NHTSA Complaint #738207 — 1995 FORD WINDSTAR

COMPLAINED TO DEALER A MONTH BEFORE THE FAILURE OF A LACK OF HEAT IN THE CAR, WAS TOLD THAT THE ONLY PROBLEM WAS AN AIR BUBBLE. WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON I DROVE IT A FEW MILES TO A FIRESTONE SERVICE CENTER WHICH WAS CLOSER THAN THE DEALER, THEY HOOKED THE CAR UP TO THE COMPUTER AND FOUND NO PROBLEM, THEY RESET THE ENGINE LIGHT AND IT DID NOT COME BACK ON UNTIL THE FOLLOWING DAY AS I WAS TRYING TO GET IT TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE CAR HAD BEGUN TO RUN HOT. I STOPPPED AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY HAVE NOW TOLD ME THAT ALTHOUGH THE HEADGASKETS WILL BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY I ALSO NOW NEED TO REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN, PLUGS, WIRES, DISTRIBUTOR, WATER PUMP, AND FUEL LINES AT A COST TO ME OF ABOUT $2,000 BECAUSE FORD IS NOT CONSIDERING THOSE REPAIRS RELATED TO THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT ONLY HAVING THE COVERED REPAIRS DONE THEY STATED THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT BE DRIVABLE BEACUSE THERE IS COOLANT AND OIL IN THE FUEL LINE. HOW COULD THERE BE NO PROBLEMS THE DAY BEFORE AND THEN COINCIDENTALLY ALL OF THESE THINGS GO WRONG AT ONCE?*AK