1995 FORD WINDSTAR Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

AT 48000 MILES THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED BY MANUFACTURER DUE TO COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE. THE DEALER REBUILT THE ENTIRE UPPER PART OF THE ENGINE. NOW THE VEHICLE IS STALLING INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE STALLING WAS DUE TO A DROP IN OIL PRESSURE WHICH SHUT OFF THE FUEL PUMP IN TURN SHUTTING DOWN ENGINE. *NLM

ON 1/3/03 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO FORD DEALER THAT HAD REPLACED THE FIRST ENGINE AT 67,000 DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE. DEALER NOTIFIED ME THAT HEAD GASKET HAD FAILED AGAIN WITH 124,000 MILES THIS TIME. AFTER DEALER TOOK ENGINE APART TO CHECK THE PROBLEM,DEALER NOTIFIED ME TO TELL ME NOW ITS THE WHOLE ENGINE THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS WOULD BE THE SECOND TIME WITH IN 124,000 MILES. FORD WOULD NOT COVER UNDER RECALL WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE 3,000 DOLLARS TO FIX. AFTER I REFUSED DEALER COSTS AT 3,000 DOLLARS DEALER WANTED 800 DOLLARS TO PUT ENGINE BACK TOGETHER STILL NOT FIXED HAD VAN TOWED HOME WITH ENGINE IN BOXES. HAVE PAPER WORK FROM DEALER THAT SHOWS THEY NEVER HAD PERMISSION TO TAKE ENGINE APART. THEY ONLY HAD APPROVAL TO DO A DIAGNOSIS TEST. *NLM

THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN AT 48000 MILES IN OCTOBER OF 2000 AND THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE SECOND ENGINE'S HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN. *JB SCC

THE HEAD GASKET IS CRACKED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

AFTER START UP AND DRIVING ABOUT 10 TO 15 MINUTES, TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEEDLE INDICATING ENGINE IS HOT. DEALER DIAGNOSIS IS THE HEAD GASKET. TS HEAD GASKETS, THERMOSTAT AND SPARK PLUGS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TT

BLOWN HEAD CASKITS AT 62,000 MILES WHICH FORD FIXED AT NO COST DUE TO DEFECT AND NOW AGAIN AT 92,000 MILES IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN AND THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT SINCE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY OF 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILE WHICHEVER COMES FIRST SINCE IT IS 7 YEARS OLD. THEY KNOW IT IS THEIR PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND VERIFIED BLOWN HEAD CASKETS FOR THE 2ND TIME

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT LIT UP AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE SPIKED INTO THE RED ZONE. THE NEXT MORNING I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC WHO LATER INFORMED ME THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD FAILED, COOLANT HAD LEAKED INTO AT LEAST ONE CYLINDER AND THE TIMING CHAIN. I CONTACTED FORD BECAUSE I HAD RECEIVED A NOTICE OF AN EXTENSION TO THE WARRANTY FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM. HOWEVER FORD ONLY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 7 YEARS AND 100,000 MILES. THIS VEHICLE HAS 98,000 MILES ON IT AND IS 8 YEARS AND 3 MONTHS OLD. AS A RESULT FORD WILL NOT SERVICE THE CAR UNDER THE WARRANTY EXTENSION. MY MECHANIC TELLS ME THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR FORD ENGINE AND THAT HE HAS HAD TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET ON NUMEROUS VEHICLES WITHT HIS ENGINE.

