Engine check light illuminated. Took vehicle to dealer, and they stated that head gasket blew up. Cause unknown.

- Napa, CA, USA

Vehicle is leaking antifreeze from underneath hood area. Engine check light appears on the dashboard. Dealership is aware of problem.

- Orland Park, IL, USA

While traveling on the interstate, check engine light appears on dashboard, and vehicle was leaking antfreeze. Dealership is aware of problem. Dealer found head gasket had blown, replaced head gasket and thermostat, on several occasions the air conditioning leaks, brakes making grinding sound, dealer found anti-lock sensor failed, rear fender is rusted on passenger side.

- Sciota, PA, USA

After vehicle is started engine check light remained illuminated. Dealer replaced head gaskests which did not correct the problem.

- Huntsville, AL, USA

Engine check light came on. Rough idle. Tune-up performed. Oxygen sensor replaced. Engine check light is now off. Two days later, engine check light is back on and rough idle returns. Replaced oxygen sensor and plug wires. Next day, driving car and temperature gauge falls almost all the way to cold side. Heater blowing out just a little warm. Pressure tested engine. Leakage in a cylinder. Upon teardiown, head gasket has failed leaking coolant into engine.

- Calumet City, IL, USA

Engine check light and the air bag light would intermittentl/simutaneously come on and cause loss of acceleration while traveling at highway speed. Dealer notified. Consumer was informed that vehicle had a transmission leak, the speedometer was acting erractically, parking brake and brakes were inoperative, also the power windows were inoperative.

- Montebello, CA, USA

Vehicle has leaked 2 1/2 gallons of coolant. Engine check light stays on, andvehicle is having trouble starting. Heat is warm because coolant keeps leaking out. Mechanic suggested to replace engine head because leakage was ruining the engine.

- Liverpoole, NY, USA

Check engine light came on and smoke started to come out from under the dashboard. We pulled over immediately and had to step over the flames comming out from underneath the vehicle to get out of the car. Within 1 minute, the van was completely engulfed in flames at which point the gas tank exploded. The van is completely burnt down to nothing but a frame. Ford refuses to take responsibility.

- Naugatuck, CT, USA

Engine started overheating, engine check' light came. Noticed oil mixed with coolant in reservoir. Dealer confirmed head gasket failure.

- Pleasant Prairie, WI, USA

3.8 V6 engine check light stays on while driving, vehicle is leaking oil and running rough; vehicle taken to dealer and informed of a blown head gasket. Feel free to provide any further information.

- North Ridgesville, OH, 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

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

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

Ford should be forced to recall the '96's as well as the '95's. same engine same problem. I was told the check engine light was just emissions. Not to worry about it. Head gasket failure is something to worry about. Repairs are $1000.

- Martins Ferry, OH, USA

Was driving vehicle when head gaskets blewout.started to lose antifreeze; this caused engine to overheat. Took vehicle to independent mechanic, and informed consumer problem of head gaskets can be repaired. Consumer also had a check engine problem due to cylinder, Ford could not duplicate the problem, so consumer has his personal mechanic to reset the engine when the light comes on.

- Hope Well Junction, NY, USA

I have a 1996 Windstar with just over 40,000 miles - V-8 engine. The engine warning light came on, and I stopped driving and dropped the car off at the dealer. He said it has blown head gaskets and after research online, I find that this is an engine problem that Ford has with Windstar. I would like to see a recall ordered on all Ford 3.8 engines having this problem.

- Saint Albans, WV, USA

Engine check light came on while sitting in the driveway. My mechanic had to replace my fuel injector and gaskets. Also he said I need a new fuel pump which is located in my gas tank but that I can wait till next oil change due to expence. My car only has under 40,000 miles!!!!!

- Toms River, NJ, USA

Loss of coolant and engine check light on. Took to local mechanic, who is Ford certified. Told of recall on Windstar for this problem. O'meara Ford diagnosed as head gasket crack. Recall would not include vans after 1995. Ours was manufactured in March of 1996. Called Ford. They would not honor or regard this as their problem. Returned to our personal mechanic. He made repairs and found all of the "old" parts as used in vans under recall. He replaced the parts with the newer design Ford now uses to eliminate this problem. Cost to us was extreme-$1600, which was almost $1000 less than what O'meara Ford was estimating. We are very disappointed with Ford dealership and Ford Motor Co. Not planning to ever purchase another Ford vehicle in the future.

- Longmont, CO, USA

At around 62,000 miles our vehicle's "check engine " light came on. We brought it in to a local Ford dealership where they performed diagnostic tests. Basically they told us it was a blown head gasket, among other misc. Problems. We were not satisfied with their customer service methods and brought the van to another Ford dealership. The mechanic at this place not only agreed with previous diagnosis but also felt the whole engine system was contaminated and recommended a total engine replacement at a cost of 3,800 dollars. We have meticulously maintained this vehicle and have had it serviced regularly. (we have th documents to prove this.)

- Joliet, IL, USA

Engine check light was on/ off. Consuemr sent vehicle to a radiator shop, and they referred her to dealer. Dealer has to replace gaskets because they have destroyed engine. Antifreeze was apparently leaking, it has to be filled frequently.

- Saline, MI, USA