1995 FORD WINDSTAR Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline Problems

ROUGH ENGINE, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON. HEAD GASKET LEAKING ONTO #4 PLUG AND CYLINDER. *AK

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WE HAVE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION TWICE. THE FIRST TIME AT 72,000 MILES AND THEN AGAIN AT 94,000 MILES. THE BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, TIE RODS, REAR WHELL CYLINDERS, FRONT DRIVE AXLE HAVE ALSO BEEN REPLACED. THE PADS 4 TIMES AND THE ROTORS TWICE, GROUND DOWN IN BETWEEN. NOW THE HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN AND POSSIBLE CAUSED ENOUGH DAMAGE TO WARRANT REPLACING THE WHOLE ENGINE.

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ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO FAILED CAM SHAFT BEARING. HEAD GASKET HAD BEEN REPLACED 6 MONTH PRIOR DUE TO LEAKAGE. FORD DEALERSHIP MAKING REPAIR COULD NOT OBTAIN THE CAM SHART REPLACEMENT KIT BECAUSE "DEMAND HAD EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS". WE HAD TO BUY A SHORT BLOCK. OTHER PROBLEMS: BRAKES PUMPING - NEED NEW ROTORS SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER GETTING NEW PADS. ANOTHER PROBLEM - INTERIOR LIGHTS THAT WILL NOT GO OFF HAVE REQUIRED REPAIR TWO TIME.

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WE PURCHASED OUR FORD WINDSTAR MINIVAN IN JANUARY 1997, WITH NEARLY 25,000 MILES ON IT. THE SAFETY REPORTS (ESPECIALLY ONE SEEN ON DATELINE NBC) INDICATED THAT THE FORD WINDSTAR WAS SUPERIOR TO OTHER VEHICLES OF ITS TYPE IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, AND THIS STRONGLY INFLUENCED OUR DECISION TO BUY.

FORD ISSUED A LETTER TO OWNERS DATED JUNE 1998 AND THEY ACKOWLEDGED THE FAILURE AND OFFERED TO INCREASE THE WARRANTY TO 5 YEARS OR 60,000 MILES. THEY NOW DO NOT CONSENT TO TAKING THE 5 YEAR PORTION AFTER THEY HAVE ADMITTED THE PROBLEM WAS THE FAILURE OF A HEAD GASKET. I HAVE TO PAY $5,000 TO REPAIR THE ENGINE AND ON THE INTERNET I HAVE NOTICED MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM AND EVEN CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS BEING INITIATED BY SEVERAL ATTORNEYS.

VEHICLE IS ONE OF MANY 1995 WINDSTARS TO BLOW A HEAD GASKET WITHOUT OWNER NEGLECT AND HAVE ITS TRANSMISSION FAIL WITHOUT OWNER NEGLECT OR OVERUSE.

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THE ENGINE FROZE UP. THIS WAS DUE TO THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM THAT THIS 3.8L V6 ENGINE IS KNOWN FOR. THE ONLY INDICATION WE HAD WAS ERRATIC READINGS OF THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE. IT WOULD CLIMB TO THE UPPER RANGE BUT THEN DROP IMMEDIATELY. THERE WAS NO WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAILPIPE. I PLANNED ON TAKING IT TO MY MECHANIC TO CHECK IT OUT EXCEPT THAT THE ENGINE LOCKED UP. MY MECHANIC SAID THE HEAD GASKET MUST HAVE BEEN BLOWN AND ANTIFREEZE WAS MIXING IN THE OIL. HE SAID THAT WITH THIS ENGINE ONE TIME OF OVERHEATING CAN CAUSE THE HEADGASKET TO BLOW. THE ENTIRE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. AFTER SOME RESEARCH IT APPEARS FORD IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THEIR SOLUTION WAS TO EXTEND THE WARRENTY TO 60000 MILES BUT NOT TELL ANYONE ABOUT IT. DOESN'T HELP ME ANYWAY. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MECHANICAL DEFECT WITH THE...

