1995 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED UP HILL AND WITH NO WARNING TRANSMISSION WILL DECELERATE, EVEN WHEN FOOT IS ON ACCELERATOR. IT WILL BE HARD FORCONSUMER TO CONTROL VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

WENT TO HAVE AN OIL CHANGE AND 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT DONE AND FOUND OUT THAT THE INNER TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITHT HIS VEHICLE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

DURING RIGHT TURN, LOST STEERING CONTROL. AFTER STOPPING, RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS POSITIONED FOR SHARP LEFT TURN, AND LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS POSITIONED FOR A RIGHT TURN. RIGHT FRONT OUTER TIE-ROD FAILED. BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT TIE-RODS WERE REPLACED. THESE ARE SEALED UNITS AND CAN'T BE LUBRICATED. I SUGGEST THAT FAILURE WAS DUE TO LUBRICANT BREAKDOWN OR LOSS OVER THE YEARS, A SERIOUS DESIGN AND SAFETY ISSUE.*AK

KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION WITHOUT COMPLETELY SHUTTING OFF IGNITION. CONSUMER WAS TOLD LOCK CYLINDER WAS A WEARABLE PART. A SMALL CHILD WAS ABLE TO MOVE SHIFT MECHANISM OUT OF PARK, ALLOWING VEHICLE TO ROLL. ANOTHER CHILD WAS STUCK IN THE PROCESS. OWNER WAS AWARE OF OTHER VAN WITH SAME PROBLEM. *AK

REPLACED RACK AND PINION STEERING. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT GEAR SHIFTER CAN BE MOVED TO ANY POSITION WITHOUT ENGAGING THE BRAKE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

WHEN EMERGING FROM AN AUTOMATED CAR WASH IN NEUTRAL, THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND WAS PROPELLED FORWARD. THIS ACTION CULMINATED IN A CRASH WITH A METAL POLE, RESULTING IN SEVERE PROPERTY DAMAGE AND SLIGHT PERSONAL INJURY.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARK AND WITHOUT WARNING THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AND TOTALED THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

DEALER REPORTS THAT "M" SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED BY FORD IN JULY 2002 FOR HEAD GASKETS BUT WON'T HONOR CLAIM DUE TO TIME EXPIRED 7 YEARS/ 100,000 MILES. I DISPUTE EXPIRATION DATE TO BE UNTIL 12/31/2002. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

WE PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE IN 2000 AND WE WERE NOT INFORMED THAT FORD HAD GENEROUS REPAIR FOR THEIR HEAD GASKETS. WE MEET THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE MILEAGE, BUT NOT THE TIMEFRAME FOR TWO MONTHS. I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BECAUSE WE WERE NOT NOTIFIED OR TOLD WHEN WE PURCHASE THE VAN. THE ESTISMATE COST IS GOING TO BE AROUND 1600.00 DOLLARS. I FEEL SOMEONE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS BECAUSE WE WERE NEVER INFORMED.*AK

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???)

DEALER, JACKSON'S FORD IN JACKSON, FL; PHONE# 517/787-9500 REFUSED TO HONOR RECALL#02 V101000 CONCERNING THE BRAKE LINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SERVICED BY THE DEALERSHIP PROPERLY. THE DEALER REFUSED TO COMPLETE. *SCC

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT. VEHICLE WOULDN'T MOVE UNLESS PUT INTO PARK AND SHUT OFF AND THEN RESTARTED. HAD TO DO THIS SEVERAL TIME WHILE DRIVING HOME. I COULD GO ABOUT TWO MILES BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD STOP WORKING AND GO TO NEUTRAL. OVERDRIVE ON/OFF LIGHT WOULD KEEP BLINKING.*AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET REPLACED AT 47,000 MILES, ENGINE TIMING COVER GASKET REPLACED AT 92,000, ENGINE FAILED (ROD BEARINGS, CRANKSHAFT, AND ROD) SHORTLY THEREAFTER SHUTTING DOWN BRAKING AND STEERING SYSTEMS IN VEHICLE. HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS WAS DUE TO COOLANT LEAKING INTO ENGINE OIL SYSTEM FROM PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED PROBLEMS AND IS BEING EXPERIENCED BY MANY OWNERS DUE TO POOR ENGINE DESIGN. ENGINE FAILURE HAD THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE ACCIDENT HAD THE DRIVING SITUATION BEEN DIFFERENT WHEN IT OCCURRED.

