1995 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, TRANSMISSION FAILED, NO PRIOR INDICATION THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG. THIS IS THIRD TRANSMISSION IN VEHICLE.*AK. CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED 2 BLOWN HEAD GASKETS, AND AN OIL LEAK.*JB

WHEN STARTING VEHICLE AND PUTTING IT INTO GEAR, THERE'S A JERK. WHEN STOPPING VEHICLE JERKS, VEHICLE STALLS IN INTERSECTIONS. *AK CONSUMER FEELS ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT OF MONIES PAID FOR REPAIRS TO VEHICLE.

NHTSA RECALL 02-V-101-000/ MANFACTURER'S RECALL 02536: FORD IS DENYING TO RECALL REPAIRS.VEHICLE IS NO LONGER REGISTERED IN STATE MENTIONED IN RECALL LETTER. ALSO, CONSUMER RECEIVED A SECOND URGENT LETTER TO HAVE RECALL REPAIRS DONE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

AT 35MPH SHOCK ABSORBERS SNAPPED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HAVE NO ACCELERATION. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

CONSUMER COULD SMELL GAS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT TOP SEAM OF GAS TANK HAD SEPARATED, CAUSING A GAS LEAK, DEALER REPLACED GAS TANK.*AK *YH

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

LEFT REAR COIL SPRING BROKEN AT 91,000 MILES. HAROLD ZIEGLER FORD NOW WANTS TO CHARGE $182 TO REPLACE IT. WHEN VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 30,000 MILES AND DURING A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE VISIT TO THIS DEALER, THE DEALER WITHOUT MY PROMPTING REPLACED THE RIGHT REAR COIL SPRING UNDER WARRANTY. IT'S OBVIOUS TO ME THAT FORD KNEW IT HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE SPRINGS SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

WHLE DRIVING, ENGINE OVERHEATED AND VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING . HAD TO BE TOWED. IT WAS ALL CAUSED BY A BUSTED HEAD GASKET. *AK DEALER STATES ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *SLC

HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HAVE MOTOR PROBLEMS WHILE DRIVING.*AK

THE HEAD GASKETS ON MY CAR FAILED. I KNEW THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THEM, BUT YOU COULD NOT BRING THE CAR IN UNTIL THEY FAILED WHICH I THOUGHT WAS ABSURD IN THE FIRST PLACE. WELL THEY FAILED TWO WEEKENDS AGO AND I BROUGHT MY WINDSTAR IN AND NOW THEY TELL ME THE WARRANTY EXPIRED A FEW MONTHS AGO. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY INSTEAD OF AN OUTRIGHT RECALL . AFTER PERUSING THE WEB, I SAW WHAT A WIDESPREAD , DANGEROUS PROBLEM THIS IS. THANK GOD, MY HUSBAND WAS AN EXPERIENCED, LEVEL HEADED, DRIVER. I'VE READ SOME STORIES WHERE THE OUTCOME WAS NOT POSITIVE. 1995 FORD WINDSTARS SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THEIR HEAD GASKETS . THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. I KNOW YOU GUYS MUST BE VERY BUSY INDEED.*AKI

TRANSMISSION WILL MAKE STRANGE NOISES. WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE INTO GEAR IT WILL NOT MOVE AT ALL. CONSUMER WILL FILL OUT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

AT 55MPH HEAD GASKET HAD OVERHEATED, AND THEY CAN SEE BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM GASKET. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

SPEEDOMETER FLUCTUATES AT 50 MPH. SECOND TIME I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE SPEEDOMETER.*AK

AN AUTHORIZED FORD MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT IN ALL PROBABILITY THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION WAS CAUSED BY THE 1ST / REVERSE PISTON IN THE VALVE BODY AND THAT IT IS VERY COMMON IN THE AXOD TRANSMISSIONS USED IN WINDSTARS AND TAURUS'S AS WELL AS MANY OTHER OF FORD'S FRONT WHEEL DRIVE CARS. A FRIEND AT WORK HAS HAD HIS TRANSMISSION REPLACED TWICE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING HEARD A POPPING NOISE/VEHICLE WILL RUN ROUGHLY, AND WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE.CONTACTED MECHANIC.OUTER HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN.ALSO, REPLACED TRANSMISSION. *AK

HEAD GASKET AND TIMING COVER GASKET LEAKING IS CAUSING DAMAGE TO MAIN BEARINGS LEADING TO PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE. SEVERAL FORD DEALERS HAVE CONFIRMED THIS AS THE CAUSE AND FORD IS NOT ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY.

CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS DISENGAGED WITH KEY REMOVED FROM IGNITION. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFT LEVER WAS MOVED BY A CHILD CAUSING THE VAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS WITH THREE CHILDREN INSIDE. TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT THEIR HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR ENGINE. NLM

CONSUMER STATES HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE STALLING. NLM

HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH A NEW ENGINE , UNDER WARRANTY, AT 99250 MILES. IT LASTED 49750 MILES BEFORE IT BLEW AGAIN. I AM NOT SURE IF THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ALSO!*AK

VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

DRIVER IS UNABLE TO SHUT VEHICLE SLIDING DOOR. THE RUBBER PIECE THAT GOES AROUND THE EDGES OF THE DOOR CAME OFF TRACK. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

FIRST THE HEAD GASKET LEAKED-DEALER REPLACED ON AN OPEN END RECALL, SECOND THE TRANSMISSION WENT. HAD THAT REBUILT WITH ALL UPDATES INCLUDED. COST $1450.00 OUT OF POCKET. THIRD THE SEAL AROUNT THE TIMING CHAIN LEAKED. HAD ALL THE GASKETS REPLACED TO THE OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE OF $450.00. FOURTH, ON A FAMILY VACATION WE WERE DRIVING DOWN I79 SOUTH FROM ERIE PA AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS THIS CLINKING NOISE COMING FROM THE MOTOR. WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET OFF THE INTERSTATE BEFORE THE ENGINE DIED COMPLETELY. THERE WERE NO ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ON PRIOR TO THE COMPLETE SHUT DOWN. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO NEAREST GARAGE AND FOUND THAT WE HAD THROWN A ROD. THEY ARE REPLACING THE ENGINE WITH A LARGE BLOCK TO THE OUT OF POCKET COST OF $3,000.00. WHEN WE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WE WERE TOLD THAT BECAUSE WE DID NOT TOW THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP THEY COULD NOT HELP US. THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP TO US WAS 88 MILES AWAY FROM WHERE WE BROKE DOWN. THE VAN ONLY HAD JUST UNDER 57,000 MILES ON IT. I CANT BELIEVE THAT FORD WON'T HELP US.

CONSUMER STATED THE HEAD GASKET AND MANIFOLD HAD BLOWN, CONSUMER INQUIRED ABOUT THE HEAD GASKET BEING UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ENDED IN JANUARY.*JB

HEAD GASKET FAILED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND FAIL.*AK

CONSUMER STATES WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE WILL SLOW DOWN THEN IT RELEASES AND GOES A FOOT MORE THEN IT WILL STOP. THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN ON AN INCLINE, DAMPNESS. CONSUMER STATES IT COULD HAPPEN ANYTIME NOW. CONSUMER FEELS UNSAFE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHIMMY AND COLLAPSE. WHEN VEHICLE COLLAPSED, LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS PUNCTURED. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START AT TIMES. CONTACTED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE COULD BE A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. NLM CONSUMER STATES THAT SOMETIMES THE IGNITION SWITCH GETS STUCK AND WILL TURN ON AND THE SWITCH WILL GO COMPLETELY AROUND. *SLC

VEHICLE STARTED LEAKING COOLANT AND WOULD NOT START. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER INDICATED HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN.*AK *TT

WHILE DRIVING AT 60MPH HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL OVER.*AK

VEHICLE INCREASED SPEED WITHOUT THE DRIVER ACCELERATING. BRAKE PEDAL WAS INOPERABLE, AND RPMS WERE INCREASING. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO ENGAGE GEAR TO NEUTRAL POSITION TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN AND THEN ENGAGE GEAR TO PARK POSITION TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. BRAKES WERE REPLACED THE FIRST WEEK IN MARCH AND TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED JULY 2001, AFTER THE FIRST SIMILAR INCIDENT OCCURRED.*AK

CONTACTED MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ENDED IN 7 YEARS. MY VEHICLE'S HEAD GASKETS FAILED 7 YEARS, 9 MONTHS. COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE. NO WARNING SUCH AS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON UNTIL AFTER FAILURE. NKM

