1996 FORD WINDSTAR Complaints

96 WINDSTAR 3.8L ENGINE .BLOWN HEAD GASKET .90,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. DEALER QUOTE $1500. -$1800. TO REPAIR HEAD GASKET. SERVICE MANAGER SUGGESTED REPLACE ENGINE $4000. SERVICE MANAGER ADMITTED THERE IS A DEFINITE PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE FORD KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM . THE SERVICE MANAGER GAVE ME THE TELEPHONE # FOR FORD CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS AND WISHED ME GOOD LUCK. THREE INDEPENDENT MECHANICS TOLD ME THERE IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM WITH THE 3.8L ENGINE AND WINDSTARS. ONE OF THE MECHANICS " 9 OUT OF 10 WINDSTARS BLOW HEAD GASKETS". HIS SUGGESTION OF VEHICLES TO AVOID WHEN SHOPPING FOR A VEHICLE -------------FORD WINDSTAR-------- FORD DEALER OFFERED TO TAKE MY WINDSTAR IN TRADE AND THEY WOULD RE-WHOLESALE THE VEHICLE NOT REPAIR IT. NO THANKS FORD WILL BE LAST ON MY LIST OF VEHICLE'S TO OWN." MADE IN AMERICA AND PROUD OF IT" ??? HOW ABOUT IT FORD? *NLM

MY 1996 FORD WINDSTAR WAS PARKED "IN PARK" IN MY DRIVEWAY, WITHOUT THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION, AND JUST ROLLED DOWNED THE DRIVEWAY AND CRASHED INTO A STONE WALL. THERE IS SIGNIFICANT UNDERCARRIAGE DAMAGE TO THE CAR AND WALL DAMAGE. *NLM

1996 FORD WINDSTAR 3.8 LITER ENGINE WITH 83,000 MILES ON IT BLEW HEAD GASKET IN DECEMBER 2002. PAID OVER $1200 FOR REPAIRS. SENT A COMPLAINT TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY REQUESTING ASSISTANCE. RESPONSE WAS THAT THE 1996 MODEL IS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL. JUNE 19, 2003 AFTER PAYING REPAIRS MENTIONED ABOVE, THE ENGINE BLEW. THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY DISABLED AND WILL COST OVER $3500 TO REPAIR. *NLM

PROBLEMS WITH HEAD GASKETS / IF COMPRESSION CHECK HAD BEEN DONE BENDING OF PISTON RODS MAY NOT HAVE OCCURRED. *MR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED, ROUGH IDLE ALONG WITH THE SMELL OF ANTI FREEZE(INDICATED A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM), THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON AS A RESULT OF A MISFIRE CODE(THE RADIATOR WAS FLUSHED), THERE WERE NOISES THAT HAD COME FROM THE ENGINE(LOST POWER/SLOWED TO A CRAWL), AND THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT SOMETHING HAD COME LOOSE IN THE ENGINE. (THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT MISS IN CYLINDER #1) THE ROUGH IDLE AND THE SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE WAS REPAIRED, THE SERVICE DEALER RECOMMENDED THE CONSUMER REPLACE THE ENGINE. *SCC *JB

CONSUMER HAD JUST PARKED AND EXITED VEHICLE WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD WITHOUT WARNING.*AK

ENGINE SPEWING WATER. DIAGNOSED AS FREEZE PLUGS BLOWING 72,000 MILES. AT 42,000 MILES TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE WORKED ON. JUMPED OUT OF DRIVE TO NEUTRAL. VEHICLE HAS HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE SINCE PURCHASED NEW. *JB

1996 FORD WINDSTAR, SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTION. SPEED IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE AS THE NEEDLE FLUCTUATES WILDLY. PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED NOW FOR AT LEAST 50,000 MILES , BUT I JUST LEARNED THAT YOU SHOULD BE NOTIFIED SO THAT FORD CAN BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR POOR QUALITY AND NON SUPPORT. AS I WAS ADVISED THAT REPAIR WOULD BE ABOUT 600.00. AS I HAVE A TACH, I SIMPLY USE THIS TO DETERMINE MY SPEED. I WAS NOT ABOUT TO SPEND THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY ON WHAT I CONSIDER A DESIGN FLAW.*AK

ALL WINDOWS CAN'T BE PUT DOWN SINCE ALL FOUR MOTORS ARE NOT WORKING. DEALER WILL REPLACE AT $365.00 EACH MOTORS. *AK

THE HEAD GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED. FORD RECALLED THE 95 MODELS AND WILL NOT HONOR THE 96 MODELS. THERE WAS AN INADEQUATE PERFORMANCE AND ABNORMAL ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE INDICATIONS, COOLANT LEAKED FROM THE HEAD GASKET AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. THE DEALER MISDIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND CAUSED THE CONSUMER SPEND MORE MONEY. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A REFUND FOR THE REPAIR COST. *MR

INTERIOR LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF AND DOOR AJAR CHIME RINGS NON-STOP. ALL DOORS ARE CLOSED AND SECURED. FROM SEARCHING THE INTERNET THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD WINDSTAR'S. *NLM