1996 FORD WINDSTAR Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

BLOWS HEADGASKET EVERY35000 MILES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR GL (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE WAITING A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DIED AND THE ENGINE ENGULFED INTO FLAMES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS WERE CALLED BUT NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

I WENT TO GO TO THE STORE MAY 26TH, 2010 6:30 - 7:00 PM, I GOT IN MY VEHICLE WITH MY TWO YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND I PROCEEDED TO GO DOWN MY DRIVEWAY WHICH ITS A LONG DRIVEWAY AND I STARTED TO SMELL A FAINT SMELL OF PLASTIC BURNING AND I GOT TO THE ROAD AND I STARTED TO GO AND I DECIDED I SHOULD MAYBE PULL OVER TO SEE IF I COULD SEE ANYTHING ON THE OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE CAUSING SMELL THEN WHEN GOT BACK IN CAR SAW THE STEAM COMING FROM HOOD AND I DECIDED TO TURN AROUND AND HAVE MY BOYFRIEND TAKE A LOOK BEFORE I LEFT. WHEN GOT TO HOUSE SAW LITTLE STEAM BUT NOTHING BIG, TURNED OFF VAN AND GOT MY DAUGHTER FROM CAR SEAT AND WALKED INSIDE HOME NOT BUT 5 MINUTES LATER MY OTHER DAUGHTER RAN SCREAMING OUT HER ROOM, MOM THE VANS...

MY 1996 FORD WINDSTAR CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE DRIVING AND BURNED UP WITHIN 10 MINUTES. I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE FIRE DANGER RECALL UNTIL I HEARD ABOUT IT ON THE NEW A FEW DAYS AFTER THE EVENT. THE ONLY ACCESSORY THAT WAS ON WAS THE AIRCONDITIONING WHICH WAS WORKING PROPERLY. I NOTICED A SMELL FOLLOWED BY SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I PULLED OVER TO INVESTIGATE AND THE SMOKE INTENSIFIED FOLLOWED BY FLAMES. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED (5 MINUTES) FLAMES WERE POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THICK BLACK SMOKE HAD FILLED THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE HAD COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE ENGINE AND HAD BEGUN TO BURN INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE DASHBOARD HAS MELTED ALONG WITH PARTS OF THE ROOF AS FAR BACK AS THE MIDDLE SEATS. UP TO THE EVENT THE CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING NORMALLY WITH NO PROBLEMS. I...

I HAVE A 3.8 ENGINE THAT HAS HAD TO HAVE HEADS REPAIRED/REPLACED 3 TIMES. THE LAST TIME THE ENGINE NOW REQUIRES REPLACING, IT HAS BEEN AT GARAGE FOR 2 YEARS. DUE TO COST INVOLVED IT IS NOT COST EFFECTIVE RO REPAIR. IT HAS OVERHEATED IN ALL CASES AND THE SECOND TIME IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A FAULTY FORD WATER PUMP MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSE. I HAVE NOTIFIED FORD AND DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES WITHOUT RESPONSE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE DIED AT 21,000 MILES. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THE ENGINE SHOULD NOT HAVE DIED AT 21000 MILES. THERE WERE NO FAILURES THAT LEAD TO THIS INCIDENT. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED.

1996 FORD WINDSTAR HEAD GASKET FAILURE LEADING TO COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. THERE WAS NO PRIOR INDICATION. AFTER THE VAN SAT FOR ONE WEEK WE STARTED IT AND THE HEADGASKET BLEW ALLOWING COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE.

