1995 Ford Windstar complaints

PREMATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURE DUE TO DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. ALSO CAUSED INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE WHICH REQUIRED ENGINE REBUILD AT A TOTAL COST OF $2,441.00

THIS MOTOR HAS A HISTORY OF DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS WITH NO COVERAGE FROM MFGER AFTER 60,000 MILES. THIS IS DEFINITELY A DESIGN PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE IN A FRONTAL CAR ACCIDENT SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK INTO PLACE. ALSO AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING INJURY TO CONSUMER.PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK

FORD NEEDS TO DO A COMPLETE RECALL OF ALL 1995 FORD WINDSTAR HEAD GASKETS. THIS HEAD GASKET FAILURE PUT ME AND MY FAMILY INCLUDING 2 SMALL CHILDREN IN GRAVE DANGER. THE EVIDENCE IS OVERWHELMING. FORD NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND BE RESPONSIVE TO CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS. THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF FRUSTRATED 1995 WINDSTAR OWNERS NATIONWIDE. CAN'T SOMETHING BE DONE TO MAKE FORD ACCOUNTABLE?

HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON 95' FORD WINDSTAR. I HAVE RECEIVED SEVERAL REPORTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM FROM THOUSANDS OF WINDSTAR OWNERS. HOWEVER, FORD WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL. INSTEAD, AN EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS BEEN ISSUED. THE VERBAGE STATES 5 YEARS OR 60,000 MILES. IT DOES NOT SAY "AND" OR "WHICHEVER COMES FIRST" IN A RECENT POLL ON AN INTERNET SITE, 67 PERCENT OF ALL GASKET FAILURES ON THE 95' OCCURED BETWEEN 60 AND 70 THOUSAND MILES.MY VEHICLE HADHEAD GASKET FAILURE, FOLLOWED BY AN OVERHEATING PROBLEM, HAPPENED WHILE MY WIFE WAS ON A BUSY HIGHWAY WITH OUR TWO SMALL CHILDREN. THEY WERE STRANDED FOR SEVERAL MINUTES UNDER TERRIBLE WEATHER CONDITIONS. FORD REFUSES TO PAY FOR REPAIRS, AS HAS BEEN THE PROBLEM WITH THOUSANDS OF OWNERS. FORD ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM IN THEIR ISSUED WARRANTY LETTER (98MO1). I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN MAY 98' AND NEVER RECIEVED NOTICE OF THE LETTER, ALTHOUGH THE "EXTENDED WARRANTY" IS TRANSFERABLE. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WITH 42,000 MILES AND STARTED EXPERIENCING THE SYMPTOMS OF GASKET FAILURE AT 52,000 MILES. I HAVE SPENT CONSIDERABLE TIME AND MONEY ON DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM, INCLUDING TWO THERMOSTAT REPLACEMENTS, WATER PUMP, ETC., TO NO AVAIL. HAD I BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE GASKET PROBLEM BY FORD, I WOULD HAVE SAVED SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS AND WOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY THE $1,200 I WILL NOW NEED TO HAVE THE FAULTY ORIGINAL GASKETS REPLACED. HELP!

WHEN DRIVING UP THE HILL VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE. CONTACTED DEALER AND HE REPLACED ENGINE HEAD GASKET. WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65MPH VEHICLE HESITATED AND JERKED AGAIN. STOPPED, AND USED FUEL INJECTION FLUID. CONTACTED DEALER AGAIN, AND REPLACED GASKET. *AK

VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. APPOINTMENT MADE FOR DEALER TO LOOK AT PROBLEM. APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED FOR 11/10/99. ON 11/9/99 VEHICLE OVERHEATED. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER AND DEALER REPORTS THAT HEAD GASKET IS THE PROBLEM, BUT THAT ENGINE HAS SEIZED, POSSIBLY REQUIRING NEW ENGINE. FORD SAYS IF PROBLEM HAD HAPPENED PRIOR TO 60,000 MILES REPAIRS WOULD HAVE BEEN FREE BECAUSE THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. SINCE PROBLEM OCCURED AFTER 60,000 MILES, FORD WILL PAY NOTHING.

APRIL 1999, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOB TOMES FORD IN MCKINNEY SINCE THE ENGINE WAS SMOKING. THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $1001. A LETTER FROM FORD INDICATING POSSIBLE FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKET HAD BEEN RECEIVED 1 YEAR EARLIER, BUT THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE GASKET DID NOT NEED REPLACED. WHEN IT DID FAIL, WE WERE PAST THE 60,000 MILES INDICATED BY FORD AS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. SINCE THERE WAS STILL SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, IT WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER (BOB TOMES). THEY INDICATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACED. SINCE THEY HAD INITIALLY SAID THAT THE SMOKING WAS DUE TO THE HEAD GASKET, WE SOUGHT A SECOND OPINION AT A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP (ECONOMY TRANSMISSIONS OF MCKINNEY). THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $1353 (05/07/99). APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MONTHS LATER, THE TORQUE CONVERTER IN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THEN APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH LATER, THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED AGAIN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. SINCE THEN, I'VE NOTICED THESE SAME TWO PROBLEMS LISTED ON SEVERAL WEB BULLETIN BOARDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE 1995 FORD WINDSTAR MINIVAN. IN FACT, 2 CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS ARE BEING PREPARED TO BRING AGAINST FORD AT THIS TIME. I WILL PROBABLY SUBMIT MY NAME TO THOSE LAWYERS. (SEE WWW.CARTRACKERS.COM/FORUMS UNDER LEMONS OR MINIVANS). OBVIOUSLY, THIS SITE HAS OVER 2,000 COMPLAINTS LISTED FOR THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. IN COMPARISON, MY 1992 TOYOTA CELICA HAS JUST OVER 50 COMPLAINTS LISTED. IT WOULD SEEM LIKE FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT THESE 2 PROBLEMS FOR A

TRANSMISSION: NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT 64527 MILES, HEADGASKETS WERE REPLACED AT 48000 MILES AND NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AT 64527 MILES.

1995 FORD WINDSTAR 3.8 ENGINE FAILURE WITH HEAD GASKET. THIS FAILURE DESTROYED ENGINE, FORD HAS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKET MATERIAL, AND THEY KNOW THIS AND HAVE EVEN POSTED A SERVICE BULLETIN 98M01. BUT IF YOU OVER THE 60,000 MILE FORD WON'T DO ANYTHING FOR YOU AND LOTS OF CONSUMERS ARE PAYING FOR THIS REPAIR $4,000-5000. I INVESTIGATED THIS WITH 12 SHOPS AND 6 TOW TRUCK DRIVERS AND AND ARE BEING TOWED IN FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER WON'T TELL CONSUMERS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM OR SUPPORT THEM IF THEY ARE OVER THE 60,000 MILE MARK? MY VAN HAD BEEN IN FOR GENERAL REPAIR AND NOT ONE PERSON SAID ANYTHING TO ME ? PLEASE THIS PROBLEM IS COSTING CONSUMERS SO MUCH MONEY WHEN FORD SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THESE REPAIRS. THE MATERIAL USED FOR THESE HEAD GASKETS WAS BAD. FORD KNEW THIS AND WE HAVE TO PAY THE REPAIR BILL. I TALKED TO TWO OWNER OF FORD DEALERS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS SINCE 1995, AND THEY WANT THE TO SUPPORT THEIR CUSTOMERS, BUT WONT DO ANYTHING FOR VAN OVER 60-70,00 MILES. MY VAN HAD 90,000 MILES, AND HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF BUT RIGHT NOW I'M TRYING TO FIND THE MONEY FOR THIS REPAIR? *AK

DOOR AJAR LIGHT AND CHIME REMAIN ON WHEN ALL DOORS ARE SECURELY CLOSED.

TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS WHEN VEHICLE IS COASTING, THEN UPSHIFTS WHEN THROTTLE IS REAPPLIED.

RECALL REPAIR DENIED FOR (98M01), HEAD GASKET FAILURE, VEHICLE OUT OF SCOPE DUE TO MILEAGE. MJS

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS ARE LEAKING OIL ONTO THE ENGINE BLOCK. DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

FUEL IS LEAKING FROM SEAM OF FUEL TANK AND DRIPPING DOWN ONTO EXHAUST MANIFOLD, CAUSING FIRE HAZARD. *AK

THE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING OIL & ANTI-FREEZE ONTO THE ENGINE CAUSING FAILURE. *AK

WHILE VAN WAS BEING DRIVEN TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF AN OVERHEATING PROBLEM, VAN JUST SHUT OFF. VAN WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALER STATED THAT ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. VAN HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THIS HEAD GASKET PROBLEM IS SOMETHING FORD MOTOR CO. IS AWARE OF. IT IS EVEN LISTED IN THE OCT. ISSUE OF CONSUMER REPORTS. WE SHOULD NOT BE REQUIRED TO PAY 1,000--2,000 FOR REPAIRS FOR THIER MISTAKE.

