1995 FORD WINDSTAR Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED BLACK SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE AND THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN BURNING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF FUEL SINCE THE BLACK SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE. THE O2 SENSORS, SPARK PLUGS/WIRES, INTAKE GASKETS AND INTAKE ISOLATOR BOLTS WERE ALL REPLACED BY A CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO WORK ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 89000.

MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR ENGINE HAS STOPPED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS AND ALSO WHEN COASTING WHILE DRIVING DOWN HILLS. IT ALSO STOPS WHILE AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS. MECHANIC ADJUSTED THE IDLE SPEED AND REPLACED THE IDLE CONTROL. THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. THE REAL DANGER HERE IS THAT AT LOW SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES ALSO FAIL MAKING THE VEHICLE VERY HARD TO STEER AND STOP. ON A VERY TIGHT TURN I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING 45 MPH. THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A MECHANIC ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE STARTER AND THE ALTERNATOR TWICE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER WILL MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 260,000.

MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR DEVELOPED A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN AT ALL DURING THE TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE LAST TIME IT WAS DRIVEN PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THE CAR REPEATEDLY LOST POWER (DECELERATED, NEARLY TO A STOP) WHILE DRIVING ON AN UPHILL INCLINE. DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR WAS INEFFECTIVE DURING SUCH EPISODES. POWER RETURNED AND THE CAR WOULD ACCLERATE AND MAINTAIN A STEADY SPEED ONCE THE CAR RETURNED TO LEVEL GROUND. I HAD NOT USED THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM AT ALL DURING THAT LAST TRIP AND USED IT RARELY IN THE 12 YEARS THAT I OWNED THE CAR. THE FIRE COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE ENGINE AND ALL OTHER MAJOR SYSTEMS UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DAMAGED THE SURFACE OF MY DRIVEWAY AND A SMALL AREA OF MY LAWN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. THREE DAYS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED UP TO SEVEN TIMES PER DAY. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO START THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER RESIDENCE. SHE CALLED A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY INFORMED HER THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS DEFECTIVE. SHE REMOVED THE ALTERNATOR FROM THE VEHICLE AND TOOK IT TO THE SHOP TO HAVE IT TESTED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED HER THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS NO GOOD; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT PURCHASED A NEW ONE AND PLACED IT INTO THE VEHICLE. SHE WAS ABLE TO START THE ENGINE AND RUN THE VEHICLE, BUT IT STALLED ONCE AGAIN 4 BLOCKS LATER. SHE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, DROVE HOME, AND CALLED THE DEALER FROM WHERE SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED....

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON APRIL 19, 2008, WHICH WAS THE PURCHASE DATE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE LIGHT WOULD DIM AFTER FUEL WAS PLACED INTO THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER PLACED SENSORS AND NEW MOTOR MOUNTS ON THE ENGINE AND, AFTERWARDS, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE MORE THAN 25 MPH. DUE TO THE LOUD NOISE FROM THE ENGINE, A MECHANIC AT A MUFFLER SHOP ADVISED HER THAT THERE WERE NO NEW MOTOR MOUNTS ON THE VEHICLE. IN FACT, THE MOTOR MOUNTS ON THE VEHICLE WERE OLD AND DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER HAS HAD THE VEHICLE SINCE MAY 1, 2008 AND STATED THAT NO ADDITIONAL REPAIRS WILL BE MADE. THE DEALER ACCUSED THE CONTACT OF DAMAGING THE MOTOR MOUNTS AND ADDING 750 MILES SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER SEVERAL...

