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Ford Windstar Problems
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Comments
aNY repairs
timing chain cover is leaking. Milage is 65k. The head gaskets replaced at 40k.
Total cost to me according to the dealer, $495.
This includes everything for a rebuilt engine, labor, add'l parts ,etc.
I asked several times and he assures me that $495
is the total cost.
I am the original owner and according to the dealer, the warranty was out a few days ago. But Ford rep was in and said"Relace it"
This is the best news I have heard so far.
But worried that my transmission will probably go out at 75k like my other vehicle, 1994 Taurus.
$2500 to replace transmission and no help from Ford.
Maybe their getting their act together.
Or maybe this is just dreaming.
Only time will tell.
Got a "Warranty Extension Notification" this weekend from Ford regarding the 95 WS and their springs... It seems that in "high precipitation climates" (e.g., snow and salt in the upper midwest) can cause the springs to rust through. In some cases, customers have reported losing a front tire after the spring goes...
I will try to get the verbage from the entire notification into another posting. I think that this is a 10 year/100000 mile deal...
Enjoy-
Wholigan
2004 Honda Accord EX-L Graphite Pearl
2007 Honda Civic EX - Atomic Blue
2013 Honda Civic LX - Crimson Pearl
Regarding the "Warranty Extension Notification" on the front coil springs for the 95 W/S - it is for 10 years/unlimited mileage. I received the same notice. There is a sticker that you are supposed to put with your warranty book that states:
"The front coil springs on your Ford Windstar are now covered for 10 years from the warranty start date, REGARDLESS of mileage. This part may prematurely wear or break, especially when operated in high-corrosion areas of North America for an extended period of time. Coverage is automatically transferred to future vehicle owners."
Sounds to me that Ford did not have a choice in this warranty, because if they did, they sure would not be doing it this way......they would be leaving us all out to dry. (But I'm not bitter)
Also, just for the record I, also, had to replace my transmission on my 95 W/S and, it sure is starting to shift harshly again.....what a surprise.....put me on that 'NO FORD AGAIN' list!!!!
Tom
driving down the road, Add Computer module problems that kept it in the dealership while they pulled the dash out a couple of times, Then add a transmission that dry docked the van in the dealership for 15 days to rebuild, Then add bad
air sensors......Well we filed a Lemon Law complaint down in Texas, but a slippery Ford Consultant wormed out of it on a technicality of the filing date being 7 months rather than 6 months after the vehicle reached 24,000 miles!!!!
The Ford Windstar Van is a total abortion!!!!From
inception to present day. Like the Firestone fiasco, Ford wants to sweep a lot of their problems under the rug....silent recalls, poor design, poor quality, poor customer service. This
is the last Ford for me, and I hope to talk my folks into turning in their Town Car, my father-in-law out of his Navigator, and my company from
purchasing any more company cars and trucks from Ford!
All the 1999 and 2000 models being recalled have a wiper motor that can collect moisture and overheat. About 525,164 have a second wiring problem in the air conditioner."
link
Steve
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"National Highway Transportation Safety Administration records show that several other popular minivans have been the subjects of multiple recalls during the past three years.
"They include the Honda Odyssey, with six recalls for the 1999 model and four for the 2000 model; the Chevrolet Venture/Pontiac Montana, with four recalls for the 2001 model, four for 2000 and three for 1999; the Dodge Caravan, with two for 2001, one for 2000, and three for 1999; and the Mercury Villager/Nissan Quest with one for 2001, two for 2000, and four for 1999."
Steve
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Not everyone has trouble with their van, but the ones who do are more likely to post.
Here's a good review to brighten your Monday (yeah, it does sorta read like a press release....)
Steve
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Thanks,
Richard
Steve
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Steve
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Background: Our 21-year-old son (who's a college student with no job!!) drives the '95 Windstar. Well, he drives it when it's actually running, which isn't often. He has had it 21 months and at 106,000 miles, the head gasket(s) has blown. He had been losing coolant since about 96,000 miles but the dealership said they couldn't do anything until the gasket(s) actually blew. So now, here we are, with a $1,600 problem. We've already had the transmission, one fuel injector, and the computer replaced. Fortunately I have a husband who took care of the fuel injector and will replace the head gasket ... otherwise we'd just have to junk it.
Here's what I got after speaking to the executive offices:
They said to take it to a service department and get an estimate on what it will cost to fix it (the estimate will be around $70 which will come out of my pocket). Then we can contact a salesperson, decide what NEW FORD PRODUCT we would like to buy, and the salesperson can call and get authorization to reduce the sales price of what we want. I'm sorry, but what college student without a job can afford to buy a new Ford product???
I started the conversation by saying that I was considering never buying another Ford product. The "executive" said if that was the case, then they couldn't do anything to help me: they could lose me for free. His tone wasn't tacky, but I understood what he was saying.
So now, my husband is going to fix the head gasket problem, we're going to sell or trade in the van, and try our luck on another used car ... probably a Toyota or Honda. They've always been very reliable brands for us. Whatever possessed us to buy the Windstar, I'll never know!! Maybe it's that our son is 6'4" and has trouble fitting in little cars!
Hopefully others have had better luck with the executive number!
This is the 4th week that my van has been sitting in the dealership service department. They have no idea what is wrong with it. They got it to start once but it has failed again. Ford engineers have come out twice to look at it and I was informed yesterday that they are trying one last thing this morning to see if they can fix it. I have already gotten approval through Ford to be traded out of my van even if they fix it. There are several options for making the deal so I will still have to do some negotiating and it could take a couple more weeks. I will know later this morning if they were able to fix it and I will post what they did as soon as I find out. Has anyone else had similar issues?
We use the van to pull a large popup camper and it tows pretty well with the 200 HP engine. I wish I got the quad seats because the bench is a real bear to remove when I need to load up the van.
Gas mileage in mixed driving only averages 16-17 mpg. On trips with no towing, we can manage 20-21 mpg. I think the gas mileage has been the biggest disappointment of the van. Other than that, we have no major complaints and hope to keep the van for a couple more years.
PS - the driver's seat has been the most comfortable of any vehicle I've driven on long hauls. Last year I drove 5 1/2 hours straight without stopping. Thank goodness for a 25 gallon gas tank!
The verdict was we needed the engine rebuilt. I got a price from the Ford dealer, but got a better one from an independent I trust. We discussed buying rebuilt engines. He had a company with a 12,000 mile 12 month warranty that he used and had good luck with the engines. I had found a company that gave a 3 year, 100,000 mile warranty on their products, but our mechanic said he had rather have a good engine than a good warranty, that he had used some of those engines and had problems with them. I couldn't get my hands on the actual warranty of that company, so I found it on the internet and printed it. Once I read it I told the mechanic they didn't even have a good warranty. It didn't cover head gasket failures, which I was most interested in with that engine, and it appeared the limit of their liability was one half of what their customer paid for the engine. In addition, the customer had to put the cash out up front to have the engine work done if a failure occurred, send them the alleged failed parts, with no mention of who paid freight, and they would determine whether they would cover the problem or not--with no limit as to how long they could take to make that decision and reimburse the customer.
We went with the engine our independent recommended. Oh, one other factor. We live in a small town, so any problems with a company get around fast and results in an immediate economic pinch on the offender, so they can't hide in the masses of similar companies. The result is only the honest ones stay in business long.
Question. Does anyone know why new oil in an engine would smell like burned rubber? The problem we had came so quickly after the work done at the Ford place that I wonder if they didn't get some sealant or gasket material in the timing chain area that got into the engine and stopped a vital oil channel up, causing our failure.
We have had absolutely no problems with this van since we bought it, other than the radiator hose not being put on properly at the factory, the interior is still in good condition, AC is still good, and the transmission is still working fine. I expect that to be the next thing to go, but if it does we'll put another one in and keep driving this van for a few more years. My wife loves it, and I can stand putting a few thousand dollars in an engine and another transmission better than I can buying another vehicle--especially since she would want another Windstar.
Good luck,
Drew
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