NHTSA Complaint #727862 — 1995 FORD WINDSTAR

BLOWN HEAD GASKETS AT 44K TOLD THEY WOULD BE COVERED BY RECALL. ADDITIONALLY TOLD THAT THE TIMING COVER GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACE BUT NOT COVERED BY RECALL. WHEN I TOLD THEM NOT TO DO THE WORK I WAS WARNED BY THE FORD SERVICE MANAGER THAT I WOULD HAVE SERIOUS DAMAGE THAT WOULD NOT BE COVERED WITHIN 1 MONTH. COST FOR TIMING GASKET COVER WAS TO BE $800 BUT SETTLED AND PAID $400. IT TOOK 3 WEEKS (NOV 1-21, 1999) TO GET THE WORK DONE RIGHT. MARCH 2000 I RECEIVE A LETTER FOR FORD CUSTOMER CREDIT. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT EXPLAIN THE PROGRAM SO WHEN I CALLED AND PROVIDED MY INFO I WAS TOLD THAT SINCE MY $400 PAYMENT WAS NOT FOR THE RECALL (HEAD GASKETS ONLY) THAT I WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE $4000 CREDIT THAT THEY PREVIOUSLY HAD LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT I WAS. I HAVE A NEW TAURUS PICKED OUT WAITING TO BE PICKED UP AND NOW I AM TOLD THAT I DON'T QUALIFY FOR THE CREDIT. IF THIS ENDS UP BEING THE CASE, THIS WINDSTAR WILL BE THE LAST FORD THAT I OWN! I PROMISE! *AK