NHTSA Complaint #702288 — 1995 FORD WINDSTAR

FORD HAD INITIATED AN "OWNERS NOTIFICATION PROGRAM" BECAUSE OF FAULTY HEAD GASKETS IN THE 1995 WINDSTAR. BASICALLY, IF YOUR HEAD GASKET BLEW PRIOR TO DECEMBER 31, 1998, FORD WOULD COVER THE COST. THIS WAS NOT A RECALL, THEREFORE, THEY WERE ABLE TO PLACE A "DEADLINE" DATE ON IT. UNFORTUNATELY, THE HEAD GASKET BLEW IN MY VAN ON JANUARY 7, 1999 - SEVEN DAYS AFTER THE DEADLINE. AT THE TIME OF FAILURE, I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK WITH MY TWO LITTLE DAUGHTERS IN THE CAR (ONE AND THREE YEARS OLD). MY COMMUTE IS 40 MINUTES IN PRIMARILY FARM COUNTRY. I WAS HALFWAY INTO MY COMMUTE WHEN THE HEATER NO LONGER BLEW HOT AIR (THE OUTSIDE WIND CHILL WAS ABOUT MINUS 20), AND I NOTICED THE HEAT GAUGE AT THE H. THANK GOODNESS FOR CELLULAR PHONES. I GOT ON THE PHONE IMMEDIATELY WITH THE DEALER AND HE KNEW OVER THE PHONE IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO A SMALL TOWN JUST WHEN THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WENT ON AND IT DIED ON ME. MY SERVICE PERSON AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME LATER THAT MY ENGINE WAS AT 225 DEGREES WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. THE DEALER AND I HAVE TRIED TO GET FORD TO COVER THE $900 REPAIR, HOWEVER, FORD WILL NOT MOVE ON ITS DEADLINE DATE. THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM, YET WILL NOT ISSUE THE RECALL. THEY BASICALLY GOT AROUND IT WITH THIS OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM. I CAN ONLY BE THANKFUL THAT I MADE IT WITH MY TWO GIRLS TO A SMALL TOWN IN THAT SUBZERO WEATHER, AND THAT MY ENGINE DIDN'T BLOW UP. THE 1995 WINDSTARS ALSO HAVE MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. MINE HAD TO BE REPLACED AT ABOUT 50,000 MILES. FORD DID COVER SOME OF THE COST. PLEASE LOOK ON THE INTERNET REGARDING THE 1995 WINDSTAR. THERE ARE MANY, MANY MORE STORIES LIKE MINE (A GOOD WEBSITE IS WWW.FORDWINDSTAR.COM). THERE ARE DEFECTS WITH THIS VEHICLE AND FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND DEAL WITH THEM APPROPRIATELY. THANK YOU.