1995 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

TRANSMISSION NOT ENGAGING PROPERLY CAUSING VEHICLE TO HESITATE AND LUNGE.

HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STOP SHUDDER. ALSO ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON.

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS BLOWN CAUSING CRACKED HEADS. FORD EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 60,000 MILES BUT FAILED TO NOTIFY OWNERS. ALSO, REPLACED ENTIRE BRAKE ASSEMBLY AT 50,000 MILES, ABS NEVER WORKED, AND PLASTIC DOOR PANEL ON SLIDING DOOR FELL OFF. TRANSMISSION SLIPS, DOWNSHIFTS, OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHES, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF, AND VEHICLE ACCELERATES SLUGGISHLY.

IN AUGUST OF 1997 I PURCHASED A USED FORD WINDSTAR FROM ROBIN FORD IN GLENOLDEN,PA. I TRADED IN MY 91 FORD TOPAZ. THE MILEAGE ON THE WINDSTAR WHEN PURCHASED WAS 28,853. IN SEPTEMBER OF 1997 I TOOK THE WINDSTAR IN TO FORD IN HAZELTON TO FLUSH AND FILL RADIATOR, AND A NEW FUEL FILTER. AT THAT TIME I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY DOORS STICKING. THEY LUBED CYLINDER. IN DECEMBER OF THE SAME YEAR, I TOOK IT BACK TO HAVE ALL LOCKS REPLACED, HAVE A RECALL DONE, OIL CHANGE AND FILTER, AND AT THAT TIME I INFORMED THEM THAT I WAS SMELLING ANTI-FREEZE, TO PLEASE LOOK INTO IT. THEY CHECKED FOR LEAKS AND LOOSE HOSES, AND FOUND NOTHING. EVEN THOUGH I CONTINUED TO SMELL IT, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING. IN MARCH OF 98 I COMPLAINED OF MY WINDOWS FOGGING, AGAIN. THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NO LEAKS THAT THEY COULD SEE.THEY INSTALLED NEW HEAD GASKETS OIL AND FILTER TWO PLUGS. I ALSO HAD AN INSPECTION DONE AND AN ALIGNMENT. THINGS SEEMED TO BE OKAY TO ME. THEN I STARTED SMELLING ANTI-FREEZE AGAIN, AND WENT BACK TO TELL THEM THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG. WHEN THEY CHECKED IT THEY FOUND THAT THE GASKETS HAD NOT SET RIGHT. AND THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THEM AGAIN. THAT WAS IN FEBUARY OF THIS YEAR. ALSO HAD A STATE INSPECTION DONE. ALTHOUGH I DID NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE GASKETS I DID HAVE TO PAY FOR A HEAD COVER, BECAUSE THEY TOLD ME THAT WAS SEPARATE FROM THE GASKETS. I PICKED MY CAR ON THE 26TH OF FEBUARY THAT WAS A FRIDAY, AND BY MONDAY MORNING I WAS BACK TELLING THEM THAT I STILL SMELLED ANTI-FREEZE, AND THAT THE CAR WAS NOT RUNNING PROPERLY, THAT IT FELT AS IF IT WANTED TO STALL, EVERYTIME I STOPPED OR PUT IN REVERSE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER WOULD HAVE TO RELEARN ITSELF??????? AND THAT I PROBABLY WOULD SMELL ANTI-FREEZE FOR AWHILE. THEN THIS PAST WEEKEND I HAD TO TAKE MY SON TO VISIT WITH A FRIEND, AND THE CAR SEEMED TO NOT HAVE ANY PICKUP, AND IT STARTED TO STALL, IT WOULD STALL WHEN I CAME TO A STOP, OR TRIED TO PARK IT, WHEN I WAS SITTING AT A LIGHT IT. *AK

I HAVE HAD 2 HEAD GASKET FAILURES ON MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. THE FIRST ONE WAS REPAIRED BY FORD UNDER WARRANTY @ A COST OF $2378.60. IT FAILED AGAIN 38,000 MILES LATER. I HAD IT REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AT A COST OF $2,003.97. I CONTACTED A FORD DEALER AND CALLED THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE ORGANIZATION BUT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF THE SECOND FAILURE. I BELIEVE THAT THE FORD DEALER DID NOT PROPERLY MAKE THE REPAIRS THE FIRST TIME RESULTING IN THE SECOND FAILURE. I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO FOR A SOLUTION. PLEASE HELP!! *AK

ENGINE GASKET FAILURE.

