Head gasket&timing cov.gasket replaced. 357 miles later, engine blew.

- Independence, IA, USA

03/11/2000 date of failure is the third failure of the head gasket on this vehicle. If you need the original date of failure and mileage at that time please contact us. Thank you.

- Lee's Summit, MO, USA

I have experienced multiple incidents with my Windstar stalling while at stop signs and while driving on the freeway or highway. The car would not start at times and finally the engine would not start at all. The head gasket defect damaged my engine. I was forced to replace the head gaskets and have the engine and transmission rebuilt for a cost of $5,000 approx. Ford Motor Company refused to cover the cost of the damage caused by defects. I continue to have engine failure driving around town and on the freeway. My safety and that of my family is a risk each day that we drive in this car. I have asked Ford to refund my money and they refuse to back their defective product. I continue to take my car back to the dealership for repeated attempts to fix the problem. During the last attempt, my van was at the dealership from 11/16/99 to 01/25/00 and the problem still exists. I am trying to hire an attorney to pursue a lawsuit. I am a single working mother and cannot afford to purchase another car. I purchased a Windstar and have paid $367 per month for 5 years. I was looking forward to paying my car off and having a dependable car for many years to come. My car is almost paid off but it is unsafe and unreliable and Ford refuses to reimburse me. I am an extremely unsatisfied customer and will seek legal action. Ford Motor Company does not back their unsafe and defective vehicles. Apparently human life is meaningless to this company or they would be more responsive to my problem.

- Orange, CA, USA

Timing chain cover leaked anti-freeze and needed to be replaced due to redesign. The old timing chain cover was clearly defective and should be covered under a recall. Ford currently has recalls for timing chain covers on other vehicles. This repair cost $927.

- Rochester, NY, USA

Ford will cover the head gasket repair with their extended warranty, but they will not cover the front cover gasket repair. These problems are directly related to each other because as the engine overheats. This heat is transffered to the aluminium cover, causing it to warp. Ford has even issued a techinical service bulletin regarding this front cover gasket stating that when it is replaced a new type of gasket needs to be used. This new type of gasket reduces the heat transfer to the front cover preventing warpage.

- Deerfield, IL, USA

Head gasket failed while driving due to flaw in engine manufacturing.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

While traveling down highway, engine check light and heating light came on. Consumer moved close to the lane. Then heard a loud pop, and white smoke came out from everywhere, consumer was completely blinded. But, felt safe enough to move to shoulder and wait for help.

- Gainsville, VA, USA

The first time my engine failed it was with the head gaskets which I found out later...I went out to my van after work and tried to start my van after it started it immidiatly overheated and the engine turned off. I tried to start it agine and then I noticed the engine acting unusal...got out and noticed the antifreeze coming out of the tail pipe...I took it traight to my mechanic who is a blcok away he then discoverd the problem and contacted Ford who the fixed the head gaskets. About 6 months later I was driving about 55 mph doew the interstate and noticed the oil light on then noticed a very loud noise and proceded to exit. My engine then failed and I was stuck on the off ramp. I had the van towed to my mechanic and he diagnosed it as a blown engine due to a bad oil regulater and pump which in turn blew the engine due to the complete loss of oil in the engine. My mechanic contacted Ford to have them pay for a replace engine to no avail..he diagnosed the the problem with the oil regulator dameged due to the coolant previously flowing throughthe engine during the head gasket failure. I ahve had to have the engine repalced at a price of 3000. Nd had to rent a car for one week and then struggle without transportaiton therafter..for about 1 month while we looked very hard for an engine which seemed unusally ahrd to find.

- Lake Worth, FL, USA

Consumer took vehicle to dealer for recall repairs concerning engine head gasket. Dealer noticed that the timing belt gasket cover was also leaking. Dealer will repair only at the consumers cost. In addition, dealer indicated that every Windstar taken apart showed that timing belt gasket cover was leaking.

- Lebannon, PA, USA

Replaced head gaskets due to failure at 68350 miles. Drove additional 500 miles and rod bearing failure due to antifreeze leak from blown head gaskets. Replaced engine with a Ford remanufactured engine. With total parts cost around $2000.

- Loveland, CO, USA

Heating and A/C system failed due to head gasket failure.

- Berwick, PA, USA

Vehicle brought into Ford dealer (feduke, vestal NY) due to engine skipping. Dealer diagnosed leaking head gasket which is covered under warranty. Dealer repaired vehicle, very next day loss engine power. Dealer said engine bearings bad due to contamination of oil by coolant as a result of the leaking head gasket. Ford corporation declined to cover damage resulting from leaking head gasket.

- Johnson City, NY, USA

The # 3 cylinder fuel injector went out, which in turn made the module in the computer go out, and we have been informed that you can't replace the individual module you have to replace the whole computer at a estimated cost of 600 dollars. This is after having the head gasketts replaced and two new transmissions installed.

- Paris, TX, USA

The # 3 cylinder fuel injector went out, which in turn made the module in the computer go out, and we have been informed that you can't replace the individual module you have to replace the whole computer at a estimated cost of 600 dollars. This is after having the head gaskets replaced and two new transmissions installed.

- Paris, TX, USA

Front cover gasket leaking.

- Cottage Grove, MN, USA

I have a friend with a 1995 Windstar and she also, had to replace the headgasket. I need to know if this is a defect which has been overlooked or just ignored by the Ford manufacturers.

- Onset, MA, USA

Original headgasket problem was diagnosed and repaired 6-97, before Ford had publicly accepted responsibility for the defect. One year later there was a recall, and we were reimbursed. The problem is the repair was made with the same part that failed, not the redesigned part, and 54,000 miles later, we have head gasket failure again, as well as engine damage. Because we are at a vehicle mileagle of 128,000, they are refusing. Our claim is the head gasket was of faulty design, and this should again be replaced and the engine repaired, with new, redesigned headgasket.

- Holla, MI, USA

I have a 1995 Ford Windstar which had a recall about a year and a half ago to replace head gaskets that had defects. This was replaced under an "extended warranty". one year and a half later the timing cover gasket failed. This requires an engine to be lifted and is a $1400 job quoted from my dealer. I just received a service bulleten about Ford extended the warranty to 100,000 miles, however it is only for head gaskets and not for timing cover gaskets. It appears, after reasearching this on the internet that the timing cover gasket problem is just as prevelant as the head gasket problem. Has the NHTSA investigated whether or not these gaskets have the same defect" it appears that the cars are having the timing cover problem just as much as the head gasket problem. I have never owned a vehicle that needed two major repairs. Ford basically said, too bad..does the NHTSA have any power over these companies" no wonder we are buying Japanese cars. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

- Shrewsbury, MA, USA

The engine is defective and head gasket failed.

- Sugar Land, TX, USA

The head gasket in the engine malfunctioned causing damage to the engine. Nlm

- Clinton, OH, USA