1995 Ford Windstar complaints

ENGINE BLEWOUT WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE CHECKED BY DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS FAULTY. CONSUMER HAD GASKET REPLACED AT 93000 MILES, 2,000 MILES LATER ENGINE BLEWOUT AGAIN. *AK

VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE LINE AS STATED IN RECALL #02-V-101-000. BUT BY THIS VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK HEAD GASKET FAILED. CONSUMER IS ASKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. *YH

THE ENGINE HAS BEEN REPLACED ON TWO OCCASIONS AT THE CONSUMERS EXPENSE, THE FIRST OCCASION OCCURRED WHEN A ROD BLEW, THE SECOND OCCUURRENCE THE HEAD GASKET BLEW, FORD WILL NOT ASSIST CONSUMER AT ALL EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE A NOTIFICATION AND EXTENDED COVERAGE OFFER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *SLC

THERE WAS A RECALL NOTICE ON THIS VEHICLE WHICH WAS POINTED OUT TO ME BY AUTO MECHANIC. I HAVE FORWARDED THIS INFORMATION TO NHTSA VIA MAIL. FORD SERVICE AT FRIENDLY FORD IN LAS VEGAS NV SAID THAT THERE WAS A RECALL BUT MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THAT RECALL NOTICE EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE DESCRIPTION IN THE NOTICE DESCRIBES THE EXACT SITUATION, IE. VEHICLES PURCHASED IN SOUTHERN SECTIONS OF CALIFORNIA.*AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED 3 WEEKS PAST 2ND EXTENDED WARRENTY BY FORD CAUSING THE ENGINE TO NEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

EXHAUST SYSTEM HAS CORRODED, AND IS CAUSING FUMES TO ENTER VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED TWICE AND WAS REPLACED. HEAD GASKET FAILED AND WAS REPLACED; ALSO THE INTERNAL LEAKS FROM HEAD GASKETS IN VEHICLE CORRODED FLEX PIP AND EXHAUSTING INTO VEHICLE. ENGINE FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. THE OUTER RIGHT AND LEFT TIE RODS FAILED AND WERE REPLACED. AIR FILTER FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. PCV VALVE FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD CONTINUES EXHAUST LEAKS INTO THE VEHICLE, CAUSED SOME SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEM TO THE DRIVER. *YH

A STEEL BRAKE LINE RUBBED THROUGH THE FRAME, CAUSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GO TO THE FLOOR AND THE BRAKES TO FAIL. *TT

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION WILL LEAK FLUID, WHILE PARKED THE CONSUMER SAW SMOKE, THE CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD TO LET THE SMOKE ESCAPE AND NOTICE FLUID DRIPPING, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED.*AK *NLM

ENGINE HEAD GASKET REPLACED AT 47,000 MILES, ENGINE TIMING COVER GASKET REPLACED AT 92,000, ENGINE FAILED (ROD BEARINGS, CRANKSHAFT, AND ROD) SHORTLY THEREAFTER SHUTTING DOWN BRAKING AND STEERING SYSTEMS IN VEHICLE. HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS WAS DUE TO COOLANT LEAKING INTO ENGINE OIL SYSTEM FROM PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED PROBLEMS AND IS BEING EXPERIENCED BY MANY OWNERS DUE TO POOR ENGINE DESIGN. ENGINE FAILURE HAD THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE ACCIDENT HAD THE DRIVING SITUATION BEEN DIFFERENT WHEN IT OCCURRED.

FORWARD CLUTH PISTON - TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS IN FIRST GEAT AND REVERSE. *AK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTINUED TO FAIL, STICKING IN OVERDRIVE. TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REBUILT TWICE BY DEALERSHIP WITHIN 6 MONTHS. ALSO, THERE WAS ALWAYS AN ELECTRICAL SMELL BEFORE TRANSMISSION BROKE DOWN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.*AK

THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY DEALER UNDER WARRANTY 1ST TIME.*JB

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT. VEHICLE WOULDN'T MOVE UNLESS PUT INTO PARK AND SHUT OFF AND THEN RESTARTED. HAD TO DO THIS SEVERAL TIME WHILE DRIVING HOME. I COULD GO ABOUT TWO MILES BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD STOP WORKING AND GO TO NEUTRAL. OVERDRIVE ON/OFF LIGHT WOULD KEEP BLINKING.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THE HEAD GASKET AND MANIFOLD HAD BLOWN, CONSUMER INQUIRED ABOUT THE HEAD GASKET BEING UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ENDED IN JANUARY.*JB

