When vehicle is at operating temperature, automatic transmission fails to engage properly from a standing start. Several second delay when trying to accelerate from a standing start. Transmission is slipping. Upon investigating in various web-sites appears to be a widespread problem. Hope others are complaining too. Transmission fluid is at proper level. Suffered the head gasket failure. Engine was replaced in december 1999.
1995 Ford Windstar engine complaints
Page 20 of 55: complaints 551 to 580 of 1,613, newest first, as owners wrote them.
There is a recall in process for this, however, I was told that it only covered vehicles with 100,000 miles or less on them. The van had 96,000 miles on it when we purchased it, and now neither ford nor wynn's warranty are going to cover the cost of the repairs for a problem that was so common that a recall had to be issued.ak
Head gasket failed. Nlm
Ford has made good on the repair by reimbursement under onp. No safety defect listed for above vehicle.
The engine has failed numerous times while on the road and in traffic, myself and my family were lucky to have not been hurt during these incidences. Ford sent out a recall on the engine gaskets and it was replaced along with other parts only to be returned to the shop a month later with complete engine failure. The second set of failures ran us off a major highway several times during heavy traffic, this time the van was going 55 MPH not 5mph. When the engine problems started the car literally fell apart, the A/C, electrical, locks, and the brake calipurs all failed. This vehicle has made our lives uncomfortable and put us in danager too many times. We are trying to work with ford to get repairs done, they agreed to replace the engine but it will take a total of 4 mos. To complete due to the back orders for this model and year. This model has had many recalls and engine failures. Ford is trying to get us to buy a new car at a discount rather than fixing the one we have. We are very hesitent to purchase another ford product.
Engine head gasket is defective
Vehicle has been well maintained and routinely serviced per manufacturers recommenations and does not have towing capability. Transmission would occasionly behave as if it were in neutral when trying to accelerate from a complete stop. It finally lost all drive in first and reverse gears, resulting in a $ 2000 transmission repair at the dealer. The faulty part was a cracked aluminium forward clutch piston, which is now replaced by a steel part .(I have the damaged part.) the transmission troubles started after the main head gaskets blew and overheated the engine. I had to repair the head gaskets myself because my vehicle was 4 months beyond the original recall notice limitations. After I repaired the head gaskets with the new ford parts, I just recently received the recall extension notice in the mail approx 2 months ago. What lousey timing.
We have replaced engine twice and transmission x 3 now needs another engine and we've spent over $10,000.00
Electrical problem in dash caused a brake light problem. Ford dealer had to pull out dash to correct problem. Car had a previous recall in which the dash had to be pulled out also. We believe the wire repair in the dash was a result of the previous dash electrical recall. Ford says no. At only 59,400 miles the trans needs replacing. Ford has a dealer service bulletin that states failure of transmissions can be due to a cracked or broken forward clutch pision. Ford says no. Blown head gasket at 87, 300 miles causes engine to have to be replaced. We received a recall letter in march and received $3200 for reimbursement. At 89,000 miles during february of 2000, the second transmission goes out and the mechanic states that the overheating of the engine head gasket problem can affect the transmission. During a test drive of the third transmission, the speedometer goes bad. A recall letter from ford in may of 1994 states that some speedometers can have "incorrect gear" and may cause a loss of function". A letter has been written to ford motor company explaining the excessive costs to maintain a vehicle.
Electrical brake light problem required dealer to pull out dash to repair 8/19/96. Letter from ford says out of warranty. Failure of auto trans at 59,428 in 11/4/97. There is a service bulletin issued by ford for forward clutch pistons. Ford refuses again to cover.-- manufacturing defect. In oct 24, 99 head gasket failure--replaced engine at 87,376 miles. Ford issues recall letter and we receive $3200 from ford june 16, 2000. Second transmission replacement at 89,021. Mechanic states overheating of engine affected the second transmission. During test drive of third transmission, the speedometer malfunctions. The ford dealer repairs problem. The total of these repairs alone total approximately $9500.00!
Consumer to fill up.
Vehicle failed on the pennsylvania turnpike at somerset, pa. Vehicle towed to bedford ford dealership located in bedford, pa. Service manager (paul weiss) admitted that engine head gasket on 3.8 liter ford engines are notorious for early failure. Service manager refused to provide any financial relief. Service manager refused to provide name or contact point of ford district service representative. The ford customer assistance 800-number is not authorized to provide any financial relief...they can only record an individual owner's complaint. Does the federal safety agency have any authority to compel ford motor company to take responsibility for a substandard defective engine component and reimburse the owner for a premature head gasket
Was driving to ball game and van lost power and started to make clicking motor noise. Shut off engine and re- started . The engine keep making noise. Drove home at a very slow pace. This reduced noise from motor . Had it towed to garage, who informed me I needed a new engine at a cost of about $3,400.00. They thought the main bearings where bad but would have to tear it down to find out for sure. Had van towed home. Was afraid to drive van to go trade it in. Paid a guy $300.00 to put lower bearings in so I could drive it. Lost $2500.00 on trade in for bad engine. Total lost was $2,990.00 for towing ,work performed and lost trade -in value. A friend of mine had same problem with his 95 windstar ford. He took his to ford dealer and got relief. We did get recall on head- gasket and had that work performed. It was to late ,I think it had done caused damage to engine. Ford should have something for people like me who took a hit on trade in because for a bad engine.
Head gasket defect.
The vehicle has had the brakes replaced on average every 6,000 miles. The catalytic converter has been replaced at 40,000 miles, the head gasket at 20,000. The cutting out, engine failure has been happening since head gasket was corrected. Ford has responded to a written letter, at which time I was accused for forging my husband's signature (later I was told he was just kidding). This vehicle is unsafe transportation for my 3 children. When moving out into traffic, we are in danger of a collision if the engine fails, as it often does. Please feel free to contact myself or my husband with any questions. Barbara smith. *ak *jb ****dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over to artemis****724221.
I have repeatedly tried to get my vechicle repaired but the dealer insists that he will not give me service.the service mngr. Has refused to even look at the vechicle to determine if loaner is necessary. No safety defect listed in summary.
I would intermittently smell coolant when my '95 windstar was stopped and warm. I brought it into to the dealer to check out because I was aware that there have been many issues with head gasket failures on the windstar (even though I was never notified by ford motor co that there was any kind of "extended warranty" or recall on the head gasket). End result was that the head gasket was not leaking, but the timing cover gasket was. Because I was aware there was the potential for the head gasket failure, I had the dealer replace both the head gasket and the timing cover gasket. The head gasket repair was covered under the "extended warranty" by ford, however the timing cover gasket was not. After looking into this service issue further, I realize that the timing cover gasket failure is also a very common repair in conjunction with the head gasket repair. I am looking to put pressure on ford motor co to step up and admit that the timing cover gasket is also of poor quality and subject to failure, and am hopeful that an "extended warranty" or "recall" will be issued on the timing cover gasket repair as well.
A design flaw causes rocks, when kicked up off the tires to become lodged in the strut resulting in front end noise. Nkm
Due to a design flaw that allows rocks to kick up off the tires into the struts the front end makes a loud popping sound. Nlm
Overdrive light blinking, we brought vehicle to ford dealership. The transmission needs to be replaced at a cost of $1500-$2100 (2 quotes from 2 different ford dealerships). Told us that the transmission was only covered up to 75k under special warranty, we had 80k. We choose to let the vehicle sit in the driveway. A week later check engine light came on. Took it to another ford dealer, told us the head gasket needs to be repaired again (we repaired it last year). Ford won't let us use the buy-back option as stated in the march 2000 letter to windstar owners who have head gasket failure. The dealership and a ford motor corp customer service rep said that once we accepted the reimbursement for the first head gasket repair, subsequent head gasket failures could only be repaired, the buy-back option was no longer available. The letter from ford does not state this and we were not informed at the time of the first repair that this could be a reoccurring problem and that we wont have that option later to use the buy-back program instead of repairing the vehicle. Car is now sitting in driveway until we figure out what our rights are. We would like ford to buy back our windstar for what we owe*ak.
Ongoing loss of engine coolant. Vehicle was taken to dealer, and dealer informed consumer of a blown head gasket. Manufacturter was notified, and informed consumer that vehicle was not covered under manufacturer's entended warranty of 7 years/100,000 miles.
We purchased this used 1995 windstar and a bumper to bumper warranty in april 2000, and our first mini vacation to boulder city, the engine failed in the city of barstow california. We had seven passengers in the van at the time, and had to drive to the nearest ford dealer in barstow to find out the engine was blown. We then had to rent a mini van, and was told my windstar would be fixed in about a week. After two weeks and a rental charge of $1058.00 the van was not repaired. We then contacted the dealer where we had purchased the mini van ken grody in the city of buena park, they had picked up our van from the barstow ford dealer on may 3, 2000 and was promised they would install a new engine within a few weeks. Now it is june 8, 2000 and today I had called for tenth time to the service department and was told the engines are still back ordered. We are very frustrated because we had far in advance made reservation to go on vacation to arizona to the grand canyon with our four children and we are now told we will not have our van for this trip. Ken grody ford has given us a rental mini windstar van to use, but the rental agreement prohibits us to leave the state of california. We need a vehicle to go on our family reunion in arizona. This chaps our hide. We need help!! We had looked on the web site under ford and found out there is a problem with the engines of the 1995 windstar, and was not told of this problem when we made the purchase, and did not receive any inforamtion from ford regarding a recall. What is the next step we take to get satisfaction? We had notice that ford motor was offering $4000.00 towards a new purchase, but we just had purchased the vehicle for $16,000.00 and owe $10,000.00, this is not a very good incentive to move forward to another purchase. We don't know when we will ever see our van again. I feel now we should recieve a new complete drivetrain to include the transaxle. Please help us in this matter, again what should we do?
Timing chain cover gasket is prematurely leaking, cause unknown. *ak 95 windstars were recalled for intake manifold gaskets and valve cover gaskets failures. On all most all of these recalls the front timning chain gaskets are leaking.
Where's ford's accountability? I've changed a gasket in the motor 2 weeks ago and now that $801 repair will be thrown out when the motor is replaced. Ford built tough & to last has now died at 99001 miles. I think ford should pay for a new motor and reimburse me $801 for a useless gasket., plus $450.50 for a new catalytic converter and hose that got blown bec. Of it.
Vehicle was losing coolant, and there was also a funny smell. However, cooliant was not noticeably leaking onto the ground.
Engine head gasket was replaced 1/00. Engine knock started 5/00. Dealer and ford refused payment or assistance.
Just had timing cover gasket replaced before holiday vacation. I believe repair had direct impact on why engine failed. Engine was more sluggish after repair. I noticed problems (lack of acceration) going up hills after the repair. This vehicle's engine is definitely a lemon. This has happened to many others. I'm hoping (praying) ford will do something. The federal safety agency should force ford to cover their mistakes on this model and year.
The last incident reported dated 1/07/00 I was told a very common occurrence with the 3.8 liter engines. Commonly seen in the 95 windstar and the ford taraus. I had a coolent leak and had to replace the timing cover, and gasket. This was extensive work with required replacement of the front crankshaft, oil seal and new timing belt. This also did damage to my water pump and I had to have this replaced also. I have copies of my invoices for the services completed and would like to know how to report this to ford directly.
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