NHTSA Complaint #714148 — 1995 FORD WINDSTAR

DRIVING CAR TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WHEN CHECK ENGINE LITE COMES ON. VEHICLE STARTS ROUGH IDLE AND WIFE NOTICES WHITE SMOKE FUMING OUT OF EXHAUST PIPE. KNOWING THAT 95 WINDSTAR 3.8L HAS A REPUTATION FOR BLOWN HEAD GASKETS SUSPECTED THAT WAS WHAT OCCURED. COMPLEATED TURN AND GOT CAR SAFETLY OFF THE ROADWAY, CALLED FOR TOW TO NEAREST FORD DEALER. DIAGNOSIS, BLOWN HEAD GASKET, CAUSING HYDRO-LOCK DURING DIAGNOSTIC TEST . SOLUTION . REPLACE ENGINE WITH LONGBLOCK DUE TO COOLANT DAMAGE TO CRANKSHAFT AND CYLINDERS AND BLOCK. NO WARNING AND THIS CAR HAS BEEN PROFESSIONALLY MAINTAINED. OIL AND COOLANT WERE CHECKED THE DAY BEFORE AND WERE AT PROPER LEVELS. COOLANT CHANGED 07/99. SOLUTION ENGINE REPLACED AT OWNERS EXPENSE. NO PROPERLY MAINTAINED CAR SHOULD HAVE THIS KIND OF FAILURE,ESPECIALLY DURING FIRST 100,000 MILES. AM PURSUING THIS WITH FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE HOT-LINE WITH LITTLE SUCESS. ANY SUGGESTIONS?