FORD WILL NOT RECOGNIZE THERE IS AN ENGINE PROBLEM WITH THE FIRST YEAR MODEL OF THIS VEHICLE. THE FORD DEALER SAID IT WOULD COST $1500 TO HAVE SPARK PLUG WIRES, OXYGEN SENSOR, THERMOSTAT, AND HEAD GASKETS REPLACED. *AK

NO SUMMAERY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

COOLANT SYSTEM PROBLEMS SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED - SENSORS, RADIATOR, HEAD GASKET. I THOUGHT I RECEIVED A RECALL CONCERNING HEAD GASKET IN 1998 FROM FORD - WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER I WAS TOLD TO COME BACK WHEN THE HEAD GASKET FAILED. THE DEALER KEPT THE LETTER THAT I RECEIVED FROM FORD DESPITE TWO ATTEMPTS OF HAVING IT RETURNED. A YEAR OR SO LATER THE HEAD GASKET FAILED ,AND I WAS TOLD BY FORD THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS NOT COVERED BY A RECALL, BUT WAS UNDER A WARRANTY EXTENSION. (I WAS NOT TOLD THIS BY THE DEALER IN 1998) NOW THE VEHICLE IS PAST THE ALLEGED WARRANTY EXTENSION, AND FORD WILL NOT ADDRESS MY PROBLEM FURTHER. APPARENTLY THE RADIATOR IS POORLY DESIGNED. IT'S CHEAPER FOR ME TO HAVE IT REPLACED UNDER A THIRD PARTY WARRENTY THAN HAVE IT FLUSHED ONLY TO CLOG AGAIN. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN OCTOBER 1996 AND HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT TIRES IN 1997, 1998 AND 1999. *AK

THE VALVE GASKET FAILED, LEAKING COOLANT OUT PER THE DEALER, I HAD BEEN GETTING CHECK ENGINE LLIGHT WARNINGS FOR SOME TIME 1 YEAR WHEN ON LONG TRIPS, SEVERAL MECHANICS HAD LOOKED AT THE CAR AND DID NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. FORD HAS RECALL 98-MO1 COVERING THE VALVE GASKETS, EXTENDING THE WARRANTY UP TO 50,000 OR 5 YEARS. I WAS NOT ADVISED OF ANY PROBLEM, AND FOUND OUT AFTER BEING BILLED BY THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS TOTALLING 2138.06 (AMONG OTHER PROBLEMS). I FEEL THAT BEING LEFT IN INGNORANCE OF ANY VALVE GASKET PROBLEMS CERTAINLY LIMITED MY ABILITY TO PROPERLY DEAL WITH A PROBLEM THAT MAY HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING FOR SOME TIME. IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME THAT MY CAR MIGHT HAVE A VALVE GASKET FAILURE SO EARLY IN IT'S LIFE. FORD SERVICE ADVISES ME THAT AFTER 50,000 I AM ON MY OWN, EVEN THOUGH THEY ADMIT THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THESE GASKETS. *AK

SEVERAL MINOR ENGINE COMPONENTS (O2 SENSORS, COOLANT LINES, COMPUTER, ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON & OFF) FAILED OVER A ONE YEAR PERIOD FOLLOWED BY THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. AFTER IT WAS REPAIRED, ABOUT 100 MILES LATER THE ENGINE FAILED. THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON, THE VAN LOST POWER AND THE SPEED STARTED FLUCTUATING. THIS WAS ON A HIGH SPEED, BUT NO SHOULDER BRIDGE, SO SLOWING DOWN COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. FORTUNATELY IT DIDN'T THIS TIME. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED TOWING THE VAN TO THE GARAGE, AND AFTER REVIEW THE ENGINE WAS RECOMMENDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

MY CONCERN IS PRIMARILY AIMED AT ENGINE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM IDENTIFIED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY FOR THE 1995 FORD WINSTAR. IN MARCH OF 1999, MY WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN WERE DRIVING IN THE CAR WHEN THE HEAD GASGET BLEW! THE ENSUING REPAIRS RAN OVER $2,486.00. BELIEVING THAT MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED I HAD A PRIVATE MECHANIC FIX THE CAR. UPON REALIZING THAT FORD HAD MANUFACTURED A FAULTY PART I REQUESTED A REFUND FOR MY REPAIR BILLS. FORD HAS REFUSED TO RECOGNIZE MY CLAIM, INDICATING THAT MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. I BELIVE THIS UNSAFE SITUATION WAS DIRECTLY A RESULT OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THE FAULTY HEAD GASKET PLACED INTO MY CAR BY FORD. THE OTHER COMPONENTS HAD TO BE REPLACED AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE FAILING HEAD GASKET. I WISH TO BE INCLUDED IN THE GROWING NUMBER OF CONSUMERS LODGING COMPLAINTS AND CONCERNS ABOUT THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION. YOUR ASSISTANCE WITH DEALING WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY WOULD BE APPRECIATED, HOWEVER I HAVE LITTLE TRUST THAT THEY WILL FULLY ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS MATTER. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO FORWARD COPIES OF MY CORRESPONDANCE WITH FORD TO YOUR OFFICE IF THIS MIGHT BE OF ASSISTANCE. WITH SINCERE THANKS FOR YOUR INTEREST AND SUPPORT IN THIS MATTER, ROBERT A. MARTINEZ. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILURE AND SUBSEQUENT CRANKSHAFT FAILURE. *AK

TRANSMISSION GOING TO FAIL SOON; DEALERSHIP FAILED TO DIAGNOSE IN 1997 UNDER OEM WARRANTY. HEAD GASKET BLEW, DEALERSHIP REPAIRED AT NO COST. GASOLINE SMELLS DURING AND AFTER DRIVING. *AK

NO SUMMARY

FAILURE OF FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON. ORGINAL WAS MADE OF ALUMINUM AND WAS REPLACED WITH A STEEL PISTON. WORK DONE BY AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOP DUE TO THE DEALER REFUSING TO COVER THE COSTS. ALSO HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH HEAD GASKETS, ELECTRIC HARNESS, IGNITION WIRING

IN 7/99 A 'CHECK ENGINE LIGHT' CAME ON AFTER A LONG TRIP [BOCA RATON, FL TO CHARLOTTE, NC] AN OXYGEN SENSOR WAS REPLACED BY A FORD DEALER[YOUNG FORD, 704-598-2599] IN 10/99 THE 'CHECK ENGINE LIGHT' CAME ON AGAIN. WALLACE FORD [DELRAY BEACH, 561-278-0303]WAS INFORMED OF THE PREVIOUS SENSOR REPLACEMENT, AND REPLACED ANOTHER SENSOR. NO OTHER INDICATING LIGHTS HAD COME ONE AT ANY TIME. ON NOV. 14 THE CAR WAS ROUGH ON STARTUP, THEN RAN OKAY. ON NOV. 16 THE CAR WOULD NOT START. WALLACE FORD HAS FOUND A HEADGASKET FAILURE. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET HAS INDICATED OVER 200 OF THE SAME FAILURES FOR THIS MAKE & MODEL YEAR. I WAS INFORMED THAT FORD HAD A 'PROGRAM' FOR THIS IF THE MILEAGE WAS UNDER 60K. MY UNDERSTANDING IS A RELATIVELY EASY CHECK COULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE THAT IS ESTIMATED AT $2100 TO REPAIR AT THIS TIME. NEITHER DEALER, WHEN MAKING THE EARLIER REPAIRS , THAT WERE LIKELY CAUSED BY THE LEAKING OF THE HEADGASKET, MENTIONED THE POSSIBILITY OF A HEADGASKET FAILURE FOR THIS MAKE & MODEL, ALTHOUGH FORD IS CLEARLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. A GRAPH ATTRIBUTED TO NHTSA INDICATES THE VERY HIGH NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FOR THIS PROBLEM. I EXPECT TO BE CONTACTING FORD AT A NUMBER OF LEVELS TO VOICE THIS COMPLAINT. IS THERE ANY INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY FOR THIS? I UNDERSTAND KRON TV IN SAN FRANSCISCO RAN AN INVESTIGATIVE STORY ON THIS PROBLEM THIS WEEK.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

