This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Temperature indicator light came on, and anti-freeze came out and spilled throughout the reservoir, causing vehicle to overheat. Took vehicle to dealer, found blown head gasket. Vehicle is out of warranty and owner will have to pay for repairs.
12-13-99 till 12-30-99 no heat leaking anti-freeze, replaced watter pump $373.97 take van back in then need another new engine, but Ford said the maker of the engine would only replace head gaskets.
- Rochester, NY, USA
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This vehicle has had problem from the day we purchased. Most recently, it is currently at dlrship for service due to engine overheating, just short of van catching fire. Prior to this, we had to replace the transmission (approx. 1 1/2- 2yrs. Ago). At this point, we are truly concerned about the safety of this vehicle even after repair.
Though beyond Ford's 60K mile extension, teh service attendant told me that the cracked head casuing the rough ride and coolant leak could have happened many weeks if not months before it got so bad that my wife noticed a problem. The vehicle may have been much closer to the 60,000 mile mark when the damage occurred, though we didn't get it to the shop unitl 70,000. Though no one was injured, the potential for injury was great, I think. If my wife hadn't noticed the coolant level indicator, a much more terrible problem could have happened, not to mention the danger of this problem causing my wife and two young daughters to be stranded along a highway many miles from home at the time.
April 1999, vehicle was taken to bob tomes Ford in mckinney since the engine was smoking. The head gasket was replaced at a cost of $1001. A letter from Ford indicating possible failure of the head gasket had been received 1 year earlier, but the dealer indicated that the gasket did not need replaced. When it did fail, we were past the 60,000 miles indicated by Ford as covered under warranty. Since there was still smoke coming from the vehicle, it was taken back to the dealer (bob tomes). They indicated that the transmission needed replaced. Since they had initially said that the smoking was due to the head gasket, we sought a second opinion at a local transmission shop (economy transmissions of mckinney). They replaced the transmission at a cost of $1353 (05/07/99). Approximately 1.5 months later, the torque converter in the transmission failed. Then approximately 1 month later, the torque converter failed again and had to be replaced. Since then, I've noticed these same two problems listed on several web bulletin boards associated with the 1995 Ford Windstar minivan. In fact, 2 class action lawsuits are being prepared to bring against Ford at this time. I will probably submit my name to those lawyers. (see www.cartrackers.com/forums under lemons or minivans). Obviously, this site has over 2,000 complaints listed for this particular vehicle. In comparison, my 1992 Toyota Celica has just over 50 complaints listed. It would seem like Ford has known about these 2 problems for a long time and has continued to ignore the complaints. Many people who have contacted their customer service personnel have been very disappointed at the lack of cooperation received. I will register a complaint with them, although I sincerely doubt that it will be of much value. This is a case where our government could be of extreme value to the consumer. Please do what's right and necessary. Thank-you.
Driving at average highway speed. Sudden loss of engine power with excessive engine vibration. Engine began overheating with excessive amounts of white smoke from exhaust system.
While driving vehicle engine overheated and vapors from the coolant came into the passenger compartment. Also, vehicle's engine started stuttering. This was due to blown engine head gasket. Dealer has vehicle now.
I had received the extended warranty notice from Ford stating they had a problem with premature failure of the head gaskets on the 95 Windstar. The letter stated the warranty was only extended to 60,000 miles or 5 years. My van started overheating whenever I would drive it. I re-plenish the antifree several times. The check engine light came on and it had a heavy exhaust. I thought at first it was a sensor going bad but when I took it to the shop to be checked. They informed me the head gaskets were blown. I contacted a local Ford dealership. They told me they could not fix the problem since I had over 60,000 miles on the car, even though it was less than 5 years old. They gave me Ford customer service's number to call. I spoke to them and they said they could not fix the problem because the warranty had expired. I could understand this problem if I had abused the van. However, I kept the maintenace up on it. I think Ford should be made to recall the "1995 Ford Windstar" to correct this problem.
Timing cover gasket & seal failure and cylinder head gaskets failure at 48,834 miles. Symptoms were hesitation/jerking when accelerating & coolant loss. Both failure symptoms began at the same time, increasing in frequency for 1-2 weeks until "engine warning light" came on. Vehicle was in for routine maintenance, including cooling system flush/coolant replacement about 2 months prior to failure, & no problem was identified at that time. Dealer covered cost of cylinder head gasket replacement, but did not cover timing cover gasket & seal replacement($708.61). Appealed to corporate level, asking if the coolant leakage might be the root cause of the known cylinder head gasket problem, but they refused reimbursement, saying both failures were independent. I find it oddly coincidental & hard to believe that both problems initiated at the same time, but are unrelated.
Head gasket went out. It was replaced with recall. Rear hatch lock acuator broke not fixed yet. Windshield washer works only after it is pushed repeatedly about 20 times, not fixed yet. I'm tird of spending money on a 4 year old $25000 car.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Bonner Springs, KS, USA