NHTSA Complaint #718350 — 1995 FORD WINDSTAR

THE ENGINE PROBLEM IS TWO-FOLD. IN DECEMBER OF 1999 THE HEAD GASKETS WERE REPLACED AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER WE BEGAN HEARING A KNOCKING NOISE AND WERE TOLD THE ROD BEARINGS WERE GOING OUT AND WE WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE. WHEN THE LOCAL FORD DEALER WAS CONTACTED REGARDING AN ESTIMATE THEIR RESPONSE WAS " DON'T FEEL BAD WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF THESE PROBLEMS ON THIS ENGINE". SOME CONSOLATION FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS TO REPLACE AN ENGINE THAT ONLY HAS 70,000 MILES ON IT. THE DEALER CONTACTED WAS NOT THE DEALER WHERE THE VAN WAS PURCHASED. THE SPEEDOMETER HAS NOW FAILED TWICE AND BECAUSE THE READING IS NOT AN ACCURATE MILEAGE TRADE IN ON IT IS DRASTICALLY REDUCED. WHEN CONTACTED ABOUT THE SECOND FAILURE FORD OFFERED NO HELP OR EXPLANATION FOR THE PROBLEM. THE ORIGINAL SPEEDOMETER WAS REPLACED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY AT EASTSIDE MOTORS IN GREENCASTLE, IN. THERE HAS GOT TO BE A PROBLEM THAT TWO SPEEDOMETERS WOULD FAIL ON THE SAME VEHICLE. THE DATES ON MY REPORT ARE APPROXIMATE. THESE ARE THINGS THAT I DIDN'T RECORD BUT I GUESS FROM NOW ON I WILL. THE ODOMETER READING THAT I RECORDED ON THE QUESTIONAIRE IS THE COMBINED MILEAGE OF THE 2 ODOMETERS. THE WHOLE UNIT WAS REPLACED NOT JUST THE SPEEDOMETER. *AK