED GASKET. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS FAILED .THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE. THIS RESULTED IN THE ENGINE OVERHEATING , WHICH THEN CAUSED THE BLOCK TO CRACK. HAD TO HAVE A SMALL BLOCK PUT ON . PLUS ALL THE VARIOUS OTHER COMPONENTS THAT WENT ALONG WITH REPLACING A BLOCK. *AK

WHEN FILLING UP GAS TANK, IT WILL ONLY ACCOMODATE 3 QUARTERS OF A TANK WHEN IT SHOULD TAKE 25 GALLONS. CONSUMER SAYS IT WILL ALLOW 17 GALLONS AND ANYTHING AFTER THAT. *AK

ON NOVEMBER 19 '98 I TOOK MY '95 FORD WINDSTAR VAN TO TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT. I TOOK THE VAN IN BECAUSE I HAD RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD REGARDING A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. AT THAT TIME THE VAN HAD 59,000 MILES ON IT. I PICKED UP MY VAN THAT EVENING AND WAS TOLD EVERYTHING WAS O.K. ON SEPTEMBER 12 '99 THE VAN OVERHEATED AND A MECAHANIC TOLD ME THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. THE MECHANIC SAID HE HOPED THE HEAD WAS NOT CRACKED AND/OR THE MOTOR DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR ($2500 TO $3500 IF MOTOR DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR). I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, HARPER'S FORD, AND THE ASSISTANT SALES MANAGER SAID HE THOUGHT FORD WOULD REPAIR THE DAMAGE OR I WOULD "HAVE A GOOD LEGAL CASE". THE VAN NOW HAS 68,OOO MILES ON IT. WELL A WEEK LATER THE DELAERSHIP TELLS ME THAT THEY CAN NOT GET FORD TO RETURN THEIR CALLS. I CALLED FORD AND A MAN NAMED AL SAID THE RECALL EXPIRED DEC 31ST '99 AND MY VAN WAS BEYOND THE 60,000 MILES WARRANTY. AL SAID HIS DECISION WAS FINAL AND FORD WOULD NOT ASSIST IN THE REPAIR. AL SAID THAT FORD HAD NO OTHER AVENUE FOR ME TO PURSUE EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOT SATISFIED. I RE-CONTACTED HARPER'S AND THEY SAID THAT I SHOULD JUST WAIT TO HEAR FROM THEM. HARPER'S SAID THEY WOULD GIVE ME A PRICE BREAK REGARDING THE WORK THAT WOULD NEED TO BE DONE. I'M LOST, I GUESS I COULD TRY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM IN CIVIL COURT (PROBABLY TAKE SEVERAL MONTHS). THE REAL KICKER IS MY FAMILY, TWO SONS OF 4 YEAR OLD AND 1 YEAR HAVE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FAMILY VACATION THAT WAS SUPPOSE TO START ON FRIDAY, 09-24-99. THE VAN IS THE ONLY VEHICLE I HAVE LARGE ENOUGH TO HAUL THE FAMILY. CANCELLED VACATION AND A BILL OF LEAST $1200.00. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE FORM HARPER'S NOR WILL I EVER BUY ANOTHER FORD. PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN. THANKS

DEFECTIVE ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKED FUEL ONTO ENGINE MANIFOLD WHICH MAY CAUSE A FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

PURCHASED VAN USED FROM FORD DEALERSHIP. 2 MONTHS OR APPROX 2,500 MILES LATER HEAD GASKET FAILED LEAKING COOLANT INTO OIL AND DESTOYING ENGINE. FORD DEALER WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THE SALE AND ALSO SAID THAT IT NEW OF NO KNOWN PROBLEMS THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT THEY WERE REPLACING GASKETS IF VEHICLES HAD 60,000 MILES OR LESS. I BELEIVE I WAS DECEIVED BY PEOPLE WHO KNEW THERE WAS A POTENTIAL CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AND CHOSE TO SAY NOTHING.

LAST MONTH MY VAN STARTED OVERHEATING AND RUNNING OUT OF WATER, WHICH I KEPT REFILLING. THEN THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VAN TO A GARAGE AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. UPON TEARING OFF THE HEAD GASKET THEY FOUND A HAIRLINE CRACK IN THE CYLINDER. AS A RESULT I AM HAVING TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AFTER ONLY 4 YEARS OF USE TO THE TUNE OF $4000.00. I HAVE CALLED FORD AND THEY BASICALLY SAID MY WARRANTY IS UP AND I AM OUT OF LUCK. AFTER BEING ON THE INTERNET, I AM FINDING THAT THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM WITH THE 95 WINDSTAR AND I PLAN ON DOING WHATEVER IS NECCESSARY TO GET SOME SATISFACTION FROM FORD. I SHOULD ALSO MENTION THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL PROBLEMS WHICH THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY WHEN MY VAN WAS UNDER WARRANTY, ONE OF WHICH WAS HAVING TO DO WITH TRANSMISSION AND LUGGING.