1997 Ford Windstar Engine Problems

I TURNED THE AIR CONDITIONING ON IN THE VAN AND AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES, TURNED IT TO THE 'MAX AC' POSITION. THE HOOD STARTED STEAMING SO I TURNED THE AIR COMPLETELY OFF. AFTER LESS THAN A MINUTE, I NOTICED THE HOOD WAS SMOKING SO I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND EXITED THE VAN AND SAW THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE HOOD WAS ON FIRE. I RAN TO THE PASSENGER SIDE AND OPENED THE SLIDING DOOR, AND GOT MY 18 MONTH OLD AND 4 YEAR OLD OUT OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER WE WERE ALL A SAFE DISTANCE AWAY I SAW THAT MOST OF THE HOOD OF THE VAN WAS IN FLAMES. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER, THE ENTIRE HOOD WAS ON FIRE WITH A LOT OF BLACK SMOKE. THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT LOOKS CHARRED AND PARTIALLY MELTED. THE VEHICLE IS BEYOND REPAIR. I'M THANKFUL MY CHILDREN ARE SAFE BUT I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY (FAILURE) OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NEXT CARS USA IN BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIA SOLD US A FORD WINDSTAR WHICH WAS DEFECTIVE (A LEMON). WITHIN TWO WEEK AFTER OUR PURCHASE THE VEHICLE CUT OFF JEOPARDIZING THE SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN EACH TIME WE PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. WE HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO NEXT CARS FOR REPAIRS AND TO DATE WE ARE NOW MOVING INTO OUR THIRD MONTH WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION. WHEN WE INQUIRED ABOUT A LOAN VEHICLE JUAN CASILLAS (MANAGER) RESPONSE WAS THAT "WE DON'T DO THAT." WE HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AND WHEN NEXT CARS RECEIVED THE COMPLAINT ON MARCH 8, 2006 JUAN CASILLAS TOLD US THAT "WE JUST STOPPED WORKING ON THE CAR BECAUSE YOU PISSED US OFF." WE ARE AT OUR WITS END AND SO WE ARE SUBMITTING THIS COMPLAINT FOR AN INVESTIGATION. *JB

DUE TO A FAULTY HEAD GASKET, ANTI FREEZE LEAKED INTO THE OIL AND RUINED THE ENGINE. *PH THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE VEHICLES FAULTY GASKETS FREE OF CHARGE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE'S WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON THE VEHICLE BUT THE DEALER STILL REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. *NM *SC *JB

FAILED HEAD GASKET LED TO A PISTON ROD SHOOTING THROUGH THE OIL PAN. VERY DANGEROUS FOR THE CARS BEHIND ME AS OIL WAS SHOOTING OVER THE HIGHWAY. SLIPPERY FOR CARS FOLLOWING, AND WENT ON OTHER CARS PAINT AND WINDSHIELDS. HEAD GASKETS WERE RECALLED IN PREVIOUS 3 YEARS OF VEHICLES 1993-96 FORD WINDSTARS, 1997 WAS NOT ON A RECALL EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER CORRECTLY FIXED. HIGHLY DANGEROUS AND HIGHLY IRRESPONSIBLE OF THE AUTOMAKER TO NOT INCLUDE ADDITIONAL CARS IN THE RECALL EFFORT. *AK

AT A ROUTINE NYS INSPECTION, THE FORD DEALER ADVISED THAT THE HEAD GASKETS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR IS 6 YEARS OLD WITH 36K MILES. CALLED FORD FOR ASSISTANCE, AND GOT PROFUSE APOLOGIZES, AND NO HELP WITH A $1600.00 REPAIR. THE CAR IS EXHIBITING NO SYMPTOMS OF ANY PROBLEMS, AND I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY FOR THE REPAIR. FOR SUCH LOW MILEAGE, I THINK THAT FMC SHOULD MAKE SOME ATTEMPT TO ASSIST WITH THIS COMPLAINT. THEY ARE CERTAINLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE 95 & 96 WINDSTARS!!

I OWN A 1997 FORD WINDSTAR MINIVAN (VIN# [XXX]) THAT CONTAINS A 3.8 V6. AT 82,000 MILES, THE HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN. THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT IT WILL COST BETWEEN $2000 AND $4000 TO REPAIR. AFTER DOING EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON THE WEB, IT APPEARS THAT THE 1995 AND 1996 MODELS ALSO HAD HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS DUE TO AN ADMITTED DESIGN FLAW. FORD CLAIMS TO HAVE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM-BUT THERE ARE INCREASING NUMBERS OF OWNERS OF 1997 MODELS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. REPEATED VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP-AS WELL AS NUMEROUS CALLS TO FORD-HAVE RESULTED IN DEAD ENDS. I GET RESPONSES SUCH AS: THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON YOUR VEHICLE AT THIS TIME, ETC. BUT SINCE THIS IS CLEARLY DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW IN THE ENGINE, THEN SHOULDN'T THIS STILL BE COVERED AND CORRECTED? FORD OFFERED A BRIEF PROGRAM TO REPAIR THE EARLIER MODELS-SO WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN OFFERED ON THE LATER YEARS? FORD CLAIMS THAT THEY HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM-WHICH THEY CLEARLY HAVE NOT-YET THEY EXPECT PEOPLE TO SIMPLY PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. I BELIEVE THAT FORD NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS, AND THAT THEY SHOULD OFFER TO PERFORM THE WORK AT EITHER A DISCOUNTED RATE, OR FOR FREE SINCE THIS IS DUE TO THEIR ENGINE DESIGN. EVEN THE MANUAL CLAIMS THE HEAD GASKET IS EXPECTED TO LAST FOR AT LEAST 120,000 MILES, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS THE CASE WITH THIS VEHICLE. HAD I KNOWN OF THE PROBLEMS OTHER OWNERS WERE HAVING, I WOULD HAVE RECONSIDERED MY DECISION TO PURCHASE THIS VAN. TO THAT END, I FEEL THAT I WAS MISLED SOMEWHAT. IT IS MY HOPE TO HAVE FORD ADMIT TO THE PROBLEM AND OFFER TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE AT NO CHARGE. GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES-AND THE AMOUNT OF EVIDENCE SUPPORTING THE CLAIM OF NEGLIGENCE ON THE BEHALF OF FORD-THIS SHOULD NOT BE AN UNREASONABLE REQUEST. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I OWN A 1997 FORD WINDSTAR MINIVAN (VIN# [XXX]) THAT CONTAINS A 3.8 V6. AT 82,000 MILES, THE HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN. THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT IT WILL COST BETWEEN $2000 AND $4000 TO REPAIR. AFTER DOING EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON THE WEB, IT APPEARS THAT THE 1995 AND 1996 MODELS ALSO HAD HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS DUE TO AN ADMITTED DESIGN FLAW. FORD CLAIMS TO HAVE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM-BUT THERE ARE INCREASING NUMBERS OF OWNERS OF 1997 MODELS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. REPEATED VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP-AS WELL AS NUMEROUS CALLS TO FORD-HAVE RESULTED IN DEAD ENDS. I GET RESPONSES SUCH AS: "THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED", "THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON YOUR VEHICLE AT THIS TIME", ETC. BUT SINCE THIS IS CLEARLY DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW IN THE ENGINE, THEN SHOULDN'T THIS STILL BE COVERED AND CORRECTED? FORD OFFERED A BRIEF PROGRAM TO REPAIR THE EARLIER MODELS-SO WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN OFFERED ON THE LATER YEARS? FORD CLAIMS THAT THEY HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM-WHICH THEY CLEARLY HAVE NOT-YET THEY EXPECT PEOPLE TO SIMPLY PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. I BELIEVE THAT FORD NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS, AND THAT THEY SHOULD OFFER TO PERFORM THE WORK AT EITHER A DISCOUNTED RATE, OR FOR FREE SINCE THIS IS DUE TO THEIR ENGINE DESIGN. EVEN THE MANUAL CLAIMS THE HEAD GASKET "IS EXPECTED TO LAST FOR AT LEAST 120,000 MILES", AND I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS THE CASE WITH THIS VEHICLE. HAD I KNOWN OF THE PROBLEMS OTHER OWNERS WERE HAVING, I WOULD HAVE RECONSIDERED MY DECISION TO PURCHASE THIS VAN. TO THAT END, I FEEL THAT I WAS MISLED SOMEWHAT. IT IS MY HOPE TO HAVE FORD ADMIT TO THE PROBLEM AND OFFER TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE AT NO CHARGE. GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES-AND THE AMOUNT OF EVIDENCE SUPPORTING THE CLAIM OF NEGLIGENCE ON THE BEHALF OF FORD-THIS SHOULD NOT BE AN UNREASONABLE REQUEST. *LA INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

GASKETS HAVE COMPLETELY FAILED. *AK

HEAD GASKET LEAKED, TIMING COVER CRACKED. $3,000.00 + REPAIR BILL.*AK

I BOUGHT MY 1997 WINDSTAR USED 6 MONTHS AGO WITH 87,000 ON IT, I HAVE DRIVEN ONLY 3,000 MILES AND MY ENGINE BLEW WITH NO WARNING. THIS WAS THE MOST EXPENSIVE USED CAR I HAD EVER OWNED AND WE DID EVERYTHING WE COULD BEFORE WE BOUGHT IT..WE CHECKED THE VIN REPORT ON CARFAX...WE HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT BY OUR OWN MECHANIC. I THOUGHT I HAD FOUND A GREAT (DREAM FOR ME)VEHICLE. BEN SATCHER FORD IN SC SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS CAR ONLY THE 95 MODEL AND THAT PROBLEM HAD BEEN SINCE FIXED. SO I'M STUCK WITH PAYING $3000 FOR A NEW ENGINE WHILE I STILL OWE $6000 ON MY VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE IS THE ONLY WAY I CAN TRANSPORT MY 3 CHILDREN AROUND TOGETHER, OUR OTHER VEHICLE IS A PICK-UP WITH ONLY FRONT SEATS...SO WERE STRANDED.

THE HEAD GASKET LEAKED.*JB

THE ENGINE OVER HEATED.*JB

BLOWN HEAD GASKET ON 3.8 ENGINE ON 1997 FORD WINDSTAR, WITH ONLY 77,000 MILES. FORD WITH NOT OFFER ANY HELP. AFTER OWNING A FORD FOR PAST 28 YEARS, THIS IS THE LAST FORD PRODUCT THAT MY FAMILY WILL EVER OWN. EVER! TS

97 WINDSTAR HAS HEAD GASKET FAILURE IM STILL PAYING ON IT PURCHADES AT AVIS FORD OF SOUTHFIELD 12 MILE TELEGRAP MI CANNOT AFFORD FIXIN IT I BELIEVE IS A MANUFACURE FAILURE AND NEED TO BE FIX DO NOT HAVE ANY SAFER TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME PLEASE HEL US

AT 150,000KM (94,000 MILES) WAS IN FOR FRONT SPRING RECALL AND DEALER RECOMMENDED ENGINE FRONT GASKET REPLACEMENT. IMMEDIATELY HAD THIS REPAIR DONE ($900 CDN). SHORTLY AFTER MY MECHANIC STATED THAT HE COULD HEAR A SLIGHT KNOCKING AND PREDICTED THE ENGINE BEARING WOULD GO WITHIN THE YEAR. I STARTED CAMPAINING WITH FORD BASED ON THE HISTORY OF GASKET FAILURE (COOLANT LEAKS PAST GASKET INTO OIL CAUSING BEARING FAILURE). FORD CUSTOMER CARE SAID THEY NEED A DEALER TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM SO HAD A DEALER CHECK IT OUT WITH NO PROBLEM FOUND. AT CLOSE TO 170,000KM (106,000 MILES) THE KNOCKING BECAME LOUDER AND THE OIL LIGHT BEGAN TO FLICKER. AGAIN CONTACTED FORD WHO ASKED FOR DEALER DIAGNOSIS WHICH I DID AND CONFIRMED NEED ENGINE REPLACEMENT. FORD CUSTOMER CARE SAID THERE WERE NO PROGRAMS FOR MY VEHICLE THEREFORE NO COVERAGE BUT WOULD CONSIDER PARTIAL PAYMENT AS GOOD WILL GESTURE IF REPAIRED AT A FORD DEALER. CONTINUED TO EMAIL FORD BUT THEY STOPPED RESPONDING TO MY CONCERN. HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED AT MY MECHANIC.

CONSUMER STATES ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE AGAIN, THE STARTER MADE A FUNNY NOISE. ALSO, THE THERMOSTAT WAS EXTREMELY HIGH. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS OPENED AND THE ANTI-FREEZE WAS LOW-REFILLED. THE MECHANIC THOUGHT IT WAS THE WATER PUMP. THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING. *SCC

VEHICLE WAS LEAKING COOLANT WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS GOING INTO THE FRIST STAGE OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING TEMPERATURE GAUGE WILL POINT TO HOT, CAUSING TVEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. CONSUMER WILL HAVE TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT AT 68000 MILES.*AK