1995 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

1995 FORD WINDSTAR-ENGINE OVERHEATED DUE TO DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. CYLINDER HEADS RESURFACED, NEW HEAD GASKETS, REPLACED DAMAGED CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS AND O2 SENSORS. TOTAL COST $2454.*AK

MY HUSBAND, MY SON, AND MYSELF WERE ON OUR WAY HOME LAST TUESDAY EVENING AND THE AIRBAGS ON OUR 1995 FORD WINDSTAR DEPLOYED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THIS WAS A VERY FREIGHTING AND STRESSFUL SITUATION. WE HAD JUST TURNED OFF ONE ROAD ONTO THE NEXT MAKING OUR WAY HOME WHEN THE AIRBAGS BURST OUT AND CAUSED SEVERAL INJURIES TO MY HUSBAND AND ME. MY HUSBAND HAS POWDER RESIDUE BURNS ON HIS FACE, HIS ARMS ARE CUT FROM THE WRIST UP. HE RECENTLY SUFFERED A STROKE AND THIS HAS CAUSED A LOT OF MENTAL STRESS AS WELL AS PAIN. X-RAYS ARE NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THAT HIS HAND IS NOT BROKEN. I HAD HEART SURGERY IN AUGUST AND DID NOT NEED THIS KIND OF SCARE. I HEAR AN ECHO IN MY RIGHT EAR NOW FROM THE LOUD EXPLOSION FROM THE AIRBAGS. I AM AFRAID TO RIDE IN ANY VEHICLE WITH FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAGS. I CALLED 9-1-1 TO FIND OUT IF AN OFFICER NEEDED TO COME AND INVESTIGATE AND TROOPER WILLIAMS TOLD ME THAT SINCE THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT THAT HE COULD NOT DO ANY TYPE OF REPORT. WE HAVE MANY WITNESSES THAT SAW OUR VAN AND THE EXTREME DAMAGE THAT IT DID TO THE HOOD RESULTING IN THE SIGNAL LIGHT FLYING OFF THE VAN WHICH WE STILL HAVE NOT FOUND AND THE HEADLIGHTS BARELY HANGING ON. THE HOOD IS BOWED UP FROM THE UNDER SIDE. WE HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND ALSO TOOK THE VAN TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND HAD IT INSPECTED TO FIND OUT WHY THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHEN NO ACCIDENT HAPPENED. THEY ARE JUST AS PUZZLED. I NEED AN ANSWER AS TO WHY THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED LIKE THEY DID WHILE WE WERE DEPLOYING OUT OF THE BLUE. THE WINDSTAR IS OUR ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION AND I FEEL LIKE FORD NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT AND FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED. IF MY HUSBAND WOULD HAVE TAKEN HIS HANDS OF THE STEERING WHEEL, WE WOULD PROBABLY BE DEAD NOW. *JB

WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION THE PASSENGER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY FOLLOWED BY THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG. *BF ONE OCCUPANT SUSTAINED CUTS AND BRUISES ON HIS ARMS, THE OTHER OCCUPANT EXPERIENCED HEARING LOSS AND AN INNER EAR CONCUSSION. *NM

CAR ENGINE WAS SKIPPING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT MID SPEEDS, AUTO SHOP SAID IT WAS EITHER THE TORQUE CONVERTER STARTING TO GO BAD OR THE TRANSMISSION HAD A SHORT IN THE OVERDRIVE SWITCH. NEXT NIGHT AFTER DRIVING APPROX 30 MILES, PARKED CAR IN DRIVEWAY, 20 MINUTES LATER, WHOLE FRONT END OF CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. CAR WAS TOTALED BY INSURANCE COMPANY. *JB

GASOLINE WAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK WHILE REFILLING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. MECHANIC DETERMINED THERE WERE TWO CRACKS ON THE TANK, ONE ON TOP, AND ANOTHER IN FRONT OF THE TANK. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. *AK

