1995 FORD WINDSTAR Engine And Engine Coolingengine Problems

BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH 95 WINDSTAR. COULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED ON X-WAY OR MAJOR INTERSECTION. FORD WILL NOT DO RECALL. LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF 95 WINDSTAR OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM. FORD WILL NOT REIMBURSE FOR THIS DESIGN PROBLEM THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME. *AK

HEAD GASKETS BLEW AND ENGINE QUIT WHILE DESCENDING HILL. STOPPED AT INTERSECTION, BUT COULD NOT REMOVE VAN FROM TRAFFIC LANES. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED AT 73000 MILES - HEARD OVER THE INTERNET THAT THERE WAS A RECALL UP TO 60K MILES - I NEVER RECEIVED ANY INFO ON THIS RECALL. HOW IS FORD ALLOWED TO LIMIT THIS RECALL TO 60K MILES DUE TO A FAULTY GASKET THAT HAS SINCE BEEN REDESIGNED? *AK

LEFT STRANDED IN RURAL SOUTH DAKOTA WHEN ENGINE BLEW, RELATING TO THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM ON FORD'S 3.8 LITRE ENGINES. HAD PREVIOUSLY HAD THE HEAD GASKETS CHECKED AND REPLACED, BUT ENGINE STILL DAMAGED. FORD WOULD NOT COVER THIS BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 60,000 MILES AND OUR VEHICLE WAS AT 62,000 MILES. WE HAD TO PAY TO HAVE A NEW ENGINE INSTALLED, WERE WITHOUT OUR VEHICLE FOR 8 WEEKS, AND HAD TO DRIVE 10 HOURS BACK TO SD TO GET IT. *AK

VEHICLE OVERHEATED, CHECKED ENGINE AND FOUND HEAD GASKET FAILURE. CONTACTED FORD, WOULD NOT COVER EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE AWARE OF HEAD GASKET FAILURES ON THIS PARTICLAR ENGINE, WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED IF I HAD NOT HAD IT INSPECTED ON 8/98 AND FOUND TO BE OK. I FEEL FORD HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO OWNERS OF THESE PATICULAR VEHICLES WITH THIS ENGINE (3.8L). *AK

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM/FAILURE: AFTER COMING TO A STOP, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HESITATEDBEFORE ENGAGING. I FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM AFTER ABOUT 50,000 MILES. IT BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE MAIN PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE A FAILED PISTON (ALUMINIUM). A SECONDARY FAILURE WAS THE MAIN HOUSING DO TO THE SHUTTLE VALVE WEARING OUT THE BORE (PROBABLY DUE TO EXECESSIVE CHATTER BECAUSE OF THE FLUID LEAKING PAST THE PISTON). THE HESITATING ENGAGEMENT WOULD OCCASIONALLY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ROLL BACKWARDS OR NOT TO MOVE FORWARD IN TRAFFIC. I BELIEVE BOTH SITUATIONS TO BE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. THE DEALERSHIP FIXED THE PROBLEM AT MY EXPENSE; FORD TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT HELP. *AK

THE FIRST SYMPTOM OF THE PROBLEM CAME WITH NO HEAT WHILE TRAVELLING FOR THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY. IT MADE FOR A COLD TRIP WITH OUR CHILDREN. LUCKILY WE CAUGHT IT BEFORE TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE IN OUR MINNESOTA WINTER. THE ESTIMATED REPAIRS I HAVE RECEIVED SO FAR RANGE FROM $1000 TO $1800. FROM WHAT I HEAR, THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED CASE FOR 95 WINDSTARS. IS FORD PLANNING ON DOING ANYTHING? ANY COUNSEL OR ACTION I CAN TAKE. *AK

FIRST HEAD GASKET FAILURE AT 55,000 MILES, REPLACED BY DEALER WITH SAME FAULTY HEAD GASKET PART. THIS REPLACED HEAD GASKET FAILED 40,000 MILES LATER. FORD AND THE DEALERSHIP ARE BOTH RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DESIGN AND FAILURE TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL HEAD GASKET WITH THE NEW IMPROVED MODEL. CONSUMERS ARE VERY ANGRY AND SHOULD POSE A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST FORD. THIS FAULTY GASKET CAUSES ENGINES TO SIEZE. NOW THE DEALERSHIPS WILL NOT WARRANTY ANY HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT. THEY RECCOMEND ENGINE REPLACEMENT. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ADMITTED BY FORD, YET THEY HAVE NOT ADEQUATELY SOLVED THE PROBLEM. THEY PUT A BANDAID ON IT. *AK

WE REALIZE YOU FOLKS DON'T THINK OF ENGINE HEAD GASKET RELATED DEFECTS AND TRANSMISSION FAILURES AS HIGHWAY AND SAFETY ISSUES, BUT WE WISH TO GO ON THE RECORD AS SWINDLED BY FORD FOR FAILING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MANUFACTURING AUTOMOBILE WITH DEFECTIVE MACHINE PARTS THAT IF THEY FAILED WHILE UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES COULD EASILY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DEATH AND INJURY OF THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS OR OTHER VEHICLE OCCUPANTS. *AK

I GRADUALLY LOST MY HEAT. I HAD TAKEN MY MINIVAN TO HAVE A THERMOSTAT REPLACED THE WEEK BEFORE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS. I HAD ALREADY SUNK $75.00 INTO IT BEFORE I TOOK IT INTO THE FORD DEALERSHIP BECASUE THE PROBLEM WAS STILL HAPPENING. IT CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT AFTER THE THERMOSTAT WAS INSTALLED. I PAID APPROXIMATELY $1000.00 RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS TO HAVE MY HEAD GASKET REPLACED. I WAS REALLY IN A BIND FOR CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR HAVING TO PAY FOR MY VAN. I ALOS WAS WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION FOR A WEEK. I HAVE THREE CHILDREN TO TRANSPORT TO AND FROM SCHOOL AND ALL THEIR SPORTS EVENTS. I WAS INCONVIENCED FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK. FORD OFFERED ME A "RENTAL" , BUT I WOULD STILL HAVE TO PAY. I DECLINED. I HAVE WRITTEN TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND GOTTEN A RESPONSE. THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO HELP ME IN THE...

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED, AND THE ENGINE BLOCK CRACKED. ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. I CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER SERVICE AND REQUESTED THEY COVER EITHER THE HEAD GASKET OR ENGINE UNDER THE WARRANTY. THEY SAID "SORRY, THERE IS NOTHING WE WILL DO TO HELP YOU". FORD FILE #'S 9001758904 AND 1596592109. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE, RESULTING IN ENGINE MALFUNCTIONING. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

ENGINE'S HEAD GASKETS FAILED. THEY BLEW WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. WAS EMITTING WHITE SMOKE & THEN DIED. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC INFORMED OWNER OF HEAD GASKETS. NO FLUID WAS LEAKING. HAD NO WARNING EXCEPT WHITE SMOKE. A RECALL WAS ISSUED & VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED. INFORMED NO LEAKS & VEHICLE BEYOND GIVEN MILEAGE. *AK

CAR STARTED TO IDLE AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE, AND OIL WAS COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST PIPE. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. TOOK TO A MECHANIC, AND HE SAID IT WAS CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE. CONSUMER RECEIVED A WARRANTY LETTER, SAYING IT WOULD BE COVERED UP TO 60, 000 MILES, BUT IT BLEW OUT AT 70, 000 MILES. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAVE BLOWN OUT, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK

BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET AT 61,478 MILES. FORD ONLY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 60K TO COVER THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM, SO THEY REFUSE TO PAY. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILURE. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKEST BLEW, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. A TSB HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THE VEHICLE MAKE. DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. *AK

95 FORD WINDSTAR NEEDS NEW ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION BECAUSE OF HEADGASKET PROBLEM EXPERIENCED IN OTHER 95 WINDSTARS. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION FROM FORD ABOUT THIS RAMPANT PROBLEM WITH THIS COMPONENT. REPAIRS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT STILL NOT SURE IF EVERYTHING WILL BE COVERED. BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER BUYING THE VEHICLE. AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS TO VARIOUS FORD DEALERSHIPS, HAVE HAD SEVERAL TUNE UPS AND OXYGEN SENSOR REPLACEMENTS. LAST PRIOR SERVICE WAS IN JUNE 1999 AT RUSTY ECK FORD LEAVENWORTH, KS, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS TUNED UP YET AGAIN. DESPITE THE FACT THAT THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM NOONE HAS EVER MENTIONED THIS TO ME AS A POSSIBLE CAUSE FOR POOR PERFORMANCE AND GAS MILEAGE UNTIL NOW, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE SYMPTOMS ARE EXACTLY THE SAME AS MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED. CORROSION PROBLEM IS LIMITED TO RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR. THE PAINT AT...

