Page 43 of 67 · complaints 2,101–2,150 of 3,326

1995 Ford Windstar complaints

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 →

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed May 14, 1999OH

TRANSMISSION SLIPS IN AND OUT OF 1ST AND 2ND GEAR, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO PICK UP SPEED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed May 14, 1999IL

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR INDICATION TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, AND THE VEHICLE JERKED/ VIBRATED AND STALLED. ALSO WHEN CONSUMER DRIVES FORWARD VEHICLE STALLS. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed May 13, 1999CA

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc
Filed May 12, 1999MI

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed May 11, 1999GA

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL BACK AT A STOP AND THE VEHICLE REVS UP, WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed May 11, 1999MN

HAVE QUESTIONED THESE ITEMS WITH DEALER ALWAYS WITH NO CAUSE FOR CONCERN. TALKED ABOUT WHETHER I NEEDED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AT THE TIME OF WARRANTY RENEWAL AND WAS NOT TOLD OF ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, OR ANY OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE BY FORD. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed May 10, 1999MT

HEAD GASKETS FAILED AT CYLINDERS 3 AND 4. BOTH GASKETS FAILED IN THE SAME LOCATION AND TIME FRAME. THIS POINT TO A DEFECT IN THE GASKETS. AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed May 10, 1999GA

BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *YC

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed May 9, 1999NY

I RECEIVED A SERVICE BULLETIN FROM FORD IN 1998 WHICH STATED THAT: IF THERE WERE PROBLEMS WHERE THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BEFORE 60,000 MILES, THAT FORD WOULD COVER THE COST OF THIS REPAIR. THEY HAVE DECLINED TO DO SO BECAUSE THE SERVICE BULLETIN "EXPIRED" ON 12/31/1998. MY POINT: I AM STILL UNDER THE MILEAGE LIMIT AND THE REPAIR COST SHOULD BE REIMBURSED. THE ENGINE DESIGN IS FAULTY, DOES THE PROBLEM JUST DISAPPEAR BECAUSE IT OCCURED AFTER 1998? THE TIME LIMIT ON THIS SERVICE BULLETIN IS A BOGUS COP-OUT. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed May 9, 1999WI

COOLING SYSTEM AND HEAD GASKET RELATED FAILURES IN 1995 FORD WINDSTARS ARE COMMON FROM 35 TO 70K AND RESULT IN MAJOR REPAIR EXPENSES. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed May 7, 1999MI

ENGINE RUNS HOT, WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED OR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS AT A STOP. THE ENGINE JUMPS AND OIL LEAKS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP THREE TO FOUR TIMES. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed May 6, 1999KY

OUR 1995 FORD WINDSTAR BLEW A HEADGASKET ON 05/04/99 WITH ONLY 53,000 MILES. APPARENTLY THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THESE VEHCILES CONCERNING HEADGASKETS BUT FORD HAS NOT NOTIFIED ANY OF US WITH RECALLS. I'M CURRENTLY CONTACTING FORD AND MY DEALER TO SEE IF THERE IS A REMEDY TO THE PROBLEMS OR IF THEY'LL PAY TO HAVE THIS FIXED. I DON'T APPRECIATE NOT BEING NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. MY NEW BABY BOY WAS IN THE VEHCILE WITH MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER. THEY COULDV'E BEEN OUT OF TOWN AND NO ONE TO CALL BUT FORTUNATELY IT HAPPENED IN TOWN. PLEASE REQUEST THAT FORD MAKE A RECALL ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF EXAMPLES OF THIS PROBLEM ON THE WEB. JUST CHECK IT OUT. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP AND CONSIDERATION.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed May 5, 1999NY

ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKS. REPAIRS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER EXPENSE. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed May 5, 1999WY

HEADGASKETS ON THESE ENGINES ARE BOUND FOR FAILURE, FORD UPGRADED THE GASKETS BUT WILL NOT STAND COVER THE COSTS AFTER DEC. 1998. MOST PEOPLE LOOSE THIER ENGINES OR WARP THIER HEADS.

