1996 FORD WINDSTAR Engine And Engine Coolingengine Problems

LOCAL GARAGE DIAGNOSED THAT OUR 1996 FORD WINDSTAR VAN'S 3.8L ENGINE HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET, WHICH WAS CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO CONTINUALLY COME ON. COMBUSTION GASES WERE IN THE COOLING SYSTEM, AS WAS OIL RESIDUE. OIL ALSO FOUND IN THE TOP PART OF THE ENGINE IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. IT IS SUSPECTED THAT COOLANT AND MAYBE WATER HAVE FOUND THEIR WAY INTO THE CYLINDERS. DON'T KNOW YET WHAT DAMAGE IS DONE INTERNALLY TO THE ENGINE. LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT IT WAS A $2000 CHARGE TO REPAIR. ENGINE NOT UNDER THE WARRANTY PROGRAM ISSUED BY FORD FOR THE 1995 WINDSTARS EVEN THOUGH IT'S THE SAME 3.8L ENGINE. FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE LOGGED MY CALL BUT SAID THAT THEY WERE NOT TREATING THIS ISSUE AS A WARRANTY ITEM AND THAT I WAS ON MY OWN TO FIX IT. *JB

THE HEAD GASKET LEAKED COOLANT. *DT *JB

96 WINDSTAR HAD FAILED NJ STATE INSPECTION BUT WAS RUNNING FINE. VEHICLE HAS 109,000 MILES AND DEALER INFORMED ME IT HAS LEAKING HEAD GASKETS. DEALER WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED AT THIS DEALER FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS AND NO MENTION WAS EVER MADE ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR THIS PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH IT IS QUITE APPARENT THAT THIS IS A LATENT DEFECT AT LEAST UNTIL THE 1997 YEAR. FACTORY CAMPAIGNS WERE IN PLACE THROUGH 95 AND PROBLEM WAS REDUCED ON 96 VEHICLES BUT STILL EXISTED.*JB

THE ABS LIGHT HAD FLASHED PERIODICALLY, THE TRANSMISSION HAD BURNT OUT, AND THE ENGINE HAD BECOME CONTAMINATED WITH COOLANT. THE CONSUMER HAD REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE CHARGE OF THE REBUILT ENGINE. SCC *JB

THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD, A NOISE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AND THEN THE ENGINE STALLED. *JB

I HAVE A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR (3.8-LITER ENGINE) WITH ALMOST 78,000 MILES. I'VE OWNED IS SINCE IT WAS NEW. IT EXPERIENCED A BLOWN HEAD GASKET 3 WEEKS AGO. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT BERT WEINMAN FORD HERE IN CHICAGO RECOMMENDED THAT I REPLACE THE ENGINE. I DID SO AT A PRICE OF ALMOST $4500. FROM WHAT I KNOW, FORD HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH HEAD GASKETS IN THIS ENGINE. THEY HAVE OFFERED EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR SOME MODEL YEARS, BUT NONE WHICH COVERS MY VEHICLE.

THE APPARENTLY COMMON BLOWN HEAD GASKET ON THE 3.8L ENGINE HAS OCCURRED ON MY '96 FORD WINDSTAR. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE LOCAL FORD SERVICE CENTER THAT FORD IS NOT COMPENSATING OWNERS FOR THIS OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW.

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE ANTI-FREEZE AND OIL NOT TO CIRCULATE THROUGH THE ENGINE.*JB

HAVE IN FORD DEALER SHOP A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR WITH 92,100 MILES ON IT. IT HAS THE INFAMOUS 3.8L ENGINE HEAD GASKET AND FRONT COVER GASKET PROBLEM, AS PREVIOUSLY DEFINED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY. FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER REFUSES TO COVER THE COST OF THIS.

96 WINDSTAR, 3.8L ENGINE, 65,000 MILES. FAILURE OF HEAD GASKET AND INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. $1700 TO REPLACE GASKETS AND RELATED PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THE FAIURE.

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO STATED THERE WAS NO WARRANTY FOR THE DEFECT. *TS *PH *JB

PROBLEM WITH 1996 FORD WINDSTAR 3.8L ENGINE 45,000 MI. W/ DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. FORD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON 94-95 MODELS BUT WON'T COVER 96 MODELS. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM W/ ALL THE 3.8L ENGINES AND FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR MANUFACTURING AND SELLING A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. A RECALL SHOULD BE DONE ON THIS PRODUCT. TS

I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY 5 REPAIR PEOPLE THAT THE WINDSTARS ARE VERY LIKELY TO HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET, I HAVE BEEN TOLD TO REQUEST THAT FORD REPAIR THE VAN. I HAVE CONTACTED THE FORD CORP. AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE WINDSTARS ARE NOT HAVING A HEAD GASKET ISSUE. THIS VAN WITH THE PROPER CARE SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS BIG OF AN ISSUE. MY VAN HAS SAT IN MY DRIVEWAY SINCE JULY, THE ESTIMATE IS $ 2,000.00 TO 4,000.00 TO NOW REPLACE AN ENGINE WITH LESS THEN 100,000 MILES.

