Due to a defective head gasket which leaked and caused engine to overheat, vehicle stalled. Common problem.

- Hebron, IL, USA

Rear view mirror fell off 4 times/transmission replaced at 60000 miles, and engine head gaskets replaced at 63000 miles. Costly repairs and have been without vehicle for over 2 weeks just for these problems.

- Ada, MI, USA

Engine failure was due to blown head gasket, transmission has been serviced and vehicle well cared for.

- Canton, GA, USA

Chronic problem with 1995 Ford with 3.8L V6 engine head gasket - Ford won't own up to it. Will the NHTSA do something for all of the owners with defecive cars"??"

- Moon Township, PA, USA

Premature failure of engine head gasket on 1995 Ford Windstar gl. Failure at 76,800 miles.

- Danville, IL, USA

When the transmission failed my husband contacted the 800 number with Ford. The customer service rep would not give him a Ford's rep name and number to call. They said he could leave his name and number and someone would call him back. He then called ben satcher Ford in lexington because it is close to our house, and I have had such problems with bob bennett and their service. Ben satcher would not help us either. They would not put us in touch with a Ford rep. We finally dropped it. Then, on christmas eve, we had the blown head gaskets happen. We were stranded in richmond, ky at 12:10 am on I-75, which is 4 states away from where we live. Once the christmas holiday was over, we finally were able to get the van worked on at a dealership in lexington, ky. The service people there told us Ford had sponsored a program on the head gaskets because they knew they had a problem. However, the program expired in December 1998, so we were too late. The dealership would not contact a Ford rep either. They said we had to pay ourselves and take it up with Ford. That bill was $1800 as well as I had replaced the transmission the year before for $1800. I'm now out $3600 for things that should not have happened with the mileage on the minivan. When we finally arrived home in SC, we had a recall sitting in our mailbox for the gas tank that can possibly catch on fire. I took the minivan in to bob bennett today for the recall. I told them the van is still not running correctly, please help me out and check it free of charge. I also contacted the service mgr. At bob bennett last week about what happened to us with the head gaskets, and asked for the Ford rep. I asked him for that number again today. He's claiming he has a phone call in to him, but it could be 30-45 days or more before he has contact with the Ford rep. He became quite belligerent with me and did not want to help with the problem that the van is not running correctly unless he charges me fully. Help.

- Lexington, SC, USA

No summary listed for above vehicle.

- Laurel, MD, USA

Head gasket failure diagnosed after coolant loss, two thermostats replaced in 9 months, engine miss at idle, check engine light on, and inability to remove number 4 spark plug. Estimate cost to repair $2126.60. Not covered by the extended Ford warranty to 60,000 miles.

- Gahanna, OH, USA

12-13-99 till 12-30-99 no heat leaking anti-freeze, replaced watter pump $373.97 take van back in then need another new engine, but Ford said the maker of the engine would only replace head gaskets.

- Rochester, NY, USA

Received a letter from Ford dated 6/98 admitting a problem with head gaskets and offering to refund repair cost or repair for no cost if failure occurred prior to Dec. 1998 and milage was under 60,000. The head gasket failed in my Windstar in March of 1999 with 60666 miles. I had the head gasket replaced but Ford's actions in this matter seem highly questionable. This appears to be a limited recall without calling it a recall, fixing only the majority of the failures but not fixing all. My failure happend to occur outside of the parameters that were set. Please note that I dealt with eastgate Ford in beavercreek on this repair and complaint.

- Beavercreek, OH, USA

Blown head gasket. This has been ongoing problem with 95 Windstar. Could have been stranded on X-way or major intersection. Ford will not do recall. Literally thousands of 95 Windstar owners have experienced this same problem. Ford will not reimburse for this design problem they have known about for a long time.

- Dewitt, MI, USA

Vehicle overheated, checked engine and found head gasket failure. Contacted Ford, would not cover even though they are aware of head gasket failures on this particlar engine, would have been covered if I had not had it inspected on 8/98 and found to be ok. I feel Ford has a responsibility to owners of these paticular vehicles with this engine (3.8L).

- Ely, NV, USA

Left stranded in rural South Dakota when engine blew, relating to the engine head gasket problem on Ford's 3.8 litre engines. Had previously had the head gaskets checked and replaced, but engine still damaged. Ford would not cover this because the warranty expired at 60,000 miles and our vehicle was at 62,000 miles. We had to pay to have a new engine installed, were without our vehicle for 8 weeks, and had to drive 10 hours back to sd to get it.

- Sun Prairie, WI, USA

Engine head gasket failed at 73000 miles - heard over the internet that there was a recall up to 60K miles - I never received any info on this recall. How is Ford allowed to limit this recall to 60K miles due to a faulty gasket that has since been redesigned?

- Westminster, MD, USA

Head gaskets blew and engine quit while descending hill. Stopped at intersection, but could not remove van from traffic lanes.

- Bainbridge Island, WA, USA

First head gasket failure at 55,000 miles, replaced by dealer with same faulty head gasket part. This replaced head gasket failed 40,000 miles later. Ford and the dealership are both responsible for the design and failure to replace the original head gasket with the new improved model. Consumers are very angry and should pose a class action suit against Ford. This faulty gasket causes engines to sieze. Now the dealerships will not warranty any head gasket replacement. They reccomend engine replacement. This problem has been admitted by Ford, yet they have not adequately solved the problem. They put a bandaid on it.

- Southington, CT, USA

The first symptom of the problem came with no heat while travelling for the christmas holiday. It made for a cold trip with our children. Luckily we caught it before total engine failure in our Minnesota winter. The estimated repairs I have received so far range from $1000 to $1800. From what I hear, this is not an isolated case for 95 Windstar. Is Ford planning on doing anything? any counsel or action I can take.

- Circle Pines, MN, USA

Transmission problem/failure: After coming to a stop, the transmission would hesitatedbefore engaging. I first noticed the problem after about 50,000 miles. It became progressively worse. The main problem was determined to be a failed piston (aluminium). A secondary failure was the main housing do to the shuttle valve wearing out the bore (probably due to execessive chatter because of the fluid leaking past the piston). The hesitating engagement would occasionally cause the vehicle to roll backwards or not to move forward in traffic. I believe both situations to be potentially dangerous. The dealership fixed the problem at my expense; Ford told me they could not help.

- Plainwell, MI, USA

I gradually lost my heat. I had taken my minivan to have a thermostat replaced the week before because that's what I thought the problem was. I had already sunk $75 into it before I took it into the Ford dealership becasue the problem was still happening. It continued to overheat after the thermostat was installed. I paid approximately $1000 right before christmas to have my head gasket replaced. I was really in a bind for christmas this year having to pay for my van. I alos was without transportation for a week. I have three children to Transport to and from school and all their sports events. I was inconvienced for an entire week. Ford offered me a "rental", but I would still have to pay. I declined. I have written to Ford customer service and gotten a response. They are not willing to help me in the least bit financially.

- Willard, NY, USA

We realize you folks don't think of engine head gasket related defects and transmission failures as highway and safety issues, but we wish to go on the record as swindled by Ford for failing to be responsible for manufacturing automobile with defective machine parts that if they failed while under certain circumstances could easily be responsible for death and injury of the vehicle occupants or other vehicle occupants.

- Poulsbo, WA, USA