1995 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

ENGIN EHEAD GASKET FAILED 14 DAYS AFTER EXPIRATION OF EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAM. *AK

ENGINE REPLACED DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE, WARRANTY EXPIRED, TOTAL COSTS $3869.64. *MJS

TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ENGAGE INTO GEAR.

FORD OFFERED PROGRAM UNTIL 12/31/98 IF HEAD GASKET BLEW. (FORD DID NOT MAKE ME AWARE OF THIS PROGRAM, HAD I KNOW, I WOULD HAVE BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR REPAIR). OUR HEAD GASKET BLEW WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING WITH OUR 19 MONTH OLD BABY IN THE CAR. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS INJURED AT THE RELATIVELY LOW SPEED. FORD IS AWARE OF THIS DESIGN FLAW BUT IS UNWILLING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE NEED FOR A FULL RECALL. ANY HELP IN BRINGING THIS MATTER TO THE ATTENTION OF FORD SO THAT A RECALL WILL OCCURR WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

AFTER STARTING VEHICLE FROM COLD START, PISTON FULL OF ANTIFREEZE, DUE TO DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. DEALER INFORMED ME OF RECALL NUMBER 98M01, BUT STATED I WOULD HAVE TO PAY COSTS, SINCE MY WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. HE SHOWED ME THE DIAGNOSTIC WHICH SAID "CHECK HEAD GASKET ONLY IF CUSTOMER REPORTS A PROBLEM".

CONSUMER STATES WHEN TRAVELING IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS VEHICLE HESITATES, ALSO VEHICLE DOES NOT HEAT UP. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER INDICATED THERE IS A CRACK IN THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS, (NEED REPLACING). CONSUMER ALSO NOTE THERE IS A TSB LISTED FOR THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

TRANSMISSION REPAIRED ON 11/29 /98 . ONLY 7 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP, 6 WEEKS LATER ENGINE WENT WAS TOLD IT WAS A POSSIBLE HEAD GASKET. WAS TOLD FORD HAD A NOTIFICATION. THE FORD DEALER TOLD US THAT THE WORK ENDED ON THIS ON 12/31 98. THERE NOW SITS 4 WINDSTARS AT CROSSROAD FORD IN CARY NC. *AK

OIL PAN LEAK NOTED @ 60K. DEALER RECOMMENDED FIX @NEXT SERVICE. AT 73224 DIED WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE, OIL WARNING LIGHT FLICKERING. DEALER IDENTIFIED LEAKING TIMING COVER GASKET CAUSED COOLANT TO ENTER OIL SYSTEM. MAJOR LOWER ENGINE OVERHAUL REPLACEMENT OF ALL MOVING PARTS REQUIRED. REPAIR WAS COVERED BY EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH EXPIRED @ 75K. DEALER REQUESTED REPLACEMENT OF KNOWN HEAD GASKET PROBLEM AT THAT TIME DECLINED BY FORD AS NO CURRENT PROBLEM APPARENT. AT 83K VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO START, EXHAUST BLOWING WHITE SMOKE WHEN IT FINALLY STARTED. DEALER HAS HAD CAR OVER A WEEK & HAS IDENTIFIED HEAD GASKET FAILURE WHICH HAS ALSO CAUSED THE REBUILT LOWER ENGINE TO FAIL AGAIN. DEALER RECOMMENDS FULL ENGINE REPLACEMENT. FORD IS REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY RESPONSIBILITY EVEN THOUGH AN APPARENT RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED AGAINST PREMATURE HEADGASKET FAILURE. IN COMMON WITH OTHER NOTIFICATIONS YOU HAVE RECEIVED AND WE HAVE NOTICED ON THE INTERNET. WHAT RECOURSE DO WE HAVE WITH A MANUFACTURER WHO IS AWARE OF A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW AND REFUSES TO SERVICE ITS CUSTORMERS? OUR VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AND SERVICED FOR ITS ENTIRE LIFE SOLEY BY THE FORD DEALERSHIP FROM WHOM WE PURCHASED THIS "DEAD" VEHICLE. ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIR--$5,000. *AK

I HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY DISSATISFIED WITH THE QUALITY OF MY FORD WINDSTAR. WITH THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR I WILL HAVE INVESTED CLOSE TO $4000 IN THE VAN. I HAVE SURPRISED AND OUTRAGED BY WHAT I HAVE FOUND. I HAVE SEARCHED THE WEB AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE ONES THAT HAVE CALLED HAVE GOTTEN THE SAME ANSWER I HAVE "SORRY, WE CAN'T HELP THAT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY." I HAVE FOUND THAT I AM NOT ALONE AND I AM HOPING THE GOVERNMENT WILL STEP AND MAKE FORD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. QUALITY IS JOB 1 WHAT A CROCK!

ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT AFTER EIGHT DAYS WARRANTY RAN OUT. CONSUMER BELIEVED THIS WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT WHICH SHOULD BE HONORED BY DEALER. ALSO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK

FORD HAD INITIATED AN "OWNERS NOTIFICATION PROGRAM" BECAUSE OF FAULTY HEAD GASKETS IN THE 1995 WINDSTAR. BASICALLY, IF YOUR HEAD GASKET BLEW PRIOR TO DECEMBER 31, 1998, FORD WOULD COVER THE COST. THIS WAS NOT A RECALL, THEREFORE, THEY WERE ABLE TO PLACE A "DEADLINE" DATE ON IT. UNFORTUNATELY, THE HEAD GASKET BLEW IN MY VAN ON JANUARY 7, 1999 - SEVEN DAYS AFTER THE DEADLINE. AT THE TIME OF FAILURE, I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK WITH MY TWO LITTLE DAUGHTERS IN THE CAR (ONE AND THREE YEARS OLD). MY COMMUTE IS 40 MINUTES IN PRIMARILY FARM COUNTRY. I WAS HALFWAY INTO MY COMMUTE WHEN THE HEATER NO LONGER BLEW HOT AIR (THE OUTSIDE WIND CHILL WAS ABOUT MINUS 20), AND I NOTICED THE HEAT GAUGE AT THE H. THANK GOODNESS FOR CELLULAR PHONES. I GOT ON THE PHONE IMMEDIATELY WITH THE DEALER AND HE KNEW OVER THE PHONE IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO A SMALL TOWN JUST WHEN THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WENT ON AND IT DIED ON ME. MY SERVICE PERSON AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME LATER THAT MY ENGINE WAS AT 225 DEGREES WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. THE DEALER AND I HAVE TRIED TO GET FORD TO COVER THE $900 REPAIR, HOWEVER, FORD WILL NOT MOVE ON ITS DEADLINE DATE. THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM, YET WILL NOT ISSUE THE RECALL. THEY BASICALLY GOT AROUND IT WITH THIS OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM. I CAN ONLY BE THANKFUL THAT I MADE IT WITH MY TWO GIRLS TO A SMALL TOWN IN THAT SUBZERO WEATHER, AND THAT MY ENGINE DIDN'T BLOW UP. THE 1995 WINDSTARS ALSO HAVE MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. MINE HAD TO BE REPLACED AT ABOUT 50,000 MILES. FORD DID COVER SOME OF THE COST. PLEASE LOOK ON THE INTERNET REGARDING THE 1995 WINDSTAR. THERE ARE MANY, MANY MORE STORIES LIKE MINE (A GOOD WEBSITE IS WWW.FORDWINDSTAR.COM). THERE ARE DEFECTS WITH THIS VEHICLE AND FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND DEAL WITH THEM APPROPRIATELY. THANK YOU.

HEAD GASKET FAILED WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE FREWWAY APPROX 100 MILES FROM HOME. CONTACTED DEALER, WHO CONTACTED FORD AS FORD HAD RECOGNIZED THAT THIS PART WAS DEFECTIVE AND HAD EXTENEDED THE WARRANTY UNTIL 12-31-98. FORD WOULD NOT PAY ANYTHING TOWARDS THE REPAIR. INSPECTION OF THE HEAD GASKET REVEALS THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A FLAW IN THE DESIGN, (AT LEAST OBVIOUS TO ME).. NEW HEAD GASKET DESIGN HAS BEEN MODIFIED TO CORRECT PROBLEM.

VEHICLE WITH A 3.8L ENGINE EXPERIENCED BLOWN HEAD GASKET WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 55 MPH. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT REPAIRS WOULD BE DONE AT CONSUMER COST. *AK

WAS DRIVING TO BALL GAME AND VAN LOST POWER AND STARTED TO MAKE CLICKING MOTOR NOISE. SHUT OFF ENGINE AND RE- STARTED . THE ENGINE KEEP MAKING NOISE. DROVE HOME AT A VERY SLOW PACE. THIS REDUCED NOISE FROM MOTOR . HAD IT TOWED TO GARAGE, WHO INFORMED ME I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AT A COST OF ABOUT $3,400.00. THEY THOUGHT THE MAIN BEARINGS WHERE BAD BUT WOULD HAVE TO TEAR IT DOWN TO FIND OUT FOR SURE. HAD VAN TOWED HOME. WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE VAN TO GO TRADE IT IN. PAID A GUY $300.00 TO PUT LOWER BEARINGS IN SO I COULD DRIVE IT. LOST $2500.00 ON TRADE IN FOR BAD ENGINE. TOTAL LOST WAS $2,990.00 FOR TOWING ,WORK PERFORMED AND LOST TRADE -IN VALUE. A FRIEND OF MINE HAD SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS 95 WINDSTAR FORD. HE TOOK HIS TO FORD DEALER AND GOT RELIEF. WE DID GET RECALL ON HEAD- GASKET AND HAD THAT WORK PERFORMED. IT WAS TO LATE ,I THINK IT HAD DONE CAUSED DAMAGE TO ENGINE. FORD SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO TOOK A HIT ON TRADE IN BECAUSE FOR A BAD ENGINE. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. LURCHING AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS. TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF GEAR WHEN SLOWING TO GO AROUND A CORNER. THIS PROBLEM HAS POTENTIAL FOR UNPREVENTABLE ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE SLIPPING AND LURCHING OF THE CAR.

KNOWN HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON THE 3.8L 6 CYLINDER ENGINE USED IN THE WINDSTAR AND THE TAURUS. CONTACTED FORD. GAVE THEM EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE CARE OF THIS KNOWN PROBLEM. OTHER INFO ON THE INTERNET AT A SITE CALLED WWW.FORDWINDSTAR.COM. ANYTHING YOU COULD DO TO PROMPT A RECALL WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED.

THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT PROPERLY SHIFT BETWEEN THIRD GEAR AND OVERDRIVE. IT FEELS LIKE IT IS SLIPPING AT TIMES. ON OUR WAY HOME FROM FLORIDA THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID THAT HE HAD ANOTHER WINDSTAR 95 A MONTH AGO WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IS THIS TO BE EXPECTED WITH A VEHICHE WHICH HAS ONLY 50,000 MILES? *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION GOES FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING. POSSIBLY DUE TO THE USE OF ALUMINUM PISTONS. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, THEY ARE NOT ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY FOR FAILURE. *AK *ML

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE SYSTEM TO SLIP WHILE DRIVING, WHICH MAY CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF PROGRAM ISSUED BECAUSE DID NOT OWN THE CAR AT THE TIME OF THE INITIAL BEGINNING DEALERSHIP DID NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM TAKEN CARE OFF. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

TRANSMISSION SLIPS STARTING FROM A START POSITION.SLIPS ON UPSHIFT.CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. THIS IS THE THIRD TRANSMISSION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING OWNER COULD HEAR A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE CV JOINTS. DEALER SAID INNER CV JOINT ASSEMBLY NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE OVERHEATING AND FAULTY HEAD GASKETS, RECALL WAS ISSUED BY FORD IN REGARDS TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE, CONSUMER WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO EXCEEDING THE MILEAGE REQUIREMENT. *MJS

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 35MPH ON HIGHWAY AND WAS WAS SHIFTING GEARS. THERE WAS A POPPYING NOISE, AND SECOND GEAR DOWNSHIFTED TO FIRST BY ITSELF. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

FORD HAVE A RECALL ON THERE 95 WINDSTAR HEADGASKET.I NEVER GOT A RECALL NOTICE ANNOBODY CALL ME.WELL ON 12/31/98 MY HEADGASKET BLEW,HAPPEN AROUND 8.00PM.WE CALL BUT THET WAS CLOSE AN NEXT DAY WAS NEW YEAR.SO WE CALL FIRST THING MONDAY MORN.WE ASK THEM DID THEY HAVE A RECALL OUT FOR BLOW HEADGASKET AN THEY SAID YES,,THEY ASK FOR OUR VAN NUMBER AN WE GAVE IT TO THEM AN THEY SAID OUR VAN NUMBER WAS IN THE LIST.WELL THEY CAME AN PICKUP VAN AN ABOUT 3 DAYS LATER I TALK TO THEM AN THEY SAY THEY WANT PAY FOR IT,THEY SAY I CALL TO LATE,I SURE HAVE GOT THE VAN IN BEFORE 12/31/

TIMING COVER GASKET FAILED AND REPLACED AS STATED IN THE RECALL NOTICE 98M01, HOWEVER ONE YEAR LATER EXTENSIVE REPLACEMENT TO ENGINE GASKETS AND THERMOSTAT WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL REPLACEMENT, INADEQUATE RECALL REPAIR FOR FAILURE. *MJS

THERE ARE MANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THESE VANS IN ADDITION TO THIS!

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS ARE FAILING. DEALER/MANUFAXCTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT SERVICE BULLETIN INDICATED THAT THE COST FOR REPAIRS WOULD GO TO CONSUMER. CONSUMER NEEDS HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

WE HAVE OVER 14 PAGES OF REPAIRS ON A VEHICLE WITH 40,000 MILES. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH LOST POWER AND THE GEAR WON'T MOVE FROM OUT OF SECOND GEAR. CONSUMER DID'NT HAVE ANY PRIOR WARNING AND THE VEHICLE DIED OUT. *AK

FORD HAS BEEN DELAYED IN SENDING ENGINE REPLACEMENT AND WILL NOT PROVIDE A LOANER CAR. VAN HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIR FOR 12 DAYS. NO CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS BEEN PROVIDED.

RECALL REPLACED WATER PUMP GASKET, 4 WEEKS LATER ENGINE DAMAGE FROM LEAKAGE

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON--DIAGNOSTIC CODES SHOWED EGR/COOLANT TEMP. (NON FORD)MECHANIC REPLACED EGR VALVE, SENSOR. RAN FINE, THEN LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN (1 WEEK). CHECKED & REPLACED THERMOSTAT (LIGHT AGAIN AFTER 1 WEEK) THEN COMPUTER, LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN (2 DAYS). VEHICLE OVERHEATED & NO HEAT IN VEHICLE. MECHANIC DETERMINED HEAD GASKET FAILED. REPLACED 1/14/99.

OUR ENGINE BEGAN OVERHEATING DURING THE LAST WEEK ON DEC. '98. DUE TO THE HOLIDAYS, WE WERE UNABLE TO GET IT INTO OUR PERSONAL MECHANIC UNTIL 1/9/99, AT WHICH TIME HE DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE AS HEAD GASKET FAILURE. WE CONTACTED OUR LOCAL DEALER, WHO SAID TH

HEAD GASKET FAILURE, COVERED UNDER RECALL, REPAIRED 7/98. ENGINE DEVELOPED A KNOCK, STARTED RUNNING ROUGH, COOLANT LEVEL LOW WITH NO EXTERNAL LEAKAGE. DEALER DIAGNOSED #3 CYLINDER FUEL INJECTOR INOPERATIVE AND A TIMING COVER GASKET FAILURE. REPAIRED AND ENGINE FAILED IRREPAIRABLY 6 WEEKS LATER, LOW COOLANT LEVELS AGAIN. TOLD WE MUST REPLACE ENGINE.

THE SUB-FRAME BUSHING IS FAILING DUE TO UNKNOWN REASONS (DESIGN HAS BEEN CHANGED. ) ALSO, WHENEVER STOPPING OR TURNING, THERE IS CLUNKING NOISE THAT SOUNDS LIKE THE WHEEL WELL, SOUND COMES FROM THE LEFT FRONT. *AK

ON 12/22/98 VEHICLE OVERHEATED. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE CLOSEST SERVICE STATION FOR FEAR OF DAMAGING THE ENGINE. THE SERVICE STATION REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT. CAR OVERHEATED AGAIN, IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP THAT REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT. UPON HEARING "HEAD GASKET" REMEMBERED THE WARRANTY LETTER. TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS, BUT DEALER SAID FORD WOULD NOT COVER. THE CONDITION DESCRIBED IN THE LETTER WAS INDEED EXHIBITED WITHIN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD, BUT FORD REFUSED THREE TIMES TO BACK EXTENDED WARRANTY.

I RECEIVED A LETTER IN AUGUST OF 98 REGARDING FORD HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKET SEALS ON THE 3.8L MOTOR, IF I WAS HAVING A PROBLEM BEFORE 12/98 TO BRING IT IN. ON 12/20, THE VAN OVERHEATED AN ICE COLD AIR WAS BLOWING OUT OF THE HEAT VENTS. I REFERRED TO MY OWNERS MANUAL, AND CHANGED THE THERMOSTAT, FLUSHED THE SYSTEM AND CHANGED THE RADIATOR CAP, THE VAN THEN SEEMED FINE. WE HAD A MAJOR SNOW AND ICE STORM AND THE VAN SAT FOR 2 WEEKS. ON 01/23, WE WERE TWO MILES FROM HOME AND WHITE SMOKE STARTED POURING OUT OF THE EXHAUST, AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS UP TO HOT, THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. WE GOT THE VAN HOME AND SEEN ANTIFREEZE LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE BLOCK. WE CALLED THE FORD DEALER IN CANFIELD, AND THEY SAID THE LETTER EXPIRED ON 12/31/98, AND THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM AT THIS TIME, SAID THEY HAVE HAD MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND ARE NOT RECALLING AT THIS TIME. I BELIEVE THAT FORD SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND RECTIFY THIS KNOWN PROBLEM BY ISSUING A RECALL. *AK