PURCHASED THE VAN USED IN 2004. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT. SHORTLY AFTER THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON. MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES, ALTHOUGH PERIODICALLY THEY MADE A NOISE AND WOULD STIFFEN UP, THEN THE PEDAL WOULD GO SLACK AND THEN RETURN TO NORMAL. THE MUFFLER FELL OFF AND WAS PUT BACK ON. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD BEEN ON, WHEN HOOKED UP TO THE COMPUTER IT ONLY SHOWED CODES FOR THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THEN IT STARTED OVERHEATING AND A BIT OF WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM THE TAILPIPE. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPLACED. 2 DAYS LATER THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND THE VAN DIDN'T HAVE MUCH POWER AND WOULD STALL OUT WHILE EMITTING A THICK CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE FROM THE TAILPIPE. MECHANIC SAYS NOW THE HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN. *JB

MY WIFE WAS LEAVING CHURCH IN THE PARKING LOT, THE HEAD GASKET BLEW. HI. MY NAME IS [XXX]. I AM THE UNLUCKY OWNER OF A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. THE WINDSTAR HAS A FACTORY DEFECT IN THE HEAD GASKET MOUNTING, THAT CAUSES PREMATURE GASKET FAILURE(SERVICE BULLETIN #00M09). WELL MY WINDSTAR BLEW THE HEAD GASKET ON JANUARY 15TH, OF 2006. THE VAN ONLY HAS 76,000 ORIGINAL MILES ON IT. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD ABOUT THIS, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR IT. I MADE 3 CONTACT ATTEMPTS TO RISER FORD, IN HOT SPRINGS, AND 2 CONTACT ATTEMPTS TO THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPT' AT FORD MOTOR CO. EACH TIME THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT HELP ME. I INTENT TO TAKE THIS ALL THE WAY. I SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DEFECTIVE PART REPAIRS TO MY VEHICLE. *JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH IN NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE BLEW A HEAD GASKET. THE CONTACT NOTICED WHITE SMOKE AND WATER COMING FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN BACK TO THE RESIDENCE WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THE #1 PLUG WAS FULL OF WATER AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. UPDATED 03/22/06. *JB

NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. IT IS THE WORST CAR I HAVE EVER PURCHASED! AS SOON AS ONE REPAIR IS COMPLETED (TWO TRANSMISSIONS, HEAD GASKET, ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, BRAKES, SUSPENSION), THEN ANOTHER ONE OCCURS. NOW, AS IN EVERY CHRISTMAS, THE "ENGINE LIGHT" IS ON AND THE CAR IS RUNNING SO POORLY THAT YOU CAN'T EVEN PULL THE CAR OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY WITHOUT IT CHOKING AND SPITTING, LOTS OF SMOKE, AND THE CAR IS ACTUALLY SHAKING!!! I KNOW IT IS ANOTHER HEAD GASKET AND I JUST CAN'T PAY ANYMORE MONEY INTO THIS PIECE OF GARBAGE. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A NEW CAR AND IT CERTAINLY WILL NOT BE A FORD!

HEAD GASKET FAILURE. TOOK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT HAD BEEN RECALLED - I NEVER GOT A NOTICE AND AM NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. ESTIMATE OF $1800 TO REPLACE. READING OTHER POSTS, T APPEARS THIS IS NOT A DEFINITE PERMANENT SOLUTION. MY VAN ONLY HAS 97,000 MILES ON IT.*AK

ENGINE OVERHEATED ONCE. MECHANIC SAID COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM TIMING CHAIN COVER. WHILE SAVING FOR REPAIR, HAVE KEPT COOLANT ADDED AND ENGINE HAS NOT OVERHEATED AGAIN, BUT NOW ENGINE SURGES WHILE IDLING, MISSES SOMETIMES, AND HAS LOW COMPRESSION IN THREE CYLINDERS. MECHANIC SAID ALL DUE TO COOLANT LEAK, AND ENGINE UNSAFE, MAY BLOW AT ANY TIME. DEALER SAID THERE WAS A FORD INFORMATION CAMPAIGN ON PROBLEM. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED. ONLY HAVE 69000 MILES ON VEHICLE, BUT FORD TOLD DEALER THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST IN REPAIR. PLEASE GIVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT PROBLEM TO HELP ME WHEN I CALL FORD MYSELF. THANK YOU!*AK

MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR STARTED CUTTING OFF ON ME WHEN I WAS DRIVING IT. I USUALLY AM TRANSPORTING MY CHILDREN AND THEIR FRIENDS AROUND AND IT IS DANGEROUS WHEN IN TRAFFIC THE VAN JUST SHUTS OFF. IT STARTS RIGHT BACK UP, BUT I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING IT ANYMORE. AFTER SEVERAL VISITS TO THE DEALER AND OTHER CAR REPAIR PLACES, THE DEALER SENT US HOME WITHOUT FIXING THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE REPLACED THE IAC VALVE, FUEL FILTER, AIR FILTER, MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, AND THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. ONE PLACE WE TOOK IT CHECKED FOR VACUUM LEAKS AND CHECKED THE FUEL FLOW, WHICH ACCORDING TO THEM WAS ALL FINE. WE DID NOT KEEP ANY OF THE OLD PARTS LISTED ABOVE. THERE HAS GOT TO BE A REASON FOR A CAR TO JUST SHUT OFF, BUT EVERYONE SEEMS TO BE BAFFLED. EVENT LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE THE FIRST TIME:...

I ASKED THE SELLER AT FORD TO COMPLETELY SERVICE THE VAN BEFORE I WOULD BUY IT. HE SAID HIS MECHANIC WOULD. I CHECKED THE VAN OUT TWO WEEKS LATER, LOW ON OIL, NO BRAKE FLUID, TRANS FLUID VERY LOW, NO WATER HARDLY AT ALL IN RECEIVER, THEN THE STARTER WENT OUT, REPLACED IT NO GOOD, REPLACED SWITCH, NO GOOD, BRAKES GONE OUT, CAN'T KEEP FLUID IN SYSTEMS, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, EMISSION PROBLEMS, MECHANIC STALLS FOR THE HOUR AMOUNT, AND STILL CAN'T FIX/TEST II CODE. INSIDE LIGHTS DIM WHEN EXTRA. LIGHTS COME ON. IT'S A [XXX] PIECE OF JUNK AND THEY SOLD US A LEMON. I PAID OVER $4,000.00 CASH FOR IT, AND ALL THEY WANTED TO SO WAS SELL IT FOR MONEY. WHAT CAN I DO? IT HAS 72,000 ETC MILE AND NOW HAS 82,000. WE ARE BOTH DISABLED WITH TWO KIDS. WE HAVE BEEN SCREWED. I CAN GET...

ON FEBRUARY 2001 DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET. TWO YEARS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM RECURRED, ENGINE OVERHEATED. MECHANIC REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE OF $2500. *AK

I HAVE OWNED MY VAN SINCE JANUARY 2000. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING, MY VAN HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET, WHICH WAS FIXED UNDER THE FORD RECALL. STILL WITHIN THE RECALL, A HEAD GASKET BLEW AGAIN. FORD TOLD ME THE RECALL ONLY ALLOWS FOR A ONE TIME REPAIR. SINCE THEN, MY VAN IS ON ITS THIRD ENGINE AND THIRD TRANSMISSION. MOST RECENTLY WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE MAIN COMPUTER AS WELL. WE HAVE SPENT MORE MONEY FIXING THE VAN THAN WHAT WE PAID FOR IT. *AK

THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD MORE THAN IT'S SHARE OF PROBLEMS. THE HEAD GASKET WAS BROUGHT IN FOR A RECALL AND IT STILL MALFUNCTIONED.

TRANSMISSION- SHIFTING ROUGH SINCE 30,000 MI. 2 DEALERS TESTED OVER THE YEARS & SAID NO PROBLEM (JUST ADJUSTED SHIFT POINTS. SAME COMPLAINT IN JULY, 2003. DEALER CHECKED, SAID NO PROBLEM. 1 MONTH LATER HAD INDEPENDENT SHOP REBUILD TRANSMISSION. ENGINE- HEAD GASKETS REPLACED AT 15,000 MI & 35,00 MI. SAME SYMPTOMS NOW AT 103,000. JUST PAST EXTENDED WARRANTY

I EXPERIENCED 3.8L HEAD GASKET/ENGINE FAILURE ON APRIL 6, 2003 WITHOUT ANY PRIOR SYMPTOMS OR WARNINGS. VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN SERVICED AT 60,000 MILES WHICH INCLUDING FLUSHING THE COOLING SYSTEM. COST OF REPAIR IS ESTIMATED AT $3,500.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR(2002) I WAS SHOPPING FOR A VEHICLE FOR MY WIFE AND FOUND A 1995 WINDSTAR AT PAT MCCRAKEN FORD IN DEWITT MICHIGAN. IT WAS IN NICE SHAPE AND RAN GOOD. I HAD NO IDEA OF THE HEADGASKET PROBLEM THAT I WAS ABOUT TO INHERIT. AROUND THE MIDDLE TO THE LAST OF NOVEMBER MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME AND IT OVERHEATED. I REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, RADIATOR CAP AND WATERPUMP BEFORE TAKING IT BACK TO THE DEALER. HE WANTS TO CHARGE ME $900.00 TO REPLACE THE HEADGASKETS NOT INCLUDING NEW HEADS WHICH MIGHT BE BAD. ON A TRADE-IN ON SOMETHING ELSE HE ONLY WANTS TO GIVE ME $1000.00 FOR THE VAN, WHICH I KNOW HE WILL FIX FOR HIS COST AND PUT BACK ON HIS LOT TO CHEAT SOME OTHER UNSUSPECTING PERSON. WHAT MAKES ME MAD IS THAT HE KNEW BEFORE HE PUT...

THE ENGINE HEADGASKET ON MY FORD WINDSTAR HAS FAILED A TOTAL OF 4 TIMES IN A 4 YEAR PERIOD (57117 MILES, 57722 MILES, 71713 MILES AND 89523 MILES), RESULTING IN TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE BECAUSE OF COOLANT LEAKING INTO AND FOULING INTERNAL PARTS. THE INITIAL DEFECTIVE ENGINE DESIGN WAS NEVER ADDRESSED AND INSTALLING NEW HEADGASKETS PROVIDED ONLY A TEMPORARY BANDAID SOLUTION UNTIL THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD RAN OUT.

AT 146,00 MILES I WAS JUST INFORMED THAT I WILL HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER HEAD GASKET REPAIR DONE (THAT WOULD MAKE IT THE THIRD TIME THIS PART HAS FAILED) TO SAVE THE CAR...I WILL NOT DO IT, AS IN FEBRUARY, I SPENT OVER $750 TO HAVE THE REAR BRAKES REPAIRED FOR BRAKE FLUID COVERING THE SHOES OF THE BRAKES, CAUSE BY BRAKE LINE CORROSION (JUST AS IN THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LINE CORROSION THAT WAS A NATIONAL RECALL!!!!) BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE REARS

THE ENGINE WAS THE MAIN PROBLEM DUE TO THE HEAD GASKET RECALL. IN JULY,2000, WE ARGUED WITH FORD ABOUT A BAD ENGINE RUNNING FOR WHICH WE HAD JUST PAID OVER $300 TO EVALUATE BY AN OUTSIDE REPAIR SHOP. AFTER ABOUT 6 WEEKS WE RECEIVED OUR CAR BACK WITH A NEW LONG BLOCK PAID FOR BY FORD, INCLUDING A RENTAL VAN FOR THE TIME IN THE SHOP. IN JANUARY 2001 THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING ROUGH AGAIN AND WE WERE CHARGED $81.45 TO CHECK IT OUT AND REPLACE A WIRE BAD ON CYLINDER 6 WHICH WAS MISFIRING. THREE MONTHS LATER IN APRIL 2001 THE CAR RAN ROUGH AGAIN AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS BACK ON (HAPPENED FOR YEARS INTERMITTENTLY SINCE WE OWNED THE CAR). THE NEW LONG-BLOCK HAD ANOTHER BAD HEAD GASKET REINSTALLED PER THE SECOND FORD DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER. AFTER NEARLY ANOTHER MONTH WE HAD THE SECOND NEW LONG-BLOCK IN LESS...

ON MARCH 29, 2002, MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR EXPERIENCED A KNOCKING SOUND. NOTICING THE OIL LIGHT WAS ON, I IMMEDIATELY PULLED INTO THE SHOPPING CENTER NEARBY. I WAS AMAZED WHEN I HAD TO ADD 3/12 QTS. OF OIL, WHICH IMMEDIATELY DRAINED OUT. THIS VEHICLE JUST RECENTLY HAD AN OIL CHANGE, SO I KNOW IT WAS NOT LOW ON OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUTOFAIR OF MANCHESTER, NH. ON APRIL 2ND, I WAS ADVISED BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR, K. HAMEL THAT THE TIMING COVER GASKET WAS THE PROBLEM AND I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT A COST OF $3,639. I ALSO SPOKE TO K. HAMELS' BOSS, AND WAS TOLD NO WARRANTY WAS AVAILABLE. I THEN CALLED THE BOSTON AREA CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, JUSTIN BOYSON. HE PROCEEDED TO ASK ME HOW I GOT HIS NAME...NOT, HOW CAN I HELP YOU? HE ADVISED ME THERE WAS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE...THERE...

1995 FORD WINSTAR HEAD GASKETS LEAKING. HEAD GASKETS WERE REPLACED MAR 1999 AT 40352 MI. UNDER 98M01 RECALL. AND AGAIN JUL 2001 AT 79464 MI. UNDER 00M09 RECALL. TALKED TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER, THEY SAID TO CALL DEALER THAT DID REPAIR. BOTH SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME. BUT HEAD GASKETS SHOULD LAST MORE THAN THE 9246 MI. SAID REPAIR WARRENTY ONLY GOOD FOR 12 MONTHS.

BRAKE WORK X2 TRANSMISSION X2 ALL BELTS TIRE & SUSPENSION WORK LUGS ON WHEELS NOT PROPERLY REPLACED ,IT ALMOST FELL OFF STILL PAYING ON VEHICLE WHILE IT SITS IN ASHLEY FORD PARKING LOT W/ DEAD TRANSMISSION I AM UNABLE TO PAY CLOSE TO $2000 FOR REPAIRS

WE BOUGHT THIS CAR USED FROM A FORD DEALER WITH 86000.MILES ON IT AND WE PUT 14000,ON IT AND IT BLEW A HEAD GASKET, WE ARE RETIRED ON A FIXED INCOME AND CAN'T AFFORD EXTRA BILLS LIKE THIS, WE COULDN'T EVEN AFFORD A NEW CAR. SO WE ARE STUCK WITH A CAR THAT WE ARE AFRAID OF. WE WERE TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THIS WAS A ONE OWNER CAR AND THAT THERE WERE VERRY FEW PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR.

MY 2 MAIN PROBLEMS ARE MY TRANSMISSION & TIMING GEAR COVER. THE TRANMISSION IS VERY HAZARDOUS. MINE IS SLIPPING BETWEEN 1ST & 2ND GEAR. I HAVE BEEN READING ON THE INTERNET THAT ON SOME OF THE TRANSMISSIONS THEY HAVE BEEN SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR. I SURE DON'T WANT TO HAVE THAT SURPRISE. I'M DISABLED & NEED MY VAN TO HAUL MY POWERCHAIR WITH ME WHEN I GO TO THE DOCTORS OFFICE. I WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I TALKED TO A MECHANIC & HE SAID IF IT GOES IT WILL LEAVE ME ON THE ROAD. I THINK THIS VAN IS VERY DANGEROUS ON THE ROAD. FORD KNOW THEY WERE HAVING HEAD GASKET & TRANSMISSION TROUBLE ON THE 1995 WINDSTAR WHY DON'T THEY TAKE CARE OF THERE PROBLEMS. THEY KNOW THEY HAD BAD GASKETS ON THE HEADS,TIMING CHAIN COVERS,& TRANSMISSIONS BUT THEY STILL WENT WITH THE CHEAPER GASKETS THAT LEAK. I...

IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED THAT THE 1995 FORD WINDSTAR HEAD GASKET IS DEFECTIVE. WE OWN A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR, AND AT ONLY 72000 MILES THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OFF AND WE NOW HAVE ENGINE DAMAGE. FORD TOLD US THAT THEY WOULD DO NOTHING EVEN THOUGH THERE IS WELL DOCUMENTED EVIDENCE (TSB 94-9)(OOMO9) THAT THE HEAD GASKETS ARE DEFECTIVE ON THE 1995 FORD WINDSTARS. FORD TOLD US THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE OWNED THE VAN 9 YEARS THAT WE DO NOT QUALIFY FOR THE FORD HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT PROGRAM BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD THE VAN TOO LONG. THIS IS LUDICROUS! ANY HELP YOU CAN OFFER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

