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1998 Ford Windstar

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Kenneth of Hopewell NJ writes (4/4/03):
We were looking for a vehicle to use on camping trips. After extensive shopping we chose a 1995 Ford Windstar. We leased this car and were so pleased with it that we turned it in after the two year lease and purchased a 1998 Windstar.

With all the new cars I purchased, I never had any problems, especially in the warranty period. The first two months my van was back at the dealer at least 6 times. So right from the start I was upset. For the most part there were not too many issues that I can recall during the first couple of years but then all of a sudden I started experiencing problems that I didn't think I should be having with a vehicle with 40 some odd thousand miles on it.

Let's skip to January of 2001. The car was leaking oil and or anti-freeze. The ford dealership told me that the timing belt cover gasket was the fault and because of the labor involved it would cost me over $1400.00 to fix. Needless to say I was very unhappy but had no choice at the time so I fixed it. A mere seven or eights months later (fall of 2002), we noticed oil stains on the floor of the garage. I hesitated going back to the dealer because based on previous experience I was afraid they would tell me it had nothing to do with the workmanship or parts involved with the repair. Time went on and the leak got worst. I brought it into a local shop I use from time to time and they diagnosed it as a leak from the front of the oil pan and could see that someone did work under there. We discussed the work Ford did and they thought I should bring it back there. They also found some other issues such as axle seal leak.

Well, I just got a call from Ford and they told me that there is no sign of an external leak but that the head gasket is "seeping". They went on to tell me that there was a serious knocking sound from the engine and that this was a sign that the motor was going to fail. They quoted me a price of $3,825.00 for a new motor. They went on to tell me that I better make a dicision soon and either sell the car or replace the motor before it breaks. The van only has 63,977 miles on it. I always change the oil and other fluids and have had it in for maintenance service. This is ridiculous.

This head gasket problem has been around since 1995 and Ford has done nothing about. Thank the lord that nothing serious has happened yet, but financially I have put thousands of dollars into this vehicle between 36,000 miles to the present. And if I chose to replace the engine, another $4,000. I don't have that kind of money.

Ed of VanWert OH (8/24/03):
I bought a 1998 Windstar a couple of years ago. As of the third week of August, it is emitting a white smoke that smells like radiator fluid out of the tailpipe. On Sunday, the engine is making a wierd noise and white smoke is still coming out. Bob told me at a Ford dealership that my van is not on the recall list. What the heck am I supposed to do? They say it will cost me between $1000-$1300 plus tax! I think I am done with all Ford products.

Tina of Brookpark OH (1/24/02):
When my husband and I bought this van we told that it was 1998 windstar and that is what we thought we bought. Now we just find out that it was manufactured in 1997. When the van had 70,000 miles the head gasket went. They covered that repair and at 104,000 the transmissiom went and the warranty did not cover it.

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