Started vehicle & noticed it was blowing smoke. Took to dealer & was informed engine head gasket had blown. Received a tsb on head gaskets. Had no problem before receiving tsb. Dealre refused to repair due to vehicle being over the mileage requirement.

- Telford, PA, USA

The head gasket on our 95 Ford Windstar blew up today, and we have found many other complaints about this 95 Ford van's head gasket on the internet. We are deeply concerned and hope something will be done about it.

- Eckert, CO, USA

April, 1998 at 34,000 miles car taken to dealer for routine maintenance. Dealer stated that there is a slight oil leak. Kept car overnight and then for a few more days. Replaced numerous seals and gaskets. Valve cover gasket, etc. One year later, April, 1999 at 47,000 miles car brought in again for routine maintenance, check engine light and unexplained engine coolant loss. Dealer advised that head gasket must be replaced.

- Commack, NY, USA

Transmission can shift into reverse, but will not back up. The engine head gaskets blew. The interior lights would go on/off on their own, day or night. The key shift interlock will not release out of park position. The front disc brakes had crumbled inside. Heard grinding/rambling noises when the brakes were applied. Been to dealer 3 different times for brakes.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

The head gasket(s) failed, causing the car to overheat and possibly sustain internal damage. My wife was stranded in traffic, posing a danger to herself, our children who were passengers, and vehicles having to drive around her. I've have learned that this failure may be epidemic among 1995 Windstar with 3.8L engines. Ford temporarily extended the warranty in recognition of this problem, but terminated it as of 12/98. Since my vehicle did not show any symptoms until this past weekend, I did not take it in to Ford for a repair under warrranty. I believe that Ford should be made to repair my engine at their cost, as the unexpected, sudden failure of the head gasket due not to wear and tear, but to a flaw in the vehicles design, can cause passengers to be placed in conditions of extreme danger. Wear and tear is something that a vehicle owner can anticipate; a blown head gasket on a vehicle of this age and mileage is not to be expected, and therefore constitutes a safety defect.

- Harahn, LA, USA

The head gaskets began to fail on April 12,1999, resulting in the overheating of our engine. Although Ford issued a letter to us last June regarding the problem they were having with head gaskets related to this vehicle, they claim we cannot be compensated for our expenses because we missed the cutoff to their no charge coverage by 3 months. It is obvious that Ford realized that this product was faulty, and we want Ford to take some responsibility in resolving this issue. We have been informed that the cost to repair our vehicle will be $3200. We feel that Ford needs to be held accountable to their customers, and provide assistance in repairing and compensating for a problem that they knew would occur.

- Greenwood, IN, USA

Car was idling rough, white smoke coming out of rear of vehicle, temp gauge reading normal, smoke got worse, check engine light came on, engine died, all in 3 block distance. Garage says blown head gasket, new engine needed, Ford will do nothing.

- Allentown, PA, USA

The vehicle had just returned from Florida to Michigan. Driving around town afterwards the engine head blew and was towed to the dealership. Extensive damage was reported to the cost of approximately $3600. Also transmission failure.

- Ann Arbor, MI, USA

My vehicle overheated in June, 1998 and I added additional coolant. In approximately 2 weeks, I received an extended warranty notice from Ford where head gaskets on my particular vehicle type and make were failing prematurely. I took my vehicle to a local Ford service department (delta Ford, vicksburg, ms) on 7/28/98 (invoice number 017128) and they checked it out and told me the head gasket was still good. My vehicle continued to require coolant every 2 - 3 months. The problem recently has gotten much worse. I added coolant to it on 4/5/99 and then again on 4/17/99 - 368 miles later. Today (4/17/99) my check engine light illuminated. It does appear that I have a head gasket failure and all of this could have been prevented if delta Ford would have replaced the faulty gasket on 7/28/98 while the repair was under warranty. Ford should be forced to recall this problem that consumers are experiencing.

- Vicksburg, MS, USA

Head gaskets blown causing coolant to mix with oil in engine. Ford had a program which expired 12/31/98 that covered repairs to head gaskets regardless of miles or time owned. However, my head gaskets blew in 2/99 so they will not take responsibility for the engineering defect that is causing the blown head gaskets.

- Downingtown, PA, USA

Head gasket is defective on 1000's of 3.8L engines, should be recalled

- Independence, KY, USA

Consumer was driving on the highway, engine started knocking. Anti-freeze was coming out from head gasket.

- Chaska, MN, USA

Engine replaced due to head gasket failure, warranty expired, total costs $3869.64.

- Munhall, PA, USA

Head gasket failure caused complete engine failure. Appears to be known defect but Ford customer service division unwilling to acknowledge a problem.

- Dale City, VA, USA

Faulty head gasket is a known defect, should have been recalled.

- Santa Maria, CA, USA

Engine head gasket blew out after eight days warranty ran out. Consumer believed this was a manufacturer's defect which should be honored by dealer. Also transmission failure.

- Apple Valley, MN, USA

We purchased our Windstar from hertz sales in boise Idaho in May 1995 with about 15,000 miles on it. We transferred the rest of the new car warranty to our name. Near the end of November we received a notice from Ford about head gasket problems. The wording in the notice, which was not a notice of recall, led us to believe that any problem we had would not be covered, and at that time we had not had any engine problems. The middle of January 1999 the heater quit working. We took it to two local mechanics who added coolant. When the heater still would not work properly one said there might be a problem with the head gaskets. We took the van to meridian Ford in meridian, Idaho. They charged us $2000 to rdo the heads. They did not tell us that redoing the heads may cause the main engine to fail due to damage from leaking coolant into the engine. On April 4, 1999 the engine failed at 65 mph freeway speeds. Fortunatley we were near an exit and a truckstop or we would have been in serious danger on the freeway. We had the van towed to meridian Ford. As of today, April 10, they still have the van. They could not get Ford to pay for any of either the first or second repair. They want $2500 to put in a new short block. We have found out on the internet that Ford has helped pay for some repairs even though mileage was above that included in their notice and even though some problems occurred after the Dec 31, 1998 deadline for remedying any problems. We tried to contact Ford ourselves through customer service and otherewise and were stone walled at every step. The people were rude and demeaning in their manner. With the major problems with the 1995 Windstar it is apparent that Ford should have issued a recall. The problem stems from faulty headgaskets. Ford knew they were faulty. They sent a slick worded notice at the end of the year during the holiday season and gave only a very short time to act before the year end deadline. We want Ford to make it righ

- Boise, ID, USA

My local Ford dealership told me of the hidden warranty that existed on the head gasket of the 1995 Ford Windstar. They asked for my mileage and VIN number up front. They told me that the vehicle was covered and had me tow the vehicle to them. After a week they have come back and let me know that the vehicle was not covered because of the mileage which I gave to them in advance. If known this in advance I would have had the vehicle fixed at the mechanic's location that I had the vehicle towed from. My wife and I have been with one vehicle for almost two weeks and have two children that go to different schools because of their age. My investigations on this problem has found numerous complaints on this model. Most failures happening just out of the extended warranty. Ford has acknowledged the problem but would not correct it unless there was damage occurring. This sounds like a way to keep their costs down for repairing what they knew as a defect.

- Mobile, AL, USA

Head gasket blown, possible cracked block. Ford won't help pay.

- Apo, NY, USA

Head gasket in engine failed, causing overheating of engine.

- San Ramon, CA, USA