Sudden failure of head gasket which also caused failures of both o2 sensors, timing cover gasket, radiator, and water pump. The head gasket caused a sudden failure which left my family and I stranded for a short time on the side of interstate 75 south of corbin, ky (very dangerous place for a breakdown). The initial head gasket failure caused a massive leakage of coolant through the cylinders and out the exhaust which caused both oxygen sensors to fail (engine light came on). In addition, head gasket failure caused engine to overheat and also opened up the cooling system to being pounded by the pressure of the combustion chamber (failed gasket opened up an abnormal path between combustion cylinders and cooling system) - this resulted in cooling leakage failure in the radiator, water pump, and timing cover gasket. These are expensive failures that appear to be very common to ford's 3.8l v6 engine (head gasket failures) which is also used in their sable, windstar, continental, and mustang. Ford is not taking responsibility for my failure and yet it is a design problem that the federal safety agency's own site shows over 150 failures for the windstar alone (same engine). Ford needs to issue a safety recall on this issue - it was certainly a safety related failure in my case.
1994 Ford Taurus engine complaints
Page 7 of 11: complaints 161 to 190 of 291, newest first, as owners wrote them.
The main failure that I'm interested in reporting is the engine cooling system (failure of head gasket). I have added the 3 failures of the air conditioning system since I feel one of these failures may have caused the already defective head gasket to become even more prone to failure. 1st A/C failure in march 98 was for accumulator hose had a hole in it. 2nd A/C failure in may99 coil-pulley-clutch assy had to be replaced. In july 99 all the hoses including heater hose and the manifold-intake lower were replaced. When I drove the car home from this repair a small amount of smoke came thru the vents into the car and there was a strange odor. I called the garage and reported this they said, " some of the antifreeze must have got onto the engine and not to worry". Fifteen days later on 16july19 the smoke started pouring out of the vents again. This is the 3rd A/C which was for a core heater assy. I think that this cause a overheating of the engine and further damaged the already defective head gaskets (to be far this is only a guess on my part since the temp. Indicator never got in the red area. Also I should mention that the day after all the hoses were changed I had to return the car since there was antifreeze on my garage floor cause my a clamp not being install correctly. The on 14dec99 the car started overheating, I checked the overflow antifreeze area added antifreeze and took the car to the dealer. They did a pressure test and found a bad hose and replaced it. On 21dec99 engine overheating again. Put more antifreeze in took the car to the dealer. First they called and said""it was the thermostat." then the next day they said, "blown head gasket". I think all this overheading didn't help the head gasket but I really think fold should be responsible and made to replace these head gaskets free even though the extended warrenty period on the recall has passed. The recall was not clearly witten.
When driving vehicle engine started smoking because the engine blew a head gasket. The original engine head gasket was replaced in dec of 1997 with 55,000 miles. Please provide any further information.
Engine head gasket and gasket cover needed to be replaced, almost causing engine to overheat at 66,000 miles.
I don't know if this happens elsewhere, but this happened to me in the middle of the expressway in charlotte, nc in heavy traffic. Car just quit running, complete loss of power. Thanks.
Car was having slight and periodic rough idle, mechanic diagnosed it with had gasket failure. Two days later the same mechanic has stated that the whole engine is in need of replacement, due to head gasket failure. No problems were noticed. Have contacted ford & the dealer, both have admitted that there is a problem, but that the warranty extension that was offered has expired. I do not recall receiving any notice for this defect, nor did my car have problems during the recall period. I have surveyed the internet and found many others with same 3.8 head gasket failures and ford is refusing to recall or replace them. Is there anyone else I can talk to prior to visiting the state attorney general and a lawyer ?
When stopping vehicle jumps forward,and when accelerating from a stopped position, vehicle acts as if it is in neutral. This is due to a cracked piston. Mechanic has fixed it.
Car was taken to the dealer on 09/09/1999 when problem detected in starting the car. Upon attempting to start the engine, engine will crank and start but it stalled when key spring was let go at random basis. Dealer claimed to find the problem and replaced multifuction sw and ignition switch, and replaced battery and cleaned the terminals. This cost me $474 and the problem was not fixed. The car was taken back to the dealer on 09/13/1999. On 09/20/1999 dealer claimed that they found the problem and it was just the adjustment in safety switch. Dealer claimed that they fixed the problem. After that the problem did not go away and continue to happen on random basis. The dealer was contacted and dealer indicated that they will call me back when they are ready to fix this. As of 11/22/1999 I have not heard from fullerton ford dealer. The problem is worse now and I can not even start the car. So I called ford customer assistance at 1‑800‑392‑3673 and spoke with duane. I told him that dealership has unsuccessfully attempted to fix the problem. I described the car problem. I asked that ford motor company help dealer to identify and fix the problem since dealer was unsuccessful in fixing the problem and they don't seem to know what the problem is. Duane replied that only dealer is authorized to fix the problem, I should take my car back to the dealer and there is nothing ford motor comapny can do for me. I asked duane that what is the point in taking car back to the ford dealer when after two unsuccessful attempts they have not fixed. Duane repeated the earlier statement of taking car back to the dealer and that there is nothing ford motor co. Can do. As far as the cooling system goes, I asked the fullerton ford dealer to check the leaking coolant on 05/17/1999. They conducted pressure test and replaced coolant and told me that there is no leak. However as of 11/26/99 it still leaks upon starting the car near radiator.
Vehicle experienced a noise coming from the front end of the vehicle due to defective motor mounts which needed replacing.
Approaching highway on ramp, engine temp went from "n" too red box at right of gauge. Drove to dealer, informed most likely a "head gasket" problem and may have damaged engine, no way to know if engine is damaged unitll repair is attempted.
Oxygen sensor failed.
Anti-freeze. Leak got into the engine. Took to dealer, and they said that the engine needed to be replaced. Problem was occurring while engine was under warranty. But, at the time dealer could not find the problem. It wasn't until after warranty expired that they found it was an engine problem. Leak could have caused a fire.
While driving on the highway were not able to shift whenever consumer stopped at a stop light. Got ready to proceed & heard a loud clunking noise. Couldn't go, had to apply brakes to allow the vehicle to move. Contacted amco, and they said that the servo was cracked, and leaking transmision fluid internally. Contacted the dealer, but was not able to see vehicle. Took the vehicle for a follow up at amco, and was told that the right engine mount is cracked.
Premature head gasket failure. No incurring conditions
Head gasket,timing chain cover and water pump failed causing leakage of coolant. Yh
Engine oil pan is rusting under the paint . Dealer has inspected vehicle, and manufacturer has been notified.
No summary
My wife had brought the car into the ford dealer (star ford) the previous october because the car had stalled and died in an intersection. Nothing was found to be wrong. She had it in again for standard servicing and complained about it running rough but nothing could be found wrong. My wife was driving my daughter to school when the car started to overheat and run rough. She managed to drive it to a repair shop. They diagnosed it as a blown head gasket. We contacted ford since my wife had previously received a letter from them stating that due to reported problems with head gaskets they were extending the waranty until the end of 1997 or 60,000 miles. We missed it by a month and a half, or 5,000 miles, and they would do nothing to help us out. We had the car repaired but this past week, on oct. 14 the new head gasket blew. Based on this experience and hundreds of other letters that I have read on various internet web sites, it seems obvious that something is defective with this particular motor. Although in my case, we had no danger involved with the breakdown, we were lucky to be driving in town within close proximity of help. Ford has apparently not done anything to remedy this problem for the older models like mine or even newer models. I called their service technician number stating my concern that should I repair the car again at considerable cost, it would probably not resolve the problem. I indicated that my only recourse was to trade the car in and let the pending problem end up being some other unsuspecting persons burden. I am reluctant to do this but all ford could say was that it was up to me, they couldn"t do anything.
Head gasket failed while driving, however when consumer called to have it repaired per recall dealer refused to repair because the car had over 50,000 miles. Nlm
The head gaskets were defective. Repaired and defective a second time. The engine block was found to be cracked. Ford motor finally accepted responsibility in the form of fixing it at no cost. However, 2.5 months later the water pump, radiator and motor mounts all failed. Ford refused to assist in paying for the pump and radiator. Then refused to fix the motor mounts. I went to three garages who indicated to me that when major engine work is done ($4,300 worth - engine blocks replaced) they should have fixed the other items also as they work closely together. Water pump and radiator approx. $800 and motor mounts approx $300.
Egr valve system is completly rebuilt, check engine light still comes on
Recall # 97v019000 ford/engine cooling fan: while driving driver noticed smoke coming from under the hood.driver pulled vehicle over and discovered that the engine cooling was had overheated. Driver unpluged the fan. Owner replaced the engine cooling fan himself. When contacting the manufacturer on oct 6, 1999, manufacturer stated that vehicle was not included in recall due to VIN.
While driving at 35 MPH the engine head gasket blew out, and threi was smoke coming from the exhaust system.
When the engine overheats or the weather is extremely hot, the engine cuts off and will not cut back on until it has cooled down. Dealer can't find a solution.
Forward engine mount should not fail so often... Perhaps a redesign is in order
Rear mounts broke, causing stress on the front mounts. Dealer wants consumer to pay for the replacement of the front mounts. Dealer has been contacted.
Was out of extented manufactures warranty on 3/31/99 is a known recall problem ford offered no assistance for this repair 9/21/99
Ford knows about problem to many problems with this year
Engine head gaskets blew out. There was a recall for this matter but the dealer refuses responsibility because the warranty has run out.
I am reporting this because I don't feel I should be penalized for a faulty headgasket being put in the vehicle. I have to pay because I drive carefully and mostly highway miles and was able to keep the part working until I was over the mileage mark. Secondly I was not informed when the 7/98 notice came out so I could not have the vehicle checked out. I moved here in july of 1998. Ending the plan 5 months later before I could even get to a garage to find out was not the best option either. A faulty part is a faulty part. I should not have to pay for ford's attempt to save a buck or two.
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