1995 Ford Windstar complaints

ENGINE OVERHEATED DUE TO MAJOR LOSS OF COOLANT. DIAGNOSED BY DEALER AS FAILED HEADGASKETS. FORD REFUSED TO PAY ANY PART OF REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE ADMITTED THE ORIGINAL GASKET DESIGN WAS DEFECTIVE. COST OF REPAIR = $1600

HEAD GASKET FAILED WITHOUT WARNING OR PREVIOUS PROBLEM (I.E. NO OVERHEATING, NO POOR HEATER OPERATION, ETC.). CAUSED VAN TO START RUNNING VERY ROUGH. ALMOST STALLED IN SEVERAL MID-INTERSECTIONS AFTER STOPPING, WHICH COULD HAVE LED TO REAR-END COLLISION. MANAGED TO MAKE IT SAFELY HOME (LESS THAN 3 MILES). ENGINE TEMPERATURE HAD INCREASED, BUT WAS STILL CLEARLY WITHIN "NORMAL" ZONE OF INDICATOR. TURNED OFF ENGINE AND WAS UNABLE TO RESTART LATER IN THE EVENING. TOWED TO LOCAL SERVICE STATION. THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET, ADVISED TAKING IT TO DEALER. DEALER'S "ENGINE PERSON" BOOKED SOLID AND UNABLE TO LOOK AT IT UNTIL 8/10 (TWO WEEKS!). HAD IT TOWED TO ANOTHER DEALER (C&C FORD, HORSHAM, PA) WHICH CONFIRMED BLOWN HEAD GASKET, AND SAID IT HAD A SEIZED ENGINE WHICH WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. ESIMATED COST: $4600. FORD'S "OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM" EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE TO 60,000 MILES, BUT DID NOT ADVISE OWNERS TO BRING IN VANS TO BE CHECKED FOR DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS. COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET SHOW THAT THIS IS CLEARLY A MAJOR PRODUCT DEFECT ABOUT WHICH FORD IS AWARE BUT REFUSES TO COMPENSATE OR WARN OWNERS (I.E. OWNERS ARE NOT ADVISED TO HAVE THE HEAD GASKET CHECKED). THIS DEFECT CAN CAUSE SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND STALLING, WHICH CAN LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT AND/OR SERIOUSLY JEOPARDIZE THE SAFETY OF THE OCCUPANTS. SEE HTTP://WWW.PRIMECUTSOFBLUEGRASS.COM/WINDSTAR3.HTM FOR OTHER REPORTS. I'LL BE ADDING MINE AS SOON AS I SEE WHETHER FORD WILL PAY FOR THE REPAIR.

EXPERIENCED COMPLETE AND SUDDENT BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO CORRODED BRAKE LINES.

SPEEDOMETER HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE BECAUSE OF THE INCORRECT SPEED INDICATIONS. PROBLEM EXISTS AGAIN. DEALER SAYS THE DEFECT IS NO LONGER WARRANTED. *ML

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND WON'T GO OFF, INDICATING THERE IS A LEAKAGE COMING FROM ENGINE HEAD GASKET. ALSO, SPARK PLUGS CAME OFF. *AK

VEHICLE KEEPS RUNNING HOT. DEALER CONTACTED, AND STATED BLOWN HEAD GASKET CAUSED OVERHEATING. NO REPAIRWORK DONE. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. ENGINE CHECK LIIGHT CAME ON, AND THE ENGINE GOT REAL HOT DUE TO ENGINE GASKET BLOWING OUT. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, VEHICLE CUT OFF DUE TO THE IGNITION SWITCH COIL MALFUNCTIONING. *AK

THERE IS GASOLINE SMELL WITHIN THE VEHICLE , AND THE GAS TANK HAS A THREE INCH CRACK WITHIN IT, AND THE GAS IS LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND. *AK

FIRST OVER-HEATING PROBLEM WAS TAKEN TO THORNTON FORD ON 4/23/99 @ 57,687 MILES AND RADIATOR WAS DIAGNOSED AS HALF PLUGGED BY THORNTON ON 5/28/99 (~59,600 MILES). RADIATOR REPLACED ON 6/8/99 AND BOTH OXYGEN SENSORS REPLACED ON 7/1/99. HEAD GASKET PROBLEM FINALLY DIAGNOSED ON 7/13/99 AT 62,144 MILES. DID NOT RECEIVE A COPY OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY LETTER FOR SERVICE PROGRAM NO/ 98M01. DEALER ONLY PAID ONE-HALF OF HEAD GASKET REPAIR BECAUSE THE CAR WAS NOW OVER 60,000 MILES ALLOWED ON THE EXTENDED COVERAGE.

HEAD GASKET FAILED, RECALL ON COMPONENT HOWEVER NO NOTICE WAS GIVEN TO CONSUMER AND THE DATE HAS RUN OUT, CONSUMER DENIED RECALL SERVICE. MJS

NO SUMMARY

NO SUMMARY

ON MAY 19,1999 A FUEL ODOR WAS OBSERVED IN THE GARAGE WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. UPON INSPECTION, A PUDDLE OF GASOLINE WAS OBSERVED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND A STREAM OF GASOLINE FLOWING FROM AN AREA ON THE TOP SURFACE OF THE FUEL TANK WAS VISIBLE. THE RATE OF FLOW WAS HIGH, MAYBE 1 PINT/MINUTE, REPRESENTING A LARGE FIRE HAZARD. THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY DRIVEN TO THE DEALER NOTED ABOVE AND ADMITTED TO THE SERVICE DEPT. THE TIME WAS 5:39PM. WHILE THERE, ANOTHER CUSTOMER TOLD ME HE HAD JUST REPLACED A FUEL TANK ON THE SAME MODEL, SAME YEAR. SINCE A FAILURE OF THIS TYPE IN A RELATIVELY NEW VEHICLE THAT HAD NOT BEEN DAMAGED SEEMED UNUSUAL, I REQUESTED THAT THE OLD FUEL TANK BE RETURNED TO ME. WHEN I RETURNED TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE AFTER THE REPAIR HAD BEEN MADE, I WAS TOLD THAT THE FUEL TANK HAD BEEN 'RETURNED TO THE FACTORY FOR INVESTIGATION.' I HAVE HEARD NOTHING SINCE.

MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF DEFECT.

VAN BLEW A HEAD GASKET WITHOUT WARNING.

WHILE APPROACHING A STOP VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO REV UP TO 3000 RPM. THE DEALER IS INSPECTING THE VEHICLE. *AK

AT 56,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION IS PREMATURLEY WEARING OUT, IT WILL NOT SHIFT GEARS. DEALER HAS NOT DIAGNOSED THE FAULT. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

RECEIVED LETTER NOTIFYING OF PROBLEM LAST YEAR BUT PROBLEM DID NOT SHOW UNTIL 7/99, AFTER EXPIRATION OF EXTENDED WARRANTY.

PASSENGER SIDE SIDEVIEW MIRROR CRACKED DOWN THE MIDDLE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE OUTSIDE HALF SEPARATED FROM THE HOUSING AND FELL TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE OWNER'S DRIVEWAY.

TRANSMISSION: THE ALUMINUM PISTON WAS INSTALLED INSTEAD OF THE STEEL ONES. THIS CAUSED THE PISTON TO CRACK. THE GEARS WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE THEM CHECKED OR CHANGED.

SPLIT FROM TOP OF GAS TANK IS CAUSING GAS TO LEAK. REPLACEMENT OF GAS TANK IS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. *AK

THE INSTRUCTIONS ARE VERY UNCLEAR. THERE ARE 5 HEADREST POSITIONS, BUT ONLY 4 CAN BE USED WITH A HARNESS. THERE IS NO WARNING TO INFORM PARENTS NOT TO USE THE 5TH HEADREST POSITION WITH HARNESS, ONLY FOR USE WITH BELT-POSITIONING BOOSTER. IT ONLY IMPLIES IT BY SAYING THAT THE CHILD SHOULD USE THE BELT-POSITIONING BOOSTER IF THE CHILD'S SHOULDER ARE ABOVE THE SLOTS IN THE FOURTH POSITION. HOWEVER, THAT CAN BE CONSTRUED AS THE 4TH TODDLER POSITION, WITH THE LOWEST BEING AN INFANT POSITION. THERE MUST BE A SPECIFIC WARNING IN THE INSTRUCTIONS BOTH IN THE HARNESS ADJUSTMENT SECTION AND THE BELT-POSITIONING SECTION AND PREFERABLY ON THE SEAT ITSELF. IT IS DANGEROUSLY UNCLEAR.

SEVERE SHAKING ON ACELERATION BETWEEN 35-60 MPH; FORD SERVICE DEPT. DETECTED SHAKING AS WELL, AND HANDED USBULLETIN FROM FORD- ARTICLE NO. 96-3-17 STATING DESIGN DEFECT AND DEFINING PROCEDURE TO REPLACE- AT COST OF $1,500 TO THE CUSTOMER. WE ARE WORRIEDABOUT THE SAFETY OF OURSELVES AND OUR TWO SMALL CHILDREN, AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS POSES ANY THREAT TO US- WHEN WE ASKED THE SERVICE REP, HE SAID HE "COULDN'T SAY". WE WROTE FORD CUSTOMER SVC, AND THEY PHONED TO SAY THEY FEEL THE CASE IS "CLOSED"- BUT IF WE WANTED TO PURSUE THINGS, TO CONTACT YOU. IFYOU WANT COPIES OF THE POWER BALANCE ANALYSIS DONE BY OUR FORD DEALER ON JUNE 23, 199 OR THE BULLETIN, WE WOULD BE GLAD TO FORWARD THEM TO YOU.

ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, CAUSING GAS TO SPILL ALL OVER ENGINE AND DRIP OUT OF TAIL PIPE.CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK

BLOWN HEAD GASKET, 9,000 MILES AFTER THE RECALL LIMIT

CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD AT 60000 MILES W/ REGULAR OIL CHANGES

HEAD GASKET BLEW, COOLING FLUID (ANTI-FREEZE) LEAKED DOWN INTO THE OIL GALLEY AND CONTAMINATED THE ENGINE OIL AND RESULTED IN DESTROYING THE BEARINGS (ROD,MAIN & CAMSHAFT), CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BE REBUILT. *YC

ABS IS NOT WORKING. DEALER CONTACTED AND WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

DUE TO DEFECTIVE TORQUE CONVERTER VEHICLE WILL ACCLERATE WHICH REDUCES THE BRAKING PERFORMANCE, ALSO, HAS NO START CONDITION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

EA 96026; WHEN TRAVELING AND UPON MAKING A NORMALSTOP, THERE WAS MOVEMENT WITHIN THE BRAKE PEDAL CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, ALSO, REAR WHEEL BRAKE CYLINDER RUSTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHO'S WINDSTAR ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAVEN'T BLOWN? DOOR AJAR LIGHT IS ALSO A PAIN. WAITING FOR TRANSMISSION TO GO NEXT. *AK

NO SUMMARY

AFTER THE VEHICLE WARMED UP, FIRST GEAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE UNTIL ABOUT 2000 RPM, AT WHICH TIME, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLAM INTO FIRST GEAR. WE BROUGHT IT TO AN AAMCO TRANSMISSION CENTER. AAMCO DETERMINED THAT IT HAD TO BE REBUILT. SINCE THE VAN ONLY HAD 48,143 MILES, I CHECKED WITH OUR FORD DEALER TO SEE IF IT WAS COVERED OR IF FORD HAD ANY GENERIC TRANSMISSION QUALITY PROBLEMS WITH IT. THE SERVICEMAN TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED SINCE IT HAD MORE THAN 36,000 MILES AND FORD WAS NOT EXTENDING THE WARRANTY FOR ANY QUALITY PROBLEMS. AAMCO EXPLAINED THAT ONE PART, AN ALUMINUM RING OF ABOUT 5 INCHES IN DIAMETER, HAD CRACKS IN IT. DUE TO THESE CRACKS, THE PROPER TRANSMISSION FLUID PRESSURE COULD NOT BE ACHIEVED SO THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED. THE REPLACEMENT RING IS MADE OF STEEL!! AAMCO SAID THE CRACKED RING WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION.FORD HAS APPARENTLY DECIDED TO WALK AWAY FROM AN APPARENT GENERIC DEFECT THAT RESULTED FROM AN ERROR IN DESIGN. IF THIS IS NOT AN ERROR IN DESIGN, WHY IS THE REPLACEMENT PART MADE OF STEEL? IT CERTAINLY SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS IS ALSO A SAFETY PROBLEM IN THAT THE TRANS CAN FAIL AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

REAR ENGINE BEARING FAILED.

THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE FUEL TANK TO THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF THE VAN HAS A BENT IN IT WHERE IT IS BOLTED TO THE FRAME . THIS HAS CAUSED A HOLE FROM FRICTION, A HAIRLINE CRACK.CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER.THERE APPEARS TO BE A FLAW IN THE DESIGN. *AK

AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM. DEALER STATES THAT THIS OCCURS DUE TO A PROBLEM WITHIN DIAGNOSTIC MODULE AND THE CLOCK SPRING. *AK

THIS HEAD GASKET FAILURE APPEARS TO BE COMMON ON THIS MODEL OF 1995 WINDSTAR. ALTHOUGH FORD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 60,000 MANY DEFECTS OCCUR JUST MILES BEYOND THIS. THEY HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THIS IS A WEAKNESS IN THIS MODEL, BUT DO NOT REIMBURSE THE OWNER FOR THE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. THIS PROBLEM FIRST SURFACED AT 26.400 MILES AND WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. OBVIOUSLY, IT WAS NOT PERMANENTLY REPAIRED FOR THE SAME SITUATION IS NOW OCCURING. MY RESEARCH REVEALS AN EXTREMELY HIGH NUMBER OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH THIS MODEL. *AK

LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT, ENGINE OVERHEATING. REPLACED DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT, OWNER NOTIFICATION 98M01. FORD WILL NOT COMPENSATE FOR REPAIRS. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, VEHICLE JERKS AND THERE IS A LOUD NOISE FROM THE BRAKES. DEALER REPLACED THE ABS PUMP. *AK

WHEN CONSUMER OPENS SLIDING SIDE DOOR OR DRIVES OVER A BUMP, SLIDING DOOR WILL FALL OFF HINGES, WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURIES. *AK *ML

WHILE PARKED VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE DASHBOARD. *AK

AIR BAG SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED AFTER RUNNING OVER A PIECE OF TIRE IN THE ROAD, CAUSING BOTH AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE AFTER DECELERATION AND STOPPING, AS WELL AS INTERMITTENT FAILURE. DEALER REPLACED CRACKED FORWARD PISTON. PERSONNEL AT DEALERSHIP REMARKED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG '95 WINDSTARS AND IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW. ALSO COMMENTED THAT THIS SHOULD NOT OCCUR ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 53K MILES. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

AT LOW SPEEDS VEHICLE STALLS OUT AND DIES. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP.*AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET ALLOWING OIL AND ANTI-FREEZE TO GO INTO ENGINE, CAUSING A POTENTIAL ENGINE FAILURE. CONSUMER WANTS FORD TO COVER THE COST OF HEAD GASKET REPAIRS SINCE THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML

THE 1995 FORD WINDSTAR VAN WAS PURCHASED IN OCTOBER 1997 WITH ABOUT 45,000 MILES. ON JULY 9, 1999 A STRANGER APPROACHED IN THE PIZZA HUT PARKING LOT TO SAY THAT BLACK SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE VAN. I TOOK THE VAN TO JOHNSON FORD IN MARBLE FALLS WHERE THE MECHANIC SAID THE PROBLEM WAS A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET. ESTIMATED REPAIR COST $ 1136.00. ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP SAID THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THE HEAD GASKETS FOR THAT VEHICLE. FORD MOTOR COMPANY WAS CONTACTED. THE FORD REPRESENTATIVE SAID THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL BUT IT HAD EXPIRED. I TOLD THEM I HADN'T RECEIVED ANY NOTICES REGARDING A RECALL. THEY THEN SAID THERE WAS NO RECORD OF MYSELF AS THE VEHICLE OWNER AND A NOTICE HAD BEEN SENT. WHEN ASKED WHERE THE NOTICE WAS SENT THEY SAID TO ME. WHEN ASKED TO WHAT ADDRESS THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID SHE ONLY HAD A NAME ANOTHER DEPARTMENT HAD THE ADDRESS. A SECOND PHONE CALL WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY INFORMED ME I DIDN'T RECEIVE A NOTICE SINCE I WAS THE SECOND OWNER, AND BECAUSE I DIDN'T RESPOND WITHIN THE PROPER TIME FRAME OF THE RECALL THERE WAS NO RECOURSE. IT WAS UP TO THE CUSTOMER TO NOTIFY FORD WHEN THEY PURCHASED A FORD VEHICLE. THEY REFUSE TO HONOR THE RECALL. *AK

CAR FIRST RAN HOT ON 2/4/99. FORD WOULD NOT PAY SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. HAD AN INDEPENDENT TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKETS. PICKED UP CAR - CAR RAN BAD. RETURNED CAR TO GARAGE WAS TOLD THAT CRANKSHAFT AND CRANKSHAFT BEARINGS WERE BAD. ELECTED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE IN LIEU OF REPAIRING. CAR OK FOR 3 MONTHS. RAN HOT AGAIN. REPLACED THERMOSTAT. CONTINUED TO RUN HOT. TOOK IT TO HILLARD FORD IN ARLINGTON TX. HILLARD CHECKED IT OUT FOR A WEEK. COULD NOT GET IT TO OVERHEAT BUT REPLACED SPARK PLUGS AND AN IGNITION MODULE. HAVE HAD CAR FOR 3 DAYS. CAR OVERHEATED, AGAIN. HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM, BUT IS A CONTINUAL PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSTAR. *AK

PROBLEMS BEGAN WITH ENGINE CHECK LIGHT AT 32,000. MANUF. SAID "DON'T WORRY." HEAD GASKETS/BLOCK AT 51,000. NEW ENGINE ONE YEAR LATER. SECOND ENGINE THREE MONTHS AFTER THAT. WITHIN EIGHT MONTHS, DEALER WANTS TO INSTALL WHAT AMOUNTS TO FOURTH ENGINE. TRANSMISSION APPEARS TO BE GOING, TOO, MECHANIC THINKS DUE TO MULTIPLE OVERHEATING/S OF ENGINE.