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Ford would have us believe the problem has been fixed and that post-95
Windstar models should be more reliable. But ...
Jack of La Jolla CA writes (5/23/02):
Our 96 Windstar has been at our nearby Ford Dealer (Mossy Ford, San Diego) for 2 weeks for extensive engine repairs atrtributed to a blown head gasket in the 3.8L V-6 engine. Although he agreed with my assessment that at 63,000 miles, this was an unusually early failure of head gaskets, our courteous and seemingly well informed service representative made no mention that thousands of other owners of the Ford 3.8L V--6 had had similar premature failures. No mention was made also that after threatened legal action by at least three large law firms, Ford notified owners (programs named 98M01, 00M09, 00M10) of models in the 1994/1995 years ("the years said to have the greatest number of failures") of remedial offers which included warranty extensions, $4,000 coupons applicable to new Ford purchases, etc).
Based on earlier bad experiences with a Ford product, shortly before the factory warranty expired on our 96 Windstar, we purchased (for $1,394) from Mossy Ford a four year extension on warranty coverage. When I asked for comfirmation that this warranty would be covering the costs for the required engine repairs, the service rep said he wasn't sure and was in the midst of negotiations with the warranty company. He also said that the warranty company wanted us to bring in all of our records of service for in the agreement was an "out-"clause which said that warranty coverage might not be provided if the service schedule defined in the owner's manual had not been followed.
I asked him to provide the warranty company with a summary of all of our service visits to the dealership. He said they couldn't do so as these were not kept in their computers. (After I spent 3 hours retrieving and organizing our service records over the past 6 years, he then said that it wouldn't be necessary as the warranty company agreed that our compliance was ok ). I then told the service rep that I had three newpaper articles about identical premature failures in Ford's V-6 engines. He said that those problems were only in the 1994 and 1995 models and that in the 1996 models the engines had been redesigned to eliminate this problem, hence we would not be eligible for the remedial offers.
The latest information l found on the web indicated that although there were said to be changes made in the 1996 models to remedy the problems with the head gaskets, the changes in the 1997 models included a different higher density head gasket indicating to me that the changes made in 1996 probably did not resolve all of the head gasket problems (if any). The service rep said that the warranty company also shared my skepticism about this early failure and that they would cover only part of the repairs. Within the next few days, I plan to meet with the service supervisor at Mossy to press my case for full coverage.
Gene of Watauga TX writes (1/31/02):
Ford refuses to acknowledge that the 1996 Ford Windstar 3.8L V6 has trouble with the head gasket. I was told by my mechanic that I had water in 2 of 6 pistons and it will cost $1200 to fix it. He told me that Ford had issued a service recall to cover problems like this, but Ford will only cover 1995 Windstars. It is obvious that Ford should be convering later models as well. I will be suing in small claims court.
Head Gasket leak on 1996 Ford Windstar resulting in $1200-1500 in repairs and loss of the vehicle for 1 1/2 weeks.
Shaun of Forreston, IL, writes:
I own a 1996 Ford Windstar with approximately 56,000 miles. We purchased the van with 39,958 miles. We, as a precaution, purchased the Ford ESP Extended Warranty Plan for $885. In May of 2000, my wife tried to drive the van to school and the transmission went out.Freeport Ford honored the warranty and fixed the vehicle. They paid for the rental vehicle which we had for one week.
Just recently, my wife noticed the van getting sluggish and emitting white smoke from the tail pipe. I know something about vehicles and instructed my wife that the headgasket blew. I called the service repair department at Freeport Ford who then instructed me to have my wife drive the van 15 miles to the dealership.
At first, the Service Manager told us the van blew a headgasket and gave us a rental vehicle. The end result, they say, is the intake gasket leaked and allowed coolant inside the engine, thus overheating the bearings. At first, the dealership was going to replace the heads. Then they decided that the engine was beyond repair so they would order a "new engine". Then they found out it would take 4 to 6 weeks to get that engine so they decided to rebuild the engine on site. As they tore apart the engine, Ford mysteriously calls back saying, once again, that a new engine is on the way.
We were to get the van back on Tuesday so I decided to drive by the dealership and check the progress on Monday after work. I discover that the engine is not new, but re-manufactured and machined out at 200,000ths. The significance of this is that the engine is rebuilt, presumably with the same inferior parts that many 1995-1996 Windstars suffer from. To add insult to injury, I find out the warranty on the engine is 12 months or 12,000 miles. Remember, my extended warranty still has until June 30, 2002 or 75,965 miles.
I have requested that my re-manufactured engine be given an extended warranty. The Service Manager states the same warranty applies to all Ford vehicles. Having read numerous accounts of owners of 1996 Windstars, it is evident why this is the case. After being stonewalled for several days, I finally speak with Melissa, a Customer Service Rep, who untimately tells me the same story and refused to let me speak with anybody else concerning the matter.
I informed her that if a Ford re-manufactured engine is as good as a new engine, then why would Ford not apply the same warranty on a new engine. All I ask is that they entend the same warranty on my vehicle as they have the defective 1995 models. My confidence in Ford products is shaken and I will not buy a Ford again.
Also, the Service Manager insinuated that if the maintainance were done at the dealership the engine may not have been ruined. He did not ay it directly but i read between the lines. It would be nice if Ford did not try to put a design flaw problem on the general public. There is no way a transmission and engine should go out of a vehicle when driven only 56,000 miles.
My fear is that the same defect may occur again once the warranty is expired at 75,958 miles. I don't feel that I'm asking for much, just a little peace of mind. My wife and I make a decent living but we struggle like most to make the car payment. After reading the e-mails from other people, I am positive the 1995 Winstar defects carry over into the 1996 models. Since we owe four years on the vehicle it is impossible for us to sell it and get enough money back to pay off the loan.
James of Haverhill, MA:I have a 1996 Ford Winstar that is overheating and has a head gasket problem. WHen I took it to the dealer for repairs they did not inform me that overheating and head gasket problems are common to Ford Windstars and that Ford will replace them if asked. ","I intend to negotiate with the dealer.
Andrew of Finksburg, MD:
I took my 1996 Windsatr for its 90,000 mile service and was notified that I need the head gasket replaced. The vehicle temperature gauge has not registered anything abnormal but it appears that there is damage to the head gasket and it will run me about $800 to fix.
I called the Ford Dealer where I bought the vehicle and the service advisor danced around the issue saying the 1996 model I have was built properly and some vehicles just develop head gasket problems. It just looks to me like Ford won't take ownership of the problem that many Windstar owners experience. I'll fix the vehicle but rest assured will be looking for class action representation. Its unlikely that you'll ever see me at a Ford dealership again.
Lori of Spring Lake Park, MN:
Last November we bought a 1996 Windstar and we have it in the shop at this time to have the head gasket replaced because it was leaking. We are dishing out $860 to get it fixed. The saddest part is, is that AFTER we bought the van we did a requested a print out on the repairs that were done to our van prior to us purchasing it and not even a year before we got it Ford had already replaced the head gasket once. We brought the van to the same ford dealer that replaced the first gasket thinking we could have it done AGAIN but at no charge? Fat chance that was. We have to pay for it.
Anyways, Ford did not do any better on the 1996 model.
Robert of Aurora, IL:
My 1996 Ford Windstar blew a head gasket at only 30k miles. We were on vacation and we had to rent a van for 10 days and we were given the run around about this common problems with the van and that Ford was not liable. Thank God I had bought an extended warranty, but it still cost me $500 for a known mistake in the original manufactured equipment. My engine light has also gone on two other time with other high cost maintenance. Ford must not care about future sales. Because of the the lack of customer care I will never buy a new Ford product again.
What action can an individual take against a large company like Ford? I guess nothing, too bad for the little guy. I can not afford another vehicle at this time, so I will end up driving a van with a little over 30k miles that is not trustworthy. Now I know why people buy imports!
Kip of Antioch, TN:
I own a 1996 Windstar. On Feb.16, 2000, my wife called me at work and said the oil light had come on in the van about a block from our home when she was on here way home from work. I had the van towed into our mechanic to check it out. This van had just turned over 76,000 miles. I was shocked when I was told that the head gasket was blown and there was damage to the engine and that it needed to be replaced.
What is wrong with this picture? It was not until the last couple of weeks, that I have found that Ford issued a "notification" that there was a problem in the 1995 models with the head gasket. I want to know after reading and hearing about thousands of other 1996 Nightmares what is being done to MAKE Ford repay consumers for an obvious problem that was not fixed. What kind of legal action do WE have to get our money back. Or can they be made to "Recall" the 1996 models too? Maybe this goes into the 1997 and 1998 models as well . We need some help. I am out $3700 for a problem Ford did not fix in 1995. It is hard enough to make an honest living anymore. It makes me very angry that my hard-earned money had to be spent to correct a problem, that Ford knew had not been fixed.
Brad of Effingham, IL:
In July of 1999 we experienced a check engine light while on vacation in our 1996 Windstar. A family friend recommended not worrying about it unless it stayed on. We saw the light come on a couple more times over the next few months. It always went off after 4 or 5 starts. This March it came on and would not go off. The local garage changed fuel and air filters and felt like that would fix the problem.
One day later the light came on and we decided we better go to a Ford garage for help. They informed us that it was a failed head gasket. The bill was $1400, Ford had us pay $600. I am grateful for the discount but I am disappointed that a van we bought new is having this kind of problems. The van only has 53,000 miles. We are strictly a Ford family and had plans to buy a new F150 next year. If Ford does not recall the 1996's, I will have to a least take a look at the Dodges and Toyotas. The kind of money we paid for this makes the whole experience disappointing.
Isabel of Naperville, IL:
We own a 1996 Ford Windstar and in the last month have spent over $2400 on repairs. First our entire brake system had to be repaired at a cost of $800. Then our transmission went out on the vehicle at a cost of $1595. The reason that I came on line in the first place was because of the fact that my "check engine light" was on and I was trying to determine the problem. Now I am horrified to learn that my car probably has the same gasket head problem as these other individuals. My car is less than five years old and has only 65,000 miles on it.
Did Ford extend the warranty to the 1996 Fords as well, because it sure sound to me like they did not correct the problem. This is the last time I buy a Ford product, ever. Has anyone else had to have their transmissions replaced on a car with only this much mileage? Is this normal wear or is it defective? I would appreciate any information that you could provide to me. I currently want to sell the car and but I am afraid that no one will give me anything for it knowing what the history is.
Joseph of Queens, NY:
My 1996 Ford Windstar with approx 48,000 miles had to get new head gasgets and a lower manifold. At this mileage these repairs are unheard of except for the 3.8 engine with Ford. There is a recall for the 1994 and 1995 models so obviously Ford has a problem. My neighbor has a 1995 model with 69000 miles and they have been reimbursed by Ford. My van with 20,000 less miles will not be. What is wrong with this picture?
We have incurred bills in the neighborhood of $1600 dollars. As I am an NYC fireman this is quite a bit of money, and I really can't afford it.
Jeff of Omaha, NE:
Blown headgasket on a '96 Windstar. No explanation why it happened at 50K miles other than "it just went". We paid the full $1200 bill even though we knew '95 Windstars had been recalled and repaid.
Mary of Chazy, NY:
After having numerous problems with my 1996 Ford Windstar and paying for engine repairs one year ago I now have to replace the headgasket. It is a 3.8 liter V6 engine, presumably the same engine that was recalled in the 1995 model, but the Ford Company and the Ford Dealership where I purchased the car will not help with the cost of repairs. I think it is unfair that the Ford company will only own up to their error in part by only recalling some of the vehicles.
It will be impossible for us to afford replacing the motor on this car ($3500) and we have a large family (5 children) The average family cannot afford the car payment as well as a repair of that amount! No more family trips, as we can't afford to repair the van and we have 7 family members. Shame on Ford!
Donald of Valley Center, KS:
I am writing concerning a head gasket failure on my 3.8L 1996 Ford Windstar. I took it into the dealership the first week in June, with around 64,000 miles, to get a 65,000 mile service done on it. I was contacted shortly thereafter and told that my #3 sparkplug had a green tint indicating the head gasket was bad.
I checked on the cost at a local repair shop and was given information on the extended warrenty on the 1995 3.8L Windstar for the same problem. Now I know that if Ford had a problem with the 1995 engine that it would not have been discovered by the time the 1996's were being built. The repairs cost me over $1,000 and when I contacted Ford they told me they would e-mail the dealership and the dealership would have to send a letter asking for assistance.
The dealership tried to assist me by trying to back date an extended warrenty but it would not cover repairs that had been done so I did not get it. Is there any thing else that I can do to recoup some of the money lost to Ford on a verified head gasket malfunction that has been documented on the 1995 but not on the 1996? The cost is the main issue here as my family is in the process of moving and did not need the added expense.
Terry of Friendswood, TN, writes:
On January 19, 2000, the "check engine" light came on in our 1996 Ford Windstar. We took the van into the dealer and the problem was said to be a leak in a hose (for emissions) and we paid $165.00 and picked it up on the 20th of January.
On February 20, 2000, (a Sunday) the check engine light came on again. The van was running fine up to that point. We took the van back into the dealer on February 21, 2000, and the service advisor, Bridgett, said they were too busy to look at the van. I told her the problem and that it was now running very rough and that smoke was coming out of the exhaust. She said the van is just fine, that we could drive on it, it was just an emissions problem when the check engine light came on. She assured me again that the van was fine and we could drive the vehicle. She said to bring it back the next morning.
The next day she called and said that she had very bad news. She said we had blown a head gasket and it would be very expensive to fix. We asked how we could have blown a head gasket, the van was running fine up until the light came on. She said that probably we had let the car overheat, and that was the reason.
That van had never overheated. The temperature gauge had never gone above the middle. She said we probably had a stuck thermostat. We said we had no choice but to fix the vehicle. The cost for the repair was $1,201.97. After doing some research, we have found that there was a recall on 1995 Windstars, and Ford says all is well.
There are thousands of customer complaints that 1996 Windstars are having major problems, specifically blown head gaskets. Ford Motor Co. told me when I called that there was nothing that they could do for me, that it was my responsibility to pay for the repairs and were downright rude.
Ford needs to admit that there is still a problem with head gaskets in 1996 Windstars. The average family does not have this type of money to spend on car repairs, when it seems to be a design defect. We have been a loyal Ford customer, buying our last six vehicles, totaling well over $100,000. Because of this incident, customer service treatment, and overall handling of the situation by Ford and Ford representatives, we will look to a different car manufacturer for our next purchase.
Nancy of Knightdale, NC, writes:
We own a 1996 Windstar that has had numerous problems. The most severe is this head gasket/engine replacement defect that Ford has apparently not fixed. Our problems started on a family vacation (this sounds so familiar) when the engine light came on after driving all day. We followed the directions in the manual and the light went off. The engine never runned rough. On our way back home, the same thing happened. No problems after that until 2 months later on another long trip when it happened again. This time the engine was running very rough.
We took it in to the dealer in late August. They "fixed" it twice to the tune of $800. Then it happened again and they "fixed" it again at no charge. A week ago, the same thing happened, the engine light came on and we took it to the dealer. Both head gaskets are blown and the lower block of the engine is ruined. The entire engine has got to be replaced.
We have spent over $2000 on this car for this and other problems too numerous to name. Some of these problems are now coming back to haunt us. Ford has offered us either half of the engine replacement ($1500) or $3000 toward a new vehicle. We owe too much money on the van and our payments would be well over what our budget can stand. What really bothers me is that I feel like that my dealer knew about these problems from the beginning and tried to put a band-aid on this from the start. We are a one-car family. This is our only transportation. This is really putting a strain on us.
Lori of Kamball Twp., MI, writes:
In the past 2 months my 96 Ford Windstar's engine was ruined due to the damage caused by a faulty head gasket. After doing a little research and a lot of talking I've found that Q-1 is not high on Fords priority list. Head gaskets should last the life of the vehicle. Fords acknowledged the problems with 94-95 models but what about 96?
I'm faced with a $3,600 repair bill on a car I still owe over $5,000 for. My husband just went back to work after nearly a year off due to a injury so money is a problem. I'm forced to drive to work with a co-worker because I can't afford the $3,600 repair bill. I'm going to have to take another loan out on a car I already have a loan on.
I asked a Ford dealer how much he would give me on a trade in to purchase a new car. He told me IF there was nothing wrong with my head gasket he might be able to give me $5,000." I said wait a minute, I owe more than that. My response was a shoulder shrug.
Donald of King George, VA, writes:
We have a 1996 Ford Windstar. We have had to replace the head gasket in this vehicle. Our mechanic has told us he has seen numerous minivans with the same problem come to his shop. He has also basically said that there was no real sense in fixing the problem because it will only happen again and again.
What I want to know is when are these big corporations going to start standing behind their products and quit trying to take advantage of us consumers?
We are a middle income family not a rich one we have four children we were not able to afford this unseen problem that apparently Ford knew about and still knows about but yet still refuses to do anything about. I believe they need to rethink their public relations with its consumers. My family has always driven Ford products ever since I can remember but I can tell you, since Ford is so uncaring, my family will trade in their Fords and go elsewhere.
Nicole of Epping, NH, writes:
I
have a 96 Windstar that needed over $1,000 in repairs for a new
head gasket. At 63,000
miles my engine light came on and when brought in for service that
is what we ended up paying. Although the service department admitted to the head gasket
being faulty they refused to put it in writing. I have contacted
every department I am aware of and no one is willing to reimburse
me for the cost.
Brian of Delaware, OH:
I have a 1996 Windstar that stranded my wife and children on a busy
interstate highway after the engine failed. It had the identical
head gasket problem described by 1995 Windstar owners. After 2 weeks
and $2500 in repairs, we have finally gotton our vehicle out of
the shop. To add insult to injury, when attempting to trade the
vehicle in a a Ford dealer in Columbus Ohio, the salesman had the
gall to ask if the head gaskets had been replaced yet, apparently
leading to a difference in the amount they were willing to give
us in trade. Since Ford knows they have a defective product in this
3.8 liter engine, they should also extend the warranty to owners
of the 1996 Windstars as well! When contacting Ford about this issue,
I simply get the obligatory blow off phone call, and they refuse
to respond in writing. Help! $2500 is ridiculous for a vehicle that
is well cared for and has low mileage!
MK of Winfield, KS:
At 70,000 miles, my 96 Ford Windstar just blew a head gasket.. Where
can I turn to for help?? Will Ford stand behind this faulty workmanship?
It will cost over $1000 to fix it. I can't sleep at night worrying
about this problem?? What are my options?
Mike of Albany, OR:
I have a 1996 Winstar With the 3.8 in it and I'm at 50,600 miles.
We recently started having problems with the van shaking at an idle,
running rough. I took it down to the Ford dealer and they said it
was the head gasket was going bad! It was going to cost around $1,850
to get it fixed. The service manager also advised me that there
was a "Recall" for the 94-95 Windstars in which Ford would cover
the cost, but no recalls out yet for the 96 yet. However, they made
a deal with me if I buy an extended warranty for $500 dollars they
would be happy to fix my van at no charge. This is ****! I shouldn't
have to pay a dime for Ford's mistake, especially when you pay $24,000
for a Ford product.
At the beginning of September 1999,
we began to notice white smoke coming out of the tailpipe of out
1995 Ford Windstar. At that time we did not know about the problems
that were being encountered with the Windstar nor about any extended
warranty period. It's interesting that we have and still receive
questionaires about our Ford Windstar but we did not receive an
extended warranty notice. We went on the Internet and were shocked
and depressed at the similarities between what we were experiencing
and what other people were experiencing. What was even worse was
the costs that was associated with fixing the problem. We did not
have thousands of dollars to repair this vehicle. This was a vehicle
with only about 74,000 miles and almost paid off. We had owned it
for 4 1/2 years and only had about 6 months to go. We parked the
vehicle and did not drive it until we could decide what to do.
We think all these Windstar owners should immediately sue Ford in Small Claims Court, charging that Ford violated consumer laws by knowingly selling a defective vehicle. The likelihood that Ford will contest the claim is relatively slight and the consumer has a very good chance of winning a settlement that covers at least some of the repair bill. If more consumers did this, companies would think twice about ignoring problems of this magnitude.
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