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 gauge would go up/down. Would add freeon to try to correct. Had map sensor changed. Vehicle was leaking fluid. There was liquid in the exhaust pipe (antifreeze). Been in contact with the dealer & manufacturer. Was informed that program, which was for 7 years, and unlimited mileage from date of vehicle's manufacturer, has expired & nothing could be done. Vehicle was not beyond the 7 year limit.
The vehicle experienced several engine related failures, the head gasket failed two times, the dealer would not compensate for the second failure and also did not offer the consumer the $4000 certificate towards a new vehicle, after the first head gasket repair, the vehicle continued to lose coolant, the engine cylinders were replaced, the timing cover was cracked, the serpentine belt was replaced, and the blown gasket caused the vehicle to overheat, shake, and smoke.
Our head gaskets failed on the vehicle. The only warning was an erractic tempature gauge. We are air force officers serving in the uk and transported the vehichle with us. We are only allowed one vehicle, and we are now without a vehicle for a very long time due to very short supply of parts in the uk. It is very disappointing to find out that Ford was and is well aware of this failure, yet refuses to pay the cost. I would never sell my car to someone else knowing full well the headgaskets are going to blow, so Ford has knowlingly stuck all windtar owners with this huge bill. Ford should be held responsible for a recall of this vehicle due to thier knowledge of the problem.
Consumer has had head gasket replaced 3 times starting October 24th, 1997. Problem has never been resolved. Dealer has sent a letter to extend the warranty. Warranty was up at 100,000. Consumer only had 10,000 miles to go. Engine blewout the first time. Other problems have occurred, such as the temperature gauge.
After initially getting the head gaskets replaced at no charge in Dec. 1999, the van had the same symptoms in March 2000. The symptoms were no heat, irradic temperature gauge, and loss of anti-freeze. I brought the van back to the dealer in March 2000. I was told that the timing cover gasket needed to be replaced. Initially the estimate was for $900 but I had complained to Ford motor and the dealer (able Ford) charged me $715 for the repair. Now the van started to exhibit an erratic temperature gauge, the needle going up and down probably from air pockets in the system, and running a little rough. My dilema is whether or not to trust the dealer and Ford to diagnose, and fix the car properly.
I bought this vehicle used in July 1997 with 32,000 miles. Since that time, I have had the brakes repaired three times and they still squeak. The airbag module had to be replaced four months after purchase, luckily under federal warranty. Then in June 1999, I had to replace the fuel tank because the straps caused it to crack. Ford would not do anything to help because there was no recall. In January there was a recall for the exact same problem, but only in certain counties in certain states, not NJ, Ford would not bend, despite my letters and phone calls. In late March 2000, my airbag light came on again as did my ABS light. My brakes needed to be fixed again. Since my airbag was fixed over 12 months ago, it was not covered. My engine check light came on April 11 and stayed on for two days, then turned off. We were planning a trip to wash, DC, so I brought it to fullerton Ford for service on 4/25. They informed me that it needs head gaskets (which it was recalled for) and $1,400 worth of other work, not affiliated with the airbag light, or the engine check light. The engine check light was for a camshaft positioning sensor that is a $50 part, with $150 worth of labor, also want me to have a timing cover gasket replaced at $815, a temp gauge at $82, an engine flush for $99.95, a water pump at $140 parts only, $40 for drive belt, and misc. Labor at $111. My complaint is this. I dropped the car off on 4/24 for a 4/25 appt., they hadn't looked at it at 4:00 on 4/25 and wanted me to pick it up and bring it back the next day. When I protested, they looked at it and said it would need head gaskets. They said the Ford rep would be out the next day and that he would also consider my gas tank complaints. On Thursday, 4/27, they said the work would be done "hopefully" by 5/5. today, 5/2, one week after dropping off the van, they are telling me I won't have it back until 5/12 or 5/19 at the earliest!!!! because they are too backlogged with vehicles."?"
While traveling down highway, engine check light and heating light came on. Consumer moved close to the lane. Then heard a loud pop, and white smoke came out from everywhere, consumer was completely blinded. But, felt safe enough to move to shoulder and wait for help.
While driving the temperature gauge barried at hot, then engine check light came on. Pulled over and white smoke came from tail pipe. Then van would not restart. A mechanic replaced the head and I drove it for approx. 400 miles when the engine started nocking and the trans. Would not shift out of 2 gear until it got hot then wouldn't shift out of 1st I believe the head gasket damaged the engine and trans. Van is undriveable and still owe for it.
Premature headgasket failure on Ford 3.8L engine left me stranded at the side of the road in sub-freezing temperatures. Van temperature guage rose rapidly, followed by loss of all heat, reduced power, and illumination of the "check engine" light. Fortunately, I was in a populated area, and I was able to arrange transportation from there. This premature engine failure occurring in a remote area under similar temperature & weather conditions could have been disasterous. Dealer troubleshooting yielded headgasket failure and major damage to #4 cylinder. Van now needs new engine. Personal research has shown that this is a well-known engine design & manufacturing problem plaguing Ford 3.8L engines, yet Ford Motor Company refuses to accept any responsibility for the $3500 cost to replace the engine, or to issue a recall to correct the problem before catastrophic damage occurs. Ford's own instruction manuals list headgaskets as a 120,000 mile maintenance item. Headgaskets should last the lifetime of the engine. The dealer acknowledged that this is a huge problem in these engines, but could not or would not help resolve the problem. I was advised of a Ford "program" that extended warranty on this problem to 5-yrs, 60,000 miles. This alone seems like Ford's accnowledgement of a problem, but is clearly not adequate for a 120,000 mile part. The dealer also acknowledged that not all owners received the notice on the "program" (I haven't found anyone who did), and that they "are dealing with a tremendous number of very-upset customers" because of it. In daily use, this van is routinely used to Transport small children, including my 10-year old son who has muscular dystrophy, is non-ambulatory and is confined to a wheelchair. Ford has produced a well-known and well-documented design/manufacturing defect in these engines, and in doing so, has placed the safety of my family (and countless others) in jeopardy, yet refuses to admit the problem, and worse yet, to act.
Temperature gauge went to red many times, and engine check light appeared on the dashboard unexpectedly. Consumer received recall notice 98M01 on that problem. But, dealer did not work on the vehicle because the recall expired. Consumer received two more recalls, 97S88 and 99S33.
Temperature guage shot up to high and there was no heat. I was on my home from work and driving on the X-pressway. When I reached home I called dealer immediately. I was told not to drive the car. The car remained in our garage for a day and then was driven to the dealer. I was told that the head gaskets needed replacing for a total cost of $1400. This car has only 66,000 miles on it and from what I have seen and heard this is a problem Ford has with this van. Warranty was up at 60,000 miles. I need to know if they timed this failure to occur until the warranty ran out. I even had the extended warranty, which of course is good for nothing. This car does not have that many miles on it to have this type of costly repair.
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.
While driving home vehicle started to overheat. Temperature gauge needle indicated overheating. Took vehicle to dealership next day. Mechanic indicated head gaskets had blown. Owner would need to pay part of cost of repairs. Owner feels manufacturer should fill the bill.
Experienced problems with temperture gauge going up & down., and blower emittiing cool air instead of heat. Vehicle operated very sluggishly. Radiator leaked as well. Vehicle is being serviced by a Ford dealership. Dealer informed consumer that the engine head gasket had blown out, and there was a service program for the some make and models. Since vehicle had exceeded mileage requirment, consumer would have to pay for repairs.
Engine began to heat up, temperature gauge went up, and anti-freeze blew out of the exhaust. Consumer pulled car over, and had it towed to a manufacturer.
While driving around town. Heard a funny sound, restarted vehicle and the temperature gauge went high. Towed to dealer, and dealer determined that head gasket blew out and needed to have the engine flushed. Contacted dealer, and replaced head gasket. Oil light was coming on. Dealer said that vehicle will continue to have problems. Stepped on gas pedal and vehicle would hesitate when stopping, then shut off.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Orlando, FL, USA