1995 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

THE VEHICLES HEAD GASKET BLEW AND CAUSED $2000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *NLM

1995 FORD WINSTAR HEAD GASKETS LEAKING. HEAD GASKETS WERE REPLACED MAR 1999 AT 40352 MI. UNDER 98M01 RECALL. AND AGAIN JUL 2001 AT 79464 MI. UNDER 00M09 RECALL. TALKED TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER, THEY SAID TO CALL DEALER THAT DID REPAIR. BOTH SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME. BUT HEAD GASKETS SHOULD LAST MORE THAN THE 9246 MI. SAID REPAIR WARRENTY ONLY GOOD FOR 12 MONTHS.

ONE YEAR AGO (2002) MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR BLEW A HEAD GASKET WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER UNDER TBS 00M09. ONE YEAR LATER AND UNDER 30,000 MILES THE NEW ENGINE HAS BLOWN A HEAD GASKET AND FORD REFUSES TO HONOR IT STATING THAT A SMALL PIN HOLE IN ONE OF THE HEATER HOSES CAUSED THE BLOCK TO DRAIN OF FLUID AND BLOWING THE HEAD GASKET. I INSPECTED THE ENGINE SHORTLY AFTER IT OCCURRED AND THE RADIATOR AND RESERVE TANKS WERE BOTH FULL. I TOLD THIS TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALER AND I WAS TOLD I MUST BE MISTAKEN THE ENGINE WAS EMPTY. I AM AN AIRCRAFT MECHANIC AND KNOW WHEN AN ENGINE IS OUT OF WATER OR NOT BUT I AM RUNNING INTO A BRICK WALL. I HAVE CONTACTED THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND AM NOT HAVING ANY LUCK WITH THAT EITHER. *JB WHAT RECOURSE IF ANY DO I HAVE?

I TOOK MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR TO THE DEALER, AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR STARTED TO OVER HEAT. I WAS TOLD THE HEAD GASKET IS DAMAGED AND WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT A COST OF $5600. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE!!! THE CAR HAS ONLY 80,000 MILES ON IT. *JB

WHILE DRIVING, WHITE SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE TRAIL PIPE AND THEN THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. *JB PH *JB

FWD LET TO REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR (REGION 9) ON BEHALF OF DOLORES & IRA DAHM (CA) RE DEFECTIVE ENGINE HEAD GASKET FOR A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR, REQUESTS A DEFECT INVESTIGATION, REPLY ATTN. JOAN B. PAREDES@ SAN FRANCISCO OFC. *PH *JB *SC

THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL TANK UNDER RECALL IN 1999, HOWEVER THE STRAP WAS NOT REPLACED, AND THE FUEL TANK CRACKED AGAIN. RECALL #99V309000. *JB

THE CONSUMER BELIEVED GAS WAS LEAKING FROM THE TANK. *JB

WHILE DRIVING, FLAMES EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AREA DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE FOR THE SECOND TIME. *JB ALSO THE FUEL TANK CONTAINED A LEAK AND THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE ISSUE. PH *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER HEARD A "BANG". THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THE ENGINE HAD FAILED. *NLM *SCC *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS DIFFICULT TO RESTART. *NLM

