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.
Was not informed by Ford of the "owner's notification" program. Told by thee that time had expired. Would like your office to see if they will extend their program. 75000 miles is way too soon for a head gasket. I understand that there are thousands of similar complaints. Thanks.
Had received a service bulletin regarding engine head gaskets. Dealership refused to repair unless head gaskets had blown out. Had to get timing chain replaced. The motor blew out & anti-freeze leaked through the motor.
IE98080; while driving engine head gasket blew out, and the vehicle stalled in an intersection which almost caused an accident. Ford did an owner's notification for the head gaskets, but it was on December 31, 1998. At that time occupant did have vehicle inspected, but it was determined that there was no problem with head gaskets. But, in Mar 99, vehicle experienced head gasket failure.
- Castleberry, AL, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
Ford recalled the head gaskets in the '95 Windstar. They sent their letters out, and I took mine down to the dealer near me to get it checked out. They said that it passed the test. But three months after that my gasket blew out while I was sitting at a red light. I called their customer service number and they told me they could not help. How can I get Ford to pay for their defective part that they recalled because of premature failure? I would appreciate any information you could give me. Sincerely, serena terry.
There are evidently severe problems with the 1995 Windstar head gasket and transmission. When will the government respond to our complaints and force Ford to take responsibility for their mistake?
My Windstar recent engine failure was preceeded by the "check engine" warning indicator coming on as I was driving the vehicle. I pulled off the road to investigate. Upon opening the hood I was immediately exposed to a dousing of both boiling water & steam escaping from the radiator overflow reservoir which overflowed itself from the head gasket malfunction. I received painful burns on both my hands and face.
Head gasket failed at 48K and again at 53K miles. Ford's extended warranty 98M01 for the gasket ends at 60K, but should be extended to cover recurring failures, and should encompass other/later engine damage caused by the gasket failure.
Blown head gasket occurred at stop sign, huge plume of white smoke. Luckily, this did not happen on the freeway and caused a crash/fatality. Ford knows there is a problem with the head gasket per their service program 99M01. People can and will get hurt by the vehicles that were not repaired by this program that expired 12/98. My wife said the plume of smoke was huge, it could block the view of drivers behind a vehicle that has this problem along with causing the sudden stoppage of the vehicle that has its engine seized up as a result of a blown head gasket. Please refer to the web site of www.primecutsofbluegrass.com/windstar2.htm for a list of other vehicles that have had this problem, and be sure to know that this list was just started this month on 3/13/99. 24 vehicles in 17 days, someone is going to get hurt. And this is just a list of the 95 Windstar, the Ford 'program' covers 94 & 95 Taurus and Sable owners also.
Never received a notice of extended warranty of head gaskets. They went 5 days after 12/31/98. Dealership paid for the repair, but now engine had to be replaced because of the head gaskets.
Vehicle experienced continued engine failures related to head gasket failure (recall notice sent after repairs), however failure damaged entire engine, denied service due to mileage.
Head gasket failed, causing starter nose to shear off, and coolant to be ejected onto emission control components, including catalytic converter) and out of exhaust system.
Consumer received a safety bulletin dated June-98 regarding engine head gasket failure. Consumer exprienced the problem in March-99 and the bulletin has expired.
Received a letter from Ford June, 1998 stating that premature failure of head gaskets may occur. They would pay for this if van is less than 5 yrs old or has less than 60,000 miles or if head gasket fails between June, 1998 & December, 1998. Our van had 89,000 miles & head gasket failed March 3, 1999. Ford would not pay. I called Ford customer service dept. 03/28/99. They said that our only recourse is to wait to see if Ford issues another no-charge warranty for this coverage. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
This vehicle has been in for service since we bought it new for engine check lights and poor runability. Compression tests ran in November because engine ran poorly. Dealer replaced oxygen sensors, and then a month and a half later, the head gasket failed. Ford would not honor the recall since it expired on Dec. 31,1999. I think the dealer missed the diagnosis all along, the gasket was failing. The failures of the gasket and transmission along with the numerous sensor replacements has cost me about $5800. These problems are too numerous in numbers, many 95 Ford Windstar owners are having the same or worst problems. These problems are well known to Ford and they refuse to take responsibility. You must make these recall issues to force them to improve their quality.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Colts Neck, NJ, USA