HEAD GASKETS BLEW DURING 12/98. THIS SITUATION COULD POSSIBLY CASE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH UNDER HIGHER SPEEDS. FORD WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR OF THE ENGINE BECAUSE I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN ON 1/4/99, 4 DAYS AFTER THEIR WARRANTY PROGRAM 98M01 EXPIRED. EVEN THOUGH THE DEALER HAD TESTED THE HEAD GASKETS AS GOOD DURING 10/98. ONLY TWO MONTHS EARLIER. THIS IS A SERIOUS AND PERVASIVE PROBLEM THAT FORD SHOULD ISSUE A FULL RECALL FOR. THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO AVOID THE ISSUE WITH THEIR 98M01 PROGRAM.

THE FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON IS FAILING DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE TRANSMISSION WILL ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW OR HIGH SPEED MAKING THIS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN WHICH TO OPERATE THIS VEHICLE. IF THIS TRANSMISSION CONTIUES TO OPERATE IN THIS MANNER ON POOR ROAD CONDITIONS, LOSS OF CONTROL CAN AND WILL RESULT BECAUSE OF THE DEFECTIVE CLUTCH PISTON. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED BY THE FORD MOTOR CO. AND THE DEFECTIVE PISTON SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH A STEEL RATHER THEN THE ORIGINAL LIGHT WEIGHT ALUMINUM COMPONENT.

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED PREMATURELY, CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE AT HIGH SPEEDS.

I EXPERIENCED HEAD GASKET FAILURE 2 WEEKS BEFORE THE RECALL PROGRAM EXPIRED. THE DEALERSHIP DELAYED IN FIXING IT, RESULTING IN ENGINE FAILURE.

HEAD GASKETS FAILED COMPLETELY. UPON BRINGING TO FORD DEALER, INFORMED THAT THEY KNOW PROBLEM EXISTED. NEVER CONTACTED ABOUT THE EXISTENCE OF THE PROBLEM. FORD COMPANY CONTACTED SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT MY SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR TOWING CHARGES INCURRED. BASICALLY, THE FORD COMPANY IS NOT COOPERATING.

NO HEAT. APPARENTLY A BLOWN HEADGASKET. I'VE HEARD OF NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE (SO IT'S NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT). TAKING IT TO DEALER FOR CONFIRMATION OF PROBLEM NEXT WEEK.

DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS LEAK COOLANT INTO COMBUSTION CHAMBER. FORD RECOGNIZES THIS PROBLEM (SERVICE PROGRAM 98M01) BUT WONT FIX VEHICLES AFTER 60000 MILES OR A CUTOFF DATE ASSOCIATED WITH THE SALE DATE. MINE HAD SYMPTOMS IN DEC 97, BUT SERVICE EITHER DIDN'T RECOGNIZE SYMPTOM OR IGNORED IT DUE TO WORK OVERLOAD. FORD SHUNS MY PROBLEM AND I AM LEFT WITH A NICE CAR THAT NEEDS $1000+ IN ENGINE REPAIRS ON A KNOWN PROBLEM JUST BECAUSE MY VEHICLE DIDN'T COMPLETELY FAIL BEFORE THE EXPIRATION.

CONSUMER SAW BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. HE HAD TO CONTINUE ADDING BRAKE FLUID. SERVICE PUT VEHICLE ON RACK SAW THE LEAK COMING FROM THE BRAKE LINE ON LEFT SIDE OF MASTER CYLINDER/ DOWN AND ACROSS. UNDERNEATH/AT THE CROSS OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CYLINDER FLUID LEAKED RIGHT ABOVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE SHIELD WAS NOT PROTECTING THE BRAKE LINE FROM CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED ENGINE GASKET FAILURE A THIRD TIME. THE FIRST TIME IN APRIL 97,REPAIRED AND REINBURSTED, SECOND TIME, IN AUGUST 98, AND THE THIRD TIME IN DECEMBER 98. ALL THREE TIMES THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD FLUCTUATE AND CONSUMER NOTICED ALL THE COOLANT WAS GONE FROM THE ENGINE. THE PROBLEM THIS TIME INVOLVES THE TIMING COVER GASKET GOING BAD. NOTICED THAT WHENEVER DRIVING ON INCLINE THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE FLUCTUATES. *AK