ON MARCH 29, 2002, MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR EXPERIENCED A KNOCKING SOUND. NOTICING THE OIL LIGHT WAS ON, I IMMEDIATELY PULLED INTO THE SHOPPING CENTER NEARBY. I WAS AMAZED WHEN I HAD TO ADD 3/12 QTS. OF OIL, WHICH IMMEDIATELY DRAINED OUT. THIS VEHICLE JUST RECENTLY HAD AN OIL CHANGE, SO I KNOW IT WAS NOT LOW ON OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUTOFAIR OF MANCHESTER, NH. ON APRIL 2ND, I WAS ADVISED BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR, K. HAMEL THAT THE TIMING COVER GASKET WAS THE PROBLEM AND I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT A COST OF $3,639. I ALSO SPOKE TO K. HAMELS' BOSS, AND WAS TOLD NO WARRANTY WAS AVAILABLE. I THEN CALLED THE BOSTON AREA CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, JUSTIN BOYSON. HE PROCEEDED TO ASK ME HOW I GOT HIS NAME...NOT, HOW CAN I HELP YOU? HE ADVISED ME THERE WAS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE...THERE IS NO PROGRAM AVAILABLE FOR MY AUTO. THIS IS AN OUTRAGE, SINCE FORD IS WELL AWARE OF THIS FAULTY TIMING COVER GASKET WHICH IS A KNOWN FORD DEFECT WHICH WAS ADMITTED TO BY THE REGIONAL REPRSENTATIVE, AND IT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED 100,000 WARRANTY.

AT 146,00 MILES I WAS JUST INFORMED THAT I WILL HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER HEAD GASKET REPAIR DONE (THAT WOULD MAKE IT THE THIRD TIME THIS PART HAS FAILED) TO SAVE THE CAR...I WILL NOT DO IT, AS IN FEBRUARY, I SPENT OVER $750 TO HAVE THE REAR BRAKES REPAIRED FOR BRAKE FLUID COVERING THE SHOES OF THE BRAKES, CAUSE BY BRAKE LINE CORROSION (JUST AS IN THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LINE CORROSION THAT WAS A NATIONAL RECALL!!!!) BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE REARS

I EXPERIENCED 3.8L HEAD GASKET/ENGINE FAILURE ON APRIL 6, 2003 WITHOUT ANY PRIOR SYMPTOMS OR WARNINGS. VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN SERVICED AT 60,000 MILES WHICH INCLUDING FLUSHING THE COOLING SYSTEM. COST OF REPAIR IS ESTIMATED AT $3,500.

THE HEAD GASKET IS CRACKED AND LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *NLM

AT 48000 MILES THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED BY MANUFACTURER DUE TO COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE. THE DEALER REBUILT THE ENTIRE UPPER PART OF THE ENGINE. NOW THE VEHICLE IS STALLING INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE STALLING WAS DUE TO A DROP IN OIL PRESSURE WHICH SHUT OFF THE FUEL PUMP IN TURN SHUTTING DOWN ENGINE. *NLM

FORD RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING FUEL TANKS ON 1995 FORD, WINDSTAR MAY CRACK DURING EXTENDED OPERATION OF VEHICLE IN VERY HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES. THIS RECALL APPLIED TO 1995 FOR WINDSTAR VEHICLES IN DESIGNATED STATES AND COUNTIES OF WHICH LOS ANGELES COUNTY WAS PART. HOWEVER, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL BECAUSE CONSUMER LIVED IN SACRAMENTO COUNTY WHICH WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL ALTHOUGH HIS VEHICLE HAD THE SAME DEFECT. *AK *NLM

MY COMPLAINT IS ABOUT MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR VAN WITH THE 3.8 LT V-6 ENGINE. I BOUGHT MY VAN NEW ON 9/12/95 AND HAVE TAKEN CARE TO KEEP IT IN GOOD SHAPE. IT HAD RECENTLY, IN LATER PART OF MARCH, BEGAN TO RUN ROUGHLY. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC ON APRIL 1, 2003. THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE HEAD GASKETS HAS BLOWN OUT. MY VAN ONLY HAS 55,900 MILES ON IT! FORD HAD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO COVER ONLY THE HEAD GASKETS FOR 100K MILES OR SEVEN YEARS WHICHEVER CAME FIRST. EVEN THOUGH MY WARRANTY, ACCORDING TO FORD, RAN OUT IN SEPT. 02, I STILL FEEL THAT 56K MILES IS TOO LOW TO SUFFER THIS KIND OF MAJOR REPAIR. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD, THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I FEEL I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A DEFECTIVE DESIGN BY FORD. THE MECHANIC SAID THE REPAIR WOULD BE BETWEEN $1000 AND $2000 DOLLARS DEPENDING ON THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. IT COULD EVEN BE HIGHER IF THE DAMAGE IS EXTENSIVE. *NLM

