NHTSA Complaint #707877 — 1995 FORD WINDSTAR

OIL PAN LEAK NOTED @ 60K. DEALER RECOMMENDED FIX @NEXT SERVICE. AT 73224 DIED WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE, OIL WARNING LIGHT FLICKERING. DEALER IDENTIFIED LEAKING TIMING COVER GASKET CAUSED COOLANT TO ENTER OIL SYSTEM. MAJOR LOWER ENGINE OVERHAUL REPLACEMENT OF ALL MOVING PARTS REQUIRED. REPAIR WAS COVERED BY EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH EXPIRED @ 75K. DEALER REQUESTED REPLACEMENT OF KNOWN HEAD GASKET PROBLEM AT THAT TIME DECLINED BY FORD AS NO CURRENT PROBLEM APPARENT. AT 83K VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO START, EXHAUST BLOWING WHITE SMOKE WHEN IT FINALLY STARTED. DEALER HAS HAD CAR OVER A WEEK & HAS IDENTIFIED HEAD GASKET FAILURE WHICH HAS ALSO CAUSED THE REBUILT LOWER ENGINE TO FAIL AGAIN. DEALER RECOMMENDS FULL ENGINE REPLACEMENT. FORD IS REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY RESPONSIBILITY EVEN THOUGH AN APPARENT RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED AGAINST PREMATURE HEADGASKET FAILURE. IN COMMON WITH OTHER NOTIFICATIONS YOU HAVE RECEIVED AND WE HAVE NOTICED ON THE INTERNET. WHAT RECOURSE DO WE HAVE WITH A MANUFACTURER WHO IS AWARE OF A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW AND REFUSES TO SERVICE ITS CUSTORMERS? OUR VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AND SERVICED FOR ITS ENTIRE LIFE SOLEY BY THE FORD DEALERSHIP FROM WHOM WE PURCHASED THIS "DEAD" VEHICLE. ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIR--$5,000. *AK