SURPASSED FORD EXPANDED WARANTEE BY A LITTLE OVER 2 MONTHS. FORD HAS REFUSED TO CONSIDER PAYMENT OR PARTIAL PAYMENT FOR REPAIR- EVEN THOUGH THE MILEAGE IS RELATIVELY LOW AND THE PRODUCT DEFECT WELL KNOWN. NO SAFETY DEFEC TSTATED. *AK

FUEL TANK HAS CRACKED AND IS LEAKING GAS. THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK THE FUEL TANK WAS ON RECALL BUT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. *YH

VEHICLE WAS MAKING A STRANGE NOISE UPON STARTING. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND THEY STATED THAT HEAD GASKET BROKE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED ALLOWING COOLENT TO LEAK INTO THE FIREING CHAMBER, THEREBY CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BIND UP. UPON REMOVAL OF THE #4,5 AND 6 SPARK PLUGS, ANTI-FREEZ LEAKED OUT OF THE #4 SPARK PLUG HOLE. THIS IS CONSISTANT WITH THE KNOWN FAILURES OF THE GASKET IN QUESTION.

TRANSAXLE WAS REPLACED AT 105,000 BEFORE PURCHASING FROM DEALER THEN 4 MONTHS LATER TRANSAXLE GOES OUT(111.000 MILES) WHILE DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE DEALER WHERE PURCHASED IS REFUSING TO FIX IT. *AK

VEHICLE PARKED AFTER JULY,2000 AS PROBLEM COULD NOT BE IDENTIFIED. WAS TAKEN BY AMBULANCE 3 TIMES WHILE IN THE VEHICLE. OCTOBER 31, 2000, SOUGHT A THIRD OPINION-CAR TAKEN TO INVER GROVE FORD. INTERNAL HEAD GASKET LEAK. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE HEAD GASKETS HAD BEEN REPLACED. WHILE DRIVING CAR HOME, IT OVERHEATED AND WAS RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP FOR ENGINE REPLACEMENT. WAS ADVISED THAT THE FLEXPIPE AS CORRODED AND EXHAUSTING INTO THE CAR. WAS TOLE THIS WAS THE PROBABLE SOURCE OF MY GETTING SICK IN THE CAR. EVEN AFTER THE REPAIRS, I AM SO CHEMICALLY SENSITIVE THAT I CAN NOT EVEN GET INTO THE CAR. THIS CAR HAS BEEN PARKED SINCE JULY,2000 AS IT IS TOO TOXIC FOR ME TO BE IN THIUS VAN AT ALL. FORD HAS BEEN CONTACTED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AS WELL AS THE DEALERSHIPS. I ADVISED THEM IN JUNE OF 2000 THAT THIS VAN WAS MAKING ME QUITE SICK AND THEY WERE ADVISED OF THE AMBULANCE CALL AND EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS. I SPECIFICALLY ADVISED THEM OF THE ODORS EXHAUSTING IN THE CAR AND THAT I HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH CHEMICAL SENSITIVITES, PROVIDING FORD WITH MEDICAL DOCUMENTATION, WHICH ALSO ADVISED THAT MY DOCTOR FELT THE CAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE FORWARED CORRESPONDANCE TO THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THE FORD APPEALS BOARD TWICE, AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF MINNESOTA. NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO HELP. THERE ARE MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR INCLUDING PROBABLE MILD IN THE HEATER BOX, AND THE EXHAUSTS AND CHEMICALS IN THE CAR. I HAVE TRIED TO TRADE THE CAR IN BUT DEALERSHIPS,

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY, VEHICLE STARTED SLOWING DOWN. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDER AND OIL OR ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. *AK THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIR THREE TIMES FOR A FAILED GASKET. THE ENGINE WON'T HEAT UP PROPERLY DUE TO THE THERMOSTAT BEING STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION. NEW OXYGEN SENSORS HAD TO BE INSTALLED DUE TO BEING CONTAMINATED FROM THE COOLANT. *JG

FUEL TANK IS LEAKING FUEL DUE TO A CRACKED FUEL TANK. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.*AK. THIS OCCURRED AFTER RECALL REPAIR 99V309. *JB

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CUT OFF. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

ABS BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON AND BRAKES MADE A LOUD NOISE . THIS COULD CAUSE VEHICLE NOT TO STOP AT A SHORTER DISTANCE. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK

THREE OF THE FIVE LUG STUDS IN ONE FRONT WHEEL BROKE SIMULTANEOUSLY, CAUSING SEVERE VIBRATIONS OF THE WHOLE CAR. WE WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND SLOW DOWN TO A SAFE STOP AT THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. WE WERE TOWED 150 MILES FROM AKRON TO COLUMBUS. WE HAVE FOLLOWED THE MANUFACTURER HAD HAD AN ALIGNMENT AND WHEEL ROTATION AT GERMAIN FORD IN COLUMBUS IN MARCH 2002. THREE POSSIBLE CAUSES: METAL FAILURE OF THE STUDS, TORQUING THE LUGS TOO TIGHT WHEN THE TIRES WERE ROTATED, OR LUGS COMING LOOSE. THE SERVICE PEOPLE AT GERMAIN FORD HAVE RULED OUT LOOSE LUGS DUE TO THE FINDING THAT NONE OF THE LUG HOLES WERE OUT OF ROUND. IF ALL FIVE LUG STUDS HAD FAILED AT ONCE, WE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE HAD A FATAL ACCIDENT. WE HAD DRIVEN ABOUT 10 HOURS FROM MANCHESTER, CT AND BROKE DOWN JUST EAST OF AKRON, OH. SPEED WAS GENERALLY BETWEEN 65 & 75 MPH. WE WERE TOWED HOME TO COLUMBUS. GERMAIN FORD DID A TORQUE TEST ON THE OTHER STUDS IN ALL WHEELS TODAY, AND NONE OF THEM FAILED. HOWEVER, WE CHOSE TO REPLACE ALL STUDS IN ALL WHEELS.

CONSUMER STATES WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE WILL SLOW DOWN THEN IT RELEASES AND GOES A FOOT MORE THEN IT WILL STOP. THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN ON AN INCLINE, DAMPNESS. CONSUMER STATES IT COULD HAPPEN ANYTIME NOW. CONSUMER FEELS UNSAFE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD OFTEN SHOW HOT. THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS ALSO A PROBLEM WAS WITH A PART OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE PART WAS REPLACED BUT A FEW WEEKS LATER THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN. AT THIS TIME THE DEALER REALIZED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS A LEAKY HEAD GASKET. THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE OVERHEATING WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE TEMPERATURE SENDER BURNOUT CAUSED BY THE THERMOSTAT MALFUNCTION CAUSED BY THE LEAKY HEAD GASKET. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO NEVER BEING TOLD OF THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION WARRANTY. *SLC *NM

ENGINE IS OVERHEATING WHILE DRIVING. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

TORQUE CONVERTER ASSEMBLY HAS A GROVE IN IT THAT CAUSES SEAL TO FAIL, RESULTING IN LOSS OF TRANSMISSION FUEL. TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED, ALMOST CAUSING A FIRE.*AK

WHEN VEHICLE WAS AT AN IDLE, CONSUMER PUT INTO GEAR AND WITH FEET STILL ON THE BRAKES VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS, PARTICULARLY IN HOT WEATHER. *SLC

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR RECALL 02V101000 REPAIRS. DEALER STATED NOT ONLY WAS SHORT SECTION AFFECTED BY RECALLED BRAKE CORROSION, BUT ALL BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK FROD CUSTOMER SERVICE SAYS THEY HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE MALFUNCTIONING PARTS. *JG

NHTSA RECALL 02 V 101 00/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 02S36 CONCERNING BRAKE LINE: AFTER REPAIRS WERE DONE BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP VEHICLE. DEALER UNABLE TO LOCATE CAUSE. VEHICLE BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR 3O DAYS. AT QUALITY FORD IN MT VERNON, NY; PHONE# 914/699-0900. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING HEARD A POPPING NOISE/VEHICLE WILL RUN ROUGHLY, AND WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE.CONTACTED MECHANIC.OUTER HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN.ALSO, REPLACED TRANSMISSION. *AK

VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ENGINE COOLANT AND OIL DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILING. CONSUMER HAD HEAD GASKET REPLACED. BUT AFTER ONLY 22,000 MILES HEAD GASKET WENT OUT AGAIN. DEALER DID NOT WANT TO REPLACE HEAD GASKET AGAIN.*AK

VEHICLE WAS IDELING AND STARTED TO SMOKE, CONSUMER LIFTED HOOD AND SAW FIRE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE OF FIRE. CONSUMER FELT FAMILY WAS IN DANGER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF MAIN DRIVE LINE COMPONENT, FOLLOWING REPLACEMENT OF SAME COMPONTNE THREE YEARS PRIOR. *AK

AT 65MPH TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT GEARS. ALSO, WILL NOT RUN. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE LIGHT WOUL ILLUMINATE, ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING, HEAD GASKET FAILED, THERMOSTAT AND THERMOSTAT GASKET FAILED, O-RING WERE LEAKING AND ALSO IF THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME THE VEHICLE WOULD START TO OVERHEAT. * YD 2 OXYGEN SENSORS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED

AT 35MPH SHOCK ABSORBERS SNAPPED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HAVE NO ACCELERATION. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE SHUTDOWN, AND BECAME INOPERATIVE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE MADE A POPPING NOISE, AND THE ENGINE SHUTDOWN. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE TO SIDE OF ROAD. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

SMOKE WAS COMING FROM TAILPIPE. DEALER DETERMINED THAT HEADGASKET WAS BLOWN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK CONSUMER ADDS WHILE DRIVING, HEARD A CRACKING SOUND, AND SMOKE BEGAN TO COME FROM TAILPIPE. DEALER FOUND CRACKED HEAD GASKET AND WATER LEAKING FROM EXHAUST PIPE. *TT

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL START TO SHAKE AND REV. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER COULD NOT FIND CAUSE OF PROBLEM.*AK

WHEN STARTING VEHICLE AND PUTTING IT INTO GEAR, THERE'S A JERK. WHEN STOPPING VEHICLE JERKS, VEHICLE STALLS IN INTERSECTIONS. *AK CONSUMER FEELS ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT OF MONIES PAID FOR REPAIRS TO VEHICLE.

I WAS DRIVING FROM WISCONSIN TO PENNSYLVANIA AT NIGHT. IN OHIO, I NOTICED A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF POWER, AND "WHOOSHING" NOISE FROM UNDER CHASSIS, GRADUALLY GETTING WORSE OVER A COUPLE OF HOURS. AT THAT POINT, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO CAME ON. AFTER ARRIVING IN PITTSBURGH (AND AFTER CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY) I TOOK THE CAR TO A MUFFLER SHOP. AS I EXPECTED, ONE OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTORS WAS CLOGGED. ON DIAGNOSING THE PCM FAULT CODES, THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE RUBBER HOSES CONNECTING TO THE DPFE (DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE FEEDBACK EGR) SENSOR WAS NEARLY COMPLETELY MELTED AWAY (BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED EXHAUST BACKPRESSURE FROM THE CAT FAILURE???). I WAS PREPARING THE CAR FOR ANOTHER LONG-DISTANCE TRIP ON 6/10/02 WHEN I DISCOVERED THAT THE PLASTIC AIR INTAKE PLENUM AND THE WIRING HARNESS IN THAT AREA WERE DAMAGED BY HEAT, AS WELL. THE AREA OF DAMAGE IS RIGHT IN THE AREA OF THE METAL TUBES COMING FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM THAT THE RUBBER HOSES TO THE DPFE SENSOR CONNECT TO. ABOUT 8 OF THE WIRES HAD THEIR INSULATION COMPLETELY BURNED THROUGH (ABOUT 1" IN LENGTH). MANY OF THE REST OF THE WIRES HAD EMBRITTLED INSULATION, OR THE INSULATION WAS MELTED TOGETHER (THERE SEEM TO BE ABOUT 50 CONDUCTORS IN THE WIRING HARNESS AT THAT LOCATION). I'M REALLY QUITE SURPRISED THAT NO FUSES BLEW, SINCE THE BARE WIRES WERE ALL ADJACENT TO EACHOTHER (ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE WIRE BUNDLE, OUT OF SIGHT IF YOU'RE NOT LOOKING CLOSELY). I HADN'T DETECTED ANY ELECTRICAL FAILURES AT THE TIME, OR DURING THE INTERVENING

WHEN COMING TO A STOP VEHICLE SHIFTS TO NEUTRAL. WHEN CONSUMER SHIFTS BACK TO DRIVE, IT JUMPS TO 2ND DRIVE. DEALER DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

A CLICKING SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFROMATION.*AK

AT 55MPH HEAD GASKET HAD OVERHEATED, AND THEY CAN SEE BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM GASKET. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

FORD OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES BECAUSE OF HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE HAS 43,000 MILES BUT THE 7 YEARS EXPIRED IN MARCH. ON APRIL 22 THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. FORD WILL NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *JG *NM