NHTSA Complaint #725276 — 1995 FORD WINDSTAR

ON JUNE 27, 2000, I HEARD A TICKING NOISE AND TOOK THE VAN INTO MULLINAX TO HAVE IT CHECKED. THEY DID A THOROUGH CHECK AND INFORMED ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE TIMING COVER GASKET AND COULD BE REPAIRED FOR APPROXIMATELY $900. I WANTED TO HAVE MY OWN MECHANIC CHECK IT OUT. HE LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THAT THE TIMING COVER GASKET WAS NOT LEAKING; HOWEVER THE HEAD GASKET WAS. HE WAS LEAVING FOR VACATION, SO HE COULD NOT WORK ON IT FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. I THEN TOOK IT TO ANOTHER RESPECTED MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD IMMEDIATELY THAT THE TICKING WAS COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THE HEAD GASKET WAS ALSO BAD. HE RECOMMENDED I TAKE IT TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST IMMEDIATELY AND BRING IT BACK TO HIM FOR THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. ON THE WAY TO THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR (JULY 5), THE TRANSMISSION WENT, COMPLETELY NEEDING TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $2,000. THE HEAD GASKET REPAIR WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $650. THE TIMING COVER GASKET DOES NOT EVEN NEED REPLACED, WHICH WAS THE ONLY THING MULLINAX TOLD ME WAS WRONG WITH IT. AFTER RESEARCHING, I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED ALMOST IDENTICAL PROBLEMS. FORD DID EXTEND THE WARRANTLY TO 100,000 MILES. UNFORTUNATELY, I AM OVER THAT AMOUNT. BY EXTENDING THE WARRANTY, THEY HAVE ADMITTED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT MAKING A LIMIT ON THE MILEAGE IS UNFAIR, CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT ALMOST EVERYONE WHO OWNS A 1995 WINDSTAR HAS EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM (OR WILL IF IT HASN'T HAPPENED YET.) FORD WILL OFFER NO ASSISTANCE. THEY WON'T EVEN GIVE OUT PHONE NUMBERS TO ANYONE HIGHER THAN A DISTRICT MANAGER. THE PEOPLE ON TOP JUST SIT IN THEIR QUIET OFFICES AND DENY THESE CLAIMS. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO PROTECT INNOCENT PEOPLE. I DO NOT HAVE $2600 FOR THESE REPAIRS. THEY SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ERROR.*AK