NHTSA Complaint #718741 — 1995 FORD WINDSTAR

WE HAVE A RECALL LETTER FROM FORD ON THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM WHICH COVERS THE FIRST 5 YEARS FROM DATE OF PURCHASE OR 60,000 MILES. THE CAR OVERHEATED ON 12/20/99 AND IT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED AT THAT TIME BY OUR MECHANIC AT ANOTHER SHOP IF IT WAS THE HEADGASKET. ON 12/22/99, THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN AND OUR MECHANIC SAID IT WAS DEFINITELY THE HEADGASKET BUT HE DIDN'T THINK THE MOTOR WAS AFFECTED. HE SUGGESTED RETURNING TO THE DEALER, TOUSLEY FORD, FOR REPAIR EVEN THOUGH, TOUSLEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT HONOR THE RECALL AS IT WAS 25 DAYS OUT OF WARRANTY. WE WERE APPROXIMATELY 6400 MILES UNDER THE 60,000. TOUSLEY HAD US CONTACT CUSTOMER SERVICE AT FORD WHO DECLINED TO ALSO HONOR THE WARRANTY. OUR MECHANIC FELT THAT HAVING THE WORK DONE AT THE DEALER WOULD BE THE ONLY WAY WE MIGHT GET ANY MONEY BACK ON THE REPAIR IF FORD WAS REQUIRED TO HONOR THIS RECALL. TOUSLEY TOLD US THE WHOLE MOTOR NEEDED REPLACING, NOT JUST THE HEADGASKET AND THE REPAIR COST $3,538.15 NOT INCLUDING THE $35.75 WE PAID OUR MECHANIC TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. WE DON'T FEEL THIS HAS BEEN FAIR AS OUR MILEAGE WAS CONSIDERABLY UNDER THE 60,000 AND FEEL WE ARE BEING PENALIZED FOR NOT DRIVING ENOUGH AS WE WERE ONLY 25 DAYS OUT OF THE 5 YEAR WARRANTY. FORD KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM BUT THIS ELIMINATES A NUMBER OF OWNERS WHO DON'T USE THEIR VEHICLE ENOUGH AND SAVES THEM A LOT OF MONEY. THIS EXPENSE, FOR US, WAS ONE AND ONE HALF MONTH'S TAKE HOME PAY AND HURT CONSIDERABLY. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS COMMUNICATION WITH YOU WILL HELP US GET A FULL REFUND OR EVEN A PARTIAL REFUND, BUT WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE. I AM ALSO GOING TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH OUR STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE. I DO SEE THE DEALER'S POINT IN THAT THEY CANNOT HONOR WORK NOT APPROVED BY FORD, BUT I DON'T THINK EITHER THE DEALER OR FORD WERE FAIR. THANK YOU. *AK