I PURCHASED A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR AND FIVE DAYS LATER FOUND OUT THAT IT HAD A BAD ENGINE (BLOWN HEAD GASKET). IT LEFT MYSELF AND 6 CHILDREN STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.*AK

FORD WINDSTAR WITH A 3.8 L V-8 BLEW THE HEAD GASKET AT 75,000 MILES. THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT THE TIME.*AK

I ALSO HAVE A 1996 WINDSTAR WILL ALL OF THE MENTIONED HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS.VAN SITS IN REAR, AM CURRENTLY DRIVING TOYOTA WITH 200+ I PULLED FROM BACK YARD AFTER BEING STAGNENT FOR 3 YEARS. NO MONEY TO REPAIR,CAUSING HARDSHIP IN FAMILY.I BELIEVE TO BE FORDS PROBLEM BUT DOESNT LOOK LIKE THEY ARE GOING TO ADMIT AS A TROUBLE, WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER AND WILL NOT SUPPORT 6 FAMILY MEMBERS WHEN THEY LOSE THEIR JOBS DO TO THIS PROBLEM. MY VAN WAS ALSO MANUFACTURED IN CANADA 12/96 AND VIN SEEMS TO BE IN SEQUENCE WITH OTHERS. VAN JUST TURNED 100,000 A WEEK AGO.*AK

1996 FORD WINDSTAR, MISFIRED UNDER NORMAL HIGHWAY DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. THIS IS INDICATIVE OF A MISFIRE ACCORDING TO THE OWNERS MANUAL. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM TO THE 1996 MODEL. THE COMPUTER WILL SAY THE ENGINE IS MISFIRE IN CYLINDER X WHEN IT IS ACTUALLY A MISFIRE IN CYLINDER Y. HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS ANYTHING FROM A FAULTY SPARK PLUG TO A BLOWN PISTON RING, CAUSING A LOSS OF COMPRESSION IN A CYLINDER. SEEMS TO BE A VERY VERY VERY COMMON PROBLEM AMONG 1996 WINDSTARS. *AK

THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING ANTI FREEZE TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE. ALSO, THERE WAS A STRONG ANTI FREEZE ODOR COMING INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. *AK FORD CHANGED THE GASKET AND SINCE THAT TIME A BLOWN HEAD GASKET HAVE BEEN A MAJOR FAILURE. *SC

1996 FORD WINDSTAR WITH HEADGASKET PROBLEM. I HAVE CONTACTED FORS, BUT THEY SAY THERE IS NO RECORD OF THE 1996 ENGINES HAVING PREMATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. MY WINDSTAR, BOUGHT NEW HAS 68,000 MILES. I HAVE BEEN SMELLING ANTIFREEZE FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS, BUT IT HAS NOW GOTTEN MUCH WORSE. BROUGHT CAR TO MECHANINC DUE TO ENGINE MISFIRING, ONE OF THE SYSMPTOMS LISTED FOR THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. THE REAPIAR WILL COST OVER $2,000.*AK

VEHICLE HAS BEEN LOOSING COOLANT FOR MANY YEARS. *LA THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE BUT ENDED UP HAVING MAJOR REPAIRS. APPROXIMATELY EIGHT MONTHS AFTER THE REPAIR, THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY TWO DEALERS THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A SHORT BLOCK INSTALLED. THERE WAS ALSO NOISE IN THE STEERING AND A COOLANT LEAK. THE INTAKE UPPER AND LOWER MANIFOLD GASKETS WERE ALSO REPLACED. *SC *JB

VEHICLE HAD CONSTANT ENGINE PROBLEMS ALONG WITH OTHER PROBLEMS THAT SURFACED AND ENDED ITS LIFE CYCLE. *LA THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED COOLANT LEAKS, HARD STARTING, ELECTRICAL NOISES, RADIO NOISES, VIBRATION UPON ACCELERATION ALONG WITH THUMPING NOISES, ERRATIC DASH LIGHT ILLUMINATION, INTERMITTENT DOOR AJAR LIGHT, BEARING NOISE AND THE ENGINE BLEW OUT PREMATURELY. *SC *JB FROM A NORMAL SITTING POSITION THE CONSUMER COULD NOT SEE THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. IT WASN'T UNTIL HE DROPPED SOMETHING ON THE FLOOR AND LOOKED UP THAT HE SAW THE LIGHT ON. *NM

