NHTSA Complaint #714920 — 1995 FORD WINDSTAR

THIS IS THE 2ND TIME I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. THE 1ST. TIME WAS 1 YEAR AGO. MY VAN WAS MAKING A TICKING OR KNOCKING SOUND. THIS WAS RIGHT AFTER THEY REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET WHICH WAS RECALLED. I ASKED THE FORD DEALER WHO DID THE WORK IF THE SOUND COULD HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE RECALL. I WAS TOLD NO IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH MY PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW SHORT BLOCK. I HAD BOUGHT A WARRANTY FROM THE PERSON I BOUGHT THE VAN FROM FOR $430.00 WHICH WAS FOR $2500.00, I ONLY HAD ABOUT $1900.00 LEFT ON IT. I GOT AN ESTIMATE OF ABOUT $3500.00 TO DO THE WORK FROM FORD. ICOULD NOT AFFORD TO PAY THAT MUCH MONEY. I ASKED IF THEY COULD FIX THE PARTS THAT WERE BROKEN WIHT THE AMOUNT THAT WAS LEFT ON MY WARRANTY. THAT IS WHAT THEY DID. NOW IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME IT IS THE LONGB LOCK THAT I MUST REPLACE I HAVE BEEN TOLD. WHY BECAUSE I SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THE SHORTBLOCK THE FIRST TIME. I COULD NOT SEE HOW THE MOTOR COULD HAVE GONE WITH SUCH LOW MILAGE ON IT. THE FIRST TIME IT ONLY HAD 37668 MILES ON IT. IT HAD 36914 MILES ON IT WHEN THEY REPLACED THE HEADGASKET RECALL ON 09/08/98. I AM JUST FINDING OUT NOW THAT THIS COULD HAVE VERY WELL BEEN A PROBLEM THAT WAS CAUSED BY THE FAULTY HEADGASKET. I BELIEVE THAT FORD DEALER HERE IN SEASIDE, CA. KNEW THIS AT THE TIME. I BELIEVE THEY DID NOT TELL ME SO THEY WOULD NOT HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WITHOUT ME PAYING FOR IT. SINCE I COULD NOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR IT THEN, AND CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR IT NOW AFTER THIS HAPPENED AGAIN ONLY WORSE. MY VAN BROKE DOWN OUT OF TOWN I MUST TRY AND GET IT TOWED OVER A 100 MILES BACK TO MY CITY. I STILL DO NOT HAVE THE VAN WITH ME TO THIS DATE. I HAVE NEVER HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH A CAR IN MY LIFE. I HAVE NEVER OWNED A CAR THIS NEW EITHER. I GOT THE VAN SO I COULD DRIVE MY FATHER AROUND WHO IS HANDYCAPPED AND IS 86 YEARS OLD. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET HIM TO DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS NOR MY SON TO HIS ACTIVITES FOR SCHOOL. I WOULD BE MOST GREATFULL FOR ANY ADVICE OR HELP. THANK YOU.