1995 FORD WINDSTAR Engine And Engine Coolingcooling System Problems

TOOK 1995 FORD WINDSTAR TO HALDEMAN FORD (THIS WHERE I PURCHASED THE VAN), BECAUSE IT WAS OVERHEATING, THEY MADE THE REPAIR WHICH WE PAID $614.54 AND TOLD US THAT WE NEEDED A HEAD GASKET, WE HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE USED VEHICLE AND THAT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE INCLUDED ON THE WARRANTY, BUT THEY TOLD US THAT BECAUSE WE DID NOT MAINTENANCE THE CAR THE PROPER WE HAD TO PAY FOR IT OURSELF, AND THAT WE HAD TO BUY A NEW ENGINE (NOT A HEAD GASKET LIKE THEY SAID AT FIRST) AND PAY OUT OF OUR POCKET $3,000 NOT INCLUDING LABOR. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT STEPS SHOULD WE TAKE IN ORDER FOR SOME ONE TO HEAR US OUT. I ALSO HAVE COPIES OF THE WARRANTY, RECEIPTS FOR THE OIL CHANGE AND THE RECEIPT THAT I HAD PAID FOR THE REPAIR. THANK YOU . *AK

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...

IN JUNE '99 TOOK VAN IN AS PER OWNER NOTIFICATION TO HAVE HEAD GASKET CHECKED. DEALERSHIP FOUND NOTHING. IN NOV '99 HEAD GASKET FAILED. FORD WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING. IN DEC '99 SENT LETTER TO TX STATE ATTY GENERAL CONSUMER DIVISION WITH LISTS OF COMPLAINTS FOUND ON THIS WEB SITE. IN FEB '00, FORD MOVED WARRANTY UP TO 100,000 MILES AND GOT REFUND. IN MAY '00 ENGINE FAILED. IN AUG '00 FORD REPLACED ENGINE WITH ANOTHER 3.8 L. IN SEPT '00 TRANSMISSION STARTED FAILING (BUT NOTICED PROBLEM SINCE DAY PURCHASED. DEALERSHIP STATES PROBLEM IN ALL WINDSTARS, TAURUSES, AND SABLES. IN FEB '03, REPLACED TRANSMISSION. IN NOV '03 HEAD GASKET FAILS AGAIN IN NEW MOTOR CLOSE TO 60,000 MILES ON THIS MOTOR. FORD WILL DO NOTHING. SEEK HELP THROUGH YOUR STATE ATTY GENERAL CONSUMERS AFFAIRS OFFICE, SEND COPY OF LETTER TO FORD, YOUR LOCAL BBB, DETROIT BBB, AND CONSUMER REPORTS. ALSO,...

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE OVERHEATED. *AK THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE KEPT RISING. CONSUMER TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE RAISED AGAIN. THERE WAS A 7 YR. 70K MILE WARRANTY BUT FORD WOULD HONOR IT. CONSUMER FEELS FORD SHOULD COVER THE COST OF TESTS, AND REPAIRS. *PH

CONSUMER STATES ENGINE IS LEAKING COOLANT. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

WE OWN A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR VA N THAT HAD A RECALL FOR BAD HEADS & HEAD GASKETS. IN 2001 THE ENGINE BLEW UP,AND FORD SAID THEY WOULD FIX IT FOR FREE. AFTER NEARLY THREE TO FOUR WEEKS THEY GAVE THE VAN BACK WITH A NEW SHORT BLOCK AND SAID IT WAS FIXED. IT RAN ALRIGHT FOR ABOUT 1 YEAR, THEN IT STARTED NOT PEFORMING LIKE IT SHOULD.I CHANGED THE SPARK PLUGS AND THAT SEEMED TO WORK. THEN IT GOT COLD THIS WINTER, AND MY WIFE SAID SHE HAD NO HEAT. I ADDED RADIATOR FLUID AND IT HEATED UP. THREE DAYS LATER , SHE SAID SHE HAD NA HEAT AGAIN! I LOOKED UP RECALLS AND NOTICED HOW MANY PROBLEMS FORD HAS HAD WITH THIS MODEL YEARS HEAD GASKETS! I CALLED FORDS 800 NUMBER AND WAS TOLD YOU HAVE NO WARRANTY LEFT ON YOUR VAN! THEY TOLD US IT EXPIRED AFTER...

FORD WINDSTAR - 1995 - ENGINE REPLACED DUE TO HEAD GASKET PROBLEM AT 67,749 MILES

ENGINE HEAD GASKET REPLACED AT 47,000 MILES, ENGINE TIMING COVER GASKET REPLACED AT 92,000, ENGINE FAILED (ROD BEARINGS, CRANKSHAFT, AND ROD) SHORTLY THEREAFTER SHUTTING DOWN BRAKING AND STEERING SYSTEMS IN VEHICLE. HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS WAS DUE TO COOLANT LEAKING INTO ENGINE OIL SYSTEM FROM PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED PROBLEMS AND IS BEING EXPERIENCED BY MANY OWNERS DUE TO POOR ENGINE DESIGN. ENGINE FAILURE HAD THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE ACCIDENT HAD THE DRIVING SITUATION BEEN DIFFERENT WHEN IT OCCURRED.

ENGINE IS OVERHEATING WHILE DRIVING. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE OVERHEATING WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE BEEN TO A REPAIRS SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND VARIOUS PARTS WERE REPLACED. BUT, PROBLEM REOCCURRED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

VEHICLE OVERHEATED DUE HEADGASKETS BLOWING ENGINE. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK

THERE WAS AN ANTI-FREEZE SMELL, DEALER INSTALLED A CLAMP ON HEATER HOSE TO INTAKE MANIFOLD WHICH WAS LEAKING COOLANT, DEALER ALSO REPLACED CYCLE SWITCH.*YD

LIGHT INDICATORS COMING ON, LOSS OF COOLANT AND SOUND FORD DIAGNOSED LEAK OF TIMING CHAIN ASSEMBLY AND BILL PIERRE FORD SAID NO LEAK, NO WORK DONE.

THERE WAS AN ANTI-FREEZE SMELL, DEALER INSTALLED A CLAMP ON HEATER HOSE TO INTAKE MANIFOLD WHICH WAS LEAKING COOLANT, DEALER ALSO REPLACED CYCLE SWITCH.*YD

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE WOULD OVERHEAT, AND USING FLUIDS FREQUENTLY. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED HEAD GASKET, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

BRAKES HAVE VIBRATED AND NOISEY SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE. SERVICE CENTERS STATE NOTHING IS MECHANICALLY WRONG. 08/22/01, COMING BACK FROM FAMILY TRIP WE EXPERIENCED A BRIEF ROUGHNESS OF OPERATION AND OVERDRIVE SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON. 08/26/01, THE VEHICLE SPEW WHITE SMOKE FROM EXHAUST, OVERHEATED AND STALLED. EVERYONE I CALLED AND ALL LITERATURE SHOW THAT TO BE SYMTOMS OF HEAD GASKET FAILURE. THE OIL IS LIKE COFFEE WITH CREAM IN IT, INDICATING THAT BOTH GASKETS HAVE FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER STATES THE RECALL EXTENSION TO BE EXPIRED. THE ENGINE DATE IS 10/25/94 AND MILES ARE 94516 WITHIN THE EXTENSION GUIDELINES. ONE DEALERSHIP STATES 3 WEEKS BEFORE THEY COULD GET TO IT. I HAVE FOUND MANY SUMMARIES AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP ME TO HAVE FORD REPAIR THEIR MISTAKES.*AK

THE CAR GOT OVERHEATED AND STARTED THROWING LOTS OF SMOKE THROUGH THE EXHAUST SYSTEM THE SMOKE WAS WITH WATER AND SOME OIL,THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, AND THE ABS LIGHT ALSO. *AK

I HAVE HAD A CONTINUING STREAM OF ENDLESS REPAIRS TO THIS FORD WINDSTAR. STARING WITH THE WATER PUMP ONE WEEK AFTER PURCHASE; THEN THE LEFT FRONT SPRING AND STRUT COLLASPED; NEXT THE ABS SYSTEM ALMOST COST ME MY LIFE BY FAILING ON A DOWNGRADE INTO AN INTERSECTION; A COMPOENT OF THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM IN THE MAIN COMPUTER FAILED; THE REAR MASTER CYLINDER ON THE BRAKES WAS LEAKING; THE TRANSMISSION HAS NEVER SHIFTED CORRECTLY ALMOST GIVING PASSENGERS WHIPLASH; THE REAR POWER DOOR LOCK ON THE TAILGATE HAS JUST NEVER WORKED FORM DAY ONE; I DID RECEIVE A RECALL FOR THE HOOD AND THAT WAS REPLACED; NOW THE POWER WINDOWS OPERATE WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, BUT THE DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK AND THE VEHICLE IS TOTALLY DIABLED, IT WILL NOT START OR EVEN TRY TO TURN OVER. I AM JUST A NURSE NOT A MILLIONAIRE, I HAVE PAID...

VEHICE WOULD OVERHEAT. CONSUMER TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID DEALER NEEDED A NEW MOTOR.*AK

FORD REFUSES TO COMPENSATE REPAIR BEYOND 100,000 MILES. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE WAS RUNNING HOT SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDERS. A TOW TRUCK HAD TO TOW THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS CAUSED ENGINE FAILURE, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO NOT BEING NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS. *SLC

WE PURCHASED OUR FORD WINDSTAR NEW IN 7/94 (IT WAS ANEARLY 1995 RELEASE). PROBLEMS BEGAN IMMEDIATELY WITH THE ENGINE CONTROL, DOOR CLOSURE SENSOR, ETC. THERE WERE ALSO OTHER NUISANCES SUCH AS THE SUSPENSION THAT HAD A BANGING NOISE WHEN GOING OVER ANY BUMP. THE DOOR SENSORS AND ENGINE COMPUTER WERE REPLACED. THE SUSPENSION PROBLEM WAS NEVER RESOLVED. THEN BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED (36,000 MILES) THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON (WHICH IT IS STILL ON 5 YEARS LATER). AFTER TRIPS TO THE DEALER AND A $500.00 TUNE-UP THE ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEM WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED-- WHICH IT NEVER WAS. AT THAT TIME YEARS AGO I TOLD THEM THAT THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SEEM TO SHIFT PROPERLY ESPECIALLY WHEN WE WENT ON VACATION THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS. THEIR ANSWER WHIULE IT WAS "UNDER WARRANTY" WAS THAT THE ENGINE WAS ELECTRONIC AND THAT IF A SENSOR WAS BAD OR THE...

WATER PUMP FAILED 2 TIMES, FRONT TIMING COVER FAILED, AND THE OIL PUMP HAD TO BE SEALED. *SLC

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 5 MPH FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING BROKE, CAUSING FRONT END TO DROP. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK THE COIL SPRING BREAKING DAMAGED THE STRUT AND VELOCITY AXLES. THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING COOLANT DUE TO WATER PUMP FAILURE. *YH

TRANSMISSION: VEHICLE HESITATES AND HAS DIFFICULTY SHIFTING UP; ENGINE REVS UP WHILE ATTEMTING TO UPSHIFT; MUST BACK OFF ON ACCELERATOR PRESSURE TO "BABY" IT INTO SHIFTING UP; WHEN SLOWING VEHICLE DOWN, IT DOWNSHIFTS WITH A "CLUNK;" SOMETIMES GETS STUCK IN PARK POSITION; OVERDRIVE LIGHT BLINKS ON AND OFF FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM: OVERHEATING; INTERIOR HEATING SYSTEM INOPERABLE; PIPE OF THIN METAL CONTINUALLY RUPTURES CAUSING COOLANT AND WATER TO SPEW OUT. ENGINE: VEHICLE SOMETIMES STALLS WHEN SLOWED DOWN TO TURN A CORNER OR TO STOP; VEHICLE SOMETIMES WON'T START FOR FIVE MINUTES OR MORE AFTER IT HAS BEEN STARTED, RUN FOR TWO OR THREE MINUTES AND TURNED OFF. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

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

HEADGASKET REPLACED UNDER RECALL. WATER PUMP GASKET REPLACED AT OWNER COST. VEHICLE IS NOW RUNNING POORLY (SUSPECT SAME FAILURE OR FAILED ENGINE CRANK AND BEARINGS) AND LEAKING OIL FROM MAIN SEAL. ANOTHER 1000 DOLLAR REPAIR ACCORDING TO DEALER.

THIS WILL BE THE 3RD ENGINE WITHIN A YEAR FOR THIS VAN. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO DO THIS AGAIN AND WE NEED HELP. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

HEAD GASKET WENT OUT ALONG WITH THE STARTER & BELIEVED TO BE WATER PUMP ALSO WENT OUT..ALL WITH IN 2 DAYS....NO NOTICE AT ALL ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN GASKET BLEW.COVERED WITH A LOT OF SMOKE WHICH FILLED MY WHOLE BACKYARD.I TURMED THE VAN OFF AND IT WOULD NOT START...I CONTACTED PAYDAYS SOUTH WHERE I PURCHASED THE VAN WHEN THEY DIRECTED ME TO RICART FORD IN COLUMBUS,OHIO.THEY HAD BELIEVED IT WAS STILL COVERED UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY.I SPOKE WITH A KEVIN DANIELS AT RICART WHO WAS VERY NICE AND IS GOING TO SET UP A APPT FOR US....ALSO WHEN WE REPLACED THE STARTER..WE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VAN AND IT MADE TWO VERY LOUD CLANKING NOISES.WHICH LEFT ME VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE DAMAGES DONE TO THE ENGINE.

WATER PUMP AND TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO CRACKED FORWARD PISTON WHICH WAS MADE OUT OF ALUMINIUM, CAUSING VEHICLE TO JERK AND SLOW DOWN SPEED. ALSO, ENGINE BLEWOUT ABOUT 1 WEEK AFTER TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED DUE TO HEAD GASKET.*AK

HEAD GASKET, TIMIMG COVER GASKET AND WATER PUMP GASKET FAILED. *ET

BROUGHT CAR TO BELL FORD ON 10/3/00 FOR RECALL SERVICE REPAIR AFTER LOCAL SVC MECHANIC INDICATED ENGINE PROBLEM IS ONE THAT FORD INITIATED A RECALL FOR IN MAY 2000. BELL REFUSED DUE TO CURRENT MILEAGE OF 106000 ON VEHICLE EXCEEDING RECALL LIMITATION OF 100000, AND REPAIR DEADLINE OF 10/1/00. FORD REFUSES TO COVER THE $1400-1500 REPAIR UNDER THE RECALL. WE HAD NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, ALTHOUGH FORD INSISTS THAT THEY SENT US ONE IN MAY 2000.

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

THE TIMING COVER GASKET IS LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE ACCORDING TO DEALER. WILL COST BETWEEN $650 AND $850 (DEPENDING ON DEALER) TO REPLACE GASKET. DEALER EXPLAINED THAT IF LEAK BECOMES INTERNAL, ENGINE MAY BE HARMED.

WATER PUMP SEAL FAILED RESULTING IN SHORT BLOCK REPLACEMENT, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL AND SURGE SEVERAL TIMES. NLM

WATER PUMP LEAKED. YH

COOLANT HAS POSSIBLY LEAKED VIA THE HEAD GASKET TO THE OIL SYSTEM AND THEREFORE MAIN ENGINE MAY BE RUINED.

FORD HAS MADE GOOD ON THE REPAIR BY REIMBURSEMENT UNDER ONP. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

MY VAN FIRST LOST ITS HEATER SO WE REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT. WHEN THAT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM, WE REPLACED THE WATER PUMP. WE TOOK THE VAN TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AFTER RECEIVING THE RECALL AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE TOO MANY MILES ON THE VAN TO FIX IT. WE TOLD THEM NOT TO DO ANY CHARGEABLE WORK TO THE VAN, THEY DID ANYWAY. THEY CHARGED US $49 TO LOOK AT 3 OF THE CHECK ENGINE CODES. THIS VAN HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT IT FROM CHILTON'S AUTO SALES IN EDEN, NC. THE LIGHTS STAY ON, THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYING ON NOT TO MENTION THE ANNOYING BEEPING THAT ACCOMPANIES THESE LIGHTS. WE FINALLY TOOK THE FUSE AND SOME BULBS OUT TO KEEP THE LIGHTS FROM RUNNING DOWN MY BATTERY. HEAD GASKETS ARE SUPPOSED TO LAST THE LIFE OF A VEHICLE AND SINCE ALL THE OTHER PARTS OF THE...

NO SUMMARY LISTED FRO ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

A HOSE CLAMP HAD BECOME LOOSENED RESULTING IN A LOWER RADIATOR LEAK. NLM

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...

BLOWN HEAD GASKET; 2.5 MONTHS LATER, BAD WATER PUMP AND TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL NEEDED. *AK

ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM FAILED. YH

COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL...FORD WILL NOT PAY FOR REPAIR BECAUSE OF MILEAGE. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

THE ENGINE COOLANT IS LEAKING. YH