1996 Ford Windstar complaints

THE HEAD GASKET ON MY 1996 FOR WINDSTAR HAS FAILED AT AROUND 93,000 MILES. I HAVE GONE TO MANY WEBSITES WITH HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS SAME ENGINE, IN THE 1995 WINDSTAR(EVEN THOUGH FORD SAID THAT THEY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM) WAS RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I CAN SEE THAT IF THIS WERE A RARE CASE OF GASKET FAILURE, IT WOULD NOT MATTER VERY MUCH, BUT SEEING THAT HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM BOTHERS ME. FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. I DO NOT KNOW HOW A RECALL GETS STARTED, BUT WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS ONE DONE. THANK YOU

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE ANTI-FREEZE AND OIL NOT TO CIRCULATE THROUGH THE ENGINE.*JB

THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE HEAD COVER GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CUSTOMER WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR EXPENSES.*JB

THE INSIDE COURTESY DID NOT SHUT OFF.*JB

HAVE IN FORD DEALER SHOP A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR WITH 92,100 MILES ON IT. IT HAS THE INFAMOUS 3.8L ENGINE HEAD GASKET AND FRONT COVER GASKET PROBLEM, AS PREVIOUSLY DEFINED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY. FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER REFUSES TO COVER THE COST OF THIS.

I HAVE A CONCERN OVER THE DEFECT OF THE HEAD GASKET OF OUR 1996 FORD WINDSTAR. THIS VEHICLE IS OUR FAMILY VEHICLE - VERY NECCESSARY FOR A FAMILY OF YOUNG CHILDREN - FAMILY OF 7. SO FAR, WE HAVE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, REPLACED THE SPEEDOMETER, AND MOST RECENTLY HAVE BEEN TOLD TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE HEAD GASKET REPAIR/ REPLACEMENT IS A RATHER EXPENSIVE REPAIR. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT FORD HAS OFFERED TO SOME, TO MAKE GOOD ON THIS DEFECT IN WORKMANSHIP. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO TURN THIS IN TO THE STATE'S ATTORNEY HERE IN NORTH DAKOTA, AND TO THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU. I NEED THIS VEHICLE FIXED. I DON'T CARE FOR THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN JAMESTOWN, ND - SINCE THE LAST REPAIR LEFT ME WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR A MONTH. I WOULD LIKE THIS DEFECT TAKEN CARE OF. I THINK FORD HAS MADE A SAFE VAN FOR MY FAMILY, BUT I AM VERY DISSAPPOINTED WITH THE QUALITY OF THE PARTS UNDER THE HOOD - WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT FORD WOULD HAVE SUCH POOR WORKMANSHIP THAT I WOULD HAVE THIS MUCH TROUBLE WITH THIS 1996 VEHICLE. PLEASE ADVISE ME ON HOW TO OBTAIN THE PAPERWORK THAT WILL GET THIS DEFECT ON THE HEAD GASKET PROPERLY PAID FOR AND TAKEN CARE OF BY FORD.

PAINT FALLING OFF '96 FORD WINDSTAR

REAR VENT WINDOW FELL OUT ONTO THE STREET. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

96 WINDSTAR, 3.8L ENGINE, 65,000 MILES. FAILURE OF HEAD GASKET AND INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. $1700 TO REPLACE GASKETS AND RELATED PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THE FAIURE.

THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACK WITH THE GEAR IN THE PARKING POSITION ON THE DRIVE WAY

TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN 1996 FORD WINDSTAR, REQUIRING COMPLETE REPLACEMEN AT APPROX 70K MILES

I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT REGARDING MY 1996 FORD WINDSTAR. I HAVE JUST LEARNED THE HEAD GASKET ON MY VEHICLE HAS BLOWN OUT WITH JUST 70K MILES ON IT. I KNOW FORD RECALLED 1995 MODELS AND AFTER SOME RESEARCH OF MY OWN, HAVE LEARNED THAT THERE ARE JUST AS MANY 96'S WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND FORD REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING WITH THAT MODEL YEAR.

