1998 Ford Windstar: engine failure

Filed Feb 10, 2007 · Engine · 74,000 miles · OH

My heat wouldn't come on sometimes, then the hot light came on. Had it in the shop 2 times, everytime said it was fine, only changing out temp gauge. Dec 2005 3rd time took it in, same problem only oil light would also flicker at low idle pulling into parking spot. Took it back in and told them they had to find out what was wrong, it had been going on too long. Told then heavy residue on oil cap, could see dark marks around exhaust pipe. Loosing radiator fluid slowly. I am no mechanic but all I researched showed head gasket. To make story brief, they told me same day all was ok, computer read fine. I told them I was not satisfied and to keep testing. Took 3 days, then they call me to say the problem was that the head gasket had failed. Of course my extended warranty had ended 2 weeks before. They claimed I had been driving it with no oil and tried to get me to buy a new engine! I had been checking the oil myself, never ran low. Oil pan thick with gunk. I had it in for all reg maint, why would it have gotten that bad? $3200.00 later I had new head gasket water pump, oil pump, and various seals and hoses. Picket it up, following day had it back for not wanting to start, rough idle. Another $175.00 later I got it back. Unhappy to know this has been an on going issue and my 98 windstar, fell in the age/miles time frame for the issue. Knowing that one van had this issue they should have know from all my descriptions what the problem was. If found 2 weeks earlier it would have been covered under warranty. Oil light still flickers now and then when pulling into parking spot. I will never but a ford product again. Company was unwilling to work with me, give me any breaks.

Filed May 10, 2004 · Engine · 57,600 miles · PA

At approximately 57,600 miles my 1998 ford windstar developed an antifreeze leak. I took the vehicle to my local garage and it was diagnosed as a leak at the timing cover gasket. I had this repaired at a cost of $1453. Two weeks later, as I was driving to a baseball game, my car began to stall. It was hard to start, and the oil light was flickering when the car was running and there was a loud rattle coming from the engine. There was no warning before this happened, the temperature gauge was normal, no rattling sounds from the engine,etc. I had the car towed back to my local garage. My mechanic diagnosed the rattling noise as coming from the lower bearings, the engine bearings were failing at 57,800 miles!!!! I called my local ford dealer where I had bought the windstar and asked them if there were any open programs on the engine, since when the timing cover gasket had failed, I had searched the internet to see if this was a common failure( it was). The ford dealer was no help, I then called ford customer service and they were no help. I then wrote a letter to william clay ford and he had a blaine yung call me on 5/8/2004. Mr. Yung was also no help, quoting that the warranty was 3 yrs./36,000 miles. Meanwhile I had to have the car repaired at a cost of $4200, new remanufactured engine, tune-up, etc. I believe that the defect on the timing cover gasket which caused the original antifreeze leak, leaked antifreeze into the crankshaft and caused the engine failure. This car has been well maintained and should have gotten me at least to 120,000 miles before I need to replace an engine. I have owned many other cars and have gotten at 150,000 miles out of them before I had to do any major repairs (engine or transmission). I feel ford should back their products and own up to this defect.

Filed Feb 16, 2004 · Engine · 83,000 miles · MI

Heater on car wasn't working, smelling something burning. Advised that windstars with 3.8 engines seem to experience head gasket failure wherein coolant is either being burned or mixing with oil and will cause engine failure. Advised to contact ford, nhsta and local dealer.

Filed Feb 5, 2004 · Engine · 94,000 miles · MN

Head gasket failure leading to complete engine failure.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Brakes · WV

I sent the following in an email to ford motor company, and also talked with their "customer service". They said that they could not do anything about this dispute between the dealer rep and myself, as it was a field decision. The original repair was a rebuild of the drum brake on the right rear wheel, the same wheel that later suffered a catastrophic failure of the shoes. Luckily, we were driving at over 35 MPH, so the wheel did not lock up until we stopped at a friends house. The entire hub assembly had to be rebuilt after the brake siezed. Note: this is the second brake rebuild. The car has also suffered from broken tie rods. ======================================================== the parsons dealership that rebuilt my right rear brake last october will not admit that the failure of the brake pads, and subsequent complete failure of the brake assembly last week which required replacing the drum, is covered under their warranty (12,000 or 12 months.) they say it was due to a rusted parking brake cable that seized. I say that is a big load of baloney....even if it was rusted (in a pretty new car!) then they should have seen that last year. The total cost of repair on 9/20/02 was $639.88. I want ford to: 1) make parsons return my money, and 2) reprimand parsons for poor customer service. I will not buy a car from them again, nor will they ever see my car again - despite their admonition at the bottom of their invoice that says "warranty 90 days or 4000 miles on adjustments, align, balance. All other repairs covered 12 months or 12000 miles. Customer must return to parsons ford for defective repairs. No refunds if customer takes to another repair facility. I won't go into the delays (a full week to repair the drum and brake assembly).

Filed Jan 5, 2004 · Engine · 112,000 miles · MD

At 112,000 miles, my ford windstar has developed a head gasket leak internally which has resulted in extensive internal engine damage that now requires complete engine replacement. I have 2 professional repair shops diagnosis and both agree that it needs an engine replacement for the reasons stated above.

Filed Jul 30, 2003 · Engine · 55,800 miles · NY

Current mileage approx. 55,800. . On a recent trip to cape may, nj (approx. 150 miles from our home in bayside, ny ),the engine seized and the car died on the garden state parkway. The car was brought to the nearest ford dealer/ service station, chapman ford (june 31,2003), where it is being serviced currently. The technician could not evaluate the damage until july 2,2003, where he stated that a rod broke causing a puncture in the oil pan therefore causing a loss of fluid and a seize of the engine. At lease inception, we took an extended warranty through ford hempstead with interstate warranty services. This warranty company ordered a complete tear down of the engine to find out why the rod broke, we agreed knowing that it was due to no neglect on our part, the tear down did not occur until july 10th and was examined on july 11th by an inspector hired by interstate. The claim is now being denied, even though we supplied them with all the documentation they requested on the upkeep and maintenance of the car. Their claim is that the last maintenance (oil change, filter and lubricants) were not done. We have the documentation to prove that monahan ford, flushing, ny did this maintenance along with other work in january. Also, hempstead ford, hempstead, ny, did service on the car april 2003 for the exact hesitation in acceleration that we experienced immediately before the engine seized. Unfortunately monahan ford went out of business and we are being told that our car was not kept in good condition when documentation proves it was in two separate dealerships within a sixth month period. I now am faced with a $5000.00+ bill to repair a car that was kept well and has an extended warranty. I am being forced to file suit with monahan ford for fraudulent service and file suit with hempstead ford for failure to correctly analyze the car's problem.

Filed Jan 17, 2003 · Engine · 80,000 miles · MD

I have maintained my 1998 ford windstar very well - having all recommended maintenace performed. It has only 80,000 miles on it and the head gasket now has a leak. Coolant has leaked into the #4 cylinder. The dealer wants $3500-4500 to put a new engine in it. The head gasket leaking is a known problem with windstars. Ford has has a program for earlier models to replace the engine. But ford has yet to apply the program to the 1998 models. I expect a ford vehicle to get at least 180,000 miles when the owner has all recommended maintenance completed. I want ford to pay for a new engine! I was to put another 100,000 miles on that van.

Filed Aug 9, 2001 · Engine · OH

The 1998 ford windstar 3.8l v-6 engine's head gasket leaked on our windstar and the coolant contaminated the engine oil, which created engine failure due to excess bearing wear. In the last 2,000 miles we lost approximately 2 quarts of coolant. Ford says it does not have a recall for the 3.8l head gasket problem and will not compensate us for the costs of installing a new fqr 3.8l engine. The new fqr engine only has a 24 month/24,000 mile warranty, which may fail again after the 2year/24,000 mile and the customer is taken advantage of again! Ford is aware of the 3.8l engine head gasket problem and has had the problem since 1988 model year. Ford has issued two onps (owner notification program) 98m01 which extended the warranty for 5years/60,000 through 1995 model years, and the 00m09 which extended the 98m01 warranty to 7years/100,000. I have checked the federal safety agency complaint database and found they are still having problems with the 3.8l head gaskets through the 1999 windstars, mustangs, sables, taurus, lincoln continentals, and cougars. Many of these vehicles are having the problem as early 18,000 to 36,000 miles but the bulk are having the problems in excess of 3years/36,000 and the customer is stuck with a huge repair bill, of $4,000 to $6,000 dollars. Ford claims they corrected the problem after the 1995 model year with new head gaskets even though it is obvious the problem has not been corrected. Ford has sold and still may be selling a product that is defective that could lead to creating accidents with multiple fatalities. Ford has admitted to the fact that the 3.8l head gaskets should not fail before 7 years/100,000 miles for vehicles manufactured through 1995 with the 00m09 owner notification program. Ford is still having a problem with the 3.8l head gaskets failing through the 1999 model year! Why aren't they taking care of these problems. Why hasn't the government (the federal safety agency) investigated this and permit ford to take advantage of the consumer?

Filed Jun 11, 2001 · Engine · MA

Unexpected catastrophic engine failure. Low milage vehicle with complete service records and no warning threw piston rod during normal operation. Dealer estimates cost to repair at $4900. Dealer estimates damage due to failed head gasket. Antifreeze leak filled cylinders.

Filed Apr 2, 2001 · Engine · NH

Engine failure 1 month after head gasket replacement and approximately 2000 miles.

Filed Nov 28, 1999 · Engine · NY

Ne lamp light on- al maroone ford attempted to repair 4 times, but was unable. 5th time svc engine light appeared, the van broke down with a blown engine. Fluid leaked into oil, causing gasket to blow through engine block. Ford will not admit past problem