Head gasket went out. It was replaced with recall. Rear hatch lock acuator broke not fixed yet. Windshield washer works only after it is pushed repeatedly about 20 times, not fixed yet. I'm tird of spending money on a 4 year old $25000.00 car.
1995 Ford Windstar engine complaints
Page 38 of 55: complaints 1,091 to 1,120 of 1,613, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Head gasket failed, misfire one cylinder draining coolant, no smoke though. 98m01 expired. Now what?
In researching defect found in the ford winstar, I have found numerous complaints by other owners about transmission failure. I have spoken with my local ford dealer about this problem and he has acknowledged numerous (more than normal) failures in this model. Transmission failure is a safety related issue as the vehicle failed during driving on a busy interstate and had to be quickly driven off the freeway under limited power across several lanes of traffic.
In june of 1998, while we were living in fayetteville, ar, we received a letter from ford motor company stating that they had problems with their head gaskets in the '95 windstars. Shortly after that, we had the car serviced for an oil leak (at springdale ford in springdale, ar). They said they saw no problem with the head gasket when we asked about it. We faithfully had this van serviced at springdale ford while we lived in ar. We moved to iowa in jan. Of this year. We then begin servicing the van at bob zimmerman ford in cedar rapids. This summer we spent about $700 on repairs again, but nothing was mentioned about the head gasket. Then in aug, the check engine light came on and when we took it to the dealer, they said the head gasket had failed and leaked antifreeze into the engine, ruining it. We needed the van, and were forced to put a new engine in at a cost of $4000. After trying to pursue help from bob zimmerman and springdale ford and also from ford directtly, with no luck, I began researching on the internet. We found case upon case of the engine/ head gasket problem. I also found out that there were numerous transmission failures. We just traded the van in 2 weeks ago, rather than wait for the transmission to fail. I am interested in getting reimbursed for all or part of the $4000 damage. I feel very strongly that ford knows of the defect and also knows that it will fail, not if it will fail.
The engine head gaskets failed. The piston had burnt out. Underhood interior wall was scorched. Vehicle had overheated. Had notice puff of smoke from tail pipe.
We have heard rumor of a "secret warrantee" on the head gasket that failed. Is is true and if so where do we start? We paid $1100. For repairs and feel badly ripped off.
Transmission - cracked aluminum piston, no 1st or reverse, had to shift to second,brake, and increase rpms to engage in 2nd. Flywheel cracked resulting in immediate loss of power on residential street. Head gasket blew on residential street while stopped. Anti freeze leaking out of muffler, engine overheat.
Transmission slips starting from a start position.slips on upshift.consumer has contacted dealer and manufacturer. This is the third transmission.
Ford has a historical problem with the premature failure of the 3.8l head gaskets. Also, in 1994-95, alumunum forward clutch pistons was used in the axod trans. Was replaced with steel per ford. Ford must step up and take responsibility!
Purchased van used from ford dealership. 2 months or approx 2,500 miles later head gasket failed leaking coolant into oil and destoying engine. Ford dealer will not stand behind the sale and also said that it new of no known problems this type of failure. I have since found out that they were replacing gaskets if vehicles had 60,000 miles or less. I beleive I was deceived by people who knew there was a potential catastrophic failure and chose to say nothing.
First had problem with cooling system. Car got hot abruptly on more than 4 occasions. Water bottle was normal on last 3 times.. Associated with leaking head gasket so stop leak added and problem stopped. About 1 week later the rod bearings locked up. Cost $1700 to fix. Out of warranty by 2000 miles. Ford said it was not their problem as the warranty was expired. I have found many other people complaining of same problem and believe it may be a problem with the model year design. Can you help please?
On november 19 '98 I took my '95 ford windstar van to to the dealership where I bought it. I took the van in because I had received a recall notice from ford regarding a head gasket problem. At that time the van had 59,000 miles on it. I picked up my van that evening and was told everything was o.k. On september 12 '99 the van overheated and a mecahanic told me the head gasket was blown. The mechanic said he hoped the head was not cracked and/or the motor damaged beyond repair ($2500 to $3500 if motor damaged beyond repair). I called the dealership, harper's ford, and the assistant sales manager said he thought ford would repair the damage or I would "have a good legal case". The van now has 68,ooo miles on it. Well a week later the delaership tells me that they can not get ford to return their calls. I called ford and a man named al said the recall expired dec 31st '99 and my van was beyond the 60,000 miles warranty. Al said his decision was final and ford would not assist in the repair. Al said that ford had no other avenue for me to pursue even though I was not satisfied. I re-contacted harper's and they said that I should just wait to hear from them. Harper's said they would give me a price break regarding the work that would need to be done. I'm lost, I guess I could try to solve the problem in civil court (probably take several months). The real kicker is my family, two sons of 4 year old and 1 year have been looking forward to the family vacation that was suppose to start on friday, 09-24-99. The van is the only vehicle I have large enough to haul the family. Cancelled vacation and a bill of least $1200.00. I will never buy another vehicle form harper's nor will I ever buy another ford. Please help if you can. Thanks
I have been extremely dissatisfied with the quality of my ford windstar. With the transmission repair I will have invested close to $4000 in the van. I have surprised and outraged by what I have found. I have searched the web and found hundreds of people that have had exactly the same problems. The ones that have called have gotten the same answer I have "sorry, we can't help that is not under warranty." I have found that I am not alone and I am hoping the government will step and make ford stand behind their product. Quality is job 1 what a crock!
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This van has cost alot of money to keep up and I was told these things where problems they had by a mechanic.
Head gasket failure-leaked coolent into engine, engine failure, now we need new engine, had extended warrenty, ford will not honor any warranty on this defect. I cannot give you the vehicle number because ford has had the car so long, I can barely remember the color.
I would appreciate your looking into all of the defects concerning the 95 windstar. Ford is taking no responsibility and this seems to be a huge problem considering all of the people that I am finding out are having the same problem. Even though there was no accident involved, breaking down in the middle of traffic, or having your engine die while on the interstate is a serious safety issue! I would really appreciate any help that you could give to me and all ford windstar owners! Thank you!
The aluminum (weak material) hydralic piston ring cracked causing engine failure.
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A leak withing engine head gasket caused vehicle to overheat and flood with antifreeze. Consumer had engine rebuilt. *ak * mjs
Defective engine head gasket leaked fuel onto engine manifold which may cause a fire. Please provide further information.
Our 95 ford windstar has it's 3rd engine, because of head gasket problems, we purchased the extended warranty and 11 days after it expired the engine went out we are now in the process of trying to get ford to cover the entire cost, which they are fighting, we feel this is a re-accuring problem which they should stand behind their faulty product. We expect a brand new vehicle to last much longer than this a four year old vehicle should not be on it's 3rd engine. We have been loyal ford customers, but feel we have a lemon with this vehicle.
Have discovered at least 200 other people who have had these failures that have caused transmission and full engine failures without any help from ford .ford has attmitted thhat this is a problem but refuses to help or insstigate a recall. Thanks.
Vehicle broke down in highway,towed to dealer diagnosed as head gaskets/related ford wouild fix under recall/work done/went to pick up vehicle/work completed/related forn payes forall work/ ten minutes later they relate work not covered/billme for $2,000 work
Consumer contacted the dealer. Oil was changed when dealer noticed oil leaking onto the exhaust manifold. Dealer also noticed oil leaking from the catalytic convverter, causing a possible fire hazard. Please provide any further details.
Due the defective engine head gasket, the vehicle started to smoke, and may have caused a fire. Please provide further information and VIN#.
Head gaskets blew without warning and caused the entire engine to seize requiring a new engine replacement at a cost of 3864.73. I was told if I had tried to drive the car the engine could've started on fire. This is a definite safety hazard and ford is well aware of the problem with the 3.8 liter engines in the '95 windstars. In additional to the safety hazard of the head gasket problem... The condition goes undetected until the head gaskets "blow" without warning. I am very upset with ford's response to this matter. I called several times to express my deep dissatisfaction with their handling of this matter . I believe the headgasket problem should have been a recall. If it had I would not have been left with a nearly $4,000 repair bill for a relatively newer car. I believe the possible harm to my family is also an issue. I would appreciate any help from the federal safety agency in this matter.
We were leaving a parking lot when the a plume of vapor came out of the exhaust pipe. Fortunately we saw it before getting on the freeway. The day before, the engine had begun to idle roughly. Repairs cost about 2,000.
Headgasket on engine failed; this failure prompted engine damage that was irreparable. Had to replace engine. Now transmission is failing and it will not easily engage after a stop. Needs to be replaced, according to mechanic
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