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed May 5, 1999PA

AFTER RESEARCHING THE INTERNET, I LEARNED THAT MANY CUSTOMERS HAVE HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSIONS IN THE WINDSTAR BEFORE REACHING 50,000 MILES AND REPLACE HEAD GASKETS AROUND 70,000 MILES. THE COST OF BOTH REPAIRS IS EXPENSIVE AND FORD DOES NOT COVER THESE EXPENSES IF YOU DID NOT RESPOND TO A LETTER THEY SAY THEY SENT EVERYONE. I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD PAY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WHICH THEY KNOW EXISTS.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed May 5, 1999WA

BLOWN HEAD GASKETS AROUND JULY, 1998 WHICH FORD PAID FOR. THEY CHARGED ME AROUND $900 TO FIX A LEAK TO THE TIMING COVER THAT I THINK WAS CAUSED BY THE HEAD GASKETS. WHILE IT WAS IN THE SHOP, I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING WHILE ROUNDING CORNERS AND IT "JERKS" INTO GEAR AFTER STOPPING AT LIGHTS/SIGNS. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITENTLY AND REMAINS ON AND DIAGNOSTICS ARE NOT CONCLUSIVE, THE OWNERS MANUAL SAYS "DRIVE TRAIN PROBLEM". I'VE ALSO COMPLAINED ABOUT THE BRAKES SQUEAKING AND BEEN TOLD IT'S "BRAKE DUST" BUT I'M NOT CONVINCED.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed May 4, 1999CA

HEAD GASKET FAILED WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE FREWWAY APPROX 100 MILES FROM HOME. CONTACTED DEALER, WHO CONTACTED FORD AS FORD HAD RECOGNIZED THAT THIS PART WAS DEFECTIVE AND HAD EXTENEDED THE WARRANTY UNTIL 12-31-98. FORD WOULD NOT PAY ANYTHING TOWARDS THE REPAIR. INSPECTION OF THE HEAD GASKET REVEALS THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A FLAW IN THE DESIGN, (AT LEAST OBVIOUS TO ME).. NEW HEAD GASKET DESIGN HAS BEEN MODIFIED TO CORRECT PROBLEM.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed May 3, 1999MA

CONSUMER HAS A BAD ENGINE HEAD GASKET THAT IS CAUSING OIL LEAKS AND OVERHEATING OF THE ENGINE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed May 3, 1999WI

ENGINE - BOTH HEAD GASKETS WERE REPLACED BY DEALER, THEN ENGINE REPLACED, TRANMISSION SHOWED BURNT FLUID AND WAS REPLACED 3 MONTHS FOLLOWING ENGINE REPLACEMENT, AIR CONDITIONER FAILED TO WORK 3 DAYS AFTER TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System
Filed May 1, 1999CA

I HAVE ALSO EXPIRIENCED EMISSION PROBLEMS, ERRATIC SPEEDOMETER, BRAKES VIBRATING, CAR RATTLING, SLIDING RECALL.

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Linkages
Filed Apr 30, 1999NY

WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT SQUIRT OUT WATER WHEN TRYING TO CLEAN THE WINDSHIELD. ELECTRONIC CONTROL COULD BE DEFECTIVE. REAR WIPERS WORKS PROPERLY. DEALER NOTIFIED AND TRIED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM AT OWNERS EXPENSE. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 29, 1999GA

I CONTACTED FORD CUST. SERVICE AND THEY WERE AWARE OF THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE IN THE 95 WINDSTAR. THEY DID NOT ISSUE A RECALL, THIS PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE DESIGN CAME FROM THE FACTORY, AND WAS ORIGINAL TO MY CAR AS IT LEFT THE FACTORY FLOOR.ONLY CERTAIN VIN NUMBERS ARE AFFECTED BY THIS DEFECT, MY CAR IS ONE OF THEM.FORD ONLY ISSUED A NOTICE TO DEALER'S THAT IF A CUSTOMER CAME IN WITH THIS PROBLEM BETWEEN MAY AND DEC 98, THEN THE DEALER WAS TO FIX THE VAN FOR FREE. FORD DID NOT INFORM ME BY MAIL OR OTHERWISE THAT MY CAR COULD FAIL TO OPERATE AFTER ACCELERATION HAD TAKEN PLACE. IF MY DEALER KNEW OF THIS DEFECT, WHY WAS I NOT GIVEN THE INFORMATION.THIS REPAIR COST APPROXIMATELY $2,600.00. THIS REPAIR IS ONLY GUARANTEED FOR 12,000 MILES AND THEN BECAUSE OF THE ENGINE DESIGN, THE FAILURE COULD OCCUR AGAIN. I SPENT 27,000 DOLLARS ON THIS CAR AND NOW IT IS BROKE, FORD REFUSES TO PAY ANY MONEY TO REPAIR MY CAR BECAUSE IT BROKE AFTER THE DEC.98 CUT OFF. MY CAR WAS NOT BROKEN THEN SO THE CUTOFF DATE ONLY WORKS FOR THEM. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A FAILURE THAT FORD KNEW WOULD HAPPEN, REGARDLESS OF HOW WELL I DROVE MY CAR. THIS FAILURE OCCURED AS I WAS DRIVING MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN TO SCHOOL. I AM GLAD I GOT MY CAR OFF THE ROAD BEFORE AN ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURED. I CALLED FORD TODAY AND WAS BASICALLY TOLD, TOO BAD FOR YOU. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 28, 1999TX

HEAD GASKET FAILED.

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Apr 27, 1999OH

CONSUMER STATES ALL SLIDING DOORS WHEN STARTING VEHICLE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE, NOISE SOUNDS, DEFECTIVE SWITCHES WERE INSTALLED. DEALER CONTACTED AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXIST, AFTER CONTACTING FOUR AGENCIES, NO RESPONSE. ALSO, TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 27, 1999PA

STARTED VEHICLE & NOTICED IT WAS BLOWING SMOKE. TOOK TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN. RECEIVED A TSB ON HEAD GASKETS. HAD NO PROBLEM BEFORE RECEIVING TSB. DEALRE REFUSED TO REPAIR DUE TO VEHICLE BEING OVER THE MILEAGE REQUIREMENT. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 27, 1999NJ

AT 57,898 MILES (SEPT. '98), MY WINDSTAR STARTED ACTING FUNNY. I BROUGHT IT TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP , WHO SAID IT APPEARED TO BE A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM, AND TO BRING IT TO THE DEALER TO CHECK IT OUT. I BROUGHT IT IN, HAD IT CHECKED AND THEY SAID IT WAS FINE. ON 4/17/99, IT STARTED DRIVING VERY POORLY, AND ON 4/19 BROUGHT IT TO THE SAME LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO SAID AGAIN, IT WAS THIS TIME A BLOWN HEAD GASKET, AND TO CALL THE DEALER. THE DEALER SAID THERE HAD BE A RECALL THAT ENDED 1/99 (I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND NEVER REC'D ANY NOTICE), AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE EXPENSES MYSELF. THEY ALSO STATED THAT IT WAS AGIANST THE LAW FOR THEM TO COVER ANY EXPENSES, AFTER THE RECALL NOTICE EXPIRED. I HAVE NOW BEEN WAITING W/OUT MY CAR FOR A WEEK NOW, FOR THEM TO COMPLETE THE REPAIRS. I HAVE CALLED FORD DIRECTLY AND THEY SAY ESSENTIALLY, TOUGH LUCK.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 27, 1999MD

THE WINDSTAR IS VERY UNSAFE. THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED THREE TIMES, ALWAYS WHILE VEHICLE IS IN TRAFFIC, SOMETIMES AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE CAUSES SERIOUS OTHER ENGINE COMPNONETS TO FAIL, EVENTUALLY CAUSING COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE, WHICH CAN ALSO OCCUR SUDDENLY WHILE IN TRAFFIC.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Apr 27, 1999MI

ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILED DUE TO CRACKED RINGS. MJS

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Apr 26, 1999NJ

FORD EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS FAILURE UNTIL DEC '98. FAILED 4/99. NO SAFETY DEFECT INDICATED. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Apr 26, 1999NJ

FORD WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE TO 1/99.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 25, 1999CO

THE HEAD GASKET ON OUR 95 FORD WINDSTAR BLEW UP TODAY, AND WE HAVE FOUND MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS 95 FORD VAN'S HEAD GASKET ON THE INTERNET. WE ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED AND HOPE SOMETHING WILL BE DONE ABOUT IT. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 23, 1999CA

THIS TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED AT LESS THAN 60,000. WE HAVE DRIVEN THIS VAN VERY LITTLE AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. I AM NOT SURE THIS IS CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE BUT IT IS AN INJUSTICE. THE COMPANY KNOWS THE TRANSMISSION IS NO GOOD, BUT THEY CONTINUE TO MANUFACTURE THEM WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. THEY DON'T COVER THEM UNDER THE WARRANTY EITHER. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 22, 1999MD

TRANSMISSION CAN SHIFT INTO REVERSE, BUT WILL NOT BACK UP. THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS BLEW. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD GO ON/OFF ON THEIR OWN, DAY OR NIGHT. THE KEY SHIFT INTERLOCK WILL NOT RELEASE OUT OF PARK POSITION. THE FRONT DISC BRAKES HAD CRUMBLED INSIDE. HEARD GRINDING/RAMBLING NOISES WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. BEEN TO DEALER 3 DIFFERENT TIMES FOR BRAKES. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 22, 1999NY

APRIL, 1998 AT 34,000 MILES CAR TAKEN TO DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. DEALER STATED THAT THERE IS A SLIGHT OIL LEAK. KEPT CAR OVERNIGHT AND THEN FOR A FEW MORE DAYS. REPLACED NUMEROUS SEALS AND GASKETS. VALVE COVER GASKET, ETC. ONE YEAR LATER, APRIL, 1999 AT 47,000 MILES CAR BROUGHT IN AGAIN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND UNEXPLAINED ENGINE COOLANT LOSS. DEALER ADVISED THAT HEAD GASKET MUST BE REPLACED. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Apr 21, 1999NY

NO SUMMARY INCLUDED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Apr 21, 1999PA

IN AUGUST OF 1997 I PURCHASED A USED FORD WINDSTAR FROM ROBIN FORD IN GLENOLDEN,PA. I TRADED IN MY 91 FORD TOPAZ. THE MILEAGE ON THE WINDSTAR WHEN PURCHASED WAS 28,853. IN SEPTEMBER OF 1997 I TOOK THE WINDSTAR IN TO FORD IN HAZELTON TO FLUSH AND FILL RADIATOR, AND A NEW FUEL FILTER. AT THAT TIME I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY DOORS STICKING. THEY LUBED CYLINDER. IN DECEMBER OF THE SAME YEAR, I TOOK IT BACK TO HAVE ALL LOCKS REPLACED, HAVE A RECALL DONE, OIL CHANGE AND FILTER, AND AT THAT TIME I INFORMED THEM THAT I WAS SMELLING ANTI-FREEZE, TO PLEASE LOOK INTO IT. THEY CHECKED FOR LEAKS AND LOOSE HOSES, AND FOUND NOTHING. EVEN THOUGH I CONTINUED TO SMELL IT, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING. IN MARCH OF 98 I COMPLAINED OF MY WINDOWS FOGGING, AGAIN. THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NO LEAKS THAT THEY COULD SEE.THEY INSTALLED NEW HEAD GASKETS OIL AND FILTER TWO PLUGS. I ALSO HAD AN INSPECTION DONE AND AN ALIGNMENT. THINGS SEEMED TO BE OKAY TO ME. THEN I STARTED SMELLING ANTI-FREEZE AGAIN, AND WENT BACK TO TELL THEM THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG. WHEN THEY CHECKED IT THEY FOUND THAT THE GASKETS HAD NOT SET RIGHT. AND THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THEM AGAIN. THAT WAS IN FEBUARY OF THIS YEAR. ALSO HAD A STATE INSPECTION DONE. ALTHOUGH I DID NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE GASKETS I DID HAVE TO PAY FOR A HEAD COVER, BECAUSE THEY TOLD ME THAT WAS SEPARATE FROM THE GASKETS. I PICKED MY CAR ON THE 26TH OF FEBUARY THAT WAS A FRIDAY, AND BY MONDAY MORNING I WAS BACK TELLING THEM THAT I STILL

