1997 Ford Windstar Engine Problems

I TURNED THE AIR CONDITIONING ON IN THE VAN AND AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES, TURNED IT TO THE 'MAX AC' POSITION. THE HOOD STARTED STEAMING SO I TURNED THE AIR COMPLETELY OFF. AFTER LESS THAN A MINUTE, I NOTICED THE HOOD WAS SMOKING SO I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND EXITED THE VAN AND SAW THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE HOOD WAS ON FIRE. I RAN TO THE PASSENGER SIDE AND OPENED THE SLIDING DOOR, AND GOT MY 18 MONTH OLD AND 4 YEAR OLD OUT OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER WE WERE ALL A SAFE DISTANCE AWAY I SAW THAT MOST OF THE HOOD OF THE VAN WAS IN FLAMES. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER, THE ENTIRE HOOD WAS ON FIRE WITH A LOT OF BLACK SMOKE. THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT LOOKS CHARRED AND PARTIALLY MELTED. THE VEHICLE IS BEYOND REPAIR. I'M THANKFUL MY CHILDREN ARE SAFE BUT I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY (FAILURE) OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10334181

Incident

May 28, 2010

Mileage

135,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS ABNORMALLY LOW. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS FRACTURED DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE TIRES TO DEFLATE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V199000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS); THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 6/4/09 *CN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS REPLACED AND BRAKE LINES SNAPPING. UPDATED 06/09/09.*JB

NHTSA ID

10265274

Incident

Apr 9, 2006

Mileage

70,000 mi

NEXT CARS USA IN BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIA SOLD US A FORD WINDSTAR WHICH WAS DEFECTIVE (A LEMON). WITHIN TWO WEEK AFTER OUR PURCHASE THE VEHICLE CUT OFF JEOPARDIZING THE SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN EACH TIME WE PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. WE HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO NEXT CARS FOR REPAIRS AND TO DATE WE ARE NOW MOVING INTO OUR THIRD MONTH WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION. WHEN WE INQUIRED ABOUT A LOAN VEHICLE JUAN CASILLAS (MANAGER) RESPONSE WAS THAT "WE DON'T DO THAT." WE HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AND WHEN NEXT CARS RECEIVED THE COMPLAINT ON MARCH 8, 2006 JUAN CASILLAS TOLD US THAT "WE JUST STOPPED WORKING ON THE CAR BECAUSE YOU PISSED US OFF." WE ARE AT OUR WITS END AND SO WE ARE SUBMITTING THIS COMPLAINT FOR AN INVESTIGATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10152314

Incident

Jan 27, 2006

DT: THE CONTACT STATES HAS BEEN HAVING SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE SINCE 2002. ON APRIL 28, 2004 THE SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT PROVIDING AN ACCURATE SPEED READING. ON DECEMBER 9, 2004 THE SLIDING DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK OR SLIDE PROPERLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR AND DETERMINED THAT THE SLIDE WHEELS WERE DRY. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE DOOR LATCH, AND NOW IT NEEDED REPLACEMENT AGAIN. ON FEBRUARY 5, 2005 THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED AT 75, 172 MILES, AND ON NOVEMBER 21, 2005 THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. ALL REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE AT CONTACT'S EXPENSE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10144086

Incident

Feb 11, 2005

Mileage

75,172 mi

DUE TO A FAULTY HEAD GASKET, ANTI FREEZE LEAKED INTO THE OIL AND RUINED THE ENGINE. *PH THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE VEHICLES FAULTY GASKETS FREE OF CHARGE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE'S WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON THE VEHICLE BUT THE DEALER STILL REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. *NM *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10071552

Incident

Jun 1, 2004

Mileage

63,644 mi

FAILED HEAD GASKET LED TO A PISTON ROD SHOOTING THROUGH THE OIL PAN. VERY DANGEROUS FOR THE CARS BEHIND ME AS OIL WAS SHOOTING OVER THE HIGHWAY. SLIPPERY FOR CARS FOLLOWING, AND WENT ON OTHER CARS PAINT AND WINDSHIELDS. HEAD GASKETS WERE RECALLED IN PREVIOUS 3 YEARS OF VEHICLES 1993-96 FORD WINDSTARS, 1997 WAS NOT ON A RECALL EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER CORRECTLY FIXED. HIGHLY DANGEROUS AND HIGHLY IRRESPONSIBLE OF THE AUTOMAKER TO NOT INCLUDE ADDITIONAL CARS IN THE RECALL EFFORT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10062783

Incident

Mar 20, 2004

Mileage

92,300 mi

AT 150,000KM (94,000 MILES) WAS IN FOR FRONT SPRING RECALL AND DEALER RECOMMENDED ENGINE FRONT GASKET REPLACEMENT. IMMEDIATELY HAD THIS REPAIR DONE ($900 CDN). SHORTLY AFTER MY MECHANIC STATED THAT HE COULD HEAR A SLIGHT KNOCKING AND PREDICTED THE ENGINE BEARING WOULD GO WITHIN THE YEAR. I STARTED CAMPAINING WITH FORD BASED ON THE HISTORY OF GASKET FAILURE (COOLANT LEAKS PAST GASKET INTO OIL CAUSING BEARING FAILURE). FORD CUSTOMER CARE SAID THEY NEED A DEALER TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM SO HAD A DEALER CHECK IT OUT WITH NO PROBLEM FOUND. AT CLOSE TO 170,000KM (106,000 MILES) THE KNOCKING BECAME LOUDER AND THE OIL LIGHT BEGAN TO FLICKER. AGAIN CONTACTED FORD WHO ASKED FOR DEALER DIAGNOSIS WHICH I DID AND CONFIRMED NEED ENGINE REPLACEMENT. FORD CUSTOMER CARE SAID THERE WERE NO PROGRAMS FOR MY VEHICLE THEREFORE NO COVERAGE BUT WOULD CONSIDER PARTIAL PAYMENT AS GOOD WILL GESTURE IF REPAIRED AT A FORD DEALER. CONTINUED TO EMAIL FORD BUT THEY STOPPED RESPONDING TO MY CONCERN. HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED AT MY MECHANIC.

NHTSA ID

10071349

Incident

Oct 15, 2002

Mileage

106,000 mi

AT A ROUTINE NYS INSPECTION, THE FORD DEALER ADVISED THAT THE HEAD GASKETS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR IS 6 YEARS OLD WITH 36K MILES. CALLED FORD FOR ASSISTANCE, AND GOT PROFUSE APOLOGIZES, AND NO HELP WITH A $1600.00 REPAIR. THE CAR IS EXHIBITING NO SYMPTOMS OF ANY PROBLEMS, AND I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY FOR THE REPAIR. FOR SUCH LOW MILEAGE, I THINK THAT FMC SHOULD MAKE SOME ATTEMPT TO ASSIST WITH THIS COMPLAINT. THEY ARE CERTAINLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE 95 & 96 WINDSTARS!!

NHTSA ID

10071165

Incident

Nov 15, 2003

Mileage

35,998 mi

I BOUGHT THIS 1997 FORD WINDSTAR IN MARCH OF 2003. THE VERY NEXT DAY I RETURNED TO THE INDEPENDENT CAR DEALER DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG AND THEY RESET THE LIGHT. WITHIN A WEEK IT WAS ON AGAIN AND THIS TIME THEY SAID IT WAS A FLUXATION IN THE ELECTRICAL CURRENT AND IT WAS MAKING THE LIGHT COME ON. THEY RESET IT. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER IT IS LOSING COOLANT SOMEWHERE AND RUNNING ROUGH, THEY CHECK IT AND NOW IT NEEDS 2 OUT OF 4 OXYGEN SENSORS REPLACED IM TOLD. THEY PAY FOR IT IF THEY TRULY FIXED IT BECAUSE ABOUT 2-3 WEEKS LATER I AM HAVINT THE SAME PROBLEMS SO THEY REPLACE THE OTHER 2 OXYGEN SENSORS, BUT CANNOT EXPLAIN THE COOLANT LOSS. EVER SINCE I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SO I DECIDED TO GO TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER EVEN THOUGH I TRY TO AVOID DEALERS BECAUSE OF PRICES AND THEY CHARGE ME $58 TO TELL ME I NEED A HEAD GASKET, MY ABS SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING, TIMING COVER IS LEAKING, BALL BEARING IS SHOT AND MY ANTIFREEZE LOOKS LIKE MUD. THIS IS ALL WROTE ON A SERVICE ESTIMATE I ASKED THEM FOR. IT WOULD COST ABOUT $1700 + TAX FOR THEM TO FIX. I HAVE READ THAT FORD KNEW THEY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE 95 WINDSTARS AND THE HEAD GASKETS AND OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY OR MONEY TOWARDS A NEW CAR SO I FEEL THEY KNOW ALL WINDSTARS WITH THIS 3.8L ENGINE ARE FAULTY NOT JUST THE 95'S. I CALLED FORD AND THEY TOLD ME TOUGH LUCK BASICALLY. I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE HEAD GASKETS IN ALL 3.8L WINDSTARS AND I WANT MY VAN FIXED.

NHTSA ID

10070667

Incident

Aug 15, 2003

Mileage

87,000 mi

I OWN A 1997 FORD WINDSTAR MINIVAN (VIN# [XXX]) THAT CONTAINS A 3.8 V6. AT 82,000 MILES, THE HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN. THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT IT WILL COST BETWEEN $2000 AND $4000 TO REPAIR. AFTER DOING EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON THE WEB, IT APPEARS THAT THE 1995 AND 1996 MODELS ALSO HAD HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS DUE TO AN ADMITTED DESIGN FLAW. FORD CLAIMS TO HAVE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM-BUT THERE ARE INCREASING NUMBERS OF OWNERS OF 1997 MODELS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. REPEATED VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP-AS WELL AS NUMEROUS CALLS TO FORD-HAVE RESULTED IN DEAD ENDS. I GET RESPONSES SUCH AS: THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON YOUR VEHICLE AT THIS TIME, ETC. BUT SINCE THIS IS CLEARLY DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW IN THE ENGINE, THEN SHOULDN'T THIS STILL BE COVERED AND CORRECTED? FORD OFFERED A BRIEF PROGRAM TO REPAIR THE EARLIER MODELS-SO WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN OFFERED ON THE LATER YEARS? FORD CLAIMS THAT THEY HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM-WHICH THEY CLEARLY HAVE NOT-YET THEY EXPECT PEOPLE TO SIMPLY PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. I BELIEVE THAT FORD NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS, AND THAT THEY SHOULD OFFER TO PERFORM THE WORK AT EITHER A DISCOUNTED RATE, OR FOR FREE SINCE THIS IS DUE TO THEIR ENGINE DESIGN. EVEN THE MANUAL CLAIMS THE HEAD GASKET IS EXPECTED TO LAST FOR AT LEAST 120,000 MILES, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS THE CASE WITH THIS VEHICLE. HAD I KNOWN OF THE PROBLEMS OTHER OWNERS WERE HAVING, I WOULD HAVE RECONSIDERED MY DECISION TO PURCHASE THIS VAN. TO THAT END, I FEEL THAT I WAS MISLED SOMEWHAT. IT IS MY HOPE TO HAVE FORD ADMIT TO THE PROBLEM AND OFFER TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE AT NO CHARGE. GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES-AND THE AMOUNT OF EVIDENCE SUPPORTING THE CLAIM OF NEGLIGENCE ON THE BEHALF OF FORD-THIS SHOULD NOT BE AN UNREASONABLE REQUEST. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10069945

Incident

Oct 15, 2003

Mileage

82,200 mi

I OWN A 1997 FORD WINDSTAR MINIVAN (VIN# [XXX]) THAT CONTAINS A 3.8 V6. AT 82,000 MILES, THE HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN. THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT IT WILL COST BETWEEN $2000 AND $4000 TO REPAIR. AFTER DOING EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON THE WEB, IT APPEARS THAT THE 1995 AND 1996 MODELS ALSO HAD HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS DUE TO AN ADMITTED DESIGN FLAW. FORD CLAIMS TO HAVE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM-BUT THERE ARE INCREASING NUMBERS OF OWNERS OF 1997 MODELS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. REPEATED VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP-AS WELL AS NUMEROUS CALLS TO FORD-HAVE RESULTED IN DEAD ENDS. I GET RESPONSES SUCH AS: "THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED", "THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON YOUR VEHICLE AT THIS TIME", ETC. BUT SINCE THIS IS CLEARLY DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW IN THE ENGINE, THEN SHOULDN'T THIS STILL BE COVERED AND CORRECTED? FORD OFFERED A BRIEF PROGRAM TO REPAIR THE EARLIER MODELS-SO WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN OFFERED ON THE LATER YEARS? FORD CLAIMS THAT THEY HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM-WHICH THEY CLEARLY HAVE NOT-YET THEY EXPECT PEOPLE TO SIMPLY PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. I BELIEVE THAT FORD NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS, AND THAT THEY SHOULD OFFER TO PERFORM THE WORK AT EITHER A DISCOUNTED RATE, OR FOR FREE SINCE THIS IS DUE TO THEIR ENGINE DESIGN. EVEN THE MANUAL CLAIMS THE HEAD GASKET "IS EXPECTED TO LAST FOR AT LEAST 120,000 MILES", AND I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS THE CASE WITH THIS VEHICLE. HAD I KNOWN OF THE PROBLEMS OTHER OWNERS WERE HAVING, I WOULD HAVE RECONSIDERED MY DECISION TO PURCHASE THIS VAN. TO THAT END, I FEEL THAT I WAS MISLED SOMEWHAT. IT IS MY HOPE TO HAVE FORD ADMIT TO THE PROBLEM AND OFFER TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE AT NO CHARGE. GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES-AND THE AMOUNT OF EVIDENCE SUPPORTING THE CLAIM OF NEGLIGENCE ON THE BEHALF OF FORD-THIS SHOULD NOT BE AN UNREASONABLE REQUEST. *LA INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10041551

Incident

Oct 7, 2003

Mileage

82,000 mi

GASKETS HAVE COMPLETELY FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10039740

Incident

Sep 8, 2003

HEAD GASKET LEAKED, TIMING COVER CRACKED. $3,000.00 + REPAIR BILL.*AK

NHTSA ID

10028385

Incident

Jun 8, 2003

Mileage

58,000 mi

ENGINE TIMING BELT AND CYLINDER HEAD LEAKED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10009308

THE ENGINE OVER HEATED.*JB

NHTSA ID

10009955

Incident

Jan 28, 2003

Mileage

50,008 mi

THE HEAD GASKET LEAKED.*JB

NHTSA ID

10009258

Incident

Feb 4, 2003

Mileage

65,000 mi

I BOUGHT MY 1997 WINDSTAR USED 6 MONTHS AGO WITH 87,000 ON IT, I HAVE DRIVEN ONLY 3,000 MILES AND MY ENGINE BLEW WITH NO WARNING. THIS WAS THE MOST EXPENSIVE USED CAR I HAD EVER OWNED AND WE DID EVERYTHING WE COULD BEFORE WE BOUGHT IT..WE CHECKED THE VIN REPORT ON CARFAX...WE HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT BY OUR OWN MECHANIC. I THOUGHT I HAD FOUND A GREAT (DREAM FOR ME)VEHICLE. BEN SATCHER FORD IN SC SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS CAR ONLY THE 95 MODEL AND THAT PROBLEM HAD BEEN SINCE FIXED. SO I'M STUCK WITH PAYING $3000 FOR A NEW ENGINE WHILE I STILL OWE $6000 ON MY VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE IS THE ONLY WAY I CAN TRANSPORT MY 3 CHILDREN AROUND TOGETHER, OUR OTHER VEHICLE IS A PICK-UP WITH ONLY FRONT SEATS...SO WERE STRANDED.

NHTSA ID

10007914

Incident

Feb 18, 2003

Mileage

90,000 mi

HAVE A 97 FORD WINDSTAR ALL OF A SUDDEN I HAD A TIRE BLOW COMPLETELY HERE TO FIND OUT THAT THE COIL SPRING ON DRIVERS FRONT BROKE AND WENT INTO TIRE, THEN TO FIND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL 2 YEARS AGO ON IT BUT WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF IT AND ALSO A FEW WEEKS AGO, VAN ALL OF A SUDDEN KEPT GETTING REAL HOT WITH ROLLING WHITE SMOKE JUST TO FIND OUT THAT THERE WAS PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD GASKETS ON THESE WINDSTARS BUT YET STILL WAS NEVER NOTIFIED, THIS IS NOT RIGHT, I FEEL WE WERE CHEATED, NOW HAVE A VAN THAT SITS AND STILL OWE $10,000 ON BECAUSE I'M A FAMILY MAN OF SIX AND CANNOT AFFORD THE COST OF THESE MAJOR REPAIRS, I'M AFRAID OF WHAT MIGHT OF HAPPENED IF THIS WOULD OF BLEW WITH ALL MY FAMILY IN IT ON A HIGHWAY, IS THIS HOW THE FORD COMPANY TREATS THEIR CONSUMERS BY LYING AND DECIEVING THEM.

NHTSA ID

10007578

Incident

Feb 14, 2003

Mileage

88,890 mi

COOLANT LOW ENGINE RAN WARM, NO LEAKS FOUND. FEBRUARY 2003, ENGINE WAS FILLED WITH COOLANT BECAUSE OF LEAK. STARTER BLEW AND ENGINE LOCKED UP. PH

NHTSA ID

10007543

Incident

Feb 13, 2002

Mileage

72,000 mi

97 WINDSTAR HAS HEAD GASKET FAILURE IM STILL PAYING ON IT PURCHADES AT AVIS FORD OF SOUTHFIELD 12 MILE TELEGRAP MI CANNOT AFFORD FIXIN IT I BELIEVE IS A MANUFACURE FAILURE AND NEED TO BE FIX DO NOT HAVE ANY SAFER TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME PLEASE HEL US

NHTSA ID

10005802

Incident

Nov 6, 2002

BLOWN HEAD GASKET ON 3.8 ENGINE ON 1997 FORD WINDSTAR, WITH ONLY 77,000 MILES. FORD WITH NOT OFFER ANY HELP. AFTER OWNING A FORD FOR PAST 28 YEARS, THIS IS THE LAST FORD PRODUCT THAT MY FAMILY WILL EVER OWN. EVER! TS

NHTSA ID

10000312

Incident

Nov 13, 2002

Mileage

77,000 mi

CONSUMER STATES ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA ID

8019453

Incident

Sep 15, 2002

ABS BRAKING LIGHT SYSTEM APPEARS ON DASHBOARD. ALSO THERE IS COOLANT MIXED IN WITH OIL INSIDE OF ENGINE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS. *AK

NHTSA ID

8017553

Incident

Aug 27, 2002

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE AGAIN, THE STARTER MADE A FUNNY NOISE. ALSO, THE THERMOSTAT WAS EXTREMELY HIGH. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS OPENED AND THE ANTI-FREEZE WAS LOW-REFILLED. THE MECHANIC THOUGHT IT WAS THE WATER PUMP. THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING. *SCC

NHTSA ID

8017172

Incident

Aug 16, 2002

VEHICLE WAS LEAKING COOLANT WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS GOING INTO THE FRIST STAGE OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8016223

Incident

Aug 7, 2002