The 1995 Ford Windstar van was purchased in October 1997 with about 45,000 miles. On July 9, 1999 a stranger approached in the pizza hut parking lot to say that black smoke was coming from the van. I took the van to johnson Ford in marble falls where the mechanic said the problem was a blown engine head gasket. Estimated repair cost $ $1136. Another repair shop said there had been a recall on the head gaskets for that vehicle. Ford Motor Company was contacted. The Ford representative said there had been a recall but it had expired. I told them I hadn't received any notices regarding a recall. They then said there was no record of myself as the vehicle owner and a notice had been sent. When asked where the notice was sent they said to me. When asked to what address the representative said she only had a name another department had the address. A second phone call with Ford Motor Company informed me I didn't receive a notice since I was the second owner, and because I didn't respond within the proper time frame of the recall there was no recourse. It was up to the customer to notify Ford when they purchased a Ford vehicle. They refuse to honor the recall.

- Marble Falls, TX, USA

Problems began with engine check light at 32,000. Manuf. Said "don't worry." Head gaskets/block at 51,000. New engine one year later. Second engine three months after that. Within eight months, dealer wants to install what amounts to fourth engine. Transmission appears to be going, too, mechanic thinks due to multiple overheating/S of engine.

- Chevy Chase, MD, USA

Car first ran hot on 2/4/99. Ford would not pay since it was out of warranty. Had an independent to replace the head gaskets. Picked up car - car ran bad. Returned car to garage was told that crankshaft and crankshaft bearings were bad. Elected to replace the engine in lieu of repairing. Car ok for 3 months. Ran hot again. Replaced thermostat. Continued to run hot. Took it to hillard Ford in arlington tx. Hillard checked it out for a week. Could not get it to overheat but replaced spark plugs and an ignition module. Have had car for 3 days. Car overheated, again. Haven't had a chance to identify the problem, but is a continual problem with the Windstar.

- Arlington, TX, USA

There is a problem with: 1. the engine gaskets and, 2. the transmissions of many of the 1995 Ford Windstar and Ford Taurus's. they are routinely failing. Given this observation, I was compelled to purchase a $1000 extended warranty to pay for the repairs. The manufacturer should recall the affected powertrains and replace/repair the defects without charging the owners. Owners should be reimbursed for the costs of repairs or purchase of an extended warranty. The "lemon law" may apply because there are repetitive repairs.

- Minneapolis, MN, USA

Engine head-gasket failure, at the no. 4 cylinder, on a well-maintained vehicle. Windstar head gasket failure (particularly at the no. 4 cylinder) is a known and wide-spread problem which Ford management has acknowledged, obliquely, through Ford's "M01" program. However, since my vehicle was beyond the 60,000 mile drive-train warranty (63,705 mileage at the time of the head gasket failure), warranty service was denied and I was held responsible for the full repair charge of this *known problem*. the resulting $1,961 repair bill has put a severe burden on our family finances.

- Herndon, VA, USA

Ford admits head gaskets are defective, but will only replace them if they blow before 60000 miles.

- Belleville, IL, USA

Had 2 head gasket failures - now the crankshaft bearings gone, requiring a short block. Believe bearings are a result of the head gasket problems.

- Thief River Falls, MN, USA

Blown head gasket and front engine timing cover leak. Minimum estimate from dealer is $1900. We contacted Ford motor who offered no relief. We also had to replace the transmision at 40,000 miles. We found a posting in the edmunds web site devoted exclusively to this problem and lack of compensation from Ford motor.

- Seymour, IL, USA

Have found the same defect has occurred in most 1995 Windstar. No safety defect listed.

- Knightdale, NC, USA

Head gaskets failed at 61,000 miles. After repairs made, dealer noted that rack and pinion assembly was worn out. This is a critical component that should not fail after 65,000 miles.

- Harker Heights, TX, USA

Engine dead due to headgasket failure.

- West Chester, PA, USA

The original transmission was replaced in 1995 after failing at approximately 9000 miles. The second transmission had a speed sensor failure at 31,500 miles and now appears to be failing the same way the original failed. Ford claims there is nothing they will do. After doing some research, there are numerous complaints against this transmission coupled with the 3.8L engine. After writing to your organization about my head gasket problem, I was very pleased that somehow Ford was persuaded to extend the warranty coverage on that component as it was a factory defect that led to the problem. From what I am reading, the transmission is a similar factory defect (poorly designed part: Forward clutch piston). Any help in this area would be greatly appreciated.

- Wantagh, NY, USA

I just paid a $2200 repair bill for a very well maintained Windstar. My "mass sensor" or check engine light came on and I took the car to a Ford dealer. Evidently, my cylinder head gasket was gone. It was a major job to get it replaced.

- North Canton, OH, USA

While driving at 60 mph and without prior warning, timing chain and engine head gasket blew out, causing the consumer not to have any power within the vehicle. Consumer had to coast to the side of the road. Currently, vehicle is in the repair shop. Problem most likely due to a defective gasket.

- North Hills, CA, USA

While driving engine head gasket blew out. The problem was reported to dealership, and problem has not been corrected.

- Shreveport, LA, USA

I began experiencing all the classic signs of a head gasket failure. I brought the vehicle into kings crown Ford and they told me it was only a thermastat. I paid them almost $200 and was on my way. A short time (3 days) later the car again began running hot and smelling of anti-freeze. I brought it to richborg automotive in saint augustine, fl and they confirmed "head gasket." Ford needs to accept responsibility for the head gasket defect beyond the 60,000 mile warranty earlier announced. Please help us. We have spent over $1,100 getting the gasket replaced and engine fixed. Ford shold be ashamed of itself.

- Cleveland, OH, USA

There are thousands of reports of failed transmissions and head gaskets in the 1995 Windstar. Why has there not been a recall on these vehicles?

- Indialantic, FL, USA

Oil pan leak noted @ 60K. Dealer recommended fix @next service. At 73224 died when put into reverse, oil warning light flickering. Dealer identified leaking timing cover gasket caused coolant to enter oil system. Major lower engine overhaul replacement of all moving parts required. Repair was covered by extended warranty which expired @ 75K. Dealer requested replacement of known head gasket problem at that time declined by Ford as no current problem apparent. At 83K vehicle difficult to start, exhaust blowing white smoke when it finally started. Dealer has had car over a week & has identified head gasket failure which has also caused the rebuilt lower engine to fail again. Dealer recommends full engine replacement. Ford is refusing to acknowledge any responsibility even though an apparent recall had been issued against premature headgasket failure. In common with other notifications you have received and we have noticed on the internet. What recourse do we have with a manufacturer who is aware of a major design flaw and refuses to service its custormers? our vehicle has been maintained and serviced for its entire life soley by the Ford dealership from whom we purchased this "dead" vehicle. Estimated cost of repair--$5,000.

- Gilroy, CA, USA

Manufacturing defect in the head gasket (common problem on 95 Ford Windstar). Ford has repaired several vehicles in excess of the extended warranty, but only on a case by case basis and very few (Ford will not admit to this and I have the VIN numbers that were warrantied). Ford will not discuss the defect with owners.

- Yelm, WA, USA

Currently our vehicle is awaiting a new engine after having the head gasket replaced on a recall notice from Ford last October. While we have an extended warranty on this vehicle, we feel it is not fair they should have to provide replacement in light of other similar complaints about the same problem on other Ford Windstar. This vehicle only has 34,489 miles on it. We have had transmission concerns about this van as well, however the dealer has never been able to duplicate the problems experienced. We are very concerned that this van is infact a lemon, and we have contacted the Ford customer service line, which advised us that no assistance would be provided because the vehicle was out of manufacturers warranty by time, not by miles.

- Boise, ID, USA