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 20, 1999PA

CAR WAS IDLING ROUGH, WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF REAR OF VEHICLE, TEMP GAUGE READING NORMAL, SMOKE GOT WORSE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, ENGINE DIED, ALL IN 3 BLOCK DISTANCE. GARAGE SAYS BLOWN HEAD GASKET, NEW ENGINE NEEDED, FORD WILL DO NOTHING.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 20, 1999IN

THE HEAD GASKETS BEGAN TO FAIL ON APRIL 12,1999, RESULTING IN THE OVERHEATING OF OUR ENGINE. ALTHOUGH FORD ISSUED A LETTER TO US LAST JUNE REGARDING THE PROBLEM THEY WERE HAVING WITH HEAD GASKETS RELATED TO THIS VEHICLE, THEY CLAIM WE CANNOT BE COMPENSATED FOR OUR EXPENSES BECAUSE WE MISSED THE CUTOFF TO THEIR NO CHARGE COVERAGE BY 3 MONTHS. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT FORD REALIZED THAT THIS PRODUCT WAS FAULTY, AND WE WANT FORD TO TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY IN RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE COST TO REPAIR OUR VEHICLE WILL BE $3200.00. WE FEEL THAT FORD NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO THEIR CUSTOMERS, AND PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN REPAIRING AND COMPENSATING FOR A PROBLEM THAT THEY KNEW WOULD OCCUR. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Apr 20, 1999MT

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 20, 1999LA

THE HEAD GASKET(S) FAILED, CAUSING THE CAR TO OVERHEAT AND POSSIBLY SUSTAIN INTERNAL DAMAGE. MY WIFE WAS STRANDED IN TRAFFIC, POSING A DANGER TO HERSELF, OUR CHILDREN WHO WERE PASSENGERS, AND VEHICLES HAVING TO DRIVE AROUND HER. I'VE HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS FAILURE MAY BE EPIDEMIC AMONG 1995 WINDSTARS WITH 3.8L ENGINES. FORD TEMPORARILY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY IN RECOGNITION OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT TERMINATED IT AS OF 12/98. SINCE MY VEHICLE DID NOT SHOW ANY SYMPTOMS UNTIL THIS PAST WEEKEND, I DID NOT TAKE IT IN TO FORD FOR A REPAIR UNDER WARRRANTY. I BELIEVE THAT FORD SHOULD BE MADE TO REPAIR MY ENGINE AT THEIR COST, AS THE UNEXPECTED, SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKET DUE NOT TO WEAR AND TEAR, BUT TO A FLAW IN THE VEHICLES DESIGN, CAN CAUSE PASSENGERS TO BE PLACED IN CONDITIONS OF EXTREME DANGER. WEAR AND TEAR IS SOMETHING THAT A VEHICLE OWNER CAN ANTICIPATE; A BLOWN HEAD GASKET ON A VEHICLE OF THIS AGE AND MILEAGE IS NOT TO BE EXPECTED, AND THEREFORE CONSTITUTES A SAFETY DEFECT. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Apr 19, 1999DE

COOLANT LEAKAGE IS CAUSING ENGINE HEAD GASKE/TIMING BELT AND WATER GASKET TO FAIL. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE WHAT IS CAUSING THE COOLANT LEAKAGE. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Apr 19, 1999SC

