1995 FORD WINDSTAR Engine And Engine Coolingengine Problems

NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE FROM FORD ABOUT A "HEAD GASKET CHECK" OR AN EXTENSION ON THE ENGINE WARRANTY. LOCAL FORD DEALER WOULD NOT CONSIDER COVERING ENGINE HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT DUE TO OUT OF WARRANTY.

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

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS BLOWN CAUSING CRACKED HEADS. FORD EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 60,000 MILES BUT FAILED TO NOTIFY OWNERS. ALSO, REPLACED ENTIRE BRAKE ASSEMBLY AT 50,000 MILES, ABS NEVER WORKED, AND PLASTIC DOOR PANEL ON SLIDING DOOR FELL OFF. TRANSMISSION SLIPS, DOWNSHIFTS, OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHES, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF, AND VEHICLE ACCELERATES SLUGGISHLY.

THE HEAD GASKETS FAILED AT 62000 MILES ON 6 FEB 99. FORD KNEW ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE GASKETS, BUT SENT A NOTIFICATION LETTER TO COVER THE COSTS AS LONG AS FAILURE OCCURRED BEFORE 31 DEC 98, OR 60000 MILES. I CONTEND THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE PAID FOR ALL REPAIRS, ON ALL SIMILAR VEHICLES WITHOUT OIMPOSING A MILEAGE LIMIT. THE FORD DEALER AGREES, BUT TELLS ME THAT THEIR HANDS ARE TIED BECAUSE THE PARENT COMPANY WILL NOT REIMBURSE THEM FOR REPAIRS THEY IMPLEMENT FREE OF CHARGE. FORD IS CHEATING THEIR CUSTOMERS.

DEFECTIVE ENGINE HEAD GASKET WHICH HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING. MAY HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE HEAD GASKET, BUT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND NOW IT IS CONSUMER'S RESPONSIBILITY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

AN ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT WITHIN 61,000 MILES OF WEAR. DEALER/MANUFACTURER INFORMED. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE EXTENED WARRANTY RAN OUT ON DECEMBER 31, 1998. MANUFACTURER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING WILL BE DONE DUE TO EXPIRATION OF WARRANTY. CONSUMER SEEKING HNTSA FOR HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

HEAD GASKETS FAILED. FORD AWARE THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW, BUT WILL NOT COVER IT.

ENGINE HEAD GASKET MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL. ALSO, DAMAGED THE ENGINE AND MAY HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER REPLACED GASKETS TWICE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

MY VEHICLE'S HEAD GASKETS 'BLEW' WHICH RESULTED IN WATER/COOLANT IN MY ENGINE/OIL PAN RESULTING IN THE REQUIREMENT FOR A NEW ENGINE BLOCK. I DID NOT HAVE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. FORD AGREED THERE WAS A RECALL/EXTENDED WARRANTY GIVEN TO ALL WINDSTARS FOR DEFAULTY HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS BUT THEY WOULD ONLY COVER THROUGH 12/31/98 SO WOULD NOT COVER MY CAR. I WAS NEVER NOTIIED. BASED UPON DISCUSSIONS WITH NUMEROUS OWNERS, THIS IS AN INHERENT PROBLEM IN ALL WINDSTARS. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. MY FRIEND'S WINDSTAR, 1995, REPLACED HER TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND AIR CONDITIONER BUT SHE HAD THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THESE CARS ARE NOT SAFE AND ARE ALL LEMONS.

COOLANT LEAKING DUE TO FAILURE OF THE TIMING CHAIN COVER, WATER PUMP GASKET AND OIL PAN GASKET.

