1995 FORD WINDSTAR Engine And Engine Coolingcooling System Problems

RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT DONE DUE TO FAULTY DIAGNOSIS (SENSORS REPLACED), VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT AND THEN RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED, HOWEVER VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO ENGINE FROM EXTENSIVE TIME OF OVERHEATING AND FAULTY DIAGNOSIS. *MJS 98M01

I HAD THIS WINDSTAR TOWED TO WHITEHEAD FORD IN PANAMA CITY FLA. THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID IT WOULD COST $1410.00 TO FIX AND IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT WAS 216 MILES OVER THE 100000 MILE 7 YEAR EXT. WARANTY . IT SEEM TO ME THAT FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS . AND I THINK FORD SHOULD REFUND ME MY MONEY BACK. WHO SHOULD I CONTACT BEFORE I TAKE THIS MATTER TO COURT . THANKS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK( DOT NUMBER: N/A TIRE SIZE: N/A )

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WATER PUMP LEAKS COOLANT AND TIMING CASE COVER LEAKS ANTIFREEZE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. OTHER FAILURES INCLUDE LEFT AND RIGHT TIE RODS, IGNITION KEY LOCK, A/C, AND HEAD GASKET. *AK *ML

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE COULD HEAT UP AT ANY SPEED. CONSUMER HAS TO TURN VEHICLE OFF FOR IT TO COOL OFF, THEN RESTART IT. *AK

TIMING COVER GASKET FAILED AND REPLACED AS STATED IN THE RECALL NOTICE 98M01, HOWEVER ONE YEAR LATER EXTENSIVE REPLACEMENT TO ENGINE GASKETS AND THERMOSTAT WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL REPLACEMENT, INADEQUATE RECALL REPAIR FOR FAILURE. *MJS

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE RECALL COMPONENT (ENGINE HEAD GASKET), THE SENSORS WERE REPLACED PRIOR TO HEAD GASKET REPAIR (98M01), HOWEVER DUE TO OVERHEATING AND FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKET THE ENGINE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. *MJS (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).

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

PROBLEM IS SO WELL KNOW...FORD IS WARNING DEALERS ON TRADE-INS.NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

WATER PUMP FAILED. YH

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE OVERHEATED WITHOUT A REASON; NO LEAKS OF ANTI-FREEZE, AND THE WEATHER WAS IN SINGLE DIGITS. *AK *ML

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

12-13-99 TILL 12-30-99 NO HEAT LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE, REPLACED WATTER PUMP 373.97 TAKE VAN BACK IN THEN NEED ANOTHER NEW ENGINE, BUT FORD SAID THE MAKER OF THE ENGINE WOULD ONLY REPLACE HEAD GASKETS. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD PROBLEM FROM THE DAY WE PURCHASED. MOST RECENTLY, IT IS CURRENTLY AT DLRSHIP FOR SERVICE DUE TO ENGINE OVERHEATING, JUST SHORT OF VAN CATCHING FIRE. PRIOR TO THIS, WE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION (APPROX. 1 1/2- 2YRS. AGO). AT THIS POINT, WE ARE TRULY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE EVEN AFTER REPAIR.

THOUGH BEYOND FORD'S 60K MILE EXTENSION, TEH SERVICE ATTENDANT TOLD ME THAT THE CRACKED HEAD CASUING THE ROUGH RIDE AND COOLANT LEAK COULD HAVE HAPPENED MANY WEEKS IF NOT MONTHS BEFORE IT GOT SO BAD THAT MY WIFE NOTICED A PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE MAY HAVE BEEN MUCH CLOSER TO THE 60,000 MILE MARK WHEN THE DAMAGE OCCURRED, THOUGH WE DIDN'T GET IT TO THE SHOP UNITL 70,000. THOUGH NO ONE WAS INJURED, THE POTENTIAL FOR INJURY WAS GREAT, I THINK. IF MY WIFE HADN'T NOTICED THE COOLANT LEVEL INDICATOR, A MUCH MORE TERRIBLE PROBLEM COULD HAVE HAPPENED, NOT TO MENTION THE DANGER OF THIS PROBLEM CAUSING MY WIFE AND TWO YOUNG DAUGHTERS TO BE STRANDED ALONG A HIGHWAY MANY MILES FROM HOME AT THE TIME.

