1995 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

11-20-98(BOISE) (98M01)(45,636MI.) HEAD GASKET INSPECTION-SENT HEADS TO BE SURFACED & CHECKED REINSTALLED WITH NEW BOLTS 6-28-99 (57,495MI.)ENGINE LOSES POWER, MAKES LOUD KNOCK NOISE, BLOWING SMOKE WHILE ON INTERSTATE 5 HOURS FROM HOME, DRIVE SLOWLY TO NEXT EXIT AND FIND FORD DEALER-DAVIS-TREMONTON UT FIND #1 CYLINDER ROD BEARING WORN OUT, NEEDS CRANK KIT, GASKETS, ETC.7-27-99 PICKED UP VEHICLE DROVE 20 MI. ON INTERSTATE -AGAIN ,ENGINE LOSES POWER HAS LOUD KNOCK AND QUITS 9-21-00 BROUGHT VAN IN(BOISE)(80,867MI.) FOR A HARD SHAKE AT 45-50 MPH ALONG WITH ABS LIGHTS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON HEAD GASKETS NEED TO BE REPLACED AND 1 HEAD CRACKED 12-28-01 ALEXANDRIA MN VAN QUITS WHENEVER SLOWS DOWN, HEAT WORKING SPORADICALLY MAKE AN APPT. FOR SERVICE AND THAT DAY ENGINE OVERHEATS GET IT IN AND HEAD GASKETS HAVE FAILED AGAIN @110,000. *AK

ENGINE RACED WHEN FIRST STARTED IN THE AM--DEALER SAID THAT HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN,THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR WINSTARS, THAT FORD HAD A HIDDEN WARRANTY IF CAR WAS LESS THAN 5 YR/60,000 MILES--VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX ($1300)--IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL? *AK

AFTER THE VEHICLE WARMED UP, FIRST GEAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE UNTIL ABOUT 2000 RPM, AT WHICH TIME, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLAM INTO FIRST GEAR. WE BROUGHT IT TO AN AAMCO TRANSMISSION CENTER. AAMCO DETERMINED THAT IT HAD TO BE REBUILT. SINCE THE VAN ONLY HAD 48,143 MILES, I CHECKED WITH OUR FORD DEALER TO SEE IF IT WAS COVERED OR IF FORD HAD ANY GENERIC TRANSMISSION QUALITY PROBLEMS WITH IT. THE SERVICEMAN TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED SINCE IT HAD MORE THAN 36,000 MILES AND FORD WAS NOT EXTENDING THE WARRANTY FOR ANY QUALITY PROBLEMS. AAMCO EXPLAINED THAT ONE PART, AN ALUMINUM RING OF ABOUT 5 INCHES IN DIAMETER, HAD CRACKS IN IT. DUE TO THESE CRACKS, THE PROPER TRANSMISSION FLUID PRESSURE COULD NOT BE ACHIEVED SO THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED. THE REPLACEMENT RING IS MADE OF STEEL!! AAMCO SAID THE CRACKED RING WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION.FORD HAS APPARENTLY DECIDED TO WALK AWAY FROM AN APPARENT GENERIC DEFECT THAT RESULTED FROM AN ERROR IN DESIGN. IF THIS IS NOT AN ERROR IN DESIGN, WHY IS THE REPLACEMENT PART MADE OF STEEL? IT CERTAINLY SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS IS ALSO A SAFETY PROBLEM IN THAT THE TRANS CAN FAIL AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON. DUE TO A BROKEN RELECTOR RING ON THE CV JOINT, SPEED SENSOR ACTIVATES WHEN IT SHOULD NOT. ALSO THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER MALFUNCTIONED, RESULTING IN NO BRAKING ABILITY. THIS MAY HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

REPAIR COST IS $2300 IF WAS TO WORK OVERTIME AND PICK SOME PART TIME WORK I COULD AFFORD TO REPAIR THE VAN IN ABOUT 3 TO 4 MONTHS. THIS VAN IS USED FOR DAYCARE AND AT THIS TIME WE DO NOT USE IT BECAUSE OF SAFETY REASONS BUT IS STILL USED FOR FAMILY. I FEEL THE DEALER KNEW OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE FORD WINDSTAR TRANSMISSIONS AND SOLD THE VEHICLE KNOW THAT IT WOULD BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN THE FUTURE. *AK

