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.
We have replaced the transmission twice. The first time at 72,000 miles and then again at 94,000 miles. The brake pads, rotors, tie rods, rear whell cylinders, front drive axle have also been replaced. The pads 4 times and the rotors twice, ground down in between. Now the head gasket has blown and possible caused enough damage to warrant replacing the whole engine.
Engine failure due to failed cam shaft bearing. Head gasket had been replaced 6 month prior due to leakage. Ford dealership making repair could not obtain the cam shart replacement kit because "demand had exceeded expectations". we had to buy a short block. Other problems: Brakes pumping - need new rotors several months after getting new pads. Another problem - interior lights that will not go off have required repair two time.
We purchased our Ford Windstar minivan in January 1997, with nearly 25,000 miles on it. The safety reports (especially one seen on dateline nbc) indicated that the Ford Windstar was superior to other vehicles of its type in traffic accidents, and this strongly influenced our decision to buy.
Ford issued a letter to owners dated June 1998 and they ackowledged the failure and offered to increase the warranty to 5 years or 60,000 miles. They now do not consent to taking the 5 year portion after they have admitted the problem was the failure of a head gasket. I have to pay $5,000 to repair the engine and on the internet I have noticed many complaints about this specific problem and even class action lawsuits being initiated by several attorneys.
The engine froze up. This was due to the head gasket problem that this 3.8L V6 engine is known for. The only indication we had was erratic readings of the temperature gauge. It would climb to the upper range but then drop immediately. There was no white smoke coming from the tailpipe. I planned on taking it to my mechanic to check it out except that the engine locked up. My mechanic said the head gasket must have been blown and antifreeze was mixing in the oil. He said that with this engine one time of overheating can cause the headgasket to blow. The entire engine had to be replaced. After some research it appears Ford is well aware of this problem. Their solution was to extend the warrenty to 60000 miles but not tell anyone about it. Doesn't help me anyway. This is obviously a mechanical defect with the engine. Overheating one time should not require headgasket replacement or a new engine.
In March 1999 the head gasket failed on my 1995 Ford Windstar.the failure occurred at 75000 miles which was beyond Ford's extended warrenty for this defect by 15000 miles as well as being beyond the Dec.1998 cutoff date.when we contacted Ford's customer relations department we were told this was "normal wear and tear" so we had to eat the $1000 repair bill.in May 1999, on the way home from work after midnight the low oil pressure warning indicator came on.the upsot of this was a complete engine rebuild again at my expense;$2800.last Monday, October 4,1999 on the way back to louisville, ky.from waymart, pa. In Maryland the transaxle gave out 600 miles from home.repair bill for this, $1800.the safety issue in all of this?anytime you are stranded along the side of the interstate away from home after dark your safety is in jeapordy.
Head gasket blew causing a lot of strong smelling, white smoke to come from under the car and out of the exhaust. My wife had four children in the van at the time. She stopped the car and got all the children out of the van - thinking it might blow up. We had the car towed to the dealer and found out the head gasket had blown requiring $1,400 to $2,500 in repairs (depending on the severity). We chose to have just the gasket replaced but will probably need to have lower engine work down in a few months for another $1,000 or so.
The blown head gasket is a major problem with the 3.8L engine. I have researched this problem and found that many others have had similar problems. If you need numbers, they are out there.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Rochester, MN, USA