1996 FORD WINDSTAR Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline Problems

ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 37900 MI. - DETECTED WHEN TRANS FLUID LEAKED ONTO HOT ENGINE PART AND SMOKED. ORIGINAL WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 36,000 MI. DEALER TOLD ME THAT FMC WOULD SELL ME AN "EXTENDED POWERTRAIN WARRANTY" FOR $250. THE WARRANTY WOULD COVER THE PREVIOUSLY DIAGNOSED TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND WOULD COVER ANY OTHER MAJOR TRANS/ENGINE PROBLEMS UP TO 75,000 MILES, PROVIDED I AM STILL THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND WAS GLAD I DID WHEN THE REPLACED TRANS FAILED TA 42,952 MILES. THE DEALER REPLACED THAT TRANS, I HAD TO PAY A $50 DEDUCTIBLE. IN JAN. 2001 (58,100 MILES) THE WARRANTY HAD TO BE USED AGAIN. THIS TIME IT WAS FOR "UPPER AND LOWER MANIFOLD SEALS". HOWEVER, THIS TIME IT WOULD COST ME $213 BECAUSE THEY ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE SPARK PLUGS, WHICH WERE NOT COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. JUST LAST MONTH, 6/22/2001 THE...

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE JUST ALL OF A SUUDEN STOPPED RUNNING, CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED, ACCORDING TO MECHANIC THERE WAS NO OIL PRESSURE. *JB

TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER 6 TIMES SINCE OCTOBER 2000 FOR ENGINE KNOCKING/ SHAKING/ ENGINE LIGHT ON, AND ENGINE MISSING. DEALER COULD NOT REMEDY. THEN ON 31 MAR CH, 2001 VEHICLE WAS STARTED. DRIVEN ABOUT 10 YARDS WHEN CONSUMER HEARD A BIG BANG, ENGINE STALLED. TOWED TO DEALER WHO FOUND COOLANT WAS COMING OUT OF EXHAUST. ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES AND AT TIMES REMAINS ON. THE ENGINE HESITATES WHILE ACCELERATION. PER THE DEALER THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAS DEVELOPED A SMALL CRACK WHICH ALLOWS COOLANT TO SEEP INTO THE ENGINE AND CAUSE AN OCCATIONAL MISFIRE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY AND WILL COST $1,800 TO REPAIR. PER NHTSA RECALL REPORT IN 1995 THE SAME ENGINE AND IN WINDSTARS WERE RECALLED FOR THE SAME ISSUE. ALSO SIMLAR ISSUE NOTED IN 1996 WINDSTAR COMPLAINTSS.

WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM TAILPIPE/LOSS OF ANTIFREEZE. TOOK VAN TO DEALER. GOING TO COST OVER 2000 DOLLARS TO FIX. WITH THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENING TO SO MANY PEOPLE WHO OWN 1996 WINDSTAR, YOU WOULD THINK SOMETHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEMS THESE VEHICLES ARE HAVING BUT THEY REFUSE TO FIX THEM. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

FORD NO HELP. NEED NEW MOTOR. TOLD TO HAVE NICE DAY. WILL GET FIXED,FIGHT WITH FORD AND IF NO SATISFACTION WILL TRADE ON JAPANESE MODEL.LIKE THE WIND STAR , DON'T LIKE BEING TREATED LIKE AN IDIOT. HAD FORDS ALL MY LIFE, THIS IN ALL PROBABILITY, WILL BE MY LAST ONE.QC IS JOB 1 MY ASS.

FORD SAID MY MOTOR MADE IN AUGUST 95. RECALL ISSUED FOR MOTORS MADE IN JUNE JULY. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

VEHICLE'S BLOWER WAS WORKING, HOWEVER NO HEAT WAS COMING OUT, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE HEATING PROBLEMS AND DEALER FOUND COOLANT WAS LOW, 2 WEEKS LATER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND SHORT TIME LATER, VEHICLE OVERHEATED, DEALER STATED TO CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. *SLC

LEAKING ANTIFREEZE AT TIMING COVER GASKET. WINDSTARS HAVE BECOME KNOWN FOR HEAD AND TIMING COVER GASKET LEAKS. REPAIRS ESTIMATED TO BE $700 - $900 TO REPLACE A $7 GASKET WHICH FORD KNOWS IT HAS A PROBLEM. FORD SHOULD BE MADE TO REIMBURSE CUSTOMERS EXPENSES AND ISSUE RECALL ON OTHER AFFECTED VEHICLES. FORDS CUSTOMER SERVICE NEEDS ATTENTION. PROBLEM STARTED IN EARLY OCTOBER 2000 WITH LOSS OF HEAT FOR HEATER OPERATION. I NOTICED ANTIFREEZE LEVEL WAS LOW AND REFILLED. HEAT RETURNED. VEHICLE WAS UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY UNTIL NOVEMBER 2000. ABOUT MID NOVEMBER NOTICED ANTIFREEZE LEAKING ONTO DRIVEWAY. GILBOY FORD HAS CONFIRMED TIMING COVER GASKET LEAK. I AM ON FULL TIME DISABILITY AND FEEL FORD SHOULD BE FOOTING THE BILL FOR THIS REPAIR. THANK YOU FOR YOU ASSISTANCE

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

LOSS OF COLLANT IN ENGINE.DEALER EXPLAINED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND WOULD COST FROM $1200 TO $1500 TO REPAIR. DEALER ALSO ADDED THAT THAT MOTOR IS A "TIME BOMB" TROUBLE CODE IN COMPUTER IS PO301 (MISFIRE AT #1 CYLINDER). FORD NO HELP, CONSIDERING THEY ADMIT THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT HAPPENS ANYWHERE AFTER 60000 MILES. *AK

