1995 FORD WINDSTAR Engine And Engine Coolingengine Problems

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE BUT THE CONSUMER WAS DENIED REPAIR BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OVER 100,000 MILES, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SYMPTOMS OF THE RECALL. NLM

FRONT COVER GASKET LEAKED. YH

OIL PAN LEAKED. YH

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

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE MANUFACTURERS RECALL COMPONENT (HEAD GASKET) CONSUMER HAS HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE DUE TO DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. YH

RECENTLY HAD HEAD GASKET FAILURE WHICH RESULTED IN A CRACKED HEAD. FORD REIMBURSED THE BILL FOR THIS REPAIR, BUT NOW THE VEHICLE IS IN A SERVICE PROVIDER WITH A NEW PROBLEM. THEY SAY THAT I HAVE A " BAD OR BLOWN" BEARING WHICH MIGHT REQUIRE A NEW MOTOR COSTING UPWARDS OF $4000.00. I'M TOTALLY DISGUSTED WITH THIS VEHICLE. UNDER 60,000 MILES AND I'VE HAD THE HEAD REPLACED AND NOW I'M TOLD THAT THE MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE? IS FORD AWARE OF THIS NEW PROBLEM AND IF SO ARE THEY GOING TO MAKE GOOD??? PLEASE HELP. DESPERATE

WHEN THE ENGINE SEIZED UP, I TOOK THE VAN TO PHIL LONG FORD. THEY PROCEEDED TO RUN THE DIAGNOSIS AND INFORMED ME THE VAN NEEDED A NEW ENGINE WHICH WOULD COST $3500.00. I DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY FOR THE ENGINE AND WAITED. IN MAY OF 2000 I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON THE HEAD GASKET. TOOK THE CAR TO PHIL LONG IN JULY. ACCORDING TO PHIL LONG, ALL THAT NEEDED REPLACED WAS THE HEAD GASKET. THEY REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET, SPARK SPLUG, CHANGED THE OIL (ANTIFREEZE HAD LEAKED INTO THE OIL), AND THE OIL FILTER. THIS WAS AT THEIR EXPENCE. ALL OF A SUDDEN, NO NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED. TWO MONTHS LATER, TO THE DAY, I LOST ALL THE GEARS EXCEPT LOW. I NEED TO KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION AND WHAT THE WARRANTY IS ON THE TRANSMISSION FOR A 1995 WINDSTAR. IT SEEMS...

NOT CONTACTED AND UNAWARE OF THE RECALL ON 1995 FORD WINDSTAR FOR HEAD GASKET FAILURES.I'VE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY ENGINE FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR NOW.I JUST CROSSED THE 100,000 MILE MARK IN THE PAST 2 MONTH'S, AND THE HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN.I'M NOT SURE WHY THE MANUFACTURER DOES NOT SEND OUT LETTERS TO INFORM THERE CUSTOMERS OF OBVIOUS AND MAJOR DEFECTS TO THERE VEHICLE'S. WHAT IF ANY ACTIONS CAN I TAKE TO OFFSET SOME OF THE COST OF REPAIRING THIS VEHICLE MANUFACTURED DEFECT. THANKYOU

WAS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH HEAD GASKET LEAKING ON 01 JAN 00. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO MECHANIC & INFORMED HEAD CONSUMER THAT GASKET WAS REPAIRED PREVIOUSLY. PROBLEM CAUSED ENGINE TO BE DAMAGED. MECHANIC INDICATED VEHICLE IS DRIVEABLE, BUT ENGINE WAS DYING & HAD OWNER DRIVE OFF LOT. RETURNED VEHICLE & ENGINE WAS REPLACED. NEW ENGINE STARTED TO HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. AIR CONDITIONER DID NOT WORK & DOME LIGHT CAME ON AND OFF.*AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE OVERHEATING AND FAULTY HEAD GASKETS, RECALL WAS ISSUED BY FORD IN REGARDS TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE, CONSUMER WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO EXCEEDING THE MILEAGE REQUIREMENT. *MJS