NO SUMMARY

ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM FAILED. NLM

APRIL 1999, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOB TOMES FORD IN MCKINNEY SINCE THE ENGINE WAS SMOKING. THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $1001. A LETTER FROM FORD INDICATING POSSIBLE FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKET HAD BEEN RECEIVED 1 YEAR EARLIER, BUT THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE GASKET DID NOT NEED REPLACED. WHEN IT DID FAIL, WE WERE PAST THE 60,000 MILES INDICATED BY FORD AS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. SINCE THERE WAS STILL SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, IT WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER (BOB TOMES). THEY INDICATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACED. SINCE THEY HAD INITIALLY SAID THAT THE SMOKING WAS DUE TO THE HEAD GASKET, WE SOUGHT A SECOND OPINION AT A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP (ECONOMY TRANSMISSIONS OF MCKINNEY). THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $1353 (05/07/99). APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MONTHS LATER, THE TORQUE CONVERTER IN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THEN APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH LATER,...

DRIVING AT AVERAGE HIGHWAY SPEED. SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WITH EXCESSIVE ENGINE VIBRATION. ENGINE BEGAN OVERHEATING WITH EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF WHITE SMOKE FROM EXHAUST SYSTEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND VAPORS FROM THE COOLANT CAME INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. ALSO, VEHICLE'S ENGINE STARTED STUTTERING. THIS WAS DUE TO BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET. DEALER HAS VEHICLE NOW. *AK

NO SUMMARY.

I HAD RECEIVED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY NOTICE FROM FORD STATING THEY HAD A PROBLEM WITH PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKETS ON THE 95 WINDSTAR. THE LETTER STATED THE WARRANTY WAS ONLY EXTENDED TO 60,000 MILES OR 5 YEARS. MY VAN STARTED OVERHEATING WHENEVER I WOULD DRIVE IT. I RE-PLENISH THE ANTIFREE SEVERAL TIMES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT HAD A HEAVY EXHAUST. I THOUGHT AT FIRST IT WAS A SENSOR GOING BAD BUT WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP TO BE CHECKED. THEY INFORMED ME THE HEAD GASKETS WERE BLOWN. I CONTACTED A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM SINCE I HAD OVER 60,000 MILES ON THE CAR, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD. THEY GAVE ME FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE'S NUMBER TO CALL. I SPOKE TO THEM AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM...

NO SUMMARY.

THE HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN TWICE IN 53 WEEKS, AND FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN ON THE WEB THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT.

NO SUMMARY.

TIMING COVER GASKET & SEAL FAILURE AND CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS FAILURE AT 48,834 MILES. SYMPTOMS WERE HESITATION/JERKING WHEN ACCELERATING & COOLANT LOSS. BOTH FAILURE SYMPTOMS BEGAN AT THE SAME TIME, INCREASING IN FREQUENCY FOR 1-2 WEEKS UNTIL "ENGINE WARNING LIGHT" CAME ON. VEHICLE WAS IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, INCLUDING COOLING SYSTEM FLUSH/COOLANT REPLACEMENT ABOUT 2 MONTHS PRIOR TO FAILURE, & NO PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED AT THAT TIME. DEALER COVERED COST OF CYLINDER HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT, BUT DID NOT COVER TIMING COVER GASKET & SEAL REPLACEMENT($708.61). APPEALED TO CORPORATE LEVEL, ASKING IF THE COOLANT LEAKAGE MIGHT BE THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE KNOWN CYLINDER HEAD GASKET PROBLEM, BUT THEY REFUSED REIMBURSEMENT, SAYING BOTH FAILURES WERE INDEPENDENT. I FIND IT ODDLY COINCIDENTAL & HARD TO BELIEVE THAT BOTH PROBLEMS INITIATED AT THE SAME TIME, BUT ARE UNRELATED.

HEAD GASKET WENT OUT. IT WAS REPLACED WITH RECALL. REAR HATCH LOCK ACUATOR BROKE NOT FIXED YET. WINDSHIELD WASHER WORKS ONLY AFTER IT IS PUSHED REPEATEDLY ABOUT 20 TIMES, NOT FIXED YET. I'M TIRD OF SPENDING MONEY ON A 4 YEAR OLD $25000.00 CAR.

IN RESEARCHING DEFECT FOUND IN THE FORD WINSTAR, I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS BY OTHER OWNERS ABOUT TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH MY LOCAL FORD DEALER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HE HAS ACKNOWLEDGED NUMEROUS (MORE THAN NORMAL) FAILURES IN THIS MODEL. TRANSMISSION FAILURE IS A SAFETY RELATED ISSUE AS THE VEHICLE FAILED DURING DRIVING ON A BUSY INTERSTATE AND HAD TO BE QUICKLY DRIVEN OFF THE FREEWAY UNDER LIMITED POWER ACROSS SEVERAL LANES OF TRAFFIC.

NO SUMMARY

I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR LOOKING INTO ALL OF THE DEFECTS CONCERNING THE 95 WINDSTAR. FORD IS TAKING NO RESPONSIBILITY AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A HUGE PROBLEM CONSIDERING ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT I AM FINDING OUT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT INVOLVED, BREAKING DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, OR HAVING YOUR ENGINE DIE WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE! I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE ANY HELP THAT YOU COULD GIVE TO ME AND ALL FORD WINDSTAR OWNERS! THANK YOU!

NO SUMMARY

FORD HAD EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE TO 12/98- THEY KNEW THEY SOLD FAULTY PRODUCT (AGAIN LIKE PINTO) NOW WILL NOT FIX IT. *AK

COOLING SYSTEM AND HEAD GASKET RELATED FAILURES IN 1995 FORD WINDSTARS ARE COMMON FROM 35 TO 70K AND RESULT IN MAJOR REPAIR EXPENSES. *AK

FORD EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS FAILURE UNTIL DEC '98. FAILED 4/99. NO SAFETY DEFECT INDICATED. *AK

FORD WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE TO 1/99.

IN AUGUST OF 1997 I PURCHASED A USED FORD WINDSTAR FROM ROBIN FORD IN GLENOLDEN,PA. I TRADED IN MY 91 FORD TOPAZ. THE MILEAGE ON THE WINDSTAR WHEN PURCHASED WAS 28,853. IN SEPTEMBER OF 1997 I TOOK THE WINDSTAR IN TO FORD IN HAZELTON TO FLUSH AND FILL RADIATOR, AND A NEW FUEL FILTER. AT THAT TIME I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY DOORS STICKING. THEY LUBED CYLINDER. IN DECEMBER OF THE SAME YEAR, I TOOK IT BACK TO HAVE ALL LOCKS REPLACED, HAVE A RECALL DONE, OIL CHANGE AND FILTER, AND AT THAT TIME I INFORMED THEM THAT I WAS SMELLING ANTI-FREEZE, TO PLEASE LOOK INTO IT. THEY CHECKED FOR LEAKS AND LOOSE HOSES, AND FOUND NOTHING. EVEN THOUGH I CONTINUED TO SMELL IT, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING. IN MARCH OF 98 I COMPLAINED OF MY WINDOWS FOGGING, AGAIN. THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NO...

COOLANT LEAKAGE IS CAUSING ENGINE HEAD GASKE/TIMING BELT AND WATER GASKET TO FAIL. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE WHAT IS CAUSING THE COOLANT LEAKAGE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLS/ OVERHEATS, AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WILL GO UP TO HIGH. ALSO, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. CONSUMER JUST GOT THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE REPAIR SHOP, AND THE SAME PROBLEMS HAVE REOCCURRED. *AK

FORD IS AWARE THAT THIS PART IS DEFECTIVE. REFUSES TO COMPENSATE.

INITIALLY, THE PROBLEM WAS A LOSS OF COOLANT AND AN INABILITY OF THE HEATER TO PRODUCE HOT AIR. AFTER A TRIP TO THE DEALER, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE TIMING COVER, WATER PUMP AND HEAD GASKETS HAD LEAKED, AND REPLACING THE GASKETS WOULD CURE THE PROBLEM. WITHIN 500 MILES, OUT OF STATE, THE ENGINE KNOCKED HORRIBLY, THEN STALLED. WE HAD THE VAN TOWED TO MOCK FORD IN GRANT'S PASS, OREGON. AFTER AN ENGINE TEARDOWN, WE WERE NOTIFIED THAT A ROD BEARING HAD SPUN, SEIZING THE ENGINE. FORD IN OREGON WOULDN'T HELP US, FORD IN CALIFORNIA WOULDN'T TALK TO FORD IN OREGON AND HENRY CURTIS WOULDN'T HELP US. SUBSEQUENTLY, FORD HAS HAD A RECALL ON THE HEAD GASKETS AND WE'VE GOTTEN A REFUND FOR THE GASKETS. SINCE THE REPLACEMENT GASKETS BLEW AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE, I TEND TO FEEL FORD SHOULD COVER THE REPLACEMENT OR REPAIR OF THE ENGINE. HENRY CURTIS...

NO SUMMARY

LEAK OF COOLANT IN HEAD GASKET CAUSED FLUID TO ENTER ENGINE BLOCK CAUSING DAMAGE TO BEARINGS AND VALVES

TRANSMISSIONS HAS BEEN ALWAYS A PROBLEM. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NEW IT WAS TAKEN SEVERAL TIMES TO THE DEALER THAT AFTER IT IS PLACED ON PARK, THETHERE IS A PLAY OF ABOUT 3 -4 INCHES AND THE VEHICLE MOVES FORWARD BY 3 - 4 INCHES. WAS TOLD THAT IS THE DESIGN OF THIS TYPE OF TRANSMISSION FROM FORD. WAS NOT SATISFIED AT ALL. ALL ALONG PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. FINALLY IT GAVE WAY AT 49, 000 MILES. HAD A REBUILT INSTALLED AND THAT TOO GAVE WAY AT 61K. NOW A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AT 65K. OTHER NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS TO LIST. FORD IS RIPPING OFF CONSUMERS.

HEAD GASKET FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL. ALSO, WATER PUMP AND ENGINE PISTON ROD BEARINGS #2,5 AND 6 REPLACED.

ON THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET ISSUE, I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD LAST MAY 1998 AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT INSPECTED. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY CHECK THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE GASKET. NOW I AM FACE WITH MAJOR REPAIRS ON THE ENGINE. THE FUEL TANK IS EXTREMELY SLOW FILLING. I FEAR A POTENTIAL FIRE OR EXPLOSION RELATED TO THE FUEL FILLER ISSUE. THE TRANSMISSION GROANS MOSTLY IN THE MORNING AND AT TIMES DOES NOT ENGAGE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. ALSO THE FORM WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED EARLY IN THE VEHICLES LIFE , ANOTHER EXPENSIVE REPAIR WAS NECESSARY. THERE IS NO TEMPERATURE CONTROL TO MODIFY THE REAR HEATER TEMPERATURE.

THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT AND THE MANUFACTURE REFUSES TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIR

THIS IS AN ON GOING DEFECT THAT FORD HAS BEEN AWARE OF AND REFUSES TO FIX. IT HAS BEEN IN THE PROCESS OF FAILING SINCE THE ENGINE WAS BUILT!