1995 Ford Windstar complaints

ORIGINAL COMPLAINT - CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE AFTER PARKING, CAR ENGINE REPLACED AT TRANSMISSION SHOP AT 51770 MILES, BONNELL MOTORS WAS NOT HELPFUL SO WE TOOK IT TO A REFERRED TRANSMISSION SHOP WHO SAID MFR'S REBUILT PART WAS KRAPPY AND THE PROBLEM WAS TORQUE CONVERTER BLEW WHILE DRIVING CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE 2ND TIME. ENGINE WAS UNDER 12K MILES/ 1 YR WARRANTY HOWEVER, HAVE BEEN HAVING SAME PROBLEMS WITH JERKY STARTS AND ENGINE STRAINING TO MAKE UPHILL DRIVES BEFORE THE 1ST FAILURE, SO I AM ANTICIPATING A 3RD FAILURE WITH THIS ENGINE.

THE ABS LIGHT STAY ON DUE TO PRESENCE OF UNNECESSARY WIRE IN THE SYSTEM. YH

VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD AT 25MPH. DEALER SERVICE DEPT IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM ON THE FIRST UPSHIFT THE TRANSMISSION. HE INFORMED ME THAT THE TWO TRANSMISSION SPECIALISTS AT THE DEALERSHIP HAVE PROBABLY SEEN THIS PROBLEM 50 TIMES. I WAS INFORMED THAT AN ALUMINUM FORWARD PISTON NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT AN ESTIMED COST OF $1200-2300. I FURTHER LEARNED THAT FORD KNEW OF THIS DEFECTIVE FORWARD PISTON AS EARLY AS 1993, BUT CONTINUED TO USE THEM ON NEW ASSEMBLIES. WHERE IS THE JUSTICE? IS THERE A CLASS ACTION SUIT PENDING?*AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN OUT AT APPROXIMATELY 59,000 MILES DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE GASKET. *AK

DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYS ON EVEN WHEN ALL DOORS ARE SHUT AND CLOSED COMPLETELY, INDICATING A DEFECT. *AK *ML

ENGINE COOLANT IS LEAKING INTO ENGINE CYLINDER, CAUSING INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE POSSIBLY DUE TO AN ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, VEHICLE CUTS OFF WITHOUT ANY KIND OF WARNING. DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. ENGINE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE BECAUSE OF BLOWN HEAD GASKETS. *AK *ML

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

INITIALLY TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER NOV. '99 FOR FOLLOW-UP CHECK ON HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT FROM SEPT.'99 BECAUSE OF CHUGGING AND WHAT FELT LIKE ENGINE HESITATION. I SUSPECTED COMPLICATIONS FROM REPAIR WORK PERFORMED ON ENGINE. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO VERIFY COMPLAINT. NOW KNOW THIS WAS AN INITIAL INDICATION OF A PREMATURE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. IT DISENGAGES AT STOPS WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP ENGINE REVS AND VEHICLE MOVES VERY SLOWLY, OR NOT AT ALL. WHEN THIS FIRST OCCURRED, HAD AN INCIDENT WHERE THE VEHICLE MOVED SLOWLY INTO SPEEDING TRAFFIC WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN ONTO ROAD FROM A STOP. VEHICLE WOULD NOT FULLY ACCELERATE BECAUSE TRANS WOULD NOT ENGAGE (ENGINE RACING) AND A COLLISION WAS BARELY AVOIDED BECAUSE OF THIS. MY FAMILY WAS STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGH SPEED INTERSECTION WITH ONCOMING VEHICLES HAVING TO SWERVE OR STOP TO AVOID HITTING US. TRANS EVENTUALLY ENGAGED. HOWEVER, A VERY CLOSE CALL. WE NOW KNOW NOT TO PULL OUT INTO FAST MOVING TRAFFIC UNLESS THERE ARE NO VEHICLES IN SIGHT, OR WE KNOW THEY HAVE AMPLE TIME TO SLOW DOWN IF THE VEHICLE GETS STUCK IN FRONT OF THEM. DEALER NOW ACKNOWLEDGES PROBLEM IS DUE TO FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON FAILURE AND TRANSMISSION REQUIRES REPLACEMENT. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING VHEICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT INDICATION AT ANY SPEED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

SPEEDOMETER HAS BEEN REPLACED ON THREE OCCASIONS. ALSO, SPEEDOMTER READING WAS NOT ACURATE. THE NEEDLE FLICKERED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED PARTS. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET AND THE TRANSMISSION WERE DEFECTIVE. THERE WAS NO HEAT INSIDE OF THE CAR, AND WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. TRANSMISSION WENT INTO NEUTRAL, AND SLIPPED UPON SHIFTING GEARS. ALSO, THERE WAS A CLANKING AND KNOCKING NOISE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE COULD HEAT UP AT ANY SPEED. CONSUMER HAS TO TURN VEHICLE OFF FOR IT TO COOL OFF, THEN RESTART IT. *AK

NOTICED THAT WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM EXHAUST, PULLED OVER AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO NEAREST REPAIR FACILITY. THEY TOLD ME THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN AND THERE WAS ANTI-FREEZE IN THE CYLINDERS. THE REPAIR FACILITY CONTACTED EASY CARE(EXTENDED WARRANTY) FOLKS AND THEY HAD THE MECHANIC OPEN UP THE ENGINE AND DROP THE OIL AND REPORT BACK TO THEM. THE REPAIR FACILITY AT THAT TIME TOLD EASY CARE THAT THE VEHICLE REQUIRED A NEW ENGINE. EASY CARE SENT AN INSPECTOR AND HE ALSO SUGGESTED THAT THE ENGINE BE REPLACED. EASY CARE OPTED TO OVERHAUL THE ENGINE. THE DAY AFTER I GOT THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE DIED ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 65MPH AND I COULD NOT GET IT STARTED AGAIN. I HAD IT TOWED BACK TO REPAIR FACILITY WHERE IT SITS TO THIS DAY. EASY CARE WILL NOT AUTHORIZE ANY ADDITIONAL WORK NOR WILL IT REPLACE THE ENGINE. I AM STUCK WITH A $12000 PIECE OF METAL. *AK

HILLARD AUTO PARK DISCOVERED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN FOR 2 UNRELATED RECALL NOTICES. ALTHOUGH THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT CAUSE OF FAILURE COULDN'T BE DETERMINED, FAILURE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN THE RESULT OF ORIGINAL DEFECTIVE PARTS OR DESIGN FLAW. FORD HAS REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY COMPENSATION FOR THE REPAIR. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED WHILE DRIVING DUE TO FLAW IN ENGINE MANUFACTURING. YH

RECALL 99V309000/ FUEL TANK CRACKS; DEALER REFUSES TO TAKE CARE OF RECALL REPAIRS BECAUSE VEHICLE IS NOT IN RECALL REGION. *AK

PURCHASED A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR IN NOVEMBER OF 1998 FROM SHEEHY FORD IN . NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

FAULTY SWITCHES CAUSE "DOOR AJAR" & INTERIOR LIGHTS TO REMAIN ON, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT.

WE ALSO HAD OUR HEADGASKET REPLACED THREE WEEKS AGO.I'M BEGINNING TO THINK WE BOUGHT A LEMON.

THE HEAD GASKET IN THE ENGINE MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. NLM

I HAVE THE ENGINE REPAIRTED / REPLACED 3 GOING ON MY 4TH TIME. MY WARRANTY HAS RUN OUT AND IT HAS NOT COST ME THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. I HAVE TRIED TO TRADE IT IN BUT DEALERS ALL KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEMS AND DON'T WANT TO GIVE ME ANYTHING FOR IT. BECAUSE OF THAT I AM WAY UPSIDEDOWN ON WHAT I COULD GET FOR IT. THE PROBLEM IS NOW STARTING TO SHOW SIGNS THAT IT IS COMING BACK AGAIN. HELP. I HEARD THAT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT GOING ON SOMEWHERE CAN SOMEONE PUT ME IN TOUCH WITH THE PEOPLE THAT IS DOING THE SUTIE ?? I HAVE BEEN ROUND AND ROUND WITH THE DEALER AND FORD AND TO DATE I HAVE NOT BEEN REFUNED A DIME. AND NOW JUST THIS WEEK I GET A ANOTHER RECALL NOTICE ABOUT THE FUEL TANK. I'M AM NOW OUT +23,000 FOR A CAR THAT I KNOW IS GOING TO GO OUT COMPLETELY.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM: WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING WHITE SMOKE AND OVERHEATING. AFTER VEHICLE COOLED OFF, IT WAS DRIVEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE BOLTS ON THE HEAD GASKET WERE FOUND TO BE STRETCHED. VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED BY THE SHOP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

HEADGASKET, WHILE ON TRAVEL, FAILED WITHIN ONE WEEK OF RECEIVING A SERVICE ADVISORY REGARDING THE PROBLEM. HEADGASKET WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY AT NO COST. CONCERNED ABOUT READING LARGE NUMBERS OF OTHER OWNERS WITH SAME ENGINE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. HEADGASKET FAILURE IS EXTREMELY PREMATURE COMPARED TO OTHER FORD AND OTHER ENGINES. *AK

CONSUMER HAS NOTICED A BRAKE FLUID LEAK ONTO THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY WHICH COULD CAUSE BRAKE FAILURE. ALSO ABS BRAKE WARNING LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO ENGINE.PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

AFTER OWNER NOTICED VAN WAS LEAKING VAN WAS DRIVEN AROUND AND BEGAN TO SMOKE. AFTER CONTACTING SEVERAL MECHANICS, VAN WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE, AFTER BEING ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE. VAN WAS CHECKED FOR PROBLEMS, AND ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS FOUND TO BE BLOWN. ENGINE HEAD GASKET WILL BE REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

DOOR AJAR LIGHT AND SEATBELT WARNING LIGHT DO NOT DISTINGUISH ,CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO DRIVER, AND POSSIBLY DRAINING BATTERY.PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

SUDDENLY OVERHEATED.BLOWN HEADGASKET. ENGINE WAS DESTROYED. *AK

THE HEAD GASKET BLEW ON THIS ENGINE AND THANKFULLY I WAS COVERED BY AN ADDITIONAL WARRANTY. THEY CHOSE NOT TO REPLACE THE ENGINE BUT TO HAVE MY MECHANIC OVERHAUL IT. I GOT THE VAN BACK A WEEK LATER AND WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE NEXT DAY THE ENGINE JUST SHUT DOWN AND WOULD NOT RESTART WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. NOW THE MECHANIC IS TELLING ME THAT THE CRANKSHAFT IS BAD. THEY HAVE ALREADY PAID OUT 2200.00 AND WHO KNOWS HOW MUCH MORE THEY WILL HAVE TO PAY BEFORE THEY FIGURE OUT THAT REPLACING THE ENGINE IS THE WAY TO GO. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE, WHICH MAY CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A CRASH. ALSO PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION SYSTEM WHICH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS SLUGGISH AT 67000 MILES, PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE--OVER DRIVE LIGHT WAS FLASHING AND TRANSMISSION WAS NOT GOING INTO THE NEXT GEAR WHILE DRIVING.

NOTICED STRONG GAS ODOR AFTER FILL-UP. DEALER MAINTENANCE CONFIRMED GAS TANK HAD A CRACK ON TOP OF THE TANK AND FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FORD HAS RECALLED THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT NOT IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA. THIS CAR IS OPERATED REGULARLY ONLY IN VIRGINIA AND THEREFORE THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO ALL STATES. REFERNCE FORD RECALL 99R33. HAVE CONTACTED FORD, AND THEY SAY WE CANNOT PARTICIPATE IN THIS RECALL.

TRANSMISSION FAILED COMPLETELY. YH

HEAD GASKET FAILED WHILE DRIVING. *MJS

THE ALTERNATOR WENT OUT 4 TIMES AND THE HEAD GASKET WENT OUT. THEN THE ENGINE WENT OUT BECAUSE OF HEAD GASKET DAMAGE. WITH A TOTAL REPAIRS BEING $7,500.00 DEALER ONLY COVERED ALTERNATOR AFTER 4 MONTHES OF FIGHTING WITH THEM.

PREMATURE HEADGASKET FAILURE ON FORD 3.8L ENGINE LEFT ME STRANDED AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES. VAN TEMPERATURE GUAGE ROSE RAPIDLY, FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF ALL HEAT, REDUCED POWER, AND ILLUMINATION OF THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT. FORTUNATELY, I WAS IN A POPULATED AREA, AND I WAS ABLE TO ARRANGE TRANSPORTATION FROM THERE. THIS PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE OCCURRING IN A REMOTE AREA UNDER SIMILAR TEMPERATURE & WEATHER CONDITIONS COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTEROUS. DEALER TROUBLESHOOTING YIELDED HEADGASKET FAILURE AND MAJOR DAMAGE TO #4 CYLINDER. VAN NOW NEEDS NEW ENGINE. PERSONAL RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN ENGINE DESIGN & MANUFACTURING PROBLEM PLAGUING FORD 3.8L ENGINES, YET FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSES TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE $3500 COST TO REPLACE THE ENGINE, OR TO ISSUE A RECALL TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BEFORE CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE OCCURS. FORD'S OWN INSTRUCTION MANUALS LIST HEADGASKETS AS A 120,000 MILE MAINTENANCE ITEM. HEADGASKETS SHOULD LAST THE LIFETIME OF THE ENGINE. THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM IN THESE ENGINES, BUT COULD NOT OR WOULD NOT HELP RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. I WAS ADVISED OF A FORD "PROGRAM" THAT EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS PROBLEM TO 5-YRS, 60,000 MILES. THIS ALONE SEEMS LIKE FORD'S ACCNOWLEDGEMENT OF A PROBLEM, BUT IS CLEARLY NOT ADEQUATE FOR A 120,000 MILE PART. THE DEALER ALSO ACKNOWLEDGED THAT NOT ALL OWNERS RECEIVED THE NOTICE ON THE "PROGRAM" (I HAVEN'T FOUND ANYONE WHO DID), AND THAT THEY "ARE DEALING WI

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THIS IS THE CONTINUATION OF PROBLEMS WITH A HIGHLY PROBLEMATIC VEHICLE. 5 YEARS, 90,000 MILES HAVE REPLACED SO FAR: HEAD GASKETS, REAR SUSPENSION TWICE, FRONT SUSPENSION, IGNITION WIRES, O2 SENSORS TWICE, AND NOW INJECTOR AND FUEL PUMP. OVER $3,000 IN OUT OF POCKED EXPENSES OVER WHAT WAS COVERED ON EXTENDED WARRANTEE. VEHICLE IS NOT RELIABLE AND AM LOOKING TO TRADE IN ON ANYTHING OTHER THAN A FORD! AT FORD, QUALITY IS JOB NONE!

2ND TRANS. FAILURE-LST ONE @ 48,683 MILES 7/'97 CANNOT GET LOCAL DEALER TO RETURN CALLS. *AK

HEAD GASKETS FAILED AT 60,849 MILES. FORD WOULD NOT HONOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DUE TO EXCESS OF MILES. DEALER WANTED $1,000 TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. WHEN WE CONTACTED FORD THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR US. WE PURCHASED THE VAN JUST 2.5 YEARS AGO. THE DEALER COMMENTED THAT IF WE HAD BOUGHT THE VAN BRAND NEW HE MIGHT CONSIDER TRYING TO HELP US. FORD SHOULD HONOR THE 120,000 MILES ORIGINAL LIFETIME STANDARD AND STAND BY "QUALITY IS JOB 1"!! WE ARE LOOKING TO CHANGE TO A DIFFERENT COMPANY SUCH AS DODGE. *AK

CONSUMER HAS PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER (POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE #6) WHICH CAUSED THE FUEL INJECTOR TO RUN FULL TIME, AFTER THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED, THE ENGINE BROKE DOWN AND REPLACED, VEHICLE STILL HAVING PROBLEMS AGAIN WITH THE ENGINE. *ET

I WILL ALSO HAVE TO REPLACE THE ROD,CAMSHAFT & OIL PUMP AT ADDITIONAL COSTS

FORD MOTOR CO. NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS OR GET OUT OF THE BUSINESS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

A PART OR BOLT BROKE OFF AND FELL IN TO THE OIL PAN WHICH CAUSED ENGINE PROBLEMS. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING IT CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT TO RED MANY TIMES, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD UNEXPECTEDLY. CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 98M01 ON THAT PROBLEM. BUT, DEALER DID NOT WORK ON THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE RECALL EXPIRED. CONSUMER RECEIVED TWO MORE RECALLS, 97S88 AND 99S33. *AK

BILLOWING SMOKE CAUSED HAZARD ON ROAD. *AK

WORN HEAD GASKET

ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKS ANTI-FREEZE INTO THE ENGINE. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. REPORT GIVEN BY MIKE PREVOST(FATHER-IN-LAW) PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER NFORMATION. *AK