1995 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

ENGINE FAILED 50 MILES AFTER THE HEAD GASKETS WERE REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN FOR THE ENGINE TO BE REPLACED!

TRANSMISSION FAILED FIRST MAKING VAN DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY. ENGINE FAILED SHORTLY AFTER HAVING TRANSMISSION REBUILT BY FORD DEALER. ENGINE WARNING LIGHT REPORTED TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE WARRANTY MILEAGE EXPIRED, BUT FORD NEVER WARNED US

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHEN VEHICLE HIT A DOG WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH, CAUSING DAMAGES TO FRONT BUMPER. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK

REAR ENGINE BEARING FAILED.

TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. WOULD MAKE CLUNKING NOISES. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE MECHANIC CHECK IT. *AK TRANSMISSION OVERHAULED DUE TO SEVERE SLIPPING. *MJS

WHO'S WINDSTAR ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAVEN'T BLOWN? DOOR AJAR LIGHT IS ALSO A PAIN. WAITING FOR TRANSMISSION TO GO NEXT. *AK

THIS HEAD GASKET FAILURE APPEARS TO BE COMMON ON THIS MODEL OF 1995 WINDSTAR. ALTHOUGH FORD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 60,000 MANY DEFECTS OCCUR JUST MILES BEYOND THIS. THEY HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THIS IS A WEAKNESS IN THIS MODEL, BUT DO NOT REIMBURSE THE OWNER FOR THE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. THIS PROBLEM FIRST SURFACED AT 26.400 MILES AND WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. OBVIOUSLY, IT WAS NOT PERMANENTLY REPAIRED FOR THE SAME SITUATION IS NOW OCCURING. MY RESEARCH REVEALS AN EXTREMELY HIGH NUMBER OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH THIS MODEL. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, CAUSING GAS TO SPILL ALL OVER ENGINE AND DRIP OUT OF TAIL PIPE.CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK

ENGINE OVERHEATED DUE TO MAJOR LOSS OF COOLANT. DIAGNOSED BY DEALER AS FAILED HEADGASKETS. FORD REFUSED TO PAY ANY PART OF REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE ADMITTED THE ORIGINAL GASKET DESIGN WAS DEFECTIVE. COST OF REPAIR = $1600

FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON FAILED AND REPAIRED. ACTUAL MILEAGE AND DATE OF FAILURE UNKNOWN SINCE TRANSMISSION SLOWLY SELF DISTRUCTS AFTER PISTON FAILS.

TRANSMISSION WON'T SHIFT INTO GEAR.THE ALUMINUM PISTON IS CRACKED. IT DOES NOT ALLOW THE FLUID TO BUILD UP SUFFICIENTLY. CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK

THE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT REGISTER AT ANY SPEED, FIRST IT WAS ONLY AT HIGH SPEEDS, BUT NOW IT IS AT ANY SPEED. IT MAKES A LOUD RATTLING NOISE AS WELL. *AK

IN AUGUST OF 1999, WITH ABOUT 67000 MILES, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED AND OIL ENDED UP IN THE COOLANT. THIS WAS REPAIRED AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $450. IN NOVEMBER, MY DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THE EHAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING. THIS WAS AT ABOUT 74000 MILES. COST, $1600. I CONTACTED FORD, SUBMITTING THE BILLS. THEY TOLD ME, NO WAY, OUT OF WARRANTY. I THEN SENT BACK A SECOND LETTER IN LATE DECEMBER, 1999. STILL WAITING FOR A REPLY FROM THAT LETTER. A MAJOR COMPONENT SUCH AS THIS SHOULD NOT FAIL BEFORE 100,000 MILES. FORD HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY WILL ONLY STAND BEHIND IT FOR AN INCREDIBILY LOW MILEAGE OF 60,000. *AK

AT LOW SPEEDS VEHICLE STALLS OUT AND DIES. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP.*AK

FIRST OVER-HEATING PROBLEM WAS TAKEN TO THORNTON FORD ON 4/23/99 @ 57,687 MILES AND RADIATOR WAS DIAGNOSED AS HALF PLUGGED BY THORNTON ON 5/28/99 (~59,600 MILES). RADIATOR REPLACED ON 6/8/99 AND BOTH OXYGEN SENSORS REPLACED ON 7/1/99. HEAD GASKET PROBLEM FINALLY DIAGNOSED ON 7/13/99 AT 62,144 MILES. DID NOT RECEIVE A COPY OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY LETTER FOR SERVICE PROGRAM NO/ 98M01. DEALER ONLY PAID ONE-HALF OF HEAD GASKET REPAIR BECAUSE THE CAR WAS NOW OVER 60,000 MILES ALLOWED ON THE EXTENDED COVERAGE.

AT 30,170 MILES, TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. AT 45,472 MILES THE AIR CONDITIONER WOULD WORK WHEN THE VAN WOULD FIRST START AND THEN THE A/C WOULD CUT OFF. WHILE AWAITING FOR THE PARTS TO FIX THE A/C TO ARRIVE AT THE DEALERSHIP, THE VAN BEGAN MISSING DURING IDLE. I WAS DRIVING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY ON JULY 11, 1999 WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY WHERE THE VAN SAT UNTIL MONDAY, JULY 12, 1999 AT 7:00 P.M. PER THE SERVICE DEPT AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP, WE WERE ADVISED TO DRIVE THE VAN THERE, IF WE COULD GET IT THAT FAR. UPON LEAVING OUR HOME WITH MY HUSBAND DRIVING THE VAN AND ME FOLLOWING IN A RELIABLE VEHICLE, WE STARTED OUT FOR THE DEALERSHIP ONLY TO STOP MIDWAY BECAUSE THE VAN WAS OVERHEATING. WE WAITED FOR IT TO COOL AND STARTED FOR THE DEALERSHIP ONCE AGAIN. MY HUSBAND TURNED THE VAN OFF AS HE PULLED INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD TO LET IT COAST THE REST OF THE WAY BECAUSE AGAIN, IT WAS OVERHEATING. THEY DIAGNOSED THE BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND INTAKE GASKET THE NEXT DAY. ON DEC 7, 1999, I WAS USING THE VAN TO GO HOME ON MY LUNCH HOUR. IT STARTED TO DIE AS I PULLED OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE BUT CONTINUED TO RUN. I HEADED FOR HOME AND WITHIN 2 BLOCKS, WHILE SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VAN DIED . I MANAGED TO START IT BACK UP ONLY TO HAVE IT DIE AGAIN. THE VAN HAD TO BE TOWED THIS TIME. THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR FLOW TUBE HAD FALLEN OFF OF THE FILTER HOUSING. ON 12-16-1999, I WAS PULLING FROM MY PARKING SPACE TO GO HOME FROM WORK FOR THE DAY, ONLY TO HAVE THE VAN DIE. IT STARTED UP AGAIN ONLY TO MAKE IT TO THE STREET OUT OF THE PARKING LOT. IT STARTED AGAIN AND I MADE IT 1/2 A BLOCK BEFORE IT DIED AGAIN. I STARTED AGAIN AND MADE IT ONE FULL BLOCK THIS TIME BEFORE IT DIED AGAIN. I HAD TO START THE VAN APPROX. 5-6 MORE TIMES ONLY TO HAVE IT DIE EACH TIME IN ORDER TO GET INTO A LOCAL HOTEL PARKING LOT. I CALLED THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND HE CAME TO CHECK THINGS OUT. HE COULD. *AK

NO SUMMARY

THERE IS NOT AMPLE SPACE TO DESCRIBE THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE HAD WITH THIS VEHICLE. THIS WINDSTAR HAS BEEN WELL CARED FOR BY US, WITH ALL THE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE TIMELY DONE. WE HAVE ALSO TAKEN OUR VAN TO ONLY FORD DEALERS FOR SERVICE. ON ALL OCCASIONS BEFOR MAJOR BREAKDOWNS OR REPAIR JOBS, WE HAVE TAKEN OUR CAR IN FOR COMPLAINTS OF NOISES OR PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS THAT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO LOCATE. WE BELIEVE THAT THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM DID SEVERE DAMAGE TO OUR VEHICLE WHICH RESULTED IN THE LATER PROBLEMS, MOST SIGNIFICANTLY THE TIMING CHAIN COVER AND ENGINE FAILURE. WE BELIEVE FORD WAS AWARE OF THIS AND DID NOTHING TO COMPENSATE US EXCEPT FOR THE REFUND FOR REPAIRS ON THE HEAD GASKET. FORD HAD A RECALL ON THE HEAD GASKET ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER WE INCURRED THE EXPENSE, AND THEIR CHECK DID NOT COVER ALL OUR EXPENSES RELATED TO THIS. AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE HAVE SO MUCH ADDITIONAL MONEY INVESTED IN REPAIRS, WE CANNOT AFFORD TO SELL THE CAR BECAUSE WE WOULD NOT RECOVER OUR COSTS. WE HOPE THAT YOU CAN GIVE US SOME ASSISTANCE. WE HAVE JUST RECENTLY APPEALED TO THE FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE DIVISION, BUT WERE TURNED DOWN. OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER IS ALSO OFFERING SOME HELP IN PURSUING THIS, BUT DOESN'T SEEM VERY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT IT. WE ARE AWAITING OUR SECOND APPEAL.

WAS DRIVING 45-50MPH WHEN ANTIFREEZE WAS COMING OUT OF TAIL PIPE, THEN VEHICLE DIED. VEHICLE TOWED TO MECHANIC, WHO REFUSED TO REPAIR DUE TO TSB ON HEAD GASKETS. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER & INFORMED THE 02 SENSORS NEEDED REPLACING. *AK

TRANSMISSION SEIZED DUE TO BROKEN IMPELLER WHILE AT DEALER (FAMILY FORD - CARLISLE, PA). COULD HAVE CAUSED ACCIDENT HAD IT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING.

I NOTICED THE TEMPERATURE GUAGE ACTING ABNORMALY AT 59, 925 MILES. MY VAN WAS DRIVEABLE, SO I DID CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CLOSED DURING THE WEEKEND. I CALLED IMMEDIATELY ON MONDAY MORNING, AND THE EARLIEST I COULD GET MY VEHICLE IN WAS TUESDAY EVENING. ON TUESDAY EVENING, MY MILEAGE WAS 60,057. FORD HAD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE HEAD GASKET TO 60,000. EVEN THOUGH THE TROUBLE OCCURRED BEFORE 60,000 MILES, I COULD NOT GET MY VEHICLE INTO A FORD SERVICE CENTER UNTIL AFTER THE 60,000. AS A RESULT, FORD DOES NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE REPAIR. THE GASKET FAILURE ALSO DAMAGED OTHER ENGINE PARTS. AS A RESULT, I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE IN MY VAN.

BLOWN HEAD GASKET, 9,000 MILES AFTER THE RECALL LIMIT

THE 1995 FORD WINDSTAR VAN WAS PURCHASED IN OCTOBER 1997 WITH ABOUT 45,000 MILES. ON JULY 9, 1999 A STRANGER APPROACHED IN THE PIZZA HUT PARKING LOT TO SAY THAT BLACK SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE VAN. I TOOK THE VAN TO JOHNSON FORD IN MARBLE FALLS WHERE THE MECHANIC SAID THE PROBLEM WAS A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET. ESTIMATED REPAIR COST $ 1136.00. ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP SAID THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THE HEAD GASKETS FOR THAT VEHICLE. FORD MOTOR COMPANY WAS CONTACTED. THE FORD REPRESENTATIVE SAID THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL BUT IT HAD EXPIRED. I TOLD THEM I HADN'T RECEIVED ANY NOTICES REGARDING A RECALL. THEY THEN SAID THERE WAS NO RECORD OF MYSELF AS THE VEHICLE OWNER AND A NOTICE HAD BEEN SENT. WHEN ASKED WHERE THE NOTICE WAS SENT THEY SAID TO ME. WHEN ASKED TO WHAT ADDRESS THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID SHE ONLY HAD A NAME ANOTHER DEPARTMENT HAD THE ADDRESS. A SECOND PHONE CALL WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY INFORMED ME I DIDN'T RECEIVE A NOTICE SINCE I WAS THE SECOND OWNER, AND BECAUSE I DIDN'T RESPOND WITHIN THE PROPER TIME FRAME OF THE RECALL THERE WAS NO RECOURSE. IT WAS UP TO THE CUSTOMER TO NOTIFY FORD WHEN THEY PURCHASED A FORD VEHICLE. THEY REFUSE TO HONOR THE RECALL. *AK

CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD AT 60000 MILES W/ REGULAR OIL CHANGES

HEAD GASKET FAILED, RECALL ON COMPONENT HOWEVER NO NOTICE WAS GIVEN TO CONSUMER AND THE DATE HAS RUN OUT, CONSUMER DENIED RECALL SERVICE. MJS

ABS IS NOT WORKING. DEALER CONTACTED AND WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. TIME & COVER FAILED BECAUSE HEAD GASKET HAD MESSED UP THE WHOLE ENGINE HEAD, CAUSING IT TO CRACK. DEALER HAD TO ORDER WHOLE NEW SHORT ENGINE BLOCK. *AK

EA 00 027/SUSPENSION COIL SPRING BREAKAGE: WHILE BACKING UP INTO DRIVEWAY LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED TIRE. VEHICLE TOWED AND REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIRS SHOP. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 4 HRS, STRONG ODOR OF GAS NOTED BUT NO LEAKAGE SEEN ON UNDERSIDE OF CAR NOR ON GROUND. DROVE 2 MILES HOME, STILL STRONG ODOR, AND UNDERSIDE OF GAS TANK SLIGHTLY WET. TANK AREA CONTINUED TO GET INCREASINGLY WET. *AK

THE AIR MASS FLOW SENSOR LINE WAS NOT CONNECTED CORRECTLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MISS AND NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY. NLM

HAD 2 HEAD GASKET FAILURES - NOW THE CRANKSHAFT BEARINGS GONE, REQUIRING A SHORT BLOCK. BELIEVE BEARINGS ARE A RESULT OF THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS.

3.8 L ENGINE FAILED 1 YR AFTER HEAD GASKET REPLACED. I BELIEVE THAT AN ENGINE SHOULD LAST MORE THAN 86,000 MILES.

I ALSO HAD THE HEAD GASKET FAIL ON OUR FORD WINDSTAR. SO , THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE AS PER THE RECALL BY FORD AT NO COST TO ME. ABOUT ONE MONTH LATER THE LOW OIL LIGHT COMES ON. WHEN I CHECKED THE OIL, IT WAS NOT EVEN TOUCHING THE DIPSTICK. IT WAS FILLED AND BROUGHT BACK TO THE MENTIONED DEALER WHO DID THE ORIGINAL REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE. THEY FOUND NO OIL LEAKS AND SAID THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BREAK IN FOR 5000 MILES. MY WIFE AND I DROVE THE CAR 6000 MILES AND LOGGED THE MILEAGEAND THE AMOUNT OF OIL EVERY TIME WE HAD TO ADD IT. WE WERE BURNING 1 QUART EVERY 1000 MILES. THE CARS WAS BROUGHT BACK TO THE DEALER IN APRIL 2000 AS PERF THERE REQUEST TO RETURN ONCE THE ENGINE WAS "BROKEN IN". THEY RAN AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST AND REQUESTED THAT I RETURN WITH THE CAR WHNE IT WAS 1 QT LOW ( BASICALLY THEY CHANGED THE OIL AND FILTER AND MARKED THE LEVEL ON THE DIPSTICK. AFTER ONE MONTH IT WAS A QUART LOW AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 1200 MILES. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE DEALER. THEY STATED THAT CONSUMPTION OF 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 900 MILES IS WITHIN FORD SPECIFICATIONS. I HAVE WRITTEN LETTERS TO THE DEALERSHIP, FORD'S COMPLAIINT DEPT. AND TO THE DIRECTOR OF FORD VEHICLE SERVICE PROGRAMS. I RECEVED *1* PHONE CALL STATING THAT MY LETTERS WAS RECEIVED AND FORD WOULD LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM. THAT WAS BACK IN JUNE, 2000. I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM ANYONE SINCE. SINCE THEN THE TRANSMISSION HAS ALSO FAILED IN THE SAME VEHICLE @ 51K MILES AND ANOTHER OF THESE REPORTS FILED. I HAVE FOUND MANY PEOPLE ON VARIOUS DISCUSSION BOARDS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS, YET FORD REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING.. WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!

ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION FAILURES SEEM VERY HIGH FOR 95 WINDSTAR VANS. INTERNET SITES ARE FILLED WITH STORIES SIMILAR TO MINE. BOTH THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE FAILURES ARE SAFETY ISSUES SINCE THEY MAY OCCUR AT SPEED ON BUSY STREETS OR THE INTERSTATE. I BELIEVE THAT THE NUMBER OF FAILURES INDICATES SOME DESIGN FLAW IN THESE COMPONENTS.

TRANSMISSION: SUDDEN DOWNSHIFTING WITH DRAMATIC LOSS OF SPEED; FOLLOWED BY UPSHIFTING AND SPEED SURGE. ENGINE: COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE AFTER DEALER HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT, RESULTING IN SUDDEN LOSS OF SPEED AND MANEUVERABILITY. SIMILAR EXPERIENCES FREQUENTLY REPORTED IN VARIOUS PUBLIC FORUMS BY MANY OWNERS OF THE SAME ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION MODELS.

