Consumer Safety Complaints

Incident date: Jan 12, 2000

PREMATURE HEADGASKET FAILURE ON FORD 3.8L ENGINE LEFT ME STRANDED AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES. VAN TEMPERATURE GUAGE ROSE RAPIDLY, FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF ALL HEAT, REDUCED POWER, AND ILLUMINATION OF THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT. FORTUNATELY, I WAS IN A POPULATED AREA, AND I WAS ABLE TO ARRANGE TRANSPORTATION FROM THERE. THIS PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE OCCURRING IN A REMOTE AREA ... Read more

Incident date: Feb 8, 2000

AFTER STARTING MY VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN ON MY HEADLIGHTS (INCIDENT OCCURED APPROX. 8:00 PM), I NOTICED THAT MY HEADLIGHTS, AND TAIL LIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE. I ALSO NOTIICED THAT MY CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM, WARNING/INDICATOR LIGHTS (LIGHTS DURING NORMAL START-UP), OUTSIDE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE GAUGE, DOOR LOCKS, AND MY TURN SIGNALS WERE ALL INOPERABLE. I THEN PROCEEDED TO TURN OFF M... Read more

Incident date: Feb 17, 2000

TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT TO RED MANY TIMES, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD UNEXPECTEDLY. CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 98M01 ON THAT PROBLEM. BUT, DEALER DID NOT WORK ON THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE RECALL EXPIRED. CONSUMER RECEIVED TWO MORE RECALLS, 97S88 AND 99S33. *AK

TRANSMISION SLIPS, TEMP/ELEC. PROBLEMS, MAJOR VIBRATION WHEN APPLYING BRAKES-HI & LO SPEEDS

Incident date: Feb 8, 2000

AT 55 MPH, HEATER STARTED TO BLOW ONLY COLD AIR, TEMPERATURE GAUGE SHOT UP TO RED (OVERHEAT) ZONE. CAR WAS STOPPED AND ALLOWED TO COOL DOWN, THEN PROCEEDED TO LIMP 10 MILES HOME AT SLOW SPEED. VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO FORD DEALER. DEALER DETERMINED THE HEADGASKET(S) HAS FAILED CAUSING PROBLEM. NOT SURE IF BEARING DAMAGED OCCURRED. NO VISIBLE WATER / MILKY OIL PRESENT. LOTS OF STEAM FROM EXH... Read more

Incident date: Mar 6, 1999

DRIVING TO AIRPORT THE TEMPERATOR INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON, FLASHING, AND THE HEATER CORE EXPLODED. INTERIOR OF THE CAR FILLED WITH DENSE WHITE VAPOR. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR ON THE ROAD/SHOULDER AND MY WIFE AND I EVACUATED. ROAD AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT WAS BASICLY CLEAR OF OTHER VEHICLES OTHERWISE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM OF OUR SURVIVAL. *AK

Incident date: Feb 14, 1995

TEMPERATURE GAUGE RISES, NO WARNING LIGHTS, CONSUMER STOPS CAR AND RELEASES THE CAP ON THE RADIATOR TO RELEASE SOME OF THE PRESSURE. CONSUMER FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE CONSUMER IS ON THE INTERSTATE, AND HAS TO QUICKLY GET OFF OF THE INTERSTATE. *AK

Incident date: Oct 4, 1997

MAJOR OIL LEAK IN THE ENGINE CAUSING THE OIL COOLING LINE,HOSES AND OIL SEALS TO FAIL. YH

WHILE TRAVELING TEMPERATURE GAUGE RAN HIGH ,VEHICLE OVERHEATED. GAUGE WAS REPLACED. WEEK LATER VEHICLE OVERHEATED AGAIN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK

Incident date: Feb 1, 2000

THIS CAR LOSES COOLANT, OVERHEATS, AND BLOWS A HEAD GASKET, AND NOW POSSIBLY NEEDS NEW CYLINDER HEADS. BMW MECHANIC STATES THAT THE TEMPERATUTE GAUGE IS NOT SUPPOSED TO TELL YOU THE ENGINE IS OVERHEATING IF THE COOLANT HAS ALREADY COMPLETELY LEAKED OUT OF THE SYSTEM. THAT THE GAUGE DOES NOT REGISTER THE EMPTY AIR IN A NOW EMPTY COOLANT SYSTEM. IN MY OPINION THE TEMP GUAGE SHOULD TELL ME THE POS... Read more

TEMPERATURE GUAGE MALFUNCTIONS. YH

Incident date: Dec 12, 1999

TEMPERATURE INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON, AND ANTI-FREEZE CAME OUT AND SPILLED THROUGHOUT THE RESERVOIR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, FOUND BLOWN HEAD GASKET. VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND OWNER WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *AK *ML

Incident date: Feb 2, 2000

TEMPERATURE GUAGE SHOT UP TO HIGH AND THERE WAS NO HEAT. I WAS ON MY HOME FROM WORK AND DRIVING ON THE X-PRESSWAY. WHEN I REACHED HOME I CALLED DEALER IMMEDIATELY. I WAS TOLD NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR. THE CAR REMAINED IN OUR GARAGE FOR A DAY AND THEN WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER. I WAS TOLD THAT THE HEAD GASKETS NEEDED REPLACING FOR A TOTAL COST OF $1400. THIS CAR HAS ONLY 66,000 MILES ON IT AND FRO... Read more

Incident date: Jun 5, 1999

SMELLED ANTI-FREEZE BURNING. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ENGINE OVERHEATED AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS HOT. PULLED OVER. CONTACTED DEALER, NO WARRANTY. BUT, THEY WERE AWARE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *AK

Incident date: Jan 3, 2000

WHILE DRIVING HOME VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEEDLE INDICATED OVERHEATING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP NEXT DAY. MECHANIC INDICATED HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN. OWNER WOULD NEED TO PAY PART OF COST OF REPAIRS. OWNER FEELS MANUFACTURER SHOULD FILL THE BILL. *AK

Incident date: Nov 4, 1999

COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. MJS

Incident date: May 1, 1999

THE HORNS ON MY VEHICLE HAVE BEEN REPAIRED THREE TIMES AND ARE AGAIN NOT WORKING. THE GAS AND TEMP GAUGE ARE NOT WORKING AND A LOCAL DEALER SAID THIS IS A PERSISTENT PROBLEM WITH EUROVANS. THE AIR CONDITIONING HAS GONE OUT SEVERAL TIMES. THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR FROZE ONE TIME AND MELTED THE SERPETINE INTO ALL OF THE ENGINE PULLEYS--COST TO REPAIR $4,000.00. HEADLIGHTS FILLED WITH WATER... Read more

Incident date: Oct 7, 1999

JULY OF 1999 HAD PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM. CAR KEPT OVERHEATING. PUT IT IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS WHICH COST $400.00. HAD IT OUT ABOUT ONE WEEK HAD MORE PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME. IN OCTOBER WAS DRIVING HOME AND THE CAR WENT COMPLETELY OUT WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS OR ANY INDICATION ANYTHING WAS WRONG. WHEN CHECKED THE ENGINE HAD COMPLETELY FROZEN UP. IT HAD OVERHEATED AGAIN BUT NO WARNING ... Read more

Incident date: Dec 12, 1999

EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH TEMPERTURE GAUGE GOING UP & DOWN., AND BLOWER EMITTIING COOL AIR INSTEAD OF HEAT. VEHICLE OPERATED VERY SLUGGISHLY. RADIATOR LEAKED AS WELL. VEHICLE IS BEING SERVICED BY A FORD DEALERSHIP. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN OUT, AND THERE WAS A SERVICE PROGRAM FOR THE SOME MAKE AND MODELS. SINCE VEHICLE HAD EXCEEDED MILEAGE REQUIRMENT, CONSUME... Read more

Incident date: Dec 10, 1999

ENGINE BEGAN TO HEAT UP, TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT UP, AND ANTI-FREEZE BLEW OUT OF THE EXHAUST. CONSUMER PULLED CAR OVER, AND HAD IT TOWED TO A MANUFACTURER. *AK

Incident date: Dec 20, 1999

WHILE DRIVING 30-40 MPH HAD A DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT, AND DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT WHO SUSTAINED INJURIES BECAUSE OF THE CRASH. MANUFACTURER NOR INSURANCE COMPANY HAVE INSPECTED VEHICLE. NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH AIRBAG SYSTEM. *AK VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL ENGINE RELATED PROBLEMS, THE TIMING COVER GASKET WAS REPLACED AND THE ENGI... Read more

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: Dec 23, 1999

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND HEAT NOT WORKING. NO ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT BACK HOME WHEN THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING. TOOK IT TO LOCAL MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THERMOSTAT, CHANGED COOLANT AND OIL. NEXT DAY CAR STILL OVERHEATED AND NO HEAT. TOOK IT TO FORD DEALERSHIP, WHO DID SAME AS MECHANIC WITH SAME RESULT. THEY CHECKED THE WATER PUMP, NOTICED WHITE SUBS... Read more

WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY TIME THE VEHICLE OVERHEATS. GAUGE RUNS HIGH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK

Incident date: Dec 22, 1999

ORIGINAL OXYGEN GAS SENSOR CAUSING CHECK ENGINE CHECK LIGHT TO COME ON. COST TO FIX $400. LOW COOLANT SENSOR WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. COST TO FIX $70. THESE SHOULD NOT BE MY RESPONSIBILITY. THERE IS NOTHING THAT I CAN DO TO CAUSE THESE ITEMS TO MALFUNCTION. THESE ARE MANUFACTURERS' PARTS PROBLEMS. *AK

Incident date: Nov 17, 1999

THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT EVERYTHING WAS OKAY. THEY FLUSHED THE COOLANT AND FILLED IT. DROVE IT AGAIN, LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE BEGAN TO RUN HOT. TOOK IT TO DEALER AGAIN THERE WERE NO LEAKS. THEY DRAINED OUT THE OIL FROM ENGINE AND ANTIFREEZE ALSO CAME OUT. *AK *YC

Incident date: Dec 20, 1999

TRUCK'S GAUGE WENT IN THE RED ZONE HOT, I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND TOWED IT TO HANSEL TOYOTA. I WAS THEN INFORMED THAT IT MAY BE UNDER THE RECALL ISSUE. ALOT OF 1995 TOYOTA P/U WERE RECALLED SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL ALONG WITH THE V6 ENGINE SIZE. WHEN THE SERVICE REP. PUNCHED IN MY TRUCK'S VIN#, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT IN THE RECALL SERIES OF VIN #'S. BUT IT SEEMS ODD THAT THE SAME YEAR,... Read more

Incident date: Dec 14, 1999

NOT ONLY HAS THE PROPORTIONAL BRAKING VALVE FAILED,BUT ALSO ENGINE TEMP SENSOR,CAUSING TRANSMISSION FAILURE, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON,AND HOLD LIGHT FOR THE TRASMISSION COME ON, AND NOW THE POWER WINDOW GETS STUCK OPEN. WE SMELL A FAINT SMELL OF WIRE INSULATION BURNING,BUT SERVICE DEPT. SAID THEY COULDNT DO ANY THING UNTIL THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. HE SAID THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE WIRING ... Read more

Incident date: Sep 1, 1999

HEAD GASKETS BLEW AFTER ENGINE OVERHEATING WITH NO WARNING FROM TEMP. GAUGE. DEALERSHIP WANTED TO FIX HEAD GASKET PROBLEM AND FAILD TO NOTICE RING DAMAGE WHICH LEAD TO LOW COMPRESSION AFTER ASSEMBLY OF ENGINE. DEALERSHIP TOOK NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR FAILURE TO NOTICE RING DAMAGE. *AK