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE HEAD GASKET BLEW. OIL WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND SHUT DOWN AND THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T RESTART. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

CONSUMER NOTICE WHILE TRAVELING ENGINE INDICATION LIGHT WAS FLASHING VEHICLE WAS SERVICE BY TECHNICIAN. TECHNICIAN TEST VEHICLE AND NOTICE ENGINE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM PLEASE PROVIDES FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING, THE VEHICLE'S HEAD GASKET BLEW AND THE COOLANT WILL STARTED TO LEAK CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVER HEAT AND THE CONSUMER WILL BE FORCED TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR THE CONSUMER STATED FORD WILL NOT RECOGNIZE THIS PROBLEM AS WITH THE 94 AND 95 WINDSTAR'S. SCC

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE 3.8L V6 ENGINE BLEW A HEAD GASKET AND CAUSING LOSS OF COOLANT AND COOLANT GETTING INTO THE ENGINE OIL. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

ENGINE FAILURE AT 88,000 MILES, ROUGH IDLE AT TIMES, COMPUTER REPLACED AT 75,000 MILES, HEAD GASKET BLEW, CAUSING ENGINE TO FAIL.*AK

ENGINE FAILURE AT 88,000 MILES, ROUGH IDLE AT TIMES, COMPUTER REPLACED AT 75,000 MILES, HEAD GASKET BLEW, CAUSING ENGINE TO FAIL.*AK

ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WAS REGISTERING HOT. TOOK TO DEALER ,AND THEY STATED THEATHEAD GASKET FAILED, AND VEHICLE WOULD NEED A REBUILT MOTOR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

HEAD GASKET FAILURE OF 3.8L FORD ENGINE AT A COST OF $1500 TO REPAIR. THIS IS A KNOW AND DOCUMENTED FAILURE MECHANISM ON THESE ENGINES THAT NEEDS TO BE REMEDIED.*AK

SMALL COOLANT LEAK INTO ENGINE FROM HEAD GASKET.*AK

THIS COMPLAINT CONSIST OF FOUR FAILURES THAT ARE ENGINE RELATED: (1) HEAD GASKET FAILED WHILE BEING DRIVEN, AND LEAKED FLUID ONTO HOT ENGINE. (2) TIMING GASKET FAILED ALONG WITH GASKET FAILING. (3) INTAKE MANIFOLD RUNNERS FAILED, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE VAN IS UNDRIVABLE. (4) FAULTY MAIN ENGINE BEARINGS. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NEED TO REPLACE SPEEDOMETER HEAD, REPLACED TIE ROD, FRONT AND REAR BRAKES, CYLINDERS, HEAD GASKET AND NOW ENGINE BLEW NEED NEW ENGINE. *AK

ENGINE BLEW A ROD WHILE CRANKING VEHICLE ON. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED.*AK MANUFACTURER NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THIS PARTICULAR VAN IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. *TT

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HEAD HASKET FAILURE AND STATES THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION STOPPED THEIR CONCERN AT THE 1995 FORD WINDSTARS, CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE 1996 WINDSTARS SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED SINCE THE 1996 VEHICLE IS IDENTICAL TO THE 1995 EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THEY WERE TITLED FOR 1996, A 1996 WINDSTAR COULD HAVE BEEN BUILT IN LATE 1995 AND THERERFORE THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE.*JB

DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE CHECK, DEALER FOUND HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN AND THE PISTONS BROKE. DEALER REPLACED HEAD GASKET AND CYLINDER HEAD, ALSO CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD RUN HOT AND THEN COOL BACK DOWN DUE TO THE BLOWN HAD GASKET. *TT

BLOWN HEAD GASKETS ON A 3.8L ENGINE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH FORD ENGINES THAT HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED IN COMPLETE RECALLS, ETC. THIS VEHICLE WAS WELL MAINTAINED, NEVER OVERHEATED, ETC AND THE GASKETS JUST FAILED WITH NO WARNING. ESTIMATED COSTS TO FIX ARE $1500 MINIMUM IF HEADS OR BLOCK ARE NOT CRACKED. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL AND FIX ALL 3.8L ENGINES.*AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT REMAINS ON CONSTANTLY, VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHECKED BY DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT CONSUMER WAS ADVISED LIGHT WAS NOT READING A CODE. HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT, AND DEALER ADVISED CONSUMER THAT LIGHT WAS READING A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKET, WHICH WAS LEAKING. *AK ALSO THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED.*JB

HEAD GASKET FAILED AND WAS REPLACED, ALSO A NEW ENGINE COVER WAS PUT ON, A LITTLE OVER A YEAR LATER THE HEAD GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AND THE ENGINE HAD TO BE CLEANED AND MILLED DUE TO THE SLUDGE BUILD UP, SERPENTINE BELT NOISY. *SLC

IN THE 20 MONTHS THAT I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE THE ENGINE BLOCK HAS OVER - EXPANDED TWICE - CAUSING THE HEAD GASKET TO FAIL. BOTH TIMES I WAS TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS. THIER WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO FAILURE(COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER DUE TO HEAT FATIGUE). FORTUNATLY I WAS ABLE TO MANUEVER THE VEHICLE OFF TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS DEFINATELY A SAFETY CONCERN FOR OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT DISPLAYED, WHITE SMOKE BILLOWING OUT OF TAIL PIPE.*AK

ENGINE WOULD OVERHEAT WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND WAS INFORMED OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFROMATION.*AK

HEAD GASKET HAS GONE OUT A COUPLE OF TIMES. CONSUMER HAS HAD SOME OIL LEAKAGE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.

MY WINDSTAR BLEW ITS HEADGASKET WITH 60K MILES ON IT- THE ENGINE NEVER RAN HOT---WHEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON I TOOK IT TO DEALER--BLOWN GASKET 1800 DOLLARS--CHECKED INTERNET AND FOUND AT LEAST 200 PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEM--CALLED FORD BUT THEY REFUSE TO ASSIST. *AK

ENGINE LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING, POSSIBLE HEAD GASKET FAILURE, DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK *NLM

HEAD GASKET FAILED, LEAKING COOLANT INTO CYLINDER, FOULING SPARK PLUGS AND OXYGEN SENSORS. PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE VEHICLE HAD 95,000 MILES. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE HEAD GASKET FAILED. *SLC

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *TT

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE NEEDS A REPLACEMENT HEAD GASKET. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES FOR REPEATED "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" ILLUMINATING. RECENT REPAIR DONE TO VEHICLE WAS ON THE INTAKE GASKET AND O2 SENSOR. *JG *YD

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED REPLACING. CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE GASKET SHOULD NOT HAVE WENT OUT, THERE IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH WINSTARS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON REPEATEDLY AND DEALERSHIP TRIED TO FIX AS FOLLOWS: 8,369 MILES - REPLACED SPARK PLUG WIRES; 14,184 MILES REPLACED "BAD" HEGO BANK; 34,442 MILES REPLACES PLUGS 4 AND 5; 34,479 MILES REPLACED HEGO #2; 37,843 MILES REPLACED SPARK PLUG WIRES (AGAIN); 38,111 MILES REPLACED BAD SHAFT IN SYNCHONIZER SENSOR; 44,489 MILES REPLACED "DEFECTIVE" VACUUM ELBOW; 44,552 MILES CLEANED RESISTORS AND REPLACED UPPER INTAKE O RINGS; 47,420 MILES LIGHT CAME ON AND WENT OFF BY ITSELF; 50,000+ MILES LIGHT CAME ON AND WENT OFF WHEN BATTERY WAS REPLACED; 56,000+ MILES NOTICED COOLANT "DISAPPEARING FROM AUXILLARY COOLANT TANK - TOOK IN AND DEALERSHIP COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG BUT PUT IN DYE -- TOOK BACK IN A FEW WEEKS WHEN COOLANT DISAPPEARED AGAIN - DIAGNOSIS: HEAD GASKET FAILURE; HAD HEAD GASKETS REPLACED, BUT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF AND ENGINE WAS MISFIRING -- DIAGNOSIS: BENT ROD ....

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE HEAD GASKET FAILED. *SLC

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE NEEDS A REPLACEMENT HEAD GASKET. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES FOR REPEATED "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" ILLUMINATING. RECENT REPAIR DONE TO VEHICLE WAS ON THE INTAKE GASKET AND O2 SENSOR. *JG *YD

MY HEAD GASKET FAILED AROUNF 70000 MILES! 94 AND 95 FORD WINDSTARS HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECALLED DUE TO HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS. THERE ARE MANY 1996 FAILURES AS WELL. WHAT CAN WE DO TO GET FORD TO ADDRESS THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 96 WINDSTAR?*AK

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE 3.8 V6 ENGINE WAS LOSING COOLANTS AND RUNNING ROUGH WHILE DRIVING, DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED OF A CRACKED HEAD GASKET. NLM

CYLINDER HEAD GASKET PROBLEM RESULTING IN INTERNAL ANTIFREEZE LEAK, CAUSING BEARINGS TO GO BAD - ENGINE REPLACEMENT REQUIRED.*AK

MY 1996 WINDSTAR HAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *AK

VEHICLE MISFIRES. CONSUMER FOUND WATER IN OIL AND EXHAUST. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NOTICED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON IN DECEMBER 2001. LOOKED IN MANUAL AND SAID NEEDED TO COMPLETE 3 COOLED COMPLETE CYCLES, BUT LIGHT DIDN'T GO OFF. STARTED LEAKING COOLANT AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD GO TO HOT. HEATER WOULD BLOW OUT COLD AIR. TOOK TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD IT HAD A CRACKED BLOCK AND THAT FORD HAS HAD THESE SAME PROBLEMS WITH PREVIOUS YEARS. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING TO HELP OUT. AM IN THE PROCESS OF CONTACTING FORD COMPANY TO SEE IF THEY WILL BE WILLING TO HELP. PLEASE FOLLOW UP WITH ANY INFORMATION. AT THIS POINT MY FAMILY OF 5 IS DRIVING AROUND IN A SMALL PICK UP TRUCK BEAUSE I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VAN SINCE TOLD IT COULD STOP ON ME AT ANYTIME AND CAUSE EVEN MORE DAMAGE.*AK