1996 Ford Windstar complaints

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE HEAD GASKET BLEW AND CAUSED FLUID TO LEAK. *NLM

FRONT LEFT SPRING BROKE PUNCTURING TIRE. VEHICLE HAD BEEN RETURNED FOR SERVICE ON DEFECTIVE PART, AT TIME WE WERE TOLD NOT TO WORRY WE WOULD KNOW WHEN PART NEEDED REPLACED. *NLM

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER ALLOWED THE ENGINE TO COOL AND PUT IN SOME ANTI-FREEZE. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE FELL OFF THE VEHICLE. *NLM

THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SYMPTOMS OF RECALL 02V-101000 WHICH WAS RELATED TO BRAKE LINE CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED I THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *NLM THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED AT THE PLANT WITH THE RECALL DURING THAT TIME. *SCC

96 FORD WINDSTAR WITH 3.8 LT V6 ,HAS BLOWN HEAD GASKET,FORD SAYS THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL FOR PART WITH MY VIN# AFTER LOOKING UP PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE ON THE WEB I FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE HEAD GASKET FOR THE 94 AND 95 MODELS AND IT SEEMS THEY HAVE FOLLOWED OVER TO THE 96 MODELS ESPECIALLY WITH THE 3.8 ENGINES. UPON CALLING FORD AND TALKING TO A REPRESENTATIVE THEY SAID THE REPAIR COST WERE BASICALLY IM MY HANDS ,I TOLD THEM FROM WHAT I READ THERE HAD BEEN NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE GASKETS IN THE 96 AND FOR THEM TO GO AT 73,OOO MILES SEEMS A LITTLE PREMATURE,SHE BASICALLY TOLD ME THAT WE WERE TALKING IN CIRCLES AND THAT THE 96"S HAD A EXCELLENT CUSTOMER RATING AND TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT THE EXPENSE OF THE REPAIR WOULD BE MINE. *NLM

THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT THE MANUFACTURER INVESTIGATE A SPEEDOMETER PROBLEM ON FORD WINDSTARS AND ESCORTS. *PH *NLM *CB *JB

WHEN THE KEY WAS TAKEN OUT OF THE IGNITION, THE ENGINE DID NOT SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO STATED A PIN CAME OUT OF THE STEERING SYSTEM. *JB

1996 FORD WINDSTAR - FAILURE OF HEAD GASKET RESULTING IN IRREPARABLE ENGINE DAMAGE. COST OF HEAD GASKET REPAIR, ~$1,500. COST OF ENGINE REPLACEMENT ~$4,000. WAS INFORMED BY FORD SERVICE TECHNICIAN THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH WINDSTARS FROM THE YEARS '94 THROUGH '97 AND THAT FORD HAD A "SILENT RECALL" FOR UP TO 100K MILES WHERE THEY WOULD HAVE REPLACED HEAD GASKET. *NLM

THE DRIVER SIDE RIM CRACKED. *JB

44,000 MILES AND BLOWN HEAD GASKET, $1500 REPAIR QUOTE. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS BEFORE FORD PROVIDES REMEDY FOR 96 WINDSTARS? I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN AND I AM TELLING EVERYONE I KNOW NOT TO BUY A FORD. *JB

MY 1996 3.8L FORD WINDSTAR SLOWLY DEVELOPED A HEAD GASKET LEAK AFTER APPROXIMATELY 80,000 MILES. MY VAN IS WELL MAINTAINED WITH ALL THE APPROPRIATE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS. I HAVE SEARCHED THE NET AND I HAVE FOUND THE HEAD GASKET LEAK PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL IS SHARED BY OTHER NUMEROUS OWNERS AS WELL. IT IS APPARENT THAT FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THE 1996 WINDSTAR GASKET LEAK AS THEY DID ON THEIR 1995 MODEL. FORD HAS IMPLIED THE GASKET HAS BEEN REPAIRED ON THE 1996 MODEL. MY VAN IS A TESTAMENT THE DEFECT ON THE HEAD GASKET HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD MY COMPLAINT TO YOUR LIST AND HOPEFULLY FORCE FORD TO EXTEND THE RECALL TO THE 1996 MODEL AS WELL. *JB

THE ENGINE COVER GASKET FAILED, AND OIL MIXED WITH THE ANTI-FREEZE AND RUINED THE ENGINE. *JB

THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A SERIOUS GASOLINE LEAK. THE DEALER STATES THAT THE GAS TANK IS PLASTIC AND HAS CRACKED CAUSING THE LEAK. *NLM

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. *JB

I PURCHASED A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR IN SEPTEMBER OF 1998. IT HAD 15,000 MILES ON IT. IT HAS THE 3.8L V6 ENGINE. THE VAN CURRENTLY HAS 84,452 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. ON MARCH 28, 2003 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER TO BE FIXED. THEY ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE HAD A MISS-FIRE ON CYLINDER NUMBER 1. THEY CHECKED THE SPARK PLUG, SPARK PLUG WIRE AND COIL. THEY DID NOT DETERMINE WHY THE ENGINE MISFIRED AND CONCLUDED THAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN A FLUKE. I PAID FOR THE WORK COMPLETED. I DROVE APPROXIMATELY ONE HALF MILE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AGAIN APPEARED. ON MARCH 28TH, I WAS INFORMED BY THE SHOP FORMAN THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR ON NUMBER 1 CYLINDER WAS NOT WORKING. A FUEL INJECTOR WAS ORDERED AND INSTALLED. ON MONDAY, MARCH 31, 2003 I PAID A BILL FOR $136.31 FOR THE REPAIR OF THE FUEL INJECTOR. AS I DROVE THE WINDSTAR TO MY HOME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED. THE SHOP FORMAN ADVISED ME THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR WAS NOT THE PROBLEM AND THAT AN ALTERNATE ENGINE COMPUTER WAS TRIED. ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2003 I WAS ADVISED THAT AN ENGINE KNOCK HAD DEVELOPED. IT WAS CAUSED BY ANTIFREEZE LEAKING THROUGH A HEAD GASKET INTO CYLINDER NUMBER 1. THE WATER IN THE CYLINDER CAUSED THE PISTON ROD TO BEND RUINING THE ENGINE. A REPLACEMENT ENGINE WILL COST $3400. I ASKED THE SHOP FORMAN IF AN ENGINE COMPRESSION CHECK HAD BEEN DONE DURING THE ENGINE DIAGNOSIS. HE ADVISE THAT NO COMPRESSION CHECK WAS DONE SINCE A PRESSURE CHECK OF THE ENGINE HAD BEEN DONE BY THIS SH

TRANSMISSION FAILED INTERNALLY, CAUSING OUTSIDE CASE TO CRACK, AND STARTED LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID. NEEDED TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION FOR $2400. THIS AT 72,000 MILES, AND AFTER REPLACING ENTIRE ENGINE (UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY) AT 59,000 MILES. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED PER THE OWNER'S MANUAL, SINCE BUYING NEW. THE ONLY SATISFACTION IS THAT FORD HAS LOST MONEY ON THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF ALL THE WARRANTY WORK DONE FOR THE FIRST SIX YEARS OF IT'S LIFE. HAVE HAD MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE LAST 4 FORDS I HAVE OWNED, ALL AT LESS THAN 60,000 MILES. NO MORE FORDS IN MY FUTURE. *JB

WE TOOK OUR 96 WINDSTAR INTO THE FORD DEALER TO INVESTIGATE AN OIL LEAK. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT INFORMED MY WIFE THAT THE OIL PAN GASKET AND LIP SEAL, TIMING COVER GASKET, UPPER/LOWER INTAKE GASKETS AND U/C GASKETS NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF $1,800.00. I FOUND THIS UNUSUAL AND RESEARCHED THESE SYMPTOMS ON THE INTERNET AND WAS ASTONISHED WHAT I FOUND. THE CONTENT IN THE ARTICLES ON MANY WEB SITES RESEARCHED, ARE IDENTICAL TO WHAT I AM EXPERIENCING. FOLLOWING THE PATTERN OF THESE STORIES I AM CONCERNED THAT IF THE DEALER BEGINS THE WORK STATED, I WILL RECEIVE A CALL FROM HIM SAYING THAT COOLANT LEAKED PASSED THE GASKETS AND I WILL NEED A NEW ENGINE. I ALSO DISCOVERED THAT FORD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON 95 WINDSTARS. THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT FORD IS PLANNING ON EXTENDING THE WARRANTY FOR THE 96 YEAR HOWEVER, THE INFORMATION THAT IS PUBLIC DOMAIN CLEARLY INDICATES A CHRONIC PROBLEM. IT IS MY OPINION THAT I SHOULD NOT BEAR THESE COSTS, GIVEN THE HISTORIC PROBLEMS, AND HOPE THAT FORD WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. *JB

THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED IT WAS NOT CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN THE CONSUMER ASKED WOULD CERTAIN VEHICLE'S BE RECALLED. *AK *JB

THE CONSUMER REQUESTED AN INVESTIGATION OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEIR LACK OF RECALLS ON SOME SERIOUS DEFECTS. *MR. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A CLUNKING SOUND, HOWEVER THE DEALER STATED THE CLUNKING SOUND WAS NORMAL AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED WITH ANOTHER FORD TRANSMISSION, WHICH FAILED ON A TEST DRIVE AND ONE OTHER OCCASION. COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE THROUGH THE INTAKE GASKET, WHICH WAS RECALLED FOR THE 95 MODELS. THE TIMING CHAIN LEAKED. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE COILS IN THE SUSPENSION, WHICH FORD WOULD ONLY REPLACE WHEN THEY FAILED. THE BRAKE ROTORS FAILED AT 30000 MILES. SCC *JB

SPEEDOMETER REPLACEMENT. MR THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT 545.00 TO REPLACED A SPEEDOMETER WAS EXPENSIVE SINCE IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. *JB

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED. *JB

THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD, AND THEN THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR. *JB

BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AT 70,700 MILES TOOK IN TO MECHANIC REPAIR BILL IS APPROXIMATELY. $1200.00. I ONLY HAD THIS VEHICLE SINCE JUNE 2002. IT IS NOW MARCH 2003. FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A NEW ENGINE PUT IN MY VAN FEBRUARY OF 2001. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 25-35 MPH THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN DEPRESSED. THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE CLAMP RUSTED AND CAUSED A LEAK. *NLM.....*AK

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE RIGHT PLACE OR NOT. BUT I PAID THE FORD DEALER SHIP $60.00 TO TELL ME WHY MY POWER WINDOW WOULD ONLY WORK PART OF THE TIME, AND THEY SAID IT WAS MY MOTOR WHICH THEY WANTED $353.00 FOR. SO I TOLD THEM I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS SO I WENT HOME AND WORKED ON IT MYSELF AND FOUND OUT IT WAS ONLY STICKING AT THE TOP. I WENT BACK ON THE 24TH OF MARCH TO TRY TO GET MY MONEY BACK, BECAUSE TO ME THIS IS COMPLETE FRAUD ON THEIR PART. WELL, I TALKED WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER (MARK KISCH) AND HE WAS VERY RUDE, AND REFUSED TO RETURN MY MONEY. HE EVEN LAUGHED WHEN I TOLD HIM I WAS GOING TO REPORT HIM. IT IS NOT MY PROBLEM THAT HE HAS BAD PEOPLE WORKING THERE THAT DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR DOING. *JB

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON AND IF I HIT THE BRAKES SUDDENLY THE BRAKE LIGHT WILL COME ON. *JB

TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE. OCCASIONALLY DURING STOP AND GO TRANSMISSION WILL NOT UP SHIFT OUT OF 1ST TO HIGHER GEAR. APPEARS RANDOM. DEALER COULD NOT RE-CREATE PROBLEM, AND THEREFORE COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. HOWEVER, AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 1996 FORD WINDSTAR'S. THE ONLY SOLUTION APPEARS TO REQUIRE A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. BUT, AGAIN NHSTA COMPLAINTS INCLUDE OWNERS HAVING TO HAVE TRANSMISSION REBUILT MORE THAN ONCE. *JB

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO THE CORROSION OF THE BRAKE LINE. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT IT IS UNFAIR TO ADDRESS THE RECALL TO THE NORTHERN STATES WHEN THE SOUTHERNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME FAILURE. THE CONSUMER WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. WHEN CHECKED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, FLUID WAS RUNNING OFF OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE CONSUMER HAS SPENT EACH WINTER IN TWO NORTHERN STATES AND HAS EXPERIENCED SALT/SNOW ROADS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. RECALL#02V101000 *SCC *NLM

THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, AND THE MOTOR BLOCK CRACKED. *AK *JB