THE OIL PAN GASKET LEAKED. *JB *TS

1995 FORD WINDSTAR LX HEAD GASKETS BLEW OUT AT 100,112 MILES TODAY. WARRANTY THROUGH 100,000 MILES. I'VE HAD TO HAVE THE BRAKES REPAIRED AT LEAST ONCE PER YEAR FOR THE LAST 4 YEARS. *NLM

THE ENGINE HEADGASKET ON MY FORD WINDSTAR HAS FAILED A TOTAL OF 4 TIMES IN A 4 YEAR PERIOD (57117 MILES, 57722 MILES, 71713 MILES AND 89523 MILES), RESULTING IN TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE BECAUSE OF COOLANT LEAKING INTO AND FOULING INTERNAL PARTS. THE INITIAL DEFECTIVE ENGINE DESIGN WAS NEVER ADDRESSED AND INSTALLING NEW HEADGASKETS PROVIDED ONLY A TEMPORARY BANDAID SOLUTION UNTIL THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD RAN OUT.

BLOWN HEAD GASKETS ON 1995 FORD WINDSTAR THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY WAS AWARE OF AS A PROBLEM ON THIS PARTICULAR MODEL/YEAR. "CHECK ENGINE" WARNING LIGHT KEPT COMING ON BUT NO PROBLEM COULD BE DETECTED. OF COURSE MY "HEAD GASKET" PROBLEM DEVELOPED AFTER THE LIMITED EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. *JB

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HIT AND RUN COLLISION, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, WHICH CAUSED INJURY TO THE CONSUMER.*JB

THE ENGINE PROBLEM WAS THE INFAMOUS HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE WAS OVER THE ARBITRARY 7 YEAR LIMIT, IT WAS FAR BELOW THE 100,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY LIMIT. IN MY OPINION, SETTING A TIME LIMIT IS DISCRIMINATORY AGAINST ANYONE WHO DRIVES FEWER MILES THAN AVERAGE. THE TRANSMMISSION PROBLEM APPEARED SUDDENLY. AFTER WAITING TO TURN LEFT, I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, BUT THE VEHICLE BEHAVED AS THOUGH IT WERE STUCK IN NEUTRAL. BY THE TIME I HAD A TRANSMMISSION EXPERT CHECK THE PROBLEM, IT WOULD NO LONGER SHIFT EITHER INTO REVERSE OR FIRST GEAR.

CONSUMER HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE INFORMATION. PH

LEFT-FRONT AND RIGHT-REAR SLOW AIR LEAKS. TIRE SHOP COULDN'T FIND LEAKS UNDER WATER AND SUGGESTED THAT VEHICLE WEIGHT STRESSES THE WELDED SEAMS OF THE WHEELS CAUSING THE LEAKS. FORD SERVICE PARTS WANTS $110 PER WHEEL BUT CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT LEAKS WILL STOP. ONLINE REPAIR FORUMS KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM AND SUGGEST USING A HOT GLUE GUN AT THE WELDED SEAM BUT THEN THERE'S NOBODY WHO WANTS TO DO THAT AND I CAN'T SINGLE-HANDEDLY REMOVE THE TIRES AND APPLY THE GLUE AND REMOUNT THE TIRES. IT SEEMS THAT FORD HAS BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH WHEELS ON THEIR VEHICLES FOR MANY MODELS OVER MANY YEARS BUT I COULDN'T FIND ANY RECALLS IN YOUR DATABASE. *LA

THE HEAD GASKET IS CRACKED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR HAS A DEFECT IN THE UPPER ENGINE HEAD GASKETS.

