NHTSA Complaint #707120 — 1995 FORD WINDSTAR

ON MAY 14, 1999 WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN MODERATE CITY TRAFFIC, MY 95 FORD WINDSTAR'S ENGINE STARTED TO SKIP AS IF A SPARK PLUG WAS NOT FIRING. I WAS ABOUT 2 MILES FROM HOME AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE SLOWLY WATCHING FOR FURTHER SIGNS OF TROUBLE. AT ABOUT 1/2 MILE TO 1 MILE LATER THE "CHECK ENGINE" CAME, ON AND I SLOWED MY SPEED TO ABOUT 20 WHEN I NOTICED THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE BEGAN TO RISE. I STARTED TO PULL OVER WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE RUNNING ( A WHITE VAPOR CLOUD WAS EMERGING FROM THE TAILPIPE) I COASTED TO A STOP. THE MECHANIC AT DAVE DINGER FORD AT BRAINTREE MA SAID THE HEAD GASKET(S) FAILED CAUSING DAMAGE TO OTHER ENGINE PARTS DUE TO THE ANTI-FREEZE MIXING WITH THE OIL, AND RECOMMENDED A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE AT A COST OF $ 4,200.00 . FORD HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERING THIS PART FOR UNLIMITED MILEAGE, BUT NOT LATER THAN 12-31-98. I HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER FORD AND THEY REFUSE TO PAY OR NEGOTIATE THE COST OF ENGINE REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS A KNOWN DEFECT FOR THEM IN THE 3.8 LITER V-6 ENGINE (TAURUS & SABLE 94-95) FOR SOME TIME PRIOR TO MY BUYING THE CAR USED IN 6/97. THE CAR WAS PREVIOUSLY REGISTERED AS A FORD CORPORATE VEHICLE IN MASSACHUSETTS SINCE NEW. I FEEL STRONGLY THAT THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR OF A LATENT DEFECT, KNOWN TO THEM, AT THE TIME OF SALE. *AK