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.
The contact owns a 1996 Ford Windstar. While stopped at a traffic light, the contact noticed smoke coming from the hood. The contact turned off the vehicle and the smoke ceased; however, the hood caught fire when the vehicle was started again. The contact extinguished the fire and there were no injuries. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. The current and failure mileages were 135,000.
- Freemont, OH, USA
I own a 1996 Ford Windstar with a 3.8L V-6 engine. The vehicle currently has about 72,000 miles on it. It is now in the shop with a blown head gasket that will require a new long-block motor and possibly the replacement of the catalytic converter because antifreeze/oil was passing through it due to the gasket failure. I'm currently looking at a $5,800 bill to repair the vehicle. My query to Ford Motor Company resulted in a response that they can't do anything for me...that there are "no warranties, recalls or customer satisfaction programs" on my vehicle. My research shows that there are a ton of complaints of blown head gaskets in the 1996 Ford Windstar, but Ford refuses to do anything about it. Ford was hit with class action suits regarding the 1995 Ford Windstar that has the same problem and eventually agreed to extend the 1995 Windstar warranty period. Head gaskets should last the life of the vehicle. It should not fail at 72,000 miles. My vehicle had all of the required maintenance performed when they were due. This is not a case of a neglected vehicle from a maintenance perspective. Ford needs to step up and take corrective action. The service rep has told me that if they can't get a re-built in the next couple of days, it will probably be next week before the repairs will be completed. Next week is christmas. This was my first Ford product that I purchased. It will be the last. Any company that has this much disloyalty to its customers can not expect any loyalty in return. Their actions speak volumes to the lack of quality control in their product, customer service and, quite frankly, any sense of common decency. A proper head gasket would have cost them probably under $10 when the engine was built. It is now costing me $5,800 to fix their inaptitude and incompetence.
- Westerville, OH, USA
For approximately 2 months I noticed loss of compression during acceleration and occasional knocking sound from back of engine. Without tearing engine apart it seemed that the head gasket failed and allowed fluids into the engine. Confirmed rod bearing failed at 94,000 miles. Car was not drivable now.
- Romulus, MI, USA
Ford Windstar 1996. I have seen that many of these models and previous years as well have had severe head gasket problems. Head gasket regularly fails at around 80,000 miles. Nasa says a head gasket should last at least 120,000. Ford does not care. Ford does not stand behind their product. I am basically screwed because now I don't have a car. I still owe on it but it doesn't run. $2,000+ to fix it and it will probably fail again. The head gasket going out caused the upper 02 sensor to go bad. It also sprayed the number 2 cylinder causing it to fail thus alerting me to a problem, which may have resulted in a blown engine. At no time while I have owned this vehicle has it ever overheated even slightly. Heat was not the cause, it was faulty from the beginning. Car auto safety has reported 429 complaints about the Windstar!
- Healdsburg, CA, USA
I have a 96 Ford Windstar with a 3.8 liter engine and only 80,000 miles. Ford should be responsible for their actions for installing faulty head gaskets on these 3.8 liter engines. There are many complaints about these engines head gaskets for earlier models as well as mine.
- Euless, TX, USA
The head gasket failed causing us great problems, ie: Loss of car to drive, financial hardship. The 1995 Windstar's had a program that allowed for the repair of this issue. We bought our 1996 Windstar on February 16, 1996 and we are not offered any assistance or resolution re: This failure and defect.
- Elkins, WV, USA
Ford winstar head gasket premature failure
- Duluth, MN, USA
1996 Ford Windstar experienced engine failure. Consumer feels this is a major failure with this engine. The consumer's Ford Windstar is still sitting at the dealer awaiting some sort of answer from any govering body.
- Philadelphia, PA, USA
While driving 65 mph the engine was producing a loud rattling noise. The dealer stated head gasket failed. As a result, the entire engine needed to be replaced. The consumer stated that while driving the vehicle the heat would not work it only blew cold air. A few minutes into driving the consumer noticed that the tempreture gauge was going in the red zone. The engine starting rattling and died. The consumer saw smoke coming from under the hood.
- Ridgewood, NJ, USA
I have a '96 Ford Windstar with a 3.8 liter V6 engine. This is the 2nd head gasket failure I've had with it. The first was in November of 2003. I paid about $2500 to have the head gaskets replaced then. This time I was driving to work when after a short time I noticed my car heater wasn't working, just blowing cold air. A short time later, I noticed my temperature gauge was going up, and after about 10 minutes, it was in the red zone. A few minutes after that, my engine began making terrible clunking and rattling noises and I had to pull over. As soon as I did, the engine died and wouldn't restart after about 15 minutes of cooling down. I had to be towed to my mechanic's garage which cost me $127, and my mechanic told me that I needed a new engine. The car's been at his garage for the past few days while I decide what I should do. I'm convinced that this is a manufacturing defect for which Ford Motor Company is responsible, especially after reading the complaint log containing so many stories from people who have a car with this type engine. Ford claims they solved this problem after 1995, but the complaint log tells an entirely different story.
- Ridgewood, NJ, USA
Problems encountered by consumer on 1996 Ford Windstar. (nar)
- Oregon, OH, USA
I also have a 1996 Windstar will all of the mentioned head gasket problems.van sits in rear, am currently driving Toyota with 200+ I pulled from back yard after being stagnent for 3 years. No money to repair, causing hardship in family.I believe to be Ford problem but doesnt look like they are going to admit as a trouble, will not buy another and will not support 6 family members when they lose their jobs do to this problem. My van was also manufactured in Canada 12/96 and VIN seems to be in sequence with others. Van just turned 100,000 a week ago.
- Independence, MO, USA
I have a '1996 Ford Windstar. It was taken into the shop for an oil change and they discovered water in the oil. I know that Ford knows this is a problem. There has been no damage to the motor but the head does need to be fixed. The repairs have not been done yet because they are costly. I feel Ford should at the least help cover some of the cost.
- Albany, OR, USA
Nar 03/05/2003 the consumers experienced head gasket failure. The cost of repair were approx $2100.22. Dealer notified.
- Mount Prospect, IL, USA
My 1996 Ford Windstar has 72,000 miles on it. I had been losing coolant slowly and we couldn't find out where. After sitting for 2 days, when I started the van I heard a loud pop, and white smoke began coming out of the exhaust. I took it to my mechanic and it has a blown head gasket. I called Ford, knowing there had been numerous recalls on other years for the same engine, and they basically said "sorry about your luck." They also told me I should bring it in to Ford because they can't rely on a diagnostic done by an independent mechanic.
- Fairborn, OH, USA
Problems with Ford Windstar 3.8L engine. The consumer has question about the engine failure he experienced.
- Philadelphia, PA, USA
The motor blew up while driving.
- Mount Pleasant, IA, USA
Blown head gasket. Mechanic tells me hes seen hundreds of these on the Windstar but there is no recall. Will not buy a Ford again.
- Ravenna, OH, USA
Engine light came on and off, on and off, etc. Took it of service center. They said we had blown a head gasket. Took to another service center they said it was the intake manifold gaskets. Had them replaced. Now have an antifreeze leak in the timing cover. Service center said they don't want to fix it cause the engines end up seizing after about 2 months after repairing these leaks. They said to just keep an eye on the fluid level and keep it filled. I wish we wouldn't have purchased this vehicle.....
- Omaha, NE, USA
- Holts Summit, MO, USA