AFTER START UP AND DRIVING ABOUT 10 TO 15 MINUTES, TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEEDLE INDICATING ENGINE IS HOT. DEALER DIAGNOSIS IS THE HEAD GASKET. TS HEAD GASKETS, THERMOSTAT AND SPARK PLUGS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TT

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT LIT UP AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE SPIKED INTO THE RED ZONE. THE NEXT MORNING I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC WHO LATER INFORMED ME THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD FAILED, COOLANT HAD LEAKED INTO AT LEAST ONE CYLINDER AND THE TIMING CHAIN. I CONTACTED FORD BECAUSE I HAD RECEIVED A NOTICE OF AN EXTENSION TO THE WARRANTY FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM. HOWEVER FORD ONLY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 7 YEARS AND 100,000 MILES. THIS VEHICLE HAS 98,000 MILES ON IT AND IS 8 YEARS AND 3 MONTHS OLD. AS A RESULT FORD WILL NOT SERVICE THE CAR UNDER THE WARRANTY EXTENSION. MY MECHANIC TELLS ME THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR FORD ENGINE AND THAT HE HAS HAD TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET ON NUMEROUS VEHICLES WITHT HIS ENGINE.

TOOK 1995 FORD WINDSTAR TO HALDEMAN FORD (THIS WHERE I PURCHASED THE VAN), BECAUSE IT WAS OVERHEATING, THEY MADE THE REPAIR WHICH WE PAID $614.54 AND TOLD US THAT WE NEEDED A HEAD GASKET, WE HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE USED VEHICLE AND THAT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE INCLUDED ON THE WARRANTY, BUT THEY TOLD US THAT BECAUSE WE DID NOT MAINTENANCE THE CAR THE PROPER WE HAD TO PAY FOR IT OURSELF, AND THAT WE HAD TO BUY A NEW ENGINE (NOT A HEAD GASKET LIKE THEY SAID AT FIRST) AND PAY OUT OF OUR POCKET $3,000 NOT INCLUDING LABOR. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT STEPS SHOULD WE TAKE IN ORDER FOR SOME ONE TO HEAR US OUT. I ALSO HAVE COPIES OF THE WARRANTY, RECEIPTS FOR THE OIL CHANGE AND THE RECEIPT THAT I HAD PAID FOR THE REPAIR. THANK YOU . *AK

ENGINE DEFECT - BLOWN HEAD GASKET RESULTED IN DANGEROUS SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER/OVERHEATING CONDITION FOR THE DRIVER, AND A DANGER TO OTHER TRAFFIC DUE TO HEAVY SMOKE AND WATER FROM THE TAIL PIPE ON THE ROADWAY IN SUBFREEZING TEMPERATURES. FORD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RECALL THESE ENGINES FOR THE KNOWN HEAD GASKET DEFECT THAT CONTINUES TO BE A MAJOR HAZARD.*JB

I WAS TOLD ON 1-15-03 BY MULLINAX FORD SERVICE DEPT. IN AMHERST, OHIO THAT I NEEDED NEW HEAD GASKETS AND ENGINE IN MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. THERE WAS A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW IN THOSE ENGINES AND FORD KNOWS IT. THEY DID AN EXTENDED 7 YEAR, 100,000 MILE WARANTEE ON IT AND BECAUSE OF MY LOW MILES (57,800) I DID NOT EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM UNTIL NOW. I AM 10 MONTHS PAST THE WARANTEE. I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE ENGINES AND SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THEM ALL. I HAVE GONE THROUGH MANY CHANNELS AND FORD WILL NOT HELP ME. THE COST ESTIMATE FOR MY REPAIR WAS $4,500.00. THIS IS NOW AN UNSAFE VEHICLE.

HEAD GASKET GONE, DEALER SAYS THE ENGINE IS GOING, DUE TO LEAK FROM HEAD GASKET DAMAGING BEARINGS ON CRANKSHAFT. FORD IS AWARE OF THIS, AND CONTINUES TO ALLOW THIS, WHILE THEIR DEALERS CONTINUE TO PROFIT FROM THIS ENGINEERING FLAW. IT IS A SLAP IN THE FACE, TO LOSE $4000 DOLLARS TO A KNOWN FLAW, AND WORSE TO HAVE TO HAVE THE DEALER, TELL YOU ENTIRELY ABOUT IT, TO SELL YOU ANOTHER VEHICLE! PURCHASED FOR $8200 IN MAY 02,WARRANTY EXPIRED AUG 02, VEHICLE IS DEAD JAN 03 (OFFERED $2000 SO THE DEALER CAN SELL IT TO SOMEONE ELSE?)IT HAS BEEN A COSTLY YEAR.

AC COOLANT WAS LOW AND SWITCHING MECHANISM HAD TO BE REPLACED. AT 54000 MILES WAS TOLD TIMING COVER WAS LEAKING AND HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING. HEAD GASKET WAS FINALLY COVERED AT NO CHARGE BUT TIMING COVER GOT LITTLE RELIEF. NOW AT 80000 MILES, THE COIL ASSEMBLY FAILS AND I AM TOLD THAT MY HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING AGAIN AND THE DEALER SAYS THEY ONLY GUARANTEE THEIR WORK FOR ONE YEAR. WE HAD THE HEAD GASKET FIXED ON THE RECALL. IT APPEARS THE HEADGASKET MAY BE LEAKING AGAIN (ONE FORD DEALER SAYS IT LEAKS ANOTHER SAYS IT DOESN'T). WE ARE IN FOR REGULAR SERVICING NEXT WEEK --WE WILL SEE WHAT THEY FIND). OUR VEHICLE BEING REPAIRED ONCE AND BEYOND 7YRS OLD SEEMS TO BE BEYOND WHAT WILL BE COVERED. THE VAN HAS ONLY 139,000 KILOMETERS ON IT (SO WE ARE NOT PAST THE 100,000 MILE BARRIER). WE HAVE HAD ANOTHER GASKET ON THE TIME COVER REPLACED WHICH I THINK WAS ALSO A RECALL ITEM. I APPRECIATE KEEPING UP THE PRESSURE IN THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST FORD.

I HAVE OWNED THIS VAN SINCE 1999. SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT. I HAVE HAD THE ROTORS TURNED, AND REPLACED AT LEAST 3 TIMES, AND THEY NEED IT AGAIN. I HAVE HAD THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED 3 TIMES AND ONE OF THEM TIMES WAS AT 99,000 MILES WHEN IT WAS UNDER THE WARRENTY. IT HAD BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST ONE TIME BEFORE THAT. MY SLIDING DOOR WON'T STAY CLOSED, EVEN THOUGH I JUST SPENT $300 GETTING A NEW LATCHED PUT ON. MY WINDOWS WON'T WORK. I HAD LARSON MOTORS FIX A HEAD GASKET AND MY ELECTRONIC WINDOWS, COST ME OVER $250 FOR THE WINDOW, THAT ONLY WORKED 2 TIMES. I CALLED, AND SINCE THEY PUT "MAY NOT BE THE PROBLEM" ON THE INVOICE, THEY THINK THAT CLEARS THEM, AND THEY WANTED ME TO SPEND MORE MONEY ON ANOTHER PART. MY SPEEDOMETOR HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE AND IS BROKE AGAIN. THE ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED. I COULD GO ON AND ON. I AM GETTING NO WHERE WITH ANYONE. I HAVE SPENT AROUND 5,000.00 IN REPAIRS, AND CAN'T TRADE THE THING OFF, SINCE I STILL OWE TOO MUCH ON IT, DUE TO A TORNADO THAT HIT OUR HOME, AND WHAT THE INSURANCE DIDN'T COVER, THE BALANCE WAS PUT ON OUR CAR LOAN. WE DON'T HAVE THE BEST CREDIT DO TO HAVING TO SPEND ANYWHERE FROM $100-300+ A MONTH ON REPAIRS TO THIS LEMON CAR. I HAVE A FAMILY AND NEED TO KNOW THAT I HAVE A RELIABLE CAR TO DRIVE. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED WITH MY 3 CHILDREN A MINIMUM OF 4 TIMES THIS PAST YEAR.

