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.
I've have the transmission replaced/rebuilt 3 times, meaning this is my fourth transmission. Twice in 1999 alone and both times serviced by coastal Ford. I had the engine head gaskets blow, also in 1999, and serviced by coastal Ford and I also had to pay for that, which was over $1,400. I just replaced the transmission again in Nov 2001 (for my 4th transmission in 6 years). I've replaced the brake ABS system and had the brakes serviced repeatedly for new rotors, and other componants (not the usual pad replacement). I've written Ford and the local Ford dealership several letters over the years and they have never replied to me. I have spent well over $12,000 in repairs on this van several thousand in rental car charges, even when it was a known Ford recall and Ford would not even cover the cost of the rental. Van always hesitates and engine races and slows while stopped.
The Ford Windstar experienced the engine temperature guage fluctuating up and down the scale; the radiator fluid level was low; next bubbles were noted in the over flow reservoir. The dealer said the engine gaskets were bad and replaced tehm at a cost $1446.02. Nothing was said about a safety recall at this time. Less than a month later we received in the mail from Ford vehicle service and programs (no. 00M09). The letter stated additional warranty was extended for head gasket failure for 7 years or 100,000 miles whichever came first. We had 103,000 miles at the time of our $1400 repair. The problems started before the 100,000 mile warranty but we could not afford any repairs until Jan 2000. Again notice of the extended warranty came in March 2000. Why can't Ford stand behind us on this instead of running from us?
Timing belt covers becomes loose and coolant leaks out which can cause head gaskets to fall. Contact dealer, and dealer stated no recall on timing covers.
The head gasket failed at 125,000 destroying the engine and the transmission, consumer states it took six weeks to get a replacement engine rebuilt, consumer is requesting compensation since Ford has a known head gasket problem.
The head gasket failed on my van at 109K miles and I still owed $6,000 on it although the blue book value at the time was $8 - 9,000 depending on condition. I took the van to sharp Ford in indianapolis and they told me the repair would be $3800. They gave me $2500 for the van as is. That day I purchased a new 99 Windstar and used the $2500 for a down payment. I know alot of people are having problems like this. I talked to Ford several times trying to get compensation for the failure and was told different things including that they would have reinbursed me if I had paid for the repairs. Since I bought the van used I suspect this was not the first blown head gasket for this vehicle. I think Ford should be held accountable for their defective vehicle. I lost $5,500 on that van because of this defect.
Engine gasket has failed 4 times. Engine misfired during acceleration. Ford customer service representative (michelle) refused to answer my questions and concerns. The failure of the engine on the highway had the potential to cause a serious accident.
In 1999 I bought a 1995 Ford Windstar, which I have had problems with ever since. The latest problem is a faulty head gasket. My van currently has 104,000 miles on it, and was taken to a Ford dealership for repairs when it had 88,000 miles on it. I questioned if head gasket was bad, which they denied and preformed other repairs. In August 2001 I started losing antifreeze and took the van to a mechanic who said the head gasket was bad. I immediately contacted Ford customer service who said the van was out of warranty and would not do anything. I then proceeded to write a letter to jacques nasser the president and copied such to various other executives. Ford has acknowledged that there is a problem with the head gaskets but refuses to do anything. My van should have been fixed when it was still under warranty, but instead Ford chose to wait and hope the head gasket would not break until it was out of warranty as it is now. Such is not acceptable. This is Ford's problem. I am a single mother trying to support the household but I have no vehicle to get to and from work and after the events of September 11th, I was laid off from my job. Having no vehicle makes it extremely hard to find a new job, and without a new job I can not afford the costs for the repairs, which I should not be responsible for. I appreciate any assistance you can provide in getting Ford to fix my van. Ford has already extended the warranty for the head gaskets to 100,000 miles/ 7 years, but such is not enough and needs to be extended.
While driving could detect burning smell of anti-freeze, and found a leak into engine. Consumer took vehicle to mechanic. Who indicated that consumer had received a recall notice for engine head gasket that had already been repaired.also timing belt was leaking.
This engine gasket failure occured 10,000 mile after an owner notification warning that this could occur up to 100,000 miles. This vehicle was stopped when the incident happened. The potential for fatal injuries is extremely high if a vehicle was riding on the highway. Ford Motor Company left us with a $4000 repair. It is my hope that the owner notification is changed to a recall which includes fixing this gasket for as long as the vehicle is in operation.
Brakes have vibrated and noisey shortly after purchase. Service centers state nothing is mechanically wrong. 08/22/01, coming back from family trip we experienced a brief roughness of operation and overdrive service light came on. 08/26/01, the vehicle spew white smoke from exhaust, overheated and stalled. Everyone I called and all literature show that to be symtoms of head gasket failure. The oil is like coffee with cream in it, indicating that both gaskets have failed. The dealership service center states the recall extension to be expired. The engine date is 10/25/94 and miles are 94516 within the extension guidelines. One dealership states 3 weeks before they could get to it. I have found many summaries and many other people with this same problem. Please help me to have Ford repair their mistakes.
Number 6 cylinder rod bearing failed resulting in need to replace the crankshaft rod bearings and number 6 cylinder rod. According to the Ford mechanic this was probably due to an anti-freeze leak (most probably from the head gasket). This occurred 17 months after warranty head gasket replacement by Ford. Contacted Ford and they said the warranty recall no longer applied because of the milage and age of the vehicle. I advised that I already had the head gasket replaced under warranty to avoid this very problem. They contacted orange motors in albany NY who replaced the original head gasket to see if they would warranty their work. They would not. This occurred 1,000 miles away from home in tomah Wisconsin at norris-vernier motor sales (a Ford dealer). Due to the excessive cost of the repair ($2,500) and the significant time required to repair, we left the vehicle, rented a car and drove home. We have since donated it to the american cancer society. It's my expectation that a vehicle should be able to go more than 89,000 miles and last more than 6 years without this type of major engine failure, especially since I had all recall warranty work performed, had regular oil changes and spent significant amounts of money on non-warranty work to keep it running. I just couldn't see putting another cent into this piece of garbage. I am especially disappointed that Ford won't stand behind this obviously defectively designed, ill conceived product.
We were stranded on the road twice in this 1995 Windstar and both times the loss of engine power could have caused an accident had we not been traveling at low speeds. This head gasket issue should be investigated and considered for recall since Ford is using their secret warranty program to escape responsibility for putting unsafe vehicles on the road. Ford has not been forthcoming to the NHTSA with the large number of affected vehicles that are still on the road with 3.8 liter timebombs just waiting for the head gasket to fail. In their own intercompany memo regarding head gasket repairs Ford admits their manufacturing problems but limits their service departments repairs to just the head gasket. I would like to see the NHTSA survey owners and former owners of Ford vehicles with 3.8 liter engines, particularly the 1995 Windstar. I think you will find many people who had related accidents as well as many who had to bear the cost of the engine failure in the repair or tradein of that vehicle.
My husband and I purchased our 1995 Ford Windstar used. After 1 week of owning our vehicle it blew a head gasket. We were told that the van was under a recall. This made us relax until we found that Ford has done little to fix the problem that they have known about for some time. We are praying that they truely fix the problem instead of just putting a bandaid on it until the recall is over. We have 3 children and cant afford to keep replacing things that Ford knowingly, have defects. We owe $10,000 for our van and thought we were getting a good buy as the van looks perfect! magazines for new mothers endorse the Ford Windstar as being a great van. I just dont understand how Ford could keep making this van without being responsible for the vans that they have already on the market that are lemons. The Ford Motor Company should have to replace all the defects on these vans before making new ones. I hope that someone will work for the little people and make Ford stand by their american made product. Thank you
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Mobile, AL, USA