1995 Ford Windstar complaints

I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE AIRBAG REPLACED AT THE DEALERSHIP. HOWEVER, RECALL /MFR CAMPAIGN #95S06 ON OTHER 1995 WINDSTARS - BUT NOT MINE. *AK

THE RADIO AND CLOCK JUST WENT DEAD WHILE WE WERE ON THE ROAD. *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

THE ABS BRAKES WERE INSPECTED THREE TIMES BY THE DEALER UNDER WARRANTY AND THE PROBLEM WAS NOT SOLVED, AND THE BRAKES CONTINUE TO ACT ERRATICALLY. ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED BY FORD UNDER ITS WARRANTY IN 1998 BUT IT CONTINUED TO LEAK SMALL AMOUNTS. THE TIMING CHAIN GASKET IS NOW LEAKING. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT OUR EXPENSE IN FEBRUARY 1999 (WE'VE REPORTED IT HERE EARLIER) ALL THESE PROBLEMS ARE WELL KNOWN BY FORD, BUT EXCEPT FOR THE HEAD GASKETS, IT HAS STONEWALLED US AND OTHER CUSTOMERS ABOUT THE REPAIRS. THE TRANSMISSION AND THE ABS ARE DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARDS, AND THE ENGINE DAMAGE THAT CAN RESULT FROM THE GASKET FAILURES CAN LEAVE PEOPLE STRANDED WITHOUT NOTICE. *AK

GEARS NOT ENGAGING FROM PARK TO DRIVE. NEED NEW TRANSMISSION. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *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

ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, AND WATER WAS GETTING INSIDE THE ENGINE. *AK

AUTOMOBILE BURNED UP AFTER BEING LOOKED AT BY MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD HAPPEN BECAUSE BRAKE LINE WAS NEXT TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. CONSUMER HAD JUST TURNED OFF VEHICLE TO SHOW MECHANIC THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ON. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ANTI-FREEZE LEAKED. OWNER REQUESTS THAT THIS COMPLAINT BE REMOVED, FORD HAS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. *AK.ET.

CONSUMER HAD NO IDEA VEHICLE WAS LEAKING COOLANT WHILE DRIVING. HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. CONSUMER RECEIVED LETTER ABOUT EXTENDED WARRANTY UP TO 100,000 MILES. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN WITH 104,000 MILES ON IT, AND DEALER WOULD NOT COVER HEAD GASKET REPAIRS, ACCORDING TO LETTER. CONSUMER SPOKE WITH FORD REP AND WAS TOLD THAT ALL SHE COULD DO WAS TO HOLD ON TO HER SERVICE BILL, THE WARRANTY MIGHT BE EXTENDED. *AK

WE HAVE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION FOUR TIMES. WE NOW HAVE A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM WITH MY 3.8 LITER FORD WINDSTAR ENGINE. THE REASON I COULD NOT PROVIDE THE VIN # IS BECAUSE MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP AT THIS MOMENT BEING REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE COST FOR THE REPAIRS IS APPROXIMATELY $2,500. *AK

THE AIR MASS FLOW SENSOR LINE WAS NOT CONNECTED CORRECTLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MISS AND NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY. NLM

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

WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY VEHICLE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF ENGINE/ OVERHEATED/ LOSS OF POWER AND SHUT DOWN DUE TO ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLOWING OUT. VEHCILE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. *AK

FORD IS PAYING FOR A NEW ENGINE, BUT SHOULD ALSO PAY FOR TRANSMISSION FAILURE--THIS CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. *AK

AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THIS PROBLEM I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS BLOWN HEAD GASKET ON WINDSTAR 1995 WAS AN OWNER NOTIFICATION. WELL, I NEVER RECEIVED THIS NOTIFICATION AND HAD I WOULD HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO THE SHOP TO GO OVER. I UNDERTAND THAT FORD HAS CHANGED ITS LIMITATION FROM 60,000 TO 100,000. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT IF THEY ARE HAVING SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD GASKETS SO NOW I AM READING ALL THE HORRIBLE STORIES AND HOW PEOPLE WERE TREATED. IT CONCERNS ME THAT THEY HAVE OMMITED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM AND WHY SHOULD OWNER BE PENALIZED AND EXPECTED TO TAKE THE LOSS BECAUSE OF A FAULTY PROBLEM WITH THE FORD HEAD GASKET. I HAVE 1979 FORD BRONCO WHICH HAS OVER 200,000 OR EVEN ALOT MORE AND WE HAVE NEVER DONE ANYTHING TO THIS VECHICLE ACCEPT REPLACE THE CLUTCH AND WE BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW. I FEEL THAT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS A RESPONSIBLILTY TO THE OWNERS OF THE WINDSTARS TO STAND UP AND TAKE THE RESPONSBILITY, AGAIN WHY SHOULD I BE PENALIZED AND EXPECTED TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THEY NEW WOULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN SOONER OR LATER. I AM NOT SURE WHY I GOT MILEAGE OUT OF MY VEHICLE BEFORE THIS HAPPEN. MAYBE BECAUSE I TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF MY VEHICLE AND SERVICED IT REGULARLY. I PUT ON A LOT OF MILES A YEAR. I AM A SALES PERSON WHO IS ON THE ROAD 6 DAYS OUT OF THE WEEK ON BUSINESS. AND AGAIN I DID NOT RECEIVE OWNER NOTIFICATION. I WOULD LIKE FOR THIS INFORMATION TO BE RECORDED AND REPORTED TO WHOM EVER IT TAKES TO STAND UP AND TAKE NOTICE OF THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT THE F

