1995 Ford Windstar complaints

ONLY 65,200 MILES AND I AM ORIGINAL OWNER, AND TOOK GREAT CARE OF MY WINDSTAR BUT THE HEAD GASKETS STILL BLEW. WHEN MY WINDSTAR WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR OTHER FACTORY RECALLS, I WAS ALREADY AWARE OF THE HEAD GASKET WARNING NOTICE AND MY "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" WAS COMING ON CONSTANTLY SO I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE MY HEAD GASKETS. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED, SAYING THERE WEREN'T ENOUGH "SYMPTOMS" AND THAT IT HAD TO BREAK DOWN BEFORE THEY WOULD INSTALL THE "IMPROVED" HEAD GASKETS! *AK

PREMATURE WEAR OF THE HEAD GASKETS. HEAD GASKETS BLEW OUT, CAUSING ENGINE TO LOCK UP, RESULTING IN DRIVER LOSING CONTROL OF VEHICLE, DEALER WAS REPLACING MOTOR. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD AN ENGINE KNOCK. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING AND THE BEARING HAD FAILED. AFTER AN OIL PRESSURE TEST, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE OIL PRESSURE WAS LOW AND THE COOLANT WAS IN THE OIL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER LATER RECEIVED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE NOTICE FROM THE MANUFACTURE FOR POSSIBLE HEAD GASKET FAILURE WHICH COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. *YH

TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT WILL COST $2585 PER DEALER. I SEE FROM YOUR WEB SITE THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS TRANSMISSION. THIS IS A MANUFCTURING DEFECT THAT SHOULD NOT BE SHOLDERED BY THE PUBLIC. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THIS TRANSMISSSION BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. THE VEHICLE WILL REV AND LURCH FORWARD WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC.*AK

HAD MINOR COOLANT LEAK, TURNED OUT TO BE "FORD PROGRAM" ENGINE REPLACEMENT. JUST OVER 100 MILES LATER, TRANSMISSION FLUID ALL LEAKED OUT. DEALER CLAIMS UNRELATED TO ENGINE PROBLEM. NEVER HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEM PRIOR TO ENGINE BEING REMOVED. TRANS WAS INSPECTED AS PART OF AAA SAFETY INSPECTION WHEN VAN WAS IN FOR ENGINE REPLACEMENT. SOME SORT OF SEAL LEAK, VAN STILL IN SHOP--HAVING TRANS REBUILT. NO PROBLEM BEFORE ENGINE ISSUE, MAJOR PROBLEM 7 DAYS LATER. FORD SHOULD PAY FOR THE TRANS SINCE IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, AND IF THEY DID NOT HAVE TO RIP THE ENGINE OUT, TAKE OFF THAT TRANS AND PUT NEW ENGINE ON, I PROBABLY WOULD BE DRIVING THE WINDSTAR TODAY. WE HAVE HAD REGULAR SERVICE, SPENT OVER $90 TO HAVE TRANS CHECKED LAST YEAR SO THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LAST US. FORD WAS E-MAILED WHEN WE GOT THE VAN BACK FROM THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT BECAUSE NOT EVERYTHING WAS WORKING PROPERLY. E-MAILED A FEW HOURS LATER WHEN THE TRANS FLUID POURED OUT AND OTHER THAN THE AUTOMATIC RESPONSE SAYING THEY REC'D MY E-MAIL, I HAVE HEARD NOT ONE WORD FROM THEM. NOT MUCH FOR CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE! THE TRANS AND ENGINE ARE RELATED, AND I DO NOT KNOW HOW FORD CAN SAY THEY ARE NOT. NO PROBLEM BEFORE THEY RECONFIGURED UNDER HOOD TO PUT DIFFERENT SHAPE/SIZE ENGINE IN, PROBLEM AFTER.

WITHIN 97,000 MILES TRANSMISSION HAS MALFUNCTIONED, REVERSE POSITION IS INOPERABLE, CAUSE UNKNOWN . *AK CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT LOW ONE GEAR IS INOPERABLE, CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED HEAD GASKET FAILURE, AS WELL AS OVERHEATING IN THE FUEL TANK.*JB

TORQUE CONVERTER WAS LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID ,AND SLIPPING BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEARS. DEALERSHIP REPLACED TRANSMISSION AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WERE MULTIPLE TSB'S FOR THIS PROBLEM. ENGINE WAS REPLACED A YEAR AGO UNDER A SERVICE PROGRAM BY THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER. *AK

#1 ANIT-LOCK BRAKES WOULD ACTIVATE EVERY TIME THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. #2 THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP VERY BAD THAN ENGAGE VIOLENTLY FROM A STAND STILL , OR THE TRANSMISSION WOULD START OFF IN SECOND GEAR. ALSO THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIPP AND ENGAGE VIOLENTLY FORM A STAND STILL IN REVERSE. (SIDE NOTE MY NIEGHBOR HAS A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR, HE ALSO HAS THE SAME PROBLEM TWICE. FIRST AT 30000 MILES, AND MOST RECENTLY AT 100000 MILES)

I HAVE HAD TWO HEAD GASKET PLACE ON MY VAN WITHIN ABOUT 18 MONTHS FROM EACH OTHER. BUT THIS TIME I TOOK MY VAN IN TO HAVE THE HEAD GASKET REPAIR AND WAS CHARGES 150 % MORE THAN THE OTHER REPAIR. I TOOK IT IN AND TOLD THEM THAT WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET . THEY SUPOSELY FIXED IT FOR $2,479.00 THEN TWO DAY LATER I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK IN BECAUSE OF THE OIL PRESSURE. THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED ANOTHER ENGINE WHICH WOULD COST ME ANOTHER $1,000.00. MY QUESTION IS THAT THEY DID NOT DO A DIAGONOTIC CHECK, JUST PLACED PARTS ON MY VAN WITHOUT APPROVAL , CHARGED ME FOR IT. NOW I HAVE TO PAY A TOTAL OF $3,479.00. THE FRIGHTEN PART IS THAT WITH THE HEAD GASKET GOING OUT TWICE, I AM AFRAID THE IT MIGHT GO OUT AGAIN. THE OTHER THING IS THAT FORD NEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND SHOULD HAVE EVALUATED THE PROBLEM JUST LIKE THEY SAID WITH THE RECALL, PLACE THE CORRECT GASKET (WHICH THEY DID NOT) AND FIX THE PROBLEM INSTEAD OF COSTING ME ANOTHER $1,000.00 FOR AN ENGINE. I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE.

LEAKED QUITE A BIT OF ANTIFREEZE...HAD TO REPLACE TIMING COVER GASKET. ALSO MORE RECENTLY, A FRONT TIRE BLEW DUE TO RUSTED FRONT SPRINGS AND STRUTS WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN GARAGE, CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE, WENT OVER TO VEHICLE AND SAW THAT FRONT RIGHT OF VEHICLE HAD DROPPED. FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE. NO PRIOR PROBLEMS ON THIS ISSUE. *AK

THIS IS THE 2ND TRANSMISSION THAT I HAVE HAD GO BAD. THE FIRST ONE HAD TO BE COMPLETELY OVERHAULED AT 39,000 MILES AT A COST OF $1, 254.20. THE VAN NOW HAS 85,000 MILES ON IT AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AGAIN. THIS TIME IT WILL COST $1,517.50 TO FIX IT. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE NO CURRENT PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO COVER THIS PROBLEM, THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY THEM TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AGAIN AND "WAIT AND SEE" WHAT HAPPENS IN THE FUTURE WITH A POSSIBLE RECALL. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE IN 1996. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE HEAD GASKETS NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME. THEY WERE REPLACED AT 53,000, 58,000 AND NOW 85,000. *AK

FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON WAS CRACKED. THIS CAUSED TRANSMISSION TO SLIP IN & OUT OF GEAR. PART WAS MADE OF ALUMINUM. MANUFACTURER REPLACED METAL PART WITH ALUMINUM.*AK

FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING HAD SNAPPED WHILE PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY. CONTACTED MECHANIC, AND INFORMED CONSUMER NOT TO DRIVE VEHICLE, BUT HAVE IT TOWED IN FOR REPAIRS. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION FRONT LEFT SPRING HAD BROKEN, CAUSING FRONT TIRE TO GO FLAT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WE HAVE REPLACED THE ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, HEAD GASKETS, AND MANY ADDITIONAL PARTS. I HAVE SPENT CLOSE TO $6,000 IN REPAIRS SINCE BUYING THIS VEHICLE. I JUST WANT FORD TO ADMIT THAT THE 95 WINDSTAR HAS PROBLEMS.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE DRIVING ,SHREADING THE TIRE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

ENGINE BLEW HEAD GASKET AND MUST BE REPLACED. *AK

FORD REFUSES TO COMPENSATE REPAIR BEYOND 100,000 MILES. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

DURING A NYS VEHICLE INSPECTION THE FRONT ANTI-SWAY BAR WAS FOUND TO BE BROKEN - ONE END HANGING DANGEROUSLY DOWN. THE ANTI-SWAY BAR IS MADE OF TUBING, RATHER THAN SOLID BAR STOCK. WHEN MY REPAIR SHOP CALLED A FORD DEALER TO OBTAIN A REPLACEMENT HE WAS TOLD THE DEALER KEPT STOCK ON HAND AS IT WAS COMMON FOR THEM TO BREAK.*AK

DELAYED ACCELERATION AND JOLT WHEN COMING TO A STOP. CONSUMER FEARS TRANMISSION MAY FAIL WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY WITH FAMILY. *AK

VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ROUGH WHEN IDLING. DEALER REPLACED HEADGASKETS AT 26,041. THEN, ON 14 SEPT 1999, TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD GO UP AND DOWN. AT 37, 543 MILES, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THE REPLACED BOTH HEAD GASKETS. THEN ON 12/10/00 AT 43451 MILES, TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH OCCURRED TWICE. *AK

APPEARS TO BE ANOTHER CASE OF EARLY TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO DEFECTIVE COMPONENTS. DANGER AT TIME OF FAILURE WAS THAT FROM A STOP I PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS TO MOVE FORWARD AND THE ENGINE JUST RACED. HAD I ANTICIPATED ACCELERATING TO AVOID ONCOMING TRAFFIC THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN TROUBLE.*AK

WHEN TRAVELING TRANSMISSION OPERATED ERRATICALLY/ JUMPS OUT OF GEAR, AND ENGINE RACES. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS BLEWOUT AND LEAKED COOLANT ONTO ENGINE, CAUSING ENGINE TO FAIL. DEALER HAS REPLACED HEAD GASKETS UNDER FORD EXTENDED WARRANTY PLOICY.*AK

I HAVE READ IN THE PAPER THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM IN SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND FORD WINDSTAR VANS (REPORT BY NEDRA PICKLER CHICAGO SUNTIMES) I'M WONDERING WHAT YOUR DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO HAVE FORD DO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY WIFE AND THREE CHILDREN WHO ALWAYS RIDE IN THIS VAN. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

HEAD GASKETS WERE REPAIRED FOR FREE. THEY WOULDN'T REPAIR LEAKING TIMING CHAIN GASKET UNDER THE HEAD GASKET WARRANTY THEY SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THAT AT THE SAME TIME. MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TIMING GEAR COVER LEAKING & LOSSING COOLANT

THIS IS THE FOURTH HEAD GASKET FAILURE REQUIRING ENGINE REPLACEMENTS.*AK

EXTREMELY LOW MILEAGE FOR TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

ON TWO OCCASIONS FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKE, CAUSING TIRE TO BLOWOUT. *AK THE DESIGN OF THE LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING HAS BROKEN TWICE, THE SPRING BROKE AND CUT THE TIRE, WHICH THEN BLEW OUT AT 70- 75 MPH.*JB

A PRIVATE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT BOTH ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAVE GONE OUT, AND WERE LEAKING ENGINE COOLANT. MANUFACTURER EXTENDED WARRANTY TO COVER THIS DEFECT TO 100,000 MILES. HOWEVER,CONSUMER WAS NEVER INFORMED ABOUT THIS DEFECT, AND WAS RECEIVING NO ASSISTANCE FROM THE DEALERSHIP/MANUFACTURER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

ENGINE STARTED BLOWING WHITE SMOKE FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND RUNNING VERY ROUGH. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, HE DIAGNOSED THAT HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWNOUT, AND FUEL INJECTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF DEFECT IN HEAD GASKET, BUT VEHICLE EXCEEDED THE MILEAGE NECESSARY TO BE INCLUDED IN MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER FROM TRANSMISSION. CONSUMER HAD TO PUT VEHICLE INTO SECOND GEAR IN ORDER TO GUIDE IT OFF THE ROAD. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO REBUILT TRANSMISSION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

ENGINE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER DEALER REPLACED HEAD GASKETS UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTEE. *AK

TRANSMISSION HAS TROUBLE GOING INTO GEAR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS HOT, AND WON'T GO INTO GEAR UNTIL IT HITS 2000 RPMS. CONTACTED DEALR, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

CONSUMER WAS GOING A MAXIUM OF 10MPH AND VEHICLE WAS HIT ON LEFT SIDE, JUST IN FRONT OF REAR TIRE. NEXT DAY, CONSUMER NOTICED VEHICLE PULLING TO LEFT AND MAKING A LOUD NOISE WHEN MAKING A SHARP TURN. INSURANCE ADJUSTER STATED THAT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE. DEALER DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN FROM ACCIDENT. CONSUMER'S WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER REPAIRS. *AK

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLES ENGINE, ANTIFREEZE LEAKED THROUGH THE GASKET INTO THE BLOCK AND DESTROYED THE LUBRICATING EFFECT OF THE OIL CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. NLM

VAN WAS IN PARK; PUT VAN IN REVERSE, SOUNDED LIKE IT SHIFTED, BUT REFUSED TO MOVE. POSSIBLE CRACKED REVERSE DRUM, STATES MECHANIC. *AK

CONSUMER STATES ABS LIGHT COMES ON, SHE ALSO HEARS NOISES, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY TEST DROVE IT AND ADVISED CONSUMER THAT THE ABS SYSTEM IS WORKING AS DESIGNED, BUT CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY SOMEONE ELSE THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ABS SYSTEM, CONSUMER ALSO STATES DEALERSHIP IS NOT WILLING TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE VEHICLE. *JB

WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING BROKE. CONSUMER WAS STILL ABLE TO OPERATE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED SPRING. THEN, IN MAY 2001, WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE ON, THERE WAS A LOUD "BOOM" NOISE THAT CAME FROM VEHICLE. UPON EXAMINATION, LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING HAD BROKEN AGAIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

BOLTS USED IN THE HEADS OF ENGINE CAN SNAP, WHICH CAN ALLOW WATER TO FLOW INTO CHAMBER THAT HOLDS VEHICLE. FORD ISSUED A SERVICE CAMPAIGN REGARDING THIS DEFECT, AND HAS INFORMED CONSUMER THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN, HOWEVER, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IS OVER 100,000 MILE LIMIT, AND FORD IS REFUSING TO PERFORM SERVICE AT NO CHARGE TO CONSUMER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

SIDE VENT WINDOW IS COMING OUT AND NONE OF DIFFERENT MECHANICS WILL TOUCH IT. SEALER WAS TAKING OFF SOME OF THE PAINT ON VEHICLE. MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT CONSUMER CONTACT A FORD DEALER , WHO WOULD KNOW MORE ABOUT IT. DIFFERENT MECHANICS DIDN'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF SEALER WAS USED. THEY DIDN'T WANT TO BREAK WINDOW. *AK

WHEN STARTING VHEICLE COULD SEE A WHITE SMOKE JUST LIKE MENTIONED IN RECALL ON ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *AK

THE INTERIOR LIGHTS DO NOT GO OUT WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES TO BE FIXED BUT EACH TIME THE PROBLEM RETURNS, SINCE THE LIGHTS DO NOT GO OUT THEY DRAIN THE BATTERY. NLM

THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE VEHICLE HAS AN ELECTRICAL COMPUTER SYSTEM DEFECT WHICH CAUSES COOLANT BACK UP AND EFFECTS THE TRANSMISSION BURNING IT OUT, IT ALSO CAUSES REPEATED DAMAGE TO THE HEAD GASKET AND TRANSMISSION, THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL REPAIRS MADE. NLM

VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN HOME AND PARKED IN GARAGE. STARTED NOTICING FUMES COMING INSIDE HOUSE. LATER WENT OUT TO START VEHICLE WHICH FAILED TO START. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT HEAD GASKET FAILED. PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TWICE UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

VAN HAS BEEN RUNNING HOT AND NGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME CAME ON. THEY TOLD US AT THE DEALER WE NEEDED A NEW HEAD GASKET. DETROIT TOLD US IT WAS UNDER THE ONP BUT THEN WHEN WE TOLD THE DEALER THAT THEY SAID WE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AND THAT WASN'T COVERED. LATER THAT DAY WE FOUND OUT THEY MADE A MISTAKE AND WEREN'T COVERING THE HEAD GASKET EITHER. FORD NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE CONSUMER WITH THIS BIG PROBLEM. THEY KEEP PASSING THE BUCK WHEN IT SEEMS TO BE THEIR FAULT. ISN'T THIS TYPICAL OF FORD WITH ALL THE OTHER PROBLEMS THEY'RE HAVING THAT THEY WON'T TAKE ANY BLAME. *AK