TRANSMISSION WOULD STICK. COULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANOTHER GEAR. HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. TOOK TO DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED RESULTING IN LEAKAGE.

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE DEALER COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. A HEAD GASKET FAILURE CAUSED THE ENTIRE ENGINE TO FAIL.

BLOWN HEAD GASKET.

HEAD GASKET FAILURE. (TSB #98-4-9)

HEAD GASKET FAILED, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK AND OVERHEAT.

ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. *AK

TIE ROD ENDS FAILED.

WHEN VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO GEAR, IT WOULD LAG BEFORE ENGAGING INTO DRIVE. DEALER CLAIMS THE FORWARD THRUST PISTON IN THE TRANSMISSION HAD CRACKED.

THE BRAKES FAILED ON TWO OCCASIONS, DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. *MJS

WITHIN PAST 5 YEARS CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE 3 TIMES DUE TO FAILURE OF HEAD GASKET AND ROD BEARINGS. *AK

THE ENGINE HAS BEEN REPLACED ON TWO OCCASIONS AT THE CONSUMERS EXPENSE, THE FIRST OCCASION OCCURRED WHEN A ROD BLEW, THE SECOND OCCUURRENCE THE HEAD GASKET BLEW, FORD WILL NOT ASSIST CONSUMER AT ALL EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE A NOTIFICATION AND EXTENDED COVERAGE OFFER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *SLC

ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAK.

A CLICKING SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFROMATION.*AK

ENGINE GASKET FAILURE.

TRANSMISSION PISTON FAILED CAUSING HESITATION AND STALLING.

ENGINE FAILURE.

BLOWN ENGINE GASKET.

WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT REASON, CAUSING CONSUMER TO SUSTAIN INJURIES. *AK

NOISE STARTED COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE AND FOUND A STRESS CRACK IN THE RIM.

PREMATURE WEAR OF BRAKE PADS AND SHOES. ALSO, NOISE COMING FROM FRONT-END WHEN TURNING OR GOING OVER A SPEED HUMP THAT APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO STRUCTURAL FACTORS.

ENGINE GASKET FAILED ALLOWING COOLANT INTO ENGINE.

WITHIN THREE DAYS OF MY PURCHASE OF MY 1995 WINDSTAR IN FEB. OF 1998 TIMING CASE BLEW AT 35,500. AT 51,440 HEAD GASKET BLEW. DEALER TOLD US UNDER WARRANTY 5YR AND OR 60,000 MILES .DEALER CALLED TO TELL US WARRANTY EXPIRED. 8-99 1995WINDSTAR WAS PUT IN

BLOWN HEAD GASKETS.

ENGINE GASKET FAILURE.

HEAD GASKET FAILED. NLM

WHEN VAN HIT A CURB GOING ABOUT 15 MPH BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS CAUSED SERIOUS INJURIES TO THE DRIVER'S FOREHEAD/NOSE AND EYES. THE FUMES FROM THE AIR BAG CAUSED THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER TO LOSE THEIR BREATH. THE VAN HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

AIRBAGS DEPLOYED DURING A MINOR CRASH, VEHICLE SUSTAINED ONLY SCRATCHES. PASSENGER'S ARM WAS BROKEN IN FOUR PLACES WHEN THE AIRBAG CRUSHED HER LEFT ARM AGAINST THE ARM REST.

TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING.

