NHTSA Complaint #736999 — 1995 FORD WINDSTAR

HEAD GASKETS: VAN PURCHASED IN MARCH 2000 FROM A USED CAR DEALERSHIP - MILEAGE 91,000. AT 102,637 HEAD GASKETS BLOWN & POSSIBLY CRACKED HEAD. NOTIFIED FORD THEY STATED THE PREVIOUS OWNER WAS NOTIFIED OF THIS POSSIBLE PROBLEM IN MAY 2000 AND BECAUSE WE WERE OVER 100,000 MILES THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. NOW IT IS COSTING US $3,500 FOR A NEW ENGINE BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED AND WE WERE NOT NOTIFIED THAT THIS VEHICLE HAD A RECALL. DEALERSHIP SAYS THERE IS ALSO NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO. I SPOKE WITH OUR LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP THEY SAID TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE AT FORD HEADQUARTERS THAT THEY WERE THE ONLY ONES THAT COULD OVERRIDE THE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY. THE WOMAN I SPOKE TO AT FORD HQ WAS EXTREMELY RUDE AND REALLY COULDN'T CARE LESS. I INFORMED HER THAT IT WAS UNFAIR THAT THIS LETTER WAS SENT OUT IN MAY (WHEN WE HAD ALREADY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE) AND YET BECAUSE THE PREVIOUS OWNER RECEIVED IT WE HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. SHE AGAIN TOLD ME THAT A LETTER HAD BEEN SENT OUT TO THE PREVIOUS OWNER THERE. *AK