On the cylinder head gasket issue, I received a letter from ford last may 1998 and took the vehicle to the dealer to have it inspected. I was told that they check the vehicle and there was no problem with the gasket. Now I am face with major repairs on the engine. The fuel tank is extremely slow filling. I fear a potential fire or explosion related to the fuel filler issue. The transmission groans mostly in the morning and at times does not engage in drive or reverse. Also the form wheel bearings failed early in the vehicles life , another expensive repair was necessary. There is no temperature control to modify the rear heater temperature.
1995 Ford Windstar engine complaints
Page 48 of 55: complaints 1,391 to 1,420 of 1,613, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Defective head gaskets leak coolant into combustion chamber. Ford recognizes this problem (service program 98m01) but wont fix vehicles after 60000 miles or a cutoff date associated with the sale date. Mine had symptoms in dec 97, but service either didn't recognize symptom or ignored it due to work overload. Ford shuns my problem and I am left with a nice car that needs $1000+ in engine repairs on a known problem just because my vehicle didn't completely fail before the expiration.
Rear axle broke, and engine head gaskets blew out.
This is a known defect and the manufacture refuses to cover the cost of repair
This is an ongoing defect for ford 1995 windstars. Ford had extended warranty until 01/31/99, but failed to notify owners regarding the problem. No safety defect mentione din the summary.
Electrical connection at brake fluid reservoir fluid. Replaced starter. Engine overheated--replaced right cylinderhead, spark plugs, coolant, filter, thermostat. Engine idles rough.
Ie98080; anti-freeze goes throughout engine head gasket, causing engine head gasket to blow up, and resulting in major damage. Common problem. There is a tsb, but only up to 60,000 miles. Dealer did not fix vehicle before 60,000 miles. Please provide further information.
Engine head gasket blew, causing the vehicle to smoke, and the engine to be inoperable. Dealer said it was a faulty head gasket.
Consumer has talked to the dealer about a recall that was told to consumer by an friend. Consumer contacted dealer and was told by the dealer that they would not do the work, they stopped doing the work on december 31, 1998.
Consumer hung up.
Engine check light came on. Mechanic tested coolant system, and found coolant was pouring into the head, and head gasket blew out. There is an open investigation at this time for coolant leakage/head gasket, ie-98-080 (please add VIN#.)
Valve cover gasket leak. Internet search shows to be common. Recall?
In june 1998, ford motor identified a problem with defective head gaskets. We were mailed a letter from ford that provided extended warranty until 12/98 or 60,000 miles. On 1/30 @ 60,215 miles, our vehichle experienced this problem. Ford will not provide any reimbursement. This is not right. What can we do?
No summary listed for this vehicle.
Concerned about the potential head gasket failure of recall notice.
The vehicles engine light came on, we called ford service, said not to worry keep fluids filled and you should have no problem. The vehicle had a voluntary service recall from ford for a head gasket problem, the letter is dated 6/98, we were never told of the problem and we had our vehicle in for service in both 6 and 8/98. Upon bringing our vehicle in to fill out the paper work the service manager told us that it was ok to drive, we left because they didn't have an opening until 2/3/99, later that day the temparture gauge rose to hot, so we went back to dealer, they said leave the vehicle on friday we were told the engine is gone..ford won't cover. If ford knows of this problem, why isn't it known to owners? We live in upstate ny, what happens if they engine would have gone out in a snow storm? We carry children in these vans, does someone need to get injured before something is done? Where have our ethics gone in this country?? Check the internet many other people have the same experience ..www.for
I experienced head gasket failure 2 weeks before the recall program expired. The dealership delayed in fixing it, resulting in engine failure.
Engine head gaskets were defective. Heat stopped working, started overheating and shaking, occurred while driving. Dealer contacted and aware of problem, but stated recall ended and vehicle was no longer covered. No remedy for problem. Problem still exists. Provide further information.
After bringing vehicle to dealership on 11dec98 for recall of head gasket. The vehicle was only tested with total hours by tech #128 was .6 . At this time the tressure test of gasket was ok. Not much more than a month later, the head gasket failed. The dealer has refused to fix this at his expense or partial expense. We were informed the warranty has expired. According to the letter received from ford company no matter whether the original warranty has expired the company would still honor the recall. At present time vehicle has been moved to another location for repair after we were estimated a cost of 1200.00 to 1500.00 for repair by dealership.
Transmission repaired on 11/29 /98 . Only 7 months of ownership, 6 weeks later engine went was told it was a possible head gasket. Was told ford had a notification. The ford dealer told us that the work ended on this on 12/31 98. There now sits 4 windstars at crossroad ford in cary nc.
Engine head gasket failed prematurely, cause engine failure at high speeds.
I received a letter in august of 98 regarding ford having a problem with the head gasket seals on the 3.8l motor, if I was having a problem before 12/98 to bring it in. On 12/20, the van overheated an ice cold air was blowing out of the heat vents. I referred to my owners manual, and changed the thermostat, flushed the system and changed the radiator cap, the van then seemed fine. We had a major snow and ice storm and the van sat for 2 weeks. On 01/23, we were two miles from home and white smoke started pouring out of the exhaust, and the temperature gauge was up to hot, the engine check light came on. We got the van home and seen antifreeze leaking from the engine block. We called the ford dealer in canfield, and they said the letter expired on 12/31/98, and they are not willing to rectify the problem at this time, said they have had many complaints about the problem and are not recalling at this time. I believe that ford should stand behind their product and rectify this known problem by issuing a recall.
Ref service program 98m01. Head gaskets failed 3 weeks after program expired. Ford offered no flexibility. $1500 repairs.
The rubber gasket on the timing cover failed.
This is an on going defect that ford has been aware of and refuses to fix. It has been in the process of failing since the engine was built!
Premature failure of the head gasket (recall component) resulting in extensive damage to engine components.
The engine head gasket was leaking and caused the engine to overheat.
Vehicle has a problem with the engine stalling out. Dealer has been contacted.
Brakes vibrate vehicle when braking hard.
The timing chamber gasket has failed causing coolant to leak into engine. Replacement requires 9-10 hours of labor since engine needs to be lifted. As for the transmission, after car warms up, from standstill, engine revs then kicks into gear.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 1995 Ford Windstar?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history