On 6/13/2003, at 57049 miles, our 1995 Windstar overheated and seemed to be losing coolant so we took it to zimmerman Ford, St. Charles, il to be checked out. They reported no problem found and we paid $66.79 for a cooling system service and lube service. On October 4th,2003, the check engine light on our Windstar went on. We took it to the same dealership to be checked. They charged $111 for sbds tests and told us we had head gasket failure and quoted $2100 to repair. We contacted five other dealerships in the Chicago area who quoted between $900 and $1600 to do the job. Our van is currently with family Ford of West Chicago being fixed. We have been told to expect a bill of about $1300. Moving from zimmerman to family Ford was not just a cost decision. Zimmerman refused point plank to help us get help from Ford. Family Ford have agreed to keep the faulty parts and help us in any way they can. We have contacted Ford at several levels trying to persuade them that their 7 year / 100,000 extended warranty, plus the 6 year / 75,000 mile extended warranty that we purchased both imply that the head gasket should not have failed at 60,000 miles as ours did. We have also put forth the argument that the original extended warranty 5 year or 60,000 states or not whichever comes first so we feel we have a case to be covered under the terms of this warranty, given that we reported a possible problem at 57049 miles. Ford has said (several times by phone and E-mail)that they are unable to help as we are outside the terms of the extended warranty. They also say that they have very few complaints on this vehicle any more so they will not make an exception for me. I was told that they have made no exceptions outside the 7 year / 100,000 parameters. I feel that we have been penalized by Ford because we have a low mileage on our vehicle and the poor engine construction on the 1995 Windstar, in our case, still failed prematurely at 60,000.

- West Chicago, IL, USA

Head gasket failed. Was blocked tested by aaa service center, san jose, California. Was informed that is will cost me between $1500 and $2000 to repair this problem.

- Cupertino, CA, USA

Head gasket failed at 35,279 (3/98) and repaired by Ford under warranty. Head gasket failed a 2nd time at 80,957 (3/01) and repaired by Ford under warranty. Head gasket failed a 3rd time at 116,298 (9/03). On 24 Sep 03 I wrote Ford requesting they fix the original problem. Head gaskets do not regularly and predictably fail. I would appreciate any help you can provide. I believe my problem is unusual as I am told the head gaskets don't fail this often. September 24, 2003 Ford Motor Company Ford customer relationship center P.O. Box 6248 16800 executive plaza drive dearborn, mi 48126 \T\T\T I am the original owner of a 1995 Ford Windstar van. The vehicle has 116,298 miles and has blown the head gasket for the third time. Warranty work performed on this vehicle by Ford Motor Co. In 1998 and again in 2001 did not solve the problem. My request is for Ford Motor Co. To take appropriate responsibility and action to fix the vehicle. History: March 16, 1998, with 35,279 miles, under warranty, the engine's head gasket failed and was repaired by Ford of walla walla, wa. Invoice attached. March 29, 2001, with 80,957 miles, the engine's head gasket again failed and was repaired by harrell?S Ford in placerville, ca, under warranty at no cost to me by Ford Motor Co. September 16, 2003, with 116,298 miles, the engine's head gasket has again failed. I have spoken with harrell's Ford service manager, mike alunbaugh, and he informed me that harrell's Ford would not be able to repair the engine under warranty. He also told me he spoke with his regional manager and informed me that the regional manager can do nothing to resolve the problem because the regional manager has no authority to respond to problems when a vehicle has over 100,000 miles. I called the Ford customer relationship center and spoke with chairman. This was a very frustrating experience. Her advice was to wait for a recall!

- Shingle Springs, CA, USA

Case 1 my family was coming home from vacation when the engine blew while we were on the highway. Smoke came up from under the hood and we were force to stop the van on a crowded highway. Thanks to a nearby truck driver who stopped behind us, we were able to call someone and get to safety. It took a lot of negotiation for me to get Ford to take care of this matter, but they finally did. Now again on our recent trip to ga on 08-28-03 while driving home, our check engine light came on and overdrive light started blinking and the transmission blew. Transmission fluid leaked all out and on the back of our van too. It also started smoking underneath the hood and from the tailpipe. We were informed by freedom Ford in Norfolk va that we had transmission failure. Our check light has come on numerous occasions and despite their action it still keeps coming on. In addition, our overdrive lights blink, our cruise control do not work, the door adjar lights stays on at times even when the doors all locked and causing the inside interiors lights to stay on, our gears do not shift properly and gets stuck between gears and upon acceleration it sometimes hesitates, repaired coolant leak from timing cover gasket and front crankshaft seal, coil ignition, the air condition when on makes these strange noises, etc. Replaced. We are very dissatisfied with Ford Windstar and have spent more money on repairs than what it was worth. We even still owe on the van. Ford needs to issue a recalll or a refund. This is not a safe vehicle to drive. Please keep me informed. Thanks and god bless.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

