NHTSA Complaint #720536 — 1995 FORD WINDSTAR

I HAVE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE INCIDENTS WITH MY WINDSTAR STALLING WHILE AT STOP SIGNS AND WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY OR HIGHWAY. THE CAR WOULD NOT START AT TIMES AND FINALLY THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START AT ALL. THE HEAD GASKET DEFECT DAMAGED MY ENGINE. I WAS FORCED TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKETS AND HAVE THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION REBUILT FOR A COST OF $5,000.00 APPROX. FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSED TO COVER THE COST OF THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY DEFECTS. I CONTINUE TO HAVE ENGINE FAILURE DRIVING AROUND TOWN AND ON THE FREEWAY. MY SAFETY AND THAT OF MY FAMILY IS A RISK EACH DAY THAT WE DRIVE IN THIS CAR. I HAVE ASKED FORD TO REFUND MY MONEY AND THEY REFUSE TO BACK THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. I CONTINUE TO TAKE MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. DURING THE LAST ATTEMPT, MY VAN WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP FROM 11/16/99 TO 01/25/00 AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I AM TRYING TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY TO PURSUE A LAWSUIT. I AM A SINGLE WORKING MOTHER AND CANNOT AFFORD TO PURCHASE ANOTHER CAR. I PURCHASED A WINDSTAR AND HAVE PAID $367.00 PER MONTH FOR 5 YEARS. I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO PAYING MY CAR OFF AND HAVING A DEPENDABLE CAR FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. MY CAR IS ALMOST PAID OFF BUT IT IS UNSAFE AND UNRELIABLE AND FORD REFUSES TO REIMBURSE ME. I AM AN EXTREMELY UNSATISFIED CUSTOMER AND WILL SEEK LEGAL ACTION. FORD MOTOR COMPANY DOES NOT BACK THEIR UNSAFE AND DEFECTIVE VEHICLES. APPARENTLY HUMAN LIFE IS MEANINGLESS TO THIS COMPANY OR THEY WOULD BE MORE RESPONSIVE TO MY PROBLEM.*AK