1998 FORD WINDSTAR Engine And Engine Coolingengine Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE PARKING HE SMELLED A BURNING ODOR, AND THEN SAW FLAMES INSIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HE WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE HIMSELF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND HE WAS ADVISED TO CALL NHTSA BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 184,347.

BRAKE MALFUNCTION, DISPLAY OF "SERVICE ENGINE SOON". *TR

I HAVE A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR IN WHICH I RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE AN OIL PAN BECAUSE THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IT HAD WARPED AND WAS CAUSING AN OIL LEAK ON THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD OF A FAULTY OIL PAN IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WITH THIS PROBLEM?*JB

SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND VAN WAS RUNNING ROUGH. DIAGNOSTICS INDICATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFORD RUNNER CONTROL VACUUM MOTOR WAS STUCK. VAN WOULD OVERHEAT IF NOT REPLACED. *NM

1998 FORD WINDSTAR 3.8L ENGINE, HEAD BOLTS STRETCHED CAUSING COOLANT LEAK INTO ENGINE, HEAD GASKET WAS NOT BLOWN SO WYNN'S SERVICE CONTRACT WILL NOT PAY FOR $1800 REPAIR. THIS IS THE SECOND MAJOR EXPENSE, I HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT 80,000 MILES.

ENGINE SHUTS DOWN INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DECELERATING INTO A TURN. IT ALSO SHUTS DOWN MOMENTARILY (VEHICLE "BUCKS") OR FULLY (STALLS COMPLETELY) DURING NORMAL DRIVING, INDEPENDENT OF SPEED. THE LATTER PROBLEM IS MUCH MORE COMMON THAN THE FORMER! CONSEQUENCE: SEVERAL NEAR-MISS REAR-END COLLISIONS, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. AN INDEPENDENT TECHNICIAN REPLICATED BUT COULD NOT PROPERLY REPAIR THE PROBLEM(S). THE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN OCCURRING FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS. *NM

MY HEATING WAS WORKING INTERMITENTLY SO I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO CROWN FORD IN LYNBROOK TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE RADIATOR ALSO NEEDS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE HEAD GASKET LEAKING INTO IT. COST FOR THE REPAIR WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $2300. THERE WAS A RECALL ON PREVIOUS YEARS VEHICLES AND THERE ARE MANY TALES OF WOE REGARDING THIS PROBLEM POSTED ON THE WEB. I DON'T BELIEVE FORD HAS FIXED THIS PROBLEM SUFFICIENTLY FOR THE VEHICLES PRODUCED AFTER 1996.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE HEAD GASKET FAILED . AS A RESULT, A LOUD NOISE FROM THE ENGINE WAS PRODUCED. *AK *SC *JB

OUR 1998 FIRD WINDSTAR ENGINE SIEZED

HEATER ON CAR WASN'T WORKING, SMELLING SOMETHING BURNING. ADVISED THAT WINDSTARS WITH 3.8 ENGINES SEEM TO EXPERIENCE HEAD GASKET FAILURE WHEREIN COOLANT IS EITHER BEING BURNED OR MIXING WITH OIL AND WILL CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE. ADVISED TO CONTACT FORD, NHSTA AND LOCAL DEALER. *AK

FAILED HEAD GASKET IN 3.8L ENGINE. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILURE LEADING TO COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. *JB

PURCHASED A 1998 WINDSTAR ON 11/20/01. WE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ONLY FOUR MONTHS LATER, AT ONLY 44,000 MILES. THIS VAN CURRENTLY HAS A BUSTED HEAD GASKET AND IS INOPERABLE AT ONLY $64,000.00 MILES. THESE ISSUES WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL ARE QUITE COMMON AND WIDE-SPREAD. FOR MOTOR COMPANY IS QUITE AWARE. BOTH PROBLEMS COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS ACCIDENTS AND PROPERTY DAMAGES. THEY ARE EXCESSIVE AND EXTRAORDINARY. *LA

AT 112,000 MILES, MY FORD WINDSTAR HAS DEVELOPED A HEAD GASKET LEAK INTERNALLY WHICH HAS RESULTED IN EXTENSIVE INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE THAT NOW REQUIRES COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. I HAVE 2 PROFESSIONAL REPAIR SHOPS DIAGNOSIS AND BOTH AGREE THAT IT NEEDS AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT FOR THE REASONS STATED ABOVE.*AK

THE FIRST SIGN OF TROUBLE OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT INTO THE REPAIR SHOP. INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKET, IN WHICH THE RADIATOR FLUID WAS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE AND THAT THE REPAIR COST WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $1,500 (CANADIAN). FORD WAS NOTIFIED BUT REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND TO COMPENSATE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT?S NOT COVERED IN ITS EXTENDED WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH ITS WARRANTY IS FOR SEVEN YEARS OR 160,000 KM. *LA

BLOWN HEAD GASKET ON 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. HEAD GASKET IS NOT A SERVICE ITEM AND SHOULD LAST FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE FORD 3.8L ENGINE.

PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION, TORQUE, POWER STEERING, AND FRONT END STABLE RODS & ARMS. *MR THE TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE HAD BEEN REPLACED TWICE, THE POWER STEERING ONCE, THE FONT END STABLE RODS AND ARMS TWICE AND REMAINED BAD. THE BATTERY LIGHT HAD COME ON AND THE IDLER PULLEY WAS REPLACED, THERE WAS A CREAKING/CRACKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL AND THE OUTER TIE RODS WERE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE TOE BEING RESET, THERE WAS A CLUNK WHEN GOING OVER THE BUMPS, THERE WAS A VIBRATION UNDERNEATH DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION, THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND OFF AND SEEMED LIKE THE SHIFTS WERE ERRATIC, THE TRANSMISSION LEAKED BADLY, AND ON SOME OCCASIONS THE STARTER DID NOT ENGAGE. *SCC *JB

I AM SEEKING ACTION TO ALLEVIATE THE COST OF MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS I HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH MY 1998 3.8L V6 FORD WINDSTAR GL. OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, MY WINDSTAR HAS DISPLAYED REOCCURRING AND EXTENSIVE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS IN THE FRONT END, BRAKES, AND ENGINE THAT HAVE RESULTED INCREASING AMOUNTS OF TIME AND MONEY SPENT ON REPAIRS. FROM RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND THAT OUR DIFFICULTIES ARE NOT AN ISOLATED EVENT, AND ARE IN FACT A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE 1998 WINDSTAR, AND ARE THE SAME PROBLEMS FOUND IN THE 1995 WINDSTAR. THE MOST RECENT EVENT WAS THE REQUIREMENT TO HAVE THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER PROVIDED THIS SERVICE WHICH COST $1500.00 IN PARTS AND LABOR. UPON COMPLETION OF THE REPAIRS THE VAN WAS NOT ROADWORTHY, A NEW SHORT BLOCK WAS NEEDED DUE TO DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE FAULTY HEAD GASKET. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED OVER $6000.00 FOR THIS JOB....

BLOWN HEAD GASKET ON 1998 FORD WINDSTAR AT 85,000 MILES. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT VACUUM MOTOR SWITCH FAILS. HE ALSO STATES THAT THE RUBBER DIAPHRAM FAILS ALL THE TIME. THIS PART OF THE AUTO IS SUPPOSE TO BE WORKING IN RELATIONS WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THE TRANSMISSION AND HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK *JB

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED. A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED FOR THE EARLIER MODELS. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ENGINE LOCKED UP WITHOUT WARNING , LEAVING THE CONSUMER WITHOUT POWER. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM. *AK

I HAVE MAINTAINED MY 1998 FORD WINDSTAR VERY WELL - HAVING ALL RECOMMENDED MAINTENACE PERFORMED. IT HAS ONLY 80,000 MILES ON IT AND THE HEAD GASKET NOW HAS A LEAK. COOLANT HAS LEAKED INTO THE #4 CYLINDER. THE DEALER WANTS $3500-4500 TO PUT A NEW ENGINE IN IT. THE HEAD GASKET LEAKING IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH WINDSTARS. FORD HAS HAS A PROGRAM FOR EARLIER MODELS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. BUT FORD HAS YET TO APPLY THE PROGRAM TO THE 1998 MODELS. I EXPECT A FORD VEHICLE TO GET AT LEAST 180,000 MILES WHEN THE OWNER HAS ALL RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE COMPLETED. I WANT FORD TO PAY FOR A NEW ENGINE! I WAS TO PUT ANOTHER 100,000 MILES ON THAT VAN.

CONSUMER STATEDTHERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. PH

WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, THE VAN WOULD VIBRATE. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THEY REPLACED THE MOTOR MOUNTS, HOWEVER THE CONDITION STILL PERSISTS. THE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE REPLACED AGAIN DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM OF UNKNOWN VIBRATION. NLM *JB THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE WORE OUT. THE TIE ROD ENDS WERE REPLACED. *JG

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK *YH

HEAD GASKET FAILURE, COOLANT LEAKED INTO CYLINDAR, BENT CONNECTING ROD.*AK

WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST AND THE ENGINE WAS MISSING DUE TO BLOWN HEAD GASKETS. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK ALSO FOUND BLOWN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 45,000 MILES. *TT

VEHICLE WAS LOSING ANTI FREEZE , AND ENGINE WOULD KEEP GETTING CLOSE TO OVERHEATING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED HEAD GASKET.*AK

HEAD GASKET FAILURE/REPLACEMENT - FORD HAS HAD ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD GASKETS ON THE 3.8 ENGINES. FORD INFORMED ME THAT THEY DO HAVE "PROGRAMS" FOR THIS PROBLEM ON EARLIER MODELS BUT HAVE NOT EXTENDED THEM TO COVER THE 98 MODELS. WHILE MY WINDSTAR IS A 98 MODEL IT WAS BUILT IN JANUARY OF 1997. *AK

BRAKE HOSE LEAK CAUSED A SUDDEN TOTAL LOSS OF BREAKING POWER. AMAZINGLY, THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. THE GASKET FAILURE WAS ATTENDED TO AT THE FIRST HINT OF A PROBLEM, SINCE I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ON MY FORD TAURUS ONE MONTH PRIOR.

WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE FELL OUT TO THE GROUND. DEALER SAID SOMEONE REMOVED THE ENGINE BOLTS. *AK THERE WERE NO EXISTING BOLTS. (ENGINE SUPPORT HELD IN PLACE BY FRICTION ON THE THREADS UNTIL FINAL FAILURE) *SCC *JB

# 4 CYLINDER WAS CHECKED BY FORD DEALER AS DEFECT, BUT IT WAS HEADGASKET PAID $300.00 FOR COMPUTER CHECK WRONG INFORMATION, CAR KEPT STALLING BEFORE AND AFTER INSTALLATION DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE WHILE MAKING TURNS OR SUDDEN STOPS. *AK

THE 1998 FORD WINDSTAR 3.8L V-6 ENGINE'S HEAD GASKET LEAKED ON OUR WINDSTAR AND THE COOLANT CONTAMINATED THE ENGINE OIL, WHICH CREATED ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO EXCESS BEARING WEAR. IN THE LAST 2,000 MILES WE LOST APPROXIMATELY 2 QUARTS OF COOLANT. FORD SAYS IT DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL FOR THE 3.8L HEAD GASKET PROBLEM AND WILL NOT COMPENSATE US FOR THE COSTS OF INSTALLING A NEW FQR 3.8L ENGINE. THE NEW FQR ENGINE ONLY HAS A 24 MONTH/24,000 MILE WARRANTY, WHICH MAY FAIL AGAIN AFTER THE 2YEAR/24,000 MILE AND THE CUSTOMER IS TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF AGAIN! FORD IS AWARE OF THE 3.8L ENGINE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM AND HAS HAD THE PROBLEM SINCE 1988 MODEL YEAR. FORD HAS ISSUED TWO ONPS (OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM) 98M01 WHICH EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR 5YEARS/60,000 THROUGH 1995 MODEL YEARS, AND THE 00M09 WHICH EXTENDED THE 98M01 WARRANTY TO 7YEARS/100,000. I HAVE CHECKED THE NHTSA...

THE 1998 FORD WINDSTAR 3.8L V-6 ENGINE'S HEAD GASKET LEAKED ON OUR WINDSTAR AND THE COOLANT CONTAMINATED THE ENGINE OIL, WHICH CREATED ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO EXCESS BEARING WEAR. IN THE LAST 2,000 MILES WE LOST APPROXIMATELY 2 QUARTS OF COOLANT. FORD SAYS IT DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL FOR THE 3.8L HEAD GASKET PROBLEM AND WILL NOT COMPENSATE US FOR THE COSTS OF INSTALLING A NEW FQR 3.8L ENGINE. THE NEW FQR ENGINE ONLY HAS A 24 MONTH/24,000 MILE WARRANTY, WHICH MAY FAIL AGAIN AFTER THE 2YEAR/24,000 MILE AND THE CUSTOMER IS TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF AGAIN! FORD IS AWARE OF THE 3.8L ENGINE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM AND HAS HAD THE PROBLEM SINCE 1988 MODEL YEAR. FORD HAS ISSUED TWO ONPS (OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM) 98M01 WHICH EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR 5YEARS/60,000 THROUGH 1995 MODEL YEARS, AND THE 00M09 WHICH EXTENDED THE 98M01 WARRANTY TO 7YEARS/100,000. I HAVE CHECKED THE NHTSA...

ENGINE FAILURE 1 MONTH AFTER HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT AND APPROXIMATELY 2000 MILES. *AK

BLOWN HEAD GASKET IS DIAGNOSIS AFTER NOTICEABLE LOSS OF ANTIFREEZE AND HEAT IN VEHICLE.

THE IDLER PULLEY AND DRIVE BELT WERE REPLACED, FAILURE WAS CAUSING NOISE. *MJS

THE FRONT COVER GASKET FAILED AND CAUSING LEAKAGE. *MJS

HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE, HAD NO HEAT UNDER 30MPH.

TRANSMISSION FAILED @ APPROX. 24,000 MILES WITHOUT WARNING, HAD TO BE TOWED, TOOK 3 WEEKS FOR DEALER TO REPLACE, TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN WITH APPROX. 49,000 MILES, UNABLE TO GET OUT OF 1ST GEAR, DROVE TO DEALER FOR REPAIR - TRANSMISSION HAS NEVER SEEMED RIGHT ON THIS CAR - AT A REGUARLY SCHEDULED SERVICE APPOINTMENT WE SPECIFICALLY ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION, THEY SAID IT WAS FINE AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE TRANSMISSION FAILED - UPON REVIEW OF THE OTHER REPORTED COMPLAINTS RE: TRANSMISSIONS FOR THE 98 WINDSTAR,I DO NOT FEEL I DRIVE A RELIABLE CAR - I HAVE ALSO HAD BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE - THEY STARTED SMOKING WHEN DRIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS - I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH POWER WINDOW LOCKS AS WELL AS PROBLEMS WITH OIL LEAKAGE *AK

WHEN MAKING A TURN / REVERSE THERE IS A NOISE PRESENT. DEALER REPLACED THE MOUNTS TO CORRECT PROBLEM. *YC

WITH NO PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE STALLES WHILE DRIVING 30-35 MPH. ABS BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON. *AK

MOTOR MOUNT BROKE. *YC

MOTOR MOUNT BROKEN. MJS

WHEN VEHICLE STARTS TO PICKUP SPEED AFTER MAKING A TURN, IT WOULD HAVE A STRONG JERKING MOTION, LIKE HAVING A TOW CHAIN ATTACHED. *AK

PISTON AND GASKET FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT HARSHLY AND MAKE NOISE.

TRANSMISSION WOULD JERK AS IF BEING REARENDED. FRONT END WOULD WORK ITSELF LOOSE. HAD TO REPLACE BUSHINGS, TRACKING BAR & MOTOR MOUNTS DUE TO BEING DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVABLE AFTER BEING IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE STALLS AND THE BRAKES GRIND. HAD TO BE REPLACE BRAKES TWICE AND ENGINE ONCE. CONSUMER IS HEARING A BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AK