1995 FORD WINDSTAR Engine And Engine Coolingengine Problems

HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT, FORD REASSEMBLED AND THE OTHER HEAD CRACKED (AT THE SAME SPOT) IN LESS THAN 350 MILES.

THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET FAILED. THE DEALER TELLS ME THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. FORD SENT OUT A LETTER TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES FOR THIS FAILURE. EXTENDING THE WARRANY TO 7 YEAR OR 70000 MILES. MY VAN WENT OUTSIDE OF THE 7 YEARS 12/04/02. FROM THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE EVERY ONE OF THESE ENGINES ARE FAILING. I ASKED FORD FOR HELP SINCE THE VEHICLE HAS LOW MILEAGE. THEY SAID NO. I THINK SINCE EVERY ONE OF THESE ENGINES FAIL THEY SHOULD REPAIR IT AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. 57000 MILES IS NOT VERY MANY MILES ON A VEHICLE. PLEASE HELP. WHAT IS THE CRITERIA FOR A RECALL?? THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR ANY HELP . JOHN MCDERMOTT. *AK

CONSUMER HAD DRIVEN LESS THAN A MILE WHEN HE NOTICED THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT ALL THE WAY TO HIGH, VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD FAILED AND A NEW REBUILT ENGINE WOULD BE NEEDED, CONSUMER IS AWARE OF RECALL 98M01 AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

HEAD GASKET IS SHOT, DEALER SAYS WARRANTY RAN OUT 5 MONTHS AGO, SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE HEAD GASKETS AND THAT THEY WON'T REPLACE IT. CONTACTED FORD AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THERE IS A RECALL ON THE HEAD GASKETS IN THE WINDSTAR AND THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED BUT WE CAN'T GET ANYWHERE WITH THE DEALORSHIP OR WITH FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE . *AK

A LEAK AROUND THE HEAD GASKETS. DEALER SERVICED VEHICLE. SHORTLY AFTER VEHICLE WAS SERVICED GASKETS STARTED TO LEAK AGAIN. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT ENGINE NEED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED, TECH ADVISOR DETERMINED IT WAS THE HEATED OXYGEN SENSOR WHICH WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELRATOR, THE ENGINE HESITATED, CONSUMER RECEIVED WARRANTY EXTENSION ON HEAD GASKET, THE ENGINE ULTIMATELY FAILED, AND THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, HOWEVER THE HESITATION PROBLEM IMPROVED BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND AS WELL BEFORE, THE HEISTATION BECAME WORSE AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE HAD FAILED, BUT NOT DUE TO THE HEAD GASKET, CONSUMER RECEIVED A SECOND OPINON BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT WATER WAS DETECTED IN THE #6 CYLINDER AND DETERMINED THAT THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL, THE MECHANIC ATTRIBUTED THE ROOT CAUSE OF PROBLEM TO BE A HEAD GASKET FAILURE, HOWEVER MANUFACTURER IS NOT HONORING WARRANTY STATING THAT THE GASKET WAS REPLACED PREVIOUSLY AND THAT THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THE FAILED ENGINE WAS NOT...

ENGINE REPLACED BY NEWMAN FORD 03-99, HEAD GASKET FAILURE #2 JAN 10 2000 MIL.60240 #3 HEAD GASKET FAILURE FEB 6 2001 MIL. 67500.*AK

I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY 1995 WINDSTAR. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED IN 10/99 AND I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE COMPUTER/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WITH SENSORS AND FUSES GOING OUT. MY TIMING GASKET COVER CRACKED AND COOLANT WAS LEAKING (10/01). I HAD TO HAVE THAT REPLACED ALONG WITH THE WATER PUMP, ETC. NOW, MY ENGINE HAS EITHER A BEARING OR HAS THROWN A ROD AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD I NEED TO HAVE MY ENGINE REPLACED AT A COST OF $3500. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY MORE PROBLEMS (STRUTS, ENGINE MOUNTS, ETC....). I HAVE SPENT OVER $6000 (NOT INCLUDING REGULAR MAINTENANCE COSTS --OIL CHANGES, BRAKES, TIRES, TUNE UPS, ETC). I HAVE HAD TO SPEND MUCH $$$ ON CAR RENTALS WHILE MY CAR WAS BEING REPAIRED. NOW I'M FACED WITH A HUGE NEW PROBLEM--THE ENGINE. *AK

STEAM WOULD BE VISIBLE WHEN VEHICLE WAS IDILING OR PARKED, CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER STATED HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING, PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

HEADGASKET STARTED LEAKING AT 50683 MILES AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. AT THIS TIME HEADGASKET IS LEAKING AGAIN, AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.*AK *SLC

HEADGASKEK BLEW. CALLED A SERVICE GARAGE AND WAS TOLD HE HEARD THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THAT TYPE OF VAN HE WASNT EVEN A FORD DEALER EITHER. WAS TOLD TO CALL A FORD DEALER. I CALLED KELLY FORD AND GAVE THEM THE VIN NUMBER AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY VAN BUT THEY NEEDED TO SEE THE VAN TO SEE IF THAT WAS THE PROBLEM BUT I COULDNT DRIVE THE VAN. I THEN CALLED PALM BAY FORD AND GAVE THEM THE VIN NUMBER AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING ABOUT A RECALL AND FORD PAYS IT BUT I WAS TOLD BY A FEW SERVICE PEOPLE AND FRIENDS TO STAY AWAY FROM PALM BAY FORD.I THEN CALLED PARADISE FORD AND GAVE THEM THE VIN NUMBER AND WAS TOLD AGAIN ABOUT THE RECALL.I THEN CALLED BACK KELLY FORD AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT 3 WEEKS TO FIX...

TRANSMISSION BEING REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. STARTED REPORTING PROBLEMS AT 10,000 MILES. DEALER COULD NOT IDENTIFY. (SLUGISH, BUCKING, ROUGH ACCELERATION.) AT 60,000 MILES WOULD NOT MOVE OUT OF PARK. DEALER REPLACED HEAD GASKET AND MADE OTHER ADJUSTMENTS (DON'T KNOW WHAT BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL IN CODE ON REPAIR SLIP) AT 90,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION WENT. MOTOR MOUNTS ALSO HAD TO BE FIXED. PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATION AND BUCKING CAME LESS THAT 7,000 MILES LATER. SECOND TRANSMISSION WENT LESS THAN 20,000 MILES LATER! ALSO HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH (REPLACED 3 TIMES AND STILL DOES NOT WORK RIGHT) AND WARNING LIGHTS FOR THE BRAKES AND AIRBAGS. (NO PROBLEMS EVER FOUND) FORD DEALER SAYS TRANSMISSION IS NOT A RECALL ITEM AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO. I FIND THIS SHOCKING IN LIGHT OF THE NEARLY 4,000 COMPLAINTS THAT THE NHSTA HAS LOGGED FOR THE 95 WINDSTAR, (669...

HEAD GASKETS WENT BAD CAUSING VAD OXYGEN SENSOR, AIR INTAKE VALVE AND $1400 DOLLARS WORTH OF REPAIR @ MY COST ; UNFORTUNATELY , THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY CAVERAGE ON THIS. I HOWEVER DID NOT RECEIVE THE NOTICE.

THE 3.8L ENGINE THAT WAS INSTALLED IN THE 1995 FORD WINDSTARS AND OTHER CARS HAVE A HAD A CONSISTANT FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKETS. WITH THE TOTAL NUMBER FAILURES, WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A COMPLETE RECALL OF THESE ENGINES. I HOPE THIS HELPS!!!*AK

11-20-98(BOISE) (98M01)(45,636MI.) HEAD GASKET INSPECTION-SENT HEADS TO BE SURFACED & CHECKED REINSTALLED WITH NEW BOLTS 6-28-99 (57,495MI.)ENGINE LOSES POWER, MAKES LOUD KNOCK NOISE, BLOWING SMOKE WHILE ON INTERSTATE 5 HOURS FROM HOME, DRIVE SLOWLY TO NEXT EXIT AND FIND FORD DEALER-DAVIS-TREMONTON UT FIND #1 CYLINDER ROD BEARING WORN OUT, NEEDS CRANK KIT, GASKETS, ETC.7-27-99 PICKED UP VEHICLE DROVE 20 MI. ON INTERSTATE -AGAIN ,ENGINE LOSES POWER HAS LOUD KNOCK AND QUITS 9-21-00 BROUGHT VAN IN(BOISE)(80,867MI.) FOR A HARD SHAKE AT 45-50 MPH ALONG WITH ABS LIGHTS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON HEAD GASKETS NEED TO BE REPLACED AND 1 HEAD CRACKED 12-28-01 ALEXANDRIA MN VAN QUITS WHENEVER SLOWS DOWN, HEAT WORKING SPORADICALLY MAKE AN APPT. FOR SERVICE AND THAT DAY ENGINE OVERHEATS GET IT IN AND HEAD GASKETS HAVE FAILED AGAIN @110,000. *AK