HEAD GASKET BLEW WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING, EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE HAD BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED

IN MARCH 1999 THE HEAD GASKET FAILED ON MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR.THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT 75000 MILES WHICH WAS BEYOND FORD'S EXTENDED WARRENTY FOR THIS DEFECT BY 15000 MILES AS WELL AS BEING BEYOND THE DEC.1998 CUTOFF DATE.WHEN WE CONTACTED FORD'S CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPARTMENT WE WERE TOLD THIS WAS "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR" SO WE HAD TO EAT THE $1000 REPAIR BILL.IN MAY 1999,ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK AFTER MIDNIGHT THE LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING INDICATOR CAME ON.THE UPSOT OF THIS WAS A COMPLETE ENGINE REBUILD AGAIN AT MY EXPENSE;$2800.00.LAST MONDAY,OCTOBER 4,1999 ON THE WAY BACK TO LOUISVILLE,KY.FROM WAYMART,PA. IN MARYLAND THE TRANSAXLE GAVE OUT 600 MILES FROM HOME.REPAIR BILL FOR THIS,$1800.00.THE SAFETY ISSUE IN ALL OF THIS?ANYTIME YOU ARE STRANDED ALONG THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE AWAY FROM HOME AFTER DARK YOUR SAFETY IS IN JEAPORDY.

THE BLOWN HEAD GASKET IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE 3.8L ENGINE. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. IF YOU NEED NUMBERS, THEY ARE OUT THERE.

HEAD GASKET BLEW CAUSING A LOT OF STRONG SMELLING, WHITE SMOKE TO COME FROM UNDER THE CAR AND OUT OF THE EXHAUST. MY WIFE HAD FOUR CHILDREN IN THE VAN AT THE TIME. SHE STOPPED THE CAR AND GOT ALL THE CHILDREN OUT OF THE VAN - THINKING IT MIGHT BLOW UP. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER AND FOUND OUT THE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN REQUIRING $1,400 TO $2,500 IN REPAIRS (DEPENDING ON THE SEVERITY). WE CHOSE TO HAVE JUST THE GASKET REPLACED BUT WILL PROBABLY NEED TO HAVE LOWER ENGINE WORK DOWN IN A FEW MONTHS FOR ANOTHER $1,000 OR SO.

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HIGH TEMPERATURE INDICATION DURING DILEING AND 0-15MPH. TOOK TO LOCAL FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT I HAVE A BAD HEAD GASKET THAT WILL REQUIRE ME TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE DEALER TOLD ME COOLANT HAS LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE AND CRANKCASE AND THAT REPLACING THE ENGINE IS THE BEST ALTERNATIVE. REPLACING THE HEAD GASKET WOULD BE A TEMPORARY FIX AS THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED A LOT OF FAILURES WITH THIS ENGINE BEFORE .

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BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THIS WAS A PROPERLY MAINTAINED ENGINE AND THERE WAS NO WARNING OF ANY PROBLEM. I AM FACED WITH BUYING A NEW LONG BLOCK AT A COST OF $4700. FROM FORD.

TIMING COVER GASKET & SEAL FAILURE AND CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS FAILURE AT 48,834 MILES. SYMPTOMS WERE HESITATION/JERKING WHEN ACCELERATING & COOLANT LOSS. BOTH FAILURE SYMPTOMS BEGAN AT THE SAME TIME, INCREASING IN FREQUENCY FOR 1-2 WEEKS UNTIL "ENGINE WARNING LIGHT" CAME ON. VEHICLE WAS IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, INCLUDING COOLING SYSTEM FLUSH/COOLANT REPLACEMENT ABOUT 2 MONTHS PRIOR TO FAILURE, & NO PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED AT THAT TIME. DEALER COVERED COST OF CYLINDER HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT, BUT DID NOT COVER TIMING COVER GASKET & SEAL REPLACEMENT($708.61). APPEALED TO CORPORATE LEVEL, ASKING IF THE COOLANT LEAKAGE MIGHT BE THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE KNOWN CYLINDER HEAD GASKET PROBLEM, BUT THEY REFUSED REIMBURSEMENT, SAYING BOTH FAILURES WERE INDEPENDENT. I FIND IT ODDLY COINCIDENTAL & HARD TO BELIEVE THAT BOTH PROBLEMS INITIATED AT THE SAME TIME, BUT ARE UNRELATED.

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED AND THEREFORE THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED. FORD STATED THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW AND THEY EXTENDED THEIR WARRANTY FROM 50,000 MI. TO 60,000 MI. THE ONLY PROBLEM OUR VAN HAD 63902 MI. IT WAS GIONG TO COST US $4000 BUT AFTER PRESSING THE ISSUE FORD AGREED TO PAY $3500. SINCE THEN I HAVE FOUND 7 OTHER SIMILAR CASES OF HEAD GASKET FAILURE AT ABOOUT THE SAME MILEAGE IN THE GREATER DAYTON AREA.

HEAD GASKETS BAD - THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WHICH FORD HAS ALREADY ADMITTED IS A DESIGN FLAW. THEY REPAIRED CARS WITH UNDER 60K MILES (WHICH OWNERS SELF-DIAGNOSED) FREE. THE PROBLEM IS THAT MOST OWNERS CAN'T TELL THEY HAVE THE PROBLEM UNTIL AFTER 60K MILES. THE SYMPTOMS ARE OFTEN SUBTLE, AND DON'T IMMEDIATELY POINT TO HEAD GASKETS AS THEIR CAUSE. FORD OBVIOUSLY SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THESE VEHICLES FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR AS NEEDED. INSTEAD THEY DECIDED TO ONLY DEAL WITH THE FEW OWNERS WHO MANAGED TO FIGURE OUT ON THEIR OWN THAT THE HEAD GASKETS WERE THE PROBLEM. MY CAR DIDN'T SHOW SYMPTOMS UNTIL IT HAD BEEN DRIVEN OVER AN HOUR (SOMETIMES SEVERAL) ON LONG TRIPS - AN INFREQUENT OCCURANCE. THEREFORE I COULDN'T HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE PROBLEM UNTIL I DROVE IT ON ENOUGH LONG TRIPS TO SEE THE SYMPTOMS. MAKE FORD PAY FOR THEIR MISTAKES!

HEAD GASKET FAILURES - 3 TIMES @ 54,000, @65,000, @74,000 MILES

HEAD GASKET FAILED, MISFIRE ONE CYLINDER DRAINING COOLANT, NO SMOKE THOUGH. 98M01 EXPIRED. NOW WHAT?

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I HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY DISSATISFIED WITH THE QUALITY OF MY FORD WINDSTAR. WITH THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR I WILL HAVE INVESTED CLOSE TO $4000 IN THE VAN. I HAVE SURPRISED AND OUTRAGED BY WHAT I HAVE FOUND. I HAVE SEARCHED THE WEB AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE ONES THAT HAVE CALLED HAVE GOTTEN THE SAME ANSWER I HAVE "SORRY, WE CAN'T HELP THAT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY." I HAVE FOUND THAT I AM NOT ALONE AND I AM HOPING THE GOVERNMENT WILL STEP AND MAKE FORD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. QUALITY IS JOB 1 WHAT A CROCK!

THIS VAN HAS COST ALOT OF MONEY TO KEEP UP AND I WAS TOLD THESE THINGS WHERE PROBLEMS THEY HAD BY A MECHANIC.

I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR LOOKING INTO ALL OF THE DEFECTS CONCERNING THE 95 WINDSTAR. FORD IS TAKING NO RESPONSIBILITY AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A HUGE PROBLEM CONSIDERING ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT I AM FINDING OUT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT INVOLVED, BREAKING DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, OR HAVING YOUR ENGINE DIE WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE! I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE ANY HELP THAT YOU COULD GIVE TO ME AND ALL FORD WINDSTAR OWNERS! THANK YOU!

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FAN CONTROL MODULE AND RADIATOR FAN MOTOR BURNED OUT. REBUILT ENGINE AND HUGO SENSORS. FREQUENT STALLING. REAR WIPER MOTOR, WATER PUMP, STARTER AND FUEL PUMP REPLACED.

ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AT BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR FLUID. REPLACED STARTER. ENGINE OVERHEATED--REPLACED RIGHT CYLINDERHEAD, SPARK PLUGS, COOLANT, FILTER, THERMOSTAT. ENGINE IDLES ROUGH.

OUR 95 FORD WINDSTAR HAS IT'S 3RD ENGINE, BECAUSE OF HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS, WE PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND 11 DAYS AFTER IT EXPIRED THE ENGINE WENT OUT WE ARE NOW IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO GET FORD TO COVER THE ENTIRE COST, WHICH THEY ARE FIGHTING, WE FEEL THIS IS A RE-ACCURING PROBLEM WHICH THEY SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR FAULTY PRODUCT. WE EXPECT A BRAND NEW VEHICLE TO LAST MUCH LONGER THAN THIS A FOUR YEAR OLD VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE ON IT'S 3RD ENGINE. WE HAVE BEEN LOYAL FORD CUSTOMERS, BUT FEEL WE HAVE A LEMON WITH THIS VEHICLE.

HAVE DISCOVERED AT LEAST 200 OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THESE FAILURES THAT HAVE CAUSED TRANSMISSION AND FULL ENGINE FAILURES WITHOUT ANY HELP FROM FORD .FORD HAS ATTMITTED THHAT THIS IS A PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO HELP OR INSSTIGATE A RECALL. THANKS.

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BRAKES WOULD MAKE LOUD NOISES. ALSO, ENGINE HAD DIED OUT. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. INFORMED BRAKES NEEDED REPLACING DUE TO BEING WORN OUT. HAD PUT VEHICLE ON DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE & NO CODE CAME UP. *AK

THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT IN THE FORD 3.8 ENGINE WHICH BASED ON MTBF DATA OCCURS IN THIS ENGINE AFTER 70,000 MILES.. THE FORD NOTICE TO CUSTOMERS DELIBERATELY SET 60,000 AS THE MILAGE LIMIT TO PRECLUDE THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING TO REALISTICALLY ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. THE LETTER WAS ESSENTIALLY OFFERING SMOKE AND MIRRORS AND HAD NO REAL VALUE SINCE IT IS COMMON KNOWLEDGE IN THE AUTO REPAIR COMMUNITY THAT THE PROBLEM DOES NOT TYPICALLY OCCUR UNTIL AFTER 75,000. THE LETTER WAS A SCAM.

ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION FAILURES SEEM VERY HIGH FOR 95 WINDSTAR VANS. INTERNET SITES ARE FILLED WITH STORIES SIMILAR TO MINE. BOTH THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE FAILURES ARE SAFETY ISSUES SINCE THEY MAY OCCUR AT SPEED ON BUSY STREETS OR THE INTERSTATE. I BELIEVE THAT THE NUMBER OF FAILURES INDICATES SOME DESIGN FLAW IN THESE COMPONENTS.

HEAD GASKET BLEW, COOLING FLUID (ANTI-FREEZE) LEAKED DOWN INTO THE OIL GALLEY AND CONTAMINATED THE ENGINE OIL AND RESULTED IN DESTROYING THE BEARINGS (ROD,MAIN & CAMSHAFT), CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BE REBUILT. *YC

SINCE MILEAGE DID NOT FIT WITHIN RECALL NOTICE, NO ASSISTANCE GIVEN ON ENGINE FAILURE, AND NO INFORMATION ABOUT RECALL MENTIONED; ENDED UP HAVING ENGINE REMANUFACTURED AT LOCAL MACHINE SHOP FOR LESS COST AND WITH BETTER WARRANTY

THERE IS NOT AMPLE SPACE TO DESCRIBE THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE HAD WITH THIS VEHICLE. THIS WINDSTAR HAS BEEN WELL CARED FOR BY US, WITH ALL THE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE TIMELY DONE. WE HAVE ALSO TAKEN OUR VAN TO ONLY FORD DEALERS FOR SERVICE. ON ALL OCCASIONS BEFOR MAJOR BREAKDOWNS OR REPAIR JOBS, WE HAVE TAKEN OUR CAR IN FOR COMPLAINTS OF NOISES OR PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS THAT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO LOCATE. WE BELIEVE THAT THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM DID SEVERE DAMAGE TO OUR VEHICLE WHICH RESULTED IN THE LATER PROBLEMS, MOST SIGNIFICANTLY THE TIMING CHAIN COVER AND ENGINE FAILURE. WE BELIEVE FORD WAS AWARE OF THIS AND DID NOTHING TO COMPENSATE US EXCEPT FOR THE REFUND FOR REPAIRS ON THE HEAD GASKET. FORD HAD A RECALL ON THE HEAD GASKET ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER WE INCURRED THE EXPENSE, AND THEIR CHECK DID NOT COVER ALL OUR EXPENSES...

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RECEIVED LETTER NOTIFYING OF PROBLEM LAST YEAR BUT PROBLEM DID NOT SHOW UNTIL 7/99, AFTER EXPIRATION OF EXTENDED WARRANTY.

CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD AT 60000 MILES W/ REGULAR OIL CHANGES

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NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

TRANSMISSION: SUDDEN DOWNSHIFTING WITH DRAMATIC LOSS OF SPEED; FOLLOWED BY UPSHIFTING AND SPEED SURGE. ENGINE: COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE AFTER DEALER HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT, RESULTING IN SUDDEN LOSS OF SPEED AND MANEUVERABILITY. SIMILAR EXPERIENCES FREQUENTLY REPORTED IN VARIOUS PUBLIC FORUMS BY MANY OWNERS OF THE SAME ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION MODELS.