NHTSA Complaint #10070171 — 1995 FORD WINDSTAR

ON MARCH 29, 2002, MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR EXPERIENCED A KNOCKING SOUND. NOTICING THE OIL LIGHT WAS ON, I IMMEDIATELY PULLED INTO THE SHOPPING CENTER NEARBY. I WAS AMAZED WHEN I HAD TO ADD 3/12 QTS. OF OIL, WHICH IMMEDIATELY DRAINED OUT. THIS VEHICLE JUST RECENTLY HAD AN OIL CHANGE, SO I KNOW IT WAS NOT LOW ON OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUTOFAIR OF MANCHESTER, NH. ON APRIL 2ND, I WAS ADVISED BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR, K. HAMEL THAT THE TIMING COVER GASKET WAS THE PROBLEM AND I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT A COST OF $3,639. I ALSO SPOKE TO K. HAMELS' BOSS, AND WAS TOLD NO WARRANTY WAS AVAILABLE. I THEN CALLED THE BOSTON AREA CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, JUSTIN BOYSON. HE PROCEEDED TO ASK ME HOW I GOT HIS NAME...NOT, HOW CAN I HELP YOU? HE ADVISED ME THERE WAS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE...THERE IS NO PROGRAM AVAILABLE FOR MY AUTO. THIS IS AN OUTRAGE, SINCE FORD IS WELL AWARE OF THIS FAULTY TIMING COVER GASKET WHICH IS A KNOWN FORD DEFECT WHICH WAS ADMITTED TO BY THE REGIONAL REPRSENTATIVE, AND IT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED 100,000 WARRANTY.