VEHICLE WAS LEAKING COOLANT. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR HEAD GASKET RECALL. AFTER RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE MANUFACTURER CONTACTED OWNER STATING THAT TIMING COVER GASKET NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK FRONT BRAKE HOSE RUPTURED IN MAY OF 2001, CAUSING VEHICLE TO NOT STOP, REAR BRAKE LINES RUPTURED IN 2002, CAUSING VEHICLE TO NOT STOP. *JB

I HAD TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT OF BLOWN HEAD GASKETS FOR THE SECOND TIME IN 2 1/2 YEARS. I PREVIOUSLY HAD BLOWN HEAD GASKETS REPAIRED ON THIS ENGINE IN 07/1999. AT THAT TIME, THIS VEHICLE WAS COVERED UNDER FORD'S EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN (ESP). I DO NOT THINK I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING $1380.42 FOR REPAIR OF BLOWN HEAD GASKETS AGAIN APPROXIMATELY 2 1/2 YEARS AFTER HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM REPAIRED. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THIS MOTOR IS DEFECTIVE IF THE SAME MAJOR PROBLEM APPEARS AGAIN AFTER 2 1/2 YEARS. I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD COVER THE COST OF THIS REPAIR IN A RECALL OF THIS ENGINE PROBLEM. IT JUST SEEMS VERY UNFAIR TO HAVE TO PAY THIS AMOUNT TWICE WITHIN A 2 1/2 YEAR PERIOD. I WILL BE GLAD TO PROVIDE COPIES OF INVOICES SHOWING PAYMENT OF THESE 2 INCIDENCES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASH, INDICATING THAT HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. TOOK TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING SMOKE EMERGED FROM EXHAUST. ALSO, ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASH AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE IMMEDIATELY WENT FROM COLD TO HOT, CAUSING HEAD GASKET TO BLOW OUT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. SMOKE EMERGED FROM VEHICLE, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE IMMEDIATELY WENT FROM COLD TO HOT, CAUSING HEAD GASKET TO BLOW. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

HEAD GASKET IS DEFECTIVE,IT BLEW WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, AND ANTI-FREEZE MIXED IN WITH OIL. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE VEHICLE FOR THAT PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

LOSS OF COOLANT WHILE DRIVING. TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT AND VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. ASKING NHTSA TO ASSIST IN THIS MATTER. *AK THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS PARTICULAR YEAR OF VEHICLE THAT WOULD RELATE TO THE CONDITION OF THIS VEHICLE, CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED WITH A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET CAUSING SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. *TT

HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. BUT, YET THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

WE HAVE DONE ALL THE RESEARCH AND CONTINUE TO GET THE RUNAROUND ON THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE FOR THIS 1995 WINDSTAR. IT'S NOT THE VEHICLE, BUT DEFECTIVE PARTS AND MY FAMILY WAS PUT IN DANGER BY ALL OF US BEING IN THE VAN AND THE HEAD GASKET BLEW....GOOD THING WE WEREN'T TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY YET. WE HAD JUST PULLED FROM THE STOP SIGN ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND BAM....THIS SHOULD BE COVERED AND WE ARE STILL PAYING FOR A HAZARDOUS VEHICLE THAT WE CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX DUE TO FORD'S DEFECTIVE PARTS. THANK YOU!! P.S. I DID CALL IN A COMPLAINT ON THIS AND WAS TOLD I WOULD RECEIVE PAPERWORK TO VERIFY THE INFO, I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANYTHING, THIS INFO IS CORRECT, THANK YOU.*AK

ENGINE HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. VEHICLE WOULD OVERHEAT AND EXPERIENCE LOSS OF COOLANT AND A COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING. DEALER/MANUFACTURER CONTACTED. WAS INFORMED THE ENGINE WOULD BE REPLACED. UPON VERIFICATION OF WARRANTY, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED BUT DEALER AGREED TO PAY HALF THE COST. *JG *AK

MY ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED IN OCTOBER 1999, AND NOVEMBER 2000. I WAS TOLD MY ENTIRE ENGINE WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

VEHICLE RUNS VERY ROUGH, AND THEN OVERHEATS, DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK *SLC

ENGINE BLEWOUT AT 30,000, AND IT WAS REPLACED. ENGINE BLEWOUT AGAIN AT 60,000 DUE TO A LEAK IN TIMING COVER. ALSO HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

HEAD GASKET BLEW AND ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FUTHER INFORMATION.*AK

I'VE HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED/REBUILT 3 TIMES, MEANING THIS IS MY FOURTH TRANSMISSION. TWICE IN 1999 ALONE AND BOTH TIMES SERVICED BY COASTAL FORD. I HAD THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS BLOW, ALSO IN 1999, AND SERVICED BY COASTAL FORD AND I ALSO HAD TO PAY FOR THAT, WHICH WAS OVER $1,400.00. I JUST REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN IN NOV 2001 (FOR MY 4TH TRANSMISSION IN 6 YEARS). I'VE REPLACED THE BRAKE ABS SYSTEM AND HAD THE BRAKES SERVICED REPEATEDLY FOR NEW ROTORS, AND OTHER COMPONANTS (NOT THE USUAL PAD REPLACEMENT). I'VE WRITTEN FORD AND THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP SEVERAL LETTERS OVER THE YEARS AND THEY HAVE NEVER REPLIED TO ME. I HAVE SPENT WELL OVER $12,000.00 IN REPAIRS ON THIS VAN SEVERAL THOUSAND IN RENTAL CAR CHARGES, EVEN WHEN IT WAS A KNOWN FORD RECALL AND FORD WOULD NOT EVEN COVER THE COST OF THE RENTAL. VAN ALWAYS HESITATES AND...

I'VE HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED/REBUILT 3 TIMES, MEANING THIS IS MY FOURTH TRANSMISSION. TWICE IN 1999 ALONE AND BOTH TIMES SERVICED BY COASTAL FORD. I HAD THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS BLOW, ALSO IN 1999, AND SERVICED BY COASTAL FORD AND I ALSO HAD TO PAY FOR THAT, WHICH WAS OVER $1,400.00. I JUST REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN IN NOV 2001 (FOR MY 4TH TRANSMISSION IN 6 YEARS). I'VE REPLACED THE BRAKE ABS SYSTEM AND HAD THE BRAKES SERVICED REPEATEDLY FOR NEW ROTORS, AND OTHER COMPONANTS (NOT THE USUAL PAD REPLACEMENT). I'VE WRITTEN FORD AND THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP SEVERAL LETTERS OVER THE YEARS AND THEY HAVE NEVER REPLIED TO ME. I HAVE SPENT WELL OVER $12,000.00 IN REPAIRS ON THIS VAN SEVERAL THOUSAND IN RENTAL CAR CHARGES, EVEN WHEN IT WAS A KNOWN FORD RECALL AND FORD WOULD NOT EVEN COVER THE COST OF THE RENTAL. VAN ALWAYS HESITATES AND...

THE FORD WINDSTAR EXPERIENCED THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GUAGE FLUCTUATING UP AND DOWN THE SCALE; THE RADIATOR FLUID LEVEL WAS LOW; NEXT BUBBLES WERE NOTED IN THE OVER FLOW RESERVOIR. THE DEALER SAID THE ENGINE GASKETS WERE BAD AND REPLACED TEHM AT A COST $1446.02. NOTHING WAS SAID ABOUT A SAFETY RECALL AT THIS TIME. LESS THAN A MONTH LATER WE RECEIVED IN THE MAIL FROM FORD VEHICLE SERVICE AND PROGRAMS (NO. 00M09). THE LETTER STATED ADDITIONAL WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED FOR HEAD GASKET FAILURE FOR 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES WHICHEVER CAME FIRST. WE HAD 103,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF OUR $1400 REPAIR. THE PROBLEMS STARTED BEFORE THE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY BUT WE COULD NOT AFFORD ANY REPAIRS UNTIL JAN 2000. AGAIN NOTICE OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY CAME IN MARCH 2000. WHY CAN'T FORD STAND BEHIND US ON THIS INSTEAD OF RUNNING FROM US?*AK

