1995 Ford Windstar complaints

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING. ANTI-FREEZE WAS COMING OUT FROM HEAD GASKET. *AK

NO SUMMARY

THIS REPAIR COST ABOUT $1,500 AND WE WERE HAVING TO HAVE A RENTAL CAR FOR 19 DAYS WHILE IT WAS REPAIRED AT A COST OF $541.00.

FAULTY HEAD GASKET IS A KNOWN DEFECT, SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. *MJS

HEAD GASKET FAILURE CAUSED COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. APPEARS TO BE KNOWN DEFECT BUT FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE DIVISION UNWILLING TO ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM. *MJS

ENGINE REPLACED DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE, WARRANTY EXPIRED, TOTAL COSTS $3869.64. *MJS

WHILE AT A STOP THE VEHICLE SEEMED AS IF IN NEUTRAL THAN ALL OF A SUDDEN LURCHED FORWARD, HAD THERE BEEN SOMEONE IN FRONT OF THE VAN IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, FORD HAS BEEN WELL AWARE OF THE PISTONS IN THE CLUTCH CRACKING FOR MANY YEARS AND HAS DONE NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM IN THE 1995 VANS, THIS PART WAS UPDATED IN THE 1996 MODEL , ALL CUSTOMERS WITH 1995 VANS MUST PAY FOR THE REPAIRS THEMSELVES

ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT AFTER EIGHT DAYS WARRANTY RAN OUT. CONSUMER BELIEVED THIS WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT WHICH SHOULD BE HONORED BY DEALER. ALSO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK

SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION GEARS STICKING/JAMMING DUE TO FAILURE OF THE FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON. THERE IS CURRENTLY A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THIS PROBLEM(94-24-7).

WE ARE SUBMITTING THIS NOTICE BECAUSE THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP THAT PERFORMED THE WORK INDICATED THAT THEY HAD SEEN AN UNUSUAL OF RELATIVELY NEW WINDSTARS AND TAURUSES (SAME ENGINE) HAD BEEN BROUGHT IN WITH THE SAME ENGINE FAILURE.

WE PURCHASED OUR WINDSTAR FROM HERTZ SALES IN BOISE IDAHO IN MAY 1995 WITH ABOUT 15,000 MILES ON IT. WE TRANSFERRED THE REST OF THE NEW CAR WARRANTY TO OUR NAME. NEAR THE END OF NOVEMBER WE RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM FORD ABOUT HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS. THE WORDING IN THE NOTICE, WHICH WAS NOT A NOTICE OF RECALL, LED US TO BELIEVE THAT ANY PROBLEM WE HAD WOULD NOT BE COVERED, AND AT THAT TIME WE HAD NOT HAD ANY ENGINE PROBLEMS. THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY 1999 THE HEATER QUIT WORKING. WE TOOK IT TO TWO LOCAL MECHANICS WHO ADDED COOLANT. WHEN THE HEATER STILL WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY ONE SAID THERE MIGHT BE A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKETS. WE TOOK THE VAN TO MERIDIAN FORD IN MERIDIAN, IDAHO. THEY CHARGED US $2000 TO RDO THE HEADS. THEY DID NOT TELL US THAT REDOING THE HEADS MAY CAUSE THE MAIN ENGINE TO FAIL DUE TO DAMAGE FROM LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE. ON APRIL 4, 1999 THE ENGINE FAILED AT 65 MPH FREEWAY SPEEDS. FORTUNATLEY WE WERE NEAR AN EXIT AND A TRUCKSTOP OR WE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN SERIOUS DANGER ON THE FREEWAY. WE HAD THE VAN TOWED TO MERIDIAN FORD. AS OF TODAY, APRIL 10, THEY STILL HAVE THE VAN. THEY COULD NOT GET FORD TO PAY FOR ANY OF EITHER THE FIRST OR SECOND REPAIR. THEY WANT $2500 TO PUT IN A NEW SHORT BLOCK. WE HAVE FOUND OUT ON THE INTERNET THAT FORD HAS HELPED PAY FOR SOME REPAIRS EVEN THOUGH MILEAGE WAS ABOVE THAT INCLUDED IN THEIR NOTICE AND EVEN THOUGH SOME PROBLEMS OCCURRED AFTER THE DEC 31, 1998 DEADLINE FOR REMEDYING ANY PROBLEMS. WE TRIED TO CONTACT FORD OURSELVES

