1995 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

NO SUMMARY

ENGINE HEAD GASKET/RADIATOR REPLACED, DOMN LIGHTS WON'T SHUT OFF, WATER IN REAR TAIL LIGHT, HOOD WONT SHUT, AIRCONDITIONING SWITCH REPLACED, BRAKES MAKING NOISE AFTER BEING JUST REPLACED, DIDNT SOLVE PROBLEM,. SEAT BELT SEEMS LOOSE. *AK

TRANSMISSION NEEDED OVERHAUL. DEALER RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION PISTONS DUE TO A NEW MATERIAL BEING USED. *AK

DOORS WILL LOCK ON THEIR OWN, THIS COULD RESULT IN LOCKING MY 4 SMALL CHILDREN IN. *AK

HEAD GASKET IN ENGINE FAILED, CAUSING OVERHEATING OF ENGINE. *AK

HEAD GASKET IS DEFECTIVE ON 1000'S OF 3.8L ENGINES, SHOULD BE RECALLED

IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT THE ISSUE OF PAYMENT FOR THESE ITEMS CAN BE SETTLED IN A SMALL CLAIMS COURT? NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONE DIN SUMMARY. *AK

THESE ARE SEALED AND SAFETY COMPONETS THAT SHOULD HAVE A LONGER LIFE EXPECTANCY. SERVICE MANAGER SAID AIR BAGS ARE INOPERATIVE WHEN LIGHT IS ON.

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH CONSUMER NOTICE SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF VEHICLE DUE TO ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLOWING OUT. *AK

RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD DATED 6/98 ADMITTING A PROBLEM WITH HEAD GASKETS AND OFFERING TO REFUND REPAIR COST OR REPAIR FOR NO COST IF FAILURE OCCURRED PRIOR TO DEC. 1998 AND MILAGE WAS UNDER 60,000. THE HEAD GASKET FAILED IN MY WINDSTAR IN MARCH OF 1999 WITH 60666 MILES. I HAD THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED BUT FORD'S ACTIONS IN THIS MATTER SEEM HIGHLY QUESTIONABLE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A LIMITED RECALL WITHOUT CALLING IT A RECALL, FIXING ONLY THE MAJORITY OF THE FAILURES BUT NOT FIXING ALL. MY FAILURE HAPPEND TO OCCUR OUTSIDE OF THE PARAMETERS THAT WERE SET. PLEASE NOTE THAT I DEALT WITH EASTGATE FORD IN BEAVERCREEK ON THIS REPAIR AND COMPLAINT. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THE BRAKES WERE REPAIRED PRIOR TO US EVER TAKING POSSESION OF THE VEHICLE, 1 WEEK AFTER PURCHASE THE TRANSMISSIONS AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WERE UNDER REPAIR FOR 3 WKS, ELECTRIC SYS STILL DOES NOT FNCTION PROPERLY, A/C NEVER WORKED IN CAR, BROUGHT IN FOR REPAIR AND ENGINE IS DAMAGED DUE TO RECALL - WILL NOT BE FIXED FOR 5 TO 12 WEEKS. I WANT A COMPARABLE REPLACEMENT VEHICLE

TRANSMISSION CAN SHIFT INTO REVERSE, BUT WILL NOT BACK UP. THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS BLEW. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD GO ON/OFF ON THEIR OWN, DAY OR NIGHT. THE KEY SHIFT INTERLOCK WILL NOT RELEASE OUT OF PARK POSITION. THE FRONT DISC BRAKES HAD CRUMBLED INSIDE. HEARD GRINDING/RAMBLING NOISES WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. BEEN TO DEALER 3 DIFFERENT TIMES FOR BRAKES. *AK

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 72MPH WHEN THE MOTOR SUDDENLY, WITHOUT ANY WARNING STOPPED RUNNING. TRAFFIC HAD TO STEER AROUND ME TO AVOID A COLLISION, HAD IT TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP AND THEY SAID I LOST THE LOWER END OF THE MOTOR WILL NEED A NEW MOTOR TO REPLACE IT. THE HEATER STOPPED WORKING DUE TO A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET.

THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING TO SHIFT AND WOULD HESITATE. WE ALSO HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE. FEARING THAT THE TRANSMISSION'S HESITATION COULD CAUSE US TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT, WE TOOK THE WINDSTAR INTO THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THAT BOTH THE TRANSMISSION AND THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $4000 -$5000.

BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *YC

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKET AND ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM, RECALL COMPONENT HOWEVER OWNER DENIED RECALL REPAIR. (98M01) MJS

BLOWN HEAD GASKET,FORD ENGINE REPLACED, HEAD GASKET GOING .ELECTRIAL PROBLEMS SINCE I PURCHASED THE VAN.THOUSANDS OF MY MONEY SPENT FOR REPAIRS WITH PROBLEMS STILL OCCURRING.NO RELIEF FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY. YEARS OF AGGRAVIATION &OUT-PUT OF MONIES.REPAIRS, RENTAL CARS,ETC.*AK

AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN FEB 1999, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ONE WEEK AFTER PURCHASE ON THE HIGHWAY AT 51,500. NOW AT 76,000 WE ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE GEARS SLIPPING AND NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY AS WE DID WHEN IT FAILED THE FIRST TIME. *AK

VEHICLE SERVICED AT COWLES FORD IN WOODBRIDGE, VA.

HEAD GASKETS FAILED. FORD AWARE THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW, BUT WILL NOT COVER IT.

TRANSMISSION JUMPS INTO GEAR FROM STOP UNEXPECTEDLY, WIFE HIT OUR HOUSE. *AK

FORD WINDSTAR - 1995 - ENGINE REPLACED DUE TO HEAD GASKET PROBLEM AT 67,749 MILES

HEAD GASKETS BLOWN CAUSING COOLANT TO MIX WITH OIL IN ENGINE. FORD HAD A PROGRAM WHICH EXPIRED 12/31/98 THAT COVERED REPAIRS TO HEAD GASKETS REGARDLESS OF MILES OR TIME OWNED. HOWEVER, MY HEAD GASKETS BLEW IN 2/99 SO THEY WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ENGINEERING DEFECT THAT IS CAUSING THE BLOWN HEAD GASKETS.

NO SUMMARY

ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROIMATELY 35 MPH. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE COST OF REPAIR WOULD GO TO CONSUMER. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

I AM SURE THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN ON THE ENGINE. I HAD HIGH ENGINE TEMPERATURE, AND WHITE SMOKE WITH WATER COMING FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE PERSON THAT TOWED MY VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALER SAID THAT MY WINDSTAR WAS THE 5TH FORD HE HAS TOWED IN THIS WEEK WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, THEY WERE ALL 1995 FORD'S WITH A 3.8 LITER V-6. I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE FORD DEALER IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS ENGINE ,AND HE SAID THERE WAS, BUT REAPAIRS HAD TO BE MADE BEFORE DEC. 31, 1998. I WAS NOT AWARE OF A RECALL OR SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM, IF THIS IS HAPPENING TO SO MANY CARS AND TRUCKS JUST IN THE TULSA OK AREA, THERE IS CERTAINLY A TREND. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL. ALSO, DAMAGED THE ENGINE AND MAY HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER REPLACED GASKETS TWICE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THIS IS THE SECOND ENTRY ON THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE SINCE TALKED TO 3 OTHER WINDSTAR OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM YOU OR FORD MOTOR COMPANY CONCERNING THIS MATTER. I FEEL THIS ISSUE WILL ESCALATE AS MORE PEOPLE DISCOVER THAT IT IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. *AK

CHARGED $900 TO REPLACE HEAD GASKET. IS THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL? WHAT ELSE SHOULD I CONTACT FOR ABOUT? *AK

MY VEHICLE'S HEAD GASKETS 'BLEW' WHICH RESULTED IN WATER/COOLANT IN MY ENGINE/OIL PAN RESULTING IN THE REQUIREMENT FOR A NEW ENGINE BLOCK. I DID NOT HAVE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. FORD AGREED THERE WAS A RECALL/EXTENDED WARRANTY GIVEN TO ALL WINDSTARS FOR DEFAULTY HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS BUT THEY WOULD ONLY COVER THROUGH 12/31/98 SO WOULD NOT COVER MY CAR. I WAS NEVER NOTIIED. BASED UPON DISCUSSIONS WITH NUMEROUS OWNERS, THIS IS AN INHERENT PROBLEM IN ALL WINDSTARS. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. MY FRIEND'S WINDSTAR, 1995, REPLACED HER TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND AIR CONDITIONER BUT SHE HAD THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THESE CARS ARE NOT SAFE AND ARE ALL LEMONS.

TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT. POTENTIAL CAUSE WAS PISTON ASSEMBLY IN TRANSMISSION.

TRANSMISSION REPLACED HOWEVER CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH SURGING. MJS

ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW,CAUSING WHITE SMOKE TO EMINATE FROM TAILPIPE AND ENGINE TO OVERHEAT, RESULTING IN DESTRUCTION OF ENGINE. I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH HEAD GASKETS, AND HAD A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE INSTALLED. MY TRANSMISSION AND POWER STEERING RACK ALSO FAILED BEFORE THIS. WHAT NEXT? *AK

I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE WAS A LETTER SENT TO SOME OWNERS OF WINDSTARS STATING THAT THE HEAD GASKETS WERE DEFECTIVE, HOWEVER I NEVER RECEIVED THIS LETTER. *AK

STOPED AT A STOP SIGN AFTER DRIVING APPROX. 8 MILES. TRIED TO PULL A WAY FROM CORNER VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVER PUSHED ON ACCELERATOR PEDAL HARDER THEN IT WENT. EACH TIME I STOPPED IT WOULD DO THIS IT WOULD MAKE A JERK WHEN IT WENT INTO GEAR IT GOT WORSE AS I WAS DRIVING STOPPED FOR GAS. WENT TO GO WOULDNOT GO HAD TO PUT INTO REVERSE BACK UP STOP THE FORWARD TO GO.

THIS FAILURE DIDN'T RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT BUT WOULD IF IGNORED BY OWNERS

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED JUST AFTER RECALL EXPIRED. IT WAS TESTED ONLY A FEW MONTHS BEFORE AND TESTED OK. *AK

IN LOW SPEED, TRANSMISSION GOES INTO NEUTRAL AND SUDDENTLY BACK IN TO GEAR. *AK

UPON ACCELERATING ACELLERATING FROM STOP, TRANSMISSION SPINS UP THEN BANGS INTO GEAR. *AK

LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT, ENGINE OVERHEATING. REPLACED DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT, OWNER NOTIFICATION 98M01. FORD WILL NOT COMPENSATE FOR REPAIRS. *AK

FORD ADMITS DEFECT IN GASKET, BUT WILL ONLY REPLACE IF UNDER 60,000 MILES OR 5 YEARS, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. SINCE IT IS KNOWN DEFECT AND BARLEY OVER 60,000, I WOULD EXPECT AT THE VERY LEAST THEY WOULD MAKE GOOD ON A PERCENTAGE OF THE REPAIRES. I BOUGHT THE CAR AT GENE EVANS FORD, BUT IT IS CURRENTLY AT BOOMERSHINE FORD 770-476-2090 3230 SATELLITE BLVD. DULUTH GA 30136. I FIRST NOTICED A PROBLEM IN LATE NOVEMBER- EARLY DECEMBER OF '98 (POOR IDLE / RUNNING A LITTLE HOT). TOOK TO BOOMERSHINE WHEN PROBLEM GOT WORSE (CLOSER THAN GENE EVANS). CAR NOW IDLES ROUGH AND RUNS HOT TO COLD (MOSTLY HOT). *AK

THERE MAY BE OTHER UNDERLYING PROBLEMS THAT CASUED HEAD GASKET TO BLOW, BUT THIS CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO EXTREME DAMAGE FROM COOLANT IN THE ENGINE, 3RD CYLINDER AND EXHAUST SYSTEM. *AK

NO SUMMARY

I BLEW THE HEAD GASKET ON THE ENGINE 2 WEEKS AGO,AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS READY TO GO AS WELL..AFTER ALL THE PEOPLE WITH THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM,IM SURPRISED FORD HASNT HAD A RECALL ON THIS AS YET.I KNOW I LIVE IN CANADA BUT I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME IN SOME WAY..TKS VERY MUCH...

FAILURE OF ENGINE HEAD GASKET 2 MONTHS BEYOND FORD'S "EXTENSION" OF RECALL NOTICE 98M01 FOR THIS PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED ISSUE WITH FORD 3.8L 6CYL ENGINES. FORD IS REFUSING TO PROVIDE ANY RELIEF ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE ADMITTED THAT THE FAILURE IS DUE TO POOR PARTS. THE FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS STATED THAT FORD HAS KNOWN THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTED AS FAR BACK AS '91, BUT CONTINUED TO USE THE POOR QUALITY PARTS. *AK

VEHICLES HOOD BLEW OFF STRIKING AND BREAKING THE WINDSHIELD, FIBERGLASS PANEL REMAINED ATTACHED TO HOOD LATCH AFTER STEEL TOP BLEW OFF INTO WINDSHIELD. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT).

A RECALL LETTER RECEIVED IN JUNE OF 1998 STATED THAT HEAD GASKET REPAIR WAS COVERED UNTIL DEC,31.98. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT FORD IS VERY AWARE OF AND SHOULD COVER REPAIR EVEN THOUGH IN MY CASE I AM PAST 60.OOO MILES AND IT IS PAST DEC. 31,98. MY REPAIR BILL IS APPROX. $800.00 FOR THIS, AND THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY TO ME, ESPECIALLY SINCE I AM STRUGGLING TO PAY PAYMENTS ON THIS VEHICLE. *AK

REAR AXLE BROKE, AND ENGINE HEAD GASKETS BLEW OUT.