1996 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

VEHICLE HAS ITS SECOND REPLACEMENT ON SPEEDOMETER SINCE 54,000 MILES. WHEN VEHICLE REACHES 30 MPH OR MORE NEEDLE WOULD BOUNCE BACK AND FORTH. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK

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.*AK

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 WINDSTARS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A RECALL ORDERED ON ALL FORD 3.8 ENGINES HAVING THIS PROBLEM.*AK

FRONT-LEFT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING BROKEN, POKED INTO TIRE, VEHICLE LOSS CONTROL IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!!*AK

WHILE BACKING INTO A PARKING SPACE, LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED TIRE. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

BOTH OF FRONT COIL SPRINGS ARE BROKEN. I HAVE BEEN HEARING A NOISE IN FRONT END, DRIVER'S SIDE. I TOOK THE WINDSTAR TO A MECHANIC AND HE SHOWED ME T BROKEN SPRING. WE LOOKED AT THE RIGHT-SIDE SPRING, AND THAT ONE WAS BROKEN ALSO. I WENT TO A LOCAL FORD DEALER, THE ROCHESTER AUTO COLLECTION. THEY SAID THEY DON'T HAVE MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE SPRINGS ON THE WINDSTARS. BUT MY MECHANIC SAID THAT HE HAS BEEN DOING A LOT OF SPRING JOBS ON 1996 WINDSTARS. MY SEARCH ON THE INTERNET TURNED UP MANY INCIDENTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THESE SPRINGS. I ALSO SAW THAT THE NHTSA IS ALSO INVESTIGATING THIS SAFETY PROBLEM. IT LOOKS LIKE FORD DOESN'T THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. ARE THEY WAITING FOR PEOPLE TO DIE BEFORE THEY ISSUE A RECALL? THE METAL IS OBVIOUSLY INFERIOR AND DEFECTIVE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW OF ANY UPDATES. THANK YOU.........SANTE DICARLO. *AK

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.*AK 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.*JB

GEARS SWITCHED FROM DRIVE TO SECOND, THEN IT STAYED IN SECOND. TOOK VEHICLETO A MECHANIC, AND HE SAID THAT METAL CHIPS WERE ALL IN TRANSMISSION AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

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!!!!!

CANNOT UP SHIFT TO 3RD GEAR. RPMS GO UP AND DOWN WHEN VEHICLE IS ON A SLIGHT INCLINE.*AK

TRANSMISSION QUIT OPERATING AT 85,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 4000 MILES. CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 10 TO 15 MILES ON HIGHWAY. DEALERSHIP WA SAWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

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.*AK

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 $1,000.00. 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 $600.00. 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. *AK

FORD HAS EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR 1995 WINDSTAR HEAD GASKET FAILURES, BUT REFUSES TO DO THE SAME FOR 1996 WINDSTARS DESPITE THE THOUSANDS OF 1996 WINDSTAR OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME HEAD GASKET FAILURES WITH THEIR 3.8 ENGINES. THE REPAIR BILL IS $1300! FORD IS TRYING TO COVER UP ITS HEAD GASKET DEFECT. PLEASE FORCE FORD TO ISSUE A RECALL. THANKS.*AK

SPEEDOMETOR NEEDLE IS ERRATIC AFTER 55 MPH NEEDLE BOUNCES BETWEEN 95-60 MPH ALSO MAKES A IRRATATING BUZZING NOISE

CHECK THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE 1995 WINDSTARS 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. YH

VEHICLE STARTED OPERATING ABOVE THE NORMAL TEMPERATURE. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL LEAK. THERE WAS A CYLINDER THAT WAS WARPED AND HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK CONSUMER STATES BECAUSE OF THE LOW MILEAGE AND CONDITION OF THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER BELIEVES THERE IS A EFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE. *JB

INSURED STATES THAT ALL FIVE LUG BOLTS BROKE OFF IN THE AREA WHERE THE BACK OF THE WHEEL AND THE BRAKE ROTOR MEETS, CLAIM 17-9180-936. *JG

WHILE DRIVING REAR AXLE CRACKED IN TWO PARTS. NO REASON WAS FOUND, AND DEALER /MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO READ THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. SPEEDOMETER HAS BEEN REPLACED. *AK *YH

CONSUMER STATED THAT FORD WILL NOT REINBURSE FOR PASSENGER'S AND DRIVER'S COIL SPRINGS REPAIRS THAT WERE NEEDED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHUR DETAILS.*AK

