NHTSA Complaint #724453 — 1995 FORD WINDSTAR

ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IN DASH CAUSED A BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEM. FORD DEALER HAD TO PULL OUT DASH TO CORRECT PROBLEM. CAR HAD A PREVIOUS RECALL IN WHICH THE DASH HAD TO BE PULLED OUT ALSO. WE BELIEVE THE WIRE REPAIR IN THE DASH WAS A RESULT OF THE PREVIOUS DASH ELECTRICAL RECALL. FORD SAYS NO. AT ONLY 59,400 MILES THE TRANS NEEDS REPLACING. FORD HAS A DEALER SERVICE BULLETIN THAT STATES FAILURE OF TRANSMISSIONS CAN BE DUE TO A CRACKED OR BROKEN FORWARD CLUTCH PISION. FORD SAYS NO. BLOWN HEAD GASKET AT 87, 300 MILES CAUSES ENGINE TO HAVE TO BE REPLACED. WE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN MARCH AND RECEIVED $3200 FOR REIMBURSEMENT. AT 89,000 MILES DURING FEBRUARY OF 2000, THE SECOND TRANSMISSION GOES OUT AND THE MECHANIC STATES THAT THE OVERHEATING OF THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM CAN AFFECT THE TRANSMISSION. DURING A TEST DRIVE OF THE THIRD TRANSMISSION, THE SPEEDOMETER GOES BAD. A RECALL LETTER FROM FORD IN MAY OF 1994 STATES THAT SOME SPEEDOMETERS CAN HAVE "INCORRECT GEAR" AND MAY CAUSE A LOSS OF FUNCTION". A LETTER HAS BEEN WRITTEN TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY EXPLAINING THE EXCESSIVE COSTS TO MAINTAIN A VEHICLE. *AK