NHTSA Complaint #712238 — 1995 FORD WINDSTAR

HEAD GASKETS BAD - THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WHICH FORD HAS ALREADY ADMITTED IS A DESIGN FLAW. THEY REPAIRED CARS WITH UNDER 60K MILES (WHICH OWNERS SELF-DIAGNOSED) FREE. THE PROBLEM IS THAT MOST OWNERS CAN'T TELL THEY HAVE THE PROBLEM UNTIL AFTER 60K MILES. THE SYMPTOMS ARE OFTEN SUBTLE, AND DON'T IMMEDIATELY POINT TO HEAD GASKETS AS THEIR CAUSE. FORD OBVIOUSLY SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THESE VEHICLES FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR AS NEEDED. INSTEAD THEY DECIDED TO ONLY DEAL WITH THE FEW OWNERS WHO MANAGED TO FIGURE OUT ON THEIR OWN THAT THE HEAD GASKETS WERE THE PROBLEM. MY CAR DIDN'T SHOW SYMPTOMS UNTIL IT HAD BEEN DRIVEN OVER AN HOUR (SOMETIMES SEVERAL) ON LONG TRIPS - AN INFREQUENT OCCURANCE. THEREFORE I COULDN'T HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE PROBLEM UNTIL I DROVE IT ON ENOUGH LONG TRIPS TO SEE THE SYMPTOMS. MAKE FORD PAY FOR THEIR MISTAKES!