HEAD GASKET REPAIRED 1 MONTH BEFORE RECALL WAS EXTENDED TO MY MODEL YEAR. NOW FORD WILL NOT HONOR MY RECEIPT FOR REFUND.*AK

BLOWN HEAD GASKETS AT 44K TOLD THEY WOULD BE COVERED BY RECALL. ADDITIONALLY TOLD THAT THE TIMING COVER GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACE BUT NOT COVERED BY RECALL. WHEN I TOLD THEM NOT TO DO THE WORK I WAS WARNED BY THE FORD SERVICE MANAGER THAT I WOULD HAVE SERIOUS DAMAGE THAT WOULD NOT BE COVERED WITHIN 1 MONTH. COST FOR TIMING GASKET COVER WAS TO BE $800 BUT SETTLED AND PAID $400. IT TOOK 3 WEEKS (NOV 1-21, 1999) TO GET THE WORK DONE RIGHT. MARCH 2000 I RECEIVE A LETTER FOR FORD CUSTOMER CREDIT. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT EXPLAIN THE PROGRAM SO WHEN I CALLED AND PROVIDED MY INFO I WAS TOLD THAT SINCE MY $400 PAYMENT WAS NOT FOR THE RECALL (HEAD GASKETS ONLY) THAT I WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE $4000 CREDIT THAT THEY PREVIOUSLY HAD LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT I WAS. I HAVE A NEW...

5548 MILES OVER THE RECALL (HEAD GASKET RECALL) DEALER LOCKED AT IT AND SAID IT WAS OK, 500 MILES LATER THE ENGINE WENT OUT DUE TO THE RECALL.

WITHIN PAST 5 YEARS CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE 3 TIMES DUE TO FAILURE OF HEAD GASKET AND ROD BEARINGS. *AK

HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACE ON 5/10/00. DEALER SAYS NO CORRELATION TO BLOWN ENGINE. TRAVELING OUT OF STATE, WHILE ON VACATION AT 60MPH. LOSS OF POWER. WAS TRAVELING WITH MY MOTHER AND TWO SMALL CHILDREN. STRANDED FOR 3 DAYS, NO CAR. CAR REMIANS IN PA, I IN NY. WILL TAKE 8-12 WEEKS TO REPAIR. FORD IS DOING NOTHING FOR ME. NOT ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS, NO LOANER CAR, NOTHING.

ENGINE FAILURE SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER HEAD GASKET FAILURE. FORD HAS SERIOUS QUALITY PROBLEM THAT IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED

WHILE DRVING ENGINE HEAD GASKET STARTED TO LEAK. WATER WAS GETTING INTO THE OIL. THIS CAUSED VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER. ALSO, TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP, AND IT TOOK TOO LONG TO SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR FROM 1ST GEAR. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & MECHANIC INDICATED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED COMPLETE OVERHAUL. ALSO, WOULD CHECK HEAD GASKET.*AK

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT WE HAVE HAD TO BRING OUR WINDSTAR IN FOR HEAD GASKET FAILURE. FORD IS AWARE OF THE CHRONIC MECHANICAL FAILURES OF THEIR WINDSTARS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL PROBABLY BE THE NEXT THING TO GO. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT MAKING FORD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR FAILURES AND NOT MAKING THE PUBLIC PICK UP THE TAB AS USUAL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.*AK

PISTON WENT THROUGH ENGINE BLOCK SO ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. DEALER & FORD RESPONDED VERBALLY DENYING FAULT, REQUEST FOR VOUCHER OF $4000 FOR NEW CAR, AND/OR REPAYMENT OF REPAIRS. *AK

BLOWN HEAD GASKET ON 95 FORD WINDSTAR. I'VE NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE 3.8 CYLINDER ENGINES. THE FORD DEALER IS TELLING ME THAT ITS TOO LATE TO FIX THE PROBLEM NOW. DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROBLEM?*AK

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT THE SAME TIME THAT THE ENGINE OVERHEATED DUE TO FAULTY HEAD GASKET . I TOOK THE VAN INTO KOONS FOR "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" AND THEY FOUND NOTHING, BUT CHARGED ME $500, LATER, THE ENGINE SEIZED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED; UPON GETTING MY VAN BACK WITH A REBUILT ENGINE, THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND FAILED WITHIN THE WEEK. THE AAMCO DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT A FORWARD CLUTCH THING WAS NOT WORKING, BUT WORSE YET: THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED BECAUSE IT HAD BECOME EXTREMELY HOT; IN FACT, SO HOT THAT ANY INTERNAL COMPONENTS THAT WERE RUBBER OR PLASTIC ACTUALLY MELTED, AND THE GEAR TEETH BECAME SO HOT THAT THEY CHANGED COLOR TO PURPLE-ISH AND CRACKED IN PLACES. YET FORD REFUSES TO ASSOCIATE THE DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION WITH THEIR FAULTY HEAD GASKET. INCIDENTLY, I HAVE BEEN FULLY REIMBURSED FOR THE REBUILT ENGINE, BUT NOT THE...

THE HEAD GASKET BLEW AT 45,000 MILES THE FIRST TIME AND THE HEAD GASKET BLEW AT 78,402 THE SECOND TIME. BOTH TIMES COOLER WAS DETECTED IN THE OIL. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND ENGINE JUST STOPPED/ VEHICLE SHUT DOWN, NO ELECTRICAL POWER. COOLANT AND WATER WAS RUNNING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. HEADGASKET BLEW OUT. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED.*AK

VEHICLE OVERHEATED, AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM PIPE. THEN. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHERE TECHNICIAN SAW THAT PROBLEM WAS A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET.*AK TRANSMISSION FAILED THREE TIMES. GAS TANK FAILED. WINDSHIELD IS DEFECTIVE. AND SIDE DOOR CLAMPS FAILED. *YH

THERE IS A RECALL IN PROCESS FOR THIS, HOWEVER, I WAS TOLD THAT IT ONLY COVERED VEHICLES WITH 100,000 MILES OR LESS ON THEM. THE VAN HAD 96,000 MILES ON IT WHEN WE PURCHASED IT, AND NOW NEITHER FORD NOR WYNN'S WARRANTY ARE GOING TO COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIRS FOR A PROBLEM THAT WAS SO COMMON THAT A RECALL HAD TO BE ISSUED.AK

WHEN VEHICLE IS AT OPERATING TEMPERATURE, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILS TO ENGAGE PROPERLY FROM A STANDING START. SEVERAL SECOND DELAY WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STANDING START. TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. UPON INVESTIGATING IN VARIOUS WEB-SITES APPEARS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. HOPE OTHERS ARE COMPLAINING TOO. TRANSMISSION FLUID IS AT PROPER LEVEL. SUFFERED THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. ENGINE WAS REPLACED IN DECEMBER 1999.*AK

THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SINCE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED. FORD HAS TRIED NUMBEROUS TIMES TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. ENGINE FAILURE OCCURS INTERMITENTLY WHILE MAKING TURNS SOMETIMES GOING DOWN STEEP HILLS LEAVING THE DRIVER WITH NO STEERING AND VERY LITTLE BRAKES. THIS VAN IS DANGEROUS. CLOSE CALLS FROM BEING REARENDED FROM CARS BEHIND YOU WHO DO NOT KNOW THE VAN IS GOING TO LOSE ALL ENGINE POWER.*AK

ON JUNE 27, 2000, I HEARD A TICKING NOISE AND TOOK THE VAN INTO MULLINAX TO HAVE IT CHECKED. THEY DID A THOROUGH CHECK AND INFORMED ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE TIMING COVER GASKET AND COULD BE REPAIRED FOR APPROXIMATELY $900. I WANTED TO HAVE MY OWN MECHANIC CHECK IT OUT. HE LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THAT THE TIMING COVER GASKET WAS NOT LEAKING; HOWEVER THE HEAD GASKET WAS. HE WAS LEAVING FOR VACATION, SO HE COULD NOT WORK ON IT FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. I THEN TOOK IT TO ANOTHER RESPECTED MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD IMMEDIATELY THAT THE TICKING WAS COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THE HEAD GASKET WAS ALSO BAD. HE RECOMMENDED I TAKE IT TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST IMMEDIATELY AND BRING IT BACK TO HIM FOR THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. ON THE WAY TO THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR (JULY 5), THE TRANSMISSION WENT, COMPLETELY NEEDING TO BE...

