NHTSA Complaint #723776 — 1995 FORD WINDSTAR

WE PURCHASED THIS USED 1995 WINDSTAR AND A BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY IN APRIL 2000, AND OUR FIRST MINI VACATION TO BOULDER CITY, THE ENGINE FAILED IN THE CITY OF BARSTOW CALIFORNIA. WE HAD SEVEN PASSENGERS IN THE VAN AT THE TIME, AND HAD TO DRIVE TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER IN BARSTOW TO FIND OUT THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN. WE THEN HAD TO RENT A MINI VAN, AND WAS TOLD MY WINDSTAR WOULD BE FIXED IN ABOUT A WEEK. AFTER TWO WEEKS AND A RENTAL CHARGE OF $1058.00 THE VAN WAS NOT REPAIRED. WE THEN CONTACTED THE DEALER WHERE WE HAD PURCHASED THE MINI VAN KEN GRODY IN THE CITY OF BUENA PARK, THEY HAD PICKED UP OUR VAN FROM THE BARSTOW FORD DEALER ON MAY 3, 2000 AND WAS PROMISED THEY WOULD INSTALL A NEW ENGINE WITHIN A FEW WEEKS. NOW IT IS JUNE 8, 2000 AND TODAY I HAD CALLED FOR TENTH TIME TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS TOLD THE ENGINES ARE STILL BACK ORDERED. WE ARE VERY FRUSTRATED BECAUSE WE HAD FAR IN ADVANCE MADE RESERVATION TO GO ON VACATION TO ARIZONA TO THE GRAND CANYON WITH OUR FOUR CHILDREN AND WE ARE NOW TOLD WE WILL NOT HAVE OUR VAN FOR THIS TRIP. KEN GRODY FORD HAS GIVEN US A RENTAL MINI WINDSTAR VAN TO USE, BUT THE RENTAL AGREEMENT PROHIBITS US TO LEAVE THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. WE NEED A VEHICLE TO GO ON OUR FAMILY REUNION IN ARIZONA. THIS CHAPS OUR HIDE. WE NEED HELP!! WE HAD LOOKED ON THE WEB SITE UNDER FORD AND FOUND OUT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINES OF THE 1995 WINDSTAR, AND WAS NOT TOLD OF THIS PROBLEM WHEN WE MADE THE PURCHASE, AND DID NOT RECEIVE ANY INFORAMTION FROM FORD REGARDING A RECALL. WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP WE TAKE TO GET SATISFACTION? WE HAD NOTICE THAT FORD MOTOR WAS OFFERING $4000.00 TOWARDS A NEW PURCHASE, BUT WE JUST HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FOR $16,000.00 AND OWE $10,000.00, THIS IS NOT A VERY GOOD INCENTIVE TO MOVE FORWARD TO ANOTHER PURCHASE. WE DON'T KNOW WHEN WE WILL EVER SEE OUR VAN AGAIN. I FEEL NOW WE SHOULD RECIEVE A NEW COMPLETE DRIVETRAIN TO INCLUDE THE TRANSAXLE. PLEASE HELP US IN THIS MATTER, AGAIN WHAT SHOULD WE DO? *AK