1994 Ford Mustang complaints

I HAVE HEARD ABOUT BLOWN HEAD GASKETS IN FORD WINDSTARS AND SOME INFORMATION ABOUT MUSTANGS, I JUST WANTED TO FILE A COMPLAINT TO GET MUSTANGS INVOLVED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ALSO. I RECENTLY TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT HAD COME ON AND I WAS ORIGINALLY TOLD THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO FLUSH OUT MY RADIATOR. AFTER THAT, I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE MY WATER PUMP. AFTER THEY HAD REPLACED THAT I ASKED TO SEE IT AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE IT ANYMORE. I WAS THEN CALLED LATER AND TOLD THAT MY HEAD GASKETS WERE BLOWN AND THAT WOULD COST ME AN ADDITIONAL $1500 ON TOP OF THE OTHER $800 THAT I WAS BEING CHARGED FOR. I BEGAN TO DO RESEARCH ON THIS AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I AM. MY CAR IS WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND ONLY HAS 50,000 MILES ON IT. I'M COMPLAINING IN HOPES THAT FORD WILL RECOGNIZE THIS AS A PROBLEM AND REIMBURSE ME FOR FIXING THEIR PROBLEM. *AK

FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH HEAD GASKETS IN THEIR VEHICLES WHICH HAVE A 3.9L, V-6 ENGINE. RECENTLY FORD ISSUED A PRESS RELEASE STATING THAT THEY WERE EXTENDING THE WARRANTY FOR SEVERAL CARS THAT HAVE THE 3.8L V-6 ENGINE. THE MUSTANG MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED. IF YOU VISIT THE WEB SITE WWW.THECOMPLAINTSTATION.COM YOU WILL SEE SEVERAL HUNDRED COMPLAINTS POSTED REGARDING BLOWN HEADGASKETS IN FORD MUSTANGS EQUIPPED WITH A 3.8L, V-6 ENGINE. TO DATE, FORD HAS DONE NOTHING TO RECTIFY THIS COLOSSAL PROBLEM. I AM SEARCHING FOR A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT TO BECOME INVOLVED IN AGAINST FORD. SO FAR, I HAVE NOT FOUND ONE IN PROGRESS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME!! *AK

THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 70,000 MILES WITH A 3.8 LITER ENGINE, AND THE ENGINE HAS AN BLOWN HEAD GASKET WHICH CAUSES ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. MANUFACTURER IS PROVIDING ADDITIONAL WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE WINDSTAR AND THE TAURUS MANUFACTURED IN 1994 AND 1995 . PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE METAL SEALING RING, WITHIN THE HEAD GASKET, THAT IS TO FORM A HIGH PRESSURE SEAL BETWEEN THE CYLINDER BLOCK AND HEAD IS NOT CONCENTRIC TO THE CYLINDER. THIS DEFECT OCCURRED WITH BOTH(2) HEAD GASKETS(SAME CYLINDER LOCATION). THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT OCCURED WITH THE '95-'96 3.8L TRANSVERSE ENGINES (FORD ISSUED A TSB FOR A '96 WINSTAR I OWN).) *AK

I AM GOING TO REPLACE THE ENGINE IN MY CAR FOR THE SECOND TIME-DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD GASKETS AND ALUMINUM HEADS AND BLOCK. *AK

PARKING BRAKE FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL RESULTING IN ACCIDENT. YH

ENGINE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH. IT IS DAMAGING THE ENGINE BLOCK . ENGINE NEEDS TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAVE BLOWN, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING FROM FLORIDA TO WISCONSIN THE CAR OVERHEATED ON THE HIGHWAY IN NORTHERN ALABAMA. I PULLED OFF HIGHWAY AND HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A GARAGE FOR REPAIR . THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN AND NEEDED TO BE RE PLACED. THE MECHANIC CONTACTED THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN CULLMAN AL. THEY REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM. I HAD THE CAR REPAIRED AT A COST OF $950.00 . I HAVE SEEN IN YOUR WEB PAGE THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THERE MUSTANGS OF THE SAME YEAR AND SIMILAR MILEAGE. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND SHOULD BE ADDRESED BY FORD. I FEEL FORD SHOULD TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY AND PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AND OTHER INCONVIENCES I ENCURED. *AK

FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT WILL NOT PULL OUT TO LATCH, COMPLETELY JAMMED IN SEAT BELT RETRACTOR. *AK

WHEN THE REAR DEFOGGER WAS TURNED ON, REAR WINDSHIELD SHATTERED. THE BLACK PART OF THE WIRE THAT CONNECTS ONTO REAR WINDSHIELD WAS MELTED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. REPAIRS WILL BE MADE AT OWNER'S COST. *AK *ML

FUEL TANK FILLER NECK SEAL FAILED, THE GAS LEAKS ON THE EXHAUST PIPE. *SLC

SEAT BACK COLLASPED, OWNER OWNED A 1981 FORD MUSTANG THAT EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. *MJS

THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET WENT OUT. *SLC

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

AT FIRST OCCURRENCE THE WATER PUMP GASKET / TIMING COVER GASKET FAILED ON ORIGINAL MOTOR. HAD THAT REPLACED PUT CAR IN STORAGE FOR THE WINTER. MIDWAY THROUGH THE 1998 SUMMER HEAD GASKET WENT OUT AND THIS TIME IT LET THE ANTI-FREEZE INTO THE ENGINE AND SPUN THE BEARINGS. I HAD THE FORD DEALER INSTALL A RECONDITIONED 3.8 (I HAD TO PAY FOR IT). CAR WENT IN SHORTLY AFTER THE ENGINE REPLACMENT AND HAD THE WATER PUMP / TIMING GASKET REPLACED. CAR WENT INTO WINTER STORAGE. THIS YEAR, AFTER DRIVING FOR THE SUMMER, WE NOTICED ENGINE FLUID LEAKING AGAIN! TOOK BACK TO FORD DEALER AND WE WERE TOLD THAT AGAIN, THE WATER PUMP / TIMING COVER GASKETS NEED REPLACING. COST THIS TIME $1056.00. THERE HAS TO BE SOME TYPE OF DEFECT WITH THE FORD 3.8L MOTOR REGARDING THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM. PLEASE ADVISE US ON THIS. THANK YOU. *AK

CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL NUMBER 97V180000/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 97S68. DEALER STATED PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. CONSUMER HAS YET TO HAVE RECALL WORK CORRECTED. *AK

A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET CAUSED OVERHEATING IN THE VEHICLE AND OIL LEAKINGOINTO THE RADIATOR. DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *AK

LUMBAR SUPPORT ISN'T WORKING DUE TO THE HARNESS AND THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT NOT MOVING. *AK

RECALL (97V180000) COULD NOT BE DONE DUE TO NO PARTS. *YC

THE REAR SWAYBAR BROKE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AT THE REAR MOUNTING BOLT. THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE OF A SWAYBAR. IN BOTH CASES, THE SWAYBAR BROKE AT THE REAR MOUNTING HOLE. IN THE FIRST CASE, THE BAR DROPPED DOWN AND SWUNG FREELY UNDER THE CAR.

CAR WOULD LOOSE POWER TO THE TRANSMISSION WHEN COLD CAUSING CAR TO NOT ACCELERATE WHEN ENTERING TRAFFIC SITUATIONS.

SINCE ORIGINAL PURCHASE, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS. DEALER COULDN'T FIND PROBLEM. ONCE PROBLEM WAS FOUND WARRANTY EXPIRED.

CAR SWAYS ON WET ROAD, REAR DISPLACEMENT

THE DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET BROKE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SEIZED WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH IF DRIVING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MJS

REAR GLASS HEAT PRESSURE GLUE FAILURE. TALKED TO THREE REPAIR SHOPS WITH PRICES FROM $350.00 TO $750.00. ONE SHOP SAID THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM ON MUSTANGS. REPLACED REAR WINDOW ON ONE ONLY A YEAR OLD.

I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY CAR OVERHEATING. I TOOK IT IN TO MY REGULAR SHOP TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE OVERHEATING. THEY TESTED THE RADIATOR AND RAN THE CAR, AND IT DID NOT OVERHEAT AGAIN. THE PRESSURE IN THE RADIATOR WAS GOOD. THEY REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, THINKING THAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN STICKING. TWO WEEKS LATER, I DROVE MY CAR FOR A 5 MINUTE DRIVE AND WHEN I REACHED THE DESTINATION, IT WAS OVERHEATING. I TOOK IT IN TO THE SHOP AGAIN AND THIS TIME THEY SAID THE HEAD GASKETS THAT WERE GOING BAD AND WERE CAUSING THE PROBLEM. MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, HAVE THERE BEEN OTHER REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THE 3.8 V6? THE SHOP TOLD ME THEY HAD DONE SIMILAR WORK ON THIS ENGINE, AND THEY THINK IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE, ORIGINATING WITH WHEN IT IS MANUFACTURED. MY CAR HAS 46,000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE OWNED IT FOR LESS THAN A YEAR. I RESEARCHED THE CAR PRIOR TO BUYING IT. I AM UNHAPPY ABOUT THIS SITUATION WITH MY CAR AND WONDER IF I MAY WANT TO SELL IT, BECAUSE OF THE ENGINE PROBLEM. I JUST SPENT $900 FOR THE NEW THERMOSTAT AND HEAD GASKETS, NOT TO MENTION THE NEARLY TWO WEEKS I HAVE SPENT WITHOUT A CAR. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL BE RECALLED. THANKS.

AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM EXPERIENCED TOTAL FAILURE. MECHANIC SAID SYSTEM IS LEAKING FROM EVERY CONCEIVABLE PLACE AND REPLACEMENT OF THE SYSTEM WAS NECESSARY FOR REPAIR AND THE COST WOULD BE $2000. THE MECHANIC RECOMMENDED REGISTERING A COMPLAINT WITH FORD BECAUSE THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM IS RIDICULOUS IN A 4 YEAR OLD CAR. THE SYSTEM HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED TO DATE.

HEAD GASKET FAILURE ALSO CAUSED MULTI-OXYGEN SENSOR FAILURE. FORD IS AWARE OF THE HEAD-GASKET PROBLEMS ON THE 3.8 LITER ENGINE, BUT HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL.

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING OIL. TOOK TO DEALER & THE MECHANIC CHECKED THE PISTONS FOR CRACKS. NONE WAS FOUND. WOULD BE REPAIRING THE HEAD GASKETS & VEHICLE NOT UNDER RECALL. *AK

HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45MPH, CAR STARTED SMOKING. *AK

I BLEW A HEADGASKET AND I HEAR THIS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 3.8LITER ENGINE IN THE 1994 FORD MUSTANGS.*AK

DRIVING ON PARKWAY,NO WARNING, ENGINE SEIZED, TOOK TO MECHANIC STATED INTERNAL PROBLEM. *AK

I HAVE HAD THIS TRANSMISSION REBUILT BY FORD 2 TIMES SO FAR AND THIS SAME PROBLEN KEEPS OCCURRING, AND IT SHUDDERS ON ACCELERATION AND WHILE OVERDRIVE IS ENGAGED IT WILL UPSHIFT AND DOWN SHIFT IN BETWEEN 3 AND 4 GEAR DOES REALLY NOT MATTER WHAT SPEED YOU ARE TRAVELING FOR THIS TO HAPPEN ..... SHOULD THE MANUFACTURER BE HELD REPOSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM AS TO MAKE IT A RECALL ??? THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURED BETWEEN 23,000 MILES AND THEN AGAIN AROUND 35,000 MILES. *AK

WHENEVER THE STEERING WHEELIS TURNED IT MAKES A LOUD SCREECHING GRINDING NOISE, AND IT HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORST WITH TIME.A FORD DEALER TOLD ME THE UPPER STEERING ROD ARMS WERE BAD . THIS IS UNBELIEVEABLE AS THE CAR ONLY HAD I3000 MILES ON IT ,THE DEALER FURTHER STATED THAT HE COULDNT GREASE THE PART BECAUSE IT WAS A SEALED UNIT AND CAME FROM THE MANUFACTURER GREASED .WELL MY CONTENTION IS THAT IF THIS PART COMES FROM THE MANUFACTURER GREASED AND SEALED THE ONE I GOT IS A FAULTY PRODUCT BECAUSE UPPER STEERING ROD ARMS SHOULD NEVER GO BAD AFTER ONLY 13000 MILES OF OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. I TRIED TO GET SOMEONE AT FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO TALK WITH ME ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT ALL I GOT WAS A RUN AROUND FROM THE DEALER TO THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY .NO ONE WOULD ADDRESS THE PROBLEM.I WOULD LIKE TO ADD HERE THAT THERE IS A SAFETY PROBLEM HERE WITH SEVERE POSSIBILITY OF AN ACCIDENT OCCURRING BECAUSE THE STEERING MAL FUNCTIONS BECAUSE OF THE UPPER STEERING ROD ARMS. *AK

DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN A 40 MPH FRONTAL IMPACT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AS RECALL #95V138000 IN THE NHTSA DATA BASE, THE ODOMETER READS MILES, BUT IT IS REGEISTERED IN KILOMETERS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING AND ENGINE FROZE UP. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. HEAD GASKETS BLEW; ENGINE FAILED. NEED TO REPLACE ENGINE. NO ADVANCE WARNING. *AK

VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING DUE TO ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLOWING OUT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THE DEALER NOTICED ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLOWOUT. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY WAITING TO BE REPAIRED. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED DUE TO THE USE OF ALUMINUM HEAD WITH CAST IRON BLOCK (MATERIAL).

THE SERVICE CENTER WHERE MY VEHICLE IS BEING SERVICED SAID THAT THE BLOWN HEAD IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN THE 3.8L ENGINE.THEY SAID THEY FEEL THIS IS CAUSED BECAUSE THE HEADS ARE ALUMINUM AND THE BLOCK IS CAST IORN.

I HAVE EXPERIENCED TWO SEPARATE PROBLEMS WITH MY FORD MUSTANG GT. BOTH PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN "REPAIRED" WHILE THE VEHILCE WAS UNDER WARRANTY, HOWEVER, I FEEL THAT THE ACTIONS TAKEN WERE ONLY SUFFICIENT TO CARRY THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THE LARGEST PROBLEM THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED HAS BEEN WITH MY ANTILOCK BRAKES. ON SIX DIFFERENT OCCASIONS I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE IN THE SHOP AT FORD DEALERS FOR REPAIRS TO MY ANTILOCK BRAKES. THE TYPICAL PROGNOSIS WAS THAT A SENSOR NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. IRONICALLY, ONCE THE VEHCILE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, DUE TO AGE, THE ANTILOCK BRAKE FAILURE REQUIRED A NEW MODULE COSTING APPROXIMATELY $1,200. I PLEADED MY CASE WITH FORD ON THIS EXPENSE AND THEY AGREED TO PICK UP THE COST OF THE REPAIR. NO LATER THAN 4 MONTHS HAD PASSED AND THE PROBLEMS CONTINUED. I PROCRASTINATED SOME FOUR TO FIVE MONTHS PRIOR TO HAVING THE VEHICLE RETURNED TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS TO THE ANTILOCK BRAKES. THIS TIME THE PROBLEM WAS DIFFERENT AND WOULD COST $1,100. AGAIN I PLEADED

ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT SEAT. THE FRAME MEMBER THAT ATTACHES THE SEAT ITSELF TO THE SLIDING TRACK HAS BROKEN INTO. THIS CAUSED THE SEAT TO TILT BACKWARD WHILE MY SON WAS DRIVING. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS SHOWN THE PROBLEM AND BASICALLY SAID TOUGH LUCK, WITHOUT EXTENDED WARRENTY NOTHING COULD BE DONE BY DEALER. HE SAID THAT THE ASSEMBLY THAT WAS BROKEN WOULD COST SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO REPLACE. I FEEL THAT THIS BRACKET BROKE AS A DESIGN DEFECT. IT APPEARS TO BE A CAST TYPE OF METAL THAT IS WELDED TO BOTH SIDES OF THE FRAME. IT BROKE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS HAPPENING TO OTHER MUSTANGS, BUT FEEL IT IS VERY UNSAFE. WE ARE HAVING TO DRIVE THIS CAR PRESENTLY WITH THE SEAT LOWERED TO IS LOWEST POSITION AND A BLOCK OF WOOD UNDER THE FRAME, UNTIL I CAN FIND A REPLACEMENT SEAT AT A LOCAL JUNK YARD, SINCE THE DEALER WILL NOT HELP. IF I CAN PROVIDE ANY HELP, PLEASE CALL. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A LOSS OF CONTROL. THANKS.

THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT SUSPENSION SINCE 6/95. DEALERSHIPS AND OTHER REPAIRS SERVICES SEEM UNABLE TO RESOLVE PROBLEM. VEHICLE CANNOT MAINTAIN ALIGNMENT, WHICH CAUSES EXCESSIVE ROTOR/BRAKE DAMAGE AND TIRE/WHEEL WEAR.

WHENEVER THE CAR IS STARTED THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON. DEALER SAYS THE COMPUTER HAS A MALFUNCTION. *AK

NO SUMMARY

I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS : IE THE RECALL FOR THE DRIVER SEAT WIRING HARNESS AND ALSO HAS POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS OF RECALL ON 1994 TAURUS, LINCOLN AND MERCURY MALFUNCTION ING CIRCUIT BREAKER CAUSING HEADLIGHTS TO FLASH INTERMITTENLIY. SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR IN OCT. OF 98 I HAVE HAD PROBLEM WITH MY RADIO PICKING UP MOTOR NOISES, IF I TURNED ON MY BRIGHTS THEN AT SOME POINT ALL HEADLIGHTS WOULD GO OFF, AND NOW, BEGINNING 01/99 MY HEADLIGHTS GO ON AND OFF AT RANDOM WHETHER THE CAR IS MOVING OR IDLING. I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT TO THE MECHANIC DUE TO THE FACT THE $1500 EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT THEY SOLD ME DOES NOT COVER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SO NOW I TURN TO YOU FOR HELP TO SEE IF OTHER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS. THANK YOU

TORQUE CONVERTOR WENT OUT WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT IT THEN A YEAR LATER IT WENT OUT AGAIN

VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED, 5-SPEED TRANSMISSION IN GEAR. VEHICLE REMAINED STATIONARY FOR AT LEAST 5 MINUTES. SOMETIME LATER (WITHIN PERIOD OF ONE HOUR OR SO) PARKING BRAKE FAILED AND VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN LENGTHY HILL, CROSSING RESIDENTIAL STREET AND CRASHING FRONT INTO A LARGE TREE. CAR WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS.

HEARD SLIGHT KNOCKING NOISE, CHECKED GAUGES AND ALL WERE OK, KNOCKING NOISE GOT LOUDER, I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD (WAS ON A MOUNTAIN SO ALTITUDE WAS HIGH) AND CAR STARTED SMOKING.