NHTSA Complaint #738877 — 1996 FORD WINDSTAR

I AM DISSATISFIED WITH THE SERVICE FROM FORD ON MY 1996 WINDSTAR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE FOR THE SAME THING. THE ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING AT A QUICK PACE AND FORD RAN THE PRESSURE TEST. SAID IT WAS THE WATER PUMP AND GASKET THAT NEEDED FIXED. THIS WAS 2 WEEKS AGO. THEY TOLD MY BOYFRIEND [XXX] WHOSE NAME IS ON THE TITLE OF THE VAN THAT IT WAS FIXED. HERE IT IS 1/4/2001 AND AGAIN WE HAD TO TAKE IT IN FOR SERVICE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. RAN TEST AGAIN AND SAID IT WAS THE HEAD GASKETS AND #4 CYLINDER. WE ALREADY PAID $900 AND IT WASN'T FIXED THE FIRST TIME. NOW THEY WANT TO CHARGE $1200 TO HAVE IT FIXED AND WE CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY MORE WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED THE FIRST TIME AROUND. ALSO FOUND OUT FORD HAS HAD A RECALL ON ALL WINDSTARS UP TO 1995 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM THAT WE ARE HAVING AND THEY ARE FIXING THIS FOR FREE. AS A CONSUMER I FEEL WE ARE BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF AND THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO MYSELF AS WELL AS OUR CHILDREN. I AM THE MAIN DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE AND I HAVE 2 TODDLERS. FORD SAID THE VAN CAN STOP AT ANYTIME AND I WOULD BE STUCK. I AM VERY UPSET AND DISSATISFIED AND WOULD LIKE SOME SATISFACTION FROM THIS COMPANY. I FEEL WE ARE BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF WHEN FORD KNOWS THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. THANK YOU AND I AWAIT YOUR RESPONSE.*AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).