NHTSA Complaint #750145 — 1998 FORD WINDSTAR

THE 1998 FORD WINDSTAR 3.8L V-6 ENGINE'S HEAD GASKET LEAKED ON OUR WINDSTAR AND THE COOLANT CONTAMINATED THE ENGINE OIL, WHICH CREATED ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO EXCESS BEARING WEAR. IN THE LAST 2,000 MILES WE LOST APPROXIMATELY 2 QUARTS OF COOLANT. FORD SAYS IT DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL FOR THE 3.8L HEAD GASKET PROBLEM AND WILL NOT COMPENSATE US FOR THE COSTS OF INSTALLING A NEW FQR 3.8L ENGINE. THE NEW FQR ENGINE ONLY HAS A 24 MONTH/24,000 MILE WARRANTY, WHICH MAY FAIL AGAIN AFTER THE 2YEAR/24,000 MILE AND THE CUSTOMER IS TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF AGAIN! FORD IS AWARE OF THE 3.8L ENGINE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM AND HAS HAD THE PROBLEM SINCE 1988 MODEL YEAR. FORD HAS ISSUED TWO ONPS (OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM) 98M01 WHICH EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR 5YEARS/60,000 THROUGH 1995 MODEL YEARS, AND THE 00M09 WHICH EXTENDED THE 98M01 WARRANTY TO 7YEARS/100,000. I HAVE CHECKED THE NHTSA COMPLAINT DATABASE AND FOUND THEY ARE STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE 3.8L HEAD GASKETS THROUGH THE 1999 WINDSTARS, MUSTANGS, SABLES, TAURUS, LINCOLN CONTINENTALS, AND COUGARS. MANY OF THESE VEHICLES ARE HAVING THE PROBLEM AS EARLY 18,000 TO 36,000 MILES BUT THE BULK ARE HAVING THE PROBLEMS IN EXCESS OF 3YEARS/36,000 AND THE CUSTOMER IS STUCK WITH A HUGE REPAIR BILL, OF $4,000 TO $6,000 DOLLARS. FORD CLAIMS THEY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM AFTER THE 1995 MODEL YEAR WITH NEW HEAD GASKETS EVEN THOUGH IT IS OBVIOUS THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. FORD HAS SOLD AND STILL MAY BE SELLING A PRODUCT THAT IS DEFECTIVE THAT COULD LEAD TO CREATING ACCIDENTS WITH MULTIPLE FATALITIES. FORD HAS ADMITTED TO THE FACT THAT THE 3.8L HEAD GASKETS SHOULD NOT FAIL BEFORE 7 YEARS/100,000 MILES FOR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED THROUGH 1995 WITH THE 00M09 OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM. FORD IS STILL HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE 3.8L HEAD GASKETS FAILING THROUGH THE 1999 MODEL YEAR! WHY AREN'T THEY TAKING CARE OF THESE PROBLEMS. WHY HASN'T THE GOVERNMENT (NHTSA) INVESTIGATED THIS AND PERMIT FORD TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CONSUMER?*AK