1995 FORD AEROSTAR Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE OFFICE PARKING LOT. SUDDENLY A CUSTOMER NOTIFIED THE CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS A VEHICLE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURE WILL MAKE CONTACT WITH THE CONSUMER FOR INSPECTION. *NM *NM

Mileage: 125,000

BLACK EXHAUST/SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM REAR END OF VAN DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILING WHILE BEING DRIVEN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

VEHICLE OVERHEATED/ STALLED DUE TO BLOWEN HEADGASKETS. DEALER WAS INSPECTING VEHICLE.*AK

FAILED HEAD GASKET IN 1997 COVERED BY FORD. BOTH HEAD GASKETS FAILED THIS MONTH, AFTER ADDING 50000 MILES, AND FORD WILL NOT DISCUSS REPAIRS. 3.8 L ENGINES IN SOME OTHER MODELS ARE COVERED BY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE FORD HAS RECOGNIZED A DEFECT IN THE GASKETS BUT WILL NOT CONSIDER MINE. THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE IN ONLY 3 YEARS, 50000 MILES. *AK

I ALREADY SUBMITTED THIS FORM EARLIER TODAY, BUT I REALIZED I MADE SOME ERRORS ON THE FORM SO HERE IS AN UPDATED FORM WITH THE CORRECT INFORMATION. AS I EXPLAINED ON THE FIRST FORM, THERE ARE TWO RELATED PROBLEMS WHICH HAVE BEEN OCCURRING WITH OUR FORD AEROSTAR MINI VAN. THE FIRST PROBLEM IS THAT THE SLIDING SIDE DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY BECAUSE THE DOOR GUIDE-TRACK IS DEFECTIVE AND HAS BROKEN AT THE POINT WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE VEHICLE BODY BEHIND THE LATCH STRIKE-PIN. WE HAD THIS REPAIRED IN DECEMBER OF 1998, BUT IT HAS BROKEN AGAIN ONLY 15 MONTHS AFTER THE FIRST REPAIR. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, WHICH IS RELATED TO THE DOOR DEFECT, BECAUSE SOMETIMES WHEN THE DOOR IS NOT LATCHED PROPERLY, THE DOOR-AJAR LIGHT COMES ON AND MAKES A TERRIBLE GRATING/BUZZING NOISE AND AT THE SAME T IME CAUSES ALL THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS TO FAIL. THE TURN SIGNALS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, FAN , RADIO, ETC ALL FREEZE-UP. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE WHILE DRIVING, AND TWICE THE IGNITION FROZE AND I COULD NOT START THE VAN. I HAD TO TURN OFF THE KEY AND RESTART IT TO GET EVERYTHING WORKING AGAIN. THESE ELECTRICAL FAILURES ARE CLEARLY LINKED TO THE SLIDING DOOR PROBLEM BECAUSE THE ONLY OCCUR WHEN THE DOOR-AJAR LIGHT IS FLASHING AND MAKING THAT GRATING SOUND WHEN THE DOOR IS NOT PROPERLY CLOSED. *AK

VAN JUST CUT OFF IN TRAFFIC. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO RUSTED OIL PAN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

VERY DISAPPOINTING VEHICLE! NP SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

VEHICLE BUCKING/STALLING DUE TO FAILURE OF THE TP SENSOR AND EXHAUST OXYGEN SENSOR.

WHEN STOPPING AT A LIGHT THERE IS BAD FUME/ODOR IN THE CAR . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

EMMISSION SYSTEM POTENTIOMETER FAILED. *DSH