1995 Ford Mustang

DRIVING AT 25MPH THE ENGINE STARTED SMOKING AND THE TEMP INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED DIRECTLY INTO SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN. PERSONALLY VISITED MY DEALER(100 MILES FROM BREAKDOWN) AND THEY THOUGHT IT WAS COVERED( BECAUSE OF A RECALL ON 3.8 ENGINES FROM FORD. HE HAD A BRAND NEW CLAIM ON A MUSTANG ON HIS DESK AND SAID THEY WERE HAVING SO MANY PROBLEMS THAT THE PARTS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR 3-4 WEEKS. I CALLED ANOTHER FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS BROKEDOWN AND THEY SAID THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED ON MUSTANGS YET SHE SAID THEY MAY EVENTUALLY BE INCLUDED BECAUSE OF THE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE MUSTANGS ALSO. SHE ASSURED ME THAT I WOULD BE REIMBURSED IF A RECALL WAS TO HAPPEN. THE CAR HAS A DOCUMENTED SERVICE RECORD. I TAKE GOOD CARE OF IT. IN MY OPINION THE 3.8 ENGINE ITSELF IS THE PROBLEM. I KNOW THE DETERMINATION WAS FRONT WHEEL DRIVE CARS ONLY BUT I FEEL BECAUSE OF MOST PROBLEMS COMING FROM THEM. THEY ACCOUNT FOR MOST CARS MANUFACTURED TODAY. REAR WHEEL DRIVE(MUSTANG) WAS PROBABLY RULED OUT BECAUSE OF FEWER REPORTS OF PROBLEMS. I LIKE FORDS. I HAVE OWNED AND DRIVEN MANY OF THEM. THIS IS A FORD PROBLEM. *AK

THIS ENGINE IS THE SAME AS THE TAURUS AND WINDSTAR. BOTH VEHICLES ENGINES HAVE BULLITINS ON THEIR HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS. THE MUSTANG HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS BUT FORD REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. I RUN SYNTHETIC OIL IN THIS CAR AND HAVE CHANGED THE ANTIFREEZE EVERY 20000 MILES. I CHANGE THE OIL AT 3000 MILES RELIGIOUSLY . THIS IS THE ONLY REASON IT HAS LASTED THIS LONG. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE A/C BRAKE ROTORS AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL. FORD NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM, AND QUITE MAKING EXCUSES.RRESS/CYTRH

AFTER REPLACING THE THEMOSTAT,WATERPUMP, COOLANT, AND FLUSHING THE COOLING SYSTEM, DUE TO OVERHEATING, I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALER. THEY REPLACED MY THERMOSTAT AGAIN, AND FLUSHED THE COOLANT SYSTEM AGAIN, AND CHARGED ME $120. THE CAR STILL OVERHEATED. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED IT WS A HEAD GASKET. REPAIRS COST AN ADDITIONAL $1150. FORD HAS ADMITTED A DEFECT ON THIS ENGINE YET WILL NOT EXTEND THE WARRANTY TO MUSTANGS. THE DEALER WOULDN'T EVEN DISCOUNT THE FINAL BILL FOR HIS MISDIAGNOSIS THE FIRST TIME. *AK

I AM FAITHFUL IN PREFORMING THE NECESSARY PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE STEPS ON MY FORD MUSTANG. THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE AT ONLY 92,000 MILES IS UNACCEPTABLE. FORD RECENTLY CONTACTED WINDSTAR OWNERS BECAUSE OF PREMATURE FAILURE OF HEAD GASKETS ON 3.8 LITER ENGINES. BUT THEY HAVE NOT INCLUDED THE MUSTANG. WHEN I GO ON THE INTERNET AT YAHOO MESSAGE BOARDS REGARDING FORD I FIND MANY MORE FORD CUSTOMERS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT FORD HAS MANUFACTURED A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT THAT IS PRONE TO PREMATURE FAILURE AND THEY SHOULD PAY FOR ALL REPAIRS. TO DATE THEY HAVE REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE +$1,900 REPAIR BILL. I WOULD LIKE FOR THE DOT TO INQUIRE AS TO THE NUMBER OF REPORTED AND/OR REPAIRED HEAD GASKETS ON 3.8 LITER ENGINES AND DETREMINE WHY FORD HAS NOT INCLUDED THE MUSTANG. *AK