NHTSA Complaint #706123 — 1995 FORD WINDSTAR

I CONTACTED FORD CUST. SERVICE AND THEY WERE AWARE OF THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE IN THE 95 WINDSTAR. THEY DID NOT ISSUE A RECALL, THIS PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE DESIGN CAME FROM THE FACTORY, AND WAS ORIGINAL TO MY CAR AS IT LEFT THE FACTORY FLOOR.ONLY CERTAIN VIN NUMBERS ARE AFFECTED BY THIS DEFECT, MY CAR IS ONE OF THEM.FORD ONLY ISSUED A NOTICE TO DEALER'S THAT IF A CUSTOMER CAME IN WITH THIS PROBLEM BETWEEN MAY AND DEC 98, THEN THE DEALER WAS TO FIX THE VAN FOR FREE. FORD DID NOT INFORM ME BY MAIL OR OTHERWISE THAT MY CAR COULD FAIL TO OPERATE AFTER ACCELERATION HAD TAKEN PLACE. IF MY DEALER KNEW OF THIS DEFECT, WHY WAS I NOT GIVEN THE INFORMATION.THIS REPAIR COST APPROXIMATELY $2,600.00. THIS REPAIR IS ONLY GUARANTEED FOR 12,000 MILES AND THEN BECAUSE OF THE ENGINE DESIGN, THE FAILURE COULD OCCUR AGAIN. I SPENT 27,000 DOLLARS ON THIS CAR AND NOW IT IS BROKE, FORD REFUSES TO PAY ANY MONEY TO REPAIR MY CAR BECAUSE IT BROKE AFTER THE DEC.98 CUT OFF. MY CAR WAS NOT BROKEN THEN SO THE CUTOFF DATE ONLY WORKS FOR THEM. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A FAILURE THAT FORD KNEW WOULD HAPPEN, REGARDLESS OF HOW WELL I DROVE MY CAR. THIS FAILURE OCCURED AS I WAS DRIVING MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN TO SCHOOL. I AM GLAD I GOT MY CAR OFF THE ROAD BEFORE AN ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURED. I CALLED FORD TODAY AND WAS BASICALLY TOLD, TOO BAD FOR YOU. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.