1995 FORD WINDSTAR, TRANSMISSION FAILURE, ELECTRICAL GREMLINS, POWER STEERING BOX FAILURE, ENGINE FAILURE. *LA

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE HEAD GASKET TIMING CHAIN SNAP CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

BLOWN HEAD CASKITS AT 62,000 MILES WHICH FORD FIXED AT NO COST DUE TO DEFECT AND NOW AGAIN AT 92,000 MILES IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN AND THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT SINCE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY OF 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILE WHICHEVER COMES FIRST SINCE IT IS 7 YEARS OLD. THEY KNOW IT IS THEIR PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND VERIFIED BLOWN HEAD CASKETS FOR THE 2ND TIME

FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE, PUNCTURED PASSENGER FRONT TIRE, THIS WAS AFTER INSPECTION AT DEALERSHIP FOR RECALL NOTICE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED SPRINGS AND ONE TIRE. I REPLACED STRUTS AND OTHER THREE TIRES. NO WAY CAN A QUICK VISUAL INSPECTION ALLOW A TECH TO KNOW IF COIL SPRING IS LIKELY TO HAVE METAL FATIGUE/FAILURE. *NLM

CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE HEAD GASKET BLEW, CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK.*JB

BROKEN SWAY BAR DETECTED DURING STATE SAFETY INSPECTION.

HEAD GASKET BLEW ON 1995 FORD WINDSTAR ON JANUARY 3, 2003, APPROXIMATELY 7 YRS, 3 MTHS AFTER PURCHASE OF CAR, WHILE ON TRIP APPROXIMATELY 450 MILES FROM HOME. MY MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 73,000 MILES. FORD KNEW THAT HEAD GASKET HAD PRODUCT DEFECT AND AVOIDED A NHTSA RECALL BY ENTERING INTO A VOLUNTARY REPAIR PROGRAM FOR 1995 FORD WINDSTARS WITH GASKET PROBLEMS IF PROBLEM OCCURS WITHIN 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES (WHICHEVER COMES FIRST). I TRIED TO GET FORD TO REPAIR WITHIN THE TIME PERIOD BUT HEAD GASKET WAS NOT DAMAGED. FORD SAID I WOULD HAVE TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEM. I EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM AT 7 YEARS, 3 MONTHS. FORD WILL NOT PAY FOR REPAIR. CAR IS APPRAISED FOR TRADE-IN (WITH PROBLEM) AT $4000 BELOW BLUE BOOK PRICE. CALLS TO FORD (DEALER AND CORPORATE OFFICE) ARE TOTALLY IGNORED.

ON 1/3/03 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO FORD DEALER THAT HAD REPLACED THE FIRST ENGINE AT 67,000 DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE. DEALER NOTIFIED ME THAT HEAD GASKET HAD FAILED AGAIN WITH 124,000 MILES THIS TIME. AFTER DEALER TOOK ENGINE APART TO CHECK THE PROBLEM,DEALER NOTIFIED ME TO TELL ME NOW ITS THE WHOLE ENGINE THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS WOULD BE THE SECOND TIME WITH IN 124,000 MILES. FORD WOULD NOT COVER UNDER RECALL WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE 3,000 DOLLARS TO FIX. AFTER I REFUSED DEALER COSTS AT 3,000 DOLLARS DEALER WANTED 800 DOLLARS TO PUT ENGINE BACK TOGETHER STILL NOT FIXED HAD VAN TOWED HOME WITH ENGINE IN BOXES. HAVE PAPER WORK FROM DEALER THAT SHOWS THEY NEVER HAD PERMISSION TO TAKE ENGINE APART. THEY ONLY HAD APPROVAL TO DO A DIAGNOSIS TEST. *NLM

WE OWN A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR VA N THAT HAD A RECALL FOR BAD HEADS & HEAD GASKETS. IN 2001 THE ENGINE BLEW UP,AND FORD SAID THEY WOULD FIX IT FOR FREE. AFTER NEARLY THREE TO FOUR WEEKS THEY GAVE THE VAN BACK WITH A NEW SHORT BLOCK AND SAID IT WAS FIXED. IT RAN ALRIGHT FOR ABOUT 1 YEAR, THEN IT STARTED NOT PEFORMING LIKE IT SHOULD.I CHANGED THE SPARK PLUGS AND THAT SEEMED TO WORK. THEN IT GOT COLD THIS WINTER, AND MY WIFE SAID SHE HAD NO HEAT. I ADDED RADIATOR FLUID AND IT HEATED UP. THREE DAYS LATER , SHE SAID SHE HAD NA HEAT AGAIN! I LOOKED UP RECALLS AND NOTICED HOW MANY PROBLEMS FORD HAS HAD WITH THIS MODEL YEARS HEAD GASKETS! I CALLED FORDS 800 NUMBER AND WAS TOLD YOU HAVE NO WARRANTY LEFT ON YOUR VAN! THEY TOLD US IT EXPIRED AFTER 1 YEAR! I AM A RETIRED ON DISABILTY,AND CANNOT AFFORD THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN MAJOR REPAIRS. WHAT MAKES IT WORSE IS THAT FORD KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEMS THEY HAD WITH THE HEAD GASKETS IN THIS MODEL YEAR.I FEEL TOTALY RIPPED OFF ,BECAUSE AN ENGINE SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN JUST UNDER TWO YEARS! I HAVE ALREADY PUT MORE THAN A THOUSAND DOLLARS INTO TRANSMISSION REPAIRS INTO THIS VEHICLE! FORD SHOULD MAKE GOOD ON A PROBLEM THEY KNEW ABOUT,BUT DID NOT RECTIFY,BUT RATHER JUST REPAIRED THE DAMAGED PARTS,AND SENT ME ON MY WAY! THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN, BUT NOW FORD REFUSES TO FIX IT!I AM WITHOUT A CAR NOW BECAUSE OF THIS.

THE RUBBER SEALS ON THE SIDE DOOR AND DRIVER DOOR HAVE ALL STRETCHED OUT AND FALLEN. THIS CAUSES A PROBLEM IF IT FALLS DOWN BY THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OR ONE CAN TRIP GOING OUT THE SIDE DOOR. THEY DO NOT BREAK FROM USE THEY STRETCH AND/OR THE GLUE COMES OFF AND THEY FALL.*AK

CYLINDAR HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON A 1995 WINDSTAR WITH LESS THAN 64,000 MILES

JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR BLEW THE HEAD GASKET. THE CAR ONLY HAD 56,200 MILES ON IT. WHY ISN'T FORD BEING FORCED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS?*AK

DUE TO A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET, THE VEHICLE BLEW A THICK CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE FROM THE TAILPIPE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD A VOLUNTARY HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT PROGRAM THAT EXPIRED 1 MONTH PRIOR TO GASKET FAILING. *JB

FAILURE OF 1995 WINDSTAR ENGINE FOR THE 3RD TIME. FIRST TIME ENGINE GASKET FIXED, THEN AT 50,000 MILES 2ND GASKET FIXED , THEN FAILED AT 72000. FIRST 2 FIXES COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTIES BUT THE LAST ONE I WAS REQUIRED TO PAY TO FIX. HAVE DISPOSED OF THIS VEHICLE. *JB