THIS IS THE SECOND 3.8L V6 FORD PRODUCT I OWNED TO BLOW A HEAD GASKET. I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE AT MY TOTAL EXPENSE. *AK

FORD IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKETS IN THE 1995 WINDSTAR, BUT IS UNWILLING TO ASSIST UNLESS MILEAGE IS UNDER 60000. MY VAN WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH WHEN IT SUDDENLY LOST PRESSURE AND WOULD NOT DRIVE ABOVE 40 MPH ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WITH 2 SMALL CHILDREN IN THE CAR. PLEASE HELP. *AK

HAVE ATTEMPTED CONTACT WITH FORD MOTOR CORP TO NO AVAIL. THEY CLAIM THAT THE DATE HAS EXPIRED FOR SAID REPAIRS ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM WITH MY HEAD GASKETS UNTIL NOW. *AK

RECALL REPAIR DENIED FOR (98M01), HEAD GASKET FAILURE, VEHICLE OUT OF SCOPE DUE TO MILEAGE. MJS

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED. YH

HEAD GASKET FAILED. NLM

APPARENTLY " ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE" VERY COMMON ON THE 1995 WINDSTARS - NEW ENGINE RECOMMENDED BY FORD SERVICE DEPT. - PAST WARRANTY PERIOD. *AK

THIS PART WAS ON RECALL, BUT FORD SAYS THAT IT IS PAST THE MILEAGE FOR THE RECALL, AND FOR THEM TO REPAIR THE DAMAGES. IF THIS PART IS ON RECALL THE COMPANY KNOWS THAT IT IS DEFECTIVE. I FEEL THEY ARE NOT STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AT ANY COST. I FEEL THEY SHOULD BE PAYING FOR MY REPAIRS SINCE IT IS THEIR FAULTY WORKMANSHIP THAT CAUSED THE DAMAGE. *AK

HEAD GASKET BLEW UP. *AK

COOLANT LEAK AND OVERHEATING- WOULD NOT START REPLACE HEAD GASKETS. *AK

FORD HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE HEAD GASKETS. I HAVE FOUND (VIA THE INTERNET) SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD HEAD GASKETS GO OUT PRE-MATURELY. THE MECHANIC THAT FIXED MY VAN SAID THAT IT IS A FAULTY HEAD GASKETS IN THE 3.8L ENGINE & THAT FORD SHOULD PAY FOR THE HEAD GASKETS, MY RENTAL, AND ALSO THE DAMAGE THAT MAY HAVE OCCURRED BECAUSE OF THEIR NEGLIGENCE. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLOWN- APPARENTLY FORD HAS KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLE.DEALER WILL NOT ASSIST ME IN REPAIRS. FORD EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 60,000. I HAVE 68,000. FORD MADE NO ATTEMPT TO LET ME KNOW OF THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM EITHER BY MAIL OR VIA A PHONE CALL. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED 8,000 MILES AFTER EXTENDED WARRANTY. NLM

HEAD GASKET FAILED 8,000 MILES AFTER EXTENDED WARRANTY. NLM

ENGINE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH FOR ABOUT A WEEK, THEN ON 12/4/99 SMOKE CAME FROM EXHAUST WHEN STARTED. WE DROVE IT IMMEDIATELY TO VELDE LINCOLN MERCURY IN PEORIA, IL. WHEN THEY GOT TO LOOK AT IT, IT WOULD NOT START. THE ENGINE WAS LOCKED UP AND THEY TOLD US IT WAS DUE TO A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND WOULD COST ABOUT $1,250 TO FIX. I SINCE HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND FORD EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE TO 60,000 MILES. I HAVE ALSO HEARD MANY COMPLAINTS OF IT GOING OUT SHORTLY AFTER 60,000 AND FORD REFUSING TO COVER ANY REPAIRS. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET ON THE 1995 FORD WINDSTAR FIRST FAILED AT 35000 MILES WHICH WAS FIXED UNDER. *AK

PREOBLEMS WITH ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, CAUSING ENGINE TO SIEZE @52,000 MI.9 MONTH PREGNANT WIFE &4 SMALL CHILDREN IN VEHICHLE I HAVE READ THE COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS ON THIS VEHICHLE IS THERE A WAY 2 REMOVE THIS VEHICHLE FROM THE ROADS BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED WHAT CAN I DO??? *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED. FORD REFUSES TO PAY FOR REPAIRS DESPITE KNOWN PRODUCT DEFECT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AND WATER CAME OUT OF TAILPIPE. ALSO LEAKING RADIATOR FLUID ON THE ENGINE BLOCK AND HEATER, CREATING TOXIC GASES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. CONTACTED THE DEALER NOT UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. *AK

THE HEAD GASKET IN MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR FAILED RUINING THE ENGINE. MY WIFE AND CHILDREN WERE STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD UNTIL WE COULD ARRAINGE TRANSPORTATION. FORD, AFTER REPEATED COMPLAINTS IS ONLY WILLING TO PAY FOR A PORTION OF THE REPAIR COSTS. I THINK THIS IS A HARZARDOUS PROBLEM AND FORD SHOULD BE MORE FORTHCOMING.

HEAD GASKETS FAILING AGAIN AFTER FORD REPLACED ORIGIONALS

WITHIN THREE DAYS OF MY PURCHASE OF MY 1995 WINDSTAR IN FEB. OF 1998 TIMING CASE BLEW AT 35,500. AT 51,440 HEAD GASKET BLEW. DEALER TOLD US UNDER WARRANTY 5YR AND OR 60,000 MILES .DEALER CALLED TO TELL US WARRANTY EXPIRED. 8-99 1995WINDSTAR WAS PUT IN

BLOWN HEAD GASKET MISSED OWNER NOTIFICATION WARRANTY BY 68 DAYS. ENGINE DAMAGED, TOTAL COST $3,975.06. FORD WOULD NOT HELP WITH REPAIR COST.

HEAD GASKET FAILURE NOT COVERED BY MANUFACTURER DUE TO MILEAGE OVER 60000. PROBLEM EXISTED PRIOR TO THE NOTICE OF THE FAILURE DUE TO SAME SYMPTOMS IN EXCESS OF 30000 MILES. FORD EXPECTS $2400 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. OVER 156 COMPLAINTS ON SAME COMPONENT LISTED IN COMPLAINTS SECTION OF NHTSA.

FORD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR HEAD GASKETS TO 60000 MILES OR 12/98, WHICHEVER CAME FIRST. MY WINDSTAR'S HEAD GASKET FAILED TODAY (11/30/99) WITH 58500 MILES ON IT. PLEASE CONSIDER FORCING A RECALL ON THIS DEFECT. *AK

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO FAIL IN OCT 1998. SHIFTING TO OVERDRIVE WOULD NOT OCCUR OR WOULD SHIFT BACK AND FORTH CAUSING A BUCKING MOTION. AFTER FIRST TRIP TO THE DEALERSHIP THE FILTER AND FLUID WERE CHANGED. THE THE CONDITION WORSENED UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR AT ALL. THIS WAS THEN REPAIRED BUT STILL DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY ALL THE TIME. THE HEAD GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED NOW AT 84,000 MILES. I HAVE SEEN THESE COMMON PROBLEMS ON WEBSITES AND THOUGHT I SHOULD REPORT AS THEY ARE THE SAME TYPE THAT SEEM TO RE-OCCUR ON THIS MODEL. *AK

1995 WINDSTAR HAS DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS IN THE 3.8L ENGINE, PREMATURE FAILURE ADMITTED BY FORD, THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED BY FORD AND REPAIRED, BUT FORD IS PUTTING THE REPAIR COST ON THE CONSUMER.

PREMATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURE DUE TO DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. ALSO CAUSED INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE WHICH REQUIRED ENGINE REBUILD AT A TOTAL COST OF $2,441.00

THIS MOTOR HAS A HISTORY OF DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS WITH NO COVERAGE FROM MFGER AFTER 60,000 MILES. THIS IS DEFINITELY A DESIGN PROBLEM. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILURE RESULTED IN COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. MJS