1995 FORD WINDSTAR Engine And Engine Coolingengine Problems

A LOSS OF HEAT PLUS AN OVERHEATING ENGINE WERE THE FIRST SYMPTOMS OF AN ENGINE PROBLEM. A NEW THERMOSTAT WAS INSTALLED, BUT (8) DAYS LATER THE SAME SYMPTOMS WERE OBSERVED. A SERVICE CENTER TESTING CONFIRMED THAT THE HEAD GASKET(S) WERE BLOWN AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. FORD HAD EXTENDED ITS WARRANTY TO 60,000 MILES, BUT FAILURE OCCURRED AT 70,000 MILES. FORD REFUSES TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS REPAIR. THIS IS THE SECOND 3.8 L ENGINE THAT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM IN OUR FAMILY. A 1993 THUNDERBIRD WITH THE SAME ENGINE TYPE HAD TO BE REPAIRED AT A COST OF $1100.*AK

MECHANIC STATES THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.HE JUST WORKED ON A 1995 MUSTANG WITH THE SAME SIZE ENGINE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. COINCIDENCE! I DON'T THINK SO. DEALERSHIP SAID IF THE WARRANTY WAS STILL IN EFFECT, THEY WOULD COVER THE COST TO REPAIR. 7,000 MILES OVER THE WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE HAD 39,000 MILES WHEN WE PURCHASED. WE HAVE PUT 28,000 MILES ON IT IN 4 YEARS. SOMEHOW I DO NOT THINK THIS LOW MILEAGE WOULD CAUSE THE HEAD GASKET TO BLOW. I ALSO KNOW THAT THERE WAS A BULLETIN ISSUED FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM ON THE 95 MUSTANGS. IF IT WAS PUT ON THE MUSTANGS WHY NOT THE WINDSTARS SINCE THEY HAVE THE SAME ENGINE? *AK

WE HAVE A RECALL LETTER FROM FORD ON THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM WHICH COVERS THE FIRST 5 YEARS FROM DATE OF PURCHASE OR 60,000 MILES. THE CAR OVERHEATED ON 12/20/99 AND IT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED AT THAT TIME BY OUR MECHANIC AT ANOTHER SHOP IF IT WAS THE HEADGASKET. ON 12/22/99, THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN AND OUR MECHANIC SAID IT WAS DEFINITELY THE HEADGASKET BUT HE DIDN'T THINK THE MOTOR WAS AFFECTED. HE SUGGESTED RETURNING TO THE DEALER, TOUSLEY FORD, FOR REPAIR EVEN THOUGH, TOUSLEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT HONOR THE RECALL AS IT WAS 25 DAYS OUT OF WARRANTY. WE WERE APPROXIMATELY 6400 MILES UNDER THE 60,000. TOUSLEY HAD US CONTACT CUSTOMER SERVICE AT FORD WHO DECLINED TO ALSO HONOR THE WARRANTY. OUR MECHANIC FELT THAT HAVING THE WORK DONE AT THE DEALER WOULD BE THE ONLY WAY WE MIGHT GET ANY MONEY BACK ON THE REPAIR IF...

MY 1995 WINDSTAR OVERHEATED AND ANTI-FREEZE BLEW OUT TO THE TAIL PIPE LIKE A BIG CUMULUS CLOUD. MY WIFE AND KID GOT SO FRIGHTEN. I FOUND OUT LATER THAT THE 1995 WINDSTARS HAVE A HISTORY OF FAILURE IN HEAD GASKET. I AM WRITING THIS BECAUSE I WANT TO HELP OTHER WINDSTARS OWNER IN THE FUTURE WHEN THEY ARE IN THE SAME PROBLEM. NHTSA SHOULD DEMAND A RECALL ON THE 1995 WINDSTAR AND FORD SHOULD COVERED THIS PART TO 100,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS ARE BLOWN, SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE 3.8 LITER V-- 6, FORD SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON ALL OF THESE VANS. *AK

THIS VEHICLE 1995 FORD WINDSTAR IS A LEMON,DO A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND IT BECOMES OBVIOUS.ALL PEOPLE THAT REPLACED TRANSMISSIONS AND HEAD GASKETS IN THE 1995 WINDSTARS SHOULD BE COMPENSATED.ESPEACIALLY THOSE THAT HAD LESS THAN 70000 MILES SUCH AS MINE .THIS VEHICLE IS A NIGHTMARE AND CONSUMERS SHOULD BE COMPENSATED. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED. THIS IS OUR SECOND FORD CAR WITH A 3.8L ENGINE THAT HAD FAILED. *AK