Incident date: May 31, 1996

WHEN DRIVING AT 65 MPH THERE WAS NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. ALSO, BATTERY KEPT GOING DEAD/ AIR CONDITIONING WENT OUT/THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STOPPED WORKING/BRAKE PADS WORE OUT AND REPLACED FOUR TIMES/ SPARE TIRE KEPT GETTING A FLAT/CONTROL UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED FOUR TIMES/ REPLACED A CRACK... Read more

Incident date: Dec 6, 1999

TEMPERATURE GAUGE SHOWED HOT. DROVE TO DEALER 5 MILES AWAY. DIGNOSIS: BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *AK

Incident date: Aug 30, 1999

2 MONTHS INTO OWNING THIS VEHICLE THE UPPER CONSOLE DIGITAL TEMPERATURE READ OUT WENT BAD. UPON REPLACING IT TWICE IT IS STILL MALFUNCTIONING. THEY HAVE EVEN REPLACED THE SENSOR ON THE FRONT GRILL TO NO AVAIL. AT ONE OIL CHANGE THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO ME WITH A CROOKED HOOD. THE LOCK ASSEMBLY HAD SLID OVER 1/2 INCH. IT CAUSED THE HOOD AND THE FENDER TO MEET AND THE TWO METALS SLAMMED TOGE... Read more

TEMPRATURE GAUGE FAILED. YH

Incident date: Jun 18, 1998

COOLANT LEAKED DUE TO WORN OUT GASKET ON WATER PUMP FRONT CYLINDER. YH

Incident date: Apr 1, 1997

SUPERCHARGER COOLING PLASTIC FITTINGS BROKE. YH

Incident date: Jul 6, 1999

WHENEVER VEHICLE IS PARKED OVERNIGHT IT WOULD FAIL TO RESTART AGAIN. WOULD HAVE TOW VEHICLE TO DEALER EACH TIME THIS HAPPENED, 8 TIMES SO FAR. MECHANIC WOULD REPROGRAM KEY; REPLACED BATTERY/FAULTY FUEL INJECTORS AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE. GMC EPURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN OCTOBER, 1999 FOR THE FULL PURCHASE PRICE LESS $400.OO *AK

Incident date: Aug 19, 1999

ENGINE COOLANT FAN, STOPPED RUNNING, CAUSING THE CAR TO OVERHEAT. ALSO, FLUID WOULD LEAK OUT, CAUSING THE THERMOSTAT TO FAIL. TEMPERATURE GAUGE ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED. TOOK TO A MECHANIC WHO CLAIMED THAT VEHICLE NEEDED AN ENGINE OVERHALL, AND NEW ENGINE HEAD GASKETS. CONSUMER NEED TURNING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID STRUT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER FOR THE NOISE TO S... Read more

Incident date: Nov 4, 1999

APPROACHING HIGHWAY ON RAMP, ENGINE TEMP WENT FROM "N" TOO RED BOX AT RIGHT OF GAUGE. DROVE TO DEALER, INFORMED MOST LIKELY A "HEAD GASKET" PROBLEM AND MAY HAVE DAMAGED ENGINE, NO WAY TO KNOW IF ENGINE IS DAMAGED UNITLL REPAIR IS ATTEMPTED.

Incident date: Jan 15, 1999

THE PROBLEM WITH THE COOLANT SYSTEM IS RELATED TO THE WATER PUMP, SPECIFICALLY THE O RING SEAL. MY VEHICLE HAS OVERHEATED ON 5 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. EACH TIME, I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS SOON AS I NOTICED THE TEMP NEEDLE IN THE RED OR THE IDIOT LIGHT ILLUMINATING. ONCE COOLED DOWN, I REFILLED THE COOLANT RESEVOIR AND WENT ALONG MY WAY. EACH TIME, I VERIFIED OPERATION OF THE THERMOSTAT ... Read more