Ford Windstar 95 shift lever prdnl does not match gear. When in park car rolls have to find D or R by moving shift lever. Sometime have to put lever in to park twice or three times befor it catched and car starts. When the car rolls back and kills someone it will get Ford attention. Also replaced head gasket engine and head gasket again. Tranny sensor, door ajar sensor. What a car mark hershkowitz

- Bloomington, MN, USA

The transmission tore up in our van at the end of 2000 and has failed again. When it tore up the 1st time, we were covered under warranty, but since we only had 60 days left the company refused to put in a new and put in a rebuilt. Now we have to fix it again. We have been luckier than alot of customers that I've researched, but we are still getting a raw deal with our van and we are very unhappy! we are still in the process of arguing our message to the Ford co. But can tell it will be a failure also. And our heat quit this past winter and now the air is out. When it rains it pours.

- Summerville, GA, USA

The engine problem was the infamous head gasket problem. Even though the engine was over the arbitrary 7 year limit, it was far below the 100,000 mile extended warranty limit. In my opinion, setting a time limit is discriminatory against anyone who drives fewer miles than average. The transmmission problem appeared suddenly. After waiting to turn left, I attempted to accelerate, but the vehicle behaved as though it were stuck in neutral. By the time I had a transmmission expert check the problem, it would no longer shift either into reverse or first gear.

- Oak Creek, WI, USA

It is well documented that the 1995 Ford Windstar head gasket is defective. We own a 1995 Ford Windstar, and at only 72000 miles the head gasket blew off and we now have engine damage. Ford told us that they would do nothing even though there is well documented evidence (tsb 94-9)(oomo9) that the head gaskets are defective on the 1995 Ford Windstar. Ford told us that because we have owned the van 9 years that we do not qualify for the Ford head gasket replacement program because we have had the van too long. This is ludicrous! any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

- Santa Cruz, CA, USA

My 2 main problems are my transmission & timing gear cover. The tranmission is very hazardous. Mine is slipping between 1st & 2nd gear. I have been reading on the internet that on some of the transmissions they have been slipping out of gear. I sure don't want to have that surprise. I'm disabled & need my van to haul my powerchair with me when I go to the doctors office. I wouldn't know what to do. I talked to a mechanic & he said if it goes it will leave me on the road. I think this van is very dangerous on the road. Ford know they were having head gasket & transmission trouble on the 1995 Windstar why don't they take care of there problems. They know they had bad gaskets on the heads, timing chain covers, & transmissions but they still went with the cheaper gaskets that leak. I think the government should step in & make them pay for those repairs before more people get killed like that Ford police car that jumped out of gear & ran over some people in southern mn. A few yrs. Ago. Whats it going to take? a few more thousand people to get killed before they figure that there transmissions are no good.

- Virginia, MN, USA

We bought this car used from a Ford dealer with 86000.miles on it and we put 14000, on it and it blew a head gasket, we are retired on a fixed income and can't afford extra bills like this, we couldn't even afford a new car. So we are stuck with a car that we are afraid of. We were told by the dealer that this was a one owner car and that there were verry few problems with this car.

- Crestview, FL, USA

Brake work X2 transmission X2 all belts tire & suspension work lugs on wheels not properly replaced, it almost fell off still paying on vehicle while it sits in ashley Ford parking lot w/ dead transmission I am unable to pay close to $2000 for repairs

- New Bedford, MA, USA

1995 Ford winstar head gaskets leaking. Head gaskets were replaced Mar 1999 at 40352 mi. Under 98M01 recall. And again Jul 2001 at 79464 mi. Under 00M09 recall. Talked to my local Ford dealer, they said to call dealer that did repair. Both said there was nothing they could do for me. But head gaskets should last more than the 9246 mi. Said repair warrenty only good for 12 months.

- Aloha, OR, USA

On March 29, 2002, my 1995 Ford Windstar experienced a knocking sound. Noticing the oil light was on, I immediately pulled into the shopping center nearby. I was amazed when I had to add 3/12 qts. Of oil, which immediately drained out. This vehicle just recently had an oil change, so I know it was not low on oil. The vehicle was towed to autofair of manchester, nh. On April 2nd, I was advised by the service advisor, K. hamel that the timing cover gasket was the problem and I needed to replace the engine at a cost of $3,639. I also spoke to K. hamels' boss, and was told no warranty was available. I then called the boston area customer service representative, justin boyson. He proceeded to ask me how I got his name...not, how can I help you? he advised me there was nothing that can be done...there is no program available for my auto. This is an outrage, since Ford is well aware of this faulty timing cover gasket which is a known Ford defect which was admitted to by the regional reprsentative, and it should be included in the extended 100,000 warranty.

- Nashua, NH, USA

The engine was the main problem due to the head gasket recall. In July,2000, we argued with Ford about a bad engine running for which we had just paid over $300 to evaluate by an outside repair shop. After about 6 weeks we received our car back with a new long block paid for by Ford, including a rental van for the time in the shop. In January 2001 the engine was running rough again and we were charged $81.45 to check it out and replace a wire bad on cylinder 6 which was misfiring. Three months later in April 2001 the car ran rough again and the engine light was back on (happened for years intermittently since we owned the car). The new long-block had another bad head gasket reinstalled per the second Ford dealership service center. After nearly another month we had the second new long-block in less than one year. Now less than 2 years and 40,000 miles later, following the 110K service of radiator flush and oil change at 113,098 miles the engine rapidly lost oil and is misfiring and burning oil. Ford's position once again is that the warranty was only for 12 months or 12K miles. On a smaller note, the brakes have gone out numerous times and we have replaced rotors and pads numerous times with no improvements. The power steering has performed very poorly. We changed the fluid in 2000 and then the Ford service center and they replaced the outer tie rods and reset the alignment. Within months it was going out again intermittently. Most often when starting out the power steering goes out and you must manually steer the vehicle.

- Sammamish, WA, USA

At 146,00 miles I was just informed that I will have to have another head gasket repair done (that would make it the third time this part has failed) to save the car...I will not do it, as in February, I spent over $750 to have the rear brakes repaired for brake fluid covering the shoes of the brakes, cause by brake line corrosion (just as in the right front brake line corrosion that was a national recall!!!!) but there was no recall for the rears

- Farmington Hills, MI, USA

The engine headgasket on my Ford Windstar has failed a total of 4 times in a 4 year period (57117 miles, 57722 miles, 71713 miles and 89523 miles), resulting in total engine failure because of coolant leaking into and fouling internal parts. The initial defective engine design was never addressed and installing new headgaskets provided only a temporary bandaid solution until the extended warranty period ran out.

- Portsmouth, NH, USA

To whom it may concern, in June of this year(2002) I was shopping for a vehicle for my wife and found a 1995 Windstar at pat mccraken Ford in dewitt Michigan. It was in nice shape and ran good. I had no idea of the headgasket problem that I was about to inherit. Around the middle to the last of November my wife was driving home and it overheated. I replaced the thermostat, radiator cap and waterpump before taking it back to the dealer. He wants to charge me $900 to replace the headgaskets not including new heads which might be bad. On a trade-in on something else he only wants to give me $1000 for the van, which I know he will fix for his cost and put back on his lot to cheat some other unsuspecting person. What makes me mad is that he knew before he put it on his lot that the 1995 Windstar's were prone to engine failures. Being unemployed at the present time I didn't need this problem. Terry

- St. Johns, MI, USA

I experienced 3.8L head gasket/engine failure on April 6, 2003 without any prior symptoms or warnings. Vehicle had just been serviced at 60,000 miles which including flushing the cooling system. Cost of repair is estimated at $3,500.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Transmission- shifting rough since 30,000 mi. 2 dealers tested over the years & said no problem (just adjusted shift points. Same complaint in July, 2003. Dealer checked, said no problem. 1 month later had independent shop rebuild transmission. Engine- head gaskets replaced at 15,000 mi & 35,00 mi. Same symptoms now at 103,000. Just past extended warranty

- West Hartford, CT, USA

- Ardmore, PA, USA