1995 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

TRANSMISSION JERKS FOWARD AFTER STOPS. AND ROLLS BACKWARD ON SLIGHT INCLINES. CAUSING THE POTENTIAL TO COLLIDE WITH SURROUNDING VEHICLES. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

MY 1995 WINDSTAR VAN HAS INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS COMING ON. MY COWORKER ALSO HAS A 1995 WINDSTAR AND IT HAS DISPLAYED THE SAME PROBLEM.

THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD MAJOR REPAIRS. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY TO LIST THEM ALL. PLEASE CALL THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT GREAT LAKES FORD FOR THE ENDLESS NUMBER OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. IF YOU CAN NOT PLACE THIS CALL PLEASE CONTACT ME. I WILL TRY TO GET COPIES OF THE MANY REPAIRS FROM GREAT LAKES FORD MYSELF. I AM TRULY CONCERNED WITH THE DEFECTS OF THIS VEHICLE. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONE DIN SUMMARY. *AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS GOING ABOUT 25MPH WHEN INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, BOTH DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER'S ARM WAS FORCED INTO THE DOOR. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

TRANMISSION FAILURE AT LOW MILAGE IS UNACCEPTABLE/COULD BE CONNECTED TO HEAD GASKET. *AK

NO SUMMARY

@ 64000 MILES WE'RE TOLD TO REPLACE ENGINE, WHICH IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT TO FORD - FAILING HEADGASKETS (100'S OF OTHERS REPORTING THIS PROBLEM IN INTERNET NEWS GROUPS) FORD EXPECTS US TO PAY THE FULL $4200. WE FEEL WRONGED BY THIS RESPONSE AND FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD MAKE FULL RESTITUTIONF. *AK

HAVE DISCOVERED AT LEAST 200 OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THESE FAILURES THAT HAVE CAUSED TRANSMISSION AND FULL ENGINE FAILURES WITHOUT ANY HELP FROM FORD .FORD HAS ATTMITTED THHAT THIS IS A PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO HELP OR INSSTIGATE A RECALL. THANKS.

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE WAS BILLOWING FROM UNDERNEATH AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. FINALLY FROM DOWNSHIFTING AND USING THE PARKING BRAKE THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A STOP. AS A MASTER TECHNICIAN AND SERVICE MANAGER OF A LOCAL DEALERSHIP, I EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND A METAL BRAKE LINE THAT CROSSES FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEH. TO THE RIGHT SIDE IS LOCATED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WITH NO PROTECTION FROM HEAT OR OTHER DAMAGE. AT THIS AREA DIRECTLY ABOVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER THE BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED EXCESSIVELY FOR ABOUT 8-10 INCHES. THIS IS THE AREA DIRECTLY ABOVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. NOTHING ELSE IN THIS AREA IS CORRODED OR RUSTED. THE REST OF THIS BRAKE LINE, AS WELL AS THE OTHER LINES ARE IN PERFECT CONDITION. IT SEEMS THAT PLACING A BRAKE LINE ABOVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WITHOUT ANY PROTECTION CAUSES RAPID OXIDATION ONCE THE PROTECTIVE COATING IS DAMAGED FROM THE EXTREME HEAT. THE RUSTED BRAKE LINE DID HAVE HOLES THAT SPRAYED BRAKE FLUID ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAUSING THE SMOKE. LUCKILY NO FIRE. I REPLACED THIS LINE MYSELF AND STILL HAVE THE OLD ONE IN MY POSSESSION. I WISH NOTHING MORE THAN FOR FORD TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT ANY UNNECESSARY INJURY OR DEATH. I WAS ON LINE WITH ANOTHER 95 WINDSTAR OWNER WHO EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM ONLY HIS CAUGHT ON FIRE AND COST HIM 500.00. HE HAS CONTACTED NHTSA ALSO. THIS IS OUR FIRST STEP AND WILL NOT STOP UNTIL SOMETHING IS DONE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS. TOM

FUEL TANK WAS FOUND TO HAVE A CRACK UNDER THE CENTER METAL BINDING THAT SECURED THE FUEL TANK TO THE VEHICLE. FROM ALL INDICATIONS THE CRACK HAD BEEN THERE FOR A LONG PERIOD. THE MECHANICS DESCRIBED THE CRACK AS HAVING RESULTED FROM A BULGE IN THE TANK ITSELF WHERE THE BINDING WAS TIGHTENED INTO PLACE. THE CRACK WAS FOUND DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH THE BINDING. THERE HAD BEEN STRONG GAS FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE FROM TIME TO TIME OVER SEVERAL MONTHS AND VERY STRONG FUEL ODOR OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE, USUALLY IMMEDIATELY AFTER FILLING THE TANK. THE LEAK DID NOT BECOME APPARENT UNTIL 9/3/99, HOWEVER, WHEN I FOUND A PUDDLE OF GASOLINE UNDER THE VEHICLE AFTER IT HAD BEEN PARKED OVERNIGHT.

I HAD BEEN SMELLING GAS FUMES FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, USUALLY AFTER I FILLED THE TANK. ON THE MORNING OF 9/3/99 THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF GAS UNDER THE VAN IN THE DRIVEWAY AND THE FUMES WERE EXTREMELY STRONG INSIDE THE VEHICLE AS WELL. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO PRECISION AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE IN KATY, TX. THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE TANK HAD A CRACK IN IT UNDER THE CENTER STRAP WHERE THE TANK IS SECURED TO THE VEHICLE. THEIR ASSESSMENT DETERMINED THAT THE TANK CRACKED BECAUSE THE STRAP HAD CAUSED THE TANK TO BULGE AT THAT SPOT AND EVENTUALLY CRACK. WHEN THEY TRIED TO GET A REPLACEMENT TANK FROM TEXAN FORD THEY WERE INFORMED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO TANKS AVAILABLE FOR RESALE UNTIL 9/14 OR 9/15/99. FORD WAS APPARENTLY RELEASING A "NEW" TANK AT THIS TIME. WHEN THE NEW TANK ARRIVED ON 9/16, THE MIDSECTION HAD CLEARLY BEEN REDESIGNED TO ELIMINATE THE "BULGE" THAT HAD CAUSED THE CRACK IN THE ORIGINAL DESIGN. I HAVE REQUESTED THAT FORD REIMBURSE ME FOR THE COST OF THE REPLACEMENT TANK SINCE IT WAS CLEARLY A DESIGN PROBLEM AND POSED A TREMENDOUS SAFETY HAZARD TO MYSELF AND MY FAMILY. TEXAN FORD IS DENYING ANY KNOWLEDGE OF A PROBLEM WITH THIS GAS TANK AND SO FAR HAS REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR ANY OF THE COST. ANY HELP YOU COULD GIVE ME OR ANY INFORMATION WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. *AK

VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A HIGHWAY GUARDRAIL RESULTING IN A FIRE WHICH KILLED 1 PASSENGER AND SEVERLY BURN TWO OTHER PASSENGERS. CONSUMERS BELIEVE VEHICLE IS PRONE TO CATCH ON FIRE UPON IMPACT (RANDOLPH RICHARDSON AND WILLIE FORDEN ARE REPRESENTED BY ATTORNEY). NLM

DUE THE DEFECTIVE ENGINE HEAD GASKET, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE, AND MAY HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

GAS TANK CRACKED AT TOP OF TANK. PART NOT AVAILABLE. HAD TO BE SPECIAL ORDERED. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSURE.

WE HAVE HEARD RUMOR OF A "SECRET WARRANTEE" ON THE HEAD GASKET THAT FAILED. IS IS TRUE AND IF SO WHERE DO WE START? WE PAID $1100. FOR REPAIRS AND FEEL BADLY RIPPED OFF.