Incident date: Nov 15, 1999

DRIVING AT 55 MPH, NOTICED WHEN DEPRESSING GAS PEDAL WOULD NOT GAIN SPEED. DEPRESSED GAS PEDAL FURTHER, NON-RESPONSIVE. LOOKED AT TEMP GAUGE, NOTICED OVERHEATED. PULLED OVER. BLED RADIATOR OVERFILL. ADDED WATER AND ANTIFREEZE. ENGINE KNOCKED VIOLENTLY WHEN RESTARTED. CALLED FOR TOW. NOTIFIED ENGINE SEIZED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

Incident date: Sep 23, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH WITH A/C ON PULLED OFF FREEWAY AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS RUNNING A LITTLE BIT HOTTER THAN NORMAL. NOTICED THAT VEHICLE OVERHEATED. WHEN CONSUMER RETURNED SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONTACT DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK

Fire

Incident date: Oct 5, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AROUND TOWN. HEARD A FUNNY SOUND, RESTARTED VEHICLE AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT HIGH. TOWED TO DEALER, AND DEALER DETERMINED THAT HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT AND NEEDED TO HAVE THE ENGINE FLUSHED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND REPLACED HEAD GASKET. OIL LIGHT WAS COMING ON. DEALER SAID THAT VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS. STEPPED ON GAS PEDAL AND VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE WHEN STOPP... Read more

Incident date: Oct 12, 1999

REPEATED EPISODES W/OUT RESOLUTION. CAR WILL STALL AT ANY GIVEN TIME WITH NO WARNING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BLINKS AND CAR WILL LOOSE POWER OR COMPLETELY STALL. NO WARNING, NO BRAKES, NO REASON AFTER REPEATED VISITS TO DEALER. MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN, CAR SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN .

1 injured

POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE MAY HAVE RESULTED VEHICLE CATCHING FIRE IN CONSUMERS GARAGE. NLM REFERENCED IN RQ01-002

Fire

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON SOMETIMES. YH

Incident date: Oct 24, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. STEAM WAS COMING FROM VEHICLE. TEMPERTURE GAUGE WENT UP TO HOT LEVEL, AND ALL THE WATER CAME OUT OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

Incident date: Aug 15, 1999

WE HAVE HAD THE SAME DEFECTS/REPAIRS THAT MOST OF THE OTHER WINDSTAR OWNERS HAVE HAD. FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL NOT ASSIST IN HELPING TO PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS. WE FEEL THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY KNOWS THAT THESE PROBLEMS ARE BECAUSE OF THEIR DESIGN FLAWS, BUT THEY ARE NOT STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. OUR MOST EXPENSIVE REPAIR HAS BEEN THE ENGINE WHICH NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. PER THE FORD DEALERS, A... Read more

Incident date: Jul 20, 1999

TEMPERATURE GAUGE GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE RED AREA. WHEN CAR OVERHEATS IT LOSES POWER. SINCE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE CAR SHE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS AND RECALL NOTICES. *AK

Incident date: Sep 1, 1997

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS ENGINE WOULD OVERHEAT. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD RUN HOT. HAD NOTICED SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER MORE THAN 5 TIMES FOR PROBLEM TO BE REPAIRED. HAD ENGINE CYLINDER/ ENGINE HEAD GASKET COVER KIT/BRACKET PUMP/MTG/TEMPERATURE GAUGE & OUTLET CYLINDER REPLACED. *AK

OIL/TEMPERATURE GAUGE LIGHTS CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER CHECKED OIL REGULARLY, AND THE ENGINE LOCKED UP.

THERE WAS A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GAS FUMES INSIDE THE CAR WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS SECOND OR THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THIS HAPPENED WAS SPEED 35-45, TEMP GAUGE ON M IN NORMAL, OUTSIDE TEMP APPROX 90, AC ON MAX COOLING, FAN ON HI, FUEL WARNING LIGHT ON, LESS THAN 1/8 TANK OF GAS. FUMES WERE SO STRONG I STARTED GETTING DIZZY AND HAD TO PULL OFF ROAD TO AIR OUT VEHICLE. ... Read more