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS PUNCTURED THE DRIVER'S FRONT TIRE ALMOST RESULTING IN VEHICLE CRASHING. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE. *NLM TRANSMISSION REPLACED. *TT

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 2MPH STEERING COLUMN STARTED SMOKING,THEN DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED IN CONSUMER FACE. TS

PROBLEM WITH 1996 FORD WINDSTAR 3.8L ENGINE 45,000 MI. W/ DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. FORD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON 94-95 MODELS BUT WON'T COVER 96 MODELS. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM W/ ALL THE 3.8L ENGINES AND FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR MANUFACTURING AND SELLING A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. A RECALL SHOULD BE DONE ON THIS PRODUCT. TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE NEEDLE MOVES ERRATICALLY AND MAKES A TICKING NOISE. CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO ASCERTAIN CORRECT SPEED WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS UNSUCCESSFULLY ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR 2 TIMES BY REPLACING SPEEDOMETER CABLE. TS

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING HEAD GASKET/TIMING CHAIN SNAPPED, CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE ABS BRAKING LIGHT APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.

FORD EXTENDED WARRANTY ON 3.8 L ENGINE FOR 1995 MODEL DUE TO ENGINE FAILURE CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE GASKET SETS. HOWEVER, IS NOT DOING SO FOR LIKE FAILURE ON 1996 MODEL 3.8 L ENGINES. ENGINE SEIZED ON OUR VEHICLE WITH APPROXIMATELY 48000 MILES DESPITE MAINTENANCE AND TIMING CHAIN GASKET SET REPLACEMENT AN APPROXIMATELY $1200 REPAIR. DT

NO SUMMARY. DT

IN ADDITION, THE FOLLOWING ARE WARRANTY/RECALL ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED ON THIS VEHICLE. DT

ENGINE LIGHT ON. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT HEAD GASKET NEEDED REPLACEMENT AND POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE. FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET RELATING TO DEFECT IN 1995-1997 WINDSTARS WITH HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS. FORD DEALERSHIP CLAIMS DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT PROBLEM. CONTACTING FORD, BUT GETTING RUN AROUND AND TENDS NOT TO SPEAK TO ME SINCE MILEAGE IS OVER 100,000. OBVIOUS PROBLEM, AS EVIDENCE BY THE ABILITY TO EASILY FIND OTHERS WITH SAME ISSUE. DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED ENGINE REPLACEMENT AT $4,000 OR GASKET REPLACE AT $1,200. ANOTHER ISSUE IS ABS LIGHT ON. SEEMS TO BE ANOTHER ISSUE WHERE KNOWN PROBLEM WITH FORDS, BUT FORD NOT ABLE TO FIX. DT

FAILURE OCCURRED IN PARKING LOT, ABLE TO STOP USING EMERGENCY BRAKE. HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAKED ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD, FIRE PREVENTED BY DIVERTING LEAK. CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER CARE OCT 2002 WHO STATED NO RECALL ON RECORD AND OFFERED NO REPAIR DESPITE MY REFERENCE TO YOUR 02V101000 RECALL. I HAVE DIGITAL PICTURES IF YOU WANT. REPEATED CONTACTS WITH FORD GET NO RESOLUTION. DEALER LISTED ON FORM WAS ORIGINAL PURCHASE LOCATION AND NOT INVOLVED. DT

CONSUMER STATES, WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE NOTICED A BLACK SMOKE AND FLAME UNDER THE HOOD. THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS CAUSING THE BURNING AND DAMAGING WIRE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE HEAD GASKET BLEW. OIL WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND SHUT DOWN AND THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T RESTART. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY 5 REPAIR PEOPLE THAT THE WINDSTARS ARE VERY LIKELY TO HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET, I HAVE BEEN TOLD TO REQUEST THAT FORD REPAIR THE VAN. I HAVE CONTACTED THE FORD CORP. AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE WINDSTARS ARE NOT HAVING A HEAD GASKET ISSUE. THIS VAN WITH THE PROPER CARE SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS BIG OF AN ISSUE. MY VAN HAS SAT IN MY DRIVEWAY SINCE JULY, THE ESTIMATE IS $ 2,000.00 TO 4,000.00 TO NOW REPLACE AN ENGINE WITH LESS THEN 100,000 MILES.

