1995 Ford Windstar complaints

BRAKES ARE DEFECTIVE. CONSUMER HAS HAD TO REPLACE PADS AND SHOES/ DRUMS/ DISCS, AND MASTER CYLINDER, ALL WITH IN A THREE MONTH PERIOD. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING GEAR SLIPPED 3 TIMES, AND THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT. DEALER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION OR MAKE CORRECTIONS. *AK

TRANSMISSION SLIPS. THERE ARE FIXES THAT FORD SAYS NEED TO BE DONE WHEN TRANSMISSION IS TORN APART FOR REPAIR. THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEMS BUT WILL ONLY MANDATE WHAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THEY SHOULD RECALL AS THIS IS NOT ISOLATED. IT IS LIKE THE HEADGASKET, THEY EXTEND THE WARRANTY BUT WILL NOT REPLACE UNLESS IT GOES BAD. ODDS ARE GREAT IT WILL AS OTHERS HAVE. IT WILL RUIN THE ENGINE IF IT GOES BAD ON ROAD OR WORSE CAUSE ACCIDENT IF HIGHWAY SPEED IS INVOLVED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. IF YOU CANNOT, THANK YOU ANYWAY. DAN GAINES. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THIS COMPLAINT IS RELATED HEAD GASKET FAILURES IN THE 1995 FORD WINDSTAR MINIVANS AND 1994/1995 FORD TAURUS SEDANS. *AK

ENGINE WOULD NOT START, DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT GROUND WIRE TO FUEL PUMP HAD EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. *AK *NLM

CAR ROLLED BACKWARDS IN THE "PARK " POSITION, WITH 3 SMALL CHILDREN INSIDE THUS CRASHING INTO OUR NEIGHBORS MOTORHOME. POLICE WERE CONTACTED AND OFFICER NOTED PROBLEM IN POLICE REPORT. *AK

I THINK THIS WAS THE SAME PART AS A PREVIOUS RECALL COULD I GET THE PART # ON THAT?? NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

FUEL TANK WOULD LEAK. WOULD SMELL A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE OF VEHICLE AFTER GETTING IN. KEPT VEHICLE PARKED UNTIL ABLE TO GET TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC INDICATED TANK WAS CRACKED, AND LEAKAGE HAPPENED AROUND STRAPS OF PLASTIC FUEL TANK. TANK NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED.*AK

THE HEAD GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED AND IT IS A RECALL. *AK

HEAD GASKETS FAILED 8-00, 5-01,9-01 (CRACKED HEAD) 10-01 (CRACKED HEAD) AFTER ONLY 350 MILES. THE DEALER AND FORD REFUSE ANY HELP WITH THE REPAIR. *AK

I WAS ALMOST HIT IN MY VAN BECAUSE OF THE IGNITIO PROBLEM. CALLED FORD & THEY WONT FIX OR REPLACE.

MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN SEPT OF 1994. THE FIRST MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WENT AT 6,500 MILES AND WAS FIXED BY WARRANTY. THE HEAD GASKET BLEW AT 54,000 MILES AND 39 MONTHS OF USE. FORD INITIALLY SAID TOUGH LUCK BUT THEN THE SECRET WARRANTIES BECAME KNOWN AND THEY REIMBURSED ME FOR THAT REPAIR. AT LESS THAN 100,000 MILES ON THE CHASSIS THE COOLANT LEVEL STARTED SHOWING LOW AGAIN BUT THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE DIDN'T BECOME HIGHLY NOTICEABLE UNTIL 103,000 MILES. FORD REFUSED TO REPAIR THIS TIME AS THE VEHICLE WAS NOW OVER 100,000 MILES ALTHOUGH THIS "NEW" FORD HEAD GASKET HAD LESS THAN 50,000 MILE ON IT. SO, I AM PREPARING TO SUE FORD AND THE LOCAL DEALER ON THAT REPAIR. FINALLY, THE TRANSMISSION TOTALLY FAILED A FEW WEEKS AGO AND I HAD A "NEW" TRANSMISSION PUT IN. IT LASTED 1 WEEK AND THE FORD WINDSTAR IS NOW GETTING ANOTHER TRANSMISSION (COVERED UNDER THE 2 YEAR OR 24,000 MILE WARRANTY OF THE REPLACED TRANSMISSION). AFTER READING ABOUT ALL THE FORD ?!@#$% REGARDING THE 1995 FORD WINDSTAR PROBLEMS, WHY IS THAT YOUR AGENCY HAS DONE SO LITTLE IN FORCING A RECALL? FORD OUGHT TO BE RECALLING THOSE VEHICLES OR OFFERING THE OWNERS MONEY TO BUY THEM BACK.*AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 01I0070000. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE REFUSING TO PERFORM REPAIRS. THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NO OBVIOUS CORROSION DAMAGE ON SPRINGS. *AK

