1996 FORD WINDSTAR Engine And Engine Coolingengine Problems

HEAD GASKET FAILED. YH

ENGINE CHECKS LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND INFORMED CONSUMER OF A POSSIBLE BLOWN HEAD GASKET. HOWEVER, VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL DUE TO VIN.*AK

TIMING CHAIN COVER CRACKED, CAUSING COOLANT LEAKAGE. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

JULY OF 1999 WHILE ON VACATION IN PENNSYLVANIA THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. A FAMILY FRIEND RECOMMENDED THAT WE NOT WORRY ABOUT THE PROBLEM UNLESS THE LIGHT STAYED ON. THE LIGHT WENT OFF BUT THEN CAME BACK ON A COUPLE OF TIMES OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. FINALLY IN APRIL OF 2000 THE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THE FORD DEALERSHIP INFORMED US THAT THE HEAD GASKETS WERE BLOWN. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD US THAT THEY WOULD PAY MOST OF THE $1400.00 REPAIR BILL BUT WE STILL ENDED UP WITH $600.00 ON OUR PART. WE HAVE CONTACTED FORD TWICE ABOUT THIS FAILURE AT ONLY 53,000 MILES. WE BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED OUR $600.00. WE ARE SHOCKED TO SEE HOW MANY 1996 WINDSTARS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. WE HAVE ASKED FORD TO TELL US THE NUMBER OF GASKET FAILURES THEY HAVE SEEN ON THE 1996'S. THEY HAVE...

MY WINDSTAR HAS ONLY 48000 MILES ON IT AND WE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET. MY NEIGHBOR HAS A 1995 WINDSTAR WITH 20000 MORE MILES ON IT AND THEY WERE REIMBURSED FOR THEIR FAILED HEAD GASKET. I FIND THIS UNACCEPTABLE AND I AM TRYING TO RECEIVE A FEFUND MORE THE WORK DONE ON MY VAN. *AK

FORD HAS AGREED TO PAY PART OF THE REPAIR COST FOR THE HEAD GASKET. THEY HAVE RECALLED THIS SAME ENGINE IN THE 1995 WINDSTAR'S BUT HAVE NOT EXTENDED IT TO THE 1996'S DESPITE MANY OCCURANCES. I FEEL THEY SHOULD COVER THE ENTIRE REPAIR AS WELL AS OUR RENTAL CAR EXPENSES. *AK

ENGINE LIGHT ON & RUNNING HOT. HEAD GASKET & MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED. MECHANIC LATER SAID RECALL WOULD REIMBURSE FOR COST TO REPAIR. FORD SAID OUR VIN WAS NOT COVERED DUE TO PLACE & DATE OF MANUFACTURE. THIS IS AN ADMITTED MANUFACTURER DESIGN PROBLEM WHICH NEEDS TO BE RECTIFIED. THE FORD MECHANICS EVEN STATE THAT THIS IS THE SAME ENGINE AS THOSE IN THE RECALL. PEOPLE WHO FIND OUT THAT I HAVE A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR ASK IF I'VE HAD MY HEAD GASKET REPLACED YET. HOW WOULD THEY KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IF IT IS NOT WIDESPREAD, NOT TO MENTION A SEVERE DEFICIENCY IN DESIGN. HOW CAN FORD GET AWAY WITH THIS NONSENSE? WHY SHOULD WE BUY AMERICAN? PLEASE HELP.*AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND WE IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR SERVICE. FOUND OUT IT WAS HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. CONTACTED FORD AFTER A WEEK OF NOT BEING ABLE TO GET THE NEEDED PARTS FOR REPAIR AND WAS TOLD MY VEHICLE WAS NOT ON RECALL LIST. ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THEY ARE UNWILLING TO HELP SINCE VEHICLE NOT UNDER WARRANTY. TOOK 2 WEEKS IN SHOP TO GET FIXED AND REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE ORDERED OUTSIDE OF FORD DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T GET THE RIGHT PART. IT ENDED UP COSTING $300 ADDITIONAL TO ORIGINAL ESTIMATE. *AK

REPEATED EXPENSIVE REPAIRS TO TURN OFF " ENGINE" CHECK LIGHT ONLY TEMPORAIRLY SUCCESSFUL. LOSS OF COOLANT FOR UNKNOWN REASON. ENGINE NOW NOTICABLY "SMOKING".*AK

HEAD/HEAD GASKET WAS REPAIRED. SYMPTOM CAUSING REPAIR WAS ENGINE RUNNING HOT. *AK

A MAJOR RECALL HAS OCCURRED WITH FORD COVERING THE REPAIR COSTS OR ISSUING $4000 CERTIFICATES TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF A NEW VEHICLE FOR 1995 AND EARLIER MODELS. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE HEAD GASKETS ON ALL FORD 3.8-LITER ENGINES ARE DEFECTIVE AND THE NEW ENGINE DESIGN DID NOT HELP OR ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM THEY HAVE WITH THE EARLIER VERSION. I FEEL FORD SHOULD INCLUDE THE 1996 WINDSTAR IN THE RECALL. 8AK

I TOOK MY WINDSTAR IN FOR 90,000 MILE SERVICE (A LITTLE EARLY) AND WAS TOLD THE HEAD GASKET WAS BAD AND I AM LOSING ANTI-FREEZE AS A RESULT. I FOUND IT ODD, SINCE THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY AND HAS NEVER OVERHEATED. I DID SOME INVESTIGATION AND FOUND THE 1995 WINDSTAR'S WITH THE SAME ENGINE WERE GIVEN EXTENDED WARRANTIES TO COVER A "KNOWN" HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. I CALLED FORD AND WAS TOLD MY VIN WAS NOT COVERED AND HAS AN "UPGRADED" HEAD GASKET. I ARGUED THAT IF IN FACT IT IS UPGRADED, IT CERTAINLY IS NOT UPGRADED ENOUGH. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED $800 TO $1200 TO MAKE THE REPAIR. I CAN SEE FROM MY RESEACH THAT MANY FORD VEHICLES WITH THIS SIZE ENGINE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HEAD GASKET FAILURE. FORD SHOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM FOR ITS CUSTOMERS.*AK

VEHICLE HAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET, CAUSING ENGINE DAMAGE. THE SAME ENGINE IN THE 1995 WINDSTARS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR TOTAL REPLACEMENT OF THE HEAD GASKETS AND ALL RELATED DAMAGE. THE 1996 WINDSTARS THAT CARRIED THE SAME ENGINE ARE NOT BEING RECALLED. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THESE MUST BE REPAIRED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE, AND MAY CAUSE A TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE IF CONTINUE DRIVING. THESE ENGINES WERE ONLY PLACED IN THE EARLY MODELS OF THE 1996, AND THEN AFTER THE 3.8 L ENGINES WERE RECALLED THE NEWER 1996 WINDSTARS CONTAIN THE 3.0L ENGINE. WE FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD COVER THE COST OF REPAIR AS IT IS THE SAME ENGINE AS THE 1995 WINDSTAR. *AK

MANUFACTURER HAS RECALLED '95 WINDSTARS FOR FAULTY HEAD GASKET AND NOT '96 EVEN THOUGH SAME DESIGN, MATERIALS AND POINT OF ASSEMBLY. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING VEHICLE COMMENCED TO RUN ROUGH AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WOULD COME ON. VEHECLE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVER UNDERED EXTENDED WARRANTY. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN OUT, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

