Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1995 record →
ENGINE FAILED DUE TO BLOWN HEAD GASKETS. HAVE OWNED VEHICLE FOR 5 YEARS AND NEVER RECIEVED ANY TYPE OF RECALL ON THIS. COST 1300.00 TO REPAIR. JUST LEARNED THAT THESE ENGINES HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM. IT SEEMS THAT FORD SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIRS BECAUSE OF THE POOR DESIGN. IS THERE ANY WAY I CAN BE REIMBURSED FOR ALL OR PART OF THE REPAIRS.
HEAD GASKET MALFUNCTIONED. YH
HEAD GASKET BLEW UP. YH
WHEN TRAVELING CONSUMER NOTICED A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, ALSO, UPON STOPPING VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD. ENGINE BLEW A HEAD GASKET , CAUSING ENGINE TO SEIZE, AND VAN WAS TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. A RECALL PROGRAM WAS IN EFFECT. MECHANIC BELIEVED THA TWHEN THIS ENGINE SEIZED THER EWA SINTERNAL DAMAGE THAT WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO ENGINE LATER THROWING A ROD. *AK
IN LOW TEMPERATURE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. RECALL ON VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLOWING OUT ON THREE OCCASIONS. DEALER NOTIFED, AND REPAIRS WERE MADE AT A DEDUCTIBLE COST TO CONSUMER. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT, SMOKE OUT TAIL PIPE, ANTIFREEZE ODOR AT EXHAUST. *AK
ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE AFTER NOTIFICATION, HOWEVER CONSUMER HAD TO PAY PORTION OF REPAIR EVEN THOUGH RECALLED. *MJS
BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *CJ
WHEN TRAVELING CONSUMER NOTICED SHAKING COMING FROM THE FRONT END ENGINE COMPARTMENT AREA. ALSO, FLUID WAS COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE , AND THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL WITHIN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. DEALER NOTICED A CRACKED HEAD GASKE,T CAUSING FLUID LEAK. DEALER HAS YET TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHEN TRAVELING AND UPON ATTEMTING TO MAKE A NORMAL STOP, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, DELAER NOTICED THE BRAKE LINE CORRODED AND RUSTED OUT, CAUSING THE BRAKE LINE TO RUPTURE, AND RESULTING IN POOR BRAKE PERFORMACE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH TEMPERTURE GAUGE GOING UP & DOWN., AND BLOWER EMITTIING COOL AIR INSTEAD OF HEAT. VEHICLE OPERATED VERY SLUGGISHLY. RADIATOR LEAKED AS WELL. VEHICLE IS BEING SERVICED BY A FORD DEALERSHIP. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN OUT, AND THERE WAS A SERVICE PROGRAM FOR THE SOME MAKE AND MODELS. SINCE VEHICLE HAD EXCEEDED MILEAGE REQUIRMENT, CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *AK
ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW DURING MY VACATION. KNOWN PROBLEM WITH FORD 3.8 LITER ENGINES. WARRANTY EXTENDED BY FORD TO 5YR 60,000 MILES. OF COURSE MY ENGINE BLEW AT 5 1/2 YRS AND 69,000 MILES SO I'M NOT COVERED. I HAD HEAD GASKET REAPIRED BY PHIL LONG FORD (DENVER, CO) FOR $2,065. PHIL LONG DEALERSHIP REPORT VAN WAS READY FOR ME TO CONTINUE MY VACATION. I PICKED UP VAN FROM PHIL LONG FORD DEALERSHIP AND DROVE 230 MILES. ENGINE DIED AT 230 MILES DUE TO ANTI-FREEZE GETTING INTO ENGINE WHEN HEAD GASKET BLEW AND CAUSED THE CRANK BEARINGS TO FAIL. JUST PAID $3,500 FOR ENGINE TO BE REBUILT. HELP!!! I DON'T LIKE BEING SCREWED BY FORD. I JUST PAID $6,500 NOT INCLUDING CAR RENTAL COSTS FOR A FORD MOTOR COMPANY DESIGN FLAW.*AK
