1995 Ford Windstar complaints

TRANSMISSION FAILED (SECOND TIME). FORD DEALER (SAWGRASS FORD OF SUNRISE, FL) CLAIMED IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO INSTALL A 'NEW" TRANSMISSION, ONLY A 'REBUILT' ONE. DEALER WOULD NOT WARRANT REPAIRS (REBUILT TRANSMISSION) FOR MORE THAN 12 MONTHS OR 12,000 MILES. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO AND REPAIRED AT A TRANSMISSION SHOP THAT WOULD GUARANTEE REPAIRS FOR A LONGER PERIOD.

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING INTERIOR LIGHTS WILL TURN ON AND STAY ON FOR 5-10 MINUTES. MECHANIC HAS SWITCHED THE WIRING; HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL OCCURS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 60MPH HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL OVER.*AK

THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHIMMY AND COLLAPSE. WHEN VEHICLE COLLAPSED, LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS PUNCTURED. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

AFTER PUTTING FUEL IN VEHICLE AND START DRIVING ENGINE STARTED TO SMOKE. PARKED VEHICLE. CONTACTED MECHANIC AND VEHICLE WAS TOWED IN. MECHANIC INDICATED FUEL WAS ENTERING OIL FOR MOTOR, WHICH WAS A PROBLEM. A NEW ENGINE WOULD BE REQUIRED.*AK

FIRST THE HEAD GASKET LEAKED-DEALER REPLACED ON AN OPEN END RECALL, SECOND THE TRANSMISSION WENT. HAD THAT REBUILT WITH ALL UPDATES INCLUDED. COST $1450.00 OUT OF POCKET. THIRD THE SEAL AROUNT THE TIMING CHAIN LEAKED. HAD ALL THE GASKETS REPLACED TO THE OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE OF $450.00. FOURTH, ON A FAMILY VACATION WE WERE DRIVING DOWN I79 SOUTH FROM ERIE PA AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS THIS CLINKING NOISE COMING FROM THE MOTOR. WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET OFF THE INTERSTATE BEFORE THE ENGINE DIED COMPLETELY. THERE WERE NO ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ON PRIOR TO THE COMPLETE SHUT DOWN. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO NEAREST GARAGE AND FOUND THAT WE HAD THROWN A ROD. THEY ARE REPLACING THE ENGINE WITH A LARGE BLOCK TO THE OUT OF POCKET COST OF $3,000.00. WHEN WE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WE WERE TOLD THAT BECAUSE WE DID NOT TOW THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP THEY COULD NOT HELP US. THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP TO US WAS 88 MILES AWAY FROM WHERE WE BROKE DOWN. THE VAN ONLY HAD JUST UNDER 57,000 MILES ON IT. I CANT BELIEVE THAT FORD WON'T HELP US.

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN THE COIL SPRING POPPED OFF, CAUSING IT PUNCH LEFT FRONT TIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

VEHICLE HAS HAD SPORADIC BRAKE PARTIAL FAILURES OVER LAST YEAR AND A HALF, BRAKES APPEAR TO PULSE AND BRAKING IS POOR. LETTING UP ON PEDDLE AND PUNCHING BRAKES ALLEVIATES PROBLEM. BRAKE INSPECTIONS SHOW NOTHING AND I HAVE HAD NEW PADS AND ROTORS PUT ON BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. IT IS VERY SPORADIC AND FEELS LIKE ABS IS KICKING IN WHEN IT SHOULDN'T ABS FAILURE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON.*AK

WHILE DRIVING WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM TAIL PIPE. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN COIL SPRING POPPED OUT, CAUSING IT TO PUNCH LEFT FRONT TIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

