1996 FORD WINDSTAR Complaints

I HAVE 1996 WINDSTAR (85K) 3.8 V-6 WITH A COOLANT LEAK IN THE >COMBUSTION CHAMBER. IT DEVELOPED LAST YEAR. I KNOW THIS IS A >CHRONIC PROBLEM THAT PLAGUED 1994/1995 3.8 V-6 WINDSTARS TOO. >FORD EXTENDED THEIR WARRANTIES TO 7 YEARS & 100,000 MILES. WHILE >FORD MADE SOME CHANGES TO THE '96 MODELS, THEY DIDN'T REALLY >UPGRADE THE HEAD GASKET UNTIL 1997. >PLEASE SEE LINK. >HTTP://WWW.EDMUNDS.COM/OWNERSHIP/DRIVING/ARTICLES/42970/ARTICLE.H >TML) >I HAVE SEEARCHED THE WEB AND HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE MANY '96 >WINDSTAR AS WELL AS OTHER 3.8 V-6 FORD OWNERS WHO ARE HAVING >SIMILAR PROBLEMS. >(HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/FORD_WND_96_GAS.HTM) >HOW CAN I GET FORD TO BITE THE BULLET AN ADMIT THAT THERE IS AN >ON GOING PROBLEM AND FIX MY CAR?

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO COLLIDE WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK

TRIED TO STOP VEHICLE AS WE ENTERED INTERSECTION, HOWEVER BRAKES FAILED DUE TO CORRODED BRAKE LINE. THREE CARS IN ACCIDENT.

SPEEDOMETER IS NO LONGER SHOWING THE ACTUAL SPEED DRIVEN, NEEDLE JUMPS AROUND, IF DRIVING 75MPH IT SHOWS 120MPH. THIS HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS, THERE IS ALSO A TICKING NOISE. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY A DEALER.*AK

PROBLEMS WITH GAS FUMES COMING FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM.*MR( DORIS STEWART ON BEHALF OF HER PARENTS ROBERT STEWART AND JACQUELINE STEWART).*TS. THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AT IDLE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEAD GASKETS, THE AIR CONDITION STOPPED WORKING AND THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE. *JB

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO STATED THERE WAS NO WARRANTY FOR THE DEFECT. *TS *PH *JB

THE CONSUMER REQUESTED ASSISTANCE TO GET FORD TO EXTEND THEIR HEAD GASKET RECALL TO INCLUDE THE 1996 FORD WINDSTAR. THE GASKET ON THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *NLM *JB

WHILE DRIVING 10-15 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKE, THE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKES. A RUPTURE IN THE BRAKE LINE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. *AK

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

SPEEDOMETER FAILED. BUZZING SOUND COMING FROM SPEEDOMETER. SPEEDOMETER SWINGS WILDLY FROM 0 TO 120 MPH. SPEEDOMETER NOT RECORDING ACTUAL SPEED.*AK