1995 FORD WINDSTAR ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE - FORD WILL NOT ADMINT TO A DEFECT IN QUALITY. THIS VAN NOW SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR OVER A YEAR AND NO ONE WILL FIXIT FOR UNDER 3500.00. PROBLEM IS THAT BECAUSE OF THE DEFECTS IN THIS VAN, THE VALUE OF IT IS 1000.00. I ALSO PUT TWO TRANSMITTIONS INTO IT, WATER PUMPS, THERMOSTATS, RADIATOR AND NO ONE INFORMED ME OF A POTENTAL DEFECT WITH THE HEAD GASKETS

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE HEAD GASKET TIMING CHAIN SNAP CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

MY EX-1995 FORD WINDSTAR HAS 77,000 MILES SHOWED A OVERHEATING PROBLEM. FORD AFFILIATED DEALER (YOUNG FORD IN ROCHESTER, MI) SAID IT WAS FIXED BY REPLACING A WATER PUMP. BUT OVERNIGHT THE SAME OVERHEATING APPEARED. NEXT TIME THE DEALER SAID IT WAS A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM, WHEN FORD WAS CONTACTED TO BE TOLD IT WAS UNDER RECALL TWICE BUT MY CAR COULD NOT BE COVERED DUE TO EXPIRED RECALL WARRANTY (7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILE WHICHEVER COMES FIRST). I FIXED AND SOLD IT BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE A CAR FROM UNRELIABLE MANUFACTURER.

CYLINDAR HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON A 1995 WINDSTAR WITH LESS THAN 64,000 MILES

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE HEAD GASKET FAILED DUE TO A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO REPAY THE COST FOR REPLACING THE THE ENTIRE ENGINE (WELL OVER 4K DOLLARS) WHICH WAS THE CASE IN THE RECALL. SCC

THE VEHICLE WAS PARK AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITTIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS.

ENGINE 3.8 WAS REMANUFACTURED (68,500) UNDER RECALL AND NOW HAS SAME ISSUE, BLOWN HEAD GASKETS (125,200). FORD HAS ISSUED A TECH SERVICE BULLETIN IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS ON THIS. IT SEEMS THAT THE ISSUE WAS NOT ADEQUATELY FIXED ON THE FIRST RECALL, OR THE TSB WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ISSUED.

HEAD GASKET BLEW AND CAUSED TIMING BELT GASKET TO FAIL AS WELL. PER FORD RECALL IS ONLY FOR 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES AND THE VAN IS 7 YEARS AND 8 MONTHS OLD AND HAS 75,000 MILES. BROUGHT VAN TO DEALER @ 40,000 AND DEALER REFUSED TO CHECK GASKET AND INFORMED ME THAT ONCE IT GOES BAD, BRING IT IN AND WE WILL FIX IT AND NEVER MENTIONED ANYTHING ABOUT A TIME LIMIT. NOW DEALER AND FORD IS REFUSING TO FIX GASKETS AND THEY ARE ASKING $2,305 TO FIX PROBLEM THAT I BELIEVE SHOULD STILL BE COVERED.

WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED VEHICLE STARTED TO RUN A LITTLE ROUGH. ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT TO HOT. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF TAILPIPE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED HEAD GASKET. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE LIGHT WOUL ILLUMINATE, ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING, HEAD GASKET FAILED, THERMOSTAT AND THERMOSTAT GASKET FAILED, O-RING WERE LEAKING AND ALSO IF THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME THE VEHICLE WOULD START TO OVERHEAT. * YD 2 OXYGEN SENSORS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED

ON TWO OCCASIONS THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE REACHED THE HOT ZONE AND DROPPED. THE VEHICLE ALSO STARTED TO SMOKE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE UNDER MANUFACTURERS HEAD GASKET RECALL, BUT THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED, THEN THE DEALER REPLACED SENSOR AND THERMOSTAT. FINALLY THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME, BUT FORD WILL NOT PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS. *YH

THE ENGINE LEAKED OIL ONTO THE EXHAUST, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAK WAS REPLACED UNDER THE HEAD GASKET WARRANTY WHICH ALSO FAILED, ALSO THE WATER PUMP FAILED @79,000 MILES.*JB