1995 FORD WINDSTAR LX HAS HAD REPORTED SYMPTOMS OF HEAD GASKETS LEAKING SINCE 90483 MILES. CAR REPAIRED BY SEVERAL MECHANICS IN AS MANY TIMES AND NEVER TOLD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. HEAD GASKETS LEAKED CAUSING WATER TO LEAK INTO OIL INSIDE OF ENGINE AND CAUSING A ROD TO THROW THROUGH THE BLOCK OF THE ENGINE. ENGINE IS UNUSABLE NOW DUE TO THIS DEFECT BY FORD WHEN INSTALLING HEAD GASKETS.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THE HEAD GASKET FAILED ON VEHICLE, CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE HEAD GASKET, HOWEVER SHE WAS INFORMED THE WARRANTY ENDED IN AUGUST 2001 CONSUMER WAS ALSO INFORMED THE WARRANTY COVERED UP TO A TIME PERIOD 0R 100,000 MILES AND CONSUMER HAD 68,000 ON THE VEHICLE.*JB

CONSUMER STATES WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS ACCELERATED FROM A STOPPED POSITION OR WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE HESITATES BEFORE ACCELERATING, THIS CONDITION HAS OCCURED ON TWO OCCASION AND BLOWN HEAD GASKET EACH TIME ON THE 3.8 V6 ENGINE. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. NLM

CONSUMER STATES A ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THE ABS LIGHT STAYING ON WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASION YET THE PROBLEM REOCCURS. NLM

CONTACTED MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ENDED IN 7 YEARS. MY VEHICLE'S HEAD GASKETS FAILED 7 YEARS, 9 MONTHS. COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE. NO WARNING SUCH AS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON UNTIL AFTER FAILURE. NKM

ADD ANOTHER MEMBER TO THE FORD WINDSTAR CLUB WITH FAILED HEAD GASKETS. BECAUSE WE PURCHASED OUR VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER OF 1994, WE MISSED BEING COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY BY THREE MONTHS, EVEN THOUGH OUR VEHICLE HAD ONLY 62,439 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. FORD SAYS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I'M PREPARING A SMALL CLAIMS SUIT WHERE I WILL ASK FOR AN EXCEPTION TO THE EXTENDED WARRANTY REQUIREMENTS, AND REIMBURSEMENT IN FULL FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS. NLM

INTAKE GASKET COVER FAILED SHORTLY AFTER RECALL WORK WAS COMPLETED ON OTHER RECALL GASKET FAILURE. FORD AND DEALER REFUSED REPAIRS WHILE BOTH CONFIRMED THEY HAVE HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THESE GASKETS. *AK *****DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS------759790.

VEHICLE INCREASED SPEED WITHOUT THE DRIVER ACCELERATING. BRAKE PEDAL WAS INOPERABLE, AND RPMS WERE INCREASING. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO ENGAGE GEAR TO NEUTRAL POSITION TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN AND THEN ENGAGE GEAR TO PARK POSITION TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. BRAKES WERE REPLACED THE FIRST WEEK IN MARCH AND TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED JULY 2001, AFTER THE FIRST SIMILAR INCIDENT OCCURRED.*AK

THIS VEHICLE HAS REQUIRED TWO TRANSMISSIONS. ONE AT 50000 MILES AND THE SECOND AT 120000. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE NUMEROUS DOOR OPEN INDICATORS AND A BLOWN HEAD GASKET.

HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN TWICE. HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE 2 TIMES. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK *YH

HEAD GASKET FAILURE WAS RECALL ITEM, BUT NOT COVERED IN OUR SITUATION BECAUSE WE ARE LOW-MILEAGE DRIVERS. RECALL WARRANTY WAS UNDER 100,000 MILES OR LESS THAN 7 YEARS, WHICH EVER CAME FIRST. OUR CAR WAS 7 YEARS AND 6 WEEKS OLD. FAILURE AT 62,000 MILES WAS WITHIN AVERAGE FOR HEAD GASKET FAILURES, BUT NOT COVERED BECAUSE WE DIDN'T REACH THIS MILEAGE UNTIL 6 WEEKS AFTER WARRANTY. WARRANTY SHOULDN'T HAVE TIME LIMITATION IF WITHIN MILEAGE LIMITS.*AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER CONCERNING THE HEAD GASKETS COMING LOOSE AND LETTING WATER INTO THE CRANKCASE DILUTING THE OIL. VEHICLE WAS FIXED AND THREE WEEKS LATER THE FIX WAS NO MORE AND THE ENGINE WAS TOTALLED. CONSUMER TRADED VEHICLE. *JG

AFTER FIRST START IT TAKES 15 MINUTES BEFORE DASH LIGHTS AND POWER WINDOWS WORK. MECHANIC DETERMINED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT UNDER DASH.*AK

WHEN APPLYING GAS PEDAL VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE IN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. RPM DISPLAY WOULD JUMP AROUND. DEALER RPLACED SPEED SENSOR, AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

LIGHT INDICATORS COMING ON, LOSS OF COOLANT AND SOUND FORD DIAGNOSED LEAK OF TIMING CHAIN ASSEMBLY AND BILL PIERRE FORD SAID NO LEAK, NO WORK DONE.

TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. ALSO, VEHICLE WILL KICK INTO SECOND GEAR. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE FIVE TIMES TO A DEALER, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *AK

FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS THE DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON. UPON CHECKING ALL DOOTRS NUMEROUS TIMES, NO PROBLEM CAN BE FOUND. IT FIRST STARTED WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. IT HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AS TIME PASSES AND NOW DOES IT RANDOMLY. YESTERDAY, DURING A 6 MILE TRIP IT CAME ON APPROXIMATELY 6 TIMES AT RANDOM MOMENTS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH ANY PARTICULAR CHANGE IN SPEED OR DIRECTION. THE REPAIR MANUALS GIVE LITTLE TO NO INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SYSTEM OR ITS REPAIR.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WIRES UNDER HOOD CAUGHT ON FIRE, BURNING FUSE BOX. RECALL 94V222000 HAS BEEN ISSUED,BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN.*AK

THE VAN WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE A CRACKED CLUTCH PISTON WAS THE CAUSE . THE TRANMISSION WAS REBUILT & FORD WOULD NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR THE COST. THE ENGINE HEAD CRACKED IN 2000 & WAS REPAIRED BY HEINTZELMANS TRUCK CENTER.I ASKED THAT THE ENGINE BE REPLACED & THEY STATED FORD WOULD NOT PAY FOR THAT. THEY COULD NOT GUARANTEE THAT DAMAGE WAS NOT DONE TO THE MOTOR ITSELF. IN FEB OF 2002 I TOOK THE VAN TO ROLLING HILLS FORD FOR A COOLANT LEAK & WAS ADVISED THAT I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE BECAUSE OF THE DAMAGE DONE FROM THE MOTOR OVERHEATING. THE MOTOR HAD LESS THEN 20,000 MILES SINCE THE HEAD WAS REAPIRED. THEY REFUSED TO CONTACT THE ZONE REP. & FORD REFUSED TO PAY ANY COSTS AFTER BEING CONTACTED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT STATE SPEED LIMIT AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE WILL STALL. WILL EXPERIENCE MORE DIFFICULTIES WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED OR AT STOP SIGNS.*AK

TIMING BELT GASKET IS CAUSING A PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE. COOLANT IS LEAKING FROM THIS ENGINE PART.*AK

I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO FILE ACOMPLAINT ON SMART CHOICE MY EXTENDED SERVICE AGREEMENT CO.. IN MARCH OF LAST YEAR THEY PUT IN A ENGINE IN THIS VAN. AT THE TIME THEY GAVE ME A CHOICE IF FORD PUT THE ENGINE IN AND SUPPLIED THE ,SMART CHOICE WOULD ONLY PAY $2800 ON REPAIRS. IF I LET SMART CHOICE SUPPLY THE ENGINE THEY WOULD PAY FOR FORD PUTTING THE ENGINE IN ,AND THE A CAR RENTAL UNTIL IT WAS COMPLETED. SO MY OUESTION TO THEM WAS WOULD IT BE A WARRNITY ON THE ENGINE THEY SUPPLIED. THEY SAID YES 12MOS, OR 12,000 MILES. SO I SAID OK I WOULD GO WITH SMART CHOICE. 11MONTHS LATER THE ENGINE BLOWS I TAKE IT BACK TO FORD , THEY IN TURN TALKS TO MY INS. SMART CHOICE, FORD WAS INFORM I DID NOT HAVE A WARRNITY BECAUSE MY INS. HAD ENDED LASY JUNE. THAT'S 3 MONTHS AFTER THE ENGINE WAS PUT IN. I TALKED TO FORD ,AND ASK THEM SINCE THIS WAS A WHOLE DIFFERENT ENGINE ,AND SINCE IT WAS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT THEY HAD RECALLS ON COULD THEY FIX IT UNDER THE RECALL. THEY SAID NO BECAUSE THEY HAD DID A RECALL ON MY OLD ENGINE THAT THEY COULD NOT DO IT TO THIS ENGINE. SO I CALLED SMART CHOICE BACK AND RECEIVE THE VIN3 FROM THE THEY HAD FORD PUT IN IT CAME INVALID AND FORD SAID THAT WOULD BE AGAINST THE LAW ANYWAY. I BELIEVE SOMEONE IS RESPONSABLE FOR THESE REPAIRS I LEAN TO SMART CHOICE BECAUSE THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD BE UNDER WARRINTY FOR 12MOS. OR 12,000MILES. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE STALLS OUT/ HESITATES AND DIES WHEN ACCELERATING. VEHICLE STARTS UP IMMEDIATELY AFTER STALLING. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES; HOWEVER, PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED.*AK

VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY SMOKE. IT WOULD OVERHEAT AND EMPTY FLUID FROM RADIATOR. GUAGES NEVER SHOWED THAT VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. ALSO, DRIVER COULD SMELL ANTI-FREEZE WHENEVER VEHICLE WOULD START TO OVERHEAT. THIS WAS ALL DUE TO FAULTY HEAD GASKETS. *AK

ON NOVERMBER 15, 2001 CONSUMER PURCHASED 4 NEW GOODYEAR AQUATREAD TIRES, (MTS P205/170R15,955 DOT, MKMO, 5BHR 0400) ON NOVEMBER 23, 2001 WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE EXPLODED, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP, UPON INSPECTION OF THE TIRE THERE WAS NO EDIVENCE OF A ROAD HAZARD PUNCTURE OR OTHER PROBLEMS.*JB

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE DECELERATES TO THE POINT THAT FRONT END BECOMES SLUGGISH. *AK CONSUMER STATES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE SHIFT LEVER LIGHTS UP, WHEN LIFTING FEET OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY SHIFTS TO LOW GEAR. *YD

THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET FAILED. THE DEALER TELLS ME THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. FORD SENT OUT A LETTER TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES FOR THIS FAILURE. EXTENDING THE WARRANY TO 7 YEAR OR 70000 MILES. MY VAN WENT OUTSIDE OF THE 7 YEARS 12/04/02. FROM THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE EVERY ONE OF THESE ENGINES ARE FAILING. I ASKED FORD FOR HELP SINCE THE VEHICLE HAS LOW MILEAGE. THEY SAID NO. I THINK SINCE EVERY ONE OF THESE ENGINES FAIL THEY SHOULD REPAIR IT AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. 57000 MILES IS NOT VERY MANY MILES ON A VEHICLE. PLEASE HELP. WHAT IS THE CRITERIA FOR A RECALL?? THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR ANY HELP . JOHN MCDERMOTT. *AK

TRANSMISSION SLIDES OUT OF GEAR AT A STOP. DEPRESSING THE GAS WITH EXPECTION OF CAR MOVMENT RESULTS IN HIGH RPMS AND AFTER A 1-2 SECOND DELAY, A SUDDEN HARSH FORWARD MOVEMENT. THIS DELAY CAUSED US TO BE LURCH AND BE REAR ENDED BY OUR SUBSEQUENT SLAMMING. *AK

TRANSMISSION GEARS WERE NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. AFTER INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

A LEAK AROUND THE HEAD GASKETS. DEALER SERVICED VEHICLE. SHORTLY AFTER VEHICLE WAS SERVICED GASKETS STARTED TO LEAK AGAIN. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT ENGINE NEED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

HEAD GASKET IS SHOT, DEALER SAYS WARRANTY RAN OUT 5 MONTHS AGO, SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE HEAD GASKETS AND THAT THEY WON'T REPLACE IT. CONTACTED FORD AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THERE IS A RECALL ON THE HEAD GASKETS IN THE WINDSTAR AND THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED BUT WE CAN'T GET ANYWHERE WITH THE DEALORSHIP OR WITH FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE . *AK

BEFORE FREEDOM FORD REPLACED OUR ENGINE, WE WERE HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHICH WE REPORTED AND THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM TO WHY THE DOOR CHIMES AND DOOR ADJAR LIGHTS WOULD STAY ON, OUR ENGINE ASSEMBLY WAS RELACED ON 09/27/2001. THEN OUR BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AND THE LIGHTS IN THE CAR STARTED DIMMING, WE REPLACED OUR BATTERY AND FOUND OUT FROM FORD THAT OUR ALTERNATOR WAS BAD. WE HAD TO PAY 387.51 FOR AN ALTERNATOR.! NOT TO MENTION THE 1800+ IN EMERGENCY EXPENSES WE HAD TO PAY THAT FORD REFUSE TO PAY US BACK WHEN OUR ENGINE BLEW WHILE DRIVING HOME ON A VACATION. HOWEVER THEY DID REPLACED THE ENGINE FREE OF CHARGE AFTER LONG NEGOTIATION BY MY WIFE. WE ARE STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH OUR DOOR CHIMES AND LIGHTS AND FORD SAID ON 02/14/2002 THEY COULD NOT CHECK TO SEE WHAT'S WRONG UNLESS IT COMES ON AND TO BRING IT IN WHEN THE LIGHT COMES ON. FIGURE THE ODDS ON THAT, I LIVE ABOUT 20-25 MINUTES AWAY FROM THERE AND THE LIGHT MAY GO OUT BEFORE I GET THERE. ALSO, WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS TIMES WHEN THE FRONT MIRROR ON THE INSIDE CAME OFF WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING. I MEAN LITERALLY FELL OFF. THESE FORD WINDSTARS ARE NOT SAFE TO BE ON THE ROAD AND THERE REALLY NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THESE VANS OR FORD SHOULD BE ORDERED TO GIVE THE OWNERS A PRORATED REFUND OR SET AMT. BACK FOR ALL OUR PROBLEMS AND FINANCIAL SUFFERINGS WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH. I PRAY THAT NHTSA ISSUES A RECALL OR ORDER FORD TO TAKE THE 1995 WINDSTARS OFF THE STREET AND ISSUE US A PRORATED REFUND. THESE W

SPEEDOMETER WAS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. AT TIMES THE CONSUMER WILL NOT KNOW SPEED. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALER REPLACED THE CABLE BUT THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE SPEEDOMETER PINION GEAR. PER TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH INCORRECT SPEEDOMETER PINION GEAR. *YH

ENGINE REPLACED BY NEWMAN FORD 03-99, HEAD GASKET FAILURE #2 JAN 10 2000 MIL.60240 #3 HEAD GASKET FAILURE FEB 6 2001 MIL. 67500.*AK

I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY 1995 WINDSTAR. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED IN 10/99 AND I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE COMPUTER/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WITH SENSORS AND FUSES GOING OUT. MY TIMING GASKET COVER CRACKED AND COOLANT WAS LEAKING (10/01). I HAD TO HAVE THAT REPLACED ALONG WITH THE WATER PUMP, ETC. NOW, MY ENGINE HAS EITHER A BEARING OR HAS THROWN A ROD AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD I NEED TO HAVE MY ENGINE REPLACED AT A COST OF $3500. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY MORE PROBLEMS (STRUTS, ENGINE MOUNTS, ETC....). I HAVE SPENT OVER $6000 (NOT INCLUDING REGULAR MAINTENANCE COSTS --OIL CHANGES, BRAKES, TIRES, TUNE UPS, ETC). I HAVE HAD TO SPEND MUCH $$$ ON CAR RENTALS WHILE MY CAR WAS BEING REPAIRED. NOW I'M FACED WITH A HUGE NEW PROBLEM--THE ENGINE. *AK

ENGINE FAILED IN A CATASTROPHIC MANNER-- WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HWY - APPROX 35 IN COMMUTE TRAFFIC, ENGINE SUDDENLY STARTED RUNNING ROUGH- WITHIN A FEW MINUTES THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON-- A STEADY LIGHT INDICATING THAT SERVICE IS NEEDED. THE FLASHING ENGINE LIGHT SUGGESTS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. NO OTHER WARNING LIGHTS AND TEMP APPEARED NORMAL. NOT HAVE DRIVEN MORE THAN 10 MILES W/ THE CONDITION REMAINING THE SAME, I EXITED THE HWY AND MY ENGINE MADE A TERRIBLE NOISE THEN THE ENGINE FAILED COMPLETELY ON A HWY OFF RAMP-- I MANAGED TO START IT AND DRIVE ABOUT 300 YDS TO PARKING LOT. I NOW KNOW THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PREMATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURE AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 100,000 OR 7 YEARS WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. MY CAR IS 7 YRS OLD, BUT HAS 115,000+ MILEAGE. BY LOOKING AT YOUR DATA BASE, THERE ARE SEVERAL FAILURES OF THIS TYPE. WHY WAS THE WARRANTY EXTENDED TO ONLY 100,000 MILES? WHY WASN'T THE PROBLEM FIXED AS IN A RECALL? MY ENGING FAILED SO ABRUPTLY-- I'M GRATEFUL NOT TO HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENT!*AK

STEAM WOULD BE VISIBLE WHEN VEHICLE WAS IDILING OR PARKED, CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER STATED HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING, PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 20 MPH ON A CITY STREET COVERED WITH ABOUT ONE [1] INCH OF WET SNOW. THE STREET CURVED SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT, I STARTED TO MAKE THE TURN BUT THE VAN BEGAN TO SLIDE STRAIGHT AHEAD. I SLID FOR ABOUT 20 FEET BEFORE BUMPING THE CURB ON MY RIGHT SIDE. THE VAN THEN WENT OVER THE CURB , WENT ABOUT ANOTHER 10 FEET AND STRUCK A NARROW [6-INCH] UTILITY POLE HEAD ON.I WAS HOLDING THE STEERING WHEEL WITH BOTH HANDS PREPARING FOR THE SLIGHT IMPACT.I WAS QUITE SHOCKED WHEN BOTH AIR BAGS EXPLODED. MY HANDS WERE BRUISED SLIGHTLY BUT NOTHING SERIOUS. THE VAN WAS NOT DAMAGED EXCEPT FOR A SMALL[2-INCH] SPLIT IN THE TOP, NOT FRONT OF THE PLASTIC BUMPER. I DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP, MULLINAX FORD, IMMEDIATELY. THEY LOOKED AT THE VAN AND COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS A COLLISION THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THEY CALLED FORD MOTOR CO. AT MY REQUEST TO SEE IF THEY WOULD REPLACE THE AIR BAGS FOR ME AT NO COST. FORD RESPONDED BY STATING THAT AS LONG AS THERE WAS A COLLISION THEY NOT REPLACE THEM AT NO COST. I LATER MADE A CALL TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND RECIEVED THE SAME RESULTS. I AM VERY DISSATISFIED, AND FEEL THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO HAVE BORN THE EXPENSE [$1500.] OF REPLACING THE AIR BAGS.I DON'T KNOW ALL OF THE FACTS CONCERNING AIR BAGS BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THEY SHOULD DEPLOYED AT THAT SPEED.PLEASE INFORM ME OF ANY RECOURSE THAT I MAY HAVE. THANK YOU, [XXX].*AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSU