1995 Ford Windstar complaints

VEHICLE OVERHEATED IN SECONDS AND ENGINE SEIZED. *AK

WARPED HEAD GASKET DIAGNOSED AT 61,500MILES BY A FORD DEALERSHIP IN DECEMBER OF 1999. *AK

THE ENGINE PROBLEM IS TWO-FOLD. IN DECEMBER OF 1999 THE HEAD GASKETS WERE REPLACED AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER WE BEGAN HEARING A KNOCKING NOISE AND WERE TOLD THE ROD BEARINGS WERE GOING OUT AND WE WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE. WHEN THE LOCAL FORD DEALER WAS CONTACTED REGARDING AN ESTIMATE THEIR RESPONSE WAS " DON'T FEEL BAD WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF THESE PROBLEMS ON THIS ENGINE". SOME CONSOLATION FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS TO REPLACE AN ENGINE THAT ONLY HAS 70,000 MILES ON IT. THE DEALER CONTACTED WAS NOT THE DEALER WHERE THE VAN WAS PURCHASED. THE SPEEDOMETER HAS NOW FAILED TWICE AND BECAUSE THE READING IS NOT AN ACCURATE MILEAGE TRADE IN ON IT IS DRASTICALLY REDUCED. WHEN CONTACTED ABOUT THE SECOND FAILURE FORD OFFERED NO HELP OR EXPLANATION FOR THE PROBLEM. THE ORIGINAL SPEEDOMETER WAS REPLACED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY AT EASTSIDE MOTORS IN GREENCASTLE, IN. THERE HAS GOT TO BE A PROBLEM THAT TWO SPEEDOMETERS WOULD FAIL ON THE SAME VEHICLE. THE DATES ON MY REPORT ARE APPROXIMATE. THESE ARE THINGS THAT I DIDN'T RECORD BUT I GUESS FROM NOW ON I WILL. THE ODOMETER READING THAT I RECORDED ON THE QUESTIONAIRE IS THE COMBINED MILEAGE OF THE 2 ODOMETERS. THE WHOLE UNIT WAS REPLACED NOT JUST THE SPEEDOMETER. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE OF 3.8 LITER V6 ENGINE. ALTHOUGH THIS FAILURE OCCURRED IN A MINI-MALL PARKING LOT, IT COULD HAVE OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND WOULD HAVE PUT MY WIFE AND SON IN HARM'S WAY. AT THE VERY LEAST, THEY WERE STRANDED SOME 15 MILES FROM HOME. FORD HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKET, BUT MY MILEAGE WAS BEYOND THE WARRANTY. THE INCIDENT COST ME $703.84. *AK

TEMPERATURE INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON, AND ANTI-FREEZE CAME OUT AND SPILLED THROUGHOUT THE RESERVOIR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, FOUND BLOWN HEAD GASKET. VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND OWNER WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *AK *ML

DEALER REPLACED ENGINE HEAD GASKET COST $4077, SAID NO WARRANTY, GAVE ME 800 NUMBER. *AK

PROBLEM IS SO WELL KNOW...FORD IS WARNING DEALERS ON TRADE-INS.NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

TEMPERATURE GUAGE SHOT UP TO HIGH AND THERE WAS NO HEAT. I WAS ON MY HOME FROM WORK AND DRIVING ON THE X-PRESSWAY. WHEN I REACHED HOME I CALLED DEALER IMMEDIATELY. I WAS TOLD NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR. THE CAR REMAINED IN OUR GARAGE FOR A DAY AND THEN WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER. I WAS TOLD THAT THE HEAD GASKETS NEEDED REPLACING FOR A TOTAL COST OF $1400. THIS CAR HAS ONLY 66,000 MILES ON IT AND FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN AND HEARD THIS IS A PROBLEM FORD HAS WITH THIS VAN. WARRANTY WAS UP AT 60,000 MILES. I NEED TO KNOW IF THEY TIMED THIS FAILURE TO OCCUR UNTIL THE WARRANTY RAN OUT. I EVEN HAD THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, WHICH OF COURSE IS GOOD FOR NOTHING. THIS CAR DOES NOT HAVE THAT MANY MILES ON IT TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF COSTLY REPAIR. *AK

FORD DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REIMBURSE DESPITE BEING A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, VERY CONCERNED FOR FAMILY SAFETY, WHEN/WHERE WILL ENGINE DIE AGAIN? NHTSA, WHEN WILL YOU TAKE ACTION AGAINST FORD. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILURE CAUSED EXTENSIVE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM DAMAGE, HIDDEN WARRANTY FOR HEAD GASKET FAILURE, HOWEVER WARRANTY EXPIRED (98M01). YH

FUEL TANK RECALL 99V-309 RESTRICTED TO HOT WEATHER STATES ONLY, CONSUMER BELIEVES RECALL SHOULD INCLUDE ALL STATES. NLM

THE HEAD GASKET BLEW WITH ONLY 51,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. NLM

THERE WAS A RECALL ON HEAD GASKETS - FORD FAILED TO NOTIFY US BY MAIL NOR DID THEY NOTIFY US WHEN WE TOOK IT IN FOR ROUTINE SERVICES. NOW THEY WON'T FIX IT BECAUSE IT'S PAST 60,000 MILES. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC, WHO FIXED THE PROBLEM AT A COST OF OVER $800.00. THE OTHER MECHANIC IS HOW I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL - FORD SHARED THAT INFORMATION WITH HIM - HOWEVER, THEY FAILED TO LET US IN ON THE SECRET. *AK

I GOT MY 95 WINDSTAR FROM MY DAD 3 MONTHS AGO. HE HAD BEEN THE SOLE/ORIGINAL OWNER. THE HEAT GAUGE STARTED GOING WAY UP AND THEN BACK TO NORMAL ON JAN 20, 2000. IT WOULD GO UP AND DOWN SOMETIMES 8 TIMES IN A 30 MINUTE RIDE! I CHECKED THE EASIEST, AND LEAST EXPENSIVE THINGS FIRST - ENGINE COOLANT, RADIATOR, AND THERMOSTAT. BUT IT KEPT DOING IT. FINALLY, ON JAN 27, 2000 IT OVERHEATED AND STAYED HOT. I CALLED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER (HELGESEN'S OF EVANSVILLE, WI) AND THEY GOT IT IN ON THE FOLLOWING MON. THE 31ST. THEY SAID IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET AND MENTIONED THE RECALL ON IT. I TALKED TO MY DAD, WHO BOUGHT THE VAN NEW AND IS VERY METICULOUS ABOUT SAVING PAPERS, AND MAINTAINING HIS AUTOMOBILES. HE SAID THAT HE NEVER GOT A RECALL LETTER ON IT AND CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE HAD IT CHECKED OUT IF HE HAD. IN FACT, WHEN I GOT THE VAN FROM HIM, HE GAVE ME HIS WHOLE FILE OF INFO ON IT, WHICH CONSISTED OF THE ORIGINAL SALES & ORDER PAPERS, AND OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS, BUT NO REPAIRS OR RECALL INFO OF ANY KIND. I WILL BE CALLING FORD TOMORROW AS I JUST FOUND A WEB SITE WITH THE RECALL # AND PHONE # ON IT TONITE. OBVIOUSLY, I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM! THANK YOU FOR YOUR "EAR"... SUE HERMAN

RED ENGINE LIGHT STARTED GLOWING @ APPROX. 70-80K MILES. REPORTED PROBLEM...NOTHING FOUND. CAR FAILS AT 107000, HEAD GASKET. WAS REPAIRED FOR $1600, JAN 2000. *AK

IN NOVEMBER OF 1998, THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED AFTER VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TO DEALER FOR ANTIFREEZE LEAK. DEALER INFORMED US THAT HEAD GASKETS WERE NOT YET "BAD" BUT ADVISED US TO REPLACE THEM BEFORE FURTHER DAMAGE WAS DONE TO ENGINE. WE COMPLIED AND HAD THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED TO AVOID FURTHER PROBLEMS. WHEN WE TOOK THE WINDSTAR IN ON JANUARY 17, 2000, WE WERE INFORMED THAT WE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. THE PREVENTATIVE HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT IN 1998 SHOULD HAVE AVOIDED THE ENGINE FAILURE, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. APPARENTLY, THERE IS MUCH MORE GOING ON WITH THIS ENGINE THAN WE ARE AWARE OF. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP PUTTING MONEY INTO THIS VEHICLE, AND WE HOPE THAT FORD WILL ISSUE A RECALL ON THE PRODUCT. INCIDENTALLY, OUR SERVICE PERSON AT VENUS FORD (WILLIE WILLETT) HAS HEARD OF THOUSANDS OF 1995 FORD WINDSTAR OWNERS WITH IDENTICAL PROBLEMS. VISITS TO VARIOUS SITES ON THE INTERNET CONFIRM THIS. WHY IS NO ONE TAKING ANY POSITIVE ACTION ON THIS MAJOR PROBLEM? *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED 3 TIMES, HEAD GASKETS FAILED 2 TIMES, FORD DOESN'T CARE! *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

HEATING AND A/C SYSTEM FAILED DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE. YH

WHILE TRAVELING 50 MPH ON HIGHWAY WHEN ROADS WERE WET. AS A RESULT OF ANOTHER VEHICLE SIDE SWIPING, CONSUMER TRIED TO BRAKE, BUT VEHICLE CONTINUED TO TRAVEL, CAUSING CONSUMER TO HIT WALL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. ABOUT TWENTY MINUTES LATER THE CAR DIED. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED OVERHEATING DUE TO BLOWN HEAD GASKET WHICH LED TO ENGINE FAILURE. ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK *ML

HEAD GASKET FAILED. YH

WHILE DRIVING HOME VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEEDLE INDICATED OVERHEATING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP NEXT DAY. MECHANIC INDICATED HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN. OWNER WOULD NEED TO PAY PART OF COST OF REPAIRS. OWNER FEELS MANUFACTURER SHOULD FILL THE BILL. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. LESS THAN 1000 MILES AFTER THIS REPAIR THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING LOUD NOISE AT START WHEN COLD. I WAS TOLD THAT THE SHORT BLOCK WAS BAD AND WAS MOST LIKELY DAMAGED WHEN THE HEAD GASKET FAILED. CURRENTLY IN PROCESS OF

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

HEAD GASKET BLEW AT ABOUT 55,000 MILES. *AK

THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT, FORD ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED DUE TO THE MILEAGE BEING OVER 60000. *MJS

HEAD GASKET - SLOW LOSS OF COOLANT UP TO 65,000 MILES WHEN COOLANT LEAK OBSERVED AROUND REAR HEAD. "BARS LEAK" ADDED TO COOLANT WHICH STOPPED VISIBLE LEAK. CURRENTLY AT 112,000 MILES AND COOLANT HAS STEADILY DROPPED SINCE THIS TIME WITH NO VISIBLE LEAKS. APPARENTLY ENTERING COMBUSTION CHAMBER. GASKETS ARE A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. TRANSMISSION - ABRUBPTLY DOWNSHIFTS APPROXIMATELY 6 TIMES SINCE PURCHASING NEW. HAS OCCURRED AT FREEWAY SPEEDS IN OD THEN SUDDENLY DROPS INTO SECOND GEAR CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVER REV AND SLOW DOWN SUDDENLY (OF COURSE WITH NO BRAKE LIGHTS). DISCONNECTING BATTERY AND THEN REINSTALLING ALWAYS CORRECTS PROBLEM (RESETS COMPUTER). BOTH PROBLEMS SEEM TO BE VERY COMMAN WITH 95 WINDSTARS, BOTH POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. *AK

ENGINE SEALS RELEASED ANTI-FREEZE. *AK

WE PURCHASED THIS 1995 WINDSTAR NEW FROM THE DEALER AND PAID CASH UP FRONT EXPECTING THIS VEHICLE TO BE OUR MAIN FAMILY CAR FOR AT LEAST 10 YEARS. WHEN WE EXPERIENCED AN INTERMITTENT HEATER AROUND 75000 MILES, THE DEALER REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT AT A COST OF $107.77 AND SAID NOTHING ABOUT THE HEADGASKET. TWO DAYS LATER THE HEATER WAS AGAIN INTERMITTENT AND WHEN EXAMINED BY THE DEALER I WAS TOLD THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS DEFECTIVE. ACTUALLY THEY MISDIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME I BROUGHT IN THE VEHICLE FOR AN INTERMITTENT HEATER. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT I HAD TO PAY $495.00 OR THE COST OF AN EXTENDED SERVICE AGREEMENT TO FIX THE HEAD GASKET AND FORD WILL PAY THE BALANCE. THE EXTENDED SERVICE AGREEMENT WOULD COVER MY VEHICLE ONLY TO 75000 MILES. I HAVE 75115 MILES ON MY WINDSTAR NOW. I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD PAY THE FULL AMOUNT OF REPAIRS IN THIS CASE BECAUSE OF THE HEAD GASKET DESIGN FLAW DESCRIBED IN THE 1998 HEAD GASKET RECALL. WE ARE VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THE UNFAIR WAY FORD IS TREATING ITS BEST CUSTOMERS. JOHN AND KAREN TAYLOR. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE OVERHEATED WITHOUT A REASON; NO LEAKS OF ANTI-FREEZE, AND THE WEATHER WAS IN SINGLE DIGITS. *AK *ML

HEAD GASKET FAILURE OF 3.8L FORD 1995 ENGINE. DID NOT (THANKFULLY) CAUSE INJURY FOR ME OR MY FAMILY, BUT THIS IS AN ENGINE DEFECT THAT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AT ANY TIME, SINCE THE FAILURE IS NOT PREDICTABLE.

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAVE BLOWN OUT, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. DAMAGE WA SIN EXCESS 0F $1800. DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT .VEHICLE ONLY HAD 34,000 MILLES. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHEN VEHICLE HIT A DOG WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH, CAUSING DAMAGES TO FRONT BUMPER. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK

WHILE DROPPING OFF MY CHILD AT PRESCHOOL, THE VAN'S SLIDING DOOR DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND FELL SIDEWAYS ONTO THE GRASS. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE FORD REPAIR SHOP HERE, AND THEY HAVE TOLD ME I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE $200 REPAIR. MY FEELING IS THAT A SLIDING DOOR TO A FIVE-YEAR-OLD VAN SHOULD NOT JUST BE FALLING OFF, AND THAT WE ARE ALL VERY LUCKY MY LITTLE BOY WAS NOT STANDING BESIDE IT WHEN IT DID.

THIS VAN HAD A REBUILT TRANSMISSION AT 36000 MILES, AND NEW BRAKE ROTORS AT 45000, WHT IS FORD ALLOWED TO MARKET SUCH SHODDY PRODUCTS? *AK

UP TO NOW I FOUND TWO WINDSTAR-OWNERS, WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER AND FORD TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VAN IT OVERHEATED. WHEN THE VAN WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DEALER ADVISED CONSUMER THAT IT WOULD BE WISE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE ENGINE. THE HEAD GASKET HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE, CAUSING LEAKAGE OF COOLANT FROM 3.8L ENGINE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

FORD PROGRAM 98M01 SAYS IT IS VALID FOR 5 YEARS OR 60,000 MILES. MY 5 YEARS IS NOT UP - YET THEY ALSO SAY IT EXPIRED IN DECEMBER 1998, 4 YEASR AFTER THE CAR WAS FIRST OFFERED. THEY OFFER NO COVERAGE FOR A KNOWN PROBLEM. NO SAFETY DEFECT (S) LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

HEAD GASKET AND TIMING COVER LEAK (DEALER ESTIMATE TO FIX = $3600). PREVIOUSLY COMPLAINED TO DEALER AND FORD (10/4/99 AT 58207 MILES) ABOUT A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THAT I NOW THINK WAS RELATED TO THE CURRENT HEAD GASKET/TIMING COVER PROBLEM (IN ANOTHER REPORT HERE, THE HEAD GASKET/TIMING COVER WAS LISTED AS A SOLUTION FOR TRANSMISSION SYMPTOMS THAT WERE THE SAME AS ONE'S I HAD EXPERIENCED AND REPORTED). *AK

IN JULY OF 1997, MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR EXPERIENCED THE BEGINNINGS OF A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I WAS DRIVING THE VAN AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED, AND CAME TO A STOP LIGHT, WHICH WAS ON AN UPHILL INCLINE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN "DRIVE" BUT I NOTICED THAT IT WAS STARTING TO ROLL BACKWARDS (WHICH I KNOW IS INDICATIVE OF A TRANSMISSION FAULT). IF I HAD NOT REACTED QUICKLY, I WOULD HAVE CRASHED INTO A VEHICLE WHICH WAS LOCATED BEHIND ME. I QUICKLY CALLED RICART AUTOMOTIVE FROM THE NEAREST PUBLIC TELEPHONE, AND ARRANGED FOR A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. THE VEHICLE REGISTERED 15583 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, ONLY BECAUSE THE ODOMETER HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPLACED, UNDER WARRANTY. IF YOU ADD THE MILES ON THE PREVIOUS ODOMETER, THE TOTAL WAS 51713 MILES. I HAD TO PAY $1776.60 FOR A RE-BUILT TRANSMISSION, SINCE THE TOTAL MILEAGE PUT THE VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY. I ASSUMED THAT I WAS OUT OF LUCK, BECAUSE OF THE OUT-OF-WARRANTY SITUATION, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT THAT IS BEING PURSUED AGAINST FORD FOR THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION. I NO LONGER OWN THIS LEMON, HAVING REPLACED IT WITH A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR, WHICH, I UNDERSTAND, MAY HAVE TRANSMISSION (AND POSSIBLE HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS)OF IT'S OWN. THIS SITUATION IS VERY DISHEARTENING TO ME, TO SAY THE LEAST. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK