1996 Ford Windstar Engine Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR GL (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE WAITING A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DIED AND THE ENGINE ENGULFED INTO FLAMES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS WERE CALLED BUT NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

CHECK ENGINE STAYS ON AFTER TUNEUP ... DOES NOT LOSE SPEED ... RUNS ROUGH AFTER ACCELERATING AND DOESN'T NOT OVERHEAT ....WHAT IS THE PROBLEM. *TR

I PURCHASED A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR VAN 3.0 L IN JUNE 2010. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE FROM DAY 1 TO CURRENT MOST DANGEROUS IS THE BLOWING SPARK PLUG WHICH HAS BLOWN OUT 2 TIMES FORCING ME TO DRIVE IT TO A PLACE WHERE IT COULD BE PARKED FOR REPAIR FIRST TIME BLOW OUT WAS 7 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE REPAIRED BY A MECHANIC NOW 2000 MILES LATER AGAIN BLEW OUT FORD SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES FOR IGNORING SUCH A HUGE HAZARD THIS COULD SERIOUSLY IGNITE FUEL FUMES AND CAUSE A MAJOR FIRE, EXPLOSION WHILE SOME ONE IS DRIVING WITH THERE CHILDREN TO FIND A REPAIR SHOP UNAWARE OF THE DANGER AND DAMAGE THIS COULD CAUSE, SECOND ISSUE IS A FAILING SHIFTING MODULE OR TRANNY AND THIS HAS HAPPENED ALOT DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VANS TRANSMISSION SHIFTS TO A 1ST OR 2ND GEAR CAUSING EXTREME CHANGE IN SPEED AND IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WE HAVE ALMOST BEEN REARENDED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THIS ISSUE, VESSIL MUST BE PULLED OVER AND TRANS RESET BY SHIFTING TO PARK AND SOMETIMES SHUTTING OFF THE VEHICLE AND STARTING IT AGAIN.FORD DEALER GAVE US A 3000. ESTIMATE TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AND TOLD US WE WOULD CONTINUE TO REPLACE TRANS APROX EVERY 70,000 MILES THIS IS A CHUMP WAY TO BUILD CARS AND THEY HAVE MANAGED TO GET MORE MONEY OUT OF REPAIRS THAN SALES I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER FORD AGAIN SAFE OR NOT. FORD SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECLAIM ALL THESE DANGEROUS VEHICLES AND REPLACE ALL MONEY SPENT ON REPAIRS AND PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLES DUE TO ENDANGERING AND THERE IS NO WAY THEY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS. *TR

I WENT TO GO TO THE STORE MAY 26TH, 2010 6:30 - 7:00 PM, I GOT IN MY VEHICLE WITH MY TWO YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND I PROCEEDED TO GO DOWN MY DRIVEWAY WHICH ITS A LONG DRIVEWAY AND I STARTED TO SMELL A FAINT SMELL OF PLASTIC BURNING AND I GOT TO THE ROAD AND I STARTED TO GO AND I DECIDED I SHOULD MAYBE PULL OVER TO SEE IF I COULD SEE ANYTHING ON THE OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE CAUSING SMELL THEN WHEN GOT BACK IN CAR SAW THE STEAM COMING FROM HOOD AND I DECIDED TO TURN AROUND AND HAVE MY BOYFRIEND TAKE A LOOK BEFORE I LEFT. WHEN GOT TO HOUSE SAW LITTLE STEAM BUT NOTHING BIG, TURNED OFF VAN AND GOT MY DAUGHTER FROM CAR SEAT AND WALKED INSIDE HOME NOT BUT 5 MINUTES LATER MY OTHER DAUGHTER RAN SCREAMING OUT HER ROOM, MOM THE VANS ON FIRE. WHEN OPENED THE DOOR THE FLAMES WERE SHOOTING OUT OF THE HOOD AND TRIED TO OPEN HOOD, WHILE OTHER HALF GOING FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHERS BUT MOTOR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND WITHIN 5 MINUTES GOT FIRE OUT WITH 2 FIRE EXTINGUISHERS. NOTHING INDICATED BEFORE FIRE OTHER THEN THE FAINT SMELL THAT I SMELLED WHILE GOING DOWN DRIVEWAY. THE FIRE CAME FROM THE WIRING AND IT IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE CAUSE IF ME AND MY DAUGHTER HAD THIS HAPPEN TO US WHILE ON THE ROAD IT COULD OF SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED US. I HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING TO FIX THE VAN YET CAUSE I ONLY HAD LIABILITY INSURANCE ON THE VAN AND THE FIRE WASN'T COVERED. I ALSO DO NOT FINANCIALLY HAVE THE MEANS TO FIX THE VAN MYSELF SO I AM WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION RIGHT NOW! MY BOYFRIEND DID FEEL AFTER LOOKING AT VAN THE FIRE STARTED WITH THE WIRING OVER THE TOP OF THE CENTER OF THE MOTOR. *TR

MY 1996 FORD WINDSTAR CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE DRIVING AND BURNED UP WITHIN 10 MINUTES. I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE FIRE DANGER RECALL UNTIL I HEARD ABOUT IT ON THE NEW A FEW DAYS AFTER THE EVENT. THE ONLY ACCESSORY THAT WAS ON WAS THE AIRCONDITIONING WHICH WAS WORKING PROPERLY. I NOTICED A SMELL FOLLOWED BY SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I PULLED OVER TO INVESTIGATE AND THE SMOKE INTENSIFIED FOLLOWED BY FLAMES. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED (5 MINUTES) FLAMES WERE POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THICK BLACK SMOKE HAD FILLED THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE HAD COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE ENGINE AND HAD BEGUN TO BURN INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE DASHBOARD HAS MELTED ALONG WITH PARTS OF THE ROOF AS FAR BACK AS THE MIDDLE SEATS. UP TO THE EVENT THE CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING NORMALLY WITH NO PROBLEMS. I HAD NEVER BEEN CONTACTED BY FORD ABOUT THE RECALL AND ONLY FOUND OUT ABOUT IT ON THE NEWS A FEW DAYS AFTER THE EVENT. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE CAR WAS CONSIDERED "TOTALED" BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *TR

FIRST MY ENGINE SEEMED TO OVERHEAT A BIT THEN EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE IT WOULD SOUND LIKE THE ENGINE WAS GRINDING ON SOMETHING AND WOULDN'T STOP.. SOUNDED LIKE A BUNCH OF CHAINS IN MY HOOD. BUT THEN ON OCCASIONS THE STUPID THING WOULDN'T SHUT OFF WHEN IT WAS MAKING THE CHAIN SOUND, EVEN WITH MY KEY OUT. IT JUST HAPPENED AGAIN AND NOW THE THING SMELLS LIKE SOMETHING IS BURNING AND I HAVE NO POWER WHAT SO EVER IN MY VEHICLE. BEFORE WHEN IT FINALLY SHUT OFF IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS ABOUT TO SPARK. THEN IT WAS MAKING A CLICKING NOISE THAT WASN'T COOL. *TR

ROUGH IDLING, "HICCUPPING" WHILE DRIVING, NO HEAT--WENT IN FOR A TUNE UP AND THERMOSTAT AND WAS TOLD ITS THE HEAD GASKET.*CN

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 $10.00 WHEN THE ENGINE WAS BUILT. IT IS NOW COSTING ME $5,800 TO FIX THEIR INAPTITUDE AND INCOMPETENCE. *TR

TL*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.

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. *AK

HEAD GASKET FOR 3.8L V6 FORD ENGINE IS DEFECTIVE. FORD RECOGNIZES THIS FOR PREVIOUS MODEL YEARS (1994-1995), BUT DOES NOT FOR MY MODEL. FORD HAS TSB FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR THEIR DEALERS AND SERVICE CENTERS, AS IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE 1996 - AND 3.8L ENGINES OF THAT TIME ACROSS THEIR PRODUCT LINE ACCORDING TO CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY, THIS IS A PART THAT SHOULD NEVER NEED CHANGING. FURTHERMORE, ACCORDING TO A FORD DEALER SERVICE MANAGER, FORD AT 7 YEARS AND 78K MILES DO NOT WANT TO REPAIR THE DEFECT. THE DEALER I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FROM DID NOT DISCLOSE THAT THIS CAR WAS PAST ANY DEFECT RECALL AND WAS PAST TIME TO TAKE ACTION WITH FORD. (THERE IS ANOTHER ISSUE WITH THEIR CLIMATE CONTROLS ON THIS MINIVAN AS WELL, AS THEY CEASED TO FUNCTION - AND THAT IS ANOTHER ITEM THAT SHOULD NOT FAIL UNLESS DEFECTIVE.) IN ANY CASE, THE HEAD GASKET IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR/REPLACE, AND SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED DURING THE LIFETIME OF A VEHICLE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE DIED AT 21,000 MILES. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THE ENGINE SHOULD NOT HAVE DIED AT 21000 MILES. THERE WERE NO FAILURES THAT LEAD TO THIS INCIDENT. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED.

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! *JB

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. *JB

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. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH WAS LEAKING FLUID. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL ON OTHER FORD VEHICLES. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, THE REPAIR WERE MADE FOR A FEE. ALSO EVERY 25000 MILES, THE OIL PAN GASKET NEEDED TO BE CHANGED DUE A SMALL LEAK. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THIRD, THE EXHAUST AND INTAKE MANIFOLDS WERE LEAKING CAUSING A NOXIOUS SMELL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE SAME SERVICE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH MANIFOLDS, AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK DRIPPING ONTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM.

ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2005 WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY I EXPIRED A SUDDEN SPIKE IN TEMPERATURE ON MY 1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. AFTER TAKING MY CAR TO A FORD DEALERSHIP I WAS INFORMED THAT MY "PLASTIC" INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD CRACKED. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE CURRENT INVESTIGATION AND HAD NEVER RECEIVED ANY SORT OF CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION FROM FORD. I HEARD ABOUT THE MANIFOLD ISSUE FROM A FELLOW EMPLOYEE. THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS FOR THIS FAULTY MANIFOLD WAS $978.00. I FEEL IF THEY KNEW THEY NEEDED TO UPDATE IT WITH AN ALUMINUM MANIFOLD THAN THEY KNEW THE PLASTIC ONES WERE FAULTY.*JB

INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED ON 1996 THUNDERBIRD IN 2000. IT IS NOW CRACKED, AND AFTER SPENDING 550.00 TO FIND THAT OUT, THERE IS NOTHING FORD WILL DO EVEN THOUGH IT IS ON CAMPAIGN (97M91). NOW I CAN NOT DRIVE MY CAR.

1996 FORD WINDSTAR EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURE.*MR 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. *BF

DURING ROUTINE INSPECTION CONSUMER WAS INFORMED OF LEAKING HEAD GASKET. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. *AK