WHILE DRIVING SMOKE EMERGED FROM EXHAUST. ALSO, ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASH AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE IMMEDIATELY WENT FROM COLD TO HOT, CAUSING HEAD GASKET TO BLOW OUT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. SMOKE EMERGED FROM VEHICLE, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE IMMEDIATELY WENT FROM COLD TO HOT, CAUSING HEAD GASKET TO BLOW. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

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

THE ENGINE LEAKED OIL ONTO THE EXHAUST, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAK WAS REPLACED UNDER THE HEAD GASKET WARRANTY WHICH ALSO FAILED, ALSO THE WATER PUMP FAILED @79,000 MILES.*JB

CONSUMER STATES HEAD GASKET FAILED, ENGINE LEAKED OIL ON EXHAUST, AND THE WATER PUMP WAS ALSO REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE NOISE AND A LOOSE SHAFT.*YH

VEHICLE WAS GOING 60MPH AND ENGINE LOST OIL PRESSURE AND CONSTANTLY OVERHEATED. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT DIDN'T COME ON AS A WARNING. PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE 1998. PROBLEM WAS PREVIOUSLY CAUSED BY COOLANT DETERIORATING THE BEARINGS. ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT DEALER WILL NOT GET INVOLVED FINANCIALLY. CONSUMER WILL BE FULLY RESPONSIBILE FOR THE REPAIRS. *AK *JB

TRANSMISSION FAILED ONE MONTH AFTER CONSUMER'S EXTENDED WARRANTY. VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEMS, HEAD GASKET BLEW CAUSING TIMING COVER GASKET TO FAIL, AFTER REPAIR OF HEAD GASKET, ENGINE STARTED TO RATTLE, NOW THERE IS A BEARING PROBLEM WHICH IS DUE TO VEHICLE OVERHEATING, DEALER STATED VEHICLE NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. *SLC THE TRANSMISSION FAILED THE HEAD GASKET BLEW THE TIMING COVER GASKET FAILED. THE CONSUMER WANTS REIMBURSMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER FOR THE ABOVE FAILED PARTS THAT HAD BEEN REPLACED.

DUE TO HEAD GASKET RECALL, CONSUMER HAD HEAD GASKET REPAIRED, DAYS AFTER REPAIR, RATTLING WAS HEARD AND TIMING COVER GASKET WAS REPAIRED AT CONSUMER'S COST, THE BEARINGS HAVE FAILED DUE TO OVERHEATING AND DEALER IS NOW STATING THAT THE ENGINE NEEDS REPLACED, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING THAT REPAIR BE COVERED BY FORD AND REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS TO THE TIMING GASKET. *SLC

HEATER NOT WORKING PROPERLY. TEMPERATURE GAUGE OVERHEATED. TOOK IT TO DEALER TO CHECK OUT. I WAS INFORMED NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. THE 3.8 LITER V6 HEAD GASKET WAS A PROBLEM THEY WERE KNOWINGLY AWARE OF. THERE IS A SPECIAL PROGRAM PROVIDING COVERAGE FOR 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES. AT 105,000 MILES I DO NOT QUALIFY. MY 5 YEAR OLD VEHICLE NEEDS A NEW ENGINE AT MY EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS RELIGIOUSLY MAINTAINED. THE DEALER, AND SUPPOSED ZONE MANAGER, WON'T BUDGE. WHY DIDN'T THEY RECALL MY CAR AND REPLACE THE FAULTY HEAD GASKET BEFORE THE ENGINE FAILED. UNBELIEVABLE. AS A CONSUMER I FEEL I WAS MISLEAD AND INTENTIONALLY KEPT UNINFORMED. I FAIL TO BELIEVE FORD CAN GET AWAY WITH HAVING A PRODUCT ON THE ROAD THEY KNOW IS AN ENGINE FAILURE TIME BOMB. *AK

ENGINE GASKET BLEW, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE KEPT RUNNING HOT. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND THEY SAID IT WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET, THERE WAS A RECALL, CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER. *AK

