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1995 Windstar

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Marcia of Woodford VA writes (1/8/01):
In Oct. 1997 we replaced the head gaskets in our 1995 Ford Windstar van. In June 1998 Ford notified us that warranty coverage for this problem would be extended for 5 yrs. or 60,000miles. At the time we were over the mileage limit. Then in March 2000 Ford changed the coverage to 7 yrs. or 100,000 miles. We qualify for this revised coverage and have the receipt for the gaskets, but we have been refused. Last week the head gaskets failed again, after only 60,000 miles. Ford will not honor their letters and now we must pay for a 2nd set of gaskets, neither of which lasted the 100,000 mile cut-off.

We have to pay for a 2nd set of gaskets, which Ford knows are defective. Both sets failed within the time and mileage limits set by Ford, and they refuse to compensate us for even one set. This is expensive and aggravating.

Mark of Copperas Cove TX writes (8/2/01):
1995 Ford Winstar 3.8L Engine Head Gasket Blew while overseas with the military last year at 88,000 mi. and 6yrs of proud ownership. I was told that since I didn't receive 2 recall messages I was "out of luck". As a responsible US Army officer, I made sure our mail was forwarded to Germany prior to moving! If these recall messages came "Bulk Mail," they would not have been forwarded per US Postal Service. But, I always received my birthday cards from my Alabama dealership while I was overseas.

Since I didn't know of any recall, and 1 day I was blowing white smoke out of my tailpipe. I took it to the nearest respected auto maintenance facility in my German village. $4k + for fixing the existing engine and its head gasket. $2k + for the water destroying the converter and muffler,etc.etc. Multiple rental cars, taxi's later.

Mark and everyone else in this situation should sue Ford in Small Claims Court.

Denise of Easton, CT:
I was the victim of a defective 1995 Ford Windstar. Head gasket blew after the warranty. Told by Ford mechanic to get rid of the car, after having paid $1600 for head gasket repair. He felt it would not last another year. Therefore, we couldn't with a clear conscience sell the car to anyone else, and had to purchase a new vehicle on January 4, 2000. Fought with Ford and was given $1200 towards new Ford only. Now, six weeks later, they are willing to give $4,000 towards new vehicle because of head gasket failure. I went through my dealer, who then contacted Ford, requesting the other $2800 I am entitled to under this new extended warranty. Was told, NO WAY! You got all you are going to get!

That is wrong! I was as affected as everyone else was. Not my fault that "timing" was off six weeks. Had planned on keeping the Windstar at least another two or three year. Had no choice but to get new vehicle (2000 Explorer) as mechanic at FORD said Windstar engine wouldn't last. I feel that Ford owes me AT LEAST the additional $2800 that they are giving to anyone who has to, or chooses to purchase a new vehicle. The $1200 they gave me just doesn't cut it now! I have suffered having to purchase a new car when that was the LAST thing on our minds with our son entering private high school in the fall. The purchase of a new vehicle at this time was extremely economically damaging as has been all of the aggravation and time and energy involved in this whole mess.

Amy of Beaverton, OR:
About a year ago in December of 1998 we began this problem. Our "check engine" light on our 95 windstar came on. We took it in right away but they could not find a problem. A couple of weeks later the light came on again. We took it in and they said an O2 sensor had failed, so we had it replaced. This began the long year of repeated trips to the mechanic because of the "check engine" light coming on. We even had the computer replaced. Throughout this time we noticed that the coolant level went down periodically. We would fill it back up and go on our way. Each time we took the car in with "check engine" light problems the same basic code came up leading them to O2 sensors or needs a new thermostat. It was not until about three monthes ago that we were finally told there was a small hole in the head gasket and we needed to have the head gasket replaced. Ford extended their warranty just days ago on the Ford Windstar head gasket to 100000 miles. We were not aware that this was a common problem until AFTER we had our head gasket replaced this week.

We began having the problems well before 100000 but because we had it fixed after 100000 Ford will do nothing for us. Because of this we have ended up paying between $3000-$4000 in repairs. I hate cars.

Anne of West Haven, VT:
In November 1996, my 1995 Windstar blew head gaskets at 49,000 miles, Ford refused to cover it. I paid out of pocket, then 8 mos later rec'd a check from Ford for part of the cost of repair. Then head gaskets blew again at 93,000 miles. I called Ford on January 20, and was told by a rep that Ford would not be able to assist me financially. I wrote to Ford, no response. I paid for the head gasket repair out of pocket, picked my car up on January 28, and drove it home again. My car stalled on me twice and the oil light came on and stayed on. I left it for the rest of the weekend and took it back to my mechanic. This time it was engine failure due to the stresses of 2 sets of blown head gaskets. Ford had maintained in my next call to them on February 1, that they would not cover any of the cost. Then I saw the headline on this website dated 2/28/00 saying Ford has extended the warranty coverage to 7 yrs/100.000 miles. The other part that caught my attention is that "it is unclear whether Ford will cover cost of new engine, only the head gasket repair". Whatever happened to "Quality is JOB 1?

I have been without my vehicle since mid-January, I have paid over $1000 for the repair of head gasket (2nd time) only to find out after driving my car home for the weekend, that my engine is gone too. I have been quoted $2100 for new engine, plus add'l labor of at least $500. This has caused financial hardship, I don't have $2600 and I am not in the position to borrow additional money for repairs (again)on the off chance that I end up having more problems or to replace my vehicle and have another car payment on top of loans for the repair. Ford's obvious disregard for the consumer is very troublesome. I can't imagine owning another Ford!

Eric of Howell, MI:
I have had my Windstar since 1995 and have had the head gasket blow three times. The first occasion was at 52000 miles which was subsequently covered by the original Ford warranty extension. The second time happened at 109000 miles when the result was that a new short block was fitted after the engine seized after the head gasket was replaced. The cost of the short block was covered by Ford but the original headket repair was not. The third time happened at 134000 miles at which time a new re-manufactured engine was put in. Although Ford has now extended their warranty to 100000 miles/7 years, this will not help me. I feel that all the costs for the second head gasket repair and the engine replacement should be paid for by Ford as they have never fixed the root cause of the problem. I work for a supplier to Ford and if we performed in the same manner that they have over this engine problem we would be de-sourced and put through hell to get the problem fixed. Ford should follow the same rules that they make their suppliers work to.

Damages: 1st case - $777 covered by Ford. 2nd case - $1877 Loss of vehicle for 6 weeks plus cost of rental car $400. 3rd case - $3972 Loss of vehicle for 2 weeks plus cost of rental car $500

Anne of Fairfax, VA:
We purchased a 1995 Windstar on June 5, 1999. It had 64,634 miles. The car was originally purchased as a new vehicle from Ted Britt Ford, the same dealer who sold it to us as a used vehicle. Should the gasket have been replaced before it was sold on their lot since they were aware of problem before we purchased it? I can't trade in my van; because of this recall problem the value has gone way down and I was offered $4,800 with a pay-off of $12,000. With three children I can't afford to have such a large roll-over on my loan. I'm just at a loss for how to handle this situation in a matter that will get results to clear up this problem. My van only has 69,900 miles on it now and when the head gaskets were replaced it had 67,559. I can't trade in my vehicle because it is going to cost me to do so. The $4000 allowance towards a new car purchase doesn't help because I'll have to come up with $9,000 to get the payment in my range because of the loss of value on my car.

Lorrie of Green Mountain Falls, CO:
In November of 99 we took our '95 Ford windstar to be serviced. This service entailed: full transmission service (we'd heard the horror stories), oil change and trouble shooting of an overheating problem. The mechanic informed us that he was not quite sure what the cause overheating problem was. He narrowed the cause down to the thermostat, the water pump or possiblly the head gasket. He replaced the thermostat and water pump and that appeared to fix the problem. At that, we carried on with our plans to visit friends in Wisconsin over Thanksgiving (a 2000 mile round trip). On our way home the head gasket failed. Its failure delayed our returning home for one week. At the time of the failure it had 74000 miles. The cost of the reapir in Wisconsin was $1,100.

Once the Windstar was repaired we headed for home in Colorado thinking the worst was behind us. Two weeks and 1000 miles later, my husband was travleing to Texas on business when the engine threw a rod and left him stranded in the middle of nowhere. We had it towed to back to our mechanic in Colorado Springs who informed us that we had thrown a rod. My husband, still needing to get to Texas for business was forced to rent a car at a cost of $1500. In order to fix the Windstar (now called the DEATHSTAR) we had purchase a new engine at a cost of 3K ( $1100 was wasted on repairing the head gasket). Ironically, this new engine has a better warranty than Ford had on it's new 3.8L -- 70K plus labor up to $49 an hour.

Robert of Grand Haven, MI:
Our 1995 Windstar overheated while out of town. Replenished fluid level after cooling system cooled and managed to drive home. Heard about the "confidential" recall through a coworker who has a brother working for the above dealership. The dealership had the van for 3 days to replace the head gaskets no-charge. That part of this story is amazing compared to others who have stuck with the bill. Unfortunately, the van continues to leak antifreeze on the garage floor. Was it repaired? Did they only repair the front head? Was the work less than professional? They do not want to do any additional repair work. Less than 15,000 miles since repair. Van has been leaking since the day we picked up.We don't trust the vehicle. We don't trust the service work performed. We can't take the vehicle outside of local towing service area. Everytime the van is driven we fear it is going to over-heat. Can't they fix it and make it right? I am told that the repair is only temporary and the gaskets will fail again if it is not already and or has been all along.

Stanley of Colchester, CT:
Purchased used 1995 Ford Windstar GL with extended warranty from API. 6K miles later head gaskets blow. API covers but I spend >$2000 for rentals during the 21 days dealership requires to do 34.5 hours of labor. Total engine failure occurs 1K miles after I finally get vehicle back. Dealership and API state fault is mine for having poorly installed oil filter. (This was the same filter that was on the van prior to the original repair and hand been used for >2K miles before the breakdown). Vehicle is now DOA awaiting state DMV inspection for true fault and determinatio through arbitration. I expect new engine to cost >$4000. Ford customer service is not useful or cooperative.

Jennifer of Orting, WA:
I bought a used Windstar 95 with 32,000 miles on it and at 59,000 needed to replace the transmission, at Ford where they didn't check my van for head gasket problem while being serviced and they were aware of the recall. Took the van home thinking everything would be ok and at 68,000 or so head gasket blew, so had to have that replaced. I called Ford and they said, sorry but it's over 60,000 and it can't be covered. So I took it somewhere else and had the work done. Now 6 months later I need to replace the engine due to antifreeze getting into the engine. I have put over $5,000 into this car because I owe too much money ($12,000) still on it. I can't even get rid of it. I am currently on unemployment and cant afford another car.

Bryan of Golden Valley, MN:
1995 Ford Windstar with 81,000 miles. Head gasket failed and was repaired, partially coverd by extended warranty. Less than 30 days later the engine was diagnosed as needing to be replaced. Extended warranty company refused to cover additional repairs claiming the engine was damaged due to poor workmanship durning head gasket repair. My portion of the head gasket repiar, engine short block replacement and rental car fees is approx $4200.

Kevin of Beaverton, OR:
Our 1995 Windstar had the head cover gasket program performed to it. Now, a little over a year later, $3000 to fix various problems. The transmission has an "internal problem". The timing cover is leaking oil. The O2 sensors are shot (2 of them @ $175 each!).

Roger of Columbia, IL:
We bought our 1995 Windstar van new in may of 1995 from Riverview Ford in Columbia IL. In January of 1999, the engine overheated due to the head gasket problem that is so common with these vhicles. It was repaired at Riverview under the Ford recall. After the repair, the engine did not seem to have the same power, but operated adequately on the short trips that I usually use it for. In July of 1999, My wife and I were on the way to Denver CO with the van. It was the first extended drive for the van since the repair. About 250 miles from home, the engine began to knock badly and lost power. We were able to get it to a Ford delarship, Meyer Motors in Concordia MO.

Dennis, the owner and apparently chief mechanic, diagnosed the problem with the rod bearing and said the cheapest repair would be a rebuilt engine. We rented a car and completed our trip while they repaired the van. The cost of this repair was $2400. We were told that the engine had a warranty good at any Ford delarship. In September, the engine began knocking again. I took the van back to Riverveiw. $1500 in repair work later, we were informed that the "warranty" on the rebuilt engine only covered $450 worth of the work. Mr M was able to get another $240 back, but we are still out over $700 in addition to the original rebuilt engine. We belive that the problem with the rod bearing is a direct result of dammage caused when the engine overheated from the head gasket. In addition, we took the van to a Ford dealer because we thought the repair would be covered nationwide. Ford customer service informed us that all of the dealers are independent operators and are not required to work with each other. In essance, we got lots of sympathy from Ford, but no help. We will never buy another Ford product.

Douglas of Edmonton, Alberta:
I have just taken in my 1995 Windstar to have the head gasket fixed under the new warranty. I had no idea about this "program" until I have lately been trying to trade the van in on something new. A salesman asked me if I had the problem fixed, and then told me that it is covered by Ford. A problem directly associated with the gasket failure, is the failure of the timing chain gasket. This also allows anti-freeze to mix with oil and enter the conbustion chambers. This problem has a nice price tag of $600 to have fixed. Ford refuses to cover this repair even though it is a direct result of malfunctioning gaskets used in production. I think that any problem that is related to the malfunctioning gasket should be covered by Ford, and replaced.

After about two weeks, we chose to dump the vehicle on the secondary market. We had done some research on vans and determined we would buy a Toyota Sienna. We contacted a nearby Toyota dealer and told them upfront what we felt the problem was but told them we had not had it looked at yet. When we purchased our new van, we had our Windstar towed to the dealership because we feared we would blow up the engine enroute to the dealership which was about 45 miles away. Because of the blown head gasket, the dealership would only give us $4500 trade-in on the van. Our Toyota Sienna is great.

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