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 HEAD GASKETS HAVE BLOWN. A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT COMPAIGN WAS ISSUED ON THE VEHICLE . THE VEHICLE HAS EXCEEDED THE MILEAGE FOR THE CAMPAIGN. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
TRANSMISSION WOULD DOWNSHIFT ERRATICALLY , WHEN DECELERATING THEN ACCELERATING AGAIN TRANSMISSION WOULD JUST REV UP, AND STEADILY LOSE SPEED.THEN ALL AT ONCE IT WOULD JUMP FOWARD LIKE A RACE CAR LEAVING STARTING LINE. *AK
ABOUT $1300 TO REBUILD TRANSMISSION. *AK
THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD TWO MAJOR COMPONENT FAILURES (ENGINE TIMING GASKET AND TRANSMISSION) WITH LESS THAN 35000 MILES. ADDITIONALLY IT HAS ALSO HAD ONE MAJOR RECALL TO REPLACE HEAD GASKET. ALL OF THREE OF THESE PROBLEMS REQUIRED EXTENSIVE WORK TO REPAIR. THE TRANSIMISSION PROBLEM WAS THE MOST SERIOUS FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT, BECAUSE ITS FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BECAUSE IT INTERMITENTLY PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING, UNTIL IT FINALLY FAILED COMPLETELY AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT SHIFT AT ALL. *AK
ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKS COOLANT, WHICH MAY CAUSE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND SEIZE. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. THE VAN IS BEING SERVICED FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35MPH WHEN ENGINE TEMPERATURE LIGHT CAME ON. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND SMELLED ANTI-FREEZE. THEN CALLED TOW TRUCK, AFTER TOWING VEHICLE, GARAGE FOUND NOTHING. AGAIN, ON 22-APR-99, WHILE DRIVING AT 40MPH TEMPERATURE LIGHT CAME ON. DRIVER PULLED OVER. THEN HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. DEALER FOUND A LEAK IN ENGINE HEAD GASKET. DEALER REPLACED HEAD GASKET/OXYGEN SENSOR, AND CHECKED ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD. FOUND ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD TO BE OKAY. AN OPEN INVESTIGATION OF COOLANT LEAKAGE IN ENGINE HEAD GASKET IS PENDING, IE-98-080. *AK
HEAD GASKET BLEW WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT RAPIDLY. *AK
PROBLEM OCCURS ON TARUS AND MUSTANGS WITH SIMULUAR ENGINES. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION JUMPS OUT OF GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, WHEN PROCEEDING FROM A STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT THE VEHICLE HESITATES OR JERKS. THIS PROBLEM OCURRS DUE TO A FORWARD ALUMINUM CLUTCH. *AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: CHIMES FOR DOOR AJAR, RINGS WHEN DOORS ARE CLOSED. HAD BEEN TO 10 DIFFERENT SHOPS FOR EITHER FUSE REPLACEMENT OR SLIDING DOOR PANEL REPLACEMENT. ALSO, WIRING TO WINDOWS GOES UP OR DOWN WITHOUT BEING SWITCHED EITHER WAY AND DOME LIGHT COMES ON BY ITSELF. IN ADDITION, TRANSMISSIO: WORN OUT DUE TO LEAKAGE (OIL) FROM THEENGINE HEAD GASKETS. NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT UP BECAUSE THERE WAS A LEAKY ENGINE HEAD GASKET THAT BLEW. DEALER SAID IT WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DESIGN FLAW. *AK
RIGHT FRONT SUB FRAME TO CONTROL ARM BUSHING INNER SLEEVE ROTATES IN SUBFRAME MOUNTING BRACKET. THE SEPARATION ON THE FRONT OF THE BUSHING INNER SLEEVE WEARS ON THE MOUNTING BRACKET, EVENTUALLY ENLARGING THE MOUNTING HOLE AND WEARING THE METAL THICKESS AWAY. THE RESULT IS A CLUCKING NOISE IN THE FRONT END BECAUSE OF THE NOW LOOSE LOWER CONTROL ARM. NHTSA ITEM #'S SB036893 AND SB045761 REFERENCE THE COMPLAINT BUT NOT THE REAL PROBLEM. IF THE FRONT BRACKET FAILS TOTALLY AT SOME POINT, THE VAN WILL LOSE ITS RF SUSPENSION AND STEERING. ALSO CAUSES THE VAN TO PULL TO THE RIGHT, AND MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO ALIGN THE FRONT END BECAUSE OFF APPROXIMATELY NOTICABLE TOE VARIATION ON THERE RIGHT WHEEL. FORD DEALER MECHANIC SAYS IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. JUST TIGHTEN THE BOLT AND HOPE FOR THE BEST OR REPLACE THE ENTIRE SUBFRAME. *AK
THE KEY CAN BE REMOVED WHILE THE IGNITION IS TURNED ON, AND VEHICLE CAN BE STATRED WITHOUT THE KEY. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
CRUISE CONTROL MALFUCTIONED, CAUSING THROTTLE TO STICK AND SUDDEN ACCLERATION. THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. THE PLASTIC PIECE ON END OF SERVOCABLE OR CRUISE CABLE IN THE CRUISE CONTROL FRAYED, CAUSING THE THROTTLE TO GET STUCK. *AK *YH
ON MAY 14, 1999 WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN MODERATE CITY TRAFFIC, MY 95 FORD WINDSTAR'S ENGINE STARTED TO SKIP AS IF A SPARK PLUG WAS NOT FIRING. I WAS ABOUT 2 MILES FROM HOME AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE SLOWLY WATCHING FOR FURTHER SIGNS OF TROUBLE. AT ABOUT 1/2 MILE TO 1 MILE LATER THE "CHECK ENGINE" CAME, ON AND I SLOWED MY SPEED TO ABOUT 20 WHEN I NOTICED THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE BEGAN TO RISE. I STARTED TO PULL OVER WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE RUNNING ( A WHITE VAPOR CLOUD WAS EMERGING FROM THE TAILPIPE) I COASTED TO A STOP. THE MECHANIC AT DAVE DINGER FORD AT BRAINTREE MA SAID THE HEAD GASKET(S) FAILED CAUSING DAMAGE TO OTHER ENGINE PARTS DUE TO THE ANTI-FREEZE MIXING WITH THE OIL, AND RECOMMENDED A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE AT A COST OF $ 4,200.00 . FORD HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERING THIS PART FOR UNLIMITED MILEAGE, BUT NOT LATER THAN 12-31-98. I HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER FORD AND THEY REFUSE TO PAY OR NEGOTIATE THE COST OF ENGINE REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS A KNOWN DEFECT FOR THEM IN THE 3.8 LITER V-6 ENGINE (TAURUS & SABLE 94-95) FOR SOME TIME PRIOR TO MY BUYING THE CAR USED IN 6/97. THE CAR WAS PREVIOUSLY REGISTERED AS A FORD CORPORATE VEHICLE IN MASSACHUSETTS SINCE NEW. I FEEL STRONGLY THAT THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR OF A LATENT DEFECT, KNOWN TO THEM, AT THE TIME OF SALE. *AK
ENGINE RACED WHEN FIRST STARTED IN THE AM--DEALER SAID THAT HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN,THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR WINSTARS, THAT FORD HAD A HIDDEN WARRANTY IF CAR WAS LESS THAN 5 YR/60,000 MILES--VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX ($1300)--IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL? *AK
THE HEAD GASKET ON MY WINDSTAR IS DEFECTIVE. I CALLED FORD TO FIND OUT IF A RECALL WAS ISSUED. I WAS TOLD THAT A LETTER WAS SENT OUT TO DEALERS AND OWNERS FOR THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE MY CAR'S MILEAGE WAS OVER 65000 AND THAT THE RECALL ENDED IN DECEMBER OF 1998, THAT THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE HEAD GASKET. I THINK FORD SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT WHEN THEY KNEW THAT THEY HAD USED FAULTY MATERIAL. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT FORD HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE '95 WINDSTARS. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THIS I WAS TOLD THAT NO PROBLEM EXISTS AND NO RECALL WAS IN PLACE FOR THE TRANSMISSION. FORD SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR USING FAULTY EQUIPMENT. THE BAD PART IS THAT THE WINDSTAR HAS A 5 STAR RATING FOR SAFETY AND YET FORD USES FAULTY MATERIALS FOR ITS PRODUCTION AND DOES NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS PRODUCT. *AK
HEAD GASKET FAILED AND WAS COVERED BY SERVICE PROGRAM 98M01, THIS FAILURE ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO ENGINE (NOISE) BUT FORD WILL NOT COVER THIS DAMAGE.
THE SYMPTOMS ORIGINALLY SHOWED UP IN NOVEMBER OF 1998. I CALLED THE DEALER THAT DID NOT TELL ME THAT THERE WERE ANY KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE. I ALSO NEVER RECEIVED THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY NO-CHARGE WARRANTY LETTER DATED JUNE, 1998, TELLING ME OF THE SYMPTOMS AND EXTENDED WARRANTY TO DECEMBER 31, 1998. WHEN THE PROBLEM WORSENED, I TOOK THE VAN IN ON MAY 26. AGAIN, PRIOR TO TAKING IT IN, THE DEALER ADMITTED NO PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF ENGINE. I WAS CALLED WITH THE DIAGNOSIS OF BLOWN HEAD GASKET, $1100. *AK
THE HEAD GASKET BLEW ON THE ENGINE, CAUSING IT TO SUDDENLY AND RAPIDLY OVERHEAT. WHEN I INQUIRED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM I FOUND IT WAS A WELL KNOWN DEFECT IN THE 1995 FORD 3.8 LITER ENGINE. I LEANED THIS FROM ALL 3 LOCAL DEALERS AND 2 LOCAL ENGINE SHOPS. APPARENTLY FORD WAS FIXING ANY ENGINE THIS OCCURRED ON UP TO 60000 MILES, SO THEY OBVIOUSLY KNEW THIS WAS A PROBLEM. UPON CONTACTING FORD, I WAS INFORMED THEY WOULD OFFER NO ASSISTANCE AND WOULD HAVE TO WORK IT OUT WITH THE DEALER WHO CHARGED ME $50 AN HOUR INSTEAD OF $60, RESULTING IN A BILL OF $1350 INSTEAD OF $1600. I DO NOT THINK THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THE DEALER. FORD OBVIOUSLY KNEW ABOUT IT OR THEY WOULD HAVE NEVER HAD ANY REPAIR POLICY FOR THIS PROBLEM. NOT ONLY AM I OUT THE $1400 ( A SENSOR ALSO FAILED WHCICH HAD TO BE REPLACED), BUT I COULD HAVE BEEN OUT MUCH MORE SINCE THE ENGINE OVERHEATS SO QUICKLY THEY OFTEN SUFFER SEVERE DAMAGE AND THE ENTIRE ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED(I WAS TOLD THIS AGAIN BY SEVERAL DEALERS AND ENGINE SHOPS).ALTHOUGH NO ONE WAS HURT I FEEL THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS BECAUSE IT CAN OCCUR SO SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. *AK
IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT THE ISSUE OF PAYMENT FOR THESE ITEMS CAN BE SETTLED IN A SMALL CLAIMS COURT? NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONE DIN SUMMARY. *AK
WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF PROGRAM ISSUED BECAUSE DID NOT OWN THE CAR AT THE TIME OF THE INITIAL BEGINNING DEALERSHIP DID NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM TAKEN CARE OFF. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK
WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND FOOT CAUGHT ON ACCELERATOR VEHICLE STALLED. SOMETIMES WHEN PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC, VEHICLE WOULD STALL, LEAVING CONSUMER WITHOUT POWER STEERING/BRAKES. ALSO, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORTED OUT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN INTO THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS SEVEN OR MORE TIMES, AND DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK
SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF ACTIVITY WITH BLOWN HEAD GASKETS ON THE 1995 FORD WINDSTAR WITH A 3.8L V-6. CERTAINLY THERE MUST BE SOME RECOURSE WITH FORD IN HAVING THIS REPAIRED. WOULD LIKE TO FILE COMPLAINT AGAINST FORD CONCERNING SAME. *AK
HEAD GASKET BLOWN, AS PER NOTICE 98M01. NLM
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKETS ALLOWED ENGINE COOLANT TO RUIN PISTON BEARINGS WHICH RESULTED IN ENGINE OVERHEATING AND FAILURE. FORD HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAM WHICH EXPIRED 12/31/98. WE TOOK THE VAN IN BECAUSE WE DETECTED AN ENGINE NOISE ON 12/22/98. WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. ON 2/1/98, WE TOOK THE VAN IN BECAUSE THE TEMPERATURE LIGHT WAS ON CONSTANTLY. WE WERE GIVEN A TUNE-UP. ON 2/8/99, THE ENTIRE ENGINE BLEW AS IT WAS BEING STARTED PRIOR TO OUR DRIVE HOME. *AK
