NHTSA Complaint #754800 — 1995 FORD WINDSTAR

THE FORD WINDSTAR EXPERIENCED THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GUAGE FLUCTUATING UP AND DOWN THE SCALE; THE RADIATOR FLUID LEVEL WAS LOW; NEXT BUBBLES WERE NOTED IN THE OVER FLOW RESERVOIR. THE DEALER SAID THE ENGINE GASKETS WERE BAD AND REPLACED TEHM AT A COST $1446.02. NOTHING WAS SAID ABOUT A SAFETY RECALL AT THIS TIME. LESS THAN A MONTH LATER WE RECEIVED IN THE MAIL FROM FORD VEHICLE SERVICE AND PROGRAMS (NO. 00M09). THE LETTER STATED ADDITIONAL WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED FOR HEAD GASKET FAILURE FOR 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES WHICHEVER CAME FIRST. WE HAD 103,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF OUR $1400 REPAIR. THE PROBLEMS STARTED BEFORE THE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY BUT WE COULD NOT AFFORD ANY REPAIRS UNTIL JAN 2000. AGAIN NOTICE OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY CAME IN MARCH 2000. WHY CAN'T FORD STAND BEHIND US ON THIS INSTEAD OF RUNNING FROM US?*AK