CONSUMER NOTICE WHILE TRAVELING ENGINE INDICATION LIGHT WAS FLASHING VEHICLE WAS SERVICE BY TECHNICIAN. TECHNICIAN TEST VEHICLE AND NOTICE ENGINE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM PLEASE PROVIDES FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

CURRENTLY, THE VAN IS AT THE DEALERSHIP AND WE ARE AWAITING AN ESTIMATE ON THE HEAD GASKET. OUR WARRANTY EXPIRED ON AUGUST 31, 2002 AND FORD WILL NOT HELP WITH THE COST OF THE REPAIR. THE TRANSMISSION IS ALSO BEING CHECKED AS IT HAS BEGUN LEAKING ONLY 10 MONTHS AFTER WE HAD IT REPLACED. OUR MECHANIC STATED THAT THESE ARE COMMONLY SEEN WITH THIS VEHICLE AND STATED THE FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKET IS DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE FIRE RING. NO REASON WAS GIVEN AS TO WHY THE TRANSMISSION FAILED IN JANUARY OF 2002 AND TO WHY IT IS NOW LEAKING. DT

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW A CLASS ACTION SUIT CAN BE MADE TO FORCE FORD TO MAKE A RECALL OF THIS ITEM.

THE ENGINE COOLANT IS LEAKING INTO THE INTAKE ENGINE MANIFOLD. DT

A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON NOVEMBER 3, 2002 AND WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MCCAFFERTY FORD ON NOVEMBER 7, 2002. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING COOLANT ONTO THE ENGINE AND OUT THE TAIL PIPE AND "SHORTED" THE OXYGEN SENSOR WHICH CAUSED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO APPEAR. THE ESTIMATE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM IS $1,423 (WITH TAX). THEY ALSO CHARGED ME $137.69 FOR TWO HOURS LABOR TO FIND THE PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH I EXPERIENCED SEVERAL OF THE SYMPTOMS. I DID SOME RESEARCH ABOUT FORD WINDSTARS AND HEAD GASKET FAILURES AND FOUND OUT THE 1994 AND 1995 WINDSTARS WERE RECALLED TO FIX THE SAME PROBLEM. BUT, THERE IS NOT A RECALL FOR 1996 EVEN THOUGH I FOUND THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ON-LINE. I HAVE SPOKE TO MCCAFFERTY FORD SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE RICHARD H. MITCHELL ON NOVEMBER 8, 2002 AND HE SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO IF THE VEHICLE IS OVER 100,000 MILES. (WELL, MY VEHICLE WOULD OF BEEN LESS THAN 100,000 IF THERE WAS A RECALL EARLIER) I THEN CONTACTED THE FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER TO GET AN ANSWER. FORD REPRESENTATIVE BILL (#2072) SAID THAT THERE WASN'T A RECALL ON THE 1996 WINDSTARS, SO THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO (MILEAGE DIDN'T MATTER). I WAS TOLD TO KEEP MY RECEIPTS IN CASE THERE WAS A RECALL. I FOUND ONLINE THAT THERE ARE 1996 WINDSTAR OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FIXED FOR FREE OR A FRACTION OF THE COST, BY THE DEALERS. OUR LOCAL MECHANIC (D&D AUTO SERVICE IN MECHANICSBURG) SAID THAT HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM OFTEN. ALSO, THAT THE HEAD GASKETS IN A MO

NO SUMMARY. DT

THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND IT'S COMPONENTS FAILED, THE ABS LIGHT HAD COME ON CONSTANTLY, THE TRANSMISSION BURNED OUT, AND THE ENGINE WAS CONTAMINATED WITH COOLANT. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A NEW VEHICLE OR A NEW ENGINE. MR SCC

THE BRAKE BRACKET HAS GOTTEN WEAK FROM RUST AND GETS INTO REAR HUB CAUSING A LOUD IRRITATING NOISE. THE RUST CAUSES THE REAR BRAKE ANTILOCK SENSOR TO LIGHT UP IN DASH. *JG

CONSUMER STATES OF HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE. PLEASE ADD MORE DETAILS.

NO SUMMARY. DT

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING, THE VEHICLE'S HEAD GASKET BLEW AND THE COOLANT WILL STARTED TO LEAK CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVER HEAT AND THE CONSUMER WILL BE FORCED TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR THE CONSUMER STATED FORD WILL NOT RECOGNIZE THIS PROBLEM AS WITH THE 94 AND 95 WINDSTAR'S. SCC

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SPEEDOMETER JUMPS ALL OVER THE PLACE WHILE DRIVING UNABLE TO KNOW EXCATLY HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING. DEALER CONTACTED. *MR