CONSUMER HAD TROUBLE WITH HEATER CORE. REPLACED HEATER CORE, BUT THAT DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE SALES REP, JOHN J. BAKER, OF M&S CHEVROLET DEMANDED $300 CASH TO ALLOW US TO PURCHASE THE USED FORD WINDSTAR. WE TOLD HIM THE ODOMETER NUMBERS DID NOT LINE UP AND HE STATED THAT WAS NORMAL. THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED AT THE CLOSE OF THE SALE ON 11/11/97 AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE SINCE THEN. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND IS BALKY, SO SOMETIMES THE BRAKE ENGAGES WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR FOOT ON THE GAS. THE BRAKES ACTUALLY FAILED TO PERFORM ON 10/24/01 WITH OUR FAMILY OF FIVE IN THE VEHICLE ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, ROUTE 495 IN MA. WE AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT BY MOVING INTO THE BREAK DOWN LANE AND SLOWING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE DEALER OWNER, MR. MICHAEL SYLVESTER ,AND HIS ATTORNEYS, RIZZO &KELLY, STATED THAT THIS PREVIOUSLY LEASED VEHICLE HAD AN ACCURATE ODOMETER READING. THIS VAN WAS PURCHASED AT AUCTION BY A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF M&S, WHO IS NOW AN AUTO WHOLESALER IN THE AREA. WE NEED A SAFE VEHICLE FOR OUR FAMILY AND WE NEED IMMEDIATE ACTION TAKEN, EVEN IF IT MEANS THAT FORD WILL AUTHORIZE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS AT OUR LOCAL DEALER, REGAN FORD, OF. *AK

CRUNCHING NOISE FROM FRONT BRAKE WHEN BRAKING OR PULLING OUT, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE ABS WAS INOPERATIVE, ALSO THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES HAD AFTERMARKET PADS, DEALER RECOMMENDED REFACED OR REPLACED.*YD

ENGINE GASKET HAS FAILED 4 TIMES. ENGINE MISFIRED DURING ACCELERATION. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (MICHELLE) REFUSED TO ANSWER MY QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS. THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE ON THE HIGHWAY HAD THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *AK

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED ON MY VAN AT 109K MILES AND I STILL OWED $6,000 ON IT ALTHOUGH THE BLUE BOOK VALUE AT THE TIME WAS $8 - 9,000 DEPENDING ON CONDITION. I TOOK THE VAN TO SHARP FORD IN INDIANAPOLIS AND THEY TOLD ME THE REPAIR WOULD BE $3800. THEY GAVE ME $2500 FOR THE VAN AS IS. THAT DAY I PURCHASED A NEW 99 WINDSTAR AND USED THE $2500 FOR A DOWN PAYMENT. I KNOW ALOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. I TALKED TO FORD SEVERAL TIMES TRYING TO GET COMPENSATION FOR THE FAILURE AND WAS TOLD DIFFERENT THINGS INCLUDING THAT THEY WOULD HAVE REINBURSED ME IF I HAD PAID FOR THE REPAIRS. SINCE I BOUGHT THE VAN USED I SUSPECT THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST BLOWN HEAD GASKET FOR THIS VEHICLE. I THINK FORD SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. I LOST $5,500 ON THAT VAN BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 50MPH ON HIGHWAY, AND HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WILL MAKE A LOUD NOISE IF TURNING RIGHT, AND IF TURNING LEFT THE NOISE IS NOT THAT LOUD. *AK *SLC

FUEL TANK HAS MAJOR DRIPPING LEAK /UNDER FORD MOTOR COMPANY RECALL 99S33 VEHICLES REGISTERED IN HOT WEATHER AREAS MAY GET THIS DEFECT. THIS CAR HAS BEEN REGISTERED IN A HOT WEATHER REGION FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS BUT THE VIN NUMBER IS NOT IN THE RECALL. *AK

