Engine experienced loss of coolant. Vehicle taken to dealer, and informed consumer of a head gasket failure which was not covered under extended warranty. Check the engine light came on while the vehicle was new but the dealer was unable to find the cause.

- Canton, MI, USA

Vehicle experienced loss of coolant and engine overheating. Dealer notified, and informed consumer of a of a head gasket failure on its 3.8L V6 engine. Please provide any further details on this matter.

- Myrtle Beach, SC, USA

We have been told that the front gasket cover is damaged and needs to be R eplaced. We have also been told that there is a recall for this same thing on 1995 models. We have an estimate to repair at $2,000. This car has been properly maintained and we should not have this kind of problem with the engine. We feel that Ford should pay for the cost of repairing the engine.

- Matthews, NC, USA

Laboratory oil analysis indicates failed head gasket based on glycol and anti-freeze chemicals in the engine oil.

- Geneseo, IL, USA

When driving speedometer was waving back from 20 to 90 mph. Consumer contacted dealer, dealer noticed transmission pan had metal in it which caused transmission to be replaced. Also, noticed a fume odor in passenger compartment, and contacted the dealer. Dealer noticed that coolant and timing cover were leaking fluid onto head gasket.

- Providence, RI, USA

Manifold gasket and head gasket failed causing the vehicle to use excessive amount of coolant and check engine light was illuminated injectors and egr ports were cleaned, 2 months later when the vehicle began smoking thick white smoke, this dealer found that the head gasket had blown and that the consumer was 12 days late for the manufacturer's recall.

- Austin, TX, USA

My 3.8L Windstar was checked at 60K at dealer.at 68K check engine lamp stayed on. Dealer identified the problem as head gasket failure & informed engine has to be replaced.vehicle received back after repair (new engine) after paying heavy & now has speedometer problem

- Bear, DE, USA

At 45,000 miles vehicle experienced a loss of coolant. Taken to independent repair shop, and informed consumer that 3.8L V6 engine had an engine head gasket failure. Manufacturer notified, and informed consumer that vehicle was not covered under extended warranty.

- Salem, MA, USA

Our 96 Windstar head gasket has failed and we are out almost $1500 to replace it. Ford knows of the problems but has only agreed to fix the 95 Windstar at this time. We would like to join in any class action lawsuit regarding this subject.

- Snohomish, WA, USA

Engine needs to be replaced after timing cover leak.

- Anchorage, AK, USA

Ford has a history of head gasket failures on the 3.8 engine from 1995 on.also speedometer cable head has went out for the 2nd time!

- Warsaw, MN, USA

Head gaskets are designed to last the lifetime of a vehicle. They are not routine maintenance items in the Ford owner's manual. Ford extended the warranty on the 1995 Windstar head gaskets twice (5 years, 60K miles and then to 100,000 miles). Even though no major changes to the engine block were made on the 96 Ford winstar, Ford has refused to accept responsibility for repairing this know defect on my vehicle. In fact it appears that Ford is aware of the condition as they issue a technical service bulletin in October 1999 for the 1996 Windstar (tsb 90-20-7). The cost of the repair to me was $1,357.84. What is even more troublesome to me is Ford's complete lack of integrity and honesty by not fully disclosing this known defect to its customers. This is an injustice to all americans who purchased this product. I hope you will help do something about this problem.

- Columbia, MO, USA

I am dissatisfied with the service from Ford on my 1996 Windstar. This is the second time it has been in for service for the same thing. The antifreeze was leaking at a quick pace and Ford ran the pressure test. Said it was the water pump and gasket that needed fixed. This was 2 weeks ago. They told my boyfriend [xxx] whose name is on the title of the van that it was fixed. Here it is 1/4/2001 and again we had to take it in for service for the same problem. Ran test again and said it was the head gaskets and #4 cylinder. We already paid $900 and it wasn't fixed the first time. Now they want to charge $1200 to have it fixed and we can't afford to pay more when it should have been fixed the first time around. Also found out Ford has had a recall on all Windstar up to 1995 for the same problem that we are having and they are fixing this for free. As a consumer I feel we are being taken advantage of and this is a safety hazard to myself as well as our children. I am the main driver of this vehicle and I have 2 toddlers. Ford said the van can stop at anytime and I would be stuck. I am very upset and dissatisfied and would like some satisfaction from this company. I feel we are being taken advantage of when Ford knows this is an ongoing problem with this vehicle. Thank you and I await your response. Parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Mckees Rocks, AK, USA

Water level loss in radiator due to head gasket failure.

- Bossier, LA, USA

3.8L engine. Head gaskets blewout. Ford has extended warranty on 1995 Windstar with 3.8L engine. Manufacturer has been notified.

- Randalstown, MD, USA

Engine was running rough; a lot of white smoke cme out of tailpipe. Radiator was losing antifreeeze every day. Took to dealership & mechanic would not look at vehicle. Contacted Ford manufacturer & csr indicated not under extended warranty, no repair will be done. Took to another dealership & was placed on diagnostic machine. Was technical service bulletin on head gaskets, but manufacturer was going by VIN.

- Radford, MI, USA

Consumer took car into dealer's shop for a broken speedometer, and mechanic noticed a head gasket leak. Alerted consumer to some recalls on those vehicles, but they had a different year.

- Pataskala, OH, USA

Ford Windstar (1996): A local mechanic said that our rough idle, engine light, and smell of antifreeze indicated a head-gasket problem. Hill and sanders Ford service station checked for pressure leaks, but could only suggest that it was bad plugs causing the "misfire code" in the computer. After $318, we got new spark plugs and a reset warning light. Within a week, the check engine light came on, and the rough idle and smell of antifreeze reappeared. We returned it to H&S and mentioned that it was a continuation of the previous, with a new symptom of discolored antifreeze in the overflow container (oil color). H&S said the engine light was a result of a "misfire code" but didn't know why. The only thing H&S did was flush the radiator for $100, and admitted they don't know what else it could be. A few days later the engine light came on. On Nov. 20, 2000 the van started making mechanical noises from the engine, lost power, and slowed to a crawl. My wife got it to a safe location where she and the kids could wait to have it towed to H&S. a note referenced the previous 2 H&S visits for related problems. H&S's told me that "something inside the engine came loose" and that he recommends we replace the engine for $5050! he didn't know what was wrong. We called H&S ([xxx] ) the next day and told him that we felt that H&S should be responsible for the damages due to their inability to detect and fix the problem, and sending us away with a feeling that the problem was fixed or inconsequential. H&S felt that they were not responsible. Our original mechanic was amazed that H&S didn't suspect something was wrong when oil was found in the antifreeze, and that they only flushed the system! we feel helpless and taken advantage of. Anything we can do to recover our loss? [xxx] VIN [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Silver Spring, MD, USA

The head gasket has blown on our mini van. We took it to our local Ford dealer who said that most Windstar are covered on an extended warranty issued by Ford due to manufacutering defects. However, for some reason, our van is not covered. Even though it has done just what the others have done, ours is not "their fault." I called the Ford hot line and talked with suzette, who was very friendly, but she offered no help other than contacting you. Please help. Thank you.

- Bronx, NY, USA

We noticed a leak of some sort of fluid and brought the Windstar to our dealer. What we didn't expect was that the timing cover gasket was broken and needed to be replaced at 52000 miles. This costed us $904 and I am not sure if it's related to prior '95 gasket problems.

- S. Plainfield, NJ, USA