10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 10,302 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
I purchased a 1996 Ford Windstar in September of 1998. It had 15,000 miles on it. It has the 3.8L V6 engine. The van currently has 84,452 miles on the odometer. On March 28, 2003 the check engine light appeared. I took the vehicle to my local Ford dealer to be fixed. They advised that the engine had a miss-fire on cylinder number 1. they checked the spark plug, spark plug wire and coil. They did not determine why the engine misfired and concluded that it must have been a fluke. I paid for the work completed. I drove approximately one half mile and the check engine light again appeared. On March 28th, I was informed by the shop forman that the fuel injector on number 1 cylinder was not working. A fuel injector was ordered and installed. On Monday, March 31, 2003 I paid a bill for $136.31 for the repair of the fuel injector. As I drove the Windstar to my home the check engine light appeared. The shop forman advised me that the fuel injector was not the problem and that an alternate engine computer was tried. On Wednesday, April 2, 2003 I was advised that an engine knock had developed. It was caused by antifreeze leaking through a head gasket into cylinder number 1. the water in the cylinder caused the piston rod to bend ruining the engine. A replacement engine will cost $3400. I asked the shop forman if an engine compression check had been done during the engine diagnosis. He advise that no compression check was done since a pressure check of the engine had been done by this shop a few months previous because the coolant level was low. I have found many testimonials and complaints regarding the 1996 3.8L V6 engine. I believe that Ford should pay for the new engine.
- Mitchell, SD, USA
We took our 96 Windstar into the Ford dealer to investigate an oil leak. The service department informed my wife that the oil pan gasket and lip seal, timing cover gasket, upper/lower intake gaskets and U/C gaskets needed replacement at a cost of $1,800. I found this unusual and researched these symptoms on the internet and was astonished what I found. The content in the articles on many web sites researched, are identical to what I am experiencing. Following the pattern of these stories I am concerned that if the dealer begins the work stated, I will receive a call from him saying that coolant leaked passed the gaskets and I will need a new engine. I also discovered that Ford extended the warranty on 95 Windstar. There is no indication that Ford is planning on extending the warranty for the 96 year however, the information that is public domain clearly indicates a chronic problem. It is my opinion that I should not bear these costs, given the historic problems, and hope that Ford will take responsibility to resolve this issue.
- Bensenville, IL, USA
The head gasket failed.
- Suisun City, CA, USA
The head gasket failed.
- Napa, CA, USA
Blown head gasket and intake manifold gasket at 70,700 miles took in to mechanic repair bill is approximately. $1200. I only had this vehicle since June 2002. It is now March 2003. Found out that there was a new engine put in my van February of 2001.
- Merrill, WI, USA
My check engine light stays on and if I hit the brakes suddenly the brake light will come on.
- Daytona Beach, FL, USA
The engine head gasket blew out, and the motor block cracked.
- Detroit, MI, USA
This incident started when I had noticed a small amount of radiator fluid on the garage floor, and a slight smell of radiator fluid when I ran the heater. In addition, the check engine light had come on again in November 2002. I took the van to the apple valley Ford dealer and after diagnosing it, I was told the number 4 spark plug is stuck and the gasket needs to be replaced on the timing cover on the engine (this was the source of the radiator fluid leak). The dealers professional opinion was the head gasket is also bad, the head for the #4 plug would need replacing, and combined with the need to replace the timing cover gasket, they recommended a complete engine replacement at $4,400. I declined and took the van to another local mechanic, who unfortunately confirmed the diagnosis and indicated there were known problems and technical service bulletins for engine gasket replacements with Ford Windstar 3.8 liter V6 engines in 1995. They also indicated they had started seeing this same problem turning up in 1996 models. They also quoted a similar number & recommended using a jasper engine instead of the Ford engine as the warranty is 75,000 miles. I also declined and the van is now sitting parked in my driveway while I continue to make car payments on a vehicle I can not drive for fear of engine failure.
- Apple Valley, MN, USA
Check engine light comes on< goes off< comes on< goes off< comes on< stays on< goes off! and the dealership (greene Ford, gainesville, ga.) always has a different reason for the problem at a cost of approximately. $600 or more to fix each time, to no end. The first time the check engine light came on the imrcs were suppose to be the problem according to the dealerships disagnostics test (cost $80) they replaced and supposedly fixed the problem, (cost $560). Light came on next day while taking a family vacation out of state. Had an independent machanic perform a tune up on vehicle, replaced plugs, wires, oil change, throttle body cleaned (cost $223) the check engine light came back on within two days. Upon the next return to the dealership the diagnostics test (cost another $80) reported a code egr insufficient flow and a #4 cylinder misfire (est. Repair costs $600). Had a dpfe sensor replaced ($76) the check engine light came back on! it is amazing to me that these so called dealerships (experts) with their so called (diagnostics tests) have not the foggiest clue about how to fix this problem. It is also disturbing that after reveiwing the number of complaints on this website, that NHTSA has not ordered Ford to stop playing games and force a recall for these problems. It is apparent that others had the same symptoms and problems in the past that never get resolved until the head gaskets fail and the repair bills go from $600 to $2000. I am accusing Ford of knowingly and without regard to the best intrests of their customers allowing major problems to exist and persist in an effort to increase their profits at the customers expense. Ford corparation should be assamed, but they have shown no acceptance of responability. And the dealerships are no better, everytime we discuss this problem with them, we get different answers and costs from day to day and it appears if you complain to much you get to pay even more. Thanks Ford, for nothing!
- Gainesville, GA, USA
The head gasket leaked coolant.
- Hurley, NY, USA
Local garage diagnosed that our 1996 Ford Windstar van's 3.8L engine had a blown head gasket, which was causing the check engine light to continually come on. Combustion gases were in the cooling system, as was oil residue. Oil also found in the top part of the engine in the intake manifold. It is suspected that coolant and maybe water have found their way into the cylinders. Don't know yet what damage is done internally to the engine. Local Ford dealership indicated that it was a $2000 charge to repair. Engine not under the warranty program issued by Ford for the 1995 Windstar even though it's the same 3.8L engine. Ford customer assistance logged my call but said that they were not treating this issue as a warranty item and that I was on my own to fix it.
- Zionsville, IN, USA
96 Windstar had failed NJ state inspection but was running fine. Vehicle has 109,000 miles and dealer informed me it has leaking head gaskets. Dealer will not accept any responsibility for problem. Vehicle has been serviced at this dealer for about 3 years and no mention was ever made about the potential for this problem even though it is quite apparent that this is a latent defect at least until the 1997 year. Factory campaigns were in place through 95 and problem was reduced on 96 vehicles but still existed.
- East Windsor, NJ, USA
The ABS light had flashed periodically, the transmission had burnt out, and the engine had become contaminated with coolant. The consumer had requested reimbursement for the charge of the rebuilt engine. Scc
- Novato, CA, USA
The engine light illuminated on the dashboard, a noise emitted from under the hood, and then the engine stalled.
- Massapequa, NY, USA
I have a 1996 Ford Windstar (3.8-liter engine) with almost 78,000 miles. I've owned is since it was new. It experienced a blown head gasket 3 weeks ago. The service manager at bert weinman Ford here in Chicago recommended that I replace the engine. I did so at a price of almost $4500. From what I know, Ford has a serious problem with head gaskets in this engine. They have offered extended warranty for some model years, but none which covers my vehicle.
- Chicago, IL, USA
The apparently common blown head gasket on the 3.8L engine has occurred on my '96 Ford Windstar. I've been told by the local Ford service center that Ford is not compensating owners for this obvious design flaw.
- Andover, KS, USA
The head gasket failed, which caused the anti-freeze and oil not to circulate through the engine.
- Cincinnati, OH, USA
Have in Ford dealer shop a 1996 Ford Windstar with 92,100 miles on it. It has the infamous 3.8L engine head gasket and front cover gasket problem, as previously defined by Ford Motor Company. Ford customer assistance center refuses to cover the cost of this.
- Mount Prospect, IL, USA
96 Windstar, 3.8L engine, 65,000 miles. Failure of head gasket and intake manifold gasket. $1700 to replace gaskets and related problems caused by the faiure.
- Jenison, MI, USA
- Richardson, TX, USA