TIMING BELT COVERS BECOMES LOOSE AND COOLANT LEAKS OUT WHICH CAN CAUSE HEAD GASKETS TO FALL. CONTACT DEALER, AND DEALER STATED NO RECALL ON TIMING COVERS. *AK *SLC

THIS COMPLAINT IS RELATED HEAD GASKET FAILURES IN THE 1995 FORD WINDSTAR MINIVANS AND 1994/1995 FORD TAURUS SEDANS. *AK

HEAD GASKETS FAILED 8-00, 5-01,9-01 (CRACKED HEAD) 10-01 (CRACKED HEAD) AFTER ONLY 350 MILES. THE DEALER AND FORD REFUSE ANY HELP WITH THE REPAIR. *AK

THE HEAD GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED AND IT IS A RECALL. *AK

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED AT 125,000 DESTROYING THE ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION, CONSUMER STATES IT TOOK SIX WEEKS TO GET A REPLACEMENT ENGINE REBUILT, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING COMPENSATION SINCE FORD HAS A KNOWN HEAD GASKET PROBLEM.*JB

ENGINE GASKET HAS FAILED 4 TIMES. ENGINE MISFIRED DURING ACCELERATION. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (MICHELLE) REFUSED TO ANSWER MY QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS. THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE ON THE HIGHWAY HAD THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *AK

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED ON MY VAN AT 109K MILES AND I STILL OWED $6,000 ON IT ALTHOUGH THE BLUE BOOK VALUE AT THE TIME WAS $8 - 9,000 DEPENDING ON CONDITION. I TOOK THE VAN TO SHARP FORD IN INDIANAPOLIS AND THEY TOLD ME THE REPAIR WOULD BE $3800. THEY GAVE ME $2500 FOR THE VAN AS IS. THAT DAY I PURCHASED A NEW 99 WINDSTAR AND USED THE $2500 FOR A DOWN PAYMENT. I KNOW ALOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. I TALKED TO FORD SEVERAL TIMES TRYING TO GET COMPENSATION FOR THE FAILURE AND WAS TOLD DIFFERENT THINGS INCLUDING THAT THEY WOULD HAVE REINBURSED ME IF I HAD PAID FOR THE REPAIRS. SINCE I BOUGHT THE VAN USED I SUSPECT THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST BLOWN HEAD GASKET FOR THIS VEHICLE. I THINK FORD SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. I LOST $5,500...

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED WITHIN 2000 MILES OF THE EXPIRATION OF AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. FORD REFUSES TO ASSIST IN THE REPAIR OF THIS VEHICLE.

HEADGASKET FAILURE @ 2K MILES OVER EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD. FORD & LOCAL DEALER REFUSED TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE.*AK

IN 1999 I BOUGHT A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR, WHICH I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH EVER SINCE. THE LATEST PROBLEM IS A FAULTY HEAD GASKET. MY VAN CURRENTLY HAS 104,000 MILES ON IT, AND WAS TAKEN TO A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS WHEN IT HAD 88,000 MILES ON IT. I QUESTIONED IF HEAD GASKET WAS BAD, WHICH THEY DENIED AND PREFORMED OTHER REPAIRS. IN AUGUST 2001 I STARTED LOSING ANTIFREEZE AND TOOK THE VAN TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID THE HEAD GASKET WAS BAD. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE WHO SAID THE VAN WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING. I THEN PROCEEDED TO WRITE A LETTER TO JACQUES NASSER THE PRESIDENT AND COPIED SUCH TO VARIOUS OTHER EXECUTIVES. FORD HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKETS BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING. MY VAN SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED WHEN IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY,...

