NHTSA Complaint #723999 — 1995 FORD WINDSTAR

OVERDRIVE LIGHT BLINKING, WE BROUGHT VEHICLE TO FORD DEALERSHIP. THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1500-$2100 (2 QUOTES FROM 2 DIFFERENT FORD DEALERSHIPS). TOLD US THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS ONLY COVERED UP TO 75K UNDER SPECIAL WARRANTY, WE HAD 80K. WE CHOOSE TO LET THE VEHICLE SIT IN THE DRIVEWAY. A WEEK LATER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO ANOTHER FORD DEALER, TOLD US THE HEAD GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED AGAIN (WE REPAIRED IT LAST YEAR). FORD WON'T LET US USE THE BUY-BACK OPTION AS STATED IN THE MARCH 2000 LETTER TO WINDSTAR OWNERS WHO HAVE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. THE DEALERSHIP AND A FORD MOTOR CORP CUSTOMER SERVICE REP SAID THAT ONCE WE ACCEPTED THE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE FIRST HEAD GASKET REPAIR, SUBSEQUENT HEAD GASKET FAILURES COULD ONLY BE REPAIRED, THE BUY-BACK OPTION WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE LETTER FROM FORD DOES NOT STATE THIS AND WE WERE NOT INFORMED AT THE TIME OF THE FIRST REPAIR THAT THIS COULD BE A REOCCURRING PROBLEM AND THAT WE WONT HAVE THAT OPTION LATER TO USE THE BUY-BACK PROGRAM INSTEAD OF REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. CAR IS NOW SITTING IN DRIVEWAY UNTIL WE FIGURE OUT WHAT OUR RIGHTS ARE. WE WOULD LIKE FORD TO BUY BACK OUR WINDSTAR FOR WHAT WE OWE*AK.