1995 Ford Windstar complaints

DEALER REFUSES TO PERFORM RECALL REPAIR (98V-184) RELATED TO THE FUEL TANK CRACK. NLM

TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING PARTICULARLY WHEN CORNERING AROUND 45K MILES. EVENTUALLY, TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL DURING NORMAL DRIVING. THIS EXPOSED THE OCCUPANTS TO POTENTIAL HAZARDOUS SITUATIONS WITH NO POWER TO ESCAPE IN TRAFFIC AND ON THE HIGHWAY. *AK

ORIGINAL HEADGASKET PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED 6-97, BEFORE FORD HAD PUBLICLY ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECT. ONE YEAR LATER THERE WAS A RECALL, AND WE WERE REIMBURSED. THE PROBLEM IS THE REPAIR WAS MADE WITH THE SAME PART THAT FAILED, NOT THE REDESIGNED PART, AND 54,000 MILES LATER, WE HAVE HEAD GASKET FAILURE AGAIN, AS WELL AS ENGINE DAMAGE. BECAUSE WE ARE AT A VEHICLE MILEAGLE OF 128,000, THEY ARE REFUSING. OUR CLAIM IS THE HEAD GASKET WAS OF FAULTY DESIGN, AND THIS SHOULD AGAIN BE REPLACED AND THE ENGINE REPAIRED, WITH NEW, REDESIGNED HEADGASKET. *AK

MY VAN WAS OVER WARRANTY ONLY 500.00 MILES AND NO ONE WOULD WORK WITH ME TO GET IT FIXED!! NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED WITHIN SUMMARY. *AK

I HAVE A FRIEND WITH A 1995 WINDSTAR AND SHE ALSO, HAD TO REPLACE THE HEADGASKET. I NEED TO KNOW IF THIS IS A DEFECT WHICH HAS BEEN OVERLOOKED OR JUST IGNORED BY THE FORD MANUFACTURERS. *AK

CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING AND CAR ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. THE SYSTEM COULD NOT BE SHUT OFF EITHER BY USING THE BRAKE, OR OFF SWITCH. THE ONLY WAY TO TURN IT OFF IS TO BRAKE TO A STOP (AGAINST THE ENGINE) AND TURN OFF THE CAR. AFTER WAITING ABOUT 5 MINUTES THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL SHUT OFF. THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.

FRONT COVER GASKET LEAKING. *AK

I HAD THIS WINDSTAR TOWED TO WHITEHEAD FORD IN PANAMA CITY FLA. THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID IT WOULD COST $1410.00 TO FIX AND IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT WAS 216 MILES OVER THE 100000 MILE 7 YEAR EXT. WARANTY . IT SEEM TO ME THAT FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS . AND I THINK FORD SHOULD REFUND ME MY MONEY BACK. WHO SHOULD I CONTACT BEFORE I TAKE THIS MATTER TO COURT . THANKS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK( DOT NUMBER: N/A TIRE SIZE: N/A )

I HAVE A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR WHICH HAD A RECALL ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO TO REPLACE HEAD GASKETS THAT HAD DEFECTS. THIS WAS REPLACED UNDER AN "EXTENDED WARRANTY" . ONE YEAR AND A HALF LATER THE TIMING COVER GASKET FAILED. THIS REQUIRES AN ENGINE TO BE LIFTED AND IS A $1400 JOB QUOTED FROM MY DEALER. I JUST RECEIVED A SERVICE BULLETEN ABOUT FORD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 100,000 MILES, HOWEVER IT IS ONLY FOR HEAD GASKETS AND NOT FOR TIMING COVER GASKETS. IT APPEARS, AFTER REASEARCHING THIS ON THE INTERNET THAT THE TIMING COVER GASKET PROBLEM IS JUST AS PREVELANT AS THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. HAS THE NHTSA INVESTIGATED WHETHER OR NOT THESE GASKETS HAVE THE SAME DEFECT? IT APPEARS THAT THE CARS ARE HAVING THE TIMING COVER PROBLEM JUST AS MUCH AS THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. I HAVE NEVER OWNED A VEHICLE THAT NEEDED TWO MAJOR REPAIRS. FORD BASICALLY SAID, TOO BAD..DOES THE NHTSA HAVE ANY POWER OVER THESE COMPANIES? NO WONDER WE ARE BUYING JAPANESE CARS. ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

BRAKES FAILED. NLM

I HAD MY TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP SINCE THE VAN NO LONGER HELD A WARRANTY. THAT IS WHEN I HEARD OF THE ASTRONOMICAL FAILURE RATE OF THESE TRANSMISSIONS. I SEARCHED THE WEB TO VERIFY WHAT I HEARD FROM THE SERVICE TECH. I FOUND THOUSANDS OF LETTERS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE AND IT'S DEFICIENT TRANSMISSION. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND PLAN TO CONTINUE TO FOLLOW UP ON THIS ISSUE UNTIL FORD SHOWS ME THEY CARE ABOUT CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. I WANT TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THIS TRANS REPLACEMENT. *AK

BLOWN HEAD GASKET DUE TO POOR DESIGN CAUSED VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. NLM

NHTSA RECALL 99V309000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 99R33; KIT AA, FUEL STRAPS RECALL. DEALER HAD NO PARTS AVAILABLE SINCE JANUARY 2000. DEALER IS JOE MICHENS FORD, 1911 WEST WORLEY, COLUMBIA, MO 65205 573-445-4411. DEALER KEPT SCHEDULING THE CONSUMER, BUT HAD NO PARTS. *AK *ML

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

BLOWN HEAD GASKET CAUSED VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT, DEALER REFUSED REPAIR DUE TO HIGH MILEAGE. NLM

HEAD GASKET FAILED. NLM

TRANSMISSION FAILED. NLM

TRANSMISSIN FAILED TWICE. YH

INTERIOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATE WITHOUT MANUAL OPERATION, ALSO, DOOR AJAR LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THE DOORS ARE ACTUALLY CLOSED, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE APPLYING BRAKES INTERMITTENTLY THEY WOULD PULSATE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

RECALL 99V309000/ FUEL TANK STRAP/ATTACHMENTS. OWNER CONTACTED DEALER, MCIMERMERY FORD, SEMORAN BLVD, ORLANDO, FL 407-275-3200. DEALER DID NOT HAVE PARTS SINCE DECEMBER, 1999. *AK

THE LIABILITY OF A PREMATURE FAILURE OF A HEAD GASKET SHOULD RESIDE WITH THE MANUFACTURE, NOT THE CUSTOMER. *AK

HAD SEVERAL TIMES OF NO STOPPING OR VERY HARD BRAKING AT STOPS. *AK

I HAVE A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR WITH 68,000 MILES. IT STARTED WITH THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT GOING ON, AND I TOOK IT IN FOR A CHECK. I GOT A TUNE UP AND THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT TURNED OFF. AFTER TEN MINUTES, THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND I WENT BACK TO THE MECHANIC . THREE DAYS LATER I WAS TOLD THE O2 SENSORS ARE BAD, THE HEAD GASKETS ARE BAD AND IT WILL COST ME OVER $2,000.00 TO FIX. I CALLED FORD MOTOR CO. AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME BECAUSE I WAS OVER THE 60,000 MILE WARRANTY. MY HUSBAND CALLED AS WELL AND GOT THE SAME THING. I TOOK THE CAR INTO OMEARA FORD TO HAVE THE HEAD GASKETS FIXED AND THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A WHOLE NEW ENGINE WHICH WOULD COST OVER $4,000.00 . I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE IT WON'T EVEN PASS EMISSIONS, AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR THE LAST 8 MONTHS! I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY CAR AND AN ENGINE SHOULD NOT BLOW AT 68,000 MILES. FORD ALSO SAID THEY SENT OUT LETTERS TO OWNERS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, WE DID NOT RECIEVE ANY LETTER OR WE WOULD HAVE GONE INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD IT LOOKED AT. THEY SAID THAT ISN'T THEIR FAULT EITHER.