SPRING BROKE AS THE CAR WAS BEING JACKED UP TO DO A BRAKE PAD REPLACEMENT.*AK

THIS VAN HAS BEEN AN ALBATROSS! I HAD TO TAKE IT IN 3 OR 4 TIMES AND GET NASTY BEFORE THE DEALERSHIP WOULD ADMIT THAT THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM- AND THEN AGREE TO FIX IT. I KNOW THEY WERE WAITING FOR MY BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY TO EXPIRE. THE HEAD GASKET/ENGINE PROBLEM ABSOLUTELY FRIES ME. NO VEHICLE WITH 62,000 MILES ON IT SHOULD REQUIRE A NEW ENGINE AND HEAD GASKETS. THAT REPAIR COST ME $5000.00 AND NO ONE WILL HELP ME. WE ALL KNOW ABOUT THE 94 AND 95 RECALLS. WHAT ABOUT THE 96'S??? THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. I HAVE CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES, AND HAVE TRIED THE DEALER FOR HELP. NO ONE WILL HELP ME. THE CONCENSUS IS THIS: FORD MOTOR COMPANY DOES NOT CARE ENOUGH ABOUT THE PRODUCTS THEY PRODUCE (OR THE CUSTOMERS WHO PURCHASE THEM) TO MAKE AN INTOLERABLE SITUATION RIGHT. I HAVE HEARD OF SO MANY CASES LIKE MINE- FORD HAS DEFINATELY LOST A CUSTOMER. IF THEY WON'T STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUSTS, I CERTAINLY WON'T BUY ANOTHER ONE!*AK

TRANSMISSION WILL FAIL TO ENGAGE AFTER MAKING A STOP. ON THE FIRST INCIDENT, DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DETERMINE THAT THERE WAS A CAUSE BECAUSE NO COMPUTER CODE CAME UP WHEN EXAMINING VEHICLE, AND THERE WAS NOT A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST AVAILABLE. A SECOND DEALERSHIP/MECHANIC OBSERVED THE DEFECT, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE DUE TO NO COMPUTER CODE SHOWING ON VEHICLE. A SEPARATE MECHANIC ADVISED CONSUMER THAT DEFECT COULD BE A RESULT FROM A PISTON WITHIN TRANSMISSION CRACKING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK

THE COIL SPRING AROUND THE DRIVERS SIDE STRUT BROKE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE TIME THE SPRING BROKE. THE REPAIR SHOP I CALLED ABOUT REPAIR SAID THIS IS THE THIRD WINDSTAR IN A FEW WEEKS HE HAS REPAIRED WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE OTHER TWO WERE 1995 WINDSTARS. I AM GRATEFUL THAT I WAS NOT DRIVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE REPAIR SHOP INFORMED ME THAT WHEN THESE SPRINGS BREAK THEY USUALLY ALSO PUNCTURE THE TIRE. MY CONCERN IS THAT IF SOMEONE IS NOT AS LUCKY AS I TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN IN THIER DRIVEWAY , THAT THIS COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS IF NOT FATAL ACCIDENT. IF THIS IS A COMMON OCCURANCE I FEEL THAT OTHER WINDSTAR OWNERS SHOULD BE NOTIFIED. THANK YOU.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION FRONT COIL SPRING HAD BROKEN, CAUSING FRONT END OF VEHICLE TO DROP TO GROUND. *AK *SLC

THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER ON 3-16-01, DUE TO A CRACK AND LEAKING COOLANT. THE CAR HAD NEVER OVERHEATED OR SHOWN OBVIOUS SIGNS OF THIS, ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AFTER LONG TRIPS AND THE DEALER SAID THIS WAS O2 SENSORS. 3 WEEKS AFTER THE HEADGASKET REPLACEMENT, THE WHOLE ENGINE BLEW WHILE ON I-81 AT 65MPH. WE LOST ALL POWER AND HAD TO COAST TO A NARROW SHOULDER. THIS SOUNDS EXACTLY LIKE THE 1995 WINDSTAR HEAD GASKET PROBLEM, BUT THEY HAVE NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THE 96 AS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND DID NOT RECALL THE 95 EITHER.*AK

