NHTSA Complaint #10025755 — 1995 FORD WINDSTAR

OUR 1995 FORD WINDSTAR WITH ONLY 57,000 MILES ON IT EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FAILURE WHILE WE WERE ON A FAMILY VACATION HUNDREDS OF MILES FROM HOME. THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF A FAULTY HEAD GASKET THAT CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE. WE HAD NO WARNING OR OVERHEATING BEFORE THE ENGINE FAILED. WE HAD PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED SOME COOLANT LEAKAGE AND HAD THE TIMING COVER GASKET FAIL ALSO. OUR VAN WAS NO LONGER COVERED BY THE 100,000 MILE OR 7 YEAR FORD SERVICE PROGRAM BY SEVERAL MONTHS EVEN THOUGH WE HAD SO FEW MILES ON IT. SINCE THEN WE HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS DEFECTIVE GASKET AND RELATED ENGINE FAILURES ARE OCCURING ON NEARLY ALL 1995 WINDSTARS. I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO STAND BEHIND THEIR FAULTY ENGINES FOR 100,000 MILES WITH NO TIME LIMIT SINCE A PROPERLY MANUFACTURED ENGINE SHOULD LAST AT LEAST THAT LONG WITHOUT A HEAD GASKET FAILURE.*AK