1995 Ford Windstar complaints

AFTER STARTING VEHICLE FROM COLD START, PISTON FULL OF ANTIFREEZE, DUE TO DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. DEALER INFORMED ME OF RECALL NUMBER 98M01, BUT STATED I WOULD HAVE TO PAY COSTS, SINCE MY WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. HE SHOWED ME THE DIAGNOSTIC WHICH SAID "CHECK HEAD GASKET ONLY IF CUSTOMER REPORTS A PROBLEM".

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON--DIAGNOSTIC CODES SHOWED EGR/COOLANT TEMP. (NON FORD)MECHANIC REPLACED EGR VALVE, SENSOR. RAN FINE, THEN LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN (1 WEEK). CHECKED & REPLACED THERMOSTAT (LIGHT AGAIN AFTER 1 WEEK) THEN COMPUTER, LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN (2 DAYS). VEHICLE OVERHEATED & NO HEAT IN VEHICLE. MECHANIC DETERMINED HEAD GASKET FAILED. REPLACED 1/14/99.

FORD HAD INITIATED AN "OWNERS NOTIFICATION PROGRAM" BECAUSE OF FAULTY HEAD GASKETS IN THE 1995 WINDSTAR. BASICALLY, IF YOUR HEAD GASKET BLEW PRIOR TO DECEMBER 31, 1998, FORD WOULD COVER THE COST. THIS WAS NOT A RECALL, THEREFORE, THEY WERE ABLE TO PLACE A "DEADLINE" DATE ON IT. UNFORTUNATELY, THE HEAD GASKET BLEW IN MY VAN ON JANUARY 7, 1999 - SEVEN DAYS AFTER THE DEADLINE. AT THE TIME OF FAILURE, I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK WITH MY TWO LITTLE DAUGHTERS IN THE CAR (ONE AND THREE YEARS OLD). MY COMMUTE IS 40 MINUTES IN PRIMARILY FARM COUNTRY. I WAS HALFWAY INTO MY COMMUTE WHEN THE HEATER NO LONGER BLEW HOT AIR (THE OUTSIDE WIND CHILL WAS ABOUT MINUS 20), AND I NOTICED THE HEAT GAUGE AT THE H. THANK GOODNESS FOR CELLULAR PHONES. I GOT ON THE PHONE IMMEDIATELY WITH THE DEALER AND HE KNEW OVER THE PHONE IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO A SMALL TOWN JUST WHEN THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WENT ON AND IT DIED ON ME. MY SERVICE PERSON AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME LATER THAT MY ENGINE WAS AT 225 DEGREES WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. THE DEALER AND I HAVE TRIED TO GET FORD TO COVER THE $900 REPAIR, HOWEVER, FORD WILL NOT MOVE ON ITS DEADLINE DATE. THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM, YET WILL NOT ISSUE THE RECALL. THEY BASICALLY GOT AROUND IT WITH THIS OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM. I CAN ONLY BE THANKFUL THAT I MADE IT WITH MY TWO GIRLS TO A SMALL TOWN IN THAT SUBZERO WEATHER, AND THAT MY ENGINE DIDN'T BLOW UP. THE 1995 WINDSTARS ALSO HAVE MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. MINE HAD TO BE

ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, MAKING A LOUD NOISE AND SMOKE. DEALER SAYS HEAD GASKETS NEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

FORD OFFERED PROGRAM UNTIL 12/31/98 IF HEAD GASKET BLEW. (FORD DID NOT MAKE ME AWARE OF THIS PROGRAM, HAD I KNOW, I WOULD HAVE BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR REPAIR). OUR HEAD GASKET BLEW WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING WITH OUR 19 MONTH OLD BABY IN THE CAR. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS INJURED AT THE RELATIVELY LOW SPEED. FORD IS AWARE OF THIS DESIGN FLAW BUT IS UNWILLING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE NEED FOR A FULL RECALL. ANY HELP IN BRINGING THIS MATTER TO THE ATTENTION OF FORD SO THAT A RECALL WILL OCCURR WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 40MPH THE ABS BRAKES KICKED IN WITHOUT ANY WARNING. BRAKES WOULD GRAB & THEN PULSATE. WAS NO HARD BRAKING OR PANIC STOPPING. IT IS AN INCONSISTENT PROBLEM. TOOK TO DEALER & MECHANIC REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS & ROTORS.

THE SUB-FRAME BUSHING IS FAILING DUE TO UNKNOWN REASONS (DESIGN HAS BEEN CHANGED. ) ALSO, WHENEVER STOPPING OR TURNING, THERE IS CLUNKING NOISE THAT SOUNDS LIKE THE WHEEL WELL, SOUND COMES FROM THE LEFT FRONT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH RING AND PINION GEAR BROKE, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AK

9/18/98-PUT FOOT ON BRAKE WHEN APPROACHING OTHER CARS STOPPED AT LIGHT AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR DID NOT STOP BUT HIT THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. I WAS QUITE SHAKEN UP. THE POLICE OFFICER WHO ARRIVED ON THE SCENE PUSHED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SAID

FORD HAVE A RECALL ON THERE 95 WINDSTAR HEADGASKET.I NEVER GOT A RECALL NOTICE ANNOBODY CALL ME.WELL ON 12/31/98 MY HEADGASKET BLEW,HAPPEN AROUND 8.00PM.WE CALL BUT THET WAS CLOSE AN NEXT DAY WAS NEW YEAR.SO WE CALL FIRST THING MONDAY MORN.WE ASK THEM DID THEY HAVE A RECALL OUT FOR BLOW HEADGASKET AN THEY SAID YES,,THEY ASK FOR OUR VAN NUMBER AN WE GAVE IT TO THEM AN THEY SAID OUR VAN NUMBER WAS IN THE LIST.WELL THEY CAME AN PICKUP VAN AN ABOUT 3 DAYS LATER I TALK TO THEM AN THEY SAY THEY WANT PAY FOR IT,THEY SAY I CALL TO LATE,I SURE HAVE GOT THE VAN IN BEFORE 12/31/

TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ENGAGE INTO GEAR.

THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE COOLANT. DEALER SAID ENGINE HEAD GASKETS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

EVERY GASKET ON THIS VEHICLE IS LEAKING, INCLUDING ENGINE HEAD GASKET/TRANSMISSION GASKET/THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, AND THE VALUE COVER GASKET. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.

MIRRORS PERFORM POORLY DUE TO DESIGN FLAW.

TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT BY ITSELF FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING. WHEN AT A FULL STOP HAVING THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, I WOULD STEP ON THE GAS AND IT WOULD GO INTO REVERSE. . AFTER 2 REPAIRS, IT WAS DETERMINED THE FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON HAD CRACKED, REQUIRING A NEW TRANSMISSION.

THE ENGINE STARTS TO OVERHEAT AND THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE BECOMES COLD. DEALER SAYS ITS A BAD ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *AK

TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS WITHOUT WARNING AND UPSHIFTS ERRATICALLY. HAS DONE THIS OVER SINCE VAN HAD 40,000 MILES AND CONTINUES TIL NOW AT 72,000 MILES.

TRANSMISSION FAILED 2ND TIME JAN 6,1999

ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS BUSTED AND OIL LEAKED, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SIEZE UP. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN. *AK

TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REBUILT TWICE AND HEAD GASKET REPLACED TWICE. WHEN TRANSMISSION GOES BAD SLIPS STALLING TIME TO PULL OUT. THIS IS DANGEROUS AS DELAY COULD CAUSE AXIDENT

KNOWN HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON THE 3.8L 6 CYLINDER ENGINE USED IN THE WINDSTAR AND THE TAURUS. CONTACTED FORD. GAVE THEM EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE CARE OF THIS KNOWN PROBLEM. OTHER INFO ON THE INTERNET AT A SITE CALLED WWW.FORDWINDSTAR.COM. ANYTHING YOU COULD DO TO PROMPT A RECALL WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED.

TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF GEAR.

FORD HAD SENT LETTER ON THIS BUT EXTENED WARRENTY INSTEAD OF A RECALL

THESE PROBLEMS ARE COMMON WITH THESE VEHICLES. IS FORD MOTORS HELPING WITH ANY COSTS ON REPAIRS?

HEAD GASKET FAILURE, COVERED UNDER RECALL, REPAIRED 7/98. ENGINE DEVELOPED A KNOCK, STARTED RUNNING ROUGH, COOLANT LEVEL LOW WITH NO EXTERNAL LEAKAGE. DEALER DIAGNOSED #3 CYLINDER FUEL INJECTOR INOPERATIVE AND A TIMING COVER GASKET FAILURE. REPAIRED AND ENGINE FAILED IRREPAIRABLY 6 WEEKS LATER, LOW COOLANT LEVELS AGAIN. TOLD WE MUST REPLACE ENGINE.