MY FUEL TANK CRACKED. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP TO REPAIR. IN THE MEAN TIME I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET FOR RECALLS. FORD HAS A RECALL FOR CRACKED FUEL TANKS BUT ONLY FOR WARM WEATHER SOUTHERN STATES. ALTHOUGH MY FUEL TANK HAS THE SAME DEFECT, FORD HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR IT AS PART OF THE RECALL BECAUSE I DO NOT LIVE IN ONE OF THE LISTED STATES. IF I HAD AN ADDRESS IN ONE OF THOSE STATES, THEY WOULD HAVE COVERED IT.*AK

HEADGASKET FAILURE @ 2K MILES OVER EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD. FORD & LOCAL DEALER REFUSED TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE.*AK

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED WITHIN 2000 MILES OF THE EXPIRATION OF AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. FORD REFUSES TO ASSIST IN THE REPAIR OF THIS VEHICLE.

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED AT 125,000 DESTROYING THE ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION, CONSUMER STATES IT TOOK SIX WEEKS TO GET A REPLACEMENT ENGINE REBUILT, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING COMPENSATION SINCE FORD HAS A KNOWN HEAD GASKET PROBLEM.*JB

THE ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES WHEN IT IS NOT NECESSARY CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO STOP QUICKLY ENOUGH, THE VEHICLE ALSO JUMPS FORWARD WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE CAUSING REAR END COLLISION. NLM

WHILE DRIVING COULD DETECT BURNING SMELL OF ANTI-FREEZE, AND FOUND A LEAK INTO ENGINE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC. WHO INDICATED THAT CONSUMER HAD RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR ENGINE HEAD GASKET THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED.ALSO TIMING BELT WAS LEAKING. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

RECALL 99V309000 REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED APPROXIMATELY IN JANUARY 2000. AT THAT TIME, FUEL TANK HAD NOT DEVELOPED ANY CRACKS. HOWEVER, CONSUMER WAS SMELLING FUEL ODORS WHILE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THERE WAS A CRACK IN FUEL TANK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK

IN 1999 I BOUGHT A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR, WHICH I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH EVER SINCE. THE LATEST PROBLEM IS A FAULTY HEAD GASKET. MY VAN CURRENTLY HAS 104,000 MILES ON IT, AND WAS TAKEN TO A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS WHEN IT HAD 88,000 MILES ON IT. I QUESTIONED IF HEAD GASKET WAS BAD, WHICH THEY DENIED AND PREFORMED OTHER REPAIRS. IN AUGUST 2001 I STARTED LOSING ANTIFREEZE AND TOOK THE VAN TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID THE HEAD GASKET WAS BAD. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE WHO SAID THE VAN WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING. I THEN PROCEEDED TO WRITE A LETTER TO JACQUES NASSER THE PRESIDENT AND COPIED SUCH TO VARIOUS OTHER EXECUTIVES. FORD HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKETS BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING. MY VAN SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED WHEN IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BUT INSTEAD FORD CHOSE TO WAIT AND HOPE THE HEAD GASKET WOULD NOT BREAK UNTIL IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AS IT IS NOW. SUCH IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THIS IS FORD'S PROBLEM. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER TRYING TO SUPPORT THE HOUSEHOLD BUT I HAVE NO VEHICLE TO GET TO AND FROM WORK AND AFTER THE EVENTS OF SEPTEMBER 11TH, I WAS LAID OFF FROM MY JOB. HAVING NO VEHICLE MAKES IT EXTREMELY HARD TO FIND A NEW JOB, AND WITHOUT A NEW JOB I CAN NOT AFFORD THE COSTS FOR THE REPAIRS, WHICH I SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR. I APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE IN GETTING FORD TO FIX MY VAN. FORD HAS ALREADY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THE HEAD GASKETS TO 100,000 MILES/ 7 YEARS, BUT SUCH IS NOT ENOUG