1995 WINDSTAR WITH 3.8V6. HEAD GASKET LEAK. HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE AND CAME ACROSS SCORES OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE SEEN THAT MANY OF THESE ISSUE WERE REOLVED AT NO CHARGE BECAUSE IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I AM WONDERING IF THIS IS SO AND HOW DO I PRESENT THIS TO THE FORD REPAIR PEOPLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION SINCERELY, JAMES HAUGH. *AK

WHILE PARKED FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE. AS A RESULT, THE TIRE EXPLODED. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL FOR FRONT BRAKE FLUID LINE DUE TO CONTACT WITH HEAT REMOVING PROTECTION. THIS COULD CAUSE THE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK. THE PROBLEM SURFACED ON THE REAR BRAKE LINES, SHOWING SIGNS OF CORROSION. DEALERSHIP DID NOT CLAIM RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REAR LINES LEAKING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKES FAILED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH FRONT BRAKES WERE LEAKING FLUID. *AK

WHILE BRAKING VEHICLE PULSATED AND THERE WOULD BE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WE WERE DRIVING OUR 1995 FORD WINDSTAR WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND SLASHED THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE WHICH CAUSED IT TO DEFLATE IMMEDIATELY TO THE RIM. WE WERE LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO STOP AND AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND NO ONE WAS HURT. WE PULLED THE TIRE OFF AND PUT ON THE "DONUT". THE COIL SPRING WAS BROKE AND JUTTING OUT LIKE A KNIFE. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO OUR AUTO MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE BROKEN COIL SPRING AS WELL AS THE OTHER ONE (SINCE IT WAS RUSTED AND COMPRESSED). HE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE STRUTS AND BEARINGS SINCE WHEN THE COIL SPRING BROKE SOMETHING FLEW UP AND HIT THE BOOT WHERE THE BEARINGS ARE LOCATED. THAT WAS ON 7/13. SOMEONE TOLD US TO LOOK ON THE INTERNET TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE BROKEN COIL SPRINGS. WE SAW THAT THERE IS A NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01I007000 REFERENCING COIL SPRINGS BREAKING AND TIRES DEFLATING ON 1995 FORD WINDSTARS. IT ALSO STATES THAT FORD IS EXTENDING THE WARRANTY FOR FRONT COIL SPRING REPLACEMENT TO A TOTAL OF 10 YEARS OF SERVICE FROM THE WARRANTY START DATE, WITH UNLIMITED MILEAGE. IT SAYS THAT THIS COVERAGE IS AUTOMATICALLY TRANSFERRED TO SUBSEQUENT OWNERS AT NO CHARGE AND IF EITHER FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURES DURING THE COVERAGE PERIOD NOTED, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE BOTH SPRINGS AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER. I CALLED THE PHONE NUMBER LISTED FOR FORD...866-436-7332...AND THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T HAVE A RECALL. I'M WONDERING IF MY PARTICULAR 1995 FORD WINDSTAR WAS MADE AT A DIFFERENT MANUFACTURING FACILITY AND THAT IS WHY THEY DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING COVERING THE VEHICLE. EITHER WAY...THE SAME TYPE OF FAILURE AND DAMAGE HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE AND I AM A VERY CAREFUL DRIVER...I BABY MY VEHICLES. THIS FAILURE AND DAMAGE IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO ME AND FORD SHOULD COVER MY VEHICLE. WE WENT TO OUR AUTO MECHANIC, NOT A FORD DEALERSHIP SINCE WE ARE SECOND OWNERS, WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT FORD DEALERSHIP TO GO TO. THANK YOU.

MY DAUGHTER, WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY S.W. LOOP 410 AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 60 MILES PER HOUR, HEARD A LOUD THUMPING NOISE FROM THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE. SHE STOPPED THE VEHICLE (1995 FORD WINDSTAR) TO INVESTIGATE. SHE OBSERVED THAT THE TREAD HAD PARTIALLY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE CARCASS AND THE TIRES SEPARATED STEEL BELT WAS FLAPPING AGAINST THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL-WELL CAUSING CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE. I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL REPUTABLE REPAIR SHOP FOR AN ESTIMATE. THEY SAID THE REPAIR COST WOULD BE FROM $1,000 TO $3,000. *LA

