1995 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

I CONTACTED FORD CUST. SERVICE AND THEY WERE AWARE OF THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE IN THE 95 WINDSTAR. THEY DID NOT ISSUE A RECALL, THIS PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE DESIGN CAME FROM THE FACTORY, AND WAS ORIGINAL TO MY CAR AS IT LEFT THE FACTORY FLOOR.ONLY CERTAIN VIN NUMBERS ARE AFFECTED BY THIS DEFECT, MY CAR IS ONE OF THEM.FORD ONLY ISSUED A NOTICE TO DEALER'S THAT IF A CUSTOMER CAME IN WITH THIS PROBLEM BETWEEN MAY AND DEC 98, THEN THE DEALER WAS TO FIX THE VAN FOR FREE. FORD DID NOT INFORM ME BY MAIL OR OTHERWISE THAT MY CAR COULD FAIL TO OPERATE AFTER ACCELERATION HAD TAKEN PLACE. IF MY DEALER KNEW OF THIS DEFECT, WHY WAS I NOT GIVEN THE INFORMATION.THIS REPAIR COST APPROXIMATELY $2,600.00. THIS REPAIR IS ONLY GUARANTEED FOR 12,000 MILES AND THEN BECAUSE OF THE ENGINE DESIGN, THE FAILURE COULD OCCUR AGAIN. I SPENT 27,000 DOLLARS ON THIS CAR AND NOW IT IS BROKE, FORD REFUSES TO PAY ANY MONEY TO REPAIR MY CAR BECAUSE IT BROKE AFTER THE DEC.98 CUT OFF. MY CAR WAS NOT BROKEN THEN SO THE CUTOFF DATE ONLY WORKS FOR THEM. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A FAILURE THAT FORD KNEW WOULD HAPPEN, REGARDLESS OF HOW WELL I DROVE MY CAR. THIS FAILURE OCCURED AS I WAS DRIVING MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN TO SCHOOL. I AM GLAD I GOT MY CAR OFF THE ROAD BEFORE AN ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURED. I CALLED FORD TODAY AND WAS BASICALLY TOLD, TOO BAD FOR YOU. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

APRIL 1999, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOB TOMES FORD IN MCKINNEY SINCE THE ENGINE WAS SMOKING. THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $1001. A LETTER FROM FORD INDICATING POSSIBLE FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKET HAD BEEN RECEIVED 1 YEAR EARLIER, BUT THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE GASKET DID NOT NEED REPLACED. WHEN IT DID FAIL, WE WERE PAST THE 60,000 MILES INDICATED BY FORD AS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. SINCE THERE WAS STILL SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, IT WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER (BOB TOMES). THEY INDICATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACED. SINCE THEY HAD INITIALLY SAID THAT THE SMOKING WAS DUE TO THE HEAD GASKET, WE SOUGHT A SECOND OPINION AT A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP (ECONOMY TRANSMISSIONS OF MCKINNEY). THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $1353 (05/07/99). APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MONTHS LATER, THE TORQUE CONVERTER IN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THEN APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH LATER, THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED AGAIN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. SINCE THEN, I'VE NOTICED THESE SAME TWO PROBLEMS LISTED ON SEVERAL WEB BULLETIN BOARDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE 1995 FORD WINDSTAR MINIVAN. IN FACT, 2 CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS ARE BEING PREPARED TO BRING AGAINST FORD AT THIS TIME. I WILL PROBABLY SUBMIT MY NAME TO THOSE LAWYERS. (SEE WWW.CARTRACKERS.COM/FORUMS UNDER LEMONS OR MINIVANS). OBVIOUSLY, THIS SITE HAS OVER 2,000 COMPLAINTS LISTED FOR THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. IN COMPARISON, MY 1992 TOYOTA CELICA HAS JUST OVER 50 COMPLAINTS LISTED. IT WOULD SEEM LIKE FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT THESE 2 PROBLEMS FOR A LONG TIME AND HAS CONTINUED TO IGNORE THE COMPLAINTS. MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE CONTACTED THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSONNEL HAVE BEEN VERY DISAPPOINTED AT THE LACK OF COOPERATION RECEIVED. I WILL REGISTER A COMPLAINT WITH THEM, ALTHOUGH I SINCERELY DOUBT THAT IT WILL BE OF MUCH VALUE. THIS IS A CASE WHERE OUR GOVERNMENT COULD BE OF EXTREME VALUE TO THE CONSUMER. PLEASE DO WHAT'S RIGHT AND NECESSARY. THANK-YOU.

