1995 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

NHTSA RECALL 99V309000 AND MFR RECALL:99S33/ FUEL TANK CRACKS. DIDN'T DO RECALL REPAIRS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS IN A PRIOR ACCIDENT AND HAS A SALVAGE TITLE. *AK *ML

THE HEADGASKET PROBLEM IS OBVIOUSLY A FACTORY DEFECT, EVEN IF THE VEHICLE IS OVER THE 100,000 LIMIT, IT SHOULD BE PAID FOR BY FORD, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IT ALREADY BLEW UP AT 52,000 MILES AND WAS BADLY FIXED THEN, THAT IS WHY IT BLEW UP AGAIN NOW. NHTSA SHOULD MAKE FORD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS HEADGASKET PROBLEM, AND ALSO FOR THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THANK YOU. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS FAILED, CAUSING THE ENGINE COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ALSO INTERMITTENT STALLING. GASKETS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALER TWICE, AND THE ENGINE HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE.*AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY. *MJS

WHEN APPLYING ABS BRAKES ON A SLIGHT DOWN GRADE PEDAL RESISTS AND BECOMES VERY HARD WHICH CAUSES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED CAUSING COOLANT LOSS. NLM

WHILE TRAVELING VEHICLE OVERHEATED, AND TEMPERATURE WAS ON HIGH. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND STATED CRACKED HEAD GASKET. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHEN DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED AN ANTI-FREEZE SMELL WITHIN THE PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT. WHEN VEHICLE OVERHEATED, CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER STATED THAT ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. ALSO, TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

RECALL 99S33 SAYS "WINDSTAR MAY BE EXPOSED TO VERY HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES IN MY AREA AND THEY HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE RMINED THAT THE FUEL TANK IN MY VEHICLE MAY CRACK AS A RESULT OF TEMPERATURES. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE. DEALER WILL INSTALLED A REVISED FUEL TANK STRAP AND A SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FUEL TANK BRACE DESIGNED TO ELIMINATE THE POTENTIAL FOR FUEL TANK STRESS CRACKS ON THE WINDSTAR. IN THE CARE WHERE THE FUEL TANK IS ALREADY LEAKING FROM A STRESS CRACK, A REPLACEMENT TANK WILL BE INSTALLED AT NO CHARGE. MY QUESTION IS - IF THE CRACKS ARE CAUSED FROM VERY HIGH TEMPERATURES, HOW CAN A FUEL TANK STRAP AND A FUEL TANK BRACE ELIMINATE POTENTIAL FUEL TANK STRESS CRACKS ON THIS VEHICLE. SEEMS THIS PROCEDURE MAY STABILIZE THE FUEL TANK BUT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH STRESS CRACKS CAUSED BY HIGH TEMPERATURES. MY AUTOMOBILE IS IN SHOP AS I PREVIOUSLY WROTE TODAY FOR BLOWN HEAD GASKETS, AND FORD AND DEALERSHIP ARE REFUSING TO HONOR THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY. I DO NOT WISH TO JEOPARDIZE MYSELF OR MY PASSENGERS UNDER THE FALSE PRETENSES THAT A STRAP IS GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO A DEFECTIVE FUEL TANK THAT IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO CRACKS UNDER EXCESSIVE TEMPERATURES WHICH ARE THE CONDITIONS THAT NORMAL IN THE GULF COAST AREA. PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW THIS STRAP AND BRACE WILL PREVENT FUTURE LEAKAGE FROM TEMPERATURES AND POTENTIAL FIRE. *AK

REGIONAL RECALL 99R33 - GAS TANK STRAPS INSTALLED. CONCERN ABOUT FAILURE OF TANK DUE TO HIGH TEMPERATURE FLEXING, AS DESCRIBED IN THE REGIONAL RECALL. IT APPEARS TO ME THE POTENTIAL OF FAILURE AND A FIRE IS JUST AS LIKELY AS IN THE LISTED STATES. ALSO, THIS VEHICLE MAY IN FACT END UP IN ONE OF THE LISTED STATES. THIS IS A FOIRE HAZZARD THAT SHOULD BE FIXED IN ALL WINSTAR VEHICLES. IT APPEARS FORD RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM AND FIXED IT IN THE 1996 MODELS; THUS SHOWING THERE IS A DEFECTIVE SYSTEM IN 1995 MODELS. FORD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO FIX ALL AFFECTED MEDELS, OR SHOW THE REATRAINING BRACKETS DI IN FACT FIX THE PROBLEM.A

POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE CAUSED LOSS OF POWER, LOSS OF COOLANT AND OVERHEATING. YH

HEAD GASKETS BLEW, LEAKING TIMING BELT GASKET, BLOWN SPEED SENSOR, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS

TRANSMISSION HAS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY. HARD SHIFTS BETWEEN GEARS, AND REVERSE GEAR FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. HAVE HAD TO FORD MANY TIMES IN LAST 5 YEARS (WHEN UNDER WARRANTY) AND THEY REFUSED TO LOOK AT OR FIX SAYING "THAT'S THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE" (DON'T THINK THAT'S TRUE SINCE THERE ARE DAYS I CAN'T BACK MY VAN UP). FORD HAS NEVER OWNED UP TO THIS PROBLEM. THE 1995 WINDSTAR IS A LEMON WITH MULTIPLE PROBLEMS AND SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE ROAD. OTHER PROBLEMS ARE A LEAKY ENGINE HEAD GASKET AND SPONGY/FAULTY ABS BRAKES. *AK

RECEIVED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY NOTICE ON HEAD GASKET. WHEN VAN BEGAN OVERHEATING AND USING COOLANT I TOOK IT IN TO HAVE THE HEAD GASKET CHECKED. IT WAS FOUND TO BE BAD AND REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, MECHANIC ALSO INSPECTED TIMING COVER GASKET AND FOUND IT WAS ALSO LEAKING BUT NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS UNABLE TO AFFORD THE REPAIRS FOR THE TIMING COVER GASKET AND MECHANIC ADVISED IT WOULD BE OK TO DRIVE IF I WATCH COOLANT LEVEL UNTIL I CAN GET THIS FIXED. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THE I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR AS IT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS BECAME APPARENT WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED SHIFTING ROUGHLY AND THEN COULD NOT BE PUT IN REVERSE. TRANSMISSION REQUIRED REBUILDING. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND AT ANY TIME VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE WITHOUT OPERATOR DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAUSING UNWANTED AND UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

TRANSMISSION REPLACED. *CJ

TIMING BELT AND OXYGEN SENSOR CHANGED, CAUSING THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT TO COME ON, DURING REPAIR MECHANIC NOTICED FAILED HEAD GASKET WHICH WAS CAUSING ENGINE OVERHEATING. *CJ

HEAD GASKETT FAILED LETTING WATER INTO BLOCK. *AK

VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE, CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO PICK UP THE SPEED NEEDED TO TRAVEL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DEALER HAS BEEN OCNTACTED. *AK

CONSUMER HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED DUE TO A LEAKING HEAD GASKET, THE CONSUMER HEARD OF A SECRET WARRANTY AND WAS QUESTIONING IF THIS VEHICLE COULD BE COVERED UNDER THAT WARRANTY. *SLC

CONSUMER WAS DENIED RECALL REPAIRS (MANUFACTURER'S RECALL REGARDING HEAD GASKETS) DUE TO THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE WAS BEYOND THE CUT OFF, THE VEHICLE IS NOW EXPERIENCING LEAKING FROM THE FRONT CASE WHICH IS FROM THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKETS. *SLC

THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE IS NOW SEIZED. NLM

TIMING GASKET COVER REPLACED AT MY COST ALTHOUGH HEAD GASKET WAS RECALLED.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING HOOD FLIPPED BACKWARDS, HITING WINDSHIELD, AND CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. THEN VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

A DESIGN FLAW CAUSES ROCKS, WHEN KICKED UP OFF THE TIRES TO BECOME LODGED IN THE STRUT RESULTING IN FRONT END NOISE. NKM

DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW THAT ALLOWS ROCKS TO KICK UP OFF THE TIRES INTO THE STRUTS THE FRONT END MAKES A LOUD POPPING SOUND. NLM

SPEEDOMETER WOULD BE THE THIRD ONE TO BE REPLACED, CAN'T TELL HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING

THE VEHICLE HAS HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED ON AVERAGE EVERY 6,000 MILES. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS BEEN REPLACED AT 40,000 MILES, THE HEAD GASKET AT 20,000. THE CUTTING OUT, ENGINE FAILURE HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE HEAD GASKET WAS CORRECTED. FORD HAS RESPONDED TO A WRITTEN LETTER, AT WHICH TIME I WAS ACCUSED FOR FORGING MY HUSBAND'S SIGNATURE (LATER I WAS TOLD HE WAS JUST KIDDING). THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TRANSPORTATION FOR MY 3 CHILDREN. WHEN MOVING OUT INTO TRAFFIC, WE ARE IN DANGER OF A COLLISION IF THE ENGINE FAILS, AS IT OFTEN DOES. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT MYSELF OR MY HUSBAND WITH ANY QUESTIONS. BARBARA SMITH. *AK *JB ****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****724221.

HEAD GASKET DEFECT. *AK

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGES TO VEHICLE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

FORD HAS MADE GOOD ON THE REPAIR BY REIMBURSEMENT UNDER ONP. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED. NLM

FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKE, CASING FRONT SUSPENSION TO DROP DOWN ONTO THE FRONT TIRES. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, INTERIOR LIGHTS DON'T GO OFF WHEN DOORS CLOSE. *SLC

TRANSMISSION BEGAN SHIFTING FUNNY SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE;SLIGHT SLIPPING ON SHIFT,ESP. AT HIWAY SPEEDS.TOOK TO HAMPTON FORD DEALER IN HAMPTON,NH.THEY SAID THAT THE COMPUTER SHOWED NO SIGNS OF SLIPPAGE,AND CHARGED US $75.00 FOR DIAGNOSIS,NOT MENTIONED TO US THAT THAT WAS NOT COVERED IN THE EXTENDED WARRENTY WE HAD PURCHASED WITH THE VAN.NOW,THE PROBLEM HAS BECOME FAR WORSE;IN ORDER TO ACCELERATE AT HIWAY SPEEDS OR FROM STAND-STILL AFTER VEHICLE IS WARMED,I HAVE TO FLOOR THE ACCELERATOR TO GET A PROPER DOWNSHIFT/ACCELERATION.MY PREGNANT WIFE AND THREE CHILDREN,AGES 1 YEAR TO 13 YEARS ARE OFTEN WITH HER IN THE VAN(REASON WE BOUGHT A MINI-VAN)...WE HAVE GOTTEN A RECALL ON PARTICULAR ENGINE CONDITIONS;WHY NOT FOR THE TRANSAXLE?I CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE IT REPLACED,AND ALTHOUGH AN EXPERIENCED AUTO MECHANIC,AND CERTIFICATED AIRCRAFT MECHANIC,HAVE NO MEANS OF EQUIPMENT TO DO THE JOB MYSELF.I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD PRODUCT,AS THEY HAVE APPARENTLY NOT LEARNED ANYTHING FROM THE PINTO,ESCORT NOR ANY OTHER OF THE MECHANICAL JUNK THEY CONTINUE TO PRODUCE.I DO NOT TRUST THIS VEHICLE TO TRANSPORT MY FAMILY,AND FEEL THAT SOMEONE SHOULD HAVE PICKED UP ON THIS WITH MY FIRST VISIT...NOW FORD VEHICLES ARE IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT AT UNDER 70,000 MILES???*AK

ON JUNE 27, 2000, I HEARD A TICKING NOISE AND TOOK THE VAN INTO MULLINAX TO HAVE IT CHECKED. THEY DID A THOROUGH CHECK AND INFORMED ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE TIMING COVER GASKET AND COULD BE REPAIRED FOR APPROXIMATELY $900. I WANTED TO HAVE MY OWN MECHANIC CHECK IT OUT. HE LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THAT THE TIMING COVER GASKET WAS NOT LEAKING; HOWEVER THE HEAD GASKET WAS. HE WAS LEAVING FOR VACATION, SO HE COULD NOT WORK ON IT FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. I THEN TOOK IT TO ANOTHER RESPECTED MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD IMMEDIATELY THAT THE TICKING WAS COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THE HEAD GASKET WAS ALSO BAD. HE RECOMMENDED I TAKE IT TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST IMMEDIATELY AND BRING IT BACK TO HIM FOR THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. ON THE WAY TO THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR (JULY 5), THE TRANSMISSION WENT, COMPLETELY NEEDING TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $2,000. THE HEAD GASKET REPAIR WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $650. THE TIMING COVER GASKET DOES NOT EVEN NEED REPLACED, WHICH WAS THE ONLY THING MULLINAX TOLD ME WAS WRONG WITH IT. AFTER RESEARCHING, I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED ALMOST IDENTICAL PROBLEMS. FORD DID EXTEND THE WARRANTLY TO 100,000 MILES. UNFORTUNATELY, I AM OVER THAT AMOUNT. BY EXTENDING THE WARRANTY, THEY HAVE ADMITTED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT MAKING A LIMIT ON THE MILEAGE IS UNFAIR, CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT ALMOST EVERYONE WHO OWNS A 1995 WINDSTAR HAS EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM (OR WILL IF IT HASN'T HAPPENED YET.) FORD WILL OFFER NO ASSISTANCE. THEY WON'T EVEN GIVE OUT PHONE NUMBERS TO ANYONE HIGHER THAN A DISTRICT MANAGER. THE PEOPLE ON TOP JUST SIT IN THEIR QUIET OFFICES AND DENY THESE CLAIMS. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO PROTECT INNOCENT PEOPLE. I DO NOT HAVE $2600 FOR THESE REPAIRS. THEY SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ERROR.*AK

SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT WE WERE LUCKY VAN DID NOT CATCH ON FIRE.I NOW HAVE NO VEHICLE .SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATED THEY WILL KEEP THE VAN UNTIL THEY CAN MAKE IT SAFE TO DRIVE. ALSO THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT COVERED .I AM LOOKING AT A BILL OF AT LEAST 800.00 DOLLARS NOT FAIR I SAY!. *AK

ALL THE POWER WINDOWS IN THE VEHICLE WERE STUCK IN AN UP POSITION DUE TO ALL THE WIRING MELTING TOGETHER. DEALER HAS VEHICLE CURRENTLY.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE HESITATED AND THEN EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *ET

WE ARE CURRENTLY FIGHTING A FAILED TRANSMISSION. WHEN WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP LAST WEEK, WE WERE TOLD THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED. THE DEALER ADVISED US THAT BOTH SCENARIOS WERE COVERED BY A 12 MONTH/12000 MILE WARRANTY, BUT IF WE ELECTED THE OVERHAUL OPTION, IF A PART FAILED THAT WASN'T FIXED, THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT. WE ELECTED THE HIGHER PRICED REPLACEMENT. WE WERE ADVISED TO COME BACK THE FOLLOWING WEEK AND THE DEALER WOULD ORDER A NEW TRANSMISSION. MY WIFE TOOK OFF WORK AND DROVE AN HOUR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO LEAVE OFF THE CAR. WHEN SHE GOT THERE, THE DEALER TOLD HER THAT FORD HAS STOPPED ALL SHIPMENTS OF THIS TRANSMISSION AND THAT HE WOULD BE UNABLE TO ORDER OUR REPLACEMENT. FORD WOULD GIVE HIM NO FIRM DATE ON WHEN WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION. SINCE FORD HAD DECIDED THAT CUSTOMER SUPPORT WAS A MATTER OF MINOR IMPORTANCE, WE HAD NO OPTION BUT TO REPAIR THE EXISTING TRANSMISSION AND RUN THE RISK THAT THE WARRANTY WOULD COVER ANYTHING THAT HAPPENED. WE HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKETS ON THIS VEHICLE AND THE OXYGEN SENSORS. I WILL TELL YOU THAT IMMEDIATELY UPON GETTING THIS VEHICLE BACK AFTER THE TRANSMISSION IS REPAIRED, IT IS BEING TRADED IN ON ANYTHING ELSE AND I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER FORD. WHEN IT COMES TO CUSTOMER SUPPORT FROM FORD, WE HAVE HAD ZERO. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE MANUFACTURERS RECALL COMPONENT (HEAD GASKET) CONSUMER HAS HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE DUE TO DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. YH

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THE TIMING COVER GASKET IS LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE ACCORDING TO DEALER. WILL COST BETWEEN $650 AND $850 (DEPENDING ON DEALER) TO REPLACE GASKET. DEALER EXPLAINED THAT IF LEAK BECOMES INTERNAL, ENGINE MAY BE HARMED.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND SOME CLUNKING AS VEHICLE SLOWED FROM 65 TO 35MPH. DEALER SAID THAT INNER TIE ROD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE BUT THE CONSUMER WAS DENIED REPAIR BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OVER 100,000 MILES, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SYMPTOMS OF THE RECALL. NLM

NO SUMMARY

NOT CONTACTED AND UNAWARE OF THE RECALL ON 1995 FORD WINDSTAR FOR HEAD GASKET FAILURES.I'VE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY ENGINE FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR NOW.I JUST CROSSED THE 100,000 MILE MARK IN THE PAST 2 MONTH'S, AND THE HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN.I'M NOT SURE WHY THE MANUFACTURER DOES NOT SEND OUT LETTERS TO INFORM THERE CUSTOMERS OF OBVIOUS AND MAJOR DEFECTS TO THERE VEHICLE'S. WHAT IF ANY ACTIONS CAN I TAKE TO OFFSET SOME OF THE COST OF REPAIRING THIS VEHICLE MANUFACTURED DEFECT. THANKYOU