PROBLEMS WITH HEAD GASKETS, TRANSMISSION, AND FAULTY BRAKES ON 1995 FORD WINDSTAR.*MR *JB

ENGINE OVERHEATED ONCE. MECHANIC SAID COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM TIMING CHAIN COVER. WHILE SAVING FOR REPAIR, HAVE KEPT COOLANT ADDED AND ENGINE HAS NOT OVERHEATED AGAIN, BUT NOW ENGINE SURGES WHILE IDLING, MISSES SOMETIMES, AND HAS LOW COMPRESSION IN THREE CYLINDERS. MECHANIC SAID ALL DUE TO COOLANT LEAK, AND ENGINE UNSAFE, MAY BLOW AT ANY TIME. DEALER SAID THERE WAS A FORD INFORMATION CAMPAIGN ON PROBLEM. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED. ONLY HAVE 69000 MILES ON VEHICLE, BUT FORD TOLD DEALER THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST IN REPAIR. PLEASE GIVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT PROBLEM TO HELP ME WHEN I CALL FORD MYSELF. THANK YOU!*AK

MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR STARTED CUTTING OFF ON ME WHEN I WAS DRIVING IT. I USUALLY AM TRANSPORTING MY CHILDREN AND THEIR FRIENDS AROUND AND IT IS DANGEROUS WHEN IN TRAFFIC THE VAN JUST SHUTS OFF. IT STARTS RIGHT BACK UP, BUT I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING IT ANYMORE. AFTER SEVERAL VISITS TO THE DEALER AND OTHER CAR REPAIR PLACES, THE DEALER SENT US HOME WITHOUT FIXING THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE REPLACED THE IAC VALVE, FUEL FILTER, AIR FILTER, MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, AND THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. ONE PLACE WE TOOK IT CHECKED FOR VACUUM LEAKS AND CHECKED THE FUEL FLOW, WHICH ACCORDING TO THEM WAS ALL FINE. WE DID NOT KEEP ANY OF THE OLD PARTS LISTED ABOVE. THERE HAS GOT TO BE A REASON FOR A CAR TO JUST SHUT OFF, BUT EVERYONE SEEMS TO BE BAFFLED. EVENT LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE THE FIRST TIME: GOT IN THE VAN TO TAKE MY SON TO AN ORTHODONTIC APPOINTMENT. AND AS I PULLED INTO THE PARKING PLACE IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING IT JUST TURNED OFF. AFTER THE APPOINTMENT. DRIVING HOME, IT CUT OFF ON ME 3 MORE TIMES. I WAS VERY SCARED SOMEONE WAS GOING TO HIT ME FROM BEHIND OR AS I MADE A TURN IT CUT OFF AND A CAR JUST MISSED MY FRONT END. ANOTHER THING THAT IS SCARY IS WHEN THE ENGINE CUTS OFF, THE STEERING LOCKS UP AND I CAN BARELY GET IT PULLED OVER TO PUT IT IN PARK TO START IT AGAIN. IF YOU CAN HELP I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT. *AK

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN FRONT OF THE CONSUMER'S HOME. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. FIRE INSPECTOR INDICATED THAT THE FIRE WAS AN ELECTRICAL WIRING FAILURE. *AK

VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR FRONT BRAKE LINE CORROSION. VEHICLE WAS SENT TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS, AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LINE WAS CORRODED. CURRENTLY, BRAKES WERE AFFECTED BY THE DEFECT. *AK

ON FEBRUARY 2001 DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET. TWO YEARS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM RECURRED, ENGINE OVERHEATED. MECHANIC REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE OF $2500. *AK

I PURCHASED A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR FROM A PRIVATE OWNER WHO REPORTED NO PROBLEMS WITH IT. AFTER OWNING IT FOR ABOUT 1 YEAR, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGHLY. SHORTLY AFTER, IT WOULD STALL OUT IF IDLING AND I NOTICED THE SMELL OF GASOLINE. I TOOK IT TO A REPAIR AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS SHOOTING RAW FUEL OUT OF THE EXHAUST. I REPLACE THE COMPUTER MODULE, TWO BLOWN OPEN FUEL INJECTORS, THE SPARK PLUGS AND THE WIRES. THEY SAID THAT SHOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM. TWO MONTHS LATER THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE BE REPLACED ALONG WITH A NEW COMPUTER MODULE. I DONATED THE VEHICLE TO A GROUP LISTING ALL THE ITEMS THAT WERE RECOMMENDED TO BE FIXED. WE DO NOT MISS OUR "BLOW UP MOBILE". *TR

WHILE DRIVING A LOUD BANGING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT. VEHICLE SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT HOME. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT TOWED IN FOR REPAIRS. *AK

1995 FORD WINDSTAR - SLIDING DOOR TOP FORWARD BRACKET ATTACH POINT. 1) THE METAL AROUND THE ATTACH POINT ON THE DOOR SHOWS STRESS CRACKS ON ALL FOUR SIDES AND THE METAL UNDER THE PAINT IS BUCKLING. THE LOCATION OF THE BRACKET BELOW THE DOOR SEAL MAY ALLOW RAIN TO POOL UP ON THE BRACKET SUPPORT AND CAUSE THE SUPPORTING METAL TO RUST AND SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. 2) DOOR IS RATTLING AND IS IN DANGER OF FALLING OFF. VEHICLE. 3) I AM CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING THE AVAILABILITY OF A NEW DOOR OR WELDING A SUPPORT PLATE ON THE EXISTING DOOR. *AK

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 02S36 CONCERNING BRAKE LINE CORROSION. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED UNDER THE RECALL SIX MONTHS EARLIER, AND THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN GOOD SHAPE. *AK THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH COMPLETELY ABOVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *SC *JB

THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET CRACKED AND THE ANTI-FREEZE WENT INTO THE MOTOR AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING ON MOTHER'S DAY. PREVIOUSLY, THE VEHICLE HAD NO POWER AND ANTI-FREEZE WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE EXHAUST. THE CONSUMER COULD NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE SO HE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT HE HAD A CRACKED ENGINE HEAD AND IT WOULD COST THE CONSUMER APPROXIMATELY $2000.00 BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE PROBLEM. *AK *SC *JB

WATER IN OIL DUE TO BLOWN HEAD GASKET. ON A 1995 FORD WINSTAR.*AK

SPEEDOMETER INOPERABLE ABOVE 45 MPH (BOUNCES AND GRINDING NOISES); OUTER DOOR LOCKS INOPERABLE (EXCEPT DRIVERS DOOR), KEY ONLY OPENS DRIVERS DOOR; DOOR AJAR SENSOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON WHEN ALL DOORS ARE CLOSED. *AK

1995 FORD WINDSTAR OVERHEATING - BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *AK

REAR STEEL BRAKE LINE RUPTURED IN VEHICLE DURING NORMAL USE. (NOT AS A RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT.) THE BREAK OF THIS LINE RESULTED IN A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND ADVERSELY AFFECTED THE ABILITY OF THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE VEHICLE IS THE PRIMARY VEHICLE FOR MY WIFE AND CHILDREN. VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. ANOTHER BRAKE LINE WAS COVERED IN AN EARLIER RECALL IN MAY 2003. UPON INVESTIGATION THIS MORNING, I WAS TOLD THERE ARE NO OUTSTANDING RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE.*AK

I WANT TO COMPLAINT ON THE FORD WINDSTAR HEADGASKET/ENGINE. 4 TIME REPAIR NOW AGAIN NEED REPAIR AND FORD IS REFUSING TO FIX IT UNLESS I PAY 4100.00 *LA