I HAVE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE INCIDENTS WITH MY WINDSTAR STALLING WHILE AT STOP SIGNS AND WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY OR HIGHWAY. THE CAR WOULD NOT START AT TIMES AND FINALLY THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START AT ALL. THE HEAD GASKET DEFECT DAMAGED MY ENGINE. I WAS FORCED TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKETS AND HAVE THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION REBUILT FOR A COST OF $5,000.00 APPROX. FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSED TO COVER THE COST OF THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY DEFECTS. I CONTINUE TO HAVE ENGINE FAILURE DRIVING AROUND TOWN AND ON THE FREEWAY. MY SAFETY AND THAT OF MY FAMILY IS A RISK EACH DAY THAT WE DRIVE IN THIS CAR. I HAVE ASKED FORD TO REFUND MY MONEY AND THEY REFUSE TO BACK THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. I CONTINUE TO TAKE MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. DURING THE LAST ATTEMPT, MY VAN WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP FROM 11/16/99 TO 01/25/00 AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I AM TRYING TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY TO PURSUE A LAWSUIT. I AM A SINGLE WORKING MOTHER AND CANNOT AFFORD TO PURCHASE ANOTHER CAR. I PURCHASED A WINDSTAR AND HAVE PAID $367.00 PER MONTH FOR 5 YEARS. I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO PAYING MY CAR OFF AND HAVING A DEPENDABLE CAR FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. MY CAR IS ALMOST PAID OFF BUT IT IS UNSAFE AND UNRELIABLE AND FORD REFUSES TO REIMBURSE ME. I AM AN EXTREMELY UNSATISFIED CUSTOMER AND WILL SEEK LEGAL ACTION. FORD MOTOR COMPANY DOES NOT BACK THEIR UNSAFE AND DEFECTIVE VEHICLES. APPARENTLY HUMAN LIFE IS MEANINGLESS TO THIS COMPANY OR THEY WOULD BE MORE RESPONSIVE TO MY PROBLEM.*AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE RECALL COMPONENT PRIOR TO NOTIFICATION WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ENTIRE ENGINE, PREMATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. YH

TWO SETS OF HEAD GASKETS HAVE BLOWENOUT SINCE REPLACEMENT. ALSO, MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE ON NEW ENGINE.*AK THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AND MAY FAIL SOON. *YH

CONSUMER BACKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY, PUT VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND FRONT DROPPED, DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING HAD BROKEN. *AK

PROBLEM OCCURS ON TARUS AND MUSTANGS WITH SIMULUAR ENGINES. *AK

FORD ISSUED SOME SORT OF SILENT RECALL THAT I NEVER RECEIVED. FORD HAD NO EXPLANATION FOR THIS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH 1995 WINDSTARS.

WE WERE DRIVING IN W.VA. AND BEGAN TO NOTICE ENGINE RUNNING LOUD, TURNED OFF AIR CONDITIONING THEN NOTICED ENGINE TEMPERATURE WAS HOT. KEPT AIR OFF FOR AWHILE THEN TRIED IT AGAIN ONLY TO NOTICE CONTINUED HOT TEMPERATURE. PULLED OVER AS SOON AS SAW A REPAIR SHOP, CLOSED DUE TO HOLIDAY. ENGINE STARTED BLOWING WHITE SMOKE OUT OF TAILPIPE, VERY SCARY FOR US AND OUR YOUNG CHILDREN. THE VAN WAS TOWED TO A SMALL REPAIR SHOP IN THE AREA AND ENGINE WAS REPLACED. FORD WILL NOT HELP US WITH REPAIR, ALTHOUGH THEY DID NOTIFY OF POSSIBLE PREMATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. *AK

THE HEAD GASKET ON MY WINDSTAR IS DEFECTIVE. I CALLED FORD TO FIND OUT IF A RECALL WAS ISSUED. I WAS TOLD THAT A LETTER WAS SENT OUT TO DEALERS AND OWNERS FOR THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE MY CAR'S MILEAGE WAS OVER 65000 AND THAT THE RECALL ENDED IN DECEMBER OF 1998, THAT THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE HEAD GASKET. I THINK FORD SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT WHEN THEY KNEW THAT THEY HAD USED FAULTY MATERIAL. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT FORD HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE '95 WINDSTARS. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THIS I WAS TOLD THAT NO PROBLEM EXISTS AND NO RECALL WAS IN PLACE FOR THE TRANSMISSION. FORD SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR USING FAULTY EQUIPMENT. THE BAD PART IS THAT THE WINDSTAR HAS A 5 STAR RATING FOR SAFETY AND YET FORD USES FAULTY MATERIALS FOR ITS PRODUCTION AND DOES NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS PRODUCT. *AK

TRANSMISSION: THE ALUMINUM PISTON WAS INSTALLED INSTEAD OF THE STEEL ONES. THIS CAUSED THE PISTON TO CRACK. THE GEARS WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE THEM CHECKED OR CHANGED.

BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING BRAKE PEDAL TO GO TO THE FLOOR , RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH KEY REMOVED. A 3 YRS OLD CHILD WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE GEAR FROM PARK, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL INTO GARAGE DOOR. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE PARKED VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE DASHBOARD. *AK

ABOUT $1300 TO REBUILD TRANSMISSION. *AK

DELAYED ACCELERATION AND JOLT WHEN COMING TO A STOP. CONSUMER FEARS TRANMISSION MAY FAIL WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY WITH FAMILY. *AK

TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED TWICE. IN THE FIRST INCIDENT AN ACCIDENT WAS NARROWLY AVOIDED AS CAR LOST POWER. ENGINE FAILURE CAUSED VEHICLE TO STOP IN INTERSECTION WHERE NUMEROUS FATAL ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED. *AK

IN MARCH 1999 THE HEAD GASKET FAILED ON MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR.THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT 75000 MILES WHICH WAS BEYOND FORD'S EXTENDED WARRENTY FOR THIS DEFECT BY 15000 MILES AS WELL AS BEING BEYOND THE DEC.1998 CUTOFF DATE.WHEN WE CONTACTED FORD'S CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPARTMENT WE WERE TOLD THIS WAS "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR" SO WE HAD TO EAT THE $1000 REPAIR BILL.IN MAY 1999,ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK AFTER MIDNIGHT THE LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING INDICATOR CAME ON.THE UPSOT OF THIS WAS A COMPLETE ENGINE REBUILD AGAIN AT MY EXPENSE;$2800.00.LAST MONDAY,OCTOBER 4,1999 ON THE WAY BACK TO LOUISVILLE,KY.FROM WAYMART,PA. IN MARYLAND THE TRANSAXLE GAVE OUT 600 MILES FROM HOME.REPAIR BILL FOR THIS,$1800.00.THE SAFETY ISSUE IN ALL OF THIS?ANYTIME YOU ARE STRANDED ALONG THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE AWAY FROM HOME AFTER DARK YOUR SAFETY IS IN JEAPORDY.

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED AT LESS THAN 62000 MILES OR 5 YEARS. FORD HAD SAID THEY WOULD PAY, BUT NOT PAST 5 YEARS OR 60000 MILES. THAT OFFER EXPIRED 12/31/98.*AK

ON MAY 19,1999 A FUEL ODOR WAS OBSERVED IN THE GARAGE WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. UPON INSPECTION, A PUDDLE OF GASOLINE WAS OBSERVED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND A STREAM OF GASOLINE FLOWING FROM AN AREA ON THE TOP SURFACE OF THE FUEL TANK WAS VISIBLE. THE RATE OF FLOW WAS HIGH, MAYBE 1 PINT/MINUTE, REPRESENTING A LARGE FIRE HAZARD. THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY DRIVEN TO THE DEALER NOTED ABOVE AND ADMITTED TO THE SERVICE DEPT. THE TIME WAS 5:39PM. WHILE THERE, ANOTHER CUSTOMER TOLD ME HE HAD JUST REPLACED A FUEL TANK ON THE SAME MODEL, SAME YEAR. SINCE A FAILURE OF THIS TYPE IN A RELATIVELY NEW VEHICLE THAT HAD NOT BEEN DAMAGED SEEMED UNUSUAL, I REQUESTED THAT THE OLD FUEL TANK BE RETURNED TO ME. WHEN I RETURNED TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE AFTER THE REPAIR HAD BEEN MADE, I WAS TOLD THAT THE FUEL TANK HAD BEEN 'RETURNED TO THE FACTORY FOR INVESTIGATION.' I HAVE HEARD NOTHING SINCE.

NO SUMMARY

FORD WILL NOT COVER REPAIR COSTS OF BOTH FAILED SYSTEMS. NO SAFETY DEFECTS MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK WHICH ALSO CAUSED ENGINE BEING TOO COLD OR TOO HOT. CONTACTED FORD, NO ASSISTANCE PROVIDED. *AK

IT SEEMS TO ME THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH THEY DID NOT ISSUE A RECALL. WHAT THEY DID WAS TO EXTEND WARRANTY COVERAGE THROUGH DECEMBER OF 1998. THOSE OF US LEFT WITH THE BLOWN HEAD GASKET PROBLEM ARE LEFT WITH HUGE REPAIR BILLS AND NO HELP FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD MY HUSBAND THAT AT LEAST 50% OF THE WINDSTARS HAD EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE 5 MONTHS TOO LATE FOR WARRANTY COVERAGE. *AK

FORD HAS A HISTORICAL PROBLEM WITH THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE 3.8L HEAD GASKETS. ALSO, IN 1994-95, ALUMUNUM FORWARD CLUTCH PISTONS WAS USED IN THE AXOD TRANS. WAS REPLACED WITH STEEL PER FORD. FORD MUST STEP UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY!

HEAD GASKETS BLEW WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED THE ENTIRE ENGINE TO SEIZE REQUIRING A NEW ENGINE REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF 3864.73. I WAS TOLD IF I HAD TRIED TO DRIVE THE CAR THE ENGINE COULD'VE STARTED ON FIRE. THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD AND FORD IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE 3.8 LITER ENGINES IN THE '95 WINDSTARS. IN ADDITIONAL TO THE SAFETY HAZARD OF THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM... THE CONDITION GOES UNDETECTED UNTIL THE HEAD GASKETS "BLOW" WITHOUT WARNING. I AM VERY UPSET WITH FORD'S RESPONSE TO THIS MATTER. I CALLED SEVERAL TIMES TO EXPRESS MY DEEP DISSATISFACTION WITH THEIR HANDLING OF THIS MATTER . I BELIEVE THE HEADGASKET PROBLEM SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL. IF IT HAD I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN LEFT WITH A NEARLY $4,000 REPAIR BILL FOR A RELATIVELY NEWER CAR. I BELIEVE THE POSSIBLE HARM TO MY FAMILY IS ALSO AN ISSUE. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP FROM THE NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

ON MAY 14, 1999 WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN MODERATE CITY TRAFFIC, MY 95 FORD WINDSTAR'S ENGINE STARTED TO SKIP AS IF A SPARK PLUG WAS NOT FIRING. I WAS ABOUT 2 MILES FROM HOME AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE SLOWLY WATCHING FOR FURTHER SIGNS OF TROUBLE. AT ABOUT 1/2 MILE TO 1 MILE LATER THE "CHECK ENGINE" CAME, ON AND I SLOWED MY SPEED TO ABOUT 20 WHEN I NOTICED THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE BEGAN TO RISE. I STARTED TO PULL OVER WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE RUNNING ( A WHITE VAPOR CLOUD WAS EMERGING FROM THE TAILPIPE) I COASTED TO A STOP. THE MECHANIC AT DAVE DINGER FORD AT BRAINTREE MA SAID THE HEAD GASKET(S) FAILED CAUSING DAMAGE TO OTHER ENGINE PARTS DUE TO THE ANTI-FREEZE MIXING WITH THE OIL, AND RECOMMENDED A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE AT A COST OF $ 4,200.00 . FORD HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERING THIS PART FOR UNLIMITED MILEAGE, BUT NOT LATER THAN 12-31-98. I HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER FORD AND THEY REFUSE TO PAY OR NEGOTIATE THE COST OF ENGINE REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS A KNOWN DEFECT FOR THEM IN THE 3.8 LITER V-6 ENGINE (TAURUS & SABLE 94-95) FOR SOME TIME PRIOR TO MY BUYING THE CAR USED IN 6/97. THE CAR WAS PREVIOUSLY REGISTERED AS A FORD CORPORATE VEHICLE IN MASSACHUSETTS SINCE NEW. I FEEL STRONGLY THAT THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR OF A LATENT DEFECT, KNOWN TO THEM, AT THE TIME OF SALE. *AK