94-95 FORD WINDSTAR ENGINES ARE HAVING HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS. WHEN I CONTACTED THEM THEY SAID IT WAS VANS MFG. FROM DEC 93 TO AUG 95 AND THAT MY 96 WAS NOT INVOLVED. JUST BECAUSE THE STICKER SAYS MY VAN WAS MFG. IN 96 DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE ENGINE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MFG AT THE SAME TIME AS A THE ENGINE FOR 94 OR 95 VAN. THEY ARE OFFERING MONEY FOR TRADE-IN OR ENGINE REPLACEMENT. IT SEEMS VERY COINCIDENTAL THAT THEY JUST ANNOUNCED THIS PROBLEM ON 94-95 VANS AND MY 96 HAS THIS PROBLEM. *AK

VAN IS WELL TAKEN CARE OF. ONLY 1 DRIVER, OVER 50 YEARS OLD. KEPT A MERC GRAND MARQUIS WAGON FOR 14 YEARS AND 250,000 MILES. TIMING COVER GASKET FAILED - LEAKED COOLANT. THIS IS VERY PREMATURE - SEEMS LIKE A DESIGN/FABRICATION PROBLEM, GASKET PROBLEM. OVER $600 TO REPAIR. WINDOW TRACK BECAME SEPARATED FROM DOOR - HAD TO BE REWELDED. OVER $150 TO REPAIR. SHOULD NOT HAPPEN IN 4 YEARS OF MOSTLY HIGHWAY DRIVING. DEFINITE ASSEMBLY PROBLEM. UNDECTABLE UNTIL NEARLY FULLY SEPARATED, AND OUT OF WARRANTY, AND EXCESSIVE VIBRATIONS IN USING WINDOW. *AK

LEAKING OIL ONTO ENGINE RESULTING IN ALL NEW SEALS, GASKETS AND HEAD GASKET, DUE TO FAILURE.

FAILURE OF HEAD GASKETS ON ENGINE, RESULTING IN REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE ENGINE. SAME ENGINE THAT FORD IS CURRRENTLY REPLACING IN 1994 AND 1995 MODEL YEAR WINDSTARS, FOR THE SAME REASON - PREMATURE FAILURE OF HEAD GASKETS. FORD WILL NOT REIMBURSE FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS OF THIS ENGINE, ALTHOUGH IT IS PERFECTLY CLEAR THAT IT HAS FAILED FOR THE SAME REASONS AS THE 1994 AND 1995 MODEL YEAR. FORD HAS ADMITTED TO THIS PROBLEM BEING PRESENT, YET IS NOT TAKING ANY ACTION TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION FOR OWNERS OF VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ENGINE INSTALLED IN NEWER MODEL YEARS. *AK

AFTER THREE FAIRLY RELIABLE YEARS AND ONLY 58,000 MILES, I HAVE HAD HEAD GASKETS BLOWN AND A TRANSMISSION THAT IS SHOWING SIGNS OF FAILURE. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET, I SEE THAT I AM NOT ALONE IN HAVING THESE PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSTAR. I HAVE NEVER FELT COMPELLED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT A VEHICLE BEFORE. THE THOUGHT OF THIS CAR LEAVING MY FAMILY STRANDED ON A BUSY STRETCH OF FREEWAY (WHICH IT ALMOST DID) DUE TO A PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE AND FACTORY DEFECT IS INEXCUSABLE.*AK

ENGINE REPAIRED AT CUSTOMER COST OF $1300.00 1995 WINDSTAR HAD ENGINE RECALL AND MANUFACTURER STOOD BEHIND PRODUCT. SAME BASIC CONFIGURATION IN THE 1996 MODEL. FORD SHOULD COVER. *AK

FORD IS COMING UP WITH SOME TYPE OF RE-EMBURSEMENT FOR THE 1995 WINDSTARS BUT HOW ABOUT THE 1996 WINDSTARS. WE ARE HAVING THE SAME HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS AS THE 1995S. *AK

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET ANTI-FREEZE HAD LEAKED OUT, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC. MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WHO WERE NOT ABLE TO HELP. *AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, OWNER NOTICED AN OIL LEAK. THIS WAS DUE TO A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET. DEALER IS OFFERING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET HEAD REPLACED WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP WITH ORIGINAL OWNER. NOW NEW ENGINE IS NEEDED BECAUSE A SECOND GASKET HEAD HAS CRACKED AND RUINED ENGINE. THIS DOES NOT SEEM REASONABLE WITHIN A FOUR YEAR PERIOD. FORD HAS DENIED CLAIM FOR REPAIRS.

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING COOLANT. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY MANUFACTURER THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED BY THE MANUFACTURE IN CANADA, AND THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED TO THE US FOR 7 YRS/ 100000 MILES. *AK

RODS IN THE ENGINE BROKE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. FORD SAID THAT IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. *AK

RODS IN THE ENGINE BROKE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. FORD SAID THAT IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. *AK

THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE 3.8L ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS FIRST NOTICED BY MYSELF DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION OF MY FLUID LEVELS AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WHAT I NOTICED WAS WHAT APPEARED TO BE A COOLANT LEAK AROUND THE HEAD GASKETS. UNDER MORE CONSTANT SUPERVISION MY WIFE AND I OBSERVED OTHER SYMPTOMS WHICH INCLUDE A MORE CONSTANT DROP IN THE COOLANT LEVEL AND A LOSS OF HEAT WHEN THE HEATING SYSTEM WAS OPERATING. THESE SYMPTOMS SEEMED SERIUOS SO WE DECIDED NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT HAS BEEN SERVICED. THROUGH FRIENDS AND RELATIVES WE HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS OCCURING WITH MANY WINDSTAR OWNERS SO WE HAVE DECIDED TO FURTHER RESEARCH THIS MATTER WHICH IS HOW WE HAVE COME ACROSS YOUR SITE. PLEASE CONTACT US WITH ANY UPDATES YOU MAY HAVE ON THIS MATTER. THANK YOU. *AK

WHEN FILLING VEHICLE WITH GASOLINE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WOULD COME ON. THIS HAPPENED TWICE LAST YEAR. OWNER'S MANUAL INDICATED THAT AFTER THREE STARTS ENGINE CHECK LIGHT DID NOT GO OFF. THEN BROUGHT VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE CHECKED. ENGINE WAS RUNNING VERY ROUGH. CONTACTED THE DEALER, ADVISED CONSUMER ON 9-MAR-2000 THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKET.

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WE TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER, WHO CHECKED IT AND DISCOVERED THAT THE HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN AND THAT THE TIMING COVER GASKET AND THE FRONT ENGINE GASKET WERE NEEDING TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. AND WE SUSPECT THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS ALSO GOING OUT. WE TALKED WITH THE SERVICE ADVISOR WHO TOLD US THAT IT WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL ISSSUED BY FORD MOTOR CO. WE CONTACTED BILL AT FORD MOTOR CO. EMPLOYEE NUMBER 2556 AND HE ALSO INFORMED US THAT THERE REALLY WASN'T ANYTHING THAT THEY COULD DO AS IT WASN'TCOVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY JUST ISSUED BY FORD MOTOR CO. WE HAVE LOOKED ON THE WEB AND HAVE DISCOVERED NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR 1996 FORD WINDSTAR. WE WOULD LIKE SOME HELP IN THIS MATTER. THANKYOU THE ESTIMATED COST FOR ALL REPAIRS...

3.8 LITER ENGINE 44,000 MILES AND THE HEAD GASKET FAILED. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 1995 WINDSTAR THAT FORD IS NOW ADDRESSING. MY QUOTED PRICE TO GET FIXED WAS OVER $1600. THE DEALERSHIP CONTACTED FORD AND THEY AGREED TO PAY LESS THEN 3/4 OF THE COST. I AM RESPONSIBLE TO PAY $495 TO FIX THE PART. I CONTACTED FORD AND TOLD THEM THAT I THOUGHT THIS WAS OBSCENE THAT A 4 YR OLD VEHICLE DRIVEN AS A FAMILY VEHICLE WITH NO HEAVY DUTY WORK COULD HAVE A CASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. OF COURSE I GOT NOWHERE. I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WILL FIX THE 95 WINDSTAR AND NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR MINE? *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

3.8 LITER ENGINE 44,000 MILES AND THE HEAD GASKET FAILED. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 1995 WINDSTAR THAT FORD IS NOW ADDRESSING. MY QUOTED PRICE TO GET FIXED WAS OVER $1600. THE DEALERSHIP CONTACTED FORD AND THEY AGREED TO PAY LESS THEN 3/4 OF THE COST. I AM RESPONSIBLE TO PAY $495 TO FIX THE PART. I CONTACTED FORD AND TOLD THEM THAT I THOUGHT THIS WAS OBSCENE THAT A 4 YR OLD VEHICLE DRIVEN AS A FAMILY VEHICLE WITH NO HEAVY DUTY WORK COULD HAVE A CASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. OF COURSE I GOT NOWHERE. I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WILL FIX THE 95 WINDSTAR AND NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR MINE? *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

3.8 LITER ENGINE 44,000 MILES AND THE HEAD GASKET FAILED. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 1995 WINDSTAR THAT FORD IS NOW ADDRESSING. MY QUOTED PRICE TO GET FIXED WAS OVER $1600. THE DEALERSHIP CONTACTED FORD AND THEY AGREED TO PAY LESS THEN 3/4 OF THE COST. I AM RESPONSIBLE TO PAY $495 TO FIX THE PART. I CONTACTED FORD AND TOLD THEM THAT I THOUGHT THIS WAS OBSCENE THAT A 4 YR OLD VEHICLE DRIVEN AS A FAMILY VEHICLE WITH NO HEAVY DUTY WORK COULD HAVE A CASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. OF COURSE I GOT NOWHERE. I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WILL FIX THE 95 WINDSTAR AND NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR MINE? *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

HEADGASKET FAILURE. FORD IS HOLDING TO THEIR MILEAGE LIMIT, ALTHOUGH MILEAGE HAS NO BEARING (NO MOVING PARTS). 95 AND 96 WINDSTARS W/ 3.8L HAVE HORRIBLE HISTORY OF HEADGASKET FAILURES. FORD'S OWN SERVICE PLAN ALLOWED UNLIMITED MILEAGE FOR 95'S THROUGH 98. NO SIMILAR PLAN FOR 96'S. FORD ALSO REFUSES TO REPLY IN WRITING. WILL ONLY REPLY VIA PHONE. *AK

ENGINE MISSED/SURGED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS BEGINNING 4TH QUARTER 1999. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS MADE BY TWO FORD DEALERS TO DETERMINE PROBLEM. LANGDALE FORD FINALLY DIAGNOSED AS BLOWN HEAD GASKET, NUMBER 2 CYLINDER. SAID CHRONIC PROBLEM EXISTS WITH THIS ENGINE AND THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS,BUT NOT FOR OUR SPECIFIC YEAR YET. FORD REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE PROBLEM OR COVER PART (OR ALL)OF COST IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY (2/28/2000) RECALLING THE 1995 VERSION OF OUR ENGINE. *AK

THIS FAILURE STRANDED MY WIFE AND CHILDREN ALONG THE SIDE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY. IT WAS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE MAIN HEAD GASKET AND HAS RESULTED IN REPAIR COST EXCEEDING 2200 DOLLARS AT THIS POINT. FORD IS NOT WILLING TO ADMIT THE DEFECT, EVEN THOUGH MY PRELIMINARY RESEARCH INDICATES THAT HUNDREDS OF OTHER WINDSTAR OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM OF PREMATURE FAILURE. PLEASE HELP US GET JUSTICE BY FORCING FORD TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS AT REDUCED OR NO COST!!! *AK

BOTH ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAVE BLOWN AT 69,000 MILES, CAUSING ANTI-FREEZE TO LEAK ONTO SPARK PLUGS. OWNER WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *AK *ML