ENGINE SEIZED AFTER HEAD GASKET FAILURE IN DEC 1998. STENGERS FORD (NOW OUT OF BUSINESS) TOOK IN EXCESS OF ONE MONTH TO REPAIR. THEY ADMITTED THIS WAS THEIR FIRST ATTEMPT TO REPLACE WINDSTAR ENGINE. WITHIN A FEW WEEKS OF RECEIVING WINDSTAR BACK. ALSO, TRANSMISSION FAILED. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED. NLM

HEAD GASKET FAILED. NLM

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND AIR CONDITIONER WAS BLOWING HOT AIR . VEHICLE OVERHEATED ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLOWING OUT. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, CAUSING ANTI-FREEZE TO OVERHEAT.*AK

VEHICLE JUST CUT OFF. CONSUMER HAD TO BE TOLD TO TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALER. DEALER REPLACED MOTOR AND OIL GASKET. THEN, JULY 6 OF 2000 MOTOR WENT OUT AGAIN . TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID THEY HAD TO REPLACE MOTOR AND CRANKSHAFT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH WHEN VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT A WARNING. PROBLEM WAS REOCCURRING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, AND THEY TOLD CONSUMER THAT PROBLEM WAS WITH A TIMING COVER LEAK. *AK *ML

ENGINE HEAD GASKET IS DEFECTIVE

CONSUMER VEHICLE HAD A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE HEAD GASKET. DAMAGE WAS DONE ANTIFREEZE AND OIL MIX UP TOGETHER AND THE HEAD GASKET BLEW. AND THE REAR AND FRONT BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. THE ENGINE CRACKED. *AK

ELECTRICAL BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEM REQUIRED DEALER TO PULL OUT DASH TO REPAIR 8/19/96. LETTER FROM FORD SAYS OUT OF WARRANTY. FAILURE OF AUTO TRANS AT 59,428 IN 11/4/97. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED BY FORD FOR FORWARD CLUTCH PISTONS. FORD REFUSES AGAIN TO COVER.-- MANUFACTURING DEFECT. IN OCT 24, 99 HEAD GASKET FAILURE--REPLACED ENGINE AT 87,376 MILES. FORD ISSUES RECALL LETTER AND WE RECEIVE $3200 FROM FORD JUNE 16, 2000. SECOND TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT AT 89,021. MECHANIC STATES OVERHEATING OF ENGINE AFFECTED THE SECOND TRANSMISSION. DURING TEST DRIVE OF THIRD TRANSMISSION, THE SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONS. THE FORD DEALER REPAIRS PROBLEM. THE TOTAL OF THESE REPAIRS ALONE TOTAL APPROXIMATELY $9500.00! *AK

VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND ROUTINELY SERVICED PER MANUFACTURERS RECOMMENATIONS AND DOES NOT HAVE TOWING CAPABILITY. TRANSMISSION WOULD OCCASIONLY BEHAVE AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A COMPLETE STOP. IT FINALLY LOST ALL DRIVE IN FIRST AND REVERSE GEARS, RESULTING IN A $ 2000 TRANSMISSION REPAIR AT THE DEALER. THE FAULTY PART WAS A CRACKED ALUMINIUM FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON, WHICH IS NOW REPLACED BY A STEEL PART .(I HAVE THE DAMAGED PART.) THE TRANSMISSION TROUBLES STARTED AFTER THE MAIN HEAD GASKETS BLEW AND OVERHEATED THE ENGINE. I HAD TO REPAIR THE HEAD GASKETS MYSELF BECAUSE MY VEHICLE WAS 4 MONTHS BEYOND THE ORIGINAL RECALL NOTICE LIMITATIONS. AFTER I REPAIRED THE HEAD GASKETS WITH THE NEW FORD PARTS, I JUST RECENTLY RECEIVED THE RECALL EXTENSION NOTICE IN THE MAIL APPROX 2 MONTHS AGO. WHAT LOUSEY TIMING.*AK