THIS FORD VEHICLE HAS HAD AN EXTREME NUMBER OF FAILURES. STARTING WITH THE HEAD GASKET THAT THE DEALER WANTED US TO PAY FOR AFTER THEY MADE THE MISTAKE OF SAYING IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. AT A PREVIOUS REPAIR THE DEALER HAD REPLCED THE DASH BECAUSE OF THE SPEEDOMETER CABLE AND THE DEALER SERVICE PERSON HAD FORGOT TO ADD IN THE PREVIOUS MILEAGE. LATER FORD RECALLED THE HEAD GASKETS. THE TRANSMISSION HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED YET BUT CONTINUES TO SHIFT POORLY. I DO NOT WANT TO PUT ANY MORE MONEY INTO THIS VEHICLE. I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD HAVE SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE AMOUNTS SPENT ON POOR QUALITY PARTS SEPARATE THAN NORMAL MAINTENANCE. SO FAR ALL THAT FORD HAS OFFERED IS $1000.00 CASH. THIS IS NOT A RESPONSIBLE OFFER. WE HAVE SPENT ALMOST $8000.00. IT IS FORTUNATE NO ONE WAS HURT WHEN THESE PARTS FAILED. THESE SIX DEFECTS WERE NOT THE ONLY PROBLEMS BUT ARE PROBABLY THE MOST EXPENSIVE DEFECTS.

TRANSMISSION HAS TROUBLE GOING INTO GEAR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS HOT, AND WON'T GO INTO GEAR UNTIL IT HITS 2000 RPMS. CONTACTED DEALR, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

HEAD GASKET BLEW WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT RAPIDLY. *AK

TRANSMISSION SLIPS IN AND OUT OF 1ST AND 2ND GEAR, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO PICK UP SPEED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. UPON IMPACT OF REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE, AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG BROKE THE REARVIEW MIRROR AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. DASHBOARD, STEERING COLUMN, AND REAR WINDOW FUNCTIONS WERE DESTROYED. AIR BAGS WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO DEPLOY UNLESS IMPACT IS AT LEASE 28 MPH. THERE IS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION AT THIS TIME IE-98-081. *AK

CONSUMER COULD START VEHICLE IN THE MORNING. BUT WHEN STARTING TO RUN VEHICLE WON'T ACCELERATE MORE THAN 5 MPH FOR A FEW MINUTES. THEN AFTER THAT IT WILL WORK NORMAL AGAIN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR INDICATION TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, AND THE VEHICLE JERKED/ VIBRATED AND STALLED. ALSO WHEN CONSUMER DRIVES FORWARD VEHICLE STALLS. *AK

FORD HAD ACKNOWLEDGED A FAULTY HEAD GASKET PROBLEM WITH THE 95 WINDSTARS BY EXTENDING THEIR WARRANTY SERVICE TO COVER UP TO 60,000 MILES. THEY REFUSED TO COVER THE REPAIR COSTS FOR MY 95 WINDSTAR HEAD GASKET FAILURE CLAIMING I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AT 64000 MILES. I FEEL THAT THEY ACKNOWLEDGED A FAULTY PART BY EXTENDING THEIR WARRANTY AND SHOULD COVER ALL HEAD GASKET FAILURES ON THIS MODEL, NOT JUST TO 60,000 MILES. FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS ABSOLUTELY REFUSED TO MAKE GOOD ON THIS CLAIM IN ANY WAY. THEY SIMPLY STATE THAT IT IS NOT A COVERED WARRANTY ITEM AND THEREFORE I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EXPENSE. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, VEHICLE CUTS OFF WITHOUT ANY KIND OF WARNING. DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. ENGINE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE BECAUSE OF BLOWN HEAD GASKETS. *AK *ML

OUR 1995 FORD WINDSTAR BLEW A HEADGASKET ON 05/04/99 WITH ONLY 53,000 MILES. APPARENTLY THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THESE VEHCILES CONCERNING HEADGASKETS BUT FORD HAS NOT NOTIFIED ANY OF US WITH RECALLS. I'M CURRENTLY CONTACTING FORD AND MY DEALER TO SEE IF THERE IS A REMEDY TO THE PROBLEMS OR IF THEY'LL PAY TO HAVE THIS FIXED. I DON'T APPRECIATE NOT BEING NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. MY NEW BABY BOY WAS IN THE VEHCILE WITH MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER. THEY COULDV'E BEEN OUT OF TOWN AND NO ONE TO CALL BUT FORTUNATELY IT HAPPENED IN TOWN. PLEASE REQUEST THAT FORD MAKE A RECALL ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF EXAMPLES OF THIS PROBLEM ON THE WEB. JUST CHECK IT OUT. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP AND CONSIDERATION.

I RECEIVED A SERVICE BULLETIN FROM FORD IN 1998 WHICH STATED THAT: IF THERE WERE PROBLEMS WHERE THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BEFORE 60,000 MILES, THAT FORD WOULD COVER THE COST OF THIS REPAIR. THEY HAVE DECLINED TO DO SO BECAUSE THE SERVICE BULLETIN "EXPIRED" ON 12/31/1998. MY POINT: I AM STILL UNDER THE MILEAGE LIMIT AND THE REPAIR COST SHOULD BE REIMBURSED. THE ENGINE DESIGN IS FAULTY, DOES THE PROBLEM JUST DISAPPEAR BECAUSE IT OCCURED AFTER 1998? THE TIME LIMIT ON THIS SERVICE BULLETIN IS A BOGUS COP-OUT. *AK

SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF ACTIVITY WITH BLOWN HEAD GASKETS ON THE 1995 FORD WINDSTAR WITH A 3.8L V-6. CERTAINLY THERE MUST BE SOME RECOURSE WITH FORD IN HAVING THIS REPAIRED. WOULD LIKE TO FILE COMPLAINT AGAINST FORD CONCERNING SAME. *AK

THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD TWO MAJOR COMPONENT FAILURES (ENGINE TIMING GASKET AND TRANSMISSION) WITH LESS THAN 35000 MILES. ADDITIONALLY IT HAS ALSO HAD ONE MAJOR RECALL TO REPLACE HEAD GASKET. ALL OF THREE OF THESE PROBLEMS REQUIRED EXTENSIVE WORK TO REPAIR. THE TRANSIMISSION PROBLEM WAS THE MOST SERIOUS FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT, BECAUSE ITS FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BECAUSE IT INTERMITENTLY PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING, UNTIL IT FINALLY FAILED COMPLETELY AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT SHIFT AT ALL. *AK

HEAD GASKET OVERHEATED, CAUSING ENGINE TO BLOW. *YC

FOR THE PAST YEAR HAVE HAD DOOR AJAR LIGHT GO ON, TRIED CLOSING ALL DOORS TILL IT SHUTS OFF. NOW THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF AT ALL, SO THE INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON--EVEN AFTER VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF WITH NO KEYS IN THE IGNITION. I LOCK UP VEHICLE FOR THE NIGHT AND INTERIOR LIGHTS WONT TURN OFF. I NOW HAD TO REMOVE SOME OF THE LIGHT BULBS HOPING THAT THE BATTERY IS NOT BEING DRAINED. WOULD LIKE SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM.*AK

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT WE HAVE HAD TO BRING OUR WINDSTAR IN FOR HEAD GASKET FAILURE. FORD IS AWARE OF THE CHRONIC MECHANICAL FAILURES OF THEIR WINDSTARS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL PROBABLY BE THE NEXT THING TO GO. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT MAKING FORD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR FAILURES AND NOT MAKING THE PUBLIC PICK UP THE TAB AS USUAL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.*AK

I PURCHASED A 95 FORD WINDSTAR, IN MAY OF L998 WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. AFTER 90,000 I BEGAN NOTCIING LEAKAGE FROM THE HEAD GASKET. WARRANTY HAD ENDED I SOUGHT AN INDEPENDENT DEALER FOR SERVICE. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED BY FORD OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ISSUED ON THE GASKETS FOR 95 WINDSTARS. AS A CONSUMER I FEEL THAT FORD VOILATED MLY LRIGHTS AS A CUSTMOER FOR NOT NOTIFYING ME OF THE RECALL. *AK

VEHICLE WOULD OVERHEAT, AND USING FLUIDS FREQUENTLY. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED HEAD GASKET, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

SINCE MILEAGE DID NOT FIT WITHIN RECALL NOTICE, NO ASSISTANCE GIVEN ON ENGINE FAILURE, AND NO INFORMATION ABOUT RECALL MENTIONED; ENDED UP HAVING ENGINE REMANUFACTURED AT LOCAL MACHINE SHOP FOR LESS COST AND WITH BETTER WARRANTY