DUE TO A DEFECTIVE MOISTURE PUNGER MODULATOR WIRING HARNESS KIT, THERE IS A MILDEW FUNGUS TYPE THAT GROWS IN THE AIR CONDITIONER EVAPORATOR WHICH CAUSES THE DRIVER AND OCCUPANTS TO BREATH DIFIFCULT, AND MAY RESULT IN OCCUPANTS FAINTING OR POSSIBLE DEATH. THERE IS A TSP BULLETIN 98-10-2 REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER IS ONLY WILLING TO PAY HALF FOR THIS KNOWN PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE SHEET STEEL THAT COMPRISES THE BODY OF THE PASSENGER DOOR HAS TORN WHERE THE DOOR ATTACHES TO THE UPPERMOST SLIDING ARM. WHEN THE DOOR IS OPENED, THE DOOR SLIDES TO AN ABRUPT HALT, CAUSING THE METAL TO FLEX ON THE DOOR, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO THE METAL ITSELF TEARING. THIS IS COMPLETELY AS A RESULT OF NORMAL WEAR AND USEAGE. *AK

TRANSMISSION JERKS FOWARD AFTER STOPS. AND ROLLS BACKWARD ON SLIGHT INCLINES. CAUSING THE POTENTIAL TO COLLIDE WITH SURROUNDING VEHICLES. *AK

THIS IS THE 2ND TIME I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. THE 1ST. TIME WAS 1 YEAR AGO. MY VAN WAS MAKING A TICKING OR KNOCKING SOUND. THIS WAS RIGHT AFTER THEY REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET WHICH WAS RECALLED. I ASKED THE FORD DEALER WHO DID THE WORK IF THE SOUND COULD HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE RECALL. I WAS TOLD NO IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH MY PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW SHORT BLOCK. I HAD BOUGHT A WARRANTY FROM THE PERSON I BOUGHT THE VAN FROM FOR $430.00 WHICH WAS FOR $2500.00, I ONLY HAD ABOUT $1900.00 LEFT ON IT. I GOT AN ESTIMATE OF ABOUT $3500.00 TO DO THE WORK FROM FORD. ICOULD NOT AFFORD TO PAY THAT MUCH MONEY. I ASKED IF THEY COULD FIX THE PARTS THAT WERE BROKEN WIHT THE AMOUNT THAT WAS LEFT ON MY WARRANTY. THAT IS WHAT THEY DID. NOW IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME IT IS THE LONGB LOCK THAT I MUST REPLACE I HAVE BEEN TOLD. WHY BECAUSE I SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THE SHORTBLOCK THE FIRST TIME. I COULD NOT SEE HOW THE MOTOR COULD HAVE GONE WITH SUCH LOW MILAGE ON IT. THE FIRST TIME IT ONLY HAD 37668 MILES ON IT. IT HAD 36914 MILES ON IT WHEN THEY REPLACED THE HEADGASKET RECALL ON 09/08/98. I AM JUST FINDING OUT NOW THAT THIS COULD HAVE VERY WELL BEEN A PROBLEM THAT WAS CAUSED BY THE FAULTY HEADGASKET. I BELIEVE THAT FORD DEALER HERE IN SEASIDE, CA. KNEW THIS AT THE TIME. I BELIEVE THEY DID NOT TELL ME SO THEY WOULD NOT HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WITHOUT ME PAYING FOR IT. SINCE I COULD NOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR IT THEN, AND CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR IT NOW AFTER THIS HAPPENED AGAIN O

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS BLEW OUT, CAUSING COOLANT TO BE ABSORBED INTO THE ENGINE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

FORD ISSUED A PSEUDO "RECALL" BUT HAS NOT PAID FOR REPAIRS *AK

THIS IS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET IN THE WINDSTAR - WHAT I'VE LEARNED TO BE A WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM. I THINK FORD SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THIS SINCE IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW,CAUSING WHITE SMOKE TO EMINATE FROM TAILPIPE AND ENGINE TO OVERHEAT, RESULTING IN DESTRUCTION OF ENGINE. I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH HEAD GASKETS, AND HAD A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE INSTALLED. MY TRANSMISSION AND POWER STEERING RACK ALSO FAILED BEFORE THIS. WHAT NEXT? *AK

WE REPLACED THE HEADGASKETS AT 38,000 AND HAVE JUST BEEN TOLD AT (72,000) THAT THE HEADGASKETS WERE REPLACED WITH ANOTHER SET OF FAULTY HEAD GASKETS, AND THAT FORD WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM EVENTHOUGH THEY HAD THE LIMITED "RECALL" PROGRAM ON HEADGASKETS. IT IS TOO RISKY TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE OTHER THAN SHORT TRIPS. DUE TO VAST NUMBER OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE RESALE IS HORRIFIC AND WE ARE STUCK WITH A CAR WE CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP AND CAN'T AFFORD TO SELL. *AK

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS COMING ON ANYTIME I DROVE ON AN TRIP OVER 60 MILES. AFTER HAVING IT CHECKED OUT AND CHECKED OUT, I COULD NEVER GET AN ANSWER ABOUT THE PROBLEM. FOUND OUT LATER THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE HEAD GASKET BEING BAD AND DUMPING ENGINE COOLANT THROUG THE EXHAUST WHICH IN TURN DESTROYED THE CATATLYTIC CONVERTER AND SENSOR. HOWEVER THE COMPUTER WOULD NEVER GIVE THE CODES THAT THIS WAS THE PROBLEM. WHILE CHECKING THIS PROBLEM OUT, I HAD IT IN A TRANSMISSION SHOP THAT KNEW OF FORD'S TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, AND STATED THAT THIS WINDSTAR HAD ALL THE SIGNS OF A LEAKING ALUMINUM PUMP IN THE TRANSMI. COST WAS JUST UNDER $1000. STILL THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. A GUY SAID TO CHECK THE EXHAUST, SO I HAD THE EXHAUST CHECKED AND FOUND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR HAD MELTED DOWN. HAD THEM REPLACED, STILL THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. MY MECHANIC HAPPENED TO BE TALKING TO THE PARTS DEPT AT A FORD DEALER AND THEY MENTIONED THE SECRET RECALL ON THE MOTOR. SO I CHECKED ON IT AND THEY SAID THE MILEAGE WAS TOO HIGH (KEEP IN MIND THAT THE VAN WAS DOING THIS WHEN I PURCHASED IT AT 82,000). MY MECHANIC PULLED THE HEAD OFF AND REPLACED THE FRONT HEAD GASKET WHERE THE #4 CYLINDER HAD BLOWN THE GASKET. HE REPLACED ALL FLUIDS. SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES LATER THE MOTORS MAIN BEARINGS WENT OUT DUE TO HAVING HAD ENGINE COOLANT MIXED WITH IT FOR SO LONG (TOLD TO ME BY THE SPRINGFIELD, IL FORD DEALER WHERE I WAS WHEN THE MOTOR BLEW AND BY THE SPRINGFIELD, MO FORD DEALER WHERE I LIVE). FORD REFUSES TO FIX

DRIVING AT AVERAGE HIGHWAY SPEED. SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WITH EXCESSIVE ENGINE VIBRATION. ENGINE BEGAN OVERHEATING WITH EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF WHITE SMOKE FROM EXHAUST SYSTEM. *AK

THE #4 ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED, WITHOUT ANY WARNING. APPARENTLY, FORD HAS KNOWN OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS DONE NOTHING TO RECALL THE 95 WINDSTAR'S TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. THEY KNEW OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY SENT SOME PEOPLE A 98MO1 LETTER STATING SO. HOWEVER, THEY REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ANYONE WHO'S VEHICLE HAS OVER 60,000 MILES OR IS 5 YEARS OLD. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM. *AK