TIMING GASKET COVER REPLACED AT MY COST ALTHOUGH HEAD GASKET WAS RECALLED.*AK

THE LAST INCIDENT REPORTED DATED 1/07/00 I WAS TOLD A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THE 3.8 LITER ENGINES. COMMONLY SEEN IN THE 95 WINDSTAR AND THE FORD TARAUS. I HAD A COOLENT LEAK AND HAD TO REPLACE THE TIMING COVER, AND GASKET. THIS WAS EXTENSIVE WORK WITH REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE FRONT CRANKSHAFT, OIL SEAL AND NEW TIMING BELT. THIS ALSO DID DAMAGE TO MY WATER PUMP AND I HAD TO HAVE THIS REPLACED ALSO. I HAVE COPIES OF MY INVOICES FOR THE SERVICES COMPLETED AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW TO REPORT THIS TO FORD DIRECTLY. *AK

JUST HAD TIMING COVER GASKET REPLACED BEFORE HOLIDAY VACATION. I BELIEVE REPAIR HAD DIRECT IMPACT ON WHY ENGINE FAILED. ENGINE WAS MORE SLUGGISH AFTER REPAIR. I NOTICED PROBLEMS (LACK OF ACCERATION) GOING UP HILLS AFTER THE REPAIR. THIS VEHICLE'S ENGINE IS DEFINITELY A LEMON. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHERS. I'M HOPING (PRAYING) FORD WILL DO SOMETHING. NHTSA SHOULD FORCE FORD TO COVER THEIR MISTAKES ON THIS MODEL AND YEAR.*AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED 1/00. ENGINE KNOCK STARTED 5/00. DEALER AND FORD REFUSED PAYMENT OR ASSISTANCE. *AK

WHERE'S FORD'S ACCOUNTABILITY? I'VE CHANGED A GASKET IN THE MOTOR 2 WEEKS AGO AND NOW THAT $801 REPAIR WILL BE THROWN OUT WHEN THE MOTOR IS REPLACED. FORD BUILT TOUGH & TO LAST HAS NOW DIED AT 99001 MILES. I THINK FORD SHOULD PAY FOR A NEW MOTOR AND REIMBURSE ME $801 FOR A USELESS GASKET., PLUS $450.50 FOR A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND HOSE THAT GOT BLOWN BEC. OF IT. *AK

WE PURCHASED THIS USED 1995 WINDSTAR AND A BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY IN APRIL 2000, AND OUR FIRST MINI VACATION TO BOULDER CITY, THE ENGINE FAILED IN THE CITY OF BARSTOW CALIFORNIA. WE HAD SEVEN PASSENGERS IN THE VAN AT THE TIME, AND HAD TO DRIVE TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER IN BARSTOW TO FIND OUT THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN. WE THEN HAD TO RENT A MINI VAN, AND WAS TOLD MY WINDSTAR WOULD BE FIXED IN ABOUT A WEEK. AFTER TWO WEEKS AND A RENTAL CHARGE OF $1058.00 THE VAN WAS NOT REPAIRED. WE THEN CONTACTED THE DEALER WHERE WE HAD PURCHASED THE MINI VAN KEN GRODY IN THE CITY OF BUENA PARK, THEY HAD PICKED UP OUR VAN FROM THE BARSTOW FORD DEALER ON MAY 3, 2000 AND WAS PROMISED THEY WOULD INSTALL A NEW ENGINE WITHIN A FEW WEEKS. NOW IT IS JUNE 8, 2000 AND TODAY...

OVERDRIVE LIGHT BLINKING, WE BROUGHT VEHICLE TO FORD DEALERSHIP. THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1500-$2100 (2 QUOTES FROM 2 DIFFERENT FORD DEALERSHIPS). TOLD US THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS ONLY COVERED UP TO 75K UNDER SPECIAL WARRANTY, WE HAD 80K. WE CHOOSE TO LET THE VEHICLE SIT IN THE DRIVEWAY. A WEEK LATER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO ANOTHER FORD DEALER, TOLD US THE HEAD GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED AGAIN (WE REPAIRED IT LAST YEAR). FORD WON'T LET US USE THE BUY-BACK OPTION AS STATED IN THE MARCH 2000 LETTER TO WINDSTAR OWNERS WHO HAVE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. THE DEALERSHIP AND A FORD MOTOR CORP CUSTOMER SERVICE REP SAID THAT ONCE WE ACCEPTED THE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE FIRST HEAD GASKET REPAIR, SUBSEQUENT HEAD GASKET FAILURES COULD ONLY BE REPAIRED, THE BUY-BACK OPTION WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE LETTER FROM FORD DOES NOT...

I WOULD INTERMITTENTLY SMELL COOLANT WHEN MY '95 WINDSTAR WAS STOPPED AND WARM. I BROUGHT IT INTO TO THE DEALER TO CHECK OUT BECAUSE I WAS AWARE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY ISSUES WITH HEAD GASKET FAILURES ON THE WINDSTAR (EVEN THOUGH I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED BY FORD MOTOR CO THAT THERE WAS ANY KIND OF "EXTENDED WARRANTY" OR RECALL ON THE HEAD GASKET). END RESULT WAS THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS NOT LEAKING, BUT THE TIMING COVER GASKET WAS. BECAUSE I WAS AWARE THERE WAS THE POTENTIAL FOR THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE, I HAD THE DEALER REPLACE BOTH THE HEAD GASKET AND THE TIMING COVER GASKET. THE HEAD GASKET REPAIR WAS COVERED UNDER THE "EXTENDED WARRANTY" BY FORD, HOWEVER THE TIMING COVER GASKET WAS NOT. AFTER LOOKING INTO THIS SERVICE ISSUE FURTHER, I REALIZE THAT THE TIMING COVER GASKET FAILURE IS ALSO A VERY COMMON REPAIR IN CONJUNCTION WITH...

HEAD GASKET DEFECT. *AK

WAS DRIVING TO BALL GAME AND VAN LOST POWER AND STARTED TO MAKE CLICKING MOTOR NOISE. SHUT OFF ENGINE AND RE- STARTED . THE ENGINE KEEP MAKING NOISE. DROVE HOME AT A VERY SLOW PACE. THIS REDUCED NOISE FROM MOTOR . HAD IT TOWED TO GARAGE, WHO INFORMED ME I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AT A COST OF ABOUT $3,400.00. THEY THOUGHT THE MAIN BEARINGS WHERE BAD BUT WOULD HAVE TO TEAR IT DOWN TO FIND OUT FOR SURE. HAD VAN TOWED HOME. WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE VAN TO GO TRADE IT IN. PAID A GUY $300.00 TO PUT LOWER BEARINGS IN SO I COULD DRIVE IT. LOST $2500.00 ON TRADE IN FOR BAD ENGINE. TOTAL LOST WAS $2,990.00 FOR TOWING ,WORK PERFORMED AND LOST TRADE -IN VALUE. A FRIEND OF MINE HAD SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS 95 WINDSTAR FORD. HE TOOK HIS TO FORD DEALER AND GOT RELIEF. WE...

VEHICLE FAILED ON THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE AT SOMERSET, PA. VEHICLE TOWED TO BEDFORD FORD DEALERSHIP LOCATED IN BEDFORD, PA. SERVICE MANAGER (PAUL WEISS) ADMITTED THAT ENGINE HEAD GASKET ON 3.8 LITER FORD ENGINES ARE NOTORIOUS FOR EARLY FAILURE. SERVICE MANAGER REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY FINANCIAL RELIEF. SERVICE MANAGER REFUSED TO PROVIDE NAME OR CONTACT POINT OF FORD DISTRICT SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE. THE FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE 800-NUMBER IS NOT AUTHORIZED TO PROVIDE ANY FINANCIAL RELIEF...THEY CAN ONLY RECORD AN INDIVIDUAL OWNER'S COMPLAINT. DOES NHTSA HAVE ANY AUTHORITY TO COMPEL FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A SUBSTANDARD DEFECTIVE ENGINE COMPONENT AND REIMBURSE THE OWNER FOR A PREMATURE HEAD GASKET *AK