1996 Ford Windstar complaints

OUR 96 WINDSTAR HEAD GASKET HAS FAILED AND WE ARE OUT ALMOST $1500 TO REPLACE IT. FORD KNOWS OF THE PROBLEMS BUT HAS ONLY AGREED TO FIX THE 95 WINDSTAR AT THIS TIME. WE WOULD LIKE TO JOIN IN ANY CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING THIS SUBJECT.

WHILE TRAVELING SPEEDOMETER STARTED JUMPING AROUND GIVING WRONG READING. DEALER REPAIRED SPEEDOMETER, BUT PROBLEM RETURNED. PLEASE PROVIDR FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AFTER TIMING COVER LEAK.*AK

3.8L ENGINE. HEAD GASKETS BLEWOUT. FORD HAS EXTENDED WARRANTY ON 1995 WINDSTARS WITH 3.8L ENGINE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

I AM DISSATISFIED WITH THE SERVICE FROM FORD ON MY 1996 WINDSTAR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE FOR THE SAME THING. THE ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING AT A QUICK PACE AND FORD RAN THE PRESSURE TEST. SAID IT WAS THE WATER PUMP AND GASKET THAT NEEDED FIXED. THIS WAS 2 WEEKS AGO. THEY TOLD MY BOYFRIEND [XXX] WHOSE NAME IS ON THE TITLE OF THE VAN THAT IT WAS FIXED. HERE IT IS 1/4/2001 AND AGAIN WE HAD TO TAKE IT IN FOR SERVICE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. RAN TEST AGAIN AND SAID IT WAS THE HEAD GASKETS AND #4 CYLINDER. WE ALREADY PAID $900 AND IT WASN'T FIXED THE FIRST TIME. NOW THEY WANT TO CHARGE $1200 TO HAVE IT FIXED AND WE CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY MORE WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED THE FIRST TIME AROUND. ALSO FOUND OUT FORD HAS HAD A RECALL ON ALL WINDSTARS UP TO 1995 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM THAT WE ARE HAVING AND THEY ARE FIXING THIS FOR FREE. AS A CONSUMER I FEEL WE ARE BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF AND THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO MYSELF AS WELL AS OUR CHILDREN. I AM THE MAIN DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE AND I HAVE 2 TODDLERS. FORD SAID THE VAN CAN STOP AT ANYTIME AND I WOULD BE STUCK. I AM VERY UPSET AND DISSATISFIED AND WOULD LIKE SOME SATISFACTION FROM THIS COMPANY. I FEEL WE ARE BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF WHEN FORD KNOWS THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. THANK YOU AND I AWAIT YOUR RESPONSE.*AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

ENGINE WAS RUNNING ROUGH; A LOT OF WHITE SMOKE CME OUT OF TAILPIPE. RADIATOR WAS LOSING ANTIFREEEZE EVERY DAY. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP & MECHANIC WOULD NOT LOOK AT VEHICLE. CONTACTED FORD MANUFACTURER & CSR INDICATED NOT UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY, NO REPAIR WILL BE DONE. TOOK TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP & WAS PLACED ON DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE. WAS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON HEAD GASKETS, BUT MANUFACTURER WAS GOING BY VIN. *AK

WATER LEVEL LOSS IN RADIATOR DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE. *AK

TRANSMISSION REPLACED AROUND 40000 MILES DUE TO ITS JUMPING, RPM'S WENT UP AND DOWN. CURRENTLY, HAPPENING AGAIN. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN REPLACED SIX TIMES BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT SOLVED. AS THE RESULT THE CONSUMER WAS VERY MUCH CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY. *YH

MY 3.8L WINDSTAR WAS CHECKED AT 60K AT DEALER.AT 68K THE SPEEDOMETER IS ERRATIC. NOTICED ABOUT 60 VERY SIMILIAR COMPLAINTS BY CONSUMERS AT THIS SITE. CANT DRIVE CONFIDENTLY/SAFELY. *AK

MY 3.8L WINDSTAR WAS CHECKED AT 60K AT DEALER.AT 68K CHECK ENGINE LAMP STAYED ON. DEALER IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS HEAD GASKET FAILURE & INFORMED ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED.VEHICLE RECEIVED BACK AFTER REPAIR (NEW ENGINE) AFTER PAYING HEAVY & NOW HAS SPEEDOMETER PROBLEM

FORD HAS A HISTORY OF HEAD GASKET FAILURES ON THE 3.8 ENGINE FROM 1995 ON.ALSO SPEEDOMETER CABLE HEAD HAS WENT OUT FOR THE 2ND TIME!*AK

HEAD GASKETS ARE DESIGNED TO LAST THE LIFETIME OF A VEHICLE. THEY ARE NOT ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ITEMS IN THE FORD OWNER'S MANUAL. FORD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE 1995 WINDSTAR HEAD GASKETS TWICE (5 YEARS, 60K MILES AND THEN TO 100,000 MILES). EVEN THOUGH NO MAJOR CHANGES TO THE ENGINE BLOCK WERE MADE ON THE 96 FORD WINSTAR, FORD HAS REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIRING THIS KNOW DEFECT ON MY VEHICLE. IN FACT IT APPEARS THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THE CONDITION AS THEY ISSUE A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN IN OCTOBER 1999 FOR THE 1996 WINDSTARS (TSB 90-20-7). THE COST OF THE REPAIR TO ME WAS $1,357.84. WHAT IS EVEN MORE TROUBLESOME TO ME IS FORD'S COMPLETE LACK OF INTEGRITY AND HONESTY BY NOT FULLY DISCLOSING THIS KNOWN DEFECT TO ITS CUSTOMERS. THIS IS AN INJUSTICE TO ALL AMERICANS WHO PURCHASED THIS PRODUCT. I HOPE YOU WILL HELP DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.*AK

LOSS OF COLLANT IN ENGINE.DEALER EXPLAINED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND WOULD COST FROM $1200 TO $1500 TO REPAIR. DEALER ALSO ADDED THAT THAT MOTOR IS A "TIME BOMB" TROUBLE CODE IN COMPUTER IS PO301 (MISFIRE AT #1 CYLINDER). FORD NO HELP, CONSIDERING THEY ADMIT THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT HAPPENS ANYWHERE AFTER 60000 MILES. *AK

LAST YEAR MY SPEEDOMETER BEGAN TO MAKE A WHIZZING SOUND AND WOULD JUMP ERACTICALLY. SO, I TOOK IT TO FORD AND THEY STATED THAT IT MIGHT BE A SPEED SENSOR OR THE ACTUAL GEAR BEHIND THE DASH. I HAD THE GEAR MODULE CHANGED IN 99, TWICE, I WENT TO A PROFESSIONAL CERTIFIED SPEEDO MECHANIC. THEN, CLOSE TO THE YEAR, AFTER THE REPAIR, THIS SPEEDO BEGAN DOING THE SAME THING. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE FORD SERVICE DEPT, THEY WANTED TO CHECK EVERYTHING FROM THE CABLES, THE SENSOR AND EVEN THE DRIVE GEAR. I WENT TO MY MECHANIC WHICH HAS WORKED FOR FORD, AND ALL OF THESE THINGS WERE CHANGED, AND THE DRIVE GEARS WERE INSPECTED AND THEY WERE FINE. SO, I CALLED ANOTHER FORD SERVICE TECH, AND HE TOLD ME THAT YES, THEY HAD BEEN HAVING ALOT OF INCIDENTS WITH THESE SPEEDO'S, AND THAT THE SPEEDO WOULD HAVE TO CHANGED AGAIN. THIS HAS ALL COST ME A FORTUNE AND TO BOOT, THEY INCREASED THE PART, KNOWING THAT IT WAS A DEFECTIVE ONE. I CALLED THE FORD COMPANY, AND THEY STATED THEY COULD NOT HELP SINCE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED ON THISVEHICLE. THIS HAS GOTTEN SO OUT OF HAND, THAT I HAVE HAD TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOMS HAVING CHEST PAINS AND AM TAKING SEDATIVES.......I HAVE ALSO CHECKED THE INTERNET AND IT IS FILLED WITHT HE SAME SITUATIONS.... I AM SCARED THAT A POLICE OFFICER WILL STOP ME, THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE AND DO NOT WORK... PLEASE HELP US..*AK

VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND LOST POWER MAKING STEERING AND BRAKING DIFFICULT. THE SYMPTOMS SEEM IDENTICAL TO THE 1995 ENGINE COOLANT LOSS COVERED BY FORD EXTENDED WARRANTY ALTHOUGHT DEALER REPORTS THIS VEHICLE IS NOT AFFECTED. *AK

FRONT PASSENGER'S WHEEL LUGS: NUTS KEPT GETTING CUT OFF WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED WHEEL TO FALL OFF. LUGS: NUTS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. *AK

LEAKING ANTIFREEZE AT TIMING COVER GASKET. WINDSTARS HAVE BECOME KNOWN FOR HEAD AND TIMING COVER GASKET LEAKS. REPAIRS ESTIMATED TO BE $700 - $900 TO REPLACE A $7 GASKET WHICH FORD KNOWS IT HAS A PROBLEM. FORD SHOULD BE MADE TO REIMBURSE CUSTOMERS EXPENSES AND ISSUE RECALL ON OTHER AFFECTED VEHICLES. FORDS CUSTOMER SERVICE NEEDS ATTENTION. PROBLEM STARTED IN EARLY OCTOBER 2000 WITH LOSS OF HEAT FOR HEATER OPERATION. I NOTICED ANTIFREEZE LEVEL WAS LOW AND REFILLED. HEAT RETURNED. VEHICLE WAS UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY UNTIL NOVEMBER 2000. ABOUT MID NOVEMBER NOTICED ANTIFREEZE LEAKING ONTO DRIVEWAY. GILBOY FORD HAS CONFIRMED TIMING COVER GASKET LEAK. I AM ON FULL TIME DISABILITY AND FEEL FORD SHOULD BE FOOTING THE BILL FOR THIS REPAIR. THANK YOU FOR YOU ASSISTANCE

CONSUMER TOOK CAR INTO DEALER'S SHOP FOR A BROKEN SPEEDOMETER, AND MECHANIC NOTICED A HEAD GASKET LEAK. ALERTED CONSUMER TO SOME RECALLS ON THOSE VEHICLES, BUT THEY HAD A DIFFERENT YEAR. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED. INTERMITTENT ENGINE WARNING LIGHT SINCE NEW. SELF RESET BEFORE CHANCE TO GET IT TO DEALER. AT APPROX 80K MILES SOLID ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. DEALER REPLACES OXYGEN SENSOR. STILL GOT INTERMITTENT ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. LATEST INCIDENT SOLID ENGINE WARNING LIGHT & BLUE SMOKE FROM TAIL PIPE. DEALER INDICATES BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND WORN CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS AS A CAUSE & RESULT OF INCORRECTLY DESIGNED HEAD GASKET. INDICATES IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED WITH 1995 MODEL YEAR. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *TT

BRAKES GO SOFT TO FLOOR, HAVE HAD LINES BLED 3 TIMES, AIR IN LEFT FRONT LINE EACH TIME, NONE IN OTHER 3. PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE COMING BACK MORE FREQUENTLY. MECHANIC FINDS NO FLUID LEAK AND MASTER CYLINDER FLUID IS FULL. *AK

THE HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN ON OUR MINI VAN. WE TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER WHO SAID THAT MOST WINDSTARS ARE COVERED ON AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ISSUED BY FORD DUE TO MANUFACUTERING DEFECTS. HOWEVER, FOR SOME REASON, OUR VAN IS NOT COVERED. EVEN THOUGH IT HAS DONE JUST WHAT THE OTHERS HAVE DONE, OURS IS NOT "THEIR FAULT." I CALLED THE FORD HOT LINE AND TALKED WITH SUZETTE, WHO WAS VERY FRIENDLY, BUT SHE OFFERED NO HELP OTHER THAN CONTACTING YOU. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU. *AK

WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND TRYING TO ACCELERATE IT WAS LIKE VEHICLE WAS IN NEUTRAL, IT WOULD ROLL, BUT COULDN'T GO ANYWHERE. THEN, IT WOULD JUMP INTO DRIVE. *AK

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN, FRONT LEFT WHEEL CAME OFF, VEHICLE DROPPED TO THE LEFT SIDE CAUSING BODY DAMAGE AND POSSIBLE LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION DAMAGE, CLAIM 45-8019-328. *JG

FORD RECALLED ALL CARS WITH THIS ENGINE EXCEPT THE 1996. MY WINDSTAR WAS MANUFACTURED IN JULY 1995 USING THE SAME ENGINES THAT WERE PUT IN THE 1995 CARS. *AK

WHEN DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE WAS MAKING A CLICKING SOUND. ALSO, NEEDLE RAISED ABOVE ACTUAL SPEED TRAVELING. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED SPEEDOMETER, PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. *AK TWO YEARS LATER, THE SPEEDOMETER HEAD HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER STATES THAT A NEW VEHICLE THAT EXPERIENCE SPEEDOMETER FAILURE EVERY 50000 MILES SHOULD HAVE A DEFECT AND IS UNSAFE. *YH

FORD WINDSTAR (1996): A LOCAL MECHANIC SAID THAT OUR ROUGH IDLE, ENGINE LIGHT, AND SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE INDICATED A HEAD-GASKET PROBLEM. HILL AND SANDERS FORD SERVICE STATION CHECKED FOR PRESSURE LEAKS, BUT COULD ONLY SUGGEST THAT IT WAS BAD PLUGS CAUSING THE "MISFIRE CODE" IN THE COMPUTER. AFTER $318, WE GOT NEW SPARK PLUGS AND A RESET WARNING LIGHT. WITHIN A WEEK, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE ROUGH IDLE AND SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE REAPPEARED. WE RETURNED IT TO H&S AND MENTIONED THAT IT WAS A CONTINUATION OF THE PREVIOUS, WITH A NEW SYMPTOM OF DISCOLORED ANTIFREEZE IN THE OVERFLOW CONTAINER (OIL COLOR). H&S SAID THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS A RESULT OF A "MISFIRE CODE" BUT DIDN'T KNOW WHY. THE ONLY THING H&S DID WAS FLUSH THE RADIATOR FOR $100, AND ADMITTED THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE IT COULD BE. A FEW DAYS LATER THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ON NOV. 20, 2000 THE VAN STARTED MAKING MECHANICAL NOISES FROM THE ENGINE, LOST POWER, AND SLOWED TO A CRAWL. MY WIFE GOT IT TO A SAFE LOCATION WHERE SHE AND THE KIDS COULD WAIT TO HAVE IT TOWED TO H&S. A NOTE REFERENCED THE PREVIOUS 2 H&S VISITS FOR RELATED PROBLEMS. H&S'S TOLD ME THAT "SOMETHING INSIDE THE ENGINE CAME LOOSE" AND THAT HE RECOMMENDS WE REPLACE THE ENGINE FOR $5050! HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG. WE CALLED H&S ([XXX] ) THE NEXT DAY AND TOLD HIM THAT WE FELT THAT H&S SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAMAGES DUE TO THEIR INABILITY TO DETECT AND FIX THE PROBLEM, AND SENDING US AWAY WITH A FEELING THAT THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED OR INCONSE

WE NOTICED A LEAK OF SOME SORT OF FLUID AND BROUGHT THE WINDSTAR TO OUR DEALER. WHAT WE DIDN'T EXPECT WAS THAT THE TIMING COVER GASKET WAS BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 52000 MILES. THIS COSTED US $904 AND I AM NOT SURE IF IT'S RELATED TO PRIOR '95 GASKET PROBLEMS.

THE ABS LIGHT HAS COME ON OVER 3 OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TWO TIMES OCCURRED WITHIN 2 YEARS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THE VAN THEREFORE THE REPAIR WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT WAS 06/2000 DUE TO A WIRE SHORT AND THE REPAIR COSTED $219. ALSO, WE JUST NOTICED THAT A PIECE OF BAR WAS BROKEN OFF NEAR THE FRONT ALIGNMENT. TOOK THE VAN TO THE SHOP AND FOUND OUT THE SWAY BAR WAS BROKEN OFF. THE REPAIR SHOP INDICATED THAT THIS PART USUALLY LASTS THE LIFE OF THE VAN UNLESS WE HIT SOMETHING HARD. THIS WAS NOT THE CASE AND THE REPAIR WILL COST $430. *AK

ENGINE NEVER OVERHEATED BLOWN HEADGASKET AND WATER IN THE CYLENDER THREW A ROD WHEN I STARTED IT UP. *AK

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED TO STOP THE VAN, A GRINDING SOUND IS HEARD, A VIBRATION IS FELT IN THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND STOPPING DISTANCE IS INCREASED. ABS LIGHT COMES ON OCCASIONALLY. DEALER ON 9/30/00 SAID BRAKE SYSTEM IS OK. PROBLEM PERSISTS.*AK

THE SPEDOMETER IS SWINGING WILDLY WHEN VAN REACHES HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE SPEDOMETER RECORDS SPEEDS OF OVER 115 MPH WHEN THE VAN IS ACTUALLY GOING 70 MPH. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BUZZES CONSTANTLY WHILE THIS OCCURS. IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME WE DRIVE. I THINK THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY THE DEALER FREE OF CHARGE. WE WERE TOLD BY OUR MECHANIC THAT IT WOULD BE AT LEAST $200 TO FIX THIS. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY FOR THIS OURSELVES SO WE ARE DRIVING THE VAN IN THIS CONDITION. PLEASE ADVISE US AS TO WHATEVER RIGHTS WE MAY HAVE CONCERNING THIS GLARING DEFECT. *AK

MANIFOLD GASKET AND HEAD GASKET FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO USE EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF COOLANT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED INJECTORS AND EGR PORTS WERE CLEANED, 2 MONTHS LATER WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING THICK WHITE SMOKE, THIS DEALER FOUND THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN AND THAT THE CONSUMER WAS 12 DAYS LATE FOR THE MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. *SLC

AT THE 90,000 CHECKUP THE MECHANIC SAID OUR TIMING COVER GASKET IS LEAKING AND ANTIFREEZE IS COMING THROUGH. IF IT IS NOT FIXED WHOLE ENGINE WILL SEIZE UP. SOUNDS LIKE THE PROBLEMS OF THE 1995!*AK

THE PRIMARY HOOD LATCH DOES NOT CATCH. *SLC

THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL SHEARED OFF THE LUGS AND CAUSED THE WHEEL TO JUST ABOUT FALL OFF WHILE WE WERE DRIVING THE CAR. THE DEALER REPLCED THE LUGS (ONLY THE BROKEN ONES AND NOT ALL OF THEM). JUST OVER ONE YEAR LATER, THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED; THAT IS, THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SHEERED OFF THE LUGS AND CAUSED THE WHEEL TO ALMOST FALL OFF. A FEW MONTHS PRIOR TO THE SECOND INCIDENT, ALL 4 TIRES WERE CHANGED BY AN INDEPENDENT TIRE PLACE. THAT TIRE PLACE SWEARS UP AND DOWN THAT THEY PROPERLY TORQUED THE BOLTS AND THAT THEIR STANDARD INSPECTION CALLS FOR A SECOND INSPECTION TO CONFIRM THIS. I TEND TO BELIEVE THAT THEY DID THIS. I THINK THERE IS A KNOWN DEFECT IN THE WHEEL DESIGN BY WHICH THE LUG NUTS ARE KNOWN TO BACK OFF DURING USE, CAUSING THE WOBBLY WHEEL TO SHEAR OFF THE OTHER LUGS. I HAVE SEEN THIS CONDITION REPORTED BY OTHERS ON THIS SITE.

LIKE THE 95'S, IT'S ONLY JUST BEGUN. HEAD GASKETS BLOWN AT 64K MILES.*AK

FORD HAS BEEN UNWILLING TO DISCUSS WITH ME. I'VE CALLED AND WRITTEN TO NO AVAIL.*AK

MY 1996 FORD WINDSTAR BLEW A HEAD GASKET WITH ONLY 76125 MILES. COST FOR REPAIR WILL BE 1333.25 . AND FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET ,MY WINDSTAR IS NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THE BLOWN HEADGASKET PROBLEM. *AK

HEAD GASKETS BLEW OUT WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE. FORD HAS ISSUED A SERVICE RECALL ON EARLIER YEARS.*AK

HEAD GASKET BLOWN, REQUIRES ENGINE REPLACEMENT. *AK

CONSUMER HAD SEEN WATER LEAKING FROM ENGINE. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE BEFORE TO DEALER TO BE REPAIRED, AND DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY HEAD GASKET WICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

MY WINDSTAR HAS HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WHICH CANNOT BE FOUND OR CORRECTED BY THE DEALER UNTIL NOW, THEY CAN SEE THAT THE SLIPPING TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I AM AFRAID TO SPEND $2,500 ON A REPAIR AS THE OTHER "UNDETECTABLE" PROBLEMS ARE QUITE SCARY AND HAVE MADE ME QUESTION THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE FOR A LONG TIME. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THAT THE BRAKES WILL OCCASIONALY "GRAB" HOLD OF THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE FOR A SPLIT SECOND WHILE I AM DRIVING!! IT HAPPENS AND LETS GO SO FAST THAT IT HAS NEVER CAUSED A PROBLEM BUT I AM WORRIED ONE DAY IT WON'T LET GO! THE CAR ALSO HAS SOME ELECTRICAL FAILINGS THAT JUST MAKE ME FEEL THIS CAR IS NOT WORTH FIXING, MY SPEEDOMETER BOUNCES ALL OVER THE PLACE, THE DOOR AJAR BELL RINGS ON AND ON SOMETIMES, AND THE PASSANGER WINDOW DOESN'T ALWAYS GO UP AND DOWN. I REALLY FEEL I NEED A NEW CAR, BUT AM QUITE SAD ABOUT HAVING A $24,000 VEHICLE THAT IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD AND IS ONLY WORTH $5,500 FOR A TRADE IN. I HAVE HEARD THERE WERE SO MANY TRANSMISSION & HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS WITH THE 95'S THAT FORD GIVES A SPECIAL REBATE UPON TRADE IN FOR A NEW FORD, CAN YOU HELP ME???*AK

FUEL TANK DEVELOPED A CRACK WHICH ALLOWED GASOLINE TO LEAK OUT. FAILURE TOOK MANY MONTHS TO BECOME APPARENT AND WAS PROCEEDED BY GASOLINE ODORS FROM THE FUEL TANK AREA, ESPECIALLY NOTICIBLE AFTER REFUELING, BUT WITH NO APPARENT LEAKAGE UNTIL THE END.*AK

I SAW THAT IT HAPPENED WITH OTHER OWNERS SO IT MUST BE A MANUFACTURER'S FAULT. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

WHAT'S WITH THE O2 SENSORS? THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT WENT BAD. DON'T THEY KNOW HOW TO MAKE A GOOD QUALITY PARTS?*AK

WHEN I GET TO ABOUT 35 MPH, YOU CAN HEAR THE SPEEDO HEAD GEARS GRIND. WHEN YOU REACH APPROX 55 - 60 MPH, THE SPEEDO NEEDLE WILL BOUNCE UP TO 90 AND BACK, AND KEEP DOING THIS. WE HAD THE SPEED SENSOR REPLACED, BUT THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBELM. I WAS TOLD BY LOMPOC VALLEY FORD IN LOMPOC, CA THAT IT IS MORE THAN LIKELY THE SPEEDO HEAD. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT THEY REPLACE ONE OF THESE A MONTH, SOMETIMES TWO A MONTH. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT FORD SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM INSTEAD OF ME PAYING THE $1,000 THAT LOMPOC VALLY FORD QUOTED ME TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. ALTHOUGH THIS IS NOT A BIG SAFETY PROBLEM, IT COULD TURN INTO ONE BECAUSE YOU EITHER HAVE TO DRIVE TOO SLOW FOR TRAFFIC CONDITIONS, OR YOU DON'T KNOW HOW FAST YOU ARE REALLY GOING WHEN YOU TRY TO KEEP UP WITH TRAFFIC. I APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME IN GETTING THIS PROBLEM FIXED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON VEHICLE SPED UP. WHILE GETTING READY TO EXIT OFF THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE STAYED UNDER CRUISE CONTROL MODULE. AS CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN, VEHICLE WAS MOVING 65 MPH WITHOUT ANY CONTROL FROM CONSUMER. IN ORDER TO MAKE VEHICLE STOP CONSUMER HAD TO PRESS BRAKE PEDAL WITH BOTH FEET, AND SHIFT VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL. EVENTUALLY, VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN, AND CONSUMER TURNED VEHICLE OFF, DEALER REPLACED 2 LOCK TABS BECAUSE ONE HAD SLIPPED ON THE CRUISE CAUSING IT TO STAY ON. TRIP SPEEDOMETER WAS REPLACED, IT WOULD NOT GO PAST 799 MILES. AT 30 MPH AND OVER, THE OVER DRIVE LIGHT WILL FLASH. LEFT FRONT WHEEL COVER WAS REPLACED DUE TO IT MAKING TICKING NOISES AT LOWER SPEEDS. SLIDING DOOR SQUEAKED, DEALER LUBED THE SLIDING DOOR. FRONT ROTORS REPLACED AND REAR DRUMS TURNED, A CLICKING NOISE WAS HEARD. *AK *SLC

BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THIS IS A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH FORD'S 94 AND 95 WINDSTARS. IN CONTACTING FORD'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER, THEY INDICATE THAT THESE EARLIER VEHICLES ARE NOW COVERED BY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE NHTSA HAS DETERMINED THAT FORD WAS AT FAULT; HOWEVER, THEY INDICATE THAT NHTSA HAS MADE NO SIMILAR RULING ON THE 1996 MODEL. I HAVE ASKED FORD FOR AN EXPLANATION OF THE DEFECT THAT WAS FOUND IN THE 1994 AND 1995 MODELS AND THE DATE BY WHICH A SPECIFIC, CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS TAKEN TO ENSURE AGAINST SIMILAR FAILURE IN SUBSEQUENT MODELS. THE FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER INDICATES THAT THE DEALER IS THE ONLY SOURCE OF TECHNICAL INFORMATION AND THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO RESPOND TO THIS ISSUE. MY QUESTION TO THE NHTSA IS WHETHER YOU CAN ASSIST IN DOCUMENTING THE SPECIFICS OF THE DEFECT AND THE TIMELINE WITHIN WHICH FORD TOOK CORRECTIVE ACTION TO YOUR SATISFACTION? IT IS POSSIBLE THAT I AM SIMPLY UNFORTUNATE AND THAT THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON MY '96 WINDSTAR--ALTHOUGH IT SEEMS AWFULLY SIMILAR TO THE HEAD GASKET FAILURES ON HUNDREDS (THOUSANDS?) OF 94 AND 95 WINDSTARS--IS ONLY A COINCIDENCE? OR IS IT THE CASE THAT MY VEHICLE HAS SUFFERED THE SAME FATE AS THOSE EARLIER VEHICLES BUT NOT ENOUGH OF THE '96 VEHICLES HAVE REACHED THE POINT OF FAILURE FOR THIS MODEL TO HAVE REACHED STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT LEVELS? IF I KNEW THAT YOU HAD PINPOINTED THE PROBLEM AND THAT FORD HAD CORRECTED IT PRIOR TO THE BUILD DATE OF MY VEHICLE (WHICH I UNDERSTAND TO BE FEB. 1996) OR THE MANU