NHTSA Complaint #730100 — 1995 FORD WINDSTAR

VEHICLE PURCHASED USED ON 1/31/00 FROM NEIL HONDA WITH 40771 MILES. CALLED 2/01/00 TO REPORT A PROBLEM OF INABILITY TO ACCELERATE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. OCCURRING SPORADICALLY RESULTING IN CAR LOSING ACCELERATION WHILE CROSSING INTERSECTIONS . CAR SERVICED 2/14/00 WITH DEALER UNABLE TO INDENTIFY A PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND WORSENED AND RETURNED FOR SERVICING ON 3/06/00 AT 42126 MILEAGE. DIGANOSIS AND REPAIR OF A FOWRWARD DRUM FAILURE, OVERHAUL TRANSMISSION-REPLACE TORQUE CONVERTER, SUBLET UNIVERSAL CALIM NUMBER 562398304322. WHILE ON VACACTION, CROSSING A BRIDGE THE CAR DIED SPEWING COOLANT ALL OVER THE ENGINE ON 8/17/00. WAS TOWED BY AAA TO FORD DEALERSHIP IN GANSEVOORT, NY. DEALING WITH A WAYNE RIZZO AT 518-798-8834. THE CAR WAS LEFT ON THAT THURSDAY AND WE DID NOT FIND OUT UNTIL MONDAY 8/21 THAT IT MAY BE A RECALL ON THE HEAD GASKET. THE FOLLOWING MONDAY OR TUESDAY 8/28 OR29 CALLED TO FIND OUT WHEN THE CAR WOULD BE READY AND WAS TOLD THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT THE ENTIRE ENGINE AND THEY WOULD HAVE IT AT LEAST 6 MORE WEEKS. WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BECAUSE WE CANNOT BE WITHOUT A VEHICLE. WHEN REQUESTING A RENTAL FOR THE TIME THE VAN IS BEING REPAIRED THEY DO NOT RETURN THE PHONE CALL. THE CAR IS A 4 HOUR DRIVE AWAY AND WE CAN ONLY RELY ON THE PHONE CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT OUR RIGHTS ARE. DO WE HAVE A RIGHT TO A REFUND BY NEIL HONDA FOR SELLING A VEHICLE THEY KNEW HAD A RECALL OR SHALL I SAY WHEN THEY GAVE US A PRINT OUT OF THE VANS REPAIR HISTORY ALL THAT WAS ON IT WAS OIL AND FILTER CHANGES AND NYS INSPECTIONS. NOTHING WAS MENTIONED WHEN ASKED ABOUT ANY RECALL WHEN PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. UNFORTUNATELY FOR US WE ONLY FOUND OUT IN A LOCAL PAPER ON APRIL 9,2000. IN THAT ARTICLE FORD STATES THEY WOULD OFFER MONEY TOWARDS PURCHASE OF A NEW VEHICLE INSTEASD OF REPAIR OF THE OLD. WHERE DO I STAND? WHO SHOULD I BE DEALING WITH? FORD? NEAL HONDA? THE PERSON WHO HAS THE VAN? THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR TIME WITH REGARDS TO THIS MATTER.