THIS INCIDENT STARTED WHEN I HAD NOTICED A SMALL AMOUNT OF RADIATOR FLUID ON THE GARAGE FLOOR, AND A SLIGHT SMELL OF RADIATOR FLUID WHEN I RAN THE HEATER. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON AGAIN IN NOVEMBER 2002. I TOOK THE VAN TO THE APPLE VALLEY FORD DEALER AND AFTER DIAGNOSING IT, I WAS TOLD THE NUMBER 4 SPARK PLUG IS STUCK AND THE GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ON THE TIMING COVER ON THE ENGINE (THIS WAS THE SOURCE OF THE RADIATOR FLUID LEAK). THE DEALERS PROFESSIONAL OPINION WAS THE HEAD GASKET IS ALSO BAD, THE HEAD FOR THE #4 PLUG WOULD NEED REPLACING, AND COMBINED WITH THE NEED TO REPLACE THE TIMING COVER GASKET, THEY RECOMMENDED A COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT AT $4,400. I DECLINED AND TOOK THE VAN TO ANOTHER LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO UNFORTUNATELY CONFIRMED THE DIAGNOSIS AND INDICATED THERE WERE KNOWN PROBLEMS AND TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS FOR ENGINE GASKET REPLACEMENTS WITH FORD WINDSTAR 3.8 LITER V6 ENGINES IN 1995. THEY ALSO INDICATED THEY HAD STARTED SEEING THIS SAME PROBLEM TURNING UP IN 1996 MODELS. THEY ALSO QUOTED A SIMILAR NUMBER & RECOMMENDED USING A JASPER ENGINE INSTEAD OF THE FORD ENGINE AS THE WARRANTY IS 75,000 MILES. I ALSO DECLINED AND THE VAN IS NOW SITTING PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY WHILE I CONTINUE TO MAKE CAR PAYMENTS ON A VEHICLE I CAN??T DRIVE FOR FEAR OF ENGINE FAILURE. 8NLM

THIS INCIDENT STARTED WHEN I HAD NOTICED A SMALL AMOUNT OF RADIATOR FLUID ON THE GARAGE FLOOR, AND A SLIGHT SMELL OF RADIATOR FLUID WHEN I RAN THE HEATER. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON AGAIN IN NOVEMBER 2002. I TOOK THE VAN TO THE APPLE VALLEY FORD DEALER AND AFTER DIAGNOSING IT, I WAS TOLD THE NUMBER 4 SPARK PLUG IS STUCK AND THE GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ON THE TIMING COVER ON THE ENGINE (THIS WAS THE SOURCE OF THE RADIATOR FLUID LEAK). THE DEALERS PROFESSIONAL OPINION WAS THE HEAD GASKET IS ALSO BAD, THE HEAD FOR THE #4 PLUG WOULD NEED REPLACING, AND COMBINED WITH THE NEED TO REPLACE THE TIMING COVER GASKET, THEY RECOMMENDED A COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT AT $4,400. I DECLINED AND TOOK THE VAN TO ANOTHER LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO UNFORTUNATELY CONFIRMED THE DIAGNOSIS AND INDICATED THERE WERE KNOWN PROBLEMS AND TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS FOR ENGINE GASKET REPLACEMENTS WITH FORD WINDSTAR 3.8 LITER V6 ENGINES IN 1995. THEY ALSO INDICATED THEY HAD STARTED SEEING THIS SAME PROBLEM TURNING UP IN 1996 MODELS. THEY ALSO QUOTED A SIMILAR NUMBER & RECOMMENDED USING A JASPER ENGINE INSTEAD OF THE FORD ENGINE AS THE WARRANTY IS 75,000 MILES. I ALSO DECLINED AND THE VAN IS NOW SITTING PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY WHILE I CONTINUE TO MAKE CAR PAYMENTS ON A VEHICLE I CAN NOT DRIVE FOR FEAR OF ENGINE FAILURE. *JB

HEAD GASKET FAILURE . A COMMON DEFECT IN FORD WINDSTARS, THEY WERE COVERED IN THE PREVIOUS MODEL YEARS, BUT NOT THE '96 MODEL. FORD, SO FAR, WILL NOT COVER THIS. ALSO SPEEDOMETER "JUMPS" AROUND ABOVE 45 MPH. THIS TOO, IS COMMON IN THIS AND PRIOR MODEL WINDSTARS. REPAIRS ARE USUALLY $500 AND IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS DRIVER DOES NOT KNOW HOW FAST THEY ARE TRAVELING. *NLM

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON< GOES OFF< COMES ON< GOES OFF< COMES ON< STAYS ON< GOES OFF! AND THE DEALERSHIP (GREENE FORD, GAINESVILLE, GA.) ALWAYS HAS A DIFFERENT REASON FOR THE PROBLEM AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY. $600 OR MORE TO FIX EACH TIME, TO NO END. THE FIRST TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THE IMRCS WERE SUPPOSE TO BE THE PROBLEM ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIPS DISAGNOSTICS TEST (COST $80.00) THEY REPLACED AND SUPPOSEDLY FIXED THE PROBLEM, (COST $560.00). LIGHT CAME ON NEXT DAY WHILE TAKING A FAMILY VACATION OUT OF STATE. HAD AN INDEPENDENT MACHANIC PERFORM A TUNE UP ON VEHICLE, REPLACED PLUGS, WIRES, OIL CHANGE, THROTTLE BODY CLEANED (COST $223.00) THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON WITHIN TWO DAYS. UPON THE NEXT RETURN TO THE DEALERSHIP THE DIAGNOSTICS TEST (COST ANOTHER $80.00) REPORTED A CODE EGR INSUFFICIENT FLOW AND A #4 CYLINDER MISFIRE (EST. REPAIR COSTS $600.00). HAD A DPFE SENSOR REPLACED ($76.00) THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON! IT IS AMAZING TO ME THAT THESE SO CALLED DEALERSHIPS (EXPERTS) WITH THEIR SO CALLED (DIAGNOSTICS TESTS) HAVE NOT THE FOGGIEST CLUE ABOUT HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. IT IS ALSO DISTURBING THAT AFTER REVEIWING THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE, THAT NHTSA HAS NOT ORDERED FORD TO STOP PLAYING GAMES AND FORCE A RECALL FOR THESE PROBLEMS. IT IS APPARENT THAT OTHERS HAD THE SAME SYMPTOMS AND PROBLEMS IN THE PAST THAT NEVER GET RESOLVED UNTIL THE HEAD GASKETS FAIL AND THE REPAIR BILLS GO FROM $600.00 TO $2000.00. I AM ACCUSING FOR

THE DEALERSHIP NOTICED A CRACK IN THE SUB FRAME. WHICH COULD HAD CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FALL OUT, IF THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK *JB

THE SPEEDOMETER HAS FAILED ON MY 1996 FORD WINDSTAR PLACING MY WIFE AND TWO SMALL CHILDREN AT RISK. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT TONY BETTEN FORD IN GRAND RAPIDS, MI DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM ON MARCH 7, 2003. BETTEN REPORTED TO ME THAT A DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF SPEEDOMETERS HAVE FAILED ON 1996 FORD WINDSTARS AND 1996 FORD ESCORTS. I WAS ALSO TOLD BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT FORD HAS NOT RECALLED THE MODELS BECAUSE "THEY (FORD MOTOR COMPANY) DON'T CONSIDER A FAILED SPEEDOMETER A SAFETY ISSUE." IN MY VIEW FORD SHOULD RECALL AND PAY FOR REPAIRS. IF SPEEDOMETERS AREN'T A SAFETY ISSUE THEN WHY DON'T WE ALL DRIVE INTUITIVELY? UNDER SEPARATE COVER I AM WRITING MY CONGRESSMAN REPRESENTATIVE VERN EHLERS SO THAT HIS OFFICE MIGHT OFFER YOU ASSISTANCE.*JB

LOCAL GARAGE DIAGNOSED THAT OUR 1996 FORD WINDSTAR VAN'S 3.8L ENGINE HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET, WHICH WAS CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO CONTINUALLY COME ON. COMBUSTION GASES WERE IN THE COOLING SYSTEM, AS WAS OIL RESIDUE. OIL ALSO FOUND IN THE TOP PART OF THE ENGINE IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. IT IS SUSPECTED THAT COOLANT AND MAYBE WATER HAVE FOUND THEIR WAY INTO THE CYLINDERS. DON'T KNOW YET WHAT DAMAGE IS DONE INTERNALLY TO THE ENGINE. LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT IT WAS A $2000 CHARGE TO REPAIR. ENGINE NOT UNDER THE WARRANTY PROGRAM ISSUED BY FORD FOR THE 1995 WINDSTARS EVEN THOUGH IT'S THE SAME 3.8L ENGINE. FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE LOGGED MY CALL BUT SAID THAT THEY WERE NOT TREATING THIS ISSUE AS A WARRANTY ITEM AND THAT I WAS ON MY OWN TO FIX IT. *JB

THE HEAD GASKET LEAKED COOLANT. *DT *JB

THE SPEEDOMETER MOVED ERRATICALLY AND MALFUNCTIONED INTERMITTENTLY LEAVING CONSUMER UNSURE OF SPEED. SPEEDOMETER HAD TO BE REPLACED 2 TIMES. *TT *JB *TS

THE SPEEDOMETER WAS FOUND TO BE FAULTY. SCC *JB

NAR 03/05/2003 THE CONSUMERS EXPERIENCED HEAD GASKET FAILURE. THE COST OF REPAIR WERE APPROX $2100.22. DEALER NOTIFIED. *CB

96 WINDSTAR HAD FAILED NJ STATE INSPECTION BUT WAS RUNNING FINE. VEHICLE HAS 109,000 MILES AND DEALER INFORMED ME IT HAS LEAKING HEAD GASKETS. DEALER WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED AT THIS DEALER FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS AND NO MENTION WAS EVER MADE ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR THIS PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH IT IS QUITE APPARENT THAT THIS IS A LATENT DEFECT AT LEAST UNTIL THE 1997 YEAR. FACTORY CAMPAIGNS WERE IN PLACE THROUGH 95 AND PROBLEM WAS REDUCED ON 96 VEHICLES BUT STILL EXISTED.*JB

THE ABS LIGHT HAD FLASHED PERIODICALLY, THE TRANSMISSION HAD BURNT OUT, AND THE ENGINE HAD BECOME CONTAMINATED WITH COOLANT. THE CONSUMER HAD REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE CHARGE OF THE REBUILT ENGINE. SCC *JB

ABS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONSTANT, REPLACED O2 SENSOR, REPLACED ABS BRAKES, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS CAUSING VEHICLE TO JERK AND NOT CHANGE GEARS WHEN RUNNING OR PARKED, COOLANT LEAKING AND DOOR SENSORS ARE BAD. ALL DOCUMENT KNOWN ISSUES ON.*JB HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/MODELYEAR_FORD_WINDSTAR_1996.HTML - SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. THIS HAS GONE ON FAR TO LONG AND IS PUTTING PEOPLES LIFE AT STAKE. I HAVE CHILDREN IN MY VAN AND ALL OF THESE ARE BIG ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESS IMMEDIATELY.

THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD, A NOISE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AND THEN THE ENGINE STALLED. *JB

HEAD GASKET FAILED LEADING TO COOLANT ENTERING CYLINDERS. VAN HAD JUST 70,000 MILES AND THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM. REPAIR AT FORD DEALERSHIP WAS $1,300. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE 1996 WINDSTARS.

INTAKE GASKET OVER PASSENGER FRONT WHEEL WELL LEAKING COOLANT ABS BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON DURING WARM WEATHER AND ON BUMPY ROADS

I HAVE A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR (3.8-LITER ENGINE) WITH ALMOST 78,000 MILES. I'VE OWNED IS SINCE IT WAS NEW. IT EXPERIENCED A BLOWN HEAD GASKET 3 WEEKS AGO. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT BERT WEINMAN FORD HERE IN CHICAGO RECOMMENDED THAT I REPLACE THE ENGINE. I DID SO AT A PRICE OF ALMOST $4500. FROM WHAT I KNOW, FORD HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH HEAD GASKETS IN THIS ENGINE. THEY HAVE OFFERED EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR SOME MODEL YEARS, BUT NONE WHICH COVERS MY VEHICLE.

THE APPARENTLY COMMON BLOWN HEAD GASKET ON THE 3.8L ENGINE HAS OCCURRED ON MY '96 FORD WINDSTAR. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE LOCAL FORD SERVICE CENTER THAT FORD IS NOT COMPENSATING OWNERS FOR THIS OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW.

THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO WHAT APPEARS TO BE AN EXCESSIVE NUMBER OF 1996 FORD WINDSTAR'S WITH THE 3.8 ENGINE HAVING MULTIPLE HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS. MY VEHICLE IS NOW HAVING TO BE REPLACED AFTER A THIRD HEAD GASKET HAS TO BE REPLACED.