SPEEDOMETER HEAD AND CABLE FAILED. NLM

HEAD GASKET LEAKING COOLANT TO ENGINE. *AK

THE REPORTED FAILURES ARE A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE. I WOULD THINK FORD WOULD COMPENSATE OWNERS FOR THESE FAILURES. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE BARRIED AT HOT, THEN ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED OVER AND WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM TAIL PIPE. THEN VAN WOULD NOT RESTART. A MECHANIC REPLACED THE HEAD AND I DROVE IT FOR APPROX. 400 MILES WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED NOCKING AND THE TRANS. WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 2 GEAR UNTIL IT GOT HOT THEN WOULDN'T SHIFT OUT OF 1ST I BELIEVE THE HEAD GASKET DAMAGED THE ENGINE AND TRANS. VAN IS UNDRIVEABLE AND STILL OWE FOR IT. *AK

NOTIFIED BY FORD SLIDING DOOR LATCH, HAD IT REPAIRED. THEN FRONT END DOESN'T STAY IN ALIGNMENT, HEAD GASKET BLEW, CAUSING LOSS OF STARTER AND OTHER RELATED PARTS, TOTAL COST OF $1800.00 AT THIS TIME THE CAR ONLY HAD AROUND 50,000 MILES. DOOR LIGHT STAYS ON INDICATING THAT A DOOR IS OPEN WHEN ONE ISN'T. SOMETIMES GOES ON AND OFF AND BEEPS. INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON FOR EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. HEARD ON NEWS ABOUT RECALLS AND BUY BACK, CALLED FORD, THEY TELL ME ABOUT 3 OTHER RECALLS ON THE VAN,: HEAD GASKETS, HOOD SEPARATION, FEUL TANK MOUNTING (WHICH WILL ONLY REPLACE OR REPAIR IF THEY FEEL ITS NECESSARY). I LOOKED ON THE NET AND FOUND THAT THERE IS ALSO AN AIRBAG PROBLEM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THESE AND ONLY RECENTLY BECAME AWARE OF THEM. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO GET A REFUND FOR THE $1800.00 ON THE HEAD GASKET AND RELATED PROBLEMS. I WAS TOLD TO GO AND SPEAK TO A MARY FLANAGAN AT THE SANDERS FORD IN JACKSONVILLE, NC WHERE I LIVE AND PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION A OUT ALL THESE RECALLS AND REPAIRS THAT ARE NEEDED AND IF THE BUY OUT PROGRAM APPLIES TO MY VEHICLE. I HAVE 3 CHILDREN AND I AM FEELING VERY UNSATISFIED WITH SAFELY TRANSPORTING THEM IN THIS VEHICLE. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED AT 83,00 MILES. ANTIFREEZE LEAKING FORM TAILPIPE. COST OF REPAIR OVER $1000.00 PLUS RENTAL CAR AND LOST WAGES. *AK

WHILE STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT AND WHEN DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL VEHICLE WOULD NOT TRAVEL AND WAS MAKING NOISE. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THIS TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SHIFT WITHOUT WARNING AT AROUND 80000 MILES AND BEGAN FULLY SHIFTING OUT OF GEAR A FEW THOUSAND MILES LATER. IT SEEMS THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER WINDSTARS WITH THIS PROBLEM WHICH FORD IS WILLING TO FIX, BUT UNWILLING TO ACCEPT THAT THEY BLUNDERED WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. HAS THE NHTSA ADRESSED THIS ISSUE AS YET WITH FORD. THE DEALER'S COMPUTER HAS FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRANNY AS YET EVEN THOUGH IT CONTINUES TO SLIP OUT OF GEAR. *AK

OCT 99 HEAD GASKETS FAILED / MAR 00 TRANSMISSION FAILED BOTH REPLACED BY DEALER BOTH ARE SAFETY ISSUES AND HAVE TO BE CORRECTED BY FORD. DO WE NEED A MAJOR INJURY BEFORE SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING ABOUT EVERYTHING WRONG WITH THIS VAN. *AK

HEAD GASKETS FAILED PREMATURELY. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON 1995 WINDSTARS, AND I WANT TO KNOW WHEN FORD IS GOING TO REIMBURSE US FOR THESE COSTLY REPAIRS. *AK

HEAD GASKET AND TIMING COVER GASKET FAILED. YH

ENGINE FAILED, DEALER SAID EXTENDED WARRANTY DID NOT APPLY TO CONSUMERS VEHICLE (99V-309). NLM

WATER PUMP LEAKS COOLANT AND TIMING CASE COVER LEAKS ANTIFREEZE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. OTHER FAILURES INCLUDE LEFT AND RIGHT TIE RODS, IGNITION KEY LOCK, A/C, AND HEAD GASKET. *AK *ML

THE HEAD GASKET ON MY FORD FAILED AND THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REBUILT. I AM AWARE OF WHAT FORD IS DOING NOW WITH THE EXTENDED WARRANTIES ON THESE WINDSTARS. HOWEVER, I HAVE A LETTER DATED 6/98 THAT STATES "ON VEHICLES FOR WHICH THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE HAS EXPIRED, VEHICLES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS PROGRAM(ENGINE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT) THROUGH 12/31/98 REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. I WANT TO KNOW IF MY REPAIRS WILL BE COVERED AS MY ENGINE BLEW ON 12/31/98. I PAID FOR ALL REPAIRS MYSELF . *AK

I HAVE TALKED WITH MULTIPLE PEOPLE FROM WORK, CHURCH AND FAMILY MEMBERS THAT HAVE OR HAVE HAD A 1995 WINDSTAR AND ALL WITHOUT EXCEPTION HAVE HAD THEIR TRANSMISSIONS REBUILT. MOST HAVE TAKEN THE POSITION THAT, "THINGS BREAK, OH WELL I GUESS I'LL JUST TAKE IT ON THE CHIN!". THE FUNNY THING TO ME AFTER ASKING THEM TO FIND OUT AND ALSO TALKING WITH TRANSMISSION SHOPS AS WELL AS "FORD REPAIR TECHS" AT FORD DEALERSHIPS THERE SEEMS TO BE ONE COMMON FAILURE POINT -- THE "FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON". ALL THAT I TALKED TO IN THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR WORLD SAY THAT THE PISTION IS MADE OF AN INFERIOR METAL AND THAT LATER IN THAT YEAR FORD REALIZING THEIR MISTAKE STARTED PUTTING IN AN "UPDATED PISTON" MADE WITH BETTER METAL. GOOD FOR THE FOLKS THAT BOUGHT THE LATER MODELS BUT AS OF YET TOO BAD FOR THOSE OF US THAT BOUGHT THE "EARLY MODEL". I HAVE TALKED WITH PEOPLE THAT THEIR TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 300 MILES AND MINE WENT OUT THE SECOND TIME AT 107,000 MILES AND SEVERAL AT MILAGES IN BETWEEN. ANY HELP YOU COULD LEVERAGE FORD INTO OWNING UP TO THEIR "MISTAKE" WOULD BE GREAT. THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION GARY CLENDENIN. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED AN ANTI-FREEZE LEAK. CONTACTED THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE REPAIRS AND INSPECTION, ALSO, CONSUMER NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE. DEALER STATED THAT ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA RECALL 99V309000 AND MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 99S33/ FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. TIME & COVER FAILED BECAUSE HEAD GASKET HAD MESSED UP THE WHOLE ENGINE HEAD, CAUSING IT TO CRACK. DEALER HAD TO ORDER WHOLE NEW SHORT ENGINE BLOCK. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED, RECALL ON OTHER MODEL YEARS FOR COMPONENT, HOWEVER VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED. *MJS

HEAD GASKET FAILED, FORD WILL NOT COVER VEHICLE DUE TO MILEAGE. NLM

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS BLEW OUT WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SEIZE AND STALL. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

OWNED VAN LESS THAN ONE YEAR. HEADGASKET PROBLEM, REPAIRED BY DEALER. NOW TIMING CHAIN COVER GASKET IS SHOT. REPAIRS COSTING IN EXCESS OF $1400.00 NEEDED TO DO MAJOR TUNE UP DUE TO FLUIDS IN ENGINE COSTING US ANOTHER $250.00. WAS TOLD BY FORD DEALERSHIPS AND FORD CO. THAT THEY WONT HELP IN ANY WAY. VERY BAD BUSINESS TO NOT CONSIDER CONSUMER A PRIORITY. WORD OF MOUTH AND INTERNET CAN DO HARM TO A REPUTABLE COMPANY. WOULD LIKE FORD CO TO MAKE GOOD TO IT'S FAITHFUL CUSTOMERS. *AK

STOPPED AT FOUR-WAY INTERSECTION, LIGHT TURNED GREEN, PUT FOOT ON GAS PEDAL TO GO FORWARD, AND VEHICLE ROLLED BACK. HIT THE BRAKES. TRIED IT AGAIN, VEHICLE HESITATED,THEN WENT INTO GEAR. *AK