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS ARE LEAKING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. DEALER SAYS NEEDS NEW HEAD GASKETS. *AK

THERE ARE MANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THESE VANS IN ADDITION TO THIS!

NO HEAT. APPARENTLY A BLOWN HEADGASKET. I'VE HEARD OF NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE (SO IT'S NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT). TAKING IT TO DEALER FOR CONFIRMATION OF PROBLEM NEXT WEEK.

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT SUCH LOW MILAGE IS DUE TO A FACTORY DEFECT IN THE ALUMINUM CLUTCH PISTON.

FORD HAS BEEN DELAYED IN SENDING ENGINE REPLACEMENT AND WILL NOT PROVIDE A LOANER CAR. VAN HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIR FOR 12 DAYS. NO CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS BEEN PROVIDED.

IN ADDITION TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE HEATING/ AC, DOOR LOCKS, WIPERS AND DOOR SENSORS. MY WINDSTAR ALSO HAD THE DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET WHICH WAS PART OF A VOLUNTARY RECALL BY FORD. THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE OF THIS MODEL IS WELL KNOWN. ADDITIONAL ANECDOTAL INFO CAN BE OBTAINED THROUGH THE CAR TRACKERS WEBSITE ON INTERNET. THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON THE 95 WINDSTAR IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AT FORD, HOWEVER NO RECALL HAS EVER BEEN ISSUED.

HEAD GASKET FAILED RESULTING IN LEAKAGE.

TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

THE TRANSMISSION SLIPES OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING AND WILL NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE AFTER THE ENGINE GETS WARMED UP.

FORD PAID A PORTION OF THE HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT PRIOR TO THE RECALL. DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION WHEN I INITIALLY DETECTED IT AT 32K MILES. IN LATE NOVEMBER THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTING FROM FIRST GEAR INTO NEUTRAL ON CITY STREETS, MAKING THE VEHICLE VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. FORD WILL NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE PAID THE MAJORITY OF THE BILL, LEAVING ME WITH A BALANCE OF $500.00. FOUR DAYS AFTER THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE FOR ME OR MY CHILDREN.

RECALL NOT IN THE SYSTEM. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL REGARDING THE HEAD GASKET. DEALER REFUSED TO TAKE CARE OF THE RECALL. STATED ALL PARTS ARE NOT INCLUDED IIN RECALL . PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH LOST POWER AND THE GEAR WON'T MOVE FROM OUT OF SECOND GEAR. CONSUMER DID'NT HAVE ANY PRIOR WARNING AND THE VEHICLE DIED OUT. *AK

I WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE LIGHT CHANGED FOR ME TO GO AND I PRESSED ON THE GAS. THE RMP'S ON MY DIAL WENT TO 2000 BUT MY CAR DID NOT MOVE. WHILE THIS WAS GOING ON I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED BY THE GUY BEHIND ME. HE THOUGHT I WAS MOVING SINCE THE BREAK LIGHTS HAD GONE OUT WHEN I HIT THE GAS. I ALSO NOTICED THAT SAME DAY THE THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE RIGHT AWAY. IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT 10 SECONDS BEFORE ENGAGING. I TOOK THE CAR TO JOHN LANCE FORD DEALER SHIP LOCATED AT 23775 CENTER RIDGE ROAD, WESTLAKE, OH 44145, 1-800-642-6463. I FOUND OUT IT WAS THE FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON THAT HAD BROKE. I HAD THE MECHANIC GIVE ME THE PART, THERE IS A CRACK THAT RUNS AROUND 45% OF THE PART. THE MECHANIC ALSO INFORMED ME THAT HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM HAPPEN ON QUIT A FEW 95 WINDSTARS. I ASKED HIS WHAT TYPE OF PART HE REPLACED IT WITH. HE TOLD ME THAT THE OLD PART WAS MADE OUT OF ALUMINUM AND THE NEW PART HE REPLACED IT WITH WAS MADE OF STEEL. HE TOLD ME THAT FORD WAS CHANGING THE PART BECAUSE THE STEEL PART WAS STRONGER. FROM LOOKING AT THE REPAIR BILL IT APPEARS THE NEW PART NUMBER OF THE REPLACED BROKEN ITEM IS F4DZ*7A262*A (PISTON-TRAN FORWARD CLUTCH).

CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, VEHICLE DOESN'T SLOW DOWN. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 55 MPH AND A DEER RAN OUT IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HIT THE DEER. DRIVER'S SIDE/PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO, THERE IS A CRACK IN THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, AND THE BACK REAR WINDOWS ARE BROKEN. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP, AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS SHOULDN'T HAVE DEPLOYED. *AK

DP 98004 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE: THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP IN SECOND GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD SAFELY. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. *AK

THE FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON IS FAILING DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE TRANSMISSION WILL ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW OR HIGH SPEED MAKING THIS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN WHICH TO OPERATE THIS VEHICLE. IF THIS TRANSMISSION CONTIUES TO OPERATE IN THIS MANNER ON POOR ROAD CONDITIONS, LOSS OF CONTROL CAN AND WILL RESULT BECAUSE OF THE DEFECTIVE CLUTCH PISTON. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED BY THE FORD MOTOR CO. AND THE DEFECTIVE PISTON SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH A STEEL RATHER THEN THE ORIGINAL LIGHT WEIGHT ALUMINUM COMPONENT.

CONSUMER DIDN'T ENTER SUMMARY.

WHEN DRIVING AT 40 MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED, LOST POWER, AND SHUT DOWN,CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAIT TO START THE VEHICLE BACK UP. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE I BACK UP, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AGAIN AND CUT BACK OFF. CONSUMER IS ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 40,000 MILES,THE NEW TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP BECAUSE OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND THE DEALER CAN NOT DETERMINED THE PROBLEM'S. *AK *JG

WHILE THE VEHICLE IS SITTING IN THE GARAGE DRIVER CAN SMELL GAS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE.THERE IS A HOLE IN THE GAS TANK,CAUSING THE FUEL TO SPILL ON THE GROUND. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR SERVICE. *AK

WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH WHEN SHE STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TRYING TO STOP VEHICLE, BUT BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKES DID NOT WORK, FORCING CONSUMER TO PASS A STOP SIGN AND STOPPING ON THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. *AK DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND BLEED THE BRAKES, DEALER HAS ALSO REPLACED THE CALIPERS AND TURNED THE ROTORS DUE TO VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL UPON BRAKING. *ET

I HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF TRANSMISSION FAILURES ON THIS VEHICLE AS WELL AS HEAD GASKETS BLOWING AND FORD SHOULD HAVE TO REIMBURSE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VAN IS HAVING THE HEAD GASKETS REPLACED AT THIS TIME BUT THERE MAY BE INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE ALREADY DONE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS.

FORD IS AWARE OF DEFECTIVE TRASMISSIONS IN '95 WINDSTAR. CAR LURCHES FORWARD AFTER NOT ACCELERATING FROM A STOP POSITION, COULD CAUSE ACCIDENT IF ANOTHER CAR WERE IN FRONT, SLIPPING TRANSMISSION AT 50,000 IS UNCONSCIONABLE. DEALER CHECKED AND SAID I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION INSTALLED AT $2,400. CHECK ONLINE UNDER "FORD WINDSTAR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS" THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF CUSOTMERS WITH TRANSMISSIONS AND HEAD GASKETS BLOWING AT VERY LOW MILAGE. IS THERE A CLASS ACTION SUIT REGARDING THIS DEFECT? APPARENTLY, FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT WON'T DO A RECALL BECAUSE IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE. I AM SINGLE MOM WITH 3 CHILDREN WHOM I MUST DRIVE TO AND FROM SCHOOL EVERY DAY AND I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR SAFETY. PLEASE HELP ME! ACCORDING TO OTHER OWNERS, AFTER THEIR TRANSMISSIONS BEGAN TO SLIP, IT WAS ONLY WEEKS BEFORE THE WHOLE THING BLEW. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO BUY A NEW TRANSMISSION. FORD SHOULD DO SOMETHING. *AK STRATER FAILE AT 55,955 MILES. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START NUMEROUS TIMES. ABS LIGHT STAYS ON DUE TO MASTER CYLINDER FAILURE. LOUD NOISE IN FRONT SUSPENSION DUE TO STRUTS FAILURE. BRAKES MAKE GRINDING NOISE. SERPENTINE BELT FAILED. TEMPRATURE GUAGE RUNNING HOT BECAUSE OF TEMPRATURE SENSOR FAILURE. THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS A LEMON AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *YH

WHEN TRYING TO CLOSE THE SLIDING DOOR ON THE SIDE OF VEHICLE, DOOR FELL OFF. NO WARRANTY. DEALER CONTACTED AND UNAWARE OF PROBLEM. REPAIRS DONE AT OWNERS EXPENSE, ORIGINAL PART NO LONGER USED, REPLACED WITH AN UPDATED PART. OWNER WANTS FORD TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. *AK *ML