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN/STOPPED, AND THEN STALLED. CONSUMER COULD NOT TRAVEL WHERE THERE WERE ANY INCLINES OR HILLS. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO SEVERAL MECHANICS, AND HAD VEHICLE ON DIAGNOSTIC MACHINES, AND NO ONE COULD REPAIR IT. *AK

1996 FORD WINDSTAR WITH PREMATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURE.

HEAD GASKET FAILURE. TOOK CAR TO DEALER, GOLF MILL FORD IN AUGUST. THEY MISDIAGNOSED PROBLEM AND CHARGED ME $1300. A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND TOOK IT BACK. HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED ANOTHER $1400. HAVE WRITTEN NUMEROUS LETTERS TO FORD AND DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE DENYING LIABILITY OR COMPENSATION. I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN ON A LIMITED INCOME, HAVE ALWAYS OWNED FORDS AND AM APPALLED BY THEIR TREATMENT. INTEND TO TAKE THEM TO SMALL CLAIMS COURT

HEAD GASKET FAILURE.

MISFIRING AND LOSING COOLANT. AM SURE IT IS A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. FATHER-IN-LAW CURRENTLY IN DISPUTE WITH FORD FOR SAME MODEL/YEAR AND THEY WON'T REIMBURSE HIM. MAY ATTEMPT REPAIR MYSELF IF FORD UNWILLING TO RECALL OR PUT RIGHT. ALSO, SPEEDOMETER FAILURE INTERMITTENT OR INCORRECT READING.

12-15-97 AT 21,145 MILES I REPORTED NOTICING THE COOLANT LEVEL ALWAYS BEING LOW. NO LEAK WAS FOUND AND I WAS TOLD THERE MUST BE A LEAK SOMEWHERE IN THE RADIATOR. 12-27-99 AT 56,526 MILES I BEGAN HAVING A "COLD START" PROBLEM. IT ACTED LIKE IT WAS NOT GETTING FUEL. 12-1200 AT 74,306 MILES I HAD THE SAME "COLD START" PROBLEM AND THE FUEL FILTER WAS REPACED. 12-22-00 AT 74,930 A NEW THERMOSTAT & GASKET. 12-29-00 AT 75,113 A FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. 03-02-01 AT 77,569 MILES A NEW FUEL PUMP RELAY(CCRM), FUEL PUMP AND PVC VALVE. 09-11-01 AT 87,907 MILES A MULT-FUNCTION SWITCH. 01-31-02 AT 95,069 MILES A SECOND CCRM RELAY. 03-06-02 AT 99,348 MILES ON AN 80 DEGREE DAY "NO START" SAME SYMPTOMS AS "COLD START" PROBLEM. INSTEAD OF NOT GETTING FUEL IT IS SUSPECTED IT IS FLOODING. 4-23-02 AT 99,348 MILES COLD START PROBLEM, FUEL INJECTORS CLEANED. 05-30-02 AT...

THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED! THE 1996 WINDSTAR 3.8 LITRE V-6 ENGINE HAS HEAD GASKET LEAKS. I AM NOT DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNTIL FORD AGREES TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. FORD DID PAY FOR REPAIRS TO '94 & '95 WINDSTAR OWNERS, BUT HAS NOT AND WILL NOT PAY FOR THE '96 MODELS. THE VEHICLE EMITS CLOUDS OF WHITE SMOKE AND CONSUMES ANTIFREEZE. THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL, BUT STATES THAT FORD WILL REJECT CLAIMS ON IT.

I HAD SYMPTOMS OF WATER IN THE EXHAUST, ROUGH IDLE, AND HYDRAULIC LOCK OF THE ENGINE. TOOK TO THE SHOP, THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN ON #1 CYLINDER, AND THE CONNECTING ROD WAS BENT ON THE CYLINDER, WHICH HAS NECESSITATED REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE. FORD HAS BEEN CONTACTED BY ME AND BY THE DEALER TO THE DISTRICT REP, TO NO AVAIL. AFTER READING ALL THE LITERATURE ON THE WEB ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, AND IT'S CONTINUING THRU THE 95 MODELS WHICH ARE COVERED TO THE 96 MODELS WHICH AREN'T; I NEED FURTHER HELP.

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, WHITE SMOKE EMITTING FROM TAILPIPE, MISSING, WILDLY ERRATIC SPEEDOMETER AT 35-40, REAR AIR BLOWS HOT. REPLACEMENTS: HAD GASKETS, LOWER INTAKE GASKETS, UPPER INTAKE GASKETS, SPARK PLUGS, WIRES, THERMOSTAT, GASKET, ? BELT, TIMING COVER, TIMING COVER GASKET, WATER PUMP. SPEEDOMETER AND A/C PROBLEM NOT YET FIXED.

MY 1996 FORD WINDSTAR VAN'S ENGINE ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED DUE TO PERSISTENT INTERNAL COOLANT LOSS INTO THE ENGINE, DESPITE REPEATED TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH COMPLAINTS OF CLASSIC HEAD-GASKET SYMPTOMS. FORD DISPLAYED BLATANT NEGLEGENCE AND DISHONESTY IN ITS DEALINGS WITH ME. I TOOK MY VAN TO DEALERSHIP TWICE FOR HEAD-GASKET-LIKE SYMPTOMS: EXCESSIVE LOSS OF COOLANT WITH NO EXTERNAL LEAKAGE, GRAY SMOKE OUT OF EXHAUST, AND ENGINE RUNNING ROUGH. THE FIRST TIME THE DEALERSHIP SAID NO PROBLEMS COULD BE FOUND. TWO WEEKS LATER I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS, ONLY THIS TIME MORE OBVIOUS, AND THE CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED MY ENGINE HAD OVERHEATED AND THAT COOLANT WAS LOST VIA THE TIMING COVER GASKET, WHICH THEY REPLACED AND THEN RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO ME. EXACTLY ONE THOUSAND MILES LATER I HAD TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AT WHICH POINT THEY...

ENGINE: HEAD GASKET FAILURE @ 62,218 MILES. NEEDED TO REPLACE BOTH CYLINDER GASKET HEADS AND RESURFACE SAME. POWER DOOR: FAILURE OF POWER DOOR LOCK ON PASSENGER SIDE. TRANSMISSION: WAS REPLACED TWICE UNDER WARRANTY. OTHER: IGNITION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED REPLACEMENT. HAVE BEEN ADVISED ENGINE HAS A SLUDGE CONDITION DESPITE REGULAR OIL CHANGES PER FORD GUIDELINES.

OTHER IS THE HEAD GASKET WENT AND LEAKED OIL IN MY ENGINE CAUSING IT TO BE REPLACED. FORD DENIED ANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS AND I BELIEVED THEM UNTIL I READ YOUR WEB SITE ARTICLE ON THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM WITH 1995 WINDSTARS. I CALLED FORD THIS MORNING AGAIN AND READ THE ARTICLE AND THEY STILL WILL NOT STEP UP TO THE PLATE ON THIS. NOTHING ELSE HAS GONE WRONG WITH MY CAR.

TIMING COVER GASKET FAILURE ALLOWED COOLANT TO MIX WITH ENGINE OIL. GASKET REPLACED BUT ENGINE DAMAGE MAY HAVE ALREADY BEEN DONE. SPEEDOMETER WAVERS BETWEEN 20 AND 60 MPH AT 30 MPH, HEADLIGHT LENSES HAVE YELLOWED TO THE POINT THAT THE HEADLIGHTS ARE USELESS. MOST FORD VEHICLES FROM 1990 TO 2000 HAVE THE YELLOWING HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AS A SAFETY PROBLEM.

THE 1996 FORD WINDSTAR CONTINUES TO HAVE DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS AS IN 1994 AND 1995 MODELS. THIS LEAD TO ENGINE FAILURE AT 78,000 MILES! THE COST TO REPLACE THE ENGINE PER MILLER FORD WAS 4,778.00. WE PAID 19,000 FOR THIS VEHICLE AND REFUSE TO PAY FOR A NEW ENGINE! THE NASA HAS STATED THE HEAD GASKET SHOULD LAST AT LEAST 120,000 MILES OR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE HAD THIS FORD WINDSTAR WITH A BLOWN ENGINE DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE SINCE LAST DECEMBER, BUT CONTINUE TO MAKE MONTHLY PAYMENTS ON THIS DEAD FORD WINDSTAR. WE PAY TAXES, INSURANCE, AND MONTLY PAYMENTS TO FORD CREDIT FOR THE NEXT 18 MONTHS OR SO. WE JUST DISCONTINUED REGISTRATION FEES AS THE DMV TOLD US WE COULD DO THIS. FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM AND IS NOT STANDING UP TO IT'S COMMITTMENT OF QUALITY CARE TO IT'S CUSTOMERS. I URGE...

I MAINTAINED MY WINDSTAR PROPERLY. IT BEGAN TO LEAK COOLANT AND ENGINE LIGHT. FORD DEALERSHIP STATED IT NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. DUE TO FAULTY HEAD GASKET CAUSING LEAK OF COOLANT. FORD CANADA AGREED TO COVER SOME OF THE COST BUT NOT ALL OF IT. SAID IF I DECLINED THEIR OFFER THEY WOULD WITHDRAW ALL OFFERS. SO I TOOK IT. I COULDN'T AFFORD THE BILL AS IT WAS. I HAVE SINCE SEEN A SMALL CLAIMS COURT IN QUEBEC FOUND THAT FORD WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS RELATED TO THE HEAD GASKET. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD CANADA CUSTOMER COMPLAINT CENTER. AND TOLD THEY WILL NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR THE EXPENSES. AND THAT ALTHOUGH THEY LOST THE COMPLAINT IN QUEBEC IN ALL OTHER CANADIAN PROVIENCES THEY HAVE ONE. EVEN A CLASS ACTION SUIT. WHY WOULD THEY PAY A PORTION OF THE REPAIR IF THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE??? I FEEL THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR...

1996 FORD WINDSTAR VIN [XXX] MFTD. 08/95 FORD MOTOR CO OF CANADA. HEAD GASKET FAILURE ALLOWING COOLANT AND ENGINE OIL TO MIX, WITH MAIN RESULT BEING LOST OF COOLANT. I HAVE TO KEEP FILLING COOLANT RESOVOIR. *JB *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I'VE HAD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SINCE 9/98 (6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE)-APPROX 40000 MILES. I'VE SPENT OVER $2000 OVER 5 TRIPS TO THE SHOP- LAST ONE 11/27/03- TRYING TO HAVE THIS FIXED. I JUST HAD MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT FOR ADDT'L $1600 (JAN 2004) AND NOW I HAVE THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. I AM DESPARATE FOR SOME ASSISTANCE AS I HAVE NO OTHER TRANSPORTATION AND HAVE INVESTED WAY TOO MUCH MONEY INTO THIS VAN TO REPLACE IT WITH MORE CAR PAYMENTS.

FUEL WAS LEAKING INTO THE CONVERTER. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT, AND SMOKE STARTED TO COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER OF THE PROBLEM, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE IT. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILURE IN 3.8 I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR IF THE ENGINES WERE HAVING PROBLEMS. HE TOLD ME NO. I TOOK HIM ON HIS WORD AND NOW I HAVE A CAR THAT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. I HAVE A 1994 T-BIRD THAT HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD WAS GREAT TO WORK WITH. I WISH THEY WOULD STAND BEHIND THIS ENGINE AS WELL. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED.

THE ENGINE GASKET BLEW OUT DUE TO ENGINE OVERHEATING AND BOILING THE COOLANT. CONSUMER FILLED VEHICLE WITH COOLANT TWICE A WEEK. *AK

1996 FORD WINDSTAR, 3.8 L, LOWN HEAD GASKET. *AK

ENGINE FRONT COVER GASKET FAILED IN LINE WITH RECALL 99B29. FORD DOES NOT INCLUDE MY WINDSTAR MODEL, BUILT IN 03/96 IN RECALL CAMPAIGN 99B29, INDICATING THAT THE ORIGINAL RECALL HAS BEEN INADEQUATE." *AK

PROBLEMS WITH GAS FUMES COMING FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM.*MR( DORIS STEWART ON BEHALF OF HER PARENTS ROBERT STEWART AND JACQUELINE STEWART).*TS. THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AT IDLE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEAD GASKETS, THE AIR CONDITION STOPPED WORKING AND THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE. *JB

REPLACED HEAD GASKET ON 1996 FORD WINDSTAR WITH 66, 712 MILES ON ENGINE.*AK

THE HEAD GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED. FORD RECALLED THE 95 MODELS AND WILL NOT HONOR THE 96 MODELS. THERE WAS AN INADEQUATE PERFORMANCE AND ABNORMAL ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE INDICATIONS, COOLANT LEAKED FROM THE HEAD GASKET AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. THE DEALER MISDIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND CAUSED THE CONSUMER SPEND MORE MONEY. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A REFUND FOR THE REPAIR COST. *MR

FOR THE 3RD TIME THE HEAD GASKET BLEW. THE FIRST WAS AT 56,000; THE SECOND AT 90,000, AND NOW AT 125,000. ON SEARCHING FOR USED ENGINE TO REPLACE MINE, I FIND THAT MOST OUT OF WINDSTARS HAVE BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *TT

THE CONSUMER REQUESTED AN INVESTIGATION OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEIR LACK OF RECALLS ON SOME SERIOUS DEFECTS. *MR. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A CLUNKING SOUND, HOWEVER THE DEALER STATED THE CLUNKING SOUND WAS NORMAL AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED WITH ANOTHER FORD TRANSMISSION, WHICH FAILED ON A TEST DRIVE AND ONE OTHER OCCASION. COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE THROUGH THE INTAKE GASKET, WHICH WAS RECALLED FOR THE 95 MODELS. THE TIMING CHAIN LEAKED. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE COILS IN THE SUSPENSION, WHICH FORD WOULD ONLY REPLACE WHEN THEY FAILED. THE BRAKE ROTORS FAILED AT 30000 MILES. SCC *JB

HEAD GASKET FAILED LEADING TO COOLANT ENTERING CYLINDERS. VAN HAD JUST 70,000 MILES AND THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM. REPAIR AT FORD DEALERSHIP WAS $1,300. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE 1996 WINDSTARS.

INTAKE GASKET OVER PASSENGER FRONT WHEEL WELL LEAKING COOLANT ABS BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON DURING WARM WEATHER AND ON BUMPY ROADS

THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE HEAD COVER GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CUSTOMER WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR EXPENSES.*JB

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING HEAD GASKET/TIMING CHAIN SNAPPED, CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS. *AK

THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND IT'S COMPONENTS FAILED, THE ABS LIGHT HAD COME ON CONSTANTLY, THE TRANSMISSION BURNED OUT, AND THE ENGINE WAS CONTAMINATED WITH COOLANT. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A NEW VEHICLE OR A NEW ENGINE. MR SCC

ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT, CAUSING BLUE EXHAUST TO COME FROM TAIL PIPE. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK INDICATORS ARE THAT RADIATOR COOLANT HAD BEEN LEAKING INTO OIL CAUSING 02 SENSORS TO FAIL AND BE REPLACED. DEALER ADVISED THAT ENTIRE ENGINE BE REPLACED. *TT

THE LEFT OUTER TIE ROD WAS REPLACE. *YH THE FUEL INJECTOR, TIMING COVER GASKETS AND WIPER BLADES WERE REPLACED. THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT WAS REPLACED . THE SWITCH HEADLIGHT CONTROL WAS REPLACED. THE DRIVERS DOOR AJAR SWITCH WAS REPLACED. UPDATED *JB

DEALER RESEALED FRONT TIMING COVER, REPLACED WATER PUMP, AND REPLACED THE FRONT ENGINE TIMING COVER GASKETS. *YH