NHTSA Complaint #10212195 — 1996 FORD WINDSTAR

I OWN A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR WITH A 3.8L V-6 ENGINE. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS ABOUT 72,000 MILES ON IT. IT IS NOW IN THE SHOP WITH A BLOWN HEAD GASKET THAT WILL REQUIRE A NEW LONG-BLOCK MOTOR AND POSSIBLY THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BECAUSE ANTIFREEZE/OIL WAS PASSING THROUGH IT DUE TO THE GASKET FAILURE. I'M CURRENTLY LOOKING AT A $5,800 BILL TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. MY QUERY TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY RESULTED IN A RESPONSE THAT THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING FOR ME...THAT THERE ARE "NO WARRANTIES, RECALLS OR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAMS" ON MY VEHICLE. MY RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THERE ARE A TON OF COMPLAINTS OF BLOWN HEAD GASKETS IN THE 1996 FORD WINDSTAR, BUT FORD REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. FORD WAS HIT WITH CLASS ACTION SUITS REGARDING THE 1995 FORD WINDSTAR THAT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND EVENTUALLY AGREED TO EXTEND THE 1995 WINDSTAR WARRANTY PERIOD. HEAD GASKETS SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. IT SHOULD NOT FAIL AT 72,000 MILES. MY VEHICLE HAD ALL OF THE REQUIRED MAINTENANCE PERFORMED WHEN THEY WERE DUE. THIS IS NOT A CASE OF A NEGLECTED VEHICLE FROM A MAINTENANCE PERSPECTIVE. FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP AND TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION. THE SERVICE REP HAS TOLD ME THAT IF THEY CAN'T GET A RE-BUILT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS, IT WILL PROBABLY BE NEXT WEEK BEFORE THE REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED. NEXT WEEK IS CHRISTMAS. THIS WAS MY FIRST FORD PRODUCT THAT I PURCHASED. IT WILL BE THE LAST. ANY COMPANY THAT HAS THIS MUCH DISLOYALTY TO ITS CUSTOMERS CAN NOT EXPECT ANY LOYALTY IN RETURN. THEIR ACTIONS SPEAK VOLUMES TO THE LACK OF QUALITY CONTROL IN THEIR PRODUCT, CUSTOMER SERVICE AND, QUITE FRANKLY, ANY SENSE OF COMMON DECENCY. A PROPER HEAD GASKET WOULD HAVE COST THEM PROBABLY UNDER $10.00 WHEN THE ENGINE WAS BUILT. IT IS NOW COSTING ME $5,800 TO FIX THEIR INAPTITUDE AND INCOMPETENCE. *TR