GOODYEAR 215-70-R15 ALLEGRA TIRES PURCHASED AT SAMS CLUB PURCHASED APPX 2 YRS AGO. APPX. 14 MONTHS AGO AND THEN LAST WEEK HAD 2 TIRES REPLACED DUE TO BELT SEPERATIONS. MECHANIC AT SAMS INDICATED THAT THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF TIRE IS IN HIS SHOP FREQUENTLY DUE TO BELT FAILURES. I HAVE REPLACED 4 TIRES ALREADY AND THERE IS ONLY 20,000 MILES ON THE SET. I AM CONCERNED DUE TO THE FREQUENCY WITH JUST MYSELF AND THE INDICATED VOLUME OF THE PROBLEM INDICATED BY THE SAMS CLUB MECHANIC. THE BELT SEPERATION DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BUT DID LEAD TO CONTROL DIFFICULTY DUE TO EXTREME VIBRATION AS ALL FAILURES OCCURED ON THE FRONT. THESE TIRES WERE ROUTINELY ROTATED AND BALANCED, KEPT AT 35 P.S.I. AND WERE NOT SEVERLY USED OR ABUSED. THE VEHICLE THEY WERE ON IS A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR LX.*AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED. THE CONSUMER STATED RECALL REPAIRS ON THE HEAD GASKET WERE DONE; HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED.*AK

I ASKED THE SELLER AT FORD TO COMPLETELY SERVICE THE VAN BEFORE I WOULD BUY IT. HE SAID HIS MECHANIC WOULD. I CHECKED THE VAN OUT TWO WEEKS LATER, LOW ON OIL, NO BRAKE FLUID, TRANS FLUID VERY LOW, NO WATER HARDLY AT ALL IN RECEIVER, THEN THE STARTER WENT OUT, REPLACED IT NO GOOD, REPLACED SWITCH, NO GOOD, BRAKES GONE OUT, CAN'T KEEP FLUID IN SYSTEMS, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, EMISSION PROBLEMS, MECHANIC STALLS FOR THE HOUR AMOUNT, AND STILL CAN'T FIX/TEST II CODE. INSIDE LIGHTS DIM WHEN EXTRA. LIGHTS COME ON. IT'S A [XXX] PIECE OF JUNK AND THEY SOLD US A LEMON. I PAID OVER $4,000.00 CASH FOR IT, AND ALL THEY WANTED TO SO WAS SELL IT FOR MONEY. WHAT CAN I DO? IT HAS 72,000 ETC MILE AND NOW HAS 82,000. WE ARE BOTH DISABLED WITH TWO KIDS. WE HAVE BEEN SCREWED. I CAN GET THE FORD INFO ON THE FORD WINDSTAR 95 3.8 IT RATTLES, WATER RUNS OUT OF THE EXHAUST PIPE AND THE CONVERTER. I WANT TO SUE THEM, I CALLED THEM AND THEY SAID THE HELL WITH YOU, YOU BOUGHT IT AS IT WAS. FORD PRODUCTS ARE THE WORST AUTO'S ON THE MARKET. WE WANT REVENGE AND ALL OUR MONEY BACK NOW. [XXX]. WHAT IS NEXT A HEAD GASKET? I HEARD THAT COST OVER $1,600.00 TO FIX. AND THERE ARE ALOT OF THEM GOING OUT. FORD NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND IT'S PRODUCTS OR GET OUT OF THE BUSINESS. I HAVE HAD MY KIDS TOSSED TO THE DASH WHEN I STEP ON THE BRAKES BEFORE WE EVEN GET OUT OF OUR DRIVE WAY. WE WEAR SEATBELTS, I WOULDN'T DARE RIDE IN IT. IT IS A DEATH TRAP TO ME.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

CONSUMER STATED THAT BRAKES WERE DEFECTIVE. A COUPLE OF TIMES, ALMOST DID NOT STOP AT A STOP SIGN, VEHICLE KEPT GOING EVEN WHEN HE KEPT PUMPING THE BRAKES. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT A CYLINDER WAS MISSING IN THE MOTOR. ALSO, MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT CALIPERS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER INSISTED THAT BRAKES/CALIPERS, AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED, BUT BRAKES STILL DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. THEN, CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER,AND LEFT VEHICLE AT DEALERS. 20 MINUTES LATER, MECHANIC CALLED CONSUMER AND STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE. *AK *MR

MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR DIED OUT ONE DAY WHILE PARKING AT A STORE. IT STARTED UP AGAIN AND I IGNORED IT. A MONTH LATER IT MADE A STRANGE NOISE SO I HAD IT LOOKED AT. I WAS TOLD A PISTON WENT OUT IN MY ENGINE AND I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. I REPLACED IT AND NOW IT COSTANTLLY DIES OUT. I HAD REPLACED MANY PARTS SUCH AS THE IDLE AIR CONTROL MOTOR, IDLE SPEED CONTROL SENSOR,MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, AND NOW I AM IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE POWERTRAIN COMPUTER MODULE. *AK

1995 FORD WINDSTAR TRANSMISSION "LURCHES" INTO 1ST GEAR WHEN IN PARK. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!!. ALMOST RAN INTO SOMEONE IN A PARKING LOT, TRYING TO TURN INTO A SPACE AND IT LURCHED FORWARD MISSING THEM. SCARED TO DEATH. *AK I WENT DIRECTLY HOME AND WHILE AT A STOP SIGN IT LURCHED AGAIN, HOWEVER I WAS FAR ENOUGH AWAY NOT TO RUN INTO THE BACK END OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. GETTING THIS FIXED AT A FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG AND QOUTED ME A PRICE QUICKLY, AFTER SAYING THEY DO THESE ALL THE TIME..... MAYBE FORD SHOULD BE REPLACING THIS.....AND REIMBURSING US...... BEFORE SOMEONE DIES!!!

THE HEAD GASKET ON THE FORD WINDSTAR 1995 3.8 LITER ENGINE HAS A DESIGN FLAW AND IS LIKELY TO BLOW OUT. THIS LEADS TO ENGINE HEATING AND DAMAGE. THE REPAIR COSTS FOR CHANGING THE HEAD GASKET IS OVER $1000. ENGINE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT IS MUCH HIGHER. *LA

MY WINSTAR HAS 144,000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE JUST REPLACED THE HEAD GASKETS FOR THE FIFTH TIME. THEY BLOW EVERY 25,000 - 30,000. THIS LAST REPLACEMENT COST ME ALMOST 1,800 DOLLARS. FORD PUT A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE IN IT AFTER THE FOURTH TIME AND 25,000 MILES LATER THEY BLEW AGAIN. FORD SAYS THERE IS NOTHING THEY WILL DO. I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE 95 WINDSTARS. IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO. FIVE SETS OF HEAD GASKETS IS A BIT EXTREME. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG LIGHT FLICKERED ON, AND OFF. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS, AND MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING CAUSED THE PROBLEM.*AK

FORD KNEW WINDSTAR 1995 MODEL'S HAD HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS AND HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY TWICE, FROM 3 YEARS OR 36,000 MILES TO 5 YEARS OR 60,000 MILES AND FINALLY TO 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES. WHY STOP AT 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES FOR A KNOW DEFECT? HOW DID FORD DETERMINE THAT THEY WERE ONLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM UP TO 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES OF USE? FORD GIVES THE IMPRESSION THAT THEIR CUSTOMERS SHOULD NOT EXPECT THEIR VEHICLES TO LAST LONGER ALTHOUGH BLOWN HEAD GASKET IS A MAJOR DEFECT AND THEY HAVE ADMITTED THIS SINCE JUNE 1998 AND POSSIBLY KNEW EARLIER. *LA

WHILE DRIVING AT A NORMAL SPEED THE HEAD GASKET BLEW WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE ENGINE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *NLM

AFTER DRIVING SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES ON THE INTERSTATE, WE WAS DRIVING IN TOWN, MADE A STOP AT THE STORE, WHEN WE LEFT THE STORE WE STOPED AT THE END OF THE DRIVEWAY, WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING.*AK AFTER TALKING TO SEVERAL TRANSMISSION SHOPS, AND TAKING VEHICLE TO FORD SHOP WE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE WINDSTAR VAN. ( TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING ) HAD THIS HAVE HAPPEND ON THE INTERSTATE ITY COULD HAVE CAUSED A SEVERE ACCIDENT, OR EVEN A FATALITY...

THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO RESTART THE VEHICLE.*JB

THE PAINT IS BLISTERING OFF THE HATCH AND SIDES IN LARGE PATCHES. THE AIRBAG LIGHT BLINKS AND THE POWER WINDOW ON THE DRIVER SIDE FAILS TO CLOSE ALL THE WAY AND STRUGGLES TO OPEN. THE REAR VENT WINDOWS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO .

1995 FORD WINDSTAR. UPPER LAYER OF HOOD FLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING ON SOUTHERN STATE PARKWAY NEAR EXIT 13. CALLED FORD AND ALL THEY TOLD ME IS THAT MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I DON'T CARE ABOUT WARRANTY. I CARE ABOUT FEELING LUCKY I'M NOT DEAD OR KILL ANYONE DRIVING BEHIND ME. THIS MUST HAVE HAPPENED OR WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND SOMEONE WILL GET KILLED. ON SEPT. 11 2001 (STRANGELY ENOUGH) I LOST MY BRAKES ON THE SAME VEHICLE. I CALLED FORD AND THEY GAVE ME THE WARRANTY ROUTINE. SURE ENOUGH THEY RECALLED THE VEHICLE SOON AFTER FOR THE EXACT PROBLEM THAT I REPORTED. IN FACT THEY PAID TO FIX THE PROBLEM. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS BEFORE SOMEBODY IS DEAD DUE TO A FLYING HOOD. THANK YOU. *LA

I OWN A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR THE PAINT IS BLISTERING OFF IN HUGE PIECES. FORD SAYS IT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM , PAINT SHOULD NOT PEAL FROM A CAR LIKE THIS IT IS BLISTERING OFF IN SHEETS . I HAVE READ THAT FORD IS PAYING FOR PAINTING ONLY IF THE CUSTOMERS ARE REALLY LOUD ABOUT COMPLAINTS. I HAVE ALSO READ THAT MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN SENT HERE. THIS AUTOMOBILE HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE WITH DEFECTS AND RECALLS. ANYONE IN THE AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESS LAUGHS WHEN THEY HERE WHAT KIND OF CAR I OWN. 10 YEARS TO PAY IT OFF, 3 HEAD GASKETS LATER REBUILT TRANS ENGINE HEADS WARPED FROM FACTORY COILS SPRINGS BREAKING ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS , PAINT LIFTING OFF THE VERTICAL SIDES, BRAKE PROBLEMS....THE LIST GOES ON AND NOW FORD NO LONGER LISTS THE WINDSTAR ON THEIR SITE. THEY HAVE CHANGED THE NAME TO FREE STAR I WONDER WHY?

THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH WITH THE VEHICLE RUNNING. THE DEALERSHIP HAD BEEN NOTIFIED, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK THE BATTERY DIED AND WAS REPLACED. *SCC *JB

IN JUNE '99 TOOK VAN IN AS PER OWNER NOTIFICATION TO HAVE HEAD GASKET CHECKED. DEALERSHIP FOUND NOTHING. IN NOV '99 HEAD GASKET FAILED. FORD WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING. IN DEC '99 SENT LETTER TO TX STATE ATTY GENERAL CONSUMER DIVISION WITH LISTS OF COMPLAINTS FOUND ON THIS WEB SITE. IN FEB '00, FORD MOVED WARRANTY UP TO 100,000 MILES AND GOT REFUND. IN MAY '00 ENGINE FAILED. IN AUG '00 FORD REPLACED ENGINE WITH ANOTHER 3.8 L. IN SEPT '00 TRANSMISSION STARTED FAILING (BUT NOTICED PROBLEM SINCE DAY PURCHASED. DEALERSHIP STATES PROBLEM IN ALL WINDSTARS, TAURUSES, AND SABLES. IN FEB '03, REPLACED TRANSMISSION. IN NOV '03 HEAD GASKET FAILS AGAIN IN NEW MOTOR CLOSE TO 60,000 MILES ON THIS MOTOR. FORD WILL DO NOTHING. SEEK HELP THROUGH YOUR STATE ATTY GENERAL CONSUMERS AFFAIRS OFFICE, SEND COPY OF LETTER TO FORD, YOUR LOCAL BBB, DETROIT BBB, AND CONSUMER REPORTS. ALSO, MY ENGINE CUTS OFF WHEN TAKING OFF AFTER STOPPED WITH WHEELS TURNED SHARPLY LEFT OR RIGHT.

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH HEAD GASKET FAILED AT 65,000 MILES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE OVERHEATED. *AK THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE KEPT RISING. CONSUMER TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE RAISED AGAIN. THERE WAS A 7 YR. 70K MILE WARRANTY BUT FORD WOULD HONOR IT. CONSUMER FEELS FORD SHOULD COVER THE COST OF TESTS, AND REPAIRS. *PH

CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO FILL GAS TANK TO ITS CAPACITY. ONCE THE GAS TANK WAS FULL THERE WOULD BE FUEL LEAKS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC COULD NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. CAUSE OF FUEL LEAKAGE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK

ON 6/13/2003, AT 57049 MILES, OUR 1995 WINDSTAR OVERHEATED AND SEEMED TO BE LOSING COOLANT SO WE TOOK IT TO ZIMMERMAN FORD, ST. CHARLES, IL TO BE CHECKED OUT. THEY REPORTED NO PROBLEM FOUND AND WE PAID $66.79 FOR A COOLING SYSTEM SERVICE AND LUBE SERVICE. ON OCTOBER 4TH,2003, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON OUR WINDSTAR WENT ON. WE TOOK IT TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP TO BE CHECKED. THEY CHARGED $111 FOR SBDS TESTS AND TOLD US WE HAD HEAD GASKET FAILURE AND QUOTED $2100 TO REPAIR. WE CONTACTED FIVE OTHER DEALERSHIPS IN THE CHICAGO AREA WHO QUOTED BETWEEN $900 AND $1600 TO DO THE JOB. OUR VAN IS CURRENTLY WITH FAMILY FORD OF WEST CHICAGO BEING FIXED. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD TO EXPECT A BILL OF ABOUT $1300. MOVING FROM ZIMMERMAN TO FAMILY FORD WAS NOT JUST A COST DECISION. ZIMMERMAN REFUSED POINT PLANK TO HELP US GET HELP FROM FORD. FAMILY FORD HAVE AGREED TO KEEP THE FAULTY PARTS AND HELP US IN ANY WAY THEY CAN. WE HAVE CONTACTED FORD AT SEVERAL LEVELS TRYING TO PERSUADE THEM THAT THEIR 7 YEAR / 100,000 EXTENDED WARRANTY, PLUS THE 6 YEAR / 75,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WE PURCHASED BOTH IMPLY THAT THE HEAD GASKET SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED AT 60,000 MILES AS OURS DID. WE HAVE ALSO PUT FORTH THE ARGUMENT THAT THE ORIGINAL EXTENDED WARRANTY 5 YEAR OR 60,000 STATES OR NOT WHICHEVER COMES FIRST SO WE FEEL WE HAVE A CASE TO BE COVERED UNDER THE TERMS OF THIS WARRANTY, GIVEN THAT WE REPORTED A POSSIBLE PROBLEM AT 57049 MILES. FORD HAS SAID (SEVERAL TIMES BY PHONE AND E-MAIL)THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO HELP AS WE ARE OUTSIDE THE TERMS OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THEY ALSO SAY THAT THEY HAVE VERY FEW COMPLAINTS ON THIS VEHICLE ANY MORE SO THEY WILL NOT MAKE AN EXCEPTION FOR ME. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVE MADE NO EXCEPTIONS OUTSIDE THE 7 YEAR / 100,000 PARAMETERS. I FEEL THAT WE HAVE BEEN PENALIZED BY FORD BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOW MILEAGE ON OUR VEHICLE AND THE POOR ENGINE CONSTRUCTION ON THE 1995 WINDSTAR, IN OUR CASE, STILL FAILED PREMATURELY AT 60,000.