NHTSA Complaint #10033260 — 1998 FORD WINDSTAR

I AM SEEKING ACTION TO ALLEVIATE THE COST OF MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS I HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH MY 1998 3.8L V6 FORD WINDSTAR GL. OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, MY WINDSTAR HAS DISPLAYED REOCCURRING AND EXTENSIVE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS IN THE FRONT END, BRAKES, AND ENGINE THAT HAVE RESULTED INCREASING AMOUNTS OF TIME AND MONEY SPENT ON REPAIRS. FROM RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND THAT OUR DIFFICULTIES ARE NOT AN ISOLATED EVENT, AND ARE IN FACT A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE 1998 WINDSTAR, AND ARE THE SAME PROBLEMS FOUND IN THE 1995 WINDSTAR. THE MOST RECENT EVENT WAS THE REQUIREMENT TO HAVE THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER PROVIDED THIS SERVICE WHICH COST $1500.00 IN PARTS AND LABOR. UPON COMPLETION OF THE REPAIRS THE VAN WAS NOT ROADWORTHY, A NEW SHORT BLOCK WAS NEEDED DUE TO DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE FAULTY HEAD GASKET. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED OVER $6000.00 FOR THIS JOB. IN ADDITION TO THE MOUNTING REPAIR COSTS, I AM FORCED TO RENT A CAR SO THAT WE HAVE TRANSPORTATION WHILE WE CONSIDER OPTIONS WITH OUR WINDSTAR. MY WINDSTAR HAS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES. IT IS NOT UNCOMMON THESE DAYS TO HAVE VEHICLES OPERATE THIS LONG BEFORE REQUIRING THE FIRST TUNE-UP. IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THIS VAN, I HAVE SPENT THE TIME I HAVE OWNWD THIS VEHICLE AND A LOT OF MONEY TAKING MY WINDSTAR INTO SERVICE CENTERS TO HAVE INFERIOR PARTS, SUCH AS THE PLASTIC TIE-ROD ENDS AND BRAKES, REPLACED MANY TIMES. I HAVE ALSO SPENT A FORTUNE ON RENTAL CARS WHILE OUR WINDSTAR SAT UNSERVICEABLE. WE HAVE BORN THIS COST WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT INVESTING MONEY IN REPAIR WOULD RESULT IN SAFE, RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION FOR OUR FAMILY. WITH THIS MAJOR REPAIR, THE MONTHS OF EXHAUSTIVE DIAGNOSIS AND TRIAL REPAIR JOBS TO FIX THE PROBLEMS THAT ARRISE, THE MULTIPLE TIE ROD END REPLACEMENTS, AND BRAKE SYSTEM REPAIRS, I FEEL THAT I AM ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION FROM THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *AK