AFTER EXPERIENCING ENGINE OVERHEATING/LOSS OF COOLANT, THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED UNDER THE TERMS OF A FORD PROGRAM IN 1998. IN MARCH 2002, PROBLEMS RECURRED WITH ANTI-FREEZE VAPORS FILLING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT VIA THE VENT SYSTEM. FORD DEALER DIAGNOSIS INDICATED HEAD GASKET FAILURE (AGAIN) AND GASKET WAS REPLACED. WITHIN DAYS OF THIS REPAIR, VAPORS RETURNED AND CAR WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALER. CURRENT DIAGNOSIS IS A RUPTURED HEATING COIL, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. TOTAL CHARGES FOR THE TWO PROBLEMS COMES TO ABOUT $1500.

THIS VEHICLE HAS REQUIRED TWO TRANSMISSIONS. ONE AT 50000 MILES AND THE SECOND AT 120000. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE NUMEROUS DOOR OPEN INDICATORS AND A BLOWN HEAD GASKET.

NHTSA RECALL 02 V 101 000/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 2S36 CONCERNING BRAKE LINES: REAR BRAKE LINES HAVE CORRODED AND CAUSE LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THE FRONT BRAKE LINE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

HEAD GASKET FAILURE WAS RECALL ITEM, BUT NOT COVERED IN OUR SITUATION BECAUSE WE ARE LOW-MILEAGE DRIVERS. RECALL WARRANTY WAS UNDER 100,000 MILES OR LESS THAN 7 YEARS, WHICH EVER CAME FIRST. OUR CAR WAS 7 YEARS AND 6 WEEKS OLD. FAILURE AT 62,000 MILES WAS WITHIN AVERAGE FOR HEAD GASKET FAILURES, BUT NOT COVERED BECAUSE WE DIDN'T REACH THIS MILEAGE UNTIL 6 WEEKS AFTER WARRANTY. WARRANTY SHOULDN'T HAVE TIME LIMITATION IF WITHIN MILEAGE LIMITS.*AK

ABS BRAKES GIVE A FALSE SENSE OF STOPPING. DROVER ALMOST HAD SEVERAL REAR END INCCIDENTS DUE TO THE FACT BRAKES DID NOT HOLD WHEN APPLIED.*AK

CONSUMER STATES WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS ACCELERATED FROM A STOPPED POSITION OR WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE HESITATES BEFORE ACCELERATING, THIS CONDITION HAS OCCURED ON TWO OCCASION AND BLOWN HEAD GASKET EACH TIME ON THE 3.8 V6 ENGINE. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. NLM

ABS BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON AND BRAKES MADE A LOUD NOISE . THIS COULD CAUSE VEHICLE NOT TO STOP AT A SHORTER DISTANCE. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK

WHEN ACCELERATING VEHICLE JERKS BACK AND THEN IT TAKES OFF. VEHICLE IS ASSUMED TO HAVE A CRACKED PISTON. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

TIMING CHAIN COVER GASKET FAILURE, OTHER KNOWN OWNERS OF SAME VEHICLE REPORT SAME PROBLEM, RESULTING ANTI-FREEZE LEAKS. EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND NO KNOWN RECALL*AK

WIRES UNDER HOOD CAUGHT ON FIRE, BURNING FUSE BOX. RECALL 94V222000 HAS BEEN ISSUED,BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN.*AK

THE VAN WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE A CRACKED CLUTCH PISTON WAS THE CAUSE . THE TRANMISSION WAS REBUILT & FORD WOULD NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR THE COST. THE ENGINE HEAD CRACKED IN 2000 & WAS REPAIRED BY HEINTZELMANS TRUCK CENTER.I ASKED THAT THE ENGINE BE REPLACED & THEY STATED FORD WOULD NOT PAY FOR THAT. THEY COULD NOT GUARANTEE THAT DAMAGE WAS NOT DONE TO THE MOTOR ITSELF. IN FEB OF 2002 I TOOK THE VAN TO ROLLING HILLS FORD FOR A COOLANT LEAK & WAS ADVISED THAT I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE BECAUSE OF THE DAMAGE DONE FROM THE MOTOR OVERHEATING. THE MOTOR HAD LESS THEN 20,000 MILES SINCE THE HEAD WAS REAPIRED. THEY REFUSED TO CONTACT THE ZONE REP. & FORD REFUSED TO PAY ANY COSTS AFTER BEING CONTACTED.*AK

FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS THE DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON. UPON CHECKING ALL DOOTRS NUMEROUS TIMES, NO PROBLEM CAN BE FOUND. IT FIRST STARTED WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. IT HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AS TIME PASSES AND NOW DOES IT RANDOMLY. YESTERDAY, DURING A 6 MILE TRIP IT CAME ON APPROXIMATELY 6 TIMES AT RANDOM MOMENTS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH ANY PARTICULAR CHANGE IN SPEED OR DIRECTION. THE REPAIR MANUALS GIVE LITTLE TO NO INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SYSTEM OR ITS REPAIR.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CUT OFF. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

BEFORE FREEDOM FORD REPLACED OUR ENGINE, WE WERE HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHICH WE REPORTED AND THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM TO WHY THE DOOR CHIMES AND DOOR ADJAR LIGHTS WOULD STAY ON, OUR ENGINE ASSEMBLY WAS RELACED ON 09/27/2001. THEN OUR BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AND THE LIGHTS IN THE CAR STARTED DIMMING, WE REPLACED OUR BATTERY AND FOUND OUT FROM FORD THAT OUR ALTERNATOR WAS BAD. WE HAD TO PAY 387.51 FOR AN ALTERNATOR.! NOT TO MENTION THE 1800+ IN EMERGENCY EXPENSES WE HAD TO PAY THAT FORD REFUSE TO PAY US BACK WHEN OUR ENGINE BLEW WHILE DRIVING HOME ON A VACATION. HOWEVER THEY DID REPLACED THE ENGINE FREE OF CHARGE AFTER LONG NEGOTIATION BY MY WIFE. WE ARE STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH OUR DOOR CHIMES AND LIGHTS AND FORD SAID ON 02/14/2002 THEY COULD NOT CHECK TO SEE WHAT'S WRONG UNLESS IT COMES ON AND TO BRING IT IN WHEN THE LIGHT COMES ON. FIGURE THE ODDS ON THAT, I LIVE ABOUT 20-25 MINUTES AWAY FROM THERE AND THE LIGHT MAY GO OUT BEFORE I GET THERE. ALSO, WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS TIMES WHEN THE FRONT MIRROR ON THE INSIDE CAME OFF WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING. I MEAN LITERALLY FELL OFF. THESE FORD WINDSTARS ARE NOT SAFE TO BE ON THE ROAD AND THERE REALLY NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THESE VANS OR FORD SHOULD BE ORDERED TO GIVE THE OWNERS A PRORATED REFUND OR SET AMT. BACK FOR ALL OUR PROBLEMS AND FINANCIAL SUFFERINGS WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH. I PRAY THAT NHTSA ISSUES A RECALL OR ORDER FORD TO TAKE THE 1995 WINDSTARS OFF THE STREET AND ISSUE US A PRORATED REFUND. THESE WINDSTARS ARE NOT SAFE.IMAGINE YOUR ENGINE BLOWING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY WITH YOUR FAMILY IN THE VAN. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME.E-MAIL ME WITH THE ANSERS TO MY QUESTIONS.. WILL NHTSA BE ISSUING A RECALL OR FORD A PRORATED REFUND ON THESE FORD WINDSTARS SOON? I STILL OWE ON THIS FORD, BUT WE DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT ANYMORE, BUT IT IS ALL WE HAVE. HOW CAN WE GET RID OF THE WINDSTAR AND THE LOAN PAYMENTS AND BUY SOMETHING ELSE? I PRAY THAT YOU WILL HELP US OWNERS OF WINDSTARS. THANKS.*AK

I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO FILE ACOMPLAINT ON SMART CHOICE MY EXTENDED SERVICE AGREEMENT CO.. IN MARCH OF LAST YEAR THEY PUT IN A ENGINE IN THIS VAN. AT THE TIME THEY GAVE ME A CHOICE IF FORD PUT THE ENGINE IN AND SUPPLIED THE ,SMART CHOICE WOULD ONLY PAY $2800 ON REPAIRS. IF I LET SMART CHOICE SUPPLY THE ENGINE THEY WOULD PAY FOR FORD PUTTING THE ENGINE IN ,AND THE A CAR RENTAL UNTIL IT WAS COMPLETED. SO MY OUESTION TO THEM WAS WOULD IT BE A WARRNITY ON THE ENGINE THEY SUPPLIED. THEY SAID YES 12MOS, OR 12,000 MILES. SO I SAID OK I WOULD GO WITH SMART CHOICE. 11MONTHS LATER THE ENGINE BLOWS I TAKE IT BACK TO FORD , THEY IN TURN TALKS TO MY INS. SMART CHOICE, FORD WAS INFORM I DID NOT HAVE A WARRNITY BECAUSE MY INS. HAD ENDED LASY JUNE. THAT'S 3 MONTHS AFTER THE ENGINE WAS PUT IN. I TALKED TO FORD ,AND ASK THEM SINCE THIS WAS A WHOLE DIFFERENT ENGINE ,AND SINCE IT WAS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT THEY HAD RECALLS ON COULD THEY FIX IT UNDER THE RECALL. THEY SAID NO BECAUSE THEY HAD DID A RECALL ON MY OLD ENGINE THAT THEY COULD NOT DO IT TO THIS ENGINE. SO I CALLED SMART CHOICE BACK AND RECEIVE THE VIN3 FROM THE THEY HAD FORD PUT IN IT CAME INVALID AND FORD SAID THAT WOULD BE AGAINST THE LAW ANYWAY. I BELIEVE SOMEONE IS RESPONSABLE FOR THESE REPAIRS I LEAN TO SMART CHOICE BECAUSE THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD BE UNDER WARRINTY FOR 12MOS. OR 12,000MILES. *AK

THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET FAILED. THE DEALER TELLS ME THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. FORD SENT OUT A LETTER TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES FOR THIS FAILURE. EXTENDING THE WARRANY TO 7 YEAR OR 70000 MILES. MY VAN WENT OUTSIDE OF THE 7 YEARS 12/04/02. FROM THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE EVERY ONE OF THESE ENGINES ARE FAILING. I ASKED FORD FOR HELP SINCE THE VEHICLE HAS LOW MILEAGE. THEY SAID NO. I THINK SINCE EVERY ONE OF THESE ENGINES FAIL THEY SHOULD REPAIR IT AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. 57000 MILES IS NOT VERY MANY MILES ON A VEHICLE. PLEASE HELP. WHAT IS THE CRITERIA FOR A RECALL?? THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR ANY HELP . JOHN MCDERMOTT. *AK

CONSUMER STATED THE HEAD GASKET FAILED ON VEHICLE, CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE HEAD GASKET, HOWEVER SHE WAS INFORMED THE WARRANTY ENDED IN AUGUST 2001 CONSUMER WAS ALSO INFORMED THE WARRANTY COVERED UP TO A TIME PERIOD 0R 100,000 MILES AND CONSUMER HAD 68,000 ON THE VEHICLE.*JB

ENGINE FAILED IN A CATASTROPHIC MANNER-- WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HWY - APPROX 35 IN COMMUTE TRAFFIC, ENGINE SUDDENLY STARTED RUNNING ROUGH- WITHIN A FEW MINUTES THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON-- A STEADY LIGHT INDICATING THAT SERVICE IS NEEDED. THE FLASHING ENGINE LIGHT SUGGESTS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. NO OTHER WARNING LIGHTS AND TEMP APPEARED NORMAL. NOT HAVE DRIVEN MORE THAN 10 MILES W/ THE CONDITION REMAINING THE SAME, I EXITED THE HWY AND MY ENGINE MADE A TERRIBLE NOISE THEN THE ENGINE FAILED COMPLETELY ON A HWY OFF RAMP-- I MANAGED TO START IT AND DRIVE ABOUT 300 YDS TO PARKING LOT. I NOW KNOW THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PREMATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURE AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 100,000 OR 7 YEARS WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. MY CAR IS 7 YRS OLD, BUT HAS 115,000+ MILEAGE. BY LOOKING AT YOUR DATA BASE, THERE ARE SEVERAL FAILURES OF THIS TYPE. WHY WAS THE WARRANTY EXTENDED TO ONLY 100,000 MILES? WHY WASN'T THE PROBLEM FIXED AS IN A RECALL? MY ENGING FAILED SO ABRUPTLY-- I'M GRATEFUL NOT TO HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENT!*AK