3.8 Liter Head Gasket Problems

Office of Defects Investigation Complaints Database

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

ID#VehicleDate of FailureMileageSummary
5352761998 MUSTANGApril 25, 19980048980HEAD GASKETS FAILED.
5350781998 MUSTANGApril 25, 19980048980ENGINE HEAD GASKETS BLEW OUT, CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT.
8329471998 MUSTANGDecember 22, 19980077000VEHICLE HAS A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET. THERE IS A RECALL ON TAURUS WITH SAME ENGINE 3.8L. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER CONTACTED AND AWARE. THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE RECALL. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. NO WARRANTY. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
8331301998 MUSTANGDecember 23, 19980085000BOTH ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAVE BLOWN, CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT, IN RETURN, CAUSES THE TIMING CHAIN TO BREAK. CONSUMER LEARNED OF A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL DONE ON A FORD WINDSTAR FOR SAME PROBLEM WHICH THEY HONORED. BUT REFUSED TO ACCEPT THE ABOVE PROBLEM AS SIMILAR TO MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. COULD SOMTHING BE DONE? *AK
7014221998 MUSTANGJune 24, 19980068107WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL, ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE A GRINDING NOISE WHILE ACCELERATING. WHEN I LOOKED AT DASH THE TEMP GAGE WAS ON HOT AND BURNING SMELL CAME FROM ENGINE. PULLED OVER HAD CAR TAKEN TO CHINO HILLS FORD AND WAS TOLD HEAD GASKET BLEW. I WAS TOLD THESE THINGS JUST HAPPEN SOMETIMES. WORK DONE WAS HEADGASKET BLOWN R/R CYLINDER HEADBOTH SIDES SEND OUT FOR VALVE JOB,REPLACED FRONT COVER GASKET AND WATER PUMP GASKET AND FRONT SEAL///////REGARDING THE A/C WHEN I DROVE WITH THE A/C ON I WOULD HEAR A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. SAME DEALER REGAPED CLUTCH AND FIELD IN A/C COMPRESSOR
7015001998 MUSTANGDecember 08, 19980095950HEAD GASKETS ARE LEAKING COMBUSTION INTO COOLANT
8347611999 MUSTANGFebruary 10, 19990072000CONSUMER WENT START UP VEHICLE AND NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. *AK
7019181998 MUSTANGDecember 28, 19980060602THIS CAR IS IMMACUALTE AND MAINTENACE PERFORMED AS OUTLINED. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT RECALL # 98-MO1 HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE, JUST NOT FOR MY MODEL. THIS IS REDICULOUS. IT IS MY FEELING THAT THE MUSTANG 3.8L ENGINE IS NO DIFFERENT THAN THAT THAT HAS BEEN RECALLED ON THE WINDSTAR, TAURUS, AND SABLE. JUST BECAUSE MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT SHOULDN'T BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I PERSONALLY KNOW 2 OTHER INDIVIDUALS THAT ALSO HAVE 3.8L. MUSTANGS THAT HAVE BLOWN THEIR HEAD GASKETS IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. THERE IS NO REASON THAT A WELL-MAINTAINED AUTOMOBILE THAT IS NOT DRIVEN HARD SHOULD BE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS FEW OF MILES. IT IS ALSO MY UNDRSTANDING THAT THE RECALL ENDED ON 12-31-98. I DID HAVE MY CAR IN AND DIAGONOSED AS HAVING A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM ON 12-28-98 AT ST. GEORGE FORD. *AK
7031891998 MUSTANGDecember 12, 19980048000IT WAS FOUND THAT NHTSA HAS BEEN CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS HEAD GASKET PROBLEM SINCE 1995 (INVESTIGATION # IE98080). WHEN A FORD DEALER WAS CONTACTED, HE EXPALAINED THAT FORD WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE HEAD GASKETS ON THE 3.8 LITER ENGINE. THEY HAVE SINCE BEEN CHANGED. COULD YOU PLEASE NOTIFY ME IF THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THIS ENGINE FOR EARLY HEAD GASKET FAILURE. THANK YOU.
7032931999 MUSTANGFebruary 07, 19990062000CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, VEHICLE DIAGNOSED WITH BLOWN HEAD GASKET.
7044171999 MUSTANGMarch 11, 19990047000I HAVE BEEN HAVING COOLING PROBLEMS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF FEB,OF 99, FIRST THE WATER PUMP WENT BAD THAT I PAID TO BE REPLACED,THEN FOR ABOUT 2 WKS EVERYTHING WAS FINE UNTIL I REALIZED MY COOLANT GAUGE WAS RUNNING VERY HOT AND I LOST MY HEAT FOR ABOUT 3-4 MILES THEN EVERYTHING WOULD GO BACK TO NORMAL,THEN THE SAME THING WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN ABOUT 10-15 MINS DOWN THE ROAD,UNTIL FINALLY MY HEADGASKET BLEW,NOW MY CAR IS AT THE FORD DEALER WAITING TO SEE WHOS GOING TO PAY FOR THESE DAMAGES. I KNOW FORD HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE HEADGASKETS IN THE 3.8L ENGINES,I WANT MINE TO BE COVERED FOR LABOR AND PARTS ON BEHALF OF FORD,IAM NOT SURPRISED AT THIS, BEFORE THIS AS HAPPEN MY CAR WAS BACK TO THE DEALER OVER 10 TIMES FOR PROBLEMS COVERED UNDER WARRENTY,MY CAR HISTORY WILL PROVE THAT.PLEASE HELP.THANKS
7034401999 MUSTANGJanuary 22, 19990045300CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. CAMSHAFT SENSOR TESTED, ROAD TESTED, COMPUTER RETESTED. HAVE HARD COPY OF COMPUTER RELATED PROBLEM. CAM POSITION SENSOR CODE. TRACED WIRING HARNESS. FOUND CID WIRE BARE AND GROUNDED. WAS REPAIRED TRACED WAVE FORM OF SENSOR NO GOOD. ALSO NOTICED COOLANT LEAK. PRESSURE TESTED SYSTEM. LEAK IS AT TIMING COVER AT ENGINE BLOCK RIGHT SIDE. TOLD HEAD GASKET WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED, COST $500-700. CAR NOT UNDER WARRANTY. SPECULATION BY MECHANIC AND DEALER SERVICE RESOURCES SUGGESTED THAT AGE AND LOW MILEAGE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET SOME RELIEF FROM MANUFACTURER. HAVE REVIEWED COMPLAINT DATABASE AND VIEWED 6 COMPLAINTS OF GASKET PROBLEMS DURING 1998 FOR 95 FORD MUSTANGS.
7034471995 MUSTANG 0045000CAR OVERHEATED. HAD THERMOSTAT REPLACED. CAR OVERHEATED AGAIN, AND HAD TO HAVE TIMING GASKET REPLACED. CAR OVERHEATED AGAIN AND JUST HAD HEAD GASKET REPLACED IN JANUARY., ONE MONTH LATER, HAVE TO HAVE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. IN ALL FAIRNESS TO FORD, THEY OFFERED TO PAY 50% OF TRANS. REPAIRS. I ASKED IF THEY WOULD PAY 75% DUE TO THE FACT THAT I CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO KEEP THIS CAR RUNNING PROPERLY AFTER ALL THE REPAIRS I ALREADY PAID FOR. HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING BACK FROM FORD ON THE 75%. CAR STILL IN NEED OF REPAIRS. WILL NOT GO INTO 2ND GEAR AND NOW O/D LIGHT FLASHES ON DASHBOARD. *AK
7029751999 MUSTANGJanuary 28, 19990043000BLEW ENGINE HEAD GASKET AT 43000 MILES
7055781999 MUSTANGApril 09, 19990054313BLOWN HEAD GASKET DUE TO FAULTY TEMPERATURE GAUGE/WATERPUMP FAILURE @ 53K MILES!
8378441998 MUSTANGMay 12, 19980035000 BLOWN HEAD GASKET CAUSES ANTI-FREEZE TO LEAK FROM ENGINE. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 35000 MILES OF WEAR. BELIEVES THIS CONDTION IS NOT NORMAL AT THIS LOW MILEAGE. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND REFUSED TO REPAIR UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER.CONSUMER WAS TOLD OF A RECALL CONCERNING HEAD GASKET, BUT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER THIS RECALL. *AK
7062431999 MUSTANGMarch 12, 19990036556ON 3/12/99 MY MUSTANG OVERHEATED. I HAD IT CHECKED BY A MECHANIC AT A LOCAL GARAGE AND WAS INFORMED THAT HE THOUGHT IT WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. I THEN HAD IT TOWED TO MY PERSONAL MECHANIC FOR CLOSER INSPECTION. I HAVE MAINTAINED MY CAR AS SPECIFIED AND WITH ONLY 36,550 MILES MY MECHANIC CAN THINK OF NO REASON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. I TALKED TO FORD ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM IN THE TAURUS'S AND THE WINDSTARS, BUT WAS TOLD THE BAD PARTS DID NOT GO MUSTANGS. I FIND THIS COINCIDENTAL CONSIDERING OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE NHTSA ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM. I HAD THE HEAD GASKET REPAIRED THEN SHORTLY THEREAFTER I BEGAN TO HEAR A NOISE WHEN THE ENGINE WAS AT 3500 TO 4000 RPM. WHEN I RETURNED IT TO THE MECHANIC HE DISCOVERED THAT MY MAIN ROD BEARING AND OTHER ROD BEARING WERE BROKEN AND THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED.
5381421998 MUSTANGJuly 10, 19980049619BLOWN HEAD GASKET.
8419211995 MUSTANG 0000000AT 44,000 MILESHEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, CAUSING ENGINE TO BECOME INOPERABLE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
7076641995 MUSTANG 0077500I WOULD LIKE HELP REGARDING NHSTA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 95V138000 REFERENCING THE PROBLEM WITH THE SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER READING. THIS IDENTIFIED FORD MUSTANGS (1995) MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JULY 94 - JAN. 95. THE SUMMARY STATED "THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH SPEEDOMETERS REGISTERING SPPED IN MPH BUT THE ODOMETERS INDICATING DISTANCE IN KILOMETERS. THE ODOMETERS WERE INTENDED TO INDICATE DISTANCE IN MILES AND WERE NOT IDENTIFIED WITH THE METRIC 'KM' DESIGNATION. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 101, CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS." THE END RESULT WAS THAT FORD DID NOT HAVE TO RECALL THE CARS OR NOTIFY THE OWNERS AS THE NONCOMPLIANCE DID NOT CREATE AN UNREASONABLE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY. MY PROBLEM IS THIS. IF THE MILES REGISTERED ON THE ODOMETER ARE ACTUALLY IN KILOMETERS THAN A VEHICLE THAT SHOWS 77500 ACTUALLY ONLY HAS 47845 MILES (77500 MULTIPLIED TIMES A KILOMETER 0.62137). AS THIS CAR BLEW OUT HEAD GASKETS (ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH FORD AND REFUSED TO RECOGNIZE ON MUSTANGS) AT 77500 MILES, IT SHOULD STILL BE COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY THAT GOES UNTIL 75000 MILES. AS I SPOKE WITH "BILL" AT FORD MOTOR CENTER (800-392-3673) HE SAID THAT THIS WAS CORRECT AND IT SHOULD BE COVERED IF MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED WITHIN THAT TIME. THE DOOR OF THE CAR IS IMPRINTED WITH THE DATE JAN/95. I TOLD HIM THIS AND HE TOOK THE VIN NUMBER AND CALLED ME BACK TO STATE IT SHOULD BE COVERED, HOWEVER, MY CAR WAS RESEARCHED AND FOUND TO ACTUALLY BE MANUFACTURED FEB. 1, 1995 AND NOT IN JANUARY, 1995. HE SAID THE METAL IMPRINT WAS WRONG. I ASKED FOR THIS INFORMATION IN WRITING AND HE WAS NOT SURE THAT WAS POSSIBLE. THE CAR DOES HAVE THE IMPRINT JAN, 1995 AND I HAVE THE ORIGINAL STICKER FOR THE CAR WHICH SHOWS SHIP DATE AS 1/25/95 TO DECKER FORD IN CLOVIS, CA. I DO NOT KNOW WHERE ELSE TO TURN. COULD YOU PLEASE PROVIDE ME WITH INFORMATION AS TO YOUR CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 95V138000. DO YOU KNOW ANY OTHER AGENCY TO REFER ME TO? THANK YOU LORA MANNIE
8468011999 MUSTANGMay 25, 19990000000WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH VEHICLE OVERHEATED AS A RESULT OF A BLOWEN OUT ENGINE HEAD GASKET. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
7091051999 MUSTANGMarch 15, 19990083000I KNOW TWO PEOPLE WHO OWN THE SAME TYPE OF CAR WITH THE SAME SIZE ENGINE MADE IN THE SAME YEAR AS MY MUSTANG WHO HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS THAT I AM NOW FACED WITH. FIRST THE CAR STARTS TO OVERHEAT, THEN THE HEAD GASKETS ARE BLOWN, AND FINALLY THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE HAS TO HAVE THE MOTOR REWORKED OR BUY A NEW MOTOR. I HAVE BEEN TOLD HTAT THE HEAD GASKETS IN THE 1994-95 THUNDERBIRD WITH THE 3.8/V-6 ENGINE HAS HAD A RECALL OR SOME KIND OF DEFECT IN THEIR HEAD GASKETS. DON'T THE MOTORS FOR MUSTANGS AND THUNDERBIRDS BASICALLY COME OFF THE SAME ASSEMBLY LINE?
7096821999 MUSTANGApril 18, 19990051000VEHICLE BLEW THE HEAD GASKET AFTER 4 YEARS AND 51,000 MILES.
8485911998 MUSTANGDecember 15, 19980050000THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE ON RADIATOR, WHICH WAS UNDER WARRANTY. MECHANIC DID NOT FIND CAUSE OF LEAKAGE. NOW, 15,000 MILES LATER, THE HEAD GASKETS ARE CAUSING A PROBLEM. WAS NO OTHER WARNING EXCEPT LEAKAGE EARLIER. TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS NOT OVERHEATING. TAKING VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER. *AK
8497661999 MUSTANGSeptember 27, 19990109000THERE IS A LEAKAGE COMING FROM THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *AK
7119911995 MUSTANG 0007000THIS CAR WAS A GOD DAMN LEMON I HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT BUY A CHEVY BECAUSE YOU MIGHT HAVE A BATTER LONGER LASTING VEHICLE HEAD GASKET BLEW GRINDING REAR SUPENSION THE AC SUCKED I TOOK IT TO GET FIXED EVERY YEAR IT WOULD BLOW OUT HOT AIR I HAD AN ELECTRICAL FIRE UNDER THE FRONT DASH BURNT UP ALOT OF WIRING, BOUGHT FOG LIGHTS THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED EVERY YEAR, TRANSMISION BLEW OUT (REVERSE) ALSO I WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE FRONT SEAT BROKE AND I ALMOST WENT OUT THE SIDE WINDOW VERY FREAKING DANGEROUS CAR IF YOU ASK ME I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD EVER I WILL TELL EVERYONE TO BUY SOMETHING ELSE LIKE A CHEVY OR SOME OTHER AMERICAN PRODUCT I ONLY SAY THAT BECAUSE I AM A UNION GUY BUT TO TELL THE TRUTH THOSE JAPS MAKE BETTER CARS THAN FORDS FORD MUSTANGS SUCK THEY ARE A CHEEZY EXCUSE FOR A SO CALLED SPORTS CAR
7121971999 MUSTANGSeptember 11, 19990044000THE HEAD GASKET FAILED ON THIS ENGINE CAUSING ALL OF THE COOLANT TO LEAK OUT. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF AN OVERHEAT CONDITION DUE TO THE LOW COOLANT LEVEL.THE VEHICAL STALLED AT 55MPH CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES.MY 18 YEAR OLD SON WAS LUCKY TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND MANUVER TO THE SHOLDER.THE VEHICLE NEEDS A NEW ENGINE.
7121981999 MUSTANGFebruary 23, 19990061055CAR BEGAN OVERHEATING AND LEAKING COOLANT. TOOK TO WOODFIELD FORD FOR ANALYSIS/REPAIR. WAS INFROMED THAT FRONT ENGINE COVER GASKETS WERE LEAKING. PAID 1035.05 FOR REPAIRS. CAR STILL HAD OVERHEATING PROBLEMS. TOOK CAR BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO THEN DISCOVERED HEAD GASKET LEAK. REFUSED TO PAY $900 FOR FURTHER REPAIRS. TOOK CAR TO LOCAL SHOP WHO REPLACED HEAD GASKETS FOR $838. FOUND OUT VIA THE WEB THAT MANY OTHER 3.8L FORD ENGINES HAVE EXHIBITED SAME PROBLEM, AND FORD HAS DONE NOTHING TO COMPENSATE THE CUSTOMERS. THIS IS UNFAIR WHEN COMPARED WITH OTHER CARS OF SIMILAR STYLE - GASKETS DO NOT NEED REPLACED AT 30K-60K MILES. I AM ASKING THAT FORD BE FORCED TO RECALL ALL VEHICLES WITH THE 3.8L HEAD GASKET DEFECT, AND REIMBURSE ALL CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE PAID FOR THE REPAIRS THEMSELVES IN THE ABSENCE OF THIS RECALL.
7132381999 MUSTANGMay 20, 19990098000DEALER REPLACED ELECTRIC FAN, THERMOCOUPLE AND LATER THE THERMOSTAT WHICH DID NOT FIX THE OVERHEATING PROBLEM WHICH WAS CAUSED BY A BLOWN HEADGASKET. SO FAR THE COST OF REPAIRS IS OVER $6OO.OO WITH ANOTHER $1100.00 FOR THE HEADGASKETS.
7138891998 MUSTANGDecember 15, 19980075000HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE DUE TO OVERHEATING AND BLOWN HEAD GASKETS - COST $4600
5489601995 MUSTANG 0078000HEAD GASKET FAILED, WATER PUMP AND RADIATOR REPLACED. YH
7146071999 MUSTANGNovember 08, 19990063400THE HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN ON MY MUSTANG PREMATURLY. THE CAR IS NOT EVEN 5 YEARS OLD YET, NOR IS IT PAID FOR YET. I SAW IN A REPORT THAT FORD HAS COVERED THIS PROBLEM FOR OTHER MODELS OF FORDS, BUT WHEN I TALKED TO THE DEALERSHIP, SHE SAID THAT THEY DO NOT COVER MUSTANGS. *AK
7148391999 MUSTANGNovember 13, 19990065000AFTER FOLLOWING MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE FOR 3.5 YEARS, WITHOUT ANY SIGNS OF MECHANICAL DIFFICULTIES (I.E. ENGINE OVERHEATING, LOSS OF COOLANT, LOSS OF POWER), APPROXIMATELY FEW MINUTES AFTER STARTING CAR FOR THE FIRST TIME ONE DAY, THERE WAS ROUGH IDLING AND WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST. AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO MY NEAREST FORD SERVICE CENTER, I WAS INFORMED THAT MY CAR HAD BLOWN A HEAD GASKET. AFTER RESEARCHING THE INTERNET, I DISCOVERED THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM IN 3 OTHER MODELS (WINDSTAR, TAURUS, AND SABLE) OF FORD OF THE SAME YEAR (1995) WITH THE 3.8 L ENGINES (RECALL 98-MO1) FOR DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY THE FORD DEALER THAT FORD MOTOR CO., WILL NOT ACCEPT LIABILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM WITH THE 1995 MUSTANGS. I AM ALOS AWARE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER 1995 FORD MUSTANG OWNERS WITH NHTSA FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT THE NHTSA EXERCISE IT'S AUTHORITY AND HOLD FORD MOTOR CO. ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS DEFECT IN THE 1995 MUSTANG AND INCLUDE IT IN RECALL 98-MO1. PLEASE RESPOND ON YOUR PROPOSED ACTION ON THIS COMPLAINT ASAP AS I AM FORCED TO PAY OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES (WHICH MAY EXCEED $2000) BY MY LOCAL FORD SERVICE CENTER. THANK YOU. *AK
7150271999 MUSTANGNovember 19, 19990044000WAS TOLD BY FORD THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER OR HELP IN ANY WAY TO REPLACE ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *AK
7154781999 MUSTANGNovember 18, 19990054094TRAVELING HOME WITH YOUNG CHILD WHEN WHITE SMOKE BEGAN COMING OUT OF EXHAUST - HAD THE CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP THE FOLLOWING MORNING, THEY STATED THE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN AND THE ENGINE WAS RUINED. FORD AGREED TO PAY LESS THAN HALF THE COST OF REPAIRS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A RAMPANT PROBLEM WITH THE 94 - 95 FORD 3.8L ENGINES OWING TO DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET DESIGN. *AK
7156041999 MUSTANGDecember 01, 19990055000ENGINE BUILDING UP PRESSURE IN COOLING SYSTEM, ENGINE OVERHEATING, NO HEAT IN THE CAR, WE REPLACED THERMOSTAT, STILL HAVING DIFFICULTY, TOOK TO LOCAL GARAGE THEY PRESSURE TESTED, LOOKED OK SLIGHT LEAK AROUND TIMING COVER. CALLED LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, BOTH SAID POSSIBLE HEAD GASKET BLOWN. WE KNOW ABOUT RECALLS FOR OTHER V-6 FORD ENGINES, (3.8 ALSO?)
3208251987 TAURUSDecember 20, 19870002000LOSS OF ANTIFREEZE, R/R HEAD GASKET, FAILURE REOCCURRED. MM
3504181989 TAURUSAugust 14, 19890017000BLOWN HEAD GASKET, R/R 6 TIMES, 4 MORE TIMES WITHIN ONE WEEK OF EACH R/R BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T SEAL PROPERLY, BLOWN AGAIN AT 38K MILES. BI
3519941989 TAURUSJune 01, 19890023000COOLANT LOSS PROBLEM, R/R HEADGASKET. MTH
3894861991 TAURUSAugust 19, 19910000000REPEATED HEAD GASKET CRACKS RC
3893301991 TAURUSJune 23, 19910040000LEAKING ANTIFREEZE CAUSED BLOWN HEAD GASKET RC
3891881990 TAURUSDecember 26, 19900000000HEAD GASKET LEAKING FLUID. PEB
3891131991 TAURUSAugust 19, 19910056000HEAD GASKET REPLACED DUE TO BROKEN HEAD BOLTS. PEB
3434591989 TAURUSApril 27, 19890000000CRACKED ENGINE HEAD GASKET, REPAIRED.
3434441989 TAURUSMay 05, 19890000000ANTI-FREEZE LEAKING AROUND BACK OF HEAD GASKET, CAUSING HISSING SOUND, REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE HEAD GASKET NEEDED. BC
3451811989 TAURUSMay 08, 19890000000LEAKING ANTIFREEZE. HEAD GASKET REPLACED. RC
3451301989 TAURUSNovember 23, 19890000000HEAD GASKET REPLACED. RC
3528801989 TAURUSOctober 17, 19890057000HEAD GASKET BLOWN, CAUSED BY BROKEN HEAD BOLTS.
3519771989 TAURUSAugust 01, 19890000000HEADGASKETS R/R, LEAKING.
3529631989 TAURUSJune 02, 19890000000ENGINE PROBLEMS, R/R HEAD GASKET, WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT. BC
3509881989 TAURUSJune 05, 19890000000ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW, REPLACED.
3529561987 TAURUSJune 01, 19870007000CAR DISPLAYED EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION ALONG WITH SLUGGISH PERFORMANCE, R/R HEADGASKET, NO IMPROVEMENT.
3787241990 TAURUSJune 01, 19900000000ENGINE HEADGASKET BLOWN.
3892341989 TAURUSNovember 15, 19890000000OIL LEAK FROM HEAD GASKET RC
3892431987 TAURUSNovember 01, 198700000002 HEAD GASKETS AND A WATER PUMP REPLACED RC
3895111990 TAURUSApril 24, 19900000000REPLACED HEAD GASKETS RC
3891291990 TAURUSMarch 19, 19900000000BROKEN HEAD GASKET CAUSED BY A FAULTY BOLT ON THE HEAD. PEB
3890211991 TAURUSAugust 20, 19910000000VEHICLE OVERHEATING, FOUND HEAD GASKET LEAK. HI
3896121991 TAURUSApril 10, 19910000000LIFTER AND HEAD GASKET REPLACED RC
3893941991 TAURUSAugust 18, 19910000000HEAD GASKET LEAK RC
4320881991 TAURUSAugust 01, 19910041000LEAKY HEAD GASKET, REPAIRED, PROBLEM CONTINUES. *AJ
4461241990 TAURUSJanuary 01, 19900004000BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *AJ
9447351994 TAURUSJanuary 07, 19940074000PREMATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURE CAUSED HEAD TO WARP WITHOUT WARNING. TT
4642861992 TAURUSOctober 01, 19920063000HEAD GASKETS FAILED.
4819281995 TAURUSFebruary 03, 19950000000HEAD GASKET REPLACED. *AW
5098541996 TAURUSOctober 10, 19960070000HEAD GASKET FAILED.
5158391989 TAURUS 0040000REPLACED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS; ALSO REPLACED FRONT MOTOR MOUNTS/HEAD GASKETS/POWER STEERING HOSE/AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL MODULE/ALTERNATOR. *AK
5181961989 TAURUS 0070000FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPED DUE TO BEING TOO THIN. IN ADDITION, MOTOR MOUNTS/AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL MODULE/ENGINE HEAD GASKET/ALTERNATOR/POWER STEERING HOSE/REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER MALFUNCTIONED. *AK
5254671989 TAURUS 0056574HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT LESS THAN A YEAR.
8243711997 TAURUSOctober 30, 19970088000ENGINE HEAD GASKET DIES OUT, IT BLOWS OUT AT 90,000 MILES. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. DEALER EXPLAINED THAT THE 1995 WINDSTAR HAS THE SAME 3.8 6 CYCLINDER ENGINE. BUT THEY WILL NOT WRITE UP THE REPAIR FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK
5446151989 TAURUS 0000000HEAD GASKET FAILED.
5450541998 TAURUSMarch 13, 19980000000VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKET AND RADIATOR. MJS
5211281997 TAURUSJanuary 22, 19970096837HEAD GASKETS FAILED, CAUSED EXTENSIVE ENGINE DAMAGE.
5292211998 TAURUSJanuary 05, 19980056456HEAD GASKET FAILED TWICE.
4614231993 TAURUSAugust 01, 19930038000HEAD GASKET FAILED. *AK
9578951994 TAURUSDecember 24, 19940057000REPLACED BROKEN ENGINE HEAD GASKET, ALSO REPLACED LEAKING ENGINE COVER VALVE. TT
5314741998 TAURUSJanuary 01, 19980078000HEAD GASKET FAILED.
8327221998 TAURUSDecember 14, 19980100000ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROX. 60 MPH. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT 1994 AND 1995 VEHICLES WERE UNDER RECALL. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NO RECALL WAS DONE ON THOSE VEHICLES. *AK
5227941992 TAURUS 0000000ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STILL COMES ON AND OFF WARNING THAT THERE IS STILL A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE, REPLACE COOLING FAN, AND WARPED HEAD GASKET FROM IT CONTINUALLY OVERHEATING.
8250301992 TAURUS 0080000HEAD GASKET IS DEFECTIVE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT WHILE DRIVING. OWNER ALSO NOTES OF RECALL FOR PROBLEM, BUT OWNER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK
8295531998 TAURUSSeptember 12, 19980120000THE HEAD GASKET BY THE 3RD AND 4TH CYLINDER GASKET IS DEFECTIVE. IT BEGAN BLOWING COOLANT INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CAR. CAN SMELL THE ANTI-FREEZE, BUT CAN'T FIND THE LEAK. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT'S IN THE MOTOR. REPORTED BY EDWARD PEART. *AK
8339971999 TAURUSJanuary 24, 19990085000ENGINE HEAD GASKETS LEAK, AND VEHICLE OVERHEATS. *AK
8352351993 TAURUSFebruary 15, 19930079000TRANSMISSION SKIPPING WHILE DRIVIN./ ALSO, VEHICLE WOULD THUMP INTO GEAR WHENEVER VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER OF REPLACING ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *AK
5439351999 TAURUSJanuary 07, 19990049000ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED CAUSING ENGINE TO HAVE COOLLANT IN THE OIL AND COMING OUT THE EXHAUST.
7037021998 TAURUSFebruary 13, 19980077523I THOUGHT MINE WAS AN ISOLATED INSTANCE UNTIL I LEARNED OF TWO OTHER OWNERS OF FORD WINDSTARS WHERE I WORK WITH THE SAME ENGINE AND THE SAME PROBLEM. BESIDES THE BLOWN HEAD GASKET, BOTH OXYGEN ANALYZERS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO LEAKING ANTIFREEZE.
5440951992 TAURUS 0000000HEAD GASKET FAILED.
5458111999 TAURUSMarch 01, 19990069000HEAD GASKET FAILED PRODUCING FLUCTUATION IN TEMPERATURE, AND CLOUDS OF SMOKE TO COME FROM THE TAILPIPE.
5049651995 TAURUSOctober 11, 19950087000ENGINE HEAD GASKETS FAILED. *AK
5235561997 TAURUSFebruary 13, 19970057220HEAD GASKETS FAILED.
5339881998 TAURUSMarch 21, 19980044392HEAD GASKET FAILED.
8232801998 TAURUSMay 11, 19980096000THE HEAD GASKET LEAKS. ALSO, THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS REPLACED WHEN ANTI-FREEZE WAS FOUND ON THE OLD OXYGEN SENSOR. MECHANIC STATES THAT THIS IS A SIGN OF A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET, IT JUST STARTED TO LEAK. BUT DRIVING WILL MAKE IT WORSE, AND COULD RESULT IN MORE DAMAGE TO HEAD GASKET AND THEN AN ENGINE BLOCK. *AK
8252411993 TAURUS 0000000WHEN TRAVELING CONSUMER NOTICE SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE STARTED HESITATING. CONSUMER, THEREFORE, PULLED INTO A GAS STATION WHEN FLUIDS STARTED LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER STATED HEAD GASKET BLEW. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
8258291998 TAURUSJune 06, 19980094000VEHICLE STARTED RUNNING HOT. THE DEALER INFORMED OWNER THAT ONE OF THE HEAD GASKETS CRACKED. *AK
8259401997 TAURUSJune 06, 19970082000CONSUMER'S COMPLAINT CONCERNED THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE FOR VEHICLE 2.8L. CURRENT ENGINE GASKET PROBLEM IS THE SAME AS THE RECALL FOR THE 1994 & 1995 ENGINE GASKET DEFECTS. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
8271621997 TAURUSJuly 30, 19970001500ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT WITHOUT WARNING. FEELS THIS IS NOT CONSIDERED TO BE NORMAL FOR THIS CODITION. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND WILL NOT REPAIR UNLESS COST IS CHARGED TO THE CONSUMER. *AK
8284211998 TAURUSJuly 18, 19980056000HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, AND DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR IT BECAUSE VEHICLE'S WARRANTY EXPIRED. CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS OCCURRING DAYS BEFORE THE WARRANTY RAN OUT, AND THE DEALER WAS GIVING HIM THE RUN AROUND. *AK
5393581997 TAURUSMarch 01, 19970055000HEAD GASKET FAILED.
8288781998 TAURUSOctober 02, 19980021000WHILE DRVING CONSUMER NOTICED TEMPERATURE GUAGE WAS GOING FROM HOT TO COLD. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT BOTH REAR HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN ON THE ENGINE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
5388771993 TAURUS 0000000HEAD GASKET FAILED, OTHER TAURUS MODEL YEARS HAVE RECALL ON COMPONENT HOWEVER VEHICLE DENIED DUE TO MODEL YEAR.
5383731998 TAURUSFebruary 16, 19980050353HEAD GASKET, RADIATOR AND WATER PUMP FAILED.
8294481998 TAURUSOctober 22, 19980081000ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. BELIEVED THIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE VEHICLES THAT WERE RECALLED IN 1994 & 1995. DEALER/ MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND NO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER THE RECALL. *AK
5345631998 TAURUSApril 19, 19980092842ENGINE HEAD GASKET, BLEW OUT, CAUSING WATER AND ANTI-FREEZE TO LEAK.
8307761998 TAURUSOctober 01, 19980070000THE DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET BURNT OUT, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
8310681998 TAURUSNovember 18, 19980075000VEHICLE STARTED OVERHEATING. MECHANIC STATES THE HEAD GASKETS ARE DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE BEING REPAIRED AT OWNERS EXPENSE. *AK
5421831998 TAURUSMay 05, 19980061795HEAD GASKET FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE, HOWEVER DENIED.
7001121998 TAURUSOctober 20, 19980060750WE NOTICED THE ENGINE SEEMED TO SHAKE EXCESSIVELY. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER (COX FORD, HAMPSTEAD, MD). THEY INFORMED US THAT OUR PROBLEM WAS TWOFOLD. FIRST THEY SAID THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING, AND THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE DETERIORATED. AFTER DOING SOME EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND WITH PHONE CONVERSATIONS WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY, WE LEARNED THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL ON THE MOTOR MOUNTS (REF: TSB #92M77 JUN 95). INITIALLY THE FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CLERK INDICATED THAT THIS WORK WOULD BE PERFORMED WITH NO PROBLEM. AFTER SEVERAL HOURS, WE WERE NOTIFIED BY ANOTHER FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CLERK THAT THIS PARTICULAR RECALL WAS SUBJECT TO A 60,000 MILE LIMITATION (THIS WAS NOT INDICATED ON THE INTERNET SITE OR BY THE FIRST CLERK). FURTHER MORE, DISCUSSIONS WITH A SERVICE MANAGER FROM ANOTHER LOCAL FORD DEALER HAD INDICATED THAT FORD HAS HAD A LOT OF PRE-MATURE FAILURES WITH THE 3.8L HEAD GASKETS AND THAT THERE WAS A SLIGHT POSSIBILITY THAT THE EXCESSIVE SHOCK AND VIBRATIONS FROM THE BROKEN MOTOR MOUNT COULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. ESTIMATED REPAIRS FOR THIS PRE-MATURE FAILURE IS GOING TO COST ME AS MUCH AS $2000.00 ON A VEHICLE LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD. ANY INFORMATION OR ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
8324031998 TAURUSAugust 09, 19980063000THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS DETERIORATED, WATER GOT INTO THE ENGINE & IT STARTED TO SPLATTER & STALL OUT. *AK
5425771998 TAURUSSeptember 26, 19980091500BLOWN HEAD GASKET CAUSED DAMAGED TO THE HEAD, ROD, AND BEARINGS RESULTING IN ENGINE DAMAGE.
7813601998 TAURUSOctober 01, 19980063000TRANSMISSION / HEAD GASKET FAILURE.
5428041998 TAURUSMarch 05, 19980000000HEAD GASKET FAILED.
8331451993 TAURUSAugust 14, 19930045800ONGOING PROBLEM WITH VARIOUS PARTS FAILING TO WORK PROPERLY. THEY INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLOWN/ONE DEAD ENGINE CYLINDER NEEDS REPLACEMENT/ONE ENGINE MOUNT BROKE AND OTHER IS CRACKING/POWER STEERING MAKES GRINDING NOISES WHENEVER WHEEL IS TURNED, AND SEAT BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE INTERMITTENTLY FAILS TO RETRACT. *AK
8331851998 TAURUSSeptember 21, 19980100000ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER A RECALL. *AK
8332781999 TAURUSJanuary 08, 19990077000SMOKE STARTED BOLWING OUT OF THE ENIGINE, AND ANTI-FREEZE WAS LEAKING ALL OVER THE ENGINE DUE TO THE LOSS OF ENGINE HEAD GASKETS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
8333071999 TAURUSJanuary 08, 19990075000ENGINE COOLANT LEAK,CAUSING THE HEAD GASKET TO BLOW. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
8338121998 TAURUSDecember 01, 19980006000ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAVE BLOWN OUT, CAUSING WATER TO GET INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE ENGINE HAD STOPPED RUNNING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
8343351993 TAURUS 0000000ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM.CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER STATED AFTER INSPECTION THAT THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAD TO BE CHANGED. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
7014691998 TAURUSNovember 21, 19980096000HEAD GASKETS FAILED REQUIRING ENGINE REPAIR TO INCLUDE HEAD GASKETS AND VALVE COVER GASKETS AS WELL AS COOLING SYSTEM FLUSH AND TUNE-UP. FORD STATES NO PROGRAM FOR ASSISTANCE THOUGH ON 94-95 MODELS A RECALL PROGRAM IS OFFERED.
7813561998 TAURUSOctober 11, 19980114000ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKED PRIOR TO RECALL, RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED DUE TO AGE OF VEHICLE. *AK
5432671997 TAURUSAugust 21, 19970093707HEAD GASKET FAILED, RECALL COMPONENT ON OTHER MODEL YEAR, VEHICLE DENIED DUE TO YEAR.
7016901998 TAURUSMarch 20, 19980070000HEAD GASKETS BLOWED OIL WAS CHANGED EVERY 3,000. MILES, WATER KEPT A CHECK ON WAS DRIVING HOME ON INTERSTATE WITH 2 YEAR OLD CHILD WHEN MOTOR STARTED RUNNING HOT, PULLED OVER COOLED OFF, CHECKED WATER IT EAS FINE, DROVE ON, WHEN GOT HOME WAS HOT AGAIN. THEY HAVE RECALLED 94 AND UP MOTORS SAME AS MINE, MAKES IT VERY QUESTIONABLE AS TO WHY 93 WAS NOT RECALLED. SPENT $2,000. DOLLARS TO FIX EVERYTHING. (LOTS OF MONEY TO SOME PEOPLE). OTHER PROBLEM IS SWITCH THAT TURNS WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON AND OFF, WORKS SOME TIMES, SOMETIMES DOESN'T. WILL COST OVER 200. DOLLARS TO FIX (KIND OF HIGH) , BUT HAS TO BE FIXED TO KEEP FROM WRECKING.
5433641998 TAURUSNovember 20, 19980061128HEAD GASKET FAILED CAUSING COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE, RECALL COMPONENT ON OTHER MODEL YEARS HOWEVER VEHICLE DENIED DUE TO YEAR.
8352011999 TAURUSFebruary 10, 19990076000IN 3.8 LITER ENGINES, THE VEHICLE HEAD GASKET MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE HEAD GASKET TO BE REPLACED 2X AND IT CAUSE ENGINE DAMAGE WHICH NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#.
8354481999 TAURUSMarch 03, 19990075000ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING. NOTIFIED DEALER/MANUFACTURER. WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER A RECALL, AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER. *AK
7024201999 TAURUSJanuary 12, 19990058700HEADGASKET BLEW WHILE DRIVING, STEAM CAME OUT OF EXHAUST, THEN THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT OVER TO THE HOT PEG. STOPPED CAR AND HAD BE TOWED BACK TO WOODBURY. DEALER TELLS US ALL FORD PRODUCTS WITH A 3.8 LITTER ENGINE SEEM TO BE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. THEY SAY THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR 3.8 LITTER ENGINES.
7024651998 TAURUSNovember 11, 19980074000THE 1994 AND 1995 TAURUS AND SABLE HAVE BEEN CITED FOR HEAD GASKET FAILURES. I HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF OTHERS WHO HAVE REALIZED SIMILAR FAILURES OF THEIR 1993 VEHICLE HEAD GASKETS. I FEEL THAT THESE FAILURES REPRESENT A SIGNIFICANT DESIGN FLAW AND A THREAT TO VEHICLE SAFETY. OBVIOUSLY I HAVE HAD REPAIRS MADE TO THESE COMPONENTS. I FEEL THE MANUFACTURER MUST BE COMPELLED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, BOTH LEGAL AND FINANCIAL, FOR THIS DESIGN FLAW. PLEASE TAKE ACTION TO ENSURE FORD EMBRACES THEIR RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS MATTER. THANKS. GF
7025031995 TAURUSApril 15, 19950017000AFTER BRINGING MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC BECAUSE A LACK OF HEAT, HE CHANGED THE THERMOSTAT AND THEN WATER PUMP. BUT NEITHER WAS THE PROBLEM.HE THEN SPOKE TO A FEW OTHER MECHANICS WHO TOLD HIM IT WAS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH 3.8L FORD TAURUS ENGINES DUE TO FAULTY HEAD GASKETS. ALL OTHER PROBLEMS ARE SELF EXPLANATORY. *AK
8357691998 TAURUSMay 12, 19980058720WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING. A LOUD NOISE IS COMING FROM THE STEERING. WHEN CONSUMER IS GOING UP A HILL, THERE IS A VERY LOUD BANGING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE, AND CONSUMER HAD ENGINE HEAD GASKET REPLACED. CONSUMER IS HAVING A LOT OF NOISE PROBLEM. *AK
7038241999 TAURUSFebruary 26, 19990070000STARTER WIRE ATTACHED TO STARTER KEEPS FALLING OFF..FIRST TIME I WAS ON A HIGHWAY AND MY GUARDING ANGEL WAS WITH ME AND I COASTED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND GOT HELP. ALL THE OTHER TIMES I WOULD GET IN THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. A TOW TRUCK DRIVER TOOK PITY ON ME AND TOLD ME WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND NOW I CAN GET UNDER THE CAR AND PLUG IT IN MY SELF. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A MECHANIC SEVERAL TIMES. THEY OF COURSE NEVER TOLD ME HOW TO FIX IT. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM. SECOND ISSUE IS THE HEAD GASKET. DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM, GETTING 2ND OPINION SINCE I HAD IT REPLACED IN JAN 1997. DEALER SAID IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY UNDER MPROGRAM 98M1 AS OF DEC 1998. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE SAID DEALER WAS WRONG IT DEPENDED ON WHERE THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED. WHERE DO I GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MPROGRAM/98M1? I WANT TO GET REIMBURSED FOR THE 1ST INCIDENT. IS THE GASKET THE PROBLEM OR THE ENGINE?
7038811999 TAURUSFebruary 01, 19990050000THE CAR WAS OVER-HEATING BUT ICE COLD AIR WAS COMING OUT OF VENTS WHEN HEAT WAS DIALED UP TO THE MAX (90*F). UNDERSTANDABLY THE CAR WAS RUNNING A LITTLE IRRATICALLY (SPUTTERING & HESITATING). I OPENED CAR HOOD TO FIND ALL THE ANTIFREEZE IN THE RESERVOIR LEAKING AND READY TO EXPLODE. A LOCAL MECHANIC SAW THIS AND SAID THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET IS SHOT, THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE WITHIN THE COMPRESSION SYSTEM IS NOW TRANSMITTED INTO THE COOLANT SYSTEM SO ANTIFREEZE CAN'T CIRCULATE FREELY TO COOL ENGINE OR ENTER HEATING CORE TO FACILITATE HOT AIR INTO CAR (PARTICULARLY INCONVENIENT IN THE NORTHEAST ABOUT NOW) AND ALSO THE REASON IT'S NEARLY EXPLODING FROM COOLANT RESERVOIR. IT'S PRESENTLY BEING REPAIRED AT MY EXPENSE ($1500.00) AT CARMAN FORD. MY LOCAL MECHANIC DIDN'T WAN'T TO ATTEMPT IT. HE ADMITTED THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE WITH TAURUS'/SABLES AND AT 50000MLS, IT'S VERY PREMATURE. CARMAN FORD OF COURSE CONCURRED WITH HIS DIAGNOSIS AND WHEN I ASKED IF THEY COULD FIX IT THEY ASSURED ME IT WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT THEY REPAIR SEVERAL A WEEK OR MONTH (I CAN'T REMEMBER, I THINK I WAS IN SHOCK). THEY WOULDN'T GUARANTEE THERE WOULD BE NO RESIDUAL PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE, BUT IF I WANTED TO TRADE UP TO A NEW MODEL BEFORE SINKING THIS MUCH $ INTO MY OWN, THEY'D BE HAPPY TO CALL A SALESMAN NEXTDOOR. I CALLED FORD MANUFACTURER DIRECTLY AND AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE, I RECEIVED NO SATISFACTION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE.
8358731998 TAURUSDecember 30, 19980910000VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH 3.8 V6 ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE; DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
7043821999 TAURUSMarch 10, 19990060000I AWS TOLD THAT THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON THIS CAR IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND WAS BEING FIXED UNDER A SILENT RECALL FORMAT. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, BECAUSE OF WHERE AND WHEN IT COULD HAPPEN. THE DEALER OR FORD WILL NOT PAY FOR THIS AND WILL NOT GIVE ME ANY FURTHUR INFO.
5442181998 TAURUSOctober 01, 19980068500ENGINE OVERHEATED DUE TO FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKETS.
8369211999 TAURUSJanuary 29, 19990058000STEERING WHEEL FEELS LIKE IT'S GRINDING. WOULD MAKE NOISES WHILE TURNING EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT. ALSO, ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN & NEEDED REPLACING. THE PROBLEM WITH STEERING WHEEL HAPPENED SOON AFTERWARDS. *AK
5428041998 TAURUSMarch 05, 19980000000HEAD GASKET FAILED.
8373441993 TAURUS 0000000ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAVE PREMATURELY BLOWN, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO MALFUNCTION. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
8375361997 TAURUSNovember 01, 19970043000SPEEDOMETER SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING A CLICKING NOISE AND WHEN VEHICLE IS OPERATED ABOVE 50 MPH. SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE WILL MOVE UP AND DOWN, AND OCCUPANT CANNOT TELL HOW FAST THE VEHICLE IS GOING. DEALER REPLACED SPEEDOMETER ONCE. NEEDS TO REPLACE IT AGAIN. ALSO, PROBLEMS WITH HEAD GASKET WHICH WAS PART OF IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN OF 1994 & 1995'S. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
7057101997 TAURUSMay 05, 19970029553I HAD NO RESOLUTION ON TIE RODS FROM DEALERSHIP AT THE TIME THIS HAPPENED, AND CURRENTLY WITH THE FAILED HEAD GASKET AT ONLY 48,000 MILES, DEALERSHIP DID NOT KNOW OF ANY PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL TAURUS. I DID FIND THIS PROBLEM WITH TIE RODS AND AND ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM ON SERVICE BULLETINS AT THIS WEB SITE. *AK
7804541998 TAURUSSeptember 07, 19980098500HEAD GASKET FAILURE.
5398051998 TAURUSFebruary 02, 19980042922HEAD GASKET FAILURE.
7068451999 TAURUSMay 19, 19990060000HEAD GASKET ON ENGINE FAILING. RADIATOR COOLANT LEAKING INTO CYLINDER. ALSO LEAKING OUT OF TIMING BELT COVER. THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM WITH A FORD SERVICE BULLETIN FILED WITH NHTSA. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS DENIED MY VERBAL REQUEST TO REPLACE ENGINE AT FORD'S COST. *AK
8388491999 TAURUSMay 15, 19990076000WHEN STARTING VEHICLE, IT BACK FIRED / IT WILL NOT START AT ALL. AFTER DIAGNOSTICS WAS DONE, ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS FOUND TO BE BLOWN. ENGINE HEAD GASKET IS BEING REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *YC
5401691998 TAURUSAugust 17, 19980000000HEAD GASKET HAS FAILED ALLOWING COOLANT TO FOUL SPARK PLUG, AND HEAD GASKET MUST BE REPLACED. FORD ISSUED A TSB IN MARCH 1998, ARTICLE 98-4-9, (ISSUED OVER 5 YEARS AFTER MODEL YEAR) IDENTIFING THIS AS A PROBLEM. THEIR WORDS COOLANT MAY LEAK FROM THE HEAD GASKET. CAUSED BY INSUFFICENT SEALING OF THE HEAD GASKET. THE IMPROPER SEALING IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT SOULD BE REMEDIED BY FORD. FORD HAS DECLINED TO FIX THE PROBLEM.
8411901998 TAURUSSeptember 30, 19980099000TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER DUE TO OVERHEATING. TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD BE INDICATING HOT (OVERHEATING). MECHANIC RULED OUT HEAD GASKETS, BUT DID REPAIR SOMETHING ELSE. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. FINALLY IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A CRACKED HEAD GASKET. WAS A SERVICED BULLETIN ON VEHICLE DURING THIS TIME. DEALER/MANUFACTURER INDICATED OWNER SHOULD PAY. OWNER FELT MANUFACTURER SHOULD PAY SINCE IT HAPPENED WHEN SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ACTIVE. *AK
8415161999 TAURUSJune 24, 19990070000ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 30 MPH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AK
8415751998 TAURUSDecember 12, 19980080000WAS TRAVELING 50-55MPH WHEN SMOKE STARTED FILLING THE INSIDE OF VEHICLE. DRIVER COULD NOT SEE TO DRIVE. MANAGED TO PULL TO SIDE & CALLED AAA. TOW ARRIVED & DRIVER CHECKED UNDER HOOD. INFORMED OWNER THAT HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN OUT. *AK
8416091993 TAURUS 0122000THE HEAD GASKETS ON THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED DUE TO NO HEAT OVER A MONTH & HALF AGO. TWO (2) WEEKS AFTER REPLACEMENT HAVE NO OIL IN LOWER HALF OF ENGINE, WHICH HAD LOWER THE PRESSURE. THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE NEW HEAD GASKETS. THERE IS A TSB BUT NOT FOR THIS VEHICLE.
5376851998 TAURUSJune 25, 19980064000ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW.
8438061999 TAURUSJuly 29, 19990061000FAULTY ENGINE HEAD GASKET CAN ALLOW ENGINE COOLANT TO GET INSIDE THE INNER ENGINE.CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK
5462771993 TAURUS 0085000A NEW ENGINE WAS INSTALLED DUE TO FAILURE WHICH RESULTED IN NOISE. HOWEVER ON THREE OCCASIONS THE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE REPLACED AT 85,000 / THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED TWICE AT 77,000 MILES, ENGINE FAILURE STILL EXITS. *YC
7084741999 TAURUSFebruary 01, 19990045000HELP!! FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSES TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE FAILED HEAD GASKETS, WHICH COST ME A LITTLE OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO REPLACE. THEY CLAIM MY 5 YEAR WARRANTY IS UP AND THAT'S THAT. ACCORDING TO MUCH RESEARCH THAT I HAVE DONE, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON SEVERAL FORD MODELS WITH 3.8L ENGINES AND IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, SINCE FORD HAS ISSUED A REVISED HEAD GASKET TO REPLACE THE OLD ONE. CAN YOU GIVE ME ANY INFORMATION ON A POSSIBLE CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT, SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY CONSUMERS INVOLVED WITH THIS? THANKS FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE.
7085431993 TAURUS 0000000REPLACED HEAD GASKET AND MOTOR MOUNTS, DEALER DENIED RESPONSIBILITY. WINDSHIELD WIPERS STUCK IN RAISED POSITION FOR THE LAST 40000 MILES. POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED TWICE, DRAGGING REAR BRAKES, REPLACED ONCE, ACTIVE AGAIN. *AK
7100681995 TAURUSOctober 01, 19950035595SINCE OCTOBER 1995 MY TAURUS HAS IRREGULAR FUNCTION OF THE FUEL AND/OR IGNITION SYSTEMS WHICH CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STALL INTERMITTENTLY, USUALLY DURING HOT WEATHER. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT COMES ON AND THE ENGINE JUST STOPS. OF COURSE, I LOSE THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THIS STALLING, WHICH IS SIMILAR TO A "VAPOR LOCK" PROBLEM USUALLY OCCURS AT SLOW SPEEDS IN TRAFFIC. ACCELERATING FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, IDLING THROUGH A PARKING LOT, AND SLOWING DOWN TO TURN RIGHT OR LEFT HAVE ALL BROUGHT ON THIS UNSAFE SITUATION MANY TIMES. 100+ EPISODES IS A VERY LOW ESTIMATE OF THE TIMES MY CAR HAS BEEN DISABLED IN TRAFFIC UNTIL I CAN CHANGE GEARS TO NEUTRAL AND RESTART THE ENGINE. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE OUT OF SERVICE AND EXAMINED AT RIVERSIDE FORD AND PARKER AUTOMOTIVE IN MACON, GEORGIA WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT IN THESE MONTHS: OCTOBER 1995, JUNE, JULY AND AUGUST 1996, JULY 1997, JUNE, JULY, AUGUST AND OCTOBER 1998, JULY AND AUGUST 1999. DO YOU SEE THE HOT WEATHER PATTERN? WE HAVE REPLACED THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR ASSEMBLY, THE MLP SENSOR, THE AIR METER AND THE FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TUNED UP TWICE AND HAD THE FUEL INJECTORS CLEANED. I USE ONLY 89 OCTANE OR PREMIUM FROM A VARIETY OF GASOLINE VENDORS. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD FAILURES OF THE FRONT MOTOR MOUNT AND THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM. I CHECKED EVERY ITEM OF THE ALLDATA DISC AND ASKED MY MECHANICS TO EVALUATE EACH POSSIBILITY. ON THE LAST VISIT TO RIVERSIDE FORD IN JULY 1999, WHEN I COMPLAINED THAT INTERMITTENT STALLING CONTINUED JUST A FEW MONTHS AFTER I PAID THEM FOR A NEW FUEL PUMP, THE SERVICE MANAGER SUGGESTED MY PROBLEMS WERE DUE TO A DETERIORATING HEAD GASKET. I OBTAINED A SECOND OPINION FROM PARKER AND AN REASONABLY CERTAIN THAT IS NOT THE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THE INTERMITTENT STALLING IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WHICH IMPAIRS SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE, HAS COST ME MORE THAN $1,000 IN UNSUCCESSFUL REPAIR ATTEMPTS, AND WHICH FORD SHOULD CORRECT NOW.
8486231996 TAURUSJanuary 01, 19960072000THE HEAD GASKET HAS AN INTERNAL LEAK WHICH MAY CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. COMMON PROBLEM PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MJS
8507301993 TAURUS 0000000WHILE DRIVING TEMPERATURE GUAGE STARTED GOING UP. AFTER A WHILE VEHICLE LOST WATER, AND ENGINE OVERHEATED. DEALER REPLACED ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *AK
8513091999 TAURUSSeptember 30, 19990058000VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY DEALER AND INFORMED THAT ENGINE HEAD IS LEAKING DUE TO A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. ALSO 3.8L ENGINE. WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO GET NHTSA ON THIS PROBLEM; WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR HELP ON THIS MATTER. *AK
7125401999 TAURUSAugust 01, 19990091000DRIVING ON CROWDED HIGHWAY IN 3RD LANE UPHILL WITH WIFE AND 3 CHILDREN IN CAR WHEN ENGINE HAD SUDDEN ALMOST TOTAL LOSS OF POWER AND WHITE SMOKE BEGAN POURING OUT EXHAUST. HAD TO GO THROUGH 2 LANES OF HEAVY TRAFFIC TO MAKE IT TO BREAKDOWN LANE. ENGINE QUIT IN 1ST LANE WITH ALMOST TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKING ABILITY. THEN HAD TO WAIT ON SIDE OF HIGHWAY FOR TOWTRUCK. EXTREMELY HEAVY WHITE SMOKE ALSO BLINDED CARS BEHIND US AND MADE IT TOUGH FOR THEM TO SEE. I FEEL HEAD GASKET SHOULD LAST AT LEAST 100K MILES MINIMUM AND SHOULD NOT FAIL SO CATASTROPHICALLY. UNDERSTAND THIS IS VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE AND FORD HAS A SECRET OWNER REPAIR REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR CARS UNDER 5 YEARS/60K MILES. HEAD GASKET DEFINITALY SHOULD LAST MORE THAN 60K MILES. I ALSO FEEL THIS HIDDEN WARRANTY SHOULD BE EXTENDED AND THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS DESIGN DEFECT IN THIS ENGINE.
8527521993 TAURUS 0000000VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING DUE TO THE FAULTY ENGINE HEAD GASKETS. ALSO, DEALER REPLACED FAN/ RADIATOR, AND WATER PUMP. HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL EXISTE, AND DEALER HAD SEEN VEHICLE 7 MORE TIMES. DEALER REPLACED THE GASKETS. BUT THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STILL CAME ON. ALSO THE VEHICLE STILL OVERHEATED. *AK
8529871999 TAURUSNovember 14, 19990100000ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL UNEXPECTEDLY, WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
7138561999 TAURUSAugust 06, 19990117733BLOWN HEAD GASKET
7141201999 TAURUSFebruary 24, 19990116500ENGINE FAILURE FROM HEADGASKET FAILURE AT 116500 MILES. TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 97000 MILES BROKEN CLUTCH PISTON.
7151751999 TAURUSOctober 18, 19990041000THIS 3.8L ENGINE RUNS VERY HOT AND WILL CAUSE THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS TO CRACK. THE RESULT IS THAT ENGINE COOLANT ENTERS THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FOULING THE SPARK PLUGS AND USING UP THE COOLANT. THE END RESULT IS THAT THERE IS VIOLENT VIBRATION IN THE ENGINE AND IF YOU CONTINUE DRIVING, YOU WILL DESTROY THE ENGINE. IF THIS HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC, IT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES.
7156731999 TAURUSSeptember 01, 19990026512I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS THAT A BLOWN HEAD GASKET ON A TAURUS IS A COMMON OCCURENCE. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INFORMATION YOU HAVE ON THIS MATTER. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL OR A WARRANTY, BUT THE DEALERS ARE TELLING ME I AM OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CAR ONLY HAS 27000 MI. ON IT. THANK YOU FOR ANY INFO YOU CAN PROVIDE.
8541141993 TAURUS 0000000ANTI- FREEZE WAS BLOWING OUT OF THE EXHAUST PIPE DUE TO BLOWN HEAD GASKETS. DEALER REPLACED 2 HEAD GASKETS. *AK
5345491998 TAURUSApril 19, 19980064000ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE.
5345321998 TAURUSApril 18, 19980064000ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED.
5375811995 TAURUS 0000000RECALL ON HEAD GASKET MAY RESULT IN ENGINE OVERHEATING OR ENGINE FAILURE, THIS FAILURE HAS NOT YET OCCURED AND REPAIR CAN NOT BE DONE UNTIL FAILURE IS EXPERIENCED DUE TO RECALL GUIDELINES.
7002091998 TAURUSAugust 31, 19980051411VEHICLE WAS RETURNED FROM PIONEER FORD AFTER HEAD GASKET FAILURE, FAILURE OF HEAD GASKET WAS COVERED BY FORD UNDER RECALL, 2 DAYS LATER VEHICLE OVERHEATED AGAIN, THIS TIME CAUSE WAS FOUND TO BE MAIN CONTROL COVER GASKET FAILURE ALLOWING WATER TO LEAK IN THE OIL. FORD REFUSED TO COVER THIS FAILURE EVEN THOUGH FAILURE WAS TO TO THE SAME CAUSE AS HEAD GASKET FAILURE. SERVICE BULLETIN 96-17-14 IS FOR A NEW ELASTOMERIC GASKET FOR THE MAIN CONTROL COVER AND PAN THAT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS FAILURE.
8326841998 TAURUSOctober 30, 19980051000RECALL # 98M01KAA, HEAD GASKETS PREMATURELY FAILED, CAUSING ENGINE PROBLEMS. DEFECTIVE GASKET CAUSED ENGINE PROBLEMS BEFORE THE RECALL, BUT DID NOT REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET. WHEN THE RECALL WAS ISSUED, HAD THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET REPLACED, BUT IT CAUSED MORE DAMAGING ENGINE PROBLEMS WHICH FORD WAS NOT GOING TO COVER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFOR ATION. *AK
8333301999 TAURUSJanuary 06, 19990076000CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY AN MECHANIC THAT THRE ARE TWO DIFFERENT METALS, AND THE FRICTIONS AND CONTRAST CAUSED THE ALUMINUM METAL TO WEAR OUT AND BLOW OUT THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
5409041995 TAURUS 0000000HEAD GASKETS FAILED.
5441601995 TAURUS 0000000HEAD GASKET FAILED.
8370141998 TAURUSMay 20, 19980064000IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. CAN TAKE KEY OUT OF SWITCH & ENGINE STILL GOING. HAD 2 IGNITION SWITCHES REPLACED DUE TO FAILURE, POSSIBLY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. ALSO,ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN AT 64,000/FUEL PUMP REPLACED DUE TO OVERHEATING, AND THE AIR CONDITIONER PUTS OUT AN ODOR WHEN RUNNING FOR AWHILE. BEEN TO DEALER EACH TIME ABOUT PROBLEMS. HAD ALSO NOTIFIED MANUFACTURER & TOLD NOTHING CAN BE DONE. *AK
7060041999 TAURUSApril 01, 19990090000I WAS TOLD BY FORD THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RUINED ENGINE. BUT HAD THEY NOT INSTALLED FAULTY HEAD GASKETS, OVERHEATING WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURED AND THEN RUINED THE ENGINE. THIS CAR IS NO LONGER USEABLE, CAN YOU HELP, PLEASE? WHO CAN I CONTACT ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU
5454181995 TAURUS 0048000CONSUMER NOT NOTIFIED OF HEAD GASKET RECALL DUE TO VIN. (RECALL 98M01) NLM
5458411999 TAURUSMay 11, 19990000000VEHICLE OVERHEATING DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE. MJS
8427401995 TAURUS 0000000 ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN WHICH CAUSED THE CHECK OIL LIGHT TO COME ON. VEHICLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN RIGHT NOW. DEALER HAS VEHICLE. *AK
7079811999 TAURUSJune 27, 19990064275OUR VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING AS USUAL PRIOR TO THE BREAKDOWN. WE HAD RECENTLY HAD THE VEHICLE TUNED UP, AND THE OXYGEN SENSOR REPLACED DUE TO A SKIP PROBLEM AND LOWER THEN NORMAL GAS MILEAGE. WE HAD JUST COMPLETED A 45 MINUTE TRIP IN THE VEHICLE AND STOPPED FOR DINNER. WE WERE IN THE RESTAURANT FOR 45 MINUTES AND THEN RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE TO COMPLETE OUR TRIP. UPON LEAVING THE RESTAURANT, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SKIP BADLY, WITH SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST, AND THE TEMPERTURE GAUGE BEGAN TO RISE. WE IMMEDITALLY TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. WE HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC AND HE SAID WE HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. UPON CONTACTING OUR FORD DEALERSHIP WE WERE TOLD THAT YES, FORD HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE, BUT THAT WE WERE PAST THE DEC.31, 1998 DEADLINE AND THE 60,000 MILES. WE CONTACTED THE FORD CUSTOMER INQUIRY DEPARTMENT, BUT WE WERE TOLD THE SAMETHING. WE FEEL THAT FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. *AK
5472021999 TAURUSMay 01, 19990065500ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED. *YC
7084631999 TAURUSJune 16, 19990065000THE DESERT MOTORS SERVICE DEPT. SAID THAT ALTHOUGH THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM, MY VEHICLE AND ENGINE WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. I SENT A LETTER OF COMPLAINT AND DIGITAL PICTURES OF THE FAILED AND DEFORMED HEAD GASKET TO FORD MTR. CO., CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CTR. IN DEARBORN, MICH. BUT SO FAR NO RESPONSE
8512611996 TAURUSDecember 01, 19960080500ENGINE HEAD GASKET WENT OUT TWICE. DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET DUE TO OIL LEAKING. ALSO, CRANKCASE WENT OUT, AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
7122171998 TAURUSDecember 01, 19980052000HEAD GASKET WAS RECALLED IN 1998 AND REPLACED. IS THERE ANY SIMILARITY OR CONNECTION TO THIS GASKET LEAK. MATERIAL DEFECTS, ETC. I'VE BEEN QUOTED $500 TO FIX.
7127791999 TAURUSJune 10, 19990075000DEALER NEVER INFORMED MANUFATURER OF PURCHASE 0F 1995 TAURUS. NEVER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF EXTENTED WARRENTY 98M01.CALLED FORD WHO STILL HAD ME DRIVING A 1992 TAURUS.HEAD GASKET BLEW 6/10/99. COST OF REPAIR $ 993.51. DEALER MADE NO ATTEMPT TO CORRECT PROBLEM .
7144581999 TAURUSOctober 25, 19990075632FORD IS AWARE OF THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF HEAD GASKETS...I RECIEVED A NOTICE,HOWEVER WHEN MY ENGINE GASKET BLEW AND THE CAR OVERHEATED I WAS AT 75,600.600 MILES OVER THE EXTENDED WARENTY.NOW 3 DAYS AFTER PAYING FOR A NEW GASKET AND ALL THE REPAIRS MY DEALER SAID THE CAR NEEDED.I WAS TOLD THE CAR NEEDS A NEW ENGINE WHICH WILL COST AND ESTIMATED 3,500-4,000$MORE.....MAY I ADD THE CAR IS ONLY 4 YRS OLD....FORD WILL NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONCIBILITY.NOW YOU MUST BE ASKING YOURSELF....IS THIS A SAFTY ISSUE?.LET ME ANSWER THAT.WHEN YOU ARE TRAVELING 55MPH AND YOUR ENGINE STALLS BECAUSE IT LOST OIL PRESSURE AFTER IT GOT HOT,AND YOU SUDDENLY LOSE ALL POWER....WELL YES....IT ALMOST CAUSED A VERY BAD ACCIDENT I.
7158701999 TAURUSDecember 01, 19990064000ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAK HAS CAUSED THE NEED TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR, TIMING CHAIN COVER, BEARINGS, CRANK AND CAM SHAFT, MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REBUILT, BUT THE WARRANTY CO. THAT THE FORD DEALER SOLD US AS THEY WOULD NOT SELL US THE FORD WARRANTY AS WE BOUGHT A DEMO WILL ONLY PUT IN A JUNK YARD MOTOR FROM A CAR THAT WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAS APPROX. 30,000 MILES ON IT WE ARE PAYING ON A RENTAL CAR AND HAVE FOUND OUT THAT FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT DID NOT LET THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT THEIR ENGINE HEAD GASKETS LEAK, AND THAT THE WHOLE MOTOR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF INTERMIXING OF FUEL. WE HAD NO PRIOR WARNING UNTIL WE HAD A LEAK OF ANTI-FREEZE NOW WE WILL HAVE SOME KIND OF JUNK YARD MOTOR FROM SOME CAR AND BILLS BEYOND WHAT THE WARRANTY WILL COVER. WE WANT TO BE PART OF A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST FORD WHO WHEN WE CALLED THEM SAID "SORRY." *AK
3610441990 THUNDERBIRDMarch 24, 19900024000ENGINE BLEW ROD AT SPEED OF 30 MPH, HEAD GASKET BLEW, REPLACEMENT OF UPPER/LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET NEEDED. RCA
4037351991 THUNDERBIRDNovember 19, 19910023000ENGINE HEADS WARPED AND INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS CRACKED, ALTHOUGH NEWLY INSTALLED BY THE DEALER. ,AK
4050261991 THUNDERBIRDMarch 15, 19910032000HEAD GASKET BLEW. *LDG
8377871995 THUNDERBIRDApril 26, 19950080000WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY. 70MPH WHEN ENGINE HEAD GASKETS BLEW AT 50K (1ST TIME). SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED WAS AT 70K. DEFECT IS STILL OCCURRING WHEN THE ANTI-FREEZE DROWNS THE ENGINE & IT STALLS OUT. THIS ALSO CAUSES THE ENGINE TO BACKFIRE. *AK
5312981998 THUNDERBIRDJanuary 21, 19980053422HEAD GASKET FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL IN TRAFFIC.
8367431998 THUNDERBIRDNovember 22, 19980070000WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND NOTICED ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. *AK
5347291998 THUNDERBIRDMarch 30, 19980058355HEAD GASKET FAILED. IN ADDITION, BRAKES VIBRATE WHEN APPLIED.
5397321998 THUNDERBIRDAugust 03, 19980080295ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED.
8299971998 THUNDERBIRDOctober 11, 19980093000VEHICLE RUNNING ROUGH. PULLED OVER AFTER NOTICING WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM TAILPIPE. WATER WAS GONE FROM OVERFLOW. RADIATOR DRY. TOLD WAS BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *AK
7812991998 THUNDERBIRDOctober 01, 19980085000HEAD GASKET/ HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILURES.
8342081993 THUNDERBIRD 0000000ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAVE GONE BAD, CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC 6 MONTHS AGO THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
8346151993 THUNDERBIRD 0000000TEMPERATURE NEEDLE RUNS HIGH ON THE CAR, AND BLACK SMOKE WAS COMING OUT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. MECHANIC SAID THAT ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. *AK
8414901999 THUNDERBIRDJune 25, 19990060000WHILE DRIVING AT 45MH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT,CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPE. *AK
8425971999 THUNDERBIRDJune 25, 19990060000 WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, CAUSING A FUEL LEAK. *AK
7093221999 THUNDERBIRDJune 04, 19990059900THE CAR OVERHEATS AND RUNS POORLY, THE DEALER SAID IT WAS A LEAKY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. I HAD IT CHECKED FOR HYDRO CARBONS AT A GARAGE WHICH IT HAS, INDICATING A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. I WAS TOLD THAT THE LOCAL MERCURY DEALER WAS FLOODED WITH 3.8L BLOWN HEAD GASKETS. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIER WILL BE A RECALL.
7109201999 THUNDERBIRDAugust 14, 19990075200WITHOUT WARNING, HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT AT 75,000 MILES. VEHICLE WAS MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO FORD RECOMMENDED SERVICE SCHEDULE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM IN 1989-1995 FORD 3.8L V6 ENGINES.
7113481993 THUNDERBIRD 0000000HEAD GASKETS: W/O ANY WARNING WHATSOEVER SUDDENLY THERE APPEARED WHITE SMOKE FROM EXHAUST PIPE, TEMP. GAUAGE WENT UP, CAR HAD NOT BEEN USING ANY OIL AND/OR ANTI-FREEZE WHICH IS A HEADS UP TO SUCH A PROBLEM OCCURING. ALL MAINTENANCE HAD ALWAYS BEEN KEPT UP ON A REGULAR BASIS ON VEHICLE. TOLD AT TIME THAT THIS PROBLEM HAD HAPPENED THAT THE NEXT THING THAT WOULD HAPPEN WOULD BE THE ENGINE WOULD GO. THE FIRST WEEK OF SEPT. JUST LIKE MECHANIC SAID, THE ENGINE WENT THERE AGAIN, W/O ANY NOTICE. IT THROUGH A ROD. WAS TOLD THAT TO SAVE PROBLEMS/TIME, SHOULD ACTUALLY JUST GO AHEAD AND REPLACE BOTH WHEN DOING THE OTHER BECUASE IT WOULD HAPPEN. TOLD FORD MOTOR AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITHIN A 3 YR. RANGE ON THIS MOTOR & HEAD GASKETS. THEY HAVE SENSE IMPROVED PROBLEM BUT THAT DOES NOTHING TO HELP OUT THOSE OF US WHO BOUGHT THOSE YEARS. PUT OUT THE MONEY OR PART IT OUT! FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE KEPT UP OUR VEHICLES, WE HAVE NO CHOICE. FORD MOTOR KNOWINGLY AWARE OF THIS SHOULD HAVE SOME RESPONSIBILITY. AM IN THE PROCESS OF CONTACTING THEIR CONSUMER AFFAIRS DIVISION IN ORDER TO DISCUSS BUT KNOW WHAT THEY'LL HAVE TO SAY..."OUT OF WARRANTY"...YOU'RE STUCK!
8527381999 THUNDERBIRDNovember 06, 19990070000WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY AT APPROX 45MPH VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKING/ROUGH IDLING. CONTACTED LOCAL MECHANIC THERE WAS A BLOWEN ENGINE HEAD GASKET. CONTACTED A LOCAL FORD DEALER, WHO SAID THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM. *AK
7138191999 THUNDERBIRDOctober 23, 19990066000HEAD GASKET BLEW CAUSING CAR TO OVERHEAT AND BLOWING WATER THROUGH THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THIS HAPPENED WITH NO WARNING OF OVERHEATING WHATSOEVER. AS A MATTER OF FACT, NO PROBLEMS INCURRED UP TO THIS POINT. THIS INCIDENT LEFT DRIVER STRANDED AS VEHICLE WAS IMMOBILIZED.
5395331998 THUNDERBIRDMay 29, 19980059800HEAD GASKET FAILED.
8338631994 THUNDERBIRD 0000000ENGINE HEAD GASKET SEAL HAS BLOWN, CAUSING OIL AND ANTI-FREEZE TO LEAK ALL OVER THE ENGINE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
7094501998 THUNDERBIRDAugust 01, 199800000006 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, TRANSMISSION FAILED, WAS REBUILT. IN 1998 HAD TO HAVE THE ROTORS, PADS AND CALIBERS REPLACED. ALSO, IN 1998, HEAD GASKETS BLEW, HAD TO REPLACE. IN 1999, PCV AND PCP VALVE REPLACE, OIL SENSOR, DASHBOARD GUAGE MODULE REPLACED. NOW IN AUGUST OF 1999, TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AGAIN. NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
7051421999 THUNDERBIRDMarch 08, 19990058144UPON RESEARCH OF THE 3.8 FORD ENGINES, I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH BLOWN HEAD GASKETS, MOST SPECIFICALLY IN THE TAURUS. HOWEVER, THE THUNDERBIRD IS ALSO EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM. FORD HAS RECALLED THE TAURUS, BUT NOT THE THUNDERBIRD. THERE WERE NO PRIOR EVIDENCES OF GASKET TROUBLES. I HAD THE CAR CHECKED OUT BY 2 KNOWLEDGEABLE MECHANICS PRIOR TO PURCHASE, AND BY MY REGULAR MECHANIC PRIOR TO THE USED WARRANTY. ALL AGREED IT TO BE A CLEAN CAR AND GOOD DEAL. THE HEAD GASKETS JUST BLEW WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING. AFTER LENGTHY DISCUSSIONS WITH FORD, THEY REFUSED TO STAND BEHIND THE DEFFECT. *AK
5480641999 THUNDERBIRDJune 26, 19990059596HEAD GASKET FAILED. NLM
7099601999 THUNDERBIRDAugust 10, 19990038142AT THE TIME OF FAILURE, MY VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING @40MPH. A THICK WHITE SMOKE, WITH AN ODOR, WAS EMITTED FROM EXHAUST. THE CAR HAD NOT OVERHEATED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. UPON BRING THE CAR TO A LICENCED FORD DEALER (ISLAND FORD, IN STATEN ISLAND NY), I LEARNED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN REQUIRIN $1500 IN REPAIR CHARGES. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS PROBLEMS OF THE SAME CIRCUSTANCE WITH OTHER FORDS OF THE SAME YEAR THAT ALSO HAVE 3.8L ENGINES. RECALL 98-M01 WAS ISSUED TO COVER THE OTHER VEHICLES, HOWEVER, THE THUNDERBIRD MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED.
5176081997 WINDSTARMarch 01, 19970049721HEAD GASKET FAILED DUE TO A SMALL PINHOLE LEAK. *AK
5213391997 WINDSTARJuly 02, 19970016000UPON APPLICATION OF BRAKES VEHICLE CLANGS/RATTLES AT LOW SPEED WHEN GOING UPHILL. ALSO REPLACED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS/DRUMS/CALIPERS AND BLOWN OUT ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *AK
8189511997 WINDSTAROctober 27, 19970062000VEHICLE HAD BEEN RUNNING ROUGH. CALLED DEALER & INFORMED TIMING CHAIN HOUSING WAS GONE. NEEDS TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKETS. *AK
5234621997 WINDSTARSeptember 23, 19970058000HEAD GASKET FAILED, CAUSINGENGINE ROD TO BREAK/ENGINE HEAD TO WARP. *AK
8195441997 WINDSTAROctober 31, 19970059000THE DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET BLEW WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE BLOCK TO CRACK AND OVERHEAT THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DIE WHILE DRIVING. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK
5211021997 WINDSTARJuly 25, 19970038800BLOWN HEAD GASKET.
8196971997 WINDSTARNovember 23, 19970038000DRIVING AT APPROX 60 MPH STARTED TO SMELL ANTI FREEZE, SMOKE COMING FROM EXHAUST, WENT TO DEALER , HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. *AK
5234201997 WINDSTARApril 29, 19970042729HEAD GASKET MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. ALSO ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON/OFF. *AK
8215531995 WINDSTAR 0038000VEHICLE HAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. *AK
8219561998 WINDSTARMarch 10, 19980051000CONSUMER NOTICED VEHICLE IDLING A BIT ROUGH AND JERKING ON HIGHWAY. THE HEATER WAS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY, THEN CONSUMER NOTICED THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS AT THE HIGHEST TEMPERATURE POSSIBLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC WHO TOOK THE ENGINE APART, AND SAW THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS FAULTY, THEN REPLACED IT. THERE WERE OTHER PROBLEMS DUE TO FAULTY HEAD GASKET WHICH ALL WERE REPAIRED. *AK
8221271998 WINDSTARMarch 18, 19980045000WHILE DRIVING THE WINDSTAR, THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON, SMOKE COMES FROM THE TAIL PIPE AND WINDSTAR SLOWS DOWN AND HARDLY ACCELERATES. DEALER STATES THAT THERE IS A HEAD GASKET AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *AK
5322621997 WINDSTARNovember 01, 19970032488HEAD GASKETS FAILED, CAUSING ENGINE TO MISS AND HESITATE.
5239361997 WINDSTARSeptember 28, 19970045453ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED. *AK
5326771995 WINDSTAR 0045000NEEDED HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT AT 53,000 MILES
8222931998 WINDSTARMarch 30, 19980042000THE HEAD GASKETS HAVE BLOWN OUT PREMATURELY. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
5334731998 WINDSTARMarch 01, 19980046880HEAD GASKET FAILED, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK AND OVERHEAT.
8227621998 WINDSTARApril 18, 19980056000WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH THE HEAD GASKET BLEW UP, LEAVING VEHICLE UNDRIVABLE, AND VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. CONSUMER SAID THE PROBLEM HAD HAPPENED TO OTHER CONSUMERS BEFORE. *AK
8231231995 WINDSTAR 0000000ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALER SAYS THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD BEEN BLOWN AND THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK. DEALER HAS FIXED. *AK
8232031998 WINDSTARMarch 28, 19980046000WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 60MPH IT STARTED TO OVERHEAT. TOOK TO DEALER & THE MECHANIC SAID THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. ALSO THE ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD. *AK
8233811998 WINDSTARApril 28, 19980058000WHIILE DRIVING THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
8234331995 WINDSTAR 0000000DRIVING AT 35-40 MPH, WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING WATER ONTO ENGINE, CAUSING HEAD GASKET TO BLOW UP, AND VEHICLE TO MAKE LOUD NOISE. *AK
8234321995 WINDSTAR 0000000WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING WHICH CAUSED WATER TO GET INTO HEAD GASKET OF ENGINE, RESULTING IN A BLOWN HEAD GASKET
8235581995 WINDSTAR 0000000AT HIGH SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WOULD FEEL AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. THE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE. DEALER IS FIXING IT. *AK
8238211998 WINDSTARApril 15, 19980047000ENGINE BLEW HEAD GASKET. VEHICLE OVERHEATED & STOPPED RUNNING. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. MECHANIC SAID HEAD GASKETS FAILED IN 3.8 LITER MOTOR. HEAD GASKETS REPLACED. FORD & OWNER SPLIT COST. *AK
8239541998 WINDSTARMay 01, 19980049000CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER COMPLAINING ABOUT AN ODOR COMING FROM THE HEATER, AND THE ENGINE RUNNING ROUGH. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. LESS THEN TWO DAYS AFTERWARDS, THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
5335821998 WINDSTARMarch 08, 19980054000HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STOP SHUDDER. ALSO ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON.
5359741998 WINDSTARMarch 01, 19980042000HEAD GASKET FAILED.
8259961995 WINDSTAR 0061000HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BLOW. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
8260511995 WINDSTAR 0055000HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT AT 43,000 MILES. ALSO PROBLEM CAUSED ENGINE PISTONS TO OVERHEAT. DEALERS ARE AWARE OF PROBLEM.
8262591996 WINDSTARNovember 27, 19960037000TRANSMISSION BLEW OUT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL, ALMOST RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER DID A TRANSAXLE REPAIR, PROBLEM IS REOCCURRING. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. ALSO PROBLEMS WITH THE HEATER BLOWER MOTOR/ HEAD GASKETS/ INTAKE MANIFOLD/ ABS SYSTEM, AND REAR WIPER SWITCH MOTOR. *AK
5356031998 WINDSTARJanuary 01, 19980065000ENGINE HEAD GASKET/TRANSMISSION FAILED.
5356261997 WINDSTARNovember 28, 19970056294HEAD GASKET FAILED.
5356721997 WINDSTARAugust 01, 19970038000HEAD GASKET FAILED.
5356611997 WINDSTARMay 11, 19970047000ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED.
5356531998 WINDSTARMay 06, 19980043113ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED.
5354691998 WINDSTARMay 09, 19980056000HEADGASKET FAILED.
5354721998 WINDSTARMarch 12, 19980022500HEAD GASKET FAILED.
5355001995 WINDSTAR 0000000HEAD GASKET FAILED.
5355151998 WINDSTARMay 10, 19980060000ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED.
5345881998 WINDSTARApril 02, 19980051423ENGINE HEAD GASKET/TRANSMISSION FAILED.
5345911998 WINDSTARApril 15, 19980069000ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW.
5346051995 WINDSTARApril 13, 19950065000ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED DUE TO A DEFECTIVE (CRACKED) ENGINE HEAD CYLINDER.
5350021998 WINDSTARApril 08, 19980049300HEAD GASKET FAILED.
5350041998 WINDSTARMarch 10, 19980054445HEAD GASKET/RADIATOR/THERMOSTAT AND HEATER CORE FAILED.
5379731995 WINDSTAR 0036000BLOWN HEAD GASKET.
5360551998 WINDSTARMay 20, 19980047900BLOWN HEAD GASKET.
5394951998 WINDSTARMay 10, 19980069275TWO ENGINE FAILURES AS A RESULT OF HEAD GASKET/CYLINDER HEAD FAILURE. (QCAW)
5361181995 WINDSTAR 0072000HEAD GASKET FAILED.
5359301998 WINDSTARMay 19, 19980063400HEAD GASKET FAILED. ALSO ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON.
5359251998 WINDSTARApril 01, 19980044000HEAD GASKET FAILED TWICE.
5352751998 WINDSTARApril 14, 19980070110HEAD GASKETS FAILED.
5407431998 WINDSTARAugust 15, 19980075089HEAD GASKET FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL. ALSO, WATER PUMP AND ENGINE PISTON ROD BEARINGS #2,5 AND 6 REPLACED.
5333861998 WINDSTARJanuary 01, 19980063000HEAD GASKET FAILED. *AK
5340241997 WINDSTAROctober 23, 19970049097ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED. *AK
5347461998 WINDSTARMarch 01, 19980069000ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. *AK
5375161995 WINDSTAR 0000000HEAD GASKET AND TRANSMISSION FAILED.
5391861997 WINDSTARDecember 01, 19970000000HEAD GASKET BLEW.
5349961998 WINDSTARApril 08, 19980049300HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT AT 49300 MILES.
5347061998 WINDSTARApril 04, 19980051886ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT AT LOW MILEAGE. ALSO TRANSMISSION FAILURE.
5345561998 WINDSTARMarch 20, 19980064296BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET.
5337391998 WINDSTARMarch 30, 19980072169HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND STALLED.
5342121998 WINDSTARFebruary 01, 19980052000HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING.
5349111995 WINDSTARApril 13, 19950065000DEFECTIVE/CRACKED ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD CAUSED HEAD GASKET TO FAIL.
5348841998 WINDSTARApril 13, 19980066023DEFECTIVE ENGINE CYLINDER THAT HAD A SMALL GAP IN IT, APPARENTLY FROM A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, CAUSED HEAD GASKET TO BLOW OUT.
5331971998 WINDSTARMarch 16, 19980045800REPLACED DEFECTIVE ENGINE HEAD GASKET. ALSO ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON.
5329451998 WINDSTARFebruary 28, 19980056162ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAK.
5350621998 WINDSTARApril 23, 19980042300ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED.
5350631998 WINDSTARApril 16, 19980053424HEAD GASKET FAILURE CAUSED RADIATOR FLUID TO EMIT FROM TAIL PIPE. ALSO ENGINE CRANKSHAFT FAILED.
5351871998 WINDSTARMay 01, 19980089571HEAD GASKETS BLEW OUT DUE TO A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT.
8308271995 WINDSTAR 0079000IE 98 080;TIMING GASKET IS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE, CAUSING THE HEADGASKETS TO FAIL. DEALER ARE AWARE OF DEFECT. *AK
8310011998 WINDSTARAugust 06, 19980069000IE98080, THE DEFECTIVE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS ARE CAUSING THE COOLANT TO LEAK WHICH MAY CAUSE A FIRE. DEALER REPLACED HEAD GASKETS 2 TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
5350311998 WINDSTARApril 29, 19980034000HEAD GASKET FAILED.
5363611998 WINDSTARMay 01, 19980072000ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED.
5353751998 WINDSTARMay 08, 19980058275ENGINE HEAD GASKET MALFUNCTIONED.
5353851998 WINDSTARJanuary 19, 19980060390ENGINE HEAD GASKET MALFUNCTIONED.
7800301995 WINDSTAR 0000000HEAD GASKETS BLEW OUT. VEHICLE AT DEALER FOR REPAIRS.
8311031998 WINDSTARNovember 19, 19980059000THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH HEAD GASKETS. THE CONSUMER HAD TROUBLE STARTING THE CAR. WHEN PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, NOTICED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING AND THE TAIL PIPE STARTED SMOKING. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK
5397021995 WINDSTAR 0000000ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED.
7000651998 WINDSTAROctober 08, 19980060867THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED AND ONLY HAD 35000 MILES ON IT AT TIME OF PURCHASE JUNE 1997. SINCE PURCHASE, IT HAS NEVER SHOWN OVERHEATING. THE HEAD GASKET SHOWED ZERO COMPRESSION AT A SHOP WE TOOL IT IN TO, MEANING IT FAILED. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AL PACKER WEST IN ROYAL PALM, FLORIDA TO EFFECT REPAIR. THE REPAIR PERSON IN SERVICE TOLD US THEY WOULD COVER THE REPAIR COST AND ALL INCIDENTAL COSTS. WE HAD TO RENT A SMALL DODGE NEON FOR A 2 WEEK PERIOD, $300.00 BIL. FORD SAYS THEY WILL NOT COVER THE CAR RENTAL. THEY DID COVER THE ENGINE GASKET AND VALVE REPAIR, ALTHOUGH WE WERE TOLD THEY WOULD ALSO COVER ALL INCIDENTALS. AL PACKER WEST TOLD US THAT THE REPAIR PERSON WE HAD DEALT WITH, TONY, WAS NO LONGER WITH THE COMPANY. AL PACKER ORIGINALLY TOLD US THE VAN WOULD BE READY ON TUESDAY OCTOBER 20, BUT IT WAS NOT READY UNTIL THE 22ND OF OCTOBER. SO, THIS INCREASED THE RENTAL CHARGES ON THE DODGE NEON THAT WE HAD TO RENT. AL PACKER WEST OWES US COST OF THE RENTAL CAR, OR A PORTION THEREOF, BASED ON OUR UNDERSTANDING ON THE TYPE OF REPAIR THAT WAS DONE. TIM CASH 1409 GEORGIA AVENUE WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33401 TEL 561 833-6142 E-MAIL RAILMAN@FREEWWWEB.COM
7006801998 WINDSTARNovember 07, 19980075000I WAS INFORMED BY RAMP FORD IN NY THAT THE HEAD GASKETS NEEDED REPLACEMENT - THIS WAS DONE NO CHARGE . BUT THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE TIMING CASE COVER GASKET WAS LEAKING AND SHOULD BE REPLACED . I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS PART IS COVERED BY A RECALL .
7006211998 WINDSTARNovember 14, 19980063211CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO BLOWN HEAD GASKET. FORD IS AWARE OF THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE BUT IS PROVIDING NO ASSISTANCE. I WAS CAUGHT IN HEAVY, FAST MOVING TRAFFIC WHEN GASKET BLEW ENDANGERING ME AND MY TWO CHILDREN. NOW I FIND FORD IS AND HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE PROBLEM FOR YEARS. ISN'T IT TIME FOR NHTSA TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS? IT BECAME A SAFTEY ISSUE FOR ME WHEN MY CHILDREN WERE PUT AT RISK!
7002291995 WINDSTAR 0000000TRANSMISSION CLUTCH PISTON HAS HAIRLINE CRACK. CAUSES TRANSMISSION TO JUMP INTO FIRST GEAR FROM A STOPPED POSITION. REAR BRAKES CONTINUALLY SQUEAL. RIGHT FRONT BRAKE INTERMITTENTLY LOCKS UP. ENGINE HEAD GASKET NEEDS REPLACEMENT. FRONT SHOULDER BELTS GET TANGLED AND TWISTED AT THE POINT WHERE THEY FEED THROUGH A METAL D-SHAPED CLIP ON THE VEHICLE INTERIOR. BELT CAN'T FULLY RETRACK.
5365521998 WINDSTARApril 21, 19980056500HEAD GASKET FAILED RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO OTHER COMPONENTS.
8332161995 WINDSTAR 0000000ENGINE HEAD GASKETS ARE LEAKING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. DEALER SAYS NEEDS NEW HEAD GASKETS. *AK
8333401995 WINDSTAR 0000000ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS BUSTED AND OIL LEAKED, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SIEZE UP. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN. *AK
7812281998 WINDSTAROctober 09, 19980059600ENGINE HEAD GASKET/WATER PUMP SEALS, AND TIMING CHAIN AND GEAR FAILED.
8334121995 WINDSTAR 0000000THE ENGINE STARTS TO OVERHEAT AND THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE BECOMES COLD. DEALER SAYS ITS A BAD ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *AK
8334471995 WINDSTAR 0000000THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE COOLANT. DEALER SAID ENGINE HEAD GASKETS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
8334771999 WINDSTARJanuary 08, 19990082000ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT AFTER EIGHT DAYS WARRANTY RAN OUT. CONSUMER BELIEVED THIS WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT WHICH SHOULD BE HONORED BY DEALER. ALSO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK
8334921995 WINDSTAR 0078000EVERY GASKET ON THIS VEHICLE IS LEAKING, INCLUDING ENGINE HEAD GASKET/TRANSMISSION GASKET/THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, AND THE VALUE COVER GASKET. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.
8335681998 WINDSTARDecember 07, 19980080000THERE IS WATER RUNNING FROM THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET, AND THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING ROUGH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN DRIVING IN LOW SPEED. *AK
8335921998 WINDSTARDecember 28, 19980076000ENGINE HEAD GASKETS ARE FAILING. DEALER/MANUFAXCTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT SERVICE BULLETIN INDICATED THAT THE COST FOR REPAIRS WOULD GO TO CONSUMER. CONSUMER NEEDS HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK
8336251995 WINDSTAR 0000000ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, MAKING A LOUD NOISE AND SMOKE. DEALER SAYS HEAD GASKETS NEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
8336991995 WINDSTAR 0000000THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. *AK
7008721998 WINDSTARJanuary 30, 19980062347THIS VEHICLE HAS ALSO HAD NUMEROUS BRAKE ROTARS/PADS/DRUMS REPLACEMENT. THE HEAD GASKET "BLEW" AT 72-74000 MILES. FORD COVERED THE REPAIR FOR THIS AT NO COST TO US. I FEEL THEY SHOULD ALSO COVER THE REPAIRS FOR THE TRANSMISSION. THEY KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSIONS IN NOVEMBER 1994 RIGHT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RELEASED FOR SALE.
7010561998 WINDSTARNovember 10, 19980071000HEAD GASKETS FAILED AT CYLINDERS 3 AND 4. BOTH GASKETS FAILED IN THE SAME LOCATION AND TIME FRAME. THIS POINT TO A DEFECT IN THE GASKETS. AK
7012151998 WINDSTARDecember 05, 19980061000AFTER HEAD GASKET REPL. IT RACED, JERKED, CUT-OUT, AND SHOOK. DEALER "RETORQUED" MOUNTS. NEXT DAY, PUT IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF PARKING SPACE, ENGINE RACED, CLUNKED, AND ACCELLERATED, IN REVERSE, TO 45 MPH PLOWING CAR THROUGH BRICK WALL IN RESIDENCE TOTALLING CAR, MAJOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO HOUSE, ONE INJURY TO DRIVER.
7013901998 WINDSTARDecember 13, 19980084650I HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF TRANSMISSION FAILURES ON THIS VEHICLE AS WELL AS HEAD GASKETS BLOWING AND FORD SHOULD HAVE TO REIMBURSE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VAN IS HAVING THE HEAD GASKETS REPLACED AT THIS TIME BUT THERE MAY BE INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE ALREADY DONE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS.
8342401999 WINDSTARJanuary 27, 19990070000ENGINE HEAD GASKETS WERE DEFECTIVE. HEAT STOPPED WORKING, STARTED OVERHEATING AND SHAKING, OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING. DEALER CONTACTED AND AWARE OF PROBLEM, BUT STATED RECALL ENDED AND VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER COVERED. NO REMEDY FOR PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
7014031998 WINDSTARDecember 14, 19980050231FORD IS AWARE OF DEFECTIVE TRASMISSIONS IN '95 WINDSTAR. CAR LURCHES FORWARD AFTER NOT ACCELERATING FROM A STOP POSITION, COULD CAUSE ACCIDENT IF ANOTHER CAR WERE IN FRONT, SLIPPING TRANSMISSION AT 50,000 IS UNCONSCIONABLE. DEALER CHECKED AND SAID I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION INSTALLED AT $2,400. CHECK ONLINE UNDER "FORD WINDSTAR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS" THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF CUSOTMERS WITH TRANSMISSIONS AND HEAD GASKETS BLOWING AT VERY LOW MILAGE. IS THERE A CLASS ACTION SUIT REGARDING THIS DEFECT? APPARENTLY, FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT WON'T DO A RECALL BECAUSE IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE. I AM SINGLE MOM WITH 3 CHILDREN WHOM I MUST DRIVE TO AND FROM SCHOOL EVERY DAY AND I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR SAFETY. PLEASE HELP ME! ACCORDING TO OTHER OWNERS, AFTER THEIR TRANSMISSIONS BEGAN TO SLIP, IT WAS ONLY WEEKS BEFORE THE WHOLE THING BLEW. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO BUY A NEW TRANSMISSION. FORD SHOULD DO SOMETHING.
7811751998 WINDSTAROctober 09, 19980058000TRANSMISSION/ENGINE HEAD GASKET, AND TIMING CHAIN FAILED.
5433871998 WINDSTARJanuary 19, 19980030346RECALL WORK ON HEAD GASKET DENIED DUE TO VIN.
7813461998 WINDSTAROctober 01, 19980114000ENGINE HEAD GASKET/TRANSMISSION/ABS/BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH/TIE ROD AND POWER STEERING HOSE FAILED. *AK
8344871999 WINDSTARJanuary 26, 19990063000ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. MECHANIC TESTED COOLANT SYSTEM, AND FOUND COOLANT WAS POURING INTO THE HEAD, AND HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. THERE IS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION AT THIS TIME FOR COOLANT LEAKAGE/HEAD GASKET, IE-98-080 (PLEASE ADD VIN#.) *AK
8345301995 WINDSTAR 0000000ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SMOKE, AND THE ENGINE TO BE INOPERABLE. DEALER SAID IT WAS A FAULTY HEAD GASKET. *AK
5432921998 WINDSTARMarch 04, 19980056132HEAD GASKET FAILED RESULTING IN LEAKAGE.
7817461998 WINDSTARNovember 27, 19980071000ENGINE OVERHEATED DUE TO BLOWN HEAD GASKET.
8346341999 WINDSTARFebruary 05, 19990063000IE98080; ANTI-FREEZE GOES THROUGHOUT ENGINE HEAD GASKET, CAUSING ENGINE HEAD GASKET TO BLOW UP, AND RESULTING IN MAJOR DAMAGE. COMMON PROBLEM. THERE IS A TSB, BUT ONLY UP TO 60,000 MILES. DEALER DID NOT FIX VEHICLE BEFORE 60,000 MILES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
8348791999 WINDSTARFebruary 01, 19990060000ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKS COOLANT, WHICH MAY CAUSE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND SEIZE. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. THE VAN IS BEING SERVICED FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK
8348841999 WINDSTARFebruary 10, 19990065314ENGINE HEAD GASKETS PREMATURELY WORE OUT, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. FORD DENIED RESPONSIBILITY DUE TO WARRANTY ISSUES. *AK
7017831995 WINDSTAR 0032000FORD PAID A PORTION OF THE HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT PRIOR TO THE RECALL. DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION WHEN I INITIALLY DETECTED IT AT 32K MILES. IN LATE NOVEMBER THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTING FROM FIRST GEAR INTO NEUTRAL ON CITY STREETS, MAKING THE VEHICLE VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. FORD WILL NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE PAID THE MAJORITY OF THE BILL, LEAVING ME WITH A BALANCE OF $500.00. FOUR DAYS AFTER THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE FOR ME OR MY CHILDREN.
8350701999 WINDSTARJanuary 30, 19990068000IE98080, COOLANT IS LEAKING FROM ENGINE HEAD GASKET WHICH MAY MIX WITH THE OIL AND SPRING INTO THE ENGINE AND CAUSE A FIRE. *AK
7020201998 WINDSTARDecember 15, 19980069000NO HEAT. APPARENTLY A BLOWN HEADGASKET. I'VE HEARD OF NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE (SO IT'S NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT). TAKING IT TO DEALER FOR CONFIRMATION OF PROBLEM NEXT WEEK.
7020781998 WINDSTARDecember 23, 19980095563HEAD GASKET FAILURE, COVERED UNDER RECALL, REPAIRED 7/98. ENGINE DEVELOPED A KNOCK, STARTED RUNNING ROUGH, COOLANT LEVEL LOW WITH NO EXTERNAL LEAKAGE. DEALER DIAGNOSED #3 CYLINDER FUEL INJECTOR INOPERATIVE AND A TIMING COVER GASKET FAILURE. REPAIRED AND ENGINE FAILED IRREPAIRABLY 6 WEEKS LATER, LOW COOLANT LEVELS AGAIN. TOLD WE MUST REPLACE ENGINE.
7022261998 WINDSTARDecember 31, 19980060158FORD HAVE A RECALL ON THERE 95 WINDSTAR HEADGASKET.I NEVER GOT A RECALL NOTICE ANNOBODY CALL ME.WELL ON 12/31/98 MY HEADGASKET BLEW,HAPPEN AROUND 8.00PM.WE CALL BUT THET WAS CLOSE AN NEXT DAY WAS NEW YEAR.SO WE CALL FIRST THING MONDAY MORN.WE ASK THEM DID THEY HAVE A RECALL OUT FOR BLOW HEADGASKET AN THEY SAID YES,,THEY ASK FOR OUR VAN NUMBER AN WE GAVE IT TO THEM AN THEY SAID OUR VAN NUMBER WAS IN THE LIST.WELL THEY CAME AN PICKUP VAN AN ABOUT 3 DAYS LATER I TALK TO THEM AN THEY SAY THEY WANT PAY FOR IT,THEY SAY I CALL TO LATE,I SURE HAVE GOT THE VAN IN BEFORE 12/31/
7022441999 WINDSTARJanuary 13, 19990072000FORD OFFERED PROGRAM UNTIL 12/31/98 IF HEAD GASKET BLEW. (FORD DID NOT MAKE ME AWARE OF THIS PROGRAM, HAD I KNOW, I WOULD HAVE BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR REPAIR). OUR HEAD GASKET BLEW WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING WITH OUR 19 MONTH OLD BABY IN THE CAR. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS INJURED AT THE RELATIVELY LOW SPEED. FORD IS AWARE OF THIS DESIGN FLAW BUT IS UNWILLING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE NEED FOR A FULL RECALL. ANY HELP IN BRINGING THIS MATTER TO THE ATTENTION OF FORD SO THAT A RECALL WILL OCCURR WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
7022711999 WINDSTARJanuary 12, 19990104000AFTER STARTING VEHICLE FROM COLD START, PISTON FULL OF ANTIFREEZE, DUE TO DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. DEALER INFORMED ME OF RECALL NUMBER 98M01, BUT STATED I WOULD HAVE TO PAY COSTS, SINCE MY WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. HE SHOWED ME THE DIAGNOSTIC WHICH SAID "CHECK HEAD GASKET ONLY IF CUSTOMER REPORTS A PROBLEM".
7022741998 WINDSTARDecember 26, 19980080000CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON--DIAGNOSTIC CODES SHOWED EGR/COOLANT TEMP. (NON FORD)MECHANIC REPLACED EGR VALVE, SENSOR. RAN FINE, THEN LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN (1 WEEK). CHECKED & REPLACED THERMOSTAT (LIGHT AGAIN AFTER 1 WEEK) THEN COMPUTER, LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN (2 DAYS). VEHICLE OVERHEATED & NO HEAT IN VEHICLE. MECHANIC DETERMINED HEAD GASKET FAILED. REPLACED 1/14/99.
7022881999 WINDSTARJanuary 07, 19990092000FORD HAD INITIATED AN "OWNERS NOTIFICATION PROGRAM" BECAUSE OF FAULTY HEAD GASKETS IN THE 1995 WINDSTAR. BASICALLY, IF YOUR HEAD GASKET BLEW PRIOR TO DECEMBER 31, 1998, FORD WOULD COVER THE COST. THIS WAS NOT A RECALL, THEREFORE, THEY WERE ABLE TO PLACE A "DEADLINE" DATE ON IT. UNFORTUNATELY, THE HEAD GASKET BLEW IN MY VAN ON JANUARY 7, 1999 - SEVEN DAYS AFTER THE DEADLINE. AT THE TIME OF FAILURE, I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK WITH MY TWO LITTLE DAUGHTERS IN THE CAR (ONE AND THREE YEARS OLD). MY COMMUTE IS 40 MINUTES IN PRIMARILY FARM COUNTRY. I WAS HALFWAY INTO MY COMMUTE WHEN THE HEATER NO LONGER BLEW HOT AIR (THE OUTSIDE WIND CHILL WAS ABOUT MINUS 20), AND I NOTICED THE HEAT GAUGE AT THE H. THANK GOODNESS FOR CELLULAR PHONES. I GOT ON THE PHONE IMMEDIATELY WITH THE DEALER AND HE KNEW OVER THE PHONE IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO A SMALL TOWN JUST WHEN THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WENT ON AND IT DIED ON ME. MY SERVICE PERSON AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME LATER THAT MY ENGINE WAS AT 225 DEGREES WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. THE DEALER AND I HAVE TRIED TO GET FORD TO COVER THE $900 REPAIR, HOWEVER, FORD WILL NOT MOVE ON ITS DEADLINE DATE. THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM, YET WILL NOT ISSUE THE RECALL. THEY BASICALLY GOT AROUND IT WITH THIS OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM. I CAN ONLY BE THANKFUL THAT I MADE IT WITH MY TWO GIRLS TO A SMALL TOWN IN THAT SUBZERO WEATHER, AND THAT MY ENGINE DIDN'T BLOW UP. THE 1995 WINDSTARS ALSO HAVE MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. MINE HAD TO BE REPLACED AT ABOUT 50,000 MILES. FORD DID COVER SOME OF THE COST. PLEASE LOOK ON THE INTERNET REGARDING THE 1995 WINDSTAR. THERE ARE MANY, MANY MORE STORIES LIKE MINE (A GOOD WEBSITE IS WWW.FORDWINDSTAR.COM). THERE ARE DEFECTS WITH THIS VEHICLE AND FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND DEAL WITH THEM APPROPRIATELY. THANK YOU.
7020531997 WINDSTARJuly 25, 19970040200IN ADDITION TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE HEATING/ AC, DOOR LOCKS, WIPERS AND DOOR SENSORS. MY WINDSTAR ALSO HAD THE DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET WHICH WAS PART OF A VOLUNTARY RECALL BY FORD. THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE OF THIS MODEL IS WELL KNOWN. ADDITIONAL ANECDOTAL INFO CAN BE OBTAINED THROUGH THE CAR TRACKERS WEBSITE ON INTERNET. THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON THE 95 WINDSTAR IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AT FORD, HOWEVER NO RECALL HAS EVER BEEN ISSUED.
8352721995 WINDSTAR 0000000ENGINE HEAD GASKETS ARE GOING BAD, CAUSING OVERHEATING AND OIL LEAKING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
7021131997 WINDSTARJuly 01, 19970045000TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REBUILT TWICE AND HEAD GASKET REPLACED TWICE. WHEN TRANSMISSION GOES BAD SLIPS STALLING TIME TO PULL OUT. THIS IS DANGEROUS AS DELAY COULD CAUSE AXIDENT
7021181999 WINDSTARJanuary 03, 19990077000KNOWN HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON THE 3.8L 6 CYLINDER ENGINE USED IN THE WINDSTAR AND THE TAURUS. CONTACTED FORD. GAVE THEM EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE CARE OF THIS KNOWN PROBLEM. OTHER INFO ON THE INTERNET AT A SITE CALLED WWW.FORDWINDSTAR.COM. ANYTHING YOU COULD DO TO PROMPT A RECALL WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED.
5421961995 WINDSTAR 0000000CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL HEAD GASKET FAILURE OF RECALL NOTICE.
5434721998 WINDSTARJuly 15, 19980060942PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKET (RECALL COMPONENT) RESULTING IN EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO ENGINE COMPONENTS.
8354261999 WINDSTARFebruary 18, 19990043000ENGINE HEAD GASKET MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL. ALSO, DAMAGED THE ENGINE AND MAY HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER REPLACED GASKETS TWICE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
8354411999 WINDSTARMarch 02, 19990610000AN ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT WITHIN 61,000 MILES OF WEAR. DEALER/MANUFACTURER INFORMED. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE EXTENED WARRANTY RAN OUT ON DECEMBER 31, 1998. MANUFACTURER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING WILL BE DONE DUE TO EXPIRATION OF WARRANTY. CONSUMER SEEKING HNTSA FOR HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK
8354641996 WINDSTAROctober 18, 19960026000DEFECTIVE ENGINE HEAD GASKET WHICH HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING. MAY HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE HEAD GASKET, BUT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND NOW IT IS CONSUMER'S RESPONSIBILITY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
7025571999 WINDSTARJanuary 20, 19990061000REF SERVICE PROGRAM 98M01. HEAD GASKETS FAILED 3 WEEKS AFTER PROGRAM EXPIRED. FORD OFFERED NO FLEXIBILITY. $1500 REPAIRS. *AK
7026031998 WINDSTARDecember 20, 19980086000I RECEIVED A LETTER IN AUGUST OF 98 REGARDING FORD HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKET SEALS ON THE 3.8L MOTOR, IF I WAS HAVING A PROBLEM BEFORE 12/98 TO BRING IT IN. ON 12/20, THE VAN OVERHEATED AN ICE COLD AIR WAS BLOWING OUT OF THE HEAT VENTS. I REFERRED TO MY OWNERS MANUAL, AND CHANGED THE THERMOSTAT, FLUSHED THE SYSTEM AND CHANGED THE RADIATOR CAP, THE VAN THEN SEEMED FINE. WE HAD A MAJOR SNOW AND ICE STORM AND THE VAN SAT FOR 2 WEEKS. ON 01/23, WE WERE TWO MILES FROM HOME AND WHITE SMOKE STARTED POURING OUT OF THE EXHAUST, AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS UP TO HOT, THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. WE GOT THE VAN HOME AND SEEN ANTIFREEZE LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE BLOCK. WE CALLED THE FORD DEALER IN CANFIELD, AND THEY SAID THE LETTER EXPIRED ON 12/31/98, AND THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM AT THIS TIME, SAID THEY HAVE HAD MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND ARE NOT RECALLING AT THIS TIME. I BELIEVE THAT FORD SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND RECTIFY THIS KNOWN PROBLEM BY ISSUING A RECALL. *AK
7026661998 WINDSTARDecember 16, 19980070000ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED PREMATURELY, CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE AT HIGH SPEEDS.
7026851999 WINDSTARJanuary 11, 19990068000TRANSMISSION REPAIRED ON 11/29 /98 . ONLY 7 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP, 6 WEEKS LATER ENGINE WENT WAS TOLD IT WAS A POSSIBLE HEAD GASKET. WAS TOLD FORD HAD A NOTIFICATION. THE FORD DEALER TOLD US THAT THE WORK ENDED ON THIS ON 12/31 98. THERE NOW SITS 4 WINDSTARS AT CROSSROAD FORD IN CARY NC. *AK
7027291999 WINDSTARJanuary 27, 19990086000AFTER BRINGING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP ON 11DEC98 FOR RECALL OF HEAD GASKET. THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY TESTED WITH TOTAL HOURS BY TECH #128 WAS .6 . AT THIS TIME THE TRESSURE TEST OF GASKET WAS OK. NOT MUCH MORE THAN A MONTH LATER, THE HEAD GASKET FAILED. THE DEALER HAS REFUSED TO FIX THIS AT HIS EXPENSE OR PARTIAL EXPENSE. WE WERE INFORMED THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. ACCORDING TO THE LETTER RECEIVED FROM FORD COMPANY NO MATTER WHETHER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED THE COMPANY WOULD STILL HONOR THE RECALL. AT PRESENT TIME VEHICLE HAS BEEN MOVED TO ANOTHER LOCATION FOR REPAIR AFTER WE WERE ESTIMATED A COST OF 1200.00 TO 1500.00 FOR REPAIR BY DEALERSHIP. *AK
7027851998 WINDSTARDecember 16, 19980053841I EXPERIENCED HEAD GASKET FAILURE 2 WEEKS BEFORE THE RECALL PROGRAM EXPIRED. THE DEALERSHIP DELAYED IN FIXING IT, RESULTING IN ENGINE FAILURE.
8358341997 WINDSTARDecember 26, 19970055000WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT ON MARCH 5TH. THE PROBLEMS RETURNED, AND THE CONSUMER VEHICLE ISN'T WORKING RIGHDEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. *AK
7028091999 WINDSTARJanuary 26, 19990074200THE VEHICLES ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, WE CALLED FORD SERVICE, SAID NOT TO WORRY KEEP FLUIDS FILLED AND YOU SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAD A VOLUNTARY SERVICE RECALL FROM FORD FOR A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM, THE LETTER IS DATED 6/98, WE WERE NEVER TOLD OF THE PROBLEM AND WE HAD OUR VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE IN BOTH 6 AND 8/98. UPON BRINGING OUR VEHICLE IN TO FILL OUT THE PAPER WORK THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD US THAT IT WAS OK TO DRIVE, WE LEFT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE AN OPENING UNTIL 2/3/99, LATER THAT DAY THE TEMPARTURE GAUGE ROSE TO HOT, SO WE WENT BACK TO DEALER, THEY SAID LEAVE THE VEHICLE ON FRIDAY WE WERE TOLD THE ENGINE IS GONE..FORD WON'T COVER. IF FORD KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM, WHY ISN'T IT KNOWN TO OWNERS? WE LIVE IN UPSTATE NY, WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY ENGINE WOULD HAVE GONE OUT IN A SNOW STORM? WE CARRY CHILDREN IN THESE VANS, DOES SOMEONE NEED TO GET INJURED BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE? WHERE HAVE OUR ETHICS GONE IN THIS COUNTRY?? CHECK THE INTERNET MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCE ..WWW.FOR
7029211999 WINDSTARJanuary 30, 19990060215IN JUNE 1998, FORD MOTOR IDENTIFIED A PROBLEM WITH DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS. WE WERE MAILED A LETTER FROM FORD THAT PROVIDED EXTENDED WARRANTY UNTIL 12/98 OR 60,000 MILES. ON 1/30 @ 60,215 MILES, OUR VEHICHLE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. FORD WILL NOT PROVIDE ANY REIMBURSEMENT. THIS IS NOT RIGHT. WHAT CAN WE DO? *AK
7032421998 WINDSTARDecember 15, 19980070000DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS LEAK COOLANT INTO COMBUSTION CHAMBER. FORD RECOGNIZES THIS PROBLEM (SERVICE PROGRAM 98M01) BUT WONT FIX VEHICLES AFTER 60000 MILES OR A CUTOFF DATE ASSOCIATED WITH THE SALE DATE. MINE HAD SYMPTOMS IN DEC 97, BUT SERVICE EITHER DIDN'T RECOGNIZE SYMPTOM OR IGNORED IT DUE TO WORK OVERLOAD. FORD SHUNS MY PROBLEM AND I AM LEFT WITH A NICE CAR THAT NEEDS $1000+ IN ENGINE REPAIRS ON A KNOWN PROBLEM JUST BECAUSE MY VEHICLE DIDN'T COMPLETELY FAIL BEFORE THE EXPIRATION.
7032691997 WINDSTARFebruary 15, 19970055000ON THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET ISSUE, I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD LAST MAY 1998 AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT INSPECTED. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY CHECK THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE GASKET. NOW I AM FACE WITH MAJOR REPAIRS ON THE ENGINE. THE FUEL TANK IS EXTREMELY SLOW FILLING. I FEAR A POTENTIAL FIRE OR EXPLOSION RELATED TO THE FUEL FILLER ISSUE. THE TRANSMISSION GROANS MOSTLY IN THE MORNING AND AT TIMES DOES NOT ENGAGE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. ALSO THE FORM WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED EARLY IN THE VEHICLES LIFE , ANOTHER EXPENSIVE REPAIR WAS NECESSARY. THERE IS NO TEMPERATURE CONTROL TO MODIFY THE REAR HEATER TEMPERATURE.
7038711998 WINDSTARDecember 22, 19980061000ON 12/22/98 VEHICLE OVERHEATED. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE CLOSEST SERVICE STATION FOR FEAR OF DAMAGING THE ENGINE. THE SERVICE STATION REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT. CAR OVERHEATED AGAIN, IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP THAT REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT. UPON HEARING "HEAD GASKET" REMEMBERED THE WARRANTY LETTER. TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS, BUT DEALER SAID FORD WOULD NOT COVER. THE CONDITION DESCRIBED IN THE LETTER WAS INDEED EXHIBITED WITHIN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD, BUT FORD REFUSED THREE TIMES TO BACK EXTENDED WARRANTY.
7039201999 WINDSTARFebruary 17, 19990076500MY VEHICLE'S HEAD GASKETS 'BLEW' WHICH RESULTED IN WATER/COOLANT IN MY ENGINE/OIL PAN RESULTING IN THE REQUIREMENT FOR A NEW ENGINE BLOCK. I DID NOT HAVE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. FORD AGREED THERE WAS A RECALL/EXTENDED WARRANTY GIVEN TO ALL WINDSTARS FOR DEFAULTY HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS BUT THEY WOULD ONLY COVER THROUGH 12/31/98 SO WOULD NOT COVER MY CAR. I WAS NEVER NOTIIED. BASED UPON DISCUSSIONS WITH NUMEROUS OWNERS, THIS IS AN INHERENT PROBLEM IN ALL WINDSTARS. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. MY FRIEND'S WINDSTAR, 1995, REPLACED HER TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND AIR CONDITIONER BUT SHE HAD THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THESE CARS ARE NOT SAFE AND ARE ALL LEMONS.
7039711999 WINDSTARFebruary 24, 19990071321HEAD GASKETS FAILED. FORD AWARE THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW, BUT WILL NOT COVER IT.
7039931999 WINDSTARJanuary 26, 19990083300I NOTICE WHITE SMOKE FROM MY EXHAUST PIPE PLUS THE CAR STARTED OVERHEATING. I HAD CAR TOWED INTO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF THE EXTENSIVE OVERHEATING. THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS A BLOWN HEADGASKET. FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS DEFECT BUT HAS REFUSED TO CORRECT AND REIMBURSE THE NUMEROUS WINDSTAR OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. I WAS INFORMED THAT I MISSED THEIR OWNER'S NOTIFICATION PROGRAM BY ONE MONTH, HOWEVER I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS PROGRAM UNTIL IT WAS TO LATE (PROGRAM END-DATE 31 DEC 98). I CALLED THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND RECEIVED NO COMPENSATION OR RESOLUTION. PLEASE ASSIST IN THIS MATTER. ALL 95 FORD WINDSTARS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BLOW THEIR HEADGASKET DUE TO A DESIGN FAULT BUT FORD REFUSES TO ADMIT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE
7040111999 WINDSTARFebruary 25, 19990052950DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 72MPH WHEN THE MOTOR SUDDENLY, WITHOUT ANY WARNING STOPPED RUNNING. TRAFFIC HAD TO STEER AROUND ME TO AVOID A COLLISION, HAD IT TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP AND THEY SAID I LOST THE LOWER END OF THE MOTOR WILL NEED A NEW MOTOR TO REPLACE IT. THE HEATER STOPPED WORKING DUE TO A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET.
7040331998 WINDSTAROctober 20, 19980059000I HAVE SPENT A TOTAL OF $5,000.00 IN REPAIRS FOR OUR 1995 FORD WINDSTAR VAN - A 3.8 ENGINE, 6 CYCLINDERS. FORD SENT OUT A NOTICE IN JUNE OF 1998 ADVISING THE DRIVERS OF 1995 FORD WINDSTARS THAT THEY WOULD POSSIBLY EXPERIENCE HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS. FORD S
7040741999 WINDSTARFebruary 06, 19990062000THE HEAD GASKETS FAILED AT 62000 MILES ON 6 FEB 99. FORD KNEW ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE GASKETS, BUT SENT A NOTIFICATION LETTER TO COVER THE COSTS AS LONG AS FAILURE OCCURRED BEFORE 31 DEC 98, OR 60000 MILES. I CONTEND THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE PAID FOR ALL REPAIRS, ON ALL SIMILAR VEHICLES WITHOUT OIMPOSING A MILEAGE LIMIT. THE FORD DEALER AGREES, BUT TELLS ME THAT THEIR HANDS ARE TIED BECAUSE THE PARENT COMPANY WILL NOT REIMBURSE THEM FOR REPAIRS THEY IMPLEMENT FREE OF CHARGE. FORD IS CHEATING THEIR CUSTOMERS.
7041451998 WINDSTARMarch 07, 19980045907ENGINE HEAD GASKETS BLOWN CAUSING CRACKED HEADS. FORD EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 60,000 MILES BUT FAILED TO NOTIFY OWNERS. ALSO, REPLACED ENTIRE BRAKE ASSEMBLY AT 50,000 MILES, ABS NEVER WORKED, AND PLASTIC DOOR PANEL ON SLIDING DOOR FELL OFF. TRANSMISSION SLIPS, DOWNSHIFTS, OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHES, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF, AND VEHICLE ACCELERATES SLUGGISHLY.
7041461995 WINDSTAR 0000000TRANSMISSIONS HAS BEEN ALWAYS A PROBLEM. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NEW IT WAS TAKEN SEVERAL TIMES TO THE DEALER THAT AFTER IT IS PLACED ON PARK, THETHERE IS A PLAY OF ABOUT 3 -4 INCHES AND THE VEHICLE MOVES FORWARD BY 3 - 4 INCHES. WAS TOLD THAT IS THE DESIGN OF THIS TYPE OF TRANSMISSION FROM FORD. WAS NOT SATISFIED AT ALL. ALL ALONG PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. FINALLY IT GAVE WAY AT 49, 000 MILES. HAD A REBUILT INSTALLED AND THAT TOO GAVE WAY AT 61K. NOW A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AT 65K. OTHER NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS TO LIST. FORD IS RIPPING OFF CONSUMERS.
7042611999 WINDSTARMarch 08, 19990078000ENGINE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING COOLANT. I CONTACTED DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR 5 YEARS AND 60K MILES WHICH I HAVE EXCEEDED. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALL NOTICE. THE DEALER REFUSED TO OFFER ANY HELP.
7042681999 WINDSTARMarch 03, 19990064400NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE FROM FORD ABOUT A "HEAD GASKET CHECK" OR AN EXTENSION ON THE ENGINE WARRANTY. LOCAL FORD DEALER WOULD NOT CONSIDER COVERING ENGINE HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT DUE TO OUT OF WARRANTY.
7042731999 WINDSTARFebruary 01, 19990078300LEAK OF COOLANT IN HEAD GASKET CAUSED FLUID TO ENTER ENGINE BLOCK CAUSING DAMAGE TO BEARINGS AND VALVES
8358561999 WINDSTARFebruary 20, 19990070000ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROIMATELY 35 MPH. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE COST OF REPAIR WOULD GO TO CONSUMER. *AK
7033141999 WINDSTARFebruary 13, 19990064900THERE MAY BE OTHER UNDERLYING PROBLEMS THAT CASUED HEAD GASKET TO BLOW, BUT THIS CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO EXTREME DAMAGE FROM COOLANT IN THE ENGINE, 3RD CYLINDER AND EXHAUST SYSTEM. *AK
7033101999 WINDSTARFebruary 12, 19990069000FAILURE OF ENGINE HEAD GASKET 2 MONTHS BEYOND FORD'S "EXTENSION" OF RECALL NOTICE 98M01 FOR THIS PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED ISSUE WITH FORD 3.8L 6CYL ENGINES. FORD IS REFUSING TO PROVIDE ANY RELIEF ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE ADMITTED THAT THE FAILURE IS DUE TO POOR PARTS. THE FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS STATED THAT FORD HAS KNOWN THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTED AS FAR BACK AS '91, BUT CONTINUED TO USE THE POOR QUALITY PARTS. *AK
7033081999 WINDSTARFebruary 05, 19990075000A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE, AND A BULLETIN WAS RELEASED BUT HAD A MILEAGE AND TIME LIMIT WHICH I AM SLIGHTLY OVER, FORCING ME TO PAY $1,000.00 FOR REPAIRS. *AK
7033971999 WINDSTARFebruary 16, 19990061820I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE WAS A LETTER SENT TO SOME OWNERS OF WINDSTARS STATING THAT THE HEAD GASKETS WERE DEFECTIVE, HOWEVER I NEVER RECEIVED THIS LETTER. *AK
7044091999 WINDSTARFebruary 13, 19990047000I BLEW THE HEAD GASKET ON THE ENGINE 2 WEEKS AGO,AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS READY TO GO AS WELL..AFTER ALL THE PEOPLE WITH THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM,IM SURPRISED FORD HASNT HAD A RECALL ON THIS AS YET.I KNOW I LIVE IN CANADA BUT I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME IN SOME WAY..TKS VERY MUCH...
7044571998 WINDSTARDecember 20, 19980079000HEAD GASKETS BLEW DURING 12/98. THIS SITUATION COULD POSSIBLY CASE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH UNDER HIGHER SPEEDS. FORD WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR OF THE ENGINE BECAUSE I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN ON 1/4/99, 4 DAYS AFTER THEIR WARRANTY PROGRAM 98M01 EXPIRED. EVEN THOUGH THE DEALER HAD TESTED THE HEAD GASKETS AS GOOD DURING 10/98. ONLY TWO MONTHS EARLIER. THIS IS A SERIOUS AND PERVASIVE PROBLEM THAT FORD SHOULD ISSUE A FULL RECALL FOR. THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO AVOID THE ISSUE WITH THEIR 98M01 PROGRAM.
7045441995 WINDSTAR 0000000CALLED THE DEALER ABOUT THE TROUBLED HEAD GASKET. DEALER COMMENTED THAT THERE IS A RECALL, BUT THE MILLAGE CAN'T EXCEED 60K. I TOLD THE DEALER THAT THERE WAS ANOTHER RECALL ON THE PASSENGER AIR BAG "EYE BURNING GASES WHEN DEPLOYED" THE DEALER COMMENTED THE RECALL, BUT AGAIN THE MILLEGE OF THE VEHICLE COULDN'T EXCEED 50,000. AT NO TIME DID I RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE. ALSO, I'M NOW HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION "PARK SELECTION". IT WON'T RELEASE OR DIS-ENGAGE.
7045591998 WINDSTARDecember 16, 19980071000HEAD GASKETS FAILED COMPLETELY. UPON BRINGING TO FORD DEALER, INFORMED THAT THEY KNOW PROBLEM EXISTED. NEVER CONTACTED ABOUT THE EXISTENCE OF THE PROBLEM. FORD COMPANY CONTACTED SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT MY SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR TOWING CHARGES INCURRED. BASICALLY, THE FORD COMPANY IS NOT COOPERATING.
7819561999 WINDSTARFebruary 10, 19990073000REAR AXLE BROKE, AND ENGINE HEAD GASKETS BLEW OUT.
7034321999 WINDSTARFebruary 11, 19990071000A RECALL LETTER RECEIVED IN JUNE OF 1998 STATED THAT HEAD GASKET REPAIR WAS COVERED UNTIL DEC,31.98. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT FORD IS VERY AWARE OF AND SHOULD COVER REPAIR EVEN THOUGH IN MY CASE I AM PAST 60.OOO MILES AND IT IS PAST DEC. 31,98. MY REPAIR BILL IS APPROX. $800.00 FOR THIS, AND THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY TO ME, ESPECIALLY SINCE I AM STRUGGLING TO PAY PAYMENTS ON THIS VEHICLE. *AK
7034581999 WINDSTARFebruary 18, 19990079240I AM SURE THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN ON THE ENGINE. I HAD HIGH ENGINE TEMPERATURE, AND WHITE SMOKE WITH WATER COMING FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE PERSON THAT TOWED MY VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALER SAID THAT MY WINDSTAR WAS THE 5TH FORD HE HAS TOWED IN THIS WEEK WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, THEY WERE ALL 1995 FORD'S WITH A 3.8 LITER V-6. I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE FORD DEALER IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS ENGINE ,AND HE SAID THERE WAS, BUT REAPAIRS HAD TO BE MADE BEFORE DEC. 31, 1998. I WAS NOT AWARE OF A RECALL OR SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM, IF THIS IS HAPPENING TO SO MANY CARS AND TRUCKS JUST IN THE TULSA OK AREA, THERE IS CERTAINLY A TREND. *AK
7034681999 WINDSTARJanuary 20, 19990064000HEAD GASKET FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER RECALL PERIOD HAD EXPIRED. FORD RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF HEAD GASKET AT OWNER'S COST. AFTER HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT, VEHICLE ENGINE WOULD NOT OPERATE PROPERLY, AND FORD DEALER DECIDED THE ENGINE WAS PREVIOUSLY DAMAGED BECAUSE OF THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE IN MONTHS PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE. FORD WILL NOT COVER ENGINE DAMAGE. *AK
8361931997 WINDSTARJuly 01, 19970040000IE98080, THE COOLANT IS LEAKING FROM ENGINE HEAD GASKET WHICH MAY RESULT IN A FIRE, ENGINE SIEZED WHILE DRIVING AND ENGINE PROBLEMS RESULTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
7035181999 WINDSTARJanuary 14, 19990081260ENGIN EHEAD GASKET FAILED 14 DAYS AFTER EXPIRATION OF EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAM. *AK
8362731999 WINDSTARMarch 13, 19990079000CONSUMER RECEIVED A SAFETY BULLETIN DATED JUNE-98 REGARDING ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. CONSUMER EXPRIENCED THE PROBLEM IN MARCH-99 AND THE BULLETIN HAS EXPIRED. *AK
8363841998 WINDSTARNovember 21, 19980063000WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT AND THE ANT-IFREEZE LEAKED OUT INTO THE OIL. *AK
8364841999 WINDSTARMarch 29, 19990089000IE98080; WHILE DRIVING ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED IN AN INTERSECTION WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. FORD DID AN OWNER'S NOTIFICATION FOR THE HEAD GASKETS, BUT IT WAS ON DECEMBER 31, 1998. AT THAT TIME OCCUPANT DID HAVE VEHICLE INSPECTED, BUT IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH HEAD GASKETS. BUT, IN MAR 99, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HEAD GASKET FAILURE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
8364931998 WINDSTARDecember 14, 19980055000HAD RECEIVED A SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING ENGINE HEAD GASKETS. DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPAIR UNLESS HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN OUT. HAD TO GET TIMING CHAIN REPLACED. THE MOTOR BLEW OUT & ANTI-FREEZE LEAKED THROUGH THE MOTOR. *AK
7048631999 WINDSTARMarch 23, 19990067000ON 3-21-99, WAS PERFORMING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ON VEHICLE AND FOUND TRACES OF OIL IN RADIATOR. EXPERIENCE TELLS ME THAT THIS MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH HEAD GASKET FAILURE. ON 3-23-99, SPOUSE DRIVING VEHICLE ADVISED OF TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATIONS AND VEHICLE FOUND TO HAVE LEAKED OUT RADIATOR FLUID. TOOK TO MECHANIC ON 3-24-99, AND WAS ADVISED THAT FORD 3.8 ENGINES HAVE HAD A HISTORY OF HEAD GASKET FAILURE SINCE 1993, AND THAT MECHANIC BELIEVES THE ENGINE WAS SUBJECT OF A RECALL TO REPAIR HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. SPOKE TO LOCAL DEALER-UHLMANN'S IN CHEHALIS, WA., WHO ADVISED THAT THERE HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM AND REPAIR AT THEIR FACILTIY RELATED TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE IN THIS ENGINE,. DEALER STATED FORD HAD DONE A RECALL, BUT THAT FORD WOULD NO LONGER COVER REPAIR IF OVER 60, 000 MILES ON ENGINE, PAST 12-31-98 OR IF NO EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE HAD BEEN PURCHASED. CALLED FORD REPRESENTATIVE AND WAS TOLD THAT IN MAY OF 1998, FORD HAD SENT OWNERS AN OFFER FOR EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT "WOULD" HAVE COVERED THE FAILURE, BUT THAT THEY HAD CHOSEN NOT TO ADVISE OWNERS OF THE PROBLEM AND POTENTIAL FAILURE OF PART. WAS TOLD FORD WULD NOT PROVIDE SERVICE FOR FAILURE AS PAST MILEAGE AND DATE OF OFFER TO REPAIR, AND AS I HAD NOT PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SERVICE LESS THAN 5 YEARS AND HAS APPROX. 67000 MILES ON IT AT TIME OF HEAD GASKET FAILURE. REPAIR COST ESTIMATED AT ABOUT $1400. *AK
8367891998 WINDSTARDecember 02, 19980069000CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING. ANTI-FREEZE WAS COMING OUT FROM HEAD GASKET. *AK
7048881999 WINDSTARJanuary 18, 19990059363ON 1/18/99, VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AFTER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. ENGINE HAD BEEN IDLING AND RUNNING ROUGH--"LURCHING" AS NOTED IN SERVICE INVOICE. VEHICLE HAD 59363 MILES. HAD VEHICLE SERVICED AT NEAREST EQUIPPED SERVICE CENTER--MERIT INC, A GOODYEAR SERVICE CENTER. THEY PERFORMED MOST OF A 60,000 MI SERVICE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT RETURNED TO NORMAL OPERATION AND ENGINE OPERATION IMPROVED, BUT STILL RAN ROUGHER THAN NORMAL. WE RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO MERIT ON 1/20, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO OFFER FURTHER INSIGHTS ON PROBLEM. PROBLEM REMAINED UNCHANGED FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, THEN GOT NOTICEABLY WORSE THE WEEKEND OF 2/20. ON 2/22 OR 23, WE CALLED CROSSROADS FORD IN RALEIGH, NC, DESCRIBING THE PROBLEM AND RECENT HISTORY. THE FIRST AVAILABLE APPOINTMENT THEY OFFERED WAS LATER THE FOLLOWING WEEK, SO AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE FOR 3/5. ON THE EVENING OF 2/26, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AT 61,054 MILES. THE CAR WAS STOPPED AND ENGINE TURNED OFF BEFORE THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEEDLE REACHED RED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CROSSROADS FORD THE FOLLOWING MONDAY. THEY ATTRIBUTED THE PROBLEM TO THE HEAD GASKET DEFECT NOTED IN SERVICE PROGRAM 98M01, AND ADVISED REPLACING THE ENGINE AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF JUST OVER $3400. DEALER AND FORD REFUSED TO COVER UNDER THE WARRANTY DESCRIBED IN THE SERVICE PROGRAM, EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM BEGAN WITHIN THE 5-YR, 60,000 MI PERIOD COVERED. *AK
7049401999 WINDSTARMarch 08, 19990068306FORD ADMITTED IN A LETTER TO ME IN JUNE 1998 UNDER SERVICE PROGRAM 98M01 THAT THE HEAD GASKETS COULD FAIL PREMATURELY. IF THE CONDITION OCCURRED WITHIN 5 YRS OR 60,000 MILES OR BY THE END OF 1998, TO BRING THE VAN IN AND THEY WOULD REPLACE THE HEAD GASKETS. MY VAN HEAD GASKETS FAILED ON MARCH 8TH,1999, AND WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT MY VAN DID NOT FALL WITHIN THE SERVICE PROGRAM. SINCE FORD HAS ADMITTED THAT THERE IS A DEFECT WITH THE HEAD ASKETS THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKETS AT NO CHARGE REGARDLESS OF WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. I WROTE A LETTER TO MR. KUDAK WITH FORD, AND DID NOT RECEIVE A WRITTEN OR VERBAL RESPONSE. *AK
7049501998 WINDSTARNovember 13, 19980060000BRAKES SQUEAK AND GROWL, BUT SO FAR HAVE STOPPED THE VEHICLE WHEN APPLIED. THEY DON'T SHOW ANY UNUSUAL WEAR. I WOULD LIKE FORD MOTOR CO. TO REIMBURSE ME FOR $1307.00 FOR THE HEAD GASKET REPAIR SINCE I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF A RECALL. *AK
7049771998 WINDSTARAugust 01, 19980080000THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE SINCE WE BOUGHT IT NEW FOR ENGINE CHECK LIGHTS AND POOR RUNABILITY. COMPRESSION TESTS RAN IN NOVEMBER BECAUSE ENGINE RAN POORLY. DEALER REPLACED OXYGEN SENSORS ,AND THEN A MONTH AND A HALF LATER, THE HEAD GASKET FAILED. FORD WOULD NOT HONOR THE RECALL SINCE IT EXPIRED ON DEC. 31,1999. I THINK THE DEALER MISSED THE DIAGNOSIS ALL ALONG, THE GASKET WAS FAILING. THE FAILURES OF THE GASKET AND TRANSMISSION ALONG WITH THE NUMEROUS SENSOR REPLACEMENTS HAS COST ME ABOUT $5800. THESE PROBLEMS ARE TOO NUMEROUS IN NUMBERS, MANY 95 FORD WINDSTAR OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME OR WORST PROBLEMS. THESE PROBLEMS ARE WELL KNOWN TO FORD AND THEY REFUSE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. YOU MUST MAKE THESE RECALL ISSUES TO FORCE THEM TO IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY. *AK
7050151999 WINDSTARMarch 04, 19990089000RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD JUNE, 1998 STATING THAT PREMATURE FAILURE OF HEAD GASKETS MAY OCCUR. THEY WOULD PAY FOR THIS IF VAN IS LESS THAN 5 YRS OLD OR HAS LESS THAN 60,000 MILES OR IF HEAD GASKET FAILS BETWEEN JUNE, 1998 & DECEMBER, 1998. OUR VAN HAD 89,000 MILES & HEAD GASKET FAILED MARCH 3, 1999. FORD WOULD NOT PAY. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPT. 03/28/99. THEY SAID THAT OUR ONLY RECOURSE IS TO WAIT TO SEE IF FORD ISSUES ANOTHER NO-CHARGE WARRANTY FOR THIS COVERAGE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. *AK
7050221999 WINDSTARFebruary 15, 19990064981ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED JUST AFTER RECALL EXPIRED. IT WAS TESTED ONLY A FEW MONTHS BEFORE AND TESTED OK. *AK
7050551999 WINDSTARMarch 15, 19990061000FORD HAS BEEN NOTIFIED THAT I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION FOR ANY HEAD GASKET PROBLEM WHICH IS NOW COSTING ME AN EXCESS AMOUNT OF MONEY.
7050661999 WINDSTARMarch 27, 19990063000HEAD GASKET FAILED, CAUSING STARTER NOSE TO SHEAR OFF, AND COOLANT TO BE EJECTED ONTO EMISSION CONTROL COMPONENTS, INCLUDING CATALYTIC CONVERTER) AND OUT OF EXHAUST SYSTEM. *AK
7047651999 WINDSTARMarch 11, 19990062000FORD APPARENTLY SENT OUT A BULLETIN ON HEAD GASKETS IN 1998. WE DID NOT RECEIVE SUCH A BULLETIN. IF WE DID, I WOULD HAVE CONTACTED FORD AT THAT TIME TO SCHEDULE A GASKET REPLACEMENT. FORD REPS ARE TELLING ME THAT IT DOES NOT MATTER IF I GOT THE LETTER OR NOT. MY GASKET BLEW IN 1999 SO THEY ARE BEARING NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIRING THE DAMAGE DONE TO MY CAR (ONE NEW HEAD, AND A PROPOSAL TO PUT IN A NEW ENGINE!). I MAINTAIN THAT I WOULD HAVE HAD HAD MY GASKETS REPLACED LAST YEAR REGARDLESS OF THEIR CONDITION. FORD'S ARGUMENT ABOUT THE CLOCK RUNNING OUT ON DEC 31, 1998 IS SPECIOUS. MY HEAD GASKET WAS DEFECTIVE. IT DID NOT GET ANY BETTER AFTER DECEMBER 31. FORD NEEDS TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ENGINEERING. *AK
7047201998 WINDSTARDecember 05, 19980061000FORD COVERED THE COST FOR THE HEAD GASKET AT 117000KMS. BUT AS YET HAVE NOT REPORTED TO THEM ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION UNTILL I GET THE FINAL BILL (TUES. MARCH 23/99) I HAVE NOW 126000KMS ON VEHICLE. I AM A RESIDENT OF CANADA, AND WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT COMPLAINT TO AN AUTHORITY HERE IF YOU COULD ADVISE ME OF ONE. THANKS. *AK
7047251999 WINDSTARMarch 19, 19990093891ORIGINAL HEAD GASKET LEAKED COOLANT INTO CYLINDER # 3 MAKING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON. ENGINE SHUDDERED AND SMOKED/STEAM AND WATER CAME OUT OF EXHAUST PIPE. HAS FORD RECALLED THIS PROBLEM? SEEMS LIKE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MORE THAN ONE OWNER.
8368201995 WINDSTAR 0011490COOLANT LEAKAGE IS CAUSING ENGINE HEAD GASKE/TIMING BELT AND WATER GASKET TO FAIL. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE WHAT IS CAUSING THE COOLANT LEAKAGE. *AK
7048651997 WINDSTARNovember 28, 19970060000INITIALLY, THE PROBLEM WAS A LOSS OF COOLANT AND AN INABILITY OF THE HEATER TO PRODUCE HOT AIR. AFTER A TRIP TO THE DEALER, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE TIMING COVER, WATER PUMP AND HEAD GASKETS HAD LEAKED, AND REPLACING THE GASKETS WOULD CURE THE PROBLEM. WITHIN 500 MILES, OUT OF STATE, THE ENGINE KNOCKED HORRIBLY, THEN STALLED. WE HAD THE VAN TOWED TO MOCK FORD IN GRANT'S PASS, OREGON. AFTER AN ENGINE TEARDOWN, WE WERE NOTIFIED THAT A ROD BEARING HAD SPUN, SEIZING THE ENGINE. FORD IN OREGON WOULDN'T HELP US, FORD IN CALIFORNIA WOULDN'T TALK TO FORD IN OREGON AND HENRY CURTIS WOULDN'T HELP US. SUBSEQUENTLY, FORD HAS HAD A RECALL ON THE HEAD GASKETS AND WE'VE GOTTEN A REFUND FOR THE GASKETS. SINCE THE REPLACEMENT GASKETS BLEW AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE, I TEND TO FEEL FORD SHOULD COVER THE REPLACEMENT OR REPAIR OF THE ENGINE. HENRY CURTIS HAS REFUSED TO COOPERATE WITH US, AND FORD'S WARRANTY REPS WON'T TALK WITH US. I'M AWARE OF THE NUMEROUS SIMILAR WINDSTAR PROBLEMS, AND I INVITE YOU TO BROWSE "WWW.CARTRACKERS.COM/FORUMS/MECHGOBLINS/HTML" *AK
5445551997 WINDSTARDecember 26, 19970000000VEHICLE EXPERIENCED CON