FORWARD CLUTH PISTON - TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS IN FIRST GEAT AND REVERSE. *AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE LINE AS STATED IN RECALL #02-V-101-000. BUT BY THIS VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK HEAD GASKET FAILED. CONSUMER IS ASKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. *YH

VEHICLE WAS MAKING A STRANGE NOISE UPON STARTING. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND THEY STATED THAT HEAD GASKET BROKE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THREE OF THE FIVE LUG STUDS IN ONE FRONT WHEEL BROKE SIMULTANEOUSLY, CAUSING SEVERE VIBRATIONS OF THE WHOLE CAR. WE WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND SLOW DOWN TO A SAFE STOP AT THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. WE WERE TOWED 150 MILES FROM AKRON TO COLUMBUS. WE HAVE FOLLOWED THE MANUFACTURER HAD HAD AN ALIGNMENT AND WHEEL ROTATION AT GERMAIN FORD IN COLUMBUS IN MARCH 2002. THREE POSSIBLE CAUSES: METAL FAILURE OF THE STUDS, TORQUING THE LUGS TOO TIGHT WHEN THE TIRES WERE ROTATED, OR LUGS COMING LOOSE. THE SERVICE PEOPLE AT GERMAIN FORD HAVE RULED OUT LOOSE LUGS DUE TO THE FINDING THAT NONE OF THE LUG HOLES WERE OUT OF ROUND. IF ALL FIVE LUG STUDS HAD FAILED AT ONCE, WE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE HAD A FATAL ACCIDENT. WE HAD DRIVEN ABOUT 10 HOURS FROM MANCHESTER, CT AND BROKE DOWN JUST EAST OF AKRON, OH. SPEED WAS GENERALLY BETWEEN 65 & 75 MPH. WE WERE TOWED HOME TO COLUMBUS. GERMAIN FORD DID A TORQUE TEST ON THE OTHER STUDS IN ALL WHEELS TODAY, AND NONE OF THEM FAILED. HOWEVER, WE CHOSE TO REPLACE ALL STUDS IN ALL WHEELS.

TRANSAXLE WAS REPLACED AT 105,000 BEFORE PURCHASING FROM DEALER THEN 4 MONTHS LATER TRANSAXLE GOES OUT(111.000 MILES) WHILE DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE DEALER WHERE PURCHASED IS REFUSING TO FIX IT. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED 3 WEEKS PAST 2ND EXTENDED WARRENTY BY FORD CAUSING THE ENGINE TO NEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

EXHAUST SYSTEM HAS CORRODED, AND IS CAUSING FUMES TO ENTER VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED TWICE AND WAS REPLACED. HEAD GASKET FAILED AND WAS REPLACED; ALSO THE INTERNAL LEAKS FROM HEAD GASKETS IN VEHICLE CORRODED FLEX PIP AND EXHAUSTING INTO VEHICLE. ENGINE FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. THE OUTER RIGHT AND LEFT TIE RODS FAILED AND WERE REPLACED. AIR FILTER FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. PCV VALVE FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD CONTINUES EXHAUST LEAKS INTO THE VEHICLE, CAUSED SOME SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEM TO THE DRIVER. *YH

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

THERE WAS A RECALL NOTICE ON THIS VEHICLE WHICH WAS POINTED OUT TO ME BY AUTO MECHANIC. I HAVE FORWARDED THIS INFORMATION TO NHTSA VIA MAIL. FORD SERVICE AT FRIENDLY FORD IN LAS VEGAS NV SAID THAT THERE WAS A RECALL BUT MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THAT RECALL NOTICE EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE DESCRIPTION IN THE NOTICE DESCRIBES THE EXACT SITUATION, IE. VEHICLES PURCHASED IN SOUTHERN SECTIONS OF CALIFORNIA.*AK

WHEN VEHICLE WAS AT AN IDLE, CONSUMER PUT INTO GEAR AND WITH FEET STILL ON THE BRAKES VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS, PARTICULARLY IN HOT WEATHER. *SLC

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD OFTEN SHOW HOT. THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS ALSO A PROBLEM WAS WITH A PART OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE PART WAS REPLACED BUT A FEW WEEKS LATER THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN. AT THIS TIME THE DEALER REALIZED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS A LEAKY HEAD GASKET. THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE OVERHEATING WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE TEMPERATURE SENDER BURNOUT CAUSED BY THE THERMOSTAT MALFUNCTION CAUSED BY THE LEAKY HEAD GASKET. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO NEVER BEING TOLD OF THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION WARRANTY. *SLC *NM

THE FUEL TANK WAS CRACKED IN THE FORWARD STRAP AREA WHICH CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK AND RESULT IN AN OVERWHELMING SMELL OF FUEL INSIDE THE VEHICLE, THIS PROBLEM HAD BEEN RECALLED (99V-309) YET THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. NLM

FUEL TANK HAS CRACKED AND IS LEAKING GAS. THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK THE FUEL TANK WAS ON RECALL BUT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. *YH

SURPASSED FORD EXPANDED WARANTEE BY A LITTLE OVER 2 MONTHS. FORD HAS REFUSED TO CONSIDER PAYMENT OR PARTIAL PAYMENT FOR REPAIR- EVEN THOUGH THE MILEAGE IS RELATIVELY LOW AND THE PRODUCT DEFECT WELL KNOWN. NO SAFETY DEFEC TSTATED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION WILL LEAK FLUID, WHILE PARKED THE CONSUMER SAW SMOKE, THE CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD TO LET THE SMOKE ESCAPE AND NOTICE FLUID DRIPPING, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED.*AK *NLM

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR RECALL 02V101000 REPAIRS. DEALER STATED NOT ONLY WAS SHORT SECTION AFFECTED BY RECALLED BRAKE CORROSION, BUT ALL BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK FROD CUSTOMER SERVICE SAYS THEY HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE MALFUNCTIONING PARTS. *JG

TORQUE CONVERTER ASSEMBLY HAS A GROVE IN IT THAT CAUSES SEAL TO FAIL, RESULTING IN LOSS OF TRANSMISSION FUEL. TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED, ALMOST CAUSING A FIRE.*AK

CONSUMER STATES OXYGEN SENSOR WAS REPLACED TWICE, AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING. *YD

VEHICLE WAS IDELING AND STARTED TO SMOKE, CONSUMER LIFTED HOOD AND SAW FIRE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE OF FIRE. CONSUMER FELT FAMILY WAS IN DANGER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

MY 1995 WINDSTAR HAS EXPERIENCED THE INFAMOUS HEAD FAILURE GASKET AT A YOUNG LIFE OF 7 YEARS AND 1 MONTH AND LESS THAT 80,000 MILES. MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP ( BOWEN SCARFF-KENT WA) RECOMMENDED ENGINE REPLACEMENT BASED ON THEIR VAST EXPERIENCE WITH THIS FAILURE. FORD AS EXTENDED THE WARRANY TWICE FOR THIS FAILURE, BUT IN MY CASE I WAS ONE MONTH OUTSIDE THE 7 YEAR WINDOW. I HAVE CALL VARIOUS FORD AGENCIES AND WRITTEN MULTIPLE LETTERS AND HAVE GOTTEN NO SATISFACTION FOR MY REQUEST THAT FORD PAYS THE BILL. APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU CAN MAKE IN BEHALF. THANK YOU- BILL BENSHOOF DT

CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF MAIN DRIVE LINE COMPONENT, FOLLOWING REPLACEMENT OF SAME COMPONTNE THREE YEARS PRIOR. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY DEALER UNDER WARRANTY 1ST TIME.*JB

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED A GREASY SUBSTANCE ON THE REAR WINDSHIELD AND SMELT SMOKE. CONSUMER PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO CHECK THE SMELL, BUT DIDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM. THEN, CONSUMER PULLED BACK ONTO THE ROAD, DROVE FOR A FEW SECONDS, BEFORE PULLING INTO A GAS STATION. CONSUMER WAS ALERTED BY THE GAS STATION ATTENDANT THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. A FIRE EXTINGUISHER WAS USED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, WHO INDICATED THE FIRE OCCURRED BECAUSE OF TRANSMISSION SEAL FAILURE. *AK

ENGINE IS OVERHEATING WHILE DRIVING. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

AT 65MPH TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT GEARS. ALSO, WILL NOT RUN. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

I HAD FRONT BRAKE JOB DONE IN JAN 2002, NO DEFECTIVE LINES OR LEAKS REPORTED, IN THE FOLLOWING MONTH I TWICE HAD TO ADD A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID. WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON JUNE 6 MY BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I WAS ON INTERSTATE 4 NEAR MY EXIT. THE NEXT MORNING I STARTED TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY TO TAKE MY VAN TO REPAIR SHOP AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. MY DRIVEWAY HAD A STREAM OF BRAKE FLUID RUNNING DOWN. I HAD AAA TOW MY VAN TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY HAD TO MAKE AND REPLACE BRAKE LINE TO RIGHT FRONT BRAKE HOSE. I BOUGHT THIS VAN IN SPRING HILL, FL IN MAY 1995 AND MOVE TO NEW YORK IN JUNE 1995. I MOVED BACK TO FLORIDA IN NOV 1999. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND TOLD MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 02V101000. I HOPE THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT OCCUR TO OTHER MINIVAN OWNERS AND POTENTIALLY ALL FORD WINDSTARS MAY EXPERIENCE THIS TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. NLM

WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED THEY FAILED TO RESPOND DUE TO A HOLE IN BRAKE LINE WHICH LEAKED BRAKE FLUID. LINE WAS CORRODED FROM INSIDE OUT. *AK *YH

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

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALER TO GET BRAKE RECALL 02V101000 REPAIRS DONE. A FEW DAYS LATER, BRAKES LOCKED UP AND BECAME INOPERABLE. RECALL REMEDY DID NOT WORK. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AKJG

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL START TO SHAKE AND REV. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER COULD NOT FIND CAUSE OF PROBLEM.*AK

ENGINE BLEWOUT WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE CHECKED BY DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS FAULTY. CONSUMER HAD GASKET REPLACED AT 93000 MILES, 2,000 MILES LATER ENGINE BLEWOUT AGAIN. *AK

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

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

NHTSA RECALL 02 V 101 00/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 02S36 CONCERNING BRAKE LINE: AFTER REPAIRS WERE DONE BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP VEHICLE. DEALER UNABLE TO LOCATE CAUSE. VEHICLE BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR 3O DAYS. AT QUALITY FORD IN MT VERNON, NY; PHONE# 914/699-0900. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE WINDSTAR WAS AT A FULL STOP AT A STOP SIGN. AS THE GAS WAS APPLIED STEADILY TO START OUT A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE FOREWARD. TRANSMSSION FAILED AND WOULD ONLY WORK IN REVERSE. WE BACKED THE VAN OFF THE ROAD AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. WE WERE INSTRUCTED THAT THE TRANSMITTION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. IT IS THE THIRD TRANSMITTION THAT HAS BEEN PUT IN THIS VAN.*AK