Oil contamination. Found oil in the coolnat. Dealer inspection concludes that this is a blown head gasket. An exact problem caused a major recall for the same engine for the years 94-95. No recall yet for year 1996. Growing amount of reports show that this problem exists on the 1996 model that carries the same engine. Dealer recommends to replace the engine block at a cost of $4000. I am expecting Ford to pick up these charges due to the reasons stated above.

- Sunnyvale, CA, USA

While driving could see the engine check light had illuminated. Then, took vehicle to dealer, and they found an engine head gasket failure just like indicated in recall for 1995 vehicles.

- Mahtomedi, MN, USA

Check the engine light came on and the coolant was leaking due to head gasket failure. The consumer noticed that the 1995 Windstar had been issued a recall notice but when the consumer contacted the manufacturer but they were unwilling to help with the cost of repair, the consumers technician replaced the defective parts with a newly designed part.

- Longmont, CO, USA

The timing gasket cover cracked.

- Brampton,Ont, CD, USA

Consumer states new head gaskets were needed and vehicle had relatively low mileage, Ford would not provide any financial help, so consumer had no choice but to trade vehicle in.

- Plano, TX, USA

Consumer was traveling 65mph on highway and noticed that temperature gauge went up and was red. He pulled over to shoulders and lifted hood. Checked coolant, and noticed that there was no coolant inside of vehicle. Headgasket leak caused the temprature gauge to go up.

- Windsor, WI, USA

Timing cover seal was leaking, upon having this problem fixed, the engine began making a knocking noise, engine was replaced.

- Zeeland, MI, USA

After driving to state of Virginia and parking it for 5 days. When consumer attempted to start vehicle head gasket blewout.

- Knoxville, TN, USA

It appears that I have experienced "the problem" with my van. Like everyone else who has lodged complaints the vehicle started smelling like it was overheating. The coolant level was checkd and no problems were found. Then the rough idle started. Then the dealer found out that the head gaskets were bad, and a rod was bent and the motor would have to be replaced. And it all started at 60K miles. The problems are well documented and it will continue to get worse. Most of the vehicles of this year are probably getting close to the right mileage for the gaskets to blow. Ford will have to ramp up production on replacement engines because every vehicle will have to have the engine replaced and it doesn't matter how well it has been maintained. It is unbelievable that a company would knowingly and willingly let this happen. As long as people aren't dying who cares about millions of dollars spent on repairs by consumers. What a joke!

- Clinton, MA, USA

Blown head gasket.

- Lancaster, PA, USA

1995 Windstar 3.8L engines have gotten extended warranties on blown head gaskets in their engines. It is apparent the 1996 Windstar 3.8L engine has the same problem but Ford has not extended the warranty for this model year. Request the NHTSA force Ford to back up their products that are known to be defective.

- Aberdeen, MD, USA

Head gaskets failed mechanic has replaced several Ford 3.8L head gaskets, called Ford they refused to pay $1256.13 bill.

- Chandler, AZ, USA

Premature failure of head gasket causing engine coolant to leak into the #1 cylnder causing a miss fire and the vehicle to run rough. Engine light came on and I brought it to the dealer. The dealer had it for a few days, replced the spark plugs and said it was fine. On the ride back from the dealer the engine light came back on. The dealer then kept it for another two days and found the coolant in the #1 sparkplug well. Brought to an independent repair shop where it was determnined to be a head gasket failure.

- Lakewood, OH, USA

Coolant leaked into engine causing complete engine failure blowing the head gaskets and cracking the engine block. When this happened there was a complete power loss in the steering and braking of the vehicle. My wife and two children were in the van at the time of the failure. Fortunatly they were not on the interstate or major highway because theres no telling what the result would have been in this case. I have found out that this is a recalled problem for the 94 and 95 years for the same model that I have but not the 96. This is not just a problem with Windstar but has also happened with the mustangs and lincon town cars which leads me to believe that this is a design error with-in those years in question with many Ford models. This will cost me nearly $4500 to repair as quoted from a Ford dealership and it cost me $80 just to tell me something I already paid for at Goodyear, I need a new engine. Seeing that there has been a recall for previous years for this model I would apprieciate it if you could tell Ford to consider recalling the other affected models with this same problem that they know about but refuse to admit.

- Burke, VA, USA

Engine head gasket failed. Intermittent engine warning light since new. Self reset before chance to get it to dealer. At approx 80K miles solid engine warning light. Dealer replaces oxygen sensor. Still got intermittent engine warning light. Latest incident solid engine warning light & blue smoke from tail pipe. Dealer indicates blown head gasket and worn connecting rod bearings as a cause & result of incorrectly designed head gasket. Indicates it is a known problem and should have been recalled with 1995 model year.

- Jericho, VT, USA

It was at the beginning of March and I noticed that as I was driving the heater would blow warm air and then for no reason it would blow cold air. I thought that it was probably a bad heater core or thermostat so I took it to our local mechanic. He checked it out and said that it was a blown head gasket. He suggested that we check with our local Ford dealer because he had heard there was a recall on the 3.8 liter engine. We checked with them and of course they didn't want to tell us much until after we brought it to them and they ran a diagnostics test which would cost us $125 and if it wasn't under the recall it would be some where between $1800 - $2200 to replace the head gasket. Obviously we chose our local mechanic at $1150.08 and chose to persue customer service. We were told by one of the reps. That they would look into it and get back with us. When they called us back we were informed that our van was not one of the vehicles that were on recall. Of course, I was not happy with this decision and asked to speak to someone higher up. I was given the customer service supervisor and she informed me that they intended to stick by their earlier decision and that she had the final say and that I had to further recourse. I was angry but I felt that I had just been dealt a raw deal by Ford and I did not have the time to wait because we have a large family and I could not be without my vehicle any longer.

- Middleburg Heights, OH, USA

While driving engine check light was illuminating on dashboard. Consumer contacted dealer to have vehicle inspected, and mechanic replaced spark plugs and other parts. Later, mechanic discovered that head gasket malfunctioned, causing the problem. Consumer states head gasket was replaced, subsequently since the repair the check engine light has come on twice.

- Holliston, MA, USA

Problem 1- engine blew a head gasket as backing out of our driveway, we have only 72000 miles on it and were told that there is a recall on the 1995 Ford engine for the same problem. This repair is going to cost $1,000. Ford has given us no options. 2nd-problem- on the same vehicle a month before, again as I was backing out of my drive the front spring broke, punctured my tire and collapsed the shocks, that cost $600. Again, when we called Ford we were told that there had been a recall on the Taurus for the same problem but it wasn't for the Windstar. Now II have a problem believing that thay can recall one product without covering the other when the same exact problem occured with my vehicle. Please advise what further action I can take. Thanks.

- Cleveland, OH, USA

3.8 liter engine. Premature wear of head gaskets. Head gaskets blewout, causing engine to go. Dealer has the vehicle.

- Knoxville, TN, USA

Head gasket is on verge of blowing. Antifreeze has to be added weekly to keep cooled off. Dealer isn't doing anything unless consumer covers cost.

- South Bend, IN, USA