1995 Ford Windstar complaints

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED. THE CONSUMER STATED RECALL REPAIRS ON THE HEAD GASKET WERE DONE; HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE JERKED AND SMOKED FROM UNDER HOOD. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TECHNICIAN, WHO DETERMINED THAT ENGINE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

MY WINSTAR HAS 144,000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE JUST REPLACED THE HEAD GASKETS FOR THE FIFTH TIME. THEY BLOW EVERY 25,000 - 30,000. THIS LAST REPLACEMENT COST ME ALMOST 1,800 DOLLARS. FORD PUT A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE IN IT AFTER THE FOURTH TIME AND 25,000 MILES LATER THEY BLEW AGAIN. FORD SAYS THERE IS NOTHING THEY WILL DO. I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE 95 WINDSTARS. IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO. FIVE SETS OF HEAD GASKETS IS A BIT EXTREME. *JB

THE HEAD GASKET ON THE FORD WINDSTAR 1995 3.8 LITER ENGINE HAS A DESIGN FLAW AND IS LIKELY TO BLOW OUT. THIS LEADS TO ENGINE HEATING AND DAMAGE. THE REPAIR COSTS FOR CHANGING THE HEAD GASKET IS OVER $1000. ENGINE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT IS MUCH HIGHER. *LA

1995 FORD WINDSTAR TRANSMISSION "LURCHES" INTO 1ST GEAR WHEN IN PARK. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!!. ALMOST RAN INTO SOMEONE IN A PARKING LOT, TRYING TO TURN INTO A SPACE AND IT LURCHED FORWARD MISSING THEM. SCARED TO DEATH. *AK I WENT DIRECTLY HOME AND WHILE AT A STOP SIGN IT LURCHED AGAIN, HOWEVER I WAS FAR ENOUGH AWAY NOT TO RUN INTO THE BACK END OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. GETTING THIS FIXED AT A FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG AND QOUTED ME A PRICE QUICKLY, AFTER SAYING THEY DO THESE ALL THE TIME..... MAYBE FORD SHOULD BE REPLACING THIS.....AND REIMBURSING US...... BEFORE SOMEONE DIES!!!

THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD MORE THAN IT'S SHARE OF PROBLEMS. THE HEAD GASKET WAS BROUGHT IN FOR A RECALL AND IT STILL MALFUNCTIONED.

TRANSMISSION- SHIFTING ROUGH SINCE 30,000 MI. 2 DEALERS TESTED OVER THE YEARS & SAID NO PROBLEM (JUST ADJUSTED SHIFT POINTS. SAME COMPLAINT IN JULY, 2003. DEALER CHECKED, SAID NO PROBLEM. 1 MONTH LATER HAD INDEPENDENT SHOP REBUILD TRANSMISSION. ENGINE- HEAD GASKETS REPLACED AT 15,000 MI & 35,00 MI. SAME SYMPTOMS NOW AT 103,000. JUST PAST EXTENDED WARRANTY

I EXPERIENCED 3.8L HEAD GASKET/ENGINE FAILURE ON APRIL 6, 2003 WITHOUT ANY PRIOR SYMPTOMS OR WARNINGS. VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN SERVICED AT 60,000 MILES WHICH INCLUDING FLUSHING THE COOLING SYSTEM. COST OF REPAIR IS ESTIMATED AT $3,500.

TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THIS IS THE 4TH TRANSMISSION IN THE VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION THAT WILL BE INSTALLED WILL BE THE 5TH TRANSMISSION. FORD HAS CONTINUED TO INSIST THAT THERE IS NOT AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH THE TRANMISSION IN THES MODEL ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN 634 COMPLAINTS/INVESTIGATIONS LODGED WITH THE NATIONAL TRAFFIC AND SAFETY BOARD.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR(2002) I WAS SHOPPING FOR A VEHICLE FOR MY WIFE AND FOUND A 1995 WINDSTAR AT PAT MCCRAKEN FORD IN DEWITT MICHIGAN. IT WAS IN NICE SHAPE AND RAN GOOD. I HAD NO IDEA OF THE HEADGASKET PROBLEM THAT I WAS ABOUT TO INHERIT. AROUND THE MIDDLE TO THE LAST OF NOVEMBER MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME AND IT OVERHEATED. I REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, RADIATOR CAP AND WATERPUMP BEFORE TAKING IT BACK TO THE DEALER. HE WANTS TO CHARGE ME $900.00 TO REPLACE THE HEADGASKETS NOT INCLUDING NEW HEADS WHICH MIGHT BE BAD. ON A TRADE-IN ON SOMETHING ELSE HE ONLY WANTS TO GIVE ME $1000.00 FOR THE VAN, WHICH I KNOW HE WILL FIX FOR HIS COST AND PUT BACK ON HIS LOT TO CHEAT SOME OTHER UNSUSPECTING PERSON. WHAT MAKES ME MAD IS THAT HE KNEW BEFORE HE PUT IT ON HIS LOT THAT THE 1995 WINDSTAR'S WERE PRONE TO ENGINE FAILURES. BEING UNEMPLOYED AT THE PRESENT TIME I DIDN'T NEED THIS PROBLEM. TERRY

I HAVE OWNED THIS VAN SINCE 1999. SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT. I HAVE HAD THE ROTORS TURNED, AND REPLACED AT LEAST 3 TIMES, AND THEY NEED IT AGAIN. I HAVE HAD THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED 3 TIMES AND ONE OF THEM TIMES WAS AT 99,000 MILES WHEN IT WAS UNDER THE WARRENTY. IT HAD BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST ONE TIME BEFORE THAT. MY SLIDING DOOR WON'T STAY CLOSED, EVEN THOUGH I JUST SPENT $300 GETTING A NEW LATCHED PUT ON. MY WINDOWS WON'T WORK. I HAD LARSON MOTORS FIX A HEAD GASKET AND MY ELECTRONIC WINDOWS, COST ME OVER $250 FOR THE WINDOW, THAT ONLY WORKED 2 TIMES. I CALLED, AND SINCE THEY PUT "MAY NOT BE THE PROBLEM" ON THE INVOICE, THEY THINK THAT CLEARS THEM, AND THEY WANTED ME TO SPEND MORE MONEY ON ANOTHER PART. MY SPEEDOMETOR HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE AND IS BROKE AGAIN. THE ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED. I COULD GO ON AND ON. I AM GETTING NO WHERE WITH ANYONE. I HAVE SPENT AROUND 5,000.00 IN REPAIRS, AND CAN'T TRADE THE THING OFF, SINCE I STILL OWE TOO MUCH ON IT, DUE TO A TORNADO THAT HIT OUR HOME, AND WHAT THE INSURANCE DIDN'T COVER, THE BALANCE WAS PUT ON OUR CAR LOAN. WE DON'T HAVE THE BEST CREDIT DO TO HAVING TO SPEND ANYWHERE FROM $100-300+ A MONTH ON REPAIRS TO THIS LEMON CAR. I HAVE A FAMILY AND NEED TO KNOW THAT I HAVE A RELIABLE CAR TO DRIVE. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED WITH MY 3 CHILDREN A MINIMUM OF 4 TIMES THIS PAST YEAR.

THE ENGINE HEADGASKET ON MY FORD WINDSTAR HAS FAILED A TOTAL OF 4 TIMES IN A 4 YEAR PERIOD (57117 MILES, 57722 MILES, 71713 MILES AND 89523 MILES), RESULTING IN TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE BECAUSE OF COOLANT LEAKING INTO AND FOULING INTERNAL PARTS. THE INITIAL DEFECTIVE ENGINE DESIGN WAS NEVER ADDRESSED AND INSTALLING NEW HEADGASKETS PROVIDED ONLY A TEMPORARY BANDAID SOLUTION UNTIL THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD RAN OUT.

AT 146,00 MILES I WAS JUST INFORMED THAT I WILL HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER HEAD GASKET REPAIR DONE (THAT WOULD MAKE IT THE THIRD TIME THIS PART HAS FAILED) TO SAVE THE CAR...I WILL NOT DO IT, AS IN FEBRUARY, I SPENT OVER $750 TO HAVE THE REAR BRAKES REPAIRED FOR BRAKE FLUID COVERING THE SHOES OF THE BRAKES, CAUSE BY BRAKE LINE CORROSION (JUST AS IN THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LINE CORROSION THAT WAS A NATIONAL RECALL!!!!) BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE REARS

THE ENGINE WAS THE MAIN PROBLEM DUE TO THE HEAD GASKET RECALL. IN JULY,2000, WE ARGUED WITH FORD ABOUT A BAD ENGINE RUNNING FOR WHICH WE HAD JUST PAID OVER $300 TO EVALUATE BY AN OUTSIDE REPAIR SHOP. AFTER ABOUT 6 WEEKS WE RECEIVED OUR CAR BACK WITH A NEW LONG BLOCK PAID FOR BY FORD, INCLUDING A RENTAL VAN FOR THE TIME IN THE SHOP. IN JANUARY 2001 THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING ROUGH AGAIN AND WE WERE CHARGED $81.45 TO CHECK IT OUT AND REPLACE A WIRE BAD ON CYLINDER 6 WHICH WAS MISFIRING. THREE MONTHS LATER IN APRIL 2001 THE CAR RAN ROUGH AGAIN AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS BACK ON (HAPPENED FOR YEARS INTERMITTENTLY SINCE WE OWNED THE CAR). THE NEW LONG-BLOCK HAD ANOTHER BAD HEAD GASKET REINSTALLED PER THE SECOND FORD DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER. AFTER NEARLY ANOTHER MONTH WE HAD THE SECOND NEW LONG-BLOCK IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR. NOW LESS THAN 2 YEARS AND 40,000 MILES LATER, FOLLOWING THE 110K SERVICE OF RADIATOR FLUSH AND OIL CHANGE AT 113,098 MILES THE ENGINE RAPIDLY LOST OIL AND IS MISFIRING AND BURNING OIL. FORD'S POSITION ONCE AGAIN IS THAT THE WARRANTY WAS ONLY FOR 12 MONTHS OR 12K MILES. ON A SMALLER NOTE, THE BRAKES HAVE GONE OUT NUMEROUS TIMES AND WE HAVE REPLACED ROTORS AND PADS NUMEROUS TIMES WITH NO IMPROVEMENTS. THE POWER STEERING HAS PERFORMED VERY POORLY. WE CHANGED THE FLUID IN 2000 AND THEN THE FORD SERVICE CENTER AND THEY REPLACED THE OUTER TIE RODS AND RESET THE ALIGNMENT. WITHIN MONTHS IT WAS GOING OUT AGAIN INTERMITTENTLY. MOST OFTEN WHEN STARTING OUT THE POWER STEERING G

ON MARCH 29, 2002, MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR EXPERIENCED A KNOCKING SOUND. NOTICING THE OIL LIGHT WAS ON, I IMMEDIATELY PULLED INTO THE SHOPPING CENTER NEARBY. I WAS AMAZED WHEN I HAD TO ADD 3/12 QTS. OF OIL, WHICH IMMEDIATELY DRAINED OUT. THIS VEHICLE JUST RECENTLY HAD AN OIL CHANGE, SO I KNOW IT WAS NOT LOW ON OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUTOFAIR OF MANCHESTER, NH. ON APRIL 2ND, I WAS ADVISED BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR, K. HAMEL THAT THE TIMING COVER GASKET WAS THE PROBLEM AND I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT A COST OF $3,639. I ALSO SPOKE TO K. HAMELS' BOSS, AND WAS TOLD NO WARRANTY WAS AVAILABLE. I THEN CALLED THE BOSTON AREA CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, JUSTIN BOYSON. HE PROCEEDED TO ASK ME HOW I GOT HIS NAME...NOT, HOW CAN I HELP YOU? HE ADVISED ME THERE WAS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE...THERE IS NO PROGRAM AVAILABLE FOR MY AUTO. THIS IS AN OUTRAGE, SINCE FORD IS WELL AWARE OF THIS FAULTY TIMING COVER GASKET WHICH IS A KNOWN FORD DEFECT WHICH WAS ADMITTED TO BY THE REGIONAL REPRSENTATIVE, AND IT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED 100,000 WARRANTY.

1995 FORD WINSTAR HEAD GASKETS LEAKING. HEAD GASKETS WERE REPLACED MAR 1999 AT 40352 MI. UNDER 98M01 RECALL. AND AGAIN JUL 2001 AT 79464 MI. UNDER 00M09 RECALL. TALKED TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER, THEY SAID TO CALL DEALER THAT DID REPAIR. BOTH SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME. BUT HEAD GASKETS SHOULD LAST MORE THAN THE 9246 MI. SAID REPAIR WARRENTY ONLY GOOD FOR 12 MONTHS.

BRAKE WORK X2 TRANSMISSION X2 ALL BELTS TIRE & SUSPENSION WORK LUGS ON WHEELS NOT PROPERLY REPLACED ,IT ALMOST FELL OFF STILL PAYING ON VEHICLE WHILE IT SITS IN ASHLEY FORD PARKING LOT W/ DEAD TRANSMISSION I AM UNABLE TO PAY CLOSE TO $2000 FOR REPAIRS

WE BOUGHT THIS CAR USED FROM A FORD DEALER WITH 86000.MILES ON IT AND WE PUT 14000,ON IT AND IT BLEW A HEAD GASKET, WE ARE RETIRED ON A FIXED INCOME AND CAN'T AFFORD EXTRA BILLS LIKE THIS, WE COULDN'T EVEN AFFORD A NEW CAR. SO WE ARE STUCK WITH A CAR THAT WE ARE AFRAID OF. WE WERE TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THIS WAS A ONE OWNER CAR AND THAT THERE WERE VERRY FEW PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR.

MY 2 MAIN PROBLEMS ARE MY TRANSMISSION & TIMING GEAR COVER. THE TRANMISSION IS VERY HAZARDOUS. MINE IS SLIPPING BETWEEN 1ST & 2ND GEAR. I HAVE BEEN READING ON THE INTERNET THAT ON SOME OF THE TRANSMISSIONS THEY HAVE BEEN SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR. I SURE DON'T WANT TO HAVE THAT SURPRISE. I'M DISABLED & NEED MY VAN TO HAUL MY POWERCHAIR WITH ME WHEN I GO TO THE DOCTORS OFFICE. I WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I TALKED TO A MECHANIC & HE SAID IF IT GOES IT WILL LEAVE ME ON THE ROAD. I THINK THIS VAN IS VERY DANGEROUS ON THE ROAD. FORD KNOW THEY WERE HAVING HEAD GASKET & TRANSMISSION TROUBLE ON THE 1995 WINDSTAR WHY DON'T THEY TAKE CARE OF THERE PROBLEMS. THEY KNOW THEY HAD BAD GASKETS ON THE HEADS,TIMING CHAIN COVERS,& TRANSMISSIONS BUT THEY STILL WENT WITH THE CHEAPER GASKETS THAT LEAK. I THINK THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD STEP IN & MAKE THEM PAY FOR THOSE REPAIRS BEFORE MORE PEOPLE GET KILLED LIKE THAT FORD POLICE CAR THAT JUMPED OUT OF GEAR & RAN OVER SOME PEOPLE IN SOUTHERN MN. A FEW YRS. AGO. WHATS IT GOING TO TAKE? A FEW MORE THOUSAND PEOPLE TO GET KILLED BEFORE THEY FIGURE THAT THERE TRANSMISSIONS ARE NO GOOD.

IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED THAT THE 1995 FORD WINDSTAR HEAD GASKET IS DEFECTIVE. WE OWN A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR, AND AT ONLY 72000 MILES THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OFF AND WE NOW HAVE ENGINE DAMAGE. FORD TOLD US THAT THEY WOULD DO NOTHING EVEN THOUGH THERE IS WELL DOCUMENTED EVIDENCE (TSB 94-9)(OOMO9) THAT THE HEAD GASKETS ARE DEFECTIVE ON THE 1995 FORD WINDSTARS. FORD TOLD US THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE OWNED THE VAN 9 YEARS THAT WE DO NOT QUALIFY FOR THE FORD HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT PROGRAM BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD THE VAN TOO LONG. THIS IS LUDICROUS! ANY HELP YOU CAN OFFER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

THE ENGINE PROBLEM WAS THE INFAMOUS HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE WAS OVER THE ARBITRARY 7 YEAR LIMIT, IT WAS FAR BELOW THE 100,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY LIMIT. IN MY OPINION, SETTING A TIME LIMIT IS DISCRIMINATORY AGAINST ANYONE WHO DRIVES FEWER MILES THAN AVERAGE. THE TRANSMMISSION PROBLEM APPEARED SUDDENLY. AFTER WAITING TO TURN LEFT, I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, BUT THE VEHICLE BEHAVED AS THOUGH IT WERE STUCK IN NEUTRAL. BY THE TIME I HAD A TRANSMMISSION EXPERT CHECK THE PROBLEM, IT WOULD NO LONGER SHIFT EITHER INTO REVERSE OR FIRST GEAR.

FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE GAS TANK AND A SERVICE STATION DETECTED A STRESS CRACK NEAR THE MIDDLE STRAP OF THE TANK SIMILAR TO WHAT IS DESCRIBED IN RECALL 99R33. I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SUPPORT TO HAVE THE TANK REPLACED ACCORDING TO RECALL 99R33. I WAS TOLD TO GO TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CALLED FORD RECALL HOTLINE AND THEY DENIED THE REPAIR ON THE GROUND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BOUGHT IN ONE OF THE HOT STATES DECRIBED IN RECALL 99S33. I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT I WAS PLANNING TO DRIVE TO MISSISSIPPI AND AS SUCH I HAVE MET THE RECALL CONDITION BUT I WAS STILL TURNED DOWN. I BELIEVE THAT THE CRACK OCCURED BECAUSE OF POOR ASSEMBLY BY FORD AND THAT FORD SHOUL REPAIR ANY WINDSTAR THAT HAS THIS PROBLEM NOT JUST THOSE IN THE HOT STATES.

THE TRANSMISSION TORE UP IN OUR VAN AT THE END OF 2000 AND HAS FAILED AGAIN. WHEN IT TORE UP THE 1ST TIME, WE WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT SINCE WE ONLY HAD 60 DAYS LEFT THE COMPANY REFUSED TO PUT IN A NEW AND PUT IN A REBUILT. NOW WE HAVE TO FIX IT AGAIN. WE HAVE BEEN LUCKIER THAN ALOT OF CUSTOMERS THAT I'VE RESEARCHED, BUT WE ARE STILL GETTING A RAW DEAL WITH OUR VAN AND WE ARE VERY UNHAPPY! WE ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF ARGUING OUR MESSAGE TO THE FORD CO. BUT CAN TELL IT WILL BE A FAILURE ALSO. AND OUR HEAT QUIT THIS PAST WINTER AND NOW THE AIR IS OUT. WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS.

FUEL TANK BEGAN LEAKING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE FORD WEBSITE SHOWS THAT MY CAR IS SUBJECT TO RECALL 99R33, FAULTY FUEL TANK MOUNTING. THIS IS A REGIONAL RECALL FOR SOUTHERN STATES WITH HIGH TEMPERATURE. I AM IN TENNESSEE AND WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL NOTIFICATION SYSTEM, ALTHOUGH TENNESSEE HAS HIGH TEMPERATURTES LIKE ALABAMA THAT IS INCLUDED AND I HAVE VACATIONED EACH SUMMER IN ALABAMA.

FORD WINDSTAR 95 SHIFT LEVER PRDNL DOES NOT MATCH GEAR. WHEN IN PARK CAR ROLLS HAVE TO FIND D OR R BY MOVING SHIFT LEVER. SOMETIME HAVE TO PUT LEVER IN TO PARK TWICE OR THREE TIMES BEFOR IT CATCHED AND CAR STARTS. WHEN THE CAR ROLLS BACK AND KILLS SOMEONE IT WILL GET FORDS ATTENTION. ALSO REPLACED HEAD GASKET ENGINE AND HEAD GASKET AGAIN. TRANNY SENSOR, DOOR AJAR SENSOR. WHAT A CAR MARK HERSHKOWITZ

CASE 1 MY FAMILY WAS COMING HOME FROM VACATION WHEN THE ENGINE BLEW WHILE WE WERE ON THE HIGHWAY. SMOKE CAME UP FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND WE WERE FORCE TO STOP THE VAN ON A CROWDED HIGHWAY. THANKS TO A NEARBY TRUCK DRIVER WHO STOPPED BEHIND US, WE WERE ABLE TO CALL SOMEONE AND GET TO SAFETY. IT TOOK A LOT OF NEGOTIATION FOR ME TO GET FORD TO TAKE CARE OF THIS MATTER, BUT THEY FINALLY DID. NOW AGAIN ON OUR RECENT TRIP TO GA ON 08-28-03 WHILE DRIVING HOME, OUR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND THE TRANSMISSION BLEW. TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED ALL OUT AND ON THE BACK OF OUR VAN TOO. IT ALSO STARTED SMOKING UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND FROM THE TAILPIPE. WE WERE INFORMED BY FREEDOM FORD IN NORFOLK VA THAT WE HAD TRANSMISSION FAILURE. OUR CHECK LIGHT HAS COME ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND DESPITE THEIR ACTION IT STILL KEEPS COMING ON. IN ADDITION, OUR OVERDRIVE LIGHTS BLINK, OUR CRUISE CONTROL DO NOT WORK, THE DOOR ADJAR LIGHTS STAYS ON AT TIMES EVEN WHEN THE DOORS ALL LOCKED AND CAUSING THE INSIDE INTERIORS LIGHTS TO STAY ON, OUR GEARS DO NOT SHIFT PROPERLY AND GETS STUCK BETWEEN GEARS AND UPON ACCELERATION IT SOMETIMES HESITATES, REPAIRED COOLANT LEAK FROM TIMING COVER GASKET AND FRONT CRANKSHAFT SEAL, COIL IGNITION, THE AIR CONDITION WHEN ON MAKES THESE STRANGE NOISES, ETC. REPLACED. WE ARE VERY DISSATISFIED WITH FORD WINDSTARS AND HAVE SPENT MORE MONEY ON REPAIRS THAN WHAT IT WAS WORTH. WE EVEN STILL OWE ON THE VAN. FORD NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALLL OR A REFU

HEAD GASKET FAILED AT 35,279 (3/98) AND REPAIRED BY FORD UNDER WARRANTY. HEAD GASKET FAILED A 2ND TIME AT 80,957 (3/01) AND REPAIRED BY FORD UNDER WARRANTY. HEAD GASKET FAILED A 3RD TIME AT 116,298 (9/03). ON 24 SEP 03 I WROTE FORD REQUESTING THEY FIX THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM. HEAD GASKETS DO NOT REGULARLY AND PREDICTABLY FAIL. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE. I BELIEVE MY PROBLEM IS UNUSUAL AS I AM TOLD THE HEAD GASKETS DON'T FAIL THIS OFTEN. SEPTEMBER 24, 2003 FORD MOTOR COMPANY FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER P.O. BOX 6248 16800 EXECUTIVE PLAZA DRIVE DEARBORN, MI 48126 \T\T\T I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR VAN. THE VEHICLE HAS 116,298 MILES AND HAS BLOWN THE HEAD GASKET FOR THE THIRD TIME. WARRANTY WORK PERFORMED ON THIS VEHICLE BY FORD MOTOR CO. IN 1998 AND AGAIN IN 2001 DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. MY REQUEST IS FOR FORD MOTOR CO. TO TAKE APPROPRIATE RESPONSIBILITY AND ACTION TO FIX THE VEHICLE. HISTORY: MARCH 16, 1998, WITH 35,279 MILES, UNDER WARRANTY, THE ENGINE'S HEAD GASKET FAILED AND WAS REPAIRED BY FORD OF WALLA WALLA, WA. INVOICE ATTACHED. MARCH 29, 2001, WITH 80,957 MILES, THE ENGINE'S HEAD GASKET AGAIN FAILED AND WAS REPAIRED BY HARRELL?S FORD IN PLACERVILLE, CA, UNDER WARRANTY AT NO COST TO ME BY FORD MOTOR CO. SEPTEMBER 16, 2003, WITH 116,298 MILES, THE ENGINE'S HEAD GASKET HAS AGAIN FAILED. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH HARRELL'S FORD SERVICE MANAGER, MIKE ALUNBAUGH, AND HE INFORMED ME THAT HARRELL'S FORD WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REPAIR THE ENGINE

HEAD GASKET FAILED. WAS BLOCKED TESTED BY AAA SERVICE CENTER, SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA. WAS INFORMED THAT IS WILL COST ME BETWEEN $1500 AND $2000.00 TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM.

ON 6/13/2003, AT 57049 MILES, OUR 1995 WINDSTAR OVERHEATED AND SEEMED TO BE LOSING COOLANT SO WE TOOK IT TO ZIMMERMAN FORD, ST. CHARLES, IL TO BE CHECKED OUT. THEY REPORTED NO PROBLEM FOUND AND WE PAID $66.79 FOR A COOLING SYSTEM SERVICE AND LUBE SERVICE. ON OCTOBER 4TH,2003, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON OUR WINDSTAR WENT ON. WE TOOK IT TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP TO BE CHECKED. THEY CHARGED $111 FOR SBDS TESTS AND TOLD US WE HAD HEAD GASKET FAILURE AND QUOTED $2100 TO REPAIR. WE CONTACTED FIVE OTHER DEALERSHIPS IN THE CHICAGO AREA WHO QUOTED BETWEEN $900 AND $1600 TO DO THE JOB. OUR VAN IS CURRENTLY WITH FAMILY FORD OF WEST CHICAGO BEING FIXED. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD TO EXPECT A BILL OF ABOUT $1300. MOVING FROM ZIMMERMAN TO FAMILY FORD WAS NOT JUST A COST DECISION. ZIMMERMAN REFUSED POINT PLANK TO HELP US GET HELP FROM FORD. FAMILY FORD HAVE AGREED TO KEEP THE FAULTY PARTS AND HELP US IN ANY WAY THEY CAN. WE HAVE CONTACTED FORD AT SEVERAL LEVELS TRYING TO PERSUADE THEM THAT THEIR 7 YEAR / 100,000 EXTENDED WARRANTY, PLUS THE 6 YEAR / 75,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WE PURCHASED BOTH IMPLY THAT THE HEAD GASKET SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED AT 60,000 MILES AS OURS DID. WE HAVE ALSO PUT FORTH THE ARGUMENT THAT THE ORIGINAL EXTENDED WARRANTY 5 YEAR OR 60,000 STATES OR NOT WHICHEVER COMES FIRST SO WE FEEL WE HAVE A CASE TO BE COVERED UNDER THE TERMS OF THIS WARRANTY, GIVEN THAT WE REPORTED A POSSIBLE PROBLEM AT 57049 MILES. FORD HAS SAID (SEVERAL TIMES BY PHONE AND E-MAIL)THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO H

HEATER CORE FAILURE THAT LED TO IMMEDIATE CYLINDER HEAD CRACKING THAT LED TO COOLANT ENTERING ENGINE OIL SYSTEM AND TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. TRANSMISSION FAILURE OF ORIGINAL AND REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION. TOLD BY AUTO PARTS STORE EMPLOYEE ABOUT THE CYLINDER HEAD RECALL AS HIS SISTER OWNED SAME 1995 WINDSTAR 3.8L, FORD HAD A VENDOR ANSWERING CALLS. REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT FORD HAD MAILED RECALL INFORMATION TO THE WRONG ADDRESS, THAT IS WHY I NEVER RECIEVED IT. REP UNABLE TO EXPLAIN HOW FORD MAILED HOOD RECALL INFO TO CORRECT ADDRESS, BUT NOT THE CYLINDER HEAD RECALL INFO. REP REFUSED TO ADDRESS ISSUE FURTHER. I WOULD LOVE TO TAKER PART IN ANY CYLINDER HEAD OR TRANSMISSION CLASS ACTION PROCEEDING.

THE PAINT IS BLISTERING OFF THE HATCH AND SIDES IN LARGE PATCHES. THE AIRBAG LIGHT BLINKS AND THE POWER WINDOW ON THE DRIVER SIDE FAILS TO CLOSE ALL THE WAY AND STRUGGLES TO OPEN. THE REAR VENT WINDOWS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO .

THE HINGE AND RUNNER OF THE SLIDING DOOR BROKE, RESULTING IN THE BACK SIDE OF THE DOOR FALLING OFF THE CAR.

2003 - DOOR AJAR LIGHT 2002 - BLEW HEAD GASKET; 2002 - HEATER CORE REPLACED 2001 - IGNITION COIL PACK & IGNITION LEADS REPLACED 2001 - FRONT TIE ROD ENDS REPLACED 2000 - REFRIGERANT COOLANT LOSS 1998 - EGR VALVE REPLACED 1998 - TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLER HOSES REPLACED 1997 - BLEW HEAD GASKET, REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY

AC COOLANT WAS LOW AND SWITCHING MECHANISM HAD TO BE REPLACED. AT 54000 MILES WAS TOLD TIMING COVER WAS LEAKING AND HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING. HEAD GASKET WAS FINALLY COVERED AT NO CHARGE BUT TIMING COVER GOT LITTLE RELIEF. NOW AT 80000 MILES, THE COIL ASSEMBLY FAILS AND I AM TOLD THAT MY HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING AGAIN AND THE DEALER SAYS THEY ONLY GUARANTEE THEIR WORK FOR ONE YEAR. WE HAD THE HEAD GASKET FIXED ON THE RECALL. IT APPEARS THE HEADGASKET MAY BE LEAKING AGAIN (ONE FORD DEALER SAYS IT LEAKS ANOTHER SAYS IT DOESN'T). WE ARE IN FOR REGULAR SERVICING NEXT WEEK --WE WILL SEE WHAT THEY FIND). OUR VEHICLE BEING REPAIRED ONCE AND BEYOND 7YRS OLD SEEMS TO BE BEYOND WHAT WILL BE COVERED. THE VAN HAS ONLY 139,000 KILOMETERS ON IT (SO WE ARE NOT PAST THE 100,000 MILE BARRIER). WE HAVE HAD ANOTHER GASKET ON THE TIME COVER REPLACED WHICH I THINK WAS ALSO A RECALL ITEM. I APPRECIATE KEEPING UP THE PRESSURE IN THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST FORD.

HEAD GASKET GONE, DEALER SAYS THE ENGINE IS GOING, DUE TO LEAK FROM HEAD GASKET DAMAGING BEARINGS ON CRANKSHAFT. FORD IS AWARE OF THIS, AND CONTINUES TO ALLOW THIS, WHILE THEIR DEALERS CONTINUE TO PROFIT FROM THIS ENGINEERING FLAW. IT IS A SLAP IN THE FACE, TO LOSE $4000 DOLLARS TO A KNOWN FLAW, AND WORSE TO HAVE TO HAVE THE DEALER, TELL YOU ENTIRELY ABOUT IT, TO SELL YOU ANOTHER VEHICLE! PURCHASED FOR $8200 IN MAY 02,WARRANTY EXPIRED AUG 02, VEHICLE IS DEAD JAN 03 (OFFERED $2000 SO THE DEALER CAN SELL IT TO SOMEONE ELSE?)IT HAS BEEN A COSTLY YEAR.

WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG LIGHT FLICKERED ON, AND OFF. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS, AND MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING CAUSED THE PROBLEM.*AK

IN JUNE '99 TOOK VAN IN AS PER OWNER NOTIFICATION TO HAVE HEAD GASKET CHECKED. DEALERSHIP FOUND NOTHING. IN NOV '99 HEAD GASKET FAILED. FORD WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING. IN DEC '99 SENT LETTER TO TX STATE ATTY GENERAL CONSUMER DIVISION WITH LISTS OF COMPLAINTS FOUND ON THIS WEB SITE. IN FEB '00, FORD MOVED WARRANTY UP TO 100,000 MILES AND GOT REFUND. IN MAY '00 ENGINE FAILED. IN AUG '00 FORD REPLACED ENGINE WITH ANOTHER 3.8 L. IN SEPT '00 TRANSMISSION STARTED FAILING (BUT NOTICED PROBLEM SINCE DAY PURCHASED. DEALERSHIP STATES PROBLEM IN ALL WINDSTARS, TAURUSES, AND SABLES. IN FEB '03, REPLACED TRANSMISSION. IN NOV '03 HEAD GASKET FAILS AGAIN IN NEW MOTOR CLOSE TO 60,000 MILES ON THIS MOTOR. FORD WILL DO NOTHING. SEEK HELP THROUGH YOUR STATE ATTY GENERAL CONSUMERS AFFAIRS OFFICE, SEND COPY OF LETTER TO FORD, YOUR LOCAL BBB, DETROIT BBB, AND CONSUMER REPORTS. ALSO, MY ENGINE CUTS OFF WHEN TAKING OFF AFTER STOPPED WITH WHEELS TURNED SHARPLY LEFT OR RIGHT.

JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR BLEW THE HEAD GASKET. THE CAR ONLY HAD 56,200 MILES ON IT. WHY ISN'T FORD BEING FORCED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS?*AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND CONSUMER NOTICED A BRIGHT LIGHT COMING FROM THE GARAGE, THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT INDICATED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. *AK

AFTER DRIVING SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES ON THE INTERSTATE, WE WAS DRIVING IN TOWN, MADE A STOP AT THE STORE, WHEN WE LEFT THE STORE WE STOPED AT THE END OF THE DRIVEWAY, WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING.*AK AFTER TALKING TO SEVERAL TRANSMISSION SHOPS, AND TAKING VEHICLE TO FORD SHOP WE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE WINDSTAR VAN. ( TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING ) HAD THIS HAVE HAPPEND ON THE INTERSTATE ITY COULD HAVE CAUSED A SEVERE ACCIDENT, OR EVEN A FATALITY...

WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. DEALER DETERMINED THAT BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED, CAUSING HOLES IN THE BRAKE LINE. *AK *MR

CONSUMER WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT AN ENGINE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS RUNNING HOT, AND WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, HEAD GASKETS WERE REPLACED IN OCTOBER 2001, AND 700 MILES LATER HEAD GASKETS FAILED AGAIN.*AK

THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH WITH THE VEHICLE RUNNING. THE DEALERSHIP HAD BEEN NOTIFIED, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK THE BATTERY DIED AND WAS REPLACED. *SCC *JB

FORD KNEW WINDSTAR 1995 MODEL'S HAD HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS AND HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY TWICE, FROM 3 YEARS OR 36,000 MILES TO 5 YEARS OR 60,000 MILES AND FINALLY TO 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES. WHY STOP AT 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES FOR A KNOW DEFECT? HOW DID FORD DETERMINE THAT THEY WERE ONLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM UP TO 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES OF USE? FORD GIVES THE IMPRESSION THAT THEIR CUSTOMERS SHOULD NOT EXPECT THEIR VEHICLES TO LAST LONGER ALTHOUGH BLOWN HEAD GASKET IS A MAJOR DEFECT AND THEY HAVE ADMITTED THIS SINCE JUNE 1998 AND POSSIBLY KNEW EARLIER. *LA

WHILE DRIVING AT A NORMAL SPEED THE HEAD GASKET BLEW WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE ENGINE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *NLM

LEFT-FRONT AND RIGHT-REAR SLOW AIR LEAKS. TIRE SHOP COULDN'T FIND LEAKS UNDER WATER AND SUGGESTED THAT VEHICLE WEIGHT STRESSES THE WELDED SEAMS OF THE WHEELS CAUSING THE LEAKS. FORD SERVICE PARTS WANTS $110 PER WHEEL BUT CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT LEAKS WILL STOP. ONLINE REPAIR FORUMS KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM AND SUGGEST USING A HOT GLUE GUN AT THE WELDED SEAM BUT THEN THERE'S NOBODY WHO WANTS TO DO THAT AND I CAN'T SINGLE-HANDEDLY REMOVE THE TIRES AND APPLY THE GLUE AND REMOUNT THE TIRES. IT SEEMS THAT FORD HAS BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH WHEELS ON THEIR VEHICLES FOR MANY MODELS OVER MANY YEARS BUT I COULDN'T FIND ANY RECALLS IN YOUR DATABASE. *LA

WE SMELLED A STRONG ODOR COMING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE 1995 FORD WINDSTAR LX VAN. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE MUFFLER, SO IN OCT 16,2002 I TOOK MY VAN INTO AL PACKER FORD AND HAD IT CHECKED. AT THE TIME WE WERE HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE TRANSMISSION ALSO,THE VAN WOULD JUMP OUT OF GEAR AT STOP LIGHTS. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID , TO SAVE MONEY IT WOULD BE CHEAPER TO HAVE THE MUFFLER DONE AT A MUFFLER SHOP, BUT THEY COULD CHECK THE TRANSMISSION. THEY SAID I NEEDED A OVERHAUL ON MY TRANSMISSION WHICH WOULD RUN BETWEEN 800.00 TO 2100.00. I DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY SO I DECLINED. THE VAN HAD ONLY 70,076 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME. IT WAS NOW NOV. 2003 WITH ONLY 72000 MILES ON THE VAN AND HAD SAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THE VAN. SO I SHOPPED AROUND FOR A PRICE FOR MY TRANSMISSION AND MUFFLER. I WENT TO BRAKE WORLD IN ROYAL PALM BEACH ,SO THEY COULD GIVE ME A ESTIMATE. THEY TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION WOULD BE BETWEEN 2100.00 TO 2500.00, BUT THE SMELL WAS NOT COMING FROM THE MUFFLER. THEY SAID THE SMELL WAS COMING FROM THE GAS TANK AND I SHOULD TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. I TOOK IT TO AL PACKER FORD AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE RECALL. THEY SAID IT DOESN'T SHOW ON THEIR COMPUTER. I TOLD THEM I HAD A DOCUMENT AT HOME OF A FUEL TANK RECALL 99S33C. THEY SAID TO BRING IT IN. ON JULY,2000 A FUEL TANK BRACKET WAS PUT ON, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THEY CHECKED FOR CRACKS IN THE GAS TANK. I HAD MY VAN IN FOR REGULAR SERVICE INTERVALS AT 59000 MILES, AT 66325, AT 70076 AND NOW AT 72000 MILES. NOT ONCE DID THEY FIND A CRACKED GAS TAN

1995 FORD WINDSTAR, TRANSMISSION FAILURE, ELECTRICAL GREMLINS, POWER STEERING BOX FAILURE, ENGINE FAILURE. *LA

1995 FORD WINDSTAR. UPPER LAYER OF HOOD FLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING ON SOUTHERN STATE PARKWAY NEAR EXIT 13. CALLED FORD AND ALL THEY TOLD ME IS THAT MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I DON'T CARE ABOUT WARRANTY. I CARE ABOUT FEELING LUCKY I'M NOT DEAD OR KILL ANYONE DRIVING BEHIND ME. THIS MUST HAVE HAPPENED OR WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND SOMEONE WILL GET KILLED. ON SEPT. 11 2001 (STRANGELY ENOUGH) I LOST MY BRAKES ON THE SAME VEHICLE. I CALLED FORD AND THEY GAVE ME THE WARRANTY ROUTINE. SURE ENOUGH THEY RECALLED THE VEHICLE SOON AFTER FOR THE EXACT PROBLEM THAT I REPORTED. IN FACT THEY PAID TO FIX THE PROBLEM. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS BEFORE SOMEBODY IS DEAD DUE TO A FLYING HOOD. THANK YOU. *LA