WHILE DRIVING COULD DETECT BURNING SMELL OF ANTI-FREEZE, AND FOUND A LEAK INTO ENGINE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC. WHO INDICATED THAT CONSUMER HAD RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR ENGINE HEAD GASKET THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED.ALSO TIMING BELT WAS LEAKING. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*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

THIS ENGINE GASKET FAILURE OCCURED 10,000 MILE AFTER AN OWNER NOTIFICATION WARNING THAT THIS COULD OCCUR UP TO 100,000 MILES. THIS VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED. THE POTENTIAL FOR FATAL INJURIES IS EXTREMELY HIGH IF A VEHICLE WAS RIDING ON THE HIGHWAY. FORD MOTOR COMPANY LEFT US WITH A $4000.00 REPAIR. IT IS MY HOPE THAT THE OWNER NOTIFICATION IS CHANGED TO A RECALL WHICH INCLUDES FIXING THIS GASKET FOR AS LONG AS THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION.*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

NUMBER 6 CYLINDER ROD BEARING FAILED RESULTING IN NEED TO REPLACE THE CRANKSHAFT ROD BEARINGS AND NUMBER 6 CYLINDER ROD. ACCORDING TO THE FORD MECHANIC THIS WAS PROBABLY DUE TO AN ANTI-FREEZE LEAK (MOST PROBABLY FROM THE HEAD GASKET). THIS OCCURRED 17 MONTHS AFTER WARRANTY HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT BY FORD. CONTACTED FORD AND THEY SAID THE WARRANTY RECALL NO LONGER APPLIED BECAUSE OF THE MILAGE AND AGE OF THE VEHICLE. I ADVISED THAT I ALREADY HAD THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY TO AVOID THIS VERY PROBLEM. THEY CONTACTED ORANGE MOTORS IN ALBANY NY WHO REPLACED THE ORIGINAL HEAD GASKET TO SEE IF THEY WOULD WARRANTY THEIR WORK. THEY WOULD NOT. THIS OCCURRED 1,000 MILES AWAY FROM HOME IN TOMAH WISCONSIN AT NORRIS-VERNIER MOTOR SALES (A FORD DEALER). DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE COST OF THE REPAIR ($2,500) AND THE SIGNIFICANT TIME REQUIRED TO REPAIR, WE LEFT THE VEHICLE, RENTED A...

WE WERE STRANDED ON THE ROAD TWICE IN THIS 1995 WINDSTAR AND BOTH TIMES THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT HAD WE NOT BEEN TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS. THIS HEAD GASKET ISSUE SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND CONSIDERED FOR RECALL SINCE FORD IS USING THEIR SECRET WARRANTY PROGRAM TO ESCAPE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PUTTING UNSAFE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. FORD HAS NOT BEEN FORTHCOMING TO THE NHTSA WITH THE LARGE NUMBER OF AFFECTED VEHICLES THAT ARE STILL ON THE ROAD WITH 3.8 LITER TIMEBOMBS JUST WAITING FOR THE HEAD GASKET TO FAIL. IN THEIR OWN INTERCOMPANY MEMO REGARDING HEAD GASKET REPAIRS FORD ADMITS THEIR MANUFACTURING PROBLEMS BUT LIMITS THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENTS REPAIRS TO JUST THE HEAD GASKET. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE NHTSA SURVEY OWNERS AND FORMER OWNERS OF FORD VEHICLES WITH 3.8 LITER ENGINES, PARTICULARLY THE 1995 WINDSTAR. I THINK YOU WILL FIND MANY PEOPLE WHO...

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAVE BLOWNOUT. ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED OUR 1995 FORD WINDSTAR USED. AFTER 1 WEEK OF OWNING OUR VEHICLE IT BLEW A HEAD GASKET. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE VAN WAS UNDER A RECALL. THIS MADE US RELAX UNTIL WE FOUND THAT FORD HAS DONE LITTLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM THAT THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT FOR SOME TIME. WE ARE PRAYING THAT THEY TRUELY FIX THE PROBLEM INSTEAD OF JUST PUTTING A BANDAID ON IT UNTIL THE RECALL IS OVER. WE HAVE 3 CHILDREN AND CANT AFFORD TO KEEP REPLACING THINGS THAT FORD KNOWINGLY, HAVE DEFECTS. WE OWE $10,000 FOR OUR VAN AND THOUGHT WE WERE GETTING A GOOD BUY AS THE VAN LOOKS PERFECT! MAGAZINES FOR NEW MOTHERS ENDORSE THE FORD WINDSTAR AS BEING A GREAT VAN. I JUST DONT UNDERSTAND HOW FORD COULD KEEP MAKING THIS VAN WITHOUT BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VANS THAT THEY HAVE ALREADY ON THE MARKET...