CONSUMER STATED REPAIR WORK WAS PERFORMED ON THE STEERING BOX MECHANISM.*JB

MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER REPLACED FOR 3RD TIME. BRAKE PEDAL WOULD SLOWLY GO TO THE FLOOR. 1ST REPLACEMENT BEFORE 25000 MILES. 2ND REPLACEMENT AT 43282 MILES BY BAYTLEFIELD FORD 8980 MATTHAS AVE, MANASSAS, VA. 22110. 3RD REPLACEMENT AT 87808 MILES BY BATTLEFIELD FORD. THIS VAN WAS PURCHASED BY ME AS A "REACQUIRED VEHICLE" WITH BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER BEING ONE OF THE REPORTED CONCERNS. *PH *JB **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**768024

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL GARAGE AND THEY STATED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID HAD DRIPPED ONTO CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND STARTED A FIRE. *NLM THE CONSUMER PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH AN EXTINGUISHER. *SCC

NO DESCRIPTION GIVEN. NLM

THE STABILIZER BAR BROKE CAUSING VERY UNSTABLE DRIVING. WIFE COMPLAINED AND I LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND SAW THE BAR HANGING. IT LOOKS RUSTED THROUGH. THE CENTER OF THE BAR HAS AN OVBIOUS HOLE SO EITHER IT WAS MADE DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE IS UNDRIVABLE AND DANGERIOUS. MR

WAS HAVING A SLOW LOSS OF COOLANT WITH NO VISIBLE LEAKAGE. NOW HAVE A DAMAGED TIMING COVER/GASKET ($1,200.00 REPAIR ESTIMATE FROM A FORD DEALER) PROBABLY DUE TO ENGINE OVERHEATING. NLM

HAD OIL CHANGED AT GRAYLING FORD ON SEPTEMBER 25. AS SOON AS I PULLED IN, TECHNICIAN REMARKED HE SMELLED ANTI-FREEZE BURNING. HE CHECKED COOLANT OVERFLOW TANK AND FOUND IT EMPTY. ONE GALLON OF COOLANT WAS ADDED AT THAT TIME. HE STATED I SHOULD HAVE MY HEAD GASKETS CHECKED BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY CAUSE OF LOSS OF COOLANT IF I HADN'T NOTICED ANY LEAKAGE, WHICH I HAVEN'T. THE VAN HAS BEEN RUNNING GOOD. THERE HAS BEEN NO INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEM, I.E. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON, NO OVERHEATING. I AM CONCERNED THAT ONCE REPAIR IS DONE ON SEPTEMBER 26, MECHANICS WILL FIND ENGINE DAMAGE LEADING TO A MORE COSTLY REPAIR. I STILL MAKE PAYMENTS AND THE ESTIMATED COST FOR JUST THE HEAD GASKET REPAIR IS OVER $1,000. ENGINE REPLACEMENT OR OTHER REPAIRS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS ESTIMATE. BECAUSE MY 96 WINDSTAR HAS THE SAME ENGINE COMPONENTS AS THOSE RECALLED FOR MODEL YEARS 94-95, I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD TAKE THE SAME ACTION AND RECALL/REIMBURSE OWNERS OF THE 96 MODEL WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE. I HAVE OWNED NOTHING BUT FORD VEHICLES FOR THE PAST 25 YEARS AND FEEL MY SATISFACTION SHOULD BE IMPORTANT TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY. I LOOK FORWARD TO REIMBURSEMENT OF THIS REPAIR WHEN A RECALL IS ISSUED AND THAT CAN'T BE SOON ENOUGH. THIS IS THE SECOND DEFECT I HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH MY VAN. THE FIRST WAS A BROKEN FRONT COIL SPRING. FORD SHOULD TAKE THE SAME ACTION WITH THE 96 WINDSTAR HEAD GASKET PROBLEM AS IT DID WITH THE COIL SPRING PROBLEM: RECTIFY IT WITH ITS LOYAL CUSTOMERS. THI

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE 3.8L V6 ENGINE BLEW A HEAD GASKET AND CAUSING LOSS OF COOLANT AND COOLANT GETTING INTO THE ENGINE OIL. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

NO DESCRIPTION GIVEN. NLM

SPEEDOMETER VERY ERRATIC AND UNRELIABLE AT SPEEDS OF 45MPH OR OVER. *AK

A CRACK HAS DEVELOPED IN THE GAS TANK, CAUSING A LEAK. *AK