CHARGED $900 TO REPLACE HEAD GASKET. IS THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL? WHAT ELSE SHOULD I CONTACT FOR ABOUT? *AK

ENGIN EHEAD GASKET FAILED 14 DAYS AFTER EXPIRATION OF EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAM. *AK

THERE IS WATER RUNNING FROM THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET, AND THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING ROUGH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN DRIVING IN LOW SPEED. *AK

I AM SURE THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN ON THE ENGINE. I HAD HIGH ENGINE TEMPERATURE, AND WHITE SMOKE WITH WATER COMING FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE PERSON THAT TOWED MY VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALER SAID THAT MY WINDSTAR WAS THE 5TH FORD HE HAS TOWED IN THIS WEEK WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, THEY WERE ALL 1995 FORD'S WITH A 3.8 LITER V-6. I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE FORD DEALER IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS ENGINE ,AND HE SAID THERE WAS, BUT REAPAIRS HAD TO BE MADE BEFORE DEC. 31, 1998. I WAS NOT AWARE OF A RECALL OR SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM, IF THIS IS HAPPENING TO SO MANY CARS AND TRUCKS JUST IN THE TULSA OK AREA, THERE IS CERTAINLY A TREND. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER RECALL PERIOD HAD EXPIRED. FORD RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF HEAD GASKET AT OWNER'S COST. AFTER HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT, VEHICLE ENGINE WOULD NOT OPERATE PROPERLY, AND FORD DEALER DECIDED THE ENGINE WAS PREVIOUSLY DAMAGED BECAUSE OF THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE IN MONTHS PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE. FORD WILL NOT COVER ENGINE DAMAGE. *AK

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

HEAD GASKETS BLEW OUT. VEHICLE AT DEALER FOR REPAIRS.

I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE WAS A LETTER SENT TO SOME OWNERS OF WINDSTARS STATING THAT THE HEAD GASKETS WERE DEFECTIVE, HOWEVER I NEVER RECEIVED THIS LETTER. *AK

A RECALL LETTER RECEIVED IN JUNE OF 1998 STATED THAT HEAD GASKET REPAIR WAS COVERED UNTIL DEC,31.98. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT FORD IS VERY AWARE OF AND SHOULD COVER REPAIR EVEN THOUGH IN MY CASE I AM PAST 60.OOO MILES AND IT IS PAST DEC. 31,98. MY REPAIR BILL IS APPROX. $800.00 FOR THIS, AND THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY TO ME, ESPECIALLY SINCE I AM STRUGGLING TO PAY PAYMENTS ON THIS VEHICLE. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILRE.

A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE, AND A BULLETIN WAS RELEASED BUT HAD A MILEAGE AND TIME LIMIT WHICH I AM SLIGHTLY OVER, FORCING ME TO PAY $1,000.00 FOR REPAIRS. *AK

FAILURE OF ENGINE HEAD GASKET 2 MONTHS BEYOND FORD'S "EXTENSION" OF RECALL NOTICE 98M01 FOR THIS PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED ISSUE WITH FORD 3.8L 6CYL ENGINES. FORD IS REFUSING TO PROVIDE ANY RELIEF ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE ADMITTED THAT THE FAILURE IS DUE TO POOR PARTS. THE FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS STATED THAT FORD HAS KNOWN THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTED AS FAR BACK AS '91, BUT CONTINUED TO USE THE POOR QUALITY PARTS. *AK

THERE MAY BE OTHER UNDERLYING PROBLEMS THAT CASUED HEAD GASKET TO BLOW, BUT THIS CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO EXTREME DAMAGE FROM COOLANT IN THE ENGINE, 3RD CYLINDER AND EXHAUST SYSTEM. *AK

DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS LEAK COOLANT INTO COMBUSTION CHAMBER. FORD RECOGNIZES THIS PROBLEM (SERVICE PROGRAM 98M01) BUT WONT FIX VEHICLES AFTER 60000 MILES OR A CUTOFF DATE ASSOCIATED WITH THE SALE DATE. MINE HAD SYMPTOMS IN DEC 97, BUT SERVICE EITHER DIDN'T RECOGNIZE SYMPTOM OR IGNORED IT DUE TO WORK OVERLOAD. FORD SHUNS MY PROBLEM AND I AM LEFT WITH A NICE CAR THAT NEEDS $1000+ IN ENGINE REPAIRS ON A KNOWN PROBLEM JUST BECAUSE MY VEHICLE DIDN'T COMPLETELY FAIL BEFORE THE EXPIRATION.

PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKET (RECALL COMPONENT) RESULTING IN EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO ENGINE COMPONENTS.

REAR AXLE BROKE, AND ENGINE HEAD GASKETS BLEW OUT.

CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL HEAD GASKET FAILURE OF RECALL NOTICE.

IE98080; ANTI-FREEZE GOES THROUGHOUT ENGINE HEAD GASKET, CAUSING ENGINE HEAD GASKET TO BLOW UP, AND RESULTING IN MAJOR DAMAGE. COMMON PROBLEM. THERE IS A TSB, BUT ONLY UP TO 60,000 MILES. DEALER DID NOT FIX VEHICLE BEFORE 60,000 MILES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SMOKE, AND THE ENGINE TO BE INOPERABLE. DEALER SAID IT WAS A FAULTY HEAD GASKET. *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. MECHANIC TESTED COOLANT SYSTEM, AND FOUND COOLANT WAS POURING INTO THE HEAD, AND HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. THERE IS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION AT THIS TIME FOR COOLANT LEAKAGE/HEAD GASKET, IE-98-080 (PLEASE ADD VIN#.) *AK

CONSUMER HUNG UP. *AK

CONSUMER HAS TALKED TO THE DEALER ABOUT A RECALL THAT WAS TOLD TO CONSUMER BY AN FRIEND. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER AND WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THEY WOULD NOT DO THE WORK, THEY STOPPED DOING THE WORK ON DECEMBER 31, 1998. *AK

IN JUNE 1998, FORD MOTOR IDENTIFIED A PROBLEM WITH DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS. WE WERE MAILED A LETTER FROM FORD THAT PROVIDED EXTENDED WARRANTY UNTIL 12/98 OR 60,000 MILES. ON 1/30 @ 60,215 MILES, OUR VEHICHLE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. FORD WILL NOT PROVIDE ANY REIMBURSEMENT. THIS IS NOT RIGHT. WHAT CAN WE DO? *AK

VALVE COVER GASKET LEAK. INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS TO BE COMMON. RECALL? *AK

THE RUBBER GASKET ON THE TIMING COVER FAILED.

HEAD GASKET FAILED RESULTING IN LEAKAGE.

CRANKSHAFT, BERARINGS, OIL PUMP AND TIMING CHAING FAILED.

THE VEHICLES ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, WE CALLED FORD SERVICE, SAID NOT TO WORRY KEEP FLUIDS FILLED AND YOU SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAD A VOLUNTARY SERVICE RECALL FROM FORD FOR A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM, THE LETTER IS DATED 6/98, WE WERE NEVER TOLD OF THE PROBLEM AND WE HAD OUR VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE IN BOTH 6 AND 8/98. UPON BRINGING OUR VEHICLE IN TO FILL OUT THE PAPER WORK THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD US THAT IT WAS OK TO DRIVE, WE LEFT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE AN OPENING UNTIL 2/3/99, LATER THAT DAY THE TEMPARTURE GAUGE ROSE TO HOT, SO WE WENT BACK TO DEALER, THEY SAID LEAVE THE VEHICLE ON FRIDAY WE WERE TOLD THE ENGINE IS GONE..FORD WON'T COVER. IF FORD KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM, WHY ISN'T IT KNOWN TO OWNERS? WE LIVE IN UPSTATE NY, WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY ENGINE WOULD HAVE GONE...

I EXPERIENCED HEAD GASKET FAILURE 2 WEEKS BEFORE THE RECALL PROGRAM EXPIRED. THE DEALERSHIP DELAYED IN FIXING IT, RESULTING IN ENGINE FAILURE.

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS WERE DEFECTIVE. HEAT STOPPED WORKING, STARTED OVERHEATING AND SHAKING, OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING. DEALER CONTACTED AND AWARE OF PROBLEM, BUT STATED RECALL ENDED AND VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER COVERED. NO REMEDY FOR PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

AFTER BRINGING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP ON 11DEC98 FOR RECALL OF HEAD GASKET. THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY TESTED WITH TOTAL HOURS BY TECH #128 WAS .6 . AT THIS TIME THE TRESSURE TEST OF GASKET WAS OK. NOT MUCH MORE THAN A MONTH LATER, THE HEAD GASKET FAILED. THE DEALER HAS REFUSED TO FIX THIS AT HIS EXPENSE OR PARTIAL EXPENSE. WE WERE INFORMED THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. ACCORDING TO THE LETTER RECEIVED FROM FORD COMPANY NO MATTER WHETHER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED THE COMPANY WOULD STILL HONOR THE RECALL. AT PRESENT TIME VEHICLE HAS BEEN MOVED TO ANOTHER LOCATION FOR REPAIR AFTER WE WERE ESTIMATED A COST OF 1200.00 TO 1500.00 FOR REPAIR BY DEALERSHIP. *AK

TRANSMISSION REPAIRED ON 11/29 /98 . ONLY 7 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP, 6 WEEKS LATER ENGINE WENT WAS TOLD IT WAS A POSSIBLE HEAD GASKET. WAS TOLD FORD HAD A NOTIFICATION. THE FORD DEALER TOLD US THAT THE WORK ENDED ON THIS ON 12/31 98. THERE NOW SITS 4 WINDSTARS AT CROSSROAD FORD IN CARY NC. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED PREMATURELY, CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE AT HIGH SPEEDS.

RECALL WORK ON HEAD GASKET DENIED DUE TO VIN.

I RECEIVED A LETTER IN AUGUST OF 98 REGARDING FORD HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKET SEALS ON THE 3.8L MOTOR, IF I WAS HAVING A PROBLEM BEFORE 12/98 TO BRING IT IN. ON 12/20, THE VAN OVERHEATED AN ICE COLD AIR WAS BLOWING OUT OF THE HEAT VENTS. I REFERRED TO MY OWNERS MANUAL, AND CHANGED THE THERMOSTAT, FLUSHED THE SYSTEM AND CHANGED THE RADIATOR CAP, THE VAN THEN SEEMED FINE. WE HAD A MAJOR SNOW AND ICE STORM AND THE VAN SAT FOR 2 WEEKS. ON 01/23, WE WERE TWO MILES FROM HOME AND WHITE SMOKE STARTED POURING OUT OF THE EXHAUST, AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS UP TO HOT, THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. WE GOT THE VAN HOME AND SEEN ANTIFREEZE LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE BLOCK. WE CALLED THE FORD DEALER IN CANFIELD, AND THEY SAID THE LETTER EXPIRED ON 12/31/98, AND THEY ARE...

REF SERVICE PROGRAM 98M01. HEAD GASKETS FAILED 3 WEEKS AFTER PROGRAM EXPIRED. FORD OFFERED NO FLEXIBILITY. $1500 REPAIRS. *AK

THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. *AK

THE TIMING CHAMBER GASKET HAS FAILED CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO ENGINE. REPLACEMENT REQUIRES 9-10 HOURS OF LABOR SINCE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE LIFTED. AS FOR THE TRANSMISSION, AFTER CAR WARMS UP, FROM STANDSTILL, ENGINE REVS THEN KICKS INTO GEAR.

AFTER STARTING VEHICLE FROM COLD START, PISTON FULL OF ANTIFREEZE, DUE TO DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. DEALER INFORMED ME OF RECALL NUMBER 98M01, BUT STATED I WOULD HAVE TO PAY COSTS, SINCE MY WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. HE SHOWED ME THE DIAGNOSTIC WHICH SAID "CHECK HEAD GASKET ONLY IF CUSTOMER REPORTS A PROBLEM".

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON--DIAGNOSTIC CODES SHOWED EGR/COOLANT TEMP. (NON FORD)MECHANIC REPLACED EGR VALVE, SENSOR. RAN FINE, THEN LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN (1 WEEK). CHECKED & REPLACED THERMOSTAT (LIGHT AGAIN AFTER 1 WEEK) THEN COMPUTER, LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN (2 DAYS). VEHICLE OVERHEATED & NO HEAT IN VEHICLE. MECHANIC DETERMINED HEAD GASKET FAILED. REPLACED 1/14/99.