10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 2
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 2 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 38,892 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
The consumer states that the head gasket failed due to a manufacturer's defect. The consumer is requesting Ford Motor Company to repay the cost for replacing the the entire engine (well over 4K dollars) which was the case in the recall. Scc
- Palos Verdes Est, CA, USA
The vehicle was park and smoke was coming from underneath the vehicle. The vehicle caught fire please provide addittional information dealer is.
- Ventura, CA, USA
Head gasket blew and caused timing belt gasket to fail as well. Per Ford recall is only for 7 years or 100,000 miles and the van is 7 years and 8 months old and has 75,000 miles. Brought van to dealer @ 40,000 and dealer refused to check gasket and informed me that once it goes bad, bring it in and we will fix it and never mentioned anything about a time limit. Now dealer and Ford is refusing to fix gaskets and they are asking $2,305 to fix problem that I believe should still be covered.
- Mount Prospect, IL, USA
Engine 3.8 was remanufactured (68,500) under recall and now has same issue, blown head gaskets (125,200). Ford has issued a tech service bulletin in the last 6 months on this. It seems that the issue was not adequately fixed on the first recall, or the tsb would not have been issued.
- Springfield, VA, USA
While driving at normal speed vehicle started to run a little rough. Engine light illuminated, temperature gauge went to hot. Consumer pulled over, and saw smoke coming out of tailpipe. Consumer took vehicle to dealer, and they replaced head gasket.
- Shagrin Falls, OH, USA
Consumer stated the engine light woul illuminate, antifreeze was leaking, head gasket failed, thermostat and thermostat gasket failed, O-ring were leaking and also if the vehicle was sitting for any length of time the vehicle would start to overheat. * yd 2 oxygen sensors were replaced. Updated
- Washingon, NJ, USA
On two occasions the temperature gauge reached the hot zone and dropped. The vehicle also started to smoke. The dealer replaced the engine under manufacturers head gasket recall, but the problem reoccurred, then the dealer replaced sensor and thermostat. Finally the engine had to be replaced for the second time, but Ford will not pay for these repairs.
- Garfield, NJ, USA
The engine leaked oil onto the exhaust, the intake manifold leak was replaced under the head gasket warranty which also failed, also the water pump failed @79,000 miles.
- Peoria, IL, USA
While driving engine light illuminated. Smoke emerged from vehicle, and temperature gauge immediately went from cold to hot, causing head gasket to blow.
- Fountaiin Valley, CA, USA
While driving smoke emerged from exhaust. Also, engine light illuminated on dash and temperature gauge immediately went from cold to hot, causing head gasket to blow out.
- Fountain Valley, CA, USA
The Ford Windstar experienced the engine temperature guage fluctuating up and down the scale; the radiator fluid level was low; next bubbles were noted in the over flow reservoir. The dealer said the engine gaskets were bad and replaced tehm at a cost $1446.02. Nothing was said about a safety recall at this time. Less than a month later we received in the mail from Ford vehicle service and programs (no. 00M09). The letter stated additional warranty was extended for head gasket failure for 7 years or 100,000 miles whichever came first. We had 103,000 miles at the time of our $1400 repair. The problems started before the 100,000 mile warranty but we could not afford any repairs until Jan 2000. Again notice of the extended warranty came in March 2000. Why can't Ford stand behind us on this instead of running from us?
- Manassas, VA, USA
The engine leaked oil onto the exhaust, the intake manifold leak was replaced under the head gasket warranty which also failed, also the water pump failed @79,000 miles.
- Peoria, IL, USA
Consumer states head gasket failed, engine leaked oil on exhaust, and the water pump was also replaced due to excessive noise and a loose shaft.
- Peoria, IL, USA
Vehicle was going 60mph and engine lost oil pressure and constantly overheated. Engine check light didn't come on as a warning. Problem has been ongoing since 1998. Problem was previously caused by coolant deteriorating the bearings. Engine needed to be replaced, but dealer will not get involved financially. Consumer will be fully responsibile for the repairs.
- Hampton Bays, NY, USA
Due to head gasket recall, consumer had head gasket repaired, days after repair, rattling was heard and timing cover gasket was repaired at consumer's cost, the bearings have failed due to overheating and dealer is now stating that the engine needs replaced, consumer is requesting that repair be covered by Ford and requesting reimbursement for repairs to the timing gasket.
- Miami, FL, USA
Transmission failed one month after consumer's extended warranty. Vehicle is experiencing engine and engine cooling problems, head gasket blew causing timing cover gasket to fail, after repair of head gasket, engine started to rattle, now there is a bearing problem which is due to vehicle overheating, dealer stated vehicle needs a new engine. The transmission failed the head gasket blew the timing cover gasket failed. The consumer wants reimbursment from the manufacturer for the above failed parts that had been replaced.
- Miami, FL, USA
Heater not working properly. Temperature gauge overheated. Took it to dealer to check out. I was informed needed a new engine. The 3.8 liter V6 head gasket was a problem they were knowingly aware of. There is a special program providing coverage for 7 years or 100,000 miles. At 105,000 miles I do not qualify. My 5 year old vehicle needs a new engine at my expense. The vehicle was religiously maintained. The dealer, and supposed zone manager, won't budge. Why didn't they recall my car and replace the faulty head gasket before the engine failed. Unbelievable. As a consumer I feel I was mislead and intentionally kept uninformed. I fail to believe Ford can get away with having a product on the road they know is an engine failure time bomb.
- Medina, OH, USA
Engine gasket blew, and temperature gauge kept running hot. Took vehicle to a mechanic, and they said it was a blown head gasket, there was a recall, consumer never received recall letter.
- Riverhead, NY, USA
I just wanted to find out about a problem that I am having with my 1995 Ford Windstar. I had it in my local repair shop for have the oil changed when I told them that the temperature gauge had gone crazy that morning. We replaced the thermostat and the radiator cap thinking that might be the problem. The next morning it was doing the same thing so I contacted the repair shop and they got to looking and figured out that the head gasket had broken. I have my car in the shop getting this problem taken care of. I fill that this problem needs to be looked into because I have found out just today that there has been several of these vans headgaskets replaced for the same reason. I know that the Taurus & mustang had a recall on these gaskets and that they are the same engine that I have in my Windstar (just turned sideways). If you would please just let me know if there is anything that I can do that will keep someone else from getting stuck with a repair bill like I am about to.
- Calera, AL, USA
- Papillion, NE, USA