1996 FORD WINDSTAR Complaints

ABS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONSTANT, REPLACED O2 SENSOR, REPLACED ABS BRAKES, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS CAUSING VEHICLE TO JERK AND NOT CHANGE GEARS WHEN RUNNING OR PARKED, COOLANT LEAKING AND DOOR SENSORS ARE BAD. ALL DOCUMENT KNOWN ISSUES ON.*JB HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/MODELYEAR_FORD_WINDSTAR_1996.HTML - SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. THIS HAS GONE ON FAR TO LONG AND IS PUTTING PEOPLES LIFE AT STAKE. I HAVE CHILDREN IN MY VAN AND ALL OF THESE ARE BIG ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESS IMMEDIATELY.

THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD, A NOISE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AND THEN THE ENGINE STALLED. *JB

INTAKE GASKET OVER PASSENGER FRONT WHEEL WELL LEAKING COOLANT ABS BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON DURING WARM WEATHER AND ON BUMPY ROADS

HEAD GASKET FAILED LEADING TO COOLANT ENTERING CYLINDERS. VAN HAD JUST 70,000 MILES AND THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM. REPAIR AT FORD DEALERSHIP WAS $1,300. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE 1996 WINDSTARS.

I HAVE A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR (3.8-LITER ENGINE) WITH ALMOST 78,000 MILES. I'VE OWNED IS SINCE IT WAS NEW. IT EXPERIENCED A BLOWN HEAD GASKET 3 WEEKS AGO. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT BERT WEINMAN FORD HERE IN CHICAGO RECOMMENDED THAT I REPLACE THE ENGINE. I DID SO AT A PRICE OF ALMOST $4500. FROM WHAT I KNOW, FORD HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH HEAD GASKETS IN THIS ENGINE. THEY HAVE OFFERED EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR SOME MODEL YEARS, BUT NONE WHICH COVERS MY VEHICLE.

THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO WHAT APPEARS TO BE AN EXCESSIVE NUMBER OF 1996 FORD WINDSTAR'S WITH THE 3.8 ENGINE HAVING MULTIPLE HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS. MY VEHICLE IS NOW HAVING TO BE REPLACED AFTER A THIRD HEAD GASKET HAS TO BE REPLACED.

THE APPARENTLY COMMON BLOWN HEAD GASKET ON THE 3.8L ENGINE HAS OCCURRED ON MY '96 FORD WINDSTAR. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE LOCAL FORD SERVICE CENTER THAT FORD IS NOT COMPENSATING OWNERS FOR THIS OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW.

THE HEAD GASKET ON MY 1996 FOR WINDSTAR HAS FAILED AT AROUND 93,000 MILES. I HAVE GONE TO MANY WEBSITES WITH HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS SAME ENGINE, IN THE 1995 WINDSTAR(EVEN THOUGH FORD SAID THAT THEY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM) WAS RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I CAN SEE THAT IF THIS WERE A RARE CASE OF GASKET FAILURE, IT WOULD NOT MATTER VERY MUCH, BUT SEEING THAT HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM BOTHERS ME. FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. I DO NOT KNOW HOW A RECALL GETS STARTED, BUT WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS ONE DONE. THANK YOU

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE ANTI-FREEZE AND OIL NOT TO CIRCULATE THROUGH THE ENGINE.*JB

THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE HEAD COVER GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CUSTOMER WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR EXPENSES.*JB