1996 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

1996 FORD WINDSTAR - FAILURE OF HEAD GASKET RESULTING IN IRREPARABLE ENGINE DAMAGE. COST OF HEAD GASKET REPAIR, ~$1,500. COST OF ENGINE REPLACEMENT ~$4,000. WAS INFORMED BY FORD SERVICE TECHNICIAN THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH WINDSTARS FROM THE YEARS '94 THROUGH '97 AND THAT FORD HAD A "SILENT RECALL" FOR UP TO 100K MILES WHERE THEY WOULD HAVE REPLACED HEAD GASKET. *NLM

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH BRAKE LINE AS STATED IN RECALL 02 V 101 000, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILURE OF 3.8L FORD ENGINE AT A COST OF $1500 TO REPAIR. THIS IS A KNOW AND DOCUMENTED FAILURE MECHANISM ON THESE ENGINES THAT NEEDS TO BE REMEDIED.*AK

FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THREE YEARS THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE IS JUMPING ALL OVER THE PLACE. AFTER TALKING WITH TWO DEALERS, A SPEEDOMETER REPAIR SPECIALIST WITH 30 + YEARS EXPERIENCE, AND REVIEWING THE 135 + OTHER DRIVER COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM, I CAN ONLY COME TO THESE CONCLUSIONS: THIS IS A FAULTY PIECE OF EQUIPMENT; FORD IS AWARE OF THIS DEFECT AND REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT; AND THIS IS MOST CERTAINLY A CANDIDATE FOR A RECALL. WHAT ELSE DOES IT TAKE TO COME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION?*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE 3.8L V6 ENGINE BLEW A HEAD GASKET AND CAUSING LOSS OF COOLANT AND COOLANT GETTING INTO THE ENGINE OIL. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

BLOWN HEAD GASKETS ON A 3.8L ENGINE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH FORD ENGINES THAT HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED IN COMPLETE RECALLS, ETC. THIS VEHICLE WAS WELL MAINTAINED, NEVER OVERHEATED, ETC AND THE GASKETS JUST FAILED WITH NO WARNING. ESTIMATED COSTS TO FIX ARE $1500 MINIMUM IF HEADS OR BLOCK ARE NOT CRACKED. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL AND FIX ALL 3.8L ENGINES.*AK

INTAKE GASKET OVER PASSENGER FRONT WHEEL WELL LEAKING COOLANT ABS BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON DURING WARM WEATHER AND ON BUMPY ROADS

MY 1996 FORD WINDSTAR VAN'S ENGINE ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED DUE TO PERSISTENT INTERNAL COOLANT LOSS INTO THE ENGINE, DESPITE REPEATED TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH COMPLAINTS OF CLASSIC HEAD-GASKET SYMPTOMS. FORD DISPLAYED BLATANT NEGLEGENCE AND DISHONESTY IN ITS DEALINGS WITH ME. I TOOK MY VAN TO DEALERSHIP TWICE FOR HEAD-GASKET-LIKE SYMPTOMS: EXCESSIVE LOSS OF COOLANT WITH NO EXTERNAL LEAKAGE, GRAY SMOKE OUT OF EXHAUST, AND ENGINE RUNNING ROUGH. THE FIRST TIME THE DEALERSHIP SAID NO PROBLEMS COULD BE FOUND. TWO WEEKS LATER I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS, ONLY THIS TIME MORE OBVIOUS, AND THE CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED MY ENGINE HAD OVERHEATED AND THAT COOLANT WAS LOST VIA THE TIMING COVER GASKET, WHICH THEY REPLACED AND THEN RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO ME. EXACTLY ONE THOUSAND MILES LATER I HAD TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AT WHICH POINT THEY CONDEMNED MY ENGINE DUE TO COOLANT ENTERING THE #1 CYLINDAR. THEY OFFERED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE FOR $3,650, WHICH INCLUDES A 20% DISCOUNT FOR THE TIMING COVER GASKET WORK THAT WAS DONE FOR NOTHING. I REFUSED THE OFFER AND MANAGED TO BARELY DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME, WHERE IT NOW SITS, UNDRIVABLE. AWARE OF THE WINDSTAR HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS FROM THE BEGINNING, I REPEATEDLY STRESSED TO THE DEALERSHIP MY CONCERN THAT THIS WAS A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM, BUT THEY REPEATEDLY EXPLAINED THIS WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. THEY LIED BY SAYING NO KNOWN GASKET PROBLEMS EXIST ON THE 1996 WINDSTAR, BUT I RESEARCHED THE NHTSA'S RECORDS AND FOUND TSB 99-13-1 (TITLED "UNDERDETERMINED LOSS OF COOLANT"), WHICH INSTRUCTS DEALERSHIPS TO REPLACE THE GASKETS IN SITUATIONS LIKE MINE. THE TSB IS VERY CLEAR. I WROTE THE DEALERSHIP A LETTER DEMANDING HELP REPLACING THE ENGINE, BUT RECEIVED NO REPLY. I RE-SENT THE SAME LETTER AND DOCUMENTS TO THE DEALERSHIP JUST YESTERDAY. I CAN PROVIDE COPIES OF ALL DOCUMENTS, AS I HAVE SCANNED THEM INTO A COMPRESSED PDF FILE FOR E-MAIL TRANSMISSION.

