NHTSA Complaint #710577 — 1995 FORD WINDSTAR

ONE MONTH BEFORE "THROWING ROD" IN ENGINE, ENGINE BEGAN TO MISS BADLY. MIDDLETON FORD SAID IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET, AND WOULD BE COVERED BY RECALL WARRANTY, BUT THAT IT ALSO NEEDED A FRONT TIMING COVER GASKET. THEY SAID THAT ALTHOUGH THE HEADGASKETS AND THE TIMING COVER GASKET USUALLY FAIL TOGETHER, FORD WOULD NOT COVER THE TIMING COVER GASKET. OUR BILL WAS $810.81. ONE MONTH LATER, WE STARTED ON A TRIP TO MONTANA, AND GOT AS FAR AS SOUIX FALLS, S.D., WHEN AT 2:00AM, THE ENGINE LOST MOST POWER, AND BEGAN MAKING A LOUD CLANKING SOUND. WE MANAGED TO GET TO A GAS STATION, WHERE WE ASKED FOR DIRECTIONS TO THE NEAREST FORD GARAGE (SIOUX FALLS FORD, PO BOX 89120, SIOUX FALLS, SD). WE BARELY MADE IT THERE, WHERE WE SLEPT IN THE PARKING LOT UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. THE GARAGE WAS ABLE TO GET IT IN THE NEXT MORNING, AND SAID THAT THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $3000, AND WOULD TAKE 3-4 DAYS. WE WERE ON A TIGHT SCHEDULE GOING TO MONTANA TO VISIT OUR DAUGHTER IN THE AIR FORCE. WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO TRADE THE WINDSTAR IN ON A LEASED 99 EXPLORER. THEY SAID THAT BECAUSE OF THE ENGINE REPAIRS NEEDED, OUR TRADE IN WOULD BE $3000 LESS THAN IT WOULD BE IF THE ENGINE WAS OK. I AM VERY ANGRY WITH FORD, AND FEEL THAT THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO GET THEM TO REIMBURSE THOSE OF US UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE GOTTEN STUCK WITH THIS LEMON.