JUNE 1998, FORD MOTOR SENT US A LETTER SAYING THE HEAD GASKET COULD FAIL. THEY DIDN'T RECALL THESE CARS, INSTEAD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY. WELL, SURE ENOUGH, OURS FAILED AFTER THE MILEAGE EXTENSION. WE TRAVEL TO NM & CA CAUSING US TO HAVE A HIGHER THAN NORMAL MILEAGE. EXTENSION WAS 5 YRS, OR 60,000. WE HAD 76,375. LUCKILY WE WERE NOT ON AN INTERSTATE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE HAZARD ON A SUPER HIGHWAY. WE SINCERELY FEEL THIS SHOULD BE A TOTAL RECALL. IF THIS IS NOT THE PLACE TO COMPLAIN, PLEASE NOTIFY US TO THE CORRECT CONTACTS. THIS WAS NOT A CHEAP REPAIR, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE. FORD MOTOR SHOULD KNOW HOW TO BUILD HEAD GASKETS BY NOW!!! THANK YOU....JANET REYNOLDS. *AK

THE HEADGASKET BLEW ON THE WAY TO WORK WITH LITTLE WARNING! I STEAMED INTO THE NEAREST GAS STATION WHERE HE IMMEDIATELY KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AS HE HAS HAD SEVERAL 1995 FORD PRODUCTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. FORTUNATELY, THE HEADS WEREN'T CRACKED OR APPARENTLY THAT WOULD HAVE COST ANOTHER $1,000.00. I DID NOT RECEIVE A WARRANTY EXTENTION, BUT EVEN IF I HAD, IT HAD EXPIRED. ALTHOUGH I GOT NOWHERE WITH THE DEALER, I INTEND TO SEND A COMPAINT TO FORD AS THIS JUST ISN'T RIGHT. *AK

AT $2,200.00 PER FIX THIS IS GREAT BUSINESS FOR THE DEALERSHIPS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED WITHIN SUMMARY. *AK

VEHICLE WITH A 3.8L ENGINE EXPERIENCED BLOWN HEAD GASKET WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 55 MPH. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT REPAIRS WOULD BE DONE AT CONSUMER COST. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAVE BLOWN OUT PREMATURALY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILURE. NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE OF PROBLEM EXTENDING WARRANTY TO 60000K. FORD SAYS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WILL NOT ASSIST. DEALER REPAIRED AT VERY HIGH RATE OF FAILURE AND REPAIRS ABOUT 1 A WEEK. SAID NOTHING HE COULD DO TO ASSIST.*AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. *AK

COOLANT LEAKED INTO BEARINGS FROM PREVIOUS BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *AK

LOW MILEAGE MINIVAN, ONE OWNER, WITH BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET .AK

HEAD GASKET BLOWN CAUSING $3460.00 IN REPARS> FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY FAULT. *AK

ALTHOUGH I'M NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER, I HAVE RECEIVED RECALL NOTICES AND OTHER LITERATURE FROM FORD REGARDING THIS VEHICLE. YET I HAVE NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED OF ANY PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKETS FAILING. HOWEVER, I NOW HAVE COME TO FIND THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT FORD HAS ACKNOWLEDGED IN RECALL 98-MO1. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED THIS, AND NOW THE DEALERSHIP I'VE TAKEN THE CAR TO SAYS IT'S TOO LATE. THE FOREMENTIONED LETTER FROM FORD INDICATES THE WARRANTY ON THIS PROBLEM EXPIRES AFTER 5 YEARS OR 60K MILES. NOT WHICHEVER COMES FIRST! THIS CAR CAME INTO SERVICE 3/31/95 (ACCORDING TO YORK FORD) SO THE 5 YRS HAS NOT EXPIRED. HOPEFULLY THIS COMPLAINT DOES NOT FALL ON DEAF EARS, I'M AT MY WITS END IN TRYING TO DEAL WITH FORD ON A PROBLEM THAT THEY ACKNOWLEDGE. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. *AK

THERE WAS AN IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN FOR THE GASKETS ON THE ENGINE THAT APPLIED UP TO 60,000 MILES. CONSUMER WAS OVER 60,000 MILES, AND HAD THIS WORK DONE BEFORE FINDING OUT ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAS CRACKED, CAUSING SAFETY HAZARD. DEALER AND FORD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

3.8 LITER ENGINE; HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN AT 80,000 MILES DUE TO DEFECTIVE MATERIAL. *AK

FAILED HEAD GASKETS. *AK

TOOK MY VAN TO THE GARAGE FOR NEW HEAD GASGETS. ONLY TO FIND OUT IT NEED A NEW ENGINE. A FRIEND TOLD ME HE HEARD THAT FORD HAS KNOWN THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH 1995 WINDSTAR VANS AND THAT THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANITY TO 60,000 MILES. CALLED THE FOD GARAGE TO CHECK THIS OUT AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS TRUE. THEY CONFIRMED THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM BUT I DIDN'T FALL UNDER THE WARRANITY WITH 80,000 MILES. WHEN YOU BUY A VEHICLE THEY SAY 80,000 ISN'T ANYTHING BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A PROBLEM THEY SAY "WELL, YOU HAVE 80,000 MILES." BEING UPSET THAT THIS WAS GOING TO COST ME $3,600.00 AND ONLY BEING NOT 5 YEARS OLD YET I DID SOME PHONE CALLING. FORD MOTOR WOULDN'T GIVE ME THE TIME OF DAY SO I CALLED THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT. THEY CALLED THEIR REP. AND HE WOULD DO...

ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAVE BLOWN OUT, CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

ENGINE BLEW A HEAD GASKET. ALSO, WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS FAILED .THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE. THIS RESULTED IN THE ENGINE OVERHEATING , WHICH THEN CAUSED THE BLOCK TO CRACK. HAD TO HAVE A SMALL BLOCK PUT ON . PLUS ALL THE VARIOUS OTHER COMPONENTS THAT WENT ALONG WITH REPLACING A BLOCK. *AK

THE OXYGEN SENOR WAS NOT WORKING AFTER I PICKED UP MY VAN FROM THE DEALERSHIP AFTER THEY HAD JUST REPLACED MY ENGINE. THIS WAS DONE DUE TO THE HEAD GASKETS FAILING. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS NOT RELATED . BUT THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS WORKING BEFORE THE ENGINE SERVICE WAS PERFORMED. I THOUGHT THIS WAS COVERED UNDER THE 80000 MILE WARRANTY ON THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM. I WAS TOLD IT WASN'T BY THE DEALERSHIP.

THE PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE BROKE. HAD TO RELACE THE TIMING COVER SINCE THIS IS WEAR THE PRESSURE FELIEF VALVE IS LOCATED . THIS WAS DONE 3000MILES AFTER THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE HEAD GASKETS GOING. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS VALVE SHOULD OF BEEN REPLACED AT THE TIME THAT THE ENGINE WAS TO AVOID HAVING TO TEAR IT APART RUNNING UP LABOR COSTS.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT HEAD GASKETS SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE ENGINE, A FAILURE AT 72,000 MILES IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD COVER THIS COMPONENT SINCE SO MANY 3.8 LITERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *AK

HEAD GASKET BLOWN. COOLANT LEAKED INTO CRANK CASE RESULTED IN BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

VEHICLE OVERHEATED IN SECONDS AND ENGINE SEIZED. *AK

WARPED HEAD GASKET DIAGNOSED AT 61,500MILES BY A FORD DEALERSHIP IN DECEMBER OF 1999. *AK

THE ENGINE PROBLEM IS TWO-FOLD. IN DECEMBER OF 1999 THE HEAD GASKETS WERE REPLACED AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER WE BEGAN HEARING A KNOCKING NOISE AND WERE TOLD THE ROD BEARINGS WERE GOING OUT AND WE WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE. WHEN THE LOCAL FORD DEALER WAS CONTACTED REGARDING AN ESTIMATE THEIR RESPONSE WAS " DON'T FEEL BAD WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF THESE PROBLEMS ON THIS ENGINE". SOME CONSOLATION FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS TO REPLACE AN ENGINE THAT ONLY HAS 70,000 MILES ON IT. THE DEALER CONTACTED WAS NOT THE DEALER WHERE THE VAN WAS PURCHASED. THE SPEEDOMETER HAS NOW FAILED TWICE AND BECAUSE THE READING IS NOT AN ACCURATE MILEAGE TRADE IN ON IT IS DRASTICALLY REDUCED. WHEN CONTACTED ABOUT THE SECOND FAILURE FORD OFFERED NO HELP OR EXPLANATION FOR THE PROBLEM. THE ORIGINAL SPEEDOMETER WAS REPLACED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY AT EASTSIDE MOTORS IN GREENCASTLE, IN. THERE HAS GOT...

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE OF 3.8 LITER V6 ENGINE. ALTHOUGH THIS FAILURE OCCURRED IN A MINI-MALL PARKING LOT, IT COULD HAVE OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND WOULD HAVE PUT MY WIFE AND SON IN HARM'S WAY. AT THE VERY LEAST, THEY WERE STRANDED SOME 15 MILES FROM HOME. FORD HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKET, BUT MY MILEAGE WAS BEYOND THE WARRANTY. THE INCIDENT COST ME $703.84. *AK

HEAD GASKET MALFUNCTIONED. YH

HEAD GASKET BLEW UP. YH

DEALER REPLACED ENGINE HEAD GASKET COST $4077, SAID NO WARRANTY, GAVE ME 800 NUMBER. *AK

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

THERE WAS A RECALL ON HEAD GASKETS - FORD FAILED TO NOTIFY US BY MAIL NOR DID THEY NOTIFY US WHEN WE TOOK IT IN FOR ROUTINE SERVICES. NOW THEY WON'T FIX IT BECAUSE IT'S PAST 60,000 MILES. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC, WHO FIXED THE PROBLEM AT A COST OF OVER $800.00. THE OTHER MECHANIC IS HOW I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL - FORD SHARED THAT INFORMATION WITH HIM - HOWEVER, THEY FAILED TO LET US IN ON THE SECRET. *AK

RED ENGINE LIGHT STARTED GLOWING @ APPROX. 70-80K MILES. REPORTED PROBLEM...NOTHING FOUND. CAR FAILS AT 107000, HEAD GASKET. WAS REPAIRED FOR $1600, JAN 2000. *AK

IN NOVEMBER OF 1998, THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED AFTER VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TO DEALER FOR ANTIFREEZE LEAK. DEALER INFORMED US THAT HEAD GASKETS WERE NOT YET "BAD" BUT ADVISED US TO REPLACE THEM BEFORE FURTHER DAMAGE WAS DONE TO ENGINE. WE COMPLIED AND HAD THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED TO AVOID FURTHER PROBLEMS. WHEN WE TOOK THE WINDSTAR IN ON JANUARY 17, 2000, WE WERE INFORMED THAT WE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. THE PREVENTATIVE HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT IN 1998 SHOULD HAVE AVOIDED THE ENGINE FAILURE, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. APPARENTLY, THERE IS MUCH MORE GOING ON WITH THIS ENGINE THAN WE ARE AWARE OF. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP PUTTING MONEY INTO THIS VEHICLE, AND WE HOPE THAT FORD WILL ISSUE A RECALL ON THE PRODUCT. INCIDENTALLY, OUR SERVICE PERSON AT VENUS FORD (WILLIE WILLETT) HAS HEARD OF THOUSANDS OF 1995 FORD WINDSTAR OWNERS WITH IDENTICAL PROBLEMS. VISITS TO...

TRANSMISSION FAILED 3 TIMES, HEAD GASKETS FAILED 2 TIMES, FORD DOESN'T CARE! *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED OVERHEATING DUE TO BLOWN HEAD GASKET WHICH LED TO ENGINE FAILURE. ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK *ML

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

HEAD GASKET AND TIMING COVER FAILED. YH

HEAD GASKET FAILED. NLM

HEAD GASKET FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. LESS THAN 1000 MILES AFTER THIS REPAIR THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING LOUD NOISE AT START WHEN COLD. I WAS TOLD THAT THE SHORT BLOCK WAS BAD AND WAS MOST LIKELY DAMAGED WHEN THE HEAD GASKET FAILED. CURRENTLY IN PROCESS OF

HEAD GASKET BLEW AT ABOUT 55,000 MILES. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED CAUSING SMOKE TO COME OUT FROM EXHAUST. MJS