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLS/ OVERHEATS, AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WILL GO UP TO HIGH. ALSO, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. CONSUMER JUST GOT THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE REPAIR SHOP, AND THE SAME PROBLEMS HAVE REOCCURRED. *AK

MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP TOLD ME OF THE HIDDEN WARRANTY THAT EXISTED ON THE HEAD GASKET OF THE 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. THEY ASKED FOR MY MILEAGE AND VIN NUMBER UP FRONT. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE VEHICLE WAS COVERED AND HAD ME TOW THE VEHICLE TO THEM. AFTER A WEEK THEY HAVE COME BACK AND LET ME KNOW THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE WHICH I GAVE TO THEM IN ADVANCE. IF KNOWN THIS IN ADVANCE I WOULD HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FIXED AT THE MECHANIC'S LOCATION THAT I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED FROM. MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN WITH ONE VEHICLE FOR ALMOST TWO WEEKS AND HAVE TWO CHILDREN THAT GO TO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS BECAUSE OF THEIR AGE. MY INVESTIGATIONS ON THIS PROBLEM HAS FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS MODEL. MOST FAILURES HAPPENING JUST OUT OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. FORD HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM BUT WOULD NOT CORRECT IT UNLESS THERE WAS DAMAGE OCCURRING. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A WAY TO KEEP THEIR COSTS DOWN FOR REPAIRING WHAT THEY KNEW AS A DEFECT. *AK

FORD SENT LETTER SAYING WARRANTY EXTENDED TO 60,000 MI. FAILURES OCCUR USUALLY BEYOND THIS MILEAGE. *AK

IE98080, COOLANT IS LEAKING FROM ENGINE HEAD GASKET WHICH MAY MIX WITH THE OIL AND SPRING INTO THE ENGINE AND CAUSE A FIRE. *AK

HEAD GASKET IN ENGINE FAILED, CAUSING OVERHEATING OF ENGINE. *AK

HEAD GASKET BLOWN, POSSIBLE CRACKED BLOCK. FORD WON'T HELP PAY. *AK

THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL COMING FROM VAN. WHEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALERSHIP, DEALER FOUND FUEL TANK TO BE CRACKED. THE FUEL TANK IS BEING REPLACED AT COST TO CONSUMER. *AK

IE98080; WHILE DRIVING ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED IN AN INTERSECTION WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. FORD DID AN OWNER'S NOTIFICATION FOR THE HEAD GASKETS, BUT IT WAS ON DECEMBER 31, 1998. AT THAT TIME OCCUPANT DID HAVE VEHICLE INSPECTED, BUT IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH HEAD GASKETS. BUT, IN MAR 99, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HEAD GASKET FAILURE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

HAD RECEIVED A SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING ENGINE HEAD GASKETS. DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPAIR UNLESS HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN OUT. HAD TO GET TIMING CHAIN REPLACED. THE MOTOR BLEW OUT & ANTI-FREEZE LEAKED THROUGH THE MOTOR. *AK

WAS NOT INFORMED BY FORD OF THE "OWNER'S NOTIFICATION" PROGRAM. TOLD BY THEE THAT TIME HAD EXPIRED. WOULD LIKE YOUR OFFICE TO SEE IF THEY WILL EXTEND THEIR PROGRAM. 75000 MILES IS WAY TOO SOON FOR A HEAD GASKET. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. THANKS. *AK

THERE ARE EVIDENTLY SEVERE PROBLEMS WITH THE 1995 WINDSTAR HEAD GASKET AND TRANSMISSION. WHEN WILL THE GOVERNMENT RESPOND TO OUR COMPLAINTS AND FORCE FORD TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR MISTAKE? *AK