THE WINDOWS FOG UP AND WILL NOT DEFROST UNLESS THE VAN IS IN ONE SPOT RUNNING. ON BELOW ZERO WEATHER THE WINDOWS FOG UP THEN FROST OVER WE HAD ICE ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDOW. WE HAVE TAKEN THE VAN BACK TO BROWN'S 3 TIMES AND THE HAVE NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM YET. I HAVE 4 CHILDREN AND I'M NOT ABLE TO USE THE VAN IN THE WINTER MONTHS BECAUSE I CAN NOT SEE OUT THE WINDOW. I'VE CONTACTED FORD AND THEY CALL BROWN'S AND TALKED TO MIKE IN SERVCE AND HE SAID HE WOULD GET THE VAN IN AGAIN BUT DIDN'T CONTACT US AT ALL AFTER THAT AND THAT HAS BEEN MONTHS AGO. I NEED THIS PROBLEM FIXED SOON FOR THE SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN. THANK YOU.*AK

VEHICLE RECALLED FOR FUEL TANK CRACK (99V-309), THE DEALER REPAIRED THE PROBLEM NOW IT APPEARS THAT THE PROBLEM IS RESURFACING, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS PAST THE WARRANTY OF 12000 MILES ON THIS PARTICULAR REPAIR. *YH

VEHICLE WOULD OVERHEAT, AND USING FLUIDS FREQUENTLY. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED HEAD GASKET, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NOISE COMING FROM FRONT SUSPENSION, DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IT WAS DUE TO A CRACKED/BROKEN BUSHING, VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL, ALSO WARRANTY EXPIRED.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE PROBLEM WAS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALER SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE, THE DEALER STATED THAT NOISE WAS IN MOST OF THE WINDSTARS AND THAT MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT NO REPAIR AT THAT TIME, DEALER TRIED TO REAPIR BUT HAD NO SUCCESS, CONSUMER RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM FORD ABOUT THE EXTENSION OF THE WARRANTY FOR THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS, BUT WAS INFORMED BY FORD THAT HIS PROBLEM AND THE NOTICE THAT WAS SENT OUT ARE NOT RELATED.*JB

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

IN JANUARY 2001 BOTH FRONT TIRES WOULD GO FLAT OVERNIGHT. AFTER 2 OR 3 VISITS TO TIRE SHOPS FOUND OUT THERE WAS A FAILURE OF BOTH FRONT WHEELS DUE TO BROKEN WELDS AND NOT A TIRE PROBLEM. IN JULY OF 2001 THE THIRD WHEEL FAILURE OCCURRED AND NOW IN SEPT. 2001 THE FOURTH WHEEL HAS FAILED. DEALER DENIES KNOWLEDGE OF ANY DEFECT OR COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER CUSTOMERS; HOWEVER A NON-DEALER COMPANY MANAGER WHO SOLD REPLACEMENT WHEELS TO ME SAYS BOTH HE AND WHOLESALER KNOW THIS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH FORD WINDSTARS.*AK

FRONT RIGHT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE CAUSING A "TICKING" NOISE DURING OPERATION OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED WHEEL BEARINGS THREE TIMES, AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO REMEDY PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK

VEHICLE WOULD HAVE SEVERE SHAKING IN FRONT WHEELS WHEN SPEEDOMETER REACHES 50MPH AND ABOVE. CAN MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHEN VIBRATING. PROBLEM IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN VEHICLE IS LOADED DOWN OR GOING DOWN HILL. BEEN TO DEALERSHIP, AND INFORMED PROBLEM WAS NORMAL.*AK

ALL 1995 WINDSTAR AND SOME OTHER FORD MODELS OF THE PERIOD HAVE PLASTIC HEADLAMP LENSES WHICH DISCOLOR WITH AGE. FORD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REPLACE ALL AT NO COST OR AT REDUCED COST TO OWNERS.LIGHTING EFFECTIVENESS IS DIMINISHED SIGNIFICANTLY.*AK

CONSUMER STATES BRAKES WERE REPLACED TWICE AS WELL AS MACHINED.*JB

ENTIRE FRONT PANEL (WITH AC/HEATER, RADIO, AND REAR WINDOW CONTROLS) BECOMES TOO HOT TO TOUCH, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVEN MORE THAN 60 MINUTES CONTINUOUSLY. ENGINE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF FOR MORE THAN 20 MINUTES. "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON. REPAIR SHOP FOUND NO EXPOSED WIRES BUT WARNED OF FIRE RISK; HAD SEEN SAME PROBLEM IN OTHER MID-90'S WINDSTARS.*AK

THIS ENGINE GASKET FAILURE OCCURED 10,000 MILE AFTER AN OWNER NOTIFICATION WARNING THAT THIS COULD OCCUR UP TO 100,000 MILES. THIS VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED. THE POTENTIAL FOR FATAL INJURIES IS EXTREMELY HIGH IF A VEHICLE WAS RIDING ON THE HIGHWAY. FORD MOTOR COMPANY LEFT US WITH A $4000.00 REPAIR. IT IS MY HOPE THAT THE OWNER NOTIFICATION IS CHANGED TO A RECALL WHICH INCLUDES FIXING THIS GASKET FOR AS LONG AS THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION.*AK

VEHICLE HAS STALLED 15-20 TIMES IN LAST 4 MONTHS, MOSTLY WHEN INCREASING SPEED. TAKEN TO DEALER 8 TIMES, CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK

RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT DAMAGING THE RIGHT REAR FENDER, RIGHT SIDE FENDER AND RIGHT SIDE SLIDING DOOR.(OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *YH

BRAKES HAVE VIBRATED AND NOISEY SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE. SERVICE CENTERS STATE NOTHING IS MECHANICALLY WRONG. 08/22/01, COMING BACK FROM FAMILY TRIP WE EXPERIENCED A BRIEF ROUGHNESS OF OPERATION AND OVERDRIVE SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON. 08/26/01, THE VEHICLE SPEW WHITE SMOKE FROM EXHAUST, OVERHEATED AND STALLED. EVERYONE I CALLED AND ALL LITERATURE SHOW THAT TO BE SYMTOMS OF HEAD GASKET FAILURE. THE OIL IS LIKE COFFEE WITH CREAM IN IT, INDICATING THAT BOTH GASKETS HAVE FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER STATES THE RECALL EXTENSION TO BE EXPIRED. THE ENGINE DATE IS 10/25/94 AND MILES ARE 94516 WITHIN THE EXTENSION GUIDELINES. ONE DEALERSHIP STATES 3 WEEKS BEFORE THEY COULD GET TO IT. I HAVE FOUND MANY SUMMARIES AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP ME TO HAVE FORD REPAIR THEIR MISTAKES.*AK

ON AUGUST 30,2001 WHILE ME AND MY FAMILY WAS TRAVELLING BACK FROM GA TO VA OUR 95 FORD WINDSTAR GL ENGINE BLEW. WE WERE DRIVING ALONG I20 WHEN THE VAN STARTED MAKING STRANGE NOISES AND THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING AND WHITE SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE FRONT OF THE HOOD. I PULLED THE VAN OVER AND A TRUCK DRIVER CAME ALONG AND POLITELY STOPPED TO ESCORT US OFF THE HIGHWAY TO A SAFE PLACE. UNDERNEATH THE HOOD, THE ENIGINE WAS EXTREMELY HOT.... AND OIL WAS ALL UP UNDER THE VAN........HE STAYED UNTIL A HIGHWAY PATROL SHERIFF CAME TO HELP.THE PATROL OFFICER ASSISTED US WITH FINDING A FORD DEALER IN COLUMBIA SC, WHERE WE TOWED OUR VAN TO . AS I AM WRITING IT IS STILLED THERE... WE HAD TO MAKE EMERGENCY TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS WHICH INCLUDED A HOTEL, FOOD, RENTAL VAN TO RETURN TO VAN, TAXICAB COST(BEFORE WE GOT THE RENTAL VAN).. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. THERE ARE ALOT OF FORD WINDSTAR OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMSWITH THE ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL POWER DOOR, ETC.... PLEASE INFORM WHEN A RECALL HAS BEEN DONE. I LOOK FORWARD TO A PROMPT REPLY IN THIS MATTER. THANK YOU........ FORD HAD JUST CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION AND CHECK THE ENGINE WITH A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON 03-09-2001 OR DID THEY??????? AND COASTAL AUTOMOTIVE HAD JUST CHANGED OUR OIL ON 08/17/2001?????????*AK

