1995 Ford Windstar complaints

WHILE DRIVING, FLAMES EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AREA DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE FOR THE SECOND TIME. *JB ALSO THE FUEL TANK CONTAINED A LEAK AND THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE ISSUE. PH *JB

TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON THE 4TH TRANSMISSION IN 1995 FORD WINDSTAR REPLACED BY FORD.*AK

OUR 1995 FORD WINDSTAR WITH ONLY 57,000 MILES ON IT EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FAILURE WHILE WE WERE ON A FAMILY VACATION HUNDREDS OF MILES FROM HOME. THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF A FAULTY HEAD GASKET THAT CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE. WE HAD NO WARNING OR OVERHEATING BEFORE THE ENGINE FAILED. WE HAD PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED SOME COOLANT LEAKAGE AND HAD THE TIMING COVER GASKET FAIL ALSO. OUR VAN WAS NO LONGER COVERED BY THE 100,000 MILE OR 7 YEAR FORD SERVICE PROGRAM BY SEVERAL MONTHS EVEN THOUGH WE HAD SO FEW MILES ON IT. SINCE THEN WE HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS DEFECTIVE GASKET AND RELATED ENGINE FAILURES ARE OCCURING ON NEARLY ALL 1995 WINDSTARS. I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO STAND BEHIND THEIR FAULTY ENGINES FOR 100,000 MILES WITH NO TIME LIMIT SINCE A PROPERLY MANUFACTURED ENGINE SHOULD LAST AT LEAST THAT LONG WITHOUT A HEAD GASKET FAILURE.*AK

WHILE APPLYING GEAR INTO DRIVE VEHICLE HESITATES AND VIBRATES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, WHITE SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE TRAIL PIPE AND THEN THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. *JB PH *JB

THE HEAD GASKET ON MY 1995 WINDSTAR FAILED AFTER JUST 70,000 MILES; FORD HAS REFUSED TO HELP ME SINCE IT FAILED IN DECEMBER 2002 AND I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR 8 YEARS. SINCE COOLANT HAS LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE, THE FORD MECHANIC HAS RECOMMENDED A NEW ENGINE WHICH COSTS $4600. *NLM

THE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN AND WAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE 3.8 LITER ENGINES SINCE FORD USED THEM IN THEIR VEHICLES. DEALER WOULD NOT FIX DUE TO THE EXPIRED WARRANTY. *MR *SCC *JB

BRAKE LIGHT COME ON FREQUENTLY. DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYS ON OCCASIONALLY CAUSING INTERIOR LIGHTS TO REMAIN ON EVEN WHEN ALL DOORS ARE SHUT. DASH LIGHT QUIT WORKING. TOOK TO CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND FOUND THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE ASHTRAY LIGHT, DISCONNECTED ASHTRAY LIGHT AND DASH LIGHTS STARTED WORKING AGAIN. ENGINE LIGHT STAYING ON. TOOK TO CERTIFIED MECHANIC, WAS TOLD THAT VACUUM HOSE WAS OFF THE EGR VALVE. MECHANIC PUT VACUUM HOSE BACK ON. PROBLEM RECURRED 3 DAYS LATER BUT THIS TIME NOT VACUUM HOSE. BELIEVE THE PROBLEM TO BE EGR VALVE ITSELF. ENGINE SURGES/MISSES CONSTANTLY. DID A TUNE UP, REPLACING PLUGS WIRES, ETC.. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS ESPECIALLY AFTER VEHICLE IS RUN FOR A WHILE. OFTEN SHIFTS HARD DURING ACCELERATION. HAVE DONE TRANSMISSION SERVICE, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. DO NOT TAKE OFF HARD FROM STOPS. *JB

1995 FORD WINDSTAR SUDDENLY BEGAN DUMPING UNBURNED GASOLINE OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE AND GETTING 7 MPG WHERE NORMAL MPG IS 19. AUTO SHOP REQUESTED I SIGN DOCUMENTATION AFTER DIAGNOSTIC THAT THEY INFORMED ME IT WAS UNSAFE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES INCURRED. *NLM

THE BRAKE LINE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHICH REPLACED THE BRAKE LINE ON 5/8/2003. *TT

I TOOK MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR TO THE DEALER, AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR STARTED TO OVER HEAT. I WAS TOLD THE HEAD GASKET IS DAMAGED AND WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT A COST OF $5600. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE!!! THE CAR HAS ONLY 80,000 MILES ON IT. *JB

THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE A HISSING NOISE AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT TO HIGH. THE CONSUMER FELT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE MOTOR. *NLM

THE VEHICLES HEAD GASKET BLEW AND CAUSED $2000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *NLM

ONE YEAR AGO (2002) MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR BLEW A HEAD GASKET WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER UNDER TBS 00M09. ONE YEAR LATER AND UNDER 30,000 MILES THE NEW ENGINE HAS BLOWN A HEAD GASKET AND FORD REFUSES TO HONOR IT STATING THAT A SMALL PIN HOLE IN ONE OF THE HEATER HOSES CAUSED THE BLOCK TO DRAIN OF FLUID AND BLOWING THE HEAD GASKET. I INSPECTED THE ENGINE SHORTLY AFTER IT OCCURRED AND THE RADIATOR AND RESERVE TANKS WERE BOTH FULL. I TOLD THIS TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALER AND I WAS TOLD I MUST BE MISTAKEN THE ENGINE WAS EMPTY. I AM AN AIRCRAFT MECHANIC AND KNOW WHEN AN ENGINE IS OUT OF WATER OR NOT BUT I AM RUNNING INTO A BRICK WALL. I HAVE CONTACTED THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND AM NOT HAVING ANY LUCK WITH THAT EITHER. *JB WHAT RECOURSE IF ANY DO I HAVE?

THE VEHICLE HAD A LEAK. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT ANTI-FREEZE WAS GETTING INTO THE OIL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEAD GASKETS. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS DIFFICULT TO RESTART. *NLM

THE CONSUMER BELIEVED GAS WAS LEAKING FROM THE TANK. *JB

THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL TANK UNDER RECALL IN 1999, HOWEVER THE STRAP WAS NOT REPLACED, AND THE FUEL TANK CRACKED AGAIN. RECALL #99V309000. *JB

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF POWER STEERING. *NLM

FORD RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING FUEL TANKS ON 1995 FORD, WINDSTAR MAY CRACK DURING EXTENDED OPERATION OF VEHICLE IN VERY HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES. THIS RECALL APPLIED TO 1995 FOR WINDSTAR VEHICLES IN DESIGNATED STATES AND COUNTIES OF WHICH LOS ANGELES COUNTY WAS PART. HOWEVER, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL BECAUSE CONSUMER LIVED IN SACRAMENTO COUNTY WHICH WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL ALTHOUGH HIS VEHICLE HAD THE SAME DEFECT. *AK *NLM

FAILURE OF 1995 WINDSTAR ENGINE FOR THE 3RD TIME. FIRST TIME ENGINE GASKET FIXED, THEN AT 50,000 MILES 2ND GASKET FIXED , THEN FAILED AT 72000. FIRST 2 FIXES COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTIES BUT THE LAST ONE I WAS REQUIRED TO PAY TO FIX. HAVE DISPOSED OF THIS VEHICLE. *JB

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HESITATED TO SHIFT GEARS, AND WHEN IT DID SHIFT GEAR, IT SHIFTED HARD. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS REPLACED 4 TIMES. *JB

DUE TO A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET, THE VEHICLE BLEW A THICK CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE FROM THE TAILPIPE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD A VOLUNTARY HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT PROGRAM THAT EXPIRED 1 MONTH PRIOR TO GASKET FAILING. *JB

THE FRONT AREA OF MY VAN MAKES LOUD POPPING NOISES WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES AND/OR TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS MAINLY IN THE SUMMER MONTHS OR TIMES WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS WARMER. THIS PROBLEM BEGAN ABOUT A YEAR TO A YEAR AND A HALF AFTER I BOUGHT THE VAN WHEN IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS TODAY. I HAD TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. THE DEALER SAID THE POPPING NOISE WAS THE BRAKE CYLINDERS EXPANDING ONTO THE PADS TO STOP THE VAN. IT IS ODD THOUGH BECAUSE THE FRONT END POPS WHEN I AM TURNING THE WHEEL AT A VERY SLOW SPEED WHEN I AM NOT APPLYING THE BRAKES. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING SMOKE CAME FROM THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND THEN ENGINE SHUT DOWN. *NLM

THE HEAD GASKET IS CRACKED AND LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *NLM

BLOWN HEAD GASKETS ON 1995 FORD WINDSTAR THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY WAS AWARE OF AS A PROBLEM ON THIS PARTICULAR MODEL/YEAR. "CHECK ENGINE" WARNING LIGHT KEPT COMING ON BUT NO PROBLEM COULD BE DETECTED. OF COURSE MY "HEAD GASKET" PROBLEM DEVELOPED AFTER THE LIMITED EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. *JB

THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM FAILED, WHICH CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *JB

MY COMPLAINT IS ABOUT MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR VAN WITH THE 3.8 LT V-6 ENGINE. I BOUGHT MY VAN NEW ON 9/12/95 AND HAVE TAKEN CARE TO KEEP IT IN GOOD SHAPE. IT HAD RECENTLY, IN LATER PART OF MARCH, BEGAN TO RUN ROUGHLY. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC ON APRIL 1, 2003. THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE HEAD GASKETS HAS BLOWN OUT. MY VAN ONLY HAS 55,900 MILES ON IT! FORD HAD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO COVER ONLY THE HEAD GASKETS FOR 100K MILES OR SEVEN YEARS WHICHEVER CAME FIRST. EVEN THOUGH MY WARRANTY, ACCORDING TO FORD, RAN OUT IN SEPT. 02, I STILL FEEL THAT 56K MILES IS TOO LOW TO SUFFER THIS KIND OF MAJOR REPAIR. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD, THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I FEEL I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A DEFECTIVE DESIGN BY FORD. THE MECHANIC SAID THE REPAIR WOULD BE BETWEEN $1000 AND $2000 DOLLARS DEPENDING ON THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. IT COULD EVEN BE HIGHER IF THE DAMAGE IS EXTENSIVE. *NLM

AT 48000 MILES THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED BY MANUFACTURER DUE TO COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE. THE DEALER REBUILT THE ENTIRE UPPER PART OF THE ENGINE. NOW THE VEHICLE IS STALLING INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE STALLING WAS DUE TO A DROP IN OIL PRESSURE WHICH SHUT OFF THE FUEL PUMP IN TURN SHUTTING DOWN ENGINE. *NLM

MOTOR HAS GONE UP 5 TIMES SINCE OWNERSHIP.

THE OIL PAN GASKET LEAKED. *JB *TS

1995 FORD WINDSTAR LX HEAD GASKETS BLEW OUT AT 100,112 MILES TODAY. WARRANTY THROUGH 100,000 MILES. I'VE HAD TO HAVE THE BRAKES REPAIRED AT LEAST ONCE PER YEAR FOR THE LAST 4 YEARS. *NLM

FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE, PUNCTURED PASSENGER FRONT TIRE, THIS WAS AFTER INSPECTION AT DEALERSHIP FOR RECALL NOTICE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED SPRINGS AND ONE TIRE. I REPLACED STRUTS AND OTHER THREE TIRES. NO WAY CAN A QUICK VISUAL INSPECTION ALLOW A TECH TO KNOW IF COIL SPRING IS LIKELY TO HAVE METAL FATIGUE/FAILURE. *NLM

THE DEALERSHIP (LITHIA FORD;NAPA CA;707-255-2580) REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL FOR THE FUEL LINES 99 V 309 000. *NLM

ON 1/3/03 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO FORD DEALER THAT HAD REPLACED THE FIRST ENGINE AT 67,000 DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE. DEALER NOTIFIED ME THAT HEAD GASKET HAD FAILED AGAIN WITH 124,000 MILES THIS TIME. AFTER DEALER TOOK ENGINE APART TO CHECK THE PROBLEM,DEALER NOTIFIED ME TO TELL ME NOW ITS THE WHOLE ENGINE THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS WOULD BE THE SECOND TIME WITH IN 124,000 MILES. FORD WOULD NOT COVER UNDER RECALL WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE 3,000 DOLLARS TO FIX. AFTER I REFUSED DEALER COSTS AT 3,000 DOLLARS DEALER WANTED 800 DOLLARS TO PUT ENGINE BACK TOGETHER STILL NOT FIXED HAD VAN TOWED HOME WITH ENGINE IN BOXES. HAVE PAPER WORK FROM DEALER THAT SHOWS THEY NEVER HAD PERMISSION TO TAKE ENGINE APART. THEY ONLY HAD APPROVAL TO DO A DIAGNOSIS TEST. *NLM

ABS LOCKS AND VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP. HAVE SPENT OVER $2000 TRYING TO FIX BRAKING ISSUE. TONE RINGS, STRUTS, SUSPENSION, FRONT BRAKES, REAR BRAKES, BEARINGS, CV JOINTS, MASTER CYLINDER, AMONG OTHER REPLACEMENTS. OVER BUMPS, SMALL HILLS, STRAIGHT ROADS, ANYTIME COMING TO A STOP, VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY FAILS TO STOP COMPLETELY. HAVE PUMPED BRAKES AND FOUND THAT BRAKE PEDAL GETS HARD AND LOUD, STILL DOES NOT HELP TO STOP VEHICLE. STEERING WHEEL FEELS LOOSE AT WHEN THIS HAPPENS. BRAKE PEDAL ALSO KICKS BACK, SOMETIMES WITH EXCESSIVE FORCE, MAKES A LOAD GRINDING NOISE. CONTROLLING THE CAR BECOMES DIFFICULT AS LOSS OF BRAKE PRESSURE AND STEERING WHEEL ROCKING (ON DECENT OF SMALL HILL) COMBINED MAKE FOR A DEADLY COMBINATION. I AM BEING FORCED TO PURCHASE A BETTER VEHICLE, NOT EVER FORD AGAIN. *JB

THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, IN WHICH GAS HAD MIXED WITH THE ANTIFREEZE. *JB

TRANSMISSION FAILED ON 5/30/02 ON OUR 1995 FORD WINDSTAR WHEN MILEAGE WAS 78,476. COST OF NEW TRANSMISSION WAS $2732.92. PREVIOUSLY WE HAD REPLACED TRANSMISSION IN 8/00 WHEN MILEAGE WAS 61,210. *JB

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. THE VAN SPENT OVER A MONTH IN THE SHOP AS EVERY TIME I WOULD GO GET IT, I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK BECAUSE IT WAS STILL SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR VERY HARD. IT HAS BEEN ONLY A FEW MONTHS AND THE PROBLEM IS BACK. I DO NOT DRIVE VEHICLES HARD.JB

AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED REGARDING THE ENGINE, THE PROBLEM RECURRED.*JB

THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO RESTART THE VEHICLE.*JB

THE VEHICLES SPEEDOMETER FAILED. *AK *NLM

TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO LURCH FORWARD. *AK NLM

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED.*DT *JB

ENGINE DEFECT - BLOWN HEAD GASKET RESULTED IN DANGEROUS SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER/OVERHEATING CONDITION FOR THE DRIVER, AND A DANGER TO OTHER TRAFFIC DUE TO HEAVY SMOKE AND WATER FROM THE TAIL PIPE ON THE ROADWAY IN SUBFREEZING TEMPERATURES. FORD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RECALL THESE ENGINES FOR THE KNOWN HEAD GASKET DEFECT THAT CONTINUES TO BE A MAJOR HAZARD.*JB

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HIT AND RUN COLLISION, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, WHICH CAUSED INJURY TO THE CONSUMER.*JB

THE RIGHT FRONT BALL JOINT AXLE BROKE. *AK *JB

I HAD TO REPLACE THE SECOND STOCK RIM ON MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. I HAVE NEVER HAD A RIM LEAK AIR ON ANY OTHER CAR THAT I HAVE OWNED AND WAS QUITE AGRIVATED TO LEARN FROM THE WHEEL SHOP OWNER THAT HE HAS DONE AROUND 30 SUCH REPLACEMENTS THIS YEAR. ALL ON FORD WINDSTARS. NO OTHER MANUFACTURE OR MODEL. I REALIZE THAT THE 1995 WINDSTAR WAS THE WORST YEAR FOR FORD WINDSTARS, BUT AFTER HAVING TO PUT UP WITH HEADGASKET BLOWOUTS AT 58,000 MILES, TRANSMISSION BLOWOUTS AT 70,000 AND ASSORTED OTHER ELECTRICAL FAILURES, THE WHEELS SEEM ANOTHER REDICULOUS MANUFACTURING BLUNDER THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY THE BRUNT OF. THEY ARE DEALER ONLY PART AND $90+ A PIECE. I HAVE NOW REPLACED 2. THE FIRST TIME, A FEW YEARS AGO, WHEN THIS HAPPENED, THE DEALER HAD TO SPECIAL ORDER THE PART. NOW THEY CARRY THEM IN STOCK. (I WONDER WHY???)

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED, THE DEALER REPLACED THE WIPER MOTOR, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED.*JB