FORD RECALLED THE HEAD GASKETS IN THE '95 WINDSTARS. THEY SENT THEIR LETTERS OUT, AND I TOOK MINE DOWN TO THE DEALER NEAR ME TO GET IT CHECKED OUT. THEY SAID THAT IT PASSED THE TEST. BUT THREE MONTHS AFTER THAT MY GASKET BLEW OUT WHILE I WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT. I CALLED THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER AND THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT HELP. HOW CAN I GET FORD TO PAY FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE PART THAT THEY RECALLED BECAUSE OF PREMATURE FAILURE? I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INFORMATION YOU COULD GIVE ME. SINCERELY, SERENA TERRY. *AK

MY WINDSTAR RECENT ENGINE FAILURE WAS PRECEEDED BY THE "CHECK ENGINE" WARNING INDICATOR COMING ON AS I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO INVESTIGATE. UPON OPENING THE HOOD I WAS IMMEDIATELY EXPOSED TO A DOUSING OF BOTH BOILING WATER & STEAM ESCAPING FROM THE RADIATOR OVERFLOW RESERVOIR WHICH OVERFLOWED ITSELF FROM THE HEAD GASKET MALFUNCTION. I RECEIVED PAINFUL BURNS ON BOTH MY HANDS AND FACE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

HEAD GASKET REPLACED LAST AUGUST, NOW HEAD IS CRACKED AND NEEDS REPLACED

HEAD GASKET FAILED AT 48K AND AGAIN AT 53K MILES. FORD'S EXTENDED WARRANTY 98M01 FOR THE GASKET ENDS AT 60K, BUT SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO COVER RECURRING FAILURES, AND SHOULD ENCOMPASS OTHER/LATER ENGINE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE GASKET FAILURE. *AK

UPON ACCELERATING ACELLERATING FROM STOP, TRANSMISSION SPINS UP THEN BANGS INTO GEAR. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT AND THE ANT-IFREEZE LEAKED OUT INTO THE OIL. *AK

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY. 70MPH HEARD NOISE, SLOWED DOWN TO 20MPH AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MAKE LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. DEALERSHIP TURNED ENGINE OFF AND VEHICLE NEVER STARTED AGAIN. *AK

BLOWN HEAD GASKET OCCURRED AT STOP SIGN, HUGE PLUME OF WHITE SMOKE. LUCKILY, THIS DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE FREEWAY AND CAUSED A CRASH/FATALITY. FORD KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKET PER THEIR SERVICE PROGRAM 99M01. PEOPLE CAN AND WILL GET HURT BY THE VEHICLES THAT WERE NOT REPAIRED BY THIS PROGRAM THAT EXPIRED 12/98. MY WIFE SAID THE PLUME OF SMOKE WAS HUGE, IT COULD BLOCK THE VIEW OF DRIVERS BEHIND A VEHICLE THAT HAS THIS PROBLEM ALONG WITH CAUSING THE SUDDEN STOPPAGE OF THE VEHICLE THAT HAS ITS ENGINE SEIZED UP AS A RESULT OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. PLEASE REFER TO THE WEB SITE OF HTTP://WWW.PRIMECUTSOFBLUEGRASS.COM/WINDSTAR2.HTM FOR A LIST OF OTHER VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM, AND BE SURE TO KNOW THAT THIS LIST WAS JUST STARTED THIS MONTH ON 3/13/99. 24 VEHICLES IN 17 DAYS, SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT. AND THIS IS JUST A LIST OF THE 95 WINDSTARS, THE FORD 'PROGRAM' COVERS 94 & 95 TAURUS AND SABLE OWNERS ALSO. *AK

HARD SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR, ALSO HESITATION WHILE DRIVING IN FREEWAY. CAN FEEL SHAKING WHILE ON FREEWAY. AND CAN SMELL TRANSMISSION FLUID. *AK

JUST BEFORE COMING TO A STOP VEHICLE WOULD JERK VIOLENTLY. AFTER STOPPING, WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE AT FIRST. THEN VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY JERK FORWARD. TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR OVER $2100. WE HAVE CARRIED NO HEAVY LOADS, AND WE LIVE IN A LEVEL AREA WITH NO MOUNTAINS. TRANSMISSION HAD ROUTINE 36,000 MILE MAINTENANCE WITH CHANGE OF FILTER AND FLUID AS RECOMMENDED BY MANUFACTURER. WE THINK THIS IS A PREMATURE FAILURE AND A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. WE HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET OF MANY SIMILAR FAILURES OF THIS MAKE, YEAR AND MODEL TRANSMISSION. *AK

I WROTE EARLIER TODAY. I JUST NOTICED THAT THE FORD DEALER ADDED 10000 MILES TO MY ODOMETER FIGURE. MY VAN HAS ONLY 47527 MILES, NOT 57527. I WILL HAVE THEM CORRECT MY SERVICE PAPERWORK. ALSO I WROTE A LETTER TO FORD TODAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. *AK

NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE OF EXTENDED WARRANTY OF HEAD GASKETS. THEY WENT 5 DAYS AFTER 12/31/98. DEALERSHIP PAID FOR THE REPAIR, BUT NOW ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE HEAD GASKETS. *AK

IN LOW SPEED, TRANSMISSION GOES INTO NEUTRAL AND SUDDENTLY BACK IN TO GEAR. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED A SAFETY BULLETIN DATED JUNE-98 REGARDING ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. CONSUMER EXPRIENCED THE PROBLEM IN MARCH-99 AND THE BULLETIN HAS EXPIRED. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THS VEHICLE. *AK

FORD HAS BEEN NOTIFIED THAT I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION FOR ANY HEAD GASKET PROBLEM WHICH IS NOW COSTING ME AN EXCESS AMOUNT OF MONEY.

SPEEDOMETER REPLACED AT MY COST OF ABOUT$400 FOR PART AND LABOR AT DEALER. AT THE SAME TIME WE REQUESTED THE TRANSMISSION BE CHECKED BECAUSE, AFTER BEING WARMED UP, AT STOPS THE VAN WOULD NOT GO WHEN GAS WAS APPLIED, THEN WOULD LURCH FORWARD AFTER A SECOND OR TWO. THE "TRANSMISSION GUY" WAS OUT, AND WE WERE TOLD THERE MIGHT BE AN INTERNAL TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. SOMEONE ADVISED US TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND FILTER, AS THIS CAN SOMETIMES DO THE TRICK IN WHAT APPEARS TO BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM, WE DID. THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE WHILE WE WAITED FOR THE DEALER'S TRANMISSION MAN TO RETURN. WE SOUGHT A PRIVATE TRANSMISSION REPAIRMAN. THIS VERY REPUTABLE REPAIR COMPANY TOLD US THERE WERE QUITE A FEW PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL VAN AND TRANSMISSIONS AND THAT IT WAS A CRACKED ALUMINIUM FRONT CLUTCH PISTON. WE WERE GIVEN A REPAIR ESTIMATE OF $1200 TO $1400. WE BEGAN INVESTIGATING AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET. WE RETURNED TO OUR DEALER, INFORMATION IN HAND. AT THIS TIME THE VAN IS AT THE DEALER, BEING REPAIRED BECAUSE FORD HAS AGREED TO PAY HALF THE COST OF PARTS AND LABOR TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION, AND WILL WARANTY THE REPAIR FOR 1 YEAR, 12000 MILES. I AM UNABLE TO SEND MY VIN BECAUSE THE VAN ISN'T HERE. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED, CAUSING STARTER NOSE TO SHEAR OFF, AND COOLANT TO BE EJECTED ONTO EMISSION CONTROL COMPONENTS, INCLUDING CATALYTIC CONVERTER) AND OUT OF EXHAUST SYSTEM. *AK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER CONTACTED AND DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY. NEW TRANSMISSION INSTALLED WITH INCORRECT SPEEDOMETER GEAR. STOPPED BY STATE POLICE AND ISSUED A CITATION FOR SPEEDING AT 74MPH IN A 65MPH ZONE. MY SPEEDOMETER WAS READING 65MPH! I BELIEVE A INCORRECT SPEEDOMETER GEAR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION FAILING SINCE IT SEEMS THE SPEEDS SEEM THE SAME NOW AS WHEN I HAD THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION. I'M USED TO THE SAME SPEED YET THE SPEEDOMETER IS LOW BY ABOUT 10MPH! *AK

RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD JUNE, 1998 STATING THAT PREMATURE FAILURE OF HEAD GASKETS MAY OCCUR. THEY WOULD PAY FOR THIS IF VAN IS LESS THAN 5 YRS OLD OR HAS LESS THAN 60,000 MILES OR IF HEAD GASKET FAILS BETWEEN JUNE, 1998 & DECEMBER, 1998. OUR VAN HAD 89,000 MILES & HEAD GASKET FAILED MARCH 3, 1999. FORD WOULD NOT PAY. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPT. 03/28/99. THEY SAID THAT OUR ONLY RECOURSE IS TO WAIT TO SEE IF FORD ISSUES ANOTHER NO-CHARGE WARRANTY FOR THIS COVERAGE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED JUST AFTER RECALL EXPIRED. IT WAS TESTED ONLY A FEW MONTHS BEFORE AND TESTED OK. *AK

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE SINCE WE BOUGHT IT NEW FOR ENGINE CHECK LIGHTS AND POOR RUNABILITY. COMPRESSION TESTS RAN IN NOVEMBER BECAUSE ENGINE RAN POORLY. DEALER REPLACED OXYGEN SENSORS ,AND THEN A MONTH AND A HALF LATER, THE HEAD GASKET FAILED. FORD WOULD NOT HONOR THE RECALL SINCE IT EXPIRED ON DEC. 31,1999. I THINK THE DEALER MISSED THE DIAGNOSIS ALL ALONG, THE GASKET WAS FAILING. THE FAILURES OF THE GASKET AND TRANSMISSION ALONG WITH THE NUMEROUS SENSOR REPLACEMENTS HAS COST ME ABOUT $5800. THESE PROBLEMS ARE TOO NUMEROUS IN NUMBERS, MANY 95 FORD WINDSTAR OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME OR WORST PROBLEMS. THESE PROBLEMS ARE WELL KNOWN TO FORD AND THEY REFUSE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. YOU MUST MAKE THESE RECALL ISSUES TO FORCE THEM TO IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY. *AK

I HAVE SPENT $2,650.00 ON THIS VAN.IT IS STILL A DEATH TRAP. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

IE98080, THE COOLANT IS LEAKING FROM ENGINE HEAD GASKET WHICH MAY RESULT IN A FIRE, ENGINE SIEZED WHILE DRIVING AND ENGINE PROBLEMS RESULTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

FORD ADMITTED IN A LETTER TO ME IN JUNE 1998 UNDER SERVICE PROGRAM 98M01 THAT THE HEAD GASKETS COULD FAIL PREMATURELY. IF THE CONDITION OCCURRED WITHIN 5 YRS OR 60,000 MILES OR BY THE END OF 1998, TO BRING THE VAN IN AND THEY WOULD REPLACE THE HEAD GASKETS. MY VAN HEAD GASKETS FAILED ON MARCH 8TH,1999, AND WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT MY VAN DID NOT FALL WITHIN THE SERVICE PROGRAM. SINCE FORD HAS ADMITTED THAT THERE IS A DEFECT WITH THE HEAD ASKETS THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKETS AT NO CHARGE REGARDLESS OF WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. I WROTE A LETTER TO MR. KUDAK WITH FORD, AND DID NOT RECEIVE A WRITTEN OR VERBAL RESPONSE. *AK

BRAKES SQUEAK AND GROWL, BUT SO FAR HAVE STOPPED THE VEHICLE WHEN APPLIED. THEY DON'T SHOW ANY UNUSUAL WEAR. I WOULD LIKE FORD MOTOR CO. TO REIMBURSE ME FOR $1307.00 FOR THE HEAD GASKET REPAIR SINCE I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF A RECALL. *AK

TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT. POTENTIAL CAUSE WAS PISTON ASSEMBLY IN TRANSMISSION.