Head gasket problem destroyed the engine at 117,900.
We have just put in a rebuilt engine due to a head gasket problem.
Get with it Ford, you have a problem with 96's as well, extend the warranty!!!
We have a bill of $3500, for a re-built engine. We have been happy with this van until this happened, would we buy another?? Perhaps if Ford will stand up and face the music.
We have been contacting Ford regularly, they acknowledge there are problems and say if the warranty is extended our bill will be reimbursed. If you have experienced problems, please contact them, maybe together we can make something happen for 96 owners (contact www.ford.ca).
One of the little guys, who's in need of help!!
I have a 1997 Ford Windstar GL. According to dealer where I had a front cover seal repaired in Feb. 2001, the reason I needed a new engine 4 weeks later is that antifreeze leaked into through head gasket into engine and destroyed bearings. Repair Manager says he had put in 3 to 4 new engines on Thursday 4/5/01. Spoke to Ford Motor on 4/5/01. Rep says they are aware of problem but extended wty only for 1994 & 1995's. Rep was to call me back yesterday but I have yet to hear from him. Similar story?
At 67,000 miles, it looks like we are having the head gasket problem with our 96 windstar. I don't know who to contact at Ford and would appreciate any suggestion. I am very unhappy. Also, had problems with the service at one of the Ford Dealers. They were extremely rude.
Add us to the list. Our '96 Windstar is in the shop right now, waiting for a new engine. Exact same problem... coolant leaked into crankcase and fried the bearings. Same story from Ford... warranty wasn't extended. I plan on giving the dealership one chance to reimburse the $4,000 repair cost, and then it's off to small claims court. Does any body have any ideas on how to start a Class Action Law Suit?
As a Ford service department employee, I can say everything Ford builds is junk. Remember, your service department didn't build it, buy it, or break it. Ford's word is final as far as extending warranties. We the service department cannot warranty it, it has to go through the manufacturer. Good luck with calling Fords contracted customer assistance call data center.
Our 1996 Ford Windstar blew its head gasket at 78000 miles. We have had it in the shop previously for the check engine light problem. Each time, the fix was only temporary, and the light would intermittently come on and off again. We thought of the light as "The Boy who Cried Wolf" and never knew whether to take it seriously or not. It had been on for several days, and we had decided to take it back in to the dealer, when the head gasket blew one morning in the driveway after starting. I went to the computer to see if I could find any info pertaining to white smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe, and discovered that the words "Ford Windstar" and "head gasket" had been constant companions for several years now, but you're pretty much out of luck unless you own a '94 or '95 model. I have written e-mails to several law firms who were filing class action suits on behalf of '96 Windstar owners, but two weeks later, have received no replies yet. I called Ford Consumer Affairs twice, but on each occasion, I was told that their computers were down, and that I would have to call back later.
After paying the local dealer $2500 to fix the problem, the "Check Engine" Light came on again less that 2 days later. We were informed that the O2 sensor was bad and that would cost us another $255 to repair! I asked why they didn't fix it when they fixed the head gasket, and they said it checked out fine at that time!!!
So now what do we do?
I have a 1996 Windstar. We took the vehicle into the shop since the engine light was on. Last night, I was told the head gasket is leaking. The service manager (who says she has seen lots of these) gave me the following options.
1) Replace the head gasket for $1800 (ouch) and telling us the engine will probably shortly there after.
2) Junk the vehicle or drive it till the engine fails (not practical - still owe the bank $$$$$)
3) Replace motor for $5400...
4) Sell the van and not tell the new owner the about the problem (NICE! Real ethical of her).
Today as I search the Internet it looks like the 96 is in the same league as the 95's. The only problem is that I can't see where Ford is going to do a thing about it... Any idea or am I just out of luck?
I'm a government employee who was stranded today after an apparent head gasket failure on a government owned 96 Windstar van. Only 69,000 previously trouble free miles on the vehicle which has been meticulously maintained by my technician. Had I known of the head gasket problems on the 3.8 engine, I would have never used it for any long trips and would be seeking a replacement. Why doesn't Ford just admit the 3.8 engine is a lemon and discontinue selling them? From the comments here and on numerous other web sites, it seems Ford was aware of the problem for a long time and still kept using the 3.8.
Well here's my story... The Windstar was a lemon from the word GO.. First problem was the electric rear windows. But under warranty. Then there was the brakes, Replaced the front brakes 4 times.
Then we had to replace the front struts 3 times along with the tie rod. Fuel pump went out. Check engine light several times. The rear door lock went out. Water pump went out. And now we pulled up in the driveway with steam coming from the passenger side where the overflow tank for the coolant is. Took it in to find out why the overflow coolant tank was empty. They said they could find no leaks. Hmmmmmm where did it go? They said if we kept having problems then bring it back in. Well...
Three days later while going to work the transmission would not go out of 1st gear in drive mode. But in manual it would go into 2nd but no further. Took it in to Ford and they called me and said your transmission is burnt up. AND you need a new engine, but did not say what the problem with the engine was. They estimated $5500 bucks. It has only 70k miles on it. We have put so much money into this vehicle. Isn't it funny how as soon as the warranty goes out it just falls apart. Maybe they have some little computer chip in there that tells them when to start going out. We took it to a independant transmission shop and they replaced the transmission for $1100 bucks. Ford wanted $2500. Now we are debating what to do with the engine problem, because the coolant is going somewhere. I fear the head gasket is the problem.
What are the symptoms of a blown head gasket? our 96 Windstar has its engine light flashing and is running real rough, it has only 66,000 miles.
We have a '96 Windstar too!! I suggested that we sell it a couple of months ago after 6 years of satisfactory operation (80K miles). We didn't sell it then... when we took the car in for an state inspection recently the Ford dealer informed us that the head gasket was leaking and it was "repaired" for $2660. A few days later when we took it on the highway for the first time with the new head gasket the engine developed serious problems... loss of power, noise, oil pressure light on, etc. The dealer now wants an additional $3900. to replace the engine. I'm going to get the plates off it and just leave it there. Its worthless.
I was very happy with my 96 Windstar GL until it hit the 100K mark. After that, it has been one money pit after another. In the last 10 months, I have had to replace the oxygen sensors, the master cylinder, the power booster, the motors for both back windows, the ignition module, fouled spark plugs and most recently the alternator all of this totaling well over $1000. Also, the electronic locks and anti-lock braking system are malfunctioning. I have just disconnected these for now because I can't afford to have them repaired after all the other repair work. The electronic locks started malfunctioning by just making a loud noise and engaging when we put the vehicle in drive. It eventually led to the driver's door lock continuously engaging until we pulled the fuse for it. Adding to this list, the speedometer needle was sticking. We found that taking the dash apart and adding a drop of oil to it took care of that problem. A friend that was experiencing the same problem was charged over $500 by the Ford dealer because they replaced the whole instrument panel instead of taking care of the sticky needle. Another re-occurring problem is with the back door and the dome light. On several occasions, the dome light would not go out. We found that the problem was in the back door and if we sprayed the hinges with some WD40, it took care of the problem. A hint we had learned from another Windstar owner experiencing the same problem and had been told this secret at the local Ford dealer/repair shop. The most recent repair, the alternator was a horror! We were on a trip home from Toronto when the battery light came on. Not 10 miles down the road, the alarm started to ding and the van started to "buck" real hard. We got it safely off the road and called AAA to be towed. Now, we are experiencing transmission problems and have been quoted a price of $2000 to repair that along with the cv joints and struts that are shot as well. The real predicament is what to do??? Should we pay the $2000 and keep the van or try to sell if for what we can get out of it? I have read the other horror stories about the engines and am afraid that that will be the next problem. It seems like every two to three weeks, something new is going on this vehicle and has to be replaced. I contacted Ford and was told that they are not aware of any problems with the transmission in the 96 or with any of the other problems I have experienced. This statement really upset me because my friend that has a 96 Windstar is experiencing a majority of the same problems and I have read several other people's complaints and stories on the internet. When I pointed this out to the Ford customer service representative, she told me that I can't believe everything I read on the internet and that she sympathizes with my friend and I, but could do nothing. I was also told that Ford could not help me because of the year of the vehicle and the mileage other than to refer me to an authorized Ford dealer to have them look at it. Of course that is only so they can do the repair work themselves and charge me well above the $2000 for the transmission and labor that I was quoted by an independent repair shop. I told the customer service representative I had might as well take the Ford logo off the van because after so many miles, Ford no longer stands behind their product!
I have a Ford Windstar 66,000 miles and the head gasket went. It didn't leak outside only internally. I didn't realize it until it was to late and the coolant destroyed the main bearings. I spent 3,500 dollars putting in a rebuilt engine in. I started to investigate more and found a lot of other Windstar owners in the same fix. How can I recoup my losses. I called Ford costumer service and got the run around. I read that Ford is sending a letter out to all Windstar owners sometime in March. Where do we all go for help.
Thank You
Bob.
Mine is a 95 it has 114k! I guess I'm blessed. My problems are just starting. It started sputering yesterday and I thought I would change the Plugs, but I can't get to the other Three in the back, Oh well it cost 170 bucks for the work Ouch.. I have been smelling antifrezz for a while I guess this is the sign the head gaskets, are going. So ill call ford in the morning,
Thank you all for the heads up. I may be the first owner to make it out alive because of you.. Thanks again and ill keep you updated.
Kenney.
I am amazed! We own a 1996 Windstar that has experienced all of the same symptoms listed from other owners. We purchased the vehicle in 1998 and it had 30,000 miles on it. At 60,000 miles, the check engine light came on. We had it checked by Ford and they could not detect a problem, reset the light and sent us on our way. Just days later, the light came on once again. We took the van to an independant dealer who said the EGR valve was clogged, costing us $535.00 to replace.
The following week, on our way to Florida for vacation, the light came on again. We were so frustrated we just drove the vehicle.
In 2001, the vehicle began to come apart electronically. The power door locks do not work on the passenger side. The dome lights stayed on continuously until I removed the relay and the door ajar light stayed on all the time. Our power windows in the rear began to malfunction as well.
I have sprayed the sensors on the sliding door with WD40, which works for a short period of time.
We have one final problem to note that I have not read pertaining to this vehicle on this site. Our regular keys do not work in any of our doors any longer other than the sliding side door. A lock smith said the tumblers are all out of kilter. We have tried making new keys etc, thinking maybe it was the key, but it isn't, its the lock itself. We begin to wonder whats going to happen the day our key doesn't work on the side door?
We did contact Ford on several occasions during this ordeal to no avail. Their customer service department informed us that there were no recalls on this vehicle and that there was nothing they could do, it must be an isolated incident. Isolated to the entire US as far as we can read from others here!
We also want to state that we feel a $24,000.00 (Cost new) vehicle should last much longer than 4-5 years before it begins to fall apart.
If anyone is or has made progress on a class action law suit, please let us know via Bran2003cook@aol.com.
I have a 96 Ford Wind-star with 66000 Miles, and the "Check Engine Light" also came on last week.
The mechanics did all of the tune up last week, but we had to bring the car back in because the car was making some rattling sound. This time, the mechanic said the EGR-system needs to be replaced.
What are involved in an EGR-system?