FORD HAS BEEN GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND ABOUT REPAIRING MY WINDSTAR. THEY CLAIM THAT IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THEIR SILENT EXTENDED WARANTEE BECAUSE IT WAS BUILT IN THE WRONG PLACE. THEY CONTEND THAT VANS BUILT WHERE MINE WAS WERE FINE AS FAR AS THE HEAD GASKET IS CONCERNED. ALSO, THE WAYSIDE FORD DEALERSHIP IN MARLBORO MA LIED TO ME AND TOLD ME THAT THE COVERAGE WAS FOR 50,000 AND NOT 60,000 MILES, SO I DIDNT QUALIFY. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAVE BLOWN, CAUSING WATER COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE OIL PAN . DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

WE TOOK OUR WINDSTAR IN AT THE FIRST INITIAL FAILURE(12-2-97). THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT HAD COME ON, SO WE TOOK IT TO THE FORD GARAGE CLOSEST TO OUR RESIDENCE. WE WERE TOLD AT THAT TIME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG, AND THAT SHOULD THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COME BACK ON THAT IT SHOULD RESET ITSELF IN A FEW DAYS.... NOT TO WORRY. THIS HAPPENED 6-7 TIMES AFTERWARD WITH THE LIGHT ALWAYS GOING OFF AFTER 3 COLD STARTS. BUT WHEN WE WOULD TAKE A LONG TRIP. IT WOULD START ALL OVER. IN OCT. OF THIS YEAR (1999) THE LIGHT CAME AND AND DID NOT GO OFF. WHEN WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT IT, THEY SAID IT NEEDED A TUNE-UP. ($217.00) WE TOOK IT HOME AND THE NEXT DAY WE TOOK IT BACK BECAUSE THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. THE DEALER SAID IT NEEDED A NEW 02 SENSOR...

DEFECTIVE ENGINE HEAD GASKET THAT FORD IS REFUSING TO REPAIR. *AK

I TOOK THE AUTOMOBILE IN FOR OIL CHANGE AND ASKED MECHANIC TO LOOK AT HEATER BECAUSE IT DIDN'T SEEM TO BE HEATING PROPERLY. THAT'S WHERE THE NIGHTMARE BEGAN. THE MECHANIC CALLED AND SAID THERE WAS WATER IN #4 CYLINDER WHICH I HAVE LEARNED IS A PROBLEM WITH 3.8L ENGINES WHICH FORD WAS AWARE OF FOR SOME TIME. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO FORD WHERE THE INTAKE GASKET AND THE 18 SENSORS WERE REPLACED. INSPITE OF THE NOTED SLUDGE, THEY FAILED TO DROP THE OIL PAN AND SENT ME ON MY WAY INTO THE DARK WITH A CAR WHICH HAD NOT BEEN TEST DRIVEN. THE CAR BROKE DOWN IN LESS THAN 5 MILES. NOW I'M BEING TOLD I NEED A NEW ENGINE. SHOULDN'T THE ENGINE LAST LONGER THAN 125,000 MILES? WHY DID I HAVE TO HAVE IT TUNED UP AT 100,000 IF THE ENGINE IS ONLY SUPPOSE TO LAST ANOTHER 25,000...

OWNER TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC TO HAVE TIRE CHANGED & NOTICED THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS WAS LEAKING COOLANT ON MANIFOLD/FRONT TIMING CHAIN. IF ENGINE RAN DRY, WOULD HAVE SEIZED . WAS VERY HARD TO WARM UP. MANUFACTURER KNOWS OF PROBLEM. *AK

HEAD GASKETS FAIL ON THE 3.8 L ENGINE. FORD WILL NOT FIX. THEY HAD A RECALL IN 1998, 98M01 BUT WILL NOT FIX AFTER JAN 1999.

ENGINE HEAD GASKET CRACKED, RESULTING IN OIL LEAKAGE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK