I own a 1996 ford windstar with a 3.8l v-6 engine. The vehicle currently has about 72,000 miles on it. It is now in the shop with a blown head gasket that will require a new long-block motor and possibly the replacement of the catalytic converter because antifreeze/oil was passing through it due to the gasket failure. I'm currently looking at a $5,800 bill to repair the vehicle. My query to ford motor company resulted in a response that they can't do anything for me...that there are "no warranties, recalls or customer satisfaction programs" on my vehicle. My research shows that there are a ton of complaints of blown head gaskets in the 1996 ford windstar, but ford refuses to do anything about it. Ford was hit with class action suits regarding the 1995 ford windstar that has the same problem and eventually agreed to extend the 1995 windstar warranty period. Head gaskets should last the life of the vehicle. It should not fail at 72,000 miles. My vehicle had all of the required maintenance performed when they were due. This is not a case of a neglected vehicle from a maintenance perspective. Ford needs to step up and take corrective action. The service rep has told me that if they can't get a re-built in the next couple of days, it will probably be next week before the repairs will be completed. Next week is christmas. This was my first ford product that I purchased. It will be the last. Any company that has this much disloyalty to its customers can not expect any loyalty in return. Their actions speak volumes to the lack of quality control in their product, customer service and, quite frankly, any sense of common decency. A proper head gasket would have cost them probably under $10.00 when the engine was built. It is now costing me $5,800 to fix their inaptitude and incompetence.
1996 Ford Windstar engine complaints
Page 2 of 17: complaints 11 to 40 of 472, newest first, as owners wrote them.
For approximately 2 months I noticed loss of compression during acceleration and occasional knocking sound from back of engine. Without tearing engine apart it seemed that the head gasket failed and allowed fluids into the engine. Confirmed rod bearing failed at 94,000 miles. Car was not drivable now.
I have a 3.8 engine that has had to have heads repaired/replaced 3 times. The last time the engine now requires replacing, it has been at garage for 2 years. Due to cost involved it is not cost effective ro repair. It has overheated in all cases and the second time it was determined that a faulty ford water pump may have been cause. I have notified ford and dealer multiple times without response.
Head gasket for 3.8l v6 ford engine is defective. Ford recognizes this for previous model years (1994-1995), but does not for my model. Ford has tsb for this problem for their dealers and service centers, as it is a common problem for the 1996 - and 3.8l engines of that time across their product line according to center for auto safety, this is a part that should never need changing. Furthermore, according to a ford dealer service manager, ford at 7 years and 78k miles do not want to repair the defect. The dealer I bought this vehicle from did not disclose that this car was past any defect recall and was past time to take action with ford. (there is another issue with their climate controls on this minivan as well, as they ceased to function - and that is another item that should not fail unless defective.) in any case, the head gasket is very expensive to repair/replace, and should not need to be replaced during the lifetime of a vehicle.
Ford windstar 1996. I have seen that many of these models and previous years as well have had severe head gasket problems. Head gasket regularly fails at around 80,000 miles. Nasa says a head gasket should last at least 120,000. Ford does not care. Ford does not stand behind their product. I am basically screwed because now I don't have a car. I still owe on it but it doesn't run. $2,000+ to fix it and it will probably fail again. The head gasket going out caused the upper 02 sensor to go bad. It also sprayed the number 2 cylinder causing it to fail thus alerting me to a problem, which may have resulted in a blown engine. At no time while I have owned this vehicle has it ever overheated even slightly. Heat was not the cause, it was faulty from the beginning. Car auto safety has reported 429 complaints about the windstar!
Dt*: the contact stated that the engine died at 21,000 miles. The contact expressed the engine should not have died at 21000 miles. There were no failures that lead to this incident. The problem has not been repaired.
I have a 96 ford windstar with a 3.8 liter engine and only 80,000 miles. Ford should be responsible for their actions for installing faulty head gaskets on these 3.8 liter engines. There are many complaints about these engines head gaskets for earlier models as well as mine.
The head gasket failed causing us great problems, ie: loss of car to drive, financial hardship. The 1995 windstar's had a program that allowed for the repair of this issue. We bought our 1996 windstar on february 16, 1996 and we are not offered any assistance or resolution re: this failure and defect.
Vehicle had constant engine problems along with other problems that surfaced and ended its life cycle. *la the consumer experienced coolant leaks, hard starting, electrical noises, radio noises, vibration upon acceleration along with thumping noises, erratic dash light illumination, intermittent door ajar light, bearing noise and the engine blew out prematurely. *sc *jb from a normal sitting position the consumer could not see that the check engine light was on. It wasn't until he dropped something on the floor and looked up that he saw the light on.
Ford winstar head gasket premature failure
1996 ford windstar experienced engine failure.*mr consumer feels this is a major failure with this engine. The consumer's ford windstar is still sitting at the dealer awaiting some sort of answer from any govering body.
I brought my 1996 ford windstar in for an oil change, and was told tie rods failed and needed to be replaced. , then, next day, they phoned and advised me that transmission was defective because the pan was full of shavings, also, power steering rack was leaking, and intake gasket needed replacement. , a total of $5000 to fix this vehicle. I bought it at 118,000 miles, and this happened shortly after owning it for one year. Currently, it has 134,000 miles, and cannot be driven. I parked vehicle then started it after being parked for a week. Heard a noise from front, and then white smoke came out of the tail pipe. I do believe that paul cornies, the dealer that I purchased vehicle knew that they were selling me a lemon. It has caused me a lot of hardship as I no longer work due to health reasons. I filed for disability insurance, and was told that I had a preexisting disease , and refused to pay the insurance. Currently, I have a junker in my driveway that I can't afford to fix , and a bill for the next 3 years, since I still owe for it. I will never buy another ford.
During routine inspection consumer was informed of leaking head gasket. Dealership was notified, but did not resolved the problem.
1996 ford windstar head gasket failure leading to complete engine failure. There was no prior indication. After the van sat for one week we started it and the headgasket blew allowing coolant into the engine.
I purchased a 1996 ford windstar and five days later found out that it had a bad engine (blown head gasket). It left myself and 6 children stranded on the side of the road.
While driving 65 MPH the engine was producing a loud rattling noise. The dealer stated head gasket failed. As a result, the entire engine needed to be replaced. *ak the consumer stated that while driving the vehicle the heat would not work it only blew cold air. A few minutes into driving the consumer noticed that the tempreture gauge was going in the red zone. The engine starting rattling and died. The consumer saw smoke coming from under the hood.
I have a '96 ford windstar with a 3.8 liter v6 engine. This is the 2nd head gasket failure I've had with it. The first was in november of 2003. I paid about $2500 to have the head gaskets replaced then. This time I was driving to work when after a short time I noticed my car heater wasn't working, just blowing cold air. A short time later, I noticed my temperature gauge was going up, and after about 10 minutes, it was in the red zone. A few minutes after that, my engine began making terrible clunking and rattling noises and I had to pull over. As soon as I did, the engine died and wouldn't restart after about 15 minutes of cooling down. I had to be towed to my mechanic's garage which cost me $127, and my mechanic told me that I needed a new engine. The car's been at his garage for the past few days while I decide what I should do. I'm convinced that this is a manufacturing defect for which ford motor company is responsible, especially after reading the complaint log containing so many stories from people who have a car with this type engine. Ford claims they solved this problem after 1995, but the complaint log tells an entirely different story.
Ford windstar with a 3.8 l v-8 blew the head gasket at 75,000 miles. The car was being driven on the expressway at the time.
The serpentine belts has been replaced three times since the consumer purchased the vehicle.
I also have a 1996 windstar will all of the mentioned head gasket problems.van sits in rear, am currently driving toyota with 200+ I pulled from back yard after being stagnent for 3 years. No money to repair,causing hardship in family.I believe to be fords problem but doesnt look like they are going to admit as a trouble, will not buy another and will not support 6 family members when they lose their jobs do to this problem. My van was also manufactured in canada 12/96 and VIN seems to be in sequence with others. Van just turned 100,000 a week ago.
I have a '1996 ford windstar. It was taken into the shop for an oil change and they discovered water in the oil. I know that ford knows this is a problem. There has been no damage to the motor but the head does need to be fixed. The repairs have not been done yet because they are costly. I feel ford should at the least help cover some of the cost.
The head gasket blew out while driving, causing anti freeze to leak into the engine. Also, there was a strong anti freeze odor coming into the cabin of the vehicle while driving. *ak ford changed the gasket and since that time a blown head gasket have been a major failure.
1996 ford windstar, misfired under normal highway driving, the check engine light started flashing. This is indicative of a misfire according to the owners manual. Upon further research, this is a very common problem to the 1996 model. The computer will say the engine is misfire in cylinder x when it is actually a misfire in cylinder y. Have been told that this is anything from a faulty spark plug to a blown piston ring, causing a loss of compression in a cylinder. Seems to be a very very very common problem among 1996 windstars.
My 1996 ford windstar has 72,000 miles on it. I had been losing coolant slowly and we couldn't find out where. After sitting for 2 days, when I started the van I heard a loud pop, and white smoke began coming out of the exhaust. I took it to my mechanic and it has a blown head gasket. I called ford, knowing there had been numerous recalls on other years for the same engine, and they basically said "sorry about your luck." they also told me I should bring it in to ford because they can't rely on a diagnostic done by an independent mechanic.
Problems with ford windstar 3.8l engine.*mr the consumer has question about the engine failure he experienced.
1996 ford windstar with headgasket problem. I have contacted fors, but they say there is no record of the 1996 engines having premature head gasket failure. My windstar, bought new has 68,000 miles. I have been smelling antifreeze for the past 3 years, but it has now gotten much worse. Brought car to mechaninc due to engine misfiring, one of the sysmptoms listed for the head gasket failure. The reapiar will cost over $2,000.
Problems encountered by consumer on 1996 ford windstar. (nar)
Vehicle has been loosing coolant for many years. *la the vehicle was taken in for a routine oil change but ended up having major repairs. Approximately eight months after the repair, the engine quit and the consumer was informed by two dealers that the vehicle needed a short block installed. There was also noise in the steering and a coolant leak. The intake upper and lower manifold gaskets were also replaced. *sc
Consumer stated that while traveling vehicle slowed down/stopped, and then stalled. Consumer could not travel where there were any inclines or hills. Consumer took vehicle to several mechanics, and had vehicle on diagnostic machines, and no one could repair it.
The motor blew up while driving.
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