AFTER RESEARCHING THE INTERNET, I LEARNED THAT MANY CUSTOMERS HAVE HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSIONS IN THE WINDSTAR BEFORE REACHING 50,000 MILES AND REPLACE HEAD GASKETS AROUND 70,000 MILES. THE COST OF BOTH REPAIRS IS EXPENSIVE AND FORD DOES NOT COVER THESE EXPENSES IF YOU DID NOT RESPOND TO A LETTER THEY SAY THEY SENT EVERYONE. I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD PAY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WHICH THEY KNOW EXISTS.

ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKS. REPAIRS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER EXPENSE. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK

HEAD GASKET SHOULDN'T FAIL ON A MINIVAN LESS THAN FOUR YEARS OLD WITH LESS THAN 40,000 MILES. HOPE NO OTHER FAILURES ARE IMMINENT. *AK

THE HEAD GASKET ON OUR 95 FORD WINDSTAR BLEW UP TODAY, AND WE HAVE FOUND MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS 95 FORD VAN'S HEAD GASKET ON THE INTERNET. WE ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED AND HOPE SOMETHING WILL BE DONE ABOUT IT. *AK

I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR LOOKING INTO ALL OF THE DEFECTS CONCERNING THE 95 WINDSTAR. FORD IS TAKING NO RESPONSIBILITY AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A HUGE PROBLEM CONSIDERING ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT I AM FINDING OUT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT INVOLVED, BREAKING DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, OR HAVING YOUR ENGINE DIE WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE! I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE ANY HELP THAT YOU COULD GIVE TO ME AND ALL FORD WINDSTAR OWNERS! THANK YOU!

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35MPH WHEN ENGINE TEMPERATURE LIGHT CAME ON. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND SMELLED ANTI-FREEZE. THEN CALLED TOW TRUCK, AFTER TOWING VEHICLE, GARAGE FOUND NOTHING. AGAIN, ON 22-APR-99, WHILE DRIVING AT 40MPH TEMPERATURE LIGHT CAME ON. DRIVER PULLED OVER. THEN HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. DEALER FOUND A LEAK IN ENGINE HEAD GASKET. DEALER REPLACED HEAD GASKET/OXYGEN SENSOR, AND CHECKED ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD. FOUND ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD TO BE OKAY. AN OPEN INVESTIGATION OF COOLANT LEAKAGE IN ENGINE HEAD GASKET IS PENDING, IE-98-080. *AK

NO SUMMARY INCLUDED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

THE HEAD GASKET(S) FAILED, CAUSING THE CAR TO OVERHEAT AND POSSIBLY SUSTAIN INTERNAL DAMAGE. MY WIFE WAS STRANDED IN TRAFFIC, POSING A DANGER TO HERSELF, OUR CHILDREN WHO WERE PASSENGERS, AND VEHICLES HAVING TO DRIVE AROUND HER. I'VE HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS FAILURE MAY BE EPIDEMIC AMONG 1995 WINDSTARS WITH 3.8L ENGINES. FORD TEMPORARILY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY IN RECOGNITION OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT TERMINATED IT AS OF 12/98. SINCE MY VEHICLE DID NOT SHOW ANY SYMPTOMS UNTIL THIS PAST WEEKEND, I DID NOT TAKE IT IN TO FORD FOR A REPAIR UNDER WARRRANTY. I BELIEVE THAT FORD SHOULD BE MADE TO REPAIR MY ENGINE AT THEIR COST, AS THE UNEXPECTED, SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKET DUE NOT TO WEAR AND TEAR, BUT TO A FLAW IN THE VEHICLES DESIGN, CAN CAUSE PASSENGERS TO BE PLACED IN CONDITIONS OF EXTREME DANGER. WEAR AND TEAR IS SOMETHING THAT A VEHICLE OWNER CAN ANTICIPATE; A BLOWN HEAD GASKET ON A VEHICLE OF THIS AGE AND MILEAGE IS NOT TO BE EXPECTED, AND THEREFORE CONSTITUTES A SAFETY DEFECT. *AK