I JUST WANTED TO FIND OUT ABOUT A PROBLEM THAT I AM HAVING WITH MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. I HAD IT IN MY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP FOR HAVE THE OIL CHANGED WHEN I TOLD THEM THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE HAD GONE CRAZY THAT MORNING. WE REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT AND THE RADIATOR CAP THINKING THAT MIGHT BE THE PROBLEM. THE NEXT MORNING IT WAS DOING THE SAME THING SO I CONTACTED THE REPAIR SHOP AND THEY GOT TO LOOKING AND FIGURED OUT THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD BROKEN. I HAVE MY CAR IN THE SHOP GETTING THIS PROBLEM TAKEN CARE OF. I FILL THAT THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO BECAUSE I HAVE FOUND OUT JUST TODAY THAT THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL OF THESE VANS HEADGASKETS REPLACED FOR THE SAME REASON. I KNOW THAT THE TAURUS & MUSTANG HAD A RECALL ON THESE GASKETS AND THAT THEY ARE THE SAME...

TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD GO UP/DOWN. WOULD ADD FREEON TO TRY TO CORRECT. HAD MAP SENSOR CHANGED. VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FLUID. THERE WAS LIQUID IN THE EXHAUST PIPE (ANTIFREEZE). BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE DEALER & MANUFACTURER. WAS INFORMED THAT PROGRAM, WHICH WAS FOR 7 YEARS, AND UNLIMITED MILEAGE FROM DATE OF VEHICLE'S MANUFACTURER, HAS EXPIRED & NOTHING COULD BE DONE. VEHICLE WAS NOT BEYOND THE 7 YEAR LIMIT. *AK

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL ENGINE RELATED FAILURES, THE HEAD GASKET FAILED TWO TIMES, THE DEALER WOULD NOT COMPENSATE FOR THE SECOND FAILURE AND ALSO DID NOT OFFER THE CONSUMER THE $4000.00 CERTIFICATE TOWARDS A NEW VEHICLE, AFTER THE FIRST HEAD GASKET REPAIR, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LOSE COOLANT, THE ENGINE CYLINDERS WERE REPLACED, THE TIMING COVER WAS CRACKED, THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED, AND THE BLOWN GASKET CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT, SHAKE, AND SMOKE. *SLC

OUR HEAD GASKETS FAILED ON THE VEHICLE. THE ONLY WARNING WAS AN ERRACTIC TEMPATURE GAUGE. WE ARE AIR FORCE OFFICERS SERVING IN THE UK AND TRANSPORTED THE VEHICHLE WITH US. WE ARE ONLY ALLOWED ONE VEHICLE, AND WE ARE NOW WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR A VERY LONG TIME DUE TO VERY SHORT SUPPLY OF PARTS IN THE UK. IT IS VERY DISAPPOINTING TO FIND OUT THAT FORD WAS AND IS WELL AWARE OF THIS FAILURE, YET REFUSES TO PAY THE COST. I WOULD NEVER SELL MY CAR TO SOMEONE ELSE KNOWING FULL WELL THE HEADGASKETS ARE GOING TO BLOW, SO FORD HAS KNOWLINGLY STUCK ALL WINDTAR OWNERS WITH THIS HUGE BILL. FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR A RECALL OF THIS VEHICLE DUE TO THIER KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER HAS HAD HEAD GASKET REPLACED 3 TIMES STARTING OCTOBER 24TH, 1997. PROBLEM HAS NEVER BEEN RESOLVED. DEALER HAS SENT A LETTER TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY. WARRANTY WAS UP AT 100,000. CONSUMER ONLY HAD 10,000 MILES TO GO. ENGINE BLEWOUT THE FIRST TIME. OTHER PROBLEMS HAVE OCCURRED, SUCH AS THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE.*AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, TEMPERATURE GAUGE FLEW UP, ANTI FREEZE HAD MIXED WITH OIL, AND RUINED THE ENGINE.*AK