FUEL INDICATOR QUIT WORKING - REAR DOOR DOES NOT REGISTER AS BEING SHUT UNLESS SLAMMED-POWER WINDOW IN PASSENGER DOOR IS DEAD-SPEEDOMETER IS INACCURATE OVER 70 MPH, FLUCUATES

EXCEEDED FORD'S 60K WARRANTY ON HEAD GASKETS AND FORD REFUSED TO COVER REPLACED

DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. FORTUNATELY FORD REPLACED UNDER SECRET WARRANTY. HOWEVER, I HAVE ASKED FOR CREDIT OF $4,000.00 TOWARD PURCHASE OF 2000 WINDSTAR BECAUSE OF SIGNIFICANT MARKET DEVALUATION CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM AS WELL AS REPORTED WIDESPREAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS IN THIS VEHICLE. FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE DENIED REQUEST. BOTH THE HEAD GASKET AND TRANSMISSION SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. SEE FORUMS AT EDMUNDS.COM AND CARTRACKERS.COM FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.

FORWARD PISTON AXOD-E MADE OF ALUMINUM AND FAILS REPLACEMENT IS NOW STEEL. THIS FAUL CAUSES TRANSMISSION TO FAIL REQUIRING COMPLETE OVERHAUL OR REPLACEMENT

THIS IS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET IN THE WINDSTAR - WHAT I'VE LEARNED TO BE A WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM. I THINK FORD SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THIS SINCE IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT. *AK

ENGINE FAILED. YH

MY 1995 WINDSTAR HAS HAD PROBLEMS SINCE DAY 1. PAINT JOB HAD TO BE REPAIRED; WINDSHIELD HAD CRACK..REPLACED; SLIDING DOOR WAS LEAKING AND HAD TO BE ADJUSTED 3 TIMES; HEAD GASKET FAILURE; TIMING GASKET FAILURE; WHEEL BUSHING FAILURE; INTERIOR PARTS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY; ABS LIGHT/ELECT SYSTEM FAILURE (2X); I FEEL SO BAD ABOUT THIS THING I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. FORD DOESN'T CARE. I CAN'T SELL THIS THING WITH A CLEAR CONSCIENCE....BUT FORD DID. CAN YOU HELP US!!!! THERE ARE MANY, MANY OTHERS LIKE ME. I AM VERY CONCERNED THE TRANNY WILL GO NEXT AS HAS BEEN REPORTED BY SO MANY OTHER WINDSTAR OWNERS WHEN THEY REACH THE 60-75000 MILE RANGE. IN ADDITION, THE TIMING COVER GASKET COSTS APPROXIMATELY $850 TO FIX. I DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR BUT NEITHER FORD OR MY DEALER WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. MECHANICS I HAVE SPOKE WITH SAID TO TALK WITH THE DEALER...THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE. I BELIEVE IT WAS HAPPENING SINCE DAY ONE INTERMITTANTLY. (I HAVE ALWAYS HAD ANTIFREEZE LEAKING ON MY GARAGE FLOOR SINCE DAY 1. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS "LOOSE FITTINGS". SO NOW I AM STUCK WITH IT. HELP US!!!

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED FUMES ENTERING VEHICLE AND STRONG ODOR, PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE THREE REPAIR ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT CONDITION, CONSUMER REQUESTING SERVICE FEE REIMBURSEMENT. (99V-309)

VAN STARTED TO OVERHEAT AND THEN AFTER I PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO LET THE ENGINE COOL, I TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND THE HEAD GASKET BLEW. FORD IS GIVING ME A HARD TIME ABOUT THIS AFTER THEY AT FIRST OFFERED TO PAY HALF THE REPAIRS...RECALL THIS VEHICLE NOW. *AK

ON 8/30/99 THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASH CAME ON AND STAYED ON. WE TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER ON 9/15/99 WHO CHARGED US $150 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AS A DEFECTIVE FUSE MONITOR AND WAS GOING TO CHARGE US AN ADDITIONAL $200 TO INSTALL A NEW MONITOR. AIR BAGS HAVE NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED. THIS SEEMS TO ME TO BE A DEFECTIVE PART THAT SHOULD BE REPLACED FOR FREE. I DID NOT HAVE THE WORK DON AND AM TRYING TO FIND OUT IF THIS IS A REPAIR THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD PAY FOR. *AK

