Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1995 record →
COMPUTER FAILED WHICH ALLOWED CYLINDER #3 AND 6 TO MIS FIRE WITH THE INJECTOR OPEN ALL THE TIME PUTTING APPROXIMATELY ONE GALLON OF GASOLINE INTO THE OIL AND GAS INTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. AN ENGINE FIRE/EXPLOSION COULD EASILY HAVE OCCURRED. FORD REFUSES TO TAKE ACTION DUE TO MILEAGE. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
INSURANCE COMPANY WILL NOT REPLACE CHILD BOOSTER SEATS WITHOUT PROOF THEY NEED REPLACING AFTER A REAR END COLLISION. DO ANY LAWS OR REGULATIONS EXIST COVERING THIS?*NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK
THE LAST INCIDENT REPORTED DATED 1/07/00 I WAS TOLD A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THE 3.8 LITER ENGINES. COMMONLY SEEN IN THE 95 WINDSTAR AND THE FORD TARAUS. I HAD A COOLENT LEAK AND HAD TO REPLACE THE TIMING COVER, AND GASKET. THIS WAS EXTENSIVE WORK WITH REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE FRONT CRANKSHAFT, OIL SEAL AND NEW TIMING BELT. THIS ALSO DID DAMAGE TO MY WATER PUMP AND I HAD TO HAVE THIS REPLACED ALSO. I HAVE COPIES OF MY INVOICES FOR THE SERVICES COMPLETED AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW TO REPORT THIS TO FORD DIRECTLY. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FRO ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
MY VAN FIRST LOST ITS HEATER SO WE REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT. WHEN THAT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM, WE REPLACED THE WATER PUMP. WE TOOK THE VAN TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AFTER RECEIVING THE RECALL AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE TOO MANY MILES ON THE VAN TO FIX IT. WE TOLD THEM NOT TO DO ANY CHARGEABLE WORK TO THE VAN, THEY DID ANYWAY. THEY CHARGED US $49 TO LOOK AT 3 OF THE CHECK ENGINE CODES. THIS VAN HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT IT FROM CHILTON'S AUTO SALES IN EDEN, NC. THE LIGHTS STAY ON, THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYING ON NOT TO MENTION THE ANNOYING BEEPING THAT ACCOMPANIES THESE LIGHTS. WE FINALLY TOOK THE FUSE AND SOME BULBS OUT TO KEEP THE LIGHTS FROM RUNNING DOWN MY BATTERY. HEAD GASKETS ARE SUPPOSED TO LAST THE LIFE OF A VEHICLE AND SINCE ALL THE OTHER PARTS OF THE VAN SEEM TO BE GETTING ALONG GOOD I DON'T THINK MY VAN'S LIFE IS OVER NO MATTER HOW MANY MILES IT HAS ON IT. THANKS FOR ANY HELP *AK
TIMING GASKET COVER REPLACED AT MY COST ALTHOUGH HEAD GASKET WAS RECALLED.*AK
MY HEAD GASKET BLEW, AND AS SOON AS I HAD MY WINDSTAR IN THE SHOP, FOUR OTHER WINDSTARS CAME IN WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM! AND WERE IN A SMALL TOWN AUTO REPAIR SHOP IN BOSENHEIM,GERMANY. WE ARE ALL SOLDIERS STATIONED IN BAD KREUZNACH, GERMANY.*AK
PROMISED THREE WEEK ENGINE, HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED 4 WEEKS, CONTACT CUSTOMER SERVICE , OFFERED 3500 CERTIFICATE IF PURCHASE NEW!*AK
CONSUMER WAS HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. VEHICLE WOULD SHIMMY & HESITATE WHEN CHANGING GEARS. DEALER FOUND THAT TRANSMISSON FLUID WAS BLACK & BURNT. TRANSMISSION WAS LAST SERVICED ON JAN. 27TH, 1999. CONSUMER WAS LOOKING FOR REIMBURSMENT & WILL BE FILLING A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE MANUFACTURER. *AK
WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING RAMP DRIVER'S SIDE FRAME FELL OVER TIRE. VEHICLE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *ML
THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE IS NOW SEIZED. NLM
CONSUMER WAS DENIED RECALL REPAIRS (MANUFACTURER'S RECALL REGARDING HEAD GASKETS) DUE TO THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE WAS BEYOND THE CUT OFF, THE VEHICLE IS NOW EXPERIENCING LEAKING FROM THE FRONT CASE WHICH IS FROM THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKETS. *SLC
TRANSMISSION JUMPS INTO GEAR FROM STOP UNEXPECTEDLY, WIFE HIT OUR HOUSE. *AK
ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING FROM TIME I TOOK CAR HOME. WAS AN ITERMITTENT PROBLEM ON AND OFF UNTIL SEAL FINALLY GAVE WAY COMPLETELY. IN MY OPINION THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED BY THE DEALER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY. IT WAS NEVER PROPERLY DIAGNOSED. NOW WHEN I TAKE IT IN, AND THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OTHERS LIKE MINE, THEY KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND THEY KNOW THE GASKET WAS DEFECTIVE TO BEGIN WITH. I BELIEVE THAT I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THIS REPAIR COMPLETELY (ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS). OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE ALREADY KNOW ABOUT THE VALVE COVER GASKET PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AMONGST MANY OTHERS. FORD SHOULD DO MUCH MORE FOR THE 1995 OWNERS THAN THEY HAVE DONE. *AK
HAD TO REPLACE EXPENSIVE TIMING CASE COVER OR HEAD GASKET FAILURE WOULD HAVE OCCURED AS PER MY MECHANIC. *AK
CONSUMER HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED DUE TO A LEAKING HEAD GASKET, THE CONSUMER HEARD OF A SECRET WARRANTY AND WAS QUESTIONING IF THIS VEHICLE COULD BE COVERED UNDER THAT WARRANTY. *SLC
VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE, CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO PICK UP THE SPEED NEEDED TO TRAVEL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DEALER HAS BEEN OCNTACTED. *AK
ENGINE HEAD GASKETS BLEW ON HIGHWAY. FORD WILL COVER REPAIR UP TO 100,000 MILES ONLY, PER NOTIFICATION LETTER IN MARCH 2000. IF VEHICLE HAS OVER 100,00 MILES THE $1300 REPAIR IS CUSTOMERS PROBLEM FOR FORD'S KNOWN-DESIGN FLAW!*AK
HEAD GASKETT FAILED LETTING WATER INTO BLOCK. *AK
HEAD GASKET BLEW AND FORD DECIDED NOT TO COMPENSTATE US SINCE THE MILEAGE WAS OVER THE "MAGICAL" 100,000 NOT TO HAPPY CONSIDERING ALL THE PROBLEMS FORD IS HAVING WITH THESE HEAD GASKETS AND ENGINES FOR THE 1995 WINDSTARS. CAN YOU HELP US?????????? THANK YOU, STEVE CHIODINI
AFTER INITIALLY GETTING THE HEAD GASKETS REPLACED AT NO CHARGE IN DEC. 1999, THE VAN HAD THE SAME SYMPTOMS IN MARCH 2000. THE SYMPTOMS WERE NO HEAT, IRRADIC TEMPERATURE GAUGE, AND LOSS OF ANTI-FREEZE. I BROUGHT THE VAN BACK TO THE DEALER IN MARCH 2000. I WAS TOLD THAT THE TIMING COVER GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. INITIALLY THE ESTIMATE WAS FOR $900 BUT I HAD COMPLAINED TO FORD MOTOR AND THE DEALER (ABLE FORD) CHARGED ME $715 FOR THE REPAIR. NOW THE VAN STARTED TO EXHIBIT AN ERRATIC TEMPERATURE GAUGE, THE NEEDLE GOING UP AND DOWN PROBABLY FROM AIR POCKETS IN THE SYSTEM, AND RUNNING A LITTLE ROUGH. MY DILEMA IS WHETHER OR NOT TO TRUST THE DEALER AND FORD TO DIAGNOSE, AND FIX THE CAR PROPERLY. *AK
ON 5-15-00 I BROUGHT MY WINDSTAR BACK TO THE DEALER BECAUSE IT CONTINUED TO LOSE COOLANT. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET AND THAT ALL COSTS WOULD BE COVERED BY FORD DUE TO AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. WHEN I PICKED MY CAR UP IT DIDN'T SEEM TO ENGAGE INTO GEAR PROPERLY. ON RETURNING HOME(1/2 MILE) I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO REPORT THE PROBLEM. I RETURNED THE VAN AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS GONE AND WOULD COST ALMOST $3,000.00 TO REPAIR. I HAVE SINCE CONTACTED FORD AND MUST NOW WAIT FOR TWO BUSINESS DAYS BEFORE I WILL BE CONTACTED BY THE DEALER. *AK
HEAD GASKET FAILED REQUIRING UPPER HALF OF ENGINE REPLACED. 1 WEEK AFTER GETTING MINIVAN BACK, SPUN A ROD IN THE ENGINE, REQUIRING ENGINE BEING REPLACED. 1 MONTH AFTER GETTING BACK W/REBUILT ENGINE, TRANSMISSION FAILED REQUIRING NEW TRANSMISSION. DEALER STATES THAT HEAD GASKET AND TRANSMISSION FAILURES I EXPERIENCED ARE VERY COMMON WITH '95 WINDSTAR. FORD NOT INTERESTED IN HELPING ME W/PROBLEMS. *AK
THE ENGINE MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO PREMATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. YH
TIRE INFO 96M SR011X V05L 20440 VR BD 915998 TYPE HYPB 1PC 264 SIDE WALLS HAVE CRACKS RUNNING AROUND BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. FIRESTONE SAID TIRE WAS WARRENTED FOR ONLY FOUR YEARS. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: T125/90R15 )
TIMING BELT AND OXYGEN SENSOR CHANGED, CAUSING THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT TO COME ON, DURING REPAIR MECHANIC NOTICED FAILED HEAD GASKET WHICH WAS CAUSING ENGINE OVERHEATING. *CJ
RECALL 99V30900 FORD/FUEL TANKS CRACKS; OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE, AND IS EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH SMELLING GAS. BECAUSE OWNER DOES NOT LIVE IN STATE(S) LISTED IN RECALL NOTICE, MANUFACTURER IS NOT HONORING RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WON'T DOWNSHIFT CORRECTLY, DOES JUMPY MOVEMENTS. THERE IS A DELAYED REACTION BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR AND MOVEMENT OF CAR. CAR WILL SHAKE A DO BANG NOISES. THIS IS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION REPAIR. ON 6-22-99 REPORTED PROBLEM TO DEALER AND THE TRANSMISSION PAN GASKET WAS REPLACED. *AK
SEEKING ASST FOR REPAIR OF APPARENT DEFECT AS 60% OF ONLINE REPORTED INCIDENTS INVOLVE HEAD GASKETS. 2ND TIME HEAD GASKETS BLEW W/ 117132 MILES. 1ST TIME AT 83,000 MILES REPAIRED. *AK
THE VEHICLE HAS HAS THE ENGINE REBUILT ONE TIME AND REPLACED TWO MORE TIMES. IT IS CURRENTLY AT SPRINGFIELD FORD FOR THE THIRD NEW ENGINE - 5TH ENGINE TOTAL. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! WE WANT FORD TO KEEP IT AND GIVE US THE $6625 TRADE-IN VALUE. THANK YOU. *AK
THE VEHICLE HAS HAD HEAD GASKET FAILURE TWICE IN TWO YEARS AND 20,000 MILES APART. *AK
ENGINE HEAD GASKET RECALL WORK WAS DONE . ENGINE OVERHEATED AND FAILED ONE MONTH LATER .ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED .THEY FOUND OTHERE GASKETS THAT ALSO WENT BAD AS IN THE TIMMING CHAIN COVER. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER HAVING REPAIRED TO HEAD GASKET AND ENGINE BLOCK. FORD DEALER DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ANY CONNECTION. *AK
THE PISTON CLUTCH FAILED CAUSING SUDDEN GEAR ENGAGEMENT WHICH VIOLENTLY PROJECTED THE VEHICLE FORWARD OR BACKWARD, CONSUMER HAD THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. NLM
TRANSMISSION REPLACED. *CJ
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND AT ANY TIME VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE WITHOUT OPERATOR DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAUSING UNWANTED AND UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
TRANSMISSION MAKES A THUNKING AND KNOCKING NOISE WHEN DRIVER PUTS VEHICLE IN ANY GEAR. *AK
BLOWN HEAD GASKET; 2.5 MONTHS LATER, BAD WATER PUMP AND TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL NEEDED. *AK
HAVING CONSIDERABLE TROUBLE WITH DEALERSHIP---THEY SAY IT WILL TAKE ALL SUMMER TO REPAIR! NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
TIMING COVER GASKET IS A $30 PART THAT CANNOT BE REACHED UNLEES THE MOTOR IS TAKEN OUT FOR AN ADDITIONAL $750. IN LABOR. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS BECAUSE OF THE WAY FORD BUILT THE WINDSTAR. THEY ADVERTISE FORD BUILT TOUGH AND BUILT TO LAST. THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE OF A GASKET ON THIS CAR. IT DOESN'T SEEM THAT IT IS BUILT TO LAST. FORD SHOULD BE MADE ACCOUNTABLE AND SHOULD COVER THIS REPAIR.
RECEIVED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY NOTICE ON HEAD GASKET. WHEN VAN BEGAN OVERHEATING AND USING COOLANT I TOOK IT IN TO HAVE THE HEAD GASKET CHECKED. IT WAS FOUND TO BE BAD AND REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, MECHANIC ALSO INSPECTED TIMING COVER GASKET AND FOUND IT WAS ALSO LEAKING BUT NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS UNABLE TO AFFORD THE REPAIRS FOR THE TIMING COVER GASKET AND MECHANIC ADVISED IT WOULD BE OK TO DRIVE IF I WATCH COOLANT LEVEL UNTIL I CAN GET THIS FIXED. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THE I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR AS IT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS BECAME APPARENT WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED SHIFTING ROUGHLY AND THEN COULD NOT BE PUT IN REVERSE. TRANSMISSION REQUIRED REBUILDING. *AK
WHY IS THERE NO RECALL FOR THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS? THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOUND IN SEVERAL WEBSITES & NEWSPAPER ARTICLES REGARDING TRANSMISSION FAILURES/DEFECTS IN THE 1995-97 WINDSTARS. *AK
ANTI- FREEZE IS LEAKING FROM THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE AT THE HEAD GASKET. THIS IS THE THIRD OCCURRENCE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE TWO PRIOR GASKET FAILURES WERE REPAIRED AT THE DEALORSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, AT NO CHARGE. I WAS INFORMED BY THE FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER THAT THE WARRANTY FOR THE HEAD GASKET HAD BEEN EXTENDED TO 100,000 MILES. HOWEVER MY VEHICLE HAS 118,000 AND IS NO LONGER COVERED. *AK
WENT TEN MILES, STOPED FOR 30 MINUTES. RESTARTED AND THE HEAD GASKETS BLEW. *AK
TRANSMISSION HAS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY. HARD SHIFTS BETWEEN GEARS, AND REVERSE GEAR FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. HAVE HAD TO FORD MANY TIMES IN LAST 5 YEARS (WHEN UNDER WARRANTY) AND THEY REFUSED TO LOOK AT OR FIX SAYING "THAT'S THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE" (DON'T THINK THAT'S TRUE SINCE THERE ARE DAYS I CAN'T BACK MY VAN UP). FORD HAS NEVER OWNED UP TO THIS PROBLEM. THE 1995 WINDSTAR IS A LEMON WITH MULTIPLE PROBLEMS AND SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE ROAD. OTHER PROBLEMS ARE A LEAKY ENGINE HEAD GASKET AND SPONGY/FAULTY ABS BRAKES. *AK
HEAD GASKETS BLEW, LEAKING TIMING BELT GASKET, BLOWN SPEED SENSOR, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS
POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE CAUSED LOSS OF POWER, LOSS OF COOLANT AND OVERHEATING. YH
I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED IN JULY 1997 WITH 32,000 MILES. SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE HAD THE BRAKES REPAIRED THREE TIMES AND THEY STILL SQUEAK. THE AIRBAG MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED FOUR MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE, LUCKILY UNDER FEDERAL WARRANTY. THEN IN JUNE 1999, I HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK BECAUSE THE STRAPS CAUSED IT TO CRACK. FORD WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL. IN JANUARY THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM, BUT ONLY IN CERTAIN COUNTIES IN CERTAIN STATES, NOT NJ, FORD WOULD NOT BEND, DESPITE MY LETTERS AND PHONE CALLS. IN LATE MARCH 2000, MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AS DID MY ABS LIGHT. MY BRAKES NEEDED TO BE FIXED AGAIN. SINCE MY AIRBAG WAS FIXED OVER 12 MONTHS AGO, IT WAS NOT COVERED. MY ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON APRIL 11 AND STAYED ON FOR TWO DAYS, THEN TURNED OFF. WE WERE PLANNING A TRIP TO WASH, DC, SO I BROUGHT IT TO FULLERTON FORD FOR SERVICE ON 4/25. THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT NEEDS HEAD GASKETS (WHICH IT WAS RECALLED FOR) AND $1,400 WORTH OF OTHER WORK, NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT, OR THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT. THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WAS FOR A CAMSHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR THAT IS A $50 PART, WITH $150 WORTH OF LABOR, ALSO WANT ME TO HAVE A TIMING COVER GASKET REPLACED AT $815, A TEMP GAUGE AT $82, AN ENGINE FLUSH FOR $99.95, A WATER PUMP AT $140 PARTS ONLY, $40 FOR DRIVE BELT, AND MISC. LABOR AT $111.00. MY COMPLAINT IS THIS. I DROPPED THE CAR OFF ON 4/24 FOR A 4/25 APPT., THEY HADN'T LOOKED AT IT AT 4:00 ON 4/25 AND WANTED
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1995 Ford Windstar → · Every Windstar year → · How the figures are calculated →