THE ENGINE PROBLEM WAS THE INFAMOUS HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE WAS OVER THE ARBITRARY 7 YEAR LIMIT, IT WAS FAR BELOW THE 100,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY LIMIT. IN MY OPINION, SETTING A TIME LIMIT IS DISCRIMINATORY AGAINST ANYONE WHO DRIVES FEWER MILES THAN AVERAGE. THE TRANSMMISSION PROBLEM APPEARED SUDDENLY. AFTER WAITING TO TURN LEFT, I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, BUT THE VEHICLE BEHAVED AS THOUGH IT WERE STUCK IN NEUTRAL. BY THE TIME I HAD A TRANSMMISSION EXPERT CHECK THE PROBLEM, IT WOULD NO LONGER SHIFT EITHER INTO REVERSE OR FIRST GEAR.

THE TRANSMISSION TORE UP IN OUR VAN AT THE END OF 2000 AND HAS FAILED AGAIN. WHEN IT TORE UP THE 1ST TIME, WE WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT SINCE WE ONLY HAD 60 DAYS LEFT THE COMPANY REFUSED TO PUT IN A NEW AND PUT IN A REBUILT. NOW WE HAVE TO FIX IT AGAIN. WE HAVE BEEN LUCKIER THAN ALOT OF CUSTOMERS THAT I'VE RESEARCHED, BUT WE ARE STILL GETTING A RAW DEAL WITH OUR VAN AND WE ARE VERY UNHAPPY! WE ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF ARGUING OUR MESSAGE TO THE FORD CO. BUT CAN TELL IT WILL BE A FAILURE ALSO. AND OUR HEAT QUIT THIS PAST WINTER AND NOW THE AIR IS OUT. WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS.

FORD WINDSTAR 95 SHIFT LEVER PRDNL DOES NOT MATCH GEAR. WHEN IN PARK CAR ROLLS HAVE TO FIND D OR R BY MOVING SHIFT LEVER. SOMETIME HAVE TO PUT LEVER IN TO PARK TWICE OR THREE TIMES BEFOR IT CATCHED AND CAR STARTS. WHEN THE CAR ROLLS BACK AND KILLS SOMEONE IT WILL GET FORDS ATTENTION. ALSO REPLACED HEAD GASKET ENGINE AND HEAD GASKET AGAIN. TRANNY SENSOR, DOOR AJAR SENSOR. WHAT A CAR MARK HERSHKOWITZ

CASE 1 MY FAMILY WAS COMING HOME FROM VACATION WHEN THE ENGINE BLEW WHILE WE WERE ON THE HIGHWAY. SMOKE CAME UP FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND WE WERE FORCE TO STOP THE VAN ON A CROWDED HIGHWAY. THANKS TO A NEARBY TRUCK DRIVER WHO STOPPED BEHIND US, WE WERE ABLE TO CALL SOMEONE AND GET TO SAFETY. IT TOOK A LOT OF NEGOTIATION FOR ME TO GET FORD TO TAKE CARE OF THIS MATTER, BUT THEY FINALLY DID. NOW AGAIN ON OUR RECENT TRIP TO GA ON 08-28-03 WHILE DRIVING HOME, OUR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND THE TRANSMISSION BLEW. TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED ALL OUT AND ON THE BACK OF OUR VAN TOO. IT ALSO STARTED SMOKING UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND FROM THE TAILPIPE. WE WERE INFORMED BY FREEDOM FORD IN NORFOLK VA THAT WE HAD TRANSMISSION FAILURE. OUR CHECK LIGHT HAS COME...

HEAD GASKET FAILED AT 35,279 (3/98) AND REPAIRED BY FORD UNDER WARRANTY. HEAD GASKET FAILED A 2ND TIME AT 80,957 (3/01) AND REPAIRED BY FORD UNDER WARRANTY. HEAD GASKET FAILED A 3RD TIME AT 116,298 (9/03). ON 24 SEP 03 I WROTE FORD REQUESTING THEY FIX THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM. HEAD GASKETS DO NOT REGULARLY AND PREDICTABLY FAIL. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE. I BELIEVE MY PROBLEM IS UNUSUAL AS I AM TOLD THE HEAD GASKETS DON'T FAIL THIS OFTEN. SEPTEMBER 24, 2003 FORD MOTOR COMPANY FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER P.O. BOX 6248 16800 EXECUTIVE PLAZA DRIVE DEARBORN, MI 48126 \T\T\T I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR VAN. THE VEHICLE HAS 116,298 MILES AND HAS BLOWN THE HEAD GASKET FOR THE THIRD TIME. WARRANTY WORK PERFORMED ON THIS VEHICLE BY FORD MOTOR CO. IN 1998 AND AGAIN IN 2001 DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM....

HEAD GASKET FAILED. WAS BLOCKED TESTED BY AAA SERVICE CENTER, SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA. WAS INFORMED THAT IS WILL COST ME BETWEEN $1500 AND $2000.00 TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM.

ON 6/13/2003, AT 57049 MILES, OUR 1995 WINDSTAR OVERHEATED AND SEEMED TO BE LOSING COOLANT SO WE TOOK IT TO ZIMMERMAN FORD, ST. CHARLES, IL TO BE CHECKED OUT. THEY REPORTED NO PROBLEM FOUND AND WE PAID $66.79 FOR A COOLING SYSTEM SERVICE AND LUBE SERVICE. ON OCTOBER 4TH,2003, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON OUR WINDSTAR WENT ON. WE TOOK IT TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP TO BE CHECKED. THEY CHARGED $111 FOR SBDS TESTS AND TOLD US WE HAD HEAD GASKET FAILURE AND QUOTED $2100 TO REPAIR. WE CONTACTED FIVE OTHER DEALERSHIPS IN THE CHICAGO AREA WHO QUOTED BETWEEN $900 AND $1600 TO DO THE JOB. OUR VAN IS CURRENTLY WITH FAMILY FORD OF WEST CHICAGO BEING FIXED. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD TO EXPECT A BILL OF ABOUT $1300. MOVING FROM ZIMMERMAN TO FAMILY FORD WAS NOT JUST A COST DECISION. ZIMMERMAN REFUSED POINT PLANK TO HELP US GET HELP...

HEATER CORE FAILURE THAT LED TO IMMEDIATE CYLINDER HEAD CRACKING THAT LED TO COOLANT ENTERING ENGINE OIL SYSTEM AND TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. TRANSMISSION FAILURE OF ORIGINAL AND REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION. TOLD BY AUTO PARTS STORE EMPLOYEE ABOUT THE CYLINDER HEAD RECALL AS HIS SISTER OWNED SAME 1995 WINDSTAR 3.8L, FORD HAD A VENDOR ANSWERING CALLS. REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT FORD HAD MAILED RECALL INFORMATION TO THE WRONG ADDRESS, THAT IS WHY I NEVER RECIEVED IT. REP UNABLE TO EXPLAIN HOW FORD MAILED HOOD RECALL INFO TO CORRECT ADDRESS, BUT NOT THE CYLINDER HEAD RECALL INFO. REP REFUSED TO ADDRESS ISSUE FURTHER. I WOULD LOVE TO TAKER PART IN ANY CYLINDER HEAD OR TRANSMISSION CLASS ACTION PROCEEDING.

2003 - DOOR AJAR LIGHT 2002 - BLEW HEAD GASKET; 2002 - HEATER CORE REPLACED 2001 - IGNITION COIL PACK & IGNITION LEADS REPLACED 2001 - FRONT TIE ROD ENDS REPLACED 2000 - REFRIGERANT COOLANT LOSS 1998 - EGR VALVE REPLACED 1998 - TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLER HOSES REPLACED 1997 - BLEW HEAD GASKET, REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY

AC COOLANT WAS LOW AND SWITCHING MECHANISM HAD TO BE REPLACED. AT 54000 MILES WAS TOLD TIMING COVER WAS LEAKING AND HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING. HEAD GASKET WAS FINALLY COVERED AT NO CHARGE BUT TIMING COVER GOT LITTLE RELIEF. NOW AT 80000 MILES, THE COIL ASSEMBLY FAILS AND I AM TOLD THAT MY HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING AGAIN AND THE DEALER SAYS THEY ONLY GUARANTEE THEIR WORK FOR ONE YEAR. WE HAD THE HEAD GASKET FIXED ON THE RECALL. IT APPEARS THE HEADGASKET MAY BE LEAKING AGAIN (ONE FORD DEALER SAYS IT LEAKS ANOTHER SAYS IT DOESN'T). WE ARE IN FOR REGULAR SERVICING NEXT WEEK --WE WILL SEE WHAT THEY FIND). OUR VEHICLE BEING REPAIRED ONCE AND BEYOND 7YRS OLD SEEMS TO BE BEYOND WHAT WILL BE COVERED. THE VAN HAS ONLY 139,000 KILOMETERS ON IT (SO WE ARE NOT PAST THE 100,000 MILE BARRIER). WE HAVE HAD ANOTHER GASKET...

HEAD GASKET GONE, DEALER SAYS THE ENGINE IS GOING, DUE TO LEAK FROM HEAD GASKET DAMAGING BEARINGS ON CRANKSHAFT. FORD IS AWARE OF THIS, AND CONTINUES TO ALLOW THIS, WHILE THEIR DEALERS CONTINUE TO PROFIT FROM THIS ENGINEERING FLAW. IT IS A SLAP IN THE FACE, TO LOSE $4000 DOLLARS TO A KNOWN FLAW, AND WORSE TO HAVE TO HAVE THE DEALER, TELL YOU ENTIRELY ABOUT IT, TO SELL YOU ANOTHER VEHICLE! PURCHASED FOR $8200 IN MAY 02,WARRANTY EXPIRED AUG 02, VEHICLE IS DEAD JAN 03 (OFFERED $2000 SO THE DEALER CAN SELL IT TO SOMEONE ELSE?)IT HAS BEEN A COSTLY YEAR.

I OWN A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR THE PAINT IS BLISTERING OFF IN HUGE PIECES. FORD SAYS IT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM , PAINT SHOULD NOT PEAL FROM A CAR LIKE THIS IT IS BLISTERING OFF IN SHEETS . I HAVE READ THAT FORD IS PAYING FOR PAINTING ONLY IF THE CUSTOMERS ARE REALLY LOUD ABOUT COMPLAINTS. I HAVE ALSO READ THAT MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN SENT HERE. THIS AUTOMOBILE HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE WITH DEFECTS AND RECALLS. ANYONE IN THE AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESS LAUGHS WHEN THEY HERE WHAT KIND OF CAR I OWN. 10 YEARS TO PAY IT OFF, 3 HEAD GASKETS LATER REBUILT TRANS ENGINE HEADS WARPED FROM FACTORY COILS SPRINGS BREAKING ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS , PAINT LIFTING OFF THE VERTICAL SIDES, BRAKE PROBLEMS....THE LIST GOES ON AND NOW FORD NO LONGER LISTS THE WINDSTAR ON THEIR SITE. THEY HAVE CHANGED THE NAME TO FREE STAR I WONDER WHY?

WHEN CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE, DEALER DETERMINED THAT ENGINE HEAD GASKET NEEDED REPLACEMENT.*AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED. THE CONSUMER STATED RECALL REPAIRS ON THE HEAD GASKET WERE DONE; HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE JERKED AND SMOKED FROM UNDER HOOD. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TECHNICIAN, WHO DETERMINED THAT ENGINE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

FORD WINDSTAR: HEAD GASKET FAILED.

VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED. *MR WHILE TRAVELING, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED ON THREE OCCASIONS. WHEN THE THIRD OCCASION OCCURRED, THE MECHANIC FOUND THE MAIN HEAD GASKET WAS CRACKED. *SCC *JB *CB

WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING . VEHICLE WAS FORCED TO PULL OUT OF THE ROAD. INDEPENDENT SHOP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. *AK

THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE FOR TWO YEARS. THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE IS BURNING ONE QUART OF OIL FOR EVERY 451 MILES. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS.

THE HEAD GASKET IS CRACKED AND LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *NLM