FORD RECALLED ALL CARS WITH THIS ENGINE EXCEPT THE 1996. MY WINDSTAR WAS MANUFACTURED IN JULY 1995 USING THE SAME ENGINES THAT WERE PUT IN THE 1995 CARS. *AK

FORD HAS BEEN UNWILLING TO DISCUSS WITH ME. I'VE CALLED AND WRITTEN TO NO AVAIL.*AK

ENGINE LIGHT ON, ENGINE MISFIRES,ROUGH

I HAVE HAD THE WINDSTAR IN AGAIN, WITH SAME SYMPTOMS AS BEFORE. HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TONIGHT TO SEE EXACTLY WHATS WRONG. VAN RUNS TERRIBLE AGAIN. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NO SUMMARY

NO SUMMARY

NO SUMMARY

ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, STAYS ON ENGINE RUNS ROUGH. THIS CONTINUED FORM JANUARY TO JULY WITH VEHICAL GOING IN TO SHOP AS MUCH AS 5 TIMES IN ONE DAY . SAYVILLE FORD ON LAST ARRIVAL SAID HEAD GASKET FALURE AS IN ALL WINDSTARS FROM 1995 AND 96. THEY SAID THIS IN JANUARY AND EVERY VIST AFTER THAT UNTIL THE LAST ONE WHEN WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT OF EXHAUST. THEN THEY SAID REPLACE HEAD GASKETS. AT THIS TIME THEY FOUND THE NUMBER 1 CYLINDER ROD BENT AND I WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE. THEY STILL HAVE THE VEHICAL AND WANT ME TO PAY FOR DAMAGES I WILL NOT SEEING THEY SHOULD HAVE FIXED IT IN THE BEGINING. I CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY WOULD NOT STEP IN SAYING THE DELERSHIP AND THE CAR IS MY PROBLEM. I EVEN ASKED FOR THE FACTORY REP TO LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM AND WAS...

THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING. YH

THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING. YH

DEALER HAS TOLD US ENTIRE ENGINE MUST BE REPLACED. *AK

I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS FORD WINDSTAR SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN 8/98. IN JULY OF 99 MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THEN IT BECAME A STALLING PROBLEM. FOR 3 MTHS THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THEN ON APRIL 21,00 THE COIL SPRING BROKE, AND THE SPRING WAS JAMMED INTO OUR TIRE WHILE DOING 70 ON THE WEST VIRGINIA TURNPIKE. LUCKILY WE WERE NOT KILLED OR INJURED. FORD HAS RECEIVED A LETTER CONCERNING THESE ISSUE'S AND HAS NOT RESPONDED. *AK

ENGINE MADE LOUD NOISE, THEN CUT OUT. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AT ALL. HAD TO PUT NEWER ENGINE IN. *AK

VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHEN MAKING TURNS OR IF STOPPING ON A HILL. NO WARNING. LIGHTS CAME ON. *AK

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

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

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS FAILURES OF SYSTEMS IN MY VAN. THE ENGINE MUST BE REPLACED, THE SPEEDOMETER IS OUT AGAIN. *AK

I REPORTED ENGINE HESITATION DURING ACCELERATION TO FORD (DEALER)ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THEY ALWAYS CLAIMED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I REPORTED ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE WHEN STARTING, WHICH THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE. I SERVICED THE VEHICLE FREQUENTLY TO KEEP ALL SYSTEMS FUNCTIONING WELL. NOW, THAT THE GASKETS HAVE FAILED, THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT THE HESITATION AND ROUGH RUNNING ARE SYMPTOMS OF HEAD GASKET FAILURE. OF COURSE, NOW I'M OUT OF WARRANTY. SO FORD HAS OFFERED TO REPAIR BOTH FAILED GASKETS AND ALL RELATED REPAIRS AND TO EXTEND MY DRIVETRAIN WARRANTY TO 75K MILES IF I PAY $495.00. I HAVE REFUSED. MY CAR SITS UNUSABLE IN MY DRIVEWAY. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE 9/99. SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE, 2 DIAGNOSTICS PERFORMED. FRED BEANS FORD HAS BEEN UNABLE TO CORRECTLY DIAGNOSE AND REMEDY PROBLEM. MANUFACTURE OFFERING NO ASSISTANCE.

WHEN DECELERATING THE VAN WILL STALL. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT ALL SPEEDS. IT IS A VERY INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. ALSO VERY DANGEROUS. WHILE ON VACATION, AND TRAVELING ON MAJOR HIGHWAYS AT 60-65 MPH THE VAN WOULD STALL WHEN LETTING OFF THE ACCELERATOR. WE WOULD HAVE TO IMMEDIATELY PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THERE WAS ONE NEAR COLLISION WITH A TRACTOR TRAILER THAT WAS FOLLOWING TO CLOSE. I HAVE SPENT OVER $200 AT 2 FORD DEALERSHIPS AND THEY SAY THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THIS IS AN EXTREMEMLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE PROBLEM DOES NOT OCCUR IF THE FUEL LEVEL IS KEPT AT 75% OR ABOVE.

WHEN THE VEHICLE HITS A BUMP ENGINE CUTS OFF. HAS HAPPENED 6 TIMES. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE 6 TIMES. ALSO DEALER REPLACED A SCREW THAT HELD THE GROUNDING FOR THE FUEL PUMP. *AK