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED WHILE DRIVING TO THE AIRPORT. AVERAGE SPEED 35 MPH. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHILE TAKING OFF. FROM A STOP. *AK

RECALL #98-MO1 ON A 1995 FORD WINSTAR - CONTACTED FOR MOTOR COMPANY BECAUSE I HAVE 122,000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE THAT WILL NOT PAY TO HAVE MY HEAD GASKET FIXED. IF I HAD RECEIVED A RECALL I COULD HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE CHECKED PRIOR TO THE 100,000 MILES. MY QUESTION IS IF THIS A RECALL WHY DO THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO PUT MILEAGE LIMITATION ON THIS. IF THE HEAD GASKET IS A PROBLEM ON THE WINSTAR (95) THEN THEY NEED TO BE REPAIRED AT THE FORD COMPANIES EXPENSE. JUST BECAUSE MAYBE I MAINTAINED MY VEHICLE BETTER AND IT TOOK LONGER FOR THIS TO HAPPEN I DO NOT KNOW! WHY SHOULD I BE PUNISHED FOR THEIR FAULTY HEAD GASKET. I FEEL THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THEIR RESPONSIBLITY TO NOTIFY ALL OWNERS OF 1995 WINDSTAR THAT THIS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IT IS NOT LIKE I BOUGHT THIS USED, I PURCHASED DIRECTLY FROM THE DEALERSHIP SO THEY SHOULD HAVE ALL MY INFORMATION, PLUS I HAVE IT FINANCED WITH THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY. I NEED HELP TO SEE THAT THIS IS CORRECTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 VEHICLE STRUCK A DEER AND BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, HITTING CONSUMER AND HUSBAND IN THE FACES WITH AN OBJECT FROM AIR BAGS. *AK

I KEPT BURNING OUT BRAKES EVERY 6 MONTHS UNTIL THE WHOLE BRAKE LINE BLEW UP CAUSED FROM HEAT. MECHANIC SAID BRAKE LINE MELTED DUE TO PLACEMENT NEXT TO HEAT FROM CATALYTIC CONVERTER. A VERY SERIOUS MANUFACTURERS DEFAULT. POTENTIAL FIRE AND FATALITY SAFETY ISSUE! LINE NEEDS HEAT RESISTER SHIELD NEXT TO CONVERTER. HEAD GASKET BLEW BUT DEALER CLAIMS RECALL ONLY GOES TO 100K MILES AND WON'T COVER BLOWN ENGINE. JUST PAID VAN OFF NOW THE ENGINE IS GONE! EXPECTED MORE THAN 5 YEARS OUT OF IT. THE VAN SHOULD BE RECALLED! *AK

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

AUTOMOBILE IS IN THE FIRST PHASE OF THE HEAD GASKET GOING OUT. IT IS LOSING COOLANT AT A RAPID PACE, AND AFTER A 2 HOUR TRIP ENGINE HEATED TO A HIGH TEMPERATURE.ALSO, MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF CONSISTENT DEFECT, BUT HAS NOT ISSUED ANY RECALLS. *AK

ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO HEAD GASKET DEFECT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER INFORMED US THAT THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED. WE TOLD THEM THAT WE WEREN'T THE ORIGINAL OWNERS THEREFORE DID NOT RECEIVE THE NOTICE; THEY TOLD US 'TOUGH'. WE ATTEMPTED TO ESCALATE THE PROBLEM AND THREE DAYS LATER A 'SUPERVISOR' LEFT US A MSG. ON OUR ANSWERING MACHINE TELLING US FORD WILL DO NOTHING! THEY HAD OUR MAIN SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION FOR ALMOST 30 DAYS WHILE WE STRUGGLED TO SAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS (~$1200.00). COMPUTER FAILURE INCIDENT: WE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF A 'DPF SENSOR' THAT WAS DISCOVERED AFTER THE HEAD GASKET REPAIR AND BEFORE WE PICKED UP THE VAN. NOW WE WERE TOLD THE MAIN COMPUTER WAS GONE AND THE CODE WASN'T COMING UP SAYING THE DPF SENSOR NEEDED REPLACING. $530.00 LATER, WE TAKE THE VAN HOME AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON (DPF SENSOR PROBLEMS??); THE VAN HAS LEAKED FLUID ALL OVER OUR PARKING PAD; THE VEHICLE IS STUTTERING WHEN PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL AFTER A STOP; A TRANSMISSION WIRE THAT CONTROLS THE VEHICLES ABILITY TO GO INTO PARK, REVERSE, NEUTRAL, ETC. HAS COME LOOSE AND WE ARE AFRAID TO TAKE IT BACK TO FORD. FORD IS GOING TO REFUND US OUR $1200 FOR THE GASKET WORK, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE TRAUMA THEY PUT THEIR CUSTOMERS THROUGH? WHAT ABOUT THE LOSS OF WORK TIME ENCOUNTERED DUE TO THE VEHICLE HAVING TO BE AT THE DEALER FOR A MONTH? THEY OWE US MORE THAN JUST A REFUND! IF THEY HAD FIXED THEIR ADMITTED ERROR IN THE FIRST PLACE, WE WOULDN'T HAVE

TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T DOWNSHIFT, AND VEHICLE DIDN'T MOVE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST, AND MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN TRANSMISSION WALL. *AK

FORD AND THE DEALERSHIP WERE NOT HELPFUL AT ALL. FORD TRIED TO MAKE ME HAPPY IN THE END WITH AN ADDITIONAL WARRANTY FOR 24 MONTHS OR 24,000. BUT WOULD NOT PAY FOR REPAIRS. TO SORRY TO BAD THEY SAID. THIS PAST YEAR WE HAD MORE PROBLEMS, IT WAS VERY VERY VERY STRESSFUL AND EXPENSIVE. WE HAD TO CHARGE REPAIRS AND PUT SOME ON HEME EQUITY. THINK OF THE INTEREST $. I WAS SCARED TO DRIVE. I HAVE SINCE SOLD VAN. I WILL STILL PURSUE THIS TO GET BACK $ AND TO TELL OTHERS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONS. YH

THE FAILURE IS WITH THE HEAD GASKET WHICH CAUSES COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE CYLINDERS AND WHICH CAUSES THE ENGINE TO OVER HEAT. FORD EXTENDED THE COVERAGE OF THIS PROBLEM TO 100,000 MILES BUT I HAD 114,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I FEEL THAT IF THIS PROBLEM IS A KNOWN DEFECT IN THE HEAD GASKET THEN IT SHOULD BE REPLACED WHETHER OR NOT IT IS OVER 100,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. *AK

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS ENGINE HAS STARTED TO SMOKE HEAVY. I PAID ONCE BEFORE TO HAVE A NEW HEAD GASKET AND HEADS PUT IN. FORD SEND OUT A LETTER FOR DEFECTED HEADS AND GASKETS BEFORE. I CALLED UP FORD AFTER RECEIVING THIS LETTER AND WAS REFUNDED MY MONEY FOR HEAD JOB. 7 MONTHS LATER THIS SAME VAN, JUST QUIT RUNNING SO I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY JUST SAID IT WAS A LOOSE CLAMP,AND SEND ME ON MY WAY. THAT SAME DAY THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, THE REASON FOR THIS I DON'T KNOW BECAUSE EVERYTIME I TOLD THEM ABOUT THE LIGHT,THEY JUST TELL ME IT'S A SENSOR. I NEVER COULD GET THIS FIXED SINCE I BOUGHT THE VAN. NOW THIS VAN IS SMOKING FROM THE TAILPIPE AGAIN WITH THE PROBLEM AS BEFORE SO I CALLED FORD AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THER WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME SINCE THEY ALREADY REIMPURSED ME MY MONEY ONCE BEFORE. ALL I WANT IS TO GET PROBLEM FIXED,CONSIDERING FORD KNOWS THAT THIS PROBLEM ON THIS SPECIFIC VAN EXISTS. *AK

THIS MINIVAN WAS MY WORST NIGHTMARE. AFTER HAVING THE HEAD GASKETS CHECKED AND TRANSMISSION SERVICED AT 58702 MILES MY GASKETS WENT @ 66940, TRANSMISSION @68420,ENGINE REPLACED AT 71843 MILES. ALL THIS HAPPENED AT OUR BUSIEST TIME OF YEAR. MY DAUGHTER IS A SOFTBALL PITCHER AND THE TRANNY WENT ON MY WAY TO A RURAL TOWN TOURNY, THE ENGINE WENT OVER 100 MILES FROM HOME ON OUR WAY TO STATE TOURNEY WHICH WE SENT OUR DAUGHTER WITH THE COACH. BUT WE MISSED IT. AFTER HAVING THE ENGINGE REPLACED WITH A USED ONE PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY MY POER STEERING WENT AND THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE FROM THE FLUID SPRAYING ONTO THE ENGINE. THE ORIGINAL HOSE WAS USED WITH THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE. NEW HOSE WAS ROUTED A DIFFERENT WAY SO THE HOSE WASN'T SO CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST PIPE. I WAS LUCKY THIS HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY. ALL THIS HAPPENED WITHIN A FEW MONTHS AND FORD OR THE DEALERSHIP WERE NOT HELPFULL. I SOLD THE VAN AND WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD. *AK

THE CONSUMER HAS HAD TWO HEAD GASKETS FAILURES, THE SECOND FAILURE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. NM

THE DOOR AJAR SWITCH HAS GONE BAD 3 TIMES IN 5 YEARS, EACH TIME IT COST $250.00 TO REPAIR. IF WE DO NOT GET IT FIXED THEN THE DOME LIGHTS STAY ON FOR 15 MINUTES AFTER EACH TIME ANY DOOR IS OPENED. IN THE DARK THAT MAKES IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE DO TO GLARE. I DO NOT WISH TO UNHOOK THE SWITCH , BUT I WILL NOT REPLACE THIS AGAIN. *AK

VEHICLE MADE GRINDING NOISE. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE AND FOUND BRAKES TO BE OKAY. ON 14-APR-2000, SAME DEALER SAID THAT VEHICLE NEEDED NEW ROTORS. *AK *TT

HEAD GASKET FAILED CAUSING COOLANT LOSS. NLM

TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED TWICE. IN THE FIRST INCIDENT AN ACCIDENT WAS NARROWLY AVOIDED AS CAR LOST POWER. ENGINE FAILURE CAUSED VEHICLE TO STOP IN INTERSECTION WHERE NUMEROUS FATAL ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED. *AK

STEERING FEELS STIFF DUE TO STEERING RACK FAILURE. YH

WHILE DRIVING DOWN A ROAD ALL OF SUDDEN VEHICLE KEPT ACCELERATING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED THE TROTTLE BODY TOP. IT HAPPENED AGAIN. *AK

COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL...FORD WILL NOT PAY FOR REPAIR BECAUSE OF MILEAGE. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON OF TRANSMISSION- FORD WILL NOT RECALL IT YET. WHY. *AK

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

TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY. *MJS

I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO. ABOUT THIS AND THEY WILL NOT REFUND MY MONEY OF $1410.00 FOR THE REPAIR CAUSED BY THE BLOWN HEAD GASKET. I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THESE MOTORS YEARS AGO FOR THEY NEW THAT THEY HAD A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM AND JUST INORGED IT. *AK

VAN STARTED TO OVERHEAT AND THEN AFTER I PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO LET THE ENGINE COOL, I TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND THE HEAD GASKET BLEW. FORD IS GIVING ME A HARD TIME ABOUT THIS AFTER THEY AT FIRST OFFERED TO PAY HALF THE REPAIRS...RECALL THIS VEHICLE NOW. *AK

MY 1995 WINDSTAR HAS HAD PROBLEMS SINCE DAY 1. PAINT JOB HAD TO BE REPAIRED; WINDSHIELD HAD CRACK..REPLACED; SLIDING DOOR WAS LEAKING AND HAD TO BE ADJUSTED 3 TIMES; HEAD GASKET FAILURE; TIMING GASKET FAILURE; WHEEL BUSHING FAILURE; INTERIOR PARTS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY; ABS LIGHT/ELECT SYSTEM FAILURE (2X); I FEEL SO BAD ABOUT THIS THING I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. FORD DOESN'T CARE. I CAN'T SELL THIS THING WITH A CLEAR CONSCIENCE....BUT FORD DID. CAN YOU HELP US!!!! THERE ARE MANY, MANY OTHERS LIKE ME. I AM VERY CONCERNED THE TRANNY WILL GO NEXT AS HAS BEEN REPORTED BY SO MANY OTHER WINDSTAR OWNERS WHEN THEY REACH THE 60-75000 MILE RANGE. IN ADDITION, THE TIMING COVER GASKET COSTS APPROXIMATELY $850 TO FIX. I DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR BUT NEITHER FORD OR MY DEALER WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. MECHANICS I HAVE SPOKE WITH SAID TO TALK WITH THE DEALER...THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE. I BELIEVE IT WAS HAPPENING SINCE DAY ONE INTERMITTANTLY. (I HAVE ALWAYS HAD ANTIFREEZE LEAKING ON MY GARAGE FLOOR SINCE DAY 1. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS "LOOSE FITTINGS". SO NOW I AM STUCK WITH IT. HELP US!!!

TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT UP FROM SECOND TO THIRD, LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS THROWN INTO NEUTRAL. COASTED AT 35 MPH FOR ABOUT 1/2 MILE. TRANSMISSION FINALLY SHIFTED TO THIRD. ABOUT 1 MILE LATER AND AT 50 MPH, TRANSMISSION SHIFTED DOWN INTO SECOND. SERVICE TECH BLAMED THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON OLD TRANSMISSION FLUID AND TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH FAILURE. TOTAL INSTALLATION OF RE-MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION COST $2,150. SERVICE REP HAS NO INTENTION OF OFFSETTING SOME OF THE COST. WILL BE TALKING TO NEXT LEVEL OF MANAGMENT AT DEALERSHIP.*AK

WE WERE DRIVING IN W.VA. AND BEGAN TO NOTICE ENGINE RUNNING LOUD, TURNED OFF AIR CONDITIONING THEN NOTICED ENGINE TEMPERATURE WAS HOT. KEPT AIR OFF FOR AWHILE THEN TRIED IT AGAIN ONLY TO NOTICE CONTINUED HOT TEMPERATURE. PULLED OVER AS SOON AS SAW A REPAIR SHOP, CLOSED DUE TO HOLIDAY. ENGINE STARTED BLOWING WHITE SMOKE OUT OF TAILPIPE, VERY SCARY FOR US AND OUR YOUNG CHILDREN. THE VAN WAS TOWED TO A SMALL REPAIR SHOP IN THE AREA AND ENGINE WAS REPLACED. FORD WILL NOT HELP US WITH REPAIR, ALTHOUGH THEY DID NOTIFY OF POSSIBLE PREMATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. *AK

THE HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN AT LESS THAN 65000 MILES. IT SEEMS THAT THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE. I'VE HEARD THAT THEY WILL REPLACE THE GASKET IF IT FAILS AT LESS THAN 60,000 MILES. IS THAT ALL I SHOULD EXPECT FROM A FORD HEAD GASKET? I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU WOULD LOOK INTO MAKING THE WARRANTY FOR HTIS REPAIR LONGER THAT 60,000 MILES. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION ON OUR 1995 WINDSTAR VAN FAILED AFTER 78000 MILES, 3000 MILES AFTER OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD HAD EXPIRED. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN A LEMON FROM THE START. WE HAVE HAD THE HOOD BONDING PROBLEM FIXED UNDER THE RECALL ON THAT PROBLEM, HAD THE HEAD GASKETS REPLACED ON THE EXTENDED WARRANTY BEFORE THAT RECALL CAME OUT, REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP INSIDE THE GAS TANK AT MY OWN EXPENSE, AND NOW I AM PRESENTLY HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER WINDOWS, THE AIR BAG SYSTEM, AND THE POWER DOOR LOCKS. IF THIS IS READ BY ANYONE CONTEMPLATING A MINI-VAN PURCHASE, I WOULD THINK LONG AND HARD BEFORE BUYING A WINDSTAR. FROM THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ON THE INTERNET, I'D SAY THIS WASN'T JUST AN ISOLATED THING, BUT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO BY THE GOVERNMENT REGULATORY PEOPLE. NONE OF OUR FAILURES HAVE RESULTED IN ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES, BUT COULD HAVE EASILY DONE SO, HAD WE NOT LIVED IN A MORE RURAL AREA. I DEFINITELY WOULD NOT WANT TO HAVE ONE OF THESE VEHICLES IN A MORE HIGH-SPEED METROPOLITAN AREA. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHEN GOING TO USE THE VAN ONE DAY, THERE WAS NO REVERSE. ALL THE FORWARD GEARS WORKED. THE REVERSE CLUTCH DRUM HAD A CRACK IN IT AND THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT. WHEN GOING TO USE THE VAN ON ANOTHER DAY, IT WOULD NOT START. BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS OCCURRED WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE WITH TOTAL COSTS OF $1378.88 AND $341.41. *AK