SOMETIME DURING THE LAST YEAR, BOTH HEADLIGHTS HAVE BECOME SO FULL OF MOISTURE, DIRT, AND GRIM AS TO MAKE THEM NOT GIVE OFF MUCH LIGHT TO SEE FOR NIGHT DRIVING. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING ON HIGH BEAMS AND EVEN THAT DOES NOT HELP. HOWEVER THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY IS MADE, THE UNITS HAVE COME "UNSEALED". IT IS MORE THAN A NUSANCE, BECAUSE IT AFFECTS THE ABILITY TO DRIVE SAFELY AT NIGHT. I HAVE SEEN THIS SITUATION ON OTHER WINDSTARS AND OTHERS STILL HAVE NICE CLEAR LENSES. HAS FORD OR NHTSA DONE ANYTHING? IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO BEFORE I HAVE AN ACCIDENT AT NIGHT RUNNING INTO OR OVER SOMETHING? THANK YOU. *AK

NUMBER 6 CYLINDER ROD BEARING FAILED RESULTING IN NEED TO REPLACE THE CRANKSHAFT ROD BEARINGS AND NUMBER 6 CYLINDER ROD. ACCORDING TO THE FORD MECHANIC THIS WAS PROBABLY DUE TO AN ANTI-FREEZE LEAK (MOST PROBABLY FROM THE HEAD GASKET). THIS OCCURRED 17 MONTHS AFTER WARRANTY HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT BY FORD. CONTACTED FORD AND THEY SAID THE WARRANTY RECALL NO LONGER APPLIED BECAUSE OF THE MILAGE AND AGE OF THE VEHICLE. I ADVISED THAT I ALREADY HAD THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY TO AVOID THIS VERY PROBLEM. THEY CONTACTED ORANGE MOTORS IN ALBANY NY WHO REPLACED THE ORIGINAL HEAD GASKET TO SEE IF THEY WOULD WARRANTY THEIR WORK. THEY WOULD NOT. THIS OCCURRED 1,000 MILES AWAY FROM HOME IN TOMAH WISCONSIN AT NORRIS-VERNIER MOTOR SALES (A FORD DEALER). DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE COST OF THE REPAIR ($2,500) AND THE SIGNIFICANT TIME REQUIRED TO REPAIR, WE LEFT THE VEHICLE, RENTED A CAR AND DROVE HOME. WE HAVE SINCE DONATED IT TO THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY. IT'S MY EXPECTATION THAT A VEHICLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO MORE THAN 89,000 MILES AND LAST MORE THAN 6 YEARS WITHOUT THIS TYPE OF MAJOR ENGINE FAILURE, ESPECIALLY SINCE I HAD ALL RECALL WARRANTY WORK PERFORMED, HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND SPENT SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF MONEY ON NON-WARRANTY WORK TO KEEP IT RUNNING. I JUST COULDN'T SEE PUTTING ANOTHER CENT INTO THIS PIECE OF GARBAGE. I AM ESPECIALLY DISAPPOINTED THAT FORD WON'T STAND BEHIND THIS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED, ILL CONCEIVED PRODUCT.*AK

WE WERE STRANDED ON THE ROAD TWICE IN THIS 1995 WINDSTAR AND BOTH TIMES THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT HAD WE NOT BEEN TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS. THIS HEAD GASKET ISSUE SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND CONSIDERED FOR RECALL SINCE FORD IS USING THEIR SECRET WARRANTY PROGRAM TO ESCAPE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PUTTING UNSAFE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. FORD HAS NOT BEEN FORTHCOMING TO THE NHTSA WITH THE LARGE NUMBER OF AFFECTED VEHICLES THAT ARE STILL ON THE ROAD WITH 3.8 LITER TIMEBOMBS JUST WAITING FOR THE HEAD GASKET TO FAIL. IN THEIR OWN INTERCOMPANY MEMO REGARDING HEAD GASKET REPAIRS FORD ADMITS THEIR MANUFACTURING PROBLEMS BUT LIMITS THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENTS REPAIRS TO JUST THE HEAD GASKET. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE NHTSA SURVEY OWNERS AND FORMER OWNERS OF FORD VEHICLES WITH 3.8 LITER ENGINES, PARTICULARLY THE 1995 WINDSTAR. I THINK YOU WILL FIND MANY PEOPLE WHO HAD RELATED ACCIDENTS AS WELL AS MANY WHO HAD TO BEAR THE COST OF THE ENGINE FAILURE IN THE REPAIR OR TRADEIN OF THAT VEHICLE.*AK

WHILE DEPRESSING BRAKES IT IS DIFFICULT TO STOP. DEALER STATED THAT ABS RING WAS CRACKED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK