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Ford Windstar Problems - READ ONLY

2608 messages,  Last post on Oct 27, 2006 at 8:51 PM

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What is this discussion about? Ford Windstar, Van

Messages Page 16 of 261

#148 of 2608 Kathy36 - DONT GIVE UP OR GIVE IN! by wholigan

Jul 31, 2000 (5:17 pm)

You have the case Kathy! The following is a press release from RUETERS - March 7, 2000:


========================


DEARBORN, Mich., March 7 (Reuters) - Ford Motor
Co. , as part of a plan to fix potential head
gasket problems on some cars and minivans, will buy the vehicle back in certain cases if a new engine cannot be found in a timely fashion, a spokesman confirmed on Tuesday.


Ford, the world's No. 2 automaker, announced last
month that it extended the warranty on head gaskets in certain 3.8 liter V-6 engines to seven years or 100,000 miles. The head gasket is a central seal in the engine that can cause engine failure if it leaks.


There are about 700,000 vehicles affected. They
are: 1994-95 Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable sedans;
1994 Continental large sedans; and 1995 Windstar
minivans.


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If a failed head gasket causes engine damage,
Ford will replace the engine. But if Ford cannot
locate a re-manufactured engine within five days,
the automaker will offer to buy back the vehicle
for fair market value as well as issue a $3,000
certificate toward the purchase of a new Ford, said spokesman Mike Vaughn.


Vaughn declined to say how much Ford would pay for
the damaged vehicles. Based on a guide from the
National Association of Automobile Dealers, the
fair market repurchase offer ranges from $3,175 for a 1994 Taurus GL to $8,375 for a 1995 Windstar LX.


If a head gasket fails during the extended
warranty time period, owners will be eligible for
repair refunds. Or they can choose to take a $4,000 certificate to be used for the purchase of a new Ford, Mercury or Lincoln vehicle.


Vaughn declined to say how much the program will
cost Ford. A story in this week's Automotive News,
an industry trade publication, said Ford could
spend at least $200 million, making it one of the
five largest warranty campaigns in the industry.


========================


Don't let the dealer play games with you...
Tell them that you want to talk to the Ford Customer Service Representative for BOTH your servicing dealer and the dealer in PA (these are the Ford employees responsible for customer relations.


Educate yourself...
Read the posts both in here and at cartrackers.com to get more information about how people have been treated during their "ordeal". The follwing postings outlines a buyback scenario from Kent25:
http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/engaged/edmund.cgi?c=Vans&f=0&t=815&q=474-517
Pay special attention to #493 for a link for the Ford CSRs to use to get more information about the process. Further, see link #515 for the economical advantage. The more you know, the better prepared you will be to work through the issues.


Work your best deal...
Here is the latest that I have heard. You should be offered about $6650 for the van. In addition, there is the $3000 "Certificate" (for not having to pay for the repair). Plus any current rebates (I think there is currently a $1000 or $1500 rebate). Unfortunately, you have to buy another Ford, however, play your cards right and you'll be getting $10000+ off your negotiated price and you get a new warranted vehicle. If you keep it for two years (still under warranty, mind you) you should easily be able to get rid of it and get out of the Ford world.


Don't let your emotions get the best of you...
Especially when working with the Ford CSRs. I know you had a lousy experience breaking down away from home (mine was with three kids 50 miles from home with a van full of camping equipment). That cannot be changed. You will always come out better being sweet like honey rather than bitter like vinegar.


Be patient!
This issue will not be resolved overnight.


Best of luck and PLEASE keep us posted as to how you are dealt with and how the dealerships and Ford CSRs react.


GOOD LUCK!

#149 of 2608 wholigan - won't give up! (kathy36) by kathy36

Aug 01, 2000 (3:51 am)

Thanks to this site plus ccantanese, I've educated myself as to what's up. The customer service reps (dial-an-idiot-a-day), are totally useless. Today a supervisor finally called me back. "I am documenting your disontent." This is the reply I got 6 times! My gripe is, they won't give me a loaner car while the vehicle is being repaired for 8-12 weeks, only 5 days allowed on my extended warranty. Nothing as far as Ford's responsiblity on the repair due to head gasket repair 1 1/2 months ago. Went to Ford dealer where purchased, spoke of the Buyback. You're right - $6,600 plus 3,000 incentive. Would probably only get me another 95 W, as I still owe on my loan! From the frying pan to the fire! Will check out what else is on the lot - maybe a Quest? Dealer feels there must be a number to reach the person who would be able to and should authorize the loaner car, but doesn't know who. Encouraged us to keep trying CSR at 800 number! I'm not done yet! Will keep you posted!

#150 of 2608 STEVE68 - RE: CD Changer by cmhdiamond

Aug 01, 2000 (8:40 pm)

Actually, you were already very close at Crutchfield. They carry a 6-disc changer from a company called Mobile Pro that will integrate with factory stereos that are changer-compatible. You will have to buy the correct interface cable, but they sell those, too. You can check out the changer at the Crutchfield web site:


http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S-Pe6lR0mLasM/ProdView.asp?s=0&c=3&g=600&I=569CDC6F&o=M&a=0

#151 of 2608 97 Windstar ABS + Spare tire by cpliu

Aug 02, 2000 (3:01 am)

I just found this web site from my friend. I got
a 97 Windstar with many problems on it. Around April 2000, my Spare Tire carrier release broken and I had replaced it with $148 US dollars. The
reason was release button rusted in side the van. I live in Chicago but I never had any such problem in my spare tire for my previous 5 cars.


In June, my ABS was broken and my dealer told me that there were 24 signals were wrong out of total 39 signals. The manager ordered replacements for me. The first 2 were all broken and can't match. Manager told me that they call Ford Technician Hotline and the technician support from Ford told them that it would be simple to plug in and that is all. Somehow they all failed. I had been very worried about that since my Windstar only 45K miles and just out of waranty. Finally the 3rd one matched and 24 days passed. The manager told me that he gave me 10% discount and it totally came to $1492.44. The part was $1000.65 and the labor was $474.00.


It had been a nightmare for me. I was told by many
friends don't replace ABS since it only had a BRAKE light on. I really regretted it.


My friend asked me to check this web site and see if similar problems but I only saw 95/96 Windstar ABS problems. I would post this to let everyone know before they consider buying a Windstar.

#152 of 2608 lsg1, bblaha - mileage by liebeda

Aug 02, 2000 (9:12 pm)

I finally got a response from Ford.


They contacted the dealer and spoke with the Assistant Service Manager ....


"He expressed surprise at what you had written to us. He asks that you make an appointment with the dealership and speak with him personally when you bring the vehicle in."


I called and spoke with him - he was the guy that gave me the hard time.


At the end, he agreed to waive the $82 fee in this instance.


I highly doubt that they will put much effort into finding the problem - but I'll probably bring the car in during the next few days.

#153 of 2608 Windstar 2000 by katjo7

Aug 05, 2000 (3:08 am)

I am seriously considering leasing an SE and havent seen too many positive comments on the board!! I have verbally heard both good and bad, either owners have nothing but problems or none.


Any suggestions?? (Ford just happens to have low sales in the region right now and have great finance rates on the 2000's)

#154 of 2608 lucky in indy. by indychapell

Aug 06, 2000 (4:36 am)

bought 98 windstar new. can honestly say its been a great vehicle. 3.8, no problem. auto tran. no problem. brakes (front) did have to worked at 35000 miles. wife drives it most of time and she has a bad habit of running up to stops to fast, then stepping on brakes hard. one thing i have noticed is that when you let off gas the vehicle does not slow down on its own very fast, and that causes you to step on brake peddle a little hard. one thing i know is i've owned at lest one vehicle from each of the big three, and there's always going to be problems. i've always said that they would be better off if they would just build just so many engines and stick with them. Eg. dodge used the 318 v8 for alot of years, had one and it ran like a charm for 135,ooo miles. this is a lot of rambling just to say don't give up on american. remember, the people who buy foreign and have problems are probably saying the same things i've read under this topic. indy chapell.

#155 of 2608 Reply to katjo7..... by kent25

Aug 07, 2000 (6:25 pm)

We have a 2000 SE and like it. WE traded in a 95 under the headqasket program. I wanted to buy the Odyssey but we could not wait the 4 months. In addition, the .9% financing added up to several thousand of interest savings. We also got $3K towards the new one. If you are thinking of leasing, you have no worries as you can flip it at end of lease. If buying, the quality issues discussed above should give you pause. Our 2000 has had no problems. My wife drives it daily and loves it. However, if the van starts to show quirkiness under warranty, it will be traded well before the warranty expires. Do the math carefully, and if leasing, you should be aboe to save some serious $ without taking risk of ownership if quality lets you down.

#156 of 2608 Door Ajar, lights on by 95switch

Aug 08, 2000 (3:26 am)

This is in response to #92 & #114 in Ford Problems (I or II). Our 95 WS had a ongoing problem with the door ajar & internal lights remaining on. This problem was corrected by replacing the slider door connection, the 4 prong sensor. It was a $32 part, plus half hour labor to put it in (another $30). Apparantly this has been a problem with WS, however, not a big enough problem for FORD to make it a recall item. You need something big and expensive, like an engine to blow up on you for it to make news. Take it to a repuretable mechanic. It was also affecting our running lights in the tail, unless it was shorted out due to one bulb being out?
We also have/had water in our back taillight also. It could be the form fitting form isn't that form fitting overtime.


 

#157 of 2608 To 95switch by pqschwartz

Aug 08, 2000 (11:04 pm)

I have a 98 Windstar which experienced the same problem, or so my dealer says. i took it in for service, and they said the door chime and light stayed on (never happened to us, so they "fixed" it. Well, then I had no door chime or light. It took a while for dealer to find the problem: 3 trips to them, first replacing the "GEM" module (didn't work), and then finally ordering a sensor which did it. I had to fight with them to not pay my deductible on the ext. warranty since they caused the problem in the first place.

Messages Page 16 of 261

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