AT 57,898 MILES (SEPT. '98), MY WINDSTAR STARTED ACTING FUNNY. I BROUGHT IT TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP , WHO SAID IT APPEARED TO BE A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM, AND TO BRING IT TO THE DEALER TO CHECK IT OUT. I BROUGHT IT IN, HAD IT CHECKED AND THEY SAID IT WAS FINE. ON 4/17/99, IT STARTED DRIVING VERY POORLY, AND ON 4/19 BROUGHT IT TO THE SAME LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO SAID AGAIN, IT WAS THIS TIME A BLOWN HEAD GASKET, AND TO CALL THE DEALER. THE DEALER SAID THERE HAD BE A RECALL THAT ENDED 1/99 (I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND NEVER REC'D ANY NOTICE), AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE EXPENSES MYSELF. THEY ALSO STATED THAT IT WAS AGIANST THE LAW FOR THEM TO COVER ANY EXPENSES, AFTER THE RECALL NOTICE EXPIRED. I HAVE NOW BEEN WAITING W/OUT MY CAR FOR A WEEK NOW, FOR THEM TO COMPLETE THE REPAIRS. I HAVE CALLED FORD DIRECTLY AND THEY SAY ESSENTIALLY, TOUGH LUCK.

IGNITION SWITCH CAN BE TURNED ON WITHOUT KEY. CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART. ALSO, THE VAN CAN BE POPPED OUT OF PARK WITHOUT A KEY IN THE IGNITION OR THE BRAKE BEING FULLY DEPRESSED. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED AND HAD NOTHING POSITIVE TO SAY. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK *ML

CAR WAS IDLING ROUGH, WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF REAR OF VEHICLE, TEMP GAUGE READING NORMAL, SMOKE GOT WORSE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, ENGINE DIED, ALL IN 3 BLOCK DISTANCE. GARAGE SAYS BLOWN HEAD GASKET, NEW ENGINE NEEDED, FORD WILL DO NOTHING.*AK

DEFECTIVE SPRING INSIDE THE SEATBELT MECHANISM BEHIND DRIVER SEAT WILL NOT TIGHTEN, AND RETRACT, CAUSING A LOSS OF PROTECTION. *AK

WHEN THE ENGINE SEIZED UP, I TOOK THE VAN TO PHIL LONG FORD. THEY PROCEEDED TO RUN THE DIAGNOSIS AND INFORMED ME THE VAN NEEDED A NEW ENGINE WHICH WOULD COST $3500.00. I DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY FOR THE ENGINE AND WAITED. IN MAY OF 2000 I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON THE HEAD GASKET. TOOK THE CAR TO PHIL LONG IN JULY. ACCORDING TO PHIL LONG, ALL THAT NEEDED REPLACED WAS THE HEAD GASKET. THEY REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET, SPARK SPLUG, CHANGED THE OIL (ANTIFREEZE HAD LEAKED INTO THE OIL), AND THE OIL FILTER. THIS WAS AT THEIR EXPENCE. ALL OF A SUDDEN, NO NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED. TWO MONTHS LATER, TO THE DAY, I LOST ALL THE GEARS EXCEPT LOW. I NEED TO KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION AND WHAT THE WARRANTY IS ON THE TRANSMISSION FOR A 1995 WINDSTAR. IT SEEMS UNLIKELY THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD GO ON SUCH A NEW MODEL.

NO SUMMARY

VEHICLE OVERHEATED WHILE DRIVING 65MPH AND WAS MAKING WEIRD NOISES. GAUGE INDICATED OVERHEATING. PULLED INTO GAS STATION. AFTER VEHICLE BEEN RESTARTED & DOWNSHIFTED, WHITE SMOKE APPEARED IN REAR. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER NEXT DAY *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO LEAKAGE WHICH CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK ONTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. *AK *YC

HEAD GASKETS BAD - THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WHICH FORD HAS ALREADY ADMITTED IS A DESIGN FLAW. THEY REPAIRED CARS WITH UNDER 60K MILES (WHICH OWNERS SELF-DIAGNOSED) FREE. THE PROBLEM IS THAT MOST OWNERS CAN'T TELL THEY HAVE THE PROBLEM UNTIL AFTER 60K MILES. THE SYMPTOMS ARE OFTEN SUBTLE, AND DON'T IMMEDIATELY POINT TO HEAD GASKETS AS THEIR CAUSE. FORD OBVIOUSLY SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THESE VEHICLES FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR AS NEEDED. INSTEAD THEY DECIDED TO ONLY DEAL WITH THE FEW OWNERS WHO MANAGED TO FIGURE OUT ON THEIR OWN THAT THE HEAD GASKETS WERE THE PROBLEM. MY CAR DIDN'T SHOW SYMPTOMS UNTIL IT HAD BEEN DRIVEN OVER AN HOUR (SOMETIMES SEVERAL) ON LONG TRIPS - AN INFREQUENT OCCURANCE. THEREFORE I COULDN'T HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE PROBLEM UNTIL I DROVE IT ON ENOUGH LONG TRIPS TO SEE THE SYMPTOMS. MAKE FORD PAY FOR THEIR MISTAKES!

