NHTSA Complaint #740108 — 1995 FORD WINDSTAR

WE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH OUR HEAD GASKET FAILING AND SUBSEQUENT REPAIRS AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. WE HAD RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD STATING THAT THERE WAS A POTENTIAL FOR THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE AND THERE WOULD BE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO COVER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE GASKET HOWEVER OUR PROBLEM IS THAT FORD KNNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE 1995 WINDSTAR AND DID NOT COVER THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSED WE INCURRED BECAUSE OF A DIRECT CORRELATION WITH THE FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKET. WE HAD TO PAY $1100 OUT OF OUR OWN POCKET. IF FORD HAD SIMPLY PLACED A RECALL ON THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS WE WOULD NOT HAVE HAD THIS EXPENSE. I HAVE SPOKEN TO THREE DIFFERENT PEOPLE AT FORD'S CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND NOT ONE SINGLE PERSON WANTS TO HEAR WHAT I HAVE TO SAY. OUR SERVICE MMANAGER INFORMED US IT IS A PROBLEM AND FORM MOTOR CO. IS WELL AWARE OF IT AND CHOOSES TO DO NOTHING TO HELP THE CUSTOMER. BASICALLY I WAS TOLD BY SHERWIN IN CUSTOMER RELATIONS THAT UNFORTUNATELY I AM AN UNSATISFIED CUSTOMER AND THEY ONLY HAVE A HANDFUL OF UNSATISFIED CUSTOMERS. HE ALSO TOLD ME THEY DID AN INVESTIGATION AND FOUND THAT MY REPAIRS WERE NOT A RESULT OF THE FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKET. I SPOKE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT DENNISON FORD IN BLOOMINGTON AND HE CONFIRMED MY SUSPICIONS THAT HE NEVER TALKED TO ANYONE IN CUSTOMER RELATIONS CONCERNING MY VEHICLE. LUCKILY I WAS ONLY GOING 25 MPH AND AM WONDERING WHAT COULD, HAVE HAPPENED IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAVELING AT 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN MY ENGINE FAILED. I TRIED TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH SHERWIN TODAY AND I WAS TOLD, I DO NOT HAVE A COMPLAINT TO FILE. I WAS TOLD I HAVE NO PROOF WHATSOEVER TO BACK UP MY CLAIMS HOWEVER I WAS TOLD,,,,,,,,,,BY SOMEONE AT DENNISON THAT YES INDEED SOME OF THIS ENGINE FAIL,URE WAS A RESULT OF THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT FORD IS NOT GENUINELY CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP ME? THANK YOU.*AK