NHTSA Complaint #730051 — 1995 FORD WINDSTAR

WE WERE TAKING OUR SON TO USC FOR THE FALL START OF SCHOOL. LEFT GRANTS PASS, OREGON, ON I-5 CLIMBING THE MOUNTAINS WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND CAME OUT OF CRUISE CONTROL. WE SAW NO SMOKE, OR TEMPERATURE CHANGE, BUT HEARD SEVERE KNOCKING AT THE OREGON/CALIFORNIA BORDER. STOPPED AT GAS STATION AND CALLED TOW TRUCK TO TOW CAR TO YREKA FORD DEALER. HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED IN APRIL 1998, BEFORE RECALL NOTICE ISSUED ON OUR PURCHASED RYAN EXTENDED WARRANTY POLICY NO. G938219, WE WERE ONLY REIMBURSED EVENTUALLY FOR THE DEDUCTABLE NO ADDITIONAL AMOUNT EVEN THOUGH WE HAD PAID FOR THE COVERAGE THAT PAID FOR THE REPAIR. EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM REOCCURED, FORD HAS TOLD US, AND TWO SERVICE MANAGERS, THAT THEY HAVE NO OBLIGATION TO US SINCE OUR VEHICLE MILAGE IS OVER THE 100,000 MILE LIMIT. OUR SERVICE MANAGER IN RENTON HAS SAID THAT FORD HAS AGREED TO PROVIDE US WITH A "CUSTOMER APPRECIATION CERTIFICATE" IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,000.00 TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF A REPLACEMENT FORD PRODUCT, UNFORTUNATELY FAR SHORT