THE VEHICLE HAD JUST RETURNED FROM FLORIDA TO MICHIGAN. DRIVING AROUND TOWN AFTERWARDS THE ENGINE HEAD BLEW AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE WAS REPORTED TO THE COST OF APPROXIMATELY $3600. ALSO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION ON OUR 1995 WINDSTAR VAN FAILED AFTER 78000 MILES, 3000 MILES AFTER OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD HAD EXPIRED. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN A LEMON FROM THE START. WE HAVE HAD THE HOOD BONDING PROBLEM FIXED UNDER THE RECALL ON THAT PROBLEM, HAD THE HEAD GASKETS REPLACED ON THE EXTENDED WARRANTY BEFORE THAT RECALL CAME OUT, REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP INSIDE THE GAS TANK AT MY OWN EXPENSE, AND NOW I AM PRESENTLY HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER WINDOWS, THE AIR BAG SYSTEM, AND THE POWER DOOR LOCKS. IF THIS IS READ BY ANYONE CONTEMPLATING A MINI-VAN PURCHASE, I WOULD THINK LONG AND HARD BEFORE BUYING A WINDSTAR. FROM THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ON THE INTERNET, I'D SAY THIS WASN'T JUST AN ISOLATED THING, BUT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO BY THE GOVERNMENT REGULATORY PEOPLE. NONE OF OUR FAILURES HAVE RESULTED IN ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES, BUT COULD HAVE EASILY DONE SO, HAD WE NOT LIVED IN A MORE RURAL AREA. I DEFINITELY WOULD NOT WANT TO HAVE ONE OF THESE VEHICLES IN A MORE HIGH-SPEED METROPOLITAN AREA. *AK

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED WHILE DRIVING TO THE AIRPORT. AVERAGE SPEED 35 MPH. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHILE TAKING OFF. FROM A STOP. *AK

FORD WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE TO 1/99.

FAULTY HEAD GASKET IS A KNOWN DEFECT, SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. *MJS

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN THE COIL SPRING POPPED OFF, CAUSING IT PUNCH LEFT FRONT TIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

WHEN I CALLED THE TRANSMISSION SHOP TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, HE TOLD ME WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MY FORD WINDSTAR BEFORE I HAD A CHANCE TO TELL HIM! HE SAID THAT HE HAD REBUILD SIGNIFICANTLY MORE WINDSTAR TRANSMISSIONS THAN ANY OTHER CAR. HE RECOMMENDED I CONTACT OUR LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP (MATTHEWS FORD - HEATH, OHIO) TO SEE ABOUT SOME TYPE OF REIMBURSEMENT. AFTER ALL, IN HIS OPINION, THIS WAS A DESIGN DEFICIENCY! MATTHEWS FORD REPRESENTATIVES WERE UNAWARE OF SIGNIFICANT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND REFUSED TO HEAR ANY MORE. NOW THAT FORD IS ADMITTING THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS DESIGN FLAW EARLY ON, I BELIEVE THAT I AM OWED REIMBUSEMENT FOR ALL REPAIRS, ESPECIALLY IN THE LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT THEY ARE ADMITTING DESIGN WAS BAD. *AK

HEADGASKETS ON THESE ENGINES ARE BOUND FOR FAILURE, FORD UPGRADED THE GASKETS BUT WILL NOT STAND COVER THE COSTS AFTER DEC. 1998. MOST PEOPLE LOOSE THIER ENGINES OR WARP THIER HEADS.

THIS TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED AT LESS THAN 60,000. WE HAVE DRIVEN THIS VAN VERY LITTLE AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. I AM NOT SURE THIS IS CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE BUT IT IS AN INJUSTICE. THE COMPANY KNOWS THE TRANSMISSION IS NO GOOD, BUT THEY CONTINUE TO MANUFACTURE THEM WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. THEY DON'T COVER THEM UNDER THE WARRANTY EITHER. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

THERE ARE EVIDENTLY SEVERE PROBLEMS WITH THE 1995 WINDSTAR HEAD GASKET AND TRANSMISSION. WHEN WILL THE GOVERNMENT RESPOND TO OUR COMPLAINTS AND FORCE FORD TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR MISTAKE? *AK

THE WINDSTAR IS VERY UNSAFE. THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED THREE TIMES, ALWAYS WHILE VEHICLE IS IN TRAFFIC, SOMETIMES AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE CAUSES SERIOUS OTHER ENGINE COMPNONETS TO FAIL, EVENTUALLY CAUSING COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE, WHICH CAN ALSO OCCUR SUDDENLY WHILE IN TRAFFIC.

FORD ACKNOWLEGES PROBLEM BUT CUTS OFF REPAIRS AT 60,000 MILES. *AK

THE ALUMINUM PISTON IN THE TRANSMISSION CRACKED RESULTING IN SPORADIC SHIFTING PROBLEMS. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT PRIOR TO COMMPLETE FAILURE OF THE PART.

WHILE DRIVING THE VAN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. VAN WAS SERVICED BY THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE LIGHT WENT OFF. ON SEPTEMBER 7TH, WHILE DRIVING THE VAN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING AND CAR ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. THE SYSTEM COULD NOT BE SHUT OFF EITHER BY USING THE BRAKE, OR OFF SWITCH. THE ONLY WAY TO TURN IT OFF IS TO BRAKE TO A STOP (AGAINST THE ENGINE) AND TURN OFF THE CAR. AFTER WAITING ABOUT 5 MINUTES THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL SHUT OFF. THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY. 70MPH HEARD NOISE, SLOWED DOWN TO 20MPH AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MAKE LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. DEALERSHIP TURNED ENGINE OFF AND VEHICLE NEVER STARTED AGAIN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH TRIED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE, BUT THE CONSUMER 'S VEHICLE WAS LOSING POWER AND STALLED.MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER VEHICLE HAD AN ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. *AK

HEAD GASKET BLOWN, POSSIBLE CRACKED BLOCK. FORD WON'T HELP PAY. *AK

BLOWN HEAD GASKET OCCURRED AT STOP SIGN, HUGE PLUME OF WHITE SMOKE. LUCKILY, THIS DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE FREEWAY AND CAUSED A CRASH/FATALITY. FORD KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKET PER THEIR SERVICE PROGRAM 99M01. PEOPLE CAN AND WILL GET HURT BY THE VEHICLES THAT WERE NOT REPAIRED BY THIS PROGRAM THAT EXPIRED 12/98. MY WIFE SAID THE PLUME OF SMOKE WAS HUGE, IT COULD BLOCK THE VIEW OF DRIVERS BEHIND A VEHICLE THAT HAS THIS PROBLEM ALONG WITH CAUSING THE SUDDEN STOPPAGE OF THE VEHICLE THAT HAS ITS ENGINE SEIZED UP AS A RESULT OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. PLEASE REFER TO THE WEB SITE OF HTTP://WWW.PRIMECUTSOFBLUEGRASS.COM/WINDSTAR2.HTM FOR A LIST OF OTHER VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM, AND BE SURE TO KNOW THAT THIS LIST WAS JUST STARTED THIS MONTH ON 3/13/99. 24 VEHICLES IN 17 DAYS, SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT. AND THIS IS JUST A LIST OF THE 95 WINDSTARS, THE FORD 'PROGRAM' COVERS 94 & 95 TAURUS AND SABLE OWNERS ALSO. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED AT 48K AND AGAIN AT 53K MILES. FORD'S EXTENDED WARRANTY 98M01 FOR THE GASKET ENDS AT 60K, BUT SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO COVER RECURRING FAILURES, AND SHOULD ENCOMPASS OTHER/LATER ENGINE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE GASKET FAILURE. *AK

FORD RECALLED THE HEAD GASKETS IN THE '95 WINDSTARS. THEY SENT THEIR LETTERS OUT, AND I TOOK MINE DOWN TO THE DEALER NEAR ME TO GET IT CHECKED OUT. THEY SAID THAT IT PASSED THE TEST. BUT THREE MONTHS AFTER THAT MY GASKET BLEW OUT WHILE I WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT. I CALLED THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER AND THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT HELP. HOW CAN I GET FORD TO PAY FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE PART THAT THEY RECALLED BECAUSE OF PREMATURE FAILURE? I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INFORMATION YOU COULD GIVE ME. SINCERELY, SERENA TERRY. *AK