PLEASE CHECK INTO THESE PROBLEMS THANK YOU WAYNE KELLEY. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT REMAINS ON CONSTANTLY, VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHECKED BY DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT CONSUMER WAS ADVISED LIGHT WAS NOT READING A CODE. HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT, AND DEALER ADVISED CONSUMER THAT LIGHT WAS READING A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKET, WHICH WAS LEAKING. *AK ALSO THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED.*JB

DEALER MADE REPAIRS FOR RECALL 02V101 FOR THE FRONT RIGHT BRAKE LINES, HOWEVER CONSUMER STATES THAT NOW THE OTHER BRAKE LINES ARE CORRODED, CONSUMER FEELS ALL THE BRAKE LINES SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *SLC

THE SPEEDOMETER NO LONGER GIVES ACCURATE READINGS. IT BOUNCES UP AND DOWN AFTER 30 MPH. FORD TELLS ME THERE IS NO "KNOWN PROBLEM" WITH THIS, HOWEVER, ANY INTERNET COMPLAINT SITE CERTAINLY DOES "KNOW" ABOUT THIS. THE '95 WINDSTAR HAS ALREADY HAD A RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, WHY ISN'T THE '96 BEING TAKEN CARE OF ALSO?*AK

I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY 5 REPAIR PEOPLE THAT THE WINDSTARS ARE VERY LIKELY TO HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET, I HAVE BEEN TOLD TO REQUEST THAT FORD REPAIR THE VAN. I HAVE CONTACTED THE FORD CORP. AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE WINDSTARS ARE NOT HAVING A HEAD GASKET ISSUE. THIS VAN WITH THE PROPER CARE SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS BIG OF AN ISSUE. MY VAN HAS SAT IN MY DRIVEWAY SINCE JULY, THE ESTIMATE IS $ 2,000.00 TO 4,000.00 TO NOW REPLACE AN ENGINE WITH LESS THEN 100,000 MILES.

BRAKE LINE GOING TO RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CORRODED ,CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE AT 70 MPH ON INTERSTATE 85. *AK

CARBON HAS GONE THROUGH THE ENTIRE EMISSIONS SYSTEM , MANIFOLD NEEDS REPLACEMENT. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT, CAUSING BLUE EXHAUST TO COME FROM TAIL PIPE. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK INDICATORS ARE THAT RADIATOR COOLANT HAD BEEN LEAKING INTO OIL CAUSING 02 SENSORS TO FAIL AND BE REPLACED. DEALER ADVISED THAT ENTIRE ENGINE BE REPLACED. *TT

AT SPEEDS OF 35MPH OR HIGHER THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE WAVERS SEVERELY MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE THE CORRECT SPEED. THIS DEFECT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE NHTSA MORE THAN 100 TIMES. I REPORTED THIS TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD I HAD TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. AT 49000 MILES THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER I HAVE DRIVEN NUMEROUS FORD VEHICLES WELL OVER 100000 MILES AND NONE OF THEM HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A MANUFACTURERS FLAW AND BE REPLACED BY THEM. THIS IS DEFINATLEY A SAFETY ISSUE! IF A VEHICLE OPERATOR CANNOT DETERMINE HOW FAST THEY ARE GOING THIS CVOULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS INJURY. THIS IS EVEN MORE EVIDENT DURING REDUCED VISIBLITY AND/OR AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE SPEEDS. I APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER IF POSSIBLE.*AK