IN AUGUST OF 1999, WITH ABOUT 67000 MILES, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED AND OIL ENDED UP IN THE COOLANT. THIS WAS REPAIRED AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $450. IN NOVEMBER, MY DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THE EHAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING. THIS WAS AT ABOUT 74000 MILES. COST, $1600. I CONTACTED FORD, SUBMITTING THE BILLS. THEY TOLD ME, NO WAY, OUT OF WARRANTY. I THEN SENT BACK A SECOND LETTER IN LATE DECEMBER, 1999. STILL WAITING FOR A REPLY FROM THAT LETTER. A MAJOR COMPONENT SUCH AS THIS SHOULD NOT FAIL BEFORE 100,000 MILES. FORD HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY WILL ONLY STAND BEHIND IT FOR AN INCREDIBILY LOW MILEAGE OF 60,000. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
FORD HAS ADMITTED THAT THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINES AND YET THEY WILL NOT ASSUME ANY LIABILITY FOR THEM. THE DEALER SAID THAT HE IS SEEING 2 OF THESE EVERY WEEK ! *AK
THE VEHICLE HAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *SLC
HEAD GASKET FAIELD. *SLC
ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAVE FAILED FOR THE 3RD TIME IN 80000 MILES. DEALER REPAIRED 1ST UNDER WARRANTY, 2ND UNDER FORD M.C. SPECIAL EXTENSION OF WARRANTY, AND NOW DEALER AND FORD M.C. WON'T REPAIR AT NO COST. THIS OBVIOUSLY HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE 1995 WINDSTAR AND ONE THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED...ONLY BAND-AIDED. I WANT FORD TO BUY OUT THE BALANCE OF MY LOAN !!! *AK
REAR SHOCKS FAILED AT 3000 MI. A/C COMPRESSOR RELAY FAILED SUMMER OF 1996 (HASN'T WORK RELIABLY SINCE). TAILGATE LOCK MOTOR FAILED, PASS WINDOW MOTOR FALED, SLIDING DOOR ELEC CONTACTS REPLACED, HEAD GASKETS FAILED 3 TIMES IN 80000 MI. AND MANY OTHER PROBLEMS THAT THE DEALERS HAVE FIXED UNDER WARRANTY OR SERVICE BULLETINS. HOW MUCH WILL IT TAKE FOR FORD TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE 1995 LEMON WINDSTAR !!!
I DID CONTACT FORD MOTORS HEADQUARTERS AND RECEIVED NO HELP.NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK
FAILED INTAKE TIMING COVER GASKET
ENGINE BEGAN TO HEAT UP, TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT UP, AND ANTI-FREEZE BLEW OUT OF THE EXHAUST. CONSUMER PULLED CAR OVER, AND HAD IT TOWED TO A MANUFACTURER. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
FORD HAS ADMITTED THAT THEY PUT THE WRONG HEAD GASKET INTO THIS ENGINE. I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT THEY GAVE A SILENT WARRANTY OF AN ADDITIONAL 30K OR 5 YRS. THEY NEVER CONTACTED THE OWNERS TO GIVE THEM THE OPTION TO REPLACE THIS. THIS WAS A $ 700.00 DOLLAR REPAIR. I'VE TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF MY VAN AND AM SATISFIED WITH IT EXCEPT FOR THIS ONE ISSUE. FORD SHOULD OF GIVEN US A CHOICE TO REPLACE THIS GASKET BEFORE IT BLEW. *AK
FORD HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS ON THE 3.8 LITER ENGINE ARE DEFICTIVE. YET, THEY WILL NOT ASSIST IN REPAIR COSTS. THIS PROBLEM IS PREVALENT IN 1995 WINSTARS. SOMEONE NEEDS TO MAKE FORD DO THE RIGHT THING.*AK
I WANTED TO REPORT A '95 WINDSTAR 3.8L ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE THAT HAS JUST OCCURRED TO MY VEHICLE. I'VE BEEN INFORMED THAT HEAD GASKETS ARE SUPPOSED TO LAST THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE. MINE FAILED AT 52300. FORD IS REFUSING TO FIX THE PROBLEM DESPITE A LETTER THAT WAS SENT TO ME IN JUNE '98 STATING THEY WILL FIX AT THEIR EXPENSE IF THE CAR IS LESS THAN 5 YEARS OR UNDER 60000 MILES. THERE ARE REPORTED ALLEGATIONS STATING THIS TO BE A 100% FAILURE RATE. I WOULD LIKE FORD TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM AND BACK IT UP WITH A RECALL EFFORT WITH FULL REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES. *AK
ENGINE HEAD GASKET BROKE, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO THROW A ROD AND DESTOY THE ENGINE. IT IS NOW LESS THAN A YEAR LATER AND THE HEAD GASKET ON THE ENGINE WHICH WE HAD INSTALLED,( WHICH WE HAD TO GET A LOAN FOR) HAS FAILED AGAIN. ON TOP OF LAST YEARS COSTS ON A NEW ENGINE, THIS WILL BE AT LEAST ANOTHER $700 . AND NEW ENGINE AGAIN SHOULD IT THROW A ROD AGAIN. THE VEHICLE CAN NOT BE DRIVEN NOW. *AK
GASOLINE WAS LEAKING FROM A VALVE TO MUFFLER. YH
I WAS TOLD THIS HAD BEEN UNDER A LIMITED RECALL, PROBABLY IN 96, WHICH I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT. I HAVE RECEIVED 2 RECALLS AND WISH I KNEW ABOUT THE RECALL ON THE MOTOR (HEAD GASKETS). *AK
WELL MAINTAINED WINDSTAR NEEDS NEW TRANSMISSION AT 52K MILES ,AND BLEW ROD BEARINGS AT 64K MILES REQUIRING A NEW ENGINE. HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF SAME PROBLEMS ON THE INTERNET. FORD HAS A PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO ADDRESS IT. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
MY 95 WINDSTAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE DAY ONE. MY TRANSMISSION WENT WITHIN 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHAS., NOW THE HEAD GASKET ARE GONE, AND FORD KNEW THERE WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH PREMATURE FAILURE ON THERE HEAD GASKETS ON 3.8L ENGINES. I NEVER RECEIVED THE NOTIFICATION LETTER FROM FORD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO NEAREST DEALERSHIP MALOUF FORD IN NORTH BRUNSWICK, NJ AND WAS TOLD IT'LL COST ME ABOUT $1400 TO REPAIR. I FEEL THIS IS TOTALLY UNFAIR TO SADDLE THE CONSUMER AGAIN WITH REPAIR BILLS FOR SOMETHING FORD NEW WAS A PROBLEM. THEY SHOULD HONOR THERE PRODUCT AND FIX AND NO COST TO ME. I WILL BE FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AND THE SMALL CLAIMS COURT IF FORD DOESN'T WHAT I FEEL IS FAIR AND RIGHT. THANKS FRANCISCO MARTINEZ. *AK
ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED AFTER WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED, REPLACED TRANSMISSION AFTER WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED, STEERING LOCKED UP (REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY), WEARS OUT TIRES BECAUSE HAS PULLED TO RIGHT SINCE DAY ONE, HAVE REPLACED BRAKING SYSTEM TWICE
WE DID NOT EVER RECEIVE (NOR DID THE PREVIOUS OWNER) A LETTER ABOUT THE HEAD GASKET RECALL ON OUR WINDSTAR. WE CONTACTED FORD TODAY AND WERE TURNED DOWN REIMBURSEMENT BECAUSE IT HAD TOO MANY MILES. BUT WE WOULD HAVE HAD IT DONE BY THEN, HAD WE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL. *AK
FORD HAD A "SECRET WARRANTY" OF 5 YEARS OR 60,000 MILES FOR HEAD GASKETS BECAUSE OF THE HUGE NUMBER OF PROBLEMS. MY PROBLEMS WITH LOW COOLANT LEVELS, AND NO HEAT STARTED BEFORE 60,000 MILES, AND BEFORE THE DECEMBER OF 1999. THEY REFUSE TO HELP ME. IF THIS WAS AN ISOLATED EVENT, OR IF THE VEHICLE HAD 90,000 MILES ON IT, I WOULDN'T SEEK COMPENSATION. BUT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM, AND HEAD GASKETS ON NEWER VEHICLES SHOULD LAST AT LEAST 100,000 MILES. I HAVE COMPLETE DOCUMENTATION OF THIS, PLEASE CONTACT ME IF I CAN BE OF ANY ASSISTANCE. THANK YOU. *AK
HEAD GASKET FAILED ON NOV. 16, 1999. I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER ON NOV. 19 AND DROVE IT HOME (~15 MILES). I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING HOT. I WAS TOLD TO GO AHEAD AND DRIVE THE CAR. ON DEC. 6 (AFTER MORE PHONE CONVERSATIONS), I TOOK THE CAR BACK AND WAS TOLD THE NO.2 FUEL INJECTOR HAD FAILED. ON DEC. 97 I PICKED THE CAR UP AND BEFORE I COULD GET IT HOME AGAIN, THE "ENGINE" CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE CAR RAN VERY ROUGHLY. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME TO DRIVE IT FOR A FEEW DAYS TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED. ON DEC 22, I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALER , AND AGAIN THE N0. 2 CYLINDER HAS "A PROBLEM" THAT THE DEALER CAN'T DIAGNOSE. FORD IS OFFERING NO ASSISTANCE. *AK
DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND OR EXPLAIN WHY THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. "PREMATURE FAILURE. WAS ASKED HOW THEY EXPLAINED IT. *AK
NO SUMMARU LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
PRIOR TO RECALL, DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET FAILED, CONSUMER (98MOI) WAS NOT RECEIVED NOTICE, NOW REPAIR DENIED BECAUSE OUT OF WARRANTY PERIOD. YH
PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED FUMES ENTERING VEHICLE AND STRONG ODOR, PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE THREE REPAIR ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT CONDITION, CONSUMER REQUESTING SERVICE FEE REIMBURSEMENT. (99V-309)
VEHICLE HAS A CRACKED VALVE COVER THAT CAUSES AN OIL LEAK IN THE ENGINE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. THRE WAS A (TSB) ON THIS PROBLEM. *AK
REQUESTED DEALER & MANUFACTURER FOR COMPRESSION TEST FAILURE W/ NO CHARGE, BUT THEY REJECTED. *AK
FAILURE TO REPLACE NEW ENGIN EHEAD GASKET BY EITHER DEALER OR MANUFACTURER W/O CHARGE UNDER "M CAMPAINS" WARRANTY. THIS IS VERY SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE FOR EVERYONE TO KNOWS. *AK
TRANSMISSION WENT AT 70K NO HELP FROM FORD. HEAD GASKET LEAKING 120K NO ASSISTANCE OR HELP FROM FORD. WINDOW MOTOR DO NOT WORK NO HELP FROM FORD. STEERING PROBLEMS NO ONE CAN FIND A PROBLEM, BUT I KEEP REPLACING TIRE PREMATURLY. I PAID FOR THE TRAMSMISSION $1500. NOW THE VAN IS IN THE SHOP AT SAM GALLOWAY FORD FOR A HEAD GASKET. THE ONLY REASON I HAD IT TOWED INTO SAM GALLOWAY IS BECAUSE THEY SAID THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE HEAD GASKET AND THEY WILL TAKE CARE OF IT . COVERED BY THE RECALL. THEY CALLED AFTER LOOKING AT IT AND SAID $1700 TO REPAIR THE GASKET AND OTHERS PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THE LEAKING HEAD GASKET. RECALL STATES 60K 0R DEC 31 2000 WICH EVER COMES FIRST. IF THEY ARE PUTTING FAULTY PRODUCTS IN THEIR VEHICLES THEY ARE CAUSEING SAFETY CONCERNS AND THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
BOTH GASKETS BLEW OUT, FORD DECIDED TO REPLACED THE ENTIRE ENGINE.*ET
DUE TO A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET WHICH LEAKED AND CAUSED ENGINE TO OVERHEAT, VEHICLE STALLED. COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHEN PUTTING FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VAN WOULD SPEED UP. ALSO, WHEN ACCELERATING THE VAN WOULD GO FASTER THAN IT WAS SUPPOSED TO. VAN WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR TESTING OF ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. THE TESTING DID NOT SHOW ANY PROBLEMS. NEW ENGINE IS NEEDED AND WILL ONLY BE REPLACED AT OWNER'S COST. *AK *ML
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1995 Ford Windstar → · Every Windstar year → · How the figures are calculated →