AFTER INITIALLY GETTING THE HEAD GASKETS REPLACED AT NO CHARGE IN DEC. 1999, THE VAN HAD THE SAME SYMPTOMS IN MARCH 2000. THE SYMPTOMS WERE NO HEAT, IRRADIC TEMPERATURE GAUGE, AND LOSS OF ANTI-FREEZE. I BROUGHT THE VAN BACK TO THE DEALER IN MARCH 2000. I WAS TOLD THAT THE TIMING COVER GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. INITIALLY THE ESTIMATE WAS FOR $900 BUT I HAD COMPLAINED TO FORD MOTOR AND THE DEALER (ABLE FORD) CHARGED ME $715 FOR THE REPAIR. NOW THE VAN STARTED TO EXHIBIT AN ERRATIC TEMPERATURE GAUGE, THE NEEDLE GOING UP AND DOWN PROBABLY FROM AIR POCKETS IN THE SYSTEM, AND RUNNING A LITTLE ROUGH. MY DILEMA IS WHETHER OR NOT TO TRUST THE DEALER AND FORD TO DIAGNOSE, AND FIX THE CAR PROPERLY. *AK

I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED IN JULY 1997 WITH 32,000 MILES. SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE HAD THE BRAKES REPAIRED THREE TIMES AND THEY STILL SQUEAK. THE AIRBAG MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED FOUR MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE, LUCKILY UNDER FEDERAL WARRANTY. THEN IN JUNE 1999, I HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK BECAUSE THE STRAPS CAUSED IT TO CRACK. FORD WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL. IN JANUARY THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM, BUT ONLY IN CERTAIN COUNTIES IN CERTAIN STATES, NOT NJ, FORD WOULD NOT BEND, DESPITE MY LETTERS AND PHONE CALLS. IN LATE MARCH 2000, MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AS DID MY ABS LIGHT. MY BRAKES NEEDED TO BE FIXED AGAIN. SINCE MY AIRBAG WAS FIXED OVER 12 MONTHS AGO, IT WAS NOT COVERED. MY ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON APRIL 11 AND STAYED ON FOR TWO...

TEMPERATURE GUAGE MALFUNCTIONS AND NO HEAT IS AVAILABLE. YH

TEMPERATURE GAUGE FAILED. NLM

VEHICLE EXHIBIT LEAKING OIL PAN GASKET. DEALER REPLACED PAN GASKET, TIMING COVER GASKET LEAKING, REPLACED TIMING COVER GASKET. *TT

WHILE TRAVELING DOWN HIGHWAY, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT AND HEATING LIGHT CAME ON. CONSUMER MOVED CLOSE TO THE LANE. THEN HEARD A LOUD POP, AND WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT FROM EVERYWHERE , CONSUMER WAS COMPLETELY BLINDED. BUT, FELT SAFE ENOUGH TO MOVE TO SHOULDER AND WAIT FOR HELP. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE BARRIED AT HOT, THEN ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED OVER AND WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM TAIL PIPE. THEN VAN WOULD NOT RESTART. A MECHANIC REPLACED THE HEAD AND I DROVE IT FOR APPROX. 400 MILES WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED NOCKING AND THE TRANS. WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 2 GEAR UNTIL IT GOT HOT THEN WOULDN'T SHIFT OUT OF 1ST I BELIEVE THE HEAD GASKET DAMAGED THE ENGINE AND TRANS. VAN IS UNDRIVEABLE AND STILL OWE FOR IT. *AK