WHEN WE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, WE WERE TOLD THERE WERE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. WE KNOW OF 3 OTHER FAMILIES IN OUR AREA WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER VERIFIED THAT THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 10 CALLS BY MARCH 1, 1999.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 19, 1999KY

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE OVERHEATING DUE TO DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE, HOWEVER REPAIRS MADE AT TIME OF OVERHEATING WERE ONLY TO THE THERMOSTAT(12-98), CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT WITH FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKET HOWEVER DENIED DUE TO MILEAGE AND DATE. MJS (98M01)

Suspension › Front
Filed Apr 18, 1999AR

1. FRONT END LOOSENESS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING TO THE PRESENT TIE BARS CTC. REPLACED WITHOUT ANY NOTICEABLE IMPROVEMENT. 2 SPEEDOMETER FAILURE AT 45K 3. POWER WINDOW MOTOR (LEFT FRONT) QUIT. 3. TRANSMISSION FAILED/ REPLACEMENT (WITH ONLY 17K FAILED.4. HEAD GASKET BLEW. I FIND IN RESEARCHING THE DEFECTS THAT MY EXPERIENCE IS QUITE COMMON BUT THAT FORD HAS NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY IN SOME OF THESE AREAS -ESPECIALLY THE FAILED TRANSMISSIONS,. IT IS MY HOPE THAT YOUR ORG. CAN VERIFY THESE FEFECTS AS BEING WORTHY OF FORD COMPENSATING THE OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THESE MFAILURES OF MANUFACTURE. PLEASE ADVISE ME OF THE STATUS OF YOUR WORK . THANK YOU, GEARY LEASON. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 18, 1999MI

THE VEHICLE HAD JUST RETURNED FROM FLORIDA TO MICHIGAN. DRIVING AROUND TOWN AFTERWARDS THE ENGINE HEAD BLEW AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE WAS REPORTED TO THE COST OF APPROXIMATELY $3600. ALSO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 17, 1999NY

NO SUMMARY MENTIONE DFOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 17, 1999MS

MY VEHICLE OVERHEATED IN JUNE, 1998 AND I ADDED ADDITIONAL COOLANT. IN APPROXIMATELY 2 WEEKS, I RECEIVED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY NOTICE FROM FORD WHERE HEAD GASKETS ON MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE TYPE AND MAKE WERE FAILING PREMATURELY. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A LOCAL FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT (DELTA FORD, VICKSBURG, MS) ON 7/28/98 (INVOICE NUMBER 017128) AND THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND TOLD ME THE HEAD GASKET WAS STILL GOOD. MY VEHICLE CONTINUED TO REQUIRE COOLANT EVERY 2 - 3 MONTHS. THE PROBLEM RECENTLY HAS GOTTEN MUCH WORSE. I ADDED COOLANT TO IT ON 4/5/99 AND THEN AGAIN ON 4/17/99 - 368 MILES LATER. TODAY (4/17/99) MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IT DOES APPEAR THAT I HAVE A HEAD GASKET FAILURE AND ALL OF THIS COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF DELTA FORD WOULD HAVE REPLACED THE FAULTY GASKET ON 7/28/98 WHILE THE REPAIR WAS UNDER WARRANTY. FORD SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL THIS PROBLEM THAT CONSUMERS ARE EXPERIENCING. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 16, 1999KY

HEAD GASKET IS DEFECTIVE ON 1000'S OF 3.8L ENGINES, SHOULD BE RECALLED

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 16, 1999PA

HEAD GASKETS BLOWN CAUSING COOLANT TO MIX WITH OIL IN ENGINE. FORD HAD A PROGRAM WHICH EXPIRED 12/31/98 THAT COVERED REPAIRS TO HEAD GASKETS REGARDLESS OF MILES OR TIME OWNED. HOWEVER, MY HEAD GASKETS BLEW IN 2/99 SO THEY WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ENGINEERING DEFECT THAT IS CAUSING THE BLOWN HEAD GASKETS.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Apr 16, 1999NC

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

Reading these

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.

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