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

TRANSMISSION WAS MAKING NOISE AND SHIFTING GEARS. DEALER CONTACTED AND COMPONENT WAS DEFECTIVE. REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AT OWNERS EXPENSE, NO WARRANTY. *AK

FIRST HEAD GASKET FAILED AT 59000 MILES, NEW ENGINE REPLACED AND HEAD GASKET FAILED AGAIN AT 101,000 MILES. *ET

THIS VEHICLE HAS ALSO HAD NUMEROUS BRAKE ROTARS/PADS/DRUMS REPLACEMENT. THE HEAD GASKET "BLEW" AT 72-74000 MILES. FORD COVERED THE REPAIR FOR THIS AT NO COST TO US. I FEEL THEY SHOULD ALSO COVER THE REPAIRS FOR THE TRANSMISSION. THEY KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSIONS IN NOVEMBER 1994 RIGHT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RELEASED FOR SALE.

TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 36969 MILES.

IN RESPONSE TO YOUR PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSTAR, I TOO, HAVE A L995 WINDSTAR. MY PROBLEMS STARTED IN THE WINTER OF L996 HAVING ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE A FEW MONTHS WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT IN JANUARY OF THAT YEAR. THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY L7,578 MILES ON IT. MY FAMILY WAS WITHOUT A CAR BECAUSE AS I SURE YOU ARE ALREADY AWARE OF, FORD DOES NOT GIVE YOU A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE WHILE YOUR VEHICLE IS IN THE SHOP. ANOTHER THING WORTH MENTIONING IS THE FACT THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED, IT WAS TOWED UNDER THE WARRANTY PROGRAM WHEREIN YOU HAD TO USE FORD'S AGENTS (OUTSIDE TOW SHOP). THE TOW TRUCK OPERATOR DID HOOK THE CAR CORRECTLY AND ACTUALLY BROKE THE BOTTOM BUMPER CAUSING ME OVER $L,000.00 IN DAMAGES. I WASAT THE TIME BY THE TOW TRUCK OPERATOR THAT HE WOULD PAY FOR THE COSTS OF REPLACING THE LOWER BUMPER. AGAIN, MUCH TO MY SURPRISE, THIS PARTICULAR TOW TRUCK OPERATOR DID NOT CARRY AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COVERAGE AND THEREFORE, DID NOT PAY ME THE DAMAGES. IT TOOK ME TWO YEARS AFTER HAVING GONE TO SMALL CLAIMS COURT TO FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST FORD AND THE TOW TRUCK COMPANY FOR THE REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. IMAGINE THAT. FORD HIRES PEOPLE TO TOW YOUR VEHICLE AND THEY DON'T BOTHER TO CHECK TO SEE IF THE INDIVIDUALS HAVE AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COVERAGE YET YOU ARE REQUIRED TO PRODUCE THESE ITEMS WHEN YOUR VEHICLE IS IN THE STOP FOR REPAIRS.IN RESPONSE TO YOUR PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSTAR, I TOO, HAVE A L995 WINDSTAR. MY PROBLEMS STARTED IN THE WINTER OF L996 HAVING ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE A FEW MONTHS WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT IN JANUARY OF THAT YEAR. THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY L7,578 MILES ON IT. MY FAMILY WAS WITHOUT A CAR BECAUSE AS I SURE YOU ARE ALREADY AWARE OF, FORD DOES NOT GIVE YOU A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE WHILE YOUR VEHICLE IS IN THE SHOP. ANOTHER THING WORTH MENTIONING IS THE FACT THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED, IT WAS TOWED UNDER THE WARRANTY PROGRAM WHEREIN YOU HAD TO USE FORD'S AGENTS (OUTSIDE TOW SHOP). THE TOW TRUCK OPERATOR DID HOOK THE CAR CORRECTLY. *

STRESS CRACK IN WHEEL CAUSED NOISE FROM WHEEL

VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ROUGH WHEN IDLING. DEALER REPLACED HEADGASKETS AT 26,041. THEN, ON 14 SEPT 1999, TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD GO UP AND DOWN. AT 37, 543 MILES, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THE REPLACED BOTH HEAD GASKETS. THEN ON 12/10/00 AT 43451 MILES, TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH OCCURRED TWICE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLEY WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN CCIDENT. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET MALFUNCTIONED.

HEAD GASKET FAILED.

FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON OF TRANSMISSION- FORD WILL NOT RECALL IT YET. WHY. *AK

NOISE STARTED COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE AND FOUND A STRESS CRACK IN THE RIM.