There are thousands of reports of failed transmissions and head gaskets in the 1995 windstar. Why has there not been a recall on these vehicles?
1995 Ford Windstar transmission complaints
Page 18 of 30: complaints 491 to 520 of 875, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Oil pan leak noted @ 60k. Dealer recommended fix @next service. At 73224 died when put into reverse, oil warning light flickering. Dealer identified leaking timing cover gasket caused coolant to enter oil system. Major lower engine overhaul replacement of all moving parts required. Repair was covered by extended warranty which expired @ 75k. Dealer requested replacement of known head gasket problem at that time declined by ford as no current problem apparent. At 83k vehicle difficult to start, exhaust blowing white smoke when it finally started. Dealer has had car over a week & has identified head gasket failure which has also caused the rebuilt lower engine to fail again. Dealer recommends full engine replacement. Ford is refusing to acknowledge any responsibility even though an apparent recall had been issued against premature headgasket failure. In common with other notifications you have received and we have noticed on the internet. What recourse do we have with a manufacturer who is aware of a major design flaw and refuses to service its custormers? Our vehicle has been maintained and serviced for its entire life soley by the ford dealership from whom we purchased this "dead" vehicle. Estimated cost of repair--$5,000.
Transmission slips going into 2nd gear ( almost rearended from car behind). Have been looking into this problem, and find I am not the only one having this problem. I bought the van used and at the time of the test drive, no problem. But 1week after the slip started and is geeting worse..now at each stop light or corner I no longer know if it will slip, fail or work right ????? Help !!!!!!!!! I belive the dealer knew of this problem when I bought the van as is .....no warrt. Sucker me........ *ak
This report concerns a transmission failure that could very well be a safety concern. A design defect in the forward clutch piston of the transaxle fails and causes forward/reverse engagement problems. Ford is well aware of this problem, and has even issued a technical service bulletin to alert dealers about the problem. In fact, the bulletin recommends replacing the aluminum part that is failing with a steel part that will survive. This problem should be corrected by ford before someone is injured in a transmission related failure. The vehicle should be recalled and repaired at their expense.
Currently our vehicle is awaiting a new engine after having the head gasket replaced on a recall notice from ford last october. While we have an extended warranty on this vehicle, we feel it is not fair they should have to provide replacement in light of other similar complaints about the same problem on other ford windstars. This vehicle only has 34,489 miles on it. We have had transmission concerns about this van as well, however the dealer has never been able to duplicate the problems experienced. We are very concerned that this van is infact a lemon, and we have contacted the ford customer service line, which advised us that no assistance would be provided because the vehicle was out of manufacturers warranty by time, not by miles.
A local ford dealer has informed me that this vehicle needs a head gasket replacement. I find it unacceptable that a head gasket failure should be expected at any time, especially in a vehicle that has not seen severe driving conditions. In the two years that I have owned this vehicle, various dealers have been unable to correct some issues that were merely annoying (speedometer wavering and jumping; whistling sound coming from engine compartment; rear wiper arm boot failure; buildup of snow/ice on front wipers during snow). With this recent failure (head gaskets), I am convinced that I have purchased a lemon.
About $1300 to rebuild transmission.
Transmission would downshift erratically , when decelerating then accelerating again transmission would just rev up, and steadily lose speed.then all at once it would jump foward like a race car leaving starting line.
This vehicle has had two major component failures (engine timing gasket and transmission) with less than 35000 miles. Additionally it has also had one major recall to replace head gasket. All of three of these problems required extensive work to repair. The transimission problem was the most serious from a safety standpoint, because its failure could have caused a serious accident because it intermitently prevented the vehicle from accelerating, until it finally failed completely and the vehicle could not shift at all.
Electrical system: chimes for door ajar, rings when doors are closed. Had been to 10 different shops for either fuse replacement or sliding door panel replacement. Also, wiring to windows goes up or down without being switched either way and dome light comes on by itself. In addition, transmissio: worn out due to leakage (oil) from theengine head gaskets. Needed to be replaced.
While driving the transmission jumps out of gear without warning. Also, when proceeding from a stop sign or traffic light the vehicle hesitates or jerks. This problem ocurrs due to a forward aluminum clutch.
The head gasket on my windstar is defective. I called ford to find out if a recall was issued. I was told that a letter was sent out to dealers and owners for the head gasket problem. They told me that because my car's mileage was over 65000 and that the recall ended in december of 1998, that they would not pay for the replacement of the head gasket. I think ford should pay for the replacement when they knew that they had used faulty material. I also understand that ford has a problem with the transmission in the '95 windstars. When I asked about this I was told that no problem exists and no recall was in place for the transmission. Ford should be held accountable for using faulty equipment. The bad part is that the windstar has a 5 star rating for safety and yet ford uses faulty materials for its production and does not take responsibility for its product.
Is there a possibility that the issue of payment for these items can be settled in a small claims court? No safety defect mentione din summary.
Ford will not cover repair costs of both failed systems. No safety defects mentioned in summary.
At35,000 miles, first transmission went out. At 38,000 miles I heard a knocking noise coming from underneath the vehicle . Ford said I had a main bearing knock . They took engine apart and said " rods marked 1-6, but not in order?top of rod at wrist pins are blue( hot overheat condition). Head gaskets show signs, rusty at block &head areas. Main brgs scored thur beds & #5 in copper bed. Mainbolt black smells like burned oil.. Now at 56,200 ford says I need another transmission the one replaced is bad now!!! One thing to add I purchased the vehicle with 2,000 miles on it. The dearler had told me it was an "unwind" no problems with , someone did'nt qualify for the credit so they had them return it. They can't sell it as new anymore!!!!!! 56,200 miles 3transmissions & 2 engines!!!!!!! When I inquired about how the engine was totally defective , I basically got the run around.
No summary listed for this vehicle.
No summary listed for this vehicle.
The 1995 windstar is a threat to the safety of their owners and their families. The transmissions may fail at any time and the head gasket will lead to blown engines . This car is a known lemon and ntsa must act to protect the families of america before any more people get hurt phyically or financially.
A circular aluminum ring in the transmission failed/bent. Ford changed to steel the following year. Due to hearsay multiple failures
While driving at 45 MPH and without prior indication transmission went out, and the vehicle jerked/ vibrated and stalled. Also when consumer drives forward vehicle stalls.
Transmission slips in and out of 1st and 2nd gear, making it difficult to pick up speed. The manufacturer has been notified.
No summary listed for this vehicle.
Automatic transmission malfunctioned, causing the vehicle to roll back at a stop and the vehicle revs up, which may cause a crash. Please provide further information.
Have questioned these items with dealer always with no cause for concern. Talked about whether I needed an extended warranty at the time of warranty renewal and was not told of engine, transmission, or any of the problems with the engine by ford.
After researching the internet, I learned that many customers have had to replace transmissions in the windstar before reaching 50,000 miles and replace head gaskets around 70,000 miles. The cost of both repairs is expensive and ford does not cover these expenses if you did not respond to a letter they say they sent everyone. I feel that ford should pay to correct the problem which they know exists.
Blown head gaskets around july, 1998 which ford paid for. They charged me around $900 to fix a leak to the timing cover that I think was caused by the head gaskets. While it was in the shop, I complained about the transmission slipping while rounding corners and it "jerks" into gear after stopping at lights/signs. The "check engine" light comes on intermitently and remains on and diagnostics are not conclusive, the owners manual says "drive train problem". I've also complained about the brakes squeaking and been told it's "brake dust" but I'm not convinced.
Engine - both head gaskets were replaced by dealer, then engine replaced, tranmission showed burnt fluid and was replaced 3 months following engine replacement, air conditioner failed to work 3 days after transmission replacement.
I have also expirienced emission problems, erratic speedometer, brakes vibrating, car rattling, sliding recall.
Consumer states all sliding doors when starting vehicle lights illuminate, noise sounds, defective switches were installed. Dealer contacted and cannot remedy the problem. Problem still exist, after contacting four agencies, no response. Also, transmission failure.
The windstar is very unsafe. The transmission has failed three times, always while vehicle is in traffic, sometimes at high speeds. The head gasket failure causes serious other engine compnonets to fail, eventually causing complete engine failure, which can also occur suddenly while in traffic.
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