PREMATURE HEADGASKET FAILURE ON FORD 3.8L ENGINE LEFT ME STRANDED AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES. VAN TEMPERATURE GUAGE ROSE RAPIDLY, FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF ALL HEAT, REDUCED POWER, AND ILLUMINATION OF THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT. FORTUNATELY, I WAS IN A POPULATED AREA, AND I WAS ABLE TO ARRANGE TRANSPORTATION FROM THERE. THIS PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE OCCURRING IN A REMOTE AREA UNDER SIMILAR TEMPERATURE & WEATHER CONDITIONS COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTEROUS. DEALER TROUBLESHOOTING YIELDED HEADGASKET FAILURE AND MAJOR DAMAGE TO #4 CYLINDER. VAN NOW NEEDS NEW ENGINE. PERSONAL RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN ENGINE DESIGN & MANUFACTURING PROBLEM PLAGUING FORD 3.8L ENGINES, YET FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSES TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE $3500 COST TO REPLACE THE ENGINE, OR TO ISSUE A RECALL TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BEFORE CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE OCCURS. FORD'S OWN INSTRUCTION MANUALS LIST HEADGASKETS AS A 120,000 MILE MAINTENANCE ITEM....

TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT TO RED MANY TIMES, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD UNEXPECTEDLY. CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 98M01 ON THAT PROBLEM. BUT, DEALER DID NOT WORK ON THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE RECALL EXPIRED. CONSUMER RECEIVED TWO MORE RECALLS, 97S88 AND 99S33. *AK

TEMPERATURE INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON, AND ANTI-FREEZE CAME OUT AND SPILLED THROUGHOUT THE RESERVOIR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, FOUND BLOWN HEAD GASKET. VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND OWNER WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *AK *ML

TEMPERATURE GUAGE SHOT UP TO HIGH AND THERE WAS NO HEAT. I WAS ON MY HOME FROM WORK AND DRIVING ON THE X-PRESSWAY. WHEN I REACHED HOME I CALLED DEALER IMMEDIATELY. I WAS TOLD NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR. THE CAR REMAINED IN OUR GARAGE FOR A DAY AND THEN WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER. I WAS TOLD THAT THE HEAD GASKETS NEEDED REPLACING FOR A TOTAL COST OF $1400. THIS CAR HAS ONLY 66,000 MILES ON IT AND FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN AND HEARD THIS IS A PROBLEM FORD HAS WITH THIS VAN. WARRANTY WAS UP AT 60,000 MILES. I NEED TO KNOW IF THEY TIMED THIS FAILURE TO OCCUR UNTIL THE WARRANTY RAN OUT. I EVEN HAD THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, WHICH OF COURSE IS GOOD FOR NOTHING. THIS CAR DOES NOT HAVE THAT MANY MILES ON IT TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF COSTLY REPAIR. *AK

WHILE DRIVING HOME VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEEDLE INDICATED OVERHEATING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP NEXT DAY. MECHANIC INDICATED HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN. OWNER WOULD NEED TO PAY PART OF COST OF REPAIRS. OWNER FEELS MANUFACTURER SHOULD FILL THE BILL. *AK

EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH TEMPERTURE GAUGE GOING UP & DOWN., AND BLOWER EMITTIING COOL AIR INSTEAD OF HEAT. VEHICLE OPERATED VERY SLUGGISHLY. RADIATOR LEAKED AS WELL. VEHICLE IS BEING SERVICED BY A FORD DEALERSHIP. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN OUT, AND THERE WAS A SERVICE PROGRAM FOR THE SOME MAKE AND MODELS. SINCE VEHICLE HAD EXCEEDED MILEAGE REQUIRMENT, CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *AK

ENGINE BEGAN TO HEAT UP, TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT UP, AND ANTI-FREEZE BLEW OUT OF THE EXHAUST. CONSUMER PULLED CAR OVER, AND HAD IT TOWED TO A MANUFACTURER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AROUND TOWN. HEARD A FUNNY SOUND, RESTARTED VEHICLE AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT HIGH. TOWED TO DEALER, AND DEALER DETERMINED THAT HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT AND NEEDED TO HAVE THE ENGINE FLUSHED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND REPLACED HEAD GASKET. OIL LIGHT WAS COMING ON. DEALER SAID THAT VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS. STEPPED ON GAS PEDAL AND VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE WHEN STOPPING, THEN SHUT OFF. *AK