NHTSA Complaint #720198 — 1994 FORD MUSTANG

I OWN A 1994 MUSTANG. ON MARCH 3, 2000 THE HEAD GASKET ON THE 3.8L ENGINE BLEW, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT SEVERELY. THE CAR ONLY HAS 90,000 MILES ON IT. THIS UNFORTUNATELY HAPPENED ON I-75 IN OHIO, 200 MILES AWAY FROM HOME. I WAS FORCED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED, AND WAS STRANDED FOR THE NIGHT. I FOUND A MECHANIC IN OHIO TO WORK ON IT. THE ENGINE AND RADIATOR WERE DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR, AND WERE REPLACED. THE COST OF THIS WAS NEARLY $4,500, NOT COUNTING FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS THAT I SPENT ON A RENTAL VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS REPAIRED. MY MECHANIC AND I BOTH CONTACTED FORD DEALERS AND WERE TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO FORM OF WARRANTY CAMPAIGN ON THIS ENGINE. I RECENTLY READ THAT FORD HAS ISSUED A "WARRANTY EXTENSION PROGRAM" ON THIS ENGINE FOR EXACTLY THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THIS ONLY COVERS THEIR FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES (TAURUS, SABLE, CONTINENTAL, AND WINDSTAR). WHAT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND IS WHY WOULD THIS ONLY COVER THESE VEHICLES AND NOT THE MUSTANG. IT IS THE EXACT SAME ENGINE. I HAVE REGISTERED A COMPLAINT WITH FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE. THEIR EXPLANATION WAS THAT THE REAR WHEEL DRIVES (MUSTANG) HAVE A DIFFERENT COOLING SYSTEM. MY RESPONSE IS, "SO WHAT?". IF THE HEAD GASKET GOES, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT KIND OF COOLING SYSTEM IS IN THE CAR. THAT IS A LUDICROUS ANSWER. AND IN DISCUSSING THIS WITH OTHER REPAIR CENTERS, MINE IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. WHAT REALLY INFURIATES ME IS THAT FORD IS TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF ALL THEIR FLEET CUSTOMERS (TAURUS AND SABLE BOTH ARE POPULAR FLEET VEHICLES) AND OBVIOUSLY DO NOT GIVE A [XXX] ABOUT THEIR INDIVIDUAL CUSTOMERS. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR