Consumer Complaints & Reviews
Not everyone is thrilled with Ford's extension of the engine warranty on certain models. Respondenses in our ExpressPoll have been running over 60% negative.
The disenchanted include ...
Mustang owners
Laura, Glasgow, MT writes:
I have a 3.8L 1995 Ford Mustang. These rear wheel drive cars are neglected in the extended warranty for the faulty head gaskets. I have blown two head gaskets two different times. My engine was ruined and replaced by Ford warranty. 16,000 miles later the gasket blew again costing me $934.27 out of pocket in repairs. My car has less than 50,000 miles on it. I am tired of being treated like a fool by Ford. I am tired of Ford "Customer Service" not giving me to a person who knows something. I am tired of giving Ford my money for a problem that is theirs to begin with. I want them to pay up!
Thunderbird owners
Terry writes:
I'm disappointed! Ford will not cover the $1,750 expense of having the head gaskets replaced on my 1996 Ford Thunderbird with a 3.8 liter engine at 73000 miles. While everyone else is celebrating, the Thunderbird, Mustang and other car owners are left out in the cold!
Claire of Cumberland, RI writes:
Last year I filed a complaint about my 95 Ford Mustang's head gaskets. Today I see that Ford is remimbursing for the same problem with some of their other models, but they do not mention Mustangs. Do I have a chance of receiving reimbursement? I also have the 3.8L V6 engine. The problem cost me $1,200 to repair.
Dee:
I was wondering if that recall on the 3.8 v-6 engin also applies to 1993 ford thunderbirds because I've already had to replace the head gasget once and it seems like it's going to happen again!
Windstar owners
Lenny, Klamath Falls, OR writes:
Automatic Transmission went out in our 1995 Ford Windstar which has been very common just like the head gaskets and I would like someone to report it to any department that can help us to get a recall started so we can get our money back for this defect also. I have a 1995 Winstar that has been in the shop several times. They never paid for any of the major problems we had.
Duane of Saline, MI writes:
I have a 95 Ford Windstar and have been going through the head gasket fiasco that a lot of other people have been experiencing. Fortunately for me, my Windstar was covered under the original recall and my repairs taken care of by Ford. But I continued to lose coolant after the fix and was informed by a Ford dealership and my independant mechanic that my timing chain cover was leaking coolant. Ford stated that it was not covered with the head gasket recall and that it would cost $900.00 to fix. I questioned Ford about the mechanics having to loosen this cover to repair the head gaskets. They would not reply to my inquiry. I did more research and discovered that Ford has a recall on the timing chain cover gaskets in the Mustangs and T Birds but not the Windstar. They have the same engine. Ford states that I am beyond my warranty and they will not repair.
I have not taken any action yet. I continually add antifreeze and hope that my engine will not be damaged internally from the leak. I considered selling my windstar but all car dealerships seem to be aware of the problem engine and will not even offer me wholesale for it. I feel like I am trapped into keeping a car that I do not trust on long trips. We only use it now on local trips and for the most part my wife and I share the driving om another vehicle and avoid driving the Windstar.
Melvin writes:
I am happy to see that Ford was made to do something about the junk car they produced. I am wondering if there is anything I can do to recover money I lost. It turns out that when I found out about all the problems associated with this van I traded it in for another vehicle. I lost approximately $4,000 because I only received $5,000 for it because when I traded it in it was not running because the head gaskets were blown. I did not want to invest $3,500 the dealer recommended. They stated that the engine was ruined and needed to be replaced. Do I have any way of recovering money lost because my confidence level would not allow me to keep the car?
Anon writes:
How do we apply for a refund on the expenses that we have incurred on our Ford Windstar head gasket problem? Why would I want a coupon for another Ford? Thank you for your information.
We don't yet know how you apply for the refund. Presumably Ford will issue further instructions. We can't answer Anon's second question.