WIRING HARNESS DIAGNOSED AS CAUSING FIRE UNDER DASH. SIX REPLACEMENT HARNESS'S HAVE BEEN INSTALLED, NONE FIT. BEEN WITHOUT MY VAN NOW FOR TWO MONTHS WAITING FOR THE CORRECT PART. HAVE EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS (OFF AND ON) SINCE BUYING THE VAN.*AK

VEHICLE HAS BEEN LOOSING COOLANT FOR MANY YEARS. *LA THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE BUT ENDED UP HAVING MAJOR REPAIRS. APPROXIMATELY EIGHT MONTHS AFTER THE REPAIR, THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY TWO DEALERS THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A SHORT BLOCK INSTALLED. THERE WAS ALSO NOISE IN THE STEERING AND A COOLANT LEAK. THE INTAKE UPPER AND LOWER MANIFOLD GASKETS WERE ALSO REPLACED. *SC *JB

AT 60-65 MPH, ENGINE BLEWOUT WITH NO WARNING AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK PERSONAL MECHANIC FOUND BROKEN CONNECTING ROD WHICH DAMAGED TWO CYLINDERS AND CRANKSHAFT. CONNECTING ROD EXPERIENCED METAL FATIGUE DUE TO FAULTY MANUFACTURING. ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TT

TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN 1996 FORD WINDSTAR, REQUIRING COMPLETE REPLACEMEN AT APPROX 70K MILES

SPARE TIRE IS ON OUTSIDE UNDERNEATH VEHICLE RUSTED. THIS CAUSED SPARE TIRE TO BECOME UNUSABLE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN. THE IGNITION SYSTEM NO LONGER TURNS THE ENGINE OFF, THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS!! I AM VERY MAD. *AK

SPEEDOMETER BOUNCES ERRATICALLY, AND DOES NOT REGISTER ACTUAL SPEED. IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL SPEED OF THE VEHICLE.*AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT DISPLAYED, WHITE SMOKE BILLOWING OUT OF TAIL PIPE.*AK

ENGINE WOULD OVERHEAT WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND WAS INFORMED OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFROMATION.*AK

AXLE BROKE AT WHERE WHEEL BAERING IS. CAUSING ABS TEETH GRIND AGAINST STEERING NUCKLE AND LOWER BALL JOINT. THE DRIVE AXLE SHOULD NEVER BREAK THIS WAY. PLEASE LET KNOW WHERE CAN I ATTACH PICTURE.*AK

SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE FLUCTUATES > ~40MPH CAN'T TELL THE SPEED *VERY DANGEROUS* AND *UNSAFE*. *AK

THE LEFT OUTER TIE ROD WAS REPLACE. *YH THE FUEL INJECTOR, TIMING COVER GASKETS AND WIPER BLADES WERE REPLACED. THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT WAS REPLACED . THE SWITCH HEADLIGHT CONTROL WAS REPLACED. THE DRIVERS DOOR AJAR SWITCH WAS REPLACED. UPDATED *JB

WHEN BRAKING VEHICLE JOLTS AND VIBRATES. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AKI

AFTER FILLING AT GAS STATION, NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM TOP PORTION OF TANK. HAD TANK REPLACED AT LOCAL SHOP. COST OF TANK $250 PLUS LABOR AND MISC. PARTS.*AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE SWAY BAR BROKE, WITHOUT ANY WARNING. DEALER CONTACTED.*JB *YH

WAS HAVING A SLOW LOSS OF COOLANT WITH NO VISIBLE LEAKAGE. NOW HAVE A DAMAGED TIMING COVER/GASKET ($1,200.00 REPAIR ESTIMATE FROM A FORD DEALER) PROBABLY DUE TO ENGINE OVERHEATING. NLM

IN THE 20 MONTHS THAT I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE THE ENGINE BLOCK HAS OVER - EXPANDED TWICE - CAUSING THE HEAD GASKET TO FAIL. BOTH TIMES I WAS TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS. THIER WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO FAILURE(COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER DUE TO HEAT FATIGUE). FORTUNATLY I WAS ABLE TO MANUEVER THE VEHICLE OFF TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS DEFINATELY A SAFETY CONCERN FOR OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. *AK

1. AUTO TRANSMISSION FRONT SEAL PREMATURE FAILURE CAUSING LEAKS. 2. 5.5 X 15 STEEL RIM CRACKED DUE TO MATERIAL DEFECTS, CAUSING DANGEROUS STEELING RESPONSES. BOTH DEFECTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO FORD SAN FRANCISOC REGION, BUT FORD DENY RESPONSIBILITY.

MY WINDSTAR BLEW ITS HEADGASKET WITH 60K MILES ON IT- THE ENGINE NEVER RAN HOT---WHEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON I TOOK IT TO DEALER--BLOWN GASKET 1800 DOLLARS--CHECKED INTERNET AND FOUND AT LEAST 200 PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEM--CALLED FORD BUT THEY REFUSE TO ASSIST. *AK

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.....*NM

WHEN PARKED IN DRIVEWAY (THANK GOD) I STEPPED ON BRAKE AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. LOOKED UNDERNEATH AND FLUID WAS FLOWING OFF OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO NEAREST DEALER (ALLSTAR FORD, PRAIREVILLE, LA) TO FIX. THEY ADVISED SUBJECT LINE FAILED DUE TO CORROSION (I HAVE THE LINE AND IT IS CORROSION). FAILURE FITS NTHSA RECALL 02V101000 EXCEPT THAT VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND REGISTERED IN LOUISIANA, BUT I HAVE CHILDERN IN NJ AND PA AND SPEND TIME THERE EACH WINTER AND HAVE EXPERIENCED SNOW AND SALTED ROADS MANY TIMES. IN ANY CASE THERE SHOULD BE AN IMPLIED CONTRACT WHEN YOU PURCHASE A CAR THAT A CRITICAL COMPONENT WILL NOT FAIL DUE TO A PREVENTABLE DESIGN ERROR, OR IF IT FAILS NOT BE REPAIRED BY THE MANUFACTURER. I BELIEVE ANY VEHICLE WITH THIS FAILURE REGARDLESS OF PLACE OF PURCHASE OR REGISTRATION SHOULD BE COVERED BY THIS RECALL. *AK

NHTSA RECALL 02 V 101 000/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 02S36 CONCERNING BRAKE LINE FAILURE WHICH OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING. PROBLEM WAS DUE TO LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

SINCE WE DROVE THIS CAR OFF THE LOT, IT HAS BEEN PLAGUED WITH ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. AS SOON AS OUR WARRANTY RAN OUT, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 44,400. TWO ADULTS AND 4 CHILDREN WERE ON OUR WAY TO A 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION WHEN THE TRANSMISSION STALLED AT AN INTERSECTION. LUCKY FOR US ALL TRAFFIC WAS STOPPED AND NO MAJOR ACCIDENT OCCURRED. WE TOOK IT TO OUR DEALER AND ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE SINCE THERE WAS A TSB OUT ON THE TRANSMISSION IN FORD WINDSTAR'S. WE WERE DENIED ASSISTANCE. OUR PROBLEM WAS THE ALUMINUM PISTON THAT WERE REPORTED IN THE TSB. IN MAY 2001, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WE TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALER. THEY REPLACED THE IRMC VALUE. COST $1000. RECENTLY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. WE TOOK IT TO CROSSROADS FORD, THE DEALER WE BOUGHT THE CAR FROM. THEY ONCE AGAIN DENIED TO HELP US WITH THE COST. WE TOWED THE VAN TO A QUALITY FORD IN DURHAM, NC. THEY HAVE CONTACTED FORD TO SEE IF THEY WILL ASSIST US WITH THE COST. THE ESTIMATED COST IS $3500-$4000. *JB ****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER ARTEMIS****761964

HEAD GASKET HAS GONE OUT A COUPLE OF TIMES. CONSUMER HAS HAD SOME OIL LEAKAGE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.

WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH VEHICLE WILL DROP INTO NUETRAL WITHOUT THE INDICATOR EVER MOVING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED, LEAKING COOLANT INTO CYLINDER, FOULING SPARK PLUGS AND OXYGEN SENSORS. PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE VEHICLE HAD 95,000 MILES. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER REPORTING SPEEDOMETER INOPERATIVE WHILE DRIVING, UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROPER SPEED. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *JB CONSUMER FEELS FORD SHOULD RECALL THESE VEHICLES OR AT LEAST REIMBURSE CONSUMER FOR MONIES PAID FOR REPAIRS. *JG

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED REPLACING. CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE GASKET SHOULD NOT HAVE WENT OUT, THERE IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH WINSTARS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION THE VEHICLE IS ABLE TO BE STARTED UP AGAIN WITH OUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. CONTACTED DEALER. NLM

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE HEAD GASKET FAILED. *SLC