AT35,000 MILES, FIRST TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. AT 38,000 MILES I HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE . FORD SAID I HAD A MAIN BEARING KNOCK . THEY TOOK ENGINE APART AND SAID " RODS MARKED 1-6, BUT NOT IN ORDER?TOP OF ROD AT WRIST PINS ARE BLUE( HOT OVERHEAT CONDITION). HEAD GASKETS SHOW SIGNS, RUSTY AT BLOCK &HEAD AREAS. MAIN BRGS SCORED THUR BEDS & #5 IN COPPER BED. MAINBOLT BLACK SMELLS LIKE BURNED OIL.. NOW AT 56,200 FORD SAYS I NEED ANOTHER TRANSMISSION THE ONE REPLACED IS BAD NOW!!! ONE THING TO ADD I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WITH 2,000 MILES ON IT. THE DEARLER HAD TOLD ME IT WAS AN "UNWIND" NO PROBLEMS WITH , SOMEONE DID'NT QUALIFY FOR THE CREDIT SO THEY HAD THEM RETURN IT. THEY CAN'T SELL IT AS NEW ANYMORE!!!!!! 56,200 MILES 3TRANSMISSIONS & 2 ENGINES!!!!!!! WHEN I INQUIRED ABOUT HOW THE ENGINE WAS TOTALLY DEFECTIVE , I BASICALLY GOT THE RUN AROUND. *AK
FORD WILL NOT COVER REPAIR COSTS OF BOTH FAILED SYSTEMS. NO SAFETY DEFECTS MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK
AN OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER WAS ISSUED. THE PROBLEM WAS MISDIAGNOSED ON 3 OCCASIONS. NOW THE 60,000 MILE LIMIT HAS BEEN EXCEEDED AND FORD WILL NOT EVEN DISCUSS REPLACING THE GASKET FOR ME EVEN THOUGH TWO LOCAL DEALDERSHIPS HAVE AGREED THAT FORD IS RESPONSIBLE. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
CONSUMER COULD START VEHICLE IN THE MORNING. BUT WHEN STARTING TO RUN VEHICLE WON'T ACCELERATE MORE THAN 5 MPH FOR A FEW MINUTES. THEN AFTER THAT IT WILL WORK NORMAL AGAIN. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH TRIED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE, BUT THE CONSUMER 'S VEHICLE WAS LOSING POWER AND STALLED.MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER VEHICLE HAD AN ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. *AK
THE HEAD GASKET FAILED AT LESS THAN 62000 MILES OR 5 YEARS. FORD HAD SAID THEY WOULD PAY, BUT NOT PAST 5 YEARS OR 60000 MILES. THAT OFFER EXPIRED 12/31/98.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THAT VEHICLE. *AK
8/3/98 OUR '95 WINDSTAR HAD THE HEAD GASKETS REPLACED UNDER FORD'S "EXTENDED WARRANTY" PROGAM. WE HAD HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE MISSING IN THE PAST. ON 10/26/98 THE ENGINE MISSED SEVERAL TIMES, WHILE GOING 70MPH ON AN INTERSTATE, THEN I LOST ENGINE POWER AND HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT STARTED SMOKING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND ANTIFREEZE RAN OUT THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE. WE NURSED IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WERE TOLD THAT A CRANK SHAFT BEARING HAD GONE BAD. THE ONLY REMEDY WAS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE TO THE TUNE OF $3000. WE QUESTIONED THE DEALER'S MECHANIC AT THAT TIME ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS BEING RELATED TO THE RECALL AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RELATIONSHIP. WE DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO DO THE REPAIR UNTIL APRIL. AFTER TALKING MORE WITH THE DEALERSHIP WE DISCOVERED THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAD PAID FOR OTHER ENGINE REPLACEMENTS AFTER HEAD GASKET WORK, BUT BECAUSE OUR DEALER DIDN'T CONTACT THEM PRIOR TO THE DEC '98/JAN '99 EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRATION DATE, EVEN THOUGH WE NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP, THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE OUR ENGINE. WE FEEL THAT EITHER THE HEAD GASKETS HAD ALREADY LEAKED ENOUGH COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE TO CONTAMINATE THE FLUID AND CAUSE THE BEARING FAILURE PRIOR TO THE HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT OR THERE WAS FLUID CONTAMINATION DURING THE HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT. WE FEEL WE HAVE BEEN TREATED UNFAIRLY BY TOWN AND COUNTRY FORD AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *AK
THE 1995 WINDSTAR IS A THREAT TO THE SAFETY OF THEIR OWNERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE TRANSMISSIONS MAY FAIL AT ANY TIME AND THE HEAD GASKET WILL LEAD TO BLOWN ENGINES . THIS CAR IS A KNOWN LEMON AND NTSA MUST ACT TO PROTECT THE FAMILIES OF AMERICA BEFORE ANY MORE PEOPLE GET HURT PHYICALLY OR FINANCIALLY. *AK
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. UPON IMPACT OF REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE, AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG BROKE THE REARVIEW MIRROR AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. DASHBOARD, STEERING COLUMN, AND REAR WINDOW FUNCTIONS WERE DESTROYED. AIR BAGS WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO DEPLOY UNLESS IMPACT IS AT LEASE 28 MPH. THERE IS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION AT THIS TIME IE-98-081. *AK
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH THEY DID NOT ISSUE A RECALL. WHAT THEY DID WAS TO EXTEND WARRANTY COVERAGE THROUGH DECEMBER OF 1998. THOSE OF US LEFT WITH THE BLOWN HEAD GASKET PROBLEM ARE LEFT WITH HUGE REPAIR BILLS AND NO HELP FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD MY HUSBAND THAT AT LEAST 50% OF THE WINDSTARS HAD EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE 5 MONTHS TOO LATE FOR WARRANTY COVERAGE. *AK
HEAD GASKET FAILED, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK WHICH ALSO CAUSED ENGINE BEING TOO COLD OR TOO HOT. CONTACTED FORD, NO ASSISTANCE PROVIDED. *AK
TAILGATE LOCK FAILED, REPLACEMENT FAILED ALSO. MJS
IGNITION SWITCH CAN BE TURNED ON WITHOUT KEY. CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART. ALSO, THE VAN CAN BE POPPED OUT OF PARK WITHOUT A KEY IN THE IGNITION OR THE BRAKE BEING FULLY DEPRESSED. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED AND HAD NOTHING POSITIVE TO SAY. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK *ML
IE98080, DEFECTIVE ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKS COOLANT WHICH MAY CAUSE VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. KNOWN PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
A CIRCULAR ALUMINUM RING IN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED/BENT. FORD CHANGED TO STEEL THE FOLLOWING YEAR. DUE TO HEARSAY MULTIPLE FAILURES
FORD HAD ACKNOWLEDGED A FAULTY HEAD GASKET PROBLEM WITH THE 95 WINDSTARS BY EXTENDING THEIR WARRANTY SERVICE TO COVER UP TO 60,000 MILES. THEY REFUSED TO COVER THE REPAIR COSTS FOR MY 95 WINDSTAR HEAD GASKET FAILURE CLAIMING I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AT 64000 MILES. I FEEL THAT THEY ACKNOWLEDGED A FAULTY PART BY EXTENDING THEIR WARRANTY AND SHOULD COVER ALL HEAD GASKET FAILURES ON THIS MODEL, NOT JUST TO 60,000 MILES. FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS ABSOLUTELY REFUSED TO MAKE GOOD ON THIS CLAIM IN ANY WAY. THEY SIMPLY STATE THAT IT IS NOT A COVERED WARRANTY ITEM AND THEREFORE I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EXPENSE. *AK
HEAD GASKET SHOULDN'T FAIL ON A MINIVAN LESS THAN FOUR YEARS OLD WITH LESS THAN 40,000 MILES. HOPE NO OTHER FAILURES ARE IMMINENT. *AK
HEAD GASKET FAILURE CAUSED FIRE. YH
ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO LEAKAGE WHICH CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK ONTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. *AK *YC
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 →