IE98080; WHILE DRIVING ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED IN AN INTERSECTION WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. FORD DID AN OWNER'S NOTIFICATION FOR THE HEAD GASKETS, BUT IT WAS ON DECEMBER 31, 1998. AT THAT TIME OCCUPANT DID HAVE VEHICLE INSPECTED, BUT IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH HEAD GASKETS. BUT, IN MAR 99, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HEAD GASKET FAILURE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP TOLD ME OF THE HIDDEN WARRANTY THAT EXISTED ON THE HEAD GASKET OF THE 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. THEY ASKED FOR MY MILEAGE AND VIN NUMBER UP FRONT. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE VEHICLE WAS COVERED AND HAD ME TOW THE VEHICLE TO THEM. AFTER A WEEK THEY HAVE COME BACK AND LET ME KNOW THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE WHICH I GAVE TO THEM IN ADVANCE. IF KNOWN THIS IN ADVANCE I WOULD HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FIXED AT THE MECHANIC'S LOCATION THAT I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED FROM. MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN WITH ONE VEHICLE FOR ALMOST TWO WEEKS AND HAVE TWO CHILDREN THAT GO TO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS BECAUSE OF THEIR AGE. MY INVESTIGATIONS ON THIS PROBLEM HAS FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS MODEL. MOST FAILURES HAPPENING JUST OUT OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. FORD HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM BUT WOULD NOT CORRECT IT UNLESS THERE WAS DAMAGE OCCURRING. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A WAY TO KEEP THEIR COSTS DOWN FOR REPAIRING WHAT THEY KNEW AS A DEFECT. *AK

JUST ONE MORE OF THE MANY 3.8L 95 WINDSTAR HEAD GASKET FAILURES.

HEAD GASKET FAILED, CAUSING STARTER NOSE TO SHEAR OFF, AND COOLANT TO BE EJECTED ONTO EMISSION CONTROL COMPONENTS, INCLUDING CATALYTIC CONVERTER) AND OUT OF EXHAUST SYSTEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLS/ OVERHEATS, AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WILL GO UP TO HIGH. ALSO, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. CONSUMER JUST GOT THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE REPAIR SHOP, AND THE SAME PROBLEMS HAVE REOCCURRED. *AK

IE98080, DEFECTIVE ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKS COOLANT WHICH MAY CAUSE VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. KNOWN PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

SPEEDOMETER REPLACED AT MY COST OF ABOUT$400 FOR PART AND LABOR AT DEALER. AT THE SAME TIME WE REQUESTED THE TRANSMISSION BE CHECKED BECAUSE, AFTER BEING WARMED UP, AT STOPS THE VAN WOULD NOT GO WHEN GAS WAS APPLIED, THEN WOULD LURCH FORWARD AFTER A SECOND OR TWO. THE "TRANSMISSION GUY" WAS OUT, AND WE WERE TOLD THERE MIGHT BE AN INTERNAL TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. SOMEONE ADVISED US TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND FILTER, AS THIS CAN SOMETIMES DO THE TRICK IN WHAT APPEARS TO BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM, WE DID. THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE WHILE WE WAITED FOR THE DEALER'S TRANMISSION MAN TO RETURN. WE SOUGHT A PRIVATE TRANSMISSION REPAIRMAN. THIS VERY REPUTABLE REPAIR COMPANY TOLD US THERE WERE QUITE A FEW PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL VAN AND TRANSMISSIONS AND THAT IT WAS A CRACKED ALUMINIUM FRONT CLUTCH PISTON. WE WERE GIVEN A REPAIR ESTIMATE OF $1200 TO $1400. WE BEGAN INVESTIGATING AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET. WE RETURNED TO OUR DEALER, INFORMATION IN HAND. AT THIS TIME THE VAN IS AT THE DEALER, BEING REPAIRED BECAUSE FORD HAS AGREED TO PAY HALF THE COST OF PARTS AND LABOR TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION, AND WILL WARANTY THE REPAIR FOR 1 YEAR, 12000 MILES. I AM UNABLE TO SEND MY VIN BECAUSE THE VAN ISN'T HERE. *AK