I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATION (SHIFTDOWN) WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FOR PASSING. THIS STARTED BEING A PROBLEM AFTER THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS PRESSURE FLUSHED AND REFILLED WITH NEW FLUID. THIS WAS MORE THAN JUST A STANDARD SERVICE FLUID AND FILTER CHANGE. IT HAS BECOME SUCH A PROBLEM WE ARE CONCERNED WHEN NEEDING TO PASS A VEHICLE AS SPORADIC RESULTS ARE THE RESULT. SOMETIMES WE CAN PASS, BUT MANY TIMES THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT DOWN FOR FAST ACCELERATION. THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF TIMES WE HAVE BEEN WITHIN SECONDS OF A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I TOOK THE VAN INTO THE SHOP, TELLING THEM TO FIX WHATEVER IS WRONG IF IT WAS UNDER $200. THEY TEST DROVE IT AND SAID THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY A PROBLEM. WHEN ASKED IF THEY DID ANYTHING THEY SAID ONLY A TEST DRIVE, BUT IT DID APPEAR TO WORK BETTER FOR THANKSGIVING WEEKEND. I AM SPECIFICALLY CONCERNED ABOUT A NEWS BROADCAST ABOUT AN ALUMINUM CLUTCH PLATE WEAR AND / OR CRACK PROBLEM FOR 1994 AND 1995 YEARS OF THIS VAN. *AK

THE ENGINE FROZE UP. THIS WAS DUE TO THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM THAT THIS 3.8L V6 ENGINE IS KNOWN FOR. THE ONLY INDICATION WE HAD WAS ERRATIC READINGS OF THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE. IT WOULD CLIMB TO THE UPPER RANGE BUT THEN DROP IMMEDIATELY. THERE WAS NO WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAILPIPE. I PLANNED ON TAKING IT TO MY MECHANIC TO CHECK IT OUT EXCEPT THAT THE ENGINE LOCKED UP. MY MECHANIC SAID THE HEAD GASKET MUST HAVE BEEN BLOWN AND ANTIFREEZE WAS MIXING IN THE OIL. HE SAID THAT WITH THIS ENGINE ONE TIME OF OVERHEATING CAN CAUSE THE HEADGASKET TO BLOW. THE ENTIRE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. AFTER SOME RESEARCH IT APPEARS FORD IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THEIR SOLUTION WAS TO EXTEND THE WARRENTY TO 60000 MILES BUT NOT TELL ANYONE ABOUT IT. DOESN'T HELP ME ANYWAY. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MECHANICAL DEFECT WITH THE ENGINE. OVERHEATING ONE TIME SHOULD NOT REQUIRE HEADGASKET REPLACEMENT OR A NEW ENGINE.

TRANSMISSION SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR AND NOT ENGAGING CORRECTLY

TRANSMISSION SELF-DESTRUCTED EXACTLY 4 YEARS AFTER PURCHASE DATE. EIGHT MONTHS EARLIER, AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETECTED "CHUNKS" OF METAL INTRANSMISSION FLUID; I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD NOT TO WORRY AND THAT NO SERVICE WAS BEING OFFERED OR RECOMMENDED. DEALER HAS OFFERED TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AND EXTEND WARRANTY TO 6 YEARS FROM DATE OF ORIG. PURCHASE OR 709,000 MI. (WHICHEVER COMES 1ST) FOR $495.

HEAD GASKET FAILED. HAD TRIED TO GET PROBLEM LOOKED AT DURING WARRANTY PERIOD, WAS INFORMED BY DEALER THAT REPAIR WOULD NOT BE MADE UNTIL PART FAILED. WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER REPAIR , WHEN FAILURE OCCURED.

TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT UP FROM SECOND TO THIRD, LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS THROWN INTO NEUTRAL. COASTED AT 35 MPH FOR ABOUT 1/2 MILE. TRANSMISSION FINALLY SHIFTED TO THIRD. ABOUT 1 MILE LATER AND AT 50 MPH, TRANSMISSION SHIFTED DOWN INTO SECOND. SERVICE TECH BLAMED THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON OLD TRANSMISSION FLUID AND TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH FAILURE. TOTAL INSTALLATION OF RE-MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION COST $2,150. SERVICE REP HAS NO INTENTION OF OFFSETTING SOME OF THE COST. WILL BE TALKING TO NEXT LEVEL OF MANAGMENT AT DEALERSHIP.*AK

THINK CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT!!!! FORD HAS BEEN AWARE OF THESE PROBLEMS ALL ALONG!!!! DO NOT LET THEM GET AWAY WITH 95 WINDSTAR OWNERS FOOTING THE BILL FOR THEIR MISTAKE. DON'T GET EVEN GET AHEAD. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT IN THE FORD 3.8 ENGINE WHICH BASED ON MTBF DATA OCCURS IN THIS ENGINE AFTER 70,000 MILES.. THE FORD NOTICE TO CUSTOMERS DELIBERATELY SET 60,000 AS THE MILAGE LIMIT TO PRECLUDE THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING TO REALISTICALLY ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. THE LETTER WAS ESSENTIALLY OFFERING SMOKE AND MIRRORS AND HAD NO REAL VALUE SINCE IT IS COMMON KNOWLEDGE IN THE AUTO REPAIR COMMUNITY THAT THE PROBLEM DOES NOT TYPICALLY OCCUR UNTIL AFTER 75,000. THE LETTER WAS A SCAM.

HEAD GASKET FAILURE-LEAKED COOLENT INTO ENGINE, ENGINE FAILURE, NOW WE NEED NEW ENGINE, HAD EXTENDED WARRENTY, FORD WILL NOT HONOR ANY WARRANTY ON THIS DEFECT. I CANNOT GIVE YOU THE VEHICLE NUMBER BECAUSE FORD HAS HAD THE CAR SO LONG, I CAN BARELY REMEMBER THE COLOR.

OUR 95 FORD WINDSTAR HAS IT'S 3RD ENGINE, BECAUSE OF HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS, WE PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND 11 DAYS AFTER IT EXPIRED THE ENGINE WENT OUT WE ARE NOW IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO GET FORD TO COVER THE ENTIRE COST, WHICH THEY ARE FIGHTING, WE FEEL THIS IS A RE-ACCURING PROBLEM WHICH THEY SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR FAULTY PRODUCT. WE EXPECT A BRAND NEW VEHICLE TO LAST MUCH LONGER THAN THIS A FOUR YEAR OLD VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE ON IT'S 3RD ENGINE. WE HAVE BEEN LOYAL FORD CUSTOMERS, BUT FEEL WE HAVE A LEMON WITH THIS VEHICLE.

TRANSMISSION FAILED TO ENGAGE AT TIMES. VEHICLE SURGED ONCE TRANSMISSION WAS ENGAGED. CAUSED DANGEROUS SITUATION IN CONGESTED TRAFFIC

THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS FAILED. THE PISTON HAD BURNT OUT. UNDERHOOD INTERIOR WALL WAS SCORCHED. VEHICLE HAD OVERHEATED. HAD NOTICE PUFF OF SMOKE FROM TAIL PIPE.

WE PURCHASED OUR FORD WINDSTAR MINIVAN IN JANUARY 1997, WITH NEARLY 25,000 MILES ON IT. THE SAFETY REPORTS (ESPECIALLY ONE SEEN ON DATELINE NBC) INDICATED THAT THE FORD WINDSTAR WAS SUPERIOR TO OTHER VEHICLES OF ITS TYPE IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, AND THIS STRONGLY INFLUENCED OUR DECISION TO BUY.

TRANSMISSION FAILED PULLING INTO TRAFFIC FROM A SIDE STREET. WE WERE NEARLY HIT BROADSIDE.

CONSUMER WAS SENT A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING HEAD GASKETS . CONTACTED THE DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL, DEALER STATED THAT HE HAS ALREADY PERFORMED RECALL REPAIRS, AND THE RECALL HAS EXPIRED. THERE WILL BE A CHARGE FOR FURTHER RECALL. REPAIRS. PLEASE NOTE RECALL NOT LISTED IN NHTSA DATA BASE. *AK

IN JUNE OF 1998, WHILE WE WERE LIVING IN FAYETTEVILLE, AR, WE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY STATING THAT THEY HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIR HEAD GASKETS IN THE '95 WINDSTARS. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, WE HAD THE CAR SERVICED FOR AN OIL LEAK (AT SPRINGDALE FORD IN SPRINGDALE, AR). THEY SAID THEY SAW NO PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKET WHEN WE ASKED ABOUT IT. WE FAITHFULLY HAD THIS VAN SERVICED AT SPRINGDALE FORD WHILE WE LIVED IN AR. WE MOVED TO IOWA IN JAN. OF THIS YEAR. WE THEN BEGIN SERVICING THE VAN AT BOB ZIMMERMAN FORD IN CEDAR RAPIDS. THIS SUMMER WE SPENT ABOUT $700 ON REPAIRS AGAIN, BUT NOTHING WAS MENTIONED ABOUT THE HEAD GASKET. THEN IN AUG, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WHEN WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID THE HEAD GASKET HAD FAILED AND LEAKED ANTIFREEZE INTO THE ENGINE, RUINING IT. WE NEEDED THE VAN, AND WERE FORCED TO PUT A NEW ENGINE IN AT A COST OF $4000. AFTER TRYING TO PURSUE HELP FROM BOB ZIMMERMAN AND SPRINGDALE FORD AND ALSO FROM FORD DIRECTTLY, WITH NO LUCK, I BEGAN RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET. WE FOUND CASE UPON CASE OF THE ENGINE/ HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THERE WERE NUMEROUS TRANSMISSION FAILURES. WE JUST TRADED THE VAN IN 2 WEEKS AGO, RATHER THAN WAIT FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. I AM INTERESTED IN GETTING REIMBURSED FOR ALL OR PART OF THE $4000 DAMAGE. I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT FORD KNOWS OF THE DEFECT AND ALSO KNOWS THAT IT WILL FAIL, NOT IF IT WILL FAIL.

INSTRUMENT PANEL WIRING SHORTED OUT, CAUSING FIRE INSIDE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPAIRS MADE AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. LESS THEN A YEAR LATER, MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE ENGINE MAIN BEARING HAD GONE BAD. ESTIMATED COST WOULD BE APPROIMATELY. $2,900.00. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER, PLEASE PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THIS ASAP.*AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 30 MPH, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

THE CONSUMER STATE'S THERE IS A LEAKAGE WITHIN THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK DUE TO A CRACK. *AK

THE ALUMINUM (WEAK MATERIAL) HYDRALIC PISTON RING CRACKED CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE. *YC

THIS IS THE 2ND TRANS. (NEW TRANS. HAD TO BE INSTALLED APPROX. 2MONTHS AFTER ORIGINAL SALE) AND 3RD MAJOR REPAIR (ENGINE PEPLACED LAST YEAR DUE TO DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS). THERE ARE TONS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET AT HTTP://WWW.CARTRACKERS.COM/FORUMS/MESSAGES/460.MECHGOBLINS.HTML SO IT SEEMS TO BE A REAL PROBLEM/ DEFECT. PLEASE HELP US !

APPEARS THAT EVERY PERSON THAT I KNOW WITH A 1995 WINDSTAR HAS HAD ENGINE FAILURE AND NOW THE FORWARD PISTON IN THE TRANSMISSION FAIL. THIS REPAIR IS DUE TO ALUMINUM PISTON. FORD REPLACEMENT PART IS STAINLESS STEEL PISTON. LOCAL AAMCO SHOP SAYS THAT HE HAS 55 GALLON DRUN OF ALUMINUM FORWARD PISTONS FROM FORD TRANSMISSONS.