Head Gasket, Brakes

3.8L V6 Head Gasket problem at 128000km with no customer concern or understanding from Ford. Rear Wiper gone 75000 km and new rotars at 41000km Traction control light flashes since new and dealer has never been able to find a problem.

big enough for a faimly of 6

Engine!!!

awful! at 72000 miles I have a blown head gasket $2000. Ford has terrible customer service. I will never buy a ford again

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Aerostar, caravan

For the first year or so, this van operated smoothly, and seemed reliable.

Not reliable. Poor engine design. Ford has poor customer service and virtually no concern for the customer.

Anyone purchasing a Ford vehicle with a 3.8L V6 engine should be aware that these engines are defective. The head gasket installed on my van cracked, causing coolant to leak into the cylinders. $2,000 to repair. This is a widespread problem, and Ford has already recalled the 1995 Windstar for this problem. They should recall the 1996 model as well--it has a similar history with blown head gaskets. I will never buy another Ford.

None

Everything

Two weeks after I bought it, the seat was broken. Sliding door makes a lot of noise. Ford dealer can never fix it. Power windows sometimes work, sometimes don’t. I have to try my luck every time when I try to open them. Now, power steering pump went bad, made a lot of noise. Just replaced it in Ford dealer, but it still makes noise. I’ll never ever buy Ford again.

Poor quality.

Plenty of room. Too many dealer recalls, defects, and small to medium problems. Electrical system not reliable. Has stopped in traffic, while under warranty. Sensor went bad. expect transmission trouble. Was repaired as a recall, for transmission tube, has made noise ever since. Ford dealer can't hear it. Currently fuse blows for radio/ clock/remote entry. Will be returned for service. I would avoid this car. Poor quality.

somewhat reliable, decent gas mileage

price tag; head gasket on ALL 3.8L Ford V6; rattles develop

I've had the van for 125000 miles, bought new. Blown head gasket/new engine @ 119000. Bad alternator/battery/cable at 90000 miles. bad pass side window motor. cup holders broke soon after purchase. Leaking front struts I refuse to change before they go all the way bad. New tires @ 90000 (no problems there) Speedometer ba @ 37000, Ford wouldn't cover it. Cost $200, and I replaced it. Now problem has returned (at 105000 miles). I'm going to wait a while, and try a new cable when I change speedometer. Anyone heard of routing problems with cable?

Decent mileage (when it runs!)for it's size.

Absolutey horrible dependability on major componets, i.e. transmission and engine. Poor flexibility of rear seating and the seats weight a ton. Must completely remove both rear seats to gain much space as they only fold the backs down.

AVOID AT ALL COST! Everything has malfunctioned. Blown Head Gaskets =$2200, Heater Core Failure, Bad Transmission = $1500, Faulty Dash Warning Lights, Faulty Sliding Door Sensor... Ford has a very poor attitute about a very obvious manufacture defect issue. They have lost me as a future customer and I will tell everyone I can not to buy Ford products.

FIVE STAR SAFTEY RATING. A PERFECT VAN FOR MOMS WITH KIDS.

SENSOR LIGHTS WOULD COME ON WHEN NOTHING WAS WRONG-CHECK ENGINE,AIR BAG.

WE BOUGHT OUR VAN USED FOR A FAMILY OF FIVE. I LOVE THIS VAN,WE HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH IT. I WAS IN A MVA AND THE VAN WAS TOTALED. THE POLICE TOLD ME I WAS LUCKY TO BE IN THE VAN VERSES A SMALLER CAR BECAUSE I MIGHT NOT BE HERE IF I WAS IN A SMALLER CAR. I GIVE THE VAN A 10 ON SAFTEY. I CAN'T WAIT TO GO AND BUY A NEW VAN. I'M CURRENTLY LOOKING AT THE 2000 MODEL.THE ONLY THING I CAN THINK OF THAT WAS WRONG WITH THE VAN WAS THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON ALL THE TIME. WHO CARES ABOUT A LITTLE LIGHT WHEN IT SAVED MY LIFE.

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DODGE CARAVAN,NISSAN QUEST

Average -nothing stands out

Engine, weight of doors, speedometers

For first 3 years and 80K miles van was reliable and relatively trouble free. Speedometer issues like needle flucuations and noise common even after replacing unit twice. Engine failed at 101K -leaking head gasket. Engine maintained every 3K. AVOID FORD PRODUCTS WITH 3.8 ENGINE ABS Brake System failed at 22K but repaired by dealer

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We utilized a fleet of Ford products with 3.8 engines and have been phasing out with GM products.

Taken care of, it is a good value over the more popular SUV's. Roomy and dependable!

Switches(locks, knobs); Spedometer buzzing, Sensors cause dummy lights to come on. PARTS ARE EXPENSIVE!

Our van is a 1996 and we purchased it in 1998 with 80,000. miles on it. It now has 135,000 miles on it, and we have had relatively few problems. The back hatch door lock motor has blown 2 times and the windshield wiper switch has also gone bad.Early on the service engine soon light came on and stayed on. We learned it was a bad rear sensor that had no effect on the van's performance so we waited to fix it at our convenience. It cost about $140 just to get a light to go off! The most annoying problem has been a buzzing spedometer that will cost over $400 to replace including parts and labor. We've decided to let it keep buzzing! Our biggest scare was a clogged exhaust line that made the van hesitate as if the transmission was bad. However, AL White Motors in Manchester, TN was able to diagnosis and fix the problem at no charge! Overall the van has been a very good vehicle. Especially for what we paid and its current age. I would purchase one again, but expect problems with the accesories.

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Ford Contour