WHEN TIMING COVER GASKET IS REPLACED, LOWER ENGINE KNOCK OCCURS,BEARINGS GET WASHED OUT, AND ENGINE NEEDS REPLACING. FORD ACKNOWLEDGES THIS PROBLEM, DOES NOT KNOW WHY IT HAPPENS, BUT IS NOT WILLING TO COMPENSATE CUSTOMERS FOR THE COST OF ENGINE REPLACEMENT. THIS IS ON 3.8 V6 ENGINES IN 1995 WINDSTARS, TAURUS AND SABLES.

FORD NEEDS TO DO A COMPLETE RECALL OF ALL 1995 FORD WINDSTAR HEAD GASKETS. THIS HEAD GASKET FAILURE PUT ME AND MY FAMILY INCLUDING 2 SMALL CHILDREN IN GRAVE DANGER. THE EVIDENCE IS OVERWHELMING. FORD NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND BE RESPONSIVE TO CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS. THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF FRUSTRATED 1995 WINDSTAR OWNERS NATIONWIDE. CAN'T SOMETHING BE DONE TO MAKE FORD ACCOUNTABLE?

THIS MINIVAN WAS MY WORST NIGHTMARE. AFTER HAVING THE HEAD GASKETS CHECKED AND TRANSMISSION SERVICED AT 58702 MILES MY GASKETS WENT @ 66940, TRANSMISSION @68420,ENGINE REPLACED AT 71843 MILES. ALL THIS HAPPENED AT OUR BUSIEST TIME OF YEAR. MY DAUGHTER IS A SOFTBALL PITCHER AND THE TRANNY WENT ON MY WAY TO A RURAL TOWN TOURNY, THE ENGINE WENT OVER 100 MILES FROM HOME ON OUR WAY TO STATE TOURNEY WHICH WE SENT OUR DAUGHTER WITH THE COACH. BUT WE MISSED IT. AFTER HAVING THE ENGINGE REPLACED WITH A USED ONE PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY MY POER STEERING WENT AND THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE FROM THE FLUID SPRAYING ONTO THE ENGINE. THE ORIGINAL HOSE WAS USED WITH THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE. NEW HOSE WAS ROUTED A DIFFERENT WAY SO THE HOSE WASN'T SO CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST PIPE. I WAS LUCKY THIS HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY. ALL THIS HAPPENED WITHIN A FEW MONTHS AND FORD OR THE DEALERSHIP WERE NOT HELPFULL. I SOLD THE VAN AND WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD. *AK

ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO HEAD GASKET DEFECT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER INFORMED US THAT THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED. WE TOLD THEM THAT WE WEREN'T THE ORIGINAL OWNERS THEREFORE DID NOT RECEIVE THE NOTICE; THEY TOLD US 'TOUGH'. WE ATTEMPTED TO ESCALATE THE PROBLEM AND THREE DAYS LATER A 'SUPERVISOR' LEFT US A MSG. ON OUR ANSWERING MACHINE TELLING US FORD WILL DO NOTHING! THEY HAD OUR MAIN SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION FOR ALMOST 30 DAYS WHILE WE STRUGGLED TO SAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS (~$1200.00). COMPUTER FAILURE INCIDENT: WE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF A 'DPF SENSOR' THAT WAS DISCOVERED AFTER THE HEAD GASKET REPAIR AND BEFORE WE PICKED UP THE VAN. NOW WE WERE TOLD THE MAIN COMPUTER WAS GONE AND THE CODE WASN'T COMING UP SAYING THE DPF SENSOR NEEDED REPLACING. $530.00 LATER, WE TAKE THE VAN HOME AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON (DPF SENSOR PROBLEMS??); THE VAN HAS LEAKED FLUID ALL OVER OUR PARKING PAD; THE VEHICLE IS STUTTERING WHEN PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL AFTER A STOP; A TRANSMISSION WIRE THAT CONTROLS THE VEHICLES ABILITY TO GO INTO PARK, REVERSE, NEUTRAL, ETC. HAS COME LOOSE AND WE ARE AFRAID TO TAKE IT BACK TO FORD. FORD IS GOING TO REFUND US OUR $1200 FOR THE GASKET WORK, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE TRAUMA THEY PUT THEIR CUSTOMERS THROUGH? WHAT ABOUT THE LOSS OF WORK TIME ENCOUNTERED DUE TO THE VEHICLE HAVING TO BE AT THE DEALER FOR A MONTH? THEY OWE US MORE THAN JUST A REFUND! IF THEY HAD FIXED THEIR ADMITTED ERROR IN THE FIRST PLACE, WE WOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO SUFFER WITHOUT OUR VEHICLE FOR SO LONG. I'M NOT GOING TO BE SATISFIED WITH JUST THE REFUNDING OF THE COST OF THE WORK (WHICH I WAS INFORMED YESTERDAY THAT IT MAY TAKE 6-10 WEEKS INSTEAD OF THE NORMAL 4 WEEKS DUE TO THE HIGH VOLUME OF REFUNDS THEY HAVE FOR THIS PROBLEM) WE HAVE BEEN BEYOND INCONVENIENCED. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE IN THE FAVOR OF THE MANY, MANY, MANY FOLKS THAT HAVE SUFFERED AT THE HANDS OF FORD. HOPEFULLY, NHTSA CAN GET THE BALL ROLLING. *AK

BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND FRONT ENGINE TIMING COVER LEAK. MINIMUM ESTIMATE FROM DEALER IS $1900. WE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR WHO OFFERED NO RELIEF. WE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISION AT 40,000 MILES. WE FOUND A POSTING IN THE EDMUNDS WEB SITE DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO THIS PROBLEM AND LACK OF COMPENSATION FROM FORD MOTOR. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, VEHICLE JERKS AND THERE IS A LOUD NOISE FROM THE BRAKES. DEALER REPLACED THE ABS PUMP. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT 40 MPH THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER, WHEN APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR VEHICLE WON'T PICK UP SPEED. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON #4 CYLINDER. *AK

NO SUMMARY.

I HAVE A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR WITH 68,000 MILES. IT STARTED WITH THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT GOING ON, AND I TOOK IT IN FOR A CHECK. I GOT A TUNE UP AND THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT TURNED OFF. AFTER TEN MINUTES, THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND I WENT BACK TO THE MECHANIC . THREE DAYS LATER I WAS TOLD THE O2 SENSORS ARE BAD, THE HEAD GASKETS ARE BAD AND IT WILL COST ME OVER $2,000.00 TO FIX. I CALLED FORD MOTOR CO. AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME BECAUSE I WAS OVER THE 60,000 MILE WARRANTY. MY HUSBAND CALLED AS WELL AND GOT THE SAME THING. I TOOK THE CAR INTO OMEARA FORD TO HAVE THE HEAD GASKETS FIXED AND THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A WHOLE NEW ENGINE WHICH WOULD COST OVER $4,000.00 . I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE IT WON'T EVEN PASS EMISSIONS, AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR THE LAST 8 MONTHS! I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY CAR AND AN ENGINE SHOULD NOT BLOW AT 68,000 MILES. FORD ALSO SAID THEY SENT OUT LETTERS TO OWNERS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, WE DID NOT RECIEVE ANY LETTER OR WE WOULD HAVE GONE INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD IT LOOKED AT. THEY SAID THAT ISN'T THEIR FAULT EITHER.

THE HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN AT LESS THAN 65000 MILES. IT SEEMS THAT THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE. I'VE HEARD THAT THEY WILL REPLACE THE GASKET IF IT FAILS AT LESS THAN 60,000 MILES. IS THAT ALL I SHOULD EXPECT FROM A FORD HEAD GASKET? I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU WOULD LOOK INTO MAKING THE WARRANTY FOR HTIS REPAIR LONGER THAT 60,000 MILES. *AK

IN JULY OF 1999 WE EXPERIENCED TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING ON A CROSS COUNTYR TRIP. THE HEAD GASKETS FAILED, FORD CLAIMED NO DEFECT OR RESPONSIBILITY EVEN UNDER WARRANTY. CALLS FOR LEGAL ACTION PRODUCED A REPLACEMENT ENGINE BUT WE ABSORBED ALL THE ASSOCIATED COSTS. IN NOVEMBER 0F 1999 THE SECOND ENGINE FAILED IN THE EXACT SAME WAY, AGAIN FORD SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE FORD ENGINES, THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AND REPLACED BOTH HEAD GASKETS INSTEAD.*AK

FORD ADMITS HEAD GASKETS ARE DEFECTIVE, BUT WILL ONLY REPLACE THEM IF THEY BLOW BEFORE 60000 MILES.

ENGINE DEAD DUE TO HEADGASKET FAILURE. *AK