BLOWN HEAD GASKETS. *AK

I HAVE A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR WITH ONE OF THOSE 3.8L ENGINES. MY PROBLEMS BEGAN WITH AN ANTIFREEZE LEAK RESULTING FROM HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS. I HAVE JUST HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED IN MY VAN AND THE COST WAS $5000. I CONTACTED THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY CONSUMER NUMBER AT THE SUGGESTION OF A FRIEND WHO SAID THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON HER WINDSTAR. I WAS TOLD BY THE FORD REP. THAT MY WINDSTAR HAD THE WRONG VIN NUMBER TO BE RECALLED. I'M HAVING A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING WHY SOME BAD 3.8L ENGINES ARE RECALLED AND REPLACED IF NECESSARY AND OTHERS ARE NOT. CAN YOU HELP? ALSO, THE NEEDLE ON MY SPEEDOMETER FLUCTUATES WILDLY AT SPEEDS OVER 30. I KNOW THAT THIS, TOO, IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH WINDSTARS.*AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. ALSO, A LOT OF ANTI-FREEZE WAS MISSING TOO FAST, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID THAT ANTI-REEZE WAS GETTING INTO CYLINDER.*AK CONSUMER RETURNED VEHICLE 1 WEEK LATER, REPLACED GASKETS AGAIN THEY WERE LEAKING.*JB

TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER 6 TIMES SINCE OCTOBER 2000 FOR ENGINE KNOCKING/ SHAKING/ ENGINE LIGHT ON, AND ENGINE MISSING. DEALER COULD NOT REMEDY. THEN ON 31 MAR CH, 2001 VEHICLE WAS STARTED. DRIVEN ABOUT 10 YARDS WHEN CONSUMER HEARD A BIG BANG, ENGINE STALLED. TOWED TO DEALER WHO FOUND COOLANT WAS COMING OUT OF EXHAUST. ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT ON DECEMBER 11, 2000 HAED GASKET WAS REPLACED DUE TO CRACK AND COOLANT LEAKAGE THAT GOT INTO PISTON AND OTHER PARTS OF ENGINE. CURRENTLY, ENGINE IS NOT WORKING, AND MANUFACTURER WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS. CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT DETERIORATION OF ENGINE WAS DUE TO DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET.*AK

HEAD GASKET FAILURE--SAME PART AND PROBLEM AS ON '94 AND '95 FORD WINDSTAR

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES AND AT TIMES REMAINS ON. THE ENGINE HESITATES WHILE ACCELERATION. PER THE DEALER THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAS DEVELOPED A SMALL CRACK WHICH ALLOWS COOLANT TO SEEP INTO THE ENGINE AND CAUSE AN OCCATIONAL MISFIRE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY AND WILL COST $1,800 TO REPAIR. PER NHTSA RECALL REPORT IN 1995 THE SAME ENGINE AND IN WINDSTARS WERE RECALLED FOR THE SAME ISSUE. ALSO SIMLAR ISSUE NOTED IN 1996 WINDSTAR COMPLAINTSS.

ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS WHERE THEY SAID THAT HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT, AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION WON'T SHIFT GEARS, AND SOMETIMES WILL STAY IN NEUTRAL WHERE TRANSMISSION WILL LOSE POWER WHILE NOT SHIFTING. A CAUSE COULD NOT BE FOUND.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WILL COME ON UNEXPECTEDLY, AND WILL NOT GO AWAY. DEALER COULD NOT FIX DEFECT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT IS SPEED THAT VEHICLE IS TRAVELING. ALSO, SOMETIMES COULD FEEL THAT VEHICLE WAS GOING FAST, BUT SPEEDOMETER WOULD NOT SHOW WHAT WAS CURRENT SPEED.*AK

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.)*AK

FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING BROKE GOING OVER A SMALL (1") BUMP. NOW SPRINGS, STRUTS AND MOUNTS NEED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE (1996 FORD SABLE) I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS..THE CAR SHUTS OFF AT SPEEDS OF 10MPH, WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC, OR ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. I HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBEM TO NHTSA, THE DEALER, FORD MOTOR CO. AND THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER, THE DEALER SAYS HE CAN NOT FIX IT UNTIL IT DUPLICATES WHILE HE HAS IT...AGAIN HE SAYS "WAIT UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS" , I ASKED IF HE WERE WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO BE INJURED OR KILLED HE SAID UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S WHAT WILL HAVE TO HAPPEN IN ORDER TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. I FIND THIS TO BE A LUDICRUOUS ANSWER, FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBLITY FOR MANUFACTURER DEFECTS. FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSES TO CORRECT THESE DEFECTS.*AK

SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN 1999, I HAVE REPORTED TO FORD MOTOR AND BUDGET CAR SALES THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM, BRAKES JAM, VEHICLE GOES BACKWARD AND JERKS FORWARD WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC. FORD MOTOR CO. REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILTY FOR THE MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND BUDGET AUTO SALES SAYS THEY CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM AND I NEED TO WAIT UNTIL "SOMETHING HAPPENS" THIS VEHICLE IS A DEATH TRAP AND I IMPLORE SOMEONE TO ASSIST ME IN GETTING THESE DEFECTS CORRECTED BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED.*AK

3.8 LITER ENGINE. HEAD GASKETS FAILED PREMATURELY. DEALER WAS INSPECTING AND WILL REPAIR VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

HAD NOTICED SMOKE AND STEAM COMING FROM TAILPIPE OUT OF REAR VIEW MIRROR. ENGINE HEAD GASKETS BLEWOUT WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE KEPT GOING AFTER THAT.*AK THE 1995 , 3.8 ENGINE VEHICLES MADE BY THE MANUFACTURER WERE KNOWN FOR BLOWING HEAD GASKET. *YH

AT SPEEDS OF 30 MPH AND HIGHER SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT REGISTER. DEALER FOUND SPEEDOMETER HEAD NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK

SPEEDOMETER FAILURE WAS GRADUAL BUT IS TROUBLING BECAUSE THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE STILL MOVES (VERY ERRATICALLY) BUT DOES NOT INDICATE THE RIGHT SPEED. THE NEEDLE BOUNCES AROUND AND THE HIGHER THE SPEED THE MORE IT BOUNCES. THIS FAULTY SPEEDOMETER IS A SAFETY ISSUE IN THAT SOMEONE COULD GLANCE AT THE SPEEDOMETER AND GET AN INACCURATE READING, THEN INCREASE SPEED WHICH MAY CONTRIBUTE TO A SEVERE ACCIDENT. OUR PRIVATE (NON-MANUFACTURER) MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THIS SPEEDOMETER FAILURE IS COMMON FOR THIS VEHICLE. WE STRONGLY BELIEVE FORD SHOULD RECALL OR FIX THESE SPEEDOMETERS AS THEY FAIL. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!*AK

OUR ENGINE FAILED AS A RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE GASKET OF WHICH FORD MOTOR CO. IS FULLY AWARE BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT.*AK

HEAD GASKET STARTED TO LEAK FLUID ONTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF HEAT. ALSO, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER NOTED THAT HEAD GASKET NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON FOR A COUPLE DAYS, BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DEALER. THEY STATED THAT ANTIFREEZE LEAKING INTO HEAD GASKET & THAT IT'S POSSIBLE THAT I MAY NEED A NEW ENGIENE. I DID NOT LEAVE VEHICLE AT DEALER AT THAT TIME BECAUSE I STATED THAT I WANTED TO SPEAK TO MY MECHANIC BECAUSE IT WOULD BE CHEAPER TO HAVE HIM DO WORK ON VEHICLE. I CONTACTED MY MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THAT THE 3.8 LITRE ENGIENE IS KNOWN FOR THIS PROBLEM WITH HEAD GASKET. ON 3/19/ 01 DEALER CONTACTED ME WANTING TO KNOW IF I WOULD BE GETTING HEAD GASKET FIXED. I STATED THAT AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH I WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT CERTAIN 1995 3.8 LITRE ENGIENES WERE RECALLED AND THAT A CLASS ACTION SUIT WAS BROUGHT AGAINST FORD MOTOR COMPANY ON 12/9/99 BECAUSE OF FAULTY HEAD GASKETS. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY & LOGGED COMPLAINT, BUT THEY STATED THAT THEIR WERE NO RECALLS ON 1996 FORD WINDSTARS SO THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING. ONCE I COMPLAINED TO DEALER THAT THEIR WAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGIENE THEY OFFERED ME A 6 YEAR WARRANTY FROM ORIGINAL DATE OF PURCHASE OR 100,000 MILES WHICH EVER CAME FIRSTON TRANSMISSION & ENGIENE UP TO $2,000.00 WITH $500.00 DEDUCTIBLE. I TOOK THIS OFFER WITH DEALER BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE 1 VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH I AM GRATEFUL FOR THIS OFFER, THE ONLY REASON THE DEALER OFFERED ME THIS DEAL WAS BECAUSE I INFORMED THEM THAT THIS PARTICULAR ENGIENE HAS A FAULTY HEAD GASKET. DEALER ORIGINALLY QUOTED THAT WORK ON HEAD GASKET WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $1,500 FOR HEAD GASKET REPAIRS OR APPROXIMATELY $3,000.00 FOR NEW ENGIENE. EVEN THOUGH I WILL HAVE PAY $500.00 OUT OF POCKET, I BELIEVE THAT THE DEALER OR FORD SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR THE HEAD GASKET REPAIRS BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGIENE SINCE 1988. I HAVE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE ON THE INTERNET @ WEBSITE WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/FORD_WINDSTAR_1996_GASKETS.HTM THAT OTHER CONSUMERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR 1996 FORD WINDSTARS 3.8 LITRE ENGIENE AS I HAVE. I APPECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE. *AK