I HAD BEEN SMELLING GAS FUMES FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, USUALLY AFTER I FILLED THE TANK. ON THE MORNING OF 9/3/99 THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF GAS UNDER THE VAN IN THE DRIVEWAY AND THE FUMES WERE EXTREMELY STRONG INSIDE THE VEHICLE AS WELL. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO PRECISION AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE IN KATY, TX. THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE TANK HAD A CRACK IN IT UNDER THE CENTER STRAP WHERE THE TANK IS SECURED TO THE VEHICLE. THEIR ASSESSMENT DETERMINED THAT THE TANK CRACKED BECAUSE THE STRAP HAD CAUSED THE TANK TO BULGE AT THAT SPOT AND EVENTUALLY CRACK. WHEN THEY TRIED TO GET A REPLACEMENT TANK FROM TEXAN FORD THEY WERE INFORMED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO TANKS AVAILABLE FOR RESALE UNTIL 9/14 OR 9/15/99. FORD WAS APPARENTLY RELEASING A "NEW" TANK AT THIS TIME. WHEN THE NEW TANK ARRIVED ON 9/16, THE MIDSECTION HAD CLEARLY BEEN REDESIGNED TO ELIMINATE THE "BULGE" THAT HAD CAUSED THE CRACK IN THE ORIGINAL DESIGN. I HAVE REQUESTED THAT FORD REIMBURSE ME FOR THE COST OF THE REPLACEMENT TANK SINCE IT WAS CLEARLY A DESIGN PROBLEM AND POSED A TREMENDOUS SAFETY HAZARD TO MYSELF AND MY FAMILY. TEXAN FORD IS DENYING ANY KNOWLEDGE OF A PROBLEM WITH THIS GAS TANK AND SO FAR HAS REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR ANY OF THE COST. ANY HELP YOU COULD GIVE ME OR ANY INFORMATION WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. *AK

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH. I WAS TOLD IT NEEDED A TUNE-UP WHICH I DID. IT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM AND I STARTED HAVING TO PUT MORE AND MORE WATER IN IT. IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET WHICH HAS NOW BEEN REPLACED. I WANTED TO CONTACT YOU BACAUSE I NOW KNOW HOW BAD THESE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN FOR THIS PROBLEM AND I THINK FORD SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE CONSIDERING HOW MUCH IT COSTS, I THINK IT SHOULD HOLD UP MUCH BETTER THAN THIS. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FPR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

ROUGH ENGINE, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON. HEAD GASKET LEAKING ONTO #4 PLUG AND CYLINDER. *AK

NO SUMMARY

GAS TANK DEVELOPED A CRACK SPILLING GAS ONTO THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE, CREATING AN EXPLOSIVE SITUATION. APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN DEFECT WHERE THE STRAPS ARE EXERTING PRESSURE ON THE PLASTIC TANK. *AK

VEHICLE STARTED STEAMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST PIPES, AND BLOWING WATER OUT OF THE RADIATOR. DEALER REPLACED ENGINE HEAD GASKETS. *AK

THE FIRST 3 INCIDENTS OF THE BRAKES FAILING DID NOT RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. WE TOOK THE VAN TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS; EACH TIME THE SHOP COULD NOT DIAGNOSE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE NOR CAUSE IT TO REPEAT . EVENTUALLY THE VAN STOPS, BUT IT TAKES 2 TO 3 CAR LENGTHS LONGER TO STOP. THE ABS BRAKES DO NOT INITIATE AND ONE MECHANIC EXPLAINED THAT THE ABS BRAKES ONLY OPERATE IF IT DETECTS THE WHEELS ARE LOCKING. ALL 4 BRAKE FAILURES WERE ON DRY ROADS AND WE DID NOT PUMP THE BRAKE. THE FAILURES HAPPENED TWICE TO MYSELF, ONCE TO MY HUSBAND AND ONCE TO MY SON. IT TENDS TO HAPPEN INTERMITTENTLY AND WE CANNOT TELL IF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE ABS, HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM OR THE COMBINATION OF THE TWO. ON EACH OCCURRANCE, THE BRAKE HAD BEEN DEPRESSED TO SLOW DOWN. WHEN IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THE SLOWING WAS INADEQUATE AND THE BRAKE WAS PRESSED TO THE FLOOR, THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND AND THE VEHICLE BASICALLY COASTS TO A STOP. ON THE FOURTH OCCURRENCE, THE LANE HAD NARROWED FROM 2 LANES TO 1 AND WE HAD SLOWED TO ALLOW A VEHICLE INTO THE LANE LEAVING ABOUT 2 VEHICLE LENGTHS BETWEEN US. THE FRONT VEHICLE STOPPED AND THE SECOND VEHICLE'S BRAKE LIGHTS CAUSED US TO PRESS ON THE BRAKE BUT WE WERE NOT SLOWING ENOUGH SO THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT RESPONSE CAUSING US TO HIT THE MIDDLE VEHICLE INTO THE FRONT VEHICLE. THE